US3764875A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Door operator
Assignee: Overhead Door Corp
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Filing: 1972-02-28
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1992-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A door operator for opening and closing an upwardly acting door and including a power unit having reversible motor means for driving the operator. The motor means is associated with a control circuit which includes upper and lower limit switches actuated when the door is in the opened and closed positions, respectively, which limit switches are connected in parallel and control the reversing of the motor rotation. The circuit also includes a reversing switch for reversing the motor rotation and door movement automatically if the door engages an obstacle during movement in the closing direction. Control means are associated with the reversing switch for deactivating same when the door is positioned closely adjacent but slightly spaced from its fully closed position to prevent undesired reversing of the door. The control means also includes means for deactivating the reversing switch when the door is positioned closely adjacent but slightly spaced from its fully opened position.
Inventors
- 👤 D Harris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:43
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05F; E05F15/00; E05F15/40; E05F15/41; E05F15/60; E05F15/603; E05F15/665; E05F15/668; E05F15/681; E05F15/684; E05Y; E05Y2201/00; E05Y2201/60; E05Y2201/622; E05Y2201/644; E05Y2201/646; E05Y2400/00; E05Y2400/10; E05Y2400/52; E05Y2400/53; E05Y2400/54; E05Y2400/57; E05Y2800/00; E05Y2800/74; E05Y2800/748; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/10; E05Y2900/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
438 words
In a device including a reversible electric motor connectible to a source of electric potential for opening and closing a door connected to the motor by drive means, the motor being rotatable in a first direction when the door is being moved toward a first end position wherein it is closed, the motor being rotatable in a second direction opposite said first direction when the door is being moved toward a second end position wherein the door is open, and a mechanism for controlling the motor rotation, said mechanism comprising: first circuitry means including a first limit switch for connecting the motor in series with the source of potential for rotating the motor in said first direction; first means responsive to movement of said door for opening said first limit switch as said door moves into said first end position; second circuitry means including a second limit switch for connecting the motor in series with the source of potential for rotating the motor in said second direction; second means responsive to movement of said door for opening said second limit switch as said door moves into said second end position; relay means alternately connecting said source to one of said first and second circuitry means; third circuitry means connected to said source for operating said relay means, said third circuitry means including a first normally open switch for permitting selective actuation of said relay means to permit said door to be selectively moved between its open and closed position; said third circuitry means further including reversing switch means connected in parallel with said first normally open switch for operating said relay means independently of said first switch for permitting control of said motor during movement of said door between said end positions; third means cooperating with said reversing switch means for normally maintaining same in an open position as said door is being moved between said end positions while permitting movement of said reversing switch means to a closed position when the movement of said door is interrupted before it reaches said end positions; and fourth means cooperating with said reversing switch means for maintaining same in an open position whenever said door is within a small predetermined distance from either of said end positions to thereby override and deactivate said reversing switch means; said reversing switch means when moved to a closed position due to said door striking an obstruction causing the motor to be reversed when the door is moving toward said first end position, said reversing switch means causing said motor to be stopped when the door is being moved toward its second end position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
438 words
In a device including a reversible electric motor connectible to a source of electric potential for opening and closing a door connected to the motor by drive means, the motor being rotatable in a first direction when the door is being moved toward a first end position wherein it is closed, the motor being rotatable in a second direction opposite said first direction when the door is being moved toward a second end position wherein the door is open, and a mechanism for controlling the motor rotation, said mechanism comprising: first circuitry means including a first limit switch for connecting the motor in series with the source of potential for rotating the motor in said first direction; first means responsive to movement of said door for opening said first limit switch as said door moves into said first end position; second circuitry means including a second limit switch for connecting the motor in series with the source of potential for rotating the motor in said second direction; second means responsive to movement of said door for opening said second limit switch as said door moves into said second end position; relay means alternately connecting said source to one of said first and second circuitry means; third circuitry means connected to said source for operating said relay means, said third circuitry means including a first normally open switch for permitting selective actuation of said relay means to permit said door to be selectively moved between its open and closed position; said third circuitry means further including reversing switch means connected in parallel with said first normally open switch for operating said relay means independently of said first switch for permitting control of said motor during movement of said door between said end positions; third means cooperating with said reversing switch means for normally maintaining same in an open position as said door is being moved between said end positions while permitting movement of said reversing switch means to a closed position when the movement of said door is interrupted before it reaches said end positions; and fourth means cooperating with said reversing switch means for maintaining same in an open position whenever said door is within a small predetermined distance from either of said end positions to thereby override and deactivate said reversing switch means; said reversing switch means when moved to a closed position due to said door striking an obstruction causing the motor to be reversed when the door is moving toward said first end position, said reversing switch means causing said motor to be stopped when the door is being moved toward its second end position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said third means includes mounting means connected to said motor and mounting same for limited rotational movement of said motor in a direction substantially about the axis of the motor shaft, said mounting means including torsional resisting means imposing a torque of predetermined magnitude on said motor for preventing rotation thereof so long as the torsional resistance opposed on said motor is less than said predetermined magnitude, said mounting means also including a control member positioned for coaction with said reversing switch means for causing closure of said reversing switch means when the torsional resistance imposed on said motor is sufficient to cause rotational movement thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
