Method and apparatus for controlling the speed of closing of a movable element
AssigneeMultimatic Inc.
InventorsRichard J. Hellinga, Michael Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for controlling the descent of a moveable element pivotally attached to a rigid structure. The moveable element is pivotally attached to the rigid structure, and is then pivotally connected to a compressible strut, which is pivotally attached to a linkage pivotally connected to the rigid structure. The descent of the moveable element is controlled using a microcontroller and a motor attached to the linkage, and the control path for the linkage is selected based on a comparison of the angle between the linkage and rigid structure and the angle between the moveable element and the rigid structure.
Claims10
A system comprising:
- a linkage, pivotally attached to a rigid structure;
- a compressible strut, pivotally connected to both the linkage and one of a gate and a door pivotally attached to the rigid structure;
- means for measuring an angle between the one of the gate and the door;
- and the rigid structure at their pivotal connection;
- control means, operatively connected to the angle measuring means, for receiving the measured angle, for determining a start of a transition between first and second phases of the descent of a one of the gate and the door, and for selecting a descent profile from a table based on the measured angle at which the transition between the first and second phases occurs, and for controlling the angle between the linkage and the rigid structure during the second phase of the descent based on the selected profile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.