Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CHAIN DRIVEN DOOR WITH LOCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an overhead door construction for
mounting on a building, in particular of the type utilizing a chain driven opening
5 and closing mechanism.
BACKGROUND
Overhead doors for mounting at a large opening in a building are
well-known and a number of arrangements for actuating these doors such as
hydraulic actuation, and counter-weight or counter-sprung door actuation are
1 0 available.
Hydraulic actuation generally has the problem that the hydraulic
ram used to actuate the door is often arranged such that it applies a force to
the building structure thus requiring the building structure to be sufficiently
strengthened to accommodate the forces involved which can be relatively large
15 when the door opening is large. As well hydraulic door actuating means
include the problem of being somewhat complex and can be costly due to the
expense of having to provide a powered hydraulic system.
Counter-weight actuated doors and counter-sprung actuated doors
generally require an upwardly curving rail system which extends upwards and
20 into the building and requires that an area equal to the area of the door be
available adjacent the ceiling to accommodate the door when in the open
position. Furthermore in the case of counter-weight doors an area beside the
doors is required to accommodate the counter-weight mechanism and this area
can be significant if the door is large. In the case of counter-sprung doors a
25 large coil spring is usually used to counter the weight of the door and is
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arranged above the opening of the door to apply an upwards counterbalancing
force to the door enabling the door to be opened and closed easily. Installing
these springs can be dangerous since the spring requires preloading with a
force approximately equal to the weight of the door. If the door is large the
5 preloading force can be large which may be dangerous since if an accident
occurs during installation serious injury or death can result.
SUMMARY
According to the first aspect of the present invention A door
arrangement for a planar vertical opening in a building having a pair of spaced
10 apart upright door posts each extending upwards from a bottom end to a top
end an a top cross member, the door arrangement comprising:
a pivot mounting means arranged adjacent the top ends of the
upright door posts and having a first axis of rotation parallel to the plane of the
opening;
a first door panel connected to the pivot mounting means at the
first axis of rotation for movement about said first axis;
a second door panel mounted on the first door panel and foldable
relative thereto about a second axis of rotation parallel to said first axis;
and wherein the door is movable between a closed position in
20 which the first and second door panels are substantially coplanar with each
other and the door posts, and an open position in which the door extends from
the first axis of rotation with the second door panel folded under the first door
panel so as to lie directly parallel thereto;
and door opening and closing means comprising:
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a pair of spaced apart upright rail members extending upwards
from a bottom end to a top end and being arranged adjacent the upright door
posts;
a pair of traveler members one being mounted on each respective
one of the rail members for movement on said rail member;
pivot connection means for connecting each of the traveler
members to the second door panel adjacent a bottom end thereof;
and means for raising and lowering the traveler members on the
rail members such that upwards movement of the traveler members causes
10 upwards movement of the bottom end of the second door panel moving the
second door panel from the closed position into the open folded position and
pivotal movement of the first door panel about the first axis of rotation from
the closed position into the open position.
Preferably each traveler member is pivotally connected to the
15 second door panel adjacent a respective bottom corner thereof.
Preferably the door, when in the open position, extends outwards
and forwards of the first axis of rotation.
