Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
Flap system for a building
The present invention concerns a flap system for a building, which is designed
in particular
as a ventilation device, sun screen, insulation protection, privacy screen
and/or weather
protection.
In stalls for keeping animals it is often desirable if the latter can be
ventilated by means of
suitable mechanisms. Depending on the weather, it may be necessary to
sometimes prioritise the
best possible ventilation and at other times to prioritise weather protection
for the animals
instead. Thus, for example it may be the case in the summer months when
temperatures are high
that a stall needs to be especially well ventilated or through-ventilated,
such that animals held
there have sufficient fresh air and it does not get too hot in the stall. In
contrast, in cold winter
months, it is usually desirable to ensure there is a good compromise between
weather protection
and sufficient ventilation. Also in other buildings, such as for example in
airport buildings, office
complexes and the like, such ventilation and weather protection functions can
be useful and
desirable. Frequently it is also desirable to provide a suitable sun screen,
so that persons located
in the building are not excessively dazzled for example.
This can prove to be relatively difficult, particularly when the buildings
concerned extend
over a great length and a ventilation function, a sun screen function, a
privacy screen and/or a
weather protection is to be provided over the entire length.
It is therefore the objective of the present invention to provide a solution,
by means of
which in an especially simple and nevertheless reliable manner an option for
ventilation, a sun
screen, a privacy screen and/or weather protection is provided for a building.
This objective is achieved by a flap system for a building.
The flap system, according to the invention, for a building, which is designed
in particular
as a ventilation device, sun screen, insulation protection, privacy screen
and/or weather
protection, includes a support arm by means of which a support axis is mounted
in a
translationally immovable manner and able to be rotated about its longitudinal
axis. Furthermore,
the flap system includes a flap which is connected for conjoint rotation to
the support axis and
thereby pivotable, wherein the support axis is disposed between an upper end
and a lower end
of the flap. The flap is connected to a frame structure serving
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as translation. Additionally, the flap system includes a driver unit mounted
translationally
movably in vertical direction of the flap system, which driver unit by means
of a
compensating element is connected in an articulated manner to the frame
structure, such
that a translational movement of the driver unit effects a pivoting of the
flap.
Furthermore, the flap system includes a drive device for moving the driver
unit.
The at least one pivotable flap can for example be made of plexiglass or also
glass.
The flap can be made of tinted or also opaque material. The flap is used for
ventilation, as
sun screen, as privacy screen and/or weather protection for the building
concerned on
which the flap system is disposed. The flap can in particular also serve as
heat insulation,
thus as insulation protection, i.e. can in particular be thermally insulating.
This can for
example be realised by an appropriately suitable insulation layer in the flap.
The flap can
be pivoted between an opened position and a closed position, in that the flap
is connected
to the said support axis for conjoint rotation. As the support axis is
disposed between the
upper end and the lower end of the flap, this results in especially
advantageous torque
ratios.
In addition to these advantageous torque ratios, the frame structure serving
as
translation, which is connected to the flap, also makes a contribution. The
drive unit is in
this regard mounted displaceably in a translational manner in vertical
direction of the flap
system. By means of a drive device, which can for example include an electric
motor, the
driver unit can be moved up and down. This translational movement of the
driver unit is
transmitted by means of the compensating element to the frame structure. By
means of
this frame structure, a sort of lever effect is achieved, wherein an
engagement point, at
which the compensating element is connected to the frame structure, has a
specified
distance from the support axis, more specifically from the longitudinal axis
of the support
axis. This distance defines a lever arm and therewith the translation ratio
which is realised
by the frame structure during the transmission of force from the driver unit
to the support
axis.
A relatively small translational force on the part of the driver unit is thus
sufficient
to set in rotation the support axis by means of the frame structure, in order
thereby to
pivot the flap. Even when the flap is very widely extended, or in the case of
a very large
and heavy flap, thus relatively small drive forces or drive moments are
required to pivot
the flap. This is achieved essentially in that the frame structure is present
as a translation.
