WO2006005107A1

WO2006005107A1 - Roller door drive system

Info

Publication number: WO2006005107A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000995
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hasib Felic; Jack Gringlas
Original assignee: Cmg Technology Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-07-08
Filing date: 2005-07-08
Publication date: 2006-01-19
Also published as: NZ553104A; AU2004203081B2; AU2004203081A1

Abstract

An electric roller door drive system (10) is described enabling also selective manual operation of the associated door by means of a manual drive wheel (26) coupled to a power output (18) (which the motor (16) can also drive) so as to enable manual movement of the door between the open and closed positions. A clutch mechanism (30) has a normal default condition and an electrically initiated motor drive enabling condition, the clutch mechanism in the normal default condition enabling the manual operation and, in its motor drive enabling condition, functioning so as to firstly disable the manual drive mechanism so that manual rotation of the manual drive wheel (26) does not transfer drive through the power output (18) to move the door; and secondly enable operation of the drive motor. The clutch mechanism is electrically operated to change from its normal default condition to its motor drive enabling condition when the electric drive mechanism is to be operated to drive the associated door between its open and closed positions. The manual drive wheel (26) in the normal default condition of the clutch is biased by a biasing spring means (31) into its operative position, and electrornagnetically operable displacement means (41) is operative upon supply of electric power thereto to displace the manual drive wheel against the bias of the biasing means away from its operative position and into its idling position.

Description

ROLLER DOOR DRIVE SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to drive systems for operating roller doors or shutters or the like. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electric drive mechanisms are commonly used in Australia for reversibly driving an associated roller doors or shutters or the like between open and closed positions. Safety considerations make it desirable, or where relevant safety legislation mandates it, is compulsory, for the door to be capable of being manually opened, e.g. if there is a power or motor failure and emergency access to the doorway closed by the roller door is required.

One known system for enabling the manual operation of the door is to provide a pulley wheel on a shaft which can be drivingly coυpled to the door operating mechanism. The pulley wheel, commonly has an endless chain draped over the pulley wheel so that manual operation of the chain from ground level transmits drive through the pulley wheel to the door opening mechanism. So that the pulley wheel is not causing the chain to rotate during electrical operation of the door, it is known for the chain to be lifted off the pulley wheel during such normal electrical operation of the door mechanism. When manual operation is required, the chain is dropped back onto the pulley wheel by manual intervention, whereupon operation, of the chain from ground level will drive the door.

When the chain Js lifted off the pulley wheel, operation of the drive motor will rotate the • pulley wheel but effectively the pulley wheel will be idling because the chain is not passing around it.

In another known arrangement, there is a manually operated clutch mechanism which causes engagement and disengagement of the chain driven pulley wheel with the driving arrangement for the door. During normal motor operation, the pulley wheel is disengaged from the driving relationship with the door mechanism. When manual operation is required, the user can engage the mechanical clutch mechanism so that puJUng of the chain transmits the rotation of the pulley wheel through the drive mechanism to operate the door.

Both of these mechanical systems for selectively engaging and disengaging the manual drive to and from the door require user intervention to perform a particular operation before manual operation of the door opening mechanism by pulling the chain is possible. Not only does this introduce an additional operation that may delay the ability to open the door in an emergency, but also people unfamiliar with operation of the manual drive system may have difficulty manually operating the door in an emergency.

Also in known electric roller door operating systems, a high voltage oτ current power supply is usually provided at the operating switch height which is user accessible. The provision of high power electric supply lines near roller doors at easy user accessible height can have a greater risk to users e.g. in the case of inadvertent damage to the power lines running to and from the switch.

It is an object of a first aspect of the present invention to provide a roller door drive system which can provide an effective manual operation function as an alternative to normal electric operation of the associated door. It is a further and preferred object to provide a roller door drive system which can alleviate problems discussed above in relation to prior door operating systems, or can at least provide a useful alternative thereto.

It is an object in a second aspect of the present invention to provide a roller door system in use utilising the drive system according to the first aspect of the present invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According Io the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a roller door drive system for operating an associated roller door or shutter or the like by electrical operation and for enabling selective manual operation of the associated door, the system including: an electric drive mechanism which includes a drive motor drivingly coupled in use to a power output so as to revcrsibly drive the associated door between open and closed positions; a manual drive mechanism which includes a manual drive wheel arranged to be drivingly coupled to the power output so as to enable manually effected rotation of the manual drive wheel to drive the power output to move the door between the open and closed positions; a clutch mechanism having a normal default condition and an electrically initiated motor drive enabling condition, the clutch mechanism in the normal default condition enabling functional operation of the manual drive mechanism in which manually effected rotation of the manuai drive wheel drives the power output to move the associated door between its open and closed positions, the clutch mechanism in its motor drive enabling condition functioning so as to: firstly disable the manual drive mechanism so that manual rotation of the manual drive wheel does not transfer drive through the power output to move the door; and secondly enable operation of the drive motor to transfer drive to the power output; the clutch mechanism being electrically operated to change from its normal default condition to its motor drive enabling condition when the electric drive mechanism is to be operated to drive the associated door between its open and closed positions. Preferably the clutch mechanism includes moving means for moving the manual drive wheel between (i) an idling position which is adopted when the clutch mechanism is in its motor drive enabling condition, and (ii) an operative position which is adopted when the clutch mechanism is in its normal default condition and in which manually effected rotation of the manual drive wheel transmits its rotary motion to the power output. The manual drive wheel in the normal default condition of the clutch is preferably biased by biasing means into its operative position, and the moving means preferably includes ciectromagnetically operable displacement means which is operative upon supply of electric power thereto to displace the manual drive wheel against the bias of the biasing means away from its operative position and into its idling position. In the preferred embodiments, the manual drive wheel is composed of or includes ferromagnetic material, and the displacement means comprises an electromagnet having a coil to which the electric power is supplied when the electric drive mechanism i$ to be utilised to drive the associated door between its open and closed positions, the electromagnet when supplied with electric power displacing the manual drive wheel against the bias of the associated biasing means from its normal operative position to its idling position, discontinuance of application of electric power to the electromagnet allowing the manual drive wheel to return under the action of the biasing means to its operative position enabling manually effected operation of the associated door. In one possible embodiment the manual drive wheel may be mounted for rotation on a shaft drivingly coupled to the power output with a ball bearing assembly located between the drive wheel and the shaft, the ball bearing assembly including an outer race and an inner race with the ball bearings therebetween, the inner race being located around the shaft and being both axially slidable along the shaft and relatively rotatablc orc the shaft, the biasing means being arranged to provide biasing force acting in the axial direction against the inner race, whereby, when the clutch mechanism is in its normal default condition, manually effected rotation of the drive wheel can transmit its rotary motion to the shaft and therethrough to the power output without the inner race moving substantially in a rotary motion against the biasing means. The drive system may further include a control circuit which, upon user initiated activating of the electric drive mechanism to operate the associated door, is operative to Firstly effect changeover of the clutch mechanism from its normal default condition to its electrically initiated motor drive enabling condition and secondly, a short interval of time after the first operation of changing over the condition of the clutch mechanism, is effective to enable or to cause the drive motor to operate to drive the associated door.

The power output may comprise a power output shaft from a gear box, the drive motor being operative Io provide rotary drive power to the gear box and, in use, the power output being coupled to drive the associated door, the manual drive mechanism including a manual power input shaft also associated with the gear box so that rotation of the manual power input shaft by manually effected rotation of the manual drive wheel transmits drive to the power output shaft of the gear box which in use is coupled to the associated door. In this embodiment, the manual drrve wheel may comprise a pulley wheel freely rotatably mounted on the manual power input shaft, the pulley wheel in use having a manually movable operating line such as a chain passing around the pulley wheel for manually effected rotation thereof, the clutch mechanism including a driven disc adjacent the pulley wheel, the driven, disk being secured on the manual power input shaft, the pulley wheel in the normal default condition of the clutch mechanism having a factional drive transmitting relationship with the driven disc and, in the motor drive enabling condition of the clutch mechanism, the pulley wheel being displaced along the manual power input shaft out of frictional driving engagement with the driven disc. According to the second aspect of the Invention there is provided a roller door system having a roller door or shutter or the like mounted in an opening whereby the door is movable between open and closed positions, a roller door drive system according to the first aspect of the invention and which is opcratively mounted and drivingly coupled to the roller door tor reversibly driving the door between its open and closed positions, the electric drive mechanism of the roller door drive system being mounted in an elevated position beyond unaided reach of a user, the electrical power supply for the electric drive mechanism being connected to the elevated electric drive mechanism also from an elevated location beyond unaided reach of the user, the roller door system further including: a power switching circuit for the electric drive mechanism, the power switching circuit being located at the elevated location of the electric dxive mechanism and being operative to switch the power supply for the electric drive mechanism to the electric motor, and an operating control switch for operating the door drive system by selective user control., the operating control switch being located at a convenient user accessible location within unaided reach of the user, the operating control switch being electrically connected to the power switching circuit with low power only being coupled to the operating control switch through electric connections thereto. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Possible and preferred features of the present invention wil) now be described ■ with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with, reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In the drawings: Fig. I is a perspective view of a drive system for a roller door according Lo an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section through a clutch mechanism of the embodiment of Fig. 1 (with the drive wheel in its operative position), and Ftg. 3 is a cross section through an alternative possible clutch mechanism of the embodiment of Fig. 1 (with the drive wheel in its idling position). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the roller door drive system 10 is for operating an associated roller door or shutter or the like (not shown). The roller door can be conventional and can include for example a horizontal shaft extending across the top of the opening to be closed by the door around which the roller door is wound when the door is open.

The system 10 includes an electric drive mechanism 15 which includes a drive motor 16 which is coupled to a gear box 17 which has a power output shaft 18. During operation of the drive motor 16, the rotary drive power is transmitted to the gear box 17 and the power output 18 is coupled to drive the associated door (not shown), for example through drive sprocket 19, drive chain 20 which is coupled to the shaft on which the roller door is wound. The motor 16 has a motor shaft 21 which in the illustrated embodiment extends through the gear box 17 and has shaft portion 21a which projects from the housing of the gear box 17 at the end remote from the motor 16. However, this use of an elongated motor shaft 21 is not essential and the motor shaft 21 may terminate within the gear box 17 so as to drive the output shaft 18, whilst a separate shaft 2la for manual drive as will be described later, projects from the housing of the gear box 17 on the side remote from the motor 16. The drive system includes a mamial drive mechanism 25 which includes a manual drive wheel 26 arranged to be drivingly coupled to the power output 18 so that manually effected rotation of the manual drive wheel 26 by means of the endless loop chain 28 (or similar line) drives the power output 1 S to move the associated door. The chain 28 hangs down from the elevated position (beyond unaided reach of a user) to a convenient height so that a user can pull the chain 28 in either direction to open or close the associated door as required.

The system includes a clutch mechanism 30 having a normal default condition as shown in Fig. 2 in which manual effected rotation of the manual drive wheel 26 drives the power output 18 to move the associated door. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the manual drive wheel 26 is shown in an operative position adopted when the clutch mechanism 30 is in its normal default condition enabling manually effected rotation of the wheel 26 to transmit its rotary motion to the power output 18. The drive wheel 26 in the default condition is biased by biasing means 31, shown as compression springs 32, into its operative position. The springs 32 have bearings 33 on their outer ends which bear against the adjacent face of the wheel 26, so that the bearings 33 are preferably low friction and hard wearing to provide good effective life of the system. The bearings 33 could for example comprise Teflon bodies or plugs, or perhaps balls to provide a rolling contact with the adjacent Face of the wheel 26, In the particular illustrated embodiment of Fig. 2. me manual drive wheel 26 comprises a pulley wheel 27 rotatably mounted, e.g. with associated bearings or bushing (not shown), on the manual power input shaft 21a which in this embodiment is the end of the motor shaft 21. The clutch mechanism 30 includes a driven disc 35 adjacent the pulley wheel 27, (he driving disc 35 being secured on the manual powered input shaft 21 a. The pulley wheel 27 in the illustrated normal default condition of the clutch mechanism is in frictional drive transmitting relationship with the driven disc 35. A frictioπal liner may be provided on one or both of the respective opposed faces of the disc 35 and wheel 27 to provide high fnctional contact therebetween for transmission of the manually applied force through the wheel 27 to the disc 35 and hence to the shaft 21a. With this arrangement, pulling of the chain 28 in either direction transmits that manual drive through the pulley wheel 27 to the driven disk 35 then through the manual power input shaft 21a through the gear box 17 to the drive output 18.

The clutch mechanism also has an electrically initiated motor drive enabling condition in which the clutch mechanism 30 firstly disables the manual drive mechanism 25 so that manual rotation of the drive wheel 26 does not transfer drive through the power output 18 to move the door and secondly enables operation of the drive motor 16 Io transfer drive to the power output 18. The clutch mechanism 30 is electrically operated to change from its normal default condition, (as illustrated in Fig. 2) to its motor drive enabling condition when the electric drive mechanism is operated to drive the associated door. The clutch mechanism 30 includes moving means 40 to move the manual drive wheel 26 between its illustrated operative position and an idling position which is adopted when the clutch mechanism is in its motor drive enabling condition. The moving means 40 includes clectromagnetically operable displacement means 41 which is operative on the supply of electric power thereto to displace the manual drive wheel 26 against the bias of the biasing means 3 J away from its illustrated operative position and into its idling position. The manual drive wheel 26 is made of or includes magnetic material (e.g. is composed of mild steel) and the displacement means 41 comprises an electromagnet illustrated as a ferromagnetic body 42 having a coil 43 to which electric power is supplied when the electric drive mechanism 15 is to be utilised to drive the associated door. The electromagnet 42, 43 when supplied with electric power displaces the drive wheel 26 by pulling it against the bias of the associated biasing means 3] from its illustrated or operative position to a retracted idling position away from the driven disc 35 and into closer engagement with the electromagnet body 42, i.e. in. the direction of arrow A in Fig. 2. Discontinuance of electric power to the coil 43 of the electromagnet 42 allows the manual drive wheel 26 to return from its idling position under the action of the biasing means 31 to its normal operative position illustrated enabling manually effected operation of the associated door.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a clutch mechanism 30. In this figure, the drive wheej 26 is axially retracted or displaced aJong the manual power input shaft 21a out of factional driving engagement with the driven disc 35 and against the electromagnet 42, 43. The drive wheel 26 is mounted on the shaft 21a by the ball bearing assembly 60 which includes an outer race 61 and an inner race 62 with ball bearings 63 therebetween. The ball bearing assembly 60 is located and held in position by circlip 64. Located between the inner mce 62 and the shaft 21a is a bush 65 which, enables the bearing assembly 60 and the drive wheel 26 to move axiaUy along the shaft 21a under the action of the biasing means 31 and the electromagnet 42, 43. The compression spring 66 constituting the biasing means 31 in Fig. 3 acts against the inner race 62 (which is therefore unlike Fig. 2 where the biasing force is applied against the face of the wheel 26 which faces the electromagnet 42, 43 in Fig. 2). The arrangement of the ball bearing assembly 60 and spring 66 in Fig. 3 can avoid any significant frictional resistance an.d/or component wear upon rotation of the drive wheel 26 during manual operation. When the drive wheel is in its default operative position pressed against the disc 35 by the spring 66, manual operation of the chain 28 to manually rotate the drive wheel 26 causes the outer hall race 61 to rotate with the wheel 26 but the inner race 62 against which the biasing force of the spring 66 is applied does not rotate. The shaft 21 a within the inner race 62 does rotate which is enabled by the bush 65. Thus in Fig. 3, there is no need for the hard wearing low friction bearings 33 required in the embodiment of Fig. 2 which will contribute some factional resistance to manual operation of the drive wheel 26 in that embodiment and which will be subject to wear over time. The system further includes a control circuit 50 illustrated schematically in Fig. 1 by reference to the adjoining housing at the side of the motor 16 remote from the gear box 17. The control circuit 50 is operative, upon user initiated activating of the electric dnvc mechanism 15 to operate the associated door, to (i) firstly effect changeover of the clutch 30 from its normal default condition (as illustrated in Fig. 2) to its electrically initiated motor drive enabling condition (as illustrated .in Fig. 3) and (ii) secondly, a short interval of time such as about a second after the first operation of changing over the condition of the clutch mechanism 30, to enable or to cause the drive motor 16 to operate and drive the associated door. By providing a short delay between operation of the clutch 30 and commencement of operation of the electric drive mechanism 15, there is no even momentary torque applied from the shaft 21 through the driven disc 35 to the manual drive wheel 26 and hence to the chain 28.

In the roller door system utilising the drive system according to the embodiment illustrated and described above, the power output 18 is driviπgly coupled to the roller door so that selective reversible operation of the electric drive mechanism 15 can drive the door between its open and closed positions. The electric drive mechanism 15 is mounted in an elevated position beyond unaided reach of a user. Electric power supply 51 for the electric drive mechanism 15 is connected to the elevated electric drive mechanism also from an elevated location beyond unaided reach of the user. The control circuit 50 can include a power switching circuit 52 for the electric drive mechanism 15, the power switching circuit 52 being located at the elevated location and preferably within the housing adjacent the motor 16 and being operative to switch the power supply 51 for the electric drive mechanism to the electric motor 16. An operating control switch 55 is provided for operating the door drive system 10 by selective user control. The operating coutrol switch 55 is located at a convenient user accessible location within unaided reach of the user. The switch 55 is electrically connected through lines 56 to the power switching circuit 52 with low power only, e.g. 24 volt dc, being coupled to the operating control switch 55 through the lines 56. In this way high power lines 51, e.g. a 415 volt 3 phase power supply, is elevated out of unaided reach of the user and only relatively safe low power exists at the user accessible level. It will be appreciated that the preferred embodiment of the drive system and the roller door system in use described and illustrated herein, enables simply and effective manual operation of the door operating mechanism. There is no need for any particular user training or knowledge in order lo enable the manual operation, other than operation of the chain to open and close the door. The mechanism has a fail safe condition enabling manual operation at any time and, if there is a power outage or fault in the electric drive mechanism, manual operation remains possible. It will also be seen that the mechanism is relatively simple in construction and operation and can be manufactured so as to be of robust construction and having a long useful life. Furthermore, the system enables high power electric lines to be kept away from user accessible positions.

It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made to the features of the possible and preferred cmbodiment(s) of the invention as herein described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1 A roller door drive system for operating an associated rolJer door or shutter or the like by electrical operation and for enabling selective manual operation of the associated door, the system including: an electric drive mechanism which includes a drive motor drivingly coupled in use to a power output so as to reversibly drive the associated door between open and closed positions; a manual drive mechanism which includes a manual drive wheel arranged to be drivingly coupled to the power output so as to enable manually effected rotation of the manual drive wheel to drive the power output to move the door between the open and closed positions; a clutch mechanism having a normal default condition and an electrically initiated motor drive enabling condition, the clutch mechanism in the normal default condition enabling functional operation of the manual drive mechanism in which manually effected rotation of the manual drive wheel drives the power output to move the associated door between its open and closed positions, the clutch mechanism in its motor drive enabling condition functioning so as to: firstly disable the manual drive mechanism, so that manual rotation of the manual drive wheel does not transfer drive through the power output to move the door; and secondly enable operation of the drive motor to transfer drive to the power output; the clutch mechanism being electrically operated to change from, its normal default condition to its motor drive enabling condition when the electric drive mechanism is to be operated to drive the associated door between its open and closed positions.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the clutch mechanism includes moving means for moving the manual drive wheel between (i) an idling position which is adopted when the clutch mechanism is in its motor drive enabling condition, and (ii) an operative position which is adopted when the clutch mechanism is in its normal default condition and in which manually effected rotation of the manual drive wheel transmits its rotary motion to the power output.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the manual drive wheel in the normal default condition of the clutch is biased by biasing means into its operative position, and wherein the moving means, includes elcctromagnetically operable displacement means which is operative upon supply of electric power thereto to displace the manual drive wheel against the bias of the biasing means away from its operative position and into its idling position.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the manual drive wheel is composed of or includes ferromagnetic material, and wherein the displacement means comprises an electromagnet having a coil to which the electric power is supplied when the electric drive mechanism is to be utilised to drive the associated door between its open and closed positions, the electromagnet when supplied with electric power displacing the manual drive wheel against the bias of the associated biasing means from its normal operative position to its idling position, discontinuance of application of electric power to the electromagnet allowing the manual drive wheel to return under the action of the biasing means to its operative position enabling manually effected operation of the associated door.

