OUTDOOR ROTATING DISPLAY DEVICE

Abstract: The invention relates to an outdoor rotating display device which includes a stationary fastened hollow supporting frame and an information carrier element connected by means of a bearing device to the supporting frame to allow rotation in respect thereto, as well as an actuating unit accommodated within the inner hole of the supporting frame, said actuating unit composed of a driving sub-assembly and a motion transfer mechanism in connection with the driving sub-assembly, while the driving sub-assembly is connected through the motion transfer mechanism to the information carrier element. The characteristic feature of the invention is that at least either of the upper end (5a) and lower end (5b) of the motion transfer mechanism (5) is completed with a hinged coupling element (4) and a moment limiting sub-assembly (6) is inserted between the motion transfer mechanism (5) and the driving sub-assembly (7) and/or between the driving sub-assembly (7) and the information carrier element (2).

Description: Outdoor rotating display device The invention relates to an outdoor rotating display device which includes a stationary fastened hollow supporting frame and an information carrier element connected by means of a bearing device to the supporting frame to allow rotation in respect thereto, as well as an actuating unit accommodated within the inner hole of the supporting frame, being said actuating unit composed of a driving subassembly and a motion transfer mechanism in connection with the driving subassembly, while the driving subassembly is connected through the motion transfer mechanism to the information carrier element. With the development of the business life, the advertisements and promotions that propose and attract the attention to various goods and services play an increasing part. In our days, a large variety of such advertising boards giving information or impulse to purchase is already available. For example, the US patent description registered under No. 4.827.644 describes a design in which the equipment serving for displaying the information includes: a motor accommodated in a casing; an information carrier surface composed of a specified number of mosaic elements e.g. trihedral prisms connected by means of a linkage to the motor. Its essence is that, under the effect of the motor drive, the mosaic plates turn around their own axis in a coordinated manner, thus making the device suitable to display several kinds of information on the same surface in sequence or to change them in groups as well. However, the disadvantage of this design is, that it is not well visible but viewed only from within a specified angular range and a relatively short distance. In addition, due to its dimensions and the existence of rotating parts being in fixed connection, it is very cost intensive in respect of both its production and operation, especially in the case of larger sizes. It is also unfavourable that the gaps established between the moving surfaces allow polluting materials to get access into the casing which, in turn, sets restrictions to the outdoor use. In fact, the high probability of failures will be further increased due to the wear of moving parts caused by pollution. Advertising devices consisting of an information carrier surface arranged on a stationary supporting structure are also widely used. A large number of solutions of this kind is shown e.g. on walls of buildings and lamp posts of public lighting. However, they have the disadvantage that the information displayed is visible only from a specified direction which reduces the efficiency of the advertisement. A further disadvantage of the -devices of such kind is, that they are stationary; thus, their capability of attracting the attention is reduced as compared to those that move, which reduces the probability of obtaining successful solution to the problem. It is also unfavourable that, as a result of wind pressure, the surfaces located at larger height are subject to deformation and damage as well as straddle, thus endangering the passengers and the environmental safety. To eliminate these disadvantages, an attempt is made by the advertising board described in the patent description US 4.910.898, which consists of a rotatable shaft and a fixed casing that accommodates the lower shaft end. Between the casing and the shaft, shearing pins are arranged that break in the case of excessive wind pressure, thus allowing the information carrier part to be freely rotated in relation to the fixed lower supporting part. However, this design has the disadvantage that, in the case of larger sizes, the upper rotating part once set free represents high risk; in fact, the swinging motion generated by the undamped rotation and unbalanced masses may lead to breaking of the structure and, in extreme cases, may also involve catastrophic consequences. It shall also be considered to be' disadvantageous that, as in the solutions described above, the information carrier of relatively small area is visible only from a restricted distance. The invention aims at eliminating the deficiencies of the information carrier devices known so far and at creating a version provided with a rotating information carrier surface - being thus suitable to attract the attention - which is also visible from larger distances and, in spite of its large surface located at a great height, operates reliably. The implementation according- to the invention was based on the recognition that , by using a supporting frame of large height and arranging a properly selected motion transfer mechanism inside it and by connecting the motion transfer mechanism with both the driving subassembly and the information carrier element in a manner that differs from the methods known so far, the problem can be solved. According to the objective set, the outdoor rotating display device according to the invention - which includes a stationary fastened hollow supporting frame and an information carrier element connected by means of a bearing device to the supporting frame to allow rotation in respect thereto, as well as an actuating unit accommodated within the inner hole of the supporting frame, being said actuating unit composed of a driving subassembly and a motion transfer