Position control and obstruction detector apparatus for a motor-driven door operator
First Claim
1. In an operator for driving a load, said operator including a drive means connectable to said load for moving said load between a first position and a second position, a selectively energizable motor having a motor shaft coupled at one end to said drive means for actuating said drive means to move said load, and position control means for controlling energization of said motor for moving said load between said first and second positions, the improvement in said position control means comprising:
- a control screw means rotatably mounted coaxially with said motor shaft at an end opposite said one end and directly rotated by said motor shaft when said motor is energized;
a travel nut threadedly engaged with said control screw means for reciprocably moving along said control screw means as said control screw means rotates;
means for constraining said travel nut against sympathetic rotary motion with said control screw means as said control screw means rotates while allowing reciprocal movement in a linear path therealong;
a first position detection means proximate said control screw means and actuable by said travel nut for de-energizing said motor when actuated by said travel nut as said operator drives said load to said first position; and
a second position detection means proximate said control screw means and actuable by said travel nut for de-energizing said motor when actuated by said travel nut as said operator drives said load to said second position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved position control apparatus is disclosed to control a motor-driven door operator to halt movement of a door at an open position and a closed position. The position control apparatus includes a control screw means in the form of a threaded shaft extension of the motor shaft or a threaded rod coupled to the motor shaft which is rotated when the motor is energized. A travel nut is threadedly engaged with the control screw means and is constrained against rotational motion so as to reciprocate along the control screw means. Position detection means, such as switches, are disposed near the control screw means for actuation by the travel nut to control the motor as the door approaches the open position and the closed position. In another embodiment, a toggle switch is mounted on the travel nut, and the switches are replaced by stops for actuation of the toggle switch to control the motor. An improved obstruction detector apparatus is also provided to control the motor if an obstruction is encountered as the door moves between the open position and the closed position. The obstruction detector apparatus includes a safety switch which is actuable by rotation of the motor casing due to reaction torque, if an obstruction is encountered as the door moves in one direction, and a lever that is actuable by rotation of the motor casing, if an obstruction is encountered as the door moves in an opposite direction, to actuate the safety switch.
37 Citations
28 Claims
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1. In an operator for driving a load, said operator including a drive means connectable to said load for moving said load between a first position and a second position, a selectively energizable motor having a motor shaft coupled at one end to said drive means for actuating said drive means to move said load, and position control means for controlling energization of said motor for moving said load between said first and second positions, the improvement in said position control means comprising:
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a control screw means rotatably mounted coaxially with said motor shaft at an end opposite said one end and directly rotated by said motor shaft when said motor is energized; a travel nut threadedly engaged with said control screw means for reciprocably moving along said control screw means as said control screw means rotates; means for constraining said travel nut against sympathetic rotary motion with said control screw means as said control screw means rotates while allowing reciprocal movement in a linear path therealong; a first position detection means proximate said control screw means and actuable by said travel nut for de-energizing said motor when actuated by said travel nut as said operator drives said load to said first position; and a second position detection means proximate said control screw means and actuable by said travel nut for de-energizing said motor when actuated by said travel nut as said operator drives said load to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In an operator for driving a load, said operator including a drive means connectable to said load for moving said load between a first position and a second position, a selectively energizable motor having a motor shaft coupled at one end to said drive means for actuating said drive means to move said load, and position control means for controlling said motor for moving said load between said first and second positions, the improvement in said position control means comprising:
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a control screw means rotatably mounted coaxially with said motor shaft at an end opposite said one end and directly rotated by said motor shaft when said motor is energized; a travel nut threadedly engaged with said control screw means for reciprocably moving along said control screw means as said control screw means rotates; means for constraining said travel nut from sympathetic rotary motion with said control screw means as said control screw means rotates while allowing reciprocable movement therealong; a multiple-position switch means mounted on said travel nut for reciprocable movement in a linear path therewith, said multiple-position switch means being actuable between a first switch position and a second switch position; a first stop means disposed in said linear path of said multiple-position switch means for actuating said multiple-position switch means to said first switch position, thereby de-energizing said motor as said operator drives said load to said first position; and a second stop means disposed in said linear path of said multiple-position switch means for actuating said multiple-position switch means to said second switch position, thereby de-energizing said motor as said operator drives said load to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In an operator for driving a load, said operator including a drive means connectable to said load, a selectively energizable motor having a rotatably mounted field winding housed in a motor casing and a rotor mounted on a motor shaft, said motor shaft being coupled to said drive means for actuating said drive means to move said load, yieldable means for biasing said motor casing against rotation when reaction torque on said motor does not exceed a predetermined magnitude, said yieldable means for allowing rotation of said motor casing when reaction torque on said motor exceeds said predetermined magnitude, and control means actuable upon rotation of said motor casing for controlling the selective energization of said motor, the improvement in said control means comprising:
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a rotation sensor means mounted proximate said motor casing and directly actuable upon rotation of said motor casing in a first direction for controlling the selective energization of said motor; and a means pivotally mounted proximate said motor casing and pivotal upon rotation of said motor casing in a second direction for actuating said rotation sensor means. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An operator for driving a load between a first position and a second position comprising:
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a housing; a selectively energizable motor having a motor shaft with a first end and a second end, said motor being mounted in said housing; a drive means for connecting said motor shaft at said first end to said load, said load being moved between a first position and a second position when said motor is energized; and position control means, including; a) a control screw means rotatably mounted in said housing coaxially with said motor shaft at said second end and directly rotated when said motor is energized; b) a travel nut threadedly engaged with said control screw means; c) means for constraining said travel nut against sympathetic rotary motion while allowing reciprocal movement in a linear path along said control screw means when said control screw means is rotated; and d) position detection means mounted in said housing proximate said control screw means for cooperating with said travel nut during reciprocal movement in said linear path along said control screw means to de-energize said motor as said operator drive said load to one of said first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An operator for driving a load comprising:
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a housing; a selectively energizable motor having a rotatably mounted field winding housed in a motor casing and a rotor mounted on a motor shaft, said motor being mounted in said housing; a drive means for connecting said motor shaft to said load, said load being moved when said motor is energized; yieldable means mounted in said housing for biasing said motor casing against rotation when reaction torque on said motor does not exceed a predetermined magnitude, said yieldable means for allowing rotation of said motor casing when reaction torque on said motor exceeds said predetermined magnitude; and control means actuable upon rotation of said motor casing for controlling the selective energization of said motor, including; a) a rotation sensor means mounted in said housing proximate said motor casing and directly actuable upon rotation of said motor casing in a first direction for controlling the selective energization of said motor; and b) a means pivotally mounted in said housing proximate said motor casing and pivotal upon rotation of said motor casing in a second direction for actuating said rotation sensor means. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification