US2641467A

US2641467A - Garage door opener

Info

Publication number: US2641467A
Application number: US214285A
Authority: US
Inventors: George E Reed
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-03-07
Filing date: 1951-03-07
Publication date: 1953-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 1970-06-09

Description

June 9, 1953 G. E. REED GARAGE DOOR OPENER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 7, 1951 Q\ MN IN VENTOR QV Qi S N .Ilmmllkf M.

ATTORNEYS June 9, 1953 G. E. REED GARAGE DooE OPENER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1951 ma me. me

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ATTORNEYS June 9, 1953 G. E. lREED 2,641,457

l GARAGE DOOR OPENER Filed March 7, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet' Ga ary@ e3 BY l QLM ATTORNEYS 7//////////////w77//////////7///7///7//%//////// m l E m HMM/,y T X l OOOO 6 4 6 {M "WAHI I Ilffl IIIIHUIIIUHMofMu www?, afw/` X m7 ww w 5 a WW/, @MWWW 4m/2M l l K 59/ M INIIIIIIUIIIIIIHHU 9 a Z w w L /mw X` W I f Q 7 /M/ X 21x a MU/M m w a \m f im mM/2 M 2 2H, ,AFA/7 June 9, 1953 G. E. REED 2,641,457

GARAGE DOOR OPENER Filed March '7, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR le orge E. R ee ci c f rw. n

ATTORNEYS Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,641,467 K GARAGE DOOR OPENER y George E. Reed, Pontiac, Mich.

Application March 7j, 1951, Serial No. 214,285 i (Cl. 26S-'75)` 1 Claim.

This invention relates to door opening devices, and more particularly a hydraulic door opening means having a self-contained circulating pump unit controlled by a semi-automatic switch capable of remote control operation. While vthe present invention is applied to a garage door it will be appreciated that my improved ldoor operating construction and control means are applicable to other types of doors. v

It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide an electrically Operated hydraulic door lift and release means operative through an operating cycle to an Open position having an automatic cut-oirl and a release valve operative to effect closure of the door'. y*

Another object is tO provide a durable, low cost, easily installed electric driven door opener.

A further object is to provide a simple, low- Other Objects thanrthose stated will appearv upon an understanding of my invention gained from the following 4description when read in conjunction with the drawings in whichv like numbersY refer tO like parts inthe different-views.

In the drawings: l l Figure 1 is a sideV elevation showing the present invention operatively connectedA to a garage door.

Figure 2 is a side elevation detail showing one lift cylinder, the'control switch and the power unit.

Figure 3 is a detail section of the pump unit taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevationy in partial section ltaken on line 4-4 of Figure 1. f

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the electric 2 circuit.

Figure 6 is a partial section taken on line 6-'6 of Figure 3. f

Figure 7 is a partial section taken on line I--l of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a detail section of the lift unit piston head construction. l

Referring now in detail to the drawings the device I0 of this invention is adapted for use with a door II swingingly mounted in a dooi opening I2 ofv a garage I3, or other building.

The building I3 isv of conventional. construc-l 2 I6 extends. Disposed at the top of the door opening is a head stop I'I engageable with the top portion I8 of the`door II.

in cooperation with a similar bottom vstrip 20' provides a weather seal means effective whenthe ydoor is closed.

The door II is dependently hung' between the door jambs I5 by pivot plates 2| iixedly attached'. to opposite edges of the door by suitable screws 22 and pivotally mounted on suitable bolts' or lag screws 23, carried bythe jambs, kwith the plates spaced inwardly of the'jambs by suitable' bushings 23a.v Each ofthev plates 2I' are formed generally quadrilateraL- asbest shown in Figure 2, with the one side 24 secured to the 'door' II ias at 2Ia' and are formed withfa pivotor aperture 25 disposed adjacent the top edge l2Ia and spaced Thuslyna pivot point' inwardly of the door Il. l 25 is provided at each side of the door II with .said pointlsbeing 'offset inwardly from ther vertical centerline` of the door and vdisposed above its horizontal centerline so as to effect a constantv tendency for the door to swing to a closedposi-l tion, as shown by dotted lines in Figure l. Spaoed units Zlat each's'ide of the door I I as hereinafter explained.

