Apparatus for opening and closing door members and the like

Torque responsive apparatus, sensing the torque applied to a driven shaft, comprising:

• a driver shaft, having opposite ends;
• a driver connected to one end of the driver shaft drivingly rotating the driver shaft in a first direction of rotation;
• a housing having a hollow portion formed in a portion thereof, the end of the driver shaft, opposite the end connected to the driver, extending through a portion of the housing and being disposed in the hollow portion of the housing;
• means journally connecting the housing and the driver shaft;
• a driven shaft, having opposite ends, one end of the driven shaft extending through a portion of the housing and being disposed in hollow portion of the housing;
• means journally connecting the housing and the driven shaft;
• means disposed in the hollow portion of the housing having a portion forming an annular ball race, a portion being connected to the housing, another portion connected to the driver shaft and yet another portion connected to the driven shaft;
• at least one ball rollingly disposed in the ball race and the portion of the means forming the ball race connected to the housing contacting each ball, the portion of the means forming the ball race connected to the driver shaft contacting each ball and the portion of the means forming the ball race connected to the driven shaft contacting each ball, the rotation of the driver shaft drivingly rotating the driven shaft via each ball and the portions contacting each ball;
• and
• a torque control having a portion connected to the housing sensing the rotational movement of the housing, the rotational movement of the housing indicating the torque applied at the driven shaft.