Electrically operated folding operable walls

Electrically operated folding operable walls are provided that are controlled by an electrical operation circuit of the type having a key switch, a control panel, an extend limit switch, a stack limit switch, control relays and a motor. The invention consists of a mechanism for creating an infrared barrier curtain on opposite sides of an operating path of the folding operable walls. Another mechanism is for shutting down the electrical operation circuit of the folding operable walls when a physical obstruction enters into the operating path of the folding operable walls and interrupts the infrared barrier curtain. Still another mechanism is for restarting up the electrical operation circuit of the folding operable walls after the physical obstruction is removed from the operating path of the folding operable walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The instant invention relates generally to moving gymnasium partitions and 
more specifically it relates to electrically operated folding operable 
walls. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Numerous moving gymnasium partitions have been provided in prior art that 
are adapted to include mechanisms which open and close the moving 
gymnasium partitions automatically by an electrical system, which can 
accidentally trap a person therebetween. While these units may be suitable 
for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as 
suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore 
described. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A first object of the present invention is to provide electrically operated 
folding operable walls that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior 
art devices. 
A second object is to provide electrically operated folding operable walls 
that will include a safety system to create an infrared barrier curtain at 
the operating path, so that an immediate shut down will occur if a 
physical obstruction enters into the operating path. 
A third object is to provide electrically operated folding operable wall in 
which passive infrared sensors can be mounted to the ceiling or side walls 
to create the infrared barrier curtain at the operating path. 
A fourth object is to provide electrically operated folding operable walls 
with no interference between the infrared barrier and an operator at a key 
control switch, as interference will hinder safe operating procedures. 
A fifth object is to provide electrically operated folding operable walls, 
which will include a mechanism for arming and disarming the system, so as 
to operate the walls in either direction at any given time. 
A sixth object is to provide electrically operated folding operable walls 
that are simple and easy to use. 
A seventh object is to provide electrically operated folding operable walls 
that are economical in cost to manufacture. 
Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may 
be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 
attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are 
illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific 
construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended 
claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference 
characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the 
FIGURES illustrate electrically operated folding operable walls 10 
controlled by an electrical operation circuit 12 of the type having a key 
switch 14, a control panel 16, an extend limit switch 18, a stack limit 
switch 20, control relays 22 and a motor 24. The invention is a safety 
system 25, which consists of a mechanism 26 for creating an infrared 
barrier curtain 28 on opposite sides of an operating path 30 of the 
folding operable walls 10. Another mechanism 32 is for shutting down the 
electrical operation circuit 12 of the folding operable walls 10, when a 
physical obstruction 34, such as a person or object, enter into the 
operating path 30 of the folding operable walls 10 and intercepts the 
infrared barrier curtain 28. Still another mechanism 36 is for restarting 
up the electrical operation circuit 12 of the folding operable walls 10, 
after the physical obstruction 34 is removed from the operating path 30 of 
the folding operable walls 10. 
The electrically operated folding operable walls further includes a 
mechanism 38 for indicating to the operator of the electrical operation 
circuit 12, that the physical obstruction 34 has entered into the 
operating path 30 of the folding operable walls 10 and has interrupted the 
infrared barrier curtain 28. 
The infrared barrier curtain creating mechanism 26 includes a plurality of 
passive infrared sensors 40, positioned on opposite sides of the operating 
path 30 of the folding operable walls 10. The sensors are electrically 
connected to the control panel 16 of the electrical operation circuit 12. 
The shutting down mechanism 32 includes a rearm control unit 42 
electrically connected between the control panel 16 of the electrical 
operation circuit 12 and the passive infrared sensors 40, which will turn 
off when the infrared barrier curtain 28 is interrupted. 
The restarting up mechanism 36 includes a re-set control key switch 44 in 
the rearm control unit 42, which when turned on will reactivate the 
electrical operation circuit 12 and the passive infrared sensors 40. The 
reset control key switch 44 is located adjacent the key switch 14 of the 
electrical operation circuit 12 for easy access by the operator. 