Preferably the means for raising and lowering the traveler members
comprise:
an axle mounted on each one of the pair of traveler members, said
axle having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the plane of the
door posts;
a pair of rotary members mounted on each axle having
engagement means for releasably engaging the elongate member;
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a first elongate flexible member fixed at a first end to a first one of
the pair of upright rail members adjacent the top end thereof and extending
therefrom to under a first one of the rotary members on the traveler member
mounted on said first rail member and engaging at least a portion of said rotary5 member, said elongate member extending from said first rotary member to a
corresponding first rotary member on the traveler member on a second one of
the pair of upright rail members engaging over at least a portion of said
corresponding first rotary member, said elongate member extending from said
corresponding first rotary member to a bottom end fixed to the second one of~0 the pair of upright rail members adjacent the bottom end thereof;
a second elongate flexible member fixed at a first end to the
second one of the pair of upright rail members adjacent the top end thereof and
extending therefrom to under a second one of the rotary members on the
traveler member mounted on said second rail member and engaging at least a
15 portion of said rotary member, said elongate member extending from said
second rotary member to a corresponding second rotary member on the
traveler member on a first one of the pair of upright rail members engaging overat least a portion of said corresponding second rotary member, said elongate
member extending from said corresponding second rotary member to a bottom
20 end fixed to the first one of the pair of upright rail members adjacent the
bottom end thereof;
and wherein rotation of at least one axle in a first direction causes
the rotary members mounted thereon to rotate such that the first and second
elongate flexible members are engaged by the releasable engagement means of
25 the rotary members thus feeding the elongate members through the rotary
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members of both of the traveler members in a first direction causing both
traveler members to move upwards along the rail members;
and wherein rotation of at least one axle in a second direction
causes the rotary members mounted thereon to rotate such that the first and
second elongate flexible members are engaged by the releasable engagement
means of the rotary members thus feeding the elongate members through the
rotary members of both of the traveler members in a second direction causing
both traveler members to move downwards along the rail members.
Preferably the elongate flexible members are cables or chains or a
10 combination of chain and cable.
Preferably at least one of axle is rotatably driven by an electric
motor.
Preferably the pivot mounting means comprises:
a first pair of flange members one being fixed to the top of each of
15 the upright rail members and extending outwards and forwards of the door
posts;
a second pair of flange members each being fixed to the first door
panel adjacent a top end thereof and extending outwards and forwards of door
posts;
and a pair of downwardly extending members each being pivotally
connected at a top end to a respective one of the first pair of flange members
and being fixed at a bottom end to a respective one of the second pair of
flange members.
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Preferably there is provided a door biasing means for biasing a top
end of the second door panel and a bottom end of the first door panel inwards
towards the plane of the door posts.
Preferably the door biasing means comprise a lever member fixed
5 at a first end to the bottom end of the second door panel and extending
outwards therefrom to a second end, and a resilient member being fixed
adjacent the second end of the lever member extending outwards therefrom to
a free end such that said free end engages the supporting surface when the
second end is in the closed position thereby applying an upwards force to the
10 second end of the lever member causing the top end of the second door panel
and the bottom end of the first door panel to move inwards towards the plane
of the door posts.
Preferably the pivot connection means includes a lever
arrangement for causing upward movement of the traveller members to bias an
15 upper edge of the second door panel outwardly toward the open position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a front elevation view of the door according to the
20 present invention with the door in the close position.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation view of the door according to the
present invention with the door in the closed position.
Figure 3 is a side view of the door in the closed position.
Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the door in an intermediate
25 position between the open and closed positions.
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Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the door in the open position.
Figure 6 is an enlarged top view of the door opening and closing
means.
Figure 7 is an isometric view showing a modified locking system
5 for the lower end of the lower door panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 a chain driven overhead door is
shown generally at 10. The chain driven door 10 comprises a pair of spaced
part upright door posts 12 each extending upwards from a bottom end 14 to a
10 top end 16, a pivot mounting means 18 arranged adjacent the top ends of the
door posts 12 and having a first axis of rotation 20 parallel to the plane of the
door posts 12, a first door panel 22, a second door panel 24, door opening and
closing means 26, and door biasing means 28.
The first door panel 22 is connected to the pivot mounting means
15 18 at the first axis of rotation 20 and is arranged for movement about the first
axis 20. The second door panel 24 is mounted on the first door panel 22 by
hinge member 30 extending along the bottom edge 32 of the first door panel
22 and a top edge 34 of the second door panel 24. The second door panel 24
is thus mounted such that it is foldable relative to a second axis of rotation 36
20 which lies parallel to the first axis of rotation 20.
Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 5 the door 10 is moveable between
an open position 35 and a closed position 37. In the closed position 37 the
first and second door panels 22 and 24 are arranged to lie in a vertical plane
and substantially co-planar with each other and the door posts 12. When in
25 the open position 35 the door 10 extends from the first axis of rotation 20
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forwards and outwards from the door posts 12 with the second door panel 24
folded under the first door panel 22 such that the first and second door panels
22 and 24 lie side by side and substantially parallel to each other.
The door 10 also includes the door opening and closing means 26
5 which move the door 10 between the open position 35 and the closed position
37. Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3 the door opening and closing means 26
comprise a pair of space to part upright rail members 38, a pair of pivot
connection means 40, traveler members 42, and means for raising and
lowering the traveler members 44.
The pair of spaced apart upright rail members 38 are positioned
rearwards of and adjacent the upright door posts 12 such that the rail members
38 are located within the building. Each upright rail member 38 extends
upwards from a bottom end 46 to a top end 48. The top end 48 is arranged at
a position above the top of the first door panel 22 and clear of the door post
15 12.
The pivot connection means 40 comprise a first pair of flange
members 50 fixed adjacent to the top end 48 of a respective one of the upright
rail members 38. Each flange 50 extends outwards and forwards of a
respective rail member 38 and door post 12. Each of the first flange members
20 50 also extends slightly rearwards of said respective rail member 38. A second
flange member 52 is fixed adjacent each respective top corner of the first door
panel 22 and extends outwards and forwards therefrom. A hole 54 is arranged
adjacent a front end of each of the first flange members 50 and is arranged
such that when the door 10 is in the closed position 37 the hole 54 lies above
25 and is aligned with the second flange 52 on the first door panel 22. The holes
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54 on the flange members 50 are aligned with one another and are centered on
the first axis of rotation 20. Each downwardly extending member 56 is fixed at
a bottom end to a respective one of the second pair of flange members 52 and
is pivotally connected at a top end 58 to a respective one of the first pair of
5 flange members 50. The downwardly extending members 56 are arranged
such that one extends between each respective first flange member 50 and a
corresponding second flange member 56, and is pivotally connected to the first
flange member 50 by a pin member 57 extending through the hole 54 and the
downwardly extending member 56.
The first door panel 22 and second door panel 24 are sized and
arranged such that when in the open position 35 the first door panel 22 and
the downwardly extending member 56 have a combined length approximately
the same as the length of the second door panel 24.
The pair of traveler members 42 comprise a first traveler member
15 42A and a second traveler member 42B each being mounted on a respective
one of the rail members 38A and 38B for movement on said rail members
between a position adjacent the bottom end 46 of each rail member 38 and a
position adjacent the top end 48 of each rail member 38.
Referring to Figure 6 each traveler member 42 comprises a
20 channel member 41 having a pair of spaced part sides 43 arranged to lie on
either side of the rail member 38. A connecting member 45 extending between
rearward edges of the side members 43 and is arranged to lie adjacent the
rearward face of the rail member 38.
Each traveler member 42 is pivotally connected to the second door
25 panel 24 adjacent a respective bottom corner thereof by pivot connection
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means. The pivot connection means comprise an elongate member 60
extending substantially perpendicular of the traveler member 42 from a first end62 forwards to a second end 64. Arranged at the bottom corner of the second
door panel 24 is a pin member 65 arranged for pivotally engaging through a
hole 66 arranged in the second end 64 of the elongate member 60 thereby
pivotally connecting the traveler member 42 to the door 10.
The means for raising and lowering the traveler members 42 on
the rail members 38 are arranged such that upwards movement of the traveler
members 42 causes upwards movement at the bottom end 25 of the second
10 door panel 24 moving the second door panel 24 from the closed position 37
into the open folded position 35 and causing pivotal movement of the first door
panel 22 about the first axis of rotation 20 from the closed position 37 into the
open position 35.
The means 26 for raising and lowering the traveler members
15 comprise a housing 68 mounted on an inner side wall 43 of the traveler
member 42 and extends rewards therefrom. The housing 68 comprises a rear
wall 70, a front wall 71, and side walls 72 and 73 arranged such that one of
the side walls lies adjacent the inner side wall 43 of the traveler member 42.