As the support axis is disposed not at the upper end or at the lower end of
the flap, but
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rather somewhere in between, the flap is not particularly vulnerable to
torsions or
pivotings caused in particular by wind about the longitudinal axis of the
support axis. If
for example wind presses onto the flap from the same side in the region of the
upper end
and of the lower end of the flap, a rotational movement of the support axis
and therewith
of the flap is quasi self-inhibited, the precise reason for this being that
the support axis is
disposed between the upper end and the lower end of the flap. Also in high
wind speeds
or in stormy weather conditions, the flap system is especially stable due to
the described
construction, such that even when strong wind forces engage with the flap it
cannot be
pivoted open or pivoted shut in an undesired manner.
According to one possible embodiment of the invention the support axis is
disposed
in an upper half of the flap. For example, it is possible that a third of the
flap extends
above the support axis and the further two thirds of the flap extend below the
support
axis. This results in an especially advantageous disposition of the support
axis with respect
to its construction space requirement, so that this can be pivoted, and with
respect to the
flap being as insensitive to wind as possible.
According to a further possible embodiment of the invention the drive device
has
at least one drive shaft with a gearwheel which engages in a toothed rack of
the driver
unit. A rotational movement of the drive shaft is therefore translated into a
rotational
movement of the gearwheel, as a result of which the toothed rack and therewith
the
driver unit is moved translationally in vertical direction of the flap system.
This
translational movement of the driver unit is in turn - as previously already
described -
transmitted by means of the frame structure into a rotational movement or
pivot
movement of the support axis or of the flap. The drive shaft in this regard is
mounted in
a translationally immovable manner. The advantage of this possible embodiment
of the
invention is inter alio that as long as the drive shaft does not turn, the
driver unit cannot
move at all translationally in a vertical direction, as a result of which the
flap also cannot
be pivoted. The drive shaft can for example be connected to an electric motor
or another
drive, which can set the drive shaft in movement, in order to thus drive the
gearwheel
and the driver unit, when the flap is to be pivoted open or pivoted shut.
Depending on
how easily or with how much difficulty the motor can be set into rotation
without
electrical current, the motor effects an inhibition of the movement of the
flap. The motor
contributes, by means of the drive shaft and the driver unit by means of the
form-fitting
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engagement of the gearwheel into the toothed rack of the driver unit, to the
flap being
especially wind-stable, i.e. it can thus not readily open or close.
According to a further possible embodiment of the invention the drive shaft
and
the support axis are oriented parallel to one another. The drive shaft and the
support axis
extend for example in longitudinal direction of the flap system. By means of
the parallel
orientation of the drive shaft and the support axis, a relatively space-saving
construction
can be made possible.
According to a further possible embodiment of the invention the frame
structure
serving as translation has two struts which together form a triangle with a
holder, by
means of which the flap is connected for conjoint rotation to the support
axis. The holder
can for example be disposed on the inner side of the flap. On the holder, for
example, a
clamp or the like can be welded, which engages around the support axis and
thereby
connects the holder and therewith also the flap for conjoint rotation to the
support axis.
By means of the triangular construction, formed from the two struts of the
frame
structure and the holder, on the one hand an especially stable construction is
provided
and on the other hand also a relatively compact construction, wherein
additionally
sufficient space is created for the support axis and for the drive shaft. The
struts of the
frame structure can for example consist of metal sheets, as can the holder.
The holder can
for example be fastened flat by means of screws or other connecting means to
the back
side or inner side of the flap.
According to another possible embodiment of the invention the struts are
connected to one another in a corner of the triangle, at which the
compensating element
is fastened in an articulated manner. The compensating element, in other
words, engages
at a corner of the triangle which is formed from the two struts of the frame
structure and
the holder, wherein this engagement point is precisely there where the two
struts are
fastened to one another. The two struts of the frame structure and the holder
can for
example form a right-angled triangle, wherein the holder forms the catheter,
one of the
struts the adjacent and the other strut the hypotenuse. Other triangular forms
are of
course also possible.
