Retractable awning

Abstract

A retractable awning. The retractable awning may include a screen that may be extended and retracted, a first motor arranged to extend the screen, a second motor arranged to retract the screen, and a control unit arranged to control the first motors and the second motor.

1 . A retractable awning, comprising a screen which may be extended and retracted, wherein there is provided a plurality of first motors arranged to extend the screen, a second motor arranged to retract the screen, and a control unit arranged to control the first motors and the second motor. 
     
     
         2 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for sensing tension in the screen. 
     
     
         3 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is arranged to control the motors in accordance with the sensed tension. 
     
     
         4 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first motors are arranged to pull a leading edge of the screen and the second motor is arranged to pull a trailing edge of the screen. 
     
     
         5 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first motors are attached to the screen. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A retractable screen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the motors are independently controlled. 
     
     
         8 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the screen is arranged to extend along a plurality of tensile wires. 
     
     
         9 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the motors is arranged to drive one or more end units along one or more of the tensile wires. 
     
     
         10 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each end unit comprises an engaging member for moveably engaging a leading portion of the screen to the wire. 
     
     
         11 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each engaging member comprises at least one roller. 
     
     
         12 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each engaging member comprises two rollers forming a roller system. 
     
     
         13 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising a limit switch associated with at least one of the end units for detecting when the end unit encounters an object. 
     
     
         14 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein one first motor is provided for each tensile wire. 
     
     
         15 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein each motor operating an end unit is arranged with the end unit and moves therewith. 
     
     
         16 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising rotary encoders arranged to monitor the motion, and thereby the position and/or velocity of the motors. 
     
     
         17 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each first motor and the second motor are arranged to maintain tension in the screen during extension and retraction. 
     
     
         18 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the control unit controls the first and second motors such that a pre-determined degree of stretch is maintained in the screen as it is extended and retracted. 
     
     
         19 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a storage roller for storing the screen when it is not in use. 
     
     
         20 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the storage roller is driven by the second motor. 
     
     
         21 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising a rotary encoder associated with the storage roller for monitoring the motion thereof. 
     
     
         22 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an interface to allow a conventional awning controller of the type designed for controlling a single motor to be used to control the apparatus. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A canopy or awning comprising an extendible cover which may be extended and retracted, wherein a plurality of first motors is provided to extend the canopy, a second motor is provided to retract the canopy, and a control unit is arranged to control the first motors and the second motor. 
     
     
         26 . A method of operating a retractable awning comprising the steps of:
 operating a plurality of first motors to extend the screen; and   operating a second motor to retract the screen;   wherein the plurality of first motors and the second motor are controlled by a control unit.   
     
     
         27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein when the apparatus is in a deployed state and an end unit moves so that tension is reduced, the control system outputs a control signal to drive the screen back to the correct position until the tension is returned. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second motors are synchronized so as to maintain tension in the screen. 
     
     
         30 . A retractable awning as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the tension is maintained within predetermined values. 
     
     
         31 . A canopy or awning as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the first and the second motors are synchronized so as to maintain tension in the screen. 
     
     
         32 . A canopy or awning as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the tension is maintained within predetermined values. 
     
     
         33 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the first and the second motors are synchronized so as to maintain tension in the screen.