US 4,231,191 AGranted

Automatic door opener system

AssigneeChallenger, Inc.

InventorJohn W. Ellmore

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Abstract

A door opener system which includes a compact unit containing a motor, circuitry and various accessories, which can be quickly connected to and disconnected from the operator system, said motor having a first gear which easily is positioned into a meshing relationship with a second gear upon connection of the compact unit to the operator system. The operator system further includes the use of only two common switch actuators for operating the motor to move the door in open and closed positions, and to stop the motor upon the door striking an obstruction in its path of travel, said actuators being cooperatively associated with a cam actuator and drive chain pressure responsive means. Also, a unitary gear and drive sprocket structure is utilized in the drive system. Finally, an adjustable shock absorber type draw bar interconnects the door to the chain drive.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A door opener system, which includes,

a pair of guide rails disposed in parallel relationship with each other,
adjustable bracket means movable along the guide rails for mounting said guide rails to a structure,
a compact unit having a motor with a driving gear extending therefrom,
means for removably connecting the compact unit to the guide rails so that the driving gear meshes with the driven gear,
a chain driven means unit cooperatively associated with the driven gear and operative in response to the operation of said driven gear,
trolley means connected to the chain driven means for quick release from the chain driven means and manually operable in case of a power failure,
a draw bar unit interconnecting the chain driven means unit to a door to be opened and closed, and
electromechanical means connected to the system frame and cooperatively associated with the chain driven means unit for controlling the operation of the motor for starting and stopping the chain driven means unit, said electromechanical means including a pair of switches, each switch having a contact actuator therefor;
a cam actuator operative in alternate first and second positions and having respective first and second actuator contacting surfaces, each actuator contacting surface movable into engagement with one-half of the surface area of its respective switch contact actuator;
and, a load responsive lever operative in alternate first and second positions, and having first and second actuator contacting surfaces, each of the aforesaid actuator contacting surfaces movable into engagement with the other half of the surface area of its respective switch contact actuator.

7 more elements

In a door opener system having a pair of guide rails disposed in parallel relationship to each other, a compact motor unit removably connected to said guide rails and having a driving gear, a chain driven means including a driven gear, a draw bar unit interconnecting the chain driven means to a door to be opened and closed, and electromechanical means for opening, closing and otherwise moving said door, which comprises:

a load responsive lever cooperatively associated with the chain driven means, said load responsive lever having an opening therein,
a pivotal limit lever switch connected to the system frame and responsive to pressure being applied to the chain driven means, said pivotal limit switch having a free end extending through said load responsive lever opening and a bottom portion having first and second actuating contacting surfaces, said limit lever switch movable between first and second positions,
an actuating cam connected to the system frame and cooperatively associated with said pivotal limit lever, said actuating cam movable between alternating first and second positions and having first and second actuating contacting surfaces, and
a pair of switches connected to the system frame and cooperatively associated with the pivotal limit lever switch and the actuating cam, each switch having a contact actuator whereupon one half of its surface area is engaged and depressed by the first actuating contact surfaces of the limit lever switch and cam actuator respectively in their respective first positions and the other half of its surface area is engaged and depressed by the second actuating contacting surfaces of the limit lever switch and cam actuator in their respective second positions.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.