According to a further possible embodiment of the invention several of the
flaps
are disposed in longitudinal direction of the flap system flush in a row
behind one another
and are connected to the support axis. For each flap of this row one separate
support arm
is provided, by means of which the support axis is supported translationally
immovably
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and can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. At each of these flaps of the
row the frame
structure serving as translation is mounted. In other words, each of the flaps
of this row
has its own frame structure as translation. For each flap one of the driver
units and
compensating elements is additionally provided, by means of which the driver
units are
connected in an articulated manner to the respective frame structure, such
that a
translational movement of the driver units effects a pivoting of the flaps. It
can be
provided that for the entire row of the flaps disposed behind one another only
one single
motor is provided, so that also, for example, only one single drive shaft
having one
gearwheel disposed thereon as part of the said drive device is provided. If
the flaps are
e.g. in each case several metres long, wherein several of these flaps are
disposed behind
one another in the said row, it is possible, by reason of the respective frame
structures
serving as translation and the interplay between these frame structures and
the driver
units, to pivot open and pivot shut the flaps, despite their huge longitudinal
extension,
substantially simultaneously. The reason for this is that a pivoting of the
flaps disposed
behind one another in a row is not realised by a direct application of a
torque onto the
support axis. Instead, the respective translational movement of the driver
units provided
per flap of the row is converted into a respective torsional movement of the
frame
structure per flap, which only then results in the flaps being pivoted. The
frame structure
here does not in turn engage with the support axis directly. Instead, the
frame structure
engages directly or indirectly with the flap. Thereby, even in the case of a
large
longitudinal extension of the flaps disposed in a row behind one another, it
is possible,
with a low drive power or drive force and without requiring an especially
large torsional
rigidity of the support axis, to pivot open and pivot shut the entire row of
the flaps
disposed flush in longitudinal direction of the flap system, quasi
synchronously. Due to
the construction described here, no torsion or hardly any torsion occurs at
the support
axis. The reason for this is that the individual flaps turn the support axis
with them, and
not vice versa. In other words, the flaps drive the support axis, not the
support axis the
flaps. This results in an especially stable and simple construction for the
flaps disposed in
a row behind one another.
According to a further possible embodiment of the invention the flaps are
mounted
in the region of their outer longitudinal ends in a longitudinally-
displaceable manner to
the support axis and in a central region non-displaceable to the support axis.
By mounting
the flaps in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the region of their outer
longitudinal
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ends, these can move or extend in these regions relative to the support axis.
Different
heat expansion coefficients regarding the support axis and the flaps can thus
be
compensated without difficulty. By means of the non-displaceable mounting of
the flaps
in their central region to the support axis it is ensured that the flaps
remain fixed on the
support axis in a torsion-resistant manner and in general in a reliable
manner. By
mounting in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the outer regions of the
flaps, that is
in the region of their outer longitudinal ends, the occurrence of mechanical
tension, which
could otherwise be caused by different heat expansion coefficients, can be
reduced to a
minimum.
According to a further possible embodiment of the invention several flaps are
disposed in vertical direction of the flap system in a column above one
another. For each
flap a separate support axis is provided, which is mounted by means of a
respectively
separate support arm in a translationally immovable manner able to be rotated
about its
respective longitudinal axis. At each of these flaps the frame structure is
mounted serving
as translation. In other words, thus, each of these flaps has its own frame
structure which
serves as translation. For each of these flaps in addition in each case one of
the
compensating elements is provided, by means of which the driver unit is
connected in an
articulated manner to the respective frame structure such that a translational
movement
of the driver unit effects a pivoting of the flaps. For the entire column of
the flaps disposed
over one another it can be provided that only one single driver unit is
present. A
translational movement of the driver unit thus effects a simultaneous pivoting-
open or
pivoting-shut of the flaps disposed over one another. However, it is for
example also
possible that two of the driver units are provided for the flaps disposed over
one another.
Thus, for example, the uppermost flap could be designed to be separately
pivotable, and
one of the two driver units is provided for this flap. The other one of the
two driver units
serves to synchronously pivot open and pivot shut the remaining flaps disposed
over one
another. If the flap system is used for example on an animal stall, this
procedure is
accompanied by certain advantages. In particular in the winter when the
temperatures
are very low, it can be advantageous if for example only the uppermost flap
can be opened
and closed separately. The other lower flaps offer good weather protection for
the
animals located in the stall, wherein the uppermost flap can still ensure that
there is a
sufficient supply of fresh air.
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According to a further possible embodiment of the invention, the upper ends
and
the lower ends of the flaps have a form which is raised in depth direction of
the flaps,
which in the closed position of the flaps engage in one another in a form-
fitting manner.
