Automatic sectional door opener

• US 5,698,073 A
• Filed: 06/20/1996
• Issued: 12/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hydromach, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hydromach, Inc.
• Inventors: Vincenzi, Ariel
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/667,859
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 160/188, 160/189, 160/201, 192/69.63, 192/69.9, 192/89.27, 192/99 S, 292/DIG. 36, 292/219, 74/625
• US Class Current: 160/188
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0021 for overhead or roll-up doors, e.g. garage doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 13/00 Accessories for sliding or lifting wings, e.g. pulleys, safety catches closers or openers for horizontally sliding wings E05F1/02, E05F1/08; counterbalance devices for swinging wings E05F1/00, E05F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/668 for overhead wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/684 by chains
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/22 Locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/244 by manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/11 Manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/36 Overhead door latches

Abstract

An automatic opener for a sectional door includes a drive unit mounted adjacent to a door drive shaft and having a reversible motor, a gear linkage for translating rotation of the motor drive shaft into rotation of the sectional door drive shaft, and a clutch which permits the gear linkage to be manually temporarily disengaged from the motor drive shaft. The drive unit is supported within a housing that is connected to an adjustable wall bracket mounting base which itself is fixed to a wall adjacent to the sectional door. A spring-biased lever attached near a lower end of the sectional door pivots in response to slack in a door cable to automatically lock the door when it is completely shut. The locking mechanism automatically unlocks the door either when the drive unit is actuated to open the sectional door or when the clutch is utilized to disengage the gear linkage from the motor drive shaft.

Claims

1. A sectional door having an automatic opener for raising and lowering the door, the automatic opener comprising:

a sectional door drive shaft extending along a side of the sectional door;

a door cable attached at a first end to the sectional door, and at a second end to the sectional door drive shaft;

means for rotating the sectional door drive shaft, the rotating means including a reversible motor and a gear linkage for translating rotation of a motor drive shaft into rotation of the sectional door drive shaft; and

a clutch permitting the gear linkage to be manually temporarily disengaged from the motor drive shaft;

wherein the gear linkage includes a drive unit drive shaft extending generally perpendicularly relative to the motor drive shaft, and a gear mounted to the drive unit drive shaft and slidable therealong between a first position wherein the gear is driven by a worm fixed to the motor drive shaft, and a second position wherein the gear is disengaged from the worm.

2. The automatic opener of claim 1, wherein the clutch includes means for biasing the gear into its first position, and manually actuable means for moving the gear against the biasing means into its second position.

3. The automatic opener of claim 2, wherein the biasing means comprises a compression spring, and wherein the means for moving the gear to its second position includes a gear abutment having a peripheral groove and which is fixed to a face of the gear and slidable therewith along the drive unit drive shaft, and a pivot lever pivotally connected adjacent to the rotating means, the pivot lever having a first arm that supports a groove follower disposed within the groove, and a second arm that may be pulled to pivot the pivot lever about its pivotal connection to cause movement of the groove follower away from the worm and thus move the gear abutment and the attached gear out of the first position toward the second position.

4. The automatic opener of claim 3, including means for rotationally coupling the gear to the drive unit drive shaft when the gear is in its first position.

5. The automatic opener of claim 4, wherein the coupling means includes a locking pin extending from the drive unit drive shaft, and a slot associated with the gear into which the locking pin is placed when the gear is in its first position.

6. The automatic opener of claim 4, wherein the coupling means includes a key fixed to and extending longitudinally along the drive unit drive shaft, for preventing relative rotation between the gear and the drive shaft.

7. The automatic opener of claim 1, including means for mounting the rotating means to a wall adjacent to the sectional door drive shaft, the mounting means including a wall bracket mounting base adjustably positionable relative to attachment points to the wall, and a drive unit housing attachable to the mounting base and adjustably positionable with respect thereto.