The top and bottom of the housing are either wholly open or include openings
20 for receiving first and second elongate flexible members 76 and 78
therethrough. An axle 80 is mounted within the housing 68, and a pair of
rotary members 82 and 84 mounted on each axle 80 for engaging the first
elongate member 76 and the second elongate flexible member 78.
The axle 80 is mounted in the housing 68 between the front and
rear walls 70 and 71 such that it has an axis of rotation 86 extending
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substantially perpendicular to the plane of the door posts 12. The rotary
members 82 and 84 are mounted on the axle 86, are spaced apart thereon, and
include engagement means for releasably engaging the elongate flexible
members 76 and 78. The engagement means comprise sprocket teeth 88
5 arranged around the periphery of each rotary member 82 and 84.
The traveler members 42 are positioned on the rail members 38
such that they are substantially horizontally aligned with one another with the
rotary members 82 and 84 of respective traveler members 42 being aligned
with one another.
The first and second elongate flexible members 76 and 78 are
roller chains selected such that the chains releasably receive the sprocket teeth
88 of the rotary members 82 and 84.
Referring to Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 the first elongate flexible
member 76 is fixed at a first end 90 to a rearward end of the second flange
15 member 50 on the first one of the pair of upright rail members 38A. The firstelongate flexible member 76 extends from its first end 90 downwards to the
first traveler member 42A extending under and engaging the rotary member
72A mounted thereon. The elongate flexible member 76 engages at least a
portion of the sprocket teeth 88 of the rotary member 82. The first elongate
20 flexible member 76 then extends from the first rotary member 82A laterally
across the width of the door 10 to a corresponding first rotary member 82B on
the traveler member 42B mounted on a second one of the pair of upright rail
member 38B, and engages over at least a portion of the sprocket teeth 88 of
the corresponding first rotary member 82A. The elongate flexible member 76
25 then extends from the corresponding first rotary member 82A to a bottom end
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92 which is fixed to the second one of the upright rail members 38B adjacent
the bottom end 46 thereof.
The second elongate flexible member 78 is fixed at a first end 94
to a rearward end of the flange member 50 on the second one of the pair of
5 upright rail members 38B. The second elongate flexible member 78 extends
from its first end 94 downwards to the second traveler member 42B extending
under and engaging the rotary member 74B mounted thereon. The elongate
flexible member 78 engages at least a portion of the sprocket teeth 88 of the
rotary member 84B. The first elongate flexible member 78 then extends from
10 the second rotary member 84B laterally across the width of the door 10 to a
corresponding second rotary member 84A on the traveler member 42A
mounted on a first one of the pair of upright rail member 38A, and engages
over at least a portion of the sprocket teeth 88 of the corresponding second
rotary member 84A . The elongate flexible member 78 then extends from the
15 corresponding second rotary member 84A to a bottom end 96 which is fixed to
the second one of the upright rail members 38B adjacent the bottom end 46
thereof .
Rotation of either one of the axles 86 in a first direction causes
both the rotary members 82 and 84 mounted on the traveler members 42 to
20 rotate such that the first and second elongate flexible members 76 and 78 are engaged by the sprocket teeth 88 of the rotary members 82 and 84 thus
feeding the elongate members 76 and 78 through the rotary members 82 and
84 of the first traveler member 42A and through the rotary member 82 and 84
of the corresponding traveler member 42B causing both traveler members 42A
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and 42B to move upwards relative to the chain members 76 and 78 and along
the rail members 38.
Rotation of either one of the axles 86 in the second direction
causes both the rotary members 82 and 84 mounted on the traveler members
42 to rotate such that the first and second elongate flexible members 76 and
78 engage the sprocket teeth of the rotary members 82 and 84 thus feeding
the elongate members 76 and 78 through the rotary members 82 and 84 of
both the traveler members 42 in a second direction causing both the traveler
members 42 to move downwards along the rail members 38.
