Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02487173 2007-06-04
IMPROVED COUNTER WEIGHT DOOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved counter weight door of
the type for use at an opening in a wall of a building.
BACKGROUND
Counter weighted overhead doors are well known and components for
these doors are commercially available in many standard sizes. However when
providing an counter weight overhead door for a large opening a number of
problems arise. One of these problems is that conventional door components are
designed for doors up to a certain size. These components and are not robust
enough to handle the additional weight and forces required for a door covering
a
large opening. This requires that custom fittings and components be designed
for
individual doors which have openings which are too large to accommodate by
standard sized components.
A second problem of overhead counter weight doors is that fixing and
aligning the pulleys which guide the cables that are used to open and close
the door
is difficult since the pulleys are fixed to the wall of the building making
positioning of
the pulleys imprecise. Furthermore this ofben requires reinforcing a portion
of the
building to accept mounting brackets and fasteners to support the pulleys.
SUMMARY
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a
eounter weight door for use at an opening of a building comprising:
a first and a second spaced apart guide rail members arranged to be
fixed one on each side of the opening of the building, the guide rail members
each
having a vertical section defining a closed position and a horizontal section
defining
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an open position with the vertical section connected to the horizontal section
by a
curved section;
a plurality of individual door panels each having a top edge and a
bottom edge and extending from a first side lying adjacent a first one of the
pair of
rail members to a second side lying adjacent a second one of the pair of rail
members, said plurality of door panels being arranged in end to end alignment
with
the top and bottom edges of adjacent door panel lying adjacent one another;
pivot connection means for pivotally connecting each one of the
plurality of individual door panels relative to a next one of the door panels
for pivotal
movement of each panel relative to the next;
a plurality of guide rail followers each fixed to a respective side of a
respective one of the plurality of door panels for engaging one of the guide
rails for
guiding the panels in sliding movement along the rails such that the panels
pivot
each relative to the next as the panels move from the closed position to the
open
position;
a first guide pulley mounted adjacent the first side of the door and
having a plane parallel to the door;
a first guide pulley mount for mounting the first guide pulley adjacent
the first side of the door;
a second guide pulley mounted adjacent the second side of the door
and having a plane parallel to the door and coplanar with the first guide
pulley;
a second guide pulley mount for mounting the second guide pulley
adjacent the second side of the door;
a plurality of counter weights arranged adjacent to and spaced laterally
from the second side of the door;
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interconnection means for interconnecting the plurality of counter
weights to each other and to the door;
and first and second elongate cables each being fixed at a first end to
the door adjacent respective first and second sides thereof, said first
elongate cable
extending from the first side of the door over the first guide pulley, across
the door,
and over the second guide pulley to a second end, and said second elongate
cable
extending from the second side of the door and over the second pulley to a
second
end;
wherein the second guide pulley has two pulleys elements in a fixed
rotatable relationship for receiving the first and second elongate cables
respectively,
and wherein the first and second elongate cables each extend through a third
pulley
at the counter weight system with a second end thereof anchored to a fixed
point.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a
counter weight door for use at an opening of a building comprising:
a first and a second spaced apart guide rail members fixed one on
each side of the opening of the building, the guide rail members each having a
vertical section defining a closed position and a horizontal section defining
an open
position with the vertical section connected to the horizontal section by a
curved
section;
a plurality of individual door panels each having a top edge and a
bottom edge and extending from a first side lying adjacent a first one of the
pair of
rail members to a second side lying adjacent a second one of the pair of rail
members, said plurality of door panels being arranged in end to end alignment
with
the top and bottom edges of adjacent door panel lying adjacent one another;
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pivot connection means for pivotally connecting each one of the
plurality of individual door panels relative to a next one of the door panels
for pivotal
movement of each panel relative to the next;
a plurality of guide rail followers each fixed to a respective side of a
respective one of the plurality of door panels for engaging one of the guide
rails for
