Door operator system

An operator for an upward acting door including:

• an electric motor;
• a drive mechanism operably connected to said motor and to said door for moving said door between open and closed positions;
• a motor control circuit for energizing said motor to cause said drive mechanism to move said door to an open or up limit position and a closed or down limit position;
• a microcontroller operably connected to said motor control circuit to effect operation of said motor in opposite directions;
• a user actuatable switch for causing said microcontroller to effect energization of said motor to move said door in a direction depending on the state of said operator;
• and
• limit switches for indicating an open limit position of said operator and a closed limit position of said operator, respectively, said limit switches being operably connected to said microcontroller for providing signals to said microcontroller, respectively, said microcontroller being operable in response to a signal to energize said motor to move said door between an open and closed position to selectively control the speed of said motor and said door depending on the direction of movement of said door, and said microcontroller being responsive to one of a signal from a limit switch and the state of said operator as a consequence of a previous operation to cause said motor to operate at a first speed when energized to move said door toward an open position and to cause said motor to operate at a second speed less than said first speed when moving said door toward a closed position.

An operator for an upward acting door including:

• an electric motor;
• a drive mechanism operably connected to said motor and to said door for moving said door between open and closed positions;
• said drive mechanism including a magnet mounted on a member of said drive mechanism connected to said door,
• a motor control circuit for energizing said motor to cause said drive mechanism to move said door to an open or up limit position and a closed or down limit position;
• a microcontroller operably connected to said motor control circuit to effect operation of said motor in opposite directions;
• a user actuatable switch for causing said microcontroller to effect energization of said motor to move said door in a direction depending on the state of said operator;
• and
• limit switches for indicating an open limit position of said operator and a closed limit position of said operator, respectively, said limit switches being operably connected to said microcontroller for providing signals to said microcontroller, respectively, said microcontroller being operable in response to a signal to energize said motor to move said door between an open and closed position to selectively control the speed of said motor and said door depending on the direction of movement of said door, and said limit switches are mounted in proximity to said drive mechanism and responsive to said magnet moving into proximity to said limit switches to effect actuation of said limit switches, respectively, to cause said microcontroller to shut off power to said motor.

An operator for an upward acting door including:

• an electric motor;
• a drive mechanism operably connected to said motor and to said door for moving said door between open and closed positions;
• said drive mechanism includes a magnet mounted on a member of said drive mechanism connected to said door;
• a motor control circuit for energizing said motor to cause said drive mechanism to move said door to an open or up limit position and a closed or down limit position;
• a microcontroller operably connected to said motor control circuit to effect operation of said motor in opposite directions;
• a user actuatable switch for causing said microcontroller to effect energization of said motor to move said door in a direction depending on the state of said operator;
• spaced apart limit switches mounted in proximity to said drive mechanism for indicating an open limit position of said operator and a closed limit position of said operator, respectively, said limit switches being operably connected to said microcontroller for providing signals to said microcontroller, respectively, and responsive to said magnet moving into proximity to said limit switches to effect actuation of said limit switches, respectively, to cause said microcontroller to shut off power to said motor;
• a sensor operable to provide a signal to said microcontroller proportional to the total travel distance of said drive mechanism when moving said door from a closed position to an open position;
• and
• said microcontroller is operable to adjust a signal to said motor control circuit to control the speed of said motor and said drive mechanism depending on the travel distance of said drive mechanism when moving said door from said closed position to said open position.

A method for controlling a door operator for moving an upward acting door between open and closed positions, said operator including a reversible electric motor, a drive mechanism connected to said motor and to said door, a control circuit operably connected to said motor for energizing said motor to move said drive mechanism in opposite directions to effect opening and closing of said door, a controller associated with said control circuit for effecting operation of said motor, door position limit switches indicating an open limit position of said door and a closed limit position of said door, a sensor operably connected to said controller for determining the travel distance of said door between open and closed positions, and a user actuatable switch for effecting operation of said controller to energize said motor, said method comprising the steps of:

• causing said controller to energize said motor to move said door from a closed position to an open position;
• measuring the travel distance of said door to said open position with said travel distance sensor;
• and
• causing said controller to energize said motor at a predetermined speed during subsequent operating cycles of said operator dependent on the travel distance of said operator and said door when moving from said closed position to said open position.

An operator for an upward acting door including:

• a DC variable speed electric motor;
• a drive mechanism operably connected to said motor and to said door for moving said door between open and closed positions;
• a motor control circuit for energizing said motor to cause said drive mechanism to move said door to an open or up limit position and a closed or down limit position;
• a microcontroller operably connected to said motor control circuit to effect operation of said motor in opposite directions and to provide a pulse width modulated voltage signal to said motor to control the operating speed of said motor;
• a user actuatable switch for causing said microcontroller to effect energization of said motor to move said door in a direction depending on the state of said operator;
• limit switches for indicating an open limit position of said operator and a closed limit position of said operator, respectively, said limit switches being operably connected to said microcontroller for providing signals to said microcontroller, respectively;
• a sensor operable to provide a signal to said microcontroller proportional to the total travel distance of said drive mechanism when moving said door from a closed position to an open position;
• and
• said microcontroller is operable to adjust a signal to said motor control circuit to control the speed of said motor and said drive mechanism depending on the travel distance of said drive mechanism when moving said door from said closed position to said open position.

A method for controlling a door operator for moving an upward acting door between open and closed positions, said operator including a reversible electric motor, a drive mechanism connected to said motor and to said door, a control circuit operably connected to said motor for energizing said motor to move said drive mechanism in opposite directions to effect opening and closing of said door, a controller associated with said control circuit for effecting operation of said motor, door position limit switches indicating an open limit position of said door and a closed limit position of said door, an obstruction detector associated with said door and operable to provide an obstruction detection signal to said controller, a user actuatable switch for effecting operation of said control circuit to energize said motor, a motor current sensor operably connected to said controller for sensing current flowing through said motor and current limit setting means associated with said controller for limiting motor current in operation of said motor to open and close said door, respectively, said method comprising the steps of:

• energizing said motor to move said door between open and closed positions and de-energizing said motor when motor current exceeds a preset limit;
• and
• causing said controller to energize said motor to move said door toward said open position if said motor has not been energized more than a predetermined number of times in a predetermined time period.

A method for controlling a door operator system for moving an upward acting door between open and closed positions, said operator including a reversible electric motor, a drive mechanism connected to said motor and to said door, a control circuit operably connected to said motor for energizing said motor to move said drive mechanism in opposite directions to effect opening and closing of said door, a controller associated with said control circuit for effecting operation of said motor, door position limit switches indicating an open limit position of said door and a closed limit position of said door, an obstruction detector associated with said door and operable to provide an obstruction detection signal to said controller, a user actuatable switch for effecting operation of said control circuit to energize said motor, a motor current sensor operably connected to said controller for sensing current flowing through said motor and current limit setting means associated with said controller for limiting motor current in operation of said motor to open and close said door, respectively, said method comprising the steps of:

• energizing said motor to move said door between open and closed positions and de-energizing said motor when motor current exceeds a preset limit;
• and
• causing said motor upon being energized to accelerate to a predetermined maximum speed and causing said motor to decelerate to a minimum speed on approaching one of said limit switches.

A method for controlling a door operator system for moving an upward acting door between open and closed positions, said operator including a reversible electric motor, a drive mechanism connected to said motor and to said door, a control circuit operably connected to said motor for energizing said motor to move said drive mechanism in opposite directions to effect opening and closing of said door, a controller associated with said control circuit for effecting operation of said motor, door position limit switches indicating an open limit position of said door and a closed limit position of said door, an obstruction detector associated with said door and operable to provide an obstruction detection signal to said controller, a user actuatable switch for effecting operation of said control circuit to energize said motor, a motor current sensor operably connected to said controller for sensing current flowing through said motor and current limit setting means associated with said controller for limiting motor current in operation of said motor to open and close said door, respectively, said method comprising the steps of:

• energizing said motor to move said door between open and closed positions and de-energizing said motor when motor current exceeds a preset limit;
• and
• energizing said motor to move said door to an open position at a speed greater than the speed of operation of said motor to move said door to a closed position.

