Sun protection system with drive unit

Abstract

A sun protection system has a raised frame having at least two longitudinal cross members (12) and at least two transverse cross members (14), wherein the longitudinal and / or transverse cross members are supported on posts (16) and / or can be supported on lateral support brackets. Furthermore, drive elements for connection to a drive motor and at least one guide rail (23) are arranged in the longitudinal cross members (12), in which slides (26) for connection to a sun protection system are adjustably guided. In order to simplify assembly and avoid problems that may arise, it is proposed that an auxiliary frame (22) be provided which, together with the drive elements arranged in the longitudinal cross member (12) and the guide rail (23), forms a pre-assembled drive unit (10). After the frame has been erected, the drive unit can be inserted into the longitudinal cross member as a unit and fastened to it.

Description

[0001] The invention relates according to the preamble of claim 1 to a sun protection system with a raised frame which has at least two longitudinal and at least two transverse cross members, wherein the longitudinal and / or transverse cross members are supported on posts and / or on lateral support brackets, wherein drive elements for connection to a drive motor and at least one guide rail are arranged in the longitudinal cross members, in which carriers for connection to a sun protection system are adjustably guided.

[0002] For such sun protection systems, especially those designed as louvre roofs or conservatory awnings, the drive elements and guide rails are currently mounted on the crossbar. For smaller systems, such as conservatory awnings, these components can be pre-assembled to the crossbars, but this increases the weight and thus the risk of damage during transport or handling.

[0003] For larger and heavier louvre systems, pre-assembly on the trusses is generally not possible, as this would further increase the already heavy weight of the trusses and make safe handling during installation more difficult due to the sensitive drive components. For these systems, the drive and guide components are usually installed on-site after the frame has been assembled. This may be complicated by ambient and weather conditions, but in any case, the specialist personnel entrusted with the installation must have undergone special training, as the installation and adjustment require specialized knowledge.

[0004] A system of the type described above is known from EP 3 707 337 B1, which has a special guide rail with rollers that engage around it in pairs and are to be mounted on site.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to improve a sun protection system of the type described above in such a way that the aforementioned problems during installation of the system are avoided.

[0006] According to the invention, the object is achieved by a sun protection system of the type mentioned at the outset, in which an auxiliary frame is provided which, together with the drive elements arranged in the cross member and the guide rail, forms a pre-assembled drive unit which, after the frame has been erected, can be inserted into the cross member as a unit and fastened to it.

[0007] The inventive solution offers the advantage that the frame elements can be assembled on-site first, and only after the subframes with the drive elements have been completed do they need to be inserted into the stable structure. Connections are then made to any drive motors located in the other trusses and the actual sun protection, which can be designed as a curtain or as a variable louvre roof. Since the drive elements can be pre-assembled and adjusted, the effort required on-site is minimized, reducing the risk of installation errors.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one guide rail itself forms the subframe. This solution is particularly simple to construct. Since the guide rail should generally possess a relatively high degree of rigidity anyway, it can generally also assume the supporting function for the drive unit during transport.

[0009] A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the at least one pre-assembled drive unit rests on a horizontally oriented profile wall of the longitudinal cross member. This configuration has the advantage that, after the support frame has been erected, the drive unit can simply be placed on the profile wall from above, eliminating the need for laborious handling of the drive unit. Access to the horizontal profile wall can preferably be provided by a cover on the top side of the longitudinal cross member, which closes this space again after assembly and protects the drive unit from weather influences and dirt.

[0010] A further development of the invention provides for the subframe to have horizontal projections that engage in a laterally open groove in the longitudinal cross member. In this way, the drive unit can be secured against lifting out by simply sliding it sideways after being placed on the horizontal profile wall. The remaining degrees of freedom in the axial direction and against the direction of insertion into the groove can be locked using suitable inserts, for example, a screw connection is provided to secure the subframe to the longitudinal cross member.

[0011] For shading systems suitable for louvre or conservatory systems, it may be preferable for the drive elements to comprise a flexible, rotating drive element and at least one driver attached to the drive element. The drive element is deflected at the ends of the subframe via deflection pulleys, at least one of which is connected to an electric drive motor. The electric drive motor can then be arranged, for example, in one of the cross members; for two drive motors, both cross members can also be used.

