US 6,155,324 A · Apparatus and method for operating a door

Abstract

A method and apparatus according to various aspects of the present invention is configured to automatically reset a rollable fire door curtain in the raised position. In one embodiment, a brake is coupled to a rolling fire door axle by an electromechanical clutch. The fire door is pre-disposed to unroll and close the opening, however, the brake prevents the door from unrolling. When a switch, a signal, or a fusible link indicates that the fire door should close, an electromechanical circuit board sends an electrical signal to an electromechanical clutch which opens the clutch. With the clutch open, the brake is no longer coupled to the fire door and the door closes. When the switch or signal is reversed, the clutch closes, re-coupling the fire door axle to the brake. The brake allows input rotation in both directions, but prevents the rolling door from closing under its own weight. Therefore, upon raising the curtain, the fire door is automatically reset and ready to close in the event of a fire.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An apparatus connected to a door for shifting the door between a first position and a second position in response to an input signal, comprising:

the door being mounted on an axle;
a transfer system attached to the door and configured to move the door between the first position and the second position;
and
an operating mechanism, including:
a brake selectively engaged with said transfer system and operatively configured to inhibit movement of the door from the first position to the second position, wherein said brake engages a chain operator which drives said axle to the first position and the second position, wherein said brake facilitates transfer of torque from the chain operator to the axle but not from the axle to the chain operator;
and
a clutch operable in a clutching mode and a declutching mode, said clutching mode engaging said brake to said axle and said declutching mode disengaging said brake from said axle, said clutch transferring from said clutching mode to said declutching mode in response to the input signal.

4 more elements

An apparatus connected to a door for operating the door which is mounted on an axle supported for movement of the door in response to an input signal such that the door is moved toward a first position when the axle rotates in a first direction and moved toward a second position when the axle rotates in a second direction, wherein the door is biased to move in the second direction, comprising:

a brake mechanism selectably engageable with said axle, wherein said brake mechanism inhibits rotational movement of said axle in the second direction in response to the bias of the door in the second direction, wherein said brake mechanism engages a chain operator for driving the axle to said first position and said second position, wherein said brake facilitates transfer of torque from the chain operator to the axle but not from the axle to the chain operator;
and
a clutch mechanism coupled to said brake mechanism and the door, said clutch mechanism being selectably operable in a first mode and a second mode, said first mode engaging said brake mechanism to said axle and said second mode disengaging said brake mechanism from said axle, said clutch mechanism transferring between said first mode and said second mode in response to the input signal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for operating a door

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for operating a door

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28