A window or door with its own personal barrier from the outside world is certainly a necessity for any dwelling. A good set of window and door shutters can be the finishing touch to your room’s aesthetic appeal and provide much-needed privacy and security. Roller shutters are among the most efficient window and door treatment options on the market, offering extreme weather resistance, efficient operation, and a sleek, modern design that blends in seamlessly with any home decor. But despite their many benefits, roller shutters, like all mechanical and electromechanical window and door treatments, are subject to failure. And in the event that such unfortunate events do occur, you’d like to be prepared. By arming yourself with knowledge of what to look for, what the different parts of a roller shutter are, and how they operate, you can ensure that your roller shutters are in good working order and provide the security and privacy you require.
1. Cheek Plate:
Cheek plates are made of iron and steel and are positioned at various angles within the frame to support the curtain cord. They slide into grooves on the roller and allow for height adjustment without affecting the curtain cord’s length or tension. These grooves enable the roller to raise but not lower the curtain, allowing it to remain wrapped around the frame. This design aids in maintaining the window or door’s neat and taut appearance. And, to ensure increased reliability and performance for users, cheek plates are typically secured to the structure using the appropriate fixtures.
2. Roller Assembly:
Although the shutter curtain is hung from the side of a window frame, the curtain itself is supported by an internal roller. This is a tubular cage-like structure made from stainless steel, which uses bearings for smooth movement. It runs along a rise-and-fall track, which is located on one or both sides of the shutter panel. The tracks are in the form of brackets that are fitted directly to the joist below the window. In the event that there are additional tracks or brackets for a vertical roller shutter, they can be made from more durable materials that are designed to hold additional weight.
3. Tubular Motor:
A tubular motor is a device that supports and operates the moving mechanism of a roller shutter. Tubular motors are installed in rolling shutter barrel assemblies and connect to brackets mounted on the rise-and-fall track. The tubular motor is secured to the assembly with bolts and is controlled via a simple ratchet mechanism. This mechanism drives a gearbox, which in turn engages with the radial gearing mechanism on the tubular motor. This system employs a pair of gears to ensure smooth operation and eventually connects the motor to the roller assembly, which interacts with the curtain’s taut cord to raise or lower the curtain.
4. Motor Housing:
The motor housing is another major component of a roller shutter system. This is a part of the roller assembly that encompasses the tubular motor. Within this area is a shaft that passes through the housing and engages with the shaft of the tubular motor. The housing also features a bearing that slides inside a race on the roller assembly, as well as a cam ring that fits onto a pin on the motor housing. This ring connects with a detent pin on the tubular motor and in turn assists in preventing any side-to-side motion of the curtain’s cord.
5. Safety Brake:
A centrifugal or safety brake system on a roller shutter is designed to automatically apply all the tension in the cord when it breaks. This prevents the shutter from being raised into an unsafe position as well as damage to property. This system is driven by a worm gear that engages with a gear on the shaft of the tubular motor. This braking mechanism, like the others, features an insulated cover to protect it from water and other damage.
6. Guides:
The curtains are installed behind the guides. These curtains are exactly what you think about when you envision curtains. They’re the material that you draw to shut off an area of your home or office. All roller shutters come with actuators, which enable you to open and close them as needed. The most common type of roller curtain is aluminum, but it can also be made from vinyl or fabric.
7. Bottom Rail:
The bottom rail of a roller shutter is the final handrail section at the bottom end of a curtain. The bottom rail is often attached to the floor using brackets. This “bottom rail” can either be ‘T’ or ‘L’ shaped, and it will be bolted in place after being fixed to the wall and floor.
8. Canopy Cover:
The canopy cover is occasionally referred to as a hood. This is the system that protects your roller shutter against the elements and also from fast-flying debris that enters the space between your rollers. It’s critical to remember that if your motor is less than 2500mm tall, you will require a canopy cover. Additionally, it is required by law for security reasons.
9. Pulley:
The pulley is an important component in pre-configured manual roller shutters. It allows the user to open or close the shutters with a simple pull on the rope or cable which are often made of galvanized steel for enhanced weather resistance. This cable goes inside the pulley and attaches to a slide, with one end being fixed to the top of the pulley and the other end to the slide. In this way, you can open or close the roller shutters without having to bend down and pull on them.
Conclusion
Once you understand the different parts of a roller shutter, you can apply that knowledge to ensure that all of the components are in good working order and that all functions of the roller shutter system are intact. And, in the event that there are any issues with any of the components, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s happening and what needs to be fixed.