Winding assembly for door counterbalance system

A winding assembly used in conjunction with a door having a counterbalance system operable to offset the weight of the door, the counterbalance system including an axle rotatably supported on a pair of support brackets located at each side of the door and a counterbalance spring adapted to apply a counterbalancing force to the door, the winding assembly comprising, a rotatable driver coupled to the counterbalance spring, said driver having a tool receiving portion, a gear wheel supported on said driver and rotatable therewith, said gear wheel defining a plurality of teeth, said teeth having a leading surface and a trailing surface, a locking assembly including a lock bracket fastened to the support bracket, a pawl pivotally supported on said lock bracket and operable with said gear wheel to maintain a selected counterbalance force, and a catch carried on said lock bracket adapted to couple said lock bracket to the support bracket upon unfastening of the lock bracket, whereby said locking assembly prevents inadvertent release of the counterbalance force.

A door system located within an opening defined by a frame, the door system comprising, a door movable between an open position and a closed position, a pair of tracks including a substantially vertical track section, a substantially horizontal track section, and an arcuate transition track section joining said vertical and horizontal track sections and adapted to guide said door between said open and closed positions, splice brackets attached to the frame and adapted to support said tracks, a counterbalance system including an axle rotatably supported by said splice brackets and a counterbalance spring supported by said axle, said counterbalance spring being adapted to apply a counterbalancing force to offset the weight of said door, a driver extending axially outward from said axle, coupled to said counterbalance spring and rotatably supported within an opening formed in one of said splice brackets, wherein an end of said driver is accessible through said opening and includes a tool receiving socket extending axially inward therefrom, and a winding assembly including a gear and pawl adapted to maintain a selected counterbalance force within said counterbalance system.

A lock assembly in a door system, the door system located within an opening defined by a frame, the door system including a door movable between an open position and a closed position, the door being supported on a pair of support brackets at either end of the door, a counterbalance system adapted to apply a counterbalancing force to the door, and a winding assembly adapted to adjust and maintain the counterbalancing force, the locking assembly comprising;

• a lock bracket coupled to the winding assembly and fastenable to the frame to fix the winding assembly in a selected position, and a catch extending from said lock bracket and adapted to anchor said lock bracket to the structure upon unfastening of said lock bracket.