US3195617A - Door operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1965 s. BERRY ETAL DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March 13. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS GAE/VN 55x2) camuis r. 8R/6'GS, it.

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7 3411? A rfo P117573 July 20, 1965 G. BERRY ETl'AL 3,195,617

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed March 13. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,195,617 D0611 @YERATWG MEQHANESM Glenn Berry, Birmingham, Qharles T. Briggs, in, and Qlarcnce F. Treppa, Royal Gait, and Edson L. Barlow, in, Rochester, Mich, asslgnors, by direct and rhesus assignments, to The Stanley Works, New Eritain, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed lvlar. 1'5, M61, Ser. No. 95,3691 tliaims, (Cl. loll-193) This invention relates generally to door operating mechanisms, and more particularly to radio controlled door operating mechanisms for overhead type doors.

Electrically powered door operating mechanisms are known in the art for opening and closing overhead type doors such as those commonly used in garages and buildings wherein the door is supported on tracks for move-= room between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position. Radio controls for remotely controlling the operation of electrically powered door operating mechanisms are also known and commercially available. However, the complexity of known mechanisms and the added cost of manufacture, installation and service resulting therefrom remain as an obstacle to supplying the potential mass market for such devices.

It is therefore an object or" the present in ention to provide an improved door operating mechanism which is economical to manufacture and install.

Another object is to provide an electrically powered and radio controlled door operator for overhead type doors which is easily assembled and installed by relatively unskilled labor, and when once installed is still economical to service.

A further object is to provide a door operator which utilizes the known system of a carriage, track and heiriole roller chain drive therefor, but which provides these elements in an improved form which together contribute to the economy of the door operator while overcoming several disadvantages of the prior art systems.

Another obiect of the present invention is to provide an improved term of limit switch mechanism which is easily and accurately adjustable for stopping travel of the door at the extremes of travel thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of a door operator constructed in accordance with the present invention and installed for use with a conventional sectional overhead garage door;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional View taken on line Z--2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the track and carriage of the door operator;

FIG. 3 is a top view taken in horizontal section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 illustrating the shock mounted chain idler sheave at the front end of the track;

P16. 4 is a front elevational view of the radio receivermotor control unit of the door operator taken in vertical section through the track on line ll of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional top view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 illustrating a portion of the limit switch mechanism of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the electric motor, driving mechanism and radio receivermotor control unit of the door operator;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are bottom and top views respectively of the radio receivermotor control unit taken respectively on the lines '7-7 and 3-8 of PK} .6;

FIG. 9 is an end view taken partially in section on the line 9-9 of P16. 6 illustrating the suspension of the motor from the track;

. FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the Fatented July 29, 1965 line ill-ll} of FIG. 6 illustrating the suspension of the control unit housing from the track;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of clutch mechanism taken in section on the line l1ll of FIG. 12;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the modified clutch mechanism taken in section on the line l2ll2 of FIG. 11;

FEG. i3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified limit switch actuating mechanism taken in section on line 13-13 of MG. 14-; and

PEG. 14 is a side elcvational view of the modified form of limit switch actuating mechanism partially broken away to illustrate details.

Referring to FIG. 1 in the accompanying drawings, the door operator of the present invention is shown completely assembled and installed for use with a conventional sectional overhead garage door lit which is supported along the side edges thereof by rollers 12 which run in a pair of guide tracks to, only one of which is shown inasmuch as construction and operation of this type of door is well understood in the art. Generally speaking, the door operator of the present invention includes a tubular track it; supported at the front end thereof by a channel l3 which is bolted to the header beam of the garage above the top center of the door opening. Track to is supported near the other end thereof by a slidably adjustable hanger strap 29 bolted to the ceiling of the garage or to any convenient and suitable structural member thereof. A combined radio receiver-motor control unit 22 is suspended from traclr lo rearwardly of hanger strap Zia for controlling electrical power to an electric motor 24- also suspended from track 16 adjacent unit 22. Motor 2 is connected in driving relation with a vertical spindle as which is journalled for rotation within a bracket 34 mounted adjacent the front of unit 22. The upper end of spindle 68 drives a sprocket around which is trained a flexible element adapted to run longitudinally within track to for propelling a carriage block 36 therein, which carriage in turn is connected via a linkage arm 38 to the inner side of door till so that movement of carriage 36 raises and lowers door Illi.

Referring to FEGS. 2 and 3, track l6 comprises a tubular member preferably formed into a rectangular cross section having a bottom wall which is open at the center thereof throughout the length of the track. The bottom Wall consists of a pair of horizontal bottom wall portions 16a and 16b extending inwardly from the side walls of track 16, the inner ends of which are bent upwardly to form a pair of vertical flanges 16c and led which define the longitudinal opening or slot 4% thercbetween. A carriage 36, preferably comprising a generally rectangular block of nylon, is shaped to be received closely within tubular track to so as to slide along bottom wall portions 16a, 16b thereof while being guided for longitudinal movement in the track by the surrounding walls of the track. The bottom surface of carriage block 36 is provided with a longitudinal groove 36a which fits over the upright flanges rec, 16d of the track bottom wall. An inverted U-shaped connecting link 42, is riveted to carriage block as at the center of groove 36a, and the linkage arm 33 is pivotably connected thereto by a suitable fastener 44.

A flexible driving element 42-6 preferably comprising a roller chain runs entirely within track 16 and is utilized for driving carriage block as therein. Carriage block as is provided with a pair of laterally spaced and parallel passages or bores Sol) and 36c which extend longitudinally therethrough for receiving the running portions of chain 46. The end links of chain as are received in bore 36c and are each fastened to carriage block 36 by a connecting pin 48 which is received in a vertical hole drilled in the upper surface of block 36 so as to intersect the axis of bore 360. v

The forward end of chain 46 (FIG. 3) is trained around an idler sheave 50 preferably comprising a nylon spool which is journalled by an axle bolt 51 between the sides of a U-shaped sheave carriage 52 which is slidably received within tubular track 16. A headed bolt 54 extends through the end wall of sheave carriage 52 and then through the end wall of a U sh-aped bracket 55 which is necked down for insertion into the forward end of tubular track 16. Bolt 54 receives a nut 58 on the threaded end thereof which holds a retaining washer 60 against one end of a coil compression'spring 62, the other end of which bears against the wall of U-shaped bracket 56. This spring connection of sheave carriage S2 with the end of the track 16 provides a shock mounting of idler sheave 50 which compensates for starting and stopping stresses in the door operator by permitting the sheave to float longitudinally in track 16, spring 62 also serving to maintain chain 46 constantly in tension. Bracket 56 also supports the forward end of tubular track 16 on the upper end of mounting channel 18, a pivotable connection being provided therebetween by a carriage bolt 64 or other suitable fastening means.

Referring to FIG. 4, the other end of flexible roller chain 46 is trained around a toothed driving sprocket 66 which is affixed to the upper end of a driving spindle 68. A pair of vertical side plates 34a and 34]) are fastened by suitable fasteners to the sides of tubular track 16 and are joined at the bottom edges thereof to a cross plate 70 to form bracket -34 for supporting drive spindle 68, An inverted U-shaped upper cross plate 72 is welded to the inner sides of plates 34a, 34b so as to extend therebetween adjacent the bottom wall of track 16. Upper cross plate 72 supports a flanged bearing 74 which in turn supports a'spacer collar 76 on which sprocket 66 rotates and rests. Another flanged bearing 78 is supported by bottom plate 70 so as to provide the lower journal for spindle A large spoked pulley 80 is rotatably journalled on spindle 68 near the lower end thereof for rotation by a V-belt 82 trained therearound. Power is transmitted from pulley 80 to spindle 68 via a friction clutch mechanism which includes a circular disc 84, made of suitable friction material, which is fastened to the spokes of pulley 80. A clutch plate 86 and a hexagonal nut 88 integral therewith are center tapped to be threadably received on the lower endof spindle 68 and are keyed thereto by a cotter pin 90. A helical compression spring 92 fits loosely around spindle 68 between plate 70 and the upper face of the hub of pulley 80, spring 92 providing a downward force cumulative to the weight of pulley 80 to maintain clutch disc 84 in frictional engagement with the upper surface of clutch plate 86.

