Sliding portal and operating device therefore

Claim 2

An operator device for reciprocally moving a laterally sliding portal which is operable within an opening formed in a stationary structure, said operator device comprising: a. a substantially horizontally disposed chain attached on its opposite ends to the stationary structure, said chain disposed in a plane parallel to the opening formed in the stationary structure and positioned laterally adjacent thereto; b. a pedestal attached to the sliding portal for movement therewith; and c. drive means supportingly mounted on said pedestal and positioned to engagingly contact said chain for movement therealong when said drive means is actuated.

Claim 3

An operator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pedestal comprises: a. a plate for supporting said drive means; and b. mounting means attached to said plate for attaching said pedestal to the sliding portal.

Claim 4

An operator device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises: a. a channel member attached to said plate and depending downwardly therefrom; and b. a pair of clamps attached to said channel member for securing said pedestal to the sliding portal.

Claim 5

An operator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drive means comprises: a. a gear box having an output shaft, said gear box mounted on said pedestal; b. a motor coupled to said gear box for providing input power thereto; c. an output sprocket mounted on the output shaft of said gear box for being rotatably driven thereby; and d. a pair of idler sprockets rotatably journaled on said pedestal, each of said idler sprockets aligned with said output sprocket and horizontally spaced apart with respect to each other, said idler sprockets and said output sprocket engagable with said chain for travel therealong resultant from rotary movement of said output sprocket.

Claim 6

An operator device as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a magnetic brake mounted between said gear box and said motor for preventing movement of the operator device when power to said motor is shut off.

Claim 7

An operator device as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a slip clutch mounted on the output shaft of said gear box, said slip clutch having said output sprocket mounted thereon.

Claim 8

An operator device as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a shield mounted on said pedestal and positioned for preventing entanglement of said output sprocket and said idler sprockets.

Claim 9

An operator device for a laterally sliding portal comprising in combination: a. a stationary structure having an opening formed therein; b. a portal mounted in a plane parallel to the opening of said stationary structure and adapted for lateral sliding reciprocal movement in that plane between a closed position across the opening of said stationary structure and an open position laterally adjacent to the opening formed in said stationary structure; c. a substantially horizontally disposed chain attached on its opposite ends to said stationary structure and in a plane parallel thereto, said chain mounted laterally adjacent to the opening formed in said stationary structure; d. a pedestal attached to said portal for movement Therewith; and e. drive means mounted on said pedestal and positioned to engagingly contact said chain for movement therealong when said drive means is actuated.

Claim 10

An operator device for a laterally sliding portal comprising in combination: a. a stationary structure having an opening formed therein; b. a portal mounted in a plane parallel to the opening of said stationary structure and adapted for lateral sliding reciprocal movement in that plane between a closed position across the opening of said stationary structure and an open position laterally adjacent to the opening formed in said stationary structure; c. a substantially horizontally disposed chain attached on its opposite ends to said stationary structure and in a plane parallel thereto, said chain mounted laterally adjacent to the opening formed in said stationary structure; d. a pedestal attached to said portal for movement Therewith; and e. drive means mounted on said pedestal and positioned to engagingly contact said chain for movement therealong when said drive means is actuated.

Claim 11

An operator device for a sliding portal as claimed in claim 8 wherein said drive means comprises: a. a gear box mounted on said pedestal; b. a motor coupled to the input of said gear box; c. an output sprocket mounted on the output shaft of said gear box; d. a pair of idler sprockets journaled for rotation on said pedestal assembly, said output sprocket and said idler sprockets each engaging said chain for moving said portal along the length thereof when said motor is actuated; and e. a shield mounted on said pedestal for preventing entanglement of said output sprocket, said idler pulley and said chain.

Claim 12

An operator device for a sliding portal as claimed in claim 8 wherein said drive means comprises: a. a gear box mounted on said pedestal and having an output shaft; b. a magnetic brake coupled to the input of said gear box; c. a motor coupled to the input end of said magnetic brake, said motor adapted to supply power through said magnetic brake to said gear box to produce rotary motion of the output shaft thereof; d. a slip clutch mounted on the output shaft of said gear box; e. an output sprocket mounted on said slip clutch; f. a pair of idler sprockets rotatably journaled on said pedestal and in alignment with said output sprocket, said idler sprockets and said output sprocket engageably contacting said chain for travel therealong in response to the rotary motion of said output sprocket; and g. a shield mounted on said pedestal for protecting said output sprocket and said idler sprocket from entanglement.

Claim 13

An operator device for a sliding portal as claimed in claim 8 wherein said portal comprises: a. a vertically disposed support post; b. a suspension and alignment pulley journaled on the upper end of said support post for rotation about a horizontal axis, said pulley having an arcuate groove formed in the periphery thereof; c. a portal having a pair of guide tubes positioned in the upper end thereof, the guide tubes being horizontally disposed and parallel with respect to each other, the guide tubes engaging the arcuate groove above and below said pulley for suspending said portal therefrom and for maintaining lateral alignment of said portal when rolled on said pulley; d. a ground engaging wheel journaled for rotation on each lower corner of said portal; and e. a hook member positioned on the lower end of said support post and slidingly engaging said portal for preventing lateral deflection thereof.