Patent Application
20080017330
The invention can better understood on reading the following description given purely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The actuator device shown in
Such a release member can be as follows: in a device for operating an installation for closing or providing protection against the sun that includes a winding tube rotated by a tubular motor supported by a base constrained to rotate with a toothed wheel, the release member comprises, for example, a blocking latch movable in translation between a first position in which the latch prevents rotation of the toothed wheel, and a second position in which the latch does not interact with the toothed wheel.
By pulling on an operating cable, a rod, or a strap, the blocking latch is moved in translation easily and intuitively, including in an emergency or panic situation.
For better operation, provision may also be made of a mechanism for resiliently returning the cable by repositioning the cable in a rest position when it is no longer under tension. Such devices are known and are often integrated in the release member.
The actuator device as shown in
A cable 11 protected by a sheath 12 connects the release handle 1 to the release member (not shown). The cable 11 is mounted on the handle 1 by applying the following steps. The cable 11 is passed through an opening 22 in the first moving part 20, and then through an opening (not shown) in the second moving part 30. A cable clamp 13 is then fixed on the cable 11 in the desired position. In operation, the cable clamp 13 is completely housed in a cavity 31 formed in the second moving part 30. As a result, the handle 1 is ergonomic without any accessible sharp part. The sheath 12 comes to bear against a top face 21 of the first moving part 20. The two moving parts 20 and 30 can pivot relative to each other about a transverse pin 50. The transverse pin 50 is at a distance from the openings provided for passing the cable in the moving parts 20 and 30, thereby forming a lever arm. Consequently, when a hand is tightened over the two moving parts 20 and 30, substantially in directions Fa and Fa′, these two parts pivot relative to each other and thus move apart the end of the sheath 12 and the cable clamp 13. This movement applies tension to the cable, and thus actuates the release member.
Because of the selected dimensions and an ergonomic shape, the handle 1 is easily manipulated in one hand and makes it possible to control the tension applied to the cable.
To increase the accuracy of control and to maintain a constant tension on the cable, locking means 40a are provided for locking the two moving parts 20 and 30 relative to each other. The locking means 40a comprise firstly a set of teeth 35a that are situated on an inside peripheral zone of the second moving part 30. The set of teeth 35a is generally in the form of a circular arc substantially centered on the pin 50.
The locking means 40a also comprises a tooth 26a secured to the first moving part 20. Naturally, an inverse disposition of the tooth 26a and the set of teeth 35a being on the second and first moving parts 30 and 20 could be envisaged.
The tooth 26a and the set of teeth 35s co-operate when the two moving parts overlap at least in part so as to block the two moving parts 20 and 30 relative to each other. This blocking serves to prevent the release cable 11 from returning to its equilibrium position.
The slopes of the inclined teeth in the set of teeth 35a and of the co-operating tooth 26a are thus implemented in such a manner as to facilitate the movement of tensioning the cable (the teeth of the set of teeth 35a present a sloping ramp profile in this direction), and to block the return movement towards the equilibrium position of the cable 11 (the teeth of the set of teeth 35a present a stop profile in this direction).
Furthermore, the bottom end of the first moving part 20 is also provided with a slot 24a. This slot 24a defines a tab 23a with a small amount of resilience, on which the tooth 26a is mounted. The resilience of the tab 23a depends on the size of the slot 24a.
This resilience determines the operating force and has an influence on the sensation perceived by the user when actuating the handle 1, on the release force, and possibly also on the audible sound that occurs on passing a tooth of the set of teeth. This audible effect contributes to the ergonomics of the device and to controlling the operating force.
Unlocking means 41a are provided for enabling the device to be released once it has become locked. The unlocking means 41a comprise an unlocking button 32a that can be moved in a direction Fd substantially perpendicular to the actuation direction Fa or Fa′ of the device 1, i.e. in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the operating direction for tensioning the cable. The term “substantially” should be understood as being plus or minus 20°.
The button 32a is inserted in an opening 33a of the second moving part 30. It is connected to the moving part 30 via a resilient tab 34a, thus enabling the button 32a to be moved relative to the second moving part 30 in the direction Fd. The second moving part 30, the button 32a, and the tab 34a can naturally be obtained as a single molded part.
When moved in the direction Fb, the button 32a encounters a linear projection 25a disposed on the tab 23a. The purpose of this linear projection 25a is to form a point of contact between the button 32a when it is actuated and the tab 23a, regardless of the position of the moving parts 20 and 30 relative to each other. If the actuation of the button 32a is continued in the direction Fb, then the tab 23a flexes, thereby releasing the tooth 26a from the set of teeth 35a. The device is then unlocked and the two moving parts 20 and 30 can return to a position in which the cable is in its equilibrium position.
The unlocking force thus depends on the resilience of the tab 23, as mentioned above. The position and the size of the projection 25a, and the dimensioning of the slot 24a are likewise parameters that have an influence on the unlocking force.
A preferred embodiment presents two locking means 40a and 40b, and two unlocking means 41a and 41b. The need to act simultaneously on both unlocking means 41a and 41b reinforces the safety of such a device against errors of manipulation.
The second locking and unlocking means 40b and 41b may be made symmetrically relative to the plane that contains the actuation direction Fa. The handle thus has a second tab 23b, a second slot 24b, a second linear projection 25b, a second set of teeth 35b, a second tooth 26b, and also a second button 32b, as shown in
Nevertheless, provision can be made for devices that have only one locking and/or unlocking means 40a, 41a.
The ergonomic shape of the handle 1, the dimensioning of the tab 23, in particular in terms of resilience/stiffness, and the optional audible effect of the locking means 40 all have an influence on the perception of the user while actuating the device of the invention, and thus on the user's control over the tension force in the cable.
An advantageous aspect of the invention also consists in monitoring the angular position between the two moving parts 20 and 30. To do this, marker means may be provided. The marker means may operate visually.
Thus, as shown in
In a variant, an additional locking mechanism may be provided to reinforce the safety of the device. This mechanism consists in blocking the degree of freedom between the two moving parts 20 and 30. The mechanism may be a pin (not shown) that is inserted in the opening 36a and that passes through both moving parts 20 and 30. The first moving part 20 then has at least two through holes, of axis substantially perpendicular to the actuation direction Fa, and disposed in such a manner that when the device is in the “engaged” or the “release” position (i.e. when the release member actuated by the device is in the corresponding state), one of the through hole axes lies on the axis of the hole constituting the opening 36a. Preferably, the second moving part 30 has two openings 36a and 36b on a common axis that are disposed symmetrically on either side of the first moving part 20. Thus, the additional locking is obtained when the pin passes through these two openings and the through hole.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0606704 | Jul 2006 | FR | national |
