Overhead Door Corporation

Larry D Murphy

Grant Benjamin Carlson

Ulrich Theile

Brian M Yackey

Aaron J Potts

Daniel G Stafford

Low cost, low power consumption radio frequency transceivers are incorporated in barrier operator control systems for transmitting signals between an operator control unit, one or more remote control units, a diagnostic or calibration device and an obstruction detector. Similar detector devices, including such transceivers, may be employed in loading docks for detecting the status of dock levelers and vehicle restraint devices. Radio frequency communication eliminates the need for hard wiring and also provides for transmission of commands and status information between various control units.

Remote control and monitoring of barrier operators with radio frequency transceivers

A motorized operator for moving a barrier, such as an upward acting garage door, between open and closed positions includes a support mounted adjacent one of a pair of barrier guide tracks or along a barrier counterbalance shaft and a drive mechanism mounted on the support and engaged with an elongated flexible member, such as a chain, cable or cog belt. A cog belt, for example, is connected to a drawbar connected to the barrier at one end and the belt is either connected directly to the barrier at the opposite end or to a storage reel supported for rotation on and with a shaft of a barrier counterbalance mechanism. The storage reel may include a spiral groove and be supported on the counterbalance shaft for axial translation to receive and dereel the belt as the barrier is moved between open and closed positions. One or more belt tensioning pulleys may be mounted on the support.

Barrier operator with flexible drive member

A barrier operator includes a drive motor and a controller for causing the motor to move the barrier between open and closed positions and for monitoring parameters related to forces acting on the barrier during movement thereof. If no external entrapment device is connected to the controller, the controller automatically sets maximum control limit values which will effect stopping or reversing of the motor if an obstruction is encountered by the barrier. If an external entrapment device is connected to the controller, the controller requires a user to set the control limit values at least for movement of the barrier from an open position to a closed position. Audio or visual signal indicators associated with the controller alert the user to the requirement to set the control limits before the operator will effect movement of the barrier.

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North Canton, OH, United States of America

Larry D Murphy