Door operator safety feature requiring constant actuation to close door
First Claim
1. A door operator safety circuit comprising:
- a motor operable to move a door between an open position and a closed position;
a momentary contact push button switch generating an operator command when activated;
a motor controller connected to said motor and said momentary contact push button switch controlling said motor upon each receipt of said operator command from said momentary contact push button switch to advance to the next state in the circular sequence of states including (1) move the door in the closing direction, (2) stop, (3) move door in the opening direction, and (4) stop, said motor controller further having a safety mode controlling the motor to move the door to a safe position when triggered;
a safety switch coupled to the door and connected to said motor controller triggering said safety mode of said motor controller upon detection of an unsafe condition of the door; and
a safety circuit connected to said momentary contact push button switch and said motor controller triggering said safety mode unless said momentary contact push button switch continuously generates said operator command during movement of the door.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a safety feature in an automatic garage door operator. In the prior art a single momentary contact push button, either directly connected to the automatic garage door operator or connected via a radio transmitter, is used to control door operation. In accordance with the present invention, closing the garage door requires continuous actuation of the momentary contact push button from the time the operation is begun until the door is fully closed. Any interruption in this continuous operation causes the automatic garage door operator to reverse and fully open the door. Thus continuous attention of the operator is required, thus enhancing safety because of the attention of the operator.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A door operator safety circuit comprising:
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a motor operable to move a door between an open position and a closed position; a momentary contact push button switch generating an operator command when activated; a motor controller connected to said motor and said momentary contact push button switch controlling said motor upon each receipt of said operator command from said momentary contact push button switch to advance to the next state in the circular sequence of states including (1) move the door in the closing direction, (2) stop, (3) move door in the opening direction, and (4) stop, said motor controller further having a safety mode controlling the motor to move the door to a safe position when triggered; a safety switch coupled to the door and connected to said motor controller triggering said safety mode of said motor controller upon detection of an unsafe condition of the door; and a safety circuit connected to said momentary contact push button switch and said motor controller triggering said safety mode unless said momentary contact push button switch continuously generates said operator command during movement of the door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In an automatic door operator including a door, a motor operable to move the door between an open position and a closed position, a safety circuit, a momentary contact push button switch generating an operator command when activated, a motor controller controlling the motor upon each receipt of the operator command from the momentary contact push button switch to advance to the next state in the circular sequence of states including (1) move the door in the closing direction, (2) stop, (3) move door in the opening direction, and (4) stop, the motor controller further having a safety mode controlling the motor to move the door to a safe position when triggered, and a normally open safety switch coupled to the door which is closed when the tension driving the door exceeds a predetermined amount for triggering the safety mode of the motor controller, the safety circuit comprising:
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a semiconductor switching device connected in parallel to said safety switch; a logic circuit connected to the momentary contact push button switch and said semiconductor switching device normally biasing said semiconductor switching device nonconductive and biasing said semiconductor switching device conductive for triggering said safety mode unless the momentary contact push button switch continuously generates the operator command during movement of the door. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A door operator safety circuit comprising:
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a motor operable to move a door between an open position and a closed position; a momentary contact push button switch generating an operator command when activated; a normally open safety switch connected to the door, said safety switch closed when the tension driving the door exceeds a predetermined amount; a motor controller connected to said motor, said momentary contact push button switch and said safety switch controlling said motor upon each receipt of said operator command from said momentary contact push button switch to advance to the next state in the circular sequence of states including (1) move the door in the closing direction, (2) stop, (3) move door in the opening direction, and (4) stop, said motor controller generating a down signal when controlling said motor to move the door in the closing direction, and said motor controller further having a safety mode controlling the motor to move the door to a safe position when said safety switch is closed; a safety circuit connected to said momentary contact push button switch and said motor controller, said safety circuit including a semiconductor switching device connected in parallel to said safety switch, an enable/disable switch having an enable position and a disable position, and a logic circuit connected to the momentary contact push button switch, said semiconductor switching device and said enable/disable switch, said logic circuit normally biasing said semiconductor switching device nonconductive and biasing said semiconductor switching device conductive for triggering said safety mode unless the momentary contact push button switch continuously generates the operator command during movement of the door only when both said down signal is received and said enable/disable switch is in said enable position, thereby permitting opening of the door upon momentary activation of said momentary contact push button switch and permitting opening and closing of the door upon momentary activation of said momentary contact push button switch when said enable/disable switch is in said disable position. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification