U.S. patent number RE34,287 [Application Number 07/739,530] was granted by the patent office on 1993-06-22 for window operator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Truth Division of SPX Corporation. Invention is credited to Allen J. Alden, John M. Berner, Frank W. Campbell, Eric C. Stender.
United States Patent |
RE34,287 |
Berner , et al. |
June 22, 1993 |
Window operator
Abstract
A window operator has a prime mover for opening and closing of a
window, with the prime mover being drivingly connected to a drive
output member through an intermediate gear structure. A clutch
device in the drive structure senses the torque applied to the
drive output member in a window closing operation and a switch
operable by the clutch is effective to deenergize the prime mover
when the torque applied to the output member reaches a
predetermined value. The switch can be adjustably located relative
to the clutch whereby the predetermined value at which the motor
will be deenergized may be varied in order to obtain a desired
tension on a member connected to the closed sash of the window,
such as a chain connected to the sash of a skylight window.
Inventors: |
Berner; John M. (Golden Valley,
MN), Stender; Eric C. (New Hope, MN), Campbell; Frank
W. (Brooklyn Center, MN), Alden; Allen J. (Elk River,
MN) |
Assignee: |
Truth Division of SPX
Corporation (Owatonna, MN)
|
Family
ID: |
26960377 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/739,530 |
Filed: |
August 2, 1991 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
280590 |
Dec 5, 1988 |
04945678 |
Aug 7, 1990 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
49/322; 192/150;
192/56.56; 49/279; 49/325 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05F
15/619 (20150115); E05Y 2201/724 (20130101); E05Y
2201/656 (20130101); E05Y 2900/154 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05F
15/12 (20060101); E05D 013/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;49/28,322,325,279,26,340,341,342,447,449,452 ;192/56R,89A,150
;52/66,72 ;317/16 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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620193 |
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Mar 1946 |
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GB |
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1084704 |
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Sep 1967 |
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GB |
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1217793 |
|
Jun 1968 |
|
GB |
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1592748 |
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Sep 1977 |
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GB |
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1531881 |
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Nov 1987 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Dorner; Kenneth J.
Assistant Examiner: Anderson; Gerald A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wood, Phillips, VanSanten, Hoffman
& Ertel
Claims
We claim:
1. A window operator for moving a window component between fully
open and closed positions and any desired position therebetween,
comprising:
a rotatable drive output member;
a rotatable drive input member;
a gear train between said drive input and drive output members;
means for rotating said drive input member;
a switch for controlling operation of said rotating means;
means responsive to a closing torque applied to the rotatable drive
output member in excess of a predetermined value for operating said
switch to deenergize said rotating means;
a clutch associated with said drive output member;
spring means acting on said clutch to maintain a drive through said
clutch, said clutch including a pair of clutch members urged toward
each other by said spring means, said clutch members having
.[.coating.]. .Iadd.coacting .Iaddend.stops to prevent rotation of
the clutch members and gear train in response to an
externally-applied window component opening force;
.[.coating.]. .Iadd.coacting .Iaddend.helical ramps on said clutch
members which cause progressive separating movement therebetween
when said closing torque exceeds the force of said spring means
holding the clutch members against movement; and
means adjustably mounting said switch in the path of the clutch
member which moves as the clutch members separate to establish said
predetermined torque value.
2. A window operator as defined in claim 1 wherein said coacting
stops comprise vertical surfaces disposed in abutting relation on
each of said clutch members, whereby relative rotation between said
members in a direction representative of a window opening direction
is precluded.
3. A window operator as defined in claim 1 wherein said vertical
surfaces are further adapted to provide fixed rotation of each of
said clutch members when drive torque is internally-applied to said
drive input members in a direction representative of a window
opening.
4. A window operator comprising:
a rotatable drive output member;
a selectively operable motor;
a speed-reducing gear train between said .[.drive input.].
