Patent Publication Number: US-2020284092-A1

Title: Apparatus for vertically closing an opening and method for identifying a service need and/or a safety issue for the same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present inventive concept relates to the field of vertical closures and condition monitoring of the same. More particularly, it is disclosed an apparatus for vertically closing an opening, and related methods, systems, and devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Arrangements for vertical closures are used in industrial facilities, commercial and public buildings, residential houses, and the like, typically to cover doorways and windows for the purpose of protecting against vandalism, burglary, fire, and climatic variations. 
     A typical vertical closure comprises a mounting frame placed above the opening to be closed and a door leaf able to be wound on and unwound from a roller attached to the mounting frame. The movement of the door leaf is often controlled by a simple circuit switch. Some closures include guiding rails parallel to the opening for guiding the door leaf between its wound and unwound state. 
     The components belonging to a vertical closure wear and might also fail over the course of time. The closure may also originally have been mounted or adjusted in a wrong way. A failure of a critical component such as the mounting frame imposes a severe risk of injuring people should the closure fall down. Further, any failure preventing the closure from opening and closing as intended requires extensive troubleshooting to establish the cause of failure, during which the closure does not serve its intended purpose. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present inventive concept to mitigate, alleviate, or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in combination. 
     According to a first aspect of the inventive concept, these and other objects are achieved in full, or at least in part, by an apparatus for vertically closing an opening, the apparatus comprising a fixed element attached to a surface and placed above an opening such as a window, doorway, or the like. The apparatus further comprising a roller connected to the fixed element; a shielding element attached to the roller, the shielding element being adapted to be wound on and unwound from the roller, the shielding element being configured to be in a first state when the opening is covered by the shielding element and thereby closed, and a second state when the opening is open. The apparatus further comprising a motor configured to drive the roller such that the shielding element can be moved between the first and second state; a number of sensor arrangements; a condition monitoring device configured to receive data from at least one of the number of sensor arrangements and to directly or indirectly compare the data with reference data such that a service need and/or a safety issue can be identified. 
     At least one of the number of sensor arrangements may be capable of detecting a vertical position of the shielding element. 
     At least one of the number of sensor arrangements may be capable of detecting an inclination of the fixed element about at least one axis. 
     At least one of the number of sensor arrangements may be capable of detecting a position of the roller relative the fixed element. 
     The apparatus may comprise a first and a second guiding element, and at least one of the number of sensor arrangements may be capable of detecting a position of the shielding element along at least one horizontal axis relative to at least one of the first and the second guiding element. 
     The apparatus may comprise a switch for controlling the motor, and at least one of the number of sensor arrangements may be capable of detecting a signal failure between the switch and the motor. 
     At least one of the number of sensor arrangements may be capable of detecting a number of starts and/or stops and/or time of operating of the motor. 
     The apparatus may comprise a thermal circuit breaker, and at least one of the number of sensor arrangements may be capable of detecting the state of the thermal circuit breaker. 
     The service need and/or the safety issue may be identified by comparing data from one of the number of sensor arrangements to the reference data. 
     The service need and/or the safety issue may be identified by comparing data from a combination of the number of sensor arrangements to the reference data. 
     The condition monitoring device may be further configured to fine tune the motor. 
     The condition monitoring device may be configured to transmit the received data to and receive the reference data from an on-site located data node. 
     At least one of the number of sensor arrangements may be an electric current sensor configured to determine an electric current fed to the motor. 
     At least one of the number of sensor arrangements may be a temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature in the motor. 
     At least one of the number of sensor arrangements may be a vibration sensor configured to determine a vibration of the apparatus. 
     The number of sensor arrangements may be configured to determine a state of at least one of a circuit switch, a remote controller, a radar controller, a safety edge, a photocell, a limit switch, and a kill switch According to a second aspect of the inventive concept, these and other objects are achieved in full, or at least in part, by a system comprising at least one apparatus according to the above; at least one on-site located data node; and a database. The at least one data node is configured to communicate with the condition monitoring device of the at least one apparatus, and to communicate with the database. 
