Louvered Roof Apparatus And Control System

Abstract

A louvered roof assembly includes a pair of support members and several panels mounted between the support members. The panels are pivotally coupled to the support members for rotation about an axis by corresponding pivot pins. Each of the panels has a first end and a second end. One of the pivot pins is coupled to each end of the panels. A linear drive mechanism is coupled to each of the panels. The linear drive mechanism includes a track bar coupled to each of the panels and an actuator mounted to one of the support members and coupled to the track bar. The actuator is configured to move the track bar such that the panels rotate about the axis of their respective pivot pins.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A louvered roof assembly comprising:
 a plurality of support members;   a plurality of panels mounted between the support members and pivotally coupled to the support members for rotation about an axis by a plurality of corresponding pivot pins, each of the panels having a first end and a second end, one of the pivot pins coupled to each end of the panels; and   a linear drive mechanism coupled to each of the panels, the linear drive mechanism including a track bar coupled to the each of the panels and an actuator mounted to one of the support members and coupled to the track bar, the actuator configured to move the track bar such that the panels rotate about the axis of their respective pivot pins.   
     
     
         2 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of track pins fitted to the first end of each of the panels and coupled to the track bar. 
     
     
         3 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing mounted over the actuator and coupled to one of the support members. 
     
     
         4 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock bar mounted between the support member and each of the pivot pins such that the lock bar supports an end of the pivot pin. 
     
     
         5 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an arm having a first end pivotally coupled to the support member and a second end pivotally coupled to an output shaft of the actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising the arm having a center section with a slot, the center section pivotally coupled to the track bar by a guide pin extending through the slot. 
     
     
         7 . The louvered roof assembly of claim.  5 , further comprising a gear box mounted to the support member and coupled to the arm, the gear box configured to be manually actuated by a user in order to rotate the panels. 
     
     
         8 . A louvered roof assembly comprising:
 a first support member and a second support member;   a plurality of individually rotatable panels supported between the support members and pivotally coupled to the support members for rotation about an axis, each of the panels having a first end and a second end;   a plurality of pivot pins coupled to the panels, one of the pivot pins coupled to the first end and another pivot pin coupled to the second end of the panels;   a track bar coupled to each of the panels by a plurality of corresponding track pins fitted to the first end of each of the panels; and   an actuator mounted to the first support member and further coupled to the track bar, the actuator configured to move the track bar such that the panels rotate about the axis of their respective pivot pins.   
     
     
         9 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the panels have a channel portion and an interlocking lip, the interlocking lip configured to fit into the channel portion when the panels are in a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a housing mounted over the actuator and coupled to the first support member. 
     
     
         11 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a lock bar mounted between the support member and each of the pivot pins such that the lock bar supports an end of the pivot pin. 
     
     
         12 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising an arm having a first end pivotally coupled to the first support member and a second end pivotally coupled to an output shaft of the actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising the arm having a center section with a slot, the center section pivotally coupled to the track bar by a guide pin extending through the slot. 
     
     
         14 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a gear box mounted to the first support member and coupled to the arm, the gear box having a bolt that is configured to be manually actuated by a user in order to rotate the panels. 
     
     
         15 . A louvered roof assembly comprising:
 a support member;   a plurality of individually rotatable panels pivotally coupled to the support member for rotation about an axis, each of the panels having a first end and a second end;   a plurality of pivot pins coupled to the panels, one of the pivot pins coupled to the first end and another pivot pin coupled to the second end of the panels;   a track bar coupled to each of the panels by a plurality of corresponding track pins fitted to the first end of each of the panels; and   an actuator coupled to the support member and further coupled to the track bar, the actuator configured to move the track bar such that the panels rotate about the axis of their respective pivot pins.   
     
     
         16 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the actuator for controlling the operation of the actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a lock bar mounted between the support member and each of the pivot pins such that the lock bar supports an end of the pivot pin. 
     
     
         18 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising an arm having a first end pivotally coupled to the support member and a second end pivotally coupled to an output shaft of the actuator. 
     
     
         19 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising the arm having a center section with a slot, the center section pivotally coupled to the track bar by a guide pin extending through the slot. 
     
     
         20 . The louvered roof assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a gear box mounted to the support member and coupled to the arm, the gear box having a bolt that is configured to be manually actuated by a user in order to rotate the panels.