.Iadd.motor .Iaddend.and .Iadd.said .Iaddend.drive output
.[.members.]. .Iadd.member.Iaddend.;
a clutch in said gear train including a pair of separable clutch
members;
means yieldably-holding said clutch members against said separating
movement;
a torque-responsive coacting means on the clutch members for
causing progressive increase in the separation of the clutch
members against the action of the yieldable holding means in a
direction representative of only closing the window as the torque
applied to the output member increases above a certain amount;
a motor-controlling switch positioned in the path of one of the
clutch members; and
means for adjustably positioning said switch whereby the amount of
said torque effective to operate the switch can be set at a
predetermined value .Iadd.to ensure that a minimum selected torque
be applied to the output member to effect tight closing of the
window.Iaddend..
5. A window operator for moving a window component between fully
open and closed positions and any desired position therebetween
comprising;
a rotatable drive output member;
a rotatable drive input member;
a gear train between said drive input and drive output members;
means for rotating said drive input member;
a switch for controlling operation of said rotating means; and
means responsive to a closing torque applied to the rotatable drive
output member in excess of a predetermined value for operating said
switch to deenergize said rotating means, said responsive means
including a clutch having a pair of clutch members urged toward
each other by spring means, and anti-backdrive means adapted to
prevent rotation of the clutch members and gear train in response
to an externally-applied window component opening force.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a new and improved window operator and,
more particularly, to a window operator for a window, such as a
skylight window, wherein a power unit can cause extension and
retraction of a chain connected to a movable sash of the window for
causing opening and closing movement of the window sash. Window
operators for skylight windows are known in the art. An example of
such window operator is shown in the Tacheny et al. U.S. Pat. No.
4,521,993, owned by the assignee of this application. The window
operator has a chain storable within a housing and with the chain
being extended from and retracted into the housing by means of a
rotatable drive sprocket having a toothed relation with the
chain.
The Tacheny et al. patent discloses a two-part housing with a
housing base providing for chain storage, chain guiding, and
rotatable mounting of the drive sprocket. An upper part of the
housing mounts means for driving the rotatable drive sprocket which
can either be a manually operable means or a motor drive, as shown
in FIG. 5 of the patent.
The invention disclosed herein relates to an improvement in a power
drive for the window operator as shown in the Tacheny et al. patent
and the disclosure of the Tacheny et al. patent is incorporated
herein by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary feature of the invention is to provide a new and improved
window operator which provides for control of the opening and
closing movements of the window sash wherein the torque on the
chain-driving sprocket can be preset to a value corresponding to a
desired chain tension for tight closing of the window.
More particularly, an object of the invention is to provide a
window operator which utilizes a prime mover for opening and
closing of a window and which is drivingly connected to a drive
output member, means in said drive connection sense the torque
applied to the drive output member and means operated by the
sensing means acts to stop the prime mover when the torque reaches
a predetermined value in achieving closing of the window.
The window operator as defined in the preceding paragraph has the
sensing means in the form of a clutch with a clutch member movable
proportionally to the torque when the torque exceeds a certain
level and which is at a level below said predetermined value. This
torque sensing is only operable in the closing mode. (The clutch is
a one-way type clutch.) In one embodiment of the window operator, a
movable clutch member as well as a second clutch member have
coacting helical ramps. Separation of the clutch members by
coaction between the helical ramps is resisted by spring means and
with the spring means yielding to permit movement of the movable
clutch member when the torque exceeds said certain level.
The means for stopping the prime mover includes a switch operable
by the movable clutch member and said predetermined value of torque
at which the prime mover will be stopped is determined by
adjustable positioning of the switch relative to the movable clutch
member. The movable clutch member will move an increased distance
with increasing torque applied to the drive output member and,
therefore, the predetermined value of torque can be established by
positioning of the limit switch at a level relative to the movable
clutch member corresponding to the amount of separating movement of
the clutch members which will result from the torque being of said
predetermined value.
Another object of the invention is to provide a window operator for
moving a window component between fully open and closed positions
and any desired position therebetween comprising, a rotatable drive
output member, a rotatable drive input member, a gear train between
said drive input and drive output members, means for rotating said
drive input member, a switch for controlling operation of said
rotating means, and means responsive to a closing torque applied to
the rotatable drive output member in excess of a predetermined
value for operating said switch to deenergize said rotating
means.
