Abstract: A maintenance-free rolling door vacuum slat includes an elongate tubular member forming a cavity with a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration along its length and forming first and second opposing ends conforming to the cross-sectional configuration. A first cap seals the first end. A second cap seals the second end, a vacuum being formed within the cavity. The first and second caps are joined to the elongate member to form a hermetic seals to render the slat airtight forming a permanent vacuum insulation barrier that requires no maintenance to restore the vacuum within the cavity.

Abstract: A maintenance-free rolling door vacuum slat includes an elongate tubular member forming a cavity with a substantially uniform cross-sectional configuration along its length and forming first and second opposing ends conforming to the cross-sectional configuration. A first cap seals the first end. A second cap seals the second end, a vacuum being formed within the cavity. The first and second caps are joined to the elongate member to form a hermetic seals to render the slat airtight forming a permanent vacuum insulation barrier that requires no maintenance to restore the vacuum within the cavity.

Abstract: A power transfer device for a fire door operator having a pair of drive gears includes a bridge gear box having a drive shaft suitable for being coupled to an external drive. An idle spur gear is fixed to the drive shaft. A pair of spur gears are coupled to the idle spur gear to rotate in response to rotations of the idle spur gear. Spur gear shafts are coupled to the spur gears and arranged to be coupled to the drive gears of the operator so that rotation of the drive shaft by an external drive is translated to simultaneous rotations of the drive gears of the operator.

Abstract: A fire door operator for a rolling door includes a housing defining an axis. An outer main gear in the form of an annular ring is mounted within the housing for rotation about the axis and formed with exterior gear teeth and radially inwardly spaced interior teeth. Planet gears are meshed with the interior teeth and a sun gear is meshed with the planet gears for rotation about the axis. A carrier is secured to the planetary gears and coupled to the shaft. A lock normally locks the main gear in relation to the housing. A drive selectively rotates the sun gear and the carrier to transmit rotational power to a rolling door shaft when secured to the carrier. A releasing device selectively releases the lock to allow free rotation of the main gear and the carrier to allow a rolling door to be lowered under its own weight.

Abstract: A limit position safety device for establishing upper and lower limit positions of a rolling door that can be raised when rolled onto a generally horizontal shaft when the shaft rotates in a first direction and lowered when the shaft rotates in an opposing direction. The device includes two electrical limit switches each actuatable to reflect when an associated limit position of the rolling door has been reached. Actuators are movable to selectively actuate one of the limit switches at associated upper or lower limit positions of the rolling door. Drive gear are directly coupled to the shaft for moving the actuators in response to movements of the rolling door horizontal shaft. Accordingly, the direct drive gears always provide a direct physical connection or link between the rolling door shaft and the actuators to provide reliable indications of the position of the rolling door.

Abstract: A chain assembly includes a wheel secured on a shaft. A chain manually rotates the wheel and the shaft. A one way bearing has an inner race secured to the shaft and has an outer race that can freely rotate in only one direction in relation to the inner race. A brake drum is coupled to the outer race. Brake shoes are in operative contact with the brake drum to apply friction to the brake drum when there is relative motion between them. A brake adjuster adjusts the braking force applied by the brake shoes on said brake drum. The one way bearing is arranged to maintain the brake drum stationary in one direction of rotation of the shaft and rotate the brake drum in the opposite direction of rotation resulting in a degree of braking of the shaft as determined by the brake adjuster.

Abstract: An elongate shell for forming a slat for a rolling door includes a planar portion having parallel first and second longitudinal edges and formed along the first longitudinal edge with a first arcuate segment and formed along an opposing second longitudinal edge with second arcuate segment, the first and second arcuate segments being positioned on the same side of said planar portion and configured and dimensioned to enable the second arcuate segment of a first shell to be received with clearance within a first arcuate segment of second shell identical to the first shell to form an articulated joint hingedly connecting the elongate shells so they can be pivoted relative to each other. Two identical shells can be oriented to be assembled to form a double-walled slat with longitudinal hooks or claws for assembling a plurality of slats, with or without insulation, into a curtain assembly for a rolling door.

Abstract: A limit position safety device for establishing upper and lower limit positions of a rolling door that can be raised when rolled onto a generally horizontal shaft when the shaft rotates in a first direction and lowered when the shaft rotates in an opposing direction. The device includes two electrical limit switches each actuatable to reflect when an associated limit position of the rolling door has been reached. Actuators are movable to selectively actuate one of the limit switches at associated upper or lower limit positions of the rolling door. Drive gear are directly coupled to the shaft for moving the actuators in response to movements of the rolling door horizontal shaft. Accordingly, the direct drive gears always provide a direct physical connection or link between the rolling door shaft and the actuators to provide reliable indications of the position of the rolling door.

Abstract: A fire door operator for a rolling door includes a housing defining an axis. An outer main gear in the form of an annular ring is mounted within the housing for rotation about the axis and formed with exterior gear teeth and radially inwardly spaced interior teeth. Planet gears are meshed with the interior teeth and a sun gear is meshed with the planet gears for rotation about the axis. A carrier is secured to the planetary gears and coupled to the shaft. A lock normally locks the main gear in relation to the housing. A drive selectively rotates the sun gear and the carrier to transmit rotational power to a rolling door shaft when secured to the carrier. A releasing device selectively releases the lock to allow free rotation of the main gear and the carrier to allow a rolling door to be lowered under its own weight.

Abstract: A power transfer device for a fire door operator having a pair of drive gears includes a bridge gear box having a drive shaft suitable for being coupled to an external drive. An idle spur gear is fixed to the drive shaft. A pair of spur gears are coupled to the idle spur gear to rotate in response to rotations of the idle spur gear. Spur gear shafts are coupled to the spur gears and arranged to be coupled to the drive gears of the operator so that rotation of the drive shaft by an external drive is translated to simultaneous rotations of the drive gears of the operator.

Abstract: A chain assembly includes a wheel secured on a shaft. A chain manually rotates the wheel and the shaft. A one way bearing has an inner race secured to the shaft and has an outer race that can freely rotate in only one direction in relation to the inner race. A brake drum is coupled to the outer race. Brake shoes are in operative contact with the brake drum to apply friction to the brake drum when there is relative motion between them. A brake adjuster adjusts the braking force applied by the brake shoes on said brake drum. The one way bearing is arranged to maintain the brake drum stationary in one direction of rotation of the shaft and rotate the brake drum in the opposite direction of rotation resulting in a degree of braking of the shaft as determined by the brake adjuster.

Abstract: An elongate shell for forming a slat for a rolling door includes a planar portion having parallel first and second longitudinal edges and formed along the first longitudinal edge with a first arcuate segment and formed along an opposing second longitudinal edge with second arcuate segment, the first and second arcuate segments being positioned on the same side of said planar portion and configured and dimensioned to enable the second arcuate segment of a first shell to be received with clearance within a first arcuate segment of second shell identical to the first shell to form an articulated joint hingedly connecting the elongate shells so they can be pivoted relative to each other. Two identical shells can be oriented to be assembled to form a double-walled slat with longitudinal hooks or claws for assembling a plurality of slats, with or without insulation, into a curtain assembly for a rolling door.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for driving a roller-shutter door having a drive mechanism. The method comprises the activation of a circuit in response to an external stimuli to a switch. This actuates a timer and raises a timing bar. A cable passes across the timing bar and is connected to the switch on one end and to a solenoid on a second end. The cable passes through a top portion of a rocker arm assembly having a one-way bearing. The solenoid is actuated as a result of the raising of the timing bar; and activates the one-way bearing to cause the door to be raised to a pre-set position for a pre-set period of time. To reverse the door, the timer bar is dropped after the lapse of the pre-set period of time. The solenoid is re-activated and reverses the one-way bearing.

Abstract: A computer based online AutoCAD generation system is a questionnaire based system with dropdown menus for selection of options. The online system is secured with two levels of user authentication to gain access to the drawing system. Backend processing is used for approving the user registration. As the user selects the drop down menus the product parameters are populated based on the user selection. Once the product is selected the user submits for drawing and within a matter of seconds the drawing is shown online with zero client view using Autodesk Freewheel Project with its open source project. The user is given an option for downloading pdf files as well. This system can be used for any manufacturing with few modifications like questions and drawing templates appropriate for a specific product or class of products. In the described embodiment the system is designed for overhead steel rolling doors manufacturing.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for driving a roller-shutter door having a drive mechanism. The method comprises the activation of a circuit in response to an external stimuli to a switch. This actuates a timer and raises a timing bar. A cable passes across the timing bar and is connected to the switch on one end and to a solenoid on a second end. The cable passes through a top portion of a rocker arm assembly having a one-way bearing. The solenoid is actuated as a result of the raising of the timing bar; and activates the one-way bearing to cause the door to be raised to a pre-set position for a pre-set period of time. To reverse the door, the timer bar is dropped after the lapse of the pre-set period of time. The solenoid is re-activated and reverses the one-way bearing.

