Door Brakes (track Or Guideway) Patents (Class 16/DIG20)
  • Patent number: 6042158
    Abstract: A drop-catch mechanism for a vertically movable door is provided for preventing the free-fall of the door in doorway guides when a counterbalancing mechanism for the door malfunctions and a tensioning member for the counterbalancing mechanism becomes slack or loses tension. The drop-catch mechanism includes a plunger element, disposed within the door adjacent one of the lateral edges thereof. The plunger element is movable between a retracted position and an extended position where the outboard end extends from within the door and engages a guide. The drop-catch mechanism also includes an actuator crank having a portion rotatably mounted within the door, and operably coupled through a camming element to the plunger element, and having a portion extending through an aperture in the door face with a rotatable external leg coupled to the tensioning member for maintaining the plunger element in the retracted position. When the tensioning member is taut, it biases the plunger element to the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventor: John R. Horn
  • Patent number: 6003201
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for counteracting the effects of warpage, distortion and/or tilting of a support track in a sliding closure assembly, such that a door in the sliding closure may be freely moved along the support track, but, when desired, may be secured in one or more locations such that an external force is required to move the sliding fixture from its desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Arthur Cox & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Ryczek
  • Patent number: 4949425
    Abstract: A pre-assembled, spring loaded, block and tackle window sash balance assembly is adapted for providing vertical support for a window sash running in an elongated, generally upright sash run having a generally C-shaped guide channel extending along its plow region. The assembly comprises a generally U-shaped housing for a block and tackle spring balance device. The assembly further includes spaced slide means which are discrete from the housing itself and which are slidably interengageable with the guide channel for removeably attaching the assembly to the sash run. Accordingly, the block and tackle balance assembly may be pre-assembled and then conveniently and efficiently attached to the sash run and supported in a position to provide spring balanced support for a window sash mounted in the sash run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: American Balance Corporation
    Inventors: Earl L. Dodson, Frederick P. Strobl, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4437410
    Abstract: An enclosure for the end opening of a vehicle having one or more interior elevated decks includes a pair of door assemblies each comprising a plurality of pivotally joined panels. The door assemblies are suspended in a vertical manner by means of hanger assemblies having tracking elements guided within a rail member disposed above the level of a vehicle elevated deck. Transverse movement of any panel concurrently displaces the entire associated door assembly, as a unitary articulated assembly, between a closed position sealing off the end opening, and an open position with the door assembly well-spaced from a lateral edge of the deck, in which latter position maximum lateral clearance is provided for lading carried by all decks or levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1984
    Assignee: Portec, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Stoller, Jr., James C. Robertson, Tibor Matyas
  • Patent number: 4185356
    Abstract: A door closer is connected to a door. The movements of the door cause a piston member in the door closer to pump a pressure medium through a flow duct. There is also a flow limiting member influencing at least the speed of the opening movement of the door, and this flow limiting member cooperates with an adjustable activating element which, at a desired opening moment mechanically sets the elements of the flow limiting member in a position considerably increasing the flow resistance of the pressure medium. This brakes the movement of the piston member, and thus, also the movement of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Assignee: Oy Wartsila Ab
    Inventors: Markku Kuivalainen, Hannu Pehkonen