DE19644056C1 - Electric garage door operator - Google Patents

Abstract

The drive motor of a garage door actuator is coupled to a controller Ä11Ü supplied with mains electricity Ä12Ü. The controller has a motor power limiting stage Ä13Ü that is controlled by a microprocessor Ä14Ü. Coupled to the microprocessor is a coded plug and socket Ä15,16Ü that connects with electrical Ä19Ü or optical Ä18Ü sensors for additional protection. The drive motor power limiting device is designed as a phase-control device or as a voltage or current regulator or as switchable motor windings.

Description

The invention relates to an electric garage door drive with a drive motor for moving the garage door according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a drive is known for example from DE 94 07 752 U1. This document describes and shows a drive for a garage door, the door leaf of an electromagnetic engine is driven. Acting with the drive motor it is a DC motor, which is by means of a phase Gate control with downstream rectifier with a controllable DC voltage is supplied. Also ent this well-known door operator considers a protective circuit for the low voltage side after the leading edge control.

Electric garage door operators come in a variety of forms offered on the market. They differ under other by their electrical power, that is, for large, heavy garage doors are becoming more powerful Garage door operators required and offered as for small, lightweight garage doors. Future standards (IEC) require additional security for garage door operators unit, for example a light barrier or a safety edge on the garage door if a certain Driving force of, for example, 150 N is exceeded. This means that a supplier then for small garage doors must offer a garage drive, the maximum one Driving force developed by 150 N, and that it is for larger Garage doors a second garage door operator with additional Safety device must offer that for larger Driving forces is designed. This is not just from that Manufacturing and cumbersome in terms of storage and  expensive, but often brings in Borderline cases are difficult to assess whether the "weaker" and less expensive garage door operator is sufficient or not. There A buyer usually prefers a low-cost decides better solution, it is then to be feared that it will only after assembly turns out that such a garage Door drive is insufficient in terms of force. Then he has to go again completely disassembled and by a stronger version be replaced. Both the additional assembly effort as also the fact that the garage removed door drive is no longer as new, it leads to a considerable additional cost, and there is the Risk of liability claims.

The object of the invention is therefore a cost-effective and to create a universal garage door operator.

This object is achieved in accordance with the claim 1 Features resolved. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The garage door drive according to the invention has the advantage that only a single version of a garage door operator for everyone Applications can be used regardless of the required driving force. This not only leads to Cost advantages in manufacturing and warehousing, but there is also no risk of re-assembly too little drive power more. In the invention Garage door drive, a drive motor is provided, the Driving force for large and heavy garage doors is sufficient. Because of security regulations it is however, in particular by electronic means in its Driving power or in its driving force or in its Drive torque limited to the prescribed value, with no additional safety devices required are. Should it then turn out that the drive power is not sufficient, so a simple one Retrofitting by additional installation of such additional safety device. When connecting the same becomes the limitation of the drive motor automatically wholly or partly canceled, so that now a larger one Drive power or power is available without any change to the drive motor or its Control device would be required. That with the solution according to the invention also for smaller garage doors thereby one  more powerful drive motor is used than would actually be required does not constitute an essential Disadvantage, since stronger drive motors are hardly heavier or are more expensive. In the basic version for smaller garage doors such a garage door operator can continue without expensive security devices are offered. Should this be necessary, it is a simple one Retrofitting with little installation effort and relatively little Costs possible. This creates a high security standard guaranteed.

The limiting means are expediently effective connection with the control device or form a part the same. You can advantageously as Phase control or as controllable or around switchable voltage or current source or as Voltage or current regulator or as switchable motor windings be trained.

To detect the operation of the control device with on closed safety device and thus to auto The actuation of the switching means serves a simple purpose and inexpensive way a connecting element between the control device and the at least one additional one Safety device, this connecting element in particular a connector designed as a code connector can be a connecting cable. This results in a automatic switchover by simply plugging it in Plug into the control device, for example.

The limiting means are preferably by a  Control electronics or realized by a microcomputer, this control electronics or this microcomputer in advantageously for testing the plug and / or the additional safety device connected to it is formed and the limiting means at positive Detection switches. The realization can thus in terms of circuitry or appropriate programming of the microcomputer.

In an alternative embodiment, the inserted plug one as a switching means in the Control device serving switching device can be actuated be, this connector in particular directly mechanical acts on the switching contacts of a changeover switch.

By actuating the switching means, either Switching to the maximum value of the work performance of the Drive motor or to a second safety value follow that above that when the switch is not actuated effective safety value. In one on More maneuverable design can also be achieved through the connection several additional safety devices whose actuation levels of the switching means can be switched, through which the first safety value can be raised in stages is. Such an arrangement is particularly then desirable if, for example, for different graded drive powers or driving forces of the Drive motor various additional safety facilities are prescribed.

In particular, as an additional safety device an inner or outer light barrier on the garage door and / or an electrical contact strip on the garage door seen.

Two embodiments of the invention are in the drawing shown and in the following description explained. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a garage door operator, are in the micro-computer-controlled in the control means limiting means provided,

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment in which the limiting means are designed as switchable voltage sources by means of a mechanically actuated switch, and

Fig. 3 shows the mechanically actuated switch in its second switching position, which is present without an additional safety device connected.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a drive motor 10 of a garage door drive for moving a garage door, not otherwise shown, is connected via an electronic control device 11 to a supply voltage source 12 , which supplies the mains voltage in the exemplary embodiment. In the electro-African control device 11 , limiting means 13 are controlled by a microcomputer 14 to limit the drive power, the driving force or the driving torque of the drive motor 10 . This microcomputer 14 is also connected to a socket 15 into which a code plug 16 can be inserted. The code connector 16 is connected via a connecting cable 17 to a light barrier arrangement 18 , only shown schematically, which can be attached in front of or behind the garage door as an additional safety device. As a further safety device, an electrical contact strip 19 can additionally or alternatively be arranged on the garage door, which generates a switching process when the garage door hits an obstacle. Such a light barrier arrangement 18 and such contact strips 19 are known per se as additional safety devices for garage doors.

The mode of operation of the garage door drive shown is that the drive motor 10 can generate such a high drive power that practically all of the garage doors to come can be driven. If no additional safety device is provided, the socket 15 remains unused, that is, no plug is inserted. This fact is recognized by the microcomputer 14 and he accordingly adjusts the limiting means 13 so that the drive power, the driving force or the driving torque of the drive motor 10 is reduced to a safety value, for example to a drive force of 150 N as a possible legal maximum value for garage door drives, if no additional safety device is provided in addition to this force or torque limitation.

A phase angle control known per se is suitable as the limiting means 13 . Alternatively, a controllable or switchable voltage or current source can be provided by which the voltage or current for the drive motor 10 is limited so that the drive power, the drive force or the drive torque is limited to the desired safety value. Another option is to provide a voltage or current regulator that regulates the motor voltage or current to the desired safety level. Either the motor voltage or the motor current or directly the motor torque or the driving force can serve as the actual value. Finally, there is also the possibility of providing switchable motor windings as a limiting means, a motor winding or a motor winding area being designed such that the desired limitation to the safety value occurs.

If it is now necessary to increase the drive power for a large garage door, for example, this is only possible in conjunction with an additional safety device, for example if a light barrier arrangement 18 and / or a contact strip 19 is provided. This additional safety device, namely the light barrier arrangement 18 and / or the contact strip 19 , is connected to the electronic control device 11 by means of the connecting cable 17 and the code plug 16 by plugging it into the socket 15 . The microcomputer 14 scanning the socket 15 and the code plug 16 possibly inserted therein now recognizes that an additional security device is connected and accordingly cancels the effect of the limiting means 13 completely or partially. In the event of a complete cancellation, the drive motor 10 now provides its full drive force, it also being possible to increase the drive power, the drive force or the drive torque to a second safety value which is above the first safety value. The microcomputer therefore also serves as a switching means for switching between different drive powers, drive forces or drive torques.

The increase in the security value or the removal of the effect of the limiting means can also take place in stages. For this purpose, the microcomputer 14 scans the connected safety device and determines which it is. Accordingly, it increases the safety value for the limiting means 13 . Instead of scanning the additional security device via the code connector 16 and the connecting cable 17 , the code connector 16 itself can be scanned. For this purpose, each safety device has a different code plug 16 or a plug with its own code, via which the microcomputer 14 recognizes the type of the connected safety device and raises the safety value accordingly. The coding of the code plug 16 can be an electronic, magnetic or mechanical coding. If the code plug 16 is pulled out, the limitation to the original first security value automatically occurs again.

If the light path of the light barrier arrangement 18 is interrupted, for example by a person, during operation of the drive motor 10 or if the contact strip 19 interferes with an obstacle, a switching process is triggered which is fed to the microcomputer 14 via the connecting cable 17 and the code plug 16 . This then blocks the drive motor 10 by switching off or interrupting the motor current. The code connector 16 thus has a dual function, namely the transmission of shutdown commands on the part of the at least one additional safety device and the transmission of the information to the microcomputer 14 that an additional Sicherheitsein device is connected, whereby the microcomputer the drive power or the driving force of the motor 10 increased.

Instead of a microcomputer 14 , an integrated or non-integrated control electronics can of course also be provided, which works without programming as a pure hardware device.

In the simpler second embodiment shown in FIGS . 2 and 3, instead of an electronic control device 11, an electrical control device 20 for the drive motor 10 , which, as limiting means 21, has a voltage source 22 with two supply voltages U 1 and U 2, alternatively via one 4-pole switch 23 can be applied to the drive motor 10 . The two supply voltages U₁ and U₂ are formed from the mains voltage by the voltage source 22 and can be AC or DC voltages.

