Method and apparatus for a movable barrier operator having a motor and a  reduction mechanism disposed parallel to and laterally thereof

A movable barrier operator (200) comprises a motor (201) having an output drive shaft that itself comprises a first end (202) and a second end (203) that is disposed opposite to the first end. The movable barrier operator also comprises a hand-operated chain hoist (204) that is connected to the second end of this output drive shaft. By one approach, the movable barrier operator also comprises a reduction mechanism (207) and a transmission (210). The reduction mechanism is disposed parallel to and laterally of the motor and comprises a movable barrier drive output (208) and an input drive shaft (209). The transmission, in turn, is disposed to couple the first end of the output drive shaft of the motor to the input drive shaft of the reduction mechanism.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to movable barrier operators.

BACKGROUND

Movable barrier operators of various kinds are known in the art and include, for example, so-called garage door openers. Movable barrier operators typically serve to facilitate the automated movement of one or more corresponding movable barriers (such as, but not limited to single panel and segmented garage doors, rolling shutters, pivoting and sliding gates, arm guards, and so forth). In many cases such movable barrier operators are responsive to a remotely sourced control signal (or signals) to institute such activity.

Some movable barrier operators (such as some so-called jack shaft operators) make use of in-line helical reduction mechanisms to reduce the output speed provided by the operator motor while increasing the corresponding rotational torque that is available to move the corresponding movable barrier. Such reduction mechanisms, being in-line with the motor, necessitate a relatively lengthy movable barrier operator. This can lead to installation problems when sufficient space to accommodate the combined length of the motor and the reduction mechanism is unavailable.

Many such movable barrier operators also include a hand-operated chain hoist to permit hand-based manipulation of the movable barrier when such is desired. When using an in-line helical reduction mechanism as described above, however, this chain may be necessarily disposed at some lateral distance from the drive mechanism that couples the movable barrier operator to the movable barrier. In some cases, this unfortunately places the chain into the opening of the movable barrier. Such placement can cause various problems and inconveniences and often necessitates storing the chain in, for example, a suspended bag or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, a movable barrier operator comprises a motor having an output drive shaft that itself comprises a first end and a second end that is disposed opposite to the first end. The movable barrier operator also comprises a hand-operated chain hoist that is connected to the second end of this output drive shaft. By one approach, the movable barrier operator also comprises a reduction mechanism and a transmission. The reduction mechanism is disposed parallel to and laterally of the motor and comprises a movable barrier drive shaft and an input drive shaft. The transmission, in turn, is disposed to couple the first end of the output drive shaft of the motor to the input drive shaft of the reduction mechanism.

So configured, the motor and the reduction mechanism essentially occupy a similar (or identical) amount of coextensive in-line space. This, in turn, yields an overall movable barrier operator form factor that is considerably shorter than one expects from the prior art in this regard. It will also be noted and appreciated that such a configuration will facilitate locating the chain for the hand-operated chain hoist such that the latter is essentially coextensive with the drive train that couples the movable barrier drive shaft of the reduction mechanism to the movable barrier itself. As a result, for example, it now becomes possible to dispose the chain in a considerably less inconvenient location (such as at the side of the movable barrier opening rather than within that opening).

These teachings will readily support leveraging available components in many instances to achieve compliant embodiments. It will also be appreciated that these teachings are highly scalable and can be applied in a wide variety of application settings and in conjunction with a wide variety of implementing components.

These and other benefits may become clearer upon making a thorough review and study of the following detailed description. Referring now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1,2, and3, an illustrative process that is compatible with many of these teachings will now be presented.

This process100has a step101that provides a motor201. This motor201has an output drive shaft having a first end202and a second end203that is disposed opposite to the first end202. Various motors are known and used in the art to serve as a motive force for movable barrier operators and these teachings are not particularly sensitive to the selection of any particular choice in these regards. Generally speaking, the motor will typically comprise a ¼ to 5 horsepower electric motor (though other possibilities may be considered depending upon the application setting) and can comprise either an AC or a DC motor. Energization of this motor201will typically be controlled by control circuitry (not shown) in accordance with well understood prior art practice.

