WO2005116384A1

WO2005116384A1 - Method for drum shape determination and drive unit for building door arrangements and use of such drive unit

Info

Publication number: WO2005116384A1
Application number: PCT/SE2005/000789
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leif Östberg
Original assignee: Cardo Door AB
Current assignee: Cardo Door AB
Priority date: 2004-05-28
Filing date: 2005-05-27
Publication date: 2005-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2006-11-28
Also published as: EP1600593A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for enabling characteristic drum shape determination for a motorized building door arrangement (6; 6'; 6') having at least one door section (3; 3'; 3') which is moveable between a closed position and an open position, and vice versa, a drive unit (1) having a motor (8) connected to a transmission (11) with at least one drum (4; 4'; 411) having said shape for achieving a movement of said door section (3; 3'; 3''), and a control unit (24) adapted to control said drive unit (1), said method comprising the steps of giving said door section (3; 3'; 3') at least one movement, determining a drive unit (1) movement corresponding to said door section (3; 3'; 3') movement, and comparing said door section (3; 3'; 3') movement and said drive unit (1) movement for determining the shape of said drum (4; 4'; 4101). The invention also relates to a drive unit (1) for a building door arrangement (6; 6'; 6') and the use of the drive unit (1) in a building door arrangement (6; 6'; 6').

Description

METHOD FOR DRUM SHAPE DETERMINATION AND DRIVE UNIT FOR BUILDING DOOR ARRANGEMENTS AND USE OF SUCH DRIVE UNIT

Technical Field of Invention The present invention relates to a method for enabling characteristic drum shape determination for a motorized building door arrangement having at least one door section which is moveable between a closed position and an open position, and vice versa, a drive unit having a motor connected to a transmission with at least one drum having said shape for achieving a movement of said door section, and a control unit adapted to control said drive unit. The invention also relates to a drive unit for a building door arrangement and the use of the drive unit in a building door arrangement.

Technical Background A motorized building door arrangement of the kind described in the introduction is previously known in the art. Building doors include a number of different types of designs such as overhead doors, vertical lift doors, folding doors, etc. Drive units which are adapted to building doors of this kind usually comprising a motor connected to a transmission arranged with two rotatable wire drums. The two wire drums are usually arranged on each side of the building door respectively to support the door leaf via a wire which is windable on the drums. The motor is further connected to a control unit for controlling the operation of the door in order to achieve an opening or a closing movement of the door by rotational movement of the wire drums and thereby effectuating door movement via the supporting wire. One issue with such drive units relates to the complexity of installing a specific drive unit to, for instance, a custom-designed building door. The installation, configuration and the parameter setting can often be time consuming and difficult to carry out. Furthermore the installation should also enable a proper operation of the building door and the drive unit . Another issue is that the procedure for installing such a drive unit may vary from one door type to another. This may in turn increase a risk for maladjustments and inaccurate functioning of the building door. A further issue relates to that technical service often needs to be adapted to a specific door or a specific door type. The installation procedure in accordance with prior art has problems in determining the drum characteristic and the shape thereof which may cause an operational malfunctioning of the building door. Hence there is a need to achieve a drive unit for building door arrangements and a method thereof with a high function accuracy of the drive unit and the building door arrangement as a whole. There is also a need to achieve a controlled and safe installation and parameter setting of the drive unit and the building door arrangement. Further it is desired to achieve required operational functioning in a facilitated manner and to reduce the risk of malfunctioning. Additionally it is desired to achieve a secure interruption of the door movement if it is obstructed in any way and to reduce associated inconveniences thereof. For example if a person is in the path way of a door leaf during a closing movement causing a risk of clamping injuries. It is further desired to enable a procedure for a user when the motor have been liable to absence of current or the like. Finally it would be advantageous to provide a robust, cost effective and safe high-quality drive unit for a building door and its functioning thereof.

