Sliding Window Mechanism III

Abstract

A driving mechanism for sliding a windowed frame guided by an outer frame. The sliding frame is attached to two vertical racks which engage with two pinions. The pinions are connected with a joint axle driven by a couple of engaged bevel gearwheels connected to a crank or to an electric motor. The joint axle with the pinions can be housed in a recess carved at the lower plank of a static window's frame.

A compact motorized option in which each pinion is coupled with a gearbox and both gearboxes are driven by a central electric motor also can be housed entirely in the static window's recess.

The motorized options also include: a control unit for controlling the direction and speed of the sliding, two limit switches for stopping the frame at highest and lowest positions, an electrical overload sensor which detects sudden sliding obstructions and a burglar alarm.

Claims

1. A window mechanism configured for opening and closing a sliding window comprising: an outer frame, a static window, and a driving mechanism; wherein the sliding window comprising: a sliding frame, a sliding pane, a left rack and a right rack; wherein the sliding pane is configured to be framed within the sliding frame; the sliding frame is constructed from a left vertical sliding plank, a right vertical sliding plank, a lower horizontal sliding plank and an upper horizontal sliding plank; wherein the left rack is installed on an inner side of the left vertical sliding plank; wherein the right rack is installed on an inner side of the right vertical sliding plank; the static window comprising: a static frame, a static pane; wherein said static pane is configured to be framed within said static frame; wherein the static frame is constructed from a left vertical static plank, a right vertical static plank, a lower horizontal static plank and an upper horizontal static plank; the outer frame comprises: a left vertical guide, a right vertical guide, a lower horizontal outer bar and an upper horizontal outer bar; wherein said left vertical guide is parallel to the right vertical guide; wherein said left vertical guide is facing the right vertical guide; wherein the left vertical guide and the right vertical guide both include a first track and a second track; wherein the first track is parallel to the second track; wherein the first track is configured to guide the sliding frame in sliding up and down within the outer frame; wherein the static frame is installed in the second track; wherein a top side of the upper horizontal static plank is attached to a bottom side of the upper outer horizontal bar; wherein a left pinion is engaged with the left rack and a right pinion is engaged with the right rack; wherein the right rack and the sliding frame are configured to being vertically moved by turning the right pinion; wherein the left rack and the sliding frame are configured to being vertically moved by turning the left pinion; wherein, a single turn of the left pinion is configured to displace the left rack by a unit left displacement; wherein, a single turn of the right pinion is configured to displace the right rack by a unit right displacement; wherein the unit right displacement is configured to be equal to the unit left displacement.

2. The window mechanism of claim 1, wherein the sliding frame further comprising: a lower left roller, an upper left roller, a lower right roller and an upper right roller; wherein the upper left roller is installed at an upper left side of the left vertical sliding plank; wherein the lower left roller is installed at a lower left side of the left vertical sliding plank; wherein the upper right roller is installed at an upper right side of the right vertical sliding plank; wherein the lower right roller is installed at a lower right side of the right vertical sliding plank; wherein, the upper left roller, the lower left roller, the upper right roller and the lower right roller facilitate sliding of the sliding frame within said outer frame.

3. The window mechanism of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism further comprising: a joint axle, a first axle and a first bevel gearwheel; wherein a joint axle right end is coupled with a first axle left end; wherein a first axle right end is coupled with the first bevel gearwheel; wherein the joint axle is coupled with the left pinion at a joint axle left end; wherein the joint axle is coupled with the right pinion at the joint axle right end; wherein, turning the joint axle also turns the left pinion and the right pinion; wherein moving the sliding window up and down is facilitated by turning the joint axle; wherein turning the first axle is configured to turn the right pinion, the joint axle and the left pinion; wherein the lower horizontal static plank has a recess which is configured to house the left pinion, the joint axle and the right pinion; wherein the driving mechanism further comprises: a motor gearbox, an electric motor mechanically coupled with the motor gearbox and a third bevel gearwheel; wherein the motor gearbox includes a motor gearbox output axle which is coupled with the third bevel gearwheel; wherein, the third bevel gearwheel is engaged with the first bevel gearwheel; wherein, turning the electric motor is configured to turn the motor gearbox output axle and the third bevel gearwheel; turning of the third bevel gearwheel is configured to turn the first bevel gearwheel, the first axle, the right pinion, the joint axle and the left pinion; wherein, turning the electric motor facilitates turning of the left pinion and the right pinion; wherein, turning the electric motor facilitates moving vertically the sliding window.

