US2402296A

US2402296A - Overhead door operating mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2402296A
Application number: US532080A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edgar N Rosenberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-04-21
Filing date: 1944-04-21
Publication date: 1946-06-18
Anticipated expiration: 1963-06-18

Description

June 18, 1946. E. N. RosEN'BEG I v OVERHEAD DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21, 1944 IN VEN TOR. ea wn. M

ATTORNEYS.

June 18, 1946.

EN. ROSENBERG OVERHEAD DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed April 21; 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 18, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OVERHEAD DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM vEdgar NnRosenbergi SaltI-lakeGity, Utah {Application April 21, 1944,;Serial-No: 532,080 8 Claims. (01520-49) "This invention relates to an overhead door operating mechanism particularly 'usef-uland -desirable in "garages, warehouses, and the like.

A 'further object ofthis invention is to provide an operating -mechanism especially suitable for a one-piece door for moving it between a weathertight fit against its door frame and an overhead position opening the doorway.

A further object of this invention is to provide an operating mechanism for rolllnga one-piece door toan'overhead position in one motion, while the door rotatesthrough =a right angle from an upright position against the 'door *frame to --a;

substantially-horizontal position above the door opening.

Still .a further object of this invention-is to" provide a door=operating mechanism wherein the door can be perfectly counterbalanced throughout its travel, or can lie-slightly over-or underbalanced. as desired, so it can be moved automatically in one direction bymerely releasing a latch, possibly lay-remote control from a distanoasuch as by radio, photo-electric cell, or distant switch, and can be.-move'd in the other direction b'y-a slight amount -01 force, :either -manual or by p wer.

Yet a further object Ofthis invention is to a dooroperating mechanism-that can be supported almost completely on the doorframe.

:Still a further object of thisinvention-is to provide a door operating mechanism that will move-thedocr bodily away from the-door'frame as it commences to open,=thus eliminating the possibilityof jamming or binding, and which will move the 'door'bo'dily toward and -"against the door frame as it comes to closed position, thus insuring a tight fit thereagainst.

' Yet a further objectof this invention is-to' providea door operating mechanism'that will'maintain the door parallel to the door frame *for a short distance, as it commences the opening, eliminating the possibility of the rollers binding in thertracks.

:Aiurther'object of this inventionis-to provide a trackway forming part 'of a door operating tracks and the'curved pair of 'tracks are designed to serve as the guide tracks, and wherein both pairs of tracks are joined together as a unit, yet can pass the door rollers therealong past the joining means of the tracks without interference.

With the ioregoing'and' other objects in view, as will hereinafter become apparent, this invention comprises the combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth, disclosed, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig.1 is a side elevational view of the door and its operating mechanism, with the door in closed position in full lines-and in' open position in dotdash lines.

vFig. 2 is a detail view, on a larger scale, of'the pivotarm; pintle, and associated parts.

Fig. 3is a view at right angles to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4' is a perspective view of the parallel motion and counterbalancing mechanism.

Fig. 1A is a view similar to Fig. 1,0f a slightly modified form'of this invention.

Figs. 2A and 3A are views corresponding to Figs. 2 and 3, and

Fig. 1B shows a form with slightly curved weight carrying tracks.

.In the following description, identical referencenumbers are used to denote identical parts mechanism which can be easily -manufactured and installedin operative position one door frame.-

Still 'a further objectof th'e' invention is to provide. =a door operating mechanismitrackway which includes one pair of straight or-slightly curved parallel tracks, and a secondapairot-somewhateurved yet parallel tracks, :wherein preferably-thestraight or slightly curvedrpaircrimes are designed -cto 'serve asrthe :weight' carrying throughout the various views in both form of the invention, and corresponding but slightly different parts are indicated by primed numbers.

There is shown at I .a conventional rectangular dcor'frame having the usual door opening which is tov be closed by an overhead one-piece doorZ. This door 2 is movable between the'closed position shownin full-at 2 and the up or open posis tionshown in dot-an'd-dash line position at 20 by means of the door "operating mechanism of this invention. Firmly secured to the opposite sides of the door '2 at about "its center line of gravity are the pintles '3, Inasmuch as the pintles3 carry the weight of the door 2, and impart rotary motion to the door "of about a right angle as it is moved between the open and closed position, thesecurlng means-should bevery firm.

and is here shown as including a plate 2| to which the pintle is weldedas at '22, and the securing means also includes bolts '23 and 24 through the pintle 3 and the plate 2[ to'the'door 2. At-their extreme outer ends,-the pintles'a are'provided with

flanged wheels

4 or 4'.-rotatably secured thereon so "as to' be locate'd'between the weight carrying parallelstraightupper and'lower tracks 5 orrparallel curved :tracksfS', Rollers '6 are-Journaled between guide tracks I or I on the pivot arms 8 or 8'.

The tracks Or 5' and I or 1' are secured in proper spaced relation to each other by the fastening plates 9 and ID or 9' and I0. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the pivot arms 8 are angular as shown, while the fastening plates 9 and Ill are straight bars, suitably secured to each of the tracks. In Figs. 1A, 2A and 3A, the pivot arms 8' are straight bars, and 'thefastening plates 9' and I0 are shaped like a rectangle. As a result of such construction, the rollers 6 and the wheels 4 can travel along their trackways without hindrance, yet the tracks are securely fastened in position;

and kept in proper relation to each other. The

4 the top of the door somewhat lower during its travel than the straight tracks do.

While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes may be made therein, within the scope of what is claimed, WithOllt departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what claimed is: r

1. An overhead door construction comprising in combination with a door and a door-frame having an opening narrower than the door, a pair of pintlesadapted to be secured to the door at the lower ends of the tracks are each securely bolted to the door frame I and theupper ends are secured by means of their plates 9 or 9' to the brackets II or II' to the top of the door frame I, thus making the device independent of the location of a ceiling, should the ceiling of the garage or the warehouse be too high to be convenient or accessible.

As the door is moved along the tracks 5 between the open and closed positions, the pivot arms 8 or 8' will cause the door 2 to rotate through a right angle as the rollers 4 move along the guide track I or I. The operating mechanism for causing and controlling this. motion between the open and closed position is shown in Fig. 4. The operating mechanism includes a shaft I2 provided with. sheaves I3 and journaled in bearings in brackets I4 suitably mounted, as shown in Fig. 1 on the bottom of the upper end of the lower tracks 5. Also securely fastened to the shaft I2 is one or mor additional sheaves I5. Control cords I5 are passed several times about the sheaves I3, and the pulleys I1 at the lower ends of lower tracks 5 aretied to swivel plates I 8, the swivel plates l8 being swiveled on the pintles 3 between suitable spacing washers 25. A cable I9 passed about the sheave I5 holds a counterbalancing weight W. Obviously, instead of gearing th cords It to sheaves I3 as above, sprockets may be substituted for the sheaves I 3 and pulleys I1 and a chain may be substituted for the cords w. H

In operating, the weight W maybe such as to exactly counterbalance the door 2, or it may be slightly more or less than the weight of the door, depending on whether it is desired to, move the doorin both directions with the slightest eflort, or whether all the eifort is to be used in moving it in one direction, and letting gravity move it in the other direction. With the control cords IS in effect geared to the sheaves I3, the swivel plates I8 will exert an equal force on both pintles 3, keeping the force equal on both pintles and moving them in a parallel motion, preventing any binding of the wheels against the tracks. As the door is moved away from the door-frame I, the pivot, arms 8 or 'aflguided by their rollersfi in the guide tracks I or I, first rotate the door very slowlyso that all parts of the door move definitely away; from the door-frame, andthe rotation of the door iscontrolled by the pivot arms so that the edges of the door can never touch the door-frame once it starts to move. Thereafter, the curved tracks I or I cause the pivot arms to rotate the door until it has completed a right angle just as it approaches the top open position 20. The curved tracks are desirable when the ceiling is low or the available, overhead space is very limited, for the curved tracks :5 serve to keep opposite ends of approximately its center line of gravity, a, wheel journaled at the outer end of eachpintle, track means adapted to be secured to the frame of the door to extend angularly upwardsfa second track means secured in fixed crossed relation t said first mentioned track means, said wheels being adapted to travel along one of said track means, a pivot arm fixed to each pintle, and a guide roller journaled on each pivot arm and guided along the other track means, said second track means being at such angle to said first track means as-to cause said pivot arms to pivot said pintles and the door to which they are secured to rotate approximately a right angle as said door is moved from a closed, position flat against its frame to an open overhead position.

2. An overhead door construction comprising in combination with a door and a door-frame having an opening narrower than the door, a pair of pintles adapted to be secured to the doorat the opposite ends of approximately its center line of gravity, a wheel journaled at the outer end of each pintle, track means adapted to be secured to the-frame of the door to extend angularly upwards, said wheels being adapted to travel along said track means, -a guide track means secured in fixed crossed relation to said first mentioned track means, apivot arm fixed to each pintle, and a guide roller journaled on-each pivot arm and guided in said guide track means, said guide track means being fixed at such angle to said wheel track means as to cause said pivot arms to pivot said pintles and the door to which they are secured. to rotate approximately a right angle as said door is moved from a closed position against its frame'to an open overhead position.