As shownin FIGS. 6 and 9 electric motor '24 is suspended from the end of track 16 by a U-shaped bracket 94 which is bolted to the sides of the track and which has a circular mounting plate 96 Welded to the bottom thereof to which motor 24 is bolted. The drive shaft 98 of motor 24 has a small driving pulley 100 aflixed thereto around which V-belt 82 is trained so as to provide with larger pulley 80 a speed reduction drive for spindle 68. Motor 24 is preferably a conventional permanent split capacitor motor designed to be instantly reversible while at rest or running under intermittent duty conditions.

The radio receiver-motor control unit 22 (-FIGS. 4, 6, 7 and 8) is mounted in a housing 102 which contains all the components 104 of a radio receiver as well as all the control components for motor 24. Preferably the radio receiver is one designed particularly for garagedoor controls, such as the ModelRCZB receiver sold by ll/l ulti-Products Co., of Oak Park, Michigan. This receiver uses a superheterodyne circuit which may be pow- 4- ered by standard house cur-rent and which is designed to operate a bi-stable relay upon receipt of a suitable signal from a vehicle-mounted transmitter, not shown herein inasmuch as the structure and operation of such equipment is well understood in the art.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the components 104 of the above radio receiver are mounted in housing 102 along with conventional motor control components including a capacitor for motor 24, a transformer 112, a circuit breaker 114, a bi-stable relay 116, a limit switch 118 and a socket 120 for an illuminating lamp. The:foregoing components are compactly arranged by mounting a circuit board 106 with components 104 supported thereon across a pair of chassis side plates 122 which are fastened to the front wall section of a three-sided sheet metal stamping 102a of housing 102. Transformer 112 is attached to the outer side of one of side plates 122 and the motor control components are supported from the front wall section of stamping 102a Within the confines of chasis side plates 122. Housing 102 also includes top and bottom cover stampings 102k and 102s which fit over the top and bottom edges of three-sided member 102a and are attached by metal screws thereto. Housing 102 is completed by a rear cover stamping 102d which is independently removable for access to the radio receiver components 104.

As shown in FIG. 10, the top cover 10% of housing 102 has a'U-shaped bracket 124 Welded to the center thereof which is adapted to fit around the bottom and sidesof tubular track 16 and which is attached thereto by metal screws to support housing 102 in a compact arrangement between motor 24 and spindle bracket 34. Sufiicient clearance is provided between the bottom cover 1020 and pulley 80 (FIG. 6) so that housing 102 may be removed by disconnecting bracket 124 from track 16, lowering the housing until bracket 12 4 clears track 16, and then withdrawing the housing sideways from between motor 24 and bracket 34. To facilitate such removal, a socket 126 is provided in the wall of housing 102 so that motor 24 may be electrically connected to the output terminals of relay 116 by plugging a power cord 128 into socket 126. g

The control circuits are conventional, limit switch118 comprising a bi-stable single pole-double throw switch which is connected in series with the radio controlled relay switch 116 (a double pole-double throw bi-stable relay) between an input power lead 130 and motor lead 128 for controlling operation of motor 24., Provision is also made for manual pushbutton control of motor 24 via leads 132 which are connected via terminal strip 134 to leads which shunt the radio controlled relay switch- 116. v In accordance with another feature of the invention, a limit switch mechanism (FIGS. 4 and 5) is provided wherein switch 118 is mounted against the front wall of stamping 102a at the center thereof where a hole 136' is provided through which an operating arm 138 of switch 118 extends horizontally so as to terminate adjacent spin dle 68. The portion of spindle 68 extending between bearings 74 and 78 is threaded so as to form a lead screw for threadably receiving a pair of limit switch actuating nuts 140 and 142. Preferably nuts 140, 142 are made of nylon and are square shaped so as to be non-rotatably guided for axial travel on spindle 68 by a U-shaped guide 144 (FIG. 5). Guide 144 is pivotably mounted at its upper end on a pin 146 supported by plates 34a, 34b. Guide 144 is held in the vertical closed position thereof by a cotter pin 148 supported by plates 34a. 34b so as to extend across the lower portion of the outer face of guide 144. A tab 150 is formed by bending a portion of this face outwardly at right angles thereto, tab 150 having a width slightly larger than opening 40 in the bottom wall of track 16. Thus guide 144 may be pivotably raised out of engagment with the nuts140, 142 -by removing cotter pin 148 and swinging guide 144 upwardly to a horizontal position where it may be temporarily held by a press fit of tab 150 between bottom wall flanges 16c, 16d of track 16. This feature permits quick access to and rotation of nuts 14% and 142 in order to adjust them axially on spindle 68.

The electrical operation of the improved door operating mechanism of the inventiondescribed above is generally similar to known radio controlled door operators, the improvements of the invention being primarily in the mechanical structure and arrangement of the mechanism to provide an efiicient and economical door operator without sacrificing reliability. Briefly, a radio transmitter is used to generate a signal to which the radio receiver of control unit 22 is tuned, this transmitted sig nal causing the receiver to provide an output signal which actuates bi-stable relay 116 which thereupon connects the power circuit to motor 24 so that it is energized for driving chain 45 via pulley 100, belt 82, pulley as, spindle 6S and sprocket 6%. Assuming door to is closed, the running portion of chain 46 connected to carriage block 36 pulls the carriage from the position thereof shown in FIG. 1 slidably along track 16 rearwardly towards driving sprocket 66. This motion is transmitted via link 38 to the top section of door it) so that the door is raised to its horizontal open position on guide tracks 14. During this travel of chain 4%, nut 14% travels axially downward on the threads of spindle 63 until nut 14% engages limit switch operating arm 13%, thereby actuating limit switch 118 to cut off power to motor 24. Receipt of another signal (or operating a pushbutton switch connected to leads 132) reverses the sequence by causing reverse rotation of motor 24, the reverse rotation of spindle 68 causing chain 46 to pull carriage 36 forwardly along track is to thereby lower door 19. During this reverse rotation of spindle 6S nut 142 travels upwardly until it engages arm 138 to stop the motor. Hence the axial spacing between nuts 142 determines the distance which carriage 36 travels in track 16, and the axial positions of nuts 14% and 142 respectively determine the desired extremities of travel corresponding to the open and closed positions of door 10.

The above described door operating mechanism i economical to manufacture, install and service. The rectangular tubular track 16 provides a light weight and high strength beam which may be readily pressed or rolled from a single sheet of metal. Many of the other components are items which are adapted for manufacture by low cost stamping operations. The installation requires that only two supporting members, channel 18 and hanger strap- 21?, be attached to the garage. Once channel 13 is bolted to t e garage header, the remainder of the door operator (which may be readily assembled while on the ground from major sub-assemblies) is raised into place by inserting the forward end of track to into the upper end of channel 13 and then inserting bolt 64 to provide the pivotable connection therebetween. Then the rear of the unit is raised and connected to the clamp provided at the bottom end of hanger strap 26'.

The suspension of motor 2 radio receiver-motor control unit 22 and driving spindle (28 all beneath track 16 provides a door operator which requires a minimum of space for installation, particularly with regard to the head room required between the door operator and the ceiling. Track 16 serves as a mounting beam for all the parts as well as the guide track for the carriage 36. Moreover, track 16 provides a housing for completely enclosing the moving chain t6. Bores 36b and 36c in carriage block 36 assist in guiding the running portions of chain 426 intermediate the ends of track 16 so that they are maintained directly above the bottom wall portions 1dr! and ldb which comprise the tracks of the tubular track 15, thereby insuring that grease or oil drippage from the chain is collected in these trough-like tracks rather than falling on the occupants or contents of the building therebelow. If the chain should break it likewise will be caught by the tracks. The oil drippage from chain 46 onto the bottom wall portions 16a, 165 provides continuous lubrication of these track surfaces so that the carriage block slides freely thereon, The use of a nylon carriage block also contributes to a low friction drive.

