US2517768A

US2517768A - Overhead transporting door for garages and the like

Info

Publication number: US2517768A
Application number: US613744A
Authority: US
Inventors: Coulson Gordon Raymond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-08-31
Filing date: 1945-08-31
Publication date: 1950-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 1967-08-08

Description

8, 1950 G. R. COULSON 2,517,768

OVERHEAD TRANSPORTING DOOR FOR .GARAGES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 51, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l w HY W W Aug. 8, 1950 e. R. couLsoN OVERHEAD TRANSPORTING DOOR FOR GARAGES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 51, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 s w l G. R. C ZOULSON OVERHEAD TRANSPORTING DOOR FOR GARAGES .AND THE LIKE F11 ed Aug: 51, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet Aug. 8, 1950 G- R. COULSON OVERHEAD TRANSPORTING DOOR FOR GARAGES AND THE LIKE' Filed Aug. 31, 1945 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fit". m-.. HA:

Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED OVER-HEAD TRANSPORJTING DOOR FOR GARAGES AND TLIKE Gordon Raymond Coulson, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Application Augusttl, 1945, Serial No. 613,744

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an overhead door for a garage or the like of the type in which a door is raised by power-operated means and is supported and guided in tracks extending vertically at each side of the door opening and horizontally or substantially horizontally away from the top of the door opening. Most arrangements for raising doors of this type depend on cables or other flexible means connected to the bottom of the door and adapted to be wound on a power driven winding drum and they are subject to the disadvantage that a very considerable force is necessar-yto open and close the door. Various {proposals have therefore been made for counter-balancing .such

doors with the aid of springs, weights and the like, but such mechanism takes up valuable space near the door opening and moreover does .not dispose of the principal difficulty with known doors of this type, namely that they operate at a great mechanical disadvantage In the initial stages of lifting a door of the kind described there is required to ,be applied to the top of the door in a substantially horizontal directiona force component which is greater than that applied in a vertically upward direction and, in the later stages of lifting, the force component directed vertically upwards must .begreater than that applied in a substantially horizontal direction. According to the present inventionthe total force available is applied simultaneously to the top and bottom of the door and is automatically distributed between the two in accordance with the resistance to movement of the top or bottom of the door, as the case maybe, the tracks at each side of the door extend vertically from a pointnear the bottom of the door opening to a .curve above the door opening and then substantially horizontally away from the plane of the door frame so that the weight-of the door may be partly transierred'ito the ,horizontaltrack in the initial opening movement of the door, and cable to be wound on a drum is arranged as hereinafter set forth whereby the greatest mechanical efiiciency results. The necessity for the provision of reinforcing cables, weights, springs or levers and in different directions during its :transpor.

tation, these points being at each stage of the operation those atwhichthe maximum mechanical advantage is obtained.

According to the invention, therefore, there is provided the combination in an overhead door structure of a door frame defining an opening, tracks at each side of the door-opening extending vertically from a point near the bottom of the door opening to a curve above the door opening and then substantially horizontally away from the plane of the door frame, a door, bearing members at each side of the door co-operating with said trackscable windingmeans fixedly mounted near the top of the door opening, and cable means extended from the top of the door to said winding means and, between the top of the door and the winding means, over at least one pulley mounted at each-of the following stations: a fixedportion of the structure horizontally removed from the top of the door opening and at approximately the level of the top of the door opening, a fixed portion of thestructure adjacent the top of the door-opening,.anda portion of the door adjacent thebottom thereof, the cable means being trained over said pulleys in that order and passing upwardly from the last mentioned station to the winding means.

The cable means preferably comprises a single cable having each end connected to the winding means adjacent each side of the door opening, the cable being slidably connected between its ends to the top of the door at each side thereof, so that if one drum Winds in cableiaster than the other, as a result, for example, of the cable piling up instead of being evenly wound on the drum, cable will be passed from one side of the door to the other and the pull on the two sides of the door will be equalized.

The result of this construction is that cable equal to four times the height of the door is trained over the pulleys at each side of the door and three quarters of this cable is wound in during the movement of the door from fully closed to; fully open position. The over-all mechanical advantage is therefore 3:11. The initial lift is accomplished with a mechanical advantage of 2:1 and as the opening of the door progresses, this mechanical advantage increases rapidly and then diminishes, but is never less than 2:1.

As a prime mover, any type of means may be employed such as hand-chains in connection with suitable gearing, or an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motor. The invention may be applied to a door which consists of a single closure membfi 'find to one having any number of horizontal It door sections suitably articulated, such as are commonly installed in airdrome hangers and grain elevators.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the door, seen from inside the building,

Figure 2 is a partly sectional side elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a detail of a portion remote from the door of the opposite trackway to that shown in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a plan of the power operating means and illustrates the relation of the door to its housing including the surrounding wall and the door jamb,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan detail showing a cable pulley fixed to the upper part of the door through which the horizontal force components is applied to the door,

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 88 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrow,

Figure '7 is an enlarged section taken on the line 99 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view on the line lfilii of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary partly-sectional detail of a cable pulley on the lower part of the v taken in the direction of the arrow in Figure 8.

By referring first to Figure 12, the principle of operation of the door will be understood. In this diagrammatic figure, for clarity, the door is represented as a unit, but it will be understood that the operating principles apply equally in cases where as in Figure 1 the door comprises a number of horizontal, articulated door panels. The numeral 28 indicates one of a pair of plates fixedly secured as at 21 adjacent to each side of the door. Journalled in each plate is a spindle 22 having winding drums 23 and 3i fixedly secured thereon. One end of a cable 25 is secured to the drum 23. The cable is led directly from the drum 23 and reeved around the pulley 25 secured to the lower part of one side of the door 26, over the idler pulley 21 journalled to the plate 28, and continues around the pulley 28 secured adjacent to the outer extremity of a substantially horizontal portion 29 of a trackway M1 disposed adjacent to each side of the door 26. The horizontal portions 29 of each trackway project above the door from the wall 2! and are similarly inclined upwardly at the outer ends, to facilitate downward movement of the door during closing operations. After passing round pulley 28, the cable is returned to a pulley 35} mounted on the upper part of door 25. The cable is then led across the door and disposed in connection with correspondingly arranged pulleys mounted on the other side of the door and on the other bracket and trackway, the end of the cable being finally secured to the drum 3!, seen in Figure 1.

It will be appreciated from Figure 12 that as the door is raised from closed position, the lower end 32 of the door moves at a slower rate of speed than does the top of the door 26. In the same time that the bottom of the door moves from the points A to Al, in the vertical portions of the trackways, the top of the door moves from B to Bl along the upper portions of the trackways. The bottom of the door has thus moved up the vertical trackways 33, substantially one half of the distance that the top of the door has moved along the upper trackways 29, in the same time. Since both ends of the cable 24 are simultaneously wound onto the drums 23 and 3| during the revolution of the spindle 22, the transporting efiort is applied to the door simultaneously via the corresponding pulleys 3B and the corresponding pulleys 25. As the effort required to move the door horizontally from B to BI is less than that required to move the door vertically from A to Al, the greater part of the total effort available is applied to pulling the points Bl towards the pulleys 28 and thus during this part of the transportation, a mechanical advantage is obtained.

If, after pulleys 30 reach the corresponding points Bl, the greater part of the available effort were continued at the points Bl, such efiort would be applied at an increasing mechanical disadvantage. At this stage of the operation, less effort is required to raise the door by lifting the lower end 32. Accordingly, the greater part of the effort is automatically transferred by the cable from the points BI and is exerted on the door at the points Al via the corresponding pulleys 25, The result is that between the points Al and B the greater part of the available effort applied by the spindle 22 to the cable 24 is employed as a vertical upwardly directed force component which causes the bottom of the door to be lifted from the points Al in the vertical trackways substantially to the points B at the inner ends of the substantially horizontal trackways. The top of the door is simultaneously transported to corresponding points C adjacent to the pulleys 28. In this position the door is fully open and it is evident that a mechanical advantage is obtained during the entire period of transportation.

Similarly, when the movement of the spindle 22 is reversed, the cable 24 is paid out by both drums and gravity exerts a diminishing downward pull on the door, more particularly on that part adjacent pulleys 25. The inclination of the upper trackways facilitates the movement of the rollers on the trackways during this phase of movement of the door. When the pulleys 25 reach the points Al, the greatest eifort is automatically transferred to the pulleys 30, which are now at the points BI in the trackw-ays, this efiort continuing until the pulleys 30 reach point B, at which position the door is fully closed and is once more vertical. The curve at the junction of the vertical and horizontal portions of each trackway helps to maintain smooth movement of the rollers in the trackways during the last stage of a downward transportation and also during the initial stages of an upward transportation. The last phase of the movement of the pulleys 30 around such curved sections of the trackways also urges the top part of the door to close against the wall housing.

As will be evident from consideration of the plan of the door and its housing in Figure 4 provision is made firmly to close the edges I20 of the door both against the floor I21 and against its housing. The latter includes door jambs or stops I22 which extend around the two sides and across the top of the outside of the door opening. Properly to position the bottom edge I23 of the door against the floor of the opening, depressions egsrrgvca the bottom edge of the door. When the door is in vertical, closed position, the bottom horizontal "edge I23 of the=door26 is thus flush with thesurface of the floor.

As best seen in Figs. 1, 2and Btu-close thedoor laterally against the side stops I22 during the later stages of a downward transportation, apparatus at each 'side of the doorgenerally indicated by numeral I25 is provided. By reference to Figure 2, it will be seen that the verticalportions f the trackways are supported in relation to the wall I21 bybrackets I26while the top portions of the track-ways are supported from the roof by hangers I28. The brackets I26 are secured ta the wall I21 as by members I29 substantially at intervals corresponding to the points of contact of the vertical tangents to the guide rollers I 36 and I3I. The latter are mounted on spindles I32 which in the mascot"; "an, articulated door :form .the hinge pins between separate sections .as I33rand [L34 of the door.. Thebrackets 126 are provided adjacent their extremities and remote from the wall of the building, with substantially horizontal bores I35. Through each bore I35 a spindle I36 is disposed. The latter are each provided with a slotted lever I38 projecting radially from the end of thespindle remote from the guide rollers I39 and I3I. At the opposite end of each spindle I36 an eccentric cam I3! is secured. Rotation of spindles I36 by the levers I38 thus rotates the cams I31. Connected to each lever I38 is a link rod I39 disposed as seen in Figure -1 in a generally vertical position, and normally urged by spring I40 ina direction away from the floor I2I. Pins I4! secured to the shank of the rod I39 pass through the slots I42 in the levers I38 and conmeet the rod I39 with the levers I38.

Secured to the bottom portion of the rod I39 as by member I91, is a projection I43 disposed with its long axis in the direction of the door 26. Projection I43 is of suflicient length to be engaged by the bottom edge I23 of the door during the later stages of downward transportation movement of the latter. Elongated orifices I are formed in the vertical portions of the trackways disposed in positions substantially corresponding with the guide rollers I30 and I3I in accord with the position of the latter when the door is in closed position.

When during downward movement of the door the bottom edge I23 of the door engages the projection I43, the link rods I39 are pushed down wardly against the tension of spring I49 to rotate the eccentric cams. The peripheral portions of the latter are thus caused to project progressively into the apertures I59 in the trackways. When the door is lowered suiiiciently, the cams engage the guide rollers and force them inside the trackways in the direction of the door housing. This action continues until the edges I20 of the door as seen in Fig. 4, are firmly wedged by the action of the cams against the wall jambs I22.

To aid this wedging action, the lower vertical portions of the trackways are provided (Fig. 10) with inclined portions I5I, each having an inclined surface i52 of which the lower portion projects towards the door and functions when engaged by the rollers to urge the guide rollers and door in the direction of the door jambs. Such wedge means may be formed integral with the trackway but preferably consists of wedges each trackway 29.

formed separately and secured one at the bottom end ofeach trackway. I

To prevent the door .Efrom sagging when itdsin horizontal positions where it is entirely supported by the trackways, tie rods I53-are disposed :horizontally across theinnerf'ace of the door. These are secured atconvenient vertical intervals by means of suitable angle members I54ywhichare connected to the rods 1 53 and securedto the door as at I55.

By reference to Figures 4 7 inclusive, the mechanical :details of the brackets I556 supporting the upper pulleys 3!] will be understood. Each bracket 166 is formed with a'pair of projecting members I51 and I258, correspondingly boredon a horizontal axis to receive a spindle I53.

On the outer ends of spindles I59 are also mounted guide rollers I'lll, one being located in Also mounted on each spindle 159 is an idler pulley =I69,-disposed with its sheave in alignment with the portion I62 of the cable 2 4, to actas a guide for the latter (Fig. 5). An orifice I63 is formed in the centre partof the projections 15? and 158 through which the cable 24 passes tothe other side of door, to facilitate the equal distribution of the .horizon'taland vertical forces appliedby the cable to each side of the door. The cable pulleys 38 are mountedion each outer projection 15.1, the axis of rotation of these pulleys'being'vertical. Each pulley .30 (Figure 9) is rotatably mounted on aspindlelfifii' secured between the retaining members .160. and

'TI 6'I. 'The latter are suitably secured as by .the

welds I62 and M3" to the outersides .Ii64 of'the projections 4251. .As the cable 24 rides overpulleys 3.6, at opposite ends of the upper part of the door, the latter ithus compensate for any slight difference of pull which may be exerted on the door from opposite ends of the cable, due to any slight difference in the speeds of rotation of the drums 23 and Lil.

Where a door is composed of horizontal sections as 533 and I34, the guide rollers I 39 and I3I are secured at the outer extremities of spindles, which form the pins of the hinges I83 be tween each door section. In the case of the guide rollers I16 and I12, their spindles I59 and 112 respectively are journalled in brackets I56 and 513 respectively, secured by members I 64 to the top and bottom of each side of the door. The preferred sectional form of the guide rollers and trackways is seen in Figure 8. These latter are formed with a lip I14 of a height less than the radius of the guide rollers and disposed at the inner edges of the trackways. The total inside height of each trackway is of course, greater than the diameter of the rollers as the difference between these dimensions determines the extent to which the door can be laterally closed against the stops I22 by operation of the apparatus I25. In all positions of the door, the guide rollers and corresponding spindles are clear of the lips I14.

To ensure that the cable is wound evenly on to the drums, the winding drums 23 and 3I (Figure 11) are provided with shrouds I16, each having an opening I16 of a size adequate to receive the cable. It will be seen from Figure 4 that reduction gearing R in connection with the motor is provided. The input shaft I86 turns at motor speed and is connected to one end of the reduction train of R. The output shaft 22 of the reduction train turns at a substantially reduced 7 of different doors by changing the sizes of the sprockets l8! and I88, or by changing the gear ratios of R or by changing the diameters of the winding drums.

What I claim is:

1. The combination in an overhead door structure of, a door frame defining an opening, tracks at each side of the door opening extending vertically from a point near the bottom of the door opening to a curve above the door opening and then substantially horizontally away from the plane of the door frame, a door, bearing members at each side of the door co-operating with said tracks, cable winding means fixedly mounted near the top of the door opening, and cable means extended from the top of the door to said winding means and, between the top of the door and the winding means, over at least one pulley mounted at each of the following stations: a fixed portion of the structure horizontally removed from the top of the door opening and at approximately the level of the top of the door opening, a fixed portion of the structure adjacent the top of the door opening, and a portion of the door adjacent the bottom thereof, the cable means being trained,

over said pulleys in that order and passing upwardly from the last mentioned station to the winding means.

2. The combination in an overhead door structure of, a door frame defining an opening, tracks at each side of the door opening extending vertically from a point near the bottom of the door opening to a curve above the door opening and then substantially horizontally away from the plane of the door frame, a door, roller members at each side of the door co-operating with said tracks, at each side of the structure a series of pulleys comprising a pulley mounted on a fixed portion" of the structure horizontally removed from the top of the door opening and at approximately the level thereof,a pulley mounted on a fixed portion of the structure adjacent the top of the door opening and a pulley mounted one portion of the door near the bottom thereof, cable winding means fixedly mounted near the top of the door opening and cable means extended from the top of the door at each side thereof over one of the series of pulleys and passing upwardly from the last-mentioned pulley of each series to the winding means.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 in which said cable means comprises a single cable having each end connected to said winding means adjacent each side of the door opening, the cable being slidably connected between its ends to the top of the door at each side thereof. a

GORDON RAYMOND COULSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,276,191 Dittman et a1 Aug. 20, 1918 1,465,695 Stewart Aug. 21, 1923 1,661,719 Edwards Mar. 6, 1928 1,792,119 Peelle Feb. 10, 1931 1,897,391 Kelly Feb. 14, 1933 1,916,651 Beeman et a1 'July 4, 1933 1,927,559 Talen Sept. 19, 1933 2,008,000 Brunst et al July 16, 1935 2,189,019 Rowe Feb. 6, 1940 2,254,150 Kingsland 1 Aug. 26; 1941 2,277,932 Mowers et al Mar. 31, 1942