Patents Assigned to The Cookson Company
  • Patent number: 6225768
    Abstract: An automatic door diagnostic system for operating a door and a door motor which detects and reacts to various hazard conditions. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a sensor is used to detect hazard conditions and communicates with a controller which operates a motor for opening and/or closing the door. The controller then operates according to various protocols to open, close, stop and/or reverse the direction of the door. Additionally, according to various alternative aspects of the present invention, the automatic door diagnostic system can be configured to perform diagnostic checks to ensure proper operation of the components of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: The Cookson Company
    Inventors: James H. Cookson, Bryon Hibbetts
  • Patent number: 6155324
    Abstract: A method and apparatus according to various aspects of the present invention is configured to automatically reset a rollable fire door curtain in the raised position. In one embodiment, a brake is coupled to a rolling fire door axle by an electromechanical clutch. The fire door is pre-disposed to unroll and close the opening, however, the brake prevents the door from unrolling. When a switch, a signal, or a fusible link indicates that the fire door should close, an electromechanical circuit board sends an electrical signal to an electromechanical clutch which opens the clutch. With the clutch open, the brake is no longer coupled to the fire door and the door closes. When the switch or signal is reversed, the clutch closes, re-coupling the fire door axle to the brake. The brake allows input rotation in both directions, but prevents the rolling door from closing under its own weight. Therefore, upon raising the curtain, the fire door is automatically reset and ready to close in the event of a fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: The Cookson Company
    Inventors: Edward John Elliott, Richard Gordon Cookson
  • Patent number: 5082316
    Abstract: Release mechanism and method for fire doors and the like. The door is normally held in an open position by an electrically energized actuator and is released for closing upon deenergization of the actuator. An eneergizing current is supplied to the actuator from a source to energize the actuator, and a limited amount of energy from the source is stored in an element such as a capacitor. Upon interruption of the current from the source to the actuator, the actuator is energized with the stored energy to prevent the door from closing for a limited period of time after the current is interrupted. An alarm circuit is included in some embodiments to porivde a warning when the current has been interrupted and the door is about to close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: The Cookson Company
    Inventor: Russell Wardlaw
  • Patent number: 4995651
    Abstract: Release mechanism and method for fire doors and the like. The door is normally held in an open position by an electrically energized actuator and is released for closing upon deenergization of the actuator. An energizing current is supplied to the actuator from a source to energize the actuator, and a limited amount of energy from the source is stored in an element such as a capacitor. Upon interruption of the current from the source to the actuator, the actuator is energized with the stored energy to prevent the door from closing for a limited period of time after the current is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: The Cookson Company
    Inventor: Russell Wardlaw
  • Patent number: 4721146
    Abstract: A clutch or rolling door operating mechanism permits use of two sources of power for moving the door between open and closed positions. A drive gear rotates about an eccentrically mounted shaft which itself is turned through a clutch of the fixed drag type to swing the gear into engagement with the drive train for moving the door via manual power and to permit the gear to swing into disengagment with such drive train for moving the door by electric power operation. In one form a circuit interlock prevents motor operation during manual driving of the door; in a second form an audible "clacker" sounds to indicate manual operation of the operating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: The Cookson Company
    Inventor: Russell Wardlaw
  • Patent number: 4130156
    Abstract: A time delayed releasing device serves to hold fire closures from being actuated during periodic testing and momentary power failure while still permitting the closure to respond to power outage of more than a momentary nature or to the presence of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1978
    Assignee: The Cookson Company
    Inventor: Russell Wardlaw