Window Covering Drive Pulley With Switchable Torque-Speed Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window covering drive units often require increased torque at the cost of reduced speed, which is undesirable for lighter or smaller window coverings, leading to inventory management issues and complexity in the supply chain due to the need for multiple drive units.
Innovation Solution
A modular operating unit with a rotatable drive pulley and engagement device featuring circumferentially spaced pins and openings, allowing for two different drive units to be created from identical components, enabling easy conversion between drive unit types and reducing stockkeeping and supply chain complexities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If drive units are designed with increased torque for heavier window coverings, then the torque capability is improved, but the operating speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drive pulley allows dynamic configuration between two mounting positions for the engagement device. In the first position, pins engage with openings to provide increased torque for heavy window coverings. In the second position, pins do not engage, allowing faster operation for lighter coverings. This dynamic reconfigurability resolves the contradiction by allowing the same drive unit to adapt its characteristics based on the application requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the engagement parameter between two states: engaged (for high torque) and disengaged (for high speed). The engagement device can be positioned to either engage the pins with the drive pulley openings or remain disengaged, thereby changing the operational parameters of the drive unit without requiring multiple different units.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different drive units are offered for differently sized window coverings, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single drive unit design incorporates two engagement device mounting positions that enable it to function as either a high-torque drive unit or a high-speed drive unit. This universal design eliminates the need to maintain separate inventories of different drive unit types, as one versatile unit can serve multiple application requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement device is separated from the drive pulley and can be mounted in different positions. This segmentation allows the engagement device to be repositioned between two mounting positions on the housing, enabling the same drive unit to be reconfigured for different operational requirements without replacing entire drive units.
3Device complexity
If a single versatile drive unit design is used for both lighter and heavier window coverings, then the device complexity is reduced, but the torque capability for heavy coverings may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The drive pulley allows dynamic configuration between two mounting positions for the engagement device. In the first position, pins engage with openings to provide increased torque for heavy window coverings. In the second position, pins do not engage, allowing faster operation for lighter coverings. This dynamic reconfigurability resolves the contradiction by allowing the same drive unit to adapt its characteristics based on the application requirements.
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
The solution allows for efficient operation of both lighter and heavier window coverings with adjustable torque and speed, simplifying inventory management and reducing costs by utilizing a majority of identical components, while also facilitating easy conversion between drive unit types.
Implementation Method 1
a brake mechanism for, in use, arresting the engagement device when the drive pulley is not rotated and preventing the engagement device and drive pulley from being back driven by the window covering
Data Source
AI summary
An operating unit (5) for operating a window covering. The operating unit (5) includes a housing (11), a rotatable drive pulley (13) having an axis of rotation and first and second mounting positions in the housing, with respect to the axis of rotation, an engagement device (15), rotatable about the axis of rotation, and a brake mechanism (45, 47, 49) for, in use, arresting the engagement device when the drive pulley (13) is not rotated and preventing the engagement device and drive pulley from being back driven by the window covering. The engagement device (15) has a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins (19) parallel to the axis of rotation. The drive pulley (13) has a corresponding plurality of openings (17) facing the pins (19). In the first mounting position, the pins on the engagement device (15) engage with the corresponding openings (17) in the drive pulley and the engagement device rotates with the drive pulley. In the second mounting position, the pins (19) do not so engage and the engagement device (15) thereby can rotate relative to the drive pulley (13).