Winding shaft drive for operating a retractable architectural covering and shaft brake module for use therein

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9714539-B2
Application number	US-201213978353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2012
Priority date	Jan 6, 2011
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

A winding shaft drive ( 1, 1 A, 101, 101 A, 102, 102 A) is arranged for operating a retractable covering for an architectural opening. The winding shaft drive includes an at least partially hollow winding shaft ( 7 ); a driving member ( 3, 103 ) for inducing rotation to the winding shaft; and a shaft brake adapted to be operated by the driving member. The shaft brake includes a preassembled module ( 5 ) for accommodation in the at least partially hollow winding shaft ( 7 ) and has first coupling means ( 67 ) on one axial end thereof for transmitting rotative forces and second coupling means ( 69 ) on the same one axial end for transmitting non-rotative stationary forces. The driving member has a driving hub ( 11, 111 ) for removably coupling to the first coupling means ( 67 ) and a stationary connector ( 17, 17 A, 117, 117 A) for removably coupling to the second coupling means ( 69 ). A shaft brake module ( 5 ) and a driving member ( 3, 103 ) are specifically adapted for use in the winding shaft drive.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Winding shaft drive for operating a retractable covering for an architectural opening, the winding shaft drive comprising:
an at least partially hollow winding shaft;
a driving member for inducing rotation to the winding shaft; and
a shaft brake adapted to be operated by the driving member;
wherein:
the shaft brake includes a preassembled module for accommodation in the at least partially hollow winding shaft and having a first coupling on one axial end thereof for transmitting rotative forces and a second coupling on the same one axial end for transmitting non-rotative stationary forces;
the driving member has a driving hub for removably coupling to the first coupling and a stationary connector for removably coupling to the second coupling;
the first coupling includes internal splines for coupling with external corresponding splines on the driving hub; and
the second coupling includes a splined end section for coupling with corresponding splines on the stationary connector.

2. Winding shaft drive according to claim 1 , wherein:
the shaft brake module has a stationary shaft associated with the second coupling; and
an end of the stationary shaft is exposed at an end of the shaft brake module opposite of the second coupling and adapted to be coupled to a connector sleeve of a spring assist module.

3. Winding shaft drive according to claim 1 or 2 , further comprising a spring assist module.

4. Winding shaft drive according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the shaft brake module includes any one of a selected number of wrap springs acting as a braking element.

5. Winding shaft drive according to claim 4 , wherein:
the shaft brake module includes an inner brake sleeve for frictional engagement by the or each wrap spring; and
the inner brake sleeve has a lubrication groove helically wound about an outer friction surface thereof.

6. Winding shaft drive according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft brake module and the driving member can be coupled to one another in a plurality of relative rotational positions by predefined increments.

7. Winding shaft drive according to claim 6 , wherein the splined end section of the second coupling is on a stationary center shaft.

8. Winding shaft drive according to claim 1 , wherein the first coupling has an undercut area at an axial end adapted to face the driving hub, to allow the winding shaft to engage the driving member at an angle with respect to an aligned position in which it is finally mounted.

9. Winding shaft drive according to claim 1 , wherein the stationary connector has a widened area for receiving the second coupling at an angle with respect to an aligned position in which it is finally mounted.

10. Winding shaft drive according to claim 1 , wherein the driving member also has an integral shaft brake.

11. Winding shaft drive according to claim 10 , wherein the integral shaft brake includes a wrap spring holder ring.

12. Winding shaft drive according to claim 11 , wherein the wrap spring holder ring has inwardly directed rims on each of its axial end faces.

13. Winding shaft drive according to claim 1 , wherein the driving member includes a ball bearing interposed between a housing and the driving hub.

14. Winding shaft drive according to claim 1 , wherein the driving member includes a chain wheel and an operating chain.

15. Winding shaft drive according to claim 14 , wherein the operating chain includes a chain stopper for defining an end of travel for the driving chain and adapted to define one of a fully retracted or fully extended positions of the winding shaft.

16. Winding shaft drive according to claim 14 or 15 , wherein:
the operating chain is guided over a chain guide surface;
the chain guide surface is of a relatively hard and wear resistant material; and
the chain guide surface is relatively thin and supported on a relatively soft and resiliently flexible material for noise reduction.

17. Winding shaft drive according to claim 1 , wherein:
the driving member further comprises a bracket for securing the driving member and the retractable covering to a support structure; and
repositioning the shaft brake relative to the driving member repositions the shaft brake relative to the bracket.

18. Winding shaft drive for operating a retractable covering for an architectural opening, the winding shaft drive comprising:
an at least partially hollow winding shaft;
a driving member for inducing rotation to the winding shaft; and
a shaft brake adapted to be operated by the driving member;
wherein:
the shaft brake comprises a preassembled brake module for accommodation in the at least partially hollow winding shaft, the preassembled brake module including a first coupling component on one axial end thereof for transmitting rotative forces and a second coupling component on the one axial end for transmitting non-rotative stationary forces;
the driving member is separate from the preassembled brake module, the driving member including a driving hub for removably coupling to the first coupling component of the preassembled brake module and a stationary connector for removably coupling to the second coupling component of the preassembled brake module;
the first coupling component includes internal splines for coupling with external corresponding splines on the driving hub; and
the second coupling component of the preassembled brake module includes a stationary center shaft for coupling with the stationary connector of the driving member.

19. Winding shaft drive according to claim 18 , wherein the stationary center shaft of the preassembled brake module includes a splined end section for coupling with corresponding splines on the stationary connector of the driving member.

20. Winding shaft drive according to claim 18 , wherein the preassembled brake module further includes an inner sleeve non-rotatably mounted onto the stationary center shaft.

21. Winding shaft drive according to claim 20 , wherein the preassembled brake module further includes an outer sleeve at least partially surrounding the inner sleeve and rotatable relative to the inner sleeve.

22. Winding shaft drive according to claim 21 , wherein the outer sleeve includes the first coupling component.

23. Winding shaft drive according to claim 21 , wherein the preassembled brake module further includes a wrap spring frictionally engaging the inner sleeve and including a radially-extending tang selectively engaging the outer sleeve to loosen the wrap spring from the inner sleeve and allow the wrap spring to rotate with the outer sleeve.

24. Winding shaft drive according to claim 23 , wherein the preassembled brake module further includes an outer housing at least partially surrounding the outer sleeve and rotatable relative to the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.

25. Winding shaft drive according to claim 24 , wherein the radially-extending tang of the wrap spring selectively engages the outer housing to tighten the wrap spring around the inner sleeve and restrict movement of the retractable covering.

26. Winding shaft drive according to claim 25 , wherein the outer sleeve defines a window through which the radially-extending tang extends to selectively engage the outer housing.

27. Winding shaft drive according to claim 23 , wherein the inner sleeve defines a helical groove for lubrication.

28. Winding sh

Assignees

• Bohlen Jorg
• Hunter Douglas Ind Bv

Inventors

• Bohlen Jorg

Classifications

• E06B9/42 Primary

  Parts or details of roller blinds, e.g. suspension devices, blind boxes (brackets or adjustable mountings for roller blinds and drawable curtains A47H1/13) · CPC title

• E06B9/78

  for direct manual operation, e.g. by tassels, by handles · CPC title

• E06B2009/785

  by belts, straps, bands, tapes, cords, tassels · CPC title