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US 5,588,257 AGranted
Garage door operator
AssigneeThe Stanley Works
InventorsDean C. Duhame, Richard P. Spens, Dana Lowell, Chin-Feng Chan, Ming-Hwa Shou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A door operator for garage doors is provided which includes a motor, a multiple segmented drive screw and a traveler coupled to and reciprocating along the multiple segmented drive screw. The drive screw segments have non-circular ends which are slidably coupled to each other through a complementary sleeve. Springs are used to bias the screw segments toward one another. The traveler includes a lubricating pad for lubricating the drive screw as it passes along.
Claims17
An apparatus for operating a garage door including:
- (a) a motor;
- (b) a drive assembly coupled to said motor, said drive assembly comprising:
- (i) a drive screw extending longitudinally and having a first end coupled to said motor for rotation, said drive screw including at least two drive segments;
- (ii) coupling means for coupling ends of said segments;
- and
- (iii) means for maintaining compression on said segments in a longitudinal direction toward said coupling means to maintain said segment ends in engagement with said coupling means;
- and
- (c) means coupled to said door, responsive to rotation of said drive screw and moving therealong in said longitudinal direction for moving said door in response thereto.
5 more elements
An apparatus operating a door comprising:
- a rail extending in a longitudinal direction;
- a motor disposed at one end of said rail;
- a drive screw having a first end connected to said motor for rotation therewith and a second end opposite said first end, said drive screw comprising a plurality of segments, each segment having a threaded surface;
- coupling means for slidably coupling adjacent ones of said segment ends to transmit torque from one segment to another;
- compressioning means for applying an inwardly directed compressioning load to said first and second ends of said drive screw to bias said ends toward each other;
- means engaging said rail for supporting said drive screw;
- a traveler having threads mounted on said rail and adapted to move along said segments in said longitudinal direction in response to rotation thereof, said traveler being connected to said door.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.