Drive assembly

Abstract

Drive arrangement for a sash of a window or flap, comprising at least one drive for moving the sash relative to a fixed frame by means of a flexible pull and push element, wherein the drive comprises a connecting cable connected to the drive for its power supply and / or control, and comprising a mounting structure, in particular a bracket, for attaching the drive to the sash or the frame, wherein an electrical connecting element separate from the drive is arranged on the mounting structure, comprising a supply connection for electrically connecting the connecting element to a power source and / or a control unit and comprising a drive connection electrically connected to the supply connection, via which the drive is electrically connected to the connecting element via its connecting cable.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a drive arrangement for a sash of a window or a flap, with at least one drive for moving the sash relative to a fixed frame by means of a flexible pull and push element, wherein the drive comprises a connecting cable connected to the drive for its power supply and / or control, and with a fastening structure, in particular a bracket, for fastening the drive to the sash or the frame.

[0002] Such a drive arrangement is basically known, e.g. from DE 20 2012 001 208 U1 or DE 20 2016 107 222 U1.

[0003] Previous drive arrangements have required a relatively long connecting cable to be connected to the drive, for example, by soldering or screwing the connecting cable to the drive. The connecting cable serves to supply power to and / or control the drive and is typically up to 2 m long.

[0004] For maintenance purposes, it has proven problematic that removing the drive requires either replacing the entire connecting cable, which is particularly difficult if the connecting cable is installed in the sash or frame, or removing the connecting cable requires opening a housing that houses the drive to access the connecting cable connection point on the drive. Both procedures are extremely complex.

[0005] An object of the invention is therefore to provide a drive arrangement which is easier to maintain and in particular in which a drive can be replaced more easily.

[0006] This object is achieved by a drive arrangement having the features of claim 1.

[0007] The invention is based on the idea of ​​connecting a drive not directly to a power source and / or control unit via its connecting cable, but to a separate electrical connection means interposed between the connection and the power source and / or control unit, which in turn is electrically connected to the power source and / or the control unit.

[0008] The electrical connection means is arranged on a fastening structure provided for securing the drive and is thus located close to the drive. Since the drive is not electrically connected directly to the power source and / or control unit, but only to the connection means, a shorter connection cable can be used to bridge the short distance between the electrical connection means and the drive compared to a connection cable that directly connects the drive to the power source and / or control unit. This means that when removing the drive, a connection cable connecting the drive to the power source and / or control unit no longer has to be completely removed. Instead, it is only necessary to detach the connection cable connecting the drive and the connection means from the connection means, which simplifies the replacement and / or maintenance of the drive overall.The connecting cable connecting the drive and the connecting means can, for example, have a length between 2 and 10 cm, and preferably between 3 and 7 cm. The connecting cable is particularly preferably 5 cm long.

[0009] Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0010] According to a particularly simple embodiment of the drive arrangement, the supply connection and / or the drive connection of the electrical connection means can each be designed as a connection socket or connection terminal, in particular, wherein the supply connection and the drive connection are electrically connected to one another by means of a cable. However, the electrical connection means can also be formed on a printed circuit board with an integrated line, wherein the integrated line electrically connects the supply connection and the drive connection.

[0011] The pull-and-push element is preferably designed to be tensile and compressive and flexible in one plane. For example, the pull-and-push element can be designed in the form of a chain or a belt. This allows the pull-and-push element to be housed in a housing that accommodates the drive in the most space-saving way possible, resulting in the most compact design possible for the drive assembly. The pull-and-push element can be extended out of or retracted into the housing to move the window or flap.

[0012] Preferably, the electrical connection means is designed not only separately from the drive, but also separately from the mounting structure. This also allows the electrical connection means to be easily removed for maintenance purposes or replacement.

[0013] The electrical connecting means, the drive and the fastening structure can be arranged relative to one another in a space-saving manner such that the drive is arranged on one side of the fastening structure and the electrical connecting means is arranged on the side of the fastening structure facing away from the drive, so that the fastening structure is arranged between the drive and the connecting means.

[0014] For a particularly simple drive design, the drive's connecting cable can be reversibly and detachably connected to the electrical connector. Preferably, the connecting cable is attached to the electrical connector using a plug-in connection, a clamp connection, or a snap-in connection. The use of a plug-in, clamp connection, or snap-in connection enables simple installation.