guiding the panels in sliding movement along the rails such that the panels
pivot
each relative to the next as the panels move from the closed position to the
open
position;
a first guide pulley mounted adjacent the first side of the door and
having a plane parallel to the door;
a first guide pulley mount for mounting the first guide pulley adjacent
the first side of the door;
a second guide pulley mounted adjacent the second side of the door
and having a plane parallel to the door and coplanar with the first guide
pulley;
a second guide pulley mount for mounting the second guide pulley
adjacent the second side of the door;
a plurality of counter weights arranged adjacent to and spaced laterally
from the second side of the door;
interconnection means for interconnecting the plurality of counter
weights to each other;
first and second elongate cables each being fixed at a first end to the
door adjacent respective first and second sides thereof, said first elongate
cable
extending from the first side of the door over the first guide pulley, across
the door,
and over the second guide pulley to a second end, and said second elongate
cable
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extending from the second side of the door and over the second pulley to a
second
end;
wherein the first and second elongate cables are connected to the
interconnection means adjacent respective second ends thereof such that
movement of the door causes counter movement of the counter weights;
wherein each one of said plurality of the pivot connection means
comprises a pair of hinge members mounted side by side and extending between
adjacent top and bottom edges of adjacent ones of the door panels, said hinge
members having axle supporting means aligned with each other to receive an
axle
of a respective one of the guide rail followers therethrough.
and wherein the axle supporting means comprises an elongate tubular
member mounted on the hinge member arranged to extend substantially parallel
to
an axis of rotation extending substantially perpendicular to and between the
rail
members.
Preferably in this arrangement, the second guide pulley has two
pulleys elements in a fixed rotatable relationship for receiving the first and
second
elongate members respectively, the first and second elongate members each
extending through a third pulley at the counter weight system and each having
a
second end thereof anchored to a fixed point.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a counter
weight door for use at an opening of a building comprising:
a first and a second spaced apart guide rail members fixed one on
each side of the opening of the building, the guide rail members each having a
vertical section defining a closed position and a horizontal section defining
an open
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position with the vertical section connected to the horizontal section by a
curved
section;
a plurality of individual door panels each having a top edge and a
bottom edge and extending from a first side lying adjacent a first one of the
pair of
rail members to a second side lying adjacent a second one of the pair of rail
members, said plurality of door panels being arranged in end to end alignment
with
the top and bottom edges of adjacent door panel lying adjacent one another;
pivot connection means for pivotally connecting each one of the
plurality of individual door panels to a next one of the door panels for
pivotal
movement of each panel relative to the next;
a plurality of guide rail followers each fixed to a respective side of a
respective one of the plurality of door panels for engaging one of the guide
rails for
guiding the panels in sliding movement along the rails such that the panels
pivot
each relative to the next as the panels move from the closed position to the
open
position;
a first guide pulley mounted adjacent the first side of the door and
having a plane parallel to the door;
a first guide pulley mount for mounting the first guide pulley adjacent
the first side of the door;
a second guide pulley mounted adjacent the second side of the door
and having a plane parallel to the door and coplanar with the first guide
puiley;
a second guide pulley mount for mounting the second guide pulley
adjacent the second side of the door;
a plurality of counter weights arranged adjacent to and spaced laterally
from the second side of the door;
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interconnection means for interconnecting the plurality of counter
weights to each other and to the door;
first and second elongate cables each being fixed at a first end to the
door adjacent respective first and second sides thereof, said first elongate
cable
extending from the first side of the door over the first guide pulley, across
the door,
and over the second guide pulley to a second end, and said second elongate
cable
extending from the second side of the door and over the second pulley to a
second
end;
wherein the first and second elongate cables are connected to the
interconnection means adjacent respective second ends thereof such that
movement of the door causes counter movement of the counter weights;
wherein the first guide pulley mount is arranged to be fixed to the first
rail and to a wall adjacent the first rail;
wherein the second guide pulley mount is arranged to be fixed to the
second rail and to a wall adjacent the second rail.
