US2442309A - Overhead door construction - Google Patents

Description

y 25, 1948- w. A. NORBERG 2,442,309

OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 51, 1946 Patented May 25 1948 UNITED PAT-Eur oer-roe Application zlanuaryrsl, 1946, Serial No. 644;"617

This invention relates to "overhead '-door- *construction and the like. 'Theinvention willbe ob' viously applicable to other similar uses;-

In the use of overhead door 'structures'andthe like wherein a fiexible'lifting element i's em'iiloyed in conjunction with a counterbalance, etc, to facilitate the raising of the door, considerable'diificulty has been experienced-Withthe-wear and breakage of'the flexibleelement.'particularlynear its point of :connection'with the lower po'rtiondf the door. The irregular andh'eavy'strains "thrown upon the cable or other flexible elementat this point of junction, and particularlywhere it approaches a sheave or rotary guidamember; are extremely hard upon the metal structure'o'fthe element because it is usually-bentor-in an angular position at the tiinesuch strains are'imposed; The result has been a fraying'orbreakingof the cable or other element and the rendering of the door construction out of order for the period required for repair or substitution of a newcable.

An object of the invention -is to-overcome the above disadvantages and 'to providea'structu-re in which the cable is'not subjectedto the bent or angular positions described during the lifting operations. A further "object is t'o provide a structure wherein the cable connections are pivotally carried by a saddle mounted upon the door for turning movement" with 'the fieiiible-element so as to relieve the flex ibleel-ement of'distortion or bendingmovement during the door elevating or descending operaitions. A' furtherob ject is to provide a bra-cket and flexibleel-ement connecting structure wherein the 'reller shaft is employed for mounting asaddl'e to'whieh the flexible element is secured and which saddle proiiides a rotatable structure which will ermit liftingfo'f the door while at the same time-adjusting itself so as to remain in alignment with the li fting el'ement when the door bottom swings away from vertical alignment with such "element; Gther specific objects and advantages will appear a's the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in'a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing; in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view er theibrac'he't and connecting structure embodying my iii-vention, the structure being shown separated-from the door; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the-saddle member carried by the shaft of thebi'aclret; 3, a broken side view of= the-doorstruoture and track and lifting mechanism'associatedftherewith, part of the track being broken away to-show the improvedconnecting means; Fig. 4, a viewsimuar Fig.5.

In the illustration "given, A designates a door; B; a track 1 structure therefor; C, lifting mecha- 'n'ism; and D, -the-braeket and connecting structure employed for joining the flexible "lifting member 'to the do'or.

The-door Amaybe or any suitable constructi'on. It may consist of a single panel 'ora :multiple of panels. In the illust'ration-given,at least three panels areshown, the panels being separated at the pointsindicatedfby the numeral l 0,

and the panels being connected by the usual hinges H carrying a roller 12 upon the hinge pin. Itwilhbe understood that any typeof hingeor roller-carrying structure may be employed. If desired, a guide r01ler4-3may be supported at the upper end of the top panel.

The track structure '3 maybe of any suitable typeorconstructio'n. Intheillustration given, it comprises a "metal track member I4 secured to the'side wall of the building in which the door is mounted. Such structure is well :known. Two tracks are employed along marginal portions of the entrance to a=building; and the-doorhas rollers-at itssides enga'ged insuc'h tracks. By means of "the curved track, thedoor moves first in a vertical direction and 'thenis directed finally -to a generally horizontal position alo'ngthe top of the -room*or. compartment.

Thei liftirig element C may be of any suitable construction. It maybe formed of 'chain, cable, or any other suitable material. ln'the illustration given, the element is in :theform 'of :a' cable which passes'over the rotary im'em'benor sheave I 5=and is guided thereby, Theunn'er "en'dofthe cable is connected 'to the usual counterbalancing mechanism (notshown').

The structural) herein consists of a bracket member for engaginga lower bottom corner of the door,' 'a shatt'mounted therein, and a saddle carriedby the shaft and provided with an "extension to which the flexible element "C is con nectedz The'brac'ket twin the illustration given, consists 'o'f a flat 'w'b'iportion, with holes through which fastening means may be extended for'con nectingiitfto the "door. The bottom'portio'n of the bracketbn its front side is :provided with forweirdly-turned flanges H and f8 adapted toengage theicorner edgesaof thedoor'bottom. Spaced portions of the bracket member l6 are struck out and turned rearwardly to provide ears l9 which are perforated to receive the shaft 20. The inner end of shaft 20 may be flattened to provide a retaining collar or edge 2|. A roller 22, preferably mounted upon ball bearings, is carried by the end of shaft 20.

The saddle structure 23 herein employed has a connecting means for the flexible element C and is preferably formed with side flanges .24 having aligned openings 25 therein adapted to receive the shaft 20. The flanges 24 are integrally connected by a bottom wall or web 26. One of the side flanges 24 is projected forwardly to'provide an extension 21, as shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 6, and a pin 28 is carried by the extension.

In the illustration given, a collar 29 is fixed to 1 the pin 28 or formed integrally therewith. The end of the pin 28 is provided with an opening 30 through which a cotter pin 3| or other retaining means may be passed.

Any suitable means for retaining the cable C upon the pin 28 may be employed. In the illustration given, I provide a metal strip 32 perforated at its lower end to receive the pin 28 and also perforated near its top to receive a clamping screw 33. Opposite the metal piece 32 is a clamping member 34, which is likewise perforated at its lower end to receive the pin 28 and also near its top to receive the clamping screw 33. The cable C extends downwardly around the clamping screw 33 and is doubled back, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1, with the upper end of the clamping member 34 extending with a U-shaped curve about the cable. The clamping screw 33 preferably has its inner end threaded to engage a nut or the like, and rotation of the screw 33 by means of a screw driver clamps the member 34 tightly about the looped cable end, At the same time, the members 33 and 32 are free to swing upon the pivot pin 28.

Operation In the operation of the structure, when the door is in its lowered or closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the lifting element C is tensioned under the force of the counterbalancing mechanism and draws the extension 21 of the saddle member in a vertical direction. This movement causes the saddle 23 to swing upon the pivot pin 28 and the forward end of the web portion 26 of the saddle engages the bracket l6. Lifting force therefore upon the element C tends to draw the door upwardly because the saddle member can swing no farther in its movement toward the bracket. This relation continues while the lower portion of the door is vertically aligned or in parallel with the lifting element C.

When, however, the door, and particularly the bottom panel thereof, begins to leave its true vertical path and to diverge from a line parallel with the lifting element C, the saddle member tends to swing more and more upon pivot 20 so as to remain in alignment with the flexible lifting element C, as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 4. Thus, there is avoided any angular or bent positioning of the element C by reason of its connection to the door and, instead, as shown in Fig. 4, the saddle member and the flexible element, with the connections therebetween, lie in a straight line.

As the lower portion or lower panel of door A swings away from its parallel position with the lifting element C, the saddle 23 and the pivot means for connecting it with element C pass '4 through a series of angular positions with respect to the door A but, with respect to the element C, the saddle member swings as nearly as possible into a true line with the element, reaching as it approaches the roller I 5 the straight line arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 but over a relatively long reach of the track. Thus, in the critical range where the door and lifting element C assume difierent and almost opposite directions, the connecting means described is highly effective in relieving the element C of any bending or twisting strains and protects it from fraying or breaking. Further, the operation is accomplished with less noise and there is less frictional resistance to thesmooth operation of the door movement.

The improved connecting means occupies very little space and utilizes the shaft already necessary for the supporting of the roller 22. Free pivotal movement of the saddle is provided in one direction, namely when the guide member C and door follow diverging paths, while at the same time movement in an opposite direction is prevented by the bringing of the web portion 26 against the bracket or any portion thereof so as to assist in the lifting of the door through the force exerted by the lifting element C.

The bracket structure is easy to apply and forms substantially a reinforced corner for the door bottom, while at the same time affording integral supports for the shaft with its roller and saddle members. The cable may be readily attached or detached to the clamping members 32 and 34 which pivot upon the pin 28.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a large number of details as illustrative of one mode of employing the invention, it will be understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A connecting structure for use with an overhead door shiftable in marginal tracks for generally vertical and horizontal movements and with which a lifting cable and a rotary element for guiding the lifting element in its movements are employed, said connecting structure comprising a bracket secured to a bottom side portion of the door and provided with integral rearwardly-extending members, a shaft rotatably mounted in said members, a saddle member rotatably mounted on said shaft and provided with a forwardly-projected extension, and means for securing said cable to said extension.

2. A connecting structure for use with an overhead door shiftable in marginal tracks for generally vertical and horizontal movements and with which a lifting cable and a rotary element for guiding the lifting element in its movements are employed, said connecting structure comprising a bracket secured to a bottom side portion of the door and provided with integral rearwardlyextending members, a shaft rotatably mounted in said members, a saddle member rotatably mounted on said shaft and provided with a forwardly-projected extension, and pivotallymounted means carried by said extension for securing said cable thereto.

3. A connecting structure for use with an overhead door shiftable in marginal tracks for generally vertical and horizontal movements and with which a lifting cable and a rotary element for guiding the lifting element in its movements are employed, said connecting structure comprising a bracket secured to a bottom side portion of the door and provided with integral rearwardlyextending members, a shaft rotatably mounted in said members, a saddle member rotatably mounted on said shaft and provided with a forwardlyprojected extension, said saddle member having a side flange projected to provide a lateral extension, a pin carried by said extension, and means for connecting said cable to said pin and in rotatable relation therewith.

4. A connecting structure for use with an overhead door shiftable in marginal tracks for generally vertical and horizontal movements and with which a lifting cable and a rotary element for guiding the lifting cable in its movements are employed, said connecting structure comprising a bracket secured to a bottom side portion of the door and provided with rearwardly-extending members, a shaft rotatably mounted in said REFERENCES cI'r'En The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,194,111 Blodgett Mar. 19, 1940 2,271,309 Rowe Jan. 27, 1942

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