Method and device for controlling the passage of radiant energy into architectural structures

Abstract

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.

1 . An assembly for controlling the passage of radiant energy between the top and bottom surfaces of a glazing panel having at least two elongated cells bounded by the top and bottom surfaces comprising:
 at least two control members positioned in each of the cells to control the radiant energy passing between the top and bottom surfaces of the glazing panel,   the at least two control members being mounted for generally parallel movement relative to each other between a closed position and an open position; and   a plurality of transmitting areas and blocking areas in each of the control members, the respective transmitting areas and blocking areas of the control members being sized, shaped and positioned so that the respective transmitting and blocking areas of the control members may be aligned to block the passage of light through the defined region when the members are moved into a closed position and the transmitting areas of the control members may be aligned when the members are moved into an open position.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which the glazing panel includes more than two adjacent elongated cells bounded by the top and bottom surfaces of the glazing panel. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which elongated cells are divided into subchambers and control members are confined in subchambers. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 3  in which each control member is confined in its own subchamber. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which at least three control members are positioned in each of the elongated cells. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which the relative positions of the control members in at least one cell are continuously variable between the open and closed positions to continuously vary the amount of radiant energy passing through the assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which the control members in at least one cell are generally rigid and planar and include intersecting guiding shapes projecting from adjacent control member surfaces to ensure generally parallel relative movement between the first and second control members. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the control members in at least one cell is rigid. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the control members in at least one cell is flexible. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the control members in at least one cell are made of a material chosen from the group consisting of: plastic, fiberglass, fabric, metal, glass, vinyl-coated polyester yarn, polycarbonate, acrylic, PVC, thermoplastic, and nylon. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one control member of a cell is stationary and at least a second control member of that cell is mounted for movement with respect to the stationary control member. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11  in which the at least one stationary control member comprises transmitting and blocking areas located along the bottom of the glazing panel. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the control members in each of the cells is made of metal. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least two control members in a cell are interconnected by a pivoting link mounted for rotation over a pivot point so that the application of force in one direction to one member of the pair will produce movement in the opposite direction in the second member of the pair. 
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which more than two control members are provided in at least one cell and all of the control members in that cell 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. 
   
   
       16 . 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 control members. 
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 16  in which the strips each comprise a series of laterally staggered segments of alternating light-blocking and light-transmitting areas. 
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 16  in which the blocking strips are wider than the transmitting strips to ensure complete coverage of the transmitting strips in the closed position. 
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which the blocking areas have blocking characteristics chosen from the group consisting of light-reflecting, selective spectrum transmitting, 3D grating, and photochromic. 
   
   
       20 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which the blocking areas are of varying density. 
   
   
       21 . 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. 
   
   
       22 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which at least some of the light-blocking surfaces block UV and visible light and transmit infrared energy. 
   
   
       23 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which the transmitting areas block UV light while transmitting visible light. 
   
   
       24 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which the blocking areas transmit UV radiation while reflecting visible light and infrared radiation. 
   
   
       25 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which the blocking areas absorb UV radiation while reflecting visible light and infrared radiation.