Weight Compensation For Vertically Movable Façade Components

Weight compensation device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring element forms a first force element and the driving force forms a first force;

• and
• wherein the compensator comprises a second force element providing a second force which compensates for the decreasing spring force of the first actuator when moving from the compressed state to the expanded state, such that a resulting force as the output force is provided which decreases less than the first force for compensating the weight of the vertically displaceable facade component;
• wherein, preferably, the second force element provides as the second force:
• i) an increasing compensation force acting in the direction of the first force;
• or
• ii) a decreasing compensation force acting against the first force;
• and
• wherein the compensation force compensates for the decreasing spring force of the first force element when moving the first force element from the compressed state to the expanded state.

A weight compensation device (10) for vertically displaceable facade components, comprising:

• a spring element (12) for at least partially compensating its own weight of a vertically displaceable facade component;
• a compensator (14);
• wherein the spring element provides a spring force as a driving force (FAN) for lifting the vertically displaceable facade component, and wherein the spring element is movable between a compressed state (PK) and an expanded state (PE);
• wherein the spring force has a decreasing value when moving from the compressed state to the expanded state;
• wherein the compensator at least partially compensates for the decrease in the driving force and provides an output force (FAB) that decreases less than the driving force;
• wherein the compensator comprises a gear mechanism (20) between a force input (16) and a force output (18), the gear ratio of which changes as the compensator moves from the compressed state to the expanded state;
• wherein the transmission comprises a cable reel (30) mounted on a shaft (34), on which a cable connectable to the vertically displaceable facade component can be wound;
• wherein the cable reel has a decreasing winding circumference for a winding cable;
• wherein the shaft comprises a gear wheel (36) meshing with a fixed toothed rack profile (38);
• wherein the shaft is movable by the spring member in the direction of the toothed rack profile to thereby rotate the cable reel for winding and un-winding the cable.

A method (200) for moving a vertically displaceable facade component, comprising the steps of:

• applying (202) a holding force to a vertically movable facade component to at least partially compensate for the own weight of the vertically movable facade component through a spring element;
• wherein the spring element provides a spring force as a driving force to lift the vertically movable facade component, and wherein the spring element is moved between a compressed state and an expanded state;
• wherein the spring force has a decreasing value when moving from the compressed state to the expanded state;
• and
• providing (204) a compensator that at least partially compensates for a decreasing input force and provides an output force that decreases less than the input force.