Summary of the invention The object of the invention is to provide a method for enabling characteristic drum shape determination for a motorized building door arrangement enabling improvement with regard to prior art arrangements in one or more of the above mentioned aspects. These and other objects are achieved by a method according to claim 1, the drive unit for a building door arrangement according to claim 13 and the use of a drive unit arranged in a building door arrangement according to claim 18. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. For this purpose, according to the invention, a method is achieved for enabling characteristic drum shape determination for a motorized building door arrangement having at least one door section which is moveable between a closed position and an open position, and vice versa, a drive unit having a motor connected to a transmission with at least one drum having said shape for achieving a movement of said door section, and a control unit adapted to control said drive unit, said method comprising the steps of; giving said door section at least one movement, determining a drive unit movement corresponding to said door section movement, and comparing said door section movement and said drive unit movement for determining the shape of said drum. The invention as defined by claims 1, 13 and 18 offers several advantages, such as achieving a determination of the shape of the drum in at least one aspect. The shape determination can be used in order to effectuate a parameter setting for instance stored in the control unit. Examples of parameters that can be determined can be such as, diameter of the drum, drum type and other geometrically parameters. The determination can in turn be used to perform a controlled operational functioning of the door section, such as a substantially constant velocity. Preferably said drum is an acceptable one of drums having acceptable characteristica, wherein said comparing of said door section movement and said drive unit movement determining the characteristica of said drum, such as drum type characteristica. Hence the drum characteristica can be determined, such as the drum shape and/or the drum type. This will help the installation engineer to adapt the drive unit in relation to the desired movement of the door. Preferably said determining of the shape of said drum is a geometrical characteristica of said drum. Advantageously said door section movement is a movement between predetermined first and second positions of said door section. The installation engineer or an operator can easily achieve a parameter setting. For instance a standard 50 mm block can be used. The standard block is also used for adjustment of the safety system to reduce the risk of for example clamping injuries. Preferably said determining of the drum shape is based on a relative amount of said door section movement and said drive unit movement. A several different measuring units can be determined such as a distance, angular alterations and/or velocities. Advantageously the method further comprising the step of undertaking at least one further movement of said door section for determining an additional characteristica of said drum. An example of a further characteristica of the drum can be alteration in a conical shape to a plain straight shape in the longitudinal direction. This determination can be appropriate to perform for instance when an upper door section during an opening movement is transferred by a guiding system from a substantial vertical movement to a horizontal movement. Preferably said determining of the shape of said drum is determining an occurring conical shape of said drum or may determine an occurring pitch ratio of said drum. Preferably said detecting of the drive unit movement is achieved by detecting an angular movement of a output motor element. This enables a continuous detection of the movement with high function accuracy which can be achieved by an encoder. Advantageously the method according to the invention further comprising the step of: based on said determination of the drum shape and said determination of the drive unit movement undertaking a controlled operational movement of said door section, such as a substantially constant velocity. Thus, a safe door section motion can be performed in a controlled way. In terms of enabling a characteristic drum shape determination in a straightforward and controlled manner said drum is determined by; moving said door section to a closed position, moving said door section against an obstructed position having known distance relatively said closed position, comparing said closed position and said obstructed position in relation to corresponding determined drive unit movement for determining the characteristica of said drum. Thus can a safe installation and parameter setting be achieved. According to another object of the invention, a drive unit is provided for a building door arrangement having a motor which is connected to a transmission with at least one characteristic wire drum, said characteristic drum being connectable via a support wire to at least one building door section for effectuating a movement thereof, wherein said drum is an acceptable one of drums having acceptable characteristica and a control unit adapted to control said motor and thereby said connectable building door section characterised in that said drive unit comprising means for determining a drive unit movement for determining its correspondence to movement of said building door section and means for comparing said drive unit movement and said movement of said building door section to determine at least one characteristica of said drum. As mentioned above in connection to the method a determination of the shape of the drum can be effectuated. Accordingly, the drive unit enables that parameters as diameter of the drum, drum type and conical shape of the drum can be determined. Preferably said means for determining a drive unit movement achieved by an encoder is adapted to detect an angular movement of a output motor element. The encoder provides for an high accuracy measurement which can reduce the risk of defective operational functioning of the door. Advantageously, the drive unit further comprising a security device for obstacle detection, such as a sensor adapted to give a signal to interrupt a closing movement when an obstacle is detected. Hence the door can be stopped in a safe way when the door movement is obstructed for some reason. The drive unit with the security device also enables an opportunity for additional parameter adjustment. Suitably a geometrical characteristic of said wire drum is adapted to a guiding system for said building door section. Consequently, the drive unit reduces the need for compensation and other adjustments Preferably said control unit, based on said determination of the drum characteristica, is adapted to achieve a controlled operational movement of said door section, such as a substantially constant velocity.

Brief description of drawings By way of example, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures of drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vertical lift building door arrangement with a drive unit according to a first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an overhead building sliding door arrangement with a drive unit according to a second embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a building high lift door arrangement with a drive unit according to a third embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 is a schematic exploded view of the main part of the drive unit according to fig. 1-3. Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the drive unit according to fig. 4.

Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring now to figs. 1-3 which shows a selection of different building door arrangements 6; 6' ; 6' ' with different wire drums 4; 4'; 4'' and an drive unit 1 arrangement which drive unit 1 preferably is, but not necessarily, similar for all three building door arrangements 6; 6' ; 6' ' . A building door arrangement 6; 6'; 6' ' generally comprises guide rails 2; 2'; 2'' which are arranged for guiding at least one door section 3; 3'; 3'' during a movement operation between a closed position and an open position, and vice versa. The movement of the door section 3; 3'; 3'' is normally achieved by said drive unit 1. The drive unit 1 is connectable to a horizontally arranged door shaft 7; 7'; 1 ' ' . The door shaft 7; 7'; 1 ' ' has a wire drum 4; 4'; 4'' arranged on each side of the guide rails 2; 2; 2 ' ' . The door shaft 7; 7 ' ; 7" is rotatably supported and mounted to a building wall or the like. The wire drum 4; 4'; 4'' is connectable to the door section 3, 3', 3'' via a wire 5; 5'; 5'' or other similar mechanical means. The weight of the door section arrangement is generally balanced by means of a balancing spring (not shown) . In order to detect obstacle for the door movement a security device is provided, such as a safety sensor (not shown) . The sensor is adapted to give a an alarm signal to interrupt a movement of the door when an obstacle is detected. Apart from the inventive drive unit 1 the vertical lift building door 6 shown in fig. 1 is an essentially conventional vertical lift door 6, known in the art wherein a description thereof will be omitted. Correspondingly the door type shown in fig. 2; an overhead building sliding door 6' and in fig. 3; high lift door arrangement 6' ' are also known in the art wherein a respective description thereof will be omitted. With reference to fig. 4-5 the drive unit 1 will be described below. The drive unit 1 comprises a housing 15 which is adapted to receive for instance an alternating current motor 8, AC-motor shortened form, with a central arranged rotor 9. As seen in figs. 4-5 the rotor 9 is mechanically connectable to a screw worm 10 which forms part of a worm gear 11 for transferring of an axial movement of the screw worm 10 to a perpendicular arranged worm wheel 12 in said housing 15. The screw worm 10 and the worm wheel 12 are respectively supported by bearing means 13. The worm wheel 12 are further connected to means 14 in order to selectively engaging/disengaging the movement of said worm wheel 12. Said worm wheel 12 and said means 14 for engaging/disengaging has further a central through recess 16 in which the door shaft 7; 7'; 1 ' ' is arrangeable, see fig. 5. Fig. 4 also shows sealing means which are mountable at said housing 15 in order to seal the drive unit 1. In fig. 4 the rotor 9 is also connectable to a toothed wheel 21 as a first part of an encoder 22. The housing 15 further has a cover 23 in which two photocells 25 are arranged at a predetermined reciprocal distance, wherein said two photocells 25 forming a second part of said encoder 22. The toothed wheel 21 is to be arranged at a adapted distance from the two photocells 25 detecting the rotation of said toothed wheel 21 connected to the rotor 9. Naturally the detection of the rotor can be achieved in other ways but an encoder, such as a detecting device which based on the input frequency, current amplitude and the magnetic field calculates at least one of the following: the velocity, the position or the angular movement of the rotor or other motor output means. The cover 23 has in this case an control unit 24 arranged in the cover 23 which unit also can, at least partly, be arranged outside said housing 15 for instance by a receiver transmitter device (not shown) in order to achieve signal control. According to the first embodiment the control unit 24 comprises a pulse width modulator 26, P M shortened form, which for instance is adapted to regulate a current amplitude and a input frequency to the AC-motor 8. A specific input frequency can for instance be adapted to a specific preset current amplitude in order to achieve a controlled level on the output momentum or the velocity of the door section 3; 3'; 3''. The control unit 24 is further adapted to regulate incoming and outgoing signals such as controlling the motor 8 and in turn said door section movement, computing encoder signals and operating a storage capacity for control signals etc. The function of the drive unit 1 will be described in the following with reference to figs. 1-5 When the AC- motor 8 is adequately supplied with a current amplitude, a voltage and an input frequency controlled by the control unit 24 the motor 8 will begin to rotate. The rotor 9 of the motor 8 will transfer the rotational movement to the screw worm 10, the worm wheel 12 and to said means for engaging/disengaging 14. If engaged, the rotational movement will affect the wire drums 4; 4'; 4'' . One end of the wire 5; 5'; 5'' is mounted on the wire drum 4; 4'; 4'' and the other in a door section 3; 3'; 3''. The wire drum 4; 4'; 4'' has preferably an threadlike groove 17; 17'; 17'' which is adapted to enable that the wire 5; 5' ; 5' ' is