Roof window hinge and a roof window with that hinge

Abstract

Roof window hinge comprising following elements: an intermediate arm (1), rotatably attached to a gutter (4), wherein the gutter (4) is designed for mounting on window jamb side stile (31), a sledge assembly (6) and a support (8), wherein the support (8) is rotatably attached to a intermediate arm spigots, and to the sledge assembly (6), wherein the support (8) with the sledge assembly (6) assume end positions along section (S1) of path (S) of the sledge assembly along the gutter (4)where it comprises a friction reduction means (9, 10) between sledge assembly (6) and the gutter bottom along section (S1) of path (S).

Description

[0001] The object of the invention is a roof window hinge, especially for a window with evacuation properties and a roof window with that hinge.

[0002] A solution entailing an intermediate arm unit in a dual-function roof window, featuring a sash lift support mechanism which works together with a set of springs positioned along jamb side stile was disclosed under patent PL231796B1 / EP3348763A1. Springs via tie-rods terminating with a joint hook attached to a pin exert a force on a slider directed along the jamb side stile and that force through a support is transferred to the intermediate arm as a force balancing the weight of the sash.

[0003] A roof window sash lifting device has been disclosed in application P.443602. It is constructed out of spring assembly with at least one main spring, and with at least one auxiliary spring unit seated in the device adjusting assembly, coupling assembly, sledge assembly, wherein the spring assembly is seated on at least one rod which at one end terminates with an adjustable plug abut with main spring of the spring assembly, and the other end of the said rod is rotatably attached to the coupling assembly, and the coupling assembly is designed for a detachable attachment to the device sledge assembly, and the coupling assembly includes a spring element for self-positioning of the coupling assembly to its coupled position with the sledge assembly.

[0004] There is known from EP1520951A1 a roof window with hinge comprising supporting arm connecting sash with the frame, where on the frame there is a slider and a gutter, such that the slider and connected to it supporting arm moves in the gutter. Outer surface of the slider comprises an exterior coating of a friction-dampening material, such as Teflon. Alternatively the gutter may be provided with friction-dampening material on the surfaces, where the slider slides. In other cases a considerable friction between the slider and the gutter is desirable, for instance in order to obtain a holding function, such that the window may be open in a ventilating position, and in that case the slider and / or the gutter may be provided with a friction-increasing surface, for instance at selected places along the length of the rail. There is also known from US2011 / 107678A1 a casement window with supporting arm connecting sash with the frame. The window frame comprising a gutter for a slider. Said supporting arm, is connected with the slider on the window frame, wherein in the slider is a roller which moves along the frame gutter. In the open position of the window, the roller is active such that it rotate on the gutter, but in closed window position, in which supporting arm is parallel to the slider and frame, the ramp on the supporting arm pushes slider on one its end to the gutter, causing the slider to rotate at a fulcrum in the gutter and lifting up the roller so it is inactive and does not touch the gutter.

[0005] The force required to close a window in the disclosed solutions changes as the angle by which a roof window is open changes. The smaller the opening angle, the smaller the force required to close a window. The said force has to overcome, among others, friction occurring between the hinge gutter and its sledge assembly. The force required to close a window is at its maximum when the hinge support is in its end position, wherein the pressure exerted by the sash on the jamb side stile by the said support attains a value, which alters the current friction between the gutter and the sledge assembly to such an extent that it hinders easy roof window closing or the return of the support to a position where it is relatively parallel to the jamb side stile. The hinge according to claim 1 solves this problem by reducing friction between gutter bottom and sledge assembly using a friction reduction means during window closing, when the said friction in known disclosed solutions would reach a value hindering easy window closing or where the support is in its end position.

