US1619816A - Folding closure and means for operating same - Google Patents

Description

` 1,61 ,816 March. 8, 1927. w' B' GERVAIS Y 9 FOLDING CLOSURE AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAME l March 8,1927. 1,619,816

wl B. GERVAIS Y v FOLDING CLOSURE AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAME Filed Aug. '13, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 66 y J E 7/ .11. I4 /9/ l l?. t

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' Filed Aug. 13-I 192s l4 sheets-sheet s March 8 1927.

y 1,619,816` W. B. GERVAIS FOLDING cLosURE AND MEANS Foa OPERATING SAME Filed Aug. 1s, 1923 4 sheets-sheet 4 l o uired,

sections have been D tially or entirely.

Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

narran STATES rifles.

IVAINlViRIGHT B. GERVAIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TG vVARIETY FIRE IJOOR COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

FOLDING: CLOSURE ANI) MEANS FOR OPERATING SAME.

Application filed August 13, 1923. Serial No. 657,149.

lily invention relates to improvements in folding closure and means "for operating same.

Closures comprising a plurality of folding proposed before. lVhere they hare comprised more than one pair of folding sections as in car shops, freight sheds, docks, warehouses and the like where relatively large door ray openings are reit has been customary to fold more than one pair of door sections at the same time. The results have been unsatisfactory. .Foldingof more than one pair of sections at the same time imposes great and widely varying stresses, resulting from the different angular and vertical positions ofthe ytwo pairs of sections and this makes operation and control difficult. VFrequently uncovering of only a portion of the doorway opening is required, yet where two or more pairs of folding sections are folded simultaneously the same great range of varying stresses are imposed and operation'and control complicated whether the closure is opened par- My invention contemplates specifically an improved closure comprising two pairs of folding sections mounted and connected to permit movement of one pair toward open position. without folding, with the folding of the other pair followed by folding of the first pair where further uncovering' of the doorway or other opening is desired after folding of the second pair. Folding 0f the pairs of sections separately imposes' the varying stresses iof only one pair of sections at a time. Partial opening is secured by' folding' only one pair and complete opening is secured by folding the other pair after the first pair has been folded. lVhile prefera ble andespecially desirable movement of the first pa'irof sections toward open position with the folding of the second pair is not absolutely essentie. Folding of one pair without movement of the other pair toward open position followed by folding of the second pair where a larger opening is desired after folding of the first pair 'of closure sections is contemplated within the spirit and scope of this invention. `While the pairs of sections are preferably arranged one over the other with connections therebetween and the upper pair of sections are preferably ar-` ranged to fold first, variation and modification of-these aspects of the invention and of the order of folding is contemplated.

Further features are an improved mechanism for operating the folding sections and means forcontrolling the operating mecha nism manually or automatically-as desired.

Details not already referred to and certain constructional features which are novel and important will appear from the following detailed description and the claims taken with an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which;

igure l is a front elevational View of a door embodying` the invention.

Figure 2 is a yvertical section on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a horizontal 3-3 of Figure l.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section through one of the guides at opposite sides of the doorway and the adjacent jamb taken on line 4-fl of Fim l. l

F ig. 5 is a similar section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through one of the stationary lower door breaking cams on line 6 6 of Fig. 5 showing fragmentarily the sections of the lower door in end elevat-ion and the cooperating breaking cam can ried thereby.

.Figa 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the closure operating mechanism, show# section on line ing an automatic throwput for disconnect ing the two pulleys which raise the upper door-.sections when said sections Vhave been folded into open position.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7 and;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated is shown applied to wall 5 and is adapted when closed to completely cover doorway or opening 6 through said wall 5. Wall 5 which may be ofbrick or any other suitable or preferred construction has the usual `iambs defining the sides of opening 6. Wall supporting and reinforcing beams 7 are shown along the top of opening 6.

The closure comprises an upper pair of door sections 8 8 and a lower pair of door sections 9-9 all of which are adapted to lie in the same plane in superposed relation when the door is closed. The lower of the two bottom door sections fle-9 comprises a frame 1() preferably of wood, although metal or other suitable construction may be employed within which trame there are a piurality oi panels 11 composed ot inter-engaging tongued and zogrooved strips ot thinner stock. As already pointed out theV closure may be ot metal or other suitable construction throughout, in which case corrugated sheet metal or other suitable panels may beernployed. rlhe upper ot the two lower'closure sections comprises a trainev l2 having openings 13 in which panes la ot glass or other suitable transparent material are secured.

