CA2273558C - Safety brake mechanism for overhead sectional door - Google Patents

Safety brake mechanism for overhead sectional door Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2273558C
CA2273558C CA 2273558 CA2273558A CA2273558C CA 2273558 C CA2273558 C CA 2273558C CA 2273558 CA2273558 CA 2273558 CA 2273558 A CA2273558 A CA 2273558A CA 2273558 C CA2273558 C CA 2273558C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
brake shaft
track
shaft
door
spring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA 2273558
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2273558A1 (en
Inventor
Arthur A. Mihalcheon
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2273558 priority Critical patent/CA2273558C/en
Priority to US09/324,247 priority patent/US6189266B1/en
Priority to PCT/CA2000/000313 priority patent/WO2000073611A1/en
Priority to AU34121/00A priority patent/AU3412100A/en
Publication of CA2273558A1 publication Critical patent/CA2273558A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2273558C publication Critical patent/CA2273558C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05DHINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D13/00Accessories for sliding or lifting wings, e.g. pulleys, safety catches
    • E05D13/003Anti-dropping devices
    • E05D13/006Anti-dropping devices fixed to the wing, i.e. safety catches
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05YINDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05Y2201/00Constructional elements; Accessories therefore
    • E05Y2201/60Suspension or transmission members; Accessories therefore
    • E05Y2201/622Suspension or transmission members elements
    • E05Y2201/644Flexible elongated pulling elements; Members cooperating with flexible elongated pulling elements
    • E05Y2201/654Cables
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05YINDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05Y2201/00Constructional elements; Accessories therefore
    • E05Y2201/60Suspension or transmission members; Accessories therefore
    • E05Y2201/622Suspension or transmission members elements
    • E05Y2201/644Flexible elongated pulling elements; Members cooperating with flexible elongated pulling elements
    • E05Y2201/658Members cooperating with flexible elongated pulling elements
    • E05Y2201/66Deflectors; Guides
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05YINDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05Y2900/00Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
    • E05Y2900/10Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for buildings or parts thereof
    • E05Y2900/106Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for buildings or parts thereof for garages

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Braking Arrangements (AREA)

Abstract

The mechanism comprises a bracket, to which are mounted a fixed roller shaft and a rotatable brake shaft. The roller shaft has a roller which runs in the door track. A cylindrical torsion spring is positioned on the brake shaft. One end of the spring is anchored to the brake shaft. The other end of the spring is connected to a tensioning ring, so that the tension of the spring can be adjusted. The tensioning ring is disengagably secured to the bracket. An arm protrudes from the brake shaft. The lift cable for the door extends through an eye carried by the arm. As long as the cable is taut, the brake shaft is prevented from turning. At its outer end, the brake shaft carries a cam member with braking teeth. The teeth are positioned to bite into the exterior surface of the track if the cable breaks and the spring rotates the brake shaft.

Description

1 Now, there is a potential for the cables or lifting spring means to part or
2 fail. If the door is being raised or lowered, this can result in the door dropping
3 and injury or damage may follow.
4 Safety brake mechanisms have been marketed and patented for stopping the door from falling when tension in the cable is lost. See United 6 States Patent 5,291,686, issued to Sears et al, and brochures made of record 7 herewith, as examples of this prior art.
8 These known safety brake mechanisms typically involve the following 9 components:
~ a bracket is secured to the lower corner of the door;
11 ~ the bracket supports a horizontal shaft having a partly toothed disc 12 at one end;
13 ~ the disc is positioned within the track. The disc has a smooth 14 portion which is in contact with the track so that the disc can glide along the track when the door is in motion. Otherwise stated, the 16 disc functions as a bottom roller for the door;
17 ~ an arm protrudes from the shaft - the arm has an eye for engaging 18 the lifting cable;
19 ~ a torsion spring is positioned around the shaft. The spring is anchored at its inner end to a lug attached to the bracket. At its 21 outer end the spring is connected with the shaft.

1 As long as the cable is taut, the arm is restrained by the cable. The spring is 2 torqued and ready to unwind, but it is prevented from unwinding by its end 3 connections with the lug and shaft. When the cable breaks, the arm is 4 released, the spring rotates the shaft and disc and drives the teeth into the guide track to brake the door and prevent it from dropping.
6 These known safety brake mechanisms have been associated with 7 problems which have affected acceptance in the market place.
8 It needs to be understood that there are three different main types of 9 overhead door systems. The first system is referred to as a "standard lift".
In this system the door goes immediately into an overhead position as soon as it 11 begins to lift off the floor. The lift cables are initially in tension in an amount 12 equal to the total door weight. This initial tension gradually decreases almost 13 to zero once the door is fully open and entirely horizontal. The second system 14 is referred to as a "hi-lift" assembly. In this case, the door travels upwardly for a pre-determined distance before it begins to travel overhead or horizontally.
16 The lift cables are initially in tension equal to the door weight. This initial 17 tension gradually decreases to equal that portion of the door weight which has 18 not travelled overhead once the door is fully open. In the third system, 19 referred to as the "vertical lift" system, the door travels upwardly without travelling overhead. Therefore the lift cables remain in tension at all times in 21 an amount equal to the total door weight.