A further object of the invention is to provide a window operator
comprising, a rotatable drive output member, a selectively operable
motor, a speed-reducing gear train between said motor and drive
output member, a clutch in said gear train including a pair of
separable clutch members, means yieldably-holding said clutch
members against said separating movement, torque-responsive
coacting means on the clutch members for causing progressive
increase in the separation of the clutch members against the action
of the yieldable holding means as the torque applied to the output
member increases above a certain amount, a motor-controlling switch
positioned in the path of one of the clutch members, and means for
adjustably positioning said switch whereby the amount of said
torque effective to operate the switch can be set at a
predetermined value.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a central sectional view of a skylight window showing the
chain operator mounted to the window, with the window in both
closed position and open position;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a housing for the window
operator;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the window operator with
portions of the cover removed;
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view, taken along the line 4--4 of
FIG. 3 and with parts removed for clarity;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a clutch for the window operator of
FIGS. 3 and 4;
FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the clutch during normal operation;
and
FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the clutch after a preselected torque
has been applied to the clutch due to the window being in the
closed position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The window operator, indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1, is shown
mounted for operation of a window and particularly a skylight
window having a frame 11 and a sash 12 hinged to the frame at 13.
The sash has a dome member 14 which transmits light. The window is
shown in solid lines with the sash 12 in the closed position and in
dashed lines with the sash 12 in the open position.
The window operator 10, as shown in FIGS. 2-7, has a number of
associated components that can be mounted to a base 15, such as the
previously-described base of the Tacheny et al. patent. These
components include a housing 16 with a flange 17 having suitable
openings 18 for receiving attachment members for securing the
housing 16 to the base 15.
A prime mover power source, in the form of an electric motor 20, is
mounted to the housing 16 at one end thereof and a panel 22,
extending beyond the motor 20, mounts a slave controller 24. A
wiring harness 26 is located at the opposite end of the housing 10
and with parts of the wiring being associated with the slave
controller 24 and with wiring connections between the slave
controller 24 and the electric motor 20.
The electric motor 20 has a rotatable drive input member, in the
form of a worm gear 30, positioned within the housing and which is
geared to a speed-reducing gear train by mesh with a helical gear
32 rotatable on a shaft 34 and which has pinion gear 36 rotatable
therewith.
The speed-reducing gear train drivingly interconnects the motor 20
and worm gear 30 with a rotatable drive output member, in the form
of a drive shaft 40. This driving connection is through the helical
gear 32 and the pinion gear 36, with the latter gear meshing with a
spur gear 42. The spur gear 42 is rotatable on a shaft 44 and has a
pinion gear 46 which meshes with a spur gear 48 rotatable on a
shaft 50. The spur gear 48 has a pinion gear 52 fixed thereto which
meshes with a spur gear 54 on an idler shaft 56. The spur gear 54
in addition to meshing with the gear 52 also meshes with the teeth
of a peripheral gear 58 extending around the periphery of a lower
clutch member 60 of a clutch to be further described.
The clutch has the clutch member 60 which is the lower of two
clutch members and also an upper clutch member 62. As seen in FIG.
5, the lower clutch member 60 has a circular opening 64 whereby the
clutch member is freely rotatable on the drive output shaft 40. The
upper clutch member 62 has a rectangular opening 66 to fit on a
portion of the drive output shaft which is rectangular in cross
section, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. Because of this relation, the
upper clutch member 62 has its rotation controlled by the
rotational condition of the drive output shaft 40. If the drive
output shaft cannot rotate, then the upper clutch member 62 cannot
rotate, while the lower clutch member 60 is still free to rotate.
The upper clutch member 62 is free to move lengthwise of the drive
output shaft 40 and, in an up and down direction, as viewed in FIG.
4.
The drive output shaft 40 is rotatably mounted in the housing by a
pair of bushings including an upper bushing 70 and a lower bushing
72. A thrust washer 74 is positioned between the housing and the
underside of the lower clutch member 60.
The clutch members 60 and 62 have pairs of coacting helical ramps,
with the lower clutch member 60 having the helical ramps 80 and 82
and the upper clutch member 62 having the helical ramps 84 and 86.
The clutch members are urged toward each other with the helical
ramps thereof in engagement by means of a wave spring 90 captured
between the underside of a top part 92 of the housing and the upper
side of the upper clutch member 62.