Vlhile the upper et the two top door sections 88 is smaller than the lower one ot said sections, these two sections may be ot the same dimensions or otherwise formed as desired, as may be the two lower door sections 99. AThe upper oit these sections comprises a frame 15 and the lower a traine 16,- each preferablyj although not necessarily of wood construction and each provided with panels 17 and 18 respectively which maybe formed similar to the panels 1l or otherwise as desired. Variation and modification ot the particular structural details, relative dimensioning'V and material oit the two pairs ot door sections are contemplated within the scope of my invention. l

The adjacent horizontal. edges ot upper sections 8&8 are hingedly connected by a plurality ot straps 19 ot metallic or lother suitable construction. one ot each pair being' secured to the back sidertllig. 1) otthe Jframe ot the upper ot the two top sections and the other to the lower ot saidsections in a similar manner. The adjacent ends ot each pair ot straps 19 are rolled or beaded over suitable pins or pintles 21 about the axes ot which the adjacent edges ot the upper door sections are adapted to turn in Jfolding. Lower door sections SMD. are hingedly connected in a similar manner by straps 22 and pintles 23 about which the adjacent edges ot said lower sections turn or revolve in folding.

The lower ot the upper pair ot door sections is hingedly connected to the upper ot the lower pair ot sections by straps 25 secured to the front side (Fig. 1) of the trame ot the upper ot the two lower sections and rolled atupper projecting' ends over pintlcs or pins 27 about the aires ot which the lower section ot the upper door is adapted to swing' downwardly away trom the wall and toward a horizontal plane in opening. The upper section ot the lower door is adapted to swing' upwardly away trom` wall 5 and toward a horizontal plane about pins 27 in opening. Pins 27 are mounted in brackets 28 secured to traine 16 ot the lower section ot the npper door. This hinge `connection between the upper and lower pair ot doors is an important aspect ot the invention. lt permits the wide latitude ot clearance for the proper breaking and folding ot the sections at this point. The outermost pair ot pins 27; that is.l those at the opposite vertical edges ot the door, have guide rollers 30 revolvably mounted thereon. Similar guide rollers 3l. are mounted on pins 32 carried by brackets secured to the lower section of the lower door adjacent the bottom thereot'. Rollers 3l) and 31 are adapted to run or travel in opening' and closing` the doorA` either partially or completely, along;` flanges 49 of angle irons arranged vertically and Jforming tracks along the opposite sides ot the door.

Vertical trame members 35 oit trame 15 ot the upper ot the top sections 8*-8 project upwardly 'trom the horizontal top dening trame member of said section and said sec tion is hingedly hungby straps 37 secured to these project-ing' trame members. Straps 37 are turned inwardly along the upper ends ot trame members 36 and are beaded or 'rolled over pins or pintles 38 carried by brackets 39 attached to the depending' 'flange ot an angle iron L1-0 which is in turn secured by bolts l2 to wall 5 in horizontal position above opening' 6.

Jambs of wall 5 are provided with angle jambs 45 mounted over the corners ot doorway 6 and extending vertically along the height ot each side ot the doorway. Secured to angle ambs 45 and extending' vertically along;` each oi' the opposite sides of the doorway areplates d6 upon which are mounted guides tor the opposite vertical edges ot the door. lThese guides each cornprises an angle iron 478 secured to plates 46 and extending vertically trom the floor to the top ot the operating mechanism. Angle irons 34C back tot the flanges 33 ot which travel inturned flanges 125 on brackets 7Gr` 79, 82 and 86, are secured to the outwardly projecting flanges t9 ot angles 48. Secured to the opposite sides ot tlanges 49 are angles 50 the flanges 52 of which overlap the edges ot the twolower door sections 9-9 and prevent breaking` or folding oi' said lower sections until thc upper sections are folded and said lower sections are moved upwardly sutlicient-ly to clear the upper ends ot angles 50 which angles extend from the tloor to about one toot from the top ot the lower set ot doors on each side.

To break the hinge line and start the tolding ot the two lower sections 9-9 when thev havebeen moved. up to their proper posi/- 'tions a cam is provided on each ot the opposite vertical edges ot the upper ot the lower two sections just above the lower edce thereof.

These cams 55 cooperate with cams 5G secured to angles i8 in the path ot movement loo IEM)

100 (Fig. 2) pivoted at 101 and having an upwardly extending yolzed arm for shitting clutch member 91 out of engagement with clutch member92. Lever 100has an outwardly extending arm having an eye in which is secured la cable, chain or other suitable means 105 for disengaging the clutch, from the bottom of the door. The

clutch is adapted to be re-engaged by spring 98. lt will nov.' be apparent that upon complete folding of the upper sections and disengaging clutch 91 from clutch 92 that Yfurther operation of the hand chain operates only pulleys 01,-61 to fold the bottom or lower Vdoor sections without further actuation of the upper door cables -78- The operating device shown in Figures 7 and 8 is identical with that shown in Figure 2 with the exception that instead of manually disconnecting pulleys 62-62 when the upper sections are Jfolded an automatic throw-out is provided for disconnecting pulleys 62--62 at the proper point. This comprises, in this instance, simply -forming eye 107 in the outer end of the outwardly extending arm 106 of bell crank lever 100 otherwise the same as lever 100 of Figure 2 to receive the chain or cable 75 of the upper door sections, which extends through this eye- 107 and has a collar or other shoulder 108 thereon for striking the arm of the bell crank lever and throwing the clutch when the two upper door sections have been raised to their proper positions.

The independent folding of the pairs of door sections; the movement of one pair of sections toward open position without folding, with the folding of the other sec tions; the hanging and hingeconnections for permitting breaking and proper folding of the door sections; the provisions for guiding and preventing folding` of the lower sections until the upper i sections have folded; the provision i'or breaking the hinge connections between the lower sections at the proper point and the actuating'mechanism and means for manually or automatically uncoupling the upper door actuating means to permit further actuation of the lower door operating means Without further actuation of the upper doors are highly important aspects of my invention.

l have described the invention, in con nection with the details ot a particular embodiment, but do not intendV thereby to limit the invention to such details as changes and modifications are Vcontemplated within the scope oi the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. Ina closure, a. pair of door portions, a flexible connection for opening one of said door portions, a second flexible connection for opening the other of said door portions, means for actuating one of said connections, means for actuating the other con nection, separate drive means for ating means, said drive means being adapted for operation together' until .one door .is moved into open position and independently to more the other door into open position, and means 'for automatically uncoupling said separate drive means as the first door reaches open position. y

2. ln a closure, a pair of door portions, a exible connection for opening one of said door portions, a second flexible connection for opening the other of said door portions, 'means 'for actuating one of said connections, means for actuating the other connection, separate drive means for said actuating means, said drive means being adapted for operation together until oner door is moved into open position and -independently to move the other door into open position, and means for uncoupling said separate drive means as the first door reaches open position.V

In combination, two lifting pulleys, drive members for the, respective pulleys, continuously.driven,operating means for one of the pulleys, driving means tor the other pulley, and means associated with the said continuously driven means for throwing said driving means into and out of `operation-` Ll. ln combination, two lifting pulleys, gears connected to the respective,pulleys for driving the same, pinions meshing with. said gears, means for supporting said pinions, said means having direct driving` connection with one of theV pinions, and clutch lmeans associated Vwith said supportingmeans for optionally establishing driving connection between the supporting means and the other pinion. Y

5. vin combination, a lifting pulley, a drive member therefor, a second lifting pulley, a second drive member for said second lifting pulley, means for drivingl the drive members, means for' connecting said drive members to drive the lifting pulleys together and for disconnecting said drive members to permit driving of-one pulley independently ot the other, and mea-ns automatically controlling said connecting means.

t5. ln a closure, a pair of closure sections, a lifting pulley for one section, a lifting pulley for the other section, means 'for driving said pulleys together until one section is n'ioved into open position, said means'including a clutch, and means controlleil automatically bythe movement of said iirst section into open position for operating said clutch to permit driving of the pulley Ator the other section independently of said first pulley to move the other section into open position.

