Hello,
My name is Vincent,
I am a fabricator of custom skylights and I have an unusual request from a customer. He would like us to fabricate a venting skylight unit which has an oval shape. It is a bronze skylight (approx dim.6 ft x 4 ft) which will weigh about between 400 and 500 lbs when finished (it has an old fashioned look and will sit on top of an oval shape foyer in a private residence).
I am looking for assistance in a sound system design for this application.
My idea is to attach 4 cylinders to the outside of the unit strategically placed in order to create an equal lift. (not unlike a 4 cylinder hydraulic car lift in an auto mechanic shop, but obviously on a smaller scale).
It would be important that the pressure in the 4 cylinder remains equal so that the unit rises on a level plane. The rising height would have to be around 8" to 10 ".
If someone has suggestions where I might find help for such a project, I would really appreciate the info.

You dont want to have a hydraulic system on a roof that needs maintenance and trouble shooting....I would recommend electric actuators. Ther is a huge selection to choose from, that fit your load and stroke.... They are available with remotecontrol too....
For more options. Google "linear electric actuator"...
Also check for actuators with feedback....you might need a motion controller, I am sure vendors have complete systems for you...

Don't make it too complicated. One can have a motor that winds a winch that pulls on 4 cables that lifts the vent evenly. The motor can be a simple on-off. Limit switches should be used to turn off the motor as the vent gets close to the top.

quote:

Originally posted by AKKAMAAN:
You dont want to have a hydraulic system on a roof that needs maintenance and trouble shooting....I would recommend electric actuators. Ther is a huge selection to choose from, that fit your load and stroke.... They are available with remotecontrol too....
For more options. Google "linear electric actuator"...
Also check for actuators with feedback....you might need a motion controller, I am sure vendors have complete systems for you...

I would like to thank you for your suggestion as it seems a better idea for my application, I am following your lead. Thanks again.

quote:

Originally posted by Vincent LIOT:

quote:

Originally posted by AKKAMAAN:
You dont want to have a hydraulic system on a roof that needs maintenance and trouble shooting....I would recommend electric actuators. Ther is a huge selection to choose from, that fit your load and stroke.... They are available with remotecontrol too....
For more options. Google "linear electric actuator"...
Also check for actuators with feedback....you might need a motion controller, I am sure vendors have complete systems for you...

I would like to thank you for your suggestion as it seems a better idea for my application, I am following your lead. Thanks again.

You are more than Welcome, Sir!
I'm sure it is going to work great for you!
Please post an action video clip of your skylight application when it is finished!! Thats would be a nice treat!!

Vincent...most skylights that vent, tilt to vent which makes the system much easier to design. The issue that you are going to have with trying to raise the window at four points is that if the electric actuators are not well secured, wind flowing along the roof line when the window is open could cause the actuators to shift not allowing the window to close properly.

Personally, I see this concept your client wants at a disaster waiting to happen. If you continue down the road with an opening oval window, one you better have some very good installers, two have an insurance policy in place, three have a specific warranty policy for this open and four make the client sign a contract releasing you of any and all liability.

Ultimately this window is going to end up costing you more in service calls then you have in profit for making the window.

Just my two cents.