Abstract
The present invention relates to a lamella blind system comprising at least one lamella element having: a screen body made of a membrane material; a first rotatable mount with a first clamp engaging a first end of the screen body; and a second rotatable mount with a second clamp engaging a second end of the screen body; wherein the screen body is clamped between the first and second rotatable mounts; wherein the screen body is loaded with a pre-determined tension applied in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation; and wherein the lamella element is rotatable about an axis of rotation defined by the first and second rotatable mounts; a first support structure supporting the first rotatable mount; a second support structure supporting the second rotatable mount; and a drive mechanism for controlling the rotational position of the at least one lamella element, wherein the drive mechanism is a single-ended drive mechanism acting on only one of the first and second rotatable mounts of the at least one lamella element.
Claims
1. Lamella blind system comprising at least one lamella element having: a screen body made of a membrane material; a first rotatable mount with a first clamp engaging a first end of the screen body; and a second rotatable mount with a second clamp engaging a second end of the screen body; wherein the screen body is clamped between the first and second rotatable mounts; wherein the screen body is loaded with a pre-determined tension applied in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation; and wherein the lamella element is rotatable about an axis of rotation defined by the first and second rotatable mounts; a first support structure supporting the first rotatable mount; a second support structure supporting the second rotatable mount; and a drive mechanism for controlling the rotational position of the at least one lamella element, wherein the drive mechanism is a single-ended drive mechanism acting on only one of the first and second rotatable mounts of the at least one lamella element. wherein the first clamp of the at least one lamella element engages the first end of the screen body with a first clamping force having a first axial tensioning force component that is uniformly distributed in a transverse direction across the first end of the screen body, and/or wherein the second clamp of the at least one lamella element engages the second end of the screen body with a second clamping force having a second axial tensioning force component that is uniformly distributed in a transverse direction across the second end of the screen body.
2. System according to claim 1, further comprising at least one elastic element, such as a helical spring, providing an axially oriented bias determining the tension applied to the screen body.
3. System according to claim 2, further comprising an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the axial bias provided by the elastic element.
4. System according to claim 1, wherein the screen body is made of a fibre-based material, such as a woven textile or a non-woven textile.
5. System according to claim 1, wherein the first clamp of the at least one lamella element and/or the second clamp of the at least one lamella element are curved as seen in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction so as to impose a curved profile on the screen body with a convex front side and a concave back side.
6. System according to claim 5, wherein the axis of rotation of the at least one lamella element is off-set with respect to the screen body in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.
7. System according to claim 1, wherein the screen body of the at least one lamella element comprises a transversely oriented beading along at least one of the second and first ends; wherein the corresponding one of the second and first clamps comprises a recess cavity receiving the beading therein and a contact surface contacting a portion of the screen body adjacent to the beading so as to define a shape of a profile of the screen body as seen in a cut-plane perpendicular to the axial direction, the recess cavity and the corresponding contact surface extending in a transverse direction across the full width of the screen body.
8. System according to claim 1, wherein the second rotational mount comprises a detachable coupling adapted for tool-free operation, wherein said coupling in a connected state is adapted for transmitting an axial force there through exceeding the axial tension applied to the screen body.
9. System according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the at least one lamella element is oriented in a vertical direction.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail in connection with the appended drawings, which show in
[0038] FIG. 1 a side elevational view of a lamella blind system according to one embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 2 a perspective view of the lamella blind system according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0040] FIG. 3 a detail of a first rotational mount of a lamella element of the lamella blind system of FIG. 1; and in
[0041] FIG. 4 a detail of a second rotational mount of a lamella element of the lamella blind system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a lamella blind system according to one embodiment has a plurality of lamella elements 1, each having a screen body 2 made of a textile material which is stretched out between a first rotational mount 3 and a second rotational mount 4. The first rotational mount has a clamp 5 engaging a first end of the screen body 2 and is held by a first support structure 7 shaped as a rail. The second rotational mount has a clamp 6 engaging a second end of the screen body 2 and is supported by a second support structure 8. The screen body 2 of each lamella element 1 is stretched out between the corresponding first and second mounts 3, 4, wherein each pair of first and second rotatable mounts 3, 4 defines a respective axis of rotation R oriented in an axial direction. The axial direction is indicated in the drawings by arrow z. In each of the lamella elements 1, a tension bias pulling the first and second ends of the screen body 2 in opposite directions apart from each other is applied in the axial direction z. The applied tension bias is in excess to any forces required for merely holding the membrane material of the screen body 2 stretched out and in shape. The applied axial tension increases the torsional stiffness of the screen body 2, thereby allowing for driving the lamella element 1 from a single end. A tensioning element 9 arranged in the first rotatable mount 5 of each of the lamella elements 1 ensures that the applied tension is within a well-defined (predetermined) range of axial tension values. In the embodiment shown here, the second rotatable mount 4 is driven by a drive mechanism 10 integrated in the second support structure 8 of the lamella blind system. The clamps 5, 6 of the first and second rotational mounts 3, 4 are curved and thereby define a curved profile of the screen body 2 clamped there between, wherein a front side of the screen body 2 is convex and a back side of the screen body 2 is concave.
[0043] The lamella blind system may be fixed to a building structure by means of the first and second support structures 7, 8. Preferably, the lamella blind system is attached at the outside of building, and/or may be integrated in a double facade, e.g. between the inner glazing and the outer glazing of such a double facade. The drive mechanism 10 preferably comprises a motor for actuating the lamella elements 2 in an automated manner. The motor may be any suitable positioning motor, such as an electric motor. Multiple lamella elements 1 may be grouped to be actuated simultaneously. The lamella blind system may further comprise a control unit (not shown) comprising programmed instructions for operating the lamella elements in a programmed manner, e.g. in response to a time schedule and/or sensor input, such as light sensitive sensors, and/or temperature sensors. The sensors may be arranged in the interior of the building and/or at the exterior of the building depending on the desired control scheme. The programmed instructions may also be programmed to position the lamella elements 1 according to a predetermined pattern. For example, the curved profile lamella may be controlled to be oriented in accordance with the curvature of the supporting structure and/or a curvature in the facade along a horizontal direction: e.g. such that at a convex portion of the facade, as seen from the outside of the building, the convex front side of the lamella also face in an outward direction away from the building; and/or such that at a concave portion of the faade, as seen from the outside of the building, the concave backside of the lamella also faces in an outward direction away from the building. Furthermore the lamella blind system may also be operable in response to user input.
[0044] Referring now to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, details of the first and second rotatable mounts 3, 4 are now discussed, respectively.
[0045] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the first rotational mount 3 of a lamella element 1 of the lamella blind system of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The first rotatable mount 3 has a curved clamp 5 clamping the first end of the screen body 2 so as to define a curved profile of the lamella element 1. The first rotatable mount 3 further comprises a stud axle 13 suspending the curved clamp 5 for rotation about an axis of rotation R (broken line), which is offset in a transverse direction perpendicular to the screen body 2 by a distance d so as to pass through the geometric centre of the curved lamella element 1 so as to balance off-axis components of the tension forces acting on the rotatable mounts. A front side 1a of the lamella element 1 facing away from the axis of rotation R is convexly shaped, whereas a back side 1b of the lamella element 1 facing towards the axis of rotation R is concavely shaped. The first clamp 5 has a front part 5a and a backing part 5b. A hollow channel 51 is formed as a recess cavity at the interface between the front part 5a and the backing part 5b. The recess cavity follows the interface in a transverse direction and extends from end to end of the curved clamp 5. The recess cavity is shaped and dimensioned to receive therein a beading 21 formed along a transverse edge at the first end of the screen body 2. The screen body is thereby engaged in a uniformly distributed manner between the front part 5a and the backing part 5b. The screen body 2 is then lead in distal direction parallel to the direction z (arrow), bent and wrapped around the distal end of the front part 5a to contact a shape defining front surface of the front part 5a, and guided further in a proximal direction towards the second rotatable mount 4. Thereby a uniformly distributed tensioning force may be applied to the first end of the screen body 2 in a simple and production friendly manner. Furthermore, this clamping construction allows for a discreet design of the lamella element. The stud axle 13 is supported by the first support structure 7 and extends in an axial direction through the clamp 5. The first rotatable mount 3 further comprises an elastic element 9, here shaped as a helical compression spring arranged concentrically around the axis of rotation R and resting against a seat portion 11 on the stud axle 13. The clamp 5 rests against an opposite end of the elastic tensioning element 9. The elastic element 9 maintains an axial tension applied to the screen body in a distal direction with respect to the screen body 2, against the clamping engagement of the second rotatable mount 4. The tensioning forces are taken up by the first and second support structures 7, 8, which in turn are fixed to a building structure (not shown). The axial position of seat 11 may be adjustable, e.g. by a threaded attachment, in order to adjust the tension bias exerted on the clamp 5 by the elastic element 9.
