KUNDGOL, Arun (Block A, 28 Albion MillPollard Street, Manchester Greater Manchester M4 7AJ, GB)
MELLORS, Nigel (416 Newchurch Road, Rawtenstall Lancashire BB4 7SN, GB)
WATERWORTH, Stephen (66 Church Road, New Mills, High Peak Derbyshire SK22 4NU, GB)
CROSSLEY, Jonathan (2 Cheddington Close, Cheadle Hulme Cheshire SK8 7LH, GB)
KUNDGOL, Arun (Block A, 28 Albion MillPollard Street, Manchester Greater Manchester M4 7AJ, GB)
MELLORS, Nigel (416 Newchurch Road, Rawtenstall Lancashire BB4 7SN, GB)
WATERWORTH, Stephen (66 Church Road, New Mills, High Peak Derbyshire SK22 4NU, GB)
| CLAIMS 1. Vent controlling apparatus comprising an actuator adapted to open and close a vent, means for converting energy to provide power for the actuator and control means operative to control the actuator in response to a wirelessly transmitted control signal. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising energy storage means. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the energy storage means is rechargeable. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the means for converting energy recharges the energy storage means. 5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the energy storage means comprises one or more batteries and/or one or more cells. 6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for converting energy converts light energy. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the light energy is solar energy. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means for converting energy comprises one or more photovoltaic cells. 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein one or more photovoltaic cells is adapted to be moved from one position to another position to thereby maximise the amount of solar energy that may be converted. 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein movement from one position to another position is motorised. 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein one or more photovoltaic cells is pivotally attached to the apparatus. 12. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, further comprising one or more recesses into which one or more photovoltaic cells is seated. 13. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means for converting energy converts wind energy. 14. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control means comprises a wireless receiver operative to receive the control signal. 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the wireless receiver is adapted to receive a wireless, electromagnetic control signal. 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the electromagnetic control signal comprises radio waves and/or infrared waves. 17. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control means further comprises a control circuit adapted to decode a wireless control signal and act upon a received command. 18. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the actuator comprises means for imparting a force onto a vent. 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the means for imparting a force is a body adapted to be extended outwardly from, and in toward, the remainder of the apparatus. 20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the control means is adapted to cause the body to move in response to a received wirelessly transmitted control signal. 21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the actuator further comprises a motor operative to move the body outwardly from and in toward the apparatus. 22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a gear system, driven by the motor, to move the body. 23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the gear system comprises a worm- drive gear system. 24. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 19 to 23, further comprising a compartment into which at least a portion of the body may be retracted. 25. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 19 to 24, wherein the body comprises a double link chain. 26. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising one or more remote transmitters adapted to transmit a wireless control signal to the control means. 27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein one or more transmitters comprises a user operable wireless transmitter operative, under control of a user, to transmit either an open control signal, which causes the actuator to move a vent to an open state, or a close control signal, which causes the actuator to move the vent to a closed state. 28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27, wherein one or more remote transmitters is under the control of a building management system. 29. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 26 to 28, wherein one or more remote transmitters comprises a sensor operative to sense an environmental condition and to transmit an open or close control signal depending upon the sensed environmental condition. 30. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control means has a standby mode in which the control means operates on reduced power consumption. - Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the corresponding drawings. |
The present invention relates to vent controlling apparatus.
Vent controlling apparatus are used in domestic and commercial buildings to open and close vents, in particular windows, in order to control access to the building interior and regulate the internal building environment with appropriate ventilation. Vents to which such apparatus are attached can be remotely opened and closed and so are useful when the vents are in inaccessible or hard to reach places. In the domestic environment, remote opening and closing of vents such as windows is particularly useful for the physically challenged who cannot so easily operate windows manually. In commercial applications, the widespread use of vent controlling apparatus throughout a building permits the large scale remote control of the opening and closing of windows and therefore more easily facilitates the control of the internal environment, saving time, effort and energy, especially in buildings comprising a large number of windows.
Conventionally, mechanically operated vent controlling apparatus or fully wired, electronic systems are installed to permit the remote control of the opening or closing action of one or more vents in a building. However, mechanically operated systems are difficult to fix, unsightly and suffer from limited reach. Furthermore, mechanically operated systems are difficult to automate and usually require manual operation of individual vent controlling apparatus to open and close the vents. Fully wired, electronic systems can be more easily automated than mechanical systems and therefore require less input from a user to control the building environment. As with mechanically operated systems, though, wired systems are difficult to install, especially in inaccessible places, and are also unsightly when installed.
An object of an embodiment of the invention is to produce an improved vent controlling apparatus.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a vent controlling apparatus comprising an actuator adapted to open and close a vent, means for converting energy to provide power for the actuator and control means operative to control the actuator in response to a wirelessly transmitted control signal.
Advantageously, apparatus according to the present invention does not require an external power supply nor does it require a physical connection to operate the apparatus. Thus, apparatus according to the invention obviates the need for unsightly wires and cables and is easy to install.