Each of thegjack units 2'I is provided with a cylinder 28 having a dependent ear 29 adapted' for pivoted mounting on the face of an adjacent door jamb I5 by a suitable bolt or lag screw as at 3U having a headed end 30ab protruding'fror'nl the jamb I5.V The ear 29 is positioned outward# ly fromthe jamb I5 tO provide suitable clearance for passage of cylinder 28 pastthe jamb' by a suitablebushing 3| carried by bolt end 30a; an elongated tension plate or bar 32 is disposed outside Of each vjack unit 2'I as aiixed connectorl extending'between bolt end 30a and lag screw, 23 The weight of 'the' ateach side of the door. Adoor I I acts upwardly on lag screw 23 and downwardly on boltA 30. The vtension plate in this manner forms a strut or brace 32 connectingy be' tween the pivot points formed by bolts 23 and 3'0'1 which may be described'as upper and lower points respectively, so that the bending moment upward Of the upper subtracts from the greater bending' moment downward ,of vtheglower, and thus acting to' cancel out or greatly reduce the ystress on both Extending alongthe edges ofthe door II are flexible strips I9 which 3 the pivots 23 and 38. Suitable spacers Sla are provided under each end of each tension plate 32 to space it free of 'the jack cylinders 28 and allow for free movement of the cylinder past the plates.

The cylinder 28 of each unit 21, as best illustrated by Figure 2, is formed with a closed bottom end 33 tapped as at 34 to provide a fluid inlet 35 thereinto. Each cylinder 28 is formed with an opposite end- 36 that opens' toward plate 2| to receive a piston rod 3'! which is fitted with a slightly loose piston head 31a. Below 37a is a self-aligning floating cup 38 preferably formed of rubber-like material so as to act as a continuous seal for the iiuid pressure created in the cylinder 28 which, if any, is always upward in direction. This floating arrangement of the sealing cup 38 allows the door II to be lifted by hand without the necessity of pulling the sealing cup. In this manner' any tendency of the pistonto suck air into the cylinder is eliminatedr. With the piston rod 3l freely movable, the door II is adapted for hand lifting in case manual manipulation is desired for any reason.A

Around the piston rod 31 is fitted a circular guide member 39v removably secured as by thread engagement at 40 with the end 35 of cylinder 28. Each of the rods 31 is provided with a free end NI adapted for' rockable boltedl attachment to plate` 2I at pivot point 28. While I have described one liftv unit- 21 with its connecting pivot plate 21| in detail it will be readily lunderstood that a similar unit and mounting at each side ofthe. door I I1', asv b'estillustrated by Fig. fi, will provide a smooth even lift which is highly desirable. y

Fluid pressure' to the lift jacks 2'1 is supplied by an operating unit 42'. The operating unit G2 isr preferably mounted at onel of the door jambs I5 slightly inside' of the door pivots and is preferably disposed on the car drivers side of the door opening. This location aids in simplifying the automatic switchl cut-off at the top of the door lif-t and of connecting the drivers yard control, as hereinafter explained.- The unit 42 is` conveniently formed with a commonA mount 43Y adapted for' bolted attachment as at 44 to a suitable vertical surface disposedadjacent the doortop I8. Weld attached to the commonmount 43, als best illustrated in Fig. 3,y is a pump housing 45'. Thev housing t5 is provided-*with a removable cover I5l held in place by suitable screw means as at l1. The one side 48 disposedaway from the' door opening I2 is apertured asat 49 to receive the shaft 58- of an electric motor 5I. The motor 5I' is secured to the mounts@ by a suitable number of bolts 5'2- and providesv power suitable for operation of the fluid' pump as hereinafter described.

Mounted onshaft 5I) andl secured thereto by a set screw 53, or the like, is a crankshaft 54. formed asl an extension of the motor shaft for rotation within the housing t5. Crankshaft 54- is formed with a crankpin portion 55r eccentrically rotative relative to' the axial centerline of shaft v Suspendingly mounted on the crankshaft 5e at each' side' ofv the crankpin 55 and in. spaced relationr to eachy other are a pair of` elongated pump support plates 56. The plates E. are of sufficient length. to provide a pair of top ends 51. disposedl just under the cover 45 and. a pair of bottom ends 58 spaced adjacent. the housing bottomwall 59.- VSecured between the bottom ends 58 by a pair of stay bolts or pins E8 is a pump base 6I formed as a metal block bored to provide a through channel 62 and formed with an upstanding nipple 63 bored to provide a passage 64 communicating with the through channel.

Fitted over the nipple 83 is a uid pump cylinder 68. The cylinder 6e is preferably formed as a piece of thin wall brass tubing which can be easilyburnished to a close sliding rit with a piston 5l' mounted 'thereir-i,r can then be pressed onto nipple 63. Nipple t3 is formed with an outside diameter suiiicient to effect a tight pressed-on fit with cylinder 6b. This type of construction saves much time over the ordinary method of lapping a piston to a close t in a cylinder fconventional construction. The fasteningV method is much simpler than bolts .or threads. The thinness of the tube is essential for easy' burnishing, and for easy and secure press fitting over the nipple 53.

Piston 61 is formed with an upwardly open-l ing socket 6B adapted to receive the radiused enddownward movementy of piston E1 against the urge of spring 'I3 on rotation of the` crankpin to effect cam-like engagement ofthe crankpin with yoke 1I. Spring 'I3 is dimensioned to maintain the rodI i0 in constant engagement between the pin 55 and the piston bl. With the 'spring action attained by the aforedescribed mounting of the piston and cylinder, a simplicity and tightness is effected with no close fitting of parts being required; whereas the standard con-k struction of a bolted connecting rod and a cap fitted on a piston wrist pin is complicated and requires many close and accurate nts between these Various parts. A further advantage of the present construction is that a smaller piston is possible than could be usedif a wrist pin were required. The utility 0f my construction is to effect an inexpensive small capacity, high pressure pump which may be driven by a small electric motor. n

The channel E2 of the pump base 6I is threaded at one side lof passage 64 as at 'i4 to receive an exhaust valve I5 having a movable member I6 that acts as a iiapper inA a one-Way valve structure to close ofi the exhaust passage "I8 formed in a seat member 19. The vother end of channel 62 as at 83 is formed tohprovide a receiver for an inlet valve press-fitted therein and pref-.

erabl-y staked in place. The inlet valve is formed with a circular valve seat member 88 that.y faces.

inwardly lofV the block 6I. A movable inlet valve member 8' I is disposed`inwardly of said seat and a coiled compression spring 82 engages member 8`I` to urge it to a normally seated position. The.

inlet valve eflected is adaptedto provide ar check valve operation so as to allow for passage lof fluid through channel 62. into the pump under suction of the piston 67 on its spring urged upward movement, and to prevent return iiowgof fluid from the pump on its downwardv movement effected by the can action of cranlpin 55.

The exhaust stung 15 is fvbrmed with a threadi.,

The piston 5l isy 5 ed outlet 84 adapted to receive" asuitable pipe fitting 85 of a pump connecting tube formed generally U-shaped and adapted to conduct fluid upwardly from passage 62 under pressure. Tube 86 is provided with a suitable top fitting 81.

