US3421260A

US3421260A - Balanced hangar door

Info

Publication number: US3421260A
Application number: US671027A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold W Dickinson
Original assignee: HAROLD W DICKINSON; RAFTERS Inc
Current assignee: HAROLD W DICKINSON; RAFTERS Inc
Priority date: 1967-09-27
Filing date: 1967-09-27
Publication date: 1969-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1986-01-14

Description

Jan. 14, 1969 H. w. DICKINSON 3,421,260

I BALANCED HANGAR DOOR Filed Sept. 27, 19s? Sheet of s FIG. .2

ficzg 59 '42 M35 x a .33 4 4 1 /9 j I 34, /0 w 4 32 i /5 f H34! 29 24 i INVENTOR. v lia, i J /4 HAROLD WD/cm/vso/v 36 BY 30 fi 4 2 H 22 a f FIG. 3 ATTORNEYS Jan. 14, 1969 H. w. DICKINSON 3,421,260

BALANCED HANGAR DOOR Filed Sept. 27, 1967 I NVEN TOR.

F IG. 5 HAROD WD/CK/NSON %Wf% q AT TOPNE Y5 Jan. 14, 1969 H. w. DICKINSON 3, 60

BALANCED HANGAR DOOR Filed Sept- 27, 1967 Sheet .9 of 3 .2.- m rm mm 44 FIG 6 INVENTOR.

HAROLD WD/cK/Nso/v AT TORNEYJ United States Patent 3,421,260 BALANCED HANGAR DOOR Harold W. Dickinson, Rafters, Inc., Olivia, Minn. 56277 Filed Sept. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 671,027 US. Cl. 49-197 Int. Cl. E01d 15/56; Ed 15/38; E05d 15/40 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention Overhead doors for airplane hangars and similar buildings, and having convex outer surfaces, have been produced with various mechanisms for raising and lowering the same between open and closed position respectively. Some of these are produced in sections which are assembled at the hangar, these sections being transverse sections requiring relatively heavy bracing to provide a rigid door. Further, these transverse sections, unless made in narrow dimensions longitudinally of the hangar door, are apt to be quite bulky, particularly when it is considered that hangar doors are often as much or more than 20 feet in height, having longitudinal dimensions up to 60 feet or more. Hence, these doors are quite heavy and the sections thereof are cumbersome and difficult to transport due to their extreme bulk. Further, such doors have heretofore required relatively heavy and expensive mounting means and mechanism for raising and lowering the same.

Summary 07 the invention The primary object of this invention is the provision of an overhead hangar door structure which can be produced in rigid sections of size and shape convenient for transport to the point of assembly, and which can be easily assembled to provide a relatively lightweight self-supporting door.

Another object of this invention is the provision of door structure having equalizing means for preventing twisting or distortion of the door and supporting mechanism during raising and lowering of the door.

To the above ends, the door of this invention comprises a plurality of elongated rigid sections each extending the entire length of the door and connected together to provide a door of cylindro-segmental cross section, a :pair of radial arms one at each end of said door, a supporting frame adjacent each of said radial arms and journalling the arms on a common horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the door, and an equalizing cable operatively connected to each of the arms and entrained over pulley means in vertically spaced relation to the arms, the cable defining flight portions which cross each other between the radial arms in such manner that, when one end of the door is swung in either direction of opening or closing movement, the cable imparts simultaneous movement to the opposite end of the door in the same direction. The doors are counterbalanced by weights on the radial arms for easy and rapid opening and closing movement.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of an airplane Patented Jan. 14, 1969 hangar or similar building showing the hangar door of this invention in a closed position, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in plan and partly in section, taken on the line 2.2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in section, taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, with the hangar door shown in an open position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the hangar door in its open position, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation, corresponding to a portion of FIG. 3, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in sectlon;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective in transverse section of the hangar door of this invention; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged exploded transverse section of a modified form of hangar door.

Detailed description An aircraft hangar or similar building 1 is shown fragmentarily in FIGS. 1-3 as comprising a roof 2, opposed side Walls 3, and a front wall 4 that defines a door opening 5, and a floor 6. Normally, the hangar 1 includes a rear wall, not shown, the floor 6 being provided with an approach apron or the like 7 forwardly of the door opening 5, for facilitating movement of aircraft or other vehicles into and out of the hangar 1. Normally, the door opening 5 is of a height and width to admit aircraft of predetermined dimensions for servicing or storage. In the embodiment shown, the door opening 5 extends for the greater part of the hangar or building 1. The hangar 1 may be of any suitable construction, such as wood or metal, or a combination of both, the floor 6 and apron 7 preferably being of concrete or similar material.