mechanism in connection with the driving subassembly, while the driving subassembly is connected through the motion transfer mechanism to the information carrier element - is designed in a manner that at least either of the upper end and lower end of the motion transfer mechanism is completed with a hinged coupling element and a moment limiting subassembly is inserted between the motion transfer mechanism and the driving subassembly and/or between the driving subassembly and the information carrier element. A further criterion of the outdoor rotating advertising device may be that the supporting frame consists of a supporting post provided with a guide channel while the motion transfer mechanism consists in the driving shaft arranged within the guide channel. In an exemplary embodiment of the outdoor rotating advertising device, the information carrier element is completed with a luminous body. A current lead element is connected to the driving shaft of the motion transfer mechanism; a current input profile e.g. a sliding ring being in connection with a power source is fastened near the lower end of the driving shaft, while the current lead element is- connected to the current input profile, on the one hand, and to the luminous body, on the other hand. In another embodiment, the driving subassembly is arranged at the bottom of the guide channel of supporting frame. The outdoor rotating advertising device according to the invention has a number of advantageous features. The most important one is that, due to its structural design, the rotating information carrier element enables the desired advertisement to be recognized and read even from larger distances. It is a further advantage that the rotation of the information carrier element not only calls the attention but, due to the rotational motion, it makes the displayed information visible from every direction; thus, the device fulfills its function with significantly higher efficiency than the stationary devices. It is also favourable that the operation involves no risk; in fact, due to the original arrangement, the wind pressure acting on the large advertising surface is unable to result in any deformation of the supporting frame or the failure of and damage to the driving subassembly even in the case of heavy blasts of wind. It shall also be considered to be advantageous that the device can be assembled in a simple way of parts manufactured by using traditional equipment and its service also sets no difficulty. It is also advantageous that, in contrast to the versions known so far, the problem associated with the continuous and evenly distributed illumination of the rotating information carrier element is also solved, which enables the advertising device to fulfill its task even at evening time and during night. In the following, the invention will be described in detail in connection with an exemplary embodiment, based on drawings. Fig. 1 shows the partly sectional side view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In Fig. 1, one exemplary version of the outdoor rotating advertising device according to the invention is represented. It is well shown that the 1 supporting frame fastened stationary to the ground consists in the la supporting post of large height formed from a single piece, which is provided with the lb guide channel. At the top of the la supporting post, the 3 bearing device fits into the lb guide channel - and also closes it - , having said 3 bearing device the task of accommodating the 2b stub of the 2 information carrier element arranged over the la supporting post, thus enabling the 2 information carrier element to be freely rotated in relation to the 1 supporting frame. In this embodiment, the 3 bearing device consists in a combination of bearings suitable to withstand forces in both radial and axial directions, built with cither slide bearings or ball bearings or even roller bearings and their combination. The lb guide channel accommodates the 5 motion transfer mechanism and the 7 driving subassembly as well. The 7 driving subassembly that includes the 7a gearbox and the 7b motor is suspended on the lc coupling plate protruding into the lb guide channel of the la supporting post at a place easy to access near the 12 door. In this embodiment, the 5 motion transfer mechanism, which has the task of coupling the 7a gearbox of the 7 driving subassembly to the 2b stub of the 2 information carrier element, consists in the 5c driving shaft coaxial with the la supporting post of the 1 supporting frame. At the 5a upper end of 5c driving shaft facing the 2b stub of 2 information carrier element as well as at the 5b lower end nearer to the 7a gearbox of the 7 driving subassembly, the 4 hinged coupling element each that serves the connection is fastened. At least one of the 4 hinged coupling elements is designed preferably as a cardan joint which has the task of allowing the long 5c driving shaft to be declined during its rotation, thus preventing any remaining deformation resulting from possible jamming and elastic deformation. Of course, it is not required to provide the 5c driving shaft with 4 hinged coupling elements at its both ends; however, at least either the 5a upper end or the 5b lower end of the 5c driving shaft shall be provided with a 4 hinged coupling element. Furthermore, it is preferable to form the 4 hinged coupling element in a manner so as to be capable of equalizing the dimensional changes due to the thermal expansion of the 5c driving shaft. Fig 1 also shows that, between the 7a gearbox of the 7 driving subassembly and the 4 hinged coupling element mounted at the 5 b lower end of the 5c driving shaft of 5 motion transfer mechanism, the 6 moment limiting subassembly is inserted. The 6 moment limiting subassembly has the function that, in the case of excessive external forces e.g. wind pressure acting on the 2 information carrier element if the moment exceeds a predetermined value, it enables the 2 information carrier element and the 5 motion transfer mechanism to perform rotational motion which, although independent of the 7 driving subassembly, is still damped. The use of the 6 moment limiting subassembly is important and indispensable in order to protect the 7 driving subassembly and to ensure the safe operation of the