The operator indicating mechanism 38 is an alarm mechanism 46, electrically 
connected to the control panel 16 of the electrical operation circuit 12. 
The passive infrared sensors 40 can be two mounting brackets 48, each 
having a pair of guards 50 secured at a forty-five degree angle to the 
center of a ceiling 52 at one opposite side above the operating path 30 of 
the folding operable walls 10. Four transmitter-receiver sensor units 54, 
are provided with each connected within one of the guards 50 of the 
mounting brackets 48. The two transmitter-receiver sensor units 54 on each 
mounting bracket 48 can create the infrared barrier curtain 28 on opposite 
sides of the operating path 30 of the folding operable walls 10. 
The passive infrared sensors 40 can also be two transmitter-receiver sensor 
units 56, with each mounted on a stacked side wall 58 on an opposite side 
of the operating path 30 of the folding operable walls 10. The two 
transmitter-receiver sensor units 56 can create the infrared barrier 
curtain 28 on the opposite sides of the operating path 30 of the folding 
operable walls 10. 
The passive infrared sensors 40 can also be four transmitter-receiver 
sensor units 60, with two mounted on a stacked side wall 58 on opposite 
sides of the operating path 30 of the folding operable walls 10 and two 
mounted on a distal side wall 62 on opposite sides of the operating path 
30 of the folding operable walls 10. The two oppositely positioned 
transmitter-receiver sensor units 60 on each side of the operating path 30 
of the folding operable walls 10 can create an overlapping infrared 
barrier curtain 18a thereacross. 
To normally close the folding operable walls 10, the operator must follow 
these steps: 
1. Turn the key switch 14 to a first position. 
2. The first position on the key switch 14 will electrically connect 
through the control panel 16 to the extend limit switch 18, which will 
activate the proper control relays 22 to start the motor 24. 
3. The folding operable walls 10 will then close along the operating path 
30 and extend to the distal side wall 62. 
To normally open the folding operable wall 10 the operator must follow 
these steps: 
1. Turn the key switch 14 to a second position. 
2. The second position on the key switch 14 will electrically connect 
through the control panel 16 to the stack limit switch 20 which will 
activate the proper control relays 22 to reverse the motor 24. 
3. The folding operable walls 10 will now open along the operating path 30 
and stack up to the stacked side wall 58. 
To operate the safety system 25 the operator must follow these steps: 
1. When a physical obstruction 34, such as a person, enters into the 
operating path 30 as the folding operable walls 10 are closing, the 
infrared barrier curtain 28 or 28a will be interrupted. 
2. The passive infrared sensors 40 will sense the interruption and turn off 
the rearm control panel 16, which in turn will stop the motor 24. 
3. The alarm mechanism 46 will sound to alert the operator. 
4. The physical obstruction 34 is then removed from the operating path 30. 
5. The operator can then activate the re-set control key switch 44, which 
will start the motor 24 to continue to close the folding operable walls 
10. 
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
10 electrical operated folding operable walls 
12 electrical operation circuit 
14 key switch 
16 control panel 
18 extend limit switch 
20 stack limit switch 
22 control relays 
24 motor 
25 safety system 
26 creating mechanism 
28 infrared barrier curtain 
28a a overlapping infrared barrier curtain 
30 operating path 
32 shutting down mechanism 
34 physical obstruction 
36 restarting up mechanism 
38 indicating mechanism 
40 passive infrared sensor for 26 
42 rearm control unit for 32 
44 reset control key switch for 36 
46 alarm mechanism for 38 
48 mounting bracket 
50 guard on 48 
52 ceiling 
54 transmitter-receiver unit 
56 transmitter-receiver unit 
58 stacked side wall 
60 transmitter-receiver unit 
62 distal side wall 
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or 
more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods 
differing from the type described above. 
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and 
described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to 
be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various 
omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and 
details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by 
those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of 
the present invention. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, 
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential 
characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.