Louvered Roof Apparatus And Control System
A louvered roof assembly includes a pair of support members and several panels mounted between the support members. The panels are pivotally coupled to the support members for rotation about an axis by corresponding pivot pins. Each of the panels has a first end and a second end. One of the pivot pins is coupled to each end of the panels. A linear drive mechanism is coupled to each of the panels. The linear drive mechanism includes a track bar coupled to each of the panels and an actuator mounted to one of the support members and coupled to the track bar. The actuator is configured to move the track bar such that the panels rotate about the axis of their respective pivot pins.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/640,839, filed on May 1, 2012 and entitled, “Louvered Roof Apparatus and Control System”. The entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
II. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to the control and configuration of a louvered roof with a series of louvers controlled by a linear drive mechanism.
III. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventionally, louvered roof assemblies generally include a plurality of parallel louvers which are pivotally supported on a frame above a patio or portion of a home. The louvered roof assemblies are adjustable and may be opened or closed from a motor operated by a battery and/or person.
There are numerous deficiencies with louvered roof assemblies that exist today. For example, the louvered roof panels are not configured to close directly onto one another. Another shortcoming is the design of the motors and actuators which move to open and close the panels. Conventional designs fail to offer reasonable maintenance options leaving the owner of such assemblies without a reasonable remedy to correct problems which arise unexpectedly. Another known deficiency is the overlapping surface area of the motor assembly being located within the water flow area of a corresponding assembly gutter. Such a configuration may result in water damage to the motor and a short to any corresponding electrical connectors.
IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONExample embodiments provide a water resistant and optimized louvered roof system that opens and closes securely and efficiently. The motorized linear drive system ensures durability and long-lasting success to the owner of such a roof system.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a louvered roof assembly includes a pair of support members and several panels mounted between the support members. The panels are pivotally coupled to the support members for rotation about an axis by corresponding pivot pins. Each of the panels has a first end and a second end. One of the pivot pins is coupled to each end of the panels. A linear drive mechanism is coupled to each of the panels. The linear drive mechanism includes a track bar coupled to each of the panels and an actuator mounted to one of the support members and coupled to the track bar. The actuator is configured to move the track bar such that the panels rotate about the axis of their respective pivot pins.
It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments as represented in the attached figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention.
The features, structures, or characteristics of the invention described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, the usage of the phrases “example embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “example embodiments”, “in some embodiments”, “in other embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same group of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
The louver roof panels 110 engage one another via their overlapping respective flanges or lips and form channels 124 through which rainwater can flow to reach the gutters 166 that are located below each of the ends 112, 114.
The louvered roof panels 110 are supported for rotational movement by a pair of elongated support members 160 that are arranged perpendicular to the length of panels 110. One support member 160 supports panel ends 112 and another support member 160 supports panel ends 114. Support members 160 have opposite ends 161 and 162. Support members 160 are formed by the combination of a rectangular shaped beam 164 and an attached gutter 166. Beam 164 includes an outer side 168, inner side 170, top side 172 and bottom side 174. Gutter 166 has an internal trough 167 to carry rainwater and is attached to inner side 170 by screws 165. Support members 160 and roof panels 110 can be formed from suitable materials such as aluminum.
Referring to
Another bore 240 extends perpendicularly into roof panel end 112 at the junction of rail 118 and flange 120. A track pin 242 extends through an aperture in a track bar 250 and has an end that is received by bore 240. Track bar 250 rotates or pivots about an axis defined by the length of track pin 242. Each of the roof panels 110 is attached to the track bar 250 by a track pin 242.
With reference to
A housing 340 (
Linear actuator 310 has an output shaft 316. Linear actuator 310 can move output shaft 314 in a linear reciprocating manner along an axis generally parallel to the length of support member 160.
Output shaft 316 has a distal end with a thru bore 318. Connecting bolt and bushing 352 extends through an end of arm 350 and through bore 318. Connecting bolt and bushing 352 couples arm 350 to output shaft 316, while allowing rotation between arm 350 and output shaft 316. With additional reference to
Referring to
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In one embodiment, user input device 420 is a remote control unit that can send and receive signals such as wireless signals 412 to and from controller 410. User input device 420 has an open button 422 that causes linear actuator 310 to open roof panels 110 and a close button 424 that causes linear actuator 310 to close roof panels 110.
Referring to
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Gear box 510 has a housing 514 that contains internal gears 516 and a through shaft 517.
A bolt 518 is connected to the internal gears 516 of gear box 510. Bolt 518 extends outwardly from housing 514. The manual drive mechanism 500 includes an elongated pole 520 with a hooked end 522 that engages the bolt 518. A user can rotate pole 520 to turn the bolt 518 thereby causing through shaft 517 to rotate via the internal gears 516 of gear box 510.
Driving arm 350 has an upper rectangular shaped end section 550 and a lower semi-circular shaped section 542. Upper section 550 has an elongated slot 552. Lower section 370 has teeth 544 formed on the outer circumferential edge of semi-circular shaped gear 543. A drive coupling 554 such as a bolt and nut couples the track bar 250 to the manually driving arm 540.
Drive coupling 554 extends through slot 552 and through a hole in track bar 250. Track bar 250 and arm 540 can pivot about drive coupling 554. During operation, drive coupling 554 can also slide along the length of slot 552. Roof panels 110 rotate or pivot about an axis defined by the length of pivot pin 230. A pivot pin 230 is centered about the width of each of the roof panels 110.
The distal end of shaft 517 faces into gutter trough 167 and has an attached gear 536 with teeth 538. Gear 538 has a much smaller diameter than gear 543 such that many turns of gear 538 are required to move gear 543 a small amount thereby providing force multiplication.
An operator can elect to manually open or close roof panels 110 using manual drive mechanism 500. In order to open or close roof panels 110, the operator rotates pole 520, turning the bolt 518 thereby causing rotation of through shaft 517 via the internal gears 516 of gear box 510. The rotation of through shaft 517 rotates gear 517, which in turn rotates gear 543 causing arm end 550 to move track bar 250 along an axis generally parallel to support members 160. The movement of arm end 550 causes the track bar 250 to move via the connection of coupling 355. The movement of track bar 250, which is connected to roof panels 110 via track pins 242, causes the louver panels 110 to rotate in unison about pivot pins 230 and move towards either an open or closed position depending upon the rotational direction of bolt 518.
An aperture 624 is located in arm 610 toward apex 612. A connecting rod 626 is mounted through aperture 624. Connecting rod 626 has a headed end that is adjacent to arm 610 and a threaded end 628 that extends through output shaft bore 318 at output shaft end 319. A nut 630 is threaded onto end 628 in order to retain connecting rod 626 to output shaft 316. Connecting rod 626, aperture 624 and bore 318 are sized to allow connecting rod 626 to rotate or pivot within aperture 624 and bore 318. Connecting rod 626 can rotate with respect to arm 620 and can rotate with respect to output shaft 316. Arm 610 provides a connecting link between output shaft 316 and track bar 250 in order to open and close roof panels 110.
It is envisioned that the various embodiments, as separately disclosed, are interchangeable in various aspects, so that elements of one embodiment may be incorporated into one or more of the other embodiments, and that specific positioning of individual elements may necessitate other arrangements not specifically disclosed to accommodate performance requirements or spatial considerations.
It is to be understood that the embodiments and claims are not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawings provide examples of the embodiments envisioned, but the claims are limited to the specific embodiments. The embodiments and claims disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims.
Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.
Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent and legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the claims of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the claims in any way. It is intended that the application is defined by the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A louvered roof assembly comprising:
- a plurality of support members;
- a plurality of panels mounted between the support members and pivotally coupled to the support members for rotation about an axis by a plurality of corresponding pivot pins, each of the panels having a first end and a second end, one of the pivot pins coupled to each end of the panels; and
- a linear drive mechanism coupled to each of the panels, the linear drive mechanism including a track bar coupled to the each of the panels and an actuator mounted to one of the support members and coupled to the track bar, the actuator configured to move the track bar such that the panels rotate about the axis of their respective pivot pins.
