VERTICAL DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY
A vertical door latch assembly includes an electro-mechanical lock assembly and a rotatable engagement feature. A controller is in electrical communication with the electro-mechanical lock assembly. The controller is configured to direct the electro-mechanical lock assembly between a locking position with the electro-mechanical lock assembly in locking engagement with the rotatable engagement feature and a non-locking position with the electro-mechanical lock assembly in non-engagement with the rotatable engagement feature.
1 . A vertical door latch assembly comprising:
an electro-mechanical lock assembly;
a rotatable engagement feature; and
a controller in electrical communication with the electro-mechanical lock assembly and configured to direct the electro-mechanical lock assembly between a locking position with the electro-mechanical lock assembly in locking engagement with the rotatable engagement feature and a non-locking position with the electro-mechanical lock assembly in non-engagement with the rotatable engagement feature.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable engagement feature includes a gear configured to rotate with an axle.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the electro-mechanical lock assembly includes a pawl configured to move between a first position in locking engagement with the gear and a second position spaced from the gear.
4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the electro-mechanical lock assembly includes a motor attached to the pawl to move the pawl between the first position and the second position.
5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electro-mechanical lock assembly includes a retractable latch.
6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the retractable latch is configured to extend into the locking position in engagement with the rotatable engagement feature and retract into the non-locking position spaced from the rotatable engagement features.
7 . A vertical door assembly comprising:
a plurality of slats supported by a support structure;
an electro-mechanical lock assembly fixed relative to the support structure;
a rotatable engagement feature attached to one of the support structure or the plurality of slats; and
a controller in electrical communication with the electro-mechanical lock assembly and configured to direct the electro-mechanical lock assembly between the locked position and the unlocked position.
8 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the support structure includes an axle supported by at least one bracket.
9 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the rotatable engagement feature includes a gear configured to rotate with the axle.
10 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the electro-mechanical lock assembly includes a pawl configured to move between a first position in locking engagement with the gear and a second position spaced from the gear.
11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the electro-mechanical lock assembly includes a motor attached to the pawl to move the pawl between the first position and the second position.
12 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the electro-mechanical lock assembly includes a retractable latch configured to move between an extended position in engagement with the rotatable engagement feature and a retracted position spaced from the rotatable engagement features.
13 . The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the rotatable engagement feature is rigidly attached the vertical door assembly and the vertical door assembly includes a plurality of slats and a drum at least partially supported by an axle.
14 . A method of operating a vertical door latch assembly comprising the steps of:
sending a signal from a controller to an electro-mechanical lock assembly to move the electro-mechanical lock assembly to one of a locking position in locking engagement with a rotatable engagement feature on a vertical door assembly and a non-locking position in non-engagement with the rotatable engagement feature on the vertical door assembly; and
moving a retention feature on the electro-mechanical lock assembly into engagement with a rotatable engagement feature if the signal indicated the locking position and moving the retention feature on the electro-mechanical lock assembly out of engagement with the rotatable engagement feature if the signal indicated the non-locking position.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the rotatable engagement feature includes a gear attached to an axle at least partially supporting a plurality of slats of the vertical door assembly.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the electro-mechanical lock assembly includes a motor configured to move a pawl between the locking position in locking engagement with the gear and the non-locking position in non-engagement with the gear.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the gear is located on an axle at least partially supporting a plurality of slats in the vertical door assembly.
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the rotatable engagement feature includes a stop attached to the vertical door assembly.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the electro-mechanical lock assembly includes a retractable latch configured to extend into the locking position in engagement with the rotatable engagement feature and retract into the non-locking position spaced from the rotatable engagement features.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the vertical door assembly includes a plurality of slats and a drum at least partially supported by an axle.