For example, the upper ends and the lower ends of the flaps can have a
trapezoidal shape
in cross-section or when viewed from the side. These trapezia then engage in
one another
when the flaps are shut. Thus, a good sealing function is achieved against
wind. In
addition, these raised forms serve to reinforce the flaps. The trapezoidal
shape, or also
other shapes, can extend across the entire length of the flaps and thus serve
to
additionally stiffen the flaps. Wind flowing in vertical direction along the
flap system can
as a result penetrate only with difficulty or not at all below the individual
flaps disposed
in their closed position and therewith cannot penetrate into the interior of
the building if
that the flap system is designed e.g. as a type of curtain façade. The
individual flaps
disposed over one another are thus in the closed position disposed to be quasi
interlaced
with one another or between one another, since the respectively adjacent upper
and
lower ends in the closed position of the flaps engage in a form-fitting manner
in one
another. In addition, as a result, the flaps disposed in the closed position
can mutually
stabilise one another, such that they are not very susceptible to a wind
attack, thus do
not open of their own accord even in the case of strong winds.
Further advantages, features and details of the invention are given in the
following
description of a possible embodiment example and with reference to the
drawing. The
features and feature combinations mentioned previously in the description as
well as the
features and feature combinations shown in the following in the description of
the Figures
and/or in the Figures alone may be used not only in the respectively given
combination
but rather also in other combinations or independently without straying beyond
the
context of the invention.
In the drawing:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a partially illustrated animal
stall which is
equipped with a flap system which has several flaps which can be
pivoted open and pivoted shut, in order thus to be able to offer
ventilation and also weather protection;
Figure 2 is an interior view of the animal stall, wherein the flap system can
be
seen having the several flaps disposed above one another and in
longitudinal direction behind one another;
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Figure 3 is a further interior view of the animal stall;
Figure 4 is a perspective detailed view in which two motors of the flap system
can be seen;
Figure 5 is a further perspective detailed view of the flap system, wherein
two
triangular frame structures can be seen which are mounted on two of
the flaps;
Figure 6 is a detailed view of one of the flaps which is connected for
conjoint
rotation with a support axis by means of a holder
Figure 7 is a perspective detailed view onto an upper region of the flap
system;
Figure 8 a schematic side view of one of the flaps of the flap system, once in
closed state and once in opened state.
In the Figures, identical or functionally identical elements are labelled with
the
same reference signs.
An animal stall 10 is shown partially in a perspective view in Figure 1. At a
longitudinal side, not specified in more detail, of the animal stall 10 is
disposed a flap
system 12 having several flaps 14 which can be pivoted open and pivoted shut.
The flaps
14 which can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position are
used
predominantly for the ventilation of the animal stall 10. Additionally, the
flaps 14 are also
used in their closed position predominantly as weather protection. In
addition, the flaps
14, when appropriately tinted, can also be used as a sun screen or also as a
privacy screen.
In Figure 2, the animal stall 10 is shown partially in a perspective view from
the
interior, wherein the view in this perspective is directed from the interior
to the closed
flaps 14 of the flap system 12. The flap system 12 comprises several support
arms 16, by
means of which respective support axes 18 are mounted in a translationally
immovable
manner and able to be rotated about their longitudinal axis. To the flap
system 12 belong
several posts 20, on which the support arms 16 are disposed or fastened. The
posts 20
are fastened by means of suitable fastening means, not specified in more
detail, to the
animal stall 10 from the inside.
The respective flaps 14, which for reasons of clarity have not all been
labelled with
reference signs, are connected for conjoint rotation to the respective support
axes 18 and
are thereby mounted pivotably. As can be seen, the support axes 18 are
disposed
between a respective upper and lower end of the flaps 14. Specifically, the
support axes
18 are disposed approximately such that a third of the respective flaps 14 is
disposed
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above the support axis 18 and two thirds of the flaps 14 is disposed below the
respective
support axis 18.
Figure 3 shows the flap system 12 again from the interior of the animal stall
10 to
the outside. On the inner side of the flaps 14 several holders 22 are mounted.
The holders
22 extend substantially in vertical direction of the flaps 14 and are fastened
for example
by means of screws on the inner side of the flaps 14. The holders 22 are in
turn connected
in a torsion-resistant manner to the respective support axes 18. Thus, the
respective flaps
14 are thus connected in a torsion-resistant manner to the support axes 18 by
means of
the holders 22 mounted on their inner sides. Since the support axes 18 in turn
are held by
means of the support arms 16, specified here only partially, the individual
flaps 14 are
thus fastened or mounted in each case pivotably but translationally immovably.
