US2696250A

US2696250A - Rolling door

Info

Publication number: US2696250A
Application number: US377035A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michelman Nathan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-08-28
Filing date: 1953-08-28
Publication date: 1954-12-07
Anticipated expiration: 1971-12-07

Description

Dec. 7, 1954 Filed Aug. 28, 1953 v N. MICHELMAN 2,696,250

ROLLING DOOR 2 Sheefis-She'et 1 /5 N y F I (5.3 \m 72 /I l i IFLYENITQR 4; RNEY N. MICHELMAN Dec. 7, 1954 ROLLING DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 28. 1953 1 r ORNEY United States Patent ROLLING' DOOR :Natlian'Michelman, Brooklyn,'N. Y.

ApplicationAugust2'8, 1953, Serial No. 377,035

'7-Clairns; or. 160-492 This invention-Jrelates to rolling doors and, more particularly, to a novel, simplified counter-balancing arrangement for-manually operated rolling doors.

Rolling doors usually comprise a series of hingedly interconnected. elongated slats, panels or the like, and are arranged tobe wound on a drum or shaft extending across thelintel of a doorway. The slats are guided and restrained, in their vertical. movement in opening and closing the door-way, bychannels or tracks extending along. thesides of" the opening.

'Suchdoorsggwhich are often referred to as curtain d'oors,find numerous uses, such asv fire doors, pier doors, andthe'like. They'are also useful as garage doors and in any location where it is: desirable that'the full width of the opening be always'available, or where it is desirable to be able to selectively adjust the vertical clearance of'the opening. Thus,'these doors may be raised only partially'to limit access'throughthe opening.

Whether such'doors are manually operated or power operated, counterbalancing arrangements are desirable due to the weight of the door, particularly when the latter is' made of steel or other relatively heavy metal. Such counterbalancing arrangements are a practical necessity with. manually operated rolling or curtain. doors. The counterbalancing arrangements hitherto provided, while reliable in operation, have been complicated and expensive to an extent substantially limiting their field of application'due to the cost of installing doors incorporating such arrangements;

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention .to provide a novel, simplified and reliable rolling door. construction and counterbalancing arrangement therefor which is much less costly toconstruct and install than presently known constructions and arrangements.

To this end, the invention rolling door construction includes a shaft arranged horizontally across a lintel of a.

doorway and normally nonarotatable. Rotatabl'y mounted on this shaft are disk means having the upper end of the flexible door secured thereto for winding onto su'ch disk means and unwinding therefrom.

Coil spring means, are mounted on the shaft in emr bracing relation thereto andhaving an end engaged with the disk means. The other end ofthe coil spring means is engaged by spring adjustment; meansv .fixed to the shaft and constraining the associated end of the coil spring meansagainst. rotation. relative to the .shaft.

The coil spring means is so disposed that it is wound up, during lowering 'of-the d'oor,-so:'that the stored energy counterbalances the door weight during raising or opening of the door. Means are provided, whereby the shaft may be selectively released for rotation to provide for adjustment of'the initial spring tension.

Preferably, the coil spring means comprises a pair of coil springs each having an end secured to a disk andamend secured to one of the spring adjustment means. The latter are each selectively angularly adjustable. about the shaft axis to correlate the initial tension of both springs. Selective rotation of the shaft adjusts both springs conjointly.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a rolling door embodying the invention;

2,696,250 Patented Dec. 7, 1954' theline 22 of Fig. 1.;

Fig; 3 is a horizontal. sectional view of the door on the line3'3 of. Fig: 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation View of the door winding means;

Fig. 5 is avertical sectionalview-ofthe releasable shaft locking means, taken on theline 55 of'Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 'isa'front'elevation'view, partly'in section, of the releasable'shaft' lockingmeans, corresponding generally'to the'line 66'of Fig. 5; and

"Fig. 7 is'a diametric sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs; 1, 2 and 3,'door 10 may comprise a plurality of hingedly interconnected elongated strips or slats 11, of any suitable material suchas wood or metal, slidable in vertical tracks 12 extending along each side of a doorway or other opening 15. Door 11) is arranged to be wound on suitable rotatable. means located in a-transversely'curved longitudinal guard or housing 13 extending along the li'ntel 14 of doorway 15. The illustrated door is manuall'y'raised-or lowered, as by' grasping the handle 16. At the-left side of guard 13, a slide 40 projects for releasing the normally non rotatable door tends horizontally of. lintel'14 and substantially axiallyof 'andvconcentric with guard 13, beingmounted at each endthough the end walls 17 of the guard; Shaft 20 is normally held against rotation by means described more fully hereinafter.

