Automated Window System with an Overcenter Drive Mechanism

• US 20070261307A1
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Breezway Australia Pty Ltd. (JELD-WEN Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Breezway Australia (Holdings) Pty Ltd. (JELD-WEN Holding, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alexander, Edwin
• Granted Patent: US 8,567,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/82.100
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/096 operated or interconnected by gearing wing operators with gearing in general E05F11/00

Abstract

An automated window system including an energy accumulation means, and a window opening/closing mechanism associated with the energy accumulation means wherein the energy accumulation means releases at least a portion of the energy stored therein upon demand to the window opening/closing mechanism to open and/or close the window.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. An automated louvre window system for a window opening, the system including:

a. a plurality of louvre members;

b. at least one louvre end clip associated with each louvre member;

c. a surround frame including a plurality of frame members;

d. at least some of the louvre clips having a pivot member extending through at least one surround frame member; and

e. a drive mechanism for opening and closing the louvre members to cover and seal the window opening, the drive mechanism including at least one rigid operating bar adapted to open and close the louvres by its movement, the at least one operating bar associated with the pivot member of each of the at least some louvre clips, a powered drive wheel means, at least one link member associated with the wheel means and at least one operating bar of the louvre window system,

wherein the drive mechanism is contained within at least one of the surround frame members.

22. An automated window system according to claim 19 including an energy accumulation means, and a window opening/closing mechanism associated with the energy accumulation means wherein the energy accumulation means releases at least a portion of the energy stored therein upon demand to the window opening/closing mechanism to open and/or close the window.

23. An automated window system according to claim 22 wherein the energy accumulation means includes an energy accumulation portion and an energy storage portion, such that the energy accumulation portion collects or accumulates energy which is then stored in the energy storage portion.

24. An automated window system according to claim 23 wherein the energy accumulation portion collects or accumulates energy from a repetitious or renewable source such as solar power, wind, or tidal power, or multiple cycle means.

25. An automated window system according to claim 22 including a multiple cycle means, an accumulator associated with the multiple cycle means, a window opening/closing mechanism associated with the accumulator and wherein the multiple cycle means delivers energy to the accumulator during each cycle, said energy stored by the accumulator and at least a portion of the stored energy is delivered upon demand to the window opening/closing mechanism to open and/or close the window.

26. An automated window system according to claim 25 wherein the multiple cycle means includes at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) wire.

27. An automated window system according to claim 25 wherein the SMA wires are associated with a heating and a cooling means.

28. An automated window system according to claim 26 wherein the at least one SMA wire is associated with a reciprocating means, so that cyclic lengthening and shortening of the wire provides a motive force to the reciprocating means which delivers energy to the accumulator during each reciprocation.

29. An automated window system according to claim 25 wherein the window opening/closing mechanism associated with the accumulator is capable of only one movement of the window per activation of energy stored in the accumulator.

30. An automated window system according to claim 25 further including an automatic switching mechanism associated with the window opening/closing mechanism such that if the windows are opened, the switching mechanism is automatically switched such that the next movement is a closing movement and if the windows are closed, then switching mechanism is preferably automatically switched such that the next movement is an opening movement.

31. An automated window system according to claim 19 wherein the drive mechanism includes at least one operating bar adapted to open and close the louvres by its movement, the drive mechanism including a drive wheel means, at least one link member associated with the wheel means and at least one operating bar of the louvre window system, the link attached such that linear movement of the at least one operating bar decreases for a unit radial movement of the wheel means during a period when increased load is experienced in the louvre opening or closing sequence.

32. An automated window system according to claim 31 wherein each louvre is associated with a toothed wheel located inside the louvre gallery, and the operating bars are provided with a set of correspondingly shaped teeth to engage with the toothed wheel.

33. An automated window system according to claim 31 wherein the drive wheel means is a toothed wheel having at least one central attachment portion about which the teeth of the cog are arranged, to which the link members are attached.

34. An automated window system according to claim 33 wherein each link member is an elongate member having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to an outer portion of the central attachment portion of the drive wheel means and the second end attached to an operating bar of the louvre operating system.

35. An automated window system according to claim 34 wherein the opening and closing rotation of the wheel means may move the attachment point of the first end of the link member to the wheel means approximately 145°

.

36. An automated window system according to claim 35 wherein the window opening and closing sequences each include at least two portions, a main portion of the sequence taking place over approximately 95°

of rotation of the wheel means and a final portion of the sequence taking place over approximately 50°

of rotation of the wheel means.

37. An automated window system according to claim 35 wherein the window opening and closing sequences each include at least two portions, a main portion and a final portion and the ratio of the angle of rotation of the main portion of the sequence to the final portion is between approximately 50:

50 to 80;

20.

20. An automated louvre window system for a window opening, the system including:

a. a plurality of louvre members;

b. at least one louvre end clip associated with each louvre member;

c. a surround frame including a plurality of frame members;

d. at least some of the louvre clips having a pivot member extending through at least one surround frame member; and

e. a drive mechanism for opening and closing the louvre members to cover and seal the window opening, the drive mechanism including at least one rigid operating bar adapted to open and close the louvres by its movement, the at least one operating bar associated with the pivot member of each of the at least some louvre clips, a powered drive wheel means, at least one link member associated with the wheel means, and at least one operating bar of the louvre window system, a power conversion means,

wherein the drive mechanism is contained within at least one of the surround frame members.

21. An automated louvre window system for a window opening, the system including:

a. a plurality of louvre members;

b. at least one louvre end clip associated with each louvre member;

c. a surround frame including a plurality of frame members;

d. at least some of the louvre clips having a pivot member extending through at least one surround frame member; and

e. a drive mechanism for opening and closing the louvre members to cover and seal the window opening, the drive mechanism including at least one rigid operating bar adapted to open and close the louvres by its movement, the at least one operating bar associated with the pivot member of each of the at least some louvre clips, a powered drive wheel means, at least one link member associated with the wheel means and at least one operating bar of the louvre window system, a power storage means to store and release energy upon demand to the powered drive wheel means,

wherein the drive mechanism is contained within at least one of the surround fame members.