The
support axes 18 thus serve to fix the flaps 14 translationally in all spatial
directions and to
facilitate a torsion of the flaps 14. In other words, the support axes 18 are
thus used for
supporting the flaps 14.
Some of the holders 22 are connected to frame structures 24 serving as
translation.
By means of these frame structures 24, which are connected to the holders 22
concerned,
the division flaps 14 can be pivoted open and pivoted shut. The flap system 12
additionally
includes two further drive shafts 26 which are used to pivot open and pivot
shut the flaps
14. The precise coupling between the flaps 14 and the drive shafts 26 will be
described in
even more detail hereinafter.
Figure 4 shows a perspective detailed view of the flap system 12 again from
the
interior of the animal stall 10. The two drive shafts 26 are again shown
clearly, which are
disposed at different positions in respect of the vertical direction of the
flap system 12.
To the said drive device belong in addition to the drive shafts 26 in each
case additionally
electric motors which are connected to the drive shafts 26. The electric
motors 28 can
thereby set the drive shafts 26 into rotation.
Figure 5 shows again a section of the flap system 12 from the interior of the
animal
stall 10 outwards. The flap system 12 includes several driver units 30,
wherein only one
of these driver units 30 is shown as present. The driver unit 30 is mounted
translationally
movably in vertical direction of the flap system 12, specifically on the post
20. The driver
unit 30 includes a smooth pipe 32, which is mounted in a clamp 34 movably
upwards and
downwards, wherein the clamp 34 is fastened onto the post 20. In an upper
region of the
pipe 32 an additional attachment 36 is mounted which can be displaced along
the pipe 32
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upwards and downwards. After the attachment 36 has been disposed at a desired
position, it can be fastened to the pipe 32. On the attachment 36 an extension
38 is
arranged which is connected in an articulated manner by means of a
compensating
element 40 to the frame structure 24, which at the uppermost flap 14 is
connected to the
flap 14 by means of the holder 22.
All frame structures 24 serving as translations include two struts 42, 44
which
together with the respective holders 22 form triangles in each case. At the
position where
the two struts 42,44 are connected to one another the respective compensating
elements
40 are screwed.
Below the pipe 32 a toothed rack 46 of the driver unit 30 is disposed. The
toothed
rack 46 is in this regard securely fastened to the pipe 32. The said drive
device includes in
addition to the mentioned drive shafts 26, in each case also one gearwheel
connected to
the respective drive shaft 26, which gearwheel cannot be seen here because it
is disposed
in a housing 48. Said gearwheel engages in the toothed rack 46.
If the electric motors 28 (see Figure 4) concerned are now operated, the
corresponding drive shafts 26 are set into rotation, as a result of which the
gearwheels
disposed in the respective housings 48 and not visible here drive the
respective toothed
racks 46 of the respective driver units 30. The respective toothed racks 46
are as a result
set into a translational movement, either upwards or downwards, depending on
the
direction of rotation of the electric motors 28. Since the toothed racks 46
are tightly
connected to the pipes 32, the pipes 32 move correspondingly in a
translational manner
in vertical direction of the flap system 12 either upwards or downwards. This
translational
movement of the pipes 32 results in the frame structures 24 serving as
translation being
set into a rotational movement by means of the respective compensating
elements 40.
As the two struts 42, 44 of the frame structures 24 are firmly connected to
the respective
holders 22, which in turn are fastened to the flaps 14, the corresponding
flaps 14 are
pivoted open or pivoted shut when there is a translational movement of the
driver unit
30.
Figure 6 shows one of the flaps 14 partially in an enlarged view. Here, one
can see
one of the holders 22 which is fastened to the flap 14. The holder 22 is
welded to a clamp
50 by means of which the holder 22 is connected for conjoint rotation to the
support axis
18 shown here. One can also see one of the support arms 16 here which has a
bearing 52
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by means of which the support axis 18 is held mounted translationally to be at
least
substantially movable and able to be rotated about its longitudinal axis.
Figure 7 shows an upper detail of a part of the flap system 12 in a
perspective view.
