Pass point system for controlling the operation of movable barriers
AssigneeThe Chamberlain Group, Inc.
InventorsRoger William Lhotak, James Joseph Fitzgibbon, Robert John Olmsted, Kenneth J. Dombrowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An operator for opening and closing movable barriers such as garage doors comprising a pass point limit system which is a component of an operating head. The operator is responsive to remote control from a wall panel or other location remote from the operating head to enable setting and adjustment of door travel limits from a remote location, without requiring installation of limit switches separate from the operating head.
Claims40
An overhead door opener drive system comprising a housing, a motor supported on said housing, a pass point assembly carried on the housing for measuring overhead door displacements with respect to an intermediate reference point, and a controller for controlling and repeatably setting limits for such displacements within a predetermined range of motion to limit undesired variation of door displacement limits over time;
- said pass point assembly comprising at least one transmitter, at least one receiver in communication with said controller, and a sensor mechanism driven at least indirectly by said motor for selectively altering communication between said at least one receiver and said at least one transmitter to provide a reference point signal to the controller when the door passes said reference point and to provide information to the controller concerning overhead door displacements relative to said reference point;
- and
- said controller enabling setting and adjustment of said limits from a location remote from said pass point assembly.
An operator for opening and closing a barrier comprising a head, a transmission assembly for transmitting power from said head to said barrier, and a controller;
- said head comprising a base, a motor supported on said base and connected to said transmission assembly, and a limit system;
- said controller being in communication with said motor and said limit system to control motor operation and thereby to control barrier travel;
- said controller being capable of setting and adjusting a limit point from a remote location so that, upon entry of a command into said controller, said barrier will automatically travel approximately to said limit point and will stop approximately at said limit point;
- and
- said limit system comprising a pass point system which is a component of said head and which is installable therewith so as to avoid requiring separate installation of said limit system.
An operator for opening and closing a barrier comprising a head, a transmission assembly rail drive assembly and trolley for transmitting power from said head to said barrier, and a controller;
- said head comprising a base, a motor supported on said base and connected to said transmission assembly, and a limit system;
- said controller being in communication with said motor and said limit system to control motor operation and thereby to control barrier travel;
- said controller being capable of setting a limit point so that, upon entry of a command into said controller, said barrier will automatically travel approximately to said limit point and will stop approximately at said limit point;
- said limit system being a component of said head and installable therewith so as to avoid requiring separate installation of said limit system;
- and
- said limit system comprising a pass point system which defines an intermediate reference point and which sends a signal to said controller when said intermediate reference point is passed so that subsequent displacement may be measured with respect to said intermediate reference point.
An integrated rail drive assembly, to be driven by a drive shaft carried on or near a frame, to move a trolley along a predetermined path, comprising:
- an elongated, substantially rigid rail having opposed ends and extending along said path;
- a pair of rotary support members rotatably supported by said rail at opposite ends of said rail;
- and
- an elongated flexible linear drive member supported on said rotary support members for attachment to said trolley, said trolley being supported on said rail and connected to said elongated flexible drive member for travel on said rail so that it may be driven along said rail by said elongated flexible linear drive member;
- a connector to enable an end of said rail to be connected to said frame to prevent rotation of said rail with respect to said frame;
- and
- at least one of said rotary support members having a socket formed therein, the socket defining a recess having a cross-section which is non-circular and which has a shape complementary to that of said drive shaft to receive said drive shaft for driving connection of said at least one of said rotary support members to said drive shaft.
A modular integrated rail drive assembly for use with a barrier operator system to move a trolley along a predetermined path, said integrated rail drive assembly adaptable for slip fit drive connection with a drive shaft of pre-determined shape carried on or near a frame of the barrier operator system, the modular integrated rail drive assembly comprising:
- an elongated, substantially rigid rail having, opposed ends and extending along said path;
- a pair of rotary support members rotatably supported by said rail at opposite ends of said rail;
- and
- an elongated flexible linear drive member supported on said rotary support members for attachment to said trolley, said trolley being supported on said rail and connected to said elongated flexible drive member for travel on said rail so that it may be driven along said rail by said elongated flexible linear drive member;
- a connector to enable an end of said rail to be connected to said frame to prevent rotation of said rail with respect to said frame;
- and
- at least one of said rotary support members having a socket formed therein, the socket defining a recess having a cross-section which is non-circular and which has a shape complementary to that of said drive shaft to receive said drive shaft for connection of said at least one of said rotary support members to said drive shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.