Motor Driven Patents (Class 49/118)
  • Patent number: 5758453
    Abstract: A door closing apparatus facilitates simultaneously opening of a pair of sliding doors by pulling a manual release wire. Specifically, by pulling the manual release wire, a belt 82 fixed to the manual release wire moves with belt pulleys and two hooks to contact and move respective movable frames to the opening directions thereof. Due to these movements, permanent magnets 31A, 31B rotate, through respective racks to release the holding of the closed doors. Thus, the sliding doors can be opened manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akio Inage
  • Patent number: 5756946
    Abstract: A linear induction motor for opening and closing elevator car doors in an elevator system includes a motor primary fixedly attached to a door hanger and a motor secondary flexibly mounted to a header bracket of the elevator car. A pair of swivel joints secure the ends of the motor secondary to the header bracket. The swivel joints compensate for misalignment and twisting of the elevator car doors by allowing multi-dimensional movement of the motor secondary relative to the header bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Tracey, James A. Rivera
  • Patent number: 5736693
    Abstract: A linear induction motor utilizes a double-sided primary and a dual secondary to directly drive an elevator car door open and closed. The invention has the advantage of being compact: all magnetic-attractive loads are confined to a primary mount bracket, and all thrust loads are carried directly by the car header, not transferred to the cab. Also, high thrusts can be developed from a small space, i.e., short net working coil area, due to the double-sided primary winding and dual secondary arrangement. The configuration is basically simple, with a low moving mass and easy-to-fabricate parts, the primary core being particularly easily wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Zbigniew Piech, Jerome F. Jaminet, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Edward E. Ahigian, Richard E. Kulak, Thomas M. McHugh, Thomas He, Richard E. Peruggi, David W. Barrett
  • Patent number: 5711112
    Abstract: An automatic sliding door operator includes a top door operator and a bottom door operator, each operator having a motor driven sprocket driving a tooth belt to which the sliding doors are attached, the motors being separately driven in a position-synchronized fashion in response to related encoders connected with each motor to provide positional information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Michael T. Barten, Rudiger Lob, Helmut L. Schroder-Brumloop, Mustapha Toutaoui
  • Patent number: 5668355
    Abstract: The door or doors on an elevator cab are driven during their opening and closing cycles by a linear induction motor drive system. The primary of the linear motor is fixed to the cab assembly, and the secondary is mounted on the door hanger panel and moves with the door. In order for the secondary to maintain a proper spacing relative to the primary, a flexible connection is provided between the secondary and the remainder of the door. In this way, shifting of the door during its opening and closing movements will not cause misalignment of the secondary with respect to the primary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jerome F. Jaminet, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Edward E. Ahigian, Thomas M. McHugh, Thomas He, Richard E. Peruggi, Richard E. Kulak, David W. Barrett
  • Patent number: 5612518
    Abstract: The door or doors of an elevator are driven through their opening and closing cycles by one or more linear induction motor (LIM) assemblies in which the primary winding component of the LIM assembly is secured to the elevator cab structure and the LIM secondary component is secured to the cab door. If the cab has two oppositely moving doors, there will preferably be two separate motor drives, one for each door. In one embodiment, the motor components are arranged so as to create a normal force which is horizontal; and in another embodiment, the normal force created is vertical. A primary motor mount bracket is used which secures the primary winding component to the overhead component of the cab structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Jerome F. Jaminet, Zbigniew Piech, Frank Guliuzza, Jr., Thomas M. McHugh, Edward E. Ahigian, Thomas He, Richard E. Peruggi, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Richard E. Kulak, David W. Barrett
  • Patent number: 5605185
    Abstract: A fire door system comprising first and second fire door assemblies each assembly including a fire door, a temperature sensing device and an operator. The operators of each of the assemblies are electrically interconnected such that when the fire doors simultaneously close when either (a) the temperature sensing device senses that the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined value or (b) the circuit between the operators of the assemblies is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: McKeon Rolling Steel Door Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James M. McKeon
  • Patent number: 5531046
    Abstract: A power window assembly in a vehicle includes a slidable window pane mounted to the vehicle for movement in a first lateral direction to an open position and in a second lateral direction to a closed position. The power window assembly further includes first and second mounting brackets securely attached to the window pane and each having a pocket therein. The power window assembly also includes a power drive mechanism for selectively moving the window pane between the closed position and the open position. The power drive mechanism includes first and second connector arms each laterally coupled to the first and second mounting brackets, respectively. The connector arms each have an upper portion seated in the pockets of the respective mounting brackets by slip-fitted insertion therein and are vertically slidable relative the pockets to adjustably connect the window pane to the power drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Craig A. Kollar, Donald Szerlag, William C. Lajack, Kevin Koneval