[0012] The use of a toothed belt as the drive element has proven particularly advantageous, as it enables precise positioning of the shading elements.

[0013] Yet another special embodiment of the invention provides that the lower run of the drive element is encapsulated in a housing. This solution, in which the encapsulation can be designed as a pre-assembled part of the drive unit, offers the advantage that no moisture or dirt can reach the lower run of the drive element and collect, for example, between the tooth projections of a toothed belt. Water collected there is then transported to the deflection points and flows away uncontrollably. While this problem can be solved with increased effort by suitable drainage in the case of posts arranged in the deflection areas, this is not possible if there are no posts, e.g. in the case of a wall connection. If the drive element is exposed to the weather, the problem then arises that the water transported to the deflection area seeks an uncontrolled drain and leads to moisture damage.

[0014] Depending on the arrangement of the drive elements in the drive unit, it may be advantageous for the deflection at one end of the subframe to be achieved via two smaller deflection pulleys arranged one above the other, with an angular gear having an input shaft aligned with a chamber of the cross member arranged there. The arrangement of two smaller deflection pulleys creates axial space that allows the installation of an angular gear, which is required, for example, to drive a drive shaft extending parallel to the longitudinal cross member, such as is used for adjusting the inclination of the slats of a louvre roof.

[0015] For the toothed belt drive, a larger, simple deflection pulley is more useful, which can be arranged directly in line with the motor rotation axis, so that no axial installation space is required for a gearbox.

[0016] As already mentioned, regardless of the type of drive, it can be provided that an input shaft of the drive elements is connected to an electric drive in a cross member.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, as already indicated, the sun protection device comprises a plurality of slats that can be gathered and adjusted in their inclination. The slats are guided on the guide rails on both sides by means of sliders. The sliders can slide or run on rollers in the guide rails.

[0018] In an adjustable louvre roof used as sun protection, it is preferably provided that the first sliders of a guide louvre are each connected to their associated drive element, and that the sliders are axially movable on a polygonal shaft, which is connected to the angle gears and, via an angle gear in each slider, is connected to the rotational axes of the louvres. This solution can, but does not have to, be combined with a slat movement mechanism, which, for example, operates with a rotating drive element as previously discussed.

[0019] Further features, details, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the exemplary embodiment described below with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a pre-assembled drive unit; Fig. 2 an oblique view of an open corner area of a louvre system; Fig. 3a perspective view of an opened longitudinal cross member with a mounted drive unit according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 a cross section through the longitudinal cross member Fig. 3 .

[0020] In Fig. 1 A drive unit 10 is shown, as used in louvre systems 100 with an adjustable louvre roof 110. This represents a preassembled, self-supporting unit that has sufficient inherent rigidity so that the unit can be preassembled in a production facility and transported to a construction site, where it can then be installed in a louvre roof 110 or, if necessary, another type of roof structure.

[0021] Such a system is in Fig. 2This has a frame consisting of two parallel longitudinal beams 12 and two connecting cross beams 14, whereby the actual beams 12, 14 are covered by removable cover profiles 13, 15. As in Fig. 2 As shown, support posts 16 can be provided in the corner area between the longitudinal and transverse beams, but these can also be replaced by support brackets fixed to a wall. A corner connector 18 connects the three support elements that meet in the corner area.

[0022] The frame houses a louvre roof 110, with the louvres being gatherable by a travel drive and their inclination adjustable by an angle drive. Details of the drives will only be discussed briefly here.

[0023] The Fig. 1The drive unit 10 shown has a support element 22, which represents a subframe that supports all drive components and stabilizes them relative to one another even before the drive unit is mounted in the pre-assembled support structure. In the embodiment shown, the support element 22 is simultaneously designed as a guide rail 23, here in the sense of a running rail, on which rollers 24 of sliders 26 run. The slats of the slatted roof 110 (see Fig. 2 ) are mounted with their pivot axes on shaft journals 28 on the riders 26, which will be discussed in more detail later.