7. In closure, a pair of upper folding closure sections, a pair of lifting pulleys for said sections, a counter-weight, flexible connections connected between said sections and the counter-weight and trained over said liftsaid actuf Cil ` they may be made of canis 55, as the lower sections approach the upper ends et angles 50, forcing the hingedly connected edges of the'lower door section outwardly and thereby starting the folding ol said sections.

These Canis may be arranged between the bacl side of the door section and the door jambs in which case they could be made smaller to not interfere with the proper closed position'ol' the lowerdoor sections. By arrangii j then'i as shown, however, there isnov possibility et' such interference and up as large as desired to secure the desired break. The top edges of cams 56 and the lower edges of cams are shown inclined so that there will be no possible' interference with the closing inloveinent of the door sections. The adjacent horizontal edges of each pair otdoor sections and the adjacent horizontal edges of the lower section of the upper door vand upper section of the lower door are preterably scarted as shown, to interengage and form tight joints at said points.

ll/Iounted upon wall and tol one side thereof' is an open traine 69 in lwhich are mounted two pairs ot' pulleys 61-61 and (S2-432. Pulleys 61H61 are driven .together as by keying saine at 73 with a spur gear 63 on a sleeve Gl. y Sleeve ($4 'is rotatably mounted on one end of a shaft 65 journaled at its yopposite ends in frame 69. Pulleys G2-`2 are similarly driventogether and independently of pulleys '5L- 61 as by keying them at 74 with a gear 6G upon a sleeve 68 rotatable on the opposite end ot shat't 65. The sheaves and gears which are locked together may run upon the shaft instead oi the sleeve or be otherwise arranged. A cable secured atf76 to the lower of the two upper sections at a point adjacent the bottom of one end of said section as through a suitable arin or bracket extends up andV around one ol the pulleys 62 .and down and is connected at its opposite end to a counterweight 77. vA cable 78 secured at 79 to the bottom of the opposite end of saine section extends up over a sheave behind sheave 80 across and down over the other shcave (52 and is secured with cable 75 to counterweight 7T. Counterweight 7T counterbalances the weight oi the upper door sections so that said sections will be retained in any folded positionin which released.

A `cable 8l secured at 82 to the lower of the two lower door sections at a ppint adjacent the bottom of Yone end ot said section extends up and around one of the pulleys (3k-(ll and down and is secured with a cable 83 to a counterweight 84. Cable SB is trained over sheave SO in block S5 and extends flown and is secured at 86 to the bottom of the opposite end of the saine section. Counterweight 8l counterbalances the above doorway (i.

vfolded. This comprises a bell weight of the lower door sections so that said sections will be retained in .any vertical or toldo-d position iny which released. Counterweights 77 and 84; .travel and are guided in a guide channel 98 extending vertically along one side of the doorway.

.A shaft 70 rotatabl i journaled in traine has a hand chain sheave 'Tl iixed on its outer end and within the traine a pinion 72 lined on shaft 79 for rotation therewith meshes with `spur gear 63. Splined at l90 for longitudinal movementalong shaft '79 is a clutch member 191. A cooperating clutch ineinber 92 loose on shaft 70 has a pinion 93 lined thereon, which pinion 93 meshes with gear G6: A hand chain 95 (Fig. l) trained over she-awe il and down between idlers 96-96'1nayhang loosely to a point conveniently accessible from the bottoni fol' the door as shown or it may be trained over a second .shears at said point if desired. The groove in sheave Il may be tori-ned irregular as shown at 97 in Fig. 9 for proper engagement with hand chain 95. A coiled spring' '98 interposed between pinion 7 2 and clutch ineinber 91 normally maintains said clutch member in engagement with clutch member 92.

lVhen the upper and lower door .section-s arein closed position and it is desired to open saine, hand chain is grasped and drawn downwardly to rotate sheave 7l and thereby shattYO. VClutch members 91 and 92 being 1n driving engagement both pinions 72 and 98 are rotated, with a resulting rotation of both pairs of pulleys 6l-61 and (S2-$2 through gears 63 and G6. Cables 75-78 and 81-83 are thereby drawn upwardly simultaneously. The upper edge ot' the upper section ot the upper door being fixed, sections 8-8 immediately break at the hinge connection therebetween and fold outwardly toward the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. Simultaneously with the folding of the upper door sections, lower sections 9-9 are moved upwardly without folding through their connection with the upper sectionszand through cables 8l and 83.

