ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR A FURNITURE ITEM

Abstract

To create a system for a furniture item that is electrically powered and functionally more flexible, with improved energy consumption, and independent from the mains voltage, an energy management method is proposed with the the steps of (i) generating electrical energy from the displacement of a component (C; 30) of a furniture item movable by a user, (ii) storing electrical energy thus generated in an electric accumulator (B), preferably placed onboard the furniture item.

Claims

1. Energy management method with the steps of (i) generating electrical energy from the displacement of a component of a furniture item movable by a user, (ii) storing electrical energy thus generated in an electric accumulator (B), preferably placed onboard the furniture item.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy is obtained by converting kinetic energy of the component into electrical energy.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein kinetic energy of the component is converted into electrical energy to simultaneously brake the movement of the component as it moves.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy is obtained by converting mechanical work applied by the user to the component to move it.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the stored electrical energy is used to move the component, in particular to supply a rotary electric motor or an electric linear actuator connected to the component.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic behavior of an electric actuator or motor, power-supplied with said stored energy, is programmed to give the motion or trajectory of the component a predefined course.

7. Item of furniture comprising: a component movable by a user, means—or a generator—for generating electrical energy from the displacement of the component, an electric accumulator placed onboard the furniture item for storing the converted electrical energy.

8. Item of furniture according to claim 7, comprising means—or an electronic converter—(CONV) for converting the kinetic energy of the component into said electric energy.

9. Item of furniture according to claim 7, comprising means—or an electronic converter—for converting mechanical work applied by the user to the component into said electrical energy.

10. Item of furniture according to claim 7, comprising an electrical user, e.g. a rotary electric motor or an electric linear actuator, which is connected to the component and powered by the electric accumulator so as to be able to move or brake the component.

Description

[0038] The advantages of the invention will be even clearer from the following description of a preferred example of system, making reference to the attached drawing in which

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an electronic system mounted in the furniture item;

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a motorized sliding skid of a furniture item.

[0041] In the figures identical numbers indicate identical or conceptually similar parts, and elements are described as in use.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows in schematic form an energy management system MC installed in a furniture item (not shown) equipped with a generic displaceable component C, e.g. a leaf.

[0043] The displaceable component C is connected to an energy converter CONV and to electric driving member M. The energy converter CONV acts to convert a displacement of the component C into electrical energy, then stored in an electric accumulator B, and the driving member M acts to move the component C.

[0044] The arrows indicate energy or signal flow.

[0045] A microprocessor U controls the energy converter CONV, and is connected to an electronic power stage PW (e.g. an inverter) for controlling a flow of supply energy for the motor M withdrawn from the electric accumulator B.

[0046] Preferably, the microprocessor U is connected to a sensor S configured to detect the position of the component C along its stroke. So it is easier for the microprocessor U to determine whether and how to control the energy converter CONV for sending electrical energy to the accumulator B.

[0047] Therefore, the general operation of the system is as follows.

[0048] During a manual displacement of the component C, the microprocessor U intervenes to drive the energy converter CONV in order to generate electrical energy from such displacement and store it into the electric accumulator B.

[0049] Afterwards, the stored energy can be used e.g. to move the component C, and for this purpose the microprocessor U controls the electronic stage PW to power the driving member M.

[0050] Preferably the microprocessor U is connected to a wireless communication stage W, via which to receive from the outside setup data for the system, e.g. timing or dynamic profiles for the component C.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows an application of the system MC.

[0052] A skid for a furniture door 32 is indicated by 30.

[0053] The skid 30, corresponding to the component C of FIG. 1, is able to slide on a rail to move horizontally the leaf 32 back and forth (along the X axis) with respect to a compartment of the furniture item.

[0054] The skid 30 comprises a bracket 34 on which a wheel 36 is rotatably pivoted. The wheel 36 is part of the rotor of an electric, e.g. brushless, motor connected to an electric battery.

[0055] The skid 30 also comprises an electronic unit for managing the energy flow from the electric motor to the electric battery and vice versa.

[0056] When a person pushes the leaf 32, the wheel 36 rotates on the guide and generates electrical energy, which the electronic unit acts to accumulate into the electric battery.

[0057] In a subsequent phase, the electronic unit operates to supply with the electric battery the motor contained in the skid 30, and the wheel 36 now becomes a thruster for the sliding of the leaf 32.

[0058] The energy converter CONV and the electric driving member M may also coincide, as in the case of an electric motor exploitable as an actuator or an electric power generator.