1 In other words, with the standard lift system the cable tension is greatly 2 reduced when the door is fully open, particularly if the door is small and light, 3 whereas the cables in the hi-lift and vertical lift systems always retain 4 appreciable tension when the door is fully open. The known safety brakes work adequately for the hi-lift and vertical lift systems in some situations.
6 However they are unreliable with the standard lift doors because the torsion 7 spring is liable to unwind slightly when the cable is untensioned, causing the 8 teeth to engage the track in a braking action. This is, of course, undesired.
9 Another problem can arise in situations where an electrically operated motor drives a shaft which carries drums on which the lift cables are wound or 11 unwound. When the electric motor is first started, it has a tendency to cause 12 some slack to arise in the lift cables, which again can undesirably cause the 13 brake to set. This is particularly likely to occur with the standard lift doors.
14 It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide a safety brake mechanism wherein the tension in the torsion spring can be adjusted to 16 optimize or match the spring to the door assembly with which it is being used, 17 to thereby reduce the likelihood of undesired triggering of the braking action.
18 For purposes of this description, "outer" denotes furthest from the 19 center of the door, "inner" denotes closest to the center of the door, "rearward"
denotes toward the door surface and "forward" denotes away from the door 21 surface.
5 2 In accordance with a preferred form of the invention, a safety brake 3 mechanism is provided comprising:
4 ~ a bracket for mounting to one lower corner of an overhead sectional door, the bracket having a central web and inner and outer
6 forwardly protruding, parallel legs;
7 ~ a roller shaft mounted to the legs and carrying a rotatable roller on
8 its outer end for running in the adjacent door guide track, the shaft
9 further carrying a sheave, spaced inwardly from the roller, around which the lifting cable may extend;
11 ~ the bracket having an upwardly extending section carrying means 12 for anchoring the free end of the lifting cable;
13 ~ a brake shaft, rotatably mounted to the legs above and forwardly of 14 the roller shaft, the brake shaft being positioned to clear the forward end wall of the track and to be forwardly spaced therefrom;
16 ~ the brake shaft carrying a cam member having at least one 17 downwardly and rearwardly directed tooth, for engaging the outer 18 surface of the forward end wall of the track, and an arm having an 19 eye through which the anchored end of the cable extends as it passes around the sheaves 21 ~ the brake shaft carrying a torsion spring secured at its outer end to 22 spring-anchoring means attached to the shaft and at its inner end to 23 spring-tensioning means secured to the inner leg of the bracket.

1 The resulting assembly is characterized by:
2 ~ the utilization of two spaced apart shafts, the rear shaft carrying the 3 roller for controlling the positioning of the door, bracket and braking 4 teeth relative to the track, the forward shaft locating the cam member and teeth outside the track and ensuring that the 6 positioning of the teeth is fixed relative to the roller, so that 7 improved clearance is created and the teeth are better kept from 8 contacting the track at its curve;
9 ~ the cam member functioning to bring the teeth into contact with the track in an angular position so that the door weight will then drive 11 the teeth firmly into the track with a wedging biting action, when the 12 torsion spring is released; and 13 ~ the utilization of a tensioning device on the brake shaft, for varying 14 the tension of the spring to better match it with the type of lift involved and the weight of the door used.
16 Broadly stated, the invention comprises, in combination, an overhead 17 sectional door, having a side edge and bottom corner; a guide track mounted 18 beside the door for guiding the door, said track having a front end wall; a 19 tensioned lift cable for lifting the door from the bottom corner; and a safety brake mechanism comprising a bracket attached to the lower corner of the 21 door adjacent the track; a roller shaft having inner and outer ends, the roller 22 shaft being mounted to the bracket and carrying a rotatable roller at its outer 23 end, the roller being positioned to run in the track, a brake shaft having a 24 longitudinal axis and inner and outer ends, the brake shaft being rotatably 1 mounted to the bracket so that it is adapted to rotate about its axis between 2 non-braking and braking positions, the outer end of the brake shaft having a 3 cam member secured thereto, the cam member having at least one 4 downwardly and rearwardly directed tooth at its outer end, operative to angularly engage the front end wall of the track with a wedging biting action 6 when the brake shaft rotates to the braking position; an arm protruding 7 upwardly from the brake shaft inwardly at the cam member and having means 8 for engaging with the lift cable, a torsion spring mounted on the brake shaft, 9 means, rotatably mounted on the brake shaft and being connected with one end of the torsion spring, for adjusting the tension of the spring, said means 11 being disengagably secured to the bracket to affix said one spring end, means 12 for affixing the other end of the torsion spring to the brake shaft, the brake 13 shaft being positioned upwardly and forwardly of the roller shaft so that the 14 roller is positioned in the track and the teeth are positioned outside and forwardly of the track, so that the spring will normally urge the brake shaft to 16 rotate to bring the teeth into angular engagement with the track front end wall 17 but the arm will prevent such rotation as long as the lift cable with which it is 18 engaged is tensioned.

