Vibration isolation system for garage door opener
AssigneeLinear Corporation
InventorMark C. Mattson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive assembly in a motorized door opener includes a motor that is mounted on a mounting structure. At least one vibration isolator is provided between the motor and the mounting structure. The vibration isolator includes a first mounting fastener configured to be mounted to a mounting fastener on the motor, a second mounting fastener configured to be mounted to the mounting structure to mount the motor on the mounting structure, and an elastomeric material between the first and second mounting fasteners. The elastomeric material lies between the first and second mounting fasteners so that the isolator's two mounting fasteners are not in physical contact.
Claims27
A drive assembly for a movable door, the assembly comprising:
- a motor including a rotating motor shaft configured to drive the movable door, the motor having a motor housing, the motor shaft exiting the motor housing on a first side of the motor;
- at least one mounting fastener joined to the motor housing on a second side of the motor generally opposite the first side;
- at least one vibration isolator configured to be secured to the motor's mounting fastener, the vibration isolator comprising:
- a first mounting fastener configured for mounting to the motor's mounting fastener to secure the vibration isolator to the motor;
- a second mounting fastener;
- and
- an elastomeric material between the isolator's first and second mounting fasteners, wherein the isolator's first and second mounting fasteners are not in physical contact with one another;
- and
- a mounting structure configured to receive the vibration isolator's second mounting fastener to mount the motor onto the mounting structure with the vibration isolator's elastomeric material between the motor housing and the mounting structure.
A vibration isolator for use in a drive assembly for a movable door, the drive assembly including a drive motor, the vibration isolator comprising:
- a first mounting fastener configured for mounting to a mounting fastener on the exterior of the motor to secure the vibration isolator to the motor;
- a second mounting fastener configured for mounting to a mounting structure to mount the motor on the mounting structure;
- and
- an elastomeric material between the isolator's first and second mounting fasteners, wherein the isolator's first and second mounting fasteners are not in physical contact with one another.
A method for installing a drive motor in a drive assembly for a movable door, the method comprising:
- providing the drive motor with at least one threaded motor mounting screw projecting from the exterior of the motor, and a nut threaded onto the motor mounting screw;
- removing the nut from the motor mounting screw;
- installing a vibration isolator onto the motor mounting screw, the vibration isolator comprising:
- a nut with internal threads compatible with external threads on the motor mounting screw;
- a mounting screw with external threads compatible with internal threads in the nut removed from the motor mounting screw;
- and
- an elastomeric material between the threaded nut and the mounting screw, wherein the threaded nut and the mounting screw are not in physical contact with one another;
- wherein installing the vibration isolator onto the motor mounting screw includes screwing the vibration isolator's threaded nut onto the motor mounting screw;
- inserting the vibration isolator's mounting screw through a mounting hole in a mounting structure;
- and
- threading the nut removed from the motor mounting screw onto the vibration isolator's mounting screw on a side of the mounting structure opposite the motor to mount the motor on the mounting structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.