Shutter assembly with motorized louver drive system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10731404-B2
Application number	US-201916713464-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2019
Priority date	Jun 25, 2015
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

In one aspect, a shutter assembly may include a shutter frame having a top rail, a bottom rail, and first and second stiles extending between the top and bottom rails. The shutter assembly may also include two or more louvers extending between the first and second stiles, with the louvers including at least one driven louver. The louvers may be configured to rotate simultaneously relative to the shutter frame. Additionally, the shutter assembly may include a motor positioned within the shutter frame that is rotatably coupled to the driven louver(s) via at least one shaft. Moreover, the shutter assembly may include a clutch configured to rotationally disengage the driven louver(s) from the motor when the louvers are being manually rotated relative the shutter frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A louver drive system for a shutter assembly, the louver drive system comprising:
a louver;
a louver drive shaft extending within said louver; and
a clutch positioned within said louver;
wherein:
said louver drive shaft is configured to be selectively coupled to said louver via said clutch to allow said louver drive shaft to rotationally drive said louver in a manner that adjust a rotational orientation of said louver; and
said clutch is configured to rotationally disengage said louver from said louver drive shaft when the rotational orientation of said louver is being adjusted independent of said louver drive shaft.

2. The louver drive system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of said clutch is configured to slip relative to said louver drive shaft when the rotational orientation of said louver is being adjusted independent of said louver drive shaft.

3. The louver drive system of claim 1 , wherein:
said clutch includes a first clutch member and a second clutch member provided in operative association with said first clutch member;
said first clutch member is positioned relative to said louver drive shaft such that a frictional interface is provided between said first clutch member and said louver drive shaft; and
said first clutch member is configured to slip relative to said louver drive shaft at the frictional interface when the rotational orientation of said louver is being adjusted independent of said louver drive shaft.

4. The louver drive system of claim 3 , wherein said second clutch member is configured to be moved relative to said first clutch member to adjust an amount of friction provided at the frictional interface.

5. The louver drive system of claim 4 , wherein:
said first clutch member includes first and second angled portions positioned relative to said louver drive shaft such that the frictional interface is defined between said first and second angled portions and said louver drive shaft;
said second clutch member defines an angled recess configured to receive said first and second angled portions; and
the amount of friction provided at the frictional interface is configured to be adjusted by adjusting the relative positioning of said first and second angled portions within said angled recess.

6. The louver drive system of claim 3 , wherein:
said clutch further comprises at least one biasing member positioned between said first and second clutch members; and
said at least one biasing member is configured to apply a biasing force that biases said first and second clutch members away from each other.

7. The louver drive system of claim 1 , wherein:
said clutch comprises a sleeve member positioned relative to said louver drive shaft such that a frictional interface is provided between said sleeve member and said louver drive shaft; and
said sleeve member is configured to slip relative to said louver drive shaft at the frictional interface when the rotational orientation of said louver is being adjusted independent of said louver drive shaft.

8. The louver drive system of claim 7 , wherein:
said louver drive shaft comprises a split-end portion received within said sleeve member; and
said split-end portion is configured to be expanded or contacted relative said sleeve member to adjust an amount of friction provided at the frictional interface.

9. The louver drive system of claim 7 , wherein:
said sleeve member defines a tapered opening;
said louver drive shaft defines a tapered end portion configured to be received within said tapered opening; and
the amount of friction provided at the frictional interface is configured to be adjusted by adjusting the relative positioning of said tapered end portion within said tapered opening.

10. The louver drive system of claim 7 , wherein:
said louver drive shaft comprises a first shaft section and a second shaft section; and
adjacent ends of said first and second shaft sections are configured to be received within said sleeve member.

11. The louver drive system of claim 7 , wherein said sleeve member is formed from a deformable friction material.

12. The louver drive system of claim 1 , wherein:
said clutch comprises a clutch detent portion configured to engage a corresponding shaft detent portion coupled to said louver drive shaft at an engagement interface; and
said clutch detent portion is configured to be cammed outwardly relative to said shaft detent portion when the rotational orientation of said louver is being adjusted independent of said louver drive shaft to allow said clutch detent portion to rotate relative to said shaft detent portion at the engagement interface.

13. The louver drive system of claim 1 , wherein:
said clutch comprises at least one friction pad rotationally engaged with said at least one driven louver and at least one friction disk rotationally engaged with said louver drive shaft; and
said at least one friction pad is configured to slip relative to said at least one friction disk at a frictional interface defined between said at least one friction pad and said at least one friction disk when the rotational orientation of said louver is being adjusted independent of said louver drive shaft.

14. The louver drive system of claim 13 , wherein:
said at least one friction pad comprises a plurality of friction pads and said at least one friction disk comprises a plurality of friction disks; and
said plurality of friction pads and said plurality of friction disks are provided in an alternating arrangement along a portion of said at least one shaft.

15. The louver drive system of claim 1 , further comprising a motor rotatably coupled to said louver drive shaft such that a rotational output of said motor is transmitted to said louver via said louver drive shaft.

16. The louver drive system of claim 15 , wherein:
said motor rotationally drives a motor drive shaft coupled between said motor and a gearbox;
said louver drive shaft extends from said gearbox into an interior of said louver.

17. A shutter assembly, comprising:
a shutter frame including a top rail, a bottom rail, and first and second stiles extending between said top and bottom rails;
two or more louvers extending between said first and second stiles, said louvers including at least one driven louver, said louvers being configured to rotate simultaneously relative to said shutter frame;
a louver drive shaft coupled to said at least one driven louver; and
a clutch positioned within said at least one driven louver and being selectively engageable with said louver drive shaft, said clutch being configured to rotationally disengage said at least one driven louver from said louver drive shaft when at least one of said louvers is manually rotated relative said shutter frame.

18. The shutter assembly of claim 17 , wherein a portion of said clutch is configured to slip relative to said louver drive shaft when said at least one of said louvers is manually rotated to allow said at least one driven louver to rotate relative to said louver drive shaft.

19. The shutter assembly of claim 17 , wherein:
said clutch includes a first clutch member and a second clutch member provided in operative association with said first clutch member;
said first clutch member is positioned relative to said louver drive shaft such that a frictional interface is provided between said first clutch member and said louver drive shaft; and
said first clutch member is configured to slip relative to said louver drive shaft at the frictional interface when said at least

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas

Inventors

• Meyerink Larry
• Batte Anthony
• Grubb Dean

Classifications

• E06B7/096 Primary

  operated or interconnected by gearing (wing operators with gearing in general E05F11/00) · CPC title

• E06B9/02

  Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary (louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26) · CPC title