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US 5,299,678 AGranted
Limit switch mechanism for garage door opener
AssigneeThe Chamberlain Group, Inc.
InventorsJames S. Chang, Mark D. Siegler, Douglas R. Turner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable limit switch mechanism for controlling the operation of an electric motor of a garage door opener over a selected range of movement including a motor driven threaded shaft supporting at least one switch actuator which is adjustably positionable and restrained from rotary movement while being axially translated by rotation of the shaft. A limit switch is mounted adjacent the threaded shaft so as to be actuated as the switch actuator is translated axially on the shaft.
Claims9
A limit switch mechanism for controlling a motor over a selected range of movement comprising:
- a support frame;
- a shaft journaled at ends on said support frame for rotational movement about a first axis, said shaft being threaded between said journaled ends;
- a first switch actuator and a second switch actuator threadedly received on said shaft, each switch actuator being generally cylindrical with an axially extending threaded bore and being formed with a plurality of radially extending slots equally spaced around the periphery and with at least one slot extending radially of said first axis, said slot having an outwardly facing mouth portion and being in a plane through said first axis;
- a first limit switch and a second limit switch mounted on said support frame at opposite ends of said shaft, each said limit switch having control means operating one of said limit switches, said control means for said first limit switch being positioned in the path of said first switch actuator to operate said first limit switch upon axial movement of said first switch actuator toward one of said shaft ends, said control means for said second limit switch being positioned in the path of said second switch actuator to operate said second limit switch upon axial movement of said second switch actuator toward the other of said shaft ends;
- latch means biased into engagement with said first switch actuator and said second switch actuator for engaging said slots to restrain rotation of said switch actuators while permitting axial movement of said switch actuators along said shaft upon shaft rotation;
- and
- manual actuation means connected to said latch means for permitting an operator of said limit switch mechanism to readily disengage said latch means from said first switch actuator and said second switch actuator, said manual actuation means comprising an operator accessible plate pivotally mounted about a second axis parallel with and spaced from said first axial and said latch means comprises a restraining portion affixed to said operator accessible plate which extends parallel to said first axis and is engageable with one of said slots in each of said first switch actuator and said second switch actuator to restrain rotary movement and permit axial movement along said shaft.
4 more elements
A combination limit switch mechanism and a garage door opener comprising:
- a motor;
- drive means for interconnecting said motor with said garage door to open and close said garage door;
- a control circuit for said motor including a first limit switch and a second limit switch to de-energize said motor when said garage door has been driven to an open position and a closed position, respectively;
- and
- a limit switch mechanism comprising
- a frame,
- a first shaft having end portions journaled in said frame for rotation about a first axis, said first shaft having a threaded portion between said end portions,
- switch actuator means threadedly received on said threaded portion of said first shaft for actuating a switch, said switch actuator means comprising a first switch actuator and a second switch actuator, each of which includes a hub portion with a threaded bore and a peripheral portion which is segmented by equally spaced radially extending slots;
- movable restraining means extending parallel to said first shaft and movable toward and away from said first shaft for selectively engaging said switch actuator means for restraining rotation and guiding said switch actuator means for axial movement on said first shaft as it rotates, said movable restraining means having a restraining edge extending parallel to said first axis, said restraining edge being movable radially of said first axis into engagement with a slot in each of said switch actuators;
- means for holding said movable restraining means in an engaged position with said switch actuator means;
- manual actuation means connected to said movable restraining means for permitting an operator of said limit switch mechanism to readily move said movable restraining means away from said first shaft, said manual actuation means comprising an operator accessible plate pivotally mounted on a second shaft supported by said frame and extending parallel to said first shaft, said restraining edge being formed on said operator accessible plate parallel to and spaced from said second shaft and being engageable in a slot in each of said switch actuators;
- and
- means drivingly interconnecting said motor and said first shaft for driving said switch actuator means axially along said first shaft in response to said motor opening and closing said garage door;
- said first limit switch and said second limit switch being supported on said frame adjacent said first shaft and being operable by said switch actuator means.
11 more elements
A limit switch mechanism for controlling a motor over a selected range of movement comprising:
- a support frame;
- an elongated shaft having end portions journaled in said support frame for rotation about a first axis, said elongated shaft having a threaded portion between said end portions;
- means for drivingly connecting said elongated shaft to a motor to be controlled so that said motor rotates said elongated shaft;
- an actuator being formed with a central hub having a threaded bore, said threaded portion of said elongated shaft being received in said threaded bore, said actuator having a slotted annular wall portion being divided into equal segments by slots which extend radially with respect to said elongated shaft;
- movable restraining means extending parallel to said elongated shaft for moving toward and away from said elongated shaft and for selectively engaging one of said slots to restrain rotation of said actuator whereby rotation of said elongated shaft causes axial translation of said actuator on said elongated shaft, said movable restraining means comprising a restraining portion extending along the other of said parallel edges;
- means for biasing said movable restraining means into engagement with said actuator;
- manual actuation means connected to said movable restraining means for permitting an operator of said limit switch mechanism to readily move said movable restraining means away from said elongated shaft, said manual actuation means comprising an operator accessible plate member having two parallel edges with a journaled portion extending along one of said parallel edges,
- a switch mounted on said support frame and connected in circuit to said motor to control operation of said motor, said switch having a control means positioned adjacent said threaded portion of said elongated shaft for engagement by said actuator as it translates axially on said threaded portion of said elongated shaft for controlling operation of said motor;
- and
- a second shaft mounted on said support frame in spaced parallel relation to said elongated shaft, said second shaft extending through said journaled portion of said operator accessible plate member to support said operator accessible plate member pivotally with respect to said support frame, said movable restraining portion being selectively engageable with one of said slots to restrain rotation and guide said actuator in its axial translation on said threaded portion of said elongated shaft.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.