Drive assembly with override mechanism

• US 9,169,905 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lift-U
• Original Assignee: Lift-U
• Inventors: Morris, Donald, Johnson, David, Bonnett, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelleher, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Agendia, Jude
• Application Number:
  US14/180,127
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 744/70, 74102-106, 493/40, 493/39, 493/45, 16/49, 16/66, 16/68, 16/70, 16/65, 16/50, 16/71, 16/78, 16/80, 16/82, 16/84, 16/52, 16/62, 16/63, 16/64, 16/69, 292/144, 292/DIG.61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1025 with a compression or traction spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/1091 with a gas spring E05F1/1292 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/53 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/622 using screw-and-nut mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/00 Braking devices, e.g. checks; Stops; Buffers construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices E05F3/00; braking devices, buffers or end stops on drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture A47B88/473; combined with devices for holding wings open E05C17/00; devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing E05C17/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3013 during manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3016 Overriding existing wing movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/454 for accommodating handicapped users
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 21/44 for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions

Abstract

A disclosed drive assembly is suitable for driving an actuatable component in a first direction and a second direction. The drive assembly includes a housing and a drive rod. The drive rod selectively extends and retracts to apply a driving force to the actuatable component in a first and a second direction, respectively. The driving force creates a reactive force on the housing. An override assembly includes a spring in communication with the housing. The housing pushes a first end of the spring toward a second end of the spring when the reactive force exceeds a predetermined limit and the drive rod applies the driving force in the first direction. The housing pulls the second end of the spring toward the first end of the spring when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the drive rod applies the driving force in the second direction.

Claims

1. A drive assembly for driving an actuatable component in a first direction and a second direction, the drive assembly comprising:

a support,

an override assembly comprising

a frame rotatably coupled to the support,

first and second spring fittings slidably coupled to the frame,

a spring disposed between the first and second spring fittings,

a rod slidably associated with the first and second spring fittings,

first and second biasing members associated with the rod, the first and second spring fittings being disposed between the first and second biasing members;

an actuator, comprising

a housing fixedly coupled to the first biasing member; and

a drive rod selectively extending from and retracting into the housing to apply a driving force to the actuatable component in the first direction and the second direction, respectively, application of the driving force creating a reactive force on the housing.

2. The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring biases the first spring fitting toward the first biasing member, and the spring biases the second spring fitting toward the second biasing member.

3. The drive assembly of claim 2, further comprising a damper coupled at a first end to the first spring fitting and coupled at a second end to the second spring fitting.

4. The drive assembly of claim 2, further comprising a first end stop and a second end stop, the first spring fitting engaging the first end stop, the second spring fitting engaging the second end stop.

5. The drive assembly of claim 4, the first spring fitting disengaging the first end stop when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the drive rod applies the driving force in the first direction.

6. The drive assembly of claim 5, the second spring fitting disengaging the second end stop when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the drive rod applies the driving force in the second direction.

7. The drive assembly of claim 2, wherein the first biasing member engages the first spring fitting, and the second biasing member engages the second spring fitting.

8. The drive assembly of claim 7, the second biasing member disengaging the second spring fitting when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the drive rod applies the driving force in the first direction.

9. The drive assembly of claim 8, the first biasing member disengaging the first spring fitting when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the drive rod applies the driving force in the second direction.

10. A drive assembly for selectively opening and closing a door, the drive assembly comprising:

an actuator comprising a housing and a drive rod, the drive rod applying a driving force in a first direction to open the door and in a second direction to close the door, application of the driving force creating a reactive force on the actuator; and

an override assembly coupled to the actuator, comprising

a frame;

a first spring fitting slidably coupled to the frame;

a second spring fitting slidably coupled to the frame; and

a spring disposed between the first spring fitting and the second spring fitting;

wherein the first spring fitting moves relative to the frame and toward the second spring fitting when the reactive force exceeds a predetermined limit and the actuator is applying the driving force in the first direction; and

wherein the second spring fitting moves relative to the frame and toward the first spring fitting when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the actuator is applying the driving force in the second direction.

11. The drive assembly of claim 10, further comprising a door linkage coupled to the actuator and to the door, the door linkage opening the door in response to the driving force in the first direction, the door linkage closing the door in response to the driving force in the second direction.

12. The drive assembly of claim 10, wherein a first end of the spring is coupled to the first spring fitting, and a second end of the spring is coupled to the second spring fitting.

13. The drive assembly of claim 12, wherein the first spring fitting moves the first end of the spring toward the second end of the spring when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the actuator is applying the driving force in the first direction.

14. The drive assembly of claim 13, wherein the second spring fitting moves the second end of the spring toward the first end of the spring when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the actuator is applying the driving force in the second direction.

15. The drive assembly of claim 10, further comprising a damper, a first end of the damper being coupled to the first spring fitting, and a second end of the damper being coupled to the second spring fitting.

16. The drive assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing moves toward the second spring fitting when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the actuator is applying the driving force in the first direction.

17. The drive assembly of claim 16, wherein the housing moves away from the first spring fitting when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the actuator is applying the driving force in the second direction.

18. The drive assembly of claim 10, further comprising a first end stop and a second end stop, the first spring fitting engaging the first end stop, the second spring fitting engaging the second end stop.

19. The drive assembly of claim 18, the first spring fitting disengaging the first end stop when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the drive rod applies the driving force in the first direction.

20. The drive assembly of claim 19, the second spring fitting disengaging the second end stop when the reactive force exceeds the predetermined limit and the drive rod applies the driving force in the second direction.