Gate drive arrangement for driving a gate shaft of an overhead gate and method for operation

Abstract

The invention relates to a gate drive arrangement (8) for driving a gate shaft (12) of a gate leaf (4) of an overhead gate arrangement (2), which is guided in a frame arrangement (6), with a drive unit (10) that is operatively connected to the gate shaft (12), with a control unit (30) that controls the drive unit (10), and with a sensor arrangement (32) that has at least one position and / or speed sensor (38), such that at least one learning speed profile for an opening and a closing operation of the gate leaf (4) is stored in the control unit (30), characterized in that an evaluation unit (40) with a driving profile algorithm is provided in the control unit (30), which compares at least one operating speed profile with the learning speed profile and sends a control signal to the drive unit (10) in case of deviations, such thatthat the speed can be adjusted in a wear-optimized manner. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating such a gate drive arrangement (8).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a gate drive arrangement for driving a gate shaft of a gate leaf of an overhead gate assembly, which is guided in a frame arrangement, comprising a drive unit that is operatively connected to the gate shaft, a control unit that controls the drive unit, and a sensor arrangement that includes at least one position and / or speed sensor, such that at least one learning speed profile for an opening and a closing operation of the gate leaf is stored in the control unit. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a gate drive arrangement.

[0002] Gate drive systems for powering the drive shaft of an overhead gate are well known in the art. In this context, overhead gates are defined as all gates with a vertically movable door leaf, particularly sectional and roller doors for factory buildings, for example. Besides ensuring safe opening and closing operation combined with a long service life for the gate drive system and the associated door leaf, further developments focus particularly on preventing excessive heat loss through the open door leaf. A generic gate drive system for garage doors is known from US 4,638,433. In this system, force limits are detected during a learning phase and must be adhered to during operation.These mechanisms open the door leaf at a constant, preset speed. This ensures that the entire travel path of the door leaf is traversed at a speed that prevents accelerated wear at the most vulnerable point and maintains permissible forces in the event of a collision at every position and speed of the door leaf. Since bulky goods or vehicles often need to be moved in and out of industrial buildings, hall doors are usually many times larger than standard entrance doors. This not only increases heat loss through ventilation per unit of time, as it occurs across a larger area, but also lengthens the opening time of the door leaf, since its size means it takes longer to open and close even at the same travel speed. Additionally, hall doors are typically heavier than ordinary doors or gates due to their size.Therefore, their movement is achieved via powerful gate drive systems, which are designed for slower opening and closing speeds to increase durability and for safety reasons.

[0003] The object of the invention is therefore to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages in a simple and cost-effective way.

[0004] This task is accomplished by incorporating an evaluation unit with a driving profile algorithm into the control unit. This algorithm compares at least one operating speed profile with the learning speed profile and, in case of deviations, sends a control signal to the drive unit, allowing the speed to be adjusted in a wear-optimized manner. The power output, particularly the motor characteristic curve of the drive unit, is monitored to maintain a predetermined speed. The power output can be measured via the motor current. In this context, "wear-optimized" means achieving maximum speed with minimal, tolerable wear.

[0005] The sensor arrangement advantageously includes sensors that record environmental data, such as temperature, humidity, etc., in such a way that the driving profile algorithm takes this environmental data into account. This allows changes in the operating speed profile that occur due to altered environmental conditions to be considered when assessing the wear condition of the gate drive assembly.

[0006] By including at least one monitoring window for a wear-relevant travel area of ​​the gate leaf in the control unit, the computational effort of the control unit can be significantly minimized. Only known, at-risk wear areas are monitored.

[0007] Regarding an optimized and efficient control unit, the control unit includes a transmitter unit that transmits maintenance data to a receiver unit via a data connection. This transmitter unit can be integrated into the gate drive assembly or located separately. The transmitter unit can, for example, upload data to a maintenance cloud or make data available for local retrieval.

[0008] The problem is also solved by a method for operating such a gate drive arrangement, wherein at least one learning run is carried out before commissioning the overhead gate arrangement to create a learning run speed profile with a gate speed for a gate travel distance, such that in normal operation the operating speed profile is compared with the learning run speed profile and in case of deviations a control signal is sent to the drive device, so that the power of the drive device is adjusted and thus the desired gate speed is achieved in a wear range.

[0009] Regarding the term "learning drive speed profile", it should be noted that this does not only refer to an initial profile during initial commissioning, but also to learning drive speed profiles that can be stored during maintenance or, for example, in the context of changed conditions.

[0010] In the method according to the invention, it is particularly advantageous if environmental data, such as temperature, humidity, etc., are taken into account.

[0011] To keep the opening time of the gate leaf as short as possible, the gate speed is increased again after passing through the wear zone.

[0012] In a particularly advantageous way, different learning drive speed profiles can be recorded in order to store different load profiles.

[0013] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing, in which the single figure shows an overhead gate arrangement with a gate drive arrangement according to the invention.

[0014] The single figure shows a schematic view of an overhead gate assembly 2 with an electrically driven gate leaf 4, which in the present embodiment is designed as a sectional door and is guided in a frame assembly 6. The gate leaf 4 is operated by a gate drive assembly 8. This gate drive assembly 8 has a drive unit 10 for driving a gate shaft 12, which moves the gate leaf 4 into an open or closed position via two drive cables 14, 16. The drive cables 14, 16 are connected at a first end to a drum element 18, 20 and at a second end are deflected via a deflection device 22, 24 to a slack cable safety assembly 26, 28.The gate drive arrangement 8 also includes a control unit 30 for controlling the drive device 10 and a sensor arrangement 32, which includes a sensor 34 for protecting a gate space, a sensor 36 for detecting environmental data and a speed sensor 38 for monitoring the speed of the gate shaft 12.

[0015] In order to enable speed-optimized and at the same time low-wear and low-maintenance operation of the overhead gate arrangement 2, to minimize heat energy losses through ventilation and thus to maximize the energy sustainability of industrial halls in operation, an evaluation unit 40 with a driving profile algorithm is provided in the control unit 30.

[0016] The invention provides for the use of at least one learning-drive speed profile as the basis for the driving profile algorithm, in order to evaluate an operating speed profile based on this profile during normal opening and closing operation. Monitoring windows for expected wear ranges are then defined in the learning-drive speed profile. In the present embodiment, a monitoring window to be investigated is defined for a wear range 42. Due to the wear of the components, wear increases with increasing usage time when driving with an operating speed profile. The driving profile algorithm anticipates and monitors this development and adaptively adjusts the respective operating speed profile to the degree of wear and any existing harmful external influences. This involves a continuous reliance on acquired sensor data, taking into account environmental data such as temperature, humidity, etc.This feedback adapts the motor characteristic curve of the drive unit 10 to the current state of the gate leaf in the frame arrangement 6. In particular, after passing through a wear zone 42, the gate speed is increased again within the operating speed profile, thereby further minimizing the opening time of the gate leaf 4.

[0017] To ensure optimal maintenance of the overhead gate assembly 2, a transmitter unit 44 is provided, which transmits maintenance data via a data connection to a receiver unit 46, for example, a data server of a service provider. However, it is also possible to read the maintenance data locally.

[0018] It should also be clear that all types of gate bottom edge protection can be used in the embodiment according to the invention. In particular, integrated and external safety edges can be used. Reference symbol list 2 Overhead goal arrangement 4 gate leaf 6 Frame arrangement 8 Gate drive arrangement 10 Drive unit 12 Torwelle 14 Traction elements 16 Traction elements 18 Drum organ 20 Drum organ 22 Deflection device 24 Deflection device 26 Slack rope belaying arrangement 28 Slack rope belaying arrangement 30 control unit 32 Sensor arrangement 34 Sensor 36 Sensor 38 Speed ​​sensor 40 Evaluation unit 42 Wear area 44 transmitter unit 46 receiver unit QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 4,638,433

[0002]

Claims

Gate drive arrangement (8) for driving a gate shaft (12) of a gate leaf (4) of an overhead gate arrangement (2), which is guided in a frame arrangement (6), with a drive unit (10) which is operatively connected to the gate shaft (12), with a control unit (30) which controls the drive unit (10) and with a sensor arrangement (32) which has at least one position and / or speed sensor (38), such that at least one learning speed profile for an opening operation and a closing operation of the gate leaf (4) is stored in the control unit (30), characterized in that an evaluation device (40) with a driving profile algorithm is provided in the control unit (30), which compares at least one operating speed profile with the learning speed profile and sends a control signal to the drive unit (10) in case of deviations, such that the speed can be adjusted in a wear-optimized manner. Gate drive arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (32) has sensors (36) that detect environmental data, such as temperature, humidity, etc., such that the driving profile algorithm takes the environmental data into account. Gate drive arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one monitoring window for a safety-relevant travel area of ​​the gate leaf (4) is provided in the control unit (30). Gate drive arrangement according to one of claims 1 - 3, characterized in that the control unit (30) has a transmitter unit (44) by means of which maintenance data can be transmitted to a receiver unit (46) via a data connection. Method for operating a gate drive arrangement (8) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least before commissioning the overhead gate arrangement (2) at least one learning run is carried out to create a learning run speed profile with a gate speed for a gate travel distance, that in normal operation the operating speed profile is compared with the learning run speed profile and in case of deviations a control signal is sent to the drive device (10) so that the power of the drive device (10) is adjusted and thus the desired gate speed is achieved in a wear range (42). Method for operating a gate drive arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that environmental data, such as temperature, humidity, etc., are taken into account. Method for operating a gate drive arrangement according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the gate speed is increased again after passing through the wear zone (42). Method for operating a gate drive arrangement according to one of claims 5 - 7, characterized in that different learning drive speed profiles are recorded.

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