This process100also provides the step102of connecting a hand-operated chain hoist204to the aforementioned second end203of the output drive shaft. This hand-operated chain hoist204can comprise, for example, a chain pulley wheel205and a corresponding chain206. The chain pulley wheel205connects to the second end203of the motor's output drive shaft and interacts with the chain206such that hand-manipulated movement of the chain206will cause corresponding rotation of the chain pulley wheel205and hence of the second end203of the motor's output drive shaft. This, in turn, can permit an end user to cause selective rotation of the motor's output drive shaft to thereby cause human-powered opening and closing of the corresponding movable barrier.

Another step103provides for disposing a reduction mechanism207parallel to and laterally of the motor201. This reduction mechanism207includes a movable barrier output drive shaft208and an input drive shaft209. By one approach, this reduction mechanism207can comprise, in whole or in part, an epicyclic reduction gear system as is known in the art. So configured, the resultant movable barrier operator200can benefit from the higher efficiencies that are associated with such a helical gear-based reduction mechanism. Those skilled in the art will note and appreciate that this laterally-displaced juxtapositioning of this reduction mechanism207in parallel with the motor201leads directly to a resultant movable barrier operator200having a considerably reduced in-line form factor. This, in turn, permits this movable barrier operator200to be installed in constrained application settings that would otherwise be unsuitable for a movable barrier operator that includes an epicyclic reduction mechanism.

This process100then also includes a step104of using a transmission210to couple the first end202of the motor's output drive shaft to the input drive shaft209of the reduction mechanism207. Given the aforementioned orientation of the motor201to the reduction mechanism207, in many cases this will comprise disposing the transmission210substantially perpendicular to, for example, the motor201. Generally speaking, the purpose of this transmission210is to couple the rotational driving force of the motor201to the input of the reduction mechanism207. Various transmission mechanisms and approaches are known in the art and these teachings are not particularly sensitive in this regard. The transmission can comprise, for example, but is not limited to, a chain, belt, or gear system.

By one approach, the movable barrier output drive shaft208can connect to a sprocket212. This sprocket212, in turn, can interface with a drive train linkage213(such as a chain, belt, or the like) that interacts with and drives an axle401(as shown inFIG. 4) as comprises a part of the corresponding movable barrier402(such as a rolling shutter-styled movable barrier).

By one approach, and as illustrated, the motor201and the reduction mechanism207are disposed such that the movable barrier output drive shaft208and the hand-operated chain hoist204are both located on a same side of the movable barrier operator200. By one approach, this can comprise, at least in part, mounting both the motor201and the reduction mechanism207(either directly or indirectly) to a common surface of, for example, an optionally-provided housing211for the movable barrier operator200. This might comprise, for example, using a same side of the housing211to support, at least in part, these components. So configured, by one approach, the second end203of the motor's output drive shaft and the reduction mechanism's movable barrier output drive shaft208can both extend outwardly of such a housing211on a same side thereof.

In such a case, the hand-operated chain hoist204and the sprocket212will both be located on a same side of the movable barrier operator200as well. As illustrated, this orientation can permit, if desired, the drive train linkage213and the chain206to be substantially vertically aligned with one another. This alignment can be relatively exact, if desired, or within some range of allowed horizontal displacement such as within one inch, two inches, five inches, or the like of one another. Those skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that this, in turn, provides great flexibility with respect to permitting the chain206to be disposed at the side of a movable barrier's opening rather than far to the side or within the opening itself. This, in turn, can aid in placing the chain206in a more convenient and intuitive location.

So configured, these teachings are able to greatly leverage available components in a manner that facilitates their use and application in a form factor that is considerably more friendly to the constraints of many application settings. These teachings are also easily scaled to accommodate a wide variety of application setting needs and requirements. Notwithstanding such improved installation circumstances, these teachings also offer an opportunity for greatly improved accommodation of hand-operated chain hoist capabilities. It will be further recognized and appreciated that these benefits are attained in an economical manner.