How can electric folding windows achieve automatic closing through the sensing system in windy and rainy weather?
Release Time : 2025-08-28
Electric folding windows automatically close in windy and rainy weather. The key is a sensing system that accurately captures environmental change signals and activates actuators for closed-loop control. The entire process requires balanced considerations for signal acquisition accuracy, command transmission timeliness, and action stability. First, the front-end sensing module of the sensing system uses targeted sensors to collect data based on the varying physical characteristics of wind and rain. Rain sensors are commonly used to detect rain. Their core principle is to leverage the conductivity of rainwater to alter the resistance or capacitance of the sensor's internal circuitry. When raindrops fall on the sensor's metal sensing plate, the previously open circuit is opened, generating an electrical signal change. This change is then converted into a recognizable signal by the sensor's built-in signal processing unit, which determines whether the rain threshold for triggering automatic closing has been reached, preventing false triggering due to small amounts of dew or spray.
For wind detection, the sensing system is typically equipped with a wind speed sensor, which often uses a cup or hot-wire structure. Cup sensors convert the rotational speed of the cups under wind pressure into wind velocity. Hot-wire sensors utilize the heat dissipation effect of airflow on a heated wire, detecting changes in the wire's resistance to calculate wind speed. In practice, the system presets a safe wind speed threshold. When the sensor detects that the outdoor wind speed consistently exceeds this threshold (e.g., reaching force 6, approximately 10.8-13.8 m/s), it identifies a risk scenario of window damage or rainwater backflow, triggering a subsequent closing command. Notably, some high-end systems also incorporate wind direction sensors. If wind and rain are primarily directed toward the window opening, the system prioritizes the response, ensuring targeted protection.
After the sensing system detects the wind and rain signal, it doesn't directly trigger the closing action. Instead, it undergoes logical analysis and signal verification by the central controller. This step is crucial to preventing misoperation. The central controller verifies both the time and intensity of the signals transmitted by the rain and wind sensors. Firstly, it determines whether the signals are stable and continuous (e.g., a rain signal lasting at least 3 seconds, a wind signal lasting at least 5 seconds), eliminating transient interference (such as occasional splashing water droplets or brief gusts of wind). Secondly, it correlates and analyzes the two signals. If only trace amounts of rain are detected with extremely low wind speeds, or if only a brief breeze occurs without rain, the system may delay shutdown or only issue a warning. Only when both signals reach a preset risk level, or if a single signal (e.g., heavy rain or strong winds) significantly exceeds the safety threshold, will a clear "auto-close" command be issued, ensuring the rationality of the decision.
Once generated, the command needs to be transmitted to the electric folding windows' actuators via a stable transmission link, a process typically relying on wired or wireless communication modules. Wired transmission typically uses low-power RS485 or CAN bus, offering strong anti-interference capabilities and stable transmission rates, making it suitable for applications where the windows and controller are close together. Wireless transmission often uses ZigBee or LoRa technology, which requires no wiring and offers wide coverage, making it particularly suitable for large-scale installations with multiple windows. Regardless of the method used, the system encrypts and verifies transmitted commands to prevent loss or errors caused by external electromagnetic interference (such as lightning or wireless signal interference), ensuring that the "close" command is accurately and promptly transmitted to the drive motor control unit.
Once the actuator receives the command, the electric folding window drive system immediately activates and completes the closing operation according to the pre-set operating logic. As a core component, the drive motor adjusts its output torque based on the size and weight of the window sash, ensuring that neither insufficient power will cause stalling nor excessive power will cause shock during the closing process. At the same time, the motor's control unit receives real-time feedback from travel sensors—typically mounted on either side of the window frame or on the drive rails. By detecting the sash's position (e.g., degree of opening, proximity to the closed position), the system adjusts the motor's speed in real time. For example, the speed may be reduced as the sash nears closing to prevent violent collision with the frame, protect the sealant strips and sash structure, and achieve a "soft close" effect.
The system also incorporates multiple safety mechanisms throughout the automatic closing process to prevent accidents caused by mechanical failure or unexpected situations. For example, some electric folding windows are equipped with a current detection module. If an obstacle (such as a foreign object stuck in the sash) is encountered during closing, the motor's load current will suddenly increase. Upon detecting the current anomaly, the system immediately stops closing and fine-tunes the sash in the opposite direction to prevent motor burnout or damage. Furthermore, if the wind and rain signal suddenly disappears during closing (e.g., due to a gust of wind), the system determines whether to continue closing based on pre-set logic. If the sash is nearing the closed position, the system completes the closing process; if the sash is still open, the system pauses and waits for further signals, balancing safety requirements with user convenience.
To ensure the continued reliable operation of the sensing system in windy and rainy weather, its hardware design and installation location have also received special consideration. The sensor housing is usually made of a sealed material with a waterproof rating of IP65 or above to prevent rainwater from seeping into the internal circuit and causing damage. The installation location is often chosen in a sunshade above or on the side of the window to prevent temperature drift caused by direct sunlight from affecting the detection accuracy, while accurately capturing wind and rain signals on the windward side. At the same time, the system will perform regular self-inspections to simulate wind and rain signals to detect whether the linkage between the sensor, controller, and actuator is normal. If a fault is found in any link (such as decreased sensor sensitivity or delayed motor response), a fault warning will be issued in a timely manner to remind the user to perform maintenance, ensuring that the automatic shutdown function can be stable and effective when facing wind and rain, providing effective protection for the indoor environment.