Assembly for moving a barrier and method of controlling the same

• US 20060091838A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
• Inventors: Mullin, Paul Steven, Blatterman, William Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 7,271,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/280
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/36 Speed control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/53 Wing impact prevention or reduction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/00 Details, accessories and auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages

Abstract

An assembly for moving a barrier from one of a closed position and an opened position to the other of the closed position and the opened position. The assembly includes a motor to supply one of a first power and a second power to the barrier. The assembly also includes a controller to control the motor to supply the first power to move the barrier towards the closed position from the opened position. The controller also controls the motor to supply the first power to the barrier to move towards the opened position from the closed position, and to supply the second power intermittently after the barrier has started moving towards the opened position and before arriving at the opened position.

Claims

1. An assembly for moving a barrier from one of a closed position and an opened position to the other of the closed position and the opened position, the assembly comprising:

a motor connectable to the barrier and configured to supply one of a first power and a second power to the barrier; and

a controller configured to control the motor to supply the first power to move the barrier towards the closed position from the opened position, to supply the first power to the barrier to move towards the opened position from the closed position, and to supply the second power intermittently after the barrier has started moving towards the opened position and before arriving at the opened position.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a relay configured to generate a time delay before the barrier starts to move towards the opened position from the closed position.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a second one or more relays to configure the motor to supply the first power to move the barrier towards the opened position from the closed position, and to configure the motor to supply the second power intermittently to move the barrier after the barrier has started moving towards the opened position and before arriving at the opened position.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the second relay is further configured to control the motor to supply the first power to move the barrier after the controller has supplied the second power intermittently to the barrier for a period of time.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a power supply configured to receive a power signal, and to convert the power signal into the first and second power.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the motor to supply the second power intermittently for at least for one period of time.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the second power is supplied for a period, and the period is adjustable.

8. A method of moving a barrier with a motor, the method comprising:

supplying a first power from the motor to the barrier when the barrier starts to move from an opened position towards a closed position;

supplying the first power from the motor to the barrier when the barrier starts to move from the closed position towards an opened position; and

intermittently supplying a second power from the motor to the barrier after the barrier has started moving towards the opened position and before arriving at the opened position.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising supplying the first power after the second power has been supplied from the motor to the barrier.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein intermittently supplying a second power further comprises:

determining a period of time; and

supplying the second power for the period of time.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein intermittently supplying a second power further comprises supplying the second power for at least one period of time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein supplying the second power for at least one period of time comprises adjusting the period of time.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating a time delay before the barrier starts to move towards the opened position.

14. A method of moving a barrier with a permanent split capacitor motor having a first set of windings and a second set of windings, the method comprising:

supplying power to the first set of windings to move the barrier from an opened position towards a closed position with a first motor power;

supplying power to the second set of windings to start moving the barrier from the closed position towards the opened position with the first motor power;

supplying power to the first set of windings to move the barrier towards the opened position after the barrier has started to move from the closed position towards the opened position and before arriving at the opened position with a second motor power; and

supplying power to the second set of windings to continue moving the barrier from the closed position towards the opened position with the first motor power and after the motor has moved the barrier from the closed position towards the opened position with the second motor power.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising generating a time delay before the barrier starts to move from the closed position towards the opened position.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

activating a first relay to couple power to the second set of windings to start moving the barrier from the closed position towards the opened position with the first motor power, and to couple power to the second set of windings to continue moving the barrier from the closed position towards the opened position with the first motor power and after the motor has moved the barrier from the closed position towards the opened position with the second motor power; and

activating a second relay to couple power to the first set of windings to move the barrier towards the opened position after the barrier has started to move from the closed position towards the opened position and before arriving at the opened position with a second motor power.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising rectifying a source power into the power.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising supplying power to the first set of windings to move the barrier towards the opened position after the barrier has started to move from the closed position towards the opened position and before arriving at the opened position with a second motor power for at least one period of time.

19. An assembly for moving a barrier from one of a closed position and an opened position to the other of the closed position and the opened position, the assembly comprising:

a permanent split capitor motor having a first set of windings and a second set of windings; and

a controller configured to power the first set of windings when the barrier starts to move from the opened position towards the closed position, to power the second set of windings when the barrier starts to move from the closed position towards the opened position, and to power the first set of windings intermittently after the barrier has started moving from the closed position towards the opened position and before arriving at the opened position.

20. The assembly of claim 19, further comprising:

a first relay configured to be activated to couple power to the second set of windings to start moving the barrier from the closed position towards the opened position with the first motor power, and to couple power to the second set of windings to continue moving the barrier from the closed position towards the opened position with the first motor power and after the motor has moved the barrier from the closed position towards the opened position with the second motor power; and

a second relay configured to be activated to couple power to the first set of windings to move the barrier towards the opened position after the barrier has started to move from the closed position towards the opened position and before arriving at the opened position with a second motor power.

21. The assembly of claim 19, further comprising a relay configured to generate a time delay before the barrier starts to move from the closed position towards the opened position.

22. The assembly of claim 19, further comprising a rectifier configured to transform a source power into the power.

23. The assembly of claim 19, further comprising a relay configured to couple power to the first set of windings to move the barrier towards the opened position after the barrier has started to move from the closed position towards the opened position and before arriving at the opened position with a second motor power for at least one period of time.