US1915205A - Swinging door mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1933- E. l.. SHAFFER SWING'ING DOOR MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 9, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATToRNEY June 20, 1933. E. L sHAFFER SWINGING DOOR MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 9, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fili ji. .fo Q

' INVENTOR. I .JLJKLWL June 20, 1933. E. SHAFFER 1,915,205

SWINGING DOOR MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 9, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

June 20, 1933. E. L. sHAFl-ER 1,915,205

SWINGING DOOR MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 9, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 12910. g fvwm .L x j* RWS /.3. A

Patented June 20, 1933 PATENT OFFICE ERNEST L. SHAFFER, OF VINTON, IOWA SWINGING DOOR MECHANISM Application led September 9, 1929, Serial No. 391,445.

This invention is a novel swinging door unit particularly adapted for use in garages and the like, having a door assembly comprising three door sections hinged together at their adjacent edges and movable as a unit trom open to closed positions, and vice versa; and the principal object of my invention is to provide swinging door units adapted to be placed either overhead or at the side walls of the garage for carrying the door assembly, which units will be easy to operate, stable, strong, weather-proof, and which will not bind.

Further objects are to provide units as above described which will be completely housed within the garage or other enclosure in any and all positions of the doors; to provide units which will require very little space for operation; to provide units designed so that any twisting of the frame ot the garage or other building will not affect the operation thereof; and to provide an overhead unit which will not permit the doors to drag upon the floor while swinging.

r" Still further objects of the invention are to provide electric means for opening and closing the door assembly and for operating both the overhead or sidewall units.

Other minor objects of the invention will be hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate practical embodiments thereof to enable others to adopt and use the same; and

l will summarize in the claims the novel features ot' construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings- Fig. 1 is plan view looking upwardly upon the base plate and compoundl lever carrying the door assembly in the overhead unit, the doors being shown in closed position.

Fi r. 2 is a. view similar to Fig. 1 but showl ing t e parts as they appear in partly closed i position.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the door assembly in the overhead unit.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged rear elevation of the brackets adj ustably supporting the door assembly in the overhead unit.

Renewed June 12, 1931.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the compound lever and bracket connections which adjustably support the door in the overhead unit.

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the means permitting independent opening of one oi' the doors in the overhead unit.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of the latch means for controlling the vertical adjustment of the door assembly.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation ot the side-wall unit, showing the door assembly in closeil position.

Fig. 9 is a similar View showing assembly in partly closed position. Y'

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the electrical operating means for the overhead unit.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11, Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an end view of the trolley carriage shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a rear elevation of the door assembly locking means for the sidewall unit.

Fig. 14.- is a section on line Mtv-14, Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a detail.

Fig. 16 is a transverse section through the electric carriage. Y

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal section therethrough.

As shown in Figs. l-7, inclusive, the overhead unit comprises a base plate Vl adapted to be secured to the ceiling rafters R of a garage or the like opposite the door opening S thereof, which plate 1 carries a compound lever 2, secured to brackets vertically adjustably supporting the middle door B ot the door assembly. the door B carrying at its sides the door sections A and C hinged to the section B.

Base plate l, while supporting the com pound lever 2. 3, for said bracket, also coutrols the opening and closing movements ot the outer door sections A and C, and for this purpose the edge et plate 1 adjacent opening S has a compound curvature consisting ot an arcuate portion 1c concentric with the pivot bolt 2a, of lever 2, the arcuate portion lc embracing the full width of door B when in open position and the full width of the door B when in closed position to permit Operation of the carriage 2c of middle door B through an arc of more than 90 degrees. Plate l is supported sufliciently below the rafters R to permit the carriage wheels 2d of section B to engage the arcuate edge of plate l and also to allow the rollers A and C of end doors and C ample room to function against the arcuate edge as the doors are shifted from open to closed positions.

At each end of arcuate portion le of plate l is a reverse curved portion ld adapted to align doors and C with door B when in either 'liront or side positions, the rollers A and C on doors and C engaging the edge of plate l and being directed against the reversed curved portions ld thereof by means of guide plates le suitably spaced from plate l to embrace the rollers A', and C therebetween.

