Method and device for controlling the passage of radiant energy into architectural structures
An assembly for controlling the passage of radiant energy through a skylight, a roof or a wall including at least two linked control members positioned across the defined region mounted for generally parallel linked movement relative to each other between a closed position and an open position. The control members have a plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas arranged so that the respective transmitting areas and blocking areas of the control members are aligned when the members are in the closed position and the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the transmitting areas of the second control member when the panels are in the open position. A motorized motion unit may be used for producing relative movement between the control members. The assembly is particularly well-adapted to be used with a series of adjacent dual panel glazing units where assemblies associated with each adjacent dual panel glazing unit are linked to and controlled by a single motion control device.
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- METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING THE PASSAGE OF RADIANT ENERGY INTO ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES
This invention pertains to devices for controlling the passage of radiant energy into architectural structures and, more particularly, to systems using two or more generally parallel members for controlling the passage of radiant energy through a defined region and into an architectural structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPrior approaches to controlling the level of solar radiation passing into architectural structures have been unduly complex and expensive, and of only limited usefulness. For example, louver blind assemblies using pivoting flexible members operable within a double-glazed window unit have been suggested for this purpose. Such louver blinds require substantial support of the flexible members which, additionally, are typically controlled from both their distal and their proximal ends. Furthermore, louver blinds cannot achieve complete light block-out, are difficult and expensive to assemble, apply, operate, maintain and replace, and cannot be readily adapted for use in non-vertical applications or in large glazed roofing areas.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is an assembly for controlling the passage of radiant energy through a defined region. It includes at least two control members positioned across the defined region and mounted for generally parallel movement relative to each other between a closed position and an open position. The defined region may be, for example, a portion or the entirety of a skylight, a roof or a wall.
The control members each have a plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas. When two control members are used, the respective transmitting areas and blocking areas of the first and second control members are sized, shaped and positioned so that the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the blocking areas of the second control member when the two members are in a fully closed position. When the two members are in a fully open position, the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the transmitting areas of the second control member. In a preferred embodiment, the control members are continuously variable between the fully open and fully closed positions to continuously vary the amount of radiant energy passing through the assembly. Also, the defined region may be planar or curved, and rectangular or of any other desired geometric shape such as triangular or circular. Finally, when the control members are positioned across a defined region comprising a portion or the entirety of a wall, the wall may be vertical or angled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe features of this invention that are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and advantages, may be best understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the Figures, and in which:
The following examples further illustrate the invention but should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope.
In one embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in
Turning now to
The parallel relative movement can be accomplished, for example, by positioning opposite edges of the panels 32A, 32B and 34A, 34B in parallel tracks for sliding movement, using sliding mechanisms known in the art. Alternatively, the panels can be laterally confined as desired and moved longitudinally (direction A). Also, the panels can be generally confined in individual cells laterally and optionally on their top and bottom surfaces. Such arrangements are described below in the discussions of the embodiments of
Panels 32 and 34 have corresponding adjacent faces 32C and 34C, are illustrated in
The control members (e.g. panels 32 and 34) may be generally rigid and planar, or one or both of the control members may be flexible. Whether rigid or flexible, at least one of the panels may be mounted to insure the generally parallel relative slideable movement between the control members. The control members may be made, for example, from plastic, fiberglass, fabric, metal or glass or other appropriate material. If fabric is used, it may be vinyl-coated polyester yarn and polytetrafluoroethylene fabric. If plastic is used, it may be polycarbonate, acrylic, PVC, thermoplastic, or nylon. These panels may vary in width from about two inches to as wide as desired and may be of any desired length. It is currently preferred that the panels be about 2 to 5 feet wide and 10 to 50 feet long. The control members should be a desired thickness acceptable for the application chosen. In preferred embodiments, the control members will be less than about 1 mm in thickness. Thus, in the embodiments illustrated in the figures discussed above (not shown to scale), panels 32 and 34 are made of polycarbonate sheets 1 mm in thickness and are about 60 cm or 120 cm wide by 1200 cm long.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the control members will be made of a non-combustible material such as a metal like aluminum at least about 1 mm thick. For this purpose, the term “non-combustible” may be defined as set forth in International Building Code 2003 and elsewhere in the Code.
The use of control members made of a non-combustible material will delay the movement of flame and heat across the defined region and the passage of oxygen therethrough. This helps limit and control combustion thereby improving the fire safety of any structure using a control assembly of the invention fitted with control members made of a non-combustible material. Thus, it will improve the light transmitting panel's fire performance to achieve a Class A, B or C roof construction rating per International Building Code 2003, and ASTM E-108.