Preferably in this arrangement, each of the first and second pulley
mounts comprises a pair of parallel spaced apart plate members extending from
a
first end to a second end, an axle member extending between the plate members,
the first pulley being arranged parallel to the plate members and mounted on
the
axle, and an attachment plate arranged perpendicular to the pair of parallel
plate
members being fixed to the first ends thereof, and extending past one of the
plate
members, and a plurality of holes for receiving fastener means therethrough
for
attachment of the attachment plate to the respective one of the first and
second rails.
Preferably in this arrangement, the second guide pulley has two
pulleys elements in a fixed rotatable relationship for receiving the first and
second
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elongate members respectively, the first and second elongate members each
extending through a third pulley at the counter weight system and each having
a
second end thereof anchored to a fixed point.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a rear view of the counter weight door installed at the
opening of a building.
Figure 2 is a top view of the counter weight door.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional through A-A of Figure 1 showing the door
panel section and J-shaped channel members;
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the pivot connection and guide rail
follower.
Figure 5 is a side view of the J-shaped channel member.
Figure 6 is a top view of the first pulley mount.
Figure 7 is a side view of the first pulley mount.
Figure 8 is a side view of the second pulley mount.
Figure 9 is a bottom view of the second pulley mount.
Figure 10 is a side view of the second pulley mount in place on the
guide rail.
Figure 11 is a bottom view of the first pulley mount in place on the
guide rail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 1, the improved counter weight door is shown
generally at 10. The improved counter weight door 10 is for use in an opening
12 in
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the wall 14 of a building. The improved counter weight door 10 comprises a
pair of
spaced apart guide rail members 18, a plurality of door panels 20, a plurality
of pivot
connection 22, and a plurality of guide rail followers 24.
Referring to Figure 1, 10 and 11 the pair of spaced apart guide rail
members 18 are arranged with one on each side of the opening 12 in the wall
14.
Each one of the pair of rail members 18 includes a substantially vertical
portion 28
which extends upwards from a bottom end 30 to a top end 32 and which is fixed
to
the wall 14 adjacent sides of the opening. A substantially horizontal portion
34 is
arranged adjacent the top end 32 of the substantially vertical portion 28 and
extends
rearwards into the building from a front end 36 to a rear end 38. A curved
portion 40
extends upwardly and rearwardly between the top end 32 of the substantially
vertical
portion 28 and the front end 36 of the substantially horizontal portion 34.
The plurality of door panels 20 each extend from a top end 42 to a
bottom end 44 and from a first side 46 adjacent a first one of the pair of
rail members
18 to a second side 48 adjacent a second one of the pair of rail members 18.
The
plurality of door panels 20 are arranged in end to end alignment with the top
and
bottom edges 42 and 44 of adjacent door panels 20 adjacent one another.
The plurality of pivot connections 22 are arranged to pivotally connect
each one of the plurality of door panels 20 to the door panels lying adjacent.
Each
one of the plurality of pivot connection 22 is pivotal about an axis of
rotation 50
extending substantially perpendicular to and between the two spaced rail
members
18.
The plurality of guide rail followers 24 comprise a guide roller for
engaging a respective one of the spaced apart guide members 18 and an axle
member 54 for rotatably mounting the guide roller 52 at the pivot connection
22.
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In order to accommodate the additional weight of a large counter
weight door 10 the arrangement of the pivot connections 22 and the guide rail
followers 24 has been modified. A pair of pivot connections 22 comprises a
pair of
hinge members 56 mounted side by side at the joint between adjacent top and
bottom edges 42 and 44 of adjacent ones of the plurality of door panels 20.
The
hinge members 56 include axle supporting means aligned with each other to
receive
the axle member 54 of a respective one of the guide rail followers 24
therethrough.
The axle supporting means comprises an elongate tubular member 58 mounted on
the hinge member 56 arranged to extend substantially parallel to an axis of
rotation
extending substantially perpendicular to and between the rail members 18. The
axle
54 of the guide rail follower 24 has been lengthened to allow it to extend
through
both of the elongate tubular members 58 of the paired pivot connectors 22.
