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US 7,219,711 B2Granted
Hydraulic door opening mechanism and method of installing a bi-fold door
AssigneeHi-Fold Door Corporation
InventorsRichard D. Keller, Daniel Keller, Damian Keller, William Bakalich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic door opening mechanism for overhead bi-fold doors is herein disclosed. The door opening mechanism mounts a hydraulic pump, pressure reservoir, valve manifold, and a hydraulic motor or cylinder on a first door panel. The door opening mechanism is pre-assembled with the doorframe prior to mounting the door in the door opening.
Claims18
A bi-fold overhead door comprising:
- a first door panel rotatively coupled to a header of a door opening by a hinge structure;
- a second door panel rotatively coupled to a lower edge of the first door panel;
- a rotatable shaft secured to the second door panel adjacent a lower edge thereof, the rotatable shaft having a take up spool mounted thereon, the take up spool having a first end of a cable secured thereto, a second end of the cable being secured to the header of the door opening such that as the rotatable shaft rotates, the take up spool winds the cable up on the take up spool, thereby raising the lower edge of the lower panel and raising the overhead door;
- and,
- a hydraulic power unit coupled to a hydraulic motor, the hydraulic motor being coupled to the rotatable shaft for rotating the shaft so as to wind the cable on the take up spool.
2 more elements
A bi-fold overhead door comprising:
- a first door panel rotatively coupled to a header of a door opening by a hinge structure;
- a second door panel rotatively coupled to a lower edge of the first door panel;
- a hydraulic cylinder coupled at its base to the second panel of the door, the hydraulic cylinder having an extensible shaft having a first pulley coupled to its end such that the pulley travels with the end of the shaft;
- a second pulley fixed to the panel of the overhead door to which the hydraulic cylinder is secured such that the second pulley remains in its fixed position on the door panel;
- a door opening cable having a first end secured to the header of the door opening and a second end secured to the second door panel, the door opening cable being passed around the first and second pulleys such that retracting the shaft of the hydraulic cylinder will alter the length of the door opening cable extending between the second pulley and the door header, thereby causing the overhead door to open;
- and,
- a hydraulic power unit coupled to the hydraulic cylinder to provide motive power for retracting the shaft of the hydraulic cylinder.
4 more elements
A method of installing a bi-fold overhead door in a door opening comprising:
- fabricating an upper panel frame;
- fabricating a lower panel frame;
- coupling the upper and lower panel frames to one another with a hinge mechanism;
- coupling a door raising mechanism to the lower panel frame adjacent a lower edge of the lower panel frame;
- coupling a hydraulic power unit to one of the upper and lower panel frames and to the door raising mechanism, the hydraulic power unit providing motive power to the door raising mechanism;
- securing an upper edge of the upper panel frame to a header of a door opening;
- and,
- covering the upper and lower panel frames.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.