Drive assembly for a motorized roller tube system
First Claim
1. A motorized roller tube system comprising:
- a rotatably supported roller tube;
a flexible member engaging the roller tube for winding receipt of the flexible member by the roller tube;
a motor having an output shaft rotated at a motor speed;
a gear assembly connected to the output shaft of the motor such that the gear assembly is driven by the motor, the gear assembly including a plurality of gear stages adapted to produce an output rotational speed that is reduced with respect to the motor speed;
a tube-engagement member connected to the gear assembly for rotation at the reduced rotational speed of the gear assembly output, the tube-engagement member adapted for engagement with the roller tube for rotation of the roller tube at the gear assembly output speed; and
a controller connected to the motor for controlling the motor to wind or unwind the flexible member with respect to the roller tube during movement of the flexible member to a position located between a fully-closed position and a fully-opened position for the flexible member, wherein the motor operates at an operating motor speed during any movement of the flexible member by the controller that is less than 50 percent of a maximum motor speed of which the motor is capable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drive assembly for a motorized roller tube system includes a motor and a gear assembly having multiple gear stages. The motor of the drive assembly is operated inefficiently at a motor speed that is less than 50 percent of a peak efficiency motor speed producing sound pressure levels between approximately 40 dBA and 44 dBA in an ambient of about 38 dBA. Preferably, the efficiency is less than one-half of peak efficiency. The gear assembly includes spur gears and preferably has a gear ratio of 20:1. Preferably, the motor is a DC motor operated at approximately 850 rpm and having an associated torque capability that is at least 4 times the torque capability at the peak efficiency motor speed. The motor may be an AC motor having four or less poles preferably operated at approximately 850 rpm.
63 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A motorized roller tube system comprising:
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a rotatably supported roller tube;
a flexible member engaging the roller tube for winding receipt of the flexible member by the roller tube;
a motor having an output shaft rotated at a motor speed;
a gear assembly connected to the output shaft of the motor such that the gear assembly is driven by the motor, the gear assembly including a plurality of gear stages adapted to produce an output rotational speed that is reduced with respect to the motor speed;
a tube-engagement member connected to the gear assembly for rotation at the reduced rotational speed of the gear assembly output, the tube-engagement member adapted for engagement with the roller tube for rotation of the roller tube at the gear assembly output speed; and
a controller connected to the motor for controlling the motor to wind or unwind the flexible member with respect to the roller tube during movement of the flexible member to a position located between a fully-closed position and a fully-opened position for the flexible member, wherein the motor operates at an operating motor speed during any movement of the flexible member by the controller that is less than 50 percent of a maximum motor speed of which the motor is capable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 32)
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11. A motorized roller tube system comprising:
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a rotatably supported roller tube for winding receipt of a flexible member, the roller tube defining an interior;
a DC motor received within the interior of the roller tube; and
a gear assembly received within the interior of the tube, the gear assembly including planetary spur gears and having a total gear ratio of approximately 20;
1;
the motor including an output shaft connected to the gear assembly and rotated at an operating motor speed of between approximately 500 rpm and approximately 1000 rpm, the motorized roller tube system creating a maximum sound pressure level of between 40 dBA and 44 dBA at a distance of approximately 3 feet from the driven end of the roller tube in an ambient sound pressure level of approximately 38 dBA when the flexible member is moving from a fully-lowered position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A motorized roller tube system comprising:
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a rotatably supported roller tube for winding receipt of a flexible member;
a DC motor having an output shaft rotated at an operating motor speed; and
a gear assembly connected to the output shaft of the motor such that the gear assembly is driven by the motor, the gear assembly including a plurality of gear stages adapted to produce an output rotational speed that is reduced with respect to the motor speed;
the motor having an efficiency that varies depending on the operating motor speed, the efficiency including a peak efficiency associated with a peak efficiency operating speed and wherein the efficiency associated with the operating motor speed during any movement of the flexible member is less than 50 percent of the peak efficiency. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A motorized roller tube system comprising:
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a rotatably supported roller tube for winding receipt of a flexible member;
a DC motor having an output shaft rotated at a motor speed, the motor having a torque capability and an efficiency that varies depending on the motor speed; and
a gear assembly connected to the output shaft of the motor such that the gear assembly is driven by the motor, the gear assembly including a plurality of gear stages adapted to produce an output rotational speed that is reduced with respect to the motor speed, the motor having a peak efficiency and an associated torque capability at a peak efficiency motor speed and wherein the motorized roller tube system operates the motor at an operating motor speed having an associated torque capability that is at least 4 times greater than the torque capability at the peak efficiency motor speed. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A motorized roller tube system comprising:
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a rotatably supported roller tube for winding receipt of a flexible member, the roller tube defining an interior;
an AC motor received within the interior of the roller tube; and
a gear assembly received within the interior of the tube, the gear assembly including planetary spur gears and having a total gear ratio of approximately 20;
1;
and an AC motor controller;
the motor including an output shaft connected to the gear assembly and rotated at an operating motor speed between approximately 750 rpm and approximately 900 rpm, the motorized roller tube system creating a sound pressure level between 40 dBA and 44 dBA at a distance of approximately 3 feet from the driven end of the roller tube in an ambient sound pressure level of approximately 38 dBA. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification