Counterbalancing mechanism for an overhead door

An overhead door system, including an overhead door which is operative to open and close a door opening having left and right sides as viewed from inside said overhead door, and counterbalancing apparatus for said overhead door, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a torsion shaft mounted for rotation between left and right stationary supports respectively mounted adjacent said left and right sides of said overhead door;
• b) a torsion spring having a first end and a second end, said first end fixed to said torsion shaft so as to allow rotation with said torsion shaft;
• and
• c) a winding mechanism connected to one of said left and right stationary supports by respective connecting elements on said one of said left and right stationary supports and said winding mechanism, said winding mechanism further having a ring gear connected to said second end of said torsion spring and a worm engaged with said ring gear, wherein rotation of said worm rotates said ring gear to wind said second end of said torsion spring with respect to said first end, and said counterbalancing apparatus being adapted for connection to said left or right stationary support and being connected to one of said left and right station supports while a drive portion thereof is oriented at a downward angle away from said door at either location;
• wherein said worm includes drive portions on opposing ends thereof with each drive portion being exposed for engagement by a tool, wherein only one of said drive portions is directed at a downward angle away from said door depending on which of said left and right stationary supports is connected to said counterbalancing apparatus.

A method of installing a counterbalancing apparatus on an overhead door system having an overhead door which is operative to open and close a door opening having left and right sides as viewed from inside said overhead door and bounded by a floor on a bottom side of said door opening, said method comprising:

• mounting left and right stationary supports adjacent said left and right sides, respectively, of said overhead door;
• mounting a torsion shaft for rotation between said left and right stationary supports;
• mounting a torsion spring on said torsion shaft, said torsion spring having first and second ends and said first end being fixed to said torsion shaft so as to allow rotation with said torsion shaft;
• selectively connecting a winding mechanism to one of said left and right stationary supports;
• connecting a ring gear of said winding mechanism to said second end of said torsion spring;
• engaging a worm gear with said ring gear, wherein rotation of said worm gear rotates said ring gear to wind said second end of said torsion spring with respect to said first end thereof;
• and
• orienting a drive portion of said worm gear downwardly with respect to a horizontal plane and away from said door irrespective which of said stationary supports is connected to said winding mechanism to provide access from inside said door opening to said drive portion by a user on said floor.

An overhead door system, including an overhead door which is operative to open and close a door opening having left and right sides as viewed from inside said overhead door, and counterbalancing apparatus for said overhead door, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a torsion shaft mounted for rotation between left and right stationary supports respectively mounted adjacent said left and right sides of said overhead door;
• b) a torsion spring having a first end and a second end, said first end fixed to said torsion shaft so as to allow rotation with said torsion shaft;
• and
• c) a winding mechanism connected to said torsion spring, said winding mechanism having a ring gear connected to said second end of said torsion spring and a worm engaged with said ring gear, wherein rotation of said worm rotates said ring gear to wind said second end of said torsion spring with respect to said first end, and a drive portion of said counterbalancing apparatus being oriented at a downward angle away from said door.

A method of installing a counterbalancing apparatus on an overhead door system having an overhead door which is operative to open and close a door opening having left and right sides as viewed from inside said overhead door and bounded by a floor on a bottom side of said door opening, said method comprising:

• mounting left and right stationary supports adjacent said left and right sides, respectively, of said overhead door;
• mounting a torsion shaft for rotation between said left and right stationary supports;
• mounting a torsion spring on said torsion shaft, said torsion spring having first and second ends and said first end being fixed to said torsion shaft so as to allow rotation with said torsion shaft;
• selectively connecting a winding mechanism to said torsion spring;
• connecting a ring gear of said winding mechanism to said second end of said torsion spring;
• engaging a worm gear with said ring gear, wherein rotation of said worm gear rotates said ring gear to wind said second end of said torsion spring with respect to said first end thereof;
• and
• orienting a drive portion of said worm gear downwardly with respect to a horizontal plane and away from said door to provide access from inside said door opening to said drive portion by a user on said floor.