[0046] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the second rotational mount 4 of a lamella element 1 of the lamella blind system of FIGS. 1 and 2. The second rotatable mount 4 has a curved clamp 6 clamping the second end of the screen body 2 so as to define a curved profile of the lamella element 1. The second rotatable mount 4 further comprises a drive axle 12 engaging the curved clamp 6 for rotation about the axis of rotation R (broken line), which is offset in a transverse direction perpendicular to the screen body 2 by a distance d so as to pass through the centre of gravity of the curved lamella element 1. A front side 1a of the lamella element 1 facing away from the axis of rotation is convexly shaped, whereas a back side 1b of the lamella element 1 facing towards the axis of rotation is concavely shaped. Just like the first clamp 5, the second clamp 6 also has a front part 6a and a backing part 6b. A hollow channel is formed as a recess cavity 61 at the interface between the front part 6a and the backing part 6b. The recess cavity 61 follows the interface in a transverse direction and extends from end to end of the curved clamp 6. The recess cavity is shaped and dimensioned to receive therein a beading 22 formed along a transverse edge at the second end of the screen body 2. The screen body 2 is thereby engaged in a uniformly distributed manner between the front part 6a and the backing part 6b. The screen body 2 is then lead between the front part 6a and the backing part 6b in a distal direction antiparallel to the direction z, bent and wrapped around the distal end of the front part 6a to contact a shape defining front surface of the front part 6a, and guided further in a proximal direction towards the first rotatable mount 3. Thereby a uniformly distributed tensioning force may be applied to the second end of the screen body 2 in a simple and production friendly manner. Furthermore, this clamping construction at the second end allows for a discreet design of the lamella element 1, in particular in combination with the above-described clamping construction at the first end. The drive axle 12 is held by the second support structure 8 and extends in an axial direction into the clamp 6. The second rotatable mount 4 further comprises a rapid release mechanism 14, such as a spring loaded pin engaging a complementary recess on the drive axle 12. The release mechanism 14 is for manual activation using finger forces. Activating the rapid release mechanism 14, e.g. by pulling the pin out against its loading, allows for rapidly removing the clamp 6 from the drive axle 12. The rapid release mechanism 14 also defines an axial position of the clamp 6. When engaged, the mechanism 14 holds the clamp 6 in the axial position against the tension of the elastic element 9 of the first rotatable mount 3. As mentioned above, the tensioning forces are taken up by the first and second support structures 7, 8, which in turn are fixed to a building structure (not shown). The rapid release mechanism 14 thus provides a well-defined mounting position of the clamp 6 on the drive axle 12, which allows to rapidly placing the clamp 6 onto the drive axle 12 in the same position as prior to the release, and without the need for any re-adjustment of the axial tensioning bias. A drive mechanism 10 is provided in the second support structure 8, wherein the drive mechanism 10 is for engaging the drive axle 12 for rotating the lamella element 1 into a desired position as described herein before.