held in a desired place in the drum groove 17; 17'; 17''. The groove 17; 17'; 17'' will ensure a proper winding/unwinding operation during a rotational movement of the door shaft 7; 7'; 7''. Thus the drive unit 1 can achieve a movement of the door section 3; 3'; 3'', such as a closing or an opening movement. By way of example a drum shape determination with the drive unit 1 will be described in the following which is applicable to the different door arrangement 6; 6' ; 6'' shown in fig. 1-3. The gear ratio of the transmission is in this case preferably known. The door section 3; 3' ; 3'' is operated at least to a partly open position by the drive unit 1. The determining begins by initiating a closing movement to a fully closed position. The encoder 22 is detecting the output movement of the motor 8 which corresponds to the closing movement of the door. Then the door section 3; 3'; 3'' is once more operated to at least a partly open position. This time a block with a predetermined height is inserted as an obstacle which prevent the door section 3; 3' ; 3' ' to complete a fully closing movement. The block can for instance be the same block which is used to the adjustment of the security device which in this case has a height of 50 mm. The stop of the door movement is in this case preferably achieved by the safety sensor. The encoder 22 is detecting the output movement of the motor 8 which corresponds to the obstructed closing movement of the door section. Based on the two detected output movements of the motor 8, specifically the closed and the obstructed position, and the predetermined distance, in this case 50 mm, the control unit 24 can determine the average diameter of the present winded part of the drum 4; 4'; 4''. Hence the average drum diameter is, in this case, determined between the wire wind positions on the wire drum which corresponds to the predetermined distance of the door movement . The wire drum 4 shown in Fig 1 is conical. Starting from a fully closed position the wire 5 is winded .by starting with the larger diameter of the wire drum 4. The wire drum 4 shown in Fig 2 is substantially cylindrical but can of course have other shapes such as at least a partly conical shape. The wire drum 4'' shown in Fig 3 is partially conical and partially cylindrical. Starting from a fully closed position the wire 5'' is winded by starting with the larger diameter of the wire drum 4''. The position where the partially conical changes to a partially cylindrical shape corresponds a specific position of the upper door section 18''. The specific position is the one when the upper door section 18'' changes the guiding movement from a substantially vertical direction to a substantially horizontal direction. In order to make settings for the drum 4; 4'; 4'' type, for instance one of the shown examples in figs. 1-3 an additional determination can also be performed. The upper door section 18'; 18'' is operated to said specific position when the upper door section 18'; 18'' changes the guiding movement from a substantially vertical direction to a substantially horizontal direction. Thus, the encoder 22 can detect the movement performed which movement corresponds to an output frequency of the motor 8, in relation to said specific position of the upper door section. The following opening door movement after said specific position will preferably be performed with a substantially cylindrical wire drum 4'; 4'', as shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3. The control unit 24 can then be adapted accordingly to the shape of the wire drum 4'; 4'' in order to perform desired operational conditions . The door 6 in fig. 1 will be operated to a fully opened position because this type does not have such specific position. The control unit 24 can also register this operation. Thus the same drive unit 1 can enable a determination of the diameter of the wire drum 4; 4'; 4'' and the drum type despite different door types 6; 6' ; 6' ' with different wire drums 4; 4'; 4''. The determination can be used to achieve a controlled operational movement such as a substantially constant velocity of the door section 3; 3'; 3''. The determination also enables a controlled closing movement, especially at the end of the door closing movement to reduce the risk for clamping injuries. Additionally the installation engineer, the user or other persons can perform a similar installation method independent of the door type which can reduce the risk of making mistakes and maladjustments. The invention has been described above in the form of various embodiments including some suggestions for alternative embodiments. However, it should be appreciated that it could be modified in a variety of ways without departing from the basic inventive idea. It is also evident that the different embodiments and the features thereof can be combined among them. Thus the drive unit 1 and the method in accordance with the invention obviously could be applied to door arrangements designed differently from the one shown herein. Also the shape of the wire drum can vary, as for instance that several parts of the wire drum can have different types of tapered parts or other geometrical shapes.