[0024] The Fig. 1The drive unit shown, of which two are required for each side of the system in a mirror-symmetrical design for installation in the two parallel longitudinal cross members 12 of the pergola system 100, can be pre-assembled in an assembly plant and then delivered as a unit to a construction site, where it is then installed into the roof framework before the louvre roof is finally installed. This allows the sensitive drive units to be installed under controlled conditions. Handling the longitudinal cross members during assembly of the louvre system is also simplified, as they are significantly lighter at the time of assembly due to the drive units not yet being installed.

[0025] The Fig. 1 and 3The views shown show the drive unit 10 on the side of a deflection pulley 30, over which a toothed belt 32 runs. This ensures the longitudinal adjustment of the slatted roof 110 by being connected to a first tab 26 via a driver 34. To gather the slats, a drive motor with a claw clutch 36, which is arranged in the cross member 14 and connected to the deflection pulley 30 via a drive shaft 38, drives the toothed belt 32 so that it takes the first tab 26 with it, in the embodiment shown in a direction away from the deflection pulley 30. As soon as the first tab 26 reaches the adjacent tab 26, it takes it with it; this happens for all tabs 26, until the slats are gathered and rest against the opposite cross member 14.The extension process takes place analogously in the reverse direction, whereby the extension movement of the individual riders 26, which are not directly connected to the toothed belt 32, is effected by suitable, already known means, which also determine the end position of the riders and thus the slat position.

[0026] In Fig. 1 and 3 A bearing block 40 for the deflection pulley 30 is shown, which is screwed directly to the support element 22. The rotational axis of the deflection pulley 30 is aligned with a cavity 42 of the cross member 14, in which the aforementioned electric drive motor is arranged, the output shaft of which is aligned with the rotational axis, so that no deflection is required.

[0027] As from Figs. 3 and 4As can be seen, the lower run 44 of the toothed belt 32 runs in a chamber 48 closed by a cover 46, so that the toothed belt cannot pick up any dirt or moisture in the area of the longitudinal cross member 12 and transport it into the deflection area. The cover 46 is inclined relative to the horizontal so that water runs off directly and is directed via suitable means (not shown) into a drainage channel 47 (see Fig. 3 and 4 ) can flow away.

[0028] At the end of the support element 22 opposite the large, simple deflection pulley 30, two smaller, superimposed deflection pulleys 50 are provided for deflecting the toothed belt 32 (see Fig. 2This arrangement allows for axial installation space in which an angular gear 52 is arranged, the input shaft 54 of which is aligned with the drive shaft of another electric drive motor in the cross member 14, which adjoins the longitudinal cross member 12 at an angle of 90 degrees. A bearing block 58, on which the two deflection rollers 50 are mounted, and the angular gear 52 are in turn screwed to the support element 22.

[0029] The angular gear is connected to a polygonal shaft 60 running parallel to the support element 22, which serves to adjust the angle of the slats. For this purpose, polygonal bushings 62 are provided in the slides, which are connected to the shaft journals 28 via an angular gear provided in each slide 26, so that a rotation of the polygonal shaft 60 is converted into a synchronous rotation of the shaft journals 28. The polygonal bushings 62 are freely movable axially on the polygonal shaft 60, enabling the described displacement of the slats.

[0030] As already mentioned, all riders 26 run on rollers 24, which run on the support element 22 designed as a guide rail.

[0031] The assembly of the entire system proceeds as follows. First, the supporting frame of the slat system 100 is erected, whereby the longitudinal beams 12 are connected to the cross beams 14 via the corner connectors 18, which are supported by support posts 16 anchored to the floor or suitable wall brackets. The Fig. 2 and 4 shown upper covers 64 of the longitudinal cross members 12, so that a horizontal profile wall 66 of the longitudinal cross member remains accessible.

[0032] The Fig. 1 The drive unit 10 shown is then placed from above on a support surface 65 on the horizontal profile wall 66. As in Fig. 3 and 4As can be clearly seen, two undercut longitudinal grooves 68 are provided on the underside of the support element 22, each having a horizontal projection 70. This is designed to match longitudinal grooves 72, which are formed by L-shaped projections 74 in the region of the support surface 65 of the horizontal profile wall 66.

[0033] By moving the drive unit 10, the horizontal projections 70 move into the grooves 72, so that the drive unit 10 is secured against being lifted on the longitudinal cross member 12.

[0034] To secure the drive unit 10 against displacement out of the grooves 72, inserts 76 are provided, which engage in a gap 78 created by the displacement of the drive unit. The inserts 76 do not extend over the entire length of the support element 22; for example, two relatively short, spaced inserts 76 distributed over the length of the support element are sufficient.

[0035] Additionally, axial locking elements (not shown) are provided to define the drive unit in its axial position. After the drive unit has been assembled, the slats can be mounted on the shaft journal 28 to form the slatted roof 110, after the motor drive shafts have been coupled via the claw couplings 36. Finally, the covers are installed to protect the drive units 10. Disassembly of the drive unit 10 for maintenance and repair purposes is possible at any time in the reverse order, without having to dismantle the entire slat system.

[0036] The invention is not limited to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in many ways.

[0037] All features and advantages arising from the claims and the description, including design details, spatial arrangements and method steps, can be essential to the invention both individually and in a wide variety of combinations. List of reference symbols

[0038] 10Drive unit 12Longitudinal beam 14Cross beam 16Support post 18Corner connector 22Support element 23Guide rail 24Rollers 26Ridge 28Shaft journal 30Deflection pulley (large) 32Timing belt 34Carrier 36Claw coupling 38Drive shaft 40Bearing block 42Cavity 44Lower run 46Cover 47Drainage channel 48Chamber 50Deflection pulleys (small) 52Angle gear 54Input shaft 58Bearing block 60Polygonal shaft 62Polygonal bushing 64Upper covers 65Support surface 66Horizontal profile wall 68Undercut longitudinal groove 70Horizontal projection 72Longitudinal groove 74L-shaped projections 76Inserts 78Gap 100 slat system 110 slat roof

Claims

1. Sun protection system with a raised frame having at least two longitudinal (12) and at least two transverse cross members (14), wherein the longitudinal and / or transverse cross members are supported on posts (16) and / or can be supported on lateral support brackets, wherein drive elements for connection to a drive motor and at least one guide rail (23) are arranged in the longitudinal cross members (12), in which slides (26) are adjustably guided for connection to a sun protection system, characterized in that an auxiliary frame (22) is provided which, together with the drive elements arranged in the longitudinal cross member (12) and the guide rail (23), forms a pre-assembled drive unit (10) which, after the frame has been erected, can be inserted into the longitudinal cross member as a unit and fastened to it.

2. Sun protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one guide rail (23) itself forms the auxiliary frame (22).

3. Sun protection system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one pre-assembled drive unit rests on a horizontally oriented profile wall (66) of the longitudinal cross member (12).

4. Sun protection system according to claim 3, characterized in that the auxiliary frame (22) has horizontal projections (70) which engage in a laterally open groove (72) in the longitudinal cross member (12).

5. Sun protection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a screw connection is provided for securing the subframe (22) to the longitudinal cross member (12).

6. Sun protection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe drive elements comprise a rotating flexible drive member (32) and at least one driver (34) which is fastened to the drive member (32), wherein the drive member (32) is deflected at the ends of the auxiliary frame (22) via deflection rollers (30, 50), at least one of which is connected to an electric drive motor.

7. Sun protection system according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive element is a toothed belt (32).

8. Sun protection system according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a lower run (44) of the drive element (32) is encapsulated in a housing (48).

9. Sun protection system according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the deflection at one end of the auxiliary frame (22) takes place via two smaller deflection rollers (50) arranged one above the other, wherein an angular gear (52) is arranged with an input shaft (54) which is in alignment with a chamber of the cross member (14) arranged there.

10. Sun protection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an input shaft (38) of the drive elements is connected to an electric drive in a cross member (14).

11. Sun protection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sun protection (110) has a plurality of slats which can be gathered and are adjustable in their inclination, wherein the slats are guided on both sides by means of riders (26) on the guide rails (23).

12. Sun protection system according to claims 9, 10 and 11, characterized in that the first riders (26) of a guide slat are each connected to the drive element (32) associated with them and the riders (26) are axially displaceable on a polygonal shaft (60) which are connected to the angular gears (52) and are connected to the axes of rotation of the slats via an angular gear in each of the riders (26).

13. Sun protection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal cross member (12) has a cover (64) on the upper side.

Images