Counterbalancing torsion spring mechanism for devices which move up and down and method of setting the torsion springs thereof

A method of winding the torsion spring means in a torsion spring counterbalancing mechanism for a garage door, the mechanism comprising a torsion spring connected to a torsion shaft which is in turn connected to the door and supported for rotation in respective opposite directions as the door moves respectively in up and down between its positions, the steps of setting the door in its down position with the door and torsion shaft connected for rotation with door movement, connecting one end of the torsion spring to the torsion shaft so that the spring is wound by rotation of the shaft with downward movement of the door and unwound with upward movement of the door, the other end of the spring being connected to a drive member for moving the other end of the spring about its axis, rotating the said other end of the spring to wind the spring while permitting relative longitudinal movement of one spring end along the axis of the shaft relative to the said shaft or drive member to which it is connected during the winding of the spring while maintaining that end secured against rotation with respect to the shaft or drive member to which it is connected until the door is lifted a relatively short distance from its down position, then fixing the longitudinally movable spring end against longitudinal movement while using the drive member to hold the spring end connected thereto against rotation and then driving the spring end in a direction to unwind the spring with both ends of the spring fixed against movement relative to the respective said shaft or drive member to which it is connected until the door seats in its down position.

A torsion spring counterbalancing mechanism for a garage door or other device to be moved up and down comprising a torsion shaft rotatable about an axis, torsion spring means comprising a torsion spring to be wound as the device moves down and unwound as it moves up disposed about said shaft, means connecting the torsion shaft with said device to rotate the shaft in a direction to wind the spring as the device moves down and for rotation in the opposite direction as the device moves up, a respective end member connected to each end of the torsion spring, torsion spring winding and adjusting means comprising a support structure mounted against movement about or along the axis of said torsion shaft, said winding and adjusting means comprising an output drive shaft coaxial with and rotatable about said axis and self-locking drive means for rotating said drive shaft in different directions about said axis to respectively wind and unwind said torsion spring, end fixing means for said torsion spring means comprising first and second connecting means connecting a respective one of said end members to a respective associated one of said rotatable torsion and drive shafts to fix the corresponding end member against relative movement with respect to the respective rotatable shaft, one of said first and second connecting means comprising securing means for interchangeably fixing the respective end member for the connecting means to the associated shaft for rotation therewith while enabling longitudinal movement of the end member relative to its associated shaft during winding of said spring or fixing the end member against movement longitudinally of its corresponding shaft and for rotation therewith, said securing means including interfitting connecting elements on the end member and shaft to which the securing means connects the end member with said interfitting connecting elements being constructed and arranged to allow relative longitudinal movement along the shaft while precluding relative rotational movement of the shaft and end member, said interfitting elements comprising a set screw and a receiving opening therefor in respective ones of the end member and rotatable shaft.

A torsion spring counterbalancing mechanism for a garage door or other device to be moved up and down comprising a torsion shaft rotatable about an axis, torsion spring means comprising a torsion spring to be wound as the device moves down and unwound as it moves up disposed about said shaft, means connecting the torsion shaft with said device to rotate the shaft in a direction to wind the spring as the device moves down and for rotation in the opposite direction as the device moves up, a respective end member connected to each end of the torsion spring, torsion spring winding and adjusting means comprising a support structure mounted against movement about or along the axis of said torsion shaft, said winding and adjusting means comprising an output drive shaft coaxial with and rotatable about said axis and self-locking drive means for rotating said drive shaft in different directions about said axis to respectively wind and unwind said torsion spring, end fixing means for said torsion spring means comprising first and second connecting means connecting a respective one of said end members to a respective associated one of said rotatable torsion and drive shafts to fix the corresponding end member against relative movement with respect to the respective rotatable shaft, one of said first and second connecting means comprising securing means for interchangeably fixing the respective end member for the connecting means to the associated shaft for rotation therewith while enabling longitudinal movement of the end member relative to its associated shaft during winding of said spring or fixing the end member against movement longitudinally of its corresponding shaft and for rotation therewith, said securing means including interfitting connecting elements on the end member and shaft to which the securing means connects the end member with said interfitting connecting elements being constructed and arranged to allow relative longitudinal movement along the shaft while precluding relative rotational movement of the shaft and end member, said interfitting elements comprising a set screw and a receiving opening therefor in respective ones of the end member and rotatable shaft, said drive means is disposed in a fixed position along the axis of the torsion shaft and comprises a worm wheel rotatable about said torsion shaft for rotating said drive shaft, and a worm drive gear for said worm wheel for selectively rotating or adjusting the worm wheel, said worm drive gear and worm wheel being self-locking to preclude rotation of the drive shaft and worm wheel by the spring connected thereto, said securing means including interfitting connecting elements on the end member and shaft to which the securing means connects the end member with said interfitting connecting elements being so constructed and arranged to enable relative longitudinal movement along the shaft while precluding relative rotational movement of the shaft and end member, said interfitting elements comprising a set screw and a receiving opening therefor in respective ones of the end member and shaft connected by the receiving means.

A torsion spring counterbalancing mechanism for a garage door or other device to be moved up and down comprising a torsion shaft rotatable about an axis, torsion spring means comprising a torsion spring to be wound as the device moves down and unwound as it moves up disposed about said shaft, means connecting the torsion shaft with said device to rotate the shaft in a direction to wind the spring as the device moves down and for rotation in the opposite direction as the device moves up, a respective end member connected to each end of the torsion spring, torsion spring winding and adjusting means comprising a support structure mounted against movement about or along the axis of said torsion shaft, said winding and adjusting means comprising an output drive shaft coaxial with and rotatable about said axis and self-locking drive means for rotating said drive shaft in different directions about said axis to respectively wind and unwind said torsion spring, end fixing means for said torsion spring means comprising first and second connecting means connecting a respective one of said end members to a respective associated one of said rotatable torsion and drive shafts to fix the corresponding end member against relative movement with respect to the respective rotatable shaft, one of said first and second connecting means comprising securing means for interchangeably fixing the respective end member for the connecting means to the associated shaft for rotation therewith while enabling longitudinal movement of the end member relative to its associated shaft during winding of said spring or fixing the end member against movement longitudinally of its corresponding shaft and for rotation therewith, said securing means including interfitting connecting elements on the end member and shaft to which the securing means connects the end member with said interfitting connecting elements being constructed and arranged to allow relative longitudinal movement along the shaft while precluding relative rotational movement of the shaft and end member, said interfitting elements comprising a set screw and a receiving opening therefor in respective ones of the end member and rotatable shaft, said torsion spring means comprises said first said spring as a first spring and a second torsion spring disposed coaxially about said torsion shaft and said winding and adjusting means being disposed between said springs, end members each connected to respective one of the opposite ends of said second spring, said end fixing means further comprising third and fourth connecting means each connecting a respective one of said end members for said second spring to a respective one of said rotatable torsion and drive shafts to fix the corresponding end member against relative movement with respect to the respective rotatable shaft, one of said third and fourth connecting means comprising securing means for interchangeably fixing the end member to its respective shaft for rotation therewith while enabling longitudinal movement of the end member relative to its respective shaft during the winding of said spring of fixing the end member against movement longitudinally of its corresponding shaft and for rotation therewith, each of said securing means including interfitting connecting elements on the end member and the shaft to which the securing means connects the end member with said interfitting connecting elements being constructed and arranged to allow relative longitudinal movement along the shaft while precluding relative rotational movement of the shaft and end member, said interfitting elements comprising a set screw and a receiving opening therefor in respective ones of the end member and rotatable shaft.

A torsion spring counterbalancing mechanism for a garage door or other device to be moved up and down comprising a torsion shaft rotatable about an axis, torsion spring means comprising a torsion spring to be wound as the device moves down and unwound as it moves up disposed about said shaft, means connecting the torsion shaft with said device to rotate the shaft in a direction to wind the spring as the device moves down and for rotation in the opposite direction as the device moves up, a respective end member connected to each end of the torsion spring, torsion spring winding and adjusting means comprising a support structure mounted against movement about or along the axis of said torsion shaft, said winding and adjusting means secured to said support means, said winding and adjusting means comprising an output drive shaft coaxial with and rotatable about said axis and self-locking drive means for rotating said drive shaft in different directions about said axis to respectively wind and unwind said torsion spring, end fixing means for said torsion spring means comprising first and second connecting means connecting a respective one of said end members to a respective associated one of said rotatable torsion and drive shafts to fix the corresponding end member against relative movement with respect to the respective rotatable shaft, one of said first and second connecting means comprising securing means for interchangeably fixing the respective end member for the connecting means to the associated shaft for rotation therewith while enabling longitudinal movement of the end member relative to its associated shaft during winding of said spring or fixing the end member against movement longitudinally of its corresponding shaft and for rotation therewith, said securing means including interfitting connecting elements on the end member and shaft to which the securing means connects the end member with said interfitting connecting elements being constructed and arranged to allow relative longitudinal movement along the shaft while precluding relative rotational movement of the shaft and end member, said interfitting elements comprising a set screw and a receiving opening therefor in respective ones of the end member and rotatable shaft, said torsion spring means comprising said first said spring as a first spring and a second torsion spring disposed coaxially about said torsion shaft and said winding and adjusting means being disposed between said springs, end members each connected to respective one of the opposite ends of said second spring, said end fixing means further comprising third and fourth connecting means each connecting a respective one of said end members for said second spring to a respective one of said rotatable torsion and drive shafts to fix the corresponding end member against relative movement with respect to the respective rotatable shaft, one of said third and fourth connecting means comprising securing means for interchangeably fixing the end member to its respective shaft for rotation therewith while enabling longitudinal movement of the end member relative to its respective shaft during the winding of said spring or fixing the end member against movement longitudinally of its corresponding shaft and for rotation therewith, said drive means disposed in a fixed position along the axis to the torsion shaft and comprises a worm wheel rotatable about said torsion shaft for rotating said drive shaft, and a worm drive gear for said worm wheel for selectively rotating or adjusting the worm wheel, said worm drive gear and worm wheel being self-locking to preclude rotation of the drive shaft and worm wheel by the springs connected thereto, each of said securing means including interfitting connecting elements on the end member and the shaft to which the securing means connects the end member with said interfitting connecting elements of each securing means being so constructed and arranged to selectively allow relative longitudinal movement along the shaft while precluding relative rotational movement of the shaft and end member, said interfitting elements of each securing means comprising a set screw and a receiving opening therefor in respective ones of the end member and shaft connected by the securing means.

A winding and unwinding mechanism for a torsion spring counterbalancing device for a garage door or other device movable between up and down positions in which a torsion spring to be wound and unwound is disposed about a torsion shaft, said mechanism comprising a support structure to be mounted in a stationary position along the torsion shaft, a hollow drive shaft to be disposed about the torsion shaft journaled in a fixed position in said support for rotation about the axis of the drive shaft and adapted to have a spring end member connected thereto for rotation therewith in a fixed position thereon or while longitudinally movable thereon while fixed for rotation therewith selectively, a worm wheel coaxially disposed about said drive shaft, connecting means for connecting said worm wheel and said shaft to effect rotation of said spring end member about the spring axis upon rotation of said worm wheel, a worm drive journaled in a fixed position in said support structure for driving said worm wheel, said drive shaft extending axially outwardly from said wheel to be fixedly connected to an end member of a torsion spring, said connecting means being setable to a first condition in which a spring end member and said shaft are fixed for rotation with said gear wheel and against movement along said drive shaft axis and to a second condition in which the end member on rotation by said drive shaft moves longitudinally of said drive shaft axis, the connecting means comprising cooperating interfitting elements for effecting the rotation of the spring end member and allowing said longitudinal movement on rotation of said drive shaft and spring end member.