Somfy has been granted a patent for a drive system that includes an actuator and a compensation spring. The spring consists of two series of turns with different spacings, and it is fixed to the actuator’s tubular casing and either the output shaft or a drive wheel. GlobalData’s report on Somfy gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
According to GlobalData’s company profile on Somfy, Smart windows was a key innovation area identified from patents. Somfy's grant share as of September 2023 was 70%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Drive system with compensation spring for driving a screen
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11719041B2) describes a drive system for operating a screen. The system includes an actuator that rotates a winding shaft connected to the screen. Additionally, the system incorporates a compensation spring with specific characteristics.
The compensation spring consists of a first series of turns with a certain spacing and at least one second series of turns with a larger spacing. The first end of the spring is fixed to an attachment part on the actuator's tubular casing, while the second end is fixed to either the output shaft of the actuator or a drive wheel driven by the output shaft.
According to the patent, the compensation spring has a longer length when installed in the drive system compared to its length at rest. The second spacing of the second series of turns is at least 105% larger than the first spacing of the first series of turns. Additionally, the second spacing has a minimum increase of 1 mm compared to the first spacing.
The patent also mentions that the second series of turns can be located at either end of the compensation spring or at a distance between the first and second ends. In some embodiments, the first series of turns can have a value of zero spacing, meaning the turns are contiguous.
Furthermore, the patent includes claims for a closure, screening, or solar protection system installation that incorporates the described drive system.
In summary, the granted patent outlines a drive system for screens that utilizes a compensation spring with specific characteristics. The spring's design allows for variations in length and spacing between turns, providing improved functionality and performance for the drive system. The patent also covers the application of this drive system in closure, screening, or solar protection system installations.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Somfy, buy the report here.
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