The embodiment of hangar door structure illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings and indicated generally at 8, is horizontally elongated, having a cross sectional shape generally of a cylindrical segment and including a convex outer wall 9, an opposite inner wall 10 which may be flat, if desired, but which as shown, is slightly convex, the inner wall 10 having a substantially greater radius of curvature than that of the outer wall 9. The hangar door 8 further includes opposite end walls 11, see FIG. 5, that are adapted to be closely disposed adjacent the opposite ends of the door opening 5. As shown, the door 8 comprises a pair of

rigid door sections

12 and 13, each of the

sections

12 and 13 including a convex outer wall element 14, an inner wall element 15 and spaced end wall elements 16, the wall elements 14 cooperating to provide the outer Wall 9, the inner wall elements 15 cooperating to provide the inner wall 10, and the end wall elements 16 cooperating to provide the end Walls 11 of the door 8. Further, each of the

sections

12 and 13 includes a respective radially disposed

side walls

17 and 18 having respective longitudinally spaced

alignable apertures

19 and 20 threret'hrough for reception of nut-equipped bolts or the like 21, whereby the

sections

12 and 13 may be rigidly bolted together to form the door 8. As shown particularly in FIGS. 5 and 7, the inner wall elements 15 are provided with longitudinally spaced openings 22 adjacent their

respective openings

19 and 20 whereby access is had to the interior of the

door sections

12 and 13 for bolting the sections together. Further, each of the

door sections

12 and 13 is provided with one or more rigid brace members 23 that are disposed generally parallel to the side-

Walls

17 and 18, and extend for the entire length of the door 8, whereby to rigidly brace each of the

door sections

12 and 13. The

sidewalls

17 and 18, as well as the brace members 23, may be made from wood or lightweight metal, such as aluminum, the outer and inner wall elements 14 and respectively being made from sheet metal or plywood, as desired. The end wall elements 11 may be fabricated from any suitable material. As shown in FIG. 7, the edges of the

wall elements

14 and 15 of the door section 13, adjacent the sidewall 18 are laterally offset, as indicated at 24, to be nestingly received within the adjacent edge portions of the

wall elements

14 and 15 of the cooperating door section 12, whereby to present a smooth joint or seam 25.

The door 8 is mounted for swinging movements on a generally horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the door, between a vertically disposed door closed position shown by full lines in FIGS. l3, wherein the door 8 substantially fills the opening 5 in the front wall 4, and a generally horizontally disposed door open position .at a level above the top of the door Opening 5 and within the building 1, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3. At its opposite ends, the door 8 is provided .with pairs of radial arms 26 that are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the top and bottom edge portions of the door and which, at their radially inner ends are welded to flanges 27 having anchored thereto axially aligned stub shafts 28. Each of the stub shafts 28 is journalled in a different one of a pair of aligned tubular bearings 29, each bearing 29 being rigidly secured to the upper end or apex portion of one of a pair of inverted V-shaped supporting frames 30 that are bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the hangar floor 6 in close proximity to a different one of the side walls 3. At their radially inner end portions, each pair of arms 26 is reinforced by a generally rectangular arm extension 31 on which is mounted

eounterbalancing weights

32 and 33 diametrically opposite the door 8, whereby the counterbalancing effect imposed by the

weights

32 and 33 varies with the position of the door 8 between its closed and open positions. Each of the arm extensions 31 is provided with a stop lug 34 that engages the adjacent supporting frame 30 to limit swinging movement of the door 8 inwardly beyond its open position as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3. Preferably, and as shown in FIG. 3, the axis of curvature of the convex outer door wall 9 is substantially coincident with the aligned axes of the stub shafts 28, or at least disposed in closely spaced parallel relationship thereto. Weatherstrips or sealing

members

35 and 36 are disposed between the upper and lower edges of the door 8 and their adjacent front hangar wall portion 4 and floor 6 respectively. Although not shown, it may be assumed that other Weatherstripping may be applied between the opposite ends of the door and adjacent portions of the front wall 4.