This
gives each pivot connection 22 additional strength and yet allows standard
hinged
members to be used thereby keeping costs down and allowing a door manufacturer
or installer to stock fewer types of hinge.
Each one of the door panels 20 comprises a plurality of door panel
sections 26 each of which includes a top edge 60 and a bottom edge 62 and
extends from the first side 46 of the door panel 20 to the second side 48 of
the door
panel 20. Each door panel section is arranged in end to end alignment like the
door
panels 20 with the top and bottom edges 60 and 62 of adjacent door panel
sections
26 lying adjacent one another.
The door panels 20 comprise two or more standard sized overhead
door panel sections 26 which are joined together by a pair of J-shaped channel
members 66 one being arranged along each of the first and second sides 46 and
48
of the respective door panel 20. Using standard sized door sections allows the
door
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manufacturer or installer to build custom sized door panels 20 from standard
sized
components thereby reducing costs and reducing the required number of
different
parts.
The J-shaped channel members 66 are arranged to hold the plurality
of door panel sections 26 in alignment relative to each other such that each
of the
door panel sections 26 is supported vertically by the J-channel 66 when the
door 10
is in a fully closed position.
Each one of the pair of J-shaped channel members 66 comprises a leg
member 68 extending from a first end 70 to a second end 72, the foot member 76
arranged at the second end 72 of the leg member 70. The foot member 76
includes
a first portion 78 extending perpendicular from the leg member 70 and an end
portion 80 extending from an outer end 82 of the first portion 78. A bottom
plate 82
extends perpendicular to the leg member 70 and the foot member 76 and is fixed
thereto.
Each one of the pair of J-shaped channel members 66 is arranged at a
respective one of the first and second sides of the door panel 20, and is
arranged
such that the plurality of door panel sections 26 is supported vertically by
the bottom
plate 82 when the door 10 is in the fully closed position, and such that the
plurality of
door panel sections 26 are held in alignment relative to each other by the leg
and
foot members 70 and 76 of the J-shaped panel 66.
Each door panel 20 includes fixing means 84 for fixing the top and
bottom edges 60 and 62 of adjacent ones of the plurality of door panel
sections 26 to
one another. The fixing means comprise a plurality of plate or hinge members
arranged to extend across the joint between adjacent door panel sections 26
and
fasteners for fastening the hinge or plate members in place. The plurality of
fixing
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means 84 are spaced apart across the door panel 20 between the first side 46
and
the second side 48.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the counter weight door 10 also includes a
first guide pulley 88 mounted adjacent the fist side 46 of the door, a first
guide pulley
mount 90 for mounting the first guide pulley 88 adjacent the first side of the
door. A
second guide pulley 92 is mounted adjacent the second side 48 of the door 10,
and
a second guide pulley mount 94 is provided for mounting the second guide
pulley 92
adjacent said second side 48 of the door 10. A plurality of counter weights 96
are
arranged adjacent the second side of the door 48 and provide a counter
balancing
force to the weight of the door. Connection means 97 are provided for
connecting
the plurality of counter weights 96 to each other and to the door 10.
First and second elongate members 98 and 100 are each fixed at a
first end to the door 10 adjacent first and second sides thereof. The first
elongate
member 98 extends from the first side 46 of the door 10 over the first guide
pulley 88
laterally across the door 10 and over the second guide pulley 90 to a second
end
102. The second elongate member 100 extends from the second side 48 of the
door 10 and over the second pulley 90 to a second end 104. The first and
second
elongate members 98 and 100 are connected to the connection means 97 adjacent
the respective second ends 102 and 104 such that movement of the door 10
causes
counter movement of the counter weights 96.
The door 10 when in the fully closed position lies in a plane extending
substantially perpendicular to and between the substantially vertical guide
rails 18.