  • Patent number: 5495918
    Abstract: An elevator car door is moved by a variable voltage, variable frequency linear induction motor which is driven open current loop to achieve a desired velocity profile indicated by an incremental linear encoder, with washed out proportional and integral gain. A magnetizing current insufficient to overcome the weight of the door is added in quadrature with the linear force current, and frequency is determined open loop in a predetermined fashion. Pulse width modulation voltage control signals are utilized to apply fixed voltages of correct polarity through a low pass three phase filter to the windings of the motor for correct intervals of time so as to synthesize desired sinusoidal winding currents. A boost of current is provided following each zero crossing of the sinusoidal winding currents to overcome lags therein. A ramp down of voltage avoids dropping the door at the end of door opening and door closing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Richard E. Peruggi, Thomas M. McHugh, Edward E. Ahigian, Jerome F. Jaminet, Thomas He, Thomas M. Kowalczyk, Richard E. Kulak, David W. Barrett
  • Patent number: 5483769
    Abstract: A power door operator for vehicles requiring uninterrupted car surfaces in a door area and minimal use of car interior space, particularly in the closed position. The equipment provided utilizes a rotary motor drive and distributed gear system for moving opposing door panels away from an opening in the car wall. Movement of the doors into and out of the car door opening is accomplished through use of controlled reaction travel of the rotary drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Mark IV Transportation Products Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Zweili
  • Patent number: 5409149
    Abstract: A dump gate assembly as for a feed mixer housing including first and second hinged gates swingable between upper closed condition and lower open condition, each gate having a cam track preferably in the form of a configurated gate stiffener cooperable with a cam follower on an actuator. The cam tracks have a portion causing greater force to be applied to the gates during the final movement of the gates to the closed condition. The actuators for the two respective gates are at opposite ends of the gates and are interconnected to cause timed gate closing. A special seal element causes a second seal between the closed gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Hough International, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M. Hough
  • Patent number: 5407029
    Abstract: An elevator landing, which is used with a curvilinear hoistway door has a lintel, a guide attached to the lintel, the guide having a curvilinear slot having an inner edge and an outer edge for guiding an upper portion of the curvilinear door and, a curvilinear sill having a curvilinear second slot having an inner edge and an outer edge for guiding a lower edge portion of the doors. The first slot and the second slot are in register with each other. The sill slot extends vertically through the sill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: John K. Salmon, Antoine Fritsch
  • Patent number: 5394961
    Abstract: A safety edge assembly is provided for an electronic sensor system in an elevator doorway. A narrow elongated transmitter frame mounts appropriate electronic transmitting components of the system thereon and is fastened vertically on one side of the doorway. A narrow elongated receiver frame mounts appropriate electronic receiver components of the system thereon and is fastened vertically on the opposite side of the doorway. A power supply frame mounts appropriate electronic power components of the system thereon and is fastened in a piggyback fashion on the transmitter frame. Electrical cables are coupled between the electronic components on opposite sides of the doorway, the cables extending across the top of the doorway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Montgomery Elevator Company
    Inventor: William R. Biver
  • Patent number: 5377783
    Abstract: An elevator drive, which moves an arcuate car door attaching to a support that rotates about an axis, has a motor having an output, an arm attached to the output, and a linkage having a first coupling allowing compound motion attached to the arm and a second coupling allowing compound motion attached to the support, the door moving as the arm rotates in response to motion of the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: John K. Salmon, Antoine Fritsch
  • Patent number: 5347755
    Abstract: An automatically actuated door arrangement is provided. The arrangement includes a plurality of slidable doors which are opened and closed by an electric motor/cable arrangement. Open and close switches control the opening and closing of the doors. A sensor device provides the open doors/close doors signals to the controller, and eventually to the motor. The motor is connected to the cable drive by a clutch arrangement which allows slippage should the movement of the doors become obstructed. The door travel path may be arranged in a slight V-shape, to allow for more efficient sealing of the door bottoms. A controller is provided to receive, process, and distribute electronic signals for controlling the extent of the door opening, the speed of opening and closing, and other operating parameters. The controller includes a series of indicators for monitoring the status of the door arrangement, and also includes inputs for altering the operating parameters of the door arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Ready Metal Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Dale R. Jaster, Russell J. Vestuto, Ronald S. Maruszak
  • Patent number: 5345877
