Granted Patent B2

US 8,813,429 · App. 14/079,716 · Granted Aug 26, 2014

Abstract

Claims (46)

1. A method of installing a flexible-walled fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism comprising a flexible-walled fluid-based spring, the method comprising:

coupling a rotatable input shaft of the flexible-walled fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism to a jackshaft configured to be coupled to a movable barrier such that rotation of the jackshaft raises or lowers the movable barrier;

adjusting tension in the flexible-walled fluid-based spring by adding fluid to the fluid-based spring until a portion of the weight of the movable barrier is supported by tension in the fluid-based spring.

2. The method of installing a flexible-walled fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 1 , wherein the flexible-walled fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism is coupled to the jackshaft at an end of the jackshaft.

3. The method of installing a flexible-walled fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the weight of the movable barrier is substantially an entire weight of the movable barrier.

4. The method of installing a flexible-walled fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 3 , further comprising identifying the entire weight of the movable barrier according to raising of the movable barrier in response to addition of fluid to the fluid-based spring.

5. The method of installing a flexible-walled fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 1 , further comprising connecting the flexible-walled fluid-based spring to a source of fluid.

6. The method of installing a flexible-walled fluid-based spring counterbalance of claim 1 , further comprising connecting the flexible-walled fluid-based spring to an operator configured to control the position of the movable barrier by varying a quantity of fluid in the flexible-walled fluid-based spring.

7. A method of installing a fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism comprising a flexible fluid-based spring, the method comprising:

coupling a rotatable input shaft of the flexible fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism to a jackshaft configured to be coupled to a movable barrier such that rotation of the jackshaft raises or lowers the movable barrier;

adjusting tension in the flexible fluid-based spring by adding fluid to the fluid-based spring until a portion of the weight of the movable barrier is supported by tension in the fluid-based spring; and

constraining at least one portion of the flexible fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism such that the at least one portion of the counterbalance mechanism is configured to remain rotationally fixed when the jackshaft rotates.

8. A method of installing a fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism comprising a flexible fluid-based spring, the method comprising:

coupling a rotatable input shaft of the flexible fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism to a jackshaft configured to be coupled to a movable barrier such that rotation of the jackshaft raises or lowers the movable barrier;

adjusting tension in the flexible fluid-based spring by adding fluid to the fluid-based spring until a portion of the weight of the movable barrier is supported by tension in the fluid-based spring;

wherein the flexible fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism is coupled to the jackshaft by sliding the counterbalance mechanism onto the jackshaft.

9. A method of installing a fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism comprising a flexible fluid-based spring, the method comprising:

coupling a rotatable input shaft of the flexible fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism to a jackshaft configured to be coupled to a movable barrier such that rotation of the jackshaft raises or lowers the movable barrier;

adjusting tension in the flexible fluid-based spring by adding fluid to the fluid-based spring until a portion of the weight of the movable barrier is supported by tension in the fluid-based spring;

supporting at least a portion of weight of a movable barrier through:

a reduction shaft operably coupled to the rotatable input shaft, and

a translational mechanism coupled to the reduction shaft, the translational mechanism configured to compress the flexible fluid-based spring between two surfaces in response to rotation of the reduction shaft.

10. A method of controlling a position of a movable barrier, the method comprising:

adding fluid to, or releasing fluid from, a flexible-walled fluid-based spring mechanically coupled to the movable barrier such that the movable barrier begins movement towards a desired position;

securing a quantity of fluid within the flexible-walled fluid-based spring such that the movable barrier comes to rest in the desired position.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein adding fluid to the flexible-walled fluid-based spring causes the movable barrier to travel towards one of an open position or a closed position.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

maintaining the desired position of the movable barrier by maintaining a corresponding pressure within the fluid contained in the flexible-walled fluid-based spring.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining the quantity of fluid sufficient to move the barrier to the desired position according to a pressure of the fluid contained in the flexible-walled fluid-based spring.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the adding fluid to, or releasing fluid from, the flexible-walled fluid-based spring effects rotation of a reduction shaft through a translational mechanism, wherein the reduction shaft transmits rotation to a shaft to effect movement of the movable barrier.

15. A method of controlling a position of a movable barrier, the method comprising:

adding fluid to, or releasing fluid from, a flexible fluid-based spring mechanically coupled to the movable barrier such that the movable barrier begins movement towards a desired position;

securing a quantity of fluid within the flexible fluid-based spring such that the movable barrier comes to rest in the desired position;

receiving a signal at a movable barrier operator system, the signal configured to indicate the desired position of the movable barrier; and

determining at the movable barrier operator system whether to add fluid to, or release fluid from, the flexible fluid-based spring according to the desired position and a current position of the movable barrier.

16. A method of counterbalancing a movable barrier, the method comprising:

securing fluid within a flexible fluid-based spring of a flexible fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism;

supporting at least a portion of weight of a movable barrier by the flexible fluid-based spring by transmitting the portion of the weight through:

a rotatable input shaft of the flexible fluid-based spring counterbalance mechanism,

a reduction shaft operatively coupled to the rotatable input shaft, and

a translational mechanism operatively coupled to the reduction shaft,

wherein the translational mechanism compresses the flexible fluid-based spring between two surfaces in response to rotation of the reduction shaft.

17. The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier of claim 16 , further comprising connecting the flexible fluid-based spring to a source of fluid.

18. The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier of claim 16 , further comprising increasing the portion of the weight of the movable barrier by adding fluid to the flexible fluid-based spring.

19. The method of counterbalancing a movable barrier of claim 16 , further comprising controlling a position of the movable barrier by varying a quantity of fluid in the flexible fluid-based spring.

Assignments (6)