In this exemplary embodiment too, an additional safety device, which is designed here as a contact strip 19 , can be connected to the control device 20 via a connecting cable 24 and a plug 25 by plugging the latter into a socket 26 . When the plug stecktem 25th of Figure 2 pushes these four with each other mechanically coupled switching elements 34-37 of the switch 23 in the illustrated positions. While the permanent switching elements 34 , 35 for the lower supply voltage U 1 are open, the switching elements 36 , 37 responsible for the higher supply voltage U 2 are closed, so that this higher supply voltage U 2 is applied to the drive motor 10 . However, one of the connecting lines to the drive motor 10 is interrupted and connected to two contact elements 29 , 30 , which are in electrical connection with an inserted connector 25 with two mating contacts 31 , 32 of the connector 25 . These two mating contacts 31 , 32 are connected to one another via a switch 33 in the contact strip 19 . This switch 33 is closed when the contact strip 19 is not actuated, so that one pole of the supply voltage U 2 is connected to the drive motor 10 via the contact elements 29 , 30 , the mating contacts 31 , 32 and the switch 33 .

If the contact strip 19 interferes with an obstacle, the switch 33 is opened and the motor current to the drive motor 10 is thereby interrupted.

If no additional safety device is connected to the control device 20 , there is no plug 25 in the socket 26 , and the changeover switch 23 is in the switching position shown in FIG. 3, in which the switching elements 34-37 are held by spring force. Here, the higher supply voltage U₂ is interrupted, and the lower supply voltage U₁ is supplied via the switching elements 34 , 35 to the drive motor 10 , so that this is due to the lower supply voltage U₁ only a limited drive power is available and the drive power or the drive force or the drive torque is limited to the safety value.

Of course, alternatively or additionally, a light barrier arrangement 18 can also be provided as an additional safety device or another known additional safety device in the second embodiment.

The garage door drive shown in FIG. 1 can of course also be operated with a DC drive motor 10 , in which case the limiting means 13 have a rectifier arrangement, or a rectifier arrangement is connected downstream of this. In both exemplary embodiments, a DC supply voltage can also occur instead of an AC supply voltage.

It is essential for the garage door drive according to the invention that the control device 11 or 20 recognizes whether an additional safety device is provided. This can also be done wirelessly, for example, which means that the additional safety device wirelessly transmits detection and switching signals to the control device 11 or 20 , by means of which it detects the presence of an additional safety device and, depending on this, adjusts a higher or lower drive motor power , and are transmitted to the other from switching signals for the case of actuation of the additional safety device.

Claims (11)

1. Electric garage door drive with a drive motor for moving the garage door, characterized in that limiting means ( 13 ; 21 ) for limiting the drive power, the driving force or the drive torque of the drive motor ( 10 ) are provided to a safety value which is below a maximum value , and that a control device ( 11 ; 20 ) for the drive motor ( 10 ) is prepared for connecting at least one additional safety device ( 18 , 19 ) which switches off the drive motor ( 10 ) when it is triggered, with automatic switching means ( 23 ) in operation with connected additional safety device ( 18 , 19 ) the effect of the limiting means ( 13 ; 21 ) is at least partially canceled. 2. Garage door drive according to claim 1, characterized in that the limiting means ( 13 ; 21 ) are operatively connected to the control device ( 11 ; 20 ) or form part of the same. 3. Garage door drive according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the limiting means ( 13 ; 21 ) are designed as a phase control or as a controllable or switchable voltage or current source or as a voltage or current regulator or as a switchable motor windings. 4. Garage door drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a connecting element ( 16 ; 25 ) between the control device ( 11 ; 20 ) and the at least one additional safety device ( 18 , 19 ) for detecting the operation with a connected safety device ( 18 , 19 ) and thus for the automatic actuation of the switching means ( 23 ) is provided. 5. Garage door drive according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting element ( 16 ; 25 ) is a connector, in particular a code connector, on a connecting cable ( 17 ; 24 ). 6. Garage door drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that control electronics or a microcomputer ( 14 ) for controlling the limiting means ( 13 ) is provided or at least forms part of the limiting means. 7. Garage door drive according to claim 6, characterized in that the control electronics or the micro-computer ( 14 ) for testing the connector designed as a connector ( 16 ) and / or the attached additional safety device ( 18 , 19 ) is out and the limiting means ( 13 ) toggles when the detection is positive. 8. Garage door drive according to claim 5, characterized in that serving as a connecting element ( 25 ) serving plug as a switching means ( 23 ) in the control device ( 20 ) serving switching device can be actuated. 9. Garage door drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by actuation of the switching means ( 23 ) there is a switchover to the maximum value of the drive power of the drive motor ( 10 ) or to a second safety value which is above that when the switchover means ( 23 ) are not actuated. effective security value. 10. Garage door drive according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that through the connection of several additional safety devices ( 18 , 19 ) different actuation levels of the switching means ( 23 ) can be switched, through which the first safety value can be raised in stages. 11. Garage door drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as an additional safety device ( 18 , 19 ) an inner or outer light barrier and / or an electrical contact strip is provided on the garage door.