阅读说明：本技术 用于家具用品的能量管理系统 (Energy management system for furniture items ) 是由 A·伊雷拉 A·吉罗托 于 2020-03-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：要建立一种用于家具用品的系统,该系统由电驱动并且功能更灵活、具有改善的能耗以及独立于主线路电压,为此提出一种能量管理方法,包括以下步骤：(i)从能由用户移动的家具用品的部件(C；30)的移位产生电能,(ii)将因此产生的电能存储于优选装载放置在家具用品上的电蓄积器(B)中。(To create a system for furniture items that is electrically driven and more flexible in function, has improved energy consumption and is independent of the main line voltage, an energy management method is proposed for this purpose, comprising the following steps: (i) generating electrical energy from the displacement of a component (C; 30) of the article of furniture movable by the user, (ii) storing the electrical energy thus generated in an electrical accumulator (B) preferably loaded on the article of furniture.)

1. A method of energy management, comprising the steps of:

(i) electrical energy is generated from the displacement of a component (C; 30) of the article of furniture that can be moved by the user,

(ii) the electric energy thus generated is stored in an electric accumulator (B) preferably loaded on said article of furniture.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical energy is obtained by converting kinetic energy of the component into electrical energy.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein kinetic energy of the component is converted into electrical energy to brake movement of the component while the component is moving.

4. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the electrical energy is obtained by converting mechanical work applied by the user to the component to move the component.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the stored electrical energy is used for moving the component, in particular for powering a rotating electric motor or an electric linear actuator connected to the component.

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the dynamic behaviour of an electric actuator or motor powered with stored electric energy is programmed to give a predetermined course of movement or trajectory of the component.

7. An article of furniture comprising:

a component (C) movable by a user,

means (M) for generating electrical energy from the displacement of said component-or generator,

an electrical accumulator (B) carried on board the article of furniture for storing the converted electrical energy.

8. Furniture item according to claim 7, comprising means (CONV) -or an electric converter-for converting the kinetic energy of said element into said electric energy.

9. Furniture item according to claim 7 or 8, comprising means-or an electrical converter-for converting mechanical work applied by the user to the component into the electrical power.

10. An article of furniture according to claim 7 or 8 or 9, comprising electric means, such as a rotary electric motor or an electric linear actuator, connected to said component and powered by said electric accumulator, so as to be able to move or brake said component.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to energy management systems for furniture items (e.g., for furniture upholstery).

Background

In the furniture field, it is known that sliding systems, for example for doors, are equipped with damping and return members, such as pneumatic or oil dampers, and return springs. For standardization reasons, the dimensioning of these components is calculated on the basis of the weight and dimensions of the doors commonly used in the market, which does not ensure optimal operation in any use condition. Another disadvantage is that the mechanical damping and the dynamic response of the resetting member are difficult to adapt a posteriori and are in each case set with little freedom of customization at the design stage.

Clearly, a system with more functional flexibility would be preferred instead.

Several of the aforementioned systems are powered by main wiring and use electric motors. The consumption of electrical energy is not negligible and there is a lack of true standardization, for example, from country to country in terms of main line supply voltage.

Disclosure of Invention

The main object of the present invention is to improve this situation in the prior art.

Another object is to provide a system for furniture items that is electrically driven and more flexible in function, with improved energy consumption and independent of the mains voltage.

Next, an energy management method is proposed, which comprises the steps of:

(i) electrical energy is generated from the displacement of a component of the article of furniture that is movable by the user,

(ii) the electrical energy thus generated is stored in an electrical accumulator preferably carried on board the article of furniture.

In this way, electrical energy for and within the furniture item can be generated without having to rely on the presence or compatibility of the main line of the public power supply.

In a preferred variant of the method, the electrical energy is obtained by converting kinetic energy of the component into electrical energy. When the component is free to move, the component possesses kinetic energy that can be converted into electrical energy, for example, by an electric motor or an electric motor acting as a generator.

In particular, kinetic energy of the component may be converted into energy and into electrical energy to brake movement of the component while the component is moving

In a preferred variant of the method, the electrical energy is obtained by converting mechanical work applied by the user to the component to move the component. When the components are moved manually, the mechanical work that the user acts on the components may be used to generate electrical energy, such as by an electric motor or an electric motor acting as a generator.

In a preferred variant of the method, the stored electrical energy is used to move the component, in particular for powering a rotary electric motor or a linear actuator connected to the component. The advantage is thus obtained that the component is moved in an energy-autonomous manner with respect to the main line of the public power supply.

In a preferred variant of the method, the component is braked with stored electrical energy, in particular for supplying electrical brake connected to the component with electrical power. Hereby, the advantage is obtained that braking or damping components via an electric (e.g. linear) actuator or a rotating electric motor are no longer braked or damped by a mechanical system like in the prior art. Furthermore, the dynamic behaviour of the actuator or electric motor is more easily programmable and is of course not limited by the structural constraints of the mechanical system.

In a more preferred variant of the method, the dynamic behaviour of the actuator or electric motor powered by the stored electric energy is programmed to give the movement or trajectory of the component a predetermined course. For example, the stored electrical energy may be used to move or brake components according to programmed or programmable kinetic parameters (e.g., velocity and/or acceleration). In particular, the kinetic parameters include speed and/or acceleration ramp, and/or start timing.