4. The window mechanism of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism further comprising: a joint axle, a first axle and a first bevel gearwheel; wherein a joint axle right end is coupled with a first axle left end; wherein a first axle right end is coupled with the first bevel gearwheel; wherein the joint axle is coupled with the left pinion at a joint axle left end; wherein the joint axle is coupled with the right pinion at the joint axle right end; wherein, turning the joint axle also turns the left pinion and the right pinion; wherein moving the sliding window up and down is facilitated by turning the joint axle; wherein turning the first axle is configured to turn the right pinion, the joint axle and the left pinion; wherein the lower horizontal static plank has a recess which is configured to house the left pinion, the joint axle and the right pinion; wherein the driving mechanism further comprising: a second bevel gearwheel, a crank axle and a crank; wherein the crank is coupled with a crank axle right end; wherein the second bevel gearwheel is coupled with a crank axle left end; wherein, the second bevel gearwheel is engaged with the first bevel gearwheel; wherein, turning the crank is configured to turn the crank axle and also to turn the second bevel gearwheel; turning of the second bevel gearwheel is configured to turn the first bevel gearwheel, the first axle, the right pinion, the joint axle and the left pinion; wherein, turning the crank facilitates turning of the left pinion and the right pinion; wherein, turning the crank facilitates moving vertically the sliding window.

5. The window mechanism of claim 3, wherein said window mechanism further comprising: a control unit; wherein the electric motor is electrically connected to the control unit; wherein the control unit controls a direction of the electric motor and a speed of the electric motor; wherein the control unit is electrically connected to a control box by which a user can manually control the direction of the electric motor and the speed of the electric motor; wherein the electric motor is configured to move the sliding window up or down by turning the motor gearbox output axle.

6. The window mechanism of claim 3, comprising: a lower limit switch and an upper limit switch; wherein said lower limit switch is configured to be activated when said sliding frame reaches a lowest position within said outer frame; wherein said upper limit switch is configured to be activated when said sliding frame reaches a highest position within said outer frame; wherein said lower limit switch and said upper limit switch are electrically connected to a control unit; wherein said control unit is configured to stop said electric motor when said lower limit switch or said upper limit switch is activated.

7. The window mechanism of claim 6, further comprising: a burglar alarm electrically connected to said control unit; wherein said lower limit switch is configured to activate said burglar alarm when said lower limit switch is deactivated while said burglar alarm is armed.

8. The window mechanism of claim 5, further comprising: an overload sensor electrically connected to said control unit; wherein said control unit is configured to reverse the direction of said electric motor when said overload sensor senses a sudden overload of said electric motor due to a blocking of said sliding window.

9. The window mechanism of claim 2, wherein the lower left roller, the upper left roller, the lower right roller and the upper right roller are installed in frame recesses.

10. The window mechanism of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism further comprising: a recess motor system which includes: an electric motor mechanically connected to a left gearbox and also mechanically connected to a right gearbox; wherein the left gearbox has an output left axle and the right gearbox has an output right axle; wherein a left end of the output left axle is coupled with the left pinion; wherein a right end of the output right axle is coupled with the right pinion; wherein the lower horizontal static plank has a recess which is configured to house the left pinion, the output left axle, the left gearbox, the electric motor, the right gearbox, the output right axle and the right pinion; wherein, turning the electric motor facilitates turning of the left pinion and the right pinion; wherein, turning the electric motor facilitates moving vertically the sliding window.

11. The window mechanism of claim 10, wherein said window mechanism further comprising: a control unit; wherein the electric motor is electrically connected to the control unit; wherein the control unit controls a direction of the electric motor and a speed of the electric motor; wherein the control unit is electrically connected to a control box by which a user can manually control the direction of the electric motor and the speed of the electric motor; wherein the electric motor is configured to move the sliding window up or down by turning the output left axle and the output right axle.

12. The window mechanism of claim 10, comprising: a lower limit switch and an upper limit switch; wherein said lower limit switch is configured to be activated when said sliding frame reaches a lowest position within said outer frame; wherein said upper limit switch is configured to be activated when said sliding frame reaches a highest position within said outer frame; wherein said lower limit switch and said upper limit switch are electrically connected to a control unit; wherein said control unit is configured to stop said electric motor when said lower limit switch or said upper limit switch is activated.

