Retractable Awning

Abstract

Retractable awning with a cloth shaft, a cloth attached by one end thereof to the cloth shaft and winding onto and unwinding from the cloth shaft, at least one pulling cable connected by its one end to the free end of the cloth, at least one mast, and a cable winch disposed on the mast and featuring a cable drum, wherein the cable winch is connected to the other end of the pulling cable and is designed to retract and to unwind the pulling cable, characterized in that the cable winch is designed as a load balancer featuring a conical cable drum.

Claims

1. A retractable awning comprising A cloth shaft, A cloth attached by one end thereof to the cloth shaft and winding onto and unwinding from the cloth shaft, At least one pulling cable connected by its one end to the free end of the cloth, At least one mast, and A cable winch disposed on the mast and featuring a cable drum, wherein the cable winch is connected to the other end of the pulling cable and is designed to retract and to unwind the pulling cable, characterized in that the cable winch is designed as a load balancer featuring a conical cable drum.

2. The retractable awning according to claim 1, characterized by a diverter unit arranged on the mast, disposed between the cable winch and the cloth for diverting the pulling cable from a vertical plane into a horizontal plane.

3. The retractable awning according to claim 2, characterized in that the vertical position of the diverter unit on the mast is adjustable.

4. The retractable awning according to claim 2, characterized in that the diverter unit can move with respect to its vertical position on the mast.

5. The retractable awning according to claim 1, characterized in that the end of the pulling cable connected to the free end of the cloth features a diverter roller.

6. The retractable awning according to claim 5, characterized in that the free end of the cloth features a tension cable connected by both ends to the cloth and is guided in the diverter roller of the pulling cable.

7. The retractable awning according to claim 1, characterized in that the free end of the cloth is formed by a terminal strip connected to the free end of the cloth.

8. The retractable awning according to claim 1, characterized in that the sides of the cloth have a concave shape.

9. The retractable awning according to claim 1, characterized in that the cable winch features a centrifugal brake.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0028] The invention will be explained in greater detail below based on one exemplary embodiment which is depicted in the included drawings. We have:

[0029] FIG. 1 A perspective view of a schematic design of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 A frontal (A) and a side (B) view of a cable winch designed as balancer;

[0031] FIG. 3 A perspective detail of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 shown in the region of the connection of pulling cable and tension cable; and

[0032] FIG. 4 A side view of one particularly preferred embodiment of a cable winch with a safety brake.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a schematic design of one particularly preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0034] Accordingly, the retractable awning 10 features a cloth shaft 20, a cloth 30 attached by one end thereof to the cloth shaft 20 and winding onto and unwinding from the cloth shaft 20, and two pulling cables 40 connected by their one end to the free end of the cloth 30.

[0035] Each pulling cable 40 is connected by its other end to a mast 50, which each accommodates a cable winch disposed on the mast 50 and featuring a cable drum 62, wherein the cable winch features a spring exerting a torque upon the cable drum to compensate for loads on the pulling cable and/or on the sail cloth which differ from the spring tension.

[0036] In particular, the cable winch is designed as the balancer depicted in FIG. 2.

[0037] The cable winch 60 designed as balancer, which is disposed concealed in one of the masts depicted in FIG. 1, for example, features a conical cable drum 62 accommodating the pulling cable 40. The cable drum 62 can be driven by a motor-driven shaft 64, and a spring 66 is provided whose one end is connected to the shaft 64 and whose other end is connected to the cable drum 62, so that a torque is applied to the cable drum 62 and the pulling cable 40 is pre-tensioned.

[0038] Furthermore, FIG. 3 presents a perspective detail of the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, showing the region of the connection of pulling cable 40 and tension cable 44. In order to ensure a consistent transfer of force in the horizontal plane from pulling cable 40 onto the cloth 30, the end of the pulling cable 40 connected to the free end of the cloth 30 features a diverter roller 42. Due to this feature, transverse forces occurring between pulling cable 40 and cloth 30, which are caused e.g. by winds attacking underneath the cloth, are deflected in a manner so as not to stress the fabric.

[0039] Finally, FIG. 4 shows one particularly preferred design of the cable winch with a safety brake.

[0040] As depicted above, for a permanent cloth tensioning, an approximately constant spring tension across the extension region of the awning is necessary. It makes no difference here whether the awning is extended or retracted—there is always a (pre-)tensioning of the cable.

[0041] But if the cable were to break, then there is a potential for injury to persons and/or property due to the pre-tensioning of the cable. The situation is quite hazardous when the spring tension is at the maximum and the cable breaks near the cloth. The cable—usually made of steel—can thus readily spin around itself until the spring has relaxed.

[0042] Therefore preferably a safety brake acting as a centrifugal force brake is proposed.

[0043] As FIG. 4 shows, safety elements 70 are provided on the spring drum 62 which shear off due to the force of gravity and at an increased speed of rotation, such that they jam against a solid abutment 80 specifically provided for this purpose. This abutment can be, for example, the base supporting the rotating drum.

[0044] The standard speed of rotation is normally specified by the motor of the system. At a standard speed of rotation the safety elements 70 are in the stopped position and do not engage with the abutment 80 during the rotation. Only if the cable breaks will the spring 66 not have any opposing pull and then tends to relax as quickly as possible. Thus an increased speed of rotation of the spring drum 62 occurs and the centrifugal brake will operate.