The compound lever for the door supporting bracket comprises a pair of spaced roe 2 connected together at their rear ends by means of clip 27), the rods 2 carrying intermediate their ends the pivot bearing and bolt ila, which are preferably adjustable longitudinally of rods to vary the radius of swing of the doors. The front ends of rods 2 are connected to a carriage 2c for the middle door B. which carriage 2c is provided with sets of opposed rollers 2d adapted to engage the upper and lower faces of plate l in way of the arcuate edge lc as the carriage 2c is swung by rods 2 around from open to closed position. t the front ends of rods 2 below carriage 2c is a depending bracket rigidly secured to the said rods by a socket plate 2li and lying adjacent the rear face of door B, said bracket consisting of upper and lower members Qc, 2f connected together by vertical bars 2o and cross braces 2h, whereby the bracket will be carried by the carriage Qc and will rotate therewith in a fixed horizontal plane.

Pivoted as a 3ft to the center bearing 2a for vertical movement is a frame comprising a pair of ba 3, which frame swings laterally with rods 2 the latter are swung. The forward ends of the bars 3 carry a member 3e secured to the back of door B and vertically slidably mounted upon the bars 2g of the bracket carried by the carriage 2c.

The forward ends of levers 3 are connected b v links 3c to a plate Sol secured to the member Se which member is securely fastened to the back of door B and slidably mounted on the two vertical rods 2r] whereby the door assembly A, B, C can be moved up and down while permitting the structure to be rigid and stable as required. A. second member 3f is preferably secured to door B below member Se and also slidably mount-ed upon the vertical bars 2g. The rear ends of levers 3 carry a counter balancing weight 3l), which weight balances the combined weight of the door sections A, B, C so that the doors A, B, C may be readily raised and lowered with respect to the carriage 2c. The door assembly B, C is thus eapable of being raised and lowered with refusent to the garage floor in order to overcome the undesirable feature of drag which is common to most garage doors.

The door assembly is preferably locked in raised or lowered position as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. A bar 'la is connected to the lower end of the fixed liracket member' and extends down through the keeper of a Yale lock l and down through a guide et?) disposed below the lock, the bar 4.1L being notched as shown and adapted to receive the bolt of lock flwhen thel door assembly is in lowered position. A manual lock bolt 4c is also provided, shown in Fig. 7, operated in a handle 4&7. mounted on the outside of door B whereby the handle. 4.1i is rocked the bolt lle, which normally engages one of the notches in bar 4f: is withdrawn from engagement therewith against the action of spring 4c so that. the door assembly may be raised or loweredy provided the bolt of lock 4 is not engaged with bar f-ln. lVhen knob 4d is released the spring 4e will return bolt le into engagement with a notch in the bar 4a and will maintain the door assembly in adjust-ed elevation. Bolt 4c is hinged in a slot in the rocking knob lf] so that rocking handle 4d to a vertical position withdraws springbolt 4e and lets the door assembly B, C free to float coiinterbalanced by weight Piz?.

lill-ien the door assembly is in closed7 and locked position, the doors are held against any inward thrust at their bottoms by floor )locks A2, B2, C2 (Fig. $3) at the center and sides of the door jambs and it necessary to raise the door assembly above the tops oft-he fixed vdoor blocks AQ, B2, C2, before the door assembly can be opened or closed7 and this raising of the coiinterbalanced door assembly also prevents drag of the doors during swinging. lf one of 'the side doors such as A, is used as a single entrance door, its floor block A2 would preferably be hinged or re.. moved.

ln connection with the side .floors and C. I provide radius arms 5, each arm 5 being pivoted on a` toggle block 5a sl idably mounted between the rods 2 in rear of pivot bearing 2a, and the outer ends of the arms 5 are connected with the brackets of rollers A and C. whereby as the door assembly is swung from front to side position the arms .i will simultaneously cause the inward or outward motion of one door A or C to be imparted by the toggle action of sliding block 5a to the other door C or A. Referring to Fig. l it will be seen that the outer end of the reverse curved portion ld of the base plate l engages the roller C on door C while the roller of door A is entirely disengaged from the edge of plate l. Now as the assembly is swung from front to side position as shown in Fig. 2

" 6b the arm 5 is connected.

the roller C will necessarily follow its guide slot around the reverse curve portion 1d into the arcuate portion 1c, and the radius arm of door C will shift block 5a rearwardly causing the door A (through the medium of its arm 5) to swing through the same angle with respect to door B as the door C, so that while the door assembly is being swung to side position when the roller C reaches the beginning of the arcuate portion 1c, the roller A of door A will have contacted with the opposite end of the arcuate portion 1c and will have entered its related guide slot, and door C during the remainder of the A swinging movement of the assembly to side position will be controlled by the movement of roller A of door A. Hence when fully swung around to open7 position all three doors, A, B, C will again be aligned along the side wall of the garage.

Means are provided whereby one of the doors, such as A, may be opened independently of the doors B and C for use as a singlev entrance, said means comprising a bar 6a adapted to normally overlie the top of door A (Fig. 6), the inner end of bar 6a being pi totally secured, as at 6b to the top of door B. The outer end of bar 6a carries a plate 6?) upon which the guide roller A of door A is journaled, and the radius arm 5 of door A is also pivoted as at 6c to plate (3?). To the under side of plate 6I) is secured one end of an arcuate bar 6d adapted to slidably engage the top of door A to support the plate (3b and 5 the outer end of bar 6a. The bars 6a and 6d together support at their outer ends in normal elevation the plate 6b regardless of the position of door A, and plate 6b carries the guide roller A for door A and to which plate A notch 6e is formed in plate 6b adapted to receive a latch Gf (Fig. 3) operated by a knob 6g placed at usual height on door A, said knob 6g being connected by a link 6h to bell crank 6k the i vertical arm of which extends upwardly and forms the latch (if which engages notch (Se. Hence the position of roller A will remain the same at all times as though the roller A were actually carried by door A instead of by plate 6b; and door A H1215 b@ freely Opened and closed without affecting the position of roller A; and door A may be locked in normal position by latch Gf engaging notch 6e.

In order that the door may be weatherl prooi, the upper door rail on the outer face of door B must necessarily be made arcuate so as to be able to swing from front to side positions past the door frame S, so that no portion of the door B when starting to turn will project beyond its front position. If the assembly swung under the head opening for the door this would not be necessary. Door C may also be provided with an arcuate door rail in order to save in swing at its side position. My invention may be used for overhead or sidewall units; also both units may be pre-formed, adapted to be readily installed.

The sidewall unit shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is similar to the overhead unit, above described. One sidewall unit 10 is placed adjacent the sidewalls on each side of a single opening; or if a double opening, the inside base units 10 are placed behind the center supporting column. Base unit 10 is composed of the same parts as base plate 1 described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. On each base-unit 10 at a common center is a bearing 11, which carries the lever arm 12.

Lever arm 12 is rigidly secured at its forward end to assembly bracket 14, and the middle door section member B is also secured to assembly bracket 14, door sections A and C being hinged to middle section B.

The other end of lever 12 carries a counterbalance pivot bar 15 hinged thereto and which carries a weight 16. The members of lever 12 are spaced apart to form a guide for a toggle slide block 17. The radius arms 17 a are pivotally connected to the slide block 17 and to the shafts of the guide rollers A and C of the respective door sections A and C. The assembly bracket 14 is fitted with rollers 19 which roll against the bases 10 during the opening and closing movement, and maintain thtl whole assembly rigid and square with respect to the door openings. On each assembly bracket 14 at 14a is fulcrumed a lever 18, and to one end ot lever 18 is attached a link 19 which is connected to the counterbalance pivot bar 15. The other ends of link 18 are connected by a rod 18a which is maintained in slidable engagement with the lower part of door C during the opening and closing movements by guide straps 20 under which the rod 18a slides.

The side wall unit is approximately counterbalanced at bearings 11. the over-weight being slightly on the door side. At the bcginning of the lift upward. the bottom of door C and the top of door A are automatically drawn inwardly by guide rollers C on lower door C moving in their guide slots in base units 10, and by the toggle action of radius arms 17a. At the same time the movement of door C operates levers 18 and links 19 connected with the connterbalance pivot bars 15, and the counterbalance weight 16 is automatically swung inwardly toward bearing 11, thus maintaining a substantially perfect counterbalance throughout the opening and closing movement. lf the counterbalance weights 16 were secured directly on levers 12 the counterbalancing eliect would be practically spent at two-thirds of the opening movement, but by use of the pivot bars 15 the counterbalance force is exerted through lever 19 to give the necessary liit to door C to bring the whole assembly to the full open position. In closing the operation is the reverse to that of the opening movement.

The locking device (Fig. 13) for the sidewall unit is placed at the center of the door section B. It comprises a horizontal rod 22 extending across door B and journaled in bearings 22a and extending to jambs S. At each end fitted a pawl 226. On each jamb S is secured a catch block 23. On rod 22 at its center is a quadrant worm gear 220 and on a shaft ex ending through door B is a worm 25 meshing with the quadrant gear Fixed on the same shaft 24 is a lock disc 26. On the end of shaft 24 extending through door section B is a loop handle 24a. For inside operation a handle 24?) is provided. ln position to engage a notch 26a in locking disc 26 is a Yale lock 27, with key barrel to outside and knob operation on inside. To operate from the outside lof the door, insert a key in lock 27 and lift bolt of Yale lock from notch 2Go of locking disc 26, turn loop handle 24a to revolve rod 22 and turn pawls 22a back from engagement with catch blocks 23. A sharp pull upward on loop handle 24a will cause the door assembly to open.

Figs. 8 and l) also disclose the electric means tor operating the sidewall unit, i. e. for automatically opening and closing the doors, A, l, C. The electric means is adapted to be bracketed in place above the center of the door assembly and preferably comprises a pair ot' side rails 28 (Figs. 16 and 17) carrying chain sprockets 31 and 32 journaled adjacent the ends of the rails, and one sprocket may be mounted in adjustable bearings. Around the sprockets 31, 32 runs a chain 30; and l provide plates 29 engaging the inner laces of the runs of chain 30 respectively to prevent sagging thereof. One of the links of the chain 30 carries a lug 30a adapted to enjgc either pawls 36 or 37 of a carriage 34, Mounted to roll upon side rails 28, the rails :f3 forming the track on which carriage 34 is moved when chain member 30a engages the pawls 36 or 37 Carriage 34 is attached by a link 44 to the 'rop of the door A. Sprocket 31 :nay be the driving sprocket rotated by al motor controlled by a master switch. Small rollers (Fig, 1'7) are provided at the contact points4 of pawls 3o and 37 to engage the face of the lug 30a. in order that the release of pawls 3G or 37 from lug 30a during tripping may be smooth and easy. Above the path of travel of carriage 34 is a bar 50 upon which is mounted a three way switch 43 having its engaged with a slide bar 40 mounted in bearings parallel with the side frames 28. la r 40 is provided with stops 41 and 42 mounted adjacent the ends thereof adapted to engage trips 38 carried by tbe carriage 34. lVhen carr 34 has drawn the doors A, B, l into open position and is at the end of its specific-d travel trip 38 engages the stop 42 on reversirg rod 40. The spring tension of trip 3S is sutlicient to slide the rod 40 to shift the contacts of switch 43. Adjustment of stop 42 on reversing rod 40 will give the desired length of travel for carriage 34. Pawl 36 will then roll over the driving lug 30a of chain 3() and the carriage 34 will come to rest. Similarly the pawl 37 when engaged with lug 30a on the lower run of chain 30 will drive carriage 34 in the opposite direction, to close the doors A, B, C and when at the end of its closing movement trip 38 will engage stop 41 and stop the motor and the carriage will Colne to rest. In operation, upon throwing the switch for opening movement the motor will setI chain 30 in motion and lug 30a will engage pawl 36 and move the carriage 34 which is connected by link 44 to top of door A, and thus draw the countcrbalanced door assembly open. As carriage 34 nears end of its opening travel trip 33 on the carriage engage4 stop 42 of bar 4() and shifts the contacts of switch 43. To close the doors, turn switch 'l'l to closing Contact and the car riage is drawn to closed end of travel by lug 30.1( engaging pawl 37, the stop 41 shifting the contacts at the end of the carriage travel and stopping the motor. The belt 3() rims in the same direction lfor both movements, but the direction of motion of carriage 34 is governed by the engagement of lug 30a with pawls 3G or 37.