[0006] The roof window hinge is constructed out of an intermediate arm, which, in the roof window tilt opening function, rises together with the sash relative to the jamb. The intermediate arm is mounted on both sides of the window to two sash side stiles. Whereas the intermediate arm is attached via a rotatable attachment to the gutter mounted on jamb side stiles. Preferably the rotatable attachment constitutes a four-bar linkage constructed out of a system of spigots by the jamb upper stile and a roof window sash. The hinge gutter comprises a sledge assembly in the form of a slider with a spigot for the roof window sash lifting device spring assembly coupling element. During roof window opening, pressure exerted by the spring assembly causes the slider to move along a gutter bottom. There is at least one slide insert made out of plastic between the gutter and the slider to help the slider move along the gutter bottom. Preferably it comprises a front slide insert and a back slide insert, wherein the names of the inserts indicate their position on the slider relative to the spring assembly. The front slide insert is located closer to the spring assembly than the back slide insert. The hinge also comprises a support between the intermediate arm and the slider, so that during roof window opening the slider rises together with the sash and its end rotatably attached to the slider moves together with it along the gutter. The slider moves together with the support along the gutter bottom along path S, which comprises two sections, S1 and S2. Friction T, comprising friction components T1 and T2, occurs between the slider with the slide inserts and the gutter bottom. Through a balancing of the forces exerted by the weight of the sash, which exerts pressure on the slider via the lifting arm, spring assembly tension, friction T between the slider and the sledge assembly gutter during roof window opening and closing, the sash, in all positions above the jamb, is held in a selected position. The essence of the invention entails reducing friction T2'to T1 between the gutter bottom and sledge assembly in solutions disclosed to date by using a friction reduction means, in particular during roof window closing when the support is in the aforementioned end position, and thus the slider and support are located along section S1 of path S.

[0007] In the first embodiment, which is not part of the claimed invention, the friction reduction means comprises the gutter bottom fragment made out of a different material than the rest of the gutter, wherein that fragment is located along section S1 of path S taken by the slider along the gutter bottom. However, the material which the slider is made out of does not change. Because of the properties of the gutter bottom fragment along section S1 of the path, friction T1 occurs between the said fragment and slider, and in particular the slide insert, and it is less than friction T2' between these elements in the absence of friction reduction means. Friction reduction is achieved by changing the friction coefficient between the two materials of the gutter bottom and of the slider slide insert with inserts, which is smaller for these two along section S1 of path S and larger along section S2 of path S.

[0008] In the second embodiment, the friction reduction means comprises a roller, or a bearing, or another element on the support spigot in the gutter. There are openings on the bottom of the slider and the gutter, preferably the gutter opening is longer than the slider opening. The friction reduction means remains in a contactless function along section S2 of path S, and is in a contact function along section S1 of path S. The transition process of the friction reduction means from the contactless function to the contact function during window opening may be described as follows: in the course of opening a window, as the sash tilt angle increases, the slider with the support and roller seated in the slider opening and partially in the gutter opening move along hinge gutter between sections S2 and S1. Along section S2 the roller is inactive, and sliding friction between the gutter bottom and the slider with slide inserts occurs with friction equal to T2. The roller becomes active once it exits the opening onto the hinge gutter bottom along section S1. Then the sliding friction between the gutter bottom and the slider with inserts changes to rolling friction between the roller and the gutter bottom. The roller rolling along the gutter bottom lifts the slider slightly relative to the gutter, and the friction T1 is generated between the gutter bottom and the roller. During window closing the above mentioned process is reversed. Friction reduction is achieved by changing the type of friction coefficient from sliding to rolling, so that the friction coefficient along section S1 is less than the friction coefficient along section S2 of path S.

[0009] In the third embodiment, which is not part of the claimed invention, the friction reduction means along section S1 of the path, between gutter bottom and sledge assembly slider comprises at least one roller in a jamb side stile aperture, which rolls on the bottom of the aperture in jamb side stile or has its own axis of rotation. In this embodiment, the hinge gutter features a gutter opening, and the aperture on the bottom of the back slide insert is at least as wide as the gutter opening above the friction reduction means. The aperture in the back slide insert is above the friction reduction means which remains in a contactless function along section S2 of path S. Similar to the first embodiment, during window opening, the friction reduction means transitions from the contactless function to the contact function along section S1 of path S, wherein the back slide insert bottom is on the friction reduction means and friction changes from T2 along section S2 to T1. In the friction reduction means contactless function sliding friction occurs between slider slide inserts 71, 72, whereas in the contact function, rolling friction occurs between back slide insert 72 and rollers 10. Friction reduction is achieved by changing the type of friction coefficient from sliding to rolling, so that the friction coefficient along section S1 is less than the friction coefficient along section S2 of path S. The roof window hinge according to the invention, through the application of friction reduction means along section S1 of the slider path along gutter bottom, makes it possible to reduce friction T2' between gutter bottom and slider with slide inserts in disclosed inventions, which makes roof window closing considerably easier as the force required to overcome that friction and close a window is considerably lower. Friction changes along section S1 of slider path S along gutter bottom, where the support together with the slider is in its end position. In the support end position, the sash exerts the largest pressure on jamb side stile through the support, and friction without the friction reduction means is T2', therefore use of this means in the end position of the support with slider is preferable.

