# US 2014/0360102 A1 · Air Spring Counterbalance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360102 A1 - Document ID: US20140360102A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/467,081 - Filed: 2014-08-25 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-27 - Assignees: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. - Applicants: The Chamberlain Group, Inc. - Inventors: Brian Roy Skotty - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360102A1 ## CPC - E05D 13/10: {Counterbalance devices} - E05D 13/003: {Anti-dropping devices (E05D13/1223, E05D13/1246, E05D13/1269, E05D13/1292 take precedence)} - E05D 13/12: {with springs} - E05F 3/18: with counteracting springs (double-acting springs E05F1/14) - E05F 5/003: {for sliding wings (Fasteners specially adapted for holding sliding wings open E05D13/04)} - E05F 5/10: with piston brakes - E05F 15/59: for overhead wings - E05F 15/686: by cables or ropes - E05Y 2201/478: Gas springs - E05Y 2900/106: for garages - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract Methods of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism for a movable barrier are used to support a portion of the weight of the movable barrier. A jackshaft is configured to be operatively coupled to the movable barrier such that rotation of the jackshaft raises or lowers the movable barrier. The jackshaft is operatively coupled to a rotatable input shaft of the fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism. The rotatable input shaft is coupled to a flexible-walled fluid-based spring. Applying a first force by a movable barrier operator changes the position of the movable barrier, and the flexible-walled fluid-based spring exerts a second force that supports a portion of the weight of the movable barrier in addition to the first force. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism comprising a flexible-walled fluid-based spring, the method comprising: operatively coupling a rotatable input shaft of the fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism to a jackshaft configured to be operatively coupled to a movable barrier such that rotation of the jackshaft raises or lowers the movable barrier; applying a first force by a movable barrier operator to change the position of the movable barrier, wherein the flexible-walled fluid-based spring exerts a second force that supports a portion of the weight of the movable barrier in addition to the first force. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 1, wherein the second force supports substantially an entire weight of the movable barrier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 1, further comprising: identifying by a controller an entire weight of the movable barrier by observing a change in position of the movable barrier in response to adding fluid to the flexible-walled fluid-based spring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 3, further comprising varying by the controller a quantity of fluid in the flexible-walled fluid-based spring in response to identifying the entire weight of the movable barrier. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 4, further comprising maintaining the second force by varying a quantity of fluid in the flexible-walled fluid-based spring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 5, wherein the varying the quantity of fluid is effected by connecting the flexible-walled fluid-based spring to a source of fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 1, further comprising: measuring by a controller a temperature; varying a quantity of fluid by the controller in response to a change in the temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 1, further comprising: measuring by a controller a pressure of fluid contained within the flexible-walled fluid-based spring; varying a quantity of fluid by the controller in response to a change in the pressure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 1, further comprising: measuring by a controller a position of the movable barrier; varying a quantity of fluid by the controller in response to a change in the position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of operating a fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 1, further comprising periodically varying a quantity of fluid within the flexible-walled fluid-based spring, by a controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of installing a fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 1, wherein the portion of the weight of the movable barrier is transmitted to the flexible-walled fluid-based spring by: a reduction shaft operably coupled to the rotatable input shaft, and a translational mechanism coupled to the reduction shaft, the translational mechanism configured to compress the flexible-walled fluid-based spring between two surfaces in response to rotation of the reduction shaft. ### Claim 12 A method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring, the method comprising: operatively coupling a flexible-walled fluid-based spring to a movable barrier such that a force exerted by the flexible-walled fluid-based spring supports at least a portion of a weight of a movable barrier; securing a quantity of fluid within the flexible-walled fluid-based spring such that the flexible-walled fluid-based spring exerts a desired force when the movable barrier is at a particular position; adjusting the quantity of fluid in the flexible-walled fluid-based spring such that the desired force remains substantially constant. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of claim 12 wherein the portion of the weight supported by the flexible-walled fluid-based spring varies with a position of the movable barrier. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of claim 12 wherein the force exerted by the flexible-walled fluid-based spring varies according to a position of the movable barrier. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of claim 12, wherein the adjusting further comprises adding a fixed quantity of fluid by a controller after a particular period of time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of claim 15, wherein the adjusting further comprises: detecting by a controller at least one input; effecting by the controller the adjusting the quantity of fluid in response to the at least one input. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of claim 16, wherein the detecting the at least one input comprises detecting one or more of a temperature, a pressure, or a position of the movable barrier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of claim 17, wherein the detecting one or more of the temperature or the pressure occurs in response to receiving an input indicating the movable barrier is in a predetermined position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of claim 17, further comprising executing the detecting one or more of the temperature or the pressure at particular intervals of time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier by a flexible-walled fluid-based spring of claim 16 wherein the effecting by the controller opens a valve to release fluid from the flexible-walled fluid-based spring or connects the flexible-walled fluid-based spring to a source of fluid.