Portable curtain retraction device and system

• US 9,598,897 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tait Towers Manufacturing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tait Towers Manufacturing, LLC
• Inventors: Davis, Adam, Fairorth, James, Tait, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Blair M
• Application Number:
  US11/766,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20080314528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,561 Days
• Field of Search: 160/84.02, 160/331, 160/120, 254/292, 472/78, 318/68
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 5/0325 using electrical or electronical drive, detecting or controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/36 with vertical lamellae ; Supporting rails therefor

Abstract

A portable barrier retraction device having a drive motor with an addressable drive motor control. The drive motor control is capable of being connected in a serial arrangement with one or more other addressable drive motor controls. The drive motor is in rotational communication with at least one retraction assembly configured to retract or deploy a line in response to rotation of the drive motor. The line is configured to retract or deploy a barrier. The drive motor provides selective rotation in response to an addressed signal from a controller. In addition, retraction systems employing portable retraction devices and methods for assembling the retraction systems are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A portable barrier retraction system comprising:

a barrier having at least one line disposed adjacent thereto,

a controller capable of providing an addressed signal;

one or more barrier retraction devices detachably affixed to a support frame, the one or more barrier retraction devices comprising;

a drive motor having an addressable drive motor control;

the drive motor being connected to the drive motor control with a power line and a feedback line, wherein the drive motor control is a servo drive and provides variable control of one or more of velocity, acceleration, and torque to the drive motor; and

the drive motor being in rotational communication with at least one retraction assembly configured to retract or deploy the line in response to rotation of the drive motor, the line being configured to retract or deploy the barrier;

wherein the drive motor provides independent selective rotation to the at least one retraction assembly in response to an addressed signal from the controller, power from the drive motor control and feedback from the drive motor;

wherein the controller is capable of providing the addressed signal in response to direct input from an operator;

wherein the system is portable and the barrier, the one or more barrier retraction devices, and the support frame are capable of quick assembly and disassembly via quick release fasteners; and

wherein the drive motor control of each of the one or more barrier retraction devices is capable of being connected in serial arrangement with other drive motor controls in any order.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the retraction assembly includes a rotatable shaft in rotational communication with the drive motor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the barrier is a theatrical curtain.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one retraction assembly comprises at least one spool mounted on a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft being in rotational communication with the drive motor, the at least one spool being configured to retract or deploy the line in response to rotation of the rotatable shaft.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the barrier, the at least one barrier retraction device and the frame disassemble into components that are capable of being stored in a cargo container transportable on a cargo aircraft.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is preprogrammed.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the addressable drive motor controls is configured to increase the rate of rotation in comparison to the one or more other addressable drive motor controls.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the barrier retraction system is configured to operate in a plurality of stage heights.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one barrier retraction device is marked with indicia for a particular assembly order.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one barrier retraction device is configured to be affixed to the barrier in various locations.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one barrier retraction device is attached along preselected areas of the support frame.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one barrier retraction device includes alternate configurations.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the servo drive controls position of the drive motor in response to the addressed signal from the controller.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the servo drive controls velocity of the drive motor in response to the addressed signal from the controller.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the servo drive controls acceleration of the drive motor in response to the addressed signal from the controller.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the servo drive controls torque of the drive motor in response to the addressed signal from the controller.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is configured to be detached individually.

18. A portable system for retracting and deploying a curtain, the system comprising:

a support frame; and

a serial network comprising;

a first motorized device releasably attached to the support frame, the first motorized device comprising;

a first drive motor having a first addressable drive motor control, the first drive motor being in rotational communication with a first retraction assembly configured to retract or deploy a first line in response to rotation of the first drive motor;

the first drive motor being connected to the first drive motor control with a power line and a feedback line, wherein the first drive motor control is a servo drive and provides variable control of one or more of velocity, acceleration, and torque to the first drive motor;

a second motorized device releasably attached to the support frame, the second motorized device comprising;

a second drive motor having a second addressable drive motor control, the second drive motor being in rotational communication with a second retraction assembly configured to retract or deploy a second line in response to rotation of the second drive motor;

the second drive motor being connected to the second drive motor control with a power line and a feedback line, wherein the second drive motor control is a servo drive and provides variable control of one or more of velocity, acceleration, and torque to the second drive;

a controller configured to generate addressed signals;

a first cable connecting the controller and the first addressable drive motor control, the controller being in addressable electrical communication with the first addressable drive motor control by way of the first cable; and

a second cable connecting the first addressable drive motor control and the second addressable drive motor control, the controller being in addressable electrical communication with the second addressable drive motor control by way of the first cable and the second cable;

wherein the controller is capable of providing the addressed signal in response to direct input from an operator;

wherein the first drive motor and second drive motor provide independent selective rotation to the first retraction assembly and the second retraction assembly in response to an addressed signal from the controller, power from the first and second drive motor controls, respectively, and feedback from the first and second drive motors, respectively;

wherein the system is portable and the barrier, the at least one barrier retraction device, and the support frame are capable of quick assembly and disassembly via quick release fasteners; and

wherein the first motorized device and the second motorized device are interchangeable.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the curtain, the first motorized device, the second motorized device, and the support frame are capable of quick assembly and disassembly via quick release fasteners.