A door operator for moving an upward acting door between open and closed positions including:

• an elongated rail for supporting a carriage for slidable movement along said rail, said carriage including means for connecting said carriage to an upward acting door;
• a rotatable screw supported on said rail;
• a support plate for said operator;
• a reversible electric drive motor for rotatably driving said screw including a bracket for supporting said motor on said support plate;
• a support member connected to said motor at one end of said motor, said support member including a part adapted to be connected to said support plate for supporting said motor on said support plate, said support member including a beam portion projecting toward said rail for supporting one end of said rail, a first bore in said support member for receiving a bearing assembly for a shaft of said motor and a second bore in said support member for receiving a coupling for connecting said motor to said screw;
• and
• a cover member for covering at least a portion of said motor and releasably connectable to said support plate.

A door operator for moving an upward acting door between open and closed positions including:

• an elongated rail for supporting a carriage for slidable movement along said rail, said carriage including means for connecting said carriage to an upward acting door;
• a rotatable screw supported on said rail;
• a support plate for said operator;
• a reversible electric drive motor for rotatably driving said screw including a bracket for supporting said motor on said support plate;
• a support member connected to said motor at one end of said motor, said support member including a part adapted to be connected to said support plate for supporting said motor on said support plate, said support member including a beam portion projecting toward said rail for supporting one end of said rail;
• a resilient bumper member mounted on said support member and engageable with a stop member disposed on said rail;
• and
• a cover member for covering at least a portion of said motor and releasably connectable to said support plate.

A door operator for moving an upward acting door between open and closed positions including:

• an elongated rail for supporting a carriage for slidable movement along said rail, said carriage including means for connecting said carriage to an upward acting door;
• a rotatable screw supported on said rail;
• a support plate for said operator;
• a reversible electric drive motor for rotatably driving said screw including a bracket for supporting said motor on said support plate;
• a support member connected to said motor at one end of said motor, said support member including a part adapted to be connected to said support plate for supporting said motor on said support plate, said support member including a beam portion projecting toward said rail for supporting one end of said rail;
• a cover member for covering at least a portion of said motor and releasably connectable to said support plate;
• a lamp assembly supported on said cover;
• and
• a translucent lens member releasably connectable to said cover for covering a substantial portion of said cover and said lamp assembly.

An operator for an upward acting door including:

• an electric motor;
• a drive mechanism operably connected to said motor and to said door for moving said door between open and closed positions;
• a motor control circuit for energizing said motor to cause said drive mechanism to move said door to an open or up limit position and a closed or down limit position;
• a microcontroller operably connected to said motor control circuit to effect operation of said motor in opposite directions;
• a first switch for causing said microcontroller to effect energization of said motor to move said door in a direction depending on the state of said operator;
• a current sensor in said motor control circuit for generating a signal to said microcontroller proportional to current flowing to said motor when said motor is operating in a first direction and a second direction;
• and
• user settable current limiters comprising potentiometers operably connected to said microcontroller and operable by a user of said operator, at will, for adjusting limit values of current flowing through said motor to effect shutoff of said motor when a current limit set by said user has been exceeded in at least one of an operating mode of said motor to move said door from an open position to a closed position and from a closed position to an open position.

An operator for an upward acting door including:

• an electric motor;
• a drive mechanism operably connected to said motor and to said door for moving said door between open and closed positions;
• a motor control circuit for energizing said motor to cause said drive mechanism to move said door to an open or up limit position and a closed or down limit position;
• a microcontroller operably connected to said motor control circuit to effect operation of said motor in opposite directions;
• a user actuatable switch for causing said microcontroller to effect energization of said motor to move said door in a direction depending on the state of said operator;
• limit switches for indicating an open limit position of said door operator and a closed limit position of said door operator, respectively, said limit switches being operably connected to said microcontroller for providing signals to said microcontroller, respectively, said microcontroller being operable in response to a signal to energize said motor to move said door between an open and closed position to selectively control the speed of said motor and said door depending on the direction of movement of said door;
• a sensor operable to provide a signal to said microcontroller proportional to the total travel distance of said drive mechanism when moving said door from a closed position to an open position;
• and
• said microcontroller being operable in response to said sensor detecting a reduced travel distance when moving said door to an open position to cause said motor control circuit to reduce the speed of said motor when operating said motor in both a door opening mode and a door closing mode.