Door operator

Claim 2

A door operator, comprising: elongated rail means; elongated screw means rotatably supported by said rail means, said screw means being flexible throughout the full length thereof and capable of change in axial length; drive means connected to said screw means for rotating same; nut means mounted on said rail means and threadedly engaging said screw means, said nut means being urged lengthwise of said rail means in response to rotation of said screw means; flange means on said nut means extending radially outwardly away from said screw means; linkage means connected to said flange means on said nut means and adapted to engage a door; and means responsive to a predetermined change in the axial length of said screw for stopping said drive means and the urging of said nut means.

Claim 3

A mechanism for moving an upwardly acting door between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, comprising: an elongated rail means; an elongated spiral member rotatably supported by said rail means, said spiral member being resiliently extensible and compressible lengthwise thereof throughout the full length thereof; drive means connected to said spiral member for rotating same; nut means mounted on said rail means and threadedly engaging said spiral member, said nut means being urged lengthwise of said spiral means in response to rotation of said spiral member; flange means on said nut means extending radially outwardly away from said screw means; linkage means connected to said flange means on said nut means and adapted for connection to said door; and means responsive to a predetermined extension or compression of said spiral member due to an obstruction in the movement of said door for stopping rotation of said drive means.

Claim 4

A mechanism for moving an upwardly acting door between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, comprising: an elongated rail means; an elongated spiral member rotatably supported by said rail means, said spiral member being resiliently extensible and compressible lengthwise thereof throughout the full length thereof; drive means connected to said spiral member for rotating same; nut means mounted on said rail means and threadedly engaging said spiral member, said nut means being urged lengthwise of said spiral means in response to rotation of said spiral member; flange means on said nut means extending radially outwardly away from said screw means; linkage means connected to said flange means on said nut means and adapted for connection to said door; and means responsive to a predetermined extension or compression of said spiral member due to an obstruction in the movement of said door for stopping rotation of said drive means.

Claim 5

A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said rail means has an X-shaped cross section defining four lengthwise grooves, and said spiral member is disposed in the lowermost groove of said rail means; and wherein said nut means extends below said rail means for engagement with said linkage means.

Claim 6

A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said drive means comprises a reversible electric motor having a shaft, and coupling means coaxially connecting said shaft to the end of said spiral member remote from the closed position of said door, said motor being connected to a source of electrical potential; Wherein said responsive means includes switch means connected between said motor and said source, and switch-actuating means responsive to said extension or said compression for operating said switch means, said switch means adapted to control said reversible electric motor to effect a subsequent rotation of said motor in one direction if the spiral member is extended and in the opposite direction if the spiral member is compressed.

Claim 7

In an operator for a door having linkage attached thereto, said operator having elongated rail means and rotary drive means, the combination comprising: an elongated, helical and axially resilient spring extending lengthwise of and rotatably supported by said rail means, said spring being adapted for connection to and rotation by said drive means; and nut means mounted on said rail means and threadedly engaging said helicalspring, said nut means having flange means extending radially outwardly away from said spring,said nut means being yieldably urged lengthwise of said rail means in response to rotation of said helical spring, and said flange means on said nut means being adapted for connection to said linkage. 3

Claim 8

In an operator for a door having linkage attached thereto, said operator having elongated rail means and rotary drive means, the combination comprising: an elongated, helical and axially resilient spring extending lengthwise of and rotatably supported by said rail means, said spring being adapted for connection to and rotation by said drive means; and nut means mounted on said rail means and threadedly engaging said helicalspring, said nut means having flange means extending radially outwardly away from said spring,said nut means being yieldably urged lengthwise of said rail means in response to rotation of said helical spring, and said flange means on said nut means being adapted for connection to said linkage. 3

Claim 9

A device according to claim 5, wherein said rail means has wall means defining an elongated channel; and including an elongated liner disposed within said channel and having an elongated slot opening through said channel, said liner being made of self-lubricating material and having an internal surface defining a cylinder, said helical spring being rotatably disposed within said liner said flange means in said nut means extending through said slot.

Claim 10

A mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said nut means includes a flat piece of self-lubricating plastic material and has a plurality of aligned and longitudinally spaced openings therethrough spaced a distance equal to the pitch of said spring, a number of convolutions of said spring corresponding to the number of said openings in said nut means extending through said openings whereby said nut means will move relative to said spring upon a rotation thereof with a minimum of friction.

