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US 2003/0192657 A1Published application
Overhead door locking operator
AssigneeWayne-Dalton Corp.
InventorsWillis J. Mullet, Donald Bruce Kyle
Life of this patent
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AssigneeWayne-Dalton Corp.
InventorsWillis J. Mullet, Donald Bruce Kyle
Estimating the term…
A system for raising and lowering a sectional overhead door between an open position and a closed position including, a counterbalance system adapted to be connected to the door, an operator motor assembly mounted proximate to the sectional overhead door in the closed position of the sectional overhead door, at least a portion of the operator motor assembly movable between a door operating position and a door locking position, and a locking assembly (370) having an engaged position to hold the motor assembly in the operating position and a disengaged position to release the motor assembly allowing it to move to the door locking position. The system may be provided with a remote light assembly having a switchable light source in sensing communication with the operator motor such that operation of the motor activates the light source. The system is further provided with a handle assembly (515) operatively engaging the motor assembly (40) and counterbalance system (30) to selectively disconnect the motor assembly (40) from the counterbalance system (30), whereby urging of a rotatable handle (516) to a disconnect position (516′) allows the door (D) to be manually freely moveable with the aid of the counterbalance system (30).
A system for raising and lowering a sectional overhead door between an open position and a closed position comprising, a counterbalance system adapted to be connected to the door, an operator motor assembly mounted proximate to the sectional overhead door in its closed position of the sectional overhead door, at least a portion of said operator motor assembly movable between a door operating position and a door locking position, and a motor locking assembly having an engaged position to hold said motor assembly in the operating position and a disengaged position to release the motor assembly allowing it to move to the door locking position.
A disconnect handle assembly in an overhead door operating system having a motor assembly engageable with a counterbalance system operatively interacting with an overhead door, wherein the motor assembly is selectively disengaged from the counterbalance system by operation of a disconnect assembly having a cable attached to the disconnect assembly for operation thereof, the disconnect handle assembly comprising, a bracket supporting a handle, said handle having a spool portion and a grip portion, wherein a portion of the cable attaches to said handle at said spool portion, said handle being rotatable relative to said bracket, whereby rotation of said handle tensions the cable to operate the disconnect assembly.
A remote light assembly, in an overhead door operating system having an operator, the operator including an operator motor interrelating with a counterbalance system attached to the door to selectively open or close the door, a transmitter in communication with the motor for transmitting a signal upon activation of the motor, the remote light assembly having a light source in sensing communication with the transmitter, whereby operation of the motor effects illumination of said light source.
A motor locking assembly, in a system for raising and lowering an overhead door having a counterbalance system operable with a motor assembly, the motor assembly having an operating position and a locked position, the locking assembly comprising, a rod selectively moveable to an engaged position and a retracted position, said rod being supported to be selectively engageable with the motor assembly, whereby in said engaged position said rod locks the motor assembly in the operational position and releases the motor assembly in said retracted position.
A locking actuator in a motor locking assembly in a system for raising and lowering an overhead door having a counterbalance system operable with a motor assembly and a locking sleeve operatively attached to the counterbalance system, the motor locking assembly having a retractable rod selectively moveable to an engaged position and a disengaged position for releasing the motor assembly, the locking actuator comprising, a locking cuff threadably received on the locking sleeve, said locking cuff having a portion engageable with the rod.
A locking rod in a motor locking assembly having a locking actuator, wherein the motor locking assembly selectively releases a motor assembly in a system for raising and lowering a door, the motor assembly having an operating position and a locked position, the locking rod comprising, a rod engageable with the motor assembly, said rod moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, a collar attached to said rod, whereby said locking actuator contacts said collar to cause movement of said rod.
A system for raising and lowering a sectional overhead door, between an opened position and a closed position comprising, a counterbalance system operatively engaging the door, the counterbalance system having a drive tube, and an operator interacting with the counterbalance system to effect urging of the door toward at least one of said open and closed positions, wherein said operator is located centrally relative to the width of said door and at least partially supports said drive tube.
A system for raising and lowering an overhead door between an open position and a closed position comprising, an operator engaging a counterbalance system interacting with the door to effect the raising and lowering thereof, and a disconnect assembly operative with said operator to disconnect said operator from the counterbalance system, said disconnect assembly including a disconnect handle assembly located at a position displaced from the operator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Using electrical actuators: using rotary electromotors
Operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts: by cables or ropes
With canted-coil torsion springs: specially adapted for overhead wings
For vertically-sliding wings: for overhead wings
Term end not estimated
The present invention relates generally to operators for sectional overhead doors. More particularly, the present invention relates to a type of “jack-shaft” operator for manipulating a sectional overhead door between the open and closed positions. More specifically, the present invention relates to a jack-shaft operator for a sectional overhead door which is highly compact, operates to lock the door in the closed position, and has a mechanical disconnect.
Motorized apparatus for opening and closing sectional overhead doors have long been known in the art. These powered door operators were developed in part due to extremely large, heavy commercial doors for industrial buildings, warehouses, and the like where opening and closing of the doors essentially mandates power assistance. Later, homeowners' demands for the convenience and safety of door operators resulted in an extremely large market for powered door operators for residential usage.
The vast majority of motorized operators for residential garage doors employ a trolley-type system that applies force to a section of the door for powering it between the open and closed positions. Another type of motorized operator is known as a “jack-shaft” operator, which is used virtually exclusively in commercial applications and is so named by virtue of similarities with transmission devices where the power or drive shaft is parallel to the driven shaft, with the transfer of power occurring mechanically, as by gears, belts, or chains between the drive shaft and a driven shaft, normally part of the door counterbalance system, controlling door position. While some efforts have been made to configure hydraulically or pneumatically-driven operators, such efforts have not achieved any substantial extent of commercial acceptance.
FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a sectional overhead garage door installation showing a motorized operator and remote light assembly according to the concepts of the present invention installed in operative relation thereto, with the operator depicted in its operating position in solid lines and the door locking position in chain lines and further schematically depicting transmission of a signal from the operator to the remote light assembly.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the motorized operator of FIG. 1 with the cover removed and portions broken away to show the mechanical interconnection of the motorized operator with the drive tube of the counterbalancing system.
FIG. 3 is a further enlarged exploded perspective view showing details of the drive system and the disconnect assembly.
A motorized operator system according to the concepts of the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10 in the drawing figures. The operator system 10 is shown in FIG. 1 mounted in conjunction with a sectional door D of a type commonly employed in garages for residential housing. The opening in which the door D is positioned for opening and closing movements relative thereto is defined by a frame, generally indicated by the numeral 12, which consists of a pair of spaced jambs 13, 14 that, as seen in FIG. 1, are generally parallel and extend vertically upwardly from the floor (not shown). The jambs 13, 14 are spaced and joined at their vertically upper extremity by a header 15 to thereby delineate a generally inverted U-shaped frame 12 around the opening for the door D. The frame 12 is normally constructed of lumber, as is well known to persons skilled in the art, for purposes of reinforcement and facilitating the attachment of elements supporting and controlling door D, including the operator system 10.
Affixed to the jambs 13, 14 proximate the upper extremities thereof and the lateral extremities of the header 15 to either side of the door D are flag angles, generally indicated by the numeral 20. The flag angles 20 generally consist of L-shaped vertical members 21 having a leg 22 attached to an underlying jamb 13, 14 and a projecting leg 23 preferably disposed substantially perpendicular to the leg 22 and, therefore, perpendicular to the jambs 13, 14 (See FIG. 6).
Flag angles 20 also include an angle iron 25 positioned in supporting relation to tracks T, T located to either side of door D. The tracks T, T provide a guide system for rollers attached to the side of door D, as is well known to persons skilled in the art. The angle irons 25 normally extend substantially perpendicular to the jambs 13, 14 and may be attached to the transitional portion of tracks T, T between the vertical section and the horizontal section thereof or in the horizontal section of tracks T, T. The tracks T, T define the travel of the door D in moving upwardly from the closed to open position and downwardly from the open to closed position.