3. An overhead door construction comprising in combination with a door and a door-frame having an'opening narrower than the door, a pair ofpintles adapted tobe secured to the door at the opposite ends of approximately it center line of gravity; a wheel journaled at the outer end of each pintle, weight carrying track means adapted to, be secured to the frame of the door to extend angularly upwards, said wheels being adapted to travel along said track means, a guide track means secured in fixed crossed relation to said weight carrying track means, a pivot'arm fixed to each pintle, and a guide roller'journaled on-each pivot armand guided in said guide'track means, saidguide track means being curved at such angle to said wheel track mean as to cause said. pivot arms to pivot -said pintlesand the door to which they are secured to rotateap proximatelya :right angle as said door is moved from: a'closedvertical position fiat against its frame to an open overhead' approximately horn zontal position and vice versa'." r

4; :An roverheaddoor construction comprising in *combinationwith a door and a door-frame having an opening narrower than the door; a

pair of pintles adapted to be secured to the door at the opposite ends of approximately its center line of gravity, a wheel journaled at the outer end of each pintle, track means adapted to be secured to the frame of the door to extend angularly upwards, a second track means secured in fixed crossed relation to said first mentioned track means, said wheels being adapted to travel along one of said track means, a pivot arm fixed to each pintle, and a guide roller journaled on each pivot arm and guided along the other track means, said second track means being at such angle to aid first track means as to cause said pivot arms to pivot said pintles and the door to which they are secured to rotate approximately a right angle as said door is moved from a closed position fiat against its frame to an open overhead position.

5. An overhead door construction comprising in combination with a door and a door-frame having an opening narrower than the door, a pair of pintles adapted to be secured to the door at the opposite ends of approximately its center line of gravity, a wheel journaled at the outer end of each pintle, track means adapted to be secured to the frame of the door to extend angularly upwards, said wheels being adapted to travel along said track means, a guide track means unitarily secured to said first mentioned track means in crossed relation thereto, a pivot arm fixed to each pintle, a guide roller journaled on each pivot arm and guided in said guide track means, said guide track 'means being at such angle to said wheel track means as to cause said pivot arms to pivot said pintles and the door to which they are secured to rotate approximately a right angle as said door is moved from a closed position flat against its frame to an open overhead position.

6. In an overhead door track for door-frames and a door of a width greater than the width of the opening in the door-frame for closing against said door-frame, track units each embodying track members adapted to be extended inwardly and angularly upwardly from the doorframe from a point slightly below midway the height of the door and a second track means adapted to be extended inwardly and upwardly from the door-frame from a point slightly spaced from said first-mentioned point across said firstmentioned track means, and means securing said track means to each other in fixed relation to each other in slightly spaced but parallel planes.

'7. In an overhead door construction for doorframes a door of a width greater than the width of the opening in the door-frame for closing against said door-frame, track units mounted at opposite sides of the door-frame each embodying track members extending inwardly and angularly upwardly from the door-frame from a point slightly below midway the height of the door and a second track means extending inwardly and upwardly from the door-frame from a point slightly spaced from said first-mentioned point across said first-mentioned track means, means securing said track means to each other in fixed relation to each other in slightly spaced but parallel planes, a pair of pintles secured to the door at approximately its center line of gravity, a wheel journaled at the outer end of each pintle for travel along said first mentioned track means, a pivot arm fixed to each pintle, and a guide roller journaled on each pivot arm for travel along said second-mentioned track means to thereby turn the door between a vertical closed position against the door frame and a horizontal open position away from and above the doorframe opening as the pintle-journaled wheels travel along said first-mentioned track means.

8. In an overhead door construction for doorframes, a door of a width greater than the width of the opening in the door-frame for closing against said door-frame, track units mounted at opposite sides of the door-frame each embodying track members extending inwardly and angularly upwardly from the door-frame from a point slightly below midway the height of the door and a second track means extending inwardly and upwardly from the door-frame from a point slightly spaced. from said first-mentioned point across said first-mentioned track means, means securing said track means to each other in fixed relation to each other in slightly spaced but parallel planes, bracket means extending horizontally from the top of the door-frame to which the upper ends of said track means extend, a pair of pintles secured to the door at approximately its center line of gravity, a wheel journaled at the outer end of each pintle for travel along said first mentioned track means, a pivot arm fixed to each pintle, and a guide roller journaled on each pivot arm for travel along said secondmentioned track means to thereby turn the door between a vertical closed position against the door-frame, and a horizontal open position away from and above the door-frame opening as the pintle-journaled wheels travel along said firstmentioned track means.

EDGAR N. ROSENBERG.