The use of spindle as as a lead screw for the traveling nuts Mil, 142 permits the limit switch to be mounted with the other electrical apparatus within housing 102 of the control unit 22. Hence, all of this electrical apparatus is quickly removable in the event of a malfunction occurring in the electrical system, and the entire control unit 22 may be immediately replaced with a new or rebuilt unit so that no undue delays are experienced by the user of the door operator and so that the skilled maintenance work may be more conveniently and reliably done at a ervice center.

A modified form of clutch mechanism is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 wherein elements identical to those of the clutch mechanism shown in FIG. 4 have been given like reference numerals and the description thereof not repeated. The specific clutch mechanisms disclosed herein form no part of the present invention and are disclosed merely for the purposes of illustrating preferred forms of clutches well adapted for use in the door operating mechanism oi the present invention. Reference may be had to a copending' application entitled Drive Mechanism, Ser. No. 182,391, filed on March 26, 1962, by Glenn Berry and Clarence F. Treppa wherein such clutch mechanisms are disclosed and claimed. The upper clutch plate comprises the circular disc 34, preferably made of cork, and a circular metal disc cemented thereto, disc ltl having three U-shaped bracket 162 spot welded to the upper surface thereof at 120 intervals (FIG, 12) so as to each receive a spoke 89a of pulley 8-13 therein. A modified lower clutch plate 164 is vprovided which comprises a circular metal disc having a threaded center hole and four smaller holes 165 spaced at 90 intervals radially outward from the center hole of the disc. Spindle as is also modified by forming a pair of oppositely disposed fiat surfiaces 166 which extend axially upward from the bottom end of the spindle. The circular portions of the periphery of spindle 68 intermediate fiat surfaces ins are provided with an external interrupted thread 1163 for threadably receiving clutch plate ll ton the spindle.

Spindle as also receives a U-shaped bracket 1'70 having a flat sided center hole 172 in the horizontal center portion thereof which is complemental to the lower, flat sided portion of spindle 68 so as to be axially slidable along flat surfaces 165 While being held against rotation relative to the spindle. A pair of studs 1'74 are secured to the center portion of bracket 17% so as to project upwardly therefrom in ali nment with a pair of diametrically opposite holes 165 in clutch plate 164. A push not 1% is detachably secured to the bottom end of spindle 6% for supporting a helical compression spring 178 wound loosely around spindle 68 for resiliently urging bracket lili upw andly against clutch plate 164. The lower ends 1534 of the arm portions of bracket 17% are reversely bent to provide a pair of finger grips for pulling bracket 1'70 downwardly along spindle as to withdraw studs lli' lfrom holes 165 of the clutch plate.

With the above modified form of friction clutch mechanism it is a simple matter to adjust the clutch plate ongagement pressure developed by clutch spring 92. Bracket 17% is merely pulled downwardly on spring 178 until studs 174 are disengaged from clutch plate 164, and then clutch plate 164* is rotated on the spindle threads 168 until it is in the desired axial position on the spindle. For example, to increase .the maximum torque transmitted by the clutch, clutch plate 164 is threaded upwardly on spindle res so as to further corn press clutch spring 92. It is to be understood that pulley 80 and upper clutch plate 160 have smooth bores 50 as to be journalled on spindle 68 for rotation relative thereto and thus are free to move axially with clutch plate 164. Once the desired clutch tension is obtained, bracket 170 is released whereupon it is urged upwardly by spring 178 into engagement with clutch plate 164. If bracket 170 is inadvertently left disengaged (with studs 174 out of registry with holes 165), the first 90 degrees of rotation of clutch plate 164 will bring these holes and studs into registry whereupon spring 178 automatically drives bracket 176 into proper engagement with the clutch plate so that it is held against rotation relative to spindle 68. g