13. The window mechanism of claim 12, further comprising: a burglar alarm electrically connected to said control unit; wherein said lower limit switch is configured to activate said burglar alarm when said lower limit switch is deactivated while said burglar alarm is armed.

14. The window mechanism of claim 11, further comprising: an overload sensor electrically connected to the control unit; wherein said control unit is configured to reverse the direction of said electric motor when said overload sensor senses a sudden overload of said electric motor due to a blocking of said sliding window.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates in 3D isometric drawing a disassembled view of the entire sliding window mechanism. FIG. 1 describes the bevel gear option of the driving mechanism.

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates in 3D isometric drawing a disassembled view of the entire sliding window mechanism. FIG. 2 describes the recess motor system option of the driving mechanism.

[0017] FIG. 3 depicts the electrical control system 15A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates in 3D isometric drawing a disassembled view of the entire sliding window mechanism. FIG. 1 describes the manual and motorized bevel gear options of the mechanism.

[0019] In order to enable better viewing, the sliding frame 1 is illustrated separately from the static frame 2 in FIG. 1. The static frame 2 is installed between the outer frame right vertical guide 9B and the left outer frame vertical guide 9A which is connected to the lower outer horizontal bar 3A and to the upper outer horizontal bar 3B. To allow better viewing, the rest of the outer frame is depicted in pieces. The opposite outer frame's right vertical guide 9B is shown in two pieces where one piece is connected to the outer frame upper horizontal bar 3B and the second piece of outer frame's right vertical guide 9B is connected to the outer frame lower horizontal bar 3A. The static frame 2 also has at its lower static horizontal plank 2D a recess 8 which is configured to house the joint axle 6A which is fused to the left pinion 4A at its left end and to the right pinion 4B at its right end. The joint axle 6A is also coupled at its right end with the left end of the first axle 6B. The right end of the first axle 6B is coupled with the first bevel gearwheel 5A. For manual window driving, the first bevel gearwheel 5A can be engaged with the second bevel gearwheel 5B. For motorized window driving the first bevel gearwheel 5A is engaged with the third bevel gearwheel 5D. The second bevel gearwheel 5B is connected to the crank axle 5G which is attached to the crank 5C. The third bevel gearwheel 5D is connected to the motor gearbox output axle 5E at it lower end. At its upper end, the motor gearbox output axle 5E is connected with the motor gearbox 5F. The motor gearbox 5F is mechanically coupled with the electric motor 10A.

[0020] The left pinion 4A is engaged with the left rack 7A which is installed on the inner side of the vertical left sliding plank 1E of the sliding frame 1. The right pinion 4B is engaged with the right rack 7B which is installed on the inner side of the vertical right sliding plank 1C of the sliding frame 1. Two out of four rollers 13 (only one roller is shown in FIG. 1) are installed at two recesses carved at the left side of the vertical left sliding plank 1E of the sliding frame 1 and the other two rollers are installed at two recesses carved at the right side of the vertical right sliding plank 1C of the sliding frame 1.

[0021] In the manual window driving option of the driving system, turning the crank 5C turns the crank axle 5G and also the second bevel gearwheel 5B. Turning the second bevel gearwheel 5B which engages with the first bevel gearwheel 5A turns it and also turns the first axle 6B, the right pinion 4B, the joint axle 6A and the left pinion 4A. The left and right turning pinions 4A and 4B move vertically the racks 7B and 7A of the attached sliding frame 1.

[0022] In the motorized window driving option of the driving system, turning the electric motor 10A turns the motor gearbox 5F, which also turns the motor gearbox output axle 5E and the third bevel gearwheel 5D. Turning the third bevel gearwheel 5D which engages with the first bevel gearwheel 5A turns it and also turns the first axle 6B, the right pinion 4B, the joint axle 6A and the left pinion 4A. The left and right turning pinions 4A and 4B move vertically the racks 7B and 7A of the attached sliding frame 1.

[0023] A lower limit switch 11 and an upper limit switch 12 are electrically connected to the control unit 15A (depicted in FIG. 3) and facilitate stopping the sliding frame at its lowest and highest positions respectively.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates in 3D isometric drawing a disassembled view of the entire sliding window mechanism. FIG. 2 describes the recess motor option of the driving mechanism.

