US2542432A

US2542432A - Automatic door operating mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2542432A
Application number: US780991A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis E Riverman
Original assignee: HAROLD L COOK; LEE R SCHERMERHORN
Current assignee: HAROLD L COOK; LEE R SCHERMERHORN
Priority date: 1947-10-20
Filing date: 1947-10-20
Publication date: 1951-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1968-02-20

Description

Feb. 20, 195] F. E. RIVERMAN AUTOMATIC DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM 2 Sheezs-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 20, 1947 FRANC/S E R/l E/PMAN Feb. 20, 1951 F. E. RIVERMAN AUTOMATIC DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20 1947 N k m n 2 mm mm hm Patented Feb. 20, 1951 AUTOMATIC lDO'OR OPERATING 'MECHANISM Francis E. 'Riverm'amPortland, reg., assignorlto Harold L. :Cook and Lee -R. Schermerhorn, idoing business 215000]: and Schermerhorn, .Portland, Greg.

KIIDIic'ationOcteb'er' ZO, 1947, Seria1No.*7 80,99'1

=3 Claims. mil

This invention rela' es to improvements in power driven door operating mechanisms.

'The general objector the invention is "430 1310- v'ide-an improved power operated mechanismtfor opening and closing doors wherein the door movement in either direction is 'initiated by a :convenient push button switch "and terminated by arrival of the door or doors in their proper :open or closed positions, as the case maybe.

it further object is to provide animproved door operating mechanism, particularly adapted "for use with overheadr'g'a'ra'ge 'doorsand the like, and designed to reverse the -movement of the door automatically-if it should encounter an obstruction-in its closing-"movement.

- nnother obje'ct is to provide an impro'ved con- "struction for the purpose--i:iescribe'd which is .rela- "tively simpleandinexpensiveto'manufaoture,'and

sufficiently rugged and reliable togive long service in automatic door "operation without adjustments 'or repairs.

*Other objects =and advantages "reside in the "details of construction and arrangement :or parts shown in the accompanying'drawings illustra'ting a preferred emloodirnent of the invention.

In the drawings: I

QFigure iiis atop "plan-view o f the preferred embodiment door operating mechanism;

Figure 2 is-a side elevation :view

. 'Figure 3 isa side elevational view of "the preserit mechanism applied to an overhead garage door;

' Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the "li'n'e 4- 4 of Figure "1;

Fi'gure"5-is' a-schema'tic diagram of the operatlngme'chanism "and its associated control circuits,showing themechanism at an intermediate point-in its door opening" movement; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to FigureS, showing the partsat rest inopen'door position.

"The door oper'a'tingmechanism' illustrated in Figures '1' and "2 may "be "applied to 1 single and double d'o'o'rso'n' vertical'hinges, and tooverhead "doors 6f *varlo'ustyp'es such as are commonly used in "garages and "the like. It is, therefore, 'tobe understoodtha't the invention is not limited to the particular type of overhead door' movement which is shown and described 'merely' for the urpose of illustrating the "action of the "operating mechanism. I

*InFigur'e '3 the door "I 0 is mounted to close "adoorway II in agarage 'or'other bu'ilding i2; 'Thepresent door operatingmechanisrn indicated generally by thenum'eral -l3,'-is mounted horil ntally above the level" of 'the -top'of -the door-- 'way touextendrinwardly at 'right angles to the center top of the doorirame. The door operat ing mechanism I5 is constructed as a self-conltainediunitiw'nichgmay ,be secured at one endto the bui.d1ng or;door frame with the :other :end

supported :by.a bracket M, .or the like, from the eeinng or other nonvenient support.