8. The automatic opener of claim 7, wherein the wall bracket mounting base includes a plurality of horizontal slots and a plurality of vertical slots through which connectors may be placed for securing the mounting base to the wall.

9. The automatic opener of claim 1, wherein the rotating means includes a first sprocket fixed to the drive unit drive shaft, a second sprocket fixed to the sectional door drive shaft, and an endless chain extending about the first and second sprockets.

10. The automatic opener of claim 1, including means for automatically locking the sectional door when fully closed, wherein the locking means automatically disengages when the automatic opener is actuated to open the sectional door.

11. The automatic opener of claim 10, wherein the automatic locking means comprises a spring-biased lever pivotally attached to the sectional door adjacent to the first end of the door cable, the lever including a cable abutment arm having an end thereof that abuts a portion of the door cable adjacent to the first end thereof, and a locking arm including a hook for engaging a locking pin fixed to a stationary structure, wherein slack in the door cable permits the lever to pivot such that the hook engages the locking pin, and wherein removal of the door cable slack causes the lever to pivot in an opposite direction to release the hook from the locking pin.

12. The automatic opener of claim 10, including means for manually unlocking the automatic locking means from a remote location.

13. A sectional door having an automatic opener for raising and lowering the door, the automatic opener comprising:

a sectional door drive shaft extending along a side of the sectional door;

a door cable attached at a first end to the sectional door, and at a second end to the sectional door drive shaft;

means for rotating the sectional door drive shaft, the rotating means including a reversible motor and a gear linkage for translating rotation of a motor drive shaft into rotation of the sectional door drive shaft; and

means for automatically locking the sectional door when fully closed, wherein the locking means automatically disengages when the automatic opener is actuated to open the sectional door, wherein the automatic locking means comprises a spring-biased lever pivotally attached to the sectional door adjacent to the first end of the door cable, the lever including a cable abutment arm having an end thereof that abuts a portion of the door cable adjacent to the first end thereof, and a locking arm including a hook for engaging a locking pin fixed to a stationary structure, wherein slack in the door cable permits the adjustment lever to pivot such that the hook engages the locking pin, and wherein removal of the door cable slack causes the lever to pivot in an opposite direction to release the hook from the locking pin.

14. The automatic opener of claim 13, wherein the rotating means includes a first sprocket fixed to the drive unit drive shaft, a second sprocket fixed to the sectional door drive shaft, and an endless chain extending about the first and second sprockets.

15. The automatic opener of claim 13, including means for mounting the rotating means to a wall adjacent to the sectional door drive shaft, the mounting means including a wall bracket mounting base adjustably positionable relative to attachment points to the wall, and a drive unit housing attachable to the mounting base and adjustably positionable with respect thereto, wherein the wall bracket mounting base includes a plurality of horizontal slots and a plurality of vertical slots through which connectors may be placed for securing the mounting base to the wall.

16. A sectional door having an automatic opener for raising and lowering the door, the automatic opener comprising:

a sectional door drive shaft extending along a side of the sectional door;

a door cable attached at a first end to the sectional door, and at a second end to the sectional door drive shaft;

means for rotating the sectional door drive shaft, the rotating means including a reversible motor and a gear linkage for translating rotation of a motor drive shaft into rotation of the sectional door drive shaft;

means for automatically locking the sectional door when fully closed, wherein the locking means automatically disengages when the automatic opener is actuated to open the sectional door; and

a clutch permitting the gear linkage to be manually temporarily disengaged from the motor drive shaft, wherein the gear linkage includes a drive unit drive shaft extending generally perpendicularly relative to the motor drive shaft, and a gear mounted to the drive unit drive shaft and slidable therealong between a first position wherein the gear is driven by a worm fixed to the motor drive shaft, and a second position wherein the gear is disengaged from the worm, wherein the clutch includes means for biasing the gear into its first position, and manually actuable means for moving the gear against the biasing means into its second position.