Panels 32 and 34 are provided with a series of alternating radiation or light transmitting areas and blocking areas represented by blocking strips 38A and 40A and transmitting strips 38B and 40B. The light blocking areas can be created by, for example, silk screening, painting, lamination, or co-extrusion of light blocking and light transmission areas. For purposes of illustration particularly in
Additionally, the light blocking strips maybe made slightly wider than the light transmitting strips (
The term “light blocking area” is intended to refer to an area that may be opaque, light reflecting, translucent, or selective spectrum transmitting. The light blocking areas may be provided with photovoltaic solar cells on their outside facing surfaces if desired. Also, the light blocking areas may be characterized as ranging from zero light transmission through translucent (letting light pass but diffusing it so that objects on one side cannot be clearly distinguished from the other side). Additionally, the light blocking and/or the light transmitting areas may be tinted. Typical tinting colors include white, bronze, green, blue, and gray, although other tinting colors may be used.
Opaque blocking areas are generally impenetrable by visible light and preferably impenetrable by other forms of radiant energy. Light reflecting blocking areas may also be either “cold mirror” surfaces or other selective reflectance and/or transmittance surfaces. Cold mirror surfaces reflect visible light. Cold mirrors have at least one substantially solar-controlling surface wherein the visible energy is reflected and infrared energy is transmitted through the light controlling member. The solar-controlling surface may be achieved by coating or extrusion techniques. Coating can be performed using vacuum deposition or other methods known in the industry for the construction of cold mirrors. Extrusion can be performed by co-extrusion (from, for example acrylic or polycarbonate of a filter layer with selective properties to spectral transmittance). The cold mirror surface will reflect or block -out visible light in the range of about 380 nm-780 nm (or portions of this range) and will transmit solar radiation above about 780 nm, as reflected, for example, in
“Hot mirror” surfaces may be used for the light transmitting portions. Hot mirror surfaces reflect infrared energy and transmit visible light. As a result, the amount of heat transferred across the blocking areas is limited and the interior space can be illuminated by sunlight while being kept cool and reducing the air conditioning demand, thus reducing electrical power costs. Hot mirror surfaces transmit light in the range of about 380 nm-780 nm (or portions of this range) and can reflect radiation with wavelengths greater than about 780 nm. In some cases the reflected radiation will be in the range of about 750 nm-1100 nm. This can be achieved by applying existing hot mirrors or by coating the panels with solar-controlling materials in such a way that the desired transmission-reflection curve is achieved along the blocking strips.
The hot and cold mirror coatings may be multi-layer optical coatings prepared by deposition, dipping, spraying or other known techniques. Extrusion technology is another option whereby an extrusion of a filter layer with selective spectral transmittance is formed. Another option is a “UV hot mirror” that reflects UV and IR radiation while transmitting the visible range (or portions of this range).
In another embodiment the transmitting areas may be substantially solar-controlling to block UV light while transmitting visible light. This can be achieved by using polycarbonate material or a UV dichroic filter that blocks radiation with wavelengths shorter than 400 nm and transmits visible light and/or higher spectrum radiation. In another embodiment the solar-controlling portion transmits the UV radiation while reflecting the visible light and/or the IR radiation. In another preferred embodiment the solar controlling portion absorbs UV radiation while reflecting light and infrared radiation.
In light control assembly 30 of
Turning now to
Also, where a perforated configuration is used, the shape of the perforations or holes may of course vary so long as the ability to align the openings in the fully open position is maintained. For example, the perforations may be circular, square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal or any other regular or irregular shape.
Turning now to FIGS. 11A-H, a light controlling assembly 80 is shown made up of four panels 82, 84, 86 and 88 with respective light blocking areas 82A, 84A, 86A and 88A and respective light transmitting areas 82B, 84B, 86B and 88B. This system is shown in the fully-open position in
Also, the panels can be interconnected or linked so that direct manual or automatic motion control of one panel will be imparted to the other panels. For example, a series of four control members in the form of panels 91A, 91B, 91C and 91D may be linked as shown in
Turning now to
Glazing panels 102 and 104 can be made of plastic or glass, and may be transparent or translucent. They also may be made from cellular extruded polycarbonate or as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,701. Panels 102 and 104 are generally parallel and are separated by elongated spacer rails 106. While panels 102 and 104 may be of any desired width, currently preferred widths are 24, 36, 48 and 60 inches. Also, while the panels may also be any desired length, it is currently preferred that panels about 2 feet to 60 feet in length.