[0010] The illustration depicts the invention, with given figures depicting the following: Fig. 1 roof window and hinge Fig. 2 hinge according to the first embodiment, which is not part of the claimed invention, Fig. 3 part of slider and gutter with a fragment of gutter bottom made out of a material which functions as a friction reduction means Fig. 4 rear view of the hinge according to the second embodiment Fig. 5 hinge fragment with a roller according to the second embodiment Fig. 6 aperture in the jamb and hinge with friction reduction means and slider back slide insert according to the third embodiment, which is not part of the claimed invention Fig. 7 bottom view of the slider with back and front slide inserts according to the third embodiment Fig. 8 longitudinal section of the roller assembly according to the third embodiment Fig. 9 hinge fragment with a roller assembly according to the third embodiment Fig. 10 diagram of hinge operation during window closing and friction graph for given path S sections

[0011] In the first embodiment, which is not part of the claimed invention, the roof window hinge is constructed out of intermediate arm 1, which, in the roof window tilt opening function, rises together with sash 2 relative to jamb 3. Intermediate arm 1 is mounted on both sides of the window to two sash side stiles 21. Intermediate arm 1 is attached via four-bar linkage 11 to gutter 4 mounted on jamb side stiles 31. Hinge gutter 4 features a sledge assembly in the form of slider 6 with spigot 61 for roof window sash lifting device spring assembly 5 coupling element 51. During roof window opening, pressure exerted by spring assembly 6 causes slider 5 to move along gutter 4 bottom. Front slide insert 71 and back slide insert 72 made out of plastic are located between gutter 4 and slider 6. The hinge also features support 8 between intermediate arm 1 and slider 6, so that during roof window opening slider 8 rises together with sash 2 and its end rotatably attached to slider 6 moves together with it along the gutter 4. During window closing slider 6 travels along path S which comprises at least two sections S1 and S2. While the slider is moving along path S1, support 8 reaches its end position, for which the force required to close the window increases considerably. In the first embodiment a friction reduction means was used, so as to make it easier for support 8 to travel from its end position in the direction of section S2 of the path. The friction reduction means is a material used to make gutter bottom fragment 42 that is different than the material used to make the remaining part of the gutter. When support 8 is in the aforementioned end position along section S1 of the path, then the said fragment is in contact with slider 6, and in particular with slide inserts 71 and 72. Friction T1 occurs between the said gutter 4 material and slider 6 slide inserts. Fig. 10 depicts a diagram of the aforementioned changes to friction between hinge elements in contact with each other and moving relative to each other during roof window closing for each embodiment. Along section S1 of the path, support with slider is in its end position, and the window is open. Through the action of the friction reduction means, friction is T1, whereas in a solution without the friction reduction means friction would be T2'. Once the slider moves to section S2 of path S, the friction reduction means is no longer engaged, and friction between slider with slide inserts and gutter bottom is T2.