A pair of flanged guide wheels or pulleys 37 are rigidly secured one each to the radial arms 26 and arm extensions 31 adjacent a different end of the door 8 and each coaxial with an adjacent one of the stubshafts 28. As shown particularly in FIG. 6, each pulley 37 is provided with radial spokes 38 that are welded or otherwise secured to the adjacent arm-extension 31. An elongated flexible cable 39 is entrained over each of the pulleys 37 and over pairs of front and

rear guide pulleys

40 and 41 respectively, the ends of the cable 39 being operatively adjustably secured together by a conventional turnbuckle 42, see particularly FIG. 3. Each of the pulleys 37 is provided with 'a radial opening 43, one thereof being shown in FIG. 6, for passage therethrough of a bight portion 44 of the cable 39, which bight portion 44 is looped over a cross member 45 of the adjacent arm extension 31, and -a pair of conventional cable clamps 46 are applied one each to each of the bight portions 44 between their respective pulleys 37 and cross members 45, one of which is shown in FIG. 6. The cable clamps 46 securely anchor the cable 39 for common movement with the pulleys 37.

The several guide pulleys 40 and 41 are in the nature of conventional swivel pulleys and are anchored to the roof 2 of the hangar 1 by eye bolts 47 for free swinging and turning movements of the guide pulleys 40 and 41. As

shown, the

pulleys

40 and 41 are disposed above the level of the hangar door 8 in its raised open position and slightly forwardly of the axis of swinging movement of the door 8 to provide ample clearance between the door 8 and overlying portions of the cable 39. For ease in understanding the arrangement of the equalizing cable 39', the same may be described as comprising a pair of

flights

48 and 49, the flights terminating at the bights 44 adjacent the opposite guide wheels or pulleys 37. As shown, the flight 48 extends from the front portion of the guide wheel or pulley 37 at the left end of the hangar door 8, relative to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, upwardly to the adjacent front guide pulley 40, from thence the rear guide pulley 41 adjacent the opposite or right hand end of the door 8, and from thence to the rear portion of the guide wheel 37 adjacent the right hand end of the door 8, relative to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. The cable flight 49 extends from the rear portion of the guide wheel 37 at the left hand end of the door 8, relative to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, to the adjacent rear guide pulley 41, from thence to the front guide pulley 40 adjacent the right hand end of the door 8 and from thence to the rear portion of the guide wheel 37 adjacent the right hand end of the door 8, relative to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. Thus, and with reference to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the

cable flights

48 and 49 cross one another between the pairs of guide pulleys 40 and 41. With this arrangement, should opening or closing movement be imparted to the door 8 at one end or the other thereof, the cable 39 will simultaneously impart similar movement to the opposite end of the door 8 in the same direction, thus, automatic-ally eliminating any torsional strain which might otherwise be applied to the door 8, radial arms 26 or connections between the arms 26 and door 8. Thus, it is not necessary to impart opening or closing movements to the door 8 at its central portion longitudinally between the opposite ends thereof. The door 8 may be opened or closed merely by imparting swinging movement to the radial arms 26 or extensions 31 at either end of the door, whichever is most convenient.

In the modified construction illustrated in FIG. 8, a hangar door 50 is shown as comprising upper, intermediate and

lower door sections

51, 52 and 53 respectively. The upper and

lower door sections

51 and 53 respectively are substantially identical, having outer walls 54, inner walls 55 and side walls 56. These sections also include longitudinal base members 57 which, like the sidewalls 56 extend for the entire length of their

respect1ve door sections

51 and 53. The intermediate door section 52 includes an outer wall 58, an inner wall 59 and parallel side walls 60 that are adapted to be disposed in closely spaced parallel or juxtaposed relationship to the side walls 56 of the adjacent upper and

lower door sections

51 and 53. The intermediate section 52 further includes a base member 61 centrally between the sidewalls 60 and which extends for the full length of the door section 52 or door 50. Like the

sidewalls

17 and 18, the

sidewalls

56 and 60 are provided with longitudinal flanges having alignable openings 62 for reception of nut-equipped bolts or the like 63 for securing the

door sections

51, 52 and 53 together, the inner walls 55 and 59 having hand holes 64 therein, whereby access is had to the interiors of the door sections 5153 for bolting the sections together.