l also provide an electrical unit for operating the overhead system, the same being illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, 12. This unit comprises an arcuate track 111 concentric with the pivot 2a of the swinging lever frame 3 and placed adjacent the counterbalance weight 3b. Track 111 is preferably made up of upper and lower bars (Fig. 11) spaced apart between which the grooved wheels 111m of a carriage 116 run, the carriage beine' suitably bracketed to the end of lever 3 by a rod 11Go. Carriage 11G preferably crnnpriscs an A-franic having the wheels 11Go disposed at the top and bottom of one leg of the frame. The other leg 1166 is connected by a link 119 to an arm 12() extending laterally from the carriage 34 similar to that as above explained with reference to Figs. 8, 9, 16 and 17, which carriage moves at right angles to the normal closed position of lever 3. The inner end of track 111 is bent sharply upwardly as at 1110i so that when the carriage wheels 11Go ride up the portion 1110y the door assembly at the opposite end ef lever 3 will receive a sudden downward thrust to automatically lower the door assembly A, B, C behind their floor blocks lll, C2 just after the doors have been swxng' around into closed position.

In operation, as the carriage 34 of the electric is moved'over the track the push or pull is applied through armswllt) and 12() to the carria ge 116 which traverses the circular track 111 swinging the lever 3 to open or closed position, The movement of carriage 34 is controlled as specified in connection with ies Figs. 8 and 9. The lower'wheel 116e (Fig. 11). acts as a fulcrum for lever 11612 to pull the upper wheel down the vertical portion Illa of track 111 into the horizontal portion. The pull down of the rear wheel through rod 1160 lifts the door assembly at the opposite end of the lever 3 and when both wheels lla have entered the horizontal portion of track 111 the door assembly will be maintained. in raised position while being swung to open7 position.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In combina-tion a swinging door having middle and side door sections hinged together, a base plate adopted to be secured adjacent the door opening, the edge of the base plate adjacent the opening being arcuate with reverse curved slotted portions at the ends of the arcuate portion, a lever pivoted on said base plate concentric with the arcuate edge portion; a bracket movably engaging the arcuate edge portion and mounted on said lever; said bracket carrying the middle door section; means for counterbalancing the weight of the doors; guide rollers carried by the side door sections adapted to enter the reverse curve slots; and toggle means for causing the hinging movement of one side door to be imparted to the other.

2. In a swinging door unit as set forth in claim l; the base plate being mounted above the door opening; said lever being compound with one member thereof carrying the toggle and bracket, and the other member Athereof carrying the door sections and eounterbalance; whereby the said counterbalanced door sections will be vertically adj ustably mounted with respect to the bracket; and means for maintaining the door sections at adjusted elevation.

3. In combination, a swinging door having a plurality of connected relatively movable sections; a swingable carrier for said door connected to one section and adapted to move the door from its fully closed position into its fully opened position; a member slidably mounted on the carrier; and means operated by the member for aligning the several sections edgewise as they move into fully closed or into fully opened positions.

4. In combination, a swinging door having a plurality of connected relatively movable sections; a swingable carrier for said door connected to one section and adapted to move the door from its fully closed position into its fully opened position; guides adjacent the extreme limits of movement of the door; and means operated by said guides aligning the sections edgewise as the door nears its fully closed or fully opened position.