The apparatus may comprise energy storage means. The energy storage means may be rechargeable. The means for converting energy may recharge the energy storage means. The energy storage means may comprise one or more batteries and/or one or more cells.
The means for converting energy may convert light energy. The light energy may be solar energy. The means for converting energy may comprise one or more photovoltaic cells. One or more photovoltaic cells may be adapted to be moved from one position to another position to thereby maximise the amount of solar energy that may be converted. Movement from one position to another position may be motorised. One or more photovoltaic cells may be pivotally attached to the apparatus. The apparatus may further comprise one or more recesses into which one or more photovoltaic cells may be seated. Additionally or alternatively, the means for converting energy may convert wind energy.
The control means may comprise a wireless receiver operative to receive the control signal. The wireless receiver may be adapted to receive a wireless, electromagnetic control signal. The electromagnetic control signal may comprise radio waves and/or infrared waves. The control means may further comprise a control circuit adapted to decode a wireless control signal and act upon a received command.
The actuator may comprise means for imparting a force onto a vent. The means for imparting a force may be a body adapted to be extended outwardly from the apparatus. The control means may be adapted to cause the body to move in response to a received wirelessly transmitted control signal. The actuator may further comprise a motor operative to move the body outwardly from, and in toward, the remainder of the apparatus. The motor may be controlled by the control means. The apparatus may further comprise a gear system, driven by the motor, to move the body. The gear system may comprise a worm-drive gear system. The apparatus may further comprise a compartment into which at least a portion of the body may be retracted. The body may comprise a double link chain. The apparatus may further comprise one or more remote transmitters adapted to transmit a wireless control signal to the control means. One or more transmitters may comprise a user operable wireless transmitter operative, under control of a user, to transmit either an open control signal, which causes the actuator to move a vent to an open state, or a close control signal, which causes the actuator to move the vent to a closed state. One or more remote transmitters may be under the control of a building management system. One or more remote transmitters may comprise a sensor operative to sense an environmental condition and to transmit an open or close control signal depending upon the sensed environmental condition. The control means may have a standby mode in which the control means operates on reduced power consumption.
The apparatus may be arranged relative to a vent such that, when activated, the actuator moves at least a part of the vent from one position to another in response to a received wirelessly transmitted control signal. The vent may, in particular, be a window, louvre, ventilation opening or dome light.
The actuator may comprise a chain actuator, spindle actuator or rack and pinion actuator.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 is a block diagram depicting component parts of an automatic window controlling apparatus according to the invention and how they interact;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an automatic window controlling apparatus in use fitted to a window frame with the window in an open/partially open state;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the controlling apparatus shown in Fig. 2 fixed to a window sill with the window in an open/partially open state;
Fig. 4 is an end view of the controlling apparatus of Figs 2 and 3 with a solar panel in a recessed position;
Fig. 5 is a corresponding view to Fig. 4 with the solar panel in a second position; Fig. 6 is a corresponding view to Fig. 4 with the solar panel displaced relative to the remainder of the apparatus;
Fig. 7 is a sectional of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4 along the line VII- VII;
Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram of a solar charging and protection circuit used in the apparatus of Fig. 2; and
Fig. 9 is a flowchart depicting the operation of the apparatus.
Referring to the drawings there is shown an automatic window controlling apparatus 10 comprising an elongate, rectangular body 14 made from silver anodized aluminium inside which is disposed an actuator 19 comprising a double link stainless steel chain 18, gear system 30 and motor 32. The apparatus 10 further comprises a circuit board 34 and a battery 36, both disposed within the body 14, and an aperture through which an end 20 of the chain 18 extends from the body interior. Mounting brackets 13, 26 are disposed at both ends of the body 14 and also at the end 20 of the chain 18. A solar panel 16 is pivotally attached to the body 14 and seated within a recess along a length of the body 14. The chain 18 comprises a number of individual links that are pivotally connected to one another and arranged such that the chain 18 can flex in one direction only. Biasing the chain 18 such that, when in an extended condition, it is urged toward the locked state maintains the chain 18 in a stable, extended condition and ensures that it does not buckle when its remote end 20 is subjected to external forces directed toward the body 14. Thus, the chain 18 can be used to move a part of the window from an open to a closed position and vice versa and to maintain the window in an open or closed state.
The chain 18 is retained within the body 14 and pivoted toward itself at different points along its length which permits it to be collapsed into a confined space. The chain 18 is extended out from, and retracted into, the body 14 via the aperture by the worm-drive gear system 30 which comprises three gears 31a arranged side by side and in meshing relationship, and a worm 31b. The worm 31b, which is meshed with one of the gears 31b, is driven by the motor 32 which causes it to drive the gears 3 la and hence the chain 18 which meshes with the last gear 31 a in the chain.