Disposed between the top ends 51 of the pump support plates 50 and secured thereto by suitable pin means |08 is a fluid distribution block 88 having a horizontal passage 89 adapted to threadingly receive a check valve 90 secured tov fitting 81. Check valve 90 is provided with a sharply tapered passage closing member 9| urged outwardly of block 88 by a coiled compression spring 92 disposed between it anda stop 03 formed in passage 89 and isf-adapted to eifecty non-return of uid pumped through tube r80.v

Opening outwardly from passage 89 into the sump chamber 95 formed in housing 45 is a pressure relief valve 94 for operation at -a predetermined fluid pressure to effect return of excess fluid to the sump. The relief valve is of conventional constructionand is also operative torelieve thesystem from developing anexcesspressure should action of the lift .units 21 be unduly resisted as in the case of door I| being locked, orr frozen shut. f

Blockv88 is formed witha pair of outlet passages 9'0 and 01 adapted to

receivesuitabl'e outlet fittings

98 and 99 extended through a, suitable slot |52 formed in top 45 and fitted on the endsr of fluid ducts and |0| with each one of said ducts communicating with a respective inlet 35 of the lift units 21 by suitable piping and flexible connections not shown. 4Block 08 is also apertured downwardly to receive a releaseor control valve |02 disposed oppositely ,from` fittingy 98. Control vvalve |02 is providedwith a borey |03 communicating with passage 09 having 1 an upwardly opening seat |04. A valve stem slightly less in diameter thanbore |03' is slid# ingly disposed therein an'dis formed with an en'- larged tapered top end l|00 seatable on seat |04 to normally close the bore against passage of fluid. The diameter of bore |03 and the outside diameter of stem |05 are proportioned to provide the rate of ow of uid from the lift units 21 necessary to effect the speed of door 'closure desired which in most cases is a-relatively slowvmovef ment whereby slamming of the door is avoided.r

In order to assure that thestem end |05 will properly seat I- providearc-ompression springf|01 having one end engaging thereagainstwith its opposite end bearing .againsttheinner end 'of outlet fitting y98. The valve stern `|05 is of sufcientlength'to extend Aprotrudingly fromthe valve body for contact by a cam operated arm |32 connected to a control means as hereinafter eX- plained.

It is to be noted that the closure members of check valve 00, pressure relief valve 94, and fluid release valve |02 are steeply tapered, having an included angle of approxi-mately 30. This `steep taper causes the valves to seat easily and hold securely so that there is no leakage when the door II is in the open position. Any leakage would be troublesome causing the door to close when not desired. Also the steeply tapered valves do not require lapping to make them fit tightly.

The entire pump assembly just described is oatingly carried by the crankshaft 54 for normal operation which provides for perfect alignment of the pump assembly with its driving means. For purposes of safety and to provide for the absorption of pump torque reaction and starting loads I provide a loose fitting connection between the pump support 56 and the housing 45 by'inean's of a torquepin |09 mounted transverselyi'offthe housing :to pass through aperture IIO formed through the block 88 land Isupport ends 51. The diameter of aperture I0 is relatively large relative 'to pin I 09 to provide a loose flt therebetween so as not to interfere with the normal alignment of the pump with the crankshaft 54.` Such construction'lallows 'for full y'utilization of the power output ofthe motor resulting inv lower production and operation costs as a relatively smal1 motor can be used to meet the power requirements of the instant device. i Attached tothe housing 45 is a switch or controlboxv I II preferably formed of sheet metal and welded to the out-side of the housing. Box |I| is formed with ahorizontal wall |.I2, a vertical back extension I I3 and a vertical side wall I'II having an upper edge I I1 angularly disposed to provide an abutment extending at right angles to the back extension and angularly disposed from the vertical as .bestV illustrated' in-V Fig. r2.

ARemovably secured to the horizontal wall ||2 by a suitable bracket I I3and bolt I I4 (Fig. 3) `means is a vertical front wall |I5. Extending lbetween' the extension |I3 `and the front wall I|5 .isf a horizontally disposed sleeve I I8 secured .by a bolt ||9 bolted through the extension and wall disposed in spaced relationship. Rockably carried'y engage with .the edge I I1 on rocking of the ycar-- rier to limit the upwardmovement of the pro-` trudin'g'en-d |23 when not engaged by the door'. Extending between the lower end |22 and the side wall IIB is a tension spring I 25 -for` holding the carrier `|20 in a normally forwardly'rocked position.. Switch |2| is preferably of the knifebladev type having ia blade |26 pivotedqat one end as at` |21 adjacent the pivot pointpof` the carrier |20 with a contact |28v spaced therefrom arid disposedadj acent the lowerendv |22.

