Patent Application
20150345138
The present disclosure relates to partitioning a room. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the movement of wall panels for partitioning a room.
Partitions are often used to divide large rooms such as theaters, conference rooms, convention halls or gymnasiums. Typical partitions can include panels that hang from an overhead track and slide or unfold horizontally along the track from a storage position to partition a room. Such partitions often require a team of many people along the track to physically move panels along the track and can take a relatively long time to move and secure all of the panels into their final positions in the partition. A similar process is often performed when moving the panel from their position in the partition back to their storage position.
In addition to requiring more people or time to move panels into place, conventional partition movement systems are also more likely to be subjected to abuse due to manual movement of the panels. Conventional partition movement systems where panels are affixed to a cable driven along a track may not require as many people or as much time to move panels into place, but such systems generally do not allow for variations in the paths the panels may take since the panels must follow a fixed cable path.
The features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and not to limit the scope of what is claimed.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a full understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various embodiments disclosed may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and techniques have not been shown in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the various embodiments.
When not in use, panels 104 are stored in storage area 202 and suspended from storage tracks 110 and 112. In particular, panels 104 are suspended from storage track 110 and storage track 112. When needed to form a wall partition, panels 104 are driven out of storage area 202 using drive mechanisms 102 adjacent storage tracks 110 and 112. In some implementations, an operator may pull panels 104 out from storage area 202 as they slide along main track 108 and feed the panels to a first drive mechanism 102 just outside of storage area 202 adjacent main track 108.
As discussed in more detail below, panels 104 include a trolley that engages main track 108. The trolley may include one or more wheels that allow the panels to travel along the tracks. At least one wheel of the trolley includes a flange that is used to direct the panel along one of storage track 110 or storage track 112. In the example of
In operation, controller 118 can initiate drive mechanisms 102 along storage track 110 to begin feeding panels 104 from storage area 202 onto main track 108. The sequencing of turning drive mechanisms 102 on and off can be based on a predetermined timing or based on an input from an operator of controller 118. In addition, controller 118 can also sequence drive mechanisms 102 along main track 108 and auxiliary tracks 114 and 117 to turn certain drive mechanisms 102 on or off.
Controller 118 can include a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) or a microprocessor controller that executes computer readable instructions stored in a memory of controller 118 to control operation of drive mechanisms 102. Sensors 119 are electrically connected to controller 118 to provide an indication of a location of a panel along main track 108 or auxiliary tracks 114 and 117. Sensors 119 can include a proximity sensor, such as an electromagnetic or inductive sensor. In other implementations, sensors 119 can include a contact sensor or switch.
In one embodiment, a particular panel can include a sensed element that is detected by sensor 119 so as to indicate to controller 118 when the panel has reached a certain location along tracks 114, 117, or 108. In another embodiment, sensor 119 provides controller 118 with a signal for each panel that passes a certain location along tracks 108, 114 or 117. Controller 118 can then use this location information to turn particular drive mechanisms on or off or to control a speed of a drive mechanism 102.
In this regard, controller 118 may also allow for the drive mechanisms to drive the panels at different speeds through the use of, for example, a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) connected to the drive mechanisms 102. A variable speed drive for drive mechanisms 102 can be used when starting or stopping wall partition movement system 100 to provide a smooth start or stop to movement of the panels. In other embodiments, each drive mechanism 102 or particular drive mechanisms 102 such as those at the beginning or end of a track may be equipped with a variable speed drive to slow down or speed up the panels as they approach a turn or reach the end of a track.
The panels are driven along main track 108 from one drive mechanism 102 to the next to move the panels toward positions for forming a wall partition to define room 204 or 206 with building walls 200. Controller 118 can is electrically connected to track guide 116 and can actuate track guide 116 to switch between connecting main track 108 to one of auxiliary track 114 or auxiliary track 117 positioned at an angle to main track 108. After switching the direction of travel from main track 108 toward an auxiliary track, a drive mechanism 102 adjacent the auxiliary track is initiated to drive a panel away from main track 108 and toward or onto the auxiliary track. When moving the panels back to storage area 202, the drive mechanism 102 drives the panel the opposite direction from the auxiliary track toward main track 108. The drive mechanisms adjacent main track 108 are then used to drive the panels back toward storage area 202.
As shown in
As appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, wall partition movement system 100 in other embodiments can include more or less tracks, panels and drive mechanisms than those shown in
Drivable element 122 is also connected to suspension rods 124 and is positioned to contact looped element 120 of drive mechanism 102. In the embodiment of
In such an implementation, drivable element 122 can be configured to deform as shown in
In an implementation where looped element 120 includes a chain, drivable element 122 can include a sprocket configured to engage the chain. Drivable element 122 may be allowed to pivot or rotate within a few degrees in order to synchronize the meshing of teeth of drivable element 122 with the chain.