The motor 32, whose operating voltage is 6V±2V, is powered by a rechargeable battery 36 and controlled by the circuit board 34 which comprises a solar charging circuit 40 and a control system 60. The solar charging circuit 40 is connected to the battery 3 at the VCC and GND terminals and controls charging of the battery 36 by the solar panel 16 which is rated between 200mA - 250mA, 12V±2V. The solar charging circuit 40 comprises a TL431 battery voltage regulator 42 which controls and limits the minimum voltage required to charge the battery 36. The circuit 40 is also arranged to stop battery discharge back through the solar panel 16. The arrangement depicted in Fig. 8 permits the constant charging of the battery 36 via the solar panel 1 during a fine day. The recess provided in the body 14 is dimensioned to accommodate the solar panel 16 so that, when seated in the recess, the solar panel 16 is flush with the surrounding surface of the body 14. The solar panel 1 is pi vo tally attached at one side to the body 14 so that it can be inclined relative to the body 14. As shown in Fig. 6, the solar panel 16 can also be detached completely from the actuator body 15 to enable it to be positioned for optimal performance and improved efficiency. Therefore, the solar panel 16 can be inclined or repositioned according to the position of the sun to maximise the amount of solar energy that is converted into electricity.
The control system 60 comprises a radio frequency (RF) receiver 50 operative to receive wireless signals from one or more remote RF transmitters 51. A manual control 54 is provided which, when manually activated by a user, can transmit a wireless signal to the receiver 50 with a command to open or close the window to which the apparatus 14 is attached. Additionally, a building management system 56 is provided which monitors and controls the internal environment of a building and can transmit a wireless RF signal to the receiver 50 with a command to open or close the window depending upon the desired effect on the building environment. Such a system 56 might also detect and prevent unauthorised access to the building with an appropriate command to close one or more windows. In addition, one or more sensors 58 may be provided which detect, for example, rain, humidity, wind or temperature and can therefore send a remote signal to the RF receiver 50 with a command to open or close the window depending upon a sensed condition. The control system 60 further comprises a control circuit or microcontroller 52 adapted to decode a wirelessly received control signal from one or more remote transmitters 51 and to operate the motor 32 in accordance with the received command.
In use, the body 14 of the apparatus 10 is fixedly attached to a window frame 12 or window sill 17 depending upon the preferred and or/possible arrangement via the mounting brackets 13 and screws (not shown). The body 14 is arranged such that the aperture, and hence chain end 20, face toward an opening leaf 24 section of a window. The chain 18 is fixedly attached to the window leaf 24 via the bracket 26, which is pivotaliy attached to the chain end 20, at a portion of the leaf frame 22 opposite the aperture of the body 14 so that the chain 18 extends substantially perpendicularly out from the body 14. Extending the chain 18 out from the body 14 causes the leaf 24 to open out from the window frame 12, corresponding to an open state, and retracting the chain 18 into the body 14 causes the leaf 24 to move in toward and abut the window frame 12, corresponding to a closed condition.
When installed on a window, the manual transmitter 54 may be used to transmit an 'open' signal to the RF receiver 50 which is then decoded by the microcontroller 52. Interpreting the 'open' signal, the microcontroller 52 activates the motor 32, rotating it such that the worm-drive gear system 30 extends the chain 18 out from the body 14 thereby causing the opening leaf 24 of the window to be pushed out from the window frame 12 to an open position. Transmitting a 'close' signal to the RF receiver 50 reverses the direction of rotation of the motor 32, and hence worm-drive gear system 30, thereby causing the chain 18 to retract into the body 14 which pulls the leaf 24 into the window frame 12 to a closed state. The open and close control signals may be transmitted without user input by the building management system 56 or a sensor 58 depending upon the desired impact upon the building environment. Operation of the chain 18 is controlled using low-side current sensing which involves measuring the current in operation and stopping the motor 32 if the current exceeds a particular value which is programmed into the microcontroller 52. Controlling the chain 18 in this way reduces the likelihood of motor burnout, gear jamming and damage to the window frame.
The control system 60 has a sleep mode whereby the RF receiver 50 and microcontroller 52 periodically poll for a control signal from one or more of the wireless transmitters 51 to determine whether or not to wake up. Referring to Fig. 9, after having initialized their ports and polled for a signal, if no signal is detected, both the RF receiver 50 and microcontroller 52 remain in sleep mode. If, a signal is detected, the receiver 50 and microcontroller 52 'wake up' and receive and decode the signal to determine the type of operation required, whether it be to open or close the window. The motor 32 is then activated accordingly to execute the operation. When the operation has ended, the RF receiver 50 and microcontroller 52 continue to poll for another operation for a fixed period of time, the absence of which causes them to revert back to sleep mode. The control system 60 includes a learning feature that is used to distinguish between specific transmitters to which it has been programmed. In an alternative arrangement, the actuator 14 may be attached to the opening leaf frame 22 and the remote end 20 of the chain 18 attached to the window frame 12 or sill 17 but the opening and closing operation remains the same.
It is of course to be understood that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.
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