Yieldable gearing and safety mechanisms for garage door operators

An actuator for operating a garage door, comprising:

• a motor;
• a drive shaft;
• a first crown gear coupled to said motor;
• a second crown gear coupled to said drive shaft, said second crown gear being movable from a first position engaged with said first crown gear and a second position disengaged with said first crown gear;
• and
• a detent, coupled to said second crown gear, that retains said second crown gear in said first position and allowing said second crown gear to move to said second position when the torsional force between said first and second crown gears reaches a predetermined limit.

An actuator for operating a garage door, comprising:

• a motor;
• a first gear coupled to said motor;
• an intermediate shaft having a second and third gear;
• a yoke supporting said intermediate shaft, said yoke being able to rotate said intermediate shaft from a first position where said first gear engaged with said second gear to a second position where said first gear is disengaged from said second gear;
• a drive shaft having a fourth gear, said fourth gear engaging said third gear;
• and
• a detent, coupled to said intermediate shaft, that retains said intermediate shaft in said first position and allowing said intermediate shaft to move to said second position when the torsional force between said third and fourth gears reaches a predetermined limit.

In an actuator for operating a garage door having a motor, a worm gear coupled to said motor, a helical gear coupled to said worm gear, and a drive shaft coupled to said helical gear, the improvement comprising:

• a first crown gear coupled to said helical gear;
• and
• a second crown gear coupled to said drive shaft, said second crown gear movable from a first position engaged with said first crown gear to a second position disengaged with said first crown gear when the torsional force between said first and second crown gears reaches a predetermined limit;
• whereby said motor no longer transmits force to said drive shaft when said first and second crown gears are disengaged.

A garage door operator, comprising:

• a garage door;
• a rail, said garage door moving between an up and down position along said rail;
• a pin, said pin being reciprocatingly placed in said rail to prevent said garage door from moving along said rail;
• a solenoid, said solenoid operably coupled to said pin to reciprocatingly move said pin;
• and
• a means for remotely controlling said solenoid.

A garage door actuator for opening and closing a garage door, comprising:

• a rail, said garage door moving between an up and down position along said rail;
• a pin, said pin being reciprocatingly placed in said rail to prevent said garage door from moving along said rail;
• a solenoid, said solenoid operably coupled to said pin to reciprocatingly move said pin;
• and
• a means for remotely controlling said solenoid.