Hidden Window Bars

Garage door opener at a local store. Just have to set the switches for the short stroke. May have to change the gearing to slow it down. Most come with remote wireless switch and push button switches.

Thanks, that may work but I'm trying to fit the motor inside the framed drywall. I;ll take a look for some of the smaller motors.

The type of linear actuator used for aiming satellite dishes might work. I'm not sure if they are made in 36" stroke length.

You don't need a 36" stroke. Any stroke linear actuator will do provided that the power is sufficient to overcome the mechanical disadvantage of using a lever arm with the pivot set off centre to create the correct stroke. This solution allows the motor to be moved away from the window and provides an opportunity to counterbalance a rear extension to the lever so that the actuator is doing very little work.

You wish to install remotely controlled security bars. It may just be because Katie Beers recently decided to go public with her ordeal and recovery, but this idea just creeps me out.

I was not familiar with Katie's story. It sounds like the lock down should have been on the family that abused her. I doubt if any bars on windows would have helped.

As for bars on windows, it seems to be all too common a phenomenon in many American cities. I recently was in San Francisco where it seemed every business and home had bars on windows and doors. At least on the ground floor. It was strange and creepy to see so much fortification and did not leave me with a secure sense of personal safety. Is crime so rampant? Or is it just the hype found on media that is now presenting a serious case of over reaction? Jewelry business seems to be the only businesses with bars on windows. In Toronto many downtown stores use heavy tempered glass but not many with steel bars. That is not to say all is well, just not as big a demand. Where I live, we can leave the house unlocked any time. I lock it when I am away only for insurance reasons. Perhaps I am naive.

I do not own a gun as I have quit hunting

I wonder if OP could use the actuators and motors from a roller blind to the purpose. Lots of choices when I googled Actuators and motors for roller blinds.

More importantly do you actually have anything that anyone else would feel justified breaking into your house to steal and what not?

Just asking being my experiences with people who want hig hsecurity and full lock down capability for their property tend to also be the ones with the least amounts of anything that anyone else would ever want.

You'll find that stuff in the dungeon section....

Software to control your dungeon....

Modern dungeon....

Scary dungeon....

There are several places on GlobalSpec.com that offer actuators of the spec.s that you require. And you might think of using low friction drawer slides to help with the friction losses. The actuator with the right gear reduction will make it nearly impossible to push the bar's back without power, as well they may be small enough to hide reasonably well in the wall. Duke

If top security is desired, don't rely on a process that could fail without you knowing it did...

Activating a switch elsewhere, does not ensure that the bars actually engaged (I could come up with a number of failure modes) and unless you create a feedback indication (that could possibly fail too) you wouldn't know; and if you decide to go downstairs to check if the bars engaged, there is no point to having the remote actuation in the first place...

I would go for direct manual actuation of some sort - not as sexy but much more reliable. It really depends on your ultimate goal.

Get a power window motor and mechanism from a junk car. That, some ingenuity, and a 12v power supply should do it!

Strong bars to deter people can look unsightly. Have you considered other less obvious security measures? Such as unbreakable plastic?

An additional layer of unbreakable (and un-scratch-able) see through (98%) plastic? Such as Markon (trade name) and others to provide unobtrusive, remarkable security.

Use 6 mm with embedded frame and it is possible to hit it with a hammer with no effect. Not even a scratch! A chain saw struggles to mark it. What a diamond tip circular blade would do I do not know, but one of those would make short work of iron bars or grill anyway.

Plastic provides a totally "normal" appearance for the property with considerable security. It can be fitted inside or out for preference. e.g. residential could be fitted inside and commercial buildings could be externally fitted. Such that one time I thought myself of setting up a security service based upon it.

Yes, it lacks the deterrent factor, but aesthetically and for normal daily use, it is far better. (IMO)

Hope this helps.

jt.

Findus, Tesco and Aldi have re-arranged the letters on some of their food packaging.
They are selling lasagne under the more appropriate name, 'nag sale.'

How do you get out in case of fire? Just insure your stuff, and arm the inhabitants....A couple rounds over the head will send any thief running for the hills...or just get a dog....

The op is concerned about security; fire escape is another issue.

If you really need to escape from the basement (?) and the window is the only exit (?)

do not fix the plastic on the outside, have it open-able on the inside with a release.

No big deal. The security really gives great peace of mind, better than bars / grills.

jt.

Waitress asked if I wanted anything on my Burger. So I had a £5 each way !

Others have provided possible actuation methods. I have safety concerns about your desire to remote actuate. What if there is something (especially a person) obstructing the bars when you want to close them? I have seen many power car windows which can be latched to lower the window, but none that latch to raise the window - the switch has to be held continuously.

In our neighbourhood the commercial facilities are using steel roll shutters.They have a relatively unobtrusive assembly above the window or door, and tracks down the outside jamb. They are electrically driven and cover the opening. it stops the smash and grab, spray paint stays on the shutter, etc.

It is a sad statement that this is required in an upscale neighbourhood!

I used to live in Stratford Ontario Canada, and we seldom locked up. Since moving to the west coast of Canada I have found the larceny unbelievable. To note the Vancouver riots. Burglar alarms and the response time are too slow, and for a couple thousand dollars the police just don't respond. The alarm only gives you a chance to get things cleaned up and secured against the honest people. The thieves know how long they have to get in and out, typically 20 minutes to an hour, and they will test the response time before the actual theft.

Too bad this is an afterthought. Were it thoroughly considered, gravity may have been utilized to provide the energy required to close the window grate. It still may; how about a weight, a pulley, some cable, and a chase space for the weight to drop?

Your question deals specifically with closing or extending the grate... how about retracting the bars from the closed to the open position when desired?

This looks good for security.....

http://www.bestmotorizedshades.com/security-shutters/

I suggest that you look at the linear actuators used on electric gates. These are fairly compact and should have sufficient force to lift substantial bars. They are commonly available in both AC and low voltage DC drive types.

One like this should work: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=100073433&storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100073433&ci_kw={keyword}&kwd={keyword}&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googleads-_-pla-_-100073433&ci_gpa=pla#.UR6WWPKANWE

If the stroke is not long enough, a bell crank or multiplying linkage should be able to get you the travel you need.

Gerald Johnston

This one might be better: http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?Item=5-1785

It is cheaper anyway.

A simple 2:1 linkage with 600 odd pounds of force should be good enough. Don't be in the window when the bars are extending. You might find yourself forked, quite literally.