NZ619147B2

NZ619147B2 - Methods, apparatuses, and systems for driving a movable partition with a lead drive box

Info

Publication number: NZ619147B2
Application number: NZ619147A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Tracy M Knight; R Scott Smart
Original assignee: Wondoor Corporation
Priority date: 2011-06-27
Filing date: 2012-06-21
Publication date: 2015-11-03

Abstract

Disclosed are movable partition systems including a movable partition engaged with and movable along a longitudinal track and a lead drive box coupled to the movable partition and engaged with the track. The lead drive box is configured to move along the track and move the movable partition along the track. The lead drive box includes a trolley for disposition within the track, a motor coupled to the lead drive box, and a rotatable drive member coupled to the lead drive box and the motor. The rotatable drive member engages an elongated drive member extending along the track to motivate the lead drive box and the movable partition attached thereto along the track when engaged with the motor and the motor is rotating. An electronics module disposed within the lead drive box is configured for controlling operation of the motor responsive to signals originating from sources carried by the lead drive box. Electrical components of the electronics module are offset from each other in a vertical direction within the lead drive box. e track. The lead drive box includes a trolley for disposition within the track, a motor coupled to the lead drive box, and a rotatable drive member coupled to the lead drive box and the motor. The rotatable drive member engages an elongated drive member extending along the track to motivate the lead drive box and the movable partition attached thereto along the track when engaged with the motor and the motor is rotating. An electronics module disposed within the lead drive box is configured for controlling operation of the motor responsive to signals originating from sources carried by the lead drive box. Electrical components of the electronics module are offset from each other in a vertical direction within the lead drive box.

Description

NIETHODS, APPARATUSES, AND SYSTEMS FOR DRIVING A MOVABLE PARTITION WITH A LEAD DRIVE BOX PRIORITY

Claims

CLAIM

1. A lead drive box for use with a leading end of a movable partition, comprising: a casing having a front side and opposing sides extending substantially perpendicular from the front side and at least substantially parallel to a ion of travel of the movable ion, the casing forming at least a partial enclosure for the lead drive box and conﬁgured for coupling with the leading end of the movable partition; at least one trolley coupled to the casing and red for disposition at least 10 partially within a track extending longitudinally between a ﬁrst end and a second end; a motor coupled to the casing; a rotatable drive member d to at least one trolley, operably coupled to the motor, and conﬁgured for engaging a ﬁxed drive member extending along 15 the track to motivate the lead drive box and the movable partition attached thereto along the track when the rotatable drive member is engaged with the motor and the motor is rotating; an electrical ents module coupled to casing and conﬁgured for controlling operation of the motor responsive to one or more s originating from one 20 or more sources, wherein the casing is conﬁgured for bearing the electrical components module and the one or more sources at least partially within the at least a partial enclosure, wherein the motor and the electrical components module are offset from each other in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to a height of the lead drive box and substantially within the casing. 25

2. The lead drive box of claim 1, wherein the lead drive box is incorporated within a movable partition system, the movable partition system comprising a movable partition d with the track, and wherein the lead drive box is coupled to the movable partition and the track, the lead drive box conﬁgured to move along the track and to move the movable partition along the track. 30

3. The lead drive box of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one trolley is further conﬁgured for g the motor and the rotatable drive member.

4. The lead drive box of claim 1 or claim 2, ﬁirther comprising able rollers operably coupled with the lead drive box and red for adjusting a plumb angle ofthe lead drive box.

5. The lead drive box of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the casing is conﬁgured to substantially ﬁll a storage compartment for storing the movable partition and the lead drive box when not in use.

6. The lead drive box of claim 5, wherein the casing is further conﬁgured to be ﬂush with the storage compartment, wherein the storage compartment is a pocket in a wall. 10

7. The lead drive box of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a vision panel h each of the opposing sides of the casing and conﬁgured for viewing a region on an opposite side of the movable partition.

8. The lead drive box of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising one or more door ys on one or more of the ng sides of the casing and 15 conﬁgured for ying information about regions near the movable ion, information about operation of the lead drive box, or a combination thereof.

9. The lead drive box of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising an emergency actuator borne by at least one of the opposing sides ofthe casing and operably coupled to the electrical components module. 20

10. The lead drive box of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the casing extends substantially ﬁom the track to an Opposing surface on at least three sides of the lead drive box.

11. The lead drive box of claim 10, wherein the front side of the casing is conﬁgured for engaging a wall when the movable partition is closed. 25

12. The lead drive box of claim 11, wherein the front side of the casing is substantially planar.

13. The lead drive box of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the electrical components module includes: a motor control module coupled to the casing and proximate the motor; and a post control module d to the casing and disposed in a on within the lead drive box separate from the motor control module.

14. The lead drive box of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the electrical components module r includes a multiplexer conﬁgured to multiplex command signals from the electrical components module, the one or more signals originating ﬁ'om the one or more s carried by the lead drive box, or combinations thereof. 10 15. The lead drive box of claim 1 or claim 2, n the one or more sources include at least one of: an emergency or indicating an emergency d, wherein the electrical components module is conﬁgured to at least partially open the movable partition responsive to the ncy command;

15 a user-controlled switch indicating an open-or-close d, wherein a direction of rotation of the motor is controlled reSpOnsive to the open-or-close command; and r user-controlled switch indicating a stop-or-go command, wherein rotation of the motor is controlled responsive to the stop-or-go command. 20

16. The lead drive box of claim 2, wherein the movable partition comprises a ﬁrst accordion folding panel and a second accordion folding panel.

17. The lead drive box of claim 2, wherein the rotatable dn've member comprises one of a sprocket and a gear, and wherein the ﬁxed drive member comprises one of a chain and a belt having features complementary to, and 25 conﬁgured to engage with, features of the rotatable drive member.

18. A method ofmoving a movable partition along a track, comprising: engaging a rotatable drive member carried by a lead drive box with a ﬁxed drive member extending along the track and having ﬁxed, laterally offset opposite ends; actuating a motor at least substantially within the lead drive box to drive on of the rotatable drive member to move the lead drive box and the movable partition along the track, the lead drive box attached to the movable ion on a leading end thereof; controlling operation of the motor with an electrical components module offset by the motor in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to a height of the lead drive box, and at least substantially within the lead drive box and responsive to one or more signals originating from one or more sources carried by the lead drive box; and 10 encasing the lead drive box on at least three sides including a front side of a casing and opposing sides of the casing extending substantially perpendicular from the front side forming at least a l enclosure within which the electrical components module is at least partially enclosed.

19. The method of claim 18, ﬁirther comprising: 15 generating an emergency command from an emergency actuator disposed on at least one of the opposing sides of the casing; and at least partially opening the movable partition responsive to the ncy command.

20. The method of claim 18 or claim 19, further comprising: 20 generating a movement signal including at least one of an open-or-close command and a stop-or-go d from a user-controlled switch disposed on at least one of the opposing sides of the casing; and modifying behavior of the motor responsive to the movement signal.

21. The method of claim 18 or claim 19, r comprising enabling 25 viewing through each of the ng sides of the casing to a region on an opposite side of the movable partition with a vision panel in each of the opposing sides of the casing.

22. The method of claim 18 or claim 19, wherein engaging the rotatable drive member with the ﬁxed drive member ses engaging one or more 30 sprockets with a chain, ng one or more pulleys with a belt, or engaging a pinion gear with a rack gear.

23. The method ofclaim 18 or claim 19, ﬁirther comprising displaying information, on one or more door displays carried by the lead drive box, about s near the movable partition, infonnation about operation of the lead drive box, or a combination thereof. 0000000 WO 03190 PCT/U