The :door shown .in Figure 3 is Supported @at its four owners from movement from aavertical closed {position to .a Jhorizontal overhead open position. Twoiof these points ofsupport comprise pivotal connections I15 withrigid leverarms Elia at thelowericorners of the :door. Each .arm 1:6 is fulcrume'd in a bearing i it aon a side frame of :the doorway and has an inwardly extending short arm 1 i8 :oconnected with a counterbalanci-ng spring 1-9 anchoredatilflonthe door frame :some

distance .beneath the "pivotal isupport ll. The two upper corners tor :the door vare carried by slightly overcenter positions. In opening, the

top of *the door moves :rearwardly ;on "the \tracks 2-! an'clthe bottom or theudoorrswings outwardly and upwardly ion Ethe ends of vthe .arms '16 :until these arms extendiupwardly =insa=substantially vertical ;position "with the bottom =rof the (door supported at theltop of Lthe doorwaysopening. The-various parts of ithei'operating;mechanism l 3 are mounted on :a :pair -:of longitudinal m'embers 25, such-as channels.or angle-iirons, having a requisite shape and stillness .to :form i a "guide track for a :s'li'ding carrlage 12B. The scarria'geflG is moved longitudinally: on the trackim'embersiii 5 b'y' a- 'ch'ain Z l "trained over: a 'pair of end spro ckets '23 and I 29. The sprocket 2&- is rmount'ed on Jan idler shaft 'fiil at the outer or .door endro'f :zthe traeks' 25, :and the sprocket 253 is mounted :on driving-shaftsl at the inner end of the tracks. The shaft is is dri-ven by-apulley'32connected by -a-belt'32a with 'a reversible single :phase induction motor -33 which :may be mounted Innder the tracks 25 'as shown. The opposite ends -fof. the chain Zlare =connected =to the carriage so that when "the motor fi rotates in one direction the= carriage is pulled to the outer end: of the traek-=and when the motor rotates in the opposite-direction the-"carriageis pulled to the inner end o'f the track. A link 34 pivotally con nects the -carriage 26"With47hei0pidf the-idoo'r to cause this part of the door to travel with the carriage, the door being supported and guided by the tracks 2| and the carriage being supported and guided by the tracks 25.

A somewhat resilient connection is provided by the belt 32a between the motor and the driving sprocket 29 to avoid jamming of the parts and possible damage to the mechanism if the movement of the door is suddenly stopped, as by encountering a solid object in its path of descent. A gear drive has a tendency to jam under such circumstance, locking the mechanism and preventing reversal of the motor.

The carriage 26 is provided with an upstanding lug or post 35 to engage an arm 36 on a bell crank lever 38 in approaching open door 4 open the switch 51 when operating speed is attained. At all times when the motor is not op erating at substantially its normal speed, a spring 62 maintains the switch 51 in closed position in a manner well understood in the art to close the circuit 55 for starting inv a direction determined by the position of the reversing switch position, and to engage an arm 31 on this lever in leaving open door position, to shift the lever to different positions in accordance with the direction of movement of the carriage and the door H]. A push rod 39 connects the lever 38 with a reversing switch 4|].

The chain 21 carries a lug 4| on its upper reach and a lug 42 on its lower reach, each of these lugs being engageable with a sliding bar 43 to actuate a lever 44 mounted on a switch box 45. These parts are arranged to operate a limit switch in the switch box 45 to deenergize the motor 33, the upper lug 4| engaging the bar 43 as the door arrives in substantially fully closed position and the lower lug 42 engaging the bar as the door arrives in substantially fully open position. As best shown in Figures and 6, the bar 43 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in a guide 46 wherein it is biased by a spring 41 to move to the right to occupy normally the position shown in Figure 5. One end of the bar 43 is provided with an angular L-shaped extension 48 disposed across both upper and lower reaches of the chain 21 in a position to be engaged and moved by either one of the chain lugs 4| and 42 as one or the other of these lugs approaches the sprocket 29. The other end ofthe bar 43 carries a pivotally mounted detent biased by a spring 5|] to a position at right angles to the bar to engage and move the end of the lever 44 when the bar is moved to the left byone of the lugs 4| or 42. When the bar 43 is again returned to its Figure 5 position by the spring 41, the detent 49 isadapted to pivot to ride over the end of the lever 44.

The electric circuits for the operating mechanism are energized from a source of supply 5|. The power circuits for the motor 33 are energized through a pair of lines 52 under the control of a limit switch 53 in the switch box 45. Closing of this switch completes a circuit to a running circuit 54 and to the reversing switch 48 in a starting circuit 55. When the reversing switch 40 is in its lower position as shown in Figure 5, the starting circuit 55 is conditioned for motor rotation in a direction to open the door, producing chain movement in the direction indicated by the arrow 56. When the starting switch is in its upper position as shown in Figure 6, the starting circuit is conditioned for motor rotation in the opposite direction to produce a closing movement at the door wherein the chain moves in a direction counter to the arrow 56. The present circuits are designed for an induction motor having a switch 51 incorporated therein to open the starting circuit as soon as the motor attains its normal operating speed. The numeral 58 designates a centrifugal device on the motor shaft 60 operating through a bell crank lever 6| to The limit switch 53 is connected with the lever arm 44 in such a way that it is normally biased to closed position by a spring 65 which pulls the arm against a stop 66 as shown in Figure 5. When one of the lugs 4| or 42 engages the sliding bar 43, the pawl 49 moves to the left to rotate the lever arm 44 in a counterclockwise direction about its fixed pivot 61 to open the switch 53. After the switch has thus been opened it is maintained inopen position by a stop 68 which is *pivotally mounted at 69 and biased by a spring 10 to the position shown in Figure 6. Disposed adjacent the stop 68 is a solenoid 1| having a plunger 12 constituting a magnetic armature movable within the solenoid coil. The solenoid is energized by a circuit 13 under the control of a push button switch 14. When the switch 14 is momentarily closed, the plunger 12 makes a single stroke, striking the stop 68 and releasing the lever arm 44 to allow the spring 65 to close the switch 53.

When the door is fully opened the various parts are in the rest positions shown in Figure 6, with the lug 42 holding the bar 43 extended to the left after having opened the limit switch 53 in the previous opening movement. Stop 68 holds the limit switch open to permit overtravel of bar 43, and spring 62 holds the starting switch 51 closed, reversing switch 40 being in its upper position. When it is desired to close the door the switch 14 is momentarily closed, causing the plunger 12 to make a stroke against the stop 68 to release the lever arm 44, allowing the limit switch 53 to close. This action energizes the running circuit 54 and energizes the starting circuit 55 to start the motor in the proper direction to produce chain movement counterto the direction indicated by arrow 56. As soon as the motor attains operating speed the centrifugal device 58 opens the starting switch 51 and continues to hold it open. Upon-leaving open door position bar 43 follows lug 42 to the right causing pawl 49 to override the end of arm 44,- placing these parts in their Figure 5 position. The post 35 then engages the upstanding arm-31 on the bell crank lever 38 and; moves the reversing switch 40 to its lower position to condition the starting circuit for reverse rotation of the motor whenever it is again called upon to start l f there is no obstruction in the way of the door it proceeds to fully closed position, the motor being then stopped by engagement of the lug 4| with the sliding bar 43 to open the limit switch 53 at the proper timeso that the door will be fully closed when the parts have come to rest.

If, however, the door encounters an obstruc} tion in its closing'movement, the speed of the motor 33 will be materially retarded, causing the centrifugal device 58 to yield to theaction of spring 62 to reclose the starting switch 51. The polarity of the starting circuit having been just reversed by the reversing switch 40, the motoristhereby immediately stopped and. restarted in the opposite direction to reopen the door. When the motor attains itsnormal operating speed the startingswitchv 51 is again opened and the motor operates on itsrunning circuit 54, which is efiective for either direction of rotation, until the lug 42 engages the sliding bar 43 to open the limit switch 53 with the door fully open.

The door is opened from a fully closed position by momentarily closing the switch M. This causes the plunger 12 to release the stop 68 from the lever arm 54 in the same manner as in closing the door, since when the door is fully closed the

switches

53 and 51 are in the respective positions shown in Figure 6, but the sliding bar 43 is held to the left by the lug 4| instead of the lug 42. By virtue of the fact that the carriage and post 35 move to the right in closing the door, the reversing switch 49 will be in its lower position when the door is fully closed. With the closing of limit switch 53 when the parts are in these positions the running winding 54 is energized and the starting winding 55 is energized to produce motor rotation for chain move ment in the direction of the arrow 56 to open the door. As the carriage approaches open door position, the post engages the arm 36 on the bell crank lever 38 and returns the reversing switch to its upper position just before the lug 42 engages the sliding bar 43 to open the limit switch 53 to stop the motor.

Thus it is seen that the single limit switch 53 is utilized to stop both the opening and closing movements of the door and also to initiate either of these movements by the action of the plunger 12 in response to momentary closing of the push button switch 14. If the door is open, a momentary closing of this switch will cause the door to close, and if the door is closed the same operation of the switch 14 will cause it to open. The reversing switch 40 always rests in the proper position to reverse the motor when it is restarted, and by virtue of the fact that the bell crank lever arm 33 is positioned close to the open door position of the post 35, the starting circuit is conditioned for a door opening movement just after the initiation of each door closing movement. For this reason any obstruction encountered by the door after it starts to close will be effective to reopen the door because as soon as the motor 33 slows down enough for spring 62 to overpower the centrifugal device the motor will be reversed by the pre-conditioned starting circuit.

This mechanism thereby accomplishes all the necessary functions of a fully automatic power operated door, including the safety feature of self-reversal when there is an obstruction beneath the door, and requires considerably fewer parts than conventional power operated door opening and closing mechanisms capable of performing these functions. The mechanism is rugged and self-contained and adapted to be mounted as a unit in a building for operating any conventional type of doors under simple push button control. Various changes may of course be made in the arrangement of parts and details of construction within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A door operating mechanism comprising an endless chain having two reaches adapted to move in opposite directions to open and close a door, a reversible motor for driving said chain, a limit switch for controlling the energization of said motor, means for closing said switch to start said motor, a movable member for opening said switch to stop said motor, a lug on one reach of said chain to engage said member to stop said motor when said chain arrives at open door position, a lug on the other reach of said chain to engage said member to stop said motor when said chain arrives at closed door position, a starting circuit for said motor, a reversing switch in said circuit, means operable by said chain in approaching and leaving open door position to alternately change said reversing switch to condition said starting circuit for opposite motor rotation, and means comprising a speed responsive switch in said starting circuit to reverse the rotation of the motor if the closing movement of the mechanism is retarded after said reversing switch has been actuated.

2. In a door operating mechanism movable between open and closed door positions, a reversible motor for operating said mechanism, starting and running circuits for said motor, a limit switch controlling both of said circuits, means for closing said limit switch to start the motor, means operable by said mechanism at both of said door positions to open said switch to stop the motor, a reversing switch in said starting circuit, means operable by said mechanism in approaching and leaving its open door position to actuate said reversing switch, and means comprising a speed responsive switch in said starting circuit to reverse the rotation of the motor in response to retardation of the closing movement of the mechanism after said reversing switch has been actuated.

3. A door operating mechanism comprising a chain connected with the door, a reversible motor for driving said chain between open and closed door limit positions, starting and running circuits for said motor, a limit switch controlling both of said circuits, means for closing said switch to start the motor, a movable member for opening said switch to stop the motor, means on said chain to engage said member and open said switch in open door position of the chain, means on the chain to engage said member and open said switch in closed door position of the chain, a reversing switch in said starting circuit, means on said chain to actuate said reversing switch as said chain is approaching and leaving its open door position, and means comprising a speed responsive switch in said starting circuit to reverse the rotation of the motor if the closing movement of the mechanism is retarded after said reversing switch has been actuated.

FRANCIS E. RIVERMAN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,532,171 Burmeister Aug. 7, 1925 1,745,990 Goldman Feb. 4, 1930 2,253,170 Dunham Aug. 19, 1941 2,262,719 Collins Nov. 11, 1941 2,425,312 Gower Aug. 12, 1947