[0015] Likewise, a supply line connecting the connecting means to the power source and / or control unit can be connected to the electrical connecting means in a reversibly detachable manner, e.g., by means of a plug connection, clamp connection, or snap-in connection. In principle, the supply line can also be connected to the electrical connecting means in other ways. For example, the supply line can be soldered or screwed to the electrical connecting means.

[0016] According to the inventive design of the drive assembly, the fastening structure is designed in the form of a bracket comprising a first holding element and a second holding element. The holding elements serve to accommodate the drive between them. For this purpose, the holding elements are spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal extent of the drive assembly. The holding elements are preferably designed separately from one another so that the receiving area of ​​the fastening structure can be adapted to the dimensions of the drive. Preferably, the circuit board carrying the electrical connection means can also serve to support the holding elements of the bracket, spaced apart from one another depending on the dimensions of the drive.

[0017] The drive connection of the connecting means can be arranged either on the first holding element or on the second holding element. In principle, however, a drive connection can also be provided on each of the holding elements. This makes it possible for the drive to be attached to the mounting structure in a first orientation or a second orientation rotated by 180°.

[0018] Sometimes more than one drive may be required, for example due to an unfavorable lever ratio or to move narrow, elongated or heavy wings or flaps. To electrically connect multiple drives, previous drive arrangements have provided for the drives to be connected to a power source and / or control unit via their respective connecting cables at a central junction box. Here too, it has proven problematic if the connecting cables are permanently connected to the respective drives, as each drive must be connected to the central junction box via its own connecting cable. Alternative solutions provide for the power transmission and / or signal transmission to other drives to take place within the respective drives. In this case, the cables are laid within the drive, which increases the structural complexity of the drive.

[0019] To avoid the aforementioned disadvantages, the inventive design of the drive assembly provides that the drive assembly has an extension connection electrically connected to the supply connection for electrical connection to another drive. Just like the electrical connection means, the extension connection can be designed separately from the drive. An electrical line connecting the extension connection and the supply connection can also be designed separately from the drive. This offers the advantage that a complex routing of the electrical line inside the drive can be dispensed with, resulting in a more compact drive design.

[0020] The drive arrangement can be expanded modularly as required via the extension connection, wherein a module comprises a drive as well as an electrical connection means as described herein and a fastening structure as described herein. Preferably, the electrical connection means of two drives are connected to one another via an extension line, in that one end of the extension line is connected to the extension connection of the connection means of one drive and the other end of the extension line is connected to the supply connection of the connection means of the other drive. Furthermore, it can be provided to electrically connect two drive arrangements to one another via an extension line in that the extension line connects the extension connection of one drive arrangement to the supply connection of the other drive arrangement.

[0021] The extension cable can be reversibly detachably connected to the extension connection and / or the supply connection, e.g., by means of a plug-in, clamp-on, or snap-in connection. Alternatively, the extension cable can be soldered or screwed to at least one of the connections. According to a particularly simple embodiment, the extension cable can be designed as a cable, in particular as a ribbon cable.

[0022] According to the invention, the supply connection is arranged on the first holding element and the extension connection on the second holding element. This allows the drive assembly to be extended in one direction. However, it is also possible to provide an extension connection on each of the holding elements, so that the drive assembly can be extended in both directions.

[0023] The supply connection and the extension connection are electrically connected to one another via a connecting cable. The connecting cable can be in the form of a cable, in particular a ribbon cable. This type of configuration is particularly advantageous for long drives. For short drives, however, the connecting cable can be designed as a cable integrated into a circuit board. This circuit board can additionally have an integrated cable that electrically connects the supply connection to the drive connection. For an installation-friendly design of the drive arrangement, the drive arrangement can comprise a mounting plate that carries the fastening structure and the electrical connection means. This allows the fastening structure and the electrical connection means to be initially pre-assembled on the sash or frame via the mounting plate.The drive can then be easily attached to the mounting structure.

[0024] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the drive arrangement provides that the fastening structure and the electrical connection means of two drives are arranged on a common mounting plate.

