Tensioning tool for a counterbalance system for sectional doors

• US 7,784,521 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation (Sanwa Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Green, Kelly Ray, Bennett, Thomas B. III, Mullet, Willis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson; Blair M.
• Application Number:
  US12/283,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20090014131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 160/191, 160/192, 160/315, 160/201, 160/318, 492/00, 185/39, 185/44, 161/97, 161/98
• US Class Current: 160/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 13/10 Counterbalance devices
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 13/1261 specially adapted for overhead wings E05D13/1269 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/492 Spring tensioners, tension sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/692 Temporary use
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/00 Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/106 for garages
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/62 Counterweighting arrangements E06B9/60 takes precedence

Abstract

A door system (10) including, a door (D) movably mounted on a track assembly (15), a counterbalance system (20) connected to the door and having at least one spring (25), a tool adapter (26) proximate at least one end of the counterbalance system, a detachable winding assembly (30) adapted to selectively engage and selectively rotate the tool adapter to adjust tensioning of the spring, and a locking assembly (36) interacting with the counterbalance system to maintain a selected tensioning of the counterbalance system upon detaching the winding assembly from the tool adapter.

Claims

1. A door assembly comprising a door movably mounted on a track assembly, a counterbalance system connected to said door and having at least one spring, a tool adapter proximate at least one end of said counterbalance system, a detachable winding assembly adapted to selectively engage and selectively rotate said tool adapter to adjust tensioning of said spring, and a locking assembly interacting with said counterbalance system to maintain a selected tensioning of said counterbalance system upon detaching said winding assembly from said tool adapter, wherein said winding assembly includes a rotatable housing, a first gear rotatably mounted within said housing having a first axis of rotation positionable coaxial with said tool adapter, said first gear defining a receiver adapted to rotatably fix said first gear to said tool adapter, a second gear operatively interconnected with said first gear to cause rotation thereof, said second gear being rotatably mounted in said housing with a second axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to said first axis of rotation, a boss adapted to receive a driver extending outwardly from said second gear, the door system further comprising a counter assembly having a fixed gear attached to an outer surface of said housing around an opening, a counter cam coupled to said first gear to rotate in unison with said counter cam, and a rotating gear rotatably mounted on said housing and operatively interrelated with said fixed gear, wherein said counter cam has an eccentric profile and engages said rotating gear to rotate said rotating gear a selected circumferential distance for each revolution of said counter cam.

2. A door system according to claim 1, wherein said counter assembly is operatively interrelated with said winding assembly to quantify and display tensioning of said counterbalance system.

3. A door system according to claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism is a pawl and ratchet.

4. The door assembly of claim 1, wherein said circumferential distance is equal to about one revolution and one tooth on said fixed gear.

5. The door assembly of claim 4, wherein said rotating gear is formed on an interior surface of said counter, and a scale is attached to an exterior surface of said counter, wherein said scale is adapted to indicate revolutions of movement of said counter relative to said fixed gear.

6. The door assembly of claim 5, wherein said scale includes a label having indicia thereon.

7. The door assembly of claim 1, wherein said first gear defines a socket coaxial with said receiver, said socket adapted to rotatably fix said counter cam to said first gear, wherein said socket has a reduced radial dimension relative to said receiver defining an annular shoulder engageable with said tool adapter to prevent over-insertion thereof.

8. A detachable tensioning tool in combination with a door system comprising, a door movably mounted on a track assembly, a counterbalance system connected to said door, first and second tool adapters at each end of and coaxial with said counterbalance system and connected to first and second springs, a winding assembly including a rotatable housing and adapted to selectively engage and selectively rotate either of said first and second tool adapters, stop surfaces on said housing on opposite sides of said axis preventing rotation of said housing during tensioning of said counterbalance system, and brackets mounting said counterbalance system and attached to fixed angle irons, wherein said stop surfaces include a first stop surface and a second stop surface, said first stop surface engaging one of said angle irons when said winding assembly engages one of said first and second tool adapters and said second stop surface engaging a second of said angle irons when said winding assembly engages the other of said first and second tool adapters.

9. A detachable tensioning tool in combination with a door system according to claim 8, wherein said stop surfaces engage said angle irons.

10. A detachable tensioning tool in combination with a door system according to claim 8, wherein said winding assembly includes a gear having oppositely projecting driver engaging bosses, one of said driver engaging bosses engageable when said winding assembly is in engagement with said first tool adapter and a second of said driver engaging bosses engageable when said winding assembly is in engagement with said second tool adapter.

11. A detachable tensioning tool in combination with a door system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said stop surfaces slopes downwardly and inwardly relative to one of said driver engaging bosses.

12. A detachable tensioning tool in combination with a door system comprising, a door movably mounted on a track assembly, a counterbalance system connected to said door, first and second tool adapters at each end of and coaxial with said counterbalance system and connected to first and second springs, a winding assembly including a rotatable housing and adapted to selectively engage and selectively rotate either of said first and second tool adapters, and stop surfaces on said housing on opposite sides of said axis preventing rotation of said housing during tensioning of said counterbalance system, wherein said winding assembly includes a driver engaging boss extending outwardly from said housing along an axis, and wherein at least one of said stop surfaces is adapted to position said housing such that said axis of said driver engaging boss extends rearwardly and downwardly.

13. A detachable tensioning tool in combination with a door system according to claim 12, wherein said counterbalance system has a locking mechanism for maintaining a selected tension in said counterbalance system.

14. A detachable tensioning tool in combination with a door system according to claim 12 further comprising, a counter associated with said winding mechanism to quantify and display tensioning of said counterbalance system.

15. A detachable tensioning tool in combination with a door system according to claim 14, wherein said counter has different indicia for either of said door and said counterbalance system having different characteristics.

16. A detachable tensioning tool in combination with a door system comprising a door movably mounted within a door frame on a track assembly, a counterbalance system connected to said door by support brackets, first and second tool adapters at each end of said counterbalance system connected to first and second springs, a winding assembly including a housing and a coupler adapted to selectively engage and selectively rotate either of said first and second tool adapters, a circumferentially continuous first gear of said coupler having a fixed hub rotatably coupling said winding assembly and said tool adapter, a rotatable second gear of said coupler directly engaging said first gear and accessible for having rotation imparted from exteriorly of said housing, a first stop surface on said housing adapted to engage the door frame to prevent rotation of said housing during tensioning of the counterbalance system, wherein said first stop surface is adapted to operate independent of the support brackets to prevent rotation of said housing during tensioning of the counterbalance system.