Referring to Figure 6 the door biasing means 28 bias a top end 34
of the second door panel 24 and a bottom end 32 of the first door panel 22
inwards towards the plane of the door posts 12 when the door 10 is in the
closed position 37. The door biasing means 28 comprise a lever member 100
fixed at a first end 102 adjacent each respective bottom corner of the second
15 door panel 24. The lever member 100 extends outwards from its first end 102
to a second end 104. A resilient member 106 is fixed adjacent the second end
104 and extends downwards and rearwards therefrom to a free end 108 such
that the free end 108 engages the supporting surface 110 when the door 10 is
in the closed position thereby applying an upwards force to the second end
20 104 of the lever member 100 and causing the top end 34 of the second door
panel 24 and the bottom end 32 of the first door panel 22 to move inwards
towards the plane of the door posts 12.
The resilient member 106 is elongate and fixed at a top end 107 to
the second end 104 of the lever member 100 and extends downwards and
towards the door posts 12 to the free end 108. The lever member includes a
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hole 112 arranged adjacent its first end 102 which receives the pin member 65
of the pivot connections means. This pivotally connects the bottom end of the
second door panel 24 to the traveler member 42 allowing the second door
panel 24 to pivot between the open position 35 and the closed position 37 as
5 the traveler members 42 move along the rail member 38.
At least one of the axles 86 of the traveler members 42 is
rotatably driven by an electric motor 114.
According to an alternative embodiment the elongate flexible
members 76 and 78 may be cables and the rotary members 82 and 84 may be
10 drum members arranged such that the rotation of the drum members 82 and 84
will cause the traveler members 42 to move up and down the cable between
the top and bottom ends of the rail members 38.
In the second alternative embodiment the pivot mounting means
18, the first and second door panels 22 and 24, and the pivot connection
15 means 26 may be oriented such that the door 10 extends outwards and
rearwards from the doors posts 12 as the traveler members 42 move along the
rail members 38 between the closed position 37 and the open position 35.
Turning now to Figure 7 there is shown a modified lower end for
the lower door panel which provides an arrangement for an improved lifting
20 action of the door from the lower last position.
The lower door panel is indicated at 120 and includes at its lower
edge on each side of the door panel, a forwardly facing inverted channel
member 121 which is attached to the door panel so as to be rigidly coupled to
the door panel and extending from the door panel at right angles. Within the
25 inverted channel member is mounted a plate 122 which extends along the full
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length of the channel and also extends beyond the rear face of the door to a
rearward end 123. A forward end of the plate 122 is attached to the channel
by a connection 124 which can be a pivotal link or slot arrangement which
allows the plate some degrees of movement relative to the channel.
A lift plate 125 is attached to the lift plate 41 by a pivot pin 126.
The member 41 is mounted part way along the lift plate 125. The lift plate 125
is pivotally connected to the plate 122 by a pivot pin 127 at the rear end 123.
The lift plate 125 is also pivotally connected to one side of the channel 121 bya further pivot pin 128. A locking block 129 is mounted underneath the
10 channel 121 on an adjacent ground surface so as to push up against the plate
122 when the door is in the lowered closed position.
In operation, vertical upward movement of the member 41 acts to
lift the lift plate 125 so that it provides upward movement on both the pins 127and 128. The vertical upward movement of the pins 127 causes the plate 122
15 to move upwardly at its rear end which thus forces that rear end upwardly andthe front end of the channel member downwardly thus tending to pivot the
lower door panel 120 so that the lower end tends to move rearwardly and the
upper end tends to move forwardly thus moving the door panels from a lower
locked position into a partly open position. This prevents the door panels from
20 jamming in the locked position when pushed vertically upwardly since the
pivotal action avoids any overcenter effect.
In the downward direction, the engagement of the block 129 with
the plate 122 tends to pivot the door panel into the closed position.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been
25 described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are
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possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered
limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
