Sun Protection Installation Blade Drive Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sun protection installations with moving blades require complex mechanisms for reliable operation, prone to blockages and damage due to play and connections between elements, making the displacement system delicate and difficult to maintain.

Innovation Solution

A sun protection installation with a load-bearing frame and darkening slats, featuring a rail and guide system, carriages with hooking elements for translation, and a device for transmitting rotary movement, along with connecting elements to maintain constant distances between slats, allowing for simultaneous deployment and rotation of blades with a simplified drive system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a complex mechanism is used to enable both deployment and rotation of blades, then the functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the deployment function and rotation function into a single integrated mechanism. The guide rod simultaneously performs both functions: when it translates along its axis, it deploys the blade; when it rotates around its axis, it rotates the blade. This eliminates the need for separate mechanisms for each function, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide rod is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple operations. It serves as both a translational guide for blade deployment and a rotational guide for blade orientation. This universal component approach reduces the number of parts needed and simplifies the overall mechanism structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a complex mechanism with multiple connections is used for blade movement, then the displacement capability is improved, but the reliability decreases due to play and connections leading to blockages or damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplacement capabilityVSAvoidmechanism reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple connection functions into a single guide rod-blade interface. Instead of having separate connections for deployment and rotation, the guide rod provides both functions through its geometric design. This reduces the number of connection points and potential failure locations, improving reliability while maintaining full displacement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using multiple separate components to achieve deployment and rotation, the patent inverts the approach by using a single component (guide rod) whose geometric constraints naturally produce both motions. The guide rod's orientation and connection points are designed so that its movement automatically generates the desired blade deployment and rotation without requiring additional complex connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Measurement precision

If individual drive systems are used for each carriage, then the control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoiddrive system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual drive systems into a single drive mechanism that controls all carriages simultaneously. The connecting elements link the carriages together, so that one drive unit can move multiple carriages in a coordinated manner. This maintains control precision through the mechanical coupling while dramatically reducing the number of drive components needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the drive function by using connecting elements that distribute the drive force from a single source to multiple carriages. Each carriage is independently positionable through this segmented approach, maintaining control precision while simplifying the overall drive system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3018265B1Facility for protecting against the sun
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 TIR TECH TOILES IND DU RHIN TECH
  • EP3018265B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3018265B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3018265B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Sun protection installation (1) comprising a protective roof (3) having a supporting frame (5) and a plurality of blackout blades (11), the protection installation (1) further being provided with a movement system (15) for the plurality of blackout blades (11) comprising a rail (17) and a guide (29), a plurality of trolleys (23), a drive system for a trolley (23') of the plurality of trolleys (23) in the direction of deployment (19), a plurality of connecting elements (45) for trolleys (23), each connecting element (45) being disposed between two adjacent trolleys (23) in the direction of deployment (19) and being arranged to limit the distance separating said two adjacent trolleys (23) to a given distance (47).