In a preferred variant of the method, the starting and/or ending moments of steps (i) and/or (ii) are established as a function of the position of the component along its travel. Alternatively, the moment of the beginning and/or end of the aforementioned electric braking or/actuation/displacement step of the component is established as a function of the position of the component along its travel. Thus, the dynamic behavior of the component may be programmed during the movement of the component.

In a preferred variant of the method, the stored electrical energy is used for supplying:

illumination source for components and/or furniture items, and/or

Carrying electrical components or electrical loads mounted on the furniture item.

Thus, the advantage of saving power extends to additional components.

Another aspect of the invention relates to an article of furniture comprising:

a component that can be moved by a user,

a device for generating electrical energy from the displacement of the component-or generator,

an electrical accumulator carried on the article of furniture for storing electrical energy converted therefrom.

In a preferred variant, the article of furniture comprises a device-or electrical converter-for the component that converts kinetic energy into said electrical energy.

In a preferred variant, the article of furniture comprises means-or an electrical converter-for converting the mechanical work applied to the component by the user into said electricity.

In a preferred variant, the article of furniture comprises an electric device, such as a rotary motor (e.g. a brushless motor) or an electric linear actuator, connected to the component and powered by an electric accumulator so as to be able to move the component.

In a preferred variant, the article of furniture comprises an electric device, such as an electric brake, connected to the component and supplied with electric power by an electric accumulator in order to be able to brake the component.

In a preferred variant, the article of furniture comprises a programmable processor for managing:

storage of electrical energy into an accumulator, and/or

The flow of electrical energy from the accumulator to the powered device to control operation of the powered device.

In a preferred variant, the processor is programmed to control the powered device so as to apply the kinetic parameters (e.g. velocity and/or acceleration) on/to the component. In particular, the kinetic parameters include speed and/or acceleration ramp for the powered device, and/or start/stop timing.

In a preferred variant, the article of furniture comprises a wireless communication interface, for example wi-fi or bluetooth, connected to a programmable processor programmed to receive from the interface data or setting commands for the displacement dynamics of the component.

In a preferred variant, the article of furniture comprises a position sensor for detecting the position of the component along its travel, the sensor being connected to a programmable processor programmed to receive position data from the sensor and to control the motion dynamics of the component in accordance with the position data.

For example, the position sensor is, for example, an associated encoder disposed on the electric motor or a portion of the motor (e.g., a hall effect sensor). Alternatively, the position sensor is implemented by programming of a microprocessor which detects, by means of a sensor, the current absorbed by one or more phases of the motor and calculates from the acquired data the position of the component along its stroke.

The components of the furniture item are not limited to a particular situation and may be, for example, a translatable and/or liftable door leaf, a withdrawable drawer or a shelf.

Drawings

The advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description of a preferred example of a system with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an electronic system installed in an article of furniture;

fig. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a motorized sliding glide of an article of furniture.

Detailed Description

In the drawings, like reference numerals are used to designate identical or conceptually similar parts, and elements are described as in a use condition.

Fig. 1 shows in schematic form an energy management system MC installed in an article of furniture (not shown) equipped with a common displaceable component C, such as a door leaf (leaf).

The displaceable part C is connected to an energy converter CONV and to the electrically driven member M. The energy converter CONV serves to convert the displacement of the displaceable component C into electrical energy, which is then stored in the electrical accumulator B, and the drive means M serves to move the component C.

Arrows indicate energy or signal flow.

The microprocessor U controls the energy converter CONV and is connected to an electronic power stage PW (for example an inverter) for controlling the flow of supply energy for the motor M extracted from the electrical accumulator B.

Preferably, the microprocessor U is connected to a sensor S configured to detect the position of the displaceable member C along its stroke. Therefore, it is easier for the microprocessor U to determine whether and how to control the energy converter CONV to deliver electric energy to the electric accumulator B.

The overall operation of the system is therefore as follows.

During the manual displacement of the displaceable part C, the microprocessor U intervenes to drive the energy converter CONV, so as to generate electrical energy from this displacement and store it into the electrical accumulator B.

Thereafter, the stored energy may be used, for example, to move the displaceable part C, and for this purpose the microprocessor U controls the electronic power stage PW to supply power to the drive member M.

Preferably, the microprocessor U is connected to a wireless communication stage W via which setting data for the system, such as timing or dynamics curves for the component C, are received from the outside.

Fig. 2 shows an application of the energy management system MC.

A glide for a furniture door 32 is indicated at 30.

The glide 30 corresponds to the displaceable part C in fig. 1, being able to slide on a rail to move the door leaf 32 back and forth horizontally (along the X axis) with respect to the partition of the furniture item.

The glide 30 includes a bracket 24 with a wheel 36 rotatably pivotally connected to the bracket 24. The wheel 36 is part of a rotor of, for example, a brushless electric motor, connected to an accumulator.

The slide 30 also comprises an electronic unit for managing the energy flow from the electric motor to the accumulator and from the accumulator to the electric motor.

When a person pushes the door leaf 32, the wheels 36 rotate on the guides and generate electric energy, which the electronic unit is used to accumulate in the accumulator.

In a subsequent phase, the electronic unit operates to power the motor housed in the glide 30 with the accumulator and the wheel 36 now becomes the thruster for the sliding of the door leaf 32.

The energy converter CONV and the electrically driven member M may also coincide, as in the case where the electric motor may act as an actuator or as a generator.