As shown here clearly, the flaps 14 have five raised structures 54 which
extend in a
longitudinal direction of the respective flaps 14. These raised structures 54
are formed
inter alia on the respective upper and lower ends of the flaps 14 and have a
raised form
in depth direction of the flaps 14. In the closed position of the flaps 14,
these raised
structures 54 present on the upper and lower ends of the flaps 14 engage in
one another
at least substantially in a form-fitting manner. Thereby the flaps 14 disposed
in an
overlapping manner seal each other mutually in their closed position. These
raised
structures 54 can have a trapezoidal cross-section for example which has
several corners.
As a result, wind flowing in vertical direction of the flap system 12 along
the closed flaps
14 can only penetrate between the flaps 14 with difficulty. Other shapings of
the raised
structures 54 are also possible. In addition to the sealing effect, the raised
structures 54
are also used for stiffening the respective flaps 14.
Figure 8 shows one of the flaps 14 twice in a schematic side view,
specifically on the
left in its closed position and on the right in an opened position. For the
first time, one
can see one of the already mentioned gearwheels 56, which are connected for
conjoint
rotation to the respective drive shaft. If the drive shaft 26 shown here is
turned or driven
by means of one of the electric motors 28 (see Figure 4) corresponding to the
present
representation in clockwise direction, the gearwheel 56 also turns in
clockwise direction
according to the direction of rotation labelled with the arrow 58. The driver
unit 30 is here
only indicated schematically, wherein the smooth pipe 32 and the toothed rack
46 (see
Figure 5) are not shown in detail. By means of the rotational movement of the
gearwheel
56 according to the direction of rotation 58, the driver unit 30 is moved
downwards
according to the translational movement direction labelled with the arrow 60.
Since the driver unit 30 is connected in an articulated manner to the frame
structure 24 by means of the compensating element 40, the compensating element
40
draws the frame structure 24 according to the movement of the driver unit 30,
downwards at that corner at which the two struts 42, 44 are connected to one
another.
The frame structure 24 is in turn firmly connected to the holder 22 shown
here. The holder
22 is in turn connected for conjoint rotation to the support axis 18, which is
held by the
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support arm 16 in a translationally immovable manner but able to be rotated
about its
longitudinal axis.
By means of the translational movement of the driver unit 30 downwards and of
the corresponding mounting of the support axis 18, the frame structure 24
rotates with
the holder 22 according to the direction of rotation labelled with the arrow
62. As a result,
the flap 14 is also pivoted in the direction of rotation 62. The flap 14 is
here, by reason of
the fastening to the support axis 18, not moved translationally, and only
pivoted open in
a rotatory manner corresponding to the direction of rotation 62. If one
compares the
closed position on the left with the opened position of the flap 14 on the
right in Figure 8,
one recognises that the connection point of the compensating element 40 on the
frame
structure 24 - that is the position where the two struts 42, 44 and the
compensating
element 40 come together ¨ has wandered both downwards and to the right. Thus,
the
articulated connection of the compensating element 40 to the frame structure
24 and to
the driver unit 30 is necessary. For the driver unit 30 can move only upwards
and
downwards but not to the left and to the right. The compensating element 40
thus
compensates the movement of the connection point of the frame structure 24, at
which
the two struts 42, 44 are fastened together and at which the compensating
element 40
engages. As one can see, when the flap 14 rotates, the compensating element is
rotated
accordingly, such that the movement of the frame structure 24 to the right can
be
compensated.
As one can see in particular with reference to Figures 1 and 2, several of the
flaps
14 are disposed flush in respective rows one after another longitudinal
direction of the
flap system 12 and depending on which horizontal row, connected to one of the
respective support axes 18. For each flap 14, respective support arms 16 are
provided, by
means of which the respective support axes 18 are mounted translationally
immovably
and able to be rotated about their longitudinal axis. At each of these flaps
14, which are
disposed flush in a row one after another in longitudinal direction of the
flap system 12,
the respective frame structures 24 are mounted. For each flap 14 one of the
driver units
and one respective compensating element 40 is provided in each case, by means
of
30 which the respective driver units 30 are connected in an articulated
manner to the
respective frame structure 24, such that respective translational movements of
the driver
unit 30 result in the pivoting of the respective flaps 14. The flaps 14 can
here be mounted
in the region of their outer longitudinal ends in a longitudinally
displaceable manner to
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the respective support axis 18 and in a middle region non-displaceably to the
support axis
18. As a result, different heat expansion coefficients between the support
axis 18 and the
flaps 14 can be compensated to the greatest extent, such that no mechanical
tensions
result in particular in the flaps 14.
