Adaptable Drive Assembly for Movable Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing movable barrier operator assemblies require distinct output drive arrangements for different types of barriers, leading to inconvenience and the need for multiple assemblies in inventory to accommodate various barrier types.
Innovation Solution
A drive assembly with an output drive adaptor apparatus that includes a crown wheel with attachment points and a concentric output drive portion, allowing for adaptable engagement with various movable barriers by using removably mounted adaptor portions and fasteners, enabling the same operator assembly to drive different types of barriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different operator assemblies are provided for different types of barriers, then compatibility with specific barrier types is improved, but device complexity and inventory requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The crown wheel is designed with multiple attachment points that can accommodate different adaptor portions for various barrier types (roller doors, sectional doors, tilt doors, etc.). This universal design allows a single operator assembly to serve multiple functions across different barrier applications, eliminating the need for separate specialized assemblies for each barrier type.
Solution Approach 2:
The output drive system is segmented into modular components: the crown wheel with standardized attachment points, removable adaptor portions specific to each barrier type, and barrier-specific mounting hardware. This segmentation allows installers to keep one base operator assembly and swap only the adaptor portions, reducing inventory complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Reliability
If specialized operator assemblies are used for each barrier type, then operational reliability for specific barriers is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to installer burden
Solution Approach 1:
A single operator assembly with a crown wheel featuring multiple attachment points can reliably serve multiple barrier types through interchangeable adaptors. This universal design maintains operational reliability for each specific barrier type while significantly improving installer convenience by eliminating the need to select from multiple specialized assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
Adaptor portions serve as intermediary components between the standardized crown wheel and various barrier-specific drive mechanisms. These adaptors maintain the reliable mechanical connection required for each barrier type while simplifying the installer's task to merely attaching the appropriate adaptor rather than selecting entirely different operator assemblies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple operator assemblies are maintained in inventory, then adaptability to various barrier types is improved, but loss of substance worsens through unused inventory
Solution Approach 1:
By designing the crown wheel with multiple attachment points that support various adaptor portions, a single operator assembly can cover multiple barrier types. This eliminates the need to maintain multiple specialized assemblies in inventory, thereby preventing waste of unused inventory while maintaining comprehensive adaptability across roller doors, sectional doors, tilt doors, and other barrier types.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular adaptor portions can be easily removed and replaced between installations. Instead of discarding entire operator assemblies after use, the valuable crown wheel base unit is retained and reused with different adaptors for subsequent installations, recovering and reusing the majority of the operator assembly components across multiple projects.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns an operator assembly for a movable barrier. The operator assembly includes a motor with a motor output shaft, an output drive to transfer drive to the movable barrier, and a transmission assembly to transfer drive from the motor output shaft to the output drive. The output drive is rotatable in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction, depending on whether the movable barrier is closing or opening. The output drive comprises a crown wheel rotatable about an output drive axis centre of rotation and having an outer face provided with a plurality of attachment points spaced from said centre of rotation. The operator assembly also includes an output drive adaptor apparatus, the output drive adaptor apparatus including: one or more adaptor portions configured to be removably mounted to the crown wheel through engagement with the plurality of attachment points, and an output drive portion that is concentric with the crown wheel and arranged to drive motion of the movable barrier.