US 7,481,133 B2
Auxiliary operating device for allowing manual operation of a closure normally driven by a motor
Christophe Walravens, Mercier (Canada); Daniel Lelièvre, St-Eustache (Canada); and Christian Claudel, Montréal (Canada)
Assigned to Manaras Somfy ULC, Pointe Claire, Quebec (Canada)
Filed on Apr. 22, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/829,253.
Claims priority of application No. 2426369 (CA), filed on Apr. 23, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2004/0211279 A1, Oct. 28, 2004
Int. Cl. F16K 31/05 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 74—625  [49/139; 49/140] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An auxiliary operating device for manually operating a normally motor-operated closure between open and closed positions, the device comprising a support structure supporting a shaft, a driving member mounted to said shaft and axially displaceable in translation therewith between an idle position and an operational position wherein the driving member is operatively coupled to the closure, a manual actuator directly fixedly secured to the shaft in direct rotational driving engagement therewith for first displacing said driving member from said idle position to said operational position and then driving said driving member in order to displace the closure, the manual actuator being locked in rotational engagement with the shaft at all times, a cam disposed along said shaft, a cam cam engaging member running on a cam surface of the cam in response to a rotation of the shaft by said manual actuator to displace the driving member from said idle position to said operational position, said cam engaging member being mounted to said shaft separately from said manual actuator and at a distance therefrom, and a clutch for preventing rotation of one of said cam and said cam engaging member while the shaft is axially slid between said idle and operational position, the the manual actuator driving the shaft in rotation throughout the travel of said driving member between said idle and operational positions, wherein said manual actuator is selectively fixedly mountable at either end portions of said shaft irrespectively of the position of said driving member on said shaft, and wherein said shaft is axially displaced relative to said support structure together with the driving member between said idle and operational positions by said manual actuator.