As one can also see with reference to Figures 1 and 2, several of the flaps 14
are
disposed additionally in vertical direction of the flap system 12 in
respective columns
above one another. Also these flaps 14 are held by means of the respective
support arms
16 by means of respective support axes 18. The frame structures 24 are also
provided
respectively at these flaps 14 disposed above one another. For each of these
flaps 14, in
turn, respective compensating elements 40 are provided, by means of which the
driver
unit 30 concerned is connected in an articulated manner to the respective
frame
structures 24 of the flaps 14 disposed above one another, such that, in the
manner
described, translational movements of the driver unit 30 result in the
pivoting of the flaps
14 disposed above one another.
As one can easily see in particular with reference to Figure 8, no direct
torque is
applied to the support axis 18 in order to pivot the flaps 14. Instead, a
torque is applied
to the respective drive shafts 26 by means of the electric motor 28, as a
result of which
the gearwheels 56 are set into rotation. This rotational movement is
translated into a
translational movement of the respective driver units 30. The translational
movement of
the driver units 30 results in turn in a rotational movement of the flaps 14,
specifically by
means of the frame structures 24 connected to the respective holders 22. The
respective
frame structures 24 function here as a type of gear, such that relatively
small torques or
powers on the part of the electric motors 28 are sufficient to pivot the
multiplicity of the
flaps 14 simultaneously.
The flaps 14, disposed in a row one behind another in longitudinal direction
of the
flap system 12, share one of the support axes 18. For the respective holders
22 fastened
to the flaps 14 all are connected for conjoint rotation to the same support
axis 18. At
respective connection points, at which the holder 22 are connected to the
support axes
18, when the flaps 14 are rotated a torque is exerted on the support axes 18.
Particularly, very many of the flaps 14 can be disposed in respective rows one
after
another and easily be pivoted open and pivoted shut in a synchronous manner.
Since, as
a result of the construction, the support axes 18, on which the respective
rows of the flaps
sit, is quasi not rotated at all when the flaps 14 pivot. As a result, it is
possible to open and
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close easily and in a synchronous manner the multiplicity of flaps 14 disposed
behind one
another in longitudinal direction of the flap system 12. The support axes 18
can be
correspondingly small in size, since these are also rotated by means of the
individual
holders 22. Thus, a torque does not engage only at one point of the support
axis 18, in
order to rotate the support axis 18 and thereby to pivot flaps 14. Instead,
the support axes
18 serve only to support the flaps 14 fixed in all three spatial directions
and are able to be
pivoted about the longitudinal direction of the support axes 18.
As the support axes 18 are fastened approximately below the upper third of the
flaps 14, the flaps 14 are also particularly wind resistant. For example, if
wind comes from
the left-hand side, according to the representation in Figure 8, this wind
presses above
and below the support axis against the flap 14, as a result of which the flap
14 is not
exposed to any sizeable moment which would rotate the flap 14. For the forces
exerted
above and below the support axis 18 compensate each other mutually at least
partially,
the more, the more centrally the support axis 18 is disposed on the flap 14.
The same is
also true if the wind were to come from the right-hand side.
All in all, the flap system 12 has, as a consequence of its construction a
very low
wind sensitivity. This means, the flaps 14 can be held reliably in a specified
position even
in the case of strong winds. In addition, it is possible, by reason of the
constructional
principle of the flap system 12, to open and to close in a synchronous manner
a
multiplicity of the flaps 14 disposed behind one another in longitudinal
direction.
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LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
animal stall
12 flap system
14 flaps
5 16 support arm
18 support axis
post
22 holder
24 frame structure
10 26 drive shaft
28 electric motor
driver unit
32 pipe of the driver unit
34 clamp
15 36 attachment on the pipe of the driver unit
38 extension on the attachment
compensating element
42 strut of the frame structure
44 strut of the frame structure
20 46 toothed rack of the driver unit
48 housing
clamp at the holder
52 bearing at the support arm
54 raised structures at the flaps
25 56 gearwheel
58 rotational direction of the gearwheel
translational movement direction of the driver unit
62 rotational direction of the flap
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