Linear drive power door operator
First Claim
1. A linear drive power door operator for selectively and automatically opening and closing a door swingably mounted on a door frame, said power door operator comprising:
- a power screw extending along a horizontal axis;
a drive connected to the power screw for powering the rotation of the power screw about said horizontal axis;
a piston having a threaded bore threadably engaging said power screw, said piston being moved linearly along said horizontal axis upon activation of the drive and the rotational movement of the power screw;
a rack having teeth, said piston engaging said rack for moving the rack linearly from end-to-end upon the linear movement of the piston;
a pinion having teeth threadably engaging the teeth of the rack, said pinion being rotatable about a vertical axis upon the end-to-end linear movement of the rack;
at least one link arm pivotally connected at one of its ends to the pinion and pivotally connected at its other end to the door; and
a control for controlling the operation of the drive for moving the door between a closed position and an open position, said control activating said drive for moving the piston and the rack from a first position in which the door is closed to a second position in which the door is fully open, and any position in between.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A linear drive power door operator selectively and automatically opens and closes a door swingably mounted on a door jamb. The door operator includes a power screw disposed within a housing and a drive which powers the rotation of the power screw for moving a piston having a threaded bore threadably engaging the power screw linearly upon activation of the drive. A rack having teeth is engaged by the piston for moving the rack linearly from end-to-end. The power door operator further includes a pinion having teeth threadably engaging the teeth of the rack. The pinion is rotatable about a vertical axis upon the side-to-side linear movement of the rack. At least one link arm is pivotally connected at one of its ends to the pinion and pivotally connected at its other end to the door. A control device controls the operation of the drive for moving the door between a closed position and an open position. The control device activates the drive for moving the piston and the rack from a first position in which the door is closed to a second position in which the door is fully open, and any position in between.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A linear drive power door operator for selectively and automatically opening and closing a door swingably mounted on a door frame, said power door operator comprising:
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a power screw extending along a horizontal axis; a drive connected to the power screw for powering the rotation of the power screw about said horizontal axis; a piston having a threaded bore threadably engaging said power screw, said piston being moved linearly along said horizontal axis upon activation of the drive and the rotational movement of the power screw; a rack having teeth, said piston engaging said rack for moving the rack linearly from end-to-end upon the linear movement of the piston; a pinion having teeth threadably engaging the teeth of the rack, said pinion being rotatable about a vertical axis upon the end-to-end linear movement of the rack; at least one link arm pivotally connected at one of its ends to the pinion and pivotally connected at its other end to the door; and a control for controlling the operation of the drive for moving the door between a closed position and an open position, said control activating said drive for moving the piston and the rack from a first position in which the door is closed to a second position in which the door is fully open, and any position in between. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A linear drive power door operator for selectively and automatically opening and closing a door swingably mounted on a door frame, said power door operator comprising:
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a power screw extending along a horizontal axis; a drive connected to the power screw for powering the rotation of the power screw about said horizontal axis; a piston having an end portion with threaded bore threadably engaging said power screw and a rack portion with teeth formed therein, said piston being moved linearly from side-to-side along said horizontal axis upon activation of the drive and the rotational movement of the power screw; a pinion having teeth threadably engaging the teeth of the rack portion of said piston, said pinion being rotatable about a vertical axis upon the end-to-end linear movement of the rack portion of the piston; at least one link arm pivotally connected at one of its ends to the pinion and pivotally connected at its other end to the door; and a control for controlling the operation of the drive for moving the door between a closed position and an open position, said control activating said drive for moving the piston and the rack portion from a first position in which the door is closed to a second position in which the door is fully open, and any position in between. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 15, 16)
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14. A power door operator as set forth in claim said control being in electrical communication with a switch accessible by a person for activating said control which opens the door.
Specification