[0025] The mounting plate can also form part of a housing of the drive assembly. In particular, the mounting plate can serve as a cover for the drive assembly's wiring.

[0026] According to an advantageous embodiment of the drive assembly, a power supply for the drive can be arranged on the mounting structure, in particular on one of the two support elements of the console. This allows, for example, a standardized 24 V drive to be operated with a voltage of 230 V. Furthermore, the power supply can also be arranged on the mounting plate.

[0027] The invention is explained below purely by way of example with reference to the attached schematic drawings. They show: Fig. 1a a perspective view of a drive arrangement with a drive; Fig. 1b a perspective exploded view of a part of a first embodiment of the drive arrangement of Fig. 1a ; Fig. 1c a plan view of a detail of Fig. 1b ; Fig. 2a a perspective exploded view of a part of a second embodiment of the drive arrangement of Fig. 1a ; Fig. 2b top view of a detail of Fig 2a ; Fig. 3a a perspective view of a drive arrangement with two drives; and Fig. 3b an exploded perspective view of a part of the drive arrangement of Fig. 3a .

[0028] The drive arrangements shown in the drawings each serve to move a window or flap sash (not shown) relative to a fixed frame (also not shown) by means of one or two drives. For this purpose, each of the drives has a flexible push / pull element (not shown in detail), which can be configured as a chain or a belt.

[0029] In order to convert a movement of the drive into a movement of the sash, an outer end of the pull and push element is connected to a transmission means 4, which in turn is fastened to the sash when the drive arrangement is mounted on the frame or which is fastened to the frame when the drive arrangement is mounted on the sash.

[0030] Each of the Fig. 1a and 3aThe drive arrangement shown comprises a drive 6 with a cover plate and two end caps 8, which, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the drive arrangement, form a closure of the drive arrangement at opposite ends of the drive 6. For better illustration, the drive 6 or the drives and the cover plate are shown in the detailed illustrations in Fig. 1b, 1c , 2b and 3b not reproduced.

[0031] Now referring to Fig. 1a bis 1c the structure of the drive arrangement according to the first embodiment is explained in more detail.

[0032] For mechanical attachment to the sash or window frame, the drive assembly includes a mounting structure 10. The mounting structure 10 also serves to accommodate the drive and is designed for this purpose in the form of a bracket. The bracket 10 includes a first retaining element 12a and a second retaining element 12b separate from the first retaining element 12a. Fig. 1c the first holding element 12a is shown schematically by dashed lines.

[0033] The holding elements 12a, 12b are each L-shaped and each have two legs 14, 16. Specifically, each holding element 12a, 12b has a fastening leg 14 and a holding leg 16. The fastening legs 14 serve to fasten the drive assembly to the sash or frame. The holding legs 16 are spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal extent of the drive assembly and serve to fasten the drive 6. The distance between the holding legs 16 is based on the dimensions of the drive 6 and is dimensioned such that the installed drive 6 is held between the holding legs 16. The end caps 8 can also be slipped onto the holding legs 16, giving the drive assembly an attractive appearance when installed.

[0034] To attach the drive assembly to the sash or frame, a pair of first bores 18 is provided in each of the fastening legs 14, each of which serves to accommodate a fastening element, such as a screw. The holding legs 16 have a pair of second bores 20 through which a fastening element, such as a screw, can be inserted or screwed to connect the drive 6 to the holding elements 12a, 12b. Depending on the application, the holding elements 12a, 12b can also have a smaller number of bores or additional bores for attaching the drive 6 or the drive assembly.

[0035] An electrical connection means 22 is arranged on the console 10, which is designed separately from the console and separately from the drive 6. As a summary of the Fig. 1a und 1b As can be seen, the electrical connection means 22 is arranged on a side of the holding elements 12a, 12b that faces away from the side that serves to accommodate the drive 6. In other words, in the assembled state of the drive arrangement, the drive 6 is arranged on one side of the fastening structure 10 and the electrical connection means 22 is arranged on the side of the fastening structure 10 facing away from the drive 6. Specifically, the electrical connection means 22 is formed on a printed circuit board 24, which is attached to a side of the first holding element 12a that faces away from the drive 6.

