Roll-up door system

• US 20070256797A1
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Orco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orco, Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Lewis, Orton, Steve, Weymouth, Bill, Hansen, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US11/429,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20070256797A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 160/188
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/681 operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/77 using wireless control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/216 Clutches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by auxiliary motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/516 for trucks or trailers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/532 Back doors or end doors

Abstract

A roll-up door system has been provided to position a roll-up door. The roll-up door system uses a combination of electrical and mechanical systems, to achieve automatic locking and automated maneuvering of the roll-up door. The roll-up door system includes a guide-track assembly, a roll-up door moving along the guide track assembly, a linkage mechanism connected to the roll-up door for guiding the roll-up door along the guide-track assembly, an automated driving mechanism connected to the linkage mechanism for controlling the movement of the roll-up door along the guide-track assembly, and a radio-controlled electrical circuit for activating the automated driving mechanism.

Claims

1. A roll-up door system comprising:

a guide-track assembly;

a roll-up door comprising a plurality of panels, the panels moving along the guide-track assembly;

a linkage mechanism connected to the roll-up door, wherein the linkage mechanism moving the roll-up door along the guide-track assembly;

an automated driving mechanism connected to the linkage mechanism for controlling the movement of the roll-up door along the guide-track assembly; and

a radio controlled electrical circuit for activating the automated driving mechanism.

2. The roll-up door of claim 1, wherein the guide-track assembly comprises a pair of guide-tracks, each having a lower section, a top section and a curved section.

3. The roll-up door of claim 1, wherein the automated driving mechanism comprises:

an electric motor, the electric motor comprising a drive shaft, wherein the electric motor is secured in a motor housing;

a clutch plate, the clutch plate comprising;

a central groove, the central groove being fitted on the drive shaft; and

one or more holes, the holes being located at one or more radial locations;

a driving wheel, the driving wheel comprising;

a central hole;

a bearing fitted in the central hole, the bearing being fitted on the drive shaft;

one or more pins located radially on the driving wheel, wherein the pins being aligned with the holes in the clutch plate; and

a lever-arm mechanism, the lever-arm mechanism engaging the pins of the driving wheel with the holes in the clutch plate.

4. The roll-up door system of claim 3, wherein the drive shaft is a shaft selected from a group comprising a half shaft, a splined shaft, and a square shaft.

5. The roll-up door system of claim 3, wherein the electric motor further comprises a transmission-box connecting the electric motor to the drive shaft, wherein the transmission box allows transmission of motion from the electric motor to drive shaft.

6. The roll-up door system of claim 3, wherein the driving wheel is selected from a group comprising a pulley, and a sprocket.

7. The roll-up door system of claim 3, wherein the lever-arm mechanism comprises:

a mounting plate for mounting the lever-arm mechanism, wherein the mounting plate is secured on the motor housing;

a lever arm pivoted at one end on the mounting plate, the lever arm being free to move about the pivoted end;

a solenoid secured on the mounting plate, the solenoid being connected to the lever-arm, wherein the solenoid is energized to actuate the lever arm for engaging the pins of the driving wheel with the holes in the clutch plate; and

a counter-balancing spring connected at one end to the mounting plate and at other end to the lever-arm, wherein the counter-balancing spring for retracting the lever arm when solenoid is de-energized.

8. The roll-up door system of claim 6, wherein the solenoid is being energized by an electrical circuit.

9. The roll-up door system of claim 3, wherein the automated driving mechanism further comprises a clutch-disengaging spring placed concentrically along the drive shaft, the clutch-disengaging spring being connected at one end to the driving wheel and at the other end to the clutch plate, wherein the clutch-disengaging spring for disengaging the driving wheel and the clutch plate.

10. The roll-up door system of claim 3, wherein the automated driving mechanism further comprises a spacer ring placed concentrically along the drive shaft, the spacer ring mating with the electric motor at one surface and the lever-arm mechanism at the other surface.

11. The roll-up door system of claim 3, wherein the automated driving mechanism further comprises a bearing plate placed concentrically along the drive shaft, the bearing plate mating with the lever-arm mechanism at one surface and the clutch plate at the other surface.

12. The roll-up door system of claim 1, wherein the linkage mechanism comprises:

an idler wheel;

a power-transmission medium, the power transmission medium comprises an flexible member connecting the driving wheel and the idler wheel; and

a slider-arm linkage moving along the guide-track assembly, wherein the slider-arm linkage is connected at one end to the power transmission medium and at other end to the roll-up door.

