Coaxial Blind Drive Assembly for Compact Rail Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing top-down bottom-up blinds systems require large space due to parallel drive shafts, leading to inefficiencies and potential collisions between the middle and bottom rails, and are complex to manufacture and replace.
Innovation Solution
A drive assembly with two motors and a control unit housed in a single unit, where the motors control the position of the middle and bottom bars, preventing collisions by maintaining a rotation difference, and allowing for easy manufacturing and replacement, with the motors and control unit accommodated in a compact metal tube housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If two motors with parallel drive shafts are used in a master-slave configuration, then the blinds system can control middle and bottom rail positions, but the system occupies a relatively large space requiring a large top rail
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines both motors and the control unit into a single integrated housing, merging previously separate components into one compact unit. This consolidation reduces the overall space required in the top rail while maintaining the dual-motor control capability for independent middle and bottom rail positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from parallel drive shafts to coaxial drive shafts, changing the spatial arrangement from a two-dimensional parallel configuration to a one-dimensional coaxial configuration. This dimensional change significantly reduces the space occupied in the top rail while preserving the independent control functionality of both motors.
2Ease of operation
If two motors with parallel drive shafts are used, then independent control of middle and bottom bars is achieved, but collision between middle bar and top bar cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors the rotational position of both drive shafts and uses this feedback information to prevent collisions. By continuously tracking the rotation difference between the two coaxial drive shafts, the control unit can detect when the middle bar approaches the top bar and stop the first motor accordingly, preventing collision while maintaining independent control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements preliminary anti-action by preemptively stopping the first motor when the rotation difference indicates that the middle bar is approaching the top bar. This preventive measure stops the motion before collision can occur, ensuring reliability while preserving the independent control function of both motors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If motors and control unit are separately assembled, then placement flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing complexity and replacement difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the motors and control unit into a single pre-assembled housing, the patent creates a modular drive assembly that is easier to manufacture as a complete unit and simpler to replace as one component. This integration maintains placement flexibility while significantly reducing manufacturing and replacement complexity compared to assembling separate components.
4Area of stationary object
If drive shafts extend along the same axis, then space consumption in top bar is reduced, but precise control of rotation difference is required
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit employs feedback control to precisely monitor and regulate the rotation difference between the two coaxial drive shafts. By continuously measuring the rotational positions and using this feedback to adjust motor operation, the system achieves the required precision in controlling the rotation difference, enabling the space-saving coaxial configuration to function reliably.
Data Source
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AI summary
A drive assembly (99) for a top down bottom up blinds system (100), comprising blinds (6) which are limited in movement between a middle bar (2) and a bottom bar (3), wherein the drive assembly comprises a first motor (10), a second motor (20) and a control unit (30), and wherein the first motor (10) is adapted to control the position of the middle bar, the second motor (20) is adapted to control the position of the bottom bar, both motors are driven by the control unit (30), and the two motors (10, 20) and the control unit (30) are accommodated in a single housing (5), such that the drive assembly forms a pre-assembled unit.