     The database may be a remotely placed cloud service. 
     The system may comprise at least two apparatuses according to the above, wherein the at least two apparatuses are configured to exchange information with each other. 
     According to a third aspect of the inventive concept, these and other objects are achieved in full, or at least in part, by a method for identifying a service need and/or a safety issue for an apparatus for vertically closing an opening. The apparatus comprises a fixed element attached to a surface and placed above an opening such as a window, doorway, or the like. The apparatus further comprises a roller connected to the fixed element; a shielding element attached to the roller, the shielding element being adapted to be wound an unwound on and from the roller, the shielding element being configured to be in a first state when the opening is covered by the shielding element and thereby closed, and a second state when the opening is open; a motor configured to drive the roller such that the shielding element can be moved between the first and second state; a number of sensor arrangements; a condition monitoring device configured to receive data from at least one of the number of sensor arrangements. The method comprises collecting data from the number of sensor arrangements; comparing the data with reference data in order to identify a service need and/or a safety issue; and generate a condition notification and/or safety issue notification. 
     The step of comparing the data with reference data may be performed at least by the condition monitoring device and/or an on-site located data node and/or a database and/or a computing device connected to the database. 
     The method may further comprise the step of updating the reference data using the data. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the inventive concept, these and other objects are achieved in full, or at least in part, by a condition monitoring device configured to receive data from a sensor arrangement for monitoring an arrangement for vertically closing an opening, the condition monitoring device being further configured to directly or indirectly compare the data with reference data such that a service need and/or a safety issue of the arrangement can be identified. 
     Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims as well as from the drawings. 
     Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any method disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless explicitly stated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention/inventive concept, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of different embodiments of the present invention/inventive concept, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of an apparatus for vertically closing an opening; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates part of an apparatus for vertically closing an opening; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another part of an apparatus for vertically closing an opening; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a system comprising at least one apparatus for vertically closing an opening, at least one on-site located data node, and a database; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a method for identifying a service need and/or a safety issue for an apparatus for vertically closing an opening; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example of how a tubular motor may be monitored; 
         FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b    illustrate electric current fed to a motor over time; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example of an apparatus for vertically closing an opening; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example of how data collected by the condition monitoring device may be used. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example of an apparatus  100  for vertically closing an opening. The apparatus  100  comprises a fixed element attached to a surface and placed above an opening. A roller is connected to the fixed element, and a shielding element  102  is attached to the roller. Here, the shielding element  102  is made from several rigid, perforated slats. However, the shielding element  102  may comprise other elements, such as solid slats, grids, or flexible curtains. The shielding element  102  is adapted to be wound on and unwound from the roller, the shielding element  102  being configured to be in a first state when the opening is covered by the shielding element  102  and thereby closed, and a second state when the opening is open. The fixed element may be attached to and placed on a vertical surface, such as a wall, and/or a horizontal surface, such as a ceiling. The apparatus  100  comprises a motor configured to drive the roller such that the shielding element  102  can be moved between the first and second state. The apparatus  100  may comprise a first and a second guiding element  108 ,  109 , for guiding the shielding element  102  along the opening. The apparatus  100  may optionally comprise a fixed casing at least partially encasing the roller. It is to be understood that the fixed element may be attached under an upper end of the opening, or in line with an upper end of the opening, as long as the roller is positioned above the opening such that the shielding element  102  can be moved between the first and second state. The motor may be a tubular motor. The motor may be placed inside of the roller. 
     The apparatus  100  may comprise a number of sensor arrangements. The apparatus  100  may comprise a condition monitoring device  104  configured to receive data from at least one of the number of sensor arrangements. The condition monitoring device  104  may directly or indirectly compare the data with reference data such that a service need and/or a safety issue can be identified. The phrase “directly compare the data with reference data” should be interpreted to imply that the data is compared with reference data by the condition monitoring device  104 . The phrase “indirectly compare the data with reference data” should be interpreted to imply that the data is compared with reference data by another device, such as an on-site located data node, and/or a database, and/or a computer connected to the database. The comparison of data with reference data may be made by the condition monitoring device  104 , and/or the on-site located data node, and/or the database, and/or a computer connected to the database. 
     The apparatus  100  may comprise a sensor arrangement  110  capable of detecting a vertical position of the shielding element  102 . The sensor arrangement  110  may comprise a photocell and/or a magnetic contact switch and/or an imaging device. The sensor arrangement  110  may be configured such that it is possible to determine a velocity of the shielding element  102 . For example, the sensor arrangement  110  may comprise two sensors positioned apart along a vertical axis on the first guiding element as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a difference in time as the shielding element  102  passes the sensors may be detected. The shielding element  102  may comprise a structural profile such that the sensor arrangement  110  is capable of detecting a movement of the shielding element  102 . The sensor arrangement  110  may be configured to detect a number of revolutions of the roller per unit of time. The sensor arrangement  110  may be positioned on the first and/or second guiding element  108 , 109 . The sensor arrangement  110  may comprise a single sensor. The sensor arrangement  110  may be positioned inside of the fixed case. The sensor arrangement  110  may comprise sensors positioned on the first and second guiding element  108 ,  109 , making it possible to determine if the shielding element  102  and/or the roller and/or the fixed element is level. For example, if the shielding element  102  is not level, it may be able to, simultaneously, travel a first distance along the first guiding element  108  and a second distance along the second guiding element  109 , wherein the first and second distance is different. 
     The apparatus  100  may comprise a switch  106  for controlling the motor. The switch  106  may be a key-operated switch. The switch  106  may communicate with the motor wirelessly. The apparatus  100  may comprise a switch sensor arrangement capable of detecting a signal failure between the switch  106  and the motor. 
     The apparatus  100  may comprise a motor sensor arrangement capable of detecting a number of starts and/or stops and/or time of operating of the motor. The motor sensor arrangement may be capable of detecting an electric current fed to the motor. The motor sensor arrangement may be capable of detecting a voltage drop across the motor. The motor sensor arrangement may be capable of detecting an electric current spike fed to the motor. The motor sensor arrangement may be capable of detecting a time of operating of the motor during a pre-determined time window. The motor sensor arrangement may be capable of detecting whether a backup battery is supplying the motor with power. The motor sensor arrangement may be capable of detecting a power level of the backup battery. 
     The apparatus  100  may comprise a thermal circuit breaker. The apparatus  100  may comprise a thermal circuit breaker sensor arrangement capable of detecting the state of the thermal circuit breaker. 
     The apparatus  100  may comprise a sensor arrangement  112  capable of detecting an inclination of the fixed element about at least one axis, such as three mutually perpendicular axes. The sensor arrangement  112  may comprise an accelerometer. By detecting an inclination of the fixed element, it may be possible to determine whether the fixed element is coming loose from its attachment to the surface, and/or whether the fixed element has been properly installed. The sensor arrangement  112  may be capable of detecting vibrations in the fixed element. The vibrations may be caused by a winding and/or unwinding of the shielding element  102 . 
     The apparatus  100  may comprise an emergency shutdown switch. The apparatus  100  may comprise an emergency shutdown switch sensor arrangement capable of detecting the state of the emergency shutdown switch. 
     The apparatus  100  may comprise a vibration sensor arrangement capable of detecting vibrations in the apparatus  100 . 
     The condition monitoring device  104  may be configured to fine tune the motor. For example, a motor voltage and/or motor current may be changed. In yet another example, a torque profile of the motor may be changed such that the torque of the motor is low directly after a start of the motor and subsequently slowly increases. Such a torque profile may increase the life-time of the motor and/or decrease vibrations in the apparatus  100 . 
     The condition monitoring device  104  may be configured to transmit the received data to and receive the reference data from the on-site located data node and/or the database. 
     The condition monitoring device  104  may be configured to store data. Hereby, for example in the case of a power outage, data from at least one of the number of sensor arrangements may be stored in the condition monitoring device  104  until the power outage is over, after which data can be transmitted to the on-site located data node and/or the database. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 2 , part of an apparatus for vertically closing an opening, similar to the apparatus described in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , is shown. The apparatus may comprise a roller position sensor arrangement capable of detecting a position of the roller  215  relative the fixed element  214  along at least one axis, such as three mutually perpendicular axes. The roller position sensor arrangement may comprise an accelerometer. By detecting a position of the roller  215  relative the fixed element  214 , it may be possible to determine whether the roller is coming loose from its attachment to the fixed element  214 , and/or whether the roller has been properly installed. The roller position sensor arrangement may be capable of detecting vibrations in the roller. The vibrations may be caused by a winding and/or unwinding of the shielding element  102 . 
     Now referring to  FIG. 3 , part of an apparatus for vertically closing an opening, similar to the apparatuses described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is shown. The apparatus may comprise a guiding element sensor arrangement  316 . The guiding element sensor arrangement  316  may be capable of detecting a position of the shielding element  302  along at least one horizontal axis relative at least one of the first and second guiding element  310 . The guiding element sensor arrangement  316  may comprise a photocell and/or a magnetic contact switch. The guiding element sensor arrangement  316  may measure a distance A and B between the shielding element  302  and at least one of the first and second guiding element  310 . By detecting a position of the shielding element  302  along at least one horizontal axis relative at least one of a first and second guiding element  310 , it may be possible to determine whether a fixed element is coming loose from its attachment to a surface, and/or whether the fixed element has been properly installed and/or whether a roller is coming loose from its attachment to the fixed element, and/or whether the roller has been properly installed, as described above in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . The guiding element sensor arrangement  316  may be capable of detecting an inclination of at least one of the first and second guiding element  310  about at least one axis, such as three mutually perpendicular axes. The guiding element sensor arrangement may comprise an accelerometer. By detecting an inclination of at least one of the first and second guiding element  310 , it may be possible to determine whether at least one of the first and second guiding element  310  has been properly installed. The guiding element sensor arrangement may be capable of detecting vibrations in at least one of the first and second guiding element  310 . The vibrations may be caused by a winding and/or unwinding of the shielding element  302 . 
     The apparatus may comprise at least two sensor arrangements. Data from the at least two sensor arrangements may be combined in order to increase the certainty of an assumed condition of the apparatus. For example, data from the sensor arrangement  112  may be combined with data from the sensor arrangement  110 . Data from the sensor arrangement  110  may indicate that the shielding element  102  is not level, and data from the sensor arrangement  112  may indicate that the fixed element is not inclined. These indications may in combination point away from a problem with the fixed element and towards a problem with the shielding element  102  and/or the roller. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 4 , a system  450  comprising at least one apparatus  400  for vertically closing an opening as described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-3 , at least one on-site located data node  418 , and a database  420 , is shown. The at least one data node  418  may be configured to communicate with the condition monitoring device of the at least one apparatus  400 , and to communicate with the database  420 . The condition monitoring device may be configured to receive data from a number of sensors as described above. The received data may be transmitted to the data node  418 . The system  450  may comprise at least two apparatuses  400  as described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-3 , wherein the apparatuses are configured to exchange information with each other. Thus, for example, it may be possible for a first apparatus to transmit data through a second apparatus to the data node  418  and/or database  420 , without the first apparatus being in direct contact with the data node  418  and/or the database  420 . Similarly, the first apparatus may receive reference data from the data node  418  and/or the database  420  through the second apparatus. 
     The condition monitoring device may directly or indirectly compare the data with reference data such that a service need and/or a safety issue can be identified. The comparison of data with reference data may be made by the condition monitoring device, and/or the on-site located data node  418 , and/or the database  420 , and/or a computer  422  connected to the database. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 5 , a method for identifying a service need and/or a safety issue for an apparatus for vertically closing an opening, as described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-3 , is illustrated. The apparatus comprises a fixed element attached to a surface and placed above an opening such as a window, doorway, or the like. The apparatus comprises a roller connected to the fixed element. The apparatus comprises a shielding element attached to the roller, the shielding element being adapted to be wound and unwound on and from the roller, the shielding element being configured to be in a first state when the opening is covered by the shielding element and thereby closed, and a second state when the opening is open. The apparatus comprises a motor configured to drive the roller such that the shielding element  102  can be moved between the first and second state. The apparatus may optionally comprise a fixed casing at least partially encasing the roller. It is to be understood that the fixed element may be attached under an upper end of the opening, or in line with an upper end of the opening, as long as the roller is positioned above the opening such that the shielding element can be moved between the first and second state. The apparatus may comprise a number of sensor arrangements as described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-4 . The apparatus may comprise a condition monitoring device as described in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     The method comprises collecting data at  524  from the number of sensor arrangements, comparing the data with reference data at  526  in order to identify a service need and/or a safety issue, and generate a condition notification and/or safety issue notification at  528 . The step of comparing the data with reference data may be performed at least by the condition monitoring device and/or an on-site located data node and/or a database and/or a computing device connected to the database. The method may further comprise updating the reference data with the data at  530 . Thus, the reference data may come to reflect a normal operating condition of the apparatus. The certainty of the identified service need and/or safety issue may thus increase over time as more data is received from the at least one sensor arrangement. Further, the reference data may be used to predict a need of maintenance of the apparatus for example before a component of the apparatus fail. The reference data may be used to predict a life-time of a component of the apparatus. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 6 , an example of how a motor  632  of an apparatus for vertically closing an opening may be monitored is illustrated. The motor  632  may be connected to a power source. Electric current  634  delivered by the power source may be monitored by the condition monitoring device  604 . The electric current  634  may be determined by an electric current sensor. A circuit switch  636  may control the delivery of electric current  634  fed to the motor  632 , and thereby indirectly control an operation of the motor  632 . The circuit breaker  636  may control whether the motor is operating, and whether the shielding element is winding on or unwinding from the roller. The electric current  634  delivered by the power source may be monitored by the condition monitoring device  604  at pre-determined time intervals. By determining the electric current  634  fed to the motor, a measure of the electric power transferred to the motor may be determined. However, as is readily understood by the person skilled in the art, the electric power transferred to the motor may be determined through other means than by determining the electric current. 
     A temperature sensor in the motor  632  may detect a temperature in the motor  632 . Data  640  representing a temperature in the motor  632  may be sent to the condition monitoring device  604 . Hereby, it may be possible to determine if the motor  632  is close to reaching a temperature wherein a thermal circuit breaker of the motor  632  will engage. The thermal circuit breaker may herein be defined as a security measure in order to prevent the motor  632  from reaching a temperature where the motor  632  will be damaged and/or perform suboptimal. The temperature sensor may be located within the motor. The temperature sensor may be located within the roller. 
     The apparatus may comprise a vibration sensor configured to determine a vibration of the apparatus, and/or the fixed element, and/or the shielding element, and/or the motor. Vibrations may be caused by a starting and/or stopping of the motor, and/or by a winding or unwinding of the shielding element on and from the roller respectively. The condition monitoring device may be configured to determine whether a vibration exceeds a pre-determined threshold. A vibration may herein be defined as an amplitude of a vibration. Further, the vibration sensor may be configured to detect vibrations in a specific interval of vibration frequencies. 
     Data  640  representing the temperature in the motor  632  and/or data representing electric current  634  fed to the motor  632  may be directly or indirectly compared with reference data, for example in a computer  622 , such that a service need and/or a safety issue can be identified. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 7 a   , an example of a diagram illustrating electric current  742  fed to the motor over time is shown. The motor may have a baseline  744  with respect to the electric current  742 , depending on a type of motor, characteristics of the apparatus in which the motor is located, and/or depending on whether the shielding element is winding on or unwinding from the roller, and/or depending on the position of the shielding element. In the illustrated example, the baseline  744  is constant. However, the baseline  744  may increase and/or decrease over time as the shielding element is wound on or unwound from the roller. The condition monitoring device may detect if the electric current  742  exceeds an upper threshold  746  and/or a lower threshold  748 . This may indicate that the apparatus for vertically closing an opening is not operating as intended. Accordingly, a service need and/or a safety issue may hereby be determined. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 7 b   , a diagram illustrating electric current  750  fed to the motor over time is shown. In the illustrated example, the motor is stationary at a time zero, represented by the origin of the diagram. When the motor is commanded to operate, the electric current  750  fed to the motor is exponentially increased over time until the electric current has reached an operating level. Hereby, the motor is slowly brought to its operating level of current, and thus slowly brought to its speed of winding or unwinding of the shielding element. Similarly, when the motor is commanded to stop, the electric current may decrease exponentially over time. An advantage of this arrangement is that vibrations in the apparatus associated with a starting or stopping of the motor may be decreased. This arrangement may be defined as a “soft start” or “soft stop” of the motor. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 8 , an example of an apparatus for vertically closing an opening is illustrated. The apparatus comprises a tubular motor  852 . The tubular motor  852  may be located within a tube  854 . The tubular motor  852  may be mounted to a fixed element  856 . The apparatus may comprise a shielding element  860  attached to a roller. The tubular motor  852  may be configured to drive the roller such that the shielding element  860  can be wound on and unwound from the roller. The apparatus may comprise a first and second guiding element  858  configured to guide the shielding element  860  during a winding and/or unwinding of the same on the roller. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 9 , an example of how data collected by the condition monitoring device may be used is illustrated. A condition monitoring device of an apparatus  900  for vertically closing an opening may receive data from at least one of a number of sensor arrangements of the apparatus  900 . The data may be sent to a computer  904 . Hereby, the apparatus  900  may be remotely monitored continuously. Data sent to the computer  904  may be communicated to a service operator  966 , and/or a research and development unit  962  associated with the apparatus  900 , and/or to a third party  964  having interest in the data collected by the condition monitoring device, and/or to a user  968  of the apparatus  900 . Hereby, a condition of the apparatus  900  may be conveyed to any party having interest in such information. Further, a maintenance of the apparatus  900  may be facilitated, since a cause of a problem of the apparatus  900  may be remotely identified. Thus, the correct replacement part may be brought by a technician without the need of the technician first having to examine the apparatus  900  in person. 
     The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
         
           
               100  Apparatus 
               102  Shielding element 
               104  Condition monitoring device 
               106  Switch 
               108  First guiding element 
               109  Second guiding element 
               110  Sensor arrangement 
               112  Sensor arrangement 
               214  Fixed element 
               215  Roller 
               302  Shielding element 
               310  Guiding element 
               316  Guiding element sensor arrangement 
               400  Apparatus 
               418  Data node 
               420  Database 
               422  Computer 
               450  System 
               524  Step of collecting data from number of sensors 
               526  Step of comparing data with reference data 
               528  Step of generating condition notification and/or safety issue notification 
               530  Step of updating reference data 
               632  Motor 
               634  Electric current 
               636  Circuit switch 
               640  Temperature 
               742  Electric current 
               744  Baseline 
               746  Upper threshold 
               748  Lower threshold 
               750  Electric current 
               852  Tubular motor 
               854  Tube 
               856  Fixed element 
               858  Guiding element 
               860  Shielding element 
               900  Apparatus 
               904  Computer 
               962  Development unit 
               964  Third party 
               966  Service operator 
               968  User