Shading  System

BACK TO 2011 SPRING

Project Summary

I will design a shading system for a window that will be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.  The shading system will be kinetic to allow for greater control of light entry.

Intro

As energy conservation has become a driving concern in society, there has been a push to integrate shading systems into the design of buildings.  Most shading systems consist of static panels placed around windows.  While these systems are fairly effective in controlling solar heat gain, they can be ugly.  Also, since the shades are static, they cannot change over the course of a day to account for the movement of the sun. 

The project will address the needs for shading systems to be both

• Aesthetically interesting and
• Provide varying amounts of shade depending on conditions.

Originally this was going to be done using electromagnets; however in the end Nitinol springs were used to control the shade's motion.

Background

Five shading system projects on the market today:

Project 1: Hoberman’s Simons Center

This shading system contains several layers of cut metal.  When these layers are moved, they allow for more or less light to enter the room.

http://www.hoberman.com/portfolio/simonscenter.php?projectname=Simons+Center

http://www.architectmagazine.com/daylighting/a-clockwork-shade.aspx

Project 2: Adaptive Building Initiative

Uses the same concept as Project #1, but uses paint on glass instead of metal.

http://www.adaptivebuildings.com/index.html 

Project 3: Colt's Facade Shading

A solar powered system that moves slats mounted to the outside of a building.

http://greensource.construction.com/products/articles/070806FacadeShading.asp 

Project 4: Solucent Stationary Shading Systems

Static panels placed around windows to control light entry.

http://www.cambridgesolucent.com/solucent-products/ 

Project 5: Magnetic Curtains

Curtains that can be formed using magnets on their surface.

http://mocoloco.com/upload/2008/02/magnetic_curtai/kraeutli_magnetic_curtain_1

Here is a list of things that I thing are good and bad about existing solutions: 

Intellectual Property

Proposed Solution

Requirements

I will design a decorative electronically driven programmable shading system that will:

1. Have independantly controlled elements,
2. Move the elements vertically and horizontally between two vertical transparent planes,
3. Use electricity to control the motion of the elements, and
4. Use an Arduino microprocessor to control its motion. 

First Prototype

Brainstorms:

Here are the ideas I've come up with to build and test my solutions:

First Prototype: (here are my pictures, videos, schematics, drawings, brainstorm notes, parts list)

 

First Test and evaluation:

 

Results:

 

Second Prototype

Brainstorms

 

After realizing the electro magnets would not work effectively,  I thought a system that uses a shape memory alloy might led to a more energy efficient and elegant solution.

 

Information about Nitinol: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_titanium

 

SolidWorks Models: I modeled the mechanism in solid works to see if the patterns created would be interesting and if I could control each section of the system.

Undeformed: All springs are cold.

     

Deformed:  Contracted nitinol spring in middle.  All other springs are cold.

       

 

Setting the Nitinol:

I bought nitinol wire from Dynalloy (http://www.dynalloy.com/index.html).  The sell it in three different diameters (.004", .006", and .010").  The .010" diameter wire was the easiest to form.  Also, according to the website it  has the largest pull force. 

 

I made two jigs to set the wire.  For the first I sawed notches at the ends of 1/4" diameter steel rod.  Then I drilled holes 3/8" away from either end.  I threaded the wire through a hole, and secured it in the notch.  I then wound the wire around the rod and secured the other end.  This was not a very good method.  The windings were irregular and it was difficult to wind. See pictures below.

 

          

 

I also wound the wire around a bolt and secured the ends of the wire between two nuts.  This worked much better and gave an even winding.

 

 

To set the wire, I put the jigs in a preheated kiln set to 500^oC for five minutes.  I then quenched the parts in water.  I movie of the nitinol springs moving is located in the video section below.

 

Videos:

Motion of Element: One nitinol spring

IMG_0220.MOV

 

Motion of Element: One nitinol spring and one tension spring

IMG_0221-1.MOV

 

Nitinol Spring: Made in a 500^oC kiln for 5 minutes using 0.010" thick wire.  Headed using a heat gun.

MVI_0012.AVI

 

Second Test and evaluation:

 

Results

 

 

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Final Results