Movable grating control

• US 6,945,867 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2003
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chan-Woo Park
• Original Assignee: Chan-Woo Park
• Inventors: Park, Chan-Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): BOLES, DEREK
• Application Number:
  US10/643,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20050048909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 454/334, 454/333, 454/332, 454/265, 236/49.3
• US Class Current: 454/324
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/082 Grilles, registers or guards
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/12 built up of sliding members

Abstract

A grating assembly drive means is connected to control the movement of the movable grating between OPEN and CLOSED positions relative to a fixed grating. The drive means moves the movable grating through yieldable connection when moving toward CLOSED position, whereby when such movement is blocked by a foreign object the movable grating stops without damaging the object or the drive. On the other hand movement by the drive means toward OPEN position is direct after removal of any slack caused by a previous yielding.

Claims

1. A stationary and movable grating, drive means moving said movable grating between OPEN and CLOSED positions relative to said stationary grating,

said drive means connected to drive said movable grating toward CLOSED position through a yieldable connection,

said drive means connected to directly drive said movable grating toward OPEN position,

wherein said drive means is connected, before driving said movable grating toward OPEN position, to remove any slack in the system due to yielding in movement toward CLOSED position.

2. Means as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises a telescoping drive rod.

3. Means as claimed in claim 2, where said drive means is connected to drive said movable grating toward CLOSED position through a resiliently stretchable tensile member, said tensile member urging said telescoping drive rod toward a non-telescoped, shortened, configuration.

11. Means as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resiliently stretchable tensile member is a helical spring.

12. Means as claimed in claim 3 wherein removing any slack in the system due to yielding in movement toward CLOSED position comprises moving said telescoping drive rod to said non-telescoped, shortened, configuration.

13. Means as claimed in claim 3 wherein said drive means comprises a rotary motor driving an eccentric cam, said eccentric cam connected to one end of said telescoping drive rod.

4. Room air grating assembly comprising:

a first stationary grating,

a second grating movable between OPEN and CLOSED positions,

drive means connected to drive said second grating from OPEN toward CLOSED position through a yieldable connection,

said drive means connected to directly drive said second grating during travel from CLOSED to OPEN position,

wherein said drive means will move slack in the drive toward OPEN position before directly driving said second grating.

5. Grating as claimed in claim 4, wherein said drive means is connected to said second grating through a resilient tension member arranged to yieldably drive said second grating toward CLOSED position.

6. Grating as claimed in claim 5, wherein said resilient tension member is a coiled spring.

7. Grating as claimed in claim 4, wherein an attachment to drive means contacts an attachment on said second grating to move the latter toward OPEN position.

8. Grating as claimed in claim 7, wherein guide means is provided guiding said drive means when moving toward OPEN position.

9. Room air grating assembly comprising:

a first stationary grating,

a second grating movable between OPEN and CLOSED positions relative to said first grating,

drive means moveable with an attachment adapted to contact an attachment on said second grating to yieldably move the latter toward CLOSED position,

wherein said drive means on movement in an OPEN direction causes said second grating to move toward OPEN position after removing any slack due to an earlier yielding.

10. Room air grating as claimed in claim 9, wherein a resilient tension member connects said second grating and said drive means, allowing said drive means to draw said second grating yieldably toward CLOSED position.

14. A grating system, comprising:

a stationary grating;

a movable grating;

a drive connected to drive said movable grating toward a closed position through a yieldable connection such that said yieldable connection may yield during movement toward said closed position thereby creating slack;

said drive connected to directly drive said movable grating toward said open position after first removing any said slack.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said drive comprises a telescoping drive rod.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said slack exists when said telescoping drive rod is not in a non-telescoped, shortened, configuration.