Door Curtain Position Sensor Bracket Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing powered door systems with pliable curtains face challenges in accurately detecting open positions beyond the first open position, particularly when momentum carries the curtain beyond intended positions, leading to potential misalignment and damage.
Innovation Solution
A door sensing assembly with a vertically sliding bracket and shear pin mechanism that maintains sensor alignment and detects multiple open positions, preventing damage by breaking away if the curtain exceeds the second open position, ensuring accurate detection and preventing overshot movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the curtain is allowed to move freely under momentum beyond the first open position, then the door can open fully without restriction, but the sensor becomes misaligned and may cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed to move dynamically from a first position to a second position along the track as the curtain opens. This dynamic adjustment maintains sensor alignment with the actuator even when the curtain moves beyond the first open position under momentum, resolving the contradiction between free movement and sensor alignment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket acts as an intermediary mechanism between the curtain and the sensor assembly. It absorbs and compensates for the curtain's momentum-driven movement, maintaining proper sensor-actuator alignment without requiring the sensor to be rigidly fixed or the curtain to be restricted in its movement.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor is fixed in position to maintain alignment, then detection accuracy is improved, but the curtain cannot move beyond the first open position without causing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fixing the sensor rigidly, the bracket enabling sensor movement along the track provides dynamic positioning. This allows the sensor to maintain alignment accuracy across multiple curtain positions (first open position, second open position, and intermediate positions), resolving the contradiction between detection precision and position adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system is segmented into multiple detection points along the track (first open position sensor, second open position sensor). This segmentation allows accurate detection at each specific position while the curtain can freely move between positions, resolving the contradiction between precise detection and movement versatility.
3Reliability
If the curtain is restricted to stop at the first open position, then sensor alignment is maintained, but the door cannot achieve full opening or second open position
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic bracket mechanism allows the sensor assembly to adapt its position as the curtain moves to different opening states. This enables the door to achieve full opening and second open position efficiently without compromising sensor alignment reliability, as the bracket automatically adjusts to maintain proper sensor-actuator alignment throughout the range of motion.
Data Source
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AI summary
Door curtains with position sensor switches are disclosed. An example door (12) for selectively blocking and unblocking a passageway includes a frame (24) to be adjacent the passageway. The example door (10) includes a curtain (12) moveable selectively to a closed position and a first open position, where the curtain (12) blocks the passageway in the closed position, and the curtain (12) unblocks the passageway in the first open position. The example door (10) also includes a bracket (46) attached to the frame (24). The bracket (46) is movable selectively to a normal position and a displaced position relative to the frame (24). The example door (10) further includes a switch (28) attached to the bracket (46) and in sensing relationship with the curtain (12). The curtain (12) supports at least some weight of the bracket (46) when the bracket is in the displaced position. The curtain supports no weight of the bracket when the bracket is in the normal position.