complete device without any risk of accident. The 7b motor of the 7 driving -subassembly is powered by the 8 power source which, preferably, consists in the mains supply; nevertheless, in another possible embodiment, wind energy is used as 8 power source, where the energy thus generated will be used for the operation of the device. For the evening illumination, the 2a luminous body is fixed in the environment of the 2 information carrier element, fastened thereto in this embodiment. For the power supply of the 2a luminous body, the 10 current lead element is arranged in the 5 motion transfer mechanism, which consists of a wire connected to the 5c driving shaft in this version. The current will be led to the 5c driving shaft by means of the 9 current input profiles consisting of the sliding rings mounted on the 5c driving shaft as well as the carbon brushes fastened to any of the stationary parts, not shown in Fig. 1. The control of power supply to both the 7b motor and the 2b stub will be implemented by means of the 11 electric control panel wliich is also arranged in the 1 b guide channel at the bottom of the 1 supporting frame near the 7 driving subassembly. During the operation of the outdoor rotating advertising device according to the invention, when the 7b- motor of the driving subassembly is switched on, the 7b motor sets the 5c driving shaft of the 5 motion transfer mechanism into motion through the 7a gearbox, the 6 moment limiting subassembly and the 4 hinged coupling element mounted at the 5b lower end of the 5c driving shaft of 5 motion transfer mechanism. The 5c driving shaft, in turn, by means of the 2b stub fastened to its 5a upper end, forces the 2 information carrier element to rotate which, while rotating continuously, transmits the advertisement displayed to each direction. Should an increased wind pressure act on the 2 information carrier element - either in the rotational direction or inversely -, the 2 information carrier element would tend to rotate at a higher, or even, lower speed in relation to that forced by the 7 driving subassembly. If the rotational speed of the 2 information carrier element were different from that of the 7a gearbox of 7 driving subassembly to the extent that the risk of damaging the 5 motion transfer mechanism or the 7 driving subassembly would exist, the elements capable of displacing in relation to each other of the 6 moment limiting subassembly - which, preferably, consists of a sliding plate clutch - will slip, thereby preventing any harmful forces from being transferred to the 5 motion transfer mechanism or the 7 driving subassembly. With the strain released, the 2 information carrier element and the 5 motion transfer mechanism as well as the 7 driving subassembly will be synchronized again, to continue the normal operation. It shall be noted here that the 7 driving subassembly can also be arranged at a place other than the bottom of the 1 supporting frame. In another possible version, the 7 driving subassembly is arranged near the 2 information carrier element. Of course, the 5 motion transfer mechanism is also of different design. However, in respect of putting into service and inspection as well as servicing, the embodiment presented here is more advantageous. The outdoor rotating advertising device according to the invention is well suitable to be used in cases that the information, advertisement or signaling shall be visible from long distance and any direction. supporting frame la supporting post lb guide channel lc coupling plate information carrier element 2a luminous body 2b stub bearing device hinged coupling element motion transfer mechanism 5a upper end 5 b lower end 5c driving shaft moment limiting subassembly driving subassembly 7a gearbox 7b motor power source current input profiles current lead element electric control panel door

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Outdoor rotating display device which includes a stationary fastened hollow supporting frame and an information carrier element connected by means of a bearing device to the supporting frame to allow rotation in respect thereto, as well as an actuating unit accommodated within the inner hole of the supporting frame, being said actuating unit composed of a driving subassembly and a motion transfer mechanism in connection with the driving subassembly, while the driving subassembly is connected through the motion transfer mechanism to the information carrier element, characterized by that at least either of the upper end (5a) and lower end (5b) of the motion transfer mechanism (5) is completed with a hinged coupling element (4) and a moment limiting subassembly (6) is inserted between the motion transfer mechanism (5) and the driving subassembly (7) and/or between the driving subassembly (7) and the information carrier element (2). 2. Outdoor rotating advertising device as in claim 1, charac¬ terized by that the supporting frame (1 ) consists of a supporting post (la) provided with a guide channel (lb) while the motion transfer mechanism (5) consists in the driving shaft (5c) arranged within the guide channel (lb). 3. Outdoor rotating advertising device as in claim either 1 or 2, characterized by that the information carrier element (2) is completed with a luminous body (2a). 4. Outdoor rotating advertising device as in claim 3, charac¬ terized by that a current lead element (10) is connected to the driving shaft (5c) of the motion transfer mechanism (5); a current input profile (9) e.g. a sliding ring being in connection with a power source (8) is fastened near the lower end (5b) of the driving shaft (5c), while the current lead element (10) is connected to the current input profile (9), on the one hand, and to the luminous body (2a), on the other hand. 5. Outdoor rotating advertising device as in any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized by that driving subassembly (7) is arranged at the bottom of the guide channel (lb) of supporting frame (1 ).

Inventors: BLAHO MIKLOS, BOER ATTILA, KOVACS ATTILA, KOVACS BELA LASZLO, MARSCHALL JOZSEF, BLAHO, MIKLOS, BOER, ATTILA, KOVACS, ATTILA, KOVACS, BELA, LASZLO, MARSCHALL, JOZSEF
Applicants: KBL MERNOEKI IRODA KFT, KBL MERNOEKI IRODA KFT.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G09F7
IPC codes: G09F7