Referring to 2, 10, and 11 the first mounting plate 106 is fixed to an
outer edge 108 of the first guide rail member 18 adjacent to curved portion 40
of the
guide rail 18 and parallel to the vertical and horizontal portions 32 and 34
of the
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guide rail 18. The first mounting plate 106 extends forward the guide rail 18
towards
the wall 14 of the building.
Referring to Figures 6, and 7 the first pulley mount 90 comprises a pair
of parallel spaced apart plate members 110 extending from a first end 112 to a
second end 114, an axle member 116 extending between the plate members 110,
the pulley 88 arranged parallel to the plate members 110 and mounted on the
axle
116, and an attachment plate 118 arranged perpendicular to the pair of
parallel
plates 110 and fixed to the first ends 112 thereof. The attachment plate 118
extends
past one of the plate members 112 and includes a plurality of holes 120
arranged
therethrough. The holes 120 in the first pulley mount 90 are arranged to
cooperate
with holes in the first mounting plate 106 to receive fasteners therethrough
thereby
fixing the first pulley mount 90 on the guide rail 18.
Mounting the first pulley mount 90 on the guide rail 18 eliminates the
need for mounting the pulley on the wall 14 of the building, and allows the
pulley 89
to be more consistently and accurately aligned such that the cable 98 lies as
close to
the plane of the door 10 as possible.
Referring to 2, 8, 9, and 10 the door 10 also includes a mounting
member 130 fixed to an outer edge of the second guide rail 18 adjacent to
curved
portion 40 of the guide rail member 18 and parallel to vertical and horizontal
guide
rails 32 and 34. The mounting member 130 extends forwards of the guide rail
18b
towards the wall 14 of the building 16.
The second pulley mount 94 comprises a elongate attachment arm
132 which extends from a first end 134 to a second end 136 and has a plurality
of
holes 138 extending therethrough. The holes 138 are arranged along the
attachment arm 132 to cooperate with holes arranged in the top of the mounting
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member 130. The holes 138 are arranged to receive fastener means 142 which fix
the attachment arm to the guide rail 18. The attachment arm 132 as it extends
from
the first end 134 to the second 136 angles forwards and upwards from a point
144
spaced rearwards from the second end 136. To a point 146 located nearer the
second end 136.
A pair of parallel spaced apart members 148 and 149 each extending
downwards from a first end 150 to a second end 152 or fixed to the attachment
arm
132 at their first ends 150. The plate member 149 is fixed to the attachment
arm
132 adjacent the second end 136 thereof. An axle member 154 extends between
the plate members 148 and 149 and is arranged to lie parallel to the
attachment arm
132. The second pulley 92 is mounted on the axle 154 perpendicular to the
attachment arm 132 and such that it lies substantially in the plane of the
door 10.
The pulley 92 is a double pulley for receiving both the elongate members 98
and
100. The plate member 149 arranged at the end of the attachment arm 132
includes
at least one hole 156 therethrough. The hole 156 is arranged for cooperation
with
the fastener means which fix the spaced apart plate member to the wall 14 of
the
building.
The second pulley mount 94 is mounted on the mounting member 130
securing it to guide rail 18 such that the second pulley 92 and the cable 100
lie as
close to the plane of the door as possible.
The pulley mounts 90 and 94 allow the pulleys to be easily arranged
and secured above and to the side of the opening 12 in the wall 14 and to lie
in line
with the substantially horizontal guide rails 18. Mounting the pulleys 88 and
92
directly on the guide rails helps the installer mount the pulleys such that
their axis of
rotation lies substantially perpendicular to the plane of the door 10. This
helps
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ensure smooth operation of the pulleys 90 and 94 as the door 10 is opened and
closed.
In an alternative arrangement the second pulley mount 94 may be
mounted directly on the guide rail 18 securing it in line with the guide rail
and
allowing the second pulley 92 and the elongate cable 100 to iie as close to
the plane
of the door as possible. Further more the second pulley mount 94 may be fixed
only
to the guide rail or may be fixed to the guide wall and to the wall of the
building to
provide additional support.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in
the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible
within the
scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely by
the scope
of the appended claims.
