AN ELECTRICAL OPERATOR DEVICE FOR WINDOWS

Abstract: An electric operator device (1) for opening and closing a window (2) with pivotal sash (5) and comprising an operator housing (4) designed to be fastened to the frame (3) of the window, preferably to the top member thereof, said operator housing having a built-in drive motor in transmission connection with an operating member (6), which in the closed position of the window is accommodated in the operator housing (4), and a mounting bracket (9) for connecting the operating member (6) with an operating means (7), connected with the sash of the window, preferably the top member thereof. The window (2) can, in the closed position and affected by said operating means (7), be locked by engagement between locking means (11) in connection with the sash (3), preferably the top member thereof, and a strike plate (8) fastened to the frame (5), preferably to the top member thereof. The electric operator device is characterized in that the operator housing (4) comprises a strike plate (8) which is fixedly positioned relative to the frame (3) by means of co-operating positioning means (13, 16, 17) arranged on the frame (3) and the strike plate (8).

Description: AN ELECTRICAL OPERATOR DEVICE FOR WINDOWS The present invention relates to an electric operator device for opening and closing a window with a pivotal sash and comprising an operator housing designed to be fastened to the frame of the window, preferably to the top member thereof, said operator housing having a built-in drive motor in transmission connection with an operating member, which in the closed position of the window is accommodated in the operator housing, and a mounting bracket for connecting the operating member with an operating means, connected with the sash of the window, preferably the top member thereof, said window being, in the closed position and affected by said operating means, lockable by engagement between locking means in connection with the sash, preferably the top member thereof, and a strike plate fastened to the frame, preferably to the top member thereof . Certain types of windows of the kind described by way of introduction are as standard equipment provided with a locking mechanism in the factory as illustrated in Figs 1 and 2. Such a locking mechanism comprises locking means in the form of movable catches which are movable in grooves in a locking housing which itself is mounted in a top member of the window sash. This locking housing is designed in such a manner that the catches by operation of an operating means, which typically also functions as a ventilation flap, may be brought into engagement with guideways in a strike plate mounted on a top member of the window frame . As the locking house and the strike plate are both mounted in the factory, they have been positioned very accurately, so that they co-operate in a manner which ensures a good functioning, for instance for establishing a suitable gasket pressure when the window is closed. DK-B1-172300 discloses an electric operator device for opening and closing a window, the operator device comprising a housing connected with the frame structure of the window and an operating member extending from there in a direction towards the sash in the form of a chain for driving connection with a drive motor positioned in the housing, the free end of the operating member being via a coupling device connected with the operating means. This operator device may be mounted in a window of the above-mentioned kind. The mounting is normally carried out by the end user or a distributor, but may of course also be carried out at the factory. In this known electric operating device, the operator housing is mounted in the frame structure without any fixed positioning relative to the strike plate mounted on the above-mentioned frame, said strike plate co-operating, as said before, with the locking housing mounted in the sash at the factory. In the same manner the free end of the operating member is via the coupling device connected with the operating means without any accurate positioning. This is illustrated in Figs 3a and 3b. Due to the lack of a fixed positioning an erroneous mounting of either the operating means or the coupling device may in particular occur by retrofitting as illustrated in Fig. 3b. This may entail that the pattern of movement of the operating device at insertion and extraction, respectively, varies to such an extent that an adequate functioning of the operator member is not always ensured. This might entail an increased wear of the operating member and consequently a reduced life. When the operating member is a chain, it may also for instance happen that the operating member partially collapses and yields a torgue of resistance which is higher than the maximum torque of the operating means, which has the effect that the operating means stops and the user at best has to restart the opening/closing movement, and at worst has to perform an adjustment of the mounted units by disassembling and re-mounting them in new positions. An object of the invention is to provide an electric operator device for opening and closing a window, preferably a roof window, with pivotal sash of the above type, which may in a simple manner be mounted on existing, manually operated windows, and which at the same time retains the advantages residing in manually operated windows, i.a. in the form of a good locking effect in the closed position of the window, and where also a mounting is ensured which gives a reproducible functioning in connection with the pattern of movement of the operating member at the opening/closing movement . To meet this object, the operator device according to the invention is characterized in that the operator housing comprises a the strike plate which is fixedly positioned relative to the frame by means of co-operating positioning means provided on the frame and the strike plate. Hereby is ensured that mounting of an operator device according to the invention can be carried out, the same locking effect as that of a manually operated window being retained and the risk of bad positioning of the operator housing with the operating member both relative to the frame and relative to the mounting bracket on the operating means of the sash being minimized. In a preferred embodiment, the strike plate is a part of the operator housing and preferably an integral part thereof, so that the operator device at