Abstract: An edge retainer for a slat of an overhead rolling door is formed of a plurality of elongate substantially horizontal slats each a which defines a slat plane and which has two opposing substantially parallel longitudinal edges in the lateral edge at each longitudinal end. Adjacent slats are hingedly interlocked at their longitudinal edges to enable the door to assume a rolled condition when the door is open and substantially planar when the door is closed. The retainer includes first and second members having mounting portions the lateral edge of the slat and are secured to opposite surfaces of the slat to receive at least a portion of the lateral edge sandwiched therebetween. An end lock is integrally formed with one of the mounting portions and extends from one side of the slat to the other side of the slat. A wind lock is integrally formed with the other mounting portion and extends from the other side thereof to the first side of the slot.

Abstract: An Overhead rolling gate for a generally rectangular opening in a wall includes a generally horizontal frame portion at the top of the rectangular opening and two generally vertical portions at the lateral sides of the rectangular opening. A shaft is mounted substantially along the horizontal frame portion for rotation about a horizontal axis. A closure member is provided which has a length at least equal to the height of the rectangular opening and is capable of beg rolled up onto said shaft or spindle when in an open condition of the overhead gate and rolled down from the shaft or spindle to a closed position of the overhead gate to cover the rectangular opening. The closure member has a width selected to insure that the lateral ends of the closure member are guided by the vertical frame portions when the closure is rolled up unto or rolled down from the shaft or spindle.

Abstract: A wind-resistant overhead door includes substantially vertical windbars mounted on the side portions of the frame, and windlocks or endlocks on the lateral edge portions of the intermediate and bottommost of endmost slats of the closure, such as a rolling door. By providing a predetermined clearance between the windbars and windlocks by substantially eliminating such clearance with respect to the lowermost or endmost slat or bar, maximum flexing of the slats in response to wind loads and positive and negative pressures acting on the closures can be substantially eliminated to thereby control and substantially eliminate undesired deflections or gaps about the periphery of the closure. This minimizes the exposure to which glass elements behind the closures are exposes to wind loads, and pressures which can damage the same.

Abstract: A roll-up door including thermal protection devices provided in the mounting arrangement thereof to prevent the transfer of cold outside air, snow, ice and the like through the doorway covered by the roll-up door, the thermal protection devices including a plastic member in the mounting arrangement to provide a thermal break therein, heating members also disposed in the mounting arrangement, and a heated hood disposed over the support roller on which the door is rolled up into in the opened position thereof. The plastic member can have a snap-on construction to facilitate the assembling thereof, and also for the removal thereof in the event replacement is necessary. The roll-up door is provided with a direct drive gearing arrangement disposed between the motor gear of the roll-up and roll-down mechanism and the support roller gear to avoid the building up of forces therethrough usually caused when the support roller becomes fixed in place or difficult to rotate due to cold weather conditions.

Abstract: A roll-up door having a plurality of elongated adjoining metal slats hinged together to permit the slats to be arcuately pivoted when being rolled up, an elongated plastic insulation member being coextensively inserted along each slat, and a metal inner rear wall being coextensively inserted along each insulation member so that each insulation member is sandwiched therebetween. Each assembled insulation member and inner rear wall is provided with a coupling arrangement for engaging the hinges of the connected slats, and a snap-in arrangement for securing the inner rear wall to the insulation member. Each inner rear wall also has a first hook portion disposed around an associated second hook portion on the insulation member, the first hook portion having a flange which snaps onto a longitudinal free edge of the second hook portion for securement therebetween. Longitudinal recesses are provided on each inner rear wall for engagement in associated longitudinal recesses provided in each insulation member.