As shown, the assembled door 50 of FIG. 8, closely resembles the assembled door 8 in cross sectional shape, and is made from a greater plurality of longitudinally extending sections than the door 8 only as a matter of ease and convenience in handling and transport. When a hangar door of 12 to 15 feet in height and of the desired length, for instance, 60 feet, is desired, the same may be easily produced in two sections of from 6 to 7 /2 feet in height and 60 feet long. It has been found that sections of such height and length may be very easily transported by rail or truck to its destination for assembly. When a hangar door of given length, such as 60 feet, and a height of 20 feet or more, is desired, I have found it more advantageous to make the same in three sections, as shown in FIG. 8, each of the sections being approximately 6 8" in height. Each of the sections is rigid in itself, and, when the sections are bolted together, the completed door is extremely rigid and capable of withstanding considerable stresses, as from wind, or the like, without distortion.

While I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my hangar door structure and one modified arrangement, it will be understood that the same is capable of further modification, without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Hangar door structure comprising,

(a) an elongated door having a cross sectional shape generally of a cylindrical segment and including a convex outer wall, an inner wall and opposed segmental end walls;

(b) a pair of radial mounting arms at opposite ends of said door;

(c) a pair of supporting frames each disposed adjacent a different one of said radial arms;

((1) means journalling said arms on said supporting frames on aligned horizontal axes substantially parallel with the axis of said convex outer door wall for swinging movements of said door between a generally vertically disposed closed position and a generally horizontally disposed open position upwardly and inwardly spaced from said closed position;

(e) door counterbalancing means on said arms;

(f) equalizing means operatively connected to said arms for imparting door opening and closing movements to one of said arms responsive to like movements of the other arm;

(g) said door comprising a plurality of rigid door sections each extending for the entire length of the door, each of said sections including:

(1) a convex outer wall element,

(2) an inner Wall element,

(3) spaced end wall elements,

(4) a generally radially disposed sidewall,

(5) and means for rigidly securing said sections together with the sidewall of each section in juxtaposed relationship to the adjacent sidewall of an adjacent section, whereby said outer, inner, and end wall elements cooperate to form said outer, inner, and end walls respectively of said door.

2. The hangar door structure defined in claim 1 in which said inner wall elements are convex in opposition to said outer wall elements, said inner wall elements having a radius of curvature substantially greater than the radius of curvature of said outer wall elements.

3. The hangar door structure defined in claim 1, characterized by longitudinally spaced openings in said generally radial walls, fastening wherein the securing means comprises elements extending through said openings for securing said sections together, and longitudinally spaced openings in said inner wall elements, whereby access is had to the fastening receiving openings in said generally radial walls.

4. The hangar door structure defined in claim 1, characterized by elongated brace members in said door sections and extending substantially the entire length of said sections, said brace members being disposed in spaced generally parallel relationship to adjacent ones of said sidewall elements and having opposite side edges secured to adjacent ones of said inner and outer wall elements.

5. The hangar door structure defined in claim 1, in which said equalizing means comprises:

(a) an elongated flexible member,

(-b) a pair of guide wheels each coaxially mounted on a different one of said radial arms for common rotation therewith,

(c) guide means disposed in generally vertically spaced relation to each of said radial arms and to the areas defined by the door in its open and closed position,

(d) means for operatively connecting the opposite ends of said flexible member together,

(e) and means securing spaced points of said flexible member to said guide wheels, said flexible member being entrained over said guide wheels and said guide means and definining a pair of flight portions which cross each other between said guide wheels, whereby to impart rotary movement to one end of said door responsive to rotary movement of the other end of the door and in the same direction as that of said other end of the door.

6. The hangar door structure defined in claim 5, in which said flexible member comprises a flexible cable, said guide means comprising two pairs of pulleys each pair disposed above a different one of said radial arms, said flight portions crossing each other between said pairs of pulleys.

7. The hangar door structure defined in claim 5, in which said means for operatively connecting the opposite ends of said flexible member together comprises a turnbuckle operative to adjust tension of the flexible member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,378,123 5/1921 Lovejoy 49200 1,749,425 3/1930 Harris 49197 2,148,735 2/1939 Einung 49-197 2,610,366 9/1952 McKee et a1. 49-203 X 2,718,036 9/1955 Strobel et al 4920O 2,790,210 4/1957 Falconer 49-203 X 2,872,183 2/1959 Harty 49140 X FOREIGN PATENTS 677,070 6/1939 Germany.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.