[0036] The electrical connecting means 22 has a supply connection 26 ( Fig. 1c ), to which a supply line 28 is connected for electrically connecting the connecting means 22 to a power source and / or control unit. The supply line 28 can be soldered, screwed, or attached to the supply connection 26 via a plug-in, clamp-in, or snap-in connection.

[0037] The electrical connection means 22 also has a drive connection 30 electrically connected to the supply connection 26. In the present embodiment, the drive connection 30 and the supply connection 26 are electrically connected to one another by means of a line integrated in the circuit board 24.

[0038] The drive connection 30 serves to connect the drive 6 to the electrical connection means 22 via its connecting cable. The drive connection cable can be reversibly and detachably connected to the drive connection 30 of the electrical connection means 22, e.g., by means of a plug-in, clamp-in, or snap-in connection. This allows the drive 6 connection cable to be easily detached from the electrical connection means 22, allowing the drive 6 to be easily removed.

[0039] As already mentioned, the electrical connection means 22, which has the supply connection 26 and the drive connection 30, is arranged on the first holding element 12a. In addition to the drive connection 30 arranged on the first holding element 12a, a further drive connection 30 can also be provided on the second holding element 12b to enable the installation of the drive 6 in a first orientation or in a second orientation rotated by 180°.

[0040] The drive assembly also has an extension connection 32. The extension connection 32 serves to extend the drive assembly with an additional drive. For this purpose, the drives 6 are connected to one another via an extension line 38, as described below in connection with Fig. 3a und 3b will be explained in more detail below. The extension connection 32 can also be used to electrically connect the drive assembly to another drive assembly. The extension line 38 connects the extension connection 32 of one drive assembly to the supply connection 26 of the other drive assembly.

[0041] The extension connector 32 is provided on a separate circuit board 24' from the circuit board 24 of the connecting means 22. The circuit board 24' having the extension connector 32 is arranged on a side of the console 10 facing away from the drive 6, specifically on the second retaining element 12b.

[0042] The extension connection 32 is electrically connected to the supply connection 26 via a connecting line 34. In the drive arrangement according to the first embodiment, the connecting line 34 is designed in the form of a cable 34, more precisely in the form of a ribbon cable 34. The ribbon cable 34 connects the circuit board 24 of the connecting means 22 to the circuit board 24' having the extension connection 32. At least one end of the cable 34 can be reversibly detachably connected to one of the circuit boards 24, 24', for example via a plug-in, clamp-in, or snap-in connection. Furthermore, it is possible for at least one end of the cable 34 to be firmly connected, e.g., soldered, to one of the circuit boards 24, 24'.

[0043] With reference to Fig. 2a und 2b The drive arrangement according to the second embodiment will now be described, which differs from the drive arrangement according to the first embodiment in that the electrical connecting means 22 and the extension connection 32 are arranged on a common printed circuit board 24". The connecting line 34 connecting the supply connection 26 and the extension connection 32 is designed as a line integrated into the printed circuit board 24". The common printed circuit board 24" also carries the holding elements 12a, 12b of the console 10, which in Fig. 2b are shown schematically by dashed lines.

[0044] The Fig. 3a und 3b The third embodiment of the drive arrangement shown is based on the one shown in the Fig. 1b und 1c The drive arrangement according to the third embodiment has two drives, as can be seen from the two transmission means 4. However, the number of drives 6 is not limited to two. Thus, a drive arrangement can also have more than two drives.

[0045] For fastening the drives, a bracket 10 is provided for each drive, as already explained above in connection with the first embodiment of the drive arrangement. In addition to the brackets 10, an electrical connection means 22 is provided for each drive 6, which is connected to an extension connection 32 in the manner described above in connection with the first embodiment of the drive arrangement. In principle, the electrical connection means 22 and the extension connection 32 can also be connected to one another in the manner described in connection with the second embodiment of the drive arrangement.

[0046] As shown by Fig. 3b As can be seen, the drives 6 are electrically connected to one another via the aforementioned extension cable 38. One end of the extension cable 38 is connected to the extension connection 32 arranged on the second holding element 12b of the first console 10. The other end of the extension cable 38 is connected to the supply connection 26 of the second electrical connection means 22 arranged on the first holding element 12a of the second console 10. At least one end of the extension cable 38 can be reversibly detachably connected to one of the connections 26, 32, for example via a plug-in, clamp-in, or snap-in connection. Alternatively or additionally, at least one end of the extension cable 38 can be permanently connected to one of the connections 26, 32, e.g. by soldering.