[0012] In the second embodiment, the roof window hinge is constructed out of intermediate arm 1, which, in the roof window tilt opening function, rises together with sash 2 relative to jamb 3. Intermediate arm 1 is mounted on both sides of the window to two sash side stiles 21. Intermediate arm 1 is attached via four-bar linkage 5 to gutter 4 mounted on jamb side stiles 31. Hinge gutter 4 features a sledge assembly in the form of slider 6 with spigot 61 for roof window sash lifting device spring assembly 5 coupling element 51. During roof window opening, pressure exerted by spring assembly 6 causes slider 5 to move along gutter 4 bottom. Front slide insert 71 and back slide insert 72 made out of plastic are located between gutter 4 and slider 6. The hinge also features support 8 between intermediate arm 1 and slider 6, so that during roof window opening support 8 rises together with sash 2 and its end rotatably attached to slider 6 moves together with it along the gutter 4. Roller 9 is located on support 8 spigot in gutter 4, which constitutes the friction reduction means between gutter 4 bottom and slider 6, so that friction between gutter 4 bottom and roller 9 along section S1 of the path is T1. During roof window closing, the slider travels along path S which comprises sections S1 and S2. Whilst slider 6 is moving along section S1, roller 9 is in its contact function, where the roller exits gutter opening 41 to its bottom, along which it is guided, and rolling friction T1 occurs between gutter 4 bottom and slider 6. In that position slider 6 rises slightly relative to gutter 4 bottom. In moving slider 6 from section S1 to section S2, the roller transitions to its contactless function, where roller 9 is positioned in slider opening 62 and gutter opening 41, and slider 6 back slide insert 72 is flush with gutter 4 bottom. Then slide friction T2 occurs between slider 6 and gutter 4 bottom.

[0013] In the third embodiment, which is not part of the claimed invention, the roof window hinge differs from the hinge according to the second embodiment in that the friction reduction means constitutes roller assembly 10 in jamb side stile 31 aperture. On the bottom of back slide insert 72 there is an aperture limited by arms 721, 722, so that the aperture width reflects opening 41 width on gutter 4 bottom. During roof window closing, the slider travels along path S which comprises sections S1 and S2. When slider 6 is moving along section S1, roller assembly 10 is in its contact function, where back slide insert bottom 723 is above roller assembly 10, and slider 6 is slightly raised relative to gutter 4 bottom. Then rolling friction T1 occurs between back slide insert bottom 723 and roller assembly 10. In moving slider 6 from section S1 to section S2, back slide insert bottom 723 is also moved, so that its aperture is above roller assembly 10, and roller assembly 10 is in its contactless function. Whereas slider 6 is in contact with gutter 4 bottom via slide inserts 71, 72 and friction T2 occurs between them.

Claims

1. Roof window hinge comprising following elements: - an intermediate arm (1), rotatably attached to a gutter (4), wherein the gutter (4) is designed for mounting on window jamb side stile (31), - a sledge assembly(6) in the form of a slider(6), designed to move along path S on the gutter (4) bottom, wherein there are two slide inserts (71, 72) between slider (6) and gutter (4) bottom, and the path S comprises two sections, S1 and S2 - a support (8), wherein the support (8) is rotatably attached to a intermediate arm spigots, and to the sledge assembly (6), and the support (8) with the sledge assembly (6) assume end position along section (S1) of path (S) of the sledge assembly along the gutter (4) in window open position - wherein a friction T occurs between the slider with the slide inserts (71, 72) and the gutter bottom during the window opening and closing, where friction T comprising friction components T1 and T2 - and the roof window hinge comprises a friction reduction means (9, 10) from T2' to T1 between sledge assembly (6) and the gutter bottom along section (S1) of path (S) and the friction reduction means operates in two functions, where one is referred to as the contactless function where the friction reduction means (9) is inactive and a contact function, where the friction reduction means (9) is active, characterized in that the friction reduction means is a rolling-element bearing on support spigot in hinge gutter, where the gutter bottom comprises a gutter opening (41), and the slider bottom comprises a slider opening (62), where sledge assembly slider (6) is in contact with hinge gutter (4) bottom via slide inserts (71, 72) such that the rolling-element bearing is in the contactless function along section (S2) of path (S) in which the rollin-element bearing is in the slider opening (62) and partially in the gutter opening (41) and the rolling-element bearing is in the contact function along section (S1) of path (S)in which the rolling-element bearing exits the opening (41) and is in contact with the gutter (4) bottom such that the slider is lifted relative to the gutter.

2. The hinge according to claim 1 characterized in that intermediate arm (1) is attached to the gutter (4) using a four-bar linkage.

3. Roof window constructed out of a jamb and a sash characterized in that the sash (2) is suspended from the jamb (3) using the hinge according to claims 1-2.

4. Roof window according to claim 3 characterized in that the sledge assembly (6) comprising the spigot (61) attached via coupling element (51) to the roof window sash lifting device spring assembly (5).

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