Rotatably mounted onshaft 20 are a plurality of door winding disk means, such as disks 25; Three areshown, although a greater number may be used for-wider doors 10. "Each disk 25- has secured concentrically therewith anannular bracket 26-which is U-shape in crosssection and encloses an anti-friction bearing 27' supporting the associated disk 25 for rotation onshaft 20. The upper- -most= slator strip 18 of door 10 is secured to the peripheries of disks 25, as by angle brackets 24, so that door 10' may be wound ondisks 25 during opening of the door and unwound therefrom during, closing of the door. The securement of the door 10 to the several disks 25- fixes the relative positions of the disks axially of A pair of coil springs 30 are mounted in embracing relation onshaft 20, and each disposed adjacent an end disk 25. From Fig. 4 it'will' be observed that the two springs 30 are oppositely wound; One end of each spring 30 is anchored to 'the adjacent end disk 25, as by having an end booked through an aperture 28 in the disk. The opposite end of each spring is anchored to a spring adjustment member 35.

These members 35, whichmay be castings, each comprisea conical spring seat portion 33 and a collar portion 34 integral with portion 33. The related end of a spring 30 is anchored in the associated adjustment memheras by having an end inserted into a radial aperture 36 in portion 34.

The forward face 37 of conical portion 33 of each member 35 is formed with a series of radial notches 38, shown as four in number in the specific example illustrated; These notches are arranged to engage pin or pins 21, projecting radially from shaft 20,. to. lock members 35' against rotation relativeto shaft 20; By'pulling members '35 away from end disks 25, the notches 38 are released from pins 21 so that members 35 may be angularlyadjusted on shaft 20 to correspondingly adjust the individual tensions of'springs 30 to equalize the initial tension 4 of thetwo springs.

The desired tension exerted conjointly by both springs 30 may be selectively adjusted by the shaft locking means 40 at the left of shaft 20, as viewed in Fig. 4, and shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6. The locking means includes an enlarged hub element 41 non-rotatably secured, for example, to the left end of shaft 20 and including a relatively thick disk 42 and a cylindrical intermediate section 43 terminating in a conical portion 44.

A generally semi-circular bracket 45 has a radial 3 flange 46 secured to end wall 17 of guard 13 and having a slot 47 therethrough. An axially extending wall 48 joins flange 46 to a second radial wall 49 parallel to the face of disk 42. The ends of wall 49 are bent to form apertured ears 51 receiving a U-bolt 52 embracing hub section 43.

The slot 47 in flange 46 is a guide for slide 50, which includes a fiat strip 53 having a bent outer end 54 adjacent an access opening in guard 13. Slide 50 is guided by a slot 56 in strip 53 receiving a headed pin or rivet 57 secured to guide end wall 17.

The inner end of strip 53 carries a block 55 selectively engageable in radial notches 58 in the periphery of disk 42. A coil spring 60 secured between an ear 61 on wall 49 and a pin 62 on slide 50 normally biases slide 50 radially toward shaft to'engage block 55 in a notch 58 to lock shaft 20 against rotation.

To conjointly adjust the tension of both springs 30, slide 50 is pulled outwardly and shaft 20 rotated relative to disks until the desired spring tension is attained.

The described arrangement thus provides a simplified, inexpensive counterbalance for a rolling door, individual and conjoint spring tension adjustments.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without dep arting from such principles.

I claim:

1. A rolling door comprising, in combination, a normally non-rotatable, horizontally arranged mounting shaft; disk means rotatably mounted on said shaft; a flexible door having one end secured to said disk means for winding thereon by rotation of said disk means; coil spring means embracing said shaft and having an end engaging said disk means; and spring seat means normally fixed to said shaft in axially spaced relation to said disk means and engaging the other end of said coil spring means to such other end of said coil spring means against rotation relative to said shaft; said coil spring means being disposed to be wound by relative rotation of said disk means and said shaft during unwinding of the door to counterbalance the door weight during winding of the door on said disk means; said spring seat means being angularly adjustable on said shaft to preset the tension of said coil spring means; said shaft being selectively rotatable for adjustment of the initial tension of said coil spring means.

2. A rolling door comprising, in combination, a horizontally arranged mounting shaft; releasable means normally locking said shaft against rotation; disk means rotatably mounted on said shaft; a flexible door having one end secured to said disk means for winding thereon by rotation of said disk means; coil spring means embracing said shaft and having an end engaging said disk means; and spring seat means normally fixed to said shaft in axially spaced relation to said disk means and engaging the other end of said coil spring means to such other end of said coil spring means against rotation relative to said shaft; said coil spring means being disposed to be wound by relative rotation of said disk means and said shaft during unwinding of the door to counterbalance the door weight during winding of the door on said disk means; said spring seat means being angularly adjustable on said shaft to preset the tension of said coil spring means; said releasable means being selectively operable to release said shaft for rotation for adjustment of the initial tension of said coil spring means.

3. A rolling door comprising, in combination, a normally non-rotatable, horizontally arranged mounting shaft; a pair of circular disks rotatively mounted in axially spaced relation on said shaft; a flexible door having one end secured to said disks for Winding thereon by rotation of said disks; a pair of oppositely wound coil springs each embracing said shaft and each having one end engaged with one of said disks; and a pair of spring seats each normally fixed to said shaft in axially spaced relation to a disk and each engaging the other end of a coil spring to such other end against rotation relative to said shaft; said coil springs being disposed to be wound by relative rotation of said disks and said shaft during unwinding of the door to counterbalance the door weight during winding of the door on said disks; each spring seat being angularly adjustable on said shaft to preset the relative tensions of the two coil springs.

4. A rolling door comprising, in combination a nor-,

mally non-rotatable, horizontally arranged mounting shaft; a pair of circular disks rotatably mounted in axially spaced relation on said shaft; a flexible door having one end secured to said disks for winding thereon by rotation of said disks; a pair of oppositely wound coil springs each embracing said shaft and each having one end engaged with one of said disks; and a pair of spring seats each normally fixed to said shaft in axially spaced relation to a disk and each engaging the other end of a coil spring to constrain such other end against rotation relative to said shaft; said coil springs being disposed to be wound by relative rotation of said disks and said shaft during unwinding of the door to counterbalance the door weight during winding of the door on said disks; each spring seat being angularly adjustable on said shaft to preset the relative tensions of the two coil springs; said shaft being selectively rotatable for conjoint adjustment of the initial tension of both of said coil springs.

5. A rolling door comprising, in combination, a horizontally arranged mounting shaft; releasable means normally locking said shaft against rotation; a pair of circular disks rotatably mounted in axially spaced relation on said shaft; a flexible door having one end secured to said disks for winding thereon by rotation of said disks;

a pair of oppositely wound coil springs each embracing said shaft and each having one end engaged with one of said disks; and a pair of spring seats each normally fixed to said shaft in axially spaced relation to a disk and each engaging the other end of a coil spring toconstrain such other end against rotation relative to said shaft; said coil springs being disposed to be wound by relative rotation of said disks and said shaft during unwinding of the door to counterbalance the door weight during winding of the door on said disks; each spring seat being angularly adjustable on said shaft to preset the relative tensions of the two coil springs; said releasable means being selectively operable to release said shaft for rotation for conjoint adjustment of the initial tension of both of said coil springs.

6. A rolling door as claimed in claim 5 in which said releasable means comprises a circumferentially notched circular element rotatable with said shaft, a reciprocable slide movable radially toward the shaft axis to engage in one of such notches, and means biasing said slide to the shaft locking position.

7. A rolling door as claimed in claim 5 in which said releasable means comprises a circumferentially notched circular element rotatable with said shaft and fixed to one end of the latter, a non-rotatably mounted bracket embracing said element; a slide reciprocably mounted in said bracket for radial movement toward the shaft axis to engage in one of such notches; and means biasing said slide to the shaft locking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,375,219 Johnson et al. Apr. 19, 1921 1,994,142 Madsen Mar. 12, 1935 2,019,084 Miller Oct. 29, 1935 2,097,242 Robinson Oct. 26, 1937 2,350,286 Michelman May 30, 1944 2,520,618 Winter Aug. 29, 1950 2,630,597 Robinson Mar. 10, 1953