[0047] Both the brackets 10 and the electrical connecting means 22 are supported by a common mounting plate 36. The mounting plate 36, together with the cover plate and the end caps 8, forms a housing of the drive assembly.

[0048] Finally, it should be noted that the drive assemblies described above can each have a power supply unit (not shown in the drawings). The power supply unit is provided to adapt a mains voltage to an operating voltage of the drive 6 or drives. The power supply unit is preferably arranged on the fastening structure 10 and in particular on one of the holding elements 12a, 12b of the console 10. However, the power supply unit can also be arranged on the mounting plate 36. Furthermore, the power supply unit can also be arranged on a circuit board 24. Bezugszeichenliste

[0049] 4Transmission means 6Drive 8End cap 10Mounting structure 12a, 12bRetaining element 14Mounting leg 16Retaining leg 18Bore 20Bore 22Electrical connection means 24, 24', 24"PCB 26Supply connection 28Supply cable 30Drive connection 32Extension connection 34Connecting cable 36Mounting plate 38Extension cable

Claims

1. Drive assembly for a sash of a window or for a wing of a flap, having at least one drive (6) for moving the sash / wing with respect to a fixed outer frame by means of a flexible pulling and pushing element, wherein the drive (6) comprises, for power supply and / or activation thereof, a connection line connected to the drive (6), and having a fastening structure (10) for fastening the drive (6) to the sash / wing or the outer frame, wherein an electrical connecting means (22), which is separate from the drive (6), is arranged on the fastening structure (10), comprises a supply connection (26) for electrically connecting the connecting means (22) to a power source and / or a control unit and has a drive connection (30) which is electrically connected to the supply connection (26) and via which the drive (6) is electrically connected via its connection line to the connecting means (22), wherein the fastening structure (10) comprises a bracket (10) with a first holding element (12a) and a second holding element (12b), wherein the first holding element (12a) and the second holding element (12b) are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal extent of the drive assembly; wherein, for electrical connection to a further drive (6), the drive assembly has an expansion connection (32) which is electrically connected to the supply connection (26); and wherein the supply connection (26) is arranged on the first holding element (12a) and the expansion connection (32) is arranged on the second holding element (12b).

2. Drive assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that the flexible pulling and pushing element is a chain or a belt.

3. Drive assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical connecting means (22) is formed separately from the fastening structure (10), in particular wherein the drive (6) is arranged on one side of the fastening structure (10) and the electrical connecting means (22) is arranged on the side of the fastening structure (10) that faces away from the drive (6).

4. Drive assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection line of the drive (6) is reversibly releasably connected to the electrical connecting means (22), in particular via a plug-in connection, clamping connection or latching connection; a supply line (28) for connecting the electrical connecting means (22) to the power source and / or the control unit is reversibly releasably connectable to the electrical connecting means (22), in particular via a plug-in connection, clamping connection or latching connection.

5. Drive assembly according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a drive connection (30) is arranged both on the first holding element (12a) and on the second holding element (12b).

6. Drive assembly according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electrical connecting means (22) of two drives (6) are connected to one another via an expansion line (38) by one end of the expansion line (38) being connected to the expansion connection (32) of the connecting means (22) of one drive (6) and the other end of the expansion line (38) being connected to the supply connection (26) of the connecting means (22) of the other drive (6).

7. Drive assembly according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the supply connection (26) and the expansion connection (32) are electrically connected to one another via a connecting line (34), in particular wherein the connecting line (34) is designed in the form of a cable (34) or as a line integrated in a conductor plate (24'').

8. Drive assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive assembly comprises a mounting plate (36) which carries the fastening structure (10) and the electrical connecting means (22).

9. Drive assembly according to Claim 8, characterized in that the fastening structure (10) and the electrical connecting means (22) of two drives (6) are arranged on a common mounting plate (36).

10. Drive assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a network part for the drive (6) is arranged on the fastening structure (10), in particular on one of the two holding elements (12a, 12b) of the bracket (10).

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