2. The louvered roof assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of track pins fitted to the first end of each of the panels and coupled to the track bar.
3. The louvered roof assembly of claim 1, further comprising a housing mounted over the actuator and coupled to one of the support members.
4. The louvered roof assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lock bar mounted between the support member and each of the pivot pins such that the lock bar supports an end of the pivot pin.
5. The louvered roof assembly of claim 1, further comprising an arm having a first end pivotally coupled to the support member and a second end pivotally coupled to an output shaft of the actuator.
6. The louvered roof assembly of claim 5, further comprising the arm having a center section with a slot, the center section pivotally coupled to the track bar by a guide pin extending through the slot.
7. The louvered roof assembly of claim. 5, further comprising a gear box mounted to the support member and coupled to the arm, the gear box configured to be manually actuated by a user in order to rotate the panels.
8. A louvered roof assembly comprising:
- a first support member and a second support member;
- a plurality of individually rotatable panels supported between the support members and pivotally coupled to the support members for rotation about an axis, each of the panels having a first end and a second end;
- a plurality of pivot pins coupled to the panels, one of the pivot pins coupled to the first end and another pivot pin coupled to the second end of the panels;
- a track bar coupled to each of the panels by a plurality of corresponding track pins fitted to the first end of each of the panels; and
- an actuator mounted to the first support member and further coupled to the track bar, the actuator configured to move the track bar such that the panels rotate about the axis of their respective pivot pins.
9. The louvered roof assembly of claim 8, wherein the panels have a channel portion and an interlocking lip, the interlocking lip configured to fit into the channel portion when the panels are in a closed position.
10. The louvered roof assembly of claim 8, further comprising a housing mounted over the actuator and coupled to the first support member.
11. The louvered roof assembly of claim 8, further comprising a lock bar mounted between the support member and each of the pivot pins such that the lock bar supports an end of the pivot pin.
12. The louvered roof assembly of claim 8, further comprising an arm having a first end pivotally coupled to the first support member and a second end pivotally coupled to an output shaft of the actuator.
13. The louvered roof assembly of claim 12, further comprising the arm having a center section with a slot, the center section pivotally coupled to the track bar by a guide pin extending through the slot.
14. The louvered roof assembly of claim 12, further comprising a gear box mounted to the first support member and coupled to the arm, the gear box having a bolt that is configured to be manually actuated by a user in order to rotate the panels.
15. A louvered roof assembly comprising:
- a support member;
- a plurality of individually rotatable panels pivotally coupled to the support member for rotation about an axis, each of the panels having a first end and a second end;
- a plurality of pivot pins coupled to the panels, one of the pivot pins coupled to the first end and another pivot pin coupled to the second end of the panels;
- a track bar coupled to each of the panels by a plurality of corresponding track pins fitted to the first end of each of the panels; and
- an actuator coupled to the support member and further coupled to the track bar, the actuator configured to move the track bar such that the panels rotate about the axis of their respective pivot pins.
16. The louvered roof assembly of claim 15, further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator for controlling the operation of the actuator.
17. The louvered roof assembly of claim 15, further comprising a lock bar mounted between the support member and each of the pivot pins such that the lock bar supports an end of the pivot pin.
18. The louvered roof assembly of claim 15, further comprising an arm having a first end pivotally coupled to the support member and a second end pivotally coupled to an output shaft of the actuator.
19. The louvered roof assembly of claim 18, further comprising the arm having a center section with a slot, the center section pivotally coupled to the track bar by a guide pin extending through the slot.
20. The louvered roof assembly of claim 18, further comprising a gear box mounted to the support member and coupled to the arm, the gear box having a bolt that is configured to be manually actuated by a user in order to rotate the panels.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 30, 2013
Publication Date: Nov 7, 2013
Inventor: C. Scott Selzer (Cumming, GA)
Application Number: 13/873,730
International Classification: E04B 7/16 (20060101);