5. A system as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the manual drive wheel is mounted for rotation on a shaft drivingly coupled to the power output with a ball bearing assembly located between the drive wheel and the shaft, the ball bearing assembly including an outer race and an inner race with the ball bearings therebetween, the inner race being located around the shaft and being both axially slidable along the shaft and relatively rotatable on the shaft, the biasing means being arranged to provide biasing force acting in the axial direction against the inner race, whereby, when the clutch mechanism is in its normal default condition, manually effected rotation of the drive wheel can transmit its rotary motion to the shaft and therethrough to the power output without the inner race moving substantially in a rotary motion against the biasing means.

6. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further including a control circuit which, upon user initiated activating of the electric drive mechanism to operate the associated door, is operative to firstly effect changeover of the clutch mechanism from its normal default condition to its electrically initiated motor drive enabling condition and secondly, a short interval of time after the first operation of changing over the condition of the clutch mechanism, is effective to enable or to cause the drive motor to operate to drive the associated door.

7. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the power output comprises a power output shaft from a gear box, the drive motor being operative to provide rotary drive power to the gear box and, in use, the power output being coupled to drive the associated door, the manual drive mechanism including a manual power input shaft also associated with the gear box so that rotation of the manual power input shaft by manually effected rotation of the manual drive wheel transmits drive to the power output shaft of the gear box which in use is coupled to the associated door.

8. Λ system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the manual drive wheel comprises a pulley wheel freely rotatably mounted on the manual power input shaft, the pulley wheel in use having a manually movable operating line such as a chain passing around the pulley wheel for manually effected rotation thereof, the clutch mechanism including a driven disc adjacent the pulley wheel, the driven disk being secured on the manual power input shaft, the pulley wheel in the normal default condition of the clutch mechanism having a ftictional drive transmitting relationship with the driven disc and, in the motor drive enabling condition of the clutch mechanism, the pulley wheel being displaced along the manual power input shaft out of frictiona] driving engagement with the driven disc.

9. A roller door system having a roller door or shutter or the like mounted in an opening whereby the door is movable between open and closed positions, a roller door drive system as claimed in any of the preceding claims being operatively mounted and driviπgly coupled to the roller door for reversibly driving the door between its open and closed positions, the electric drive mechanism of the roller door drive system being mounted in an elevated position beyond unaided reach of a user, the electrical power supply for the electric drive mechanism being connected to the elevated electric drive mechanism also from an elevated location beyond unaided reach of the user, the roller door system further including: a power switching circuit for the electric drive mechanism, the power switching circuit being located at the elevated location of the electric drive mechanism and being operative to switch the power supply for the electric drive mechanism to the electric motor, and an operating control switch for operating the door drive system by selective user control, the operating control switch being located at a convenient user accessible location within unaided reach of the user, the operating control switch being electrically connected to the power switching circuit with low power only being coupled to the operating control {.witch through electric connections thereto.