A modified switch actuating mechanism is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. In order to protect the operating arm 138 of limit switch 118 during shipment or handling of the control unit 22, the front face of stamping 102a of housing 102 is provided with a vertically extend-ing recess 182 on which switch 118 is mounted. An opening 184 is formed in recessed portion 182 through which arm 16-8 extends, arm' 18*8 terminating flush with the plane of the front face of stamping 102a. A pair of circular actuating nuts 186 are threadably received on spindle 68, each nut 186 having four radial arms 188 extending from the periphery thereof at 90 intervals adapted to rot-ate into recess 182 to overlap the end of switch arm 1 38, actuating nuts 1'86 functioning in the same manner as the previously described actuating nuts 140, 142. The parallel vertical sides of arms 188 of nuts 186 are spaced apart to fit s-lidably within a U-shaped guide- 190. Guide 190 is supported on .a door 192 in a vertical position so as to receive the nut arm 188 spaced 90 from the nut arm which is aligned with switch arm 138. Door 192 has three integral bent arms 1'94 extending from one vertical edge thereof which are received in suitable slots 196 of a U-sh-aped spindle supporting bracket 198. Hence door 192 may be opened by swinging it about a vertical axis on hinge arms 1:94, thereby disengaging guide 190 from actuating nuts 186 to permit axial adjustment ofthese nuts. Door 192 is held in the closed posit-ion by suitable spring clips 200 adapted to secure the top and bottom edges of door 192 to the corresponding edges of the door opening in spindle bracket 198, It will be seen that the above modified limit switch actuating mechanism retains the advantages of the previously described embodiment while permitting a flush mounting of the limit switch operating arm 130. V

We claim:

1. In a door operator the combination comprising a track having a carriage supported thereon for movement lengthwise thereof, an electric motor supported on said track adjacent one side thereof and having a rotor drive shaft disposed perpendicular to said track, a housing, a radio receiver-motor control unit protectively enclosed in and solely supported by said housing, detachable fastener means removably supporting said housing on said one side of said track adjacent said motor, bracket means secured to said track and extending from said one side thereof adjacent said housing, a threaded spindle journalled in said bracket means adjacent one face of said housing and parallel to said motor shaft, one end of said spindle being disposed within said track, means drivingly connecting said one end of said spindle with said carriage for moving said carniage along said track in response to spindle rotation, the other end of said spindle extending beyond said housing, means drivingly interconnecting said other end of said spindle with said motor shaft for rotating said spindle in response to motor rotation, a pair of spaced nuts threadably received on said spindle in non- V rotatable sliding engagement with said bracket means for travel along said housing face in response. to spindle rotation, said control unit including a limit switch and means electrically connecting said switch to said motor comprising connector means disconnectable externally of the housing,

said switch having a movable switch actuating o 0 arm extending from said one face of said housing into the space between said nuts such that said nuts alternately engage said arm to operate said switch at the desired opposite extremes of travel of the door.

2. The combinationset forth in claim 1 wherein said bracket means includes a guide member supported thereon for movement between a first position wherein said member is disposed parallel to said spindle and in sliding engagement with said nuts to prevent rotation thereof relative to said bracket means and a second position wherein said guide member is disengaged from said nuts so that said nuts maybe rotated to adjust the axial position thereof relative to said switch arm. v

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said bnacket means comprises a pair of spaced side plates extending parallel to saidspindle on opposite sides thereof and a pair of spaced spindle journal plates extending transversely of said spindle and secured to said side plates, said plates forming with'said one face of said housing an enclosure for said nuts. p