Extendingthrough the housing 45 atga point below ,carrier |20 is a `bushing in which' is `rotatably mounted a `control :crankshaft 30. Shaft' |30v is of such length' as to extend from a point `vertical-ly aligned with the release valve stem |05 to a point above wall I I2 inside of the control box' ||I. vShaft |30 is `formed with `a cammed end |3I on' which i-s rockably mounted a release bar I|32 engageable with stem |05 to effect operation of release valve 1| 02 onirotation of shaft |30. The release bar |32 is secured against removal by suitable key means :as at |33. Release bar I 32 is held against rotation about shaft |30 by an adjustable stop |50 carried by -a ledge I5| attached to an inside wall of housing 45. Secured to the opposite end of shaft I 30 is a control plate |34.

yControl plate |34 is formed generally rectangular in shape with an extended end |35 that protrudes out of the control -box ||I and is 'accessible for hand manipulation. The opposite end |36 of the control plate is apertured to receive a rotatable drilled sleeve |31 interiorly threaded to receive -a locking `screw I 38 to secure the end |39 of an operating wire |40 thereto. Wire |40 is slidingly carried in a flexible tube I4| terminatingly secured to horizontal wall I I2 by a suitable threaded bushing |42. The tube aeemcv.;

|41 is rpreferably filled with oil and' extended un= dergrund to a remote point' such as post |43v located outside of 'the garage orbuilding I3 Aas shovvn in Fig. 1. The extended end of tube |4| is turned upwardly and secured to post |43 by a' bracket |44. terminated in a cap or button |45 formed with an ovehanging skirt |45 that fits over the end of the tube iM. This construction provides for weatherproong of the tube |4| in a readily accessible means for controlling movement of plate |34 from outside of the building.

Iii the operation of my device the housing 45 is filled to a point just below the motor shaft with suitable oil to operate the system and lubricate the Working parts. Of course the door will be initially in a closed position as shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1 Which frees carrier |20 to mov'e under urge of spring |25 to a position wherein afin |24 engages the bo`X edge ||1 with switch |20 open. Operation is eiected by a person desiring to open door pushing down on either the button |45 or the plate end |55. Force ap plied at either point is effective to rock plate |34 and sivin'g svvitch blade |26 into engagement with Contact' |28 to close the circuit to motor 5|. Starting of motor 5| pumps fluid from the sump 95 through passage 62, tube 86, passage 89, outlets 98 and' 99, ducts |08 and |0| to the lift' units 21. The lift units 21 lift the door to an open position Where the door top' |8 Strikes carried end |23 to r'oek switch |20 s that contact |28 is p'iil'ed away from blade 526. The door isl held open by the fluid held in the lift units 21 under pressure by check valve 90.

The outer end of the Wire |40 is Inasmucli as various embodiments of the' preseht invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof,- itis to be understood thatv all matter herein set forth, or shown inthe acs companying` drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A hydraulic lift for a pivoted door compris; ing crank means carried by the door, a hydraulic lift means operatively connected to said crank means, a pump means communicating hy# draulic pressure to said 1in means, power means' operatively connected to said pump, said pump means having a pressure release valve, switch means in circuit with said power means, said svvitch being vroclabl'y supported and rockable from a circuit onnecting position to a circuit disconnecting position, ari extension' member rockable with said svvitch and engageable 'with the door'n frivement thereof to an open positie for rocking'- the switch to the circuit disconnecting -p'o'sii'lior'i, a rdckable lever, earn means peiatively Connected to said lever, said cam means being' engageable with said release valve, conecting means between said lvr and said sit/'itch for eii'ecting circuit closure of the svv'itcl'i onY roeking of the lever 'in one direction with said cam means 'engageable with said release valve on rocking of said lever in anopposite `direction, and a remotely disposed means' for rocking said lever.

'GEORGE REE.

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