2 Figure 1 is a perspective front view of the brake mechanism, showing 3 the lifting cable in the normal tensioned state;
4 Figure 2 is a side view, partly broken away, showing the mechanism with lifting cable in the tensioned state and the brake teeth in a non-braking 6 position;
7 Figure 3 is a side view similar to Figure 2, however the lifting cable is 8 now loose and the braking teeth have assumed the braking position; and 9 Figure 4 is a front view of the mechanism with the lifting cable in the tensioned or taut state.

13 The brake mechanism 1 comprises a bracket 2 having a central web 3 14 and inner and outer legs 4,5. The legs 4,5 protrude from the web 3 in spaced apart, parallel relationship. The bracket 2 further comprises an upwardly 16 projecting plate 6 having an inwardly projecting side edge portion 7 and a 17 main portion 8. A forwardly projecting portion 9 extends from the main portion 18 8, for anchoring the free end 10 of the lift cable 11 with nut and bolt assembly 19 12. The bracket 2 is mounted to the lower corner 13 of sectional door 14.
The bracket edge portion 7 abuts the side edge of the door 14; the main 21 portion abuts the front surface of the door.

1 A horizontal roller shaft 15 is mounted to the bracket legs 4,5 and is 2 retained in place by cotter pin 16. A roller 17 is rotatably carried on the outer 3 end 15a of the shaft 15. A sheave 18 is carried by the shaft 15 inwardly of the 4 roller 17.
The roller 17 is positioned to run in the guide track 23 extending 6 alongside the side edge of the door 14.
7 A brake shaft 20 is rotatably mounted to the bracket legs 4,5 and is 8 retained in place by cotter pin 21. The brake shaft is free to turn in the 9 openings formed in the legs 4,5, through which it extends.
The brake shaft 20 is positioned forwardly of and upwardly from the 11 roller shaft 15. Its outer end 20a is clear of and spaced forwardly from the 12 front surface 22 of the track 23.
13 An anchoring pin 25 extends through the brake shaft 20, inwardly of 14 the bracket outer leg 5. A cylindrical torsion spring 26 is mounted on the brake shaft 20 between the legs 4,5. The outer end 26a of the spring is 16 anchored to the pin 25. The inner end 26b of the spring is anchored to a 17 spring-tensioning ring 27 screw-threaded on to the threaded end 20b of the 18 shaft 20. The ring 27 can be rotated as required to tension the torsion spring 19 26 to a desired extent. Once set, it is locked to the inner leg 4 by nut and bolt assemblies 28.

1 A tooth/cam assembly 30 is secured to the outer end 20a of the brake 2 shaft 20. The assembly 30 comprises a cam member 31 carrying teeth 32 3 aligned with the track 23. The teeth 32 extend downwardly and rearwardly 4 toward the front surface 22 of the track 23.
An arm 33 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the support member 6 31 and has an eye 34 at its upper end. The cable free end 10 extends around 7 the sheave 18, through the eye 34 on the arm 33 and is secured to the 8 bracket portion 9 by the nut and bolt assembly 12.
9 In use, the arm 33 is normally fixed by its attachment to the cable free end 10. In this condition, the teeth 32 are retained in a non-braking position, 11 out of contact with the front surface 22 of the track 23. However, when the 12 cable breaks, the spring 26 turns the brake shaft 20 and cam member 31 13 clockwise to bring the teeth 32 into angular engagement with the track 23.
14 The weight of the door 14 will then drive the teeth 32 into the track 23 with a wedging biting action, as illustrated in Figure 3. The stop 36 limits the extent 16 of rotation of the arm 33.
17 The invention utilizes two shafts, mounted to the bracket, to enable and 18 maintain the spacing of the teeth relative to the track. It further uses the 19 released spring, rotatable brake shaft and cam member to bring the teeth into a wedging, angular position against the track, so that the weight of the door 21 will cause the teeth to bite into the door. And it further uses the spring-22 tensioning ring to adjust the tension of the torsion spring so that it is tailored to 23 the weight of the door.

1 While the foregoing description sets forth applicant's best mode of the 2 invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various 3 modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit 4 and scope of the invention.

Claims (2)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS
FOLLOWS:
1. A safety brake mechanism for use at the lower corner of an overhead sectional door having rollers running in guide tracks positioned at each side of the door, each track having a front end wall, the door being lifted by tensioned lift cables extending upwardly from its lower corners, comprising:
a bracket for attachment to one lower corner of the door adjacent one of the tracks;
a roller shaft having inner and outer ends, the roller shaft being mounted to the bracket and carrying a rotatable roller at its outer end for rolling within the adjacent track;
a brake shaft having a longitudinal axis and inner and outer ends, the brake shaft being rotatably mounted to the bracket so that it is adapted to rotate about its axis between non-braking and braking positions, the outer end of the brake shaft having a cam member secured thereto, the cam member having at least one downwardly and rearwardly directed tooth at its outer end, operative to angularly engage the front end wall of the adjacent track with a wedging biting action when the brake shaft rotates to the braking position;
an arm protruding upwardly from the brake shaft inwardly of the cam member, the arm having means for engaging with a lift cable;
a torsion spring mounted on the brake shaft;

means, rotatably mounted on the brake shaft and being connected with one end of the torsion spring, for adjusting the tension of the spring, said means being disengagably secured to the bracket to affix said one spring end;
means for affixing the other end of the torsion spring to the brake shaft;
the brake shaft being positioned upwardly and forwardly of the roller shaft so that, when mounted to a door in use, the roller can be positioned in the adjacent track and the teeth are positioned outside and forwardly of the track;
so that the spring will normally urge the brake shaft to rotate to bring the teeth into angular engagement with the track front end wall but the arm will prevent such rotation as long as the lift cable with which it is engaged is tensioned.
2. In combination:
an overhead sectional door, having a side edge and bottom corner;
a guide track mounted beside the door for guiding the door along its side edge, said track having a front end wall;
a tensioned lift cable for lifting the door from the bottom corner; and a safety brake mechanism comprising a bracket attached to the lower corner of the door adjacent the track;
a roller shaft having inner and outer ends, the roller shaft being mounted to the bracket and carrying a rotatable roller at its outer end, the roller being positioned to run in the track, a brake shaft having a longitudinal axis and inner and outer ends, the brake shaft being rotatably mounted to the bracket so that it is adapted to rotate about its axis between non-braking and braking positions, the outer end of the brake shaft having a cam member secured thereto, the cam member having at least one downwardly and rearwardly directed tooth operative to angularly engage the front end wall of the track with a wedging biting action when the brake shaft rotates to the braking position;
an arm protruding upwardly from the brake shaft inwardly at the cam member and having means for engaging with the lift cable, a torsion spring mounted on the brake shaft, means, rotatably mounted on the brake shaft and being connected with one end of the torsion spring, for adjusting the tension of the spring, said means being disengagably secured to the bracket to affix said one spring end, means for affixing the other end of the torsion spring to the brake shaft, the brake shaft being positioned upwardly and forwardly of the roller shaft so that the roller is positioned in the track and the teeth are positioned outside and forwardly of the track, so that the spring will normally urge the brake shaft to rotate to bring the teeth into angular engagement with the track front end wall but the arm will prevent such rotation as long as the lift cable with which it is engaged it is tensioned.
CA 2273558 1999-05-31 1999-05-31 Safety brake mechanism for overhead sectional door Expired - Lifetime CA2273558C (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2273558 CA2273558C (en) 1999-05-31 1999-05-31 Safety brake mechanism for overhead sectional door
US09/324,247 US6189266B1 (en) 1999-05-31 1999-06-02 Safety brake mechanism for overhead sectional door
PCT/CA2000/000313 WO2000073611A1 (en) 1999-05-31 2000-03-23 Safety brake mechanism for overhead sectional door
AU34121/00A AU3412100A (en) 1999-05-31 2000-03-23 Safety brake mechanism for overhead sectional door

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2273558 CA2273558C (en) 1999-05-31 1999-05-31 Safety brake mechanism for overhead sectional door

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2273558A1 CA2273558A1 (en) 2000-11-30
CA2273558C true CA2273558C (en) 2002-09-17

Family

ID=4163589

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2273558 Expired - Lifetime CA2273558C (en) 1999-05-31 1999-05-31 Safety brake mechanism for overhead sectional door

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU3412100A (en)
CA (1) CA2273558C (en)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3412100A (en) 2000-12-18
CA2273558A1 (en) 2000-11-30

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Effective date: 20190531