Abstract:
Garage door opener for simple installation and to fully actuate various counterbalanced doors of different makes with minimum mechanism, and to be packaged and sold as a compact kit. The opener is built around a short main drive shaft adapted to be coupled coaxially to the end of the door counterbalance shaft. The drive shaft is journalled in two frame side members and therebetween carries a worm gear and two friction drive disks spring-pressed against the gear to transmit limited drive torque therefrom to the shaft. The gear is driven by a worm on the shaft of a motor on a carrier which is slidable on the frame. A manual cam moves the carrier between a worm-engaged position for drive and a worm-disengaged position to release the door for manual operation. A threaded extension of the main shaft carries a pair of traveling nuts which actuate switches to limit door travel both directions. In one modification, the assembly is mounted on studs on a mounting plate and adjusted thereto to bring the drive shaft coaxial with the counterbalance shaft, and the two shafts are coupled. In a second modification, the assembly is cantilevered by its drive shaft on the counterbalance shaft and is stabilized in coaxial relation therewith by a torque-reaction bracket. Such bracket may include a torque-limiting switch operable to reverse the drive in response to excess torque. For most installations, a down-drive cable is added to the counter-balance mechanism and connected to positively move the door from open to closed position in response to down-drive rotation of the counterbalance shaft.
Abstract:
An improved position control apparatus is disclosed to control a motor-driven door operator to halt movement of a door at an open position and a closed position. The position control apparatus includes a control screw means in the form of a threaded shaft extension of the motor shaft or a threaded rod coupled to the motor shaft which is rotated when the motor is energized. A travel nut is threadedly engaged with the control screw means and is constrained against rotational motion so as to reciprocate along the control screw means. Position detection means, such as switches, are disposed near the control screw means for actuation by the travel nut to control the motor as the door approaches the open position and the closed position. In another embodiment, a toggle switch is mounted on the travel nut, and the switches are replaced by stops for actuation of the toggle switch to control the motor. An improved obstruction detector apparatus is also provided to control the motor if an obstruction is encountered as the door moves between the open position and the closed position. The obstruction detector apparatus includes a safety switch which is actuable by rotation of the motor casing due to reaction torque, if an obstruction is encountered as the door moves in one direction, and a lever that is actuable by rotation of the motor casing, if an obstruction is encountered as the door moves in an opposite direction, to actuate the safety switch.