4. In an operating mechanism for actuating an overhead door between vertical closed and horizontal'open positions, a tubular beam, means for supporting said beam in a generally horizontal posit-ion above the open position of the door and extending in the direction of horizontal travel of the door, said beam having a bottom wall constituting the lowermost portion thereof and comprising a pair of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending imperforate track surfaces each having'upright outer and inner reinforcing edges, said inner edges being spaced from one another to define a longitudinally extending opening therebetween, a drive mechanism sup ported bysaid tubular member near one end thereof including an upright spindle extending through said bottom wall opening, a sprocket mounted on the upper end of said spindle for rotation therewith within said tubular member, idler means supported within said tubular member near the other end thereof for rotation about an axis parallel to said spindle, a flexible element trained around said sprocket and idler means and running therebetween within said tubular member in the form of a pair of runs spaced horizontally apart and disposed in overlying relation to said track surfaces, one of said runs being disposed over one of said track surfaces and the other of said runs over the other of said track surfaces, a carriage received within said tubular member and supported for movement lengthwise therein on said track surfaces, said carriage being connected to one of said runs of said flexible element for movement therewith, said carriage being adapted to slidably support the other run of said flexible element'sp-aced above the track surface disposed therebelow, andmeans connected to said carriage and extending downwardly through said opening in said tubular member for connecting the carriage with the door for raising and lowering the door in response to movement of said carriage in said tubular member.

5. In a door operator the combination comprising a track having a carriage supported thereon for movement lengthwise thereof and adapted to be connected to the door for opening and closing the door by said lengthwise movement, drive means supported on said track including an electric motor and a drive train operably interconnecting said motor with said carriage, a housing having a radio receiver-motor control'unit mounted therein, means removably supporting said housing on said track, said drive tnain including a threaded shaft, means journalling said shaft for rotation adjacent one face of said housing such that said shaft extends along said one face, a pair of nuts threadably received on said shaft in spaced relation from each other, mean-s adjacent said shaft slidably engaging said nuts to prevent rotation thereof so -that said nuts tnavel adjacent said housing face in response to rotation of said shaft, a limit switch mounted on said housing having a movable arm for actuating said switch extending from said one face of said housing into the space between 9 said nuts, the travel of said nuts being correlated with the movement of said carriage such that said nuts alternately engage said arm to operate said switch 'at the desired opposite extremes of travel of the door, and means operably interconnecting said switch and motor for deenerg-izing said motor in response to operation of said switch by said traveling nuts.

References fited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,695,781 11/ 54 Wark. 2,736,553 2/56 Brown 268-59 1% 2,753,179 7/ S6 Hahn. 2,957,521 10/ 60 Greeg-or 160-133 FOREIGN PATENTS 467,7 82 6/37 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A DOOR OPERATOR THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A TRACK HAVING A CARRIAGE SUPPORTED THEREON FOR MOVEMENT LENGTHWISE THEREOF, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR SUPPORTED ON SAID TRACK ADJACENT ONE SIDE THEREOF AND HAVING A ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT DISPOSED PERPENDICULAR TO SAID TRACK, A HOUSING, A RADIO RECEIVER-MOTOR CONTROL UNIT PROTECTIVELY ENLOSED IN AND SOLELY SUPPORTED BY SAID HOUSING, DETACHABLE FASTENER MEANS REMOVABLY SUPPORTING SAID HOUSING ON SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID TRACK ADJACENT SAID MOTOR, BRACKET MEANS SECURED TO SAID TRACK AND EXTENDING FROM SAID ONE SIDE THEREOF ADJACENT SAID HOUSING, A THREADED SPINDLE JOURNALLED IN SAID BRACET MEANS ADJACENT ONE FACE OF SAID HOUSING AND PARALLEL TO SAID MOTOR SHAFT, ONE END OF SAID SPINDLE BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID TRACK, MEANS DRIVINGLY CONNECTING SAID ONE END OF SAID SPINDLE WITH SAID CARRIAGE FOR MOVING SAID CARRIAGE ALONG SAID TRACK IN RESPONSE TO SPINDLE ROTATION, THE OTHER END OF SAID SPINDLE EXTENDING BE-

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