5. In combination, a swinging door having a plurality of connected relatively movable sections; a swingable carrier for said door connected to an inner section and adapted to move the door from its fully closed position into its fully opened position; means for causing the hinging movement of one end door section to swing the other end section; guides adjacent the extreme limits of movement of the door; and devices on the end door sections engaging said guides for causing the end door hinging means to align the sections edgewi-se as the door approaches fully closed or fully opened positions.

6. In a combi-nation as set forth in claim 5, means for permitting one end door to be opened irrespective of said end door hinging means.

7 In a combination as set forth in claim 5,

one guide engaging device being carried by a frame pivotally mounted upon the inner door section, said frame being connected to the end door hinging means; and latch means for locking the related end door to the frame whereby when the latch is sprung said end door may be opened without operating the hinging means.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 5; means for counterbalancing the weight of the door sections.

9. In a combi-nation as set forth in claim 5, said carrier moving in a horizontal plane; and said door sections being vertically adj ustable with respect to the carrier; a counterbalancing lever connecting the inner door with .the carrier; and a weight carried by the lever.

10. In a combina-tionv as set forth in claim 5; said carrier moving in a vertical plane; a counterbalancing lever on the carrier; a. Weight pivotally mounted on said lever; and meansoperatedby the hinging movement of the endy door sections for swinging the weight inwardly as the end door sections are hinged inwardly. i

1l. In a combination as-set forth in claim 5, power means for swinging the carrier in either direction; and means for automatically stopping the carrier at the ends of its speci-fied travel.

12...l In acombination asset forth in claim 5, a track,-a carriage adapted to traverse theV track and connected to swing the doors; power means for driving the carriage in either direction; and means on the carriage for automatically stopping same atthe end of its-specified travel. ,l z j 1??. .In combination, a swinging door having a plurality of hinged sections; a swingable carrier connected; to one section and adapted to move said door from its fully closed position into its fully opened position; and means for aligning the several sections edgewise as they' move into fully closed or into. fully opened positions and for Hexing the hinged sections to substantially conform with the arc of swing of the carrier While moving from one position to the other.

14. In combination as set forth in claim 13, said means comprising means for causing the hinging movement of one end door to swing the other end door; means for causing one end door to initially Hex the hinged seclions at the beginning of the opening or closing movement, and means for causing the other end door to re-align the sections at the end of the said movement.

15. In combination; a swinging door having a plurality of hinged sections; a pivoted carrier connected to an inner door section for carrying said door from its fully closed to its fully opened position; means connecting the end door sections for causing said sections to hinge together; and means for aligning the several sections when in fully closed and in fully opened positions and for flexing the sections to substantially conform with the arc of swing of the carrier While moving from one position to the other.

16. In a combination as set forth in claim 15, said aligning means comprising curved guides adjacent the eXtreme limits of movement of the door; and members on the end door sections adapted to engage the guides whereby one section Will initially 'leX the sections at the beginning of the opening or closing movement and the other end section Will re-align the sections at the end of the said movement.

17. In combination, a swinging door having a plurality of hinged sections; a curved track; a carriage movable on said track and connected to an inner door section for carrying said section from fully closed to fully opened positions; means connecting the end door sections for causing said end sections to hinge together; means for aligning all the sections When the door is in fully closed and in fully opened positions and for flexing the sections to substantially conform With the curvature of the track While the door is moving from one position to the other.

18. In a combination as set forth in claim 17 said aligning means comprising curved guides opposite the ends of the track, and members on the end doors adapted to engage the guides whereby the trailing section Will initially flex the sections Vat the beginning of the opening or Closing movement of the door, and the leading section will re-align the sections at the end of the said movement.

19. In combination a swinging door having middle and end door sections hinged together; an arcuate track adjacent the opening having reverse curved guides at each end thereof; a lever pivoted concentric with the arcuate track; a carriage movable on the arcuate track and mounted on said lever, said carriage carrying the middle door section; devices carried by the end door sections adapted to enter the reverse curved guides for

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