171 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein said reversing switch means comprising a normally closed switch, said third means including first link means coacting with said normally closed reversing switch for normally maintaining same in an open position during movement of the door between its open and closed positions, said third means also including torsional mounting means for interconnecting the casing of said motor to a stationary housing, said torsional mounting means maintaining said mOtor casing stationary so long as the reaction torque imposed on said motor casing does not exceed a predetermined magnitude, said torsional mounting means permitting rotational displacement of said motor casing when the torsional reaction imposed thereon exceeds said predetermined magnitude, such as caused by the door striking an obstruction, and said third means further including second link means coacting between said torsional motor mounting means and said first link means for causing actuation of said first link means to permit said reversing switch to close whenever the reaction torque on said motor exceeds said predetermined magnitude.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein said fourth means includes linkage means movable into engagement with said reversing switch for maintaining same in an open position whenever said door is within said predetermined distance from either of said end positions to thus prevent closure of said reversing switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein said second link means is positioned for engaging and actuating said first limit switch to move same to an open position when said door is disposed within said predetermined distance from said first end position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
315 words
A power unit for controlling the movement of a door between a first end position wherein the door is closed and a second end position wherein the door is open, the power unit including reversible electric motor means rotatable in a first direction for causing movement of said door in a closing direction toward said first end position and rotatable in a second direction opposite said first direction for causing movement of said door in an opening direction toward said second end position, comprising the improvement wherein said power unit includes: reversing means coacting with said motor means for causing the rotation thereof, when said door is being moved in a door closing direction, to be automatically reversed whenever the door strikes an obstruction preventing further movement of said door, whereby said door is automatically returned to its open position; first override means coacting with said reversing means for permitting selective deactivation of said reversing means to thus prevent reversal in the rotation of said motor means, said first override means being normally maintained in an inoperative position and being moved to an operative position wherein it deactivates said reversing means only when said door is spaced within a first predetermined distance from said first end position; second override means coacting with said reversing means for selectively deactivating said reversing means to prevent reversal in the rotation of said motor means, said second override means being normally maintained in an inoperative position and being moved to an operative position only when said door is spaced within a second predetermined distance from said second end position; and actuating means responsive to the movement of said door between its end positions for causing the first and second override means to be individually moved to their operative positions when the door is disposed within said first and second predetermined distances from said first and second end positions, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
315 words
A power unit for controlling the movement of a door between a first end position wherein the door is closed and a second end position wherein the door is open, the power unit including reversible electric motor means rotatable in a first direction for causing movement of said door in a closing direction toward said first end position and rotatable in a second direction opposite said first direction for causing movement of said door in an opening direction toward said second end position, comprising the improvement wherein said power unit includes: reversing means coacting with said motor means for causing the rotation thereof, when said door is being moved in a door closing direction, to be automatically reversed whenever the door strikes an obstruction preventing further movement of said door, whereby said door is automatically returned to its open position; first override means coacting with said reversing means for permitting selective deactivation of said reversing means to thus prevent reversal in the rotation of said motor means, said first override means being normally maintained in an inoperative position and being moved to an operative position wherein it deactivates said reversing means only when said door is spaced within a first predetermined distance from said first end position; second override means coacting with said reversing means for selectively deactivating said reversing means to prevent reversal in the rotation of said motor means, said second override means being normally maintained in an inoperative position and being moved to an operative position only when said door is spaced within a second predetermined distance from said second end position; and actuating means responsive to the movement of said door between its end positions for causing the first and second override means to be individually moved to their operative positions when the door is disposed within said first and second predetermined distances from said first and second end positions, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A unit according to claim 6, wherein said reversing means includes a reversing switch operatively associated with said motor means; and torque responsive means coacting between said reversing switch and said motor means for causing actuation of said reversing switch whenever the reaction torque imposed on said motor means exceeds a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A unit according to claim 7, wherein said torque responsive means includes means mounting the casing of said motor means for permitting rotational displacement thereof when the reaction torque imposed on said motor means exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
192 words
A unit according to claim 6, further including: first circuitry means including a limit switch for connecting the motor means in serieS with a source of potential for rotating the motor means in one of said first and second directions; second circuitry means including a second limit switch for connecting the motor means in series with the source of potential for rotating the motor means in the other of said first and second directions; relay means alternately connecting said source of potential to one of said first and second circuitry means; said reversing means including a reversing switch electrically connected to said relay means for permitting control of same, and link means coacting with said reversing switch for normally maintaining same in an open position to thus prevent reversing of said motor means; and said reversing means further including torque responsive means operatively connected between said motor means and said link means and responsive to the reaction torque imposed on said motor means exceeding a predetermined value for causing actuation of said link means whereby said reversing switch is thus moved to a closed position to cause energization of said relay means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device according to claim 9, wherein said first and second override means engage said reversing switch and hold same in said open position when said first and second override means are moved to their respective operative positions, thereby preventing closure of said reversing switch when said door is within said predetermined distance from either of said end positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