17. The automatic opener of claim 16, wherein the biasing means comprises a compression spring, and wherein the means for moving the gear to its second position includes a gear abutment having a peripheral groove and which is fixed to a face of the gear and slidable therewith along the drive unit drive shaft, and a pivot lever pivotally connected adjacent to the rotating means, the pivot lever having a first arm that supports a groove follower disposed within the groove, and a second arm that may be pulled to pivot the pivot lever about its pivotal connection to cause movement of the groove follower away from the worm and thus move the gear abutment and the attached gear out of the first position toward the second position.

18. The automatic opener of claim 17, including means for manually unlocking the automatic locking means from a remote location, wherein the unlocking means includes a lock mechanism fixed relative to a selected structure, the lock mechanism including a housing that may be rotated by means of a key, wherein the lock housing has attached thereto a rope which extends to the second arm of the clutch pivot lever, whereby spooling of the rope onto the lock mechanism causes the clutch to disengage the gear from the worm, thus disengaging the automatic locking means.

19. A sectional door having an automatic opener for raising and lowering the door, the automatic opener comprising:

a sectional door drive shaft extending along a side of the sectional door;

a door cable attached at a first end to the sectional door, and at a second end to the sectional door drive shaft;

means for rotating the sectional door drive shaft, the rotating means including a reversible motor and a gear linkage for translating rotation of a motor drive shaft into rotation of the sectional door drive shaft, the gear linkage including a first sprocket fixed to the drive unit drive shaft, a second sprocket fixed to the sectional door drive shaft, and an endless chain extending about the first and second sprockets;

a clutch permitting the gear linkage to be manually temporarily disengaged from the motor drive shaft; and

means for automatically locking the sectional door when fully closed, wherein the locking means automatically disengages when the automatic opener is actuated to open the sectional door, wherein the automatic locking means comprises a spring-biased lever pivotally attached to the sectional door adjacent to the first end of the door cable, the lever including a cable abutment arm having an end thereof that abuts a portion of the door cable adjacent to the first end thereof, and a locking arm including a hook for engaging a locking pin fixed to a stationary structure, wherein slack in the door cable permits the adjustment lever to pivot such that the hook engages the locking pin, and wherein removal of the door cable slack causes the lever to pivot in an opposite direction to release the hook from the locking pin.

20. The automatic opener of claim 19, including means for mounting the rotating means to a wall adjacent to the sectional door drive shaft, the mounting means including a wall bracket mounting base adjustably positionable relative to attachment points to the wall, and a drive unit housing attachable to the mounting base and adjustably positionable with respect thereto, wherein the wall bracket mounting base includes a plurality of horizontal slots and a plurality of vertical slots through which connectors may be placed for securing the mounting base to the wall.

21. The automatic opener of claim 19, wherein the gear linkage includes a drive unit drive shaft extending generally perpendicularly relative to the motor drive shaft, and a gear mounted to the drive unit drive shaft and slidable therealong between a first position wherein the gear is driven by a worm fixed to the motor drive shaft, and a second position wherein the gear is disengaged from the worm, wherein the clutch includes means for biasing the gear into its first position, and manually actuable means for moving the gear against the biasing means into its second position.

22. The automatic opener of claim 21, wherein the biasing means comprises a compression spring, and wherein the means for moving the gear to its second position includes a gear abutment having a peripheral groove and which is fixed to a face of the gear and slidable therewith along the drive unit drive shaft, and a pivot lever pivotally connected adjacent to the rotating means, the pivot lever having a first arm that supports a groove follower disposed within the groove, and a second arm that may be pulled to pivot the pivot lever about its pivotal connection to cause movement of the groove follower away from the worm and thus move the gear abutment and the attached gear out of the first position toward the second position.

