BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tubular electromechanical actuator, a closure or sun protection home automation installation comprising such an actuator, and a method for assembling such an actuator.

In general, the present invention relates to the field of concealing devices comprising a motorized driving device setting a screen in motion, between at least one first position and at least one second position.

Description of the Related Art

A motorized driving device comprises an electromechanical actuator for a movable element for closing, concealing or sun protection such as a shutter, door, gate, blind or any other equivalent material, hereinafter referred to as a screen.

Document FR 2,983,368 A1 is already known, which describes a tubular electromechanical actuator for a closure or sun protection home automation installation. The electromechanical actuator comprises an assembly and a casing. The assembly comprises an electronic control unit, an electric motor, a reduction gear and an output shaft. The casing is hollow and configured to house the assembly. The casing comprises a first end and a second end. The second end is opposite the first end. The output shaft protrudes past the casing at the first end of the casing, in an assembled configuration of the electromechanical actuator. The electromechanical actuator also comprises a closure element for the second end of the casing. The closure element protrudes past the casing at the second end of the casing, in the assembled configuration of the electromechanical actuator.

The assembly of such an electromechanical actuator provides axial travel of the electronic control unit, the electric motor and the reduction gear, relative to one another, following the introduction of the assembly inside the casing.

Furthermore, the assembly of such an electromechanical actuator provides a reaction of the axial play, during the assembly of the closure element.

However, this electromechanical actuator has the drawback of reacting the axial play by means of a crimping operation done at the first end of the casing, following the fastening of the closure element relative to the casing, so as to push in deformed areas of the casing inside the notches arranged in the reduction gear and to push back the reduction gear, the electric motor and the electronic control unit toward the closure element.

As a result, such an assembly configuration of an electromechanical actuator, in which an axial travel of the electronic control unit, the electric motor and the reduction gear, relative to one another, is provided, can present a risk of electrical disconnection of the electronic control unit relative to an electrical power cable and relative to the electric motor, in particular upon impact of the electromechanical actuator, which may occur during a manipulation or the transport of the electromechanical actuator, or during abnormal operation of the electromechanical actuator.

The electrical disconnection of the electronic control unit relative to the electrical power cable or relative to the electric motor causes an outage of the electromechanical actuator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to address the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a tubular electromechanical actuator, a closure or sun protection home automation installation comprising such an actuator, and a method for assembling such an actuator, making it possible to improve the holding of the members of the electromechanical actuator positioned inside the casing and to prevent the electrical disconnection of an electronic control unit relative to an electrical power cable and relative to an electric motor.

To that end, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a tubular electromechanical actuator for a closure or sun protection home automation installation, the electromechanical actuator comprising at least:an assembly, the assembly comprising:an electronic control unit,an electric motor,a reduction gear, andan output shaft,a casing, the casing being hollow and configured to house the assembly, the casing comprising a first end and a second end, the second end being opposite the first end, the output shaft protruding past the casing at the first end of the casing, in an assembled configuration of the electromechanical actuator, anda closure element of the second end of the casing, the closure element protruding past the casing at the second end of the casing, in the assembled configuration of the electromechanical actuator.

According to the invention, the electromechanical actuator also comprises an interface element, the interface element being arranged between the closure element and the electronic control unit. Furthermore, the interface element comprises a first accommodation, inside which an inhibiting element is positioned inhibiting the play between the closure element and the interface element, along the axial direction of the electromechanical actuator.

Thus, the inhibiting element of the play between the closure element and the interface element, along the axial direction of the electromechanical actuator, makes it possible to improve the holding of the members of the electromechanical actuator that are positioned inside the casing and to eliminate the risk of electrical disconnection of the electronic control unit with respect to an electrical power cable and with respect to the electric motor, in particular upon impact of the electromechanical actuator, which may occur during a manipulation or the transport of the electromechanical actuator, or during abnormal operation of the electromechanical actuator.

In this way, such a construction of the electromechanical actuator makes it possible to inhibit the play between the closure element and the interface element, along the axial direction of the electromechanical actuator, following the assembly of the electromechanical actuator, so as to guarantee a functional state of the electromechanical actuator, during different phases in the lifetime of the electromechanical actuator.

Furthermore, the inhibiting element makes it possible to block the translation of the interface element relative to the closure element.

According to one advantageous feature of the invention, the closure element comprises an accommodation emerging at a first face of the closure element and at a second face of the closure element, the accommodation of the closure element being positioned opposite the inhibiting element, in the assembled configuration of the electromechanical actuator, so as to allow a position adjustment of the inhibiting element from the outside of the closure element.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the inhibiting element is configured to cooperate with a face of the closure element, following a position adjustment of the inhibiting element relative to the closure element, along the axial direction of the electromechanical actuator, so as to inhibit the play between the closure element and the interface element.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the inhibiting element is a screw. Furthermore, the accommodation of the interface element is a bore.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the closure element comprises a stop configured to cooperate with the casing, at the second end of the casing, in the assembled configuration of the actuator.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the electromechanical actuator also comprises a retaining element, the retaining element being assembled at the first end of the casing, the retaining element comprising a first stop configured to cooperate with the assembly, in the assembled configuration of the electromechanical actuator.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the retaining element comprises a second stop configured to cooperate with the casing, at the first end of the casing, in the assembled configuration of the electromechanical actuator.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a home automation installation for closing or sun protection that comprises a screen able to be wound on a winding tube rotated by a tubular electromechanical actuator according to the invention.

This home automation installation has features and advantages similar to those previously described relative to the tubular electromechanical actuator described above.

According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method for assembling a tubular electromechanical actuator for a closure or sun protection home automation installation,

the electromechanical actuator comprising at least:an assembly, the assembly comprising:an electronic control unit,an electric motor,a reduction gear, andan output shaft,a casing, the casing being hollow and configured to house the assembly, the casing comprising a first end and a second end, the second end being opposite the first end, the output shaft protruding past the casing at the first end of the casing, in an assembled configuration of the electromechanical actuator, anda closure element of the second end of the casing, the closure element protruding past the casing at the second end of the casing, in the assembled configuration of the electromechanical actuator.

The method comprises at least the following steps:a) assembling the assembly to the outside of the casing,b) introducing the assembly inside the casing, from the second end of the casing and until the output shaft protrudes relative to the first end of the casing.

According to the invention, the method also comprises at least:after step a) for assembling the assembly and before step b) for introducing the assembly inside the casing, a step c) for assembling an interface element on the electronic control unit belonging to the assembly,after step c) for assembling the interface element on the electronic control unit and after step b) for introducing the assembly inside the casing, a step d) for assembling the closure element on the casing, at the second end of the casing, such that the interface element is positioned between the closure element and the electronic control unit, andafter step d) for assembling the closure element on the casing, a step e) for inhibiting play between the closure element and the interface element, along the axial direction of the electromechanical actuator, by means of an inhibiting element positioned inside a housing arranged in the interface element.

This method for assembling a tubular electromechanical actuator has features and advantages similar to those previously described relative to the tubular electromechanical actuator according to the invention and as described above.

According to one advantageous feature of the invention, step e) for inhibiting play between the closure element and the interface element comprises a sub-step e1) for adjusting the position of the interface element relative to the closure element, along the axial direction of the electromechanical actuator.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, in the case where the inhibiting element is a screw, sub-step e1) for adjusting the position of the interface element relative to the closure element is carried out through an unscrewing or screwing operation of the screw.