13. The roll-up door system of claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of panels comprises one or more rollers, the rollers being received on the guide-track assembly.

14. The roll-up door system of claim 1, wherein the radio controlled electrical circuit comprises:

a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver, the RF receiver receiving RF signals from a RF transmitter;

a pair of channel relays, the channel relays switching based on the received RF signals;

a polarity reversal module for changing the direction of rotation of the drive shaft of the electric motor, wherein the polarity reversal module receives input from the channel relays and provides output to power lines connected to the electric motor; and

a current-switching module comprising a current sensor connected to power supply of the electric motor, the current sensor measuring the current drawn by the electric motor, wherein the current-switching module switches off the power supply if the current in the electric motor exceeds a set point.

15. The roll-up door system of claim 14, wherein the polarity reversal module comprises a pair of relays receiving input from the channel relays, the relays changing the polarity of power lines connected to the electric motor based on the received input.

16. The roll-up door system of claim 14 further comprising a means for manually operating the roll-up door based on a signal received from the RF transmitter.

17. The roll-up door system of claim 14, wherein the electric motor is stopped if the motion of the roll-up door is obstructed.

18. The roll-up door system of claim 1 further comprising a means for locking the roll-up door, wherein the roll-up door is locked when the roll-up door reaches an end of the guide-track assembly.

19. A roll-up door system comprising:

a guide-track assembly;

a roll-up door comprising a plurality of panels, the panels moving along the guide-track assembly;

a linkage mechanism connected to the roll-up door, wherein the linkage mechanism moving the roll-up door along the guide-track assembly;

an automated driving mechanism connected to the linkage mechanism for controlling the movement of the roll-up door along the guide-track assembly;

a radio controlled electrical circuit for activating the automated driving mechanism; and

a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter for controlling the radio controlled electrical circuit, wherein the RF transmitter comprises;

an up-button, the up-button generating an up-signal for opening the roll-up door; and

a down-button, the down-button generating an down-signal for closing the roll-up door.

20. The roll-up door system of claim 19, wherein the RF transmitter further comprises a stop-button, the stop-button stopping the roll-up door at an intermediate position between ends of the guide-track assembly.

21. A method for operating a roll-up door system, the roll-up door system comprising a radio transmitter, radio controlled electrical circuit, an automated driving mechanism, a roll-up door and a linkage mechanism, wherein the automated driving mechanism comprises an electric motor, a clutch plate, a driving wheel, a lever-arm mechanism and a solenoid, the method comprising:

receiving a signal at the radio controlled electrical circuit, wherein the signal being received from a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter;

energizing the solenoid, wherein the solenoid is energized by the radio controlled electrical circuit based on the signal;

controlling the electric motor, wherein the electric motor is controlled by the radio controlled electrical circuit on receiving the signal;

actuating the lever-arm mechanism, wherein the lever-arm mechanism is actuated by the energized solenoid;

engaging the clutch plate to the driving wheel, wherein the clutch plate and driving wheel are engaged by the actuated lever-arm mechanism; and

actuating the linkage mechanism to move the roll-up door, wherein the linkage mechanism is actuated by the motor.

22. A method for operating a roll-up door system, the roll-up door system comprising a radio transmitter, radio controlled electrical circuit, an automated driving mechanism, a roll-up door and a linkage mechanism, wherein the automated driving mechanism comprises an electric motor, a clutch plate, a driving wheel, and a solenoid, the method comprising:

receiving a signal at the radio controlled electrical circuit, wherein the signal being received from a Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter;

de-energizing the solenoid, wherein the solenoid is de-energized by the radio controlled electrical circuit based on the signal;

stopping the electric motor, wherein the electric motor is stopped by the radio controlled electrical circuit on receiving the signal;

actuating the lever-arm mechanism, wherein the lever-arm mechanism is actuated by the counter-balancing spring;

disengaging the clutch plate from the driving wheel, wherein the clutch plate and driving wheel are disengaged by the clutch-disengaging spring if the roll-up door is at an intermediate position between ends of the guide-track assembly; and

locking the roll-up door if the roll-up door is at one of the ends of the guide-track assembly, wherein the roll-up door is locked by the engaged clutch plate and driving wheel.