In yet another embodiment of the invention shown in
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. An assembly for controlling the passage of radiant energy through a defined region consisting of a portion of a skylight, a roof or a wall, the assembly comprising:
- at least two control members positioned across the defined region,
- the control members being mounted for generally parallel movement relative to each other between a closed position and an open position; and
- a first plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas in a first control member and a second plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas in a second control member, the respective transmitting areas and blocking areas of the first and second control members being sized, shaped and positioned so that the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the blocking areas of the second control member when the members are in the closed position and the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the transmitting areas of the second control member when the panels are in the open position.
2. The assembly of claim 1 in which the portion is planar.
3. The assembly of claim 1 in which the portion is curved.
4. The assembly of claim 1 in which the relative positions of the control members are continuously variable between the open and closed positions to continuously vary the amount of radiant energy passing through the assembly.
5. The assembly of claim 1 in which the first and second control members have abutting corresponding faces
6. The assembly of claim 1 in which the first and second control members have corresponding faces and intervening means disposed between the abutting faces to minimize friction between the abutting faces.
7. The assembly of claim 6 in which the intervening means comprises at least two separate bands.
8. The assembly of claim 6 in which the intervening means comprises a lubricant surface on at least one of the corresponding faces.
9. The assembly of claim 7 in which the intervening means comprises a transparent or translucent reduced coefficient of friction member.
10. The assembly of claim 1 in which the first and second control members have corresponding faces and the faces are spaced from each other.
11. The assembly of claim 1 in which the first and second control members are generally rigid and planar and include guiding surface shapes to ensure generally parallel relative movement between the first and second control members.
12. The assembly of claim 1 including more than two control members with blocking and transmitting areas and the blocking and transmitting areas are sized, shaped and positioned so that the respective blocking and transmitting areas of the control members are aligned when the control members are in the open position and the blocking areas of all of the control members are aligned when the control members are in the closed position.
13. The assembly of claim 1 including a series of laterally disposed pairs of control members.
14. The assembly of claim 13 in which the pairs of control members are confined in separate adjacent cells.
15. The assembly of claim 1 in which the first and second control members are planar.
16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the control members is rigid.
17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the control members are made of a material chosen from the group consisting of plastic, fiberglass, fabric, metal or glass.
18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the control members are made of a fabric chosen from the group consisting of vinyl-coated polyester yarn and polytetrafluoroethylene fabric.
19. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the control members is flexible.
20. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the control members is made of plastic chosen from the group consisting of polycarbonate, acrylic, PVC, thermoplastic, and nylon.
21. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the control members is made of metal.
22. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the control members is less than 1 mm in thickness.
23. The assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the control members is made of a non-combustible material.
24. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second control members are mounted for movement in opposite generally parallel directions.
25. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first control member is stationary and the second control member is mounted for movement with respect to the first control member.
26. The assembly of claim 1 including a motorized motion unit for imparting relative movement between the first and second control members.
27. The assembly of claim 26 in which means for sensing sunlight is provided and the movement of the motion control is controlled by the sunlight-sensing means.
28. The assembly of claim 1 in which the control members are interconnected so that movement of a first control member is imparted by the first control member to the other control member or members.
29. The assembly of claim 1 in which greater than two control members are provided and all of the control members are interconnected so that movement of the first control member by the motion control is imparted by the first control member to all of the interconnected control members.
30. The assembly of claim 1 in which the transmitting areas and blocking areas comprise a series of contiguous parallel strips oriented generally perpendicularly to the direction of the relative movement of the planar control members.
31. The assembly of claim 30 in which the strips each comprise a series of laterally staggered segments.
32. The assembly of claim 30 in which the strips are from about 5 mm to about 50 mm wide.
33. The assembly of claim 30 in which the blocking strips are wider than the transmitting strips to ensure complete coverage of the transmitting strips in the closed position.
34. The assembly of claim 1 in which the blocking areas have blocking characteristics chosen from the group consisting of opaque, light-reflecting, translucent, selective spectrum transmitting, 3D grating, and photochromic.
35. The assembly of claim 34 in which the light-blocking areas prepared by coating the planar members with the appropriate light-blocking materials.
36. The assembly of claim 1 in which the blocking areas are impenetrable to visible light and other forms of radiant energy.
37. The assembly of claim 1 in which the blocking areas are of varying opaqueness.
38. The assembly of claim 1 in which at least some of the blocking areas include cold mirrors that reflect visible light and transmit infrared energy.
39. The assembly of claim 1 in which the control members are made of plastic and the light-blocking areas are prepared by extruding the appropriate light-blocking materials into the light-blocking areas.
40. The assembly of claim 1 in which at least some of the light-blocking surfaces block UV and visible light and transmit infrared energy.
41. The assembly of claim 1 in which the transmitting areas block UV light while transmitting visible light.
42. The assembly of claim 1 in which the blocking areas transmit UV radiation while reflecting visible light and infrared radiation.
43. The assembly of claim 1 in which the blocking areas absorb UV radiation while reflecting visible light and infrared radiation.
44. The assembly of claim 1 including generally flat transparent or translucent interior and exterior panels spaced from each other with the first and second control members being generally planar and mounted for generally parallel movement between the interior and exterior panels.
45. The assembly of claim 44 in which the exterior and/or the interior panels are made of light transmitting plastic.
46. The assembly of claim 44 in which the exterior and/or the interior panels are made of extruded cellular polycarbonate.
47. The assembly of claim 45 in which the cells of the cellular extruded polycarbonate have a honeycomb or rectangular cross section.
48. The assembly of claim 45 in which the exterior and interior panels are made of glass.
49. The assembly of claim 45 in which at least one of the interior or the exterior panels serves as a control member with transmitting and blocking areas.
50. The assembly of claim 1 in which the light-blocking areas are prepared by a process chosen of the group consisting of silk screening, painting, lamination, and co-extrusion.
51. The assembly of claim 1 in which the control members comprise thin metal sheets or opaque plastic sheets.
52. The assembly of claim 51 in which the transmitting areas comprise a plurality of perforations in the first and second planar control members.
53. The assembly of claim 52 in which the perforations have a geometric shape chosen from the group consisting of circular, square, rectangular, triangular, and polygonal.
54. An assembly for controlling the passage of radiant energy through a skylight, a roof or a wall comprising:
- at least two linked planar control members positioned across the defined region,
- the control members being mounted for generally parallel linked movement relative to each other between a closed position and an open position; and
- a first plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas in a first control member and a second plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas in a second control member, the respective transmitting areas and blocking areas of the first and second control members being sized, shaped and positioned so that the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the blocking areas of the second control member when the members are in the closed position and the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the transmitting areas of the second control member when the panels are in the open position; and
- a motorized motion unit for imparting relative movement between the control members.
55. A method for controlling the passage of radiant energy through a defined region comprising:
- providing at least two linked control members positioned across the defined region,
- the control members being mounted for generally parallel linked movement relative to each other between a closed position and an open position;
- a first plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas in a first control member and a second plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas in a second control member, the respective transmitting areas and blocking areas of the first and second control members being sized, shaped and positioned so that the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the blocking areas of the second control member when the members are in the closed position and the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the transmitting areas of the second control member when the panels are in the open position, and
- a motorized motion unit for imparting relative movement between the control members;
- adjusting the relative position of all of the control members by imparting movement through the motion unit to one of the control members to thereby vary the passage of radiant energy through the defined region.
56. The method of claim 55 in which the control members are planar, in which there are only two control members and in which the movement of a first control member in a first direction by the motion unit imparts a generally parallel movement in the opposite direction of the second control member.
57. A panel system capable of controlling the passage of radiant energy comprising:
- a plurality of glazing panel system units, each unit having interior and exterior glazing panels;
- at least two control members associated with each glazing panel system unit, where at least one control member is movable,
- the control members being mounted for generally parallel movement relative to each other between a closed position and an open position;
- a first plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas in a first control member and a second plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas in a second control member, the respective transmitting areas and blocking areas of the first and second control members being sized, shaped and positioned so that the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the blocking areas of the second control member when the members are in the closed position and the transmitting areas of the first control member are aligned with the transmitting areas of the second control member when the panels are in the open position;
- a motion control device; and
- a linkage between a movable control member associated with each of the glazing panel system units and the motion control device.
58. The panel system of claim 57 in which one of the glazing panels comprises a control member.
59. The panel system of claim 57 in which the glazing panel system units include a series of adjacent elongated cells and the control members are disposed in the cells.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 13, 2006
Publication Date: Jul 19, 2007
Applicant: KONVIN ASSOCIATES LTD. (Lake Forest, IL)
Inventors: Moshe Konstantin (Highland Park, IL), Eitan Konstantino (Orinda, CA)
Application Number: 11/332,440
International Classification: A47H 23/00 (20060101);