US3104098A

US3104098A - Door operator

Info

Publication number: US3104098A
Application number: US63562A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daugirdas Kristupas
Original assignee: Vapor Corp
Current assignee: Vapor Corp
Priority date: 1960-10-19
Filing date: 1960-10-19
Publication date: 1963-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 1980-09-17
Also published as: GB959802A

Description

K. DAUGIRDAS DOOR OPERATOR Filed C ot. 19, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. MAS/70945 2446/20/75 w @QQ X), QNEX: N Qk N, U N g wL nu m H WIN! \w/Yv MHVI i Q N a I WIHJ k. w\ M wm mv @QMW Q %\h\ mw w vw Sept. 17,196? K. DAUGIRDAS DOOR OPERATOR s Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1960 INVENTOR. K/FZSfU/ AS 2/70607945 Se t. 17, 1963 K. DAUGIRDAS DOOR OPERATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 19, 1960 INVENTOR. zf/P/STVPAS 2406/5'965 Sept. 17, 1.963 K. DAUGIRDAS 3,104,098

DOOR OPERATOR Filed Oct. 19, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 5

IN I

INVEN TOR. mP/sfl/P/as 2406/ ?245 Sept. 17, 1963 K. DAUGIRDAS DOOR OPERATOR 5 SheecsSheet 5 Filed Oct. 19, 1960 United States Patent 3,194,698 DUGR DPERATGR Kristupas Daugirdas, Dorchester, Mass, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Vapor Corporation, Chicago, llh, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 19, E50, Ser. No. 63,562 18 Claims. (Cl. 268-53) The present invention relates to a power operator for doors, and particularly those adapted to be used in public conveyances such as subways, railroad trains and the like.

The safety features which must be incorporated into power operators for doors of public conveyances are quite rigorous, because of the nature of the service to which the doors are subject. Although the operators must exert sufiicient force upon the doors to move them between open and closed positions, that force must not be excessive, and the speed of movement of the door must be limited, lest damage or injury be done if the door should meet with an obstruction while it is being moved. It is extremely important that the door be locked when in closed position, so that it cannot open by accident while the vehicle is in motion. It is important that the operator of the conveyance be constantly apprised of the status of the door, and particularly whether it is locked or unlocked, in order that he not attempt to start the conveyance before the door is locked. To this end it is customary that the door not lock, and the operator not be apprised that it is locked, until the door has moved substantially completely to its closed position.

It sometimes occurs that even though the door has moved substantially fully to its closed position, willciently so that it can be, locked in that position, a dangerous situation may still exist. For example, a person may have alighted from the vehicle but a trailing portion of his garment may be caught in the door, and that part of his garment inside the vehicle may be sufiiciently bulky so that the garment cannot be pulled from between the door and the jamb. If, when a situation of this type exists, the conveyance should be started, the person wearing the garment would be pulled along by the vehicle. In order to substantially eliminate this danger, it is often desired that the doors, after they have been locked, are permitted a limited degree of freedom of movement, without disrupting their locked condition, thereby to permit disengagement from the door of garments or the like. It is imperative, however, that the locking of the door occur only when the door is substantially fully closed. If this were not the case the safety feature provided by the limited degree of movement permitted to the locked door, in order to permit disengage ment of objects which do not prevent the locking of the door but nevertheless cannot be disengaged from the door when it is in its initial locked position, would be negated.

It is also considered desirable that the motor which drives the door be locked in its position corresponding to the movement of the door to its closed and locked location, thus preventing creeping of the motor and the linkage connected between the motor and the door. This is particularly important when that linkage is of the overcenter type. The movement of the linkage to an overcenter position when the door is fully closed constitutes an additional safety factor, preventing the doors from being accidentally opened even if the normal locking mechanism should fail. Creeping of the motor shaft and associated linkage back past the center after it has been moved over-center would negate this additional safety factor.

The accomplishment of these various requirements obviously adds complexity to the structure of the door opice erator and to the control instrumentalities associated therewith. Where, [as in the type of operator here specifically disclosed, the driving force for moving the doors is derived from an electric motor, complicated circuitry, including a large number of relays and switches, has been required, and the mechanism for actuating these switches and connecting the motor to the door is similarly complex. This complexity has many adverse consequences. 'It results in a structure which is expensive to manufacture and assemble, and which is not as positive in operation as might be desired. The dependability of the operator is unsatisfactory, it is difficult to repair, and because of the large number of moving parts, and its location in places where dirt and grime can accumulate on moving parts, the force exerted by the power motor is more than is ideally required. Moreover, the space which the apparatus occupies is maximized, thus reducing the space available in the vehicle for the accommodation of passengers, and making difiicult the mounting of the operator in a location in the vehicle best adapted to its operation, maintenance and repair.

The door operator of the present invention represents a marked. improvement over prior art door operators, particularly insofar as the factors outlined in the preceding paragraph are concerned, without any sacrifice in the attainment of the desired operational and safety features. By means of the structure here disclosed, the actuation of switches controlling the operation of the driving motor and the indication to the operator of the status of the doors, the locking of the doors only when they are in fully closed position, the prevention of creep of the door operating linkage from its over-center position, and, if desired, the provision of a limited degree of movement to the doors when locked, are all positively related to one another and to the actual position of the door and the door-operating linkage. This is accomplished by means of a single substantially rigid movable member the movement and positioning of which is controlled in part by the manual control means adapted to be actuated by the operator of the vehicle and in part I by the actual location of the door, the door lock, and the door-operating linkage. Since the various parts of this member which accomplish its several functions are substantially rigidly related to one another, and since the position of this member and its parts is appropriately controlled directly by the position of the door, the door operating linkage, and the status of the door locking means, control and indication are positively achieved and there is practically no likelihood of maladjustment occurring. The reduced number of moving parts makes for incxpensiveness, small size, reliability, ease of maintenance, and the application of minimal force by the door motor. In addition, the control circuit for the motor has been greatly simplified, without sacrifice of its operating characteristics in opening and closing of the door, resulting particularly in the employment of a reduced number of control switches and permitting the mounting and actuation of those switches in a simplified and space conserving manner.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the structure and arrangement of a door operator and the control circuitry and linkages therefor, as defined in the appended claims, and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified top plan view, some of its parts being omitted for purposes of clarity, of the operator of the present invention showing its manner of connection to a sliding door, the particular embodiment there disclosed relating to a situation where the operator moves but a single door, such as the end door in a subway car;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the operator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the operator of FIG. 1, with the cover of the switch housing removed;

FIG. 5 is a detailed elevational view taken approximately on the line 55 of FIG. 3, particularly showing the single substantially rigid member and the other elements with which it directly cooperates, that member being shown in its relaxed position, which it assumes when its actuating solenoid is de-energized and the door is not yet closed and locked;

FIG. 6 is a simplified top plan view showing the manner in which the single substantially rigid actuating member and the locking pawl cooperate with one another and with the door;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the operator operatively connected to a pair of sliding doors, such as the center doors of a subway car;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a portion thereof, showing the manner in which the single substantially rigid actuating member cooperates with slide rods connected to the doors in order to lock the doors in closed position; and

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the control circuitry for the disclosed operators.

Turning first to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6 and 9, which disclose an operator for an end door of a subway car, the operator comprises a base plate 2 on which is mounted a housing 4, which may contain many of the electrical subassemblies desired or required, and the operator proper, generally designated 6, which may be electrically connected to the units within the housing 4 by means of the wiring generally designated 8. The operator proper '6, with respect to which this invention primarily relates, comprises an electric motor 10 which, through appropriate reduction gearing 12, rotates drive shaft 14 appropriately mounted and journalled on the base plate 2. A plate 16 (see especially FIG. 3) is fast on the outer end of the shaft 14 and carries bracket 18 at one end and a pair of vertically spaced studs 20 therebelow, and another pair of vertically spaced studs 22 at the other end thereof. A rod 24 is slidably received between each pair of spaced studs 20 and extends out to the right of the plate 16, terminating in an otfset portion 26 which carries a roller 28 received within a vertical channel 30 in the door 32 mounted for sliding movement to the right and to the left as viewed in the drawings between closed and open positions respectively. The rod 24 itself carries a bracket 34 located in line with the bracket 18, a second rod 36 being fixed to the bracket 34 and slidably passing through the bracket 18 and being retained from escape therefrom by means of nut 38. A compression spring 40 is interposed between the brackets 18 and 34, thus normally urging the bracket 34 away from the bracket 18. From the above description it will be appreciated that as the shaft 14 is rotated the plate 16 will pivot about the aXis of the shaft 14 and will move the

rods

24 and 36 therewith. The action of the spring 40 normally urges the rod 24 to the right, and the pivotal movement thereof will cause the roller .28 to describe an arc and therefore move the door 32 to the left, from its fully closed position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 and broken lines in FIG. 3, to its fully open position indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1. It is preferred that when the door 32 is in its fully closed position the arm 24 is inclined somewhat downwardly as it extends to the right from the shaft 14, so that if pressure in a door-opening direction is manually applied to the door 32 the rod 24 will be in a slightly overcenter position and will resist opening movement of the door. A stop member 42 extends from the base plate 2 beneath the plate 16 to define a positive limit for the downward movement of the plate 16, thereby also limiting downward movement of the rod 24.

For locking the door 32 in closed position a pawl 44 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) is pivotally mounted on the base plate at 46 and is biased to pivot in a counterclockwise direction by spring 48 one end of which is secured to pin 58 on the mounting structure 2. The pawl 44 is provided with an elongated recess 52 in its side adapted to cooperate with the enlarged head 54 of a screw 56 threadedly mounted on the door 32. The pawl 44 is also provided with a tail portion 58. The pawl 44 is movable between the broken and solid line positions shown in FIG. 6. When the door is open and the screw head 54 is therefore positioned well to the left of the pawl 44, as shown in the broken lines in FIG. 1, the pawl 44 is free to move to its unlocking position shown in broken lines in FIG. 6. As the door 32 moves back to its closed position the head 54 of the screw 56 will enter the recess 52 in the pawl 44, engage with the nose 60 thereof, and pull the pawl 44, against the action of the spring 48, to its locking position shown in FIG. 3 and in solid lines in FIG. 6. The means for retaining the pawl 44 in that locking position will be described hereinafter. For the present, assuming that the pawl 44 is held in locked position, it will be appreciated from an examination of FIGS. 3 and 6 that the door 32 can thereafter be moved toward its open position for only a limited distance, determined by the length of the pawl recess 52 when compared with the thickness of the screw head 54. This permitted movement, when provided, may be on the order of two or three inches, sufficient only to permit the disengagement from the door of some object which might be caught thereby without permitting the door to open sufiiciently to constitute a danger to persons within the vehicle. This penrnittcd movement of the locked door is resisted but permitted by the spring 48, which tends to urge the bracket 34 away from the bracket 18. When the door is moved against the action of the spring 40, the bracket 34 is moved toward the bracket 18, the rod 36 is slid through the bracket 18, compressing the spring 40, and the rod 24 slides between the studs 20 and 20. When manual opening force is removed from the door the spring 40 forces the bracket 34 away from the bracket 18 and thus returns the door to its normal fully closed position.

The pawl 44 is adapted to be retained in locking position by the tail part 62 of an actuating member generally designated 64 which is pivotally mounted on pin 66 extending from a portion of the supporting structure 2, that tail part 62 being guided for vertical movement by being received within slot 68 in bracket 70. Spring 72 is active between the pivoted actuating member 64 and the support structure 2 so as to urge the actuating member 64 to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction and cause its tail part '62 to move downwardly to the dotted line position 74 shown in FIG. 5 (and also shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 in solid lines), hereinafter termed its locking position. When the tail part 62 of the actuating member 64 is in that locking position 74 it will abut the tail 58 of the pawl 44, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, thereby positively preventing pivotal movement of the pawl 44 in a counter-clockwise or unlocking direction.

The actuating member 64 is adapted to be pivoted in a clockwise direction (so as to lift its tail part 52 to the upraised position shown in broken lines in FIG. 4 and designated by the reference numeral 76. That position 76 wil hereinafter be termed the unlocking position of the member 64 because, when it is in that position, its tail part 52 is raised above the pawl tail 58, thus permitting the pawl 44 to pivot as the door is opened and to release the door for full opening movement. The actuating member 64 is thus moved by means of a solenoid 78 the armature 80 of which is normally out of engagement with the actuating member 64 but which, when the solenoid 78 is energized, is projected out therefrom into engagement with the adjustment screw 82 carried on part 84 rigid with the actuating member 64, thereby to cause the actuating member 64 to pivot as described.

It will be noted that the path of movement of the actuating member tail part 62 intersects the path of movement of the pawl tail 58. For so long as the pawl 44- is moved from its locking position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6, as will be the case during the entire period of time that door is moving open, while the door remains open, while the door is closing, and until the door has fully closed, its tail 58 will intersect the tail part 62 of the actuating member '64 and thus prevent that actuating member 64, when the solenoid 78 is de-energized, from pivoting to its locking position 74 as urged by the spring 72. The thenassumed position of the actuating member 64, shown in solid lines in FIG. 5, with its tail part 62 resting on the upper surface of the pawl tail 58, will hereinafter be termed the relaxed position of the actuating member 64.

An arm 86 is made fast to the shaft 14 inwardly of the gear reduction unit 12, that am 86 moving with the shaft 14 between a substantially horizontal position when the door 32 is closed and a raised position when the door 32 is open. The broken lines in FIG. indicate the doorclosed position of the arm 86 and the solid line showing in that figure indicates an intermediate raised position thereof. The actuating member 64 is provided with an upper hook part 88 which, when the arm 86 is in its doorclosed position and when the actuating member 64 is in its locking position 74, extends over the arm 86 and prevents it from rising (see FIG. 3). In this way the hook part 88 of the actuating member 64 locks the motor shaft 14, and hence the linkage connecting the motor shaft 14 with the door 32, in its closed and preferably over-center position. When the actuating member 64 is moved to its unlocked position, its hooked part '88 is moved away from the arm 86, thus permitting the shaft 14 to rotate and move the door 32. When the actuating member 64 is in its relaxed position its hook part 88 is also operatively disengaged from the arm 86 and is retained out of the path of movement of that arm. In order to hold the actuating member 64 in its relaxed position until such time as the arm 86 has moved to its door-closed position, a catch 90 (see FIG. 5) is positioned beneath the arm 86 and in its path of movement. It is pivotally mounted on pin 92, and is spring-urged to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction against the stop 94. When it is in this position, as shown in the solid lines in FIG. 5, it is adapted to be engaged by a screw 96 carried by the actuating member 64, thereby retaining that actuating member 64 in its relaxed position. As the arm 86 moves downwardly it engages the catch 90 and moves it downwardly as shown in the broken lines of FIG. 5, thereby disengaging it from the screw 96 and permitting the actuating member 64 to move to its locking position, in which its hooked part 88 extends over the arm 86.

A switch housing generally designated 98 is mounted on the base plate 2, and is provided with a removable cover 100, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrating the operator with the cover 100 removed. The shaft 14 extends into the switch housing 98 and carries a pair of appropriately shaped cams 102 and 104 rotatable therewith, which actuate door position switches 106 and 108 respectively. The door switch 106 is normally closed, but is adapted to be opened when the Shaft 14 has rotated to a position corresponding to the location of the door 32 very close to its fully open position. The door switch 103 is normally open, but is adapted to be closed when the door is within a predetermined distance from its open position, for example, during the last fifth of its travel toward that open position.

Three

additional switches

110, 112, and 114 are mounted on plate 116 within the housing 98, the movable portions of those switches being mounted for simultaneous movement with lever 118 pivoted at 120 and biased to pivot in a clockwise direction by means of the spring 122. The lever 118 is provided with an adjustable screw '124 which engages pin 126 slidable through bushing 128 and extending into engagement with part 130 of the actuating member 64. Hence the position of the actuating member 64 will control the positionof the lever 118 and thus will control the opening and closing of the

switches

110, 112, and 114. The precise construction of these switches forms no par-t of the present invention. The switches are so arranged that when the actuating member 64 is in its locked posit-ion 74 switch is closed and switches 112 and 114 are open. When the actuating member 64 is in its unlocked position 76 switch 110 is open and switches 112 and 1-14 are closed, and when the actuating member 64 is in its relaxed position switches 110 and 112 are open and switch 114 is closed.

Making reference now to FIG. 9, which constitutes a circuit diagram of the electrical control circuit for the motor 19 and associated parts, 132 represents an indicator light or other indicating means (visual or audible, or both) designed to indicate to the conductor or driver when the doors are locked, thus apprising him that it is safe to start the vehicle. 134 represents the armature of the motor, 10, 136 represents the motor field, 138' is a rectifier connected across the

field

136, 14% represents a iuse or circuit breaker in series with the motor, and 142 represents a manual control switch adapted tobe actuated by the person in control, the switch 142 being closed when the doors are to be opened and being opened when the doors are to be closed. 144 and 146 represent lines connected to the opposite terminals of a source of electrical power. Switches 148, 1-50, 152, and 154 are motor reversing switches adapted to be actuated by electromagnet 156'. 158 is a resistor adapted to be inserted into the motor circuit when the doors are closing in order to reduce the current flow and thus reduce overload on the motor, particularly if the door becomes stalled while being urged toward its closed position. Resistor 160 is in series with the door switch 168, and is designed to slow down the opening movement of the door during the last portion 7 (perhaps one-fifth) of its opening movement.

The functioning of the operator and its appropriate controls will now be described. We will start with the situation with the doors closed and locked. The manual control switch 142 will be open. Hence the electromagnet 162 controlled thereby will be dc-energized and the switches 164 and 166 actuated thereby will be open.

'Since switch 164 is open, electromagnet 168 is de-energized, and the switch 1-70 controlled thereby is open.

That switch is in series with the door switch 106 and the solenoid 78. Hence the circuit to the solenoid 78 will be open and the actuating member 64 will be in its locking position 74, in which it retains the locking pawl 44 in position to lock the door closed, its hooked part 88 extending over the arm 86 secured to the shaft 14, thus preventing the shaft and door opera-ting linkage from creeping away from its over-center position, and the

switches

110, 112, and 114 are appropriately positioned, switch 110 being closed and switches 112 and 114 being open. The closing of switch 110 completes a circuit to solenoid 172, thus closing switch 174 and completing a circuit through the indicator light 13 2, .thus apprising the operator of the vehicle of the fact that the doors are locked and closed. The opening of switch 166 when the electromag-n-et 162 is de-energized opens the circuit through electromagnet 176, causing switch 178- to open and thus de-energize electromagnet 156. As a result switches 148 and 154 are closed and switches 150 and 152 are open. With the door in closed position door switch 106 is closed and door switch 108 is open. Since both

switches

112 and 114 are open, the circuits through the motor field 136 and motor armature 134 are also open, and the motor is de-energized. The door is thus locked in closed position, its locked status is indicated through illumination of the bulb 132, and the motor 10 is de-energized.

When the doors are to be opened the switch 142 is closed, thus energizing electromagnet 162 and closing switches 1-64 and 166. The closing of switch 166 energizes electromagnet 176 and closes switch 178, thus energizing electromagnet 156, opening switches 148 and 154 and closing

switches

150 and 152. The closing of switch 164 energizes electromagnet 168, which closes switch and completes a circuit through closed door switch 166 to electromagnet 78. The armature 80 of that electromagnet is projected therefrom and the actuating member 64 is moved to its unlocked position 76. This releases the locking pawl 44 for movement to unlocking position, removes the hooked part 88 from over the arm 86 on the shaft 14, thus permitting the shaft 14 to rotate, opens switch 116 and closes

switches

112 and 114. The opening of switch 110 de-energizes the electromagnet 172, permits switch 174 to open, and extinguishes the indicator light 132. Since switch 114 is in series with switch 154, which is now open, the closing of switch 114 plays no part in the operation of the device at this time. Switch 112, however, is in series with the now closed switches 15% and 152, thus completing a circuit through the motor field 136 and downwardly through the motor armature 134, causing the motor 16 to rotate in a direction to open the door. As the door opens the movement to the left of the head 54 carried by the door permits the pawl 44 to pivot to its unlocking position.

As the door proceeds toward its open position, and after, for example, approximately 110 degrees of rotation of the shaft 14, the door switch 108 is closed. This places the adjustable resistance 160 in shunt cross the motor armature 134, providing dynamic breaking and causing the opening movement of the door to be less rapid.

When the door has almost reached its fully open position, for example, after 135 degrees of rotation of the shaft 14, door switch 106 opens. This opens the circuit to the solenoid 73, de-ener-gizing the latter, and thus releasing the actuating member 64 for movement toward its locking position under the influence of the spring 72. However, the actuating member 64 will be retained in its relaxed position either by engagement with the pawl tail 53 or the catch 93' or both. In that relaxed position of the actuating member 64 switch 110 will remain open, so that the indicator light 132 will remain extinguished, switch 114 will remain closed, and switch 112 will open. At this stage in the operation switch 114 plays no part because it is in series with the open reversing switches 154 and 143. The opening of the switch 112 will, however, break the circuit to the motor 110, the motor will be deenergized, and the door 32 will coast to its fully open position.

The door 32 will remain in that open position until such time as the manual control switch 142 is opened when that switch is opened the electromagnet 162 will be de-energized, and switches 164 and 166 will open. The opening of switch 164 will break the circuit to electromagnet 168, switch 170 will be opened, and the circuit to the solenoid 78 will remain open irrespective of the condition of the door switch 106. Hence the actuating member 64 will remain in its relaxed position and will be urged toward its locking position 74, and the status of

switches

110, 112 and 114 will remain as just described, that is to say, respectively open, open and closed. The opening of switch 166 will de-energize electromagnet 176, causing switch 178 to open and de-energizing electromagnet 156. Hence switches 148 and 154 will close and switches 150 and 152 will open. The closing of switches 14% and 154 completes a circuit through the motor field 136 and motor armature 134 via the closed switch 114, but the path of current through the armature 134 will be reversed from its previous direction. The motor will therefore be energized to move the door 32 toward its closed position. Reistor 158 in series between switch 114 and switch 154 will provide dynamic breaking and ensure that the door will close slowly throughout its entire travel. As the door closes first door switch 106 will close and then door switch 108 will open.

This situation will continue until the door 32 has moved sufliciently toward its fuily closed position for the head 54 carried thereby to engage within the recess 52 in the pawl 44 and move that pawl to its locking position thereby swinging its tail 58 out of the path of movement of the tail part 62 of the actuating member 64, and until the shaft 14 has caused the arm 36 to move the catch out of engagement with the screw 96 carried by the actu ating member 64. When both of these results have been obtained the actuating member 64 will move from its retaxed position to its locking position 74. This will open switch 114 and thereby rte-energize the motor '10, and will close switch 110, thus energizing electromagnet 172, closing switch 174 and illuminating the indicator light 132.

The door will thus be in locked position, the indicator light 132 will indicate that status of the door, and the door operating linkage will be positively retained against creeping from its over-center safety position.

It will be noted that all of these results are achieved by means of but two

door switches

106 and 198 and three

additional switches

110, 112 and 114 actuated by actuating member 64. All of the other electrical control elements are of the inexpensive relay type. It will be noted, moreover, that the control of all of the switches 196-114 is directly and positively related to the position of the door, the

switches

106 and 108 being controlled by the

cams

162 and 164 fast on the door operating shaft 14 and the switches 119414 and particularly switches 11% and 114, being controlled through direct sensing of the actual position of the door relay to its fully closed position, this being accomplished by reason of the fact that the

various parts

62, 68 and of the actuating member 64 are rigidly connected to one another, the

parts

62 and 68 engaging respectively with the pawl tail 58 and the catch 90 until such time as the door is substantially completely moved to its closed position and the door operating shaft 14 has been substantially completely rotated to its final position corresponding thereto.

In order to provide for manual opening of the doors in case of power failure, a manual operating lever is provided, normally being in its position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, in which position it does not interfere with the powered action of the operator, and being movable to its position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 in order to manually rotate the shaft 14 sufliciently to move the operating linkage beyond its over-center position, after which manual opening force exerted on the door will cause the door to open. The lever 180, which is journalled on the shaft 14, is provided with a cam 132 (see FIG. 3) active on pin 184 extending from the actuating member 64, the initial movement of the lever 180 from its position shown in solid lines in MG. 2 serving to pivot the actuating member 64 out of its locking position, thus releasing the locking pawl 44 and the arm 86 on the shaft 14, thereby permitting rotation of the shaft 14 and movement of the door 42 from its locked position.

FIGS. 7 and 8 disclose the operator of the present invention adapted for simultaneous control of the movement of a pair of doors 32a and 321), such as the center doors of a subway car. To this end the shaft 14 rotates a lever 185. Rod 186 connects one end of the lever to the door 32a, while rod 138 connects the other end of the lever 185 with lever 190 pivotally mounted at 192 and connected at its end with rod 194, the other end of which is connected to door 32b. The rods 186 and 194 may, if desired, have built-in lost motion connections generally designated 196 and 198 respectively, complete with compression springs 2G0 and 202 respectively, the doors 32a and 32b are provided respectively with slide bars 204 and 206 the ends of which are slidably received in brackets 2G8 and 210 respectively extending from the operator proper 6, the rods 204 and 206 also being provided with resiliently extended build-in

lost motion connections

212, 214 respectively, each complete with compression springs 216 and 218 respectively. The ends or" the slide rods 204 and 206 function in a manner similar to the tail 58 of the locking pawl 44 of the previously described embodiment, that is to say, when the doors 32a and 32b are in their fully closed positions the tips of the rods 204 and 296 move out of the way of the tail part 62 of the actuating member 64, thus permitting that tail part to move downwardly between the tips of the rods 204 and 266, thereby preventing those rods from moving in a door opening direction. The lost

motion connections

196, 198, 212 and 214, when provided, permit the doors a few inches of movement even though they are locked. When the doors are not closed the slide bars 204 and 206 will be located beneath and in the path of travel of the tail part 62 of the actuating member 64, thus retaining the actuating member 64 in its relaxing position and preventing it from moving to its llocking position.

The structure here disclosed is greatly simplified when compared with comparable prior art structures, but with out any loss in functioning or in the achievement of desired safety features. It is considerably less expensive than such prior art devices, yet is more reliable and more positive in operation, and takes up considenably less space.

While but two modifications of (a single embodiment of the door operator of the present invention has been here disclosed, it will be apparent that many variations may be made in the specific details thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a door operator comprising a power source, first means operatively connected between said power source and a door for moving the latter between open and closed positions in response to action of, said power source, second means operatively connected to said power source for controlling the act-ion of said source and for indicating the status of said door, and third means operatively connected to said door for locking it in a given position and movable between locking and unlocking positions; the improvement which comprises actuating means for said operator comprising a single substantially rigid member mounted for movement between first and second positions and having a third operative position between said first and second positions, manually controllable means operatively connected to said member for selectively urging it toward its first and second positions respectively, and operative connections between said member and said first, second and third means, said member in its first position (a) cooperating with said first means to prevent movement thereof, (b) cooperating with said second means to condition said source for location of said door in said given position and for indicating that the door is locked in said given position, and ((2) cooperating with said third means for retaining it in its locking position, said member in its second position being operatively disengaged from said first and third means and cooperating with said second means to condition said source to move said door from said given position and to indicate that the door is not locked in said given position, said member in its third position permitting movement of said first and third means and cooperating with said second means to condition said source to move said door toward said given position and to indicate that the door is not locked in said given position, whereby the prevention of movement of said first means, the actuation of said second means, and the status of said third means are all positively interrelated.

2. In a door operator comprising a power source, first means operatively connected between said power source 7 and a door for moving the latter between open and closed positions in response to action of said power source, second means operatively connected to said power source for controlling the action of said source and for indicating the status of said door, and third means operatively connected to said door for locking it in a given position and movable between locking and unlocking positions; the improvement which comprises actuating means for said operator comprising a single substantially rigid member mounted for movement between first and second positions and having a third operative position between said first and second positions, manually controllable means operatively connected to said member for selectively urging it toward its first and second positions respectively, and operative connections between said member and said first, second and third means, said member in its first position (a) cooperating with said first means to prevent movement thereof, (b) cooperating with said second means to condition said source-for location of said door in said given position and for indicating that the door is locked in said given position, and (c) cooperating with said third means for retaining it in its locking position, said member in its second position being operatively disengaged from said first and third means and cooperating with said second means to condition said source to move said door from said given position and to indicate that the door is not locked in said given position, said member in its third position permitting movement of said first and third means and cooperating with said second means to condition said source to move said door toward said given position and to indicate that the door is not locked in said given position, said member, when urged toward its first position, :being retained in its third position by engagement with at least one of said first and third means until said door has reached its given position and said third means is in its locking position respectively, whereby the prevention of movement of said first means, the actuation of said second means, and the status of said third means are all positively interrelated.

3. A door operator comprising a power source, operative connections between said source and a door for moving the latter between open and closed positions, control and indicating means operatively connected to said source for controlling the action thereof and for indicating whether the door is located in a given position, locking means for locking said door in said given position, a single substantially rigid member articulately mounted for movement between first and second operative positions, means biasing said member to one of said first and second positions, and manually controllable means operatively connected to said member for moving it to the other of its first and second positions, said member having a first part operatively engageable with said control and indicating means for actuating said means in accordance with the position of said member, said member having a second part operatively engageable with said locking means only when said member is in its first position and said door is in its given position for locking said door in said given position, and means for retaining said member out of its first position until said door is located in said given position, whereby the actuation of said control and indicating means is positively related to the status of said locking means, said locking means comprises a part movable with said door and a pawl articulately mounted on a fixed element, said pawl being movable between a part-locking and a part-releasing position, said member having a third part the path of movement of which corresponding to movement of said member between its first and second positions intersects the path of movement of said pawl between its positions in such a way that when said member is in its first position said pawl is in its part-locking position and is prevented from movement therefrom, thereby locking said door in position, and when said pawl is in its pawl-releasing position said member cannot move to its first position.

4. The door operator of claim 3, in which said pawl is biased to its part-releasing position and is moved to its part-locking position by engagement with said part as said door moves to said given position.

5. The door operator of claim 3, in which said pawl is provided with an elongated recess larger than said part, into which recess said part is received when said pawl is in pawl-locking position, said part being movable in said recess, thereby permitting a limited degree of movement of said door from said given position when said door is locked.

6. The door operator of claim 3, =in which said pawl is biased to its part-releasing position and is moved to its part-locking position by engagement with said part as said door moves to said given position, and in which said pawl is provided with an elongated recess larger than said part, into which recess said part is received when said pawl is in pawl-locking position, said part being movable in said recess, thereby permitting a limited degree of movement of said door from said given position when said door is locked.

7. A door operator comprising a power source, operative connections including a first movable element between said source and a door for moving the latter between open and closed positions, control and indicating means operatively connected to said source for controlling the action thereof and for indicating whether the door is located in a given position, locking means for locking said door in said given position, a single substantially rigid member articulately mounted for movement between first and second operative positions and having a third operative position between said first and second positions, means biasing said member to one of said first and second positions, and manually controllable means operatively connected to said member for moving it to the other of its first and second positions, said member having a first part operatively engageable with said first element only when said member is in its first position and said door is in said given position for locking said first element against movement, means for retaining said member in its third position until said first element is positioned corresponding to the location of said door in said given position, said member having a second part operatively engageable with said control and indicating means for actuating said means in accordance with the position of said member, said member having a third part operatively engageable with said locking means only when said member is in its first position and said door is in its given position for locking said door in said given position, and means for retaining said member in its third position until said door is located in said given position, whereby the locking of said first element against movement, the actuation of said control and indicating means, and the status of said locking means are all positively interrelated.

8. The door operator of claim 7, in which said locking means comprises a part movable with said door and a pawl articulately mounted on a fixed element, said pawl being movable between a part-locking and a part-releasing position, the path of movement of said third member part corresponding to movement of said member between its first and second positions intersecting the path of movement of said pawl in such a way that when said member is in its first position said pawl is in its part-locking position and is prevented from movement therefrom, thereby locking said door in position, and when said pawl is in its pawl-releasing position said member cannot move to its first position and is retained in its third position.

9. The door operator of claim 8, in which said pawl is biased to its part-releasing position and is moved to its part-locking position by engagement with said part as said door moves to said given position.

10. The door operator of claim 8, in which said pawl is provided with an elongated recess larger than said part, into which recess said part is received when said pawl is in pawl-locking position, said part being movable in said recess, thereby permitting a limited degree of movement of said door from said given position when said door is locked.

11. The door operator of claim 8, in which said pawl is biased to its part-releasing position and is moved to its part-locking position by engagement with said part as said door moves to said given position, and in which said pawl is provided with an elongated recess larger than said part, into which recess said part is received when said pawl is in pawl-locking position, said part being movable in said recess, thereby permitting a limited degree of movement of said door from said given position when said door is locked.

12. A door operator comprising a base, a motor mounted thereon, a door operating element moved by said motor and operatively connected to a door, a control and indicator switch assembly mounted on said base and operatively connected to said motor for controlling the latter and for indicating the status of said door, an actuating member for said assembly, a solenoid mounted on said base, a single substantially rigid member pivotally mounted on said base for movement between first and second positions, means biasing said member to one of said positions, said member being operatively connected to said solenoid for movement thereby to the other of said positions when said solenoid is energized, said member having a first part directly engaging said actuating member for said switch assembly for causing said switches to be actuated in accordance with the position of said member, and having a second part operatively connected to a part carried by said door, said door-carried part operatively engaging said member and preventing movement of said member to its first position until said door is completely closed, whereby the actuation of said control and indicator switch assembly is positively related to the position of said door.

13. The door operator of claim 12, in which said second member part, when said member is in its first position, is in operative stop-engagement with said doorcarried part, thereby preventing undesired movement of said door.

=14. In the door operator of claim 12, a latch articulately mounted on said base and movable between operative and inoperative positions, said latch in its operative position engaging said member and preventing its movement to its first position, said latch being operatively connected to said door-operating element and being moved thereby to its inoperative position when said door-operating element is in its door-closed position.

15. A door operator comprising a base, a motor mounted thereon, a shaft driven by said motor, a door operating element moved by said shaft and operatively connected to a door, a control and indicator switch assembly mounted on said base and operatively connected to said motor for controlling the latter and for indicating the status of said door, an actuating member for said assembly, a solenoid mounted on said base, a single substantially rigid member mounted on said base for movement between first and second positions, means biasing said member to one of said positions, said memher being operatively connected to said solenoid for movement thereby to the other of said positions when said solenoid is energized, said member having a first part operatively connected to said shaft only when said member is in its first position for preventing movement of said shaft, having a second part directly engaged by said actuating member for said switch assembly for causing said switches to be actuated in accordance with the position of said member, and having a third part operatively connected to a part carried by said door, said door-carried part operatively engaging said member when said member is in a third position intermediate between its first and second positions and preventing movement of said member to its first position until said door is completely closed, whereby the prevention of movement of said shaft, the actuation of said control and indicator switch assembly, and the position of said door are all positively interrelated.

16. The door operator of claim 15, in which said third member part, when said member is in its first position, is in stop-engagement with said door-carried part, thereby preventing undesired movement of said door.

17. A door operator comprising an electric motor operatively connected to a door for moving the latter, an indicator for showing the status of the door, a source of electric power, an actuating element movable between first and second positions, means biasing said element to said first position, an electromagnet operatively 13 connected to said actuating element and effective, When energized, to move said element to said second position, said element being positionable in a third position between its first and second positions under the influence of said biasing means, electrical connections between said source and said indicator including a first switch, electrical connections between said source and said motor including reversing switches settable for door-opening and door-closing respectively and additional switch means operatively connected to said actuating element, an electric circuit between said source and said electromagnet including a second switch, manual control means operatively connected to said solenoid circuit and said reversing switches, means operatively connected to said door for retaining said actuating element in its third position and preventing it from moving to its first position until the door is substantially fully closed, and interlock means between said switches and circuits, said manual control means, said door and said actuating element being effective as follows: (a) when said manual control means is in a first condition said solenoid circuit is disconnected from said source and said reversing switches are actuated to condition said door to close, and when said manual control means is in a second condition said solenoid circuit is connected to said source and said reversing switches are actuated to condition said door to open; (b) when said door is opened more than a predetermined amount said second switch opens, thereby breaking said solenoid circuit; when said actuating element is in its first position said first switch is closed and said additional switch means is actuated to de-energize said motor; (d) when said actuating element is in its second position said first switch is open and said additional switch means is actuated to cause said motor to open said door; (e) when said actuating element is in its third position said first switch is open and said additional switch means is actuated to cause said motor to close said door when said reversing switches are set for closing said :door and to deenergize said motor when said reversing switches are set for opening said door.

18. The door operator of claim 17, in which said electrical connections between said source and said motor comprise first and second selectively useable paths for current through said motor, said paths, when selectively energized, causing said motor to operate respectively to open and close said door, said reversing switches being connected in said paths so as to close one and open the other depending upon the desired direction of rotation of the motor, said additional switch means comprising third and fourth switches in said first and second paths respectively, said actuating element opening both said third and fourth switches when in its first position, closing at least said third switch when in its second position, and closing said fourth switch and opening said third switch when in its third position.

References fiited in the file of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. IN A DOOR OPERATOR COMPRISING A POWER SOURCE, FIRST MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID POWER SOURCE AND A DOOR FOR MOVING THE LATTER BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS IN RESPONSE TO ACTION OF SAID POWER SOURCE, SECOND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID POWER SOURCE FOR CONTROLLING THE ACTION OF SAID SOURCE AND FOR INDICATING THE STATUS OF SAID DOOR, AND THIRD MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID DOOR FOR LOCKING IT IN A GIVEN POSITION AND MOVABLE BETWEEN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING POSITIONS; THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES ACTUATING MEANS FOR SAID OPERATOR COMPRISING A SINGLE SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID MEMBER MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS AND HAVING A THIRD OPERATIVE POSITION BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, MANUALLY CONTROLLABLE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MEMBER FOR SELECTIVELY URGING IT TOWARD ITS FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY, AND OPERATIVE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SAID MEMBER AND SAID FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD MEANS, SAID MEMBER IN ITS FIRST POSITION (A) COOPERATING WITH SAID FIRST MEANS TO PREVENT MOVEMENT THEREOF, (B) COOPERATING WITH SAID