[0025] The sliding frame 1 is depicted separately from the static pane 2F which is framed by the static frame 2. The static window 2 i.e. the static frame 2, includes the left vertical static plank 2E, the right vertical static plank 2C, the lower horizontal static plank 2D and the upper horizontal static plank 2B. The sliding frame 1 which holds the sliding pane 1F is composed of the left vertical sliding plank 1E, the right vertical sliding plank 1C, upper horizontal sliding plank 1B and the lower horizontal sliding plank 1D. The static frame 2 is installed between the outer frame right vertical guide 9B and the left outer frame vertical guide 9A which is connected to the lower outer horizontal bar 3A and to the upper outer horizontal bar 3B. To allow better viewing, the rest of the outer frame is depicted in pieces. The opposite outer frame's right vertical guide 9B is shown in two pieces where one piece is connected to the outer frame upper horizontal bar 3B and the second piece of outer frame's right vertical guide 9B is connected to the outer frame lower horizontal bar 3A. The outer frame right vertical guide 9B and the left outer frame vertical guide 9A are divided into the first and second tracks 9C and 9D respectively. The static frame 2 also has at its lower static horizontal plank 2D a recess 8 which is used to house the recess motor system which includes: an electric motor 10B mechanically connected to a left gearbox 10C and also mechanically connected to a right gearbox 10D. The left gearbox 10C has an output left axle 6B. The right gearbox 10D has an output right axle 6C. The left end of the output left axle 6B is coupled with the left pinion 4A. The right end of the output right axle 6C is coupled with the right pinion 4B.

[0026] The recess 8 is configured to house the left pinion 4A, the output left axle 6B, the left gearbox 10C, the electric motor 10B, the right gearbox 10D, the output right axle 6C and the right pinion 4B. Turning the electric motor 10B facilitates turning of the left gearbox 10C the output left axle 6B and the left pinion 4A. Turning the electric motor 10B also facilitates turning of the right gearbox 10D the output right axle 6C and the right pinion 4B. Turning the left pinion 4A and the right pinion 4B move vertically the sliding window 1. Since both the left gearbox 10C and the right gearbox 10D are connected to the same electric motor 10B their output left axle 6B and output right axle 6C and their connected pinions 4A and 4B turn exactly at the same speed when the electric motor 10B is being turned. This causes the left rack 7A and the right rack 7B which are engaged with the pinions to move vertically with the same speed when the electric motor 10B turns the pinions.

[0027] The left pinion 4A is engaged with the left rack 7A which is installed on the inner side of the left vertical sliding plank 1E of the sliding frame 1. The right pinion 4B is engaged with the right rack 7B which is installed on the inner side of the right vertical sliding plank 1C of the sliding frame 1. Two out of four rollers 13 (only two rollers are shown in FIG. 2) are installed at two recesses carved at the left side of the vertical left sliding plank 1E of the sliding frame 1 and the other two rollers 13 are installed at two recesses carved at the right side of the vertical right sliding plank 1C of the sliding frame 1.

[0028] A lower limit switch 11 and an upper limit switch 12 are electrically connected to the control unit 15A and facilitate stopping the sliding frame at its lowest and highest positions respectively.

[0029] FIG. 3 depicts the electrical control system 15A. In the electric motorized option, the electrical system also includes a control unit 15B that enables the user to control the direction and speed of the sliding window motion. In addition, the electrical option includes two limit switches 11 and 12 which are installed in the outer frame. Limit switch 12 stops the sliding frame when it reaches its highest position and limit switch 11 stops the sliding frame when it reaches its lowest position.

[0030] The control unit 15A which controls the motor is equipped with a safety circuit which includes an electrical overload sensor 15C which can detect a sudden overload of the motor's 10A current (or to detect current overload of the motor 10B in the recess motor option). Such an overload could occur when the sliding window is in the process of closing and it hits an obstruction of a person or an object. Thus, when the overload sensor 15C detects an obstruction it instructs the control unit 15A to reverse the motor turning direction 10A which then opens the sliding window 1 (or reversing recess motor 10B in the recess motor option).

[0031] The electrical system also includes a burglar alarm circuit 15D, which sounds the alarm when the sliding frame 1 is forced open while the alarm system is armed.