the mounting replaces the original strike plate, the operator housing with the strike plate being mounted in the existing mounting and/or positioning means, like for instance holes, for the strike plate. Hereby a correct mounting of the housing is ensured and that no danger of over-closing or the like will exist. In another advantageous embodiment, the strike place is pivotally mounted in the operator housing, of which it forms a part . Hereby is obtained that the movement of the operating member not necessarily has to follow the circular arc, which is followed by the fastening point on the sash during the movement of the sash, but that instead, it may follow a more rectilinear curve, i.e. more or less follow a chord in the above circular arc. In yet another embodiment the original factory- mounted strike plate comprises at least one mounting member, on which the operator housing at the mounting may be mounted for the attainment of the device according to the invention, in which the operator housing comprises the strike plate. The operating member may according to a preferred embodiment be a chain. According to a preferred embodiment the electric operator device is characterized in that the built-in drive motor in the operator housing is controlled by means of a position scanning of the top member of the sash in the closed position in such a manner that in the closed position it is relieved of mechanical stress, which means that the parts may have smaller dimensions and can be manufactured from less strong materials. According to a preferred embodiment the electric operator device is characterized in that said mounting bracket is designed for releasable connection of the operator member with the operating means. Hereby is obtained that the end user optionally may choose between electric and manual operation, just as it is ensured that the window can be manually operated in case of an emergency or in case of power failure . The invention will be described in detail in the following with reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the general arrangement of a roof window of known type with locking housing 10 and strike plate 8 (shown in broken line) , Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the strike plate 8 and the locking housing 10 in Fig. 1, Fig. 3a is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2, but with a correctly retrofitted operator device according to prior art, Fig. 3b is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3b, but with an incorrectly retrofitted operator device according to prior art, Fig. 4 a view corresponding to Fig. 2, in which the factory-mounted strike place 8 has been replaced by an electric operator device according to the invention, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V in Fig. 4. Fig. 1 shows a roof window 2 with pivotal sash. The window comprises a frame 3, a strike plate 8 (shown in broken line) secured to the top member of the frame 3, a sash 5, which is pivotal about a central, horizontal axis, a locking housing 10 secured to the top member of the sash 5 and an operating means 7. The operating means 7 is not solely an operating means, but also serves as a ventilation flap. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of frame 3 and sash 5 with strike plate 8 and locking housing 10 with locking means 11, respectively, the strike plate 8 on the frame being seen from below, and the locking housing 10 on the sash being seen from above. The locking means 11 may be locking catches, which are movable in grooves 12, so that when the window is closed they engage guideways 14 in the strike plate 8. For the sake of good order it should be mentioned that the term plate does not necessarily imply that it is made from sheet metal. The strike plate may thus be manufactured from any other suitable material, for instance wood, metal, ceramics or plastics, and by means of manufacturing methods suitable for these materials, such as for instance sintering, milling, cast moulding, etc. The corresponding view in Fig. 4 shows a situ- ation, in which the originally factory-mounted strike place 8 is replaced by an electric operator device 1 according to the invention, said operator device comprising an operator housing 4 with a strike plate 8 and having a built-in motor in transmission connection with an operating member 6, which in the closed position of the window is accommodated in the operator housing 4, and mounting brackets 9 for connecting the operator member 6 with an operating means 7 preferably pivotally connected with the sash top member of the window. It is evident that the operating means 7 in an electrically operated window primarily has the function of a ventilation flap and will only to a small extent be used as an operating means, for instance only in emergency cases, in which it may be necessary to open the window manually. The mounting bracket 9 may either mainly be connected with the operating member, for instance by means of a locking pin or the like, or designed to disengage when the window is closed. Fig. 4 shows that the operator housing 4 is provided with an integral strike plate 8 for receiving the locking means 11. By closing of the window these locking means 11 engage the strike plate 8 and in this way the desired gasket pressure is established, i.e. the gaskets abut in such a manner that a sealing between sash and frame is established. Furthermore, it will be seen that the mounting bracket 9 is provided with a positioning device 15, which ensures the positioning of the mounting bracket 9 relative to the locking housing 10. This positioning device 15 may be designed in various ways to ensure a correct positioning of the mounting bracket 9 relative to the locking housing 10, and the spacer (in this case triangular) with flushing line is only to be regarded as an illustrative example. Moreover, the positioning device 15 may be designed in such a manner that when the mounting bracket has been correctly mounted it may be broken away. By means of the positioning device 15 a particularly high degree of accuracy is attained in respect of the relative positioning of the operator housing 4 and thus the operating member 6 relative to the mounting bracket 9, as not only just the operator housing 4 but also the mounting bracket 9 may be placed accurately. The correct retrofitting of the operator housing 4 is attained by removal of the originally factory- mounted strike plate 8, which is mounted by means of screws 13, the screws 13 being unscrewed and the factory-mounted strike plate 8 removed. Then the operator housing 4 is placed, said operator housing comprising according to an aspect of the invention another strike plate 8 than the one originally mounted in the frame, and positioned quite easily according to the existing screw holes and further positioning pins 16, if any, fitting into a corresponding positioning hole 17 in the sash, and is fastened by screws by use of the original screw holes in the frame 3. This is moreover preferably done by means of the original screws 13. In automatic operation of the window with operating means and sash the motor starts advancing the operating member for opening of the operating means 7 and thus for releasing the locking means 11 in the strike plate 8, and by further advancing of the operating member 6, the window is opened, the pivotal sash 5 rotating about the central, horizontal axis. The position sensing may be a mechanical or electrical sensing of the sash top member in the closed position, or based on detection of current level. The integral strike plate 8 is advantageously pivotally or tiltably mounted in the operator housing 4, so that the operator housing 4, when the strike plate 8 is mounted in the top member of the frame 5, may pivot about an axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the operator housing. In another advantageous embodiment, the originally factory-mounted strike plate is provided with means (not shown in the drawing) , which may co-operate with means on the operator housing 4, for instance in the form of guide pins or bearings, which make it possible to mount an operator housing, so that they in combination constitute a unit, in which the operator housing comprises the strike plate. In this way it becomes possible to avoid unscrewing the screws 13. Instead, the operator housing is by means of suitable securing means clicked onto the strike plate, and a correct position of the operator housing and the operating member is thus ensured straight away. These pins are preferably designed in such a manner that the operator housing and the strike plate, when assembled into a unit, are pivotal relative to each other about an axis in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the operator housing. The invention described in the application is not limited to use in connection with the kind of windows described. Thus, the window may also have a pivotal sash with a pivot axis different from horizontal, just as the operator housing may be mounted on the lower sash or frame member, depending on the position of the factory-mounted strike plate in the window in question.

Claims: P A T E N T C L A I M S 1. An electric operator device (1) for opening and closing a window (2) with pivotal sash (5) and comprising an operator housing (4) designed to be fastened to the frame (3) of the window, preferably to the top member thereof, said operator housing having a built-in drive motor in transmission connection with an operating member (6) , which in the closed position of the window is accommodated in the operator housing (4) , and a mounting bracket (9) for connecting the operating member (6) with an operating means (7), connected with the sash of the window, preferably the top member thereof, said window (2) being, in the closed position and affected by said operating means (7) , lockable by engagement between locking means (11) in connection with the sash (5), preferably the top member thereof, and a strike plate (8) fastened to the frame (3), preferably to the top member thereof, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the operator housing (4) com- prises a strike plate (8) which is fixedly positioned relative to the frame (3) by means of co-operating positioning means (13, 16, 17) arranged on the frame (3) and the strike plate (8) . 2. An electrical operator device (1) according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the positioning means comprise co-operating pins (16) and holes (17) . 3. An electrical operator device (1) according to claim 1 or 2 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the positioning means comprise screws (13) co-operating with existing screw holes. 4. An electrical operator device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the strike plate (8) and the operator housing (4) are pivotally connected with each other. 5. An electrical operator device according to any of the claims l to 4 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the strike plate (8) and the operator housing (4) are fixedly connected with each other. 6. An electric operator device according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the strike plate (8) and the operator housing (4) are releasably connected with each other. 7. An electric operator device (1) according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the mounting bracket (9) comprises a positioning means (15) for correct positioning of the mounting bracket (9) relative to the locking housing (10) . 8. An electric operator device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the coupling of the operating member (6) with the mounting bracket (9) takes place during a closing movement of the sash (5) by means of the operating means (7) . 9. An electric operator device according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said mounting bracket (9) is designed for releasably connecting the operating member (6) with the operating means (9) . 10. An electric operator device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the operating member (6) is a chain. 11. An electric operator device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the built-in drive motor in the operating housing (4) is controlled by means of a position sensing of the top member of the sash in the closed position in such a manner that in the closed position it is relieved of mechanical stress.

Inventors: HALD ROBERT AAGE, HANSEN-VESTKAER KNUD ERIK, KIRK HENNING SAND, SOERENSEN MICHAEL THODE, HALD, ROBERT, AAGE, HANSEN-VESTKAER, KNUD, ERIK, KIRK, HENNING, SAND, SOERENSEN, MICHAEL, THODE
Applicants: HALD ROBERT AAGE, HANSEN VESTKAER KNUD ERIK, KIRK HENNING SAND, SOERENSEN MICHAEL THODE, VELUX IND AS, HALD, ROBERT, AAGE, HANSEN-VESTKAER, KNUD, ERIK, KIRK, HENNING, SAND, SOERENSEN, MICHAEL, THODE, VELUX INDUSTRI A/S
Application year: 2000
Main classification: E05F15
IPC codes: E05B47, E05F15