230 words
A unit according to claim 9, wherein said first and second override means includes first and second levers, respectively, mounted for swingable movement between said operative and inoperative positions, and resilient means coacting with said levers for normally maintaining same in said inoperative positions, said first and second levers when moved into said operative position engaging said reversing switch for maintaining same in an open position; said actuating means being movable between first and second extreme positions in response to movement of said door between said first and second end positions, respectively, said actuating means engaging said first lever when it approaches said first extreme position and engaging said second lever as it approaches said second extreme position, engagement of said actuating means with either of said levers causing said lever to be moved to its operative position; said link means including lever means disposed for engagement with said reversing switch and biasing means coacting with said lever means for normally urging same into engagement with said reversing switch for maintaining same in an open position; and said torque responsive means including a control link member actuated in response to imposition of a reaction torque on said motor means exceeding said predetermined value and disposed for actuating said lever means for moving same in opposition to said biasing means for enabling said reversing switch to move to a closed position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
A unit according to claim 11, wherein there is provided a substantially stationary housing means, and said torque responsive means including means mounting said motor means on said housing means for permitting rotational displacement of said motor means relative to said housing means in response to imposition of a reaction torque on said motor means in excess of said predetermined value, said control link member being connected to the casing of said motor means and angularly displaceable therewith when the reaction torque on said motor means exceeds said predetermined value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A unit according to claim 12, wherein said control link member is positioned for engaging said second limit switch for moving same to an opened position when said control link member is angularly displaced to an operative position in response to imposition of a reaction torque on said motor means in excess of said predetermined value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A unit according to claim 13, wherein said actuating means, as it is moved toward its second extreme position, engages saId control link member and returns same to its normal inoperative position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
A unit according to claim 11, further including a third pivotal lever positioned for engagement with said second limit switch, said third lever being disposed for engagement by said actuating means when same reaches its second extreme position for causing swinging movement of said third lever into engagement with said second limit switch to thus move same into an open position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
303 words
A power unit for controlling the movement of a closure member between a first end position wherein the closure member is closed and a second end position wherein the closure member is open, the power unit including reversible motor means rotatable in a first direction for causing movement of said closure member in a closing direction toward said first end position and rotatable in a second direction opposite said first direction for causing movement of said closure member in an opening direction toward said second end position, comprising the improvement wherein said power unit includes: reversing means including reversing switch means coacting with said motor means for causing the rotation thereof, when said closure member is being moved in a closing direction, to be automatically reversed whenever the closure member strikes an obstruction preventing further movement of said closure member, whereby said closure member is automatically returned to its open position; responsive means coacting between said reversing switch means and said motor means for causing actuation of said reversing switch means whenever the reaction torque imposed on said motor means exceeds a predetermined magnitude as said closure member is being moved in said closing direction; override means coacting with said reversing means for permitting selective deactivation of said reversing means to thus prevent reversal in the rotation of said motor means, said override means being normally maintained in an inoperative position and being moved to an operative position wherein it deactivates said reversing means only when said closure member is spaced within a predetermined distance from one of said end positions; and actuating means responsive to the movement of said closure member between its end positions for causing said override means to be moved to its operative positions when the closure member is disposed within said predetermined distance from said one end position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
303 words
A power unit for controlling the movement of a closure member between a first end position wherein the closure member is closed and a second end position wherein the closure member is open, the power unit including reversible motor means rotatable in a first direction for causing movement of said closure member in a closing direction toward said first end position and rotatable in a second direction opposite said first direction for causing movement of said closure member in an opening direction toward said second end position, comprising the improvement wherein said power unit includes: reversing means including reversing switch means coacting with said motor means for causing the rotation thereof, when said closure member is being moved in a closing direction, to be automatically reversed whenever the closure member strikes an obstruction preventing further movement of said closure member, whereby said closure member is automatically returned to its open position; responsive means coacting between said reversing switch means and said motor means for causing actuation of said reversing switch means whenever the reaction torque imposed on said motor means exceeds a predetermined magnitude as said closure member is being moved in said closing direction; override means coacting with said reversing means for permitting selective deactivation of said reversing means to thus prevent reversal in the rotation of said motor means, said override means being normally maintained in an inoperative position and being moved to an operative position wherein it deactivates said reversing means only when said closure member is spaced within a predetermined distance from one of said end positions; and actuating means responsive to the movement of said closure member between its end positions for causing said override means to be moved to its operative positions when the closure member is disposed within said predetermined distance from said one end position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A unit according to claim 16, wherein said responsive means includes means mounting the casing of said motor means for permitting rotational displacement thereof when the reaction torque imposed on said motor means exceeds a predetermined value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |