Automatic door operator with compound epicyclic gear drive system

A door operator for use with swing-mounted doors comprising an electric motor having a motor drive shaft, a door-driving operator output shaft, means for coupling the operator output shaft to the door to be operated thereby, with the operator output shaft rotatable about a vertical axis for corresponding movement of the door, the motor being controllably energized for controlling rotation of the motor drive shaft, a transmission for speed reduction coupling of the motor drive shaft to the operator output shaft with 90.degree. relationship between the axes of rotation of the operator output shaft and motor drive shaft, a transmission housing for components of the transmission, means for mounting of the transmission housing and operator within structures associated with the door, the transmission comprising a drive gear, first gear means for coupling the motor drive shaft to the drive gear, the drive gear being in coaxial relation with the operator output shaft but independently rotatable thereabout, a sun pinion gear carried by the drive gear in coaxial relation with the operator output shaft but independently rotatable thereabout, a planetary cage assembly comprising a plurality of planet gears and cage means for carrying the planet gears in planetary relationship about the operator output shaft but independently rotatable thereabout with epicyclic movement, with a first portion of each of the planet gears in mesh with the sun pinion gear, the cage means being rotatable but unjournalled about the operator output shaft, the cage assembly permitting both forward driving transfer of power from the prime mover to the output shaft, and back driving from the output shaft to the prime mover, the operating shaft extending axially through the entirety of the transmission housing for extension from opposite portions thereof, and means operatively associated with the operator output shaft for resiliently coupling restorative force to the operator output shaft upon rotation thereof in at least one direction.

In a door operator for use with swing-mounted doors including a prime mover, a door-driving operator output shaft, means for coupling the operator output shaft to the door to be operated thereby, the operator output shaft being rotatable about a vertical axis for corresponding movement of the door, the prime mover having a drive shaft and being controllably energized for rotation of the prime mover drive shaft, a transmission for speed reduction coupling of the prime mover drive shaft to the operator output shaft, a transmission housing for components of the transmission, and means for mounting of the transmission housing and operator within structure associated with the door, the transmission including a drive gear, first gear means for coupling the motor drive shaft to the drive gear, the drive gear being in coaxial relation with the operator output shaft but independently rotatable thereabout, and sun-and-planet gear means coaxial with the operator shaft including planet gears driven for epicyclic movement about the axis of the operator output shaft, for providing speed reduction coupling of the drive gear to the output shaft, the sun-and-planet gear means comprising a sun pinion gear carried by the drive gear in coaxial relation with the operator output shaft but independently rotatable thereabout, a planetary cage assembly comprising a plurality of planet gears, and cage means for carrying the planet gears in planetary relationship about the operator output shaft but independently rotatable thereabout with epicyclic movement, and means operatively associated with the operator output shaft for resiliently coupling restorative force to the operator output shaft upon rotation thereof in at least one direction, the improvement comprising the cage means being rotatable but unjournalled about the operator output shaft, the cage assembly permitting both forward driving transfer of power from the prime mover to the output shaft, and back driving from the output shaft to the drive mover, the operating shaft extending axially through the entirety of the transmission housing for extension from opposite portions thereof.

In a door operator for use with swing-mounted doors including an electric motor having a motor drive shaft, a door-driving operator output shaft, means for coupling the operator output shaft to the door to be operated thereby, with the operator output shaft rotatable about a vertical axis for corresponding movement of the door, the motor being controllably energized for controlling rotation of the motor drive shaft, a transmission for speed reduction coupling of the motor drive shaft to the operator output shaft, a transmission housing for components of the transmission, means for mounting of the transmission housing and operator within structure associated with the door, the transmission including a drive gear, first gear means for coupling the motor drive shaft to the drive gear, the drive gear being in coaxial relation with the operator output shaft but independently rotatable thereabout, a sun pinion gear carried by the drive gear in coaxial relation with the operator output shaft but independently rotatable thereabout, means operatively associated with the operator output shaft for resiliently coupling restorative force to the operator output shaft upon rotation thereof in at least one direction, and a planetary cage assembly comprising a plurality of planet gears and cage means for carrying the planet gears in planetary relationship about the operator output shaft but independently rotatable thereabout with epicyclic movement, with a first portion of each of the planet gears in mesh with the sun pinion gear, the improvement comprising the cage means being rotatable but unjournalled about the operator output shaft, the cage assembly permitting both forward driving transfer of power from the prime mover to the output shaft, and back driving from the output shaft to the prime mover, the operating shaft extending axially through the entirety of the transmission housing for extension from opposite portions thereof.