Multi-Mode Motor For Switching Among Motor Power Supplies

An apparatus for moving a movable barrier, the apparatus comprising:

• a motor configured to effect movement of the movable barrier in response to operation of the motor, the motor comprising:
• a rotating armature,
• a first winding and a second winding, each configured to apply a rotating force on the rotating armature in response to application of electric current,
• a first commutator coupled to the rotating armature to electrically couple the first commutator to the first winding, and
• a second commutator coupled to the rotating armature to electrically couple the second commutator to the second winding;
• an electric coupling configured to selectively electrically couple a mains power supply to the first commutator and to selectively electrically couple a battery power source to the second commutator,
• wherein the motor is configured to operate at a first speed when the mains power supply is electrically coupled to the first commutator and to operate at a second speed when the battery power source is electrically coupled to the second commutator, the first speed being greater than the second speed.

A method of operating a motor, the motor comprising a rotating armature, a first winding, and a second winding with the first and second windings configured to, in response to receiving an electric current, apply a rotational force on the rotating armature resulting in motor operation at different speeds, the motor also comprising a first commutator electrically coupled to the first winding and a second commutator electrically coupled to the second winding, the method comprising:

• powering the motor via a first power source electrically coupled to the first commutator;
• detecting a change past a threshold in power supplied by the first power source electrically coupled to the first commutator;
• effecting, in response to the detecting, electrically decoupling the first power source from the first commutator and electrically coupling a second power source to the second commutator;
• after the effecting, powering the motor via the second power source electrically coupled to the second commutator.

A movable barrier operator apparatus comprising:

• a motor configured to effect movement of the movable barrier in response to operation of the motor, the motor comprising:
• a rotating armature,
• a first winding,
• a first commutator configured to electrically couple to the first winding,
• a second winding,
• a second commutator configured to electrically couple to the second winding,
• the first winding configured to in response to application of electric current apply a rotating force to the rotating armature to operate the motor at a first speed;
• the second winding configured to in response to application of electric current apply a rotating force to the rotating armature to operate the motor at a second speed less than the first speed;
• an electric coupling configured to selectively electrically couple a mains power supply to the first commutator and to selectively electrically couple a battery power source to the second commutator;
• a processing device configured to receive signals regarding power provided by the mains power supply;
• and
• the processing device connected to effect the electric coupling's electrically decoupling the mains power supply from the first commutator and to electrically couple the battery power source to the second commutator in response to determining that the power provided by the mains power supply dropped below a threshold power for operation of the motor.

An apparatus for pumping of fluid, the apparatus comprising:

• a motor configured to effect the pumping of fluid in response to operation of the motor, the motor comprising:
• a rotating armature,
• a first winding and a second winding, each configured to apply a rotating force on the rotating armature in response to application of electric current,
• a first commutator coupled to the rotating armature to electrically couple the first commutator to the first winding, and
• a second commutator coupled to the rotating armature to electrically couple the second commutator to the second winding;
• an electric coupling configured to selectively electrically couple a mains power supply to the first commutator and to selectively electrically couple a battery power source to the second commutator,
• wherein the motor is configured to operate at a first pumping rate when the mains power supply is electrically coupled to the first commutator and to operate at a second pumping rate when the battery power source is electrically coupled to the second commutator, the first pumping rate being greater than the second speed.

A fluid pumping apparatus comprising:

• a motor configured to effect movement of fluid in response to operation of the motor, the motor comprising:
• a rotating armature,
• a first winding,
• a first commutator configured to electrically couple to the first winding,
• a second winding,
• a second commutator configured to electrically couple to the second winding,
• the first winding configured to in response to application of electric current apply a rotating force to the rotating armature to operate the motor at a first pumping rate;
• the second winding configured to in response to application of electric current apply a rotating force to the rotating armature to operate the motor at a second pumping rate less than the first pumping rate;
• an electric coupling configured to selectively electrically couple a mains power supply to the first commutator and to selectively electrically couple a battery power source to the second commutator;
• a processing device configured to receive signals regarding power provided by the mains power supply;
• and
• the processing device connected to effect the electric coupling's electrically decoupling the mains power supply from the first commutator and to electrically couple the battery power source to the second commutator in response to determining that the power provided by the mains power supply dropped below a threshold power for operation of the motor.