There only a partial uncovering of the doorway is required folding ot.' the upper sections may sutlice, or it inay not even be necessary to completely fold said sections. iV here a greater opening is required, however, operation of hand chain 95 is continued. As the hinge connection between the lower door sections properly clears the up per ends of angles 5() and cams 55 engage cams 56 the hinge connection between sections 9-9 is broken and said sections fold upwardly until the entire doorway or opening G is uncovered.

In Fig. 2, l show means for manually disconnecting upper door pulleys (l2-62 when the upper sections have been completely crank lever ing pulleys, a pair of lower folding sections, a pa-ir of lifting pulleys for said lower sections, a second counter-weight, flexible connections connected between said lower sections and said second counter-weight and trained over said second lifting pulleys, driving means for said flexible connections and a clutch for connecting all of said pulleys to move the upper and lower pairs of sections together until the upper sections are moved into open position and for disconnecting the pulleys to permit independent movement of the lower sections thereafter.

8. In a folding closure of the character described, a plurality of hingedlv connected sections, certain of said sections constituting' an upper portion of the closure and the other sections constituting the lower portion of the closure, a cable secured at its ends to the sides of the upper portion of the. closure, a second cable secured at its ends to the sides of the lower portion of the closure, and means for operating said cables including` means for discontinuing operation of the first cable when the upper portion of the closure is moved into full raised position while permitting optional continuation of the operation of the second cable for moving the lower portion of the closure into full raised position.

9. In a folding closure of the character described, a plurality of hingedly connected sections, certain of said sections constituting an upper portion of the closure and the other sections constituting the lower portion of the closure, a cable secured at its ends to the sides of the upper portion of the closure, a second cable secured at its ends to the sides of the lower portion of the closure, and means for operating said cables including means for discontinuing operation of the first cable when the upper portion of the closure is moved into full raised position while continuing operation of the second cable for moving the lower portion of the closure into full raised position.

10. In a folding closure of the character described, an upper' portion and a lower portion, and positively driven operating' means connected to the respective portions at the sides thereof, said means acting to first move the Lipper portion into full raisedV position by Va positive lifting action applied simultaneously to both sides of said'upper'means and to subsequently move the lower portion into full raised position by applying to both sides of the lower portion simultaneously a positive lifting action.

11. In a folding closure of the character described, an upper portion and a lower portion, lifting members connected to the sides of the upper portion, lifting members connected to the sides of the lower portion, and means for drivingsaid members, said means acting to positively drive all of said members until the upper portion of the closure is in raised position and thereafter drive the lifting members of the lower portion only until the lower portion is in raised position.

l2. In a folding` closure of the character described, an upper portion and a vlower portion, lifting members connected to the y sides of the upper portion, lifting members connected to the sides of the lower portion, means for driving said members ,acting to positively drive all of the members', and means controlled by movement of the upper port-ion for disconnecting from said driving means the lifting members connected to said upper portion when the upper portion of. the closure member has been moved into full raised position.

13. In afolding `closure of the character described, an upper portion and a lower portion, lifting members connected to the sides of the upper portion, lifting members attached to the sides of the lower portion, and means Y for positively driving all of said members, said means permitting the respective sets of lifting members to be moved through different distances in accordance with the distance through which the respective portions of the closure are moved in opening the same.

l/l. In a folding closure of the character described, an upper portion and a lower portion, a pair of lifting members connected to the sides of theupper portion, operating members having direct driving connection with both of said members, a pair of lifting members connected to the sides of the lower portion, operating members having direct driving connection with the second pair of lifting members, and means for driving all of said operating members simultaneously until the upper portion is moved into full raised position and thereafter driving said second pair only of lifting members until the lowerportion of the closure is moved into raised position.

l5. In a folding closure of the character described, an upper portion and a lower portion, two pairs of pulleys, a cable passing over the pulleys of one pair and having its ends attached to the sides of the upper portion, a second cable passed over the other pair of pulleys and having its ends attached to the sidesof the lower portion of the closure', all of the pulleys having driving engagement with the cables, counter weights suspended from the bight portions of the cables, and means for driving all of the pulleys simultaneously until the upper portion of the closure is moved into full raised position and thereafter driving only the pulleys over which said second cable is passed.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day of August, 1923. IVAINWRIGI'IT B. GERVAIS.

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