The drive shaft 40 has a drive nut 94 at its lower end and
positioned beneath the underside of the housing 10 which is
engageable within the hole of a drive sprocket for the chain, such
as the drive sprocket 95 shown in FIG. 2 and in the aforesaid
Tacheny et al. patent which is incorporated herein by
reference.
In operation, energization of the motor 20 in a forward direction
results in rotation of the drive output shaft 40 through the
speed-reducing gear train and, with the window being closed, the
resulting rotation of the drive output shaft results in extension
of a chain 96 connected to the window sash 12 for opening movement
of the window. The underside of the housing 16 mounts a limit
switch 100 positioned for engagement by a suitable member
positioned selectively along the chain 96 which will indicate the
desired full-open position for the window and, when this member
contacts the limit switch 100, the motor 20 will be
deenergized.
During the opening mode, the clutch members are drivingly locked
together and will not separate in proportion to the applied torque.
In the opening mode, vertical surfaces A and B on the clutch
members 60 and 62 (FIG. 5) are in contact and directly drive the
output shaft. There is no capability for the lower clutch member 60
to rotate relative to the upper clutch member 62 and "sense" the
opening torque by elevation of the upper clutch member 62.
When the window is to be closed, the motor 20 is energized for
rotation in the opposite direction to achieve the reverse direction
rotation of the drive output shaft 40, with resulting movement of
the chain 96 into the base part of the housing. In order to achieve
a desired chain tension for desired closing force on the window
sash, the invention has means for sensing the torque on the
chain-driving sprocket 95 and the drive output shaft 40 and when
this torque reaches a predetermined value the motor 20 is
deenergized. The means for sensing the torque comprises the
previously-described clutch, with the clutch members 60 and 62. As
the window is being closed, the spring means 90 will maintain the
helical ramps of the clutch members in engagement, as shown in FIG.
6, and without relative rotation between the clutch members. As
soon as the window sash reaches closed position, there is an
increase in torque resulting from rotation of the motor 20 which
continues to drive the drive output shaft 40 in a window-closing
direction. As this torque increases to a certain level, the clutch
members will start to separate, as shown in FIG. 7, because of the
upper clutch member 62 being held against rotation by the drive
output shaft 40 not being able to rotate, while the lower clutch
member 60 continues to rotate. This climbing of the helical ramps
on each other exerts axial forces axially of the drive output shaft
40 to raise the upper clutch member 62 against the spring means
90.
When the torque on the drive output shaft reaches a predetermined
level, as sensed by the upper clutch member 62 having moved to a
certain level on the drive output shaft 40, means are effective to
deenergize the motor. This means comprises a limit switch 110
having a contact member 112 positioned in the path of the upper
clutch member 62. Engagement of the contact member 112 by the upper
clutch member 62 changes the condition of the switch 110, with the
result that the motor 20 is deenergized. As the inertia of the
motor is dissipated, there can be a slight further rise in the
movement of the upper clutch member 62.
The desired tension on the chain 96, which is indicated by the
torque on the output drive shaft 40 reaching a predetermined level,
can be varied and preselected by adjusting the level of the switch
110. The body of the switch 110 is suspended from the top of the
housing by an adjusting screw 114 with rotation of this screw
providing for varying the level of the switch 110. As the level of
the switch 110 is raised, there is a resulting increase in the
predetermined value of torque, at which time the motor 20 will be
deenergized. This is because there is a requirement for a greater
torque value to cause a greater upward movement of the upper clutch
member 62 prior to engaging the contact member 112 of the
switch.
The lower clutch member 60 includes vertical surfaces 120 and 122.
The upper clutch member 62 includes similar vertical surfaces 124
and 126. The vertical surfaces 120 and 124, and 122 and 126 match
each other and are in abutting relation to preclude relative
rotation between the clutch members 60 and 62 when there is an
externally applied window component opening force, as by a burglar
attempting to open the window. Specifically, any such force applied
to the chain 96 tries to rotate the sprocket 95 and the drive nut
94 in the selected direction. However, the respective vertical
surfaces engage one another and there is no axial movement of the
upper clutch member 62.
* * * * *