Drive mechanism 102 includes motor 126 configured to drive looped element 120 around roller 130 using drive wheel 128. Drive mechanism 102 and main track 108 can be mounted above a building ceiling so as to generally conceal drive mechanism 102 and main track 108 from view.
In some embodiments, motor 126 may include a magnetic starter to allow for motor 126 to start after rotation of drive wheel 128 to allow for the automatic starting of drive mechanism 102 after being fed a panel. In addition, motor 126 may also include a clutch that disengages stops motor 126 from driving drive wheel 128 after encountering a resistance rotation of drive wheel 128. In other implementations, motor 126 may stop on its own after encountering a resistance to rotation of drive wheel 128. Such resistance to rotation may be detected from a current used by motor 126 exceeding a current limit. In such an implementation, drive mechanism 102 can automatically stop when a panel driven by drive mechanism 102 reaches a final position when a next panel along the track prevents movement of the panel along the track. In addition, such an automatic stop can also serve as a safety feature to cause the panel to automatically stop when encountering an obstacle along its path.
The clutches or stopping of motors 126 can also be controlled by controller 118 so that controller 118 can sequence the motors 126 off as discussed above or can stop movement of the panels through an override switch or an input received from an operator at controller 118.
Suspension rod 124 is attached to panel 104 at header 109 on one end portion and attached to trolley 134 on the opposite end portion of suspension rod 124. Trolley 134 includes wheel 139 and flanged wheel 136. Main track 108 engages wheel 139 and flanged wheel 136 as shown in
Drivable element 122 is affixed on suspension rod 124 so as to contact looped element 120 (not shown in
Tension roller 132 can be used to facilitate removal of looped element 120 for replacement or maintenance. Tension roller 132 is mounted on tension arm 146 and is moved along slot 144 against the resistance of spring 145 when removing looped element 120 to loosen looped element 120. In other embodiments, a gas cylinder or other mechanism for maintaining tension of looped element 120 can be used instead of spring 145. In yet other embodiments, tension roller 132, slot 144, spring 145, and tension arm 146 can be omitted.
The embodiment of
In
In one implementation, contact wheels 137 can include a deformable material such as a rubber wheel that can contact drivable element 138 and impart a frictional force on drivable element 138 to move panel 106 along main track 108.
In another implementation, contact wheels 137 can include a non-deformable material and drivable element 138 can include a deformable material such as rubber that can compress against contact wheels 137.
The embodiment of
In block 804, the first drive mechanism 102 is initiated in response to movement of the at least one panel to drive the at least one panel to a second drive mechanism 102. In some implementations, drive mechanisms 102 are configured to start driving a panel in response to movement of the panel along the track. In one such example, motor 126 includes a magnetic starter such that rotation of drive wheel 128 or contact wheel 137 starts motor 126. In other examples, the starting of drive mechanisms 102 may be initiated by controller 118.
In block 806, an additional drive mechanism 102 or additional drive mechanisms 102 are initiated to move the at least one panel farther along main track 108. The additional drive mechanism or mechanisms 102 can be initiated by controller 118 starting the motors 126 or may be initiated by an automatic starter based on movement from the feeding of a panel from an adjacent drive mechanism 102.
In block 808, a track guide such as track guide 116 in
In block 810, one or more drive mechanisms 102 stop after encountering a resistance to movement of the at least one panel or based on an indication of a location for the at least one panel received from a sensor 119. In other embodiments, controller 118 may stop drive mechanisms 102 based on an input from an operator of controller 118 or based on a timing sequence for moving the at least one panel into place. The wall partition movement process of
After reaching their final locations for forming a wall partition, the panels may be locked into place by an operator moving a lever to join adjacent panels or lock the panels into a building floor. In other implementations, the adjacent panels may be locked into place using an electro-mechanical mechanism controlled by controller 118.
The foregoing description of the disclosed example embodiments is provided to enable any person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the embodiments in the present disclosure. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the principles disclosed herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive and the scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and processes described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. Furthermore, the foregoing processes can be embodied on a computer readable medium which causes a processor, controller, or computer to perform or execute certain functions.
To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, and modules have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Those of ordinary skill in the art may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.
The various illustrative logical blocks, units, modules, and controllers described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a Digital Signal processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
The activities of a method or process described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. The steps of the method or algorithm may also be performed in an alternate order from those provided in the examples. A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable media, an optical media, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC.
The foregoing description of the disclosed example embodiments is provided to enable any person of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the embodiments in the present disclosure. Various modifications to these examples will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the principles disclosed herein may be applied to other examples without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive and the scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