Claims

1. Method for enabling characteristic drum shape determination for a motorized building door arrangement (6; 6'; 6") having at least one door section (3; 3'; 3'') which is moveable between a closed position and an open position, and vice versa, a drive unit (1) having a motor (8) connected to a transmission (11) with at least one drum (4; 4'; 4'') having said shape for achieving a movement of said door section (3; 3'; 3''), and a control unit (24) adapted to control said drive unit (1), said method comprising the steps of giving said door section (3; 3'; 3'') at least one movement, determining a drive unit (1) movement corresponding to said door section (3; 3'; 3'') movement, and comparing said door section (3; 3'; 3'') movement and said drive unit (1) movement for determining the shape of said drum (4; 4'; 4' I I

2. Method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drum (4; 4'; 4'') is an acceptable one of drums having acceptable characteristica, wherein said comparing of said door section (3; 3'; 3'') movement and said drive unit (1) movement determining the characteristica of said drum (4; 4'; 4''), such as drum type characteristica.

3. Method as claimed in any one of the claims 1-2, wherein said determining of the shape of said drum (4; 4'; 4'') is a geometrical characteristica of said drum (4; 4' ; 4" ) .

4. Method as claimed in any one of the claims 1-3, wherein said door section (3; 3'; 3'') movement is a movement between predetermined first and second positions of said door section (3; 3'; 3'').

5. Method as claimed in any one of the claims 1-4, wherein said determining of the drum shape is based on a relative amount of said door section (3; 3'; 3'') movement and said drive unit (1) movement.

6. Method as claimed in any one of the claims 1-5, further comprising the step of undertaking at least one further movement of said door section (3; 3'; 3'') for determining an additional characteristica of said drum (4; 4'; 4'').

7. Method as claimed in any one of the claims 1-6, wherein said determining of the shape of said drum

(4; 4'; 4'') is determining of an occurring conical shape of said drum (4; 4'; 4'').

8. Method as claimed in any one of the claims 1-7, wherein said determining of the shape of said drum (4; 4'; 4'') is determining an occurring pitch ratio of said drum ( 4 ; 4 ' ; 4 " ) .

9. Method as claimed in any one of the claims 1-8, wherein said detecting of the drive unit (1) movement is achieved by detecting an angular movement of an output motor element (9; 21) .

10. Method as claimed in any one of the claims 1-9, further comprising the step of based on said determination of the drum shape and said determination of the drive unit (1) movement undertaking a controlled operational movement of said door section (3; 3'; 3'').

11. Method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said controlled operational movement of said door section (3; 3'; 3'') has substantially a constant velocity.

12. Method as claimed in any one of the claims 1-11, wherein said determining of the characteristica of said drum (4; 4'; 4'') is determined by moving said door section (3; 3'; 3'') to a closed position, moving said door section (3; 3'; 3'') against an obstructed position having known distance relatively said closed position comparing said closed position and said obstructed position in relation to corresponding determined drive unit (1) movement for determining the characteristica of said drum (4; 4' ; 4' ' ) .

13. Drive unit (1) for a building door arrangement (6; 6' ; 6' ' ) having a motor (8) which is connected to a transmission

(11) with at least one characteristic wire drum (4; 4'; 4''), said characteristic drum (4; 4'; 4'') being connectable via a support wire (5; 5'; 5'') to at least one building door section (3; 3'; 3'') for effectuating a movement thereof, wherein said drum (4; 4'; 4'') is an acceptable one of drums having acceptable characteristica and a control unit (24) adapted to control said motor (8) and thereby said connectable building door section (3; 3'; 3") c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that said drive unit ( 1 ) comprising means for determining a drive unit (1) movement for determining its correspondence to movement of said building door section (3; 3'; 3''), and means for comparing said drive unit (1) movement and said movement of said building door section (3; 3'; 3'') to determine at least one characteristica of said drum (4; 4'; 4'').

14. Drive unit (1) as claimed in claim 13, wherein said means for determining a drive unit movement is achieved by an encoder (22) adapted to detect an angular movement of a output motor element (9; 21).

15. Drive unit (1) as claimed in any one of the claims 13-14, further comprising a security device for obstacle detection, such as a sensor adapted to give a signal to interrupt a closing movement when an obstacle is detected.

16. Drive unit (1) as claimed in any one of the claims 13-15, wherein a geometrical characteristic of said wire drum (4; 4'; 4'') is adapted to a guiding system (2; 2'; 2'') for said building door section (3; 3' ; 3" ) .

17. Drive unit (1) as claimed in any one of the claims 13-16, wherein said control unit (24), based on said determination of the drum characteristica, is adapted to achieve a controlled operational movement of said door section (3; 3'; 3''), such as a substantially constant velocity.

18. Use of a drive unit (1) arranged in a building door arrangement (6; 6'; 6'') according to any one of the claims 13-17.