US2742280A

US2742280A - Garage door operator with automatic latch

Info

Publication number: US2742280A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry A Wilcox
Original assignee: Eastern Ind Inc
Current assignee: Eastern Ind Inc
Priority date: 1947-11-13
Filing date: 1954-01-26
Publication date: 1956-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 1973-04-17

Description

April 17, 1956 H. A. WlLCOX 2,742,280

GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC LATCH Original Filed Nov. 15, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l EC DUDE, R {mm 1 E W msuumor u Lil IN VEN TOR. Harr A. Wzlcoz A TTOPNE Y A ril 17, 1956 H. A. WILCOX GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC LATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 13, 1947 IN VEN TOR. Harry A. 17721602 dam/6 11..

ATTORNEY A ril 17, 1956 H. A. WILCOX 2,742,280

GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC LATCH Original Filed Nov. 13, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. Harry A. VVIIC'OZ ATTORNEY April 17, 1956 H. A. WILCOX 2,742,280

GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC LATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Nov. 13, 1947 g Q F 24 117 23 2o INVENTOR.

11 Harry A. Wilcox @mg/di A T TOANE Y April 17, 1956 H. A. WILCOX GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC LATCH Original Filed Nov. 13, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Hfirr Y A. VVIZCOX y Gama a2.

United States Patent O GARAGE DOOR OPERATOR WITH AUTOMATIC LATCH Harry A. Wilcox, Westport, Conn., assignor to Eastern Industries, Incorporated, East Norwalk, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Original application November 13, 1947, Serial No. 785,569, now Patent No. 2,676,294, dated April 20, 1954. Divided and this application January 26, 1954, Serial No. 406,269

16 Claims. (Cl. 268--59) This invention relates to an improved automatic door mechanism, and is particularly adapted to doors of the overhead type, such as used in garages, warehouses, and the like. 7

Doors of this type utilize upwardly and rearwardly extending trackways within which ride rollers affixed to the sides of the door panel or panels and have extension spring and cable assemblies to assist in the raising of the door and to restrain the descent thereof.

The present application for patent is a division of copending original application S. N. 785,569, filed November 13, 1947, and which has matured into U. S. Patent 2,676,294, issued April 20, 1954. The claims of the present divisional case relate to an automatic door mechanism including an automatic latch device. Claims to the reversible motor control features of the door operator appear in the above identified copending parent case, now U. S. Patent 2,676,294.

The present invention is particularly suited for the conversion of existing installations to automatic operation in that the originally installed trackways and counterbalancing springs are retained, and a minimum of other structural changes or additions are required. On an existing door installation, for example, the conversion includes the installation of a sprocket wheel shaft across the top of the door opening inside of the garage and the substitution of chains, preferably roller chains, for the existing cables. The chains engage with the sprocket wheels provided on the shaft adjacent the side edges or" the door panel. The drive motor and control unit is suspended from an extension of the shaft and rotates the shaft according to the desired direction of door movement. One end of. each chain is aifixed to the bottom edge of the door and the opposite end passes over the conventional pulley mounted on the free end of the counter-balancing spring and then is secured to the frame of the garage or some equivalent anchorage.

A control mechanism is provided to cause the motor to rotate in the forward or reverse direction, thus placing the chain under tension to raise the door or relieving such tension to permit the door to close under its own weight. Only a momentary ciosure of a single control switch circuit is required for raising or lowering the door. An automatic limit switch actuator for operation of a combined directional control and limit switch assembly for operation of the motor opens the motor circuit just prior to the end of door travel; the limit switch actuator also positions a directional control switch actuator for properrnotor rotation to accomplish the next raising or lowering of the door upon the next closure of the control switch circuit.

Because of the suspension of the motor and control unit, the starting torque of the motor will cause the unit to swing. This swinging movement is utilized to operate an automatic latch to unlock the door prior to opening. The automatic latch does not interfere with manual :operation of the door; or with the operation of the usual key lock.

all)

- be readily installed and utilizes existing or standard door hardware and accessories to a high degree.

It is another object of the invention to provide an automatic door operator which is mechanically associated with automatic latching or locking means.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved latching means for an'automatically operable overhead door actuating system. 1 r

With these and other objects in mind reference is bad to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating one. practical embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective. of adinstallation of the invert, tion as applied to a sectional type overhead doom,

Fig. 2 is a detail in vertical section showing a typical self-aligning, bearing for the sprocket shaft; 1

Fig. 3 is. a perspective of the motor and control sys:

tom, the enclosing casing having been removed, and

showing the support of the control unit by the sprocket. shaft;

Fig. 4 is a somewhat schematic side elevation of one switch group of the motor control switch assembly, the cam actuator therefor being shown in end sectionfor purposes of illustration; T r l Fig. Sis a somewhat schematicside elevation of an associated switch group of the motor control switch:

assembly, the cam actuator therefor beingfsirnilarly shownv in end section;

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram for the directional control and limit switch action;

Fig. 7 is an exploded front perspective view .of a

Figs. 11 to 19 inclusive illustrate phases of operation of the control switch actuating means in response to sue: cessive solenoid operations; Figs. 20 to 24 inclusive show the control switch actuating means. and associated door travel limit control in; various stages of operation; a

Fig. .25 is a circuit diagram of an auxiliary Circuit; Fig. 26 is a ,front elevation partly in section, of the automatic latching means; I Fig. 27 is a vertical side elevation, ,partly in section, showing the connection of the automatic latch actuating means with the control and the motor unit housing;

Fig. 28 is a view similar to Fig. 27 but shOWiiig lb? torque responsive movement of the motor and the control casing; and

Fig. 29 is a front elevation showing the manner .in which a door roller moves the latching bolt to permit said roller freely to pass said bolt. I g 7 Referring now to the drawings Fig. 1 shows a conventional overhead door D to which door. operating apparatus according to the invention has been applied. The door D has the usual rollers R engaging within the upwardly and rearwardly extending rails, R, which guide the door in its opening and closing movements. As is well known,

such doors are counter-balanced by means such as the extension springs C suitably anchored to uprights at the ends of the respective rails R and having at their free ends pulleys or sheaves P carried in suitable clevises. Ordinari- 1y, before adapting the door for automatic operation pursuant to the present invention, the counter-balances are associated with the door by means of flexible cables which run from the respective lower corners of the door upwardly over guide pulleys (not shown) fixed to brackets extending from the rails at the curved portion thereof, thence around pulley P to a suitable fixed anchorage above the door opening. When the door is in closed position the counter-balancesprings are extended so that as the door is lifted, the contraction of the springs provides a portion of the power required to lift the door to its' open position.

In adapting such conventional door for automatic operation, the webs W of the rigid angle irons A affixed to the inner gagage wall, secure the mountings M of spherical bearings J, shown in more detail in Fig. 2. Said bearings are in alignment to rotatably receive a main shaft which extends above and parallel to the upper edge of the door. The spherical self-adjusting or self-aligning bearings compensate for the frequently experienced mis-alignment of the webs W in existinginstallations.

Sprockets 11 are fixed to the shaft 10 in suitable relationship with rails R, and-each sprocket cooperates with a roller chain 12 which is substituted for the conventional flexible cable. It will be noted that at each side of the door, chain 12 extends from the lower corner thereof upwardly over the sprocket 11 around the pulley P, and thence to an anchorage. Rotation of the shaft 10 in clockwise direction (as'see in Fig. 1) will lift the door by means of the roller chains; the counter-balance springs assisting in such operation. When the door is to be closedthe shaft and sprockets are rotated in the opposite direction, relieving the spring tension on the chains between the sprocket'and the point where the chain is attached to the door, and permitting the door to close of its own weight. During such closing movement the counterbalance springs are again extended for the next door-opening operation.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, a motor and control housing 13 includes a bed plate 14 on which the motor and the several control devices are carried. Carried in bearings 15 extending outwardly from the bed plate is a tubular main shaft 16 which telescopes over an extension of the shaft 10 and is secured thereto by means such as set screws or their equivalent. The motor housing 13 is therefore swingably carried by the shaft 10 and is permitted a limited rotation as later described.

In order to permit the outer parts and some of the underneath parts of the door operator control assembly to be seen more clearly, this assembly is shown in Fig. 3 in an intermediate position with the power oif after the door has been raised to a partly open position, instead of in the full down position of the door as shown in Fig. l.

The bed plate 14 carries a reversible electric motor 17 which drives the main shaft 16 through suitable speed reduction means such as the illustrated chain and sprocket organization to move the door at a relatively slow speed.

7 A lay shaft 18 comprises an element of the speed reduction means and by means of a centrally threaded portion 20 operates the switch assembly as hereinafter described. Dispose'd on the rear of bed plate 14 is a solenoid 21 having an'ar'mature 22 which is normally held in extended position by means such as the spring 23.

The motor is controlled by a pair of multicontact switches 24, 25 which are respectively operated by a twolobed cam plate 26 arranged to rotate in either direction over a total arc of about 60 degrees. The upper lobe 27 of the cam (see Figs. 3 and 4) has a stepped end cooperating with which is a follower 28pof switch group 24. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6 the respective switch arms and contact structures of the switch will open the circuit, or close the circuit for forward or reverse motor operation, according to the position of the follower 28 with respect to the stepped end of the cam. The central step of said cam lobe is the off position.

The lower end 30 of cam 26 has a cavity flanked by' steps of equal height. The lower switch group 25 simi-- larly has a follower 31 for cooperation with said cam con-- figurations, and according to the position of the cam with respect to the follower 31 the motor circuit will be either in on or off condition, the central cavity representing the off condition and the adjacent steps operating switch 25 to close the motor circuit.

It will be noted that when cam plate 26 is substan tially vertical as in Fig. 3, both switches will be in open circuit position, and that when the cam is rotated therefrom approximately 30 degrees in either direction, both switches will be in closed circuit position, group 24 being:

in either up or down motor control position according to the direction of cam rotation.

The starting of the motor for raising or lowering the door, is under the control of one or more momentary contact switches B suitably mounted within the garage or at other convenient location. These switches may be simple push-buttons in a low voltage circuit, as shown in Fig. 6. The stopping of the motor is under the joint control of the push-button and of the limit actuator which operates to open the motor circuit shortly before the completion of the upward or downward travel of the door. In normal operation this action of the limit actuator stops the motor. However, the push-button may be operated to stop the motor before the door has reached the point at which the limit actuator would operate.

An actuation of switch B when the door is at rest will start it in the direction opposite to the direction it had immediately prior to coming to rest. This selection of direction of movement is automatically provided by the action of the control switch actuating means, as more fully described below.

The control circuit Referring now to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, it will be noted that switch group 24 comprises a double pole, double throw, switch in which the respective contact springs are maintained in properly spaced mutually insulated relationship by suitable insulating blocks or posts, and that the movable contact springs 34, 35, and the cam follower arm 37 are joined for simultaneous movement by the insulating posts 36. Switch group 25 is a double pole, single throw, switch in which the contact springs are also suitably carried by an insulating block. The movable contact springs 38, 39 and the cam follower arm 41 are joined by the insulating posts 40.

The direction of operation of the switches for accomplishment of their respective functions is indicated by the double arrows adjacent the switch representation on Fig. 6. It may be noted at this point that the operating surfaces of cam 26 are so arranged that switch 24 makes first and breaks last and that switch 25 makes last and breaks first. Thus, the relatively simpler switch 25 handles the load and switch 24 merely switches the motor circuits.

Motor 17 has a conventional starting winding 42, running winding 43, and a centrifugal switch 44 modified to provide two

contacts

45, 46 for cooperation with the bridging arm 47 which is connected to negative polarity. Contact spring 35 of switch 24 is negative; contact springs 38 and 39 of switch 25 are respectively negative and positive; and the push-button lead of solenoid coil 21 is connected to positive. Said solenoid coil is preferably actuated by low voltage, say 20 volts, provided by transformer T, although it will be understood that if desired this may be eliminated and the solenoid served by volts.

Contact spring 48 of switch 25 connects by lead 49 to one end of the starting winding 42, the other end of which connects through contact 45 and bridging arm 47 to negative polarity when the motor is stopped or when its speed is below the critical speed at which the centrifugal switch operates.

When switch 25 is in the closed position, with the door moving either upward or downward, negative potential is applied to the negative side of the solenoid coil 21 through

contacts

38 and 50 of switch 25, through wire 51 to the negative side of the coil 21, so that any time the motor is running another actuation of push-button B will cause the solenoid coil to be energized. When switch 25 is in the off position, negative polarity is no longer applied to solenoid coil 21 and another actuation of pushbutton B will not cause solenoid coil 21 to operate until the motor armature has slowed down enough so the centrifugal switch 44 permits contact 46 and bridging arm 47 to close the circuit whereupon negative polarity will be supplied through arm 47 contact 46,

wires

52, 51 to the negative side of solenoid coil 21.

These connections prevent the solenoid from operating

switches

25 and 24 until the motor has slowed down enough to close its centrifugal switch, so that the next closure of the motor circuit will cause the motor to operate in the correct direction, but while the motor is running another actuation of push-button B will always cause thernotor to be turned off.

One end of running winding 43 connects by lead 53 to contact

springs

54, 55 of switch 24; the other end of the running winding connects by lead 56 to contact springs 57, 58 of switch 24. Contact spring 34 of said switch connects by lead 59 to contact spring 48 of switch 25.

Assuming the door to be in the up position, the closing of button B will energize solenoid 21 and by means presently described will actuate cam 26 in a direction to cause contact springs 34, 35 to move to the position which will connect the motor for downward motion. Negative polarity is applied to one end of the running winding through contact springs 35, 55 and lead 53. The other end of the running winding 43 is connected through lead 56, contact springs 57, 34 and lead 59 to contact spring 48 of switch 25. A fraction of a second later, switch 25 closes and positive polarity will be applied to contact spring 48 by contact spring 39, thus connecting running winding 43 across the line in the direction for correct downward operation of the door.

Upon closure of switch 25, positive polarity is also applied to one end of the starting winding 42 through

contact spring

39, 48 and lead 49. The other end of the starting winding 42 is already connected to negative polarity through contact 45 and arm 47. Since the motor is stopped and the centrifugal switch is closed, and since power is now applied to both starting winding 42 and running winding 43 the motor will thereupon start and run in the correct direction to give downward motion of the door. As soon as the motor speed exceeds the critical speed for which the centrifugal switch is set, contact 45 and arm 47 will operate and the motor will continue to run in the same direction on its running winding 43.

It will be apparent that operation of the switch 24 in the opposite direction will reverse the polarity of the running winding for motor rotation in the opposite direction.

The directional operation control Fig. 7 illustrates in exploded view, a number of cooperating parts of the mechanism for rotating the cam 26 clockwise or counter-clockwise in response to pushbutton-solenoid operation or limit control operation. Fig. 8 shows a rear view, with respect to Fig. 7, of certain of the parts of Fig. 7 and should be considered along with Fig. 7 in connection with the following description.

A main switch plate 60 is secured to or integral with a shaft 61, a rear extension 61a of which is journalled in bearing 61b in the bed plate 14, shown in Fig. 9, and the front portion 61 of which terminates in a non-cylindrical tip 62 to which the cam 26 is affixed. Freely rotatable on shaft 61 and overlying plate 60 is a selector plate 63. Selector plate 63 is provided on the surface which is nearer main plate 60 with a lug 65, and main plate 60 has a depression 64 of somewhat larger angular dimensions than lug 65 in which lug 65 can move through an are restricted by the edges 64a, 64b, of the depression. Each of the said plates has a pin extending therefrom, respectively pins 66 and 67, over which ends 68a and 68b respectively of toggle spring 68 are rotatably fixed. Toggle spring 68 serves to hold selector plate 63 in one of two possible stable angular relationships with plate 60, which are shown in Figs. 11 and 16 respectively. The toggle action is provided by a shortening of the distance between ends 68a and 68b of spring 68 as

pins

66 and 67 pass each other in going from one stable condition to the other.

The rear wall of plate 60 is provided with three equiangularly spaced detent sockets 70 which cooperate with a suitable spring detent 69 (shown in dotted line in Fig. 9) extending forwardly from the bed plate 14. Plate 60 is also provided with a rearwardly extending centering pin 71 for cooperation with the centering spring leaves 72, 73 affixed to a rear wall of the bed plate 14 and projecting forwardlythrough a window 74 therein (see Fig. 9). These spring leaves provide position means for holding the main plate in open circuit position and are moved out of holding position by the operation of the actuating arm, as later described. A snap plate 75 is freely rotatably carried on shaft 61 adjacent to plate 63. The snap plate has a rearwardly extending lug 76 (see Fig. 8) which rides within the aligned arcs 77, 78 formed respectively in the

plates

60 and 63, said arcs each terminating in substantially radial end walls as shown in Fig. 7.

Also carried by said shaft 61 is a spring plate 80 having a cylindrical hub 81 which carries a helical torsion spring 82. The

posts

128, 128a, 127 and 127a extending from the spring plate 80 and snap plate 75 respectively support cover plates 83, 84. The final item of the assembly is the shaft support 85 within which shaft 61 is journalled near its end, and which is suitably supported on posts 86 as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring again to Fig. 3, the armature 22 of solenoid 21 moves radially of shaft 61. A slide 90 is afiixed to armature 22 and is suitably guided for movement radially of shaft 61. Illustratively said armature and slide move in a vertical plane to drive in arm 94 for engagement with one or another of the

notches

104, 105, 106 in selector plate 63 as shown in Figs. 11-19, the normal position with the solenoid deenergized being shown in Figs. 3

and 13. Bed plate 14 is provided with a window 91 having a length somewhat greater than the total movement of the armature 22. Aflixed to said slide and extending through the window are a pivot post 92 and a stud 93. Pivotally carried upon post 92 is an actuating arm 94 having an outwardly projecting lug 95 at its upper end and an operating pin 96 projecting forwardly adjacent its lower end. Post 92 carries a torsion spring 97 (see Fig. 13) having upwardly extending ends 98, 100 which straddle the stud 93 and lug 95 so as normally to hold the arm 94 radial of shaft 61 but permitting said arm 94 to be deflected to the right or left of said shaft as clearly appears in the series of figures from Fig. 11 to Fig. 19.

It has previously been noted that cam 26 is affixed to shaft 61 for rotation therewith and that rotation of said camin one or the other direction causes the cam surfaces thereof to operate the

respective switch groups

24 and 25. Direction control of the motor is accomplished by momentarily closing switch B to energize the solenoid 21, therefore drawing armature 22 and the therewith associated arm 94 downwardly. The direction of rotation of cam 26 controls the direction of motor operation and the function of the selector plate 63 is to deflect the end of arm 94 and to translate the downward movement thereof into proper directional rotation of

plates

63 and 60, and shaft 61.

Selector plate 63 is provided with three notches, 104, 105, 106, with one of which the pin 96 engages as arm 94 drives downwardly to rotate the selector plate accordingly. Said notches are, in effect, cams which determine the direction of rotation of said plate and have sloping edges which deflect the pin 96 to the correct side of the center line so that, for example, cam 26 will be rotated from its mid-position (off position) to close the up circuit if the last motion of the door was downward, or to close the down circuit if the last motion of the door was upward, and cam 26 will be rotated to its mid-position from either up or down position if the solenoid is reoperated with cam 26 in the up or down position respectively.

The

notches

104, 105, 106 are symmetrical. The center notch 104 has two convergent edges, one or the other of which will intersect the vertical center line of shaft 61 when the main plate 60 is in o position depending on Whether the last movement of the door was upward or downward. As the arm 94 drives downwardly its pin 96 will engage one or the other of the side edges of notch 104 and be deflected to the pocket at the opposite end of the base of the notch, thereby rotating plate 63 until an edge of lug 65 engages with edge 64a or 64b (according to direction of rotation of plate 63) to rotate the main plate 60 accordingly. After such rotation an edge of either notch 105 or 106 will be in position to cause rotation of plate 63 in the opposite direction on the next downward movement of arm 94.

A symmetrical guide plate 107 is fixed behind main plate 60 to deflect the pin 96 of arm 94 out of engagement with plate 63 at the end of the stroke. This is desirable for proper operation of the limit switch action at the end of the door travel if, for example, a person held switch B closed (thus keeping solenoid 21 energized) during the full movement of the door.

Main plate 60 has three resting positions approximately 30' apart, as determined by the three detent sockets indicated by the circles 70. Thus the total movement of the main plate 60 for any one solenoid actuation is of the order of 30". As previously pointed out, selector plate 63 may be rotated through a limited arc with respect to the main plate 60, under control of the toggle spring 68. For example, if the selector plate 63 and the main plate 60 are in the right-hand position, as shown in Fig. 14, the first action of arm 94 in the downward stroke is to shift selector plate 63 through its limited arc with respect to main plate 60, while the latter isbeing held by detent 69 engaging the lower socket 70 marker x in Fig. 14. As the stroke of arm 94 is continued downward and to the left, lug 65 of selector plate 63 drives main plate 60, so that both plates rotate approximately 30 to the middle position the detent now being in the center socket, at the end of the stroke, as indicated in Fig. 15.

The sequence of Figs. 11 to 19 shows the operation of

plates

63 and 60 at varying stages of actuator arm operation.

In Fig. 11 the garage door is in full up position; the switch B has been closed, and arm 94 has begun to drive downwardly. Pin 96 strikes the left hand edge of notch 104 and engages the opposite lower corner thereof causing a clockwise rotation of

plates

63 and 60, and shaft 61. Fig. 12 shows the end of the actuator stroke and shows that pin 96 has been disengaged from plate 63. The position of the detent symbol X indicates that the cam 26 has rotated to operate switch stack 24 to down circuit position, and stack to on position.

Fig. 13 illustrates the condition when button B has been released deenergizing the solenoid and permitting spring 23 (Fig. 3) to retract the arm 94 to its centered position. It will be noted that an edge of notch 105 intersects the vertical center line. The switch cam 26 is still in circuit closing position for downward door movement. Fig. 14 shows the commencement of another downward movement of arm 94 and the deflection thereof to the left of the center line. Fig. 15 depicts the end of the stroke, the disengagement of pin 96 from'plate 63 by guide plate 107 and the return of the switch cam (as represented by the position of detent X) to off position. It will be seen that notch 104 is overthrown with respect to the center line and that its right-hand edge intersects said line.

In Fig. 16 switch B has been opened and again closed and actuator 94 has commenced another downward stroke. The right-hand edge of notch 104 is deflecting the actuator to the left and at the completion of the stroke (Fig. 17) the cam 26 is in up circuit position, and the edge of notch 106 angularly intersects the center line. Figs. 18 and 19 respectively illustrate an intermediate stage and a completion of another downward stroke of actuator 94 and the return of switch cam 26 to off position.

As has been previously stated main plate 60 has a pin 71 projecting from its rear wall, said pin snapping into position between the detent springs 72 and 73 to hold cam plate 60 in a fixed centered position. One or the other of said spring detents is moved rearwardly out of the way by engagement of the rear surface of arm 94 therewith as said arm commences its downward stroke, as shown in Fig. 10.

The limit switch control The limit switch operates automatically to open the motor circuit as the door approaches its fully opened or fully closed position, the door coasting to the ultimate open or closed position after the motor circuit has been broken.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 20 to 24, a walking beam is rotatably mounted on a pivot post 111 extending forwardly of the bed plate 14. The arms of said beam are of equal length and slidably mount cam blocks 112, 113, which are individually adjustable relative to the pivot post. The illustrated adjustment screws 114, 115, or other equivalent means, may be employed to establish the correct location of the cam blocks for proper switching operation. Nonrotatably mounted on the threaded central portion of lay shaft 20 is a nut 116 having a roller 117 for cooperation with the cam blocks as the nut travels along the lay shaft. An extension 118 on said not rides within a suitable slot in the bed plate to prevent the rotation of the nut.

Depending upon the direction of rotation of motor 17 the nut travels along the lay shaft until roller 17 contacts a cam block whereupon, the block is raised by the roller and the walking beam and its hub 120 is rotated through a small arc, to operate switch cam 26 as presently described.

It will be recalled. that the door is lifted on roller chains running on sprockets, and the position of the nut on the lay shaft therefore is in a definite relationship to the position of the door. To suit existing conditions, the location of the cam blocks may be adjusted after one or two trial runs.

A torsion spring 121 maintains the beam 110 in horizontal position, except when it is deflected by the roller 117 engaging one of the

blocks

113, 114.

Alfixed to hub 120 for rotation therewith is a plate 122 (see Fig. 20) having a gear sector 123 meshing with a gear sector 124 formed on the lower edge of plate 80. The gear ratios are preferably such that a rotation of plate 122 of about 6 degrees produces a rotation of plate 80 of slightly over 30 degrees. Torsion spring 82 has upwardly extending

legs

125, 126, which straddle the upper center posts 127, 128 respectively projecting forwardly of plates 75 and 8,0. Y

Plate 122 pivotally mounts .a pair of dogs 130, 131, the respective inwardly offset ends 132, 133 of which are in the path of rotation of lugs 134, 13.5 extending forwardly from plate 75."; At their lower ends said dogs 9 are connected by spring 136. Inward motion of the lower legs of the dogs is restricted by stops 136a.

Fig. 20 represents a condition where the door is in its fully down position. Nut 116 has travelled to the left and its roller 117 has engaged block 113-to rotate beam 110 clockwise. Plate 80 has thereby been rotated counterclockwise and spring arm 125 has acted on pin 127 to rotate plate 75 counterclockwise as soon as dog 131 has been carried clockwise far enough about pivot post 111 by movement of beam 110 and plate 122, to permit end 133 of dog 131 to become disengaged from lug 135. Lug 76 of plate 75 has turned selector plate 63, which has turned main plate 60 and shaft 61, counterclockwise, thus throwing switch cam 26 to power ofi position.

I On the next closure of switch B to energize the solenoid 21 to drive arm 94 downwardly, plate 63 and its associated plate 60 will rotate counterclockwise to throw the switch cam 26 to close the up circuit of switch 24 and the on circuit of switch 25 and the door will start to rise.

Plates

63 and 75 are independently rotatable at this point and therefore the subsequent movement of

plates

75 and 80 does not produce rotation of plate 63.

The motor commences operation to raise the door and nut 116 travels to the right. At this point the respective switch actuator plates are in the Fig. 21 position and roller 117 is about to disengage from block 113. Torsion spring 121 (Fig. 3) is returning the beam to horizontal and the clockwise rotation of plate 80 is rotating plate 75 clockwise, since spring end 126 is driving plate 75 through stud 127. Lug 135 is engaging with the curved undersurface of dog 131 rotating it on its pivot against the tension of spring 136, and is about to snap over the end of the said dog.

At Fig. 22 the roller 117 has disengaged from block 113 and spring 121 has stabilized beam 110. Plate 122 is vertical;

posts

127 and 128 are in vertical alignment and lugs 134 and 135 are resting upon the upper surfaces of the ends of the dogs 130 and 131. Plate 63 has not changed its position after having been rotated counterclockwise by arm 94, and notch 106 is in position for engagement by pin 96 for the operation of

plates

63, and 60 should it be desired to stop the door in mid-travel.

At Fig. 23 the door is approaching full up position; roller 117 has engaged block 112 and has begun to rotate beam 110 and its associated gear plate 122 counterclockwise. Dog 130 is still in engagement with lug 134 preventing rotation of plate 75 as the clockwise rotation of plate 80 and the pressure of post 128 against spring leg 125 tensions the spring 82, because the then motionless post 127 restrains the movement of the spring leg 126. As block 112 continues to climb on roller 117, and beam 110 and gear plate 122 continue rotation, dog 130 releases lug 134 and the reacting spring '82 snaps plate 75 sharply clockwise. As it does so its rearwardly extending lug 76 strikes the left hand end of the aligned

notches

77 and 78 and rotates

plates

63 and 60 clockwise, thereby rotating shaft 61 to bring switch cam 26 to the central, i. e. open circuit position. The switch actuator devices are then in the Fig. 24 position, in which the door is fully raised and the power is off. It will be noted from Fig. 24 that notch 104 is in position relative to pin 96 so that the next downward movement of said pin will rotate

plates

63 and 60 to close the motor circuit for down movement.

It will also be noted that there are two diiferent midposi'tions of the selector plate, which may be referred to as the right biased mid-position as in Fig. 11 and Fig. 19 and the left biased mid-position as in Fig. 15 and Fig. 16. The right-biased mid-position is biased for rotation of the selector plate to the right (clockwise), to the downward driving switch position shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14,, by the next switch B actuation. The left-biased midposition is biased for rotation of the selector plate to the left (counterclockwise), to the upwardjdriving switch position shown in Figs. 17 and 18, by the next switch 13 actuation.

Summarizing briefly a normal cycle of operation of the door operator starting with the door resting in fully closed position, and with the selector plate in its leftbiascd mid-position, an actuation of switch B will operate the solenoid to rotate the selector switch actuator assembly to the left (counterclockwise) to close the upward drive motor circuit to raise the door, and this driving action drives roller 117 to the right to raise the right end of the walking beam 110 to rotate the selector switch actuator assembly clockwise to the right-biased mid-position to open the motor circuit as the door nears the end of its upward travel to allow the door to coast to a stop in fully I open position.

The next actuation of switch B will now operate the solenoid to rotate the selector switch actuator assembly to the right (clockwise) to close the downward drive motor circuit to lower the door, and this driving action drives roller 117 to the left to raise the left end of the walking beam to rotate the selector switch actuator assembly counterclockwise to the left-biased mid-position to open the motor circuit as the door nears the end of its downward travel to allow the door to coast to a stop in fully closed position.

It will be understood that the switch B may be operated directly by hand by a person or may be a key operated switch for operation only by an authorized person with the proper key. It will be understood further that one switch B may be located on a post alongside the driveway and another switch B may be located inside the garage or inside a house associated with the garage, or that one switch may be operated by remote control by conventional magnetic, photo-electric, sonic or supersonic, radio or other systems if desired, either directly by an automobile in the driveway of the garage or by a person actuating a remote control device in the automobile, the particular location of the switch or switches B and means of actuating the same not being a part of the invention.

Auxiliary circuit control Oscillation of beam 110 may be used to control any supplemental or auxiliary electric circuit, such for example, as a garage light circuit so arranged that the light will be extinguished as the garage door closes. Accordingly beam 110 is provided with a finger the end of which may have an insulating coating, and carrying an insulated pin 141 for engagement with a spring arm 142 which cooperates with a fixed contact 143 of the switch 144 suitably mounted on the bed plate.

The circuit diagram on Fig. 25 is self-explanatory. Switch 144 is in parallel with the usual garage light switch 145 so that when the garage door is down, the light 146 is controllable independently of switch 144. It will be obvious that separate lights may be provided and independently controlled by switches 144 and 145 instead of connecting these switches in parallel as shown. When the garage door is out of the fully down position to any extent so that roller 117 is off of block 113 the beam 110 will have been rotated counterclockwise out of the Fig. 20 position so that finger 140 will have been rotated away from contact arm 142 to permit said arm to come to closed circuit relationship with contact arm 143. As the door closes, assuming switch 145 to be open, the rotation of beam 110 in its clockwise direction by roller 117 raising block 113 will raise the arm 142 to open the light circuit.

The latch actuator Doors of the overhead type are conventionally equipped with a locking mechanism which includes a rotatable disc 150 (Fig. 1) at diametrically opposite locations on which are lock bars 151, 152, guided in one or more brackets 153 aifixed to the door. Said lock bars cooperate with openings provided in the web of the rails R. Rotation of the disc 15!) through about ninety degrees ex tends said bars to pass through the openings thereby securing the door against upward movement.

In the present invention advantage is taken of the permitted rotational movement of motor housing 13 on shaft to unlatch the door. In applying this feature of the invention to a standard door having locking bars, the bars 151, 152 are shortened so that when they are in their usual extended or locking position they terminate just inside of the edge of the door D, as shown in Fig. 26. The upper edge of bar 151 is preferably slightly sloped as at 154, and the lower edge is more sharply angled as at 155.

Affixed to the outer wall of the web of one rail R is the housing of a latch 156. Said latch has a bolt 157 guided for free reciprocal movement within the latch housing as on

rollers

158, 160. A relatively large diameter plate 161 is screwthreadedly aflixed to one end of said bolt, and

parallel springs

162, 163 anchored thereto and to the latch housing urge the bolt to the right of Fig. 26; the plate striking the end of the latch housing to limit the movement.

Bolt 157 projects through the opening 164 in rail R. It. is usually necessary to enlarge the standard opening with which the rail was originally provided. As clearly appears, the bolt in home position, extends beyond the edge of the door and the nose 165 of said bolt overlies the bar 151 to secure the door against being opened.

In most overhead type doors one or more guide rollers R must pass the bolt during the opening or closing of the door and there are therefore provided

deflector arms

166, 167 having stud-mounting ends which rotatably engage within suitable sockets formed in the upper and lower edges of the bolt. Said deflector arms are slidably attached to the inner wall of the rail R and accordingly the end of each arm is slotted as at 168 (Fig. 26) for cooperation with the shank of a screw 170 passing into said wall. As shown in Fig. 29 the edge of a door roller will strike an

arm

166 or 167 camming it rearwardly to retract the bolt out of the path of the roller. Slot 168 permits sliding movement of the arm relative to the rail.

A cam lever 172 is pivotally attached to the latch housing on stud 184 and has a cam surface 173 for cooperation with plate 161. Said cam surface is so shaped that when the lever 172 is in the full line position of Fig. 26 the bolt is in extended or home position. When the cam lever 172 is rotated counterclockwise to the broken line position, cam 173 drives the plate 161 and its associated bolt 157 to the left for disengagement with the lock bar 151. The door may then be raised.

Referring now to Figs. 27 and 28 there is pivotally attached to a bracket 175 aflixed to the frame of the building a guide rod 176 which projects through the wall of casing 13 as shown.

Adjustable stop plates

177, 178 are provided on rod 176. Suitably attached to the wall of housing 13 is a stiflly flexible wire 180 such as a bowden wire; the flexible outer sheath 181 thereof being affixed by suitable brackets to the building wall. The other end of wire 180 is attached to the lever 172 as shown in Fig. 26.

Assuming the door to be in a down position and push button B pressed to close the motor circuit the starting torque of the motor will cause the housing 13 toswing with respect to the wall and will cause wire 180 to lift lever 172, thereby drawing bolt 157 to the left of Fig. 26 to disengage from the locking bar 151 and permitting the door to rise.

It will be understood that stop plate 178 permits rotation of the motor housing 13 slightly in excess of the extent necessary to rotate cam lever 172 sufficiently to withdraw the bolt 157. Stop plate 177 prevent rotation of the motor housing in the opposite direction. When the motor comes to rest upon completion of the door opening operation the motor casing will have returned to the Fig. 27 position. Since the running torque is much less than the starting torque the housing 13 will return substantially toward the Fig. 27 position during the upward movement of the door and during such return the Bowden wire 180 will permit lever 172 to return to normal position 12 under urging of suitable spring means such as the spring 184.

During the downward movement of the door the rotation of the motor housing is prevented by the stop plate 177 and there will be no movement of lever 172. As the door moves downwardly the surface of locking bar 151 will strike the arm 166 and the nose of bolt 157 and move the bolt inwardly to permit the bar to pass the bolt and come into position beneath the nose 165 thereof.

As is known, the disc 150 is manually rotatable both from within and without the door. No part of the latch 156 interferes therefore with the normal operation of the locking bars and the bolt may be retracted from inside or outside of the door and the door raised without recourse to the automatic door operating mechanism.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as before noted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

I claim:

1. Automatic opening and closing means for doors of the overhead type, including in combination a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said shaft and door to raise or lower the door according to direction of rotation of said shaft; a motor drivingly connected to said shaft for effecting the desired direction of rotation thereof; a casing for housing said motor; means for suspending said casing from said shaft whereby the starting torque of said motor will effect a swinging movement of said casing; means for limiting the extent and direction of said swinging movement; a latch for said door, including a slidable bolt; and means connecting said motor casing and said slidable bolt to withdraw the latter to unlatched position upon said movement of said motor casing.

2. Automatic door opening and closing means for doors of the overhead type, including in combination, a door, a rotatable shaft; means connecting said shaft and door to raise or lower the door according to direction of rotation of said shaft; a motor drivingly connected to said shaft for rotation thereof in a desired direction; a casing for housing said motor; means for suspending said casing from said shaft whereby the starting torque of said motor will effect a swinging movement of said casing; means for limiting the extent and direction of said swinging movement; a latch for said door, including a slidable bolt spring biased to latching position; and means whereby movement of said motor casing withdraws said bolt to unlatched position.

3. Automatic door opening and closing means including in combination, a door, a shaft mounted for rotation; means connecting said shaft and said door for opening or closing the door according to the direction of rotation of said shaft; a reversible motor for rotating said shaft in the desired direction; a casing for housing said motor, said casing being mounted for movement over a limited are under the effect of the starting torque of said motor in door opening direction; a latch for said door, including a slidable bolt; cam means for moving said bolt to unlatched position; a mechanical connection between said cam means and said motor casing to operate said cam means to move said bolt to unlatched position upon movement of said motor casing; and spring means for returnin said bolt to latching position.

4. Automatic door opening and closing means including in combination, a door, a shaft mounted for rotation; means connecting said shaft and said door for opening or closing the latter according to the direction of rotation of said shaft; a reversible motor for rotating said shaft in the desired direction; a casing for housing said motor, the casing being mounted for movement over a limited are under the effect of the starting torque of said motor in door opening direction; a latch for said door, including 'a slidable bolt; cam means for moving said bolt to unlatched position; a Bowden wire connecting said cam 13 means and said motor casing to operate said cam means to move said bolt to unlat'ched position upon movement of said motor casing; and spring means for returning said bolt to latching position.

5. Automatic door opening and closing means including in combination, a door, a shaft mounted for rotation; means connecting said shaft and said door for opening or closing the latter according to the direction of rotation of said shaft; a. reversible motor for rotating said shaft in the desired direction; a casing for housing said motor, said casing being mounted for movement over alimited are under the effect of the starting torque of said motor in door opening direction; a latch for said door, including a slidable bolt; cam means for moving said bolt to unlatched position; a mechanical connection between said cam means and said motor casing to operate said cam means to move bolt to unlatched position upon movement of said motor casing; spring means for returning said bolt to latching position; and meansoperated by movement of the door for moving said bolt to unl'at'ched position independently of said motor casing operated means.

6. Automatic doo'r raising and lowering means for doors of the overhead type including, in combination, a door, a shaft, mounted for rotation; means connecting said shaft and said door for raising or lowering the door according to the direction of rotation of said shaft; a reversible motor for rotating said shaft; remotely controllable means for operating said motor in the direction of rotation opposite to its immediately previous direction of rotation; a casing for housing said motor, said casing being mounted for movement through a limited arc under the starting torque of said motor in door-raising direction; rails for guiding the movement of saiddoor; rollers on said door engaging with said guide rails; a latch for said door, including a bolt reciprocable with respect to one of said rails, and projecting normally into the path of travel of said rollers; means mechanically connecting said motor casing and said bolt, for retraction of said bolt to unlatched position upon movement of said motor casing; and deflector arms pivotally attached to said bolt and disposed in the path of said rollers, whereby during movement of said door, a roller may engage one of said deflector arms to urge said bolt into unlatched position independently of said motor casing operated means.

7. In combination, a door, a momentary contact switch actuable at will, means for latching said door normally in its closed position in absence of actuation of said momentary contact switch, means for releasing said latching means and for driving said door from its closed position toward its open position in response to actuation of said momentary contact switch when said door is in its closed position and for continuing to drive said door toward open position after such actuation of such momentary contact switch, means for interrupting the last named driving means in response to close approach of said door to its open position to stop said door in such position and to leave said door in said open position in absence of further actuation of said momentary contact switch, means for driving said door from said open position toward said closed position in response to actuation of said momentary contact switch when said door is in said open position and for continuing to drive said door toward said closed position after such actuation of said momentary contact switch, means for interrupting the last named driving means in response to close approach of said door to its closed position to stop said door in said closed position, and means for releasing and restoring said latch means in response to said door arriving substantially at its closed position for automatically relatching said door in said closed position.

8. An automatic door mechanism as in claim 7 and including means for interrupting said door opening driving means to stop said door in a partial open position in response to reactuation of said momentary contact switch while said door opening driving means is operating, and

means for interrupting said door closing driving means to stop said door in a partially closed position in response to jr'eactuation of said momentary contact switch While said door closing means is operating.

9. In combination, a door, a spring latch for said door, electrical operating mechanism for opening and closing Said door when energized, a starting switch, control switch means for said operating mechanism having one position for energizing said operating means for driving said door from closed toward open position and a second position for energizing said operating mechanism. to drive said door from open toward closed position and a third position intermediate the first two positions for deenergizing said operating mechanism to stop said door, means for actuating said control switch means from its intermediate position to said first position in response to actuation of said starting switch when said door is in it's closed position, means for releasing said latch moment'arily in response to energization of said operating means to open said door from its closed position, means operated by said operating means as said door approaches closely its open position to actuate said control switch means from said first position to said intermediate position to stop said door, means for actuating said control switch means from said intermediate position to said second position in response to actuation of said starting switch when said door is in its open position, means controlled by said operating means to shift said control switch means from said second position to said intermediate position to stop said door in response to said door closely approaching its closed position, and means for momentarily releasing and restoring said latch in response to said door arriving at its closed position to automatically lock said door.

10. In combination, a door, a latch assembly for said door and including a slidable bolt and a return spring for normally urging said bolt against said door to lock it in closed position, means including a driving mechanism and reversible motor therefor for opening and closing the door when operated in one or the other direction respectively, a multiposition switch means for operating said motor and having a door opening position, a door closing position and an intermediate off position, an interlocking toggle actuating means for presetting said switch means in response to its being returned to 011' position from either of its door operating positions for said switch means to be shifted to its opposite operating position in response to any next actuation of said switch means, momentary contact means for actuating said switch means to operate the door in the direction so preset by said toggle actuating means, limit actuator means for operation by said driving mechanism as said door is operated for actuating said switch means from door closing position to off position as said door closely approaches its closed position and for actuating said switch means from door opening position to off position as said door closely approaches its open position, means for supporting said motor for swinging motion over a small arc in response to starting torque reaction in door opening direction, means for withdrawing said slidable bolt to unlock said door in response to such swinging motion to open said door, and means to deflect said latch bolt from said door in response to close approach of said door to closed position and then restore it to locking position to lock said door in closed position.

11. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said shaft and door to open or close the door according to direction of rotation of said shaft, a motor drivingly connected to said shaft for eifecting the desired directional rotation thereof, motor supporting means, means for suspending said motor supporting means from said shaft for effecting a swinging movement of said motor supporting means partly about said shaft in response to starting torque of said motor in the door opening direction, means for latching said door in closed position, and means for releasing said latch means in re- 15 sponse to said swinging movement of said motor support means.

12. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said shaft and door to open or close the door according to direction of rotation of said shaft, a motor drivingly connected to said shaft for effecting the desired directional rotation thereof, motor supporting means, means for suspending said motor supporting means from said shaft with the center of gravity of the motor located normally below said shaft in its inactive non-driving condition and for effecting a swinging movement of said motor support means in response to the starting torque of said motor in door opening direction, said swinging movement serving to rotate said motor support means and motor partly about said shaft to lift said motor against the weight of said motor in part, means for latching said door in closed position and means for releasing said latch means from latching condition in response to said swinging movement of said motor support means.

13. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said shaft and door to open or close the door according to the direction of rotation of said shaft, motor means drivingly connected to said shaft for effecting the desired directional rotation thereof and suspended from said shaft for effecting a swinging movement of said motor means in response to starting torque of the motor in the door opening direction, means for latching said door in closed position, and means for releasing said latch means in response to said swinging movement of said motor means.

14. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said shaft and door to open or close the door according to direction of rotation of said shaft, motor means drivingly connected to said shaft for effecting the desired directional rotation thereof and suspended from said shaft with the center of gravity of the motor means offset from said shaft to provide a torque component on said shaft from the weight of said motor means upon any partial rotation of said motor about said shaft and for effecting a partial rotation of said motor means about f ing direction, means for latching said door in closed position and means for releasing said latch means in response to said partial rotation of said motor means.

15. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said shaft and door to open or close the door according to the direction of rotation of said shaft, motor means drivingly connected to said shaft for effecting the desired directional rotation thereof and suspended from said shaft for effecting a swinging movement of said motor means in response to starting torque of the motor in the door opening direction, means for latching said door, means for releasing said latch means from latching condition in response to said swinging movement of said motor means and means operated as said door returns to its closed position to restore said latch means to latching condition.

16. In combination, a door, a rotatable shaft, means connecting said shaft and door to open or close the door according to direction of rotation of said shaft; motor means drivingly connected to said shaft for effecting the desired directional rotation thereof and suspended from said shaft for effecting a swinging movement of said motor means in response to starting torque of the motor in the door opening direction; means for latching said door, said latching means including a slidable bolt and means yieldably biasing said bolt to latching position for said door, means for withdrawing said slidable bolt to unlatching position in response to said swinging movement of said motor means, meansoperated as said door returns to its closed position to withdraw and restore said slidable bolt to latching position, and a strike bar for said slidable bolt, said strike bar selectively movable manually between'a position for engaging said slidable bolt in its latching position and an alternate position away from said slidable bolt latching position to prevent latching of said door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,533,116 Jenkins Dec. 5, 1950 2,676,294 Wilcox Apr. 20, 1954