Internally power slider with high torque drive system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9458656-B2
Application number	US-37756108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2008
Priority date	Jun 13, 2007
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

An internally powered sliding panel has a power source and drive train contained internally within the stiles and rails of a frame. A driven wheel is rotatably mounted on the frame and connected to the power source via the drive train. The panel may further include a lift system including a second power source, a lift mechanism, and a lift drive which are contained internally within the stiles and rails of the frame. The power sources, drive train, lift mechanism, and lift drive may be contained completely inside the stiles and rails of the frame. The movement of the panel along a fixed path, and the raising and lowering of the panel, may be regulated by a control system. The control system includes a microcontroller and sensor used to determine the position of the panel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An internally powered sliding panel comprising:
a frame positioned around a perimeter of a panel, wherein the frame is located on a support surface, the frame comprising:
a first stile comprising an upper end and a lower end;
a second stile comprising an upper end and a lower end;
an upper rail attached to the upper end of the first stile and the upper end of the second stile;
a lower rail attached to the lower end of the first stile and the lower end of the second stile;

a pane supported in the frame of the panel;
a power supply contained internally within the frame;
a first drive motor contained internally within the frame and operatively connected to the power supply;
a driven wheel carriage connected to the lower rail of the frame, the driven wheel carriage comprising a driven wheel rotatably mounted on the driven wheel carriage, wherein the drive motor is operatively connected to the driven wheel to rotate the drive wheel within the driven wheel carriage;
a lift motor contained internally within the frame and operatively connected to the power supply; and
a lift mechanism contained internally within the frame and operatively connected to the driven wheel carriage and the lift motor, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to translate the driven wheel carriage within the lower rail of the frame, and wherein translation of the driven wheel carriage by the lift mechanism raises and lowers the panel relative to the support surface.

2. A panel according to claim 1 , wherein the sliding panel further comprises a second wheel carriage connected to the lower rail of the frame, the second wheel carriage comprising a rotating wheel mounted on the second wheel carriage, and wherein the second wheel carriage is operatively connected to the driven wheel carriage, wherein translation of the second wheel carriage by the lift mechanism translates the driven wheel carriage within the lower rail of the frame, and further wherein translation of the driven wheel carriage and the second wheel carriage raises and lowers the panel relative to the support surface.

3. A panel according to claim 2 , wherein driven wheel carriage is operatively connected to the lift mechanism through the second wheel carriage.

4. panel according to claim 3 , wherein the driven wheel carriage is operatively connected to the second wheel carriage by a rigid connecting rod contained internally within the lower rail.

5. A panel according to claim 1 that further comprises a drive train contained internally within the frame, the drive train operatively connecting the drive motor to the driven wheel in the driven wheel carriage.

6. A panel according to claim 5 , wherein the drive train comprises a first drive train component contained internally within the first stile of the frame and a second drive train component contained internally within the lower rail of the frame.

7. A panel according to claim 1 that further comprises a lift drive contained internally within the frame, the lift drive operatively connecting the lift motor to the lift mechanism.

8. A panel according to claim 7 , wherein the lift drive is contained internally within the second stile of the frame.

9. A panel according to claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism comprises a first lift mechanism component contained internally within the second stile of the frame and a second lift mechanism component contained internally within the lower rail of the frame.

10. A panel according to claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism comprises:
a slide-block fixedly mounted on the lower rail of the frame, the slide-block comprising an aperture slanted relative to the lower rail of the frame; and
a lift-pin fixedly mounted on the second wheel carriage, wherein the lift-pin is slidably engaged with the aperture of the slide-block.

11. A panel according to claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism comprises:
a pushrod having an input end and an output end, wherein the pushrod is contained internally within the second stile of the frame, and wherein the pushrod is translatable relative to the second stile of the frame;
a crank-arm having an input end and an output end, wherein the input end of the crank-arm is operatively connected to the lift drive, wherein the output end of the crank-arm is operatively connected to the input end of the pushrod, and wherein the crank-arm is contained internally within the second stile of the frame; and
a pivoting arm having an input end and an output end, wherein the input end of the pivoting arm is pivotally connected to the output end of the pushrod, and wherein the output end of the pivoting arm is operatively connected to the second wheel carriage.

12. A panel according to claim 1 , wherein the panel further comprises a control system operatively connected to the drive motor, the lift motor and the power supply, wherein the control system is contained internally within the frame, and wherein the control system is configured to operate the drive motor to move the panel on the support surface using the driven wheel and to operate the lift motor to raise and lower the panel relative to the support surface.

13. A sliding panel apparatus comprising:
a driven panel comprising a frame positioned around a perimeter of the driven panel, wherein the frame is located on a support surface, the frame comprising:
a first stile comprising an upper end and a lower end;
a second stile comprising an upper end and a lower end;
an upper rail attached to the upper end of the first stile and the upper end of the second stile;
a lower rail attached to the lower end of the first stile and the lower end of the second stile;

a pane supported in the frame of the driven panel;
a power supply contained internally within the frame;
a first drive motor contained internally within the frame and operatively connected to the power supply;
a driven wheel carriage connected to the lower rail of the frame, the driven wheel carriage comprising a driven wheel rotatably mounted on the driven wheel carriage, wherein the drive motor is operatively connected to the driven wheel to rotate the drive wheel within the driven wheel carriage;
a lift motor contained internally within the frame and operatively connected to the power supply; and
a lift mechanism contained internally within the frame and operatively connected to the driven wheel carriage and the lift motor, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to translate the driven wheel carriage within the lower rail of the frame, and wherein translation of the driven wheel carriage by the lift mechanism raises and lowers the driven panel relative to the support surface;
a second panel comprising a frame positioned around a perimeter of the second panel, wherein the frame is located on a support surface, the frame comprising:
a first stile comprising an upper end and a lower end;
a second stile comprising an upper end and a lower end;
an upper rail attached to the upper end of the first stile and the upper end of the second stile;
a lower rail attached to the lower end of the first stile and the lower end of the second stile;

a pane supported in the frame of the second panel;
a wheel carriage connected to the lower rail of the frame of the second panel, the wheel carriage comprising a rotating wheel mounted on the wheel carriage;
a lift motor contained internally within the frame of the second panel and operatively connected to the power supply in the driven panel; and
a lift mechanism contained internally within the frame of the second panel and operatively connected to the lift motor, wherein the lift mechanism is configured to translate the wheel c

Assignees

• Mickelson Brad
• Andersen Corp

Inventors

• Mickelson Brad

Classifications

• E05Y2800/362

  horizontal frame members · CPC title

• E05Y2600/46

  in or on the wing · CPC title

• E05F15/638

  allowing or involving a secondary movement of the wing, e.g. rotational or transversal · CPC title

• E05Y2800/364

  vertical frame members · CPC title

• E05Y2800/21

  of identical elements, e.g. of identical compression springs · CPC title