Sun Protection Installation Single Drive Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sun protection installations face synchronization challenges when using two independent drive systems for deploying slats in opposite directions, leading to difficulties in maintaining consistent spacing and efficient sunlight distribution.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a rail with a sliding strip and lateral guidance, along with carriage connecting elements that maintain a constant distance between slats, allows for simultaneous displacement and rotation of blades, using a gear system and low-friction materials to ensure smooth movement and prevent blockages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two independent drive systems are used to deploy blade subsets in opposite directions, then deployment flexibility is improved, but synchronization control becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment flexibilityVSAvoidsynchronization control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the two independent drive systems into a single drive system that controls both blade subsets simultaneously. The single drive system operates a common belt that is coupled to both subsets, ensuring synchronized deployment while maintaining the flexibility to deploy blades in opposite directions. This resolves the synchronization control difficulty while preserving deployment flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Illumination intensity

If blades are deployed in opposite directions from the center, then sunlight distribution is improved, but mechanical synchronization becomes tricky

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesunlight distributionVSAvoidmechanical synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a single drive system with a common belt to mechanically link both blade subsets, ensuring they deploy symmetrically in opposite directions from the center. This mechanical coupling through the shared belt and single drive system guarantees reliable synchronization while achieving even sunlight distribution through the roof.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a single drive system is used to move blades in opposite directions, then device complexity is reduced, but achieving symmetric deployment becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive system structureVSAvoidsymmetric deployment
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an asymmetric belt configuration where the belt is coupled to blade subsets at different locations along its length. This asymmetric coupling arrangement, combined with the single drive system, naturally produces symmetric deployment of blades in opposite directions from the center, achieving manufacturing precision without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables even sunlight distribution by maintaining a constant gap between deployed slats while keeping others grouped, simplifying the deployment process and reducing the risk of mechanical issues, thus providing effective sun protection.

Implementation Method 1

the sliding pad is made of a material characterized by a coefficient of friction less than or equal to 0.34, and the sliding strip is made of a material characterized by a coefficient of friction less than or equal to 0.1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3315686B1Facility for protecting against the sun
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 TIR TECH TOILES IND DU RHIN TECH
  • EP3315686B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3315686B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3315686B1 patent drawingFigure 3bis~4bis

AI summary

- A sun protection installation (1) comprising a protective roof (3) provided with a supporting frame (5) and a plurality of shading blades (11), the protection installation (1) further being provided with a movement system (15) for the plurality of shading blades (11) comprising a rail (17) and a guide (29), each extending in a deployment direction (19) of the plurality of blades (11) and each being attached to the supporting frame (5), a plurality of carriages (23), each comprising a rail (17) attachment element arranged to allow movement of the carriage (23) along the rail (17), a guide (29) cooperation element arranged to cooperate in translation with the guide (29) in two opposite deployment directions (19, 19bis), and a transmission device (61) for a rotary movement of the guide (29) to the corresponding blade (11),the rotary movement of the guide (29) being around the extension direction of the guide (29) and the rotary movement of the blade (11) around the extension axis (21) of the blade (11), a drive system (35) comprising a single drive means (41), the single drive means being configured to drive a transmission means (37, 39), the transmission means being configured to cooperate with the first carriage (23') at a first linkage so as to move the first carriage along the first direction (19), and to cooperate with the second carriage (23'bis) at a second linkage so as to move it along the second direction (19bis).