[0001] The subject-matter of this invention consists of a geared linear actuator, particularly
well-suited for opening/closing windows.
[0002] It is well-known that the windows of industrial buildings require remote controlled
devices, not only since they are often in inaccessible places, for example at considerable
heights, but also and above all because automatic control of the degree of opening
is needed in relation to the external environmental conditions or to specific indoor
emergency situations.
[0003] These actuators must also be capable of operating windows of various shapes and
types, entailing a wide range of actuators of different shapes, sizes, travel and
type of constraint.
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to create a highly reliable actuator, with great
flexibility of use. This would mean lower costs, as one single type of actuator could
be used for windows with very different sizes and characteristics.
[0005] The actuator according to the invention has an elongated prism-shaped housing containing
a remote-controlled electric motor capable of interlocking with any type of automatic
or manual control.
[0006] By means of a series of reduction gears, the motor in question controls the rotation
of a threaded bar positioned on an axis parallel to the longest side of the prism-shaped
housing of the actuator. To this threaded bar an internally threaded hollow rod is
screwed which cannot rotate freely but can move freely axially.
[0007] One end of the internally threaded hollow rod, called conventionally the outer end,
passes through one of the ends of the prism-shaped housing and is equipped with an
eye-bolt, to be secured to the window to be moved, in one direction or another.
[0008] There are of course many different ways of connecting the hollow rod to the window.
[0009] For connecting the prism-shaped housing to the window frame, said housing has on
two parallel sides a pair of dovetail-shaped grooves. One or two correspondingly shaped
anchor bolts can be fixed into these grooves.
[0010] In this way it is possible to secure the housing of the actuator in any position,
with any inclination, in a fixed or mobile position, as described in detail below.
[0011] Stop screws are also fitted inside the actuator housing.
[0012] The invention is described in greater detail below, with the help of drawings illustrating
an example of its embodiment.
Figure 1 is an external side view of the actuator according to the invention.
Figure 2 is a view from above of the same actuator.
Figure 3 is a cross-section on plane III-III of figure 2, in which for the sake of
simplicity the reduction gears are not shown.
Figure 4 is a cross-section of figure 1, on IV-IV.
Figure 5 is an external view of the end of the actuator opposite to the output side
of the internally threaded hollow rod.
Figure 6 is a cross-section on VI-VI of figure 7 below.
Figure 7 is an enlargement of the cross-section already illustrated in figure 3, showing
the series of reduction gears.
[0013] With specific reference to the above figures, 10 is the elongated prism-shaped housing
of the actuator. This housing has two sides 11 and 12 on which there are lengthwise
dovetailed grooves 13 and 14. The housing also has a top side 15 and a bottom side
16. Naturally the actuator housing can be positined in any direction, and therefore
the terms "side", "top" and "bottom" refer only to the positioning of the drawings.
[0014] Lastly, the housing 10 of the actuator has two ends 17 and 18. The first, 17, conventionally
called the "rear" end, has a sleeve for the power cable of the electric motor 20.
The other end, 18, conventionally called the "front" end, also has a hole fitted with
a bushing 21 through which the internally threaded hollow rod 22 passes.
[0015] In the form of embodiment shown in the drawings, the internally threaded hollow
rod 21 terminates with a transverse hole 23 to connect the rod to the mobile window
to be operated.
[0016] The motor 20 is supported by a diaphragm 24, equipped with a hole 25 through which
the hollow rod 22 passes and a second hole 26 for the shaft of the electric motor
20.
[0017] Between the diaphragm 24 and the inside surface of the rear end 17 of the housing
10, are the gears of a reduction unit, formed, in the case illustrated in the drawings,
by the gear wheels 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35, arranged in series so as to achieve
a triple reduction. The last gear wheel, 35, is shrunk onto a threaded rod, 49.
[0018] By preventing rotation of the internally threaded hollow rod 22, which is screwed
onto the threaded rod 40, said hollow rod 22 moves in and out of the housing 10 when
the electric motor 20 is made to rotate in one direction or the other. To prevent
rotation of the hollow rod 22, it is sufficient, for example, as in the case illustrated,
to secure the transverse hole 23 to any part of the window to be moved.
[0019] A pair of limit switches, one of which is indicated as 41 in figure 3, allows rotation
of the motor 20 to be halted automatically, and thus axial movement of the hollow
rod 22 in one direction or the other.
[0020] To mount the housing 10 of the linear actuator according to the invention, an anchor
bolt 50, equipped with a complementary dovetail groove may be inserted into one of
the two grooves 13 or 14. The anchor bolt may then be secured to the window frame.
[0021] As an alternative, as shown in figure 6, the anchor bolt 50 may in turn be secured
to a bracket 51, at any relative angle, by means of a screw 52.
[0022] The anchor bolt 50 may also be secured to the support 51 in a manner allowing free
rotation, so that the unit formed by the housing 10 and the rod 22 behave towards
the mobile window like the swaying elements of a jointed frame with a certain degree
of freedom.
[0023] If necessary, the bracket 51 may even be a U-shaped support, as shown by the dashed
lines in figure 6.
[0024] Finally, it should also be noted that the electric motor 20 may be either of the
d.c. powered type or of the a.c. powered type. In the former case, it will be fed
with a low voltage from stand-by batteries.
1) Geared linear actuator, particularly well-suited for operating windows, characterized
in that it has an elongated prism-shaped housing (10) in which a hollow rod (22)
slides, and which passes through one of the ends (18) of said housing and is connected
to the window to be operated; in which said hollow rod is internally threaded and
screwed onto an externally threaded coaxial bar (40), the rotation of which is in
turn controlled by a suitable motor, preferably electric (20).
2) Linear actuator according to the foregoing claim, characterized in that between
said threaded bar (40) and said motor (20) for operating it, there is a reduction
gear (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35).
3) Linear actuator according to the foregoing claims, characterized in that on at
least one side of the housing a groove (13, 14) is provided, preferably a dovetail
groove, capable of receiving a fixing block (50) having a complementary cross-section
and which may be secured in any position along said groove.
4) Linear actuator according to claim 3, characterized in that said fixing block is
firmly fastened or jointed to a supporting bracket (51).