Claim 11

A collapsible door operator assembly capable of being packaged compactly, comprising: a plurality of separable track sections interconnected to define an elongated guide rail; an elongated helical and axially resilient spring rotatably supported by said guide rail, said spring being capable of being coiled into a relatively small and compact arrangement; drive means adapted to be connected to said screw means for rotating same; nut means adapted to be mounted on said guide rail means and threadedly engaging said screw means, said nut means being urged lengthwise of said rail means in response to rotation of said screw means; linkage means adapted to be connected to said nut means and further adapted to engage a door; means responsive to a predetermined change in the axial length of said screw for stopping said drive means and the urging of said nut means; and said plurality of separable tracK sections, said spring when in the coiled condition, said drive means, said nut means, said linkage means and said responsive means all being adapted to be packaged in a small and compact arrangement for easy shipping purposes.

Claim 12

A collapsible door operator assembly capable of being packaged compactly, comprising: a plurality of separable track sections interconnected to define an elongated guide rail; an elongated helical and axially resilient spring rotatably supported by said guide rail, said spring being capable of being coiled into a relatively small and compact arrangement; drive means adapted to be connected to said screw means for rotating same; nut means adapted to be mounted on said guide rail means and threadedly engaging said screw means, said nut means being urged lengthwise of said rail means in response to rotation of said screw means; linkage means adapted to be connected to said nut means and further adapted to engage a door; means responsive to a predetermined change in the axial length of said screw for stopping said drive means and the urging of said nut means; and said plurality of separable tracK sections, said spring when in the coiled condition, said drive means, said nut means, said linkage means and said responsive means all being adapted to be packaged in a small and compact arrangement for easy shipping purposes.

Claim 13

A mechanism for moving an upwardly acting door between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, comprising: elongated rail means; an elongated spiral member rotatably supported by said rail means, said spiral member being resiliently extensible and compressible lengthwise thereof; drive means connected to said spiral member for rotating same, said drive means comprising a reversible electric motor having a shaft, and coupling means coaxially connecting said shaft to the end of said spiral member remote from the closed position of said door, said motor being connected to a source of electrical potential; nut means mounted on said rail means and threadedly engaging said spiral member, said nut means being urged lengthwise of said rail means in response to rotation of said spiral member; linkage means connected to said nut means and adapted for connection to said door; means responsive to a predetermined extension or compression of said spiral member due to an obstruction in the movement of said door for stopping rotation in said drive means, said responsive means including switch means connected between said motor and said source, said switch means comprising arm means pivotally mounted adjacent said drive means, a pair of switches mounted upon said arm means and adjustment means for positioning said switches lengthwise of said rail, and switch actuating means responsive to said extension or said compression for operating said switch means, said actuating means comprising bar means pivotally mounted adjacent to and coaxially with said arm means, clamp means adjustably connected to said spiral member near said drive means, and linkage means connecting said bar means to said clamp means, one of said switches being operated when said clamp means is moved a predetermined distance lengthwise of said rail, said switch means controlling said reversible electric motor upon an appropriate actuation thereof to effect a subsequent rotation of said motor in one direction if the spiral member is extended and in the opposite direction if the spiral member is compressed.

Claim 14

A mechanism for moving an upwardly acting door between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal open position, comprising: elongated rail means; an elongated spiral member rotatably supported by said rail means, said spiral member being resiliently extensible and compressible lengthwise thereof; drive means connected to said spiral member for rotating same, said drive means comprising a reversible electric motor having a shaft, and coupling means coaxially connecting said shaft to the end of said spiral member remote from the closed position of said door, said motor being connected to a source of electrical potential; nut means mounted on said rail means and threadedly engaging said spiral member, said nut means being urged lengthwise of said rail means in response to rotation of said spiral member; linkage means connected to said nut means and adapted for connection to said door; means responsive to a predetermined extension or compression of said spiral member due to an obstruction in the movement of said door for stopping rotation in said drive means, said responsive means including switch means connected between said motor and said source, said switch means comprising arm means pivotally mounted adjacent said drive means, a pair of switches mounted upon said arm means and adjustment means for positioning said switches lengthwise of said rail, and switch actuating means responsive to said extension or said compression for operating said switch means, said actuating means comprising bar means pivotally mounted adjacent to and coaxially with said arm means, clamp means adjustably connected to said spiral member near said drive means, and linkage means connecting said bar means to said clamp means, one of said switches being operated when said clamp means is moved a predetermined distance lengthwise of said rail, said switch means controlling said reversible electric motor upon an appropriate actuation thereof to effect a subsequent rotation of said motor in one direction if the spiral member is extended and in the opposite direction if the spiral member is compressed.

Claim 15

A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein said clamp means is adjustable lengthwise of said spiral member.