23. The automatic opener of claim 22, including means for manually unlocking the automatic locking means from a remote location, wherein the unlocking means includes a lock mechanism fixed relative to a selected structure, the lock mechanism including a housing that may be rotated by means of a key, wherein the lock housing has attached thereto a rope which extends to the second arm of the clutch pivot lever, whereby spooling of the rope onto the lock mechanism causes the clutch to disengage the gear from the worm, thus disengaging the automatic locking means.

24. The automatic opener of claim 21, including means for rotationally coupling the gear to the drive unit drive shaft when the gear is in its first position.

25. A sectional door having an automatic opener for raising and lowering the door, the automatic opener comprising:

a sectional door drive shaft extending along a side of the sectional door;

a door cable attached at a first end to the sectional door, and at a second end to the sectional door drive shaft;

means for rotating the sectional door drive shaft, the rotating means including a reversible motor and a gear linkage for translating rotation of a motor drive shaft into rotation of the sectional door drive shaft;

a clutch permitting the gear linkage to be manually temporarily disengaged from the motor drive shaft; and

means for automatically locking the sectional door when fully closed, wherein the locking means automatically disengages when the automatic opener is actuated to open the sectional door, wherein the automatic locking means comprises a spring-biased lever pivotally attached to the sectional door adjacent to the first end of the door cable, the lever including a cable abutment arm having an end thereof that abuts a portion of the door cable adjacent to the first end thereof, and a locking arm including a hook for engaging a locking pin fixed to a stationary structure, wherein slack in the door cable permits the lever to pivot such that the hook engages the locking pin, and wherein removal of the door cable slack causes the lever to pivot in an opposite direction to release the hook from the locking pin.

26. The automatic opener of claim 25, including means for manually unlocking the automatic locking means from a remote location.

27. A sectional door having an automatic opener for raising and lowering the door, the automatic opener comprising:

a sectional door drive shaft extending along a side of the sectional door;

a door cable attached at a first end to the sectional door, and at a second end to the sectional door drive shaft;

means for rotating the sectional door drive shaft, the rotating means including a reversible motor and a gear linkage for translating rotation of a motor drive shaft into rotation of the sectional door drive shaft, the gear linkage including a first sprocket fixed to the drive unit drive shaft, a second sprocket fixed to the sectional door drive shaft, and an endless chain extending about the first and second sprockets;

a clutch permitting the gear linkage to be manually temporarily disengaged from the motor drive shaft; and

means for automatically locking the sectional door when fully closed, wherein the locking means automatically disengages when the automatic opener is actuated to open the sectional door;

wherein the gear linkage includes a drive unit drive shaft extending generally perpendicularly relative to the motor drive shaft, and a gear mounted to the drive unit drive shaft and slidable therealong between a first position wherein the gear is driven by a worm fixed to the motor drive shaft, and a second position wherein the gear is disengaged from the worm, wherein the clutch includes means for biasing the gear into its first position, and manually actuable means for moving the gear against the biasing means into its second position.

28. The automatic opener of claim 27, wherein the biasing means comprises a compression spring, and wherein the means for moving the gear to its second position includes a gear abutment having a peripheral groove and which is fixed to a face of the gear and slidable therewith along the drive unit drive shaft, and a pivot lever pivotally connected adjacent to the rotating means, the pivot lever having a first arm that supports a groove follower disposed within the groove, and a second arm that may be pulled to pivot the pivot lever about its pivotal connection to cause movement of the groove follower away from the worm and thus move the gear abutment and the attached gear out of the first position toward the second position.

29. The automatic opener of claim 28, including means for manually unlocking the automatic locking means from a remote location, wherein the unlocking means includes a lock mechanism fixed relative to a selected structure, the lock mechanism including a housing that may be rotated by means of a key, wherein the lock housing has attached thereto a rope which extends to the second arm of the clutch pivot lever, whereby spooling of the rope onto the lock mechanism causes the clutch to disengage the gear from the worm, thus disengaging the automatic locking means.

30. The automatic opener of claim 27, including means for rotationally coupling the gear to the drive unit drive shaft when the gear is in its first position.