    Abstract: A junction for neighboring car bodies of a track-bound vehicle has a first door guided within a first end wall of a first car body for closing a doorway of the first car body and a second door guided with an adjacent second end wall of the neighboring car body for closing a doorway in the neighboring car body. The first and the second end walls are spaced apart and delimit a space therebetween. The first and the second doors are guided at the first and the second end walls so as to be movable in opposite directions. At least one coupling element for coupling the first and the second doors extends through the first and the second end walls and the space therebetween. The first and the second doors have a substantially identical construction and substantially identical moving characteristics. The coupling element is preferably a cable and a sleeve enclosing the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Thyssen Industrie AG
    Inventor: Peter Hermes
  • Patent number: 5325628
    Abstract: An automatic door operator which works in conjunction with a sliding door(s) and existing track on which the door(s) moves, to open and close the door(s) without manual pushing and pulling. The invention is useful on single-sliding door installations, biparting single-track installations, and biparting overlapping door installations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventor: Dan C. Yingling
  • Patent number: 5271181
    Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing ejecting doors on railway and tramway vehicles includes a motion transmission and ejection control assembly and a wing translation, drive and support assembly. The motion transmission and ejection control assembly functions to guide and forcibly shift the doors between their open and closed positions. Upon disablement of the motion transmission and ejection control assembly or an emergency, the wing translation, drive and support assembly permits the doors to be shifted to a partially open position wherein the doors can be manually opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: O.C.L.A.P. S.r.l.
    Inventor: Losito Pietro
  • Patent number: 5246089
    Abstract: A door drive apparatus with a locking mechanism for elevator doors permits the opening of the car door situated in the region of a floor together with a coupled-on shaft door, driven automatically in the normal case or manually in the case of a power failure. If the elevator car is situated outside a floor region, the car door remains locked. A control cam mounted at the upper end of a car door leaf is connected with a door drive by a belted drive means and causes a low-jerk opening and closing of the car door at the closing end of travel. The control cam is connected by a pull rod to an entraining member parallelogram for the coupling of the shaft door to the car door. A locking mechanism on the upper end of the same door leaf has an actuating roller which is actuated by a double lever connected to the control cam and the pull rod for the unlocking when the car is located in the door opening region of a floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Josef Husmann, Franz Weingertner
  • Patent number: 5240349
    Abstract: A power mine door system including a door frame to be installed in a mine passageway to define a generally rectangular doorway. A mine door is defined by a pair of generally rectangular door leafs which are hinged on the door frame at opposite sides of the doorway for swinging between an open position to permit passage through the doorway and a closed position in which the door leafs are generally coplanar and close the doorway. The door leafs are so dimensioned that there is a substantial vertical gap between the door leafs when they are closed to accommodate convergence of side walls of the passageway. A relatively wide vertical sealing flap is secured to one of the door leafs for overlapping a face of the other door leaf when the door is closed for covering the gap between the door leafs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Jack Kennedy Metal Products and Buildings, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Kennedy, John M. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5199216
    Abstract: An operator for a French casement window having an operating arm with a roller mounted at its end and pivotable to move in an arc between extended and retracted positions, and a channel member horizontally mountable on the inner side of one sash and confining the roller as the operating arm is moved between its extended and retracted positions to move one between open and closed positions, respectively. A bracket is on the inner side of the other sash adjacent its outer vertical side, and a drag link is pivotally connected on one end to the bracket and on the other end to the operating arm to move the other sash between open and closed positions synchronously with the first sash when the operating arm is moved between its extended and retracted positions, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Truth Div. of SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Vetter, Daniel G. Tucker
  • Patent number: 5146712
    Abstract: A power window assembly for a rear window opening of a truck cab has a pair of stationary window panes spaced apart and securely mounted in the rear window opening and defining therebetween a center window opening. First and second movable window panes are slidably located in the rear window opening and adapted for sliding movement toward each other to a closed position where the panes abut each other closing the center window opening and away from each other to an opened position overlying at least a portion of the stationary window panes thereby opening the center window opening. A reversible electric motor has a primary drive gear for generating rotary motion of the primary drive gear. A tape having a plurality of slots engaging and driven by the primary drive gear is connected to the first movable window so that the first movable window pane moves between the closed position and the opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: David G. Hlavaty
  • Patent number: 5142823
    Abstract: A swinging-sliding door for vehicles, particularly for passenger vehicles, includes two door leaves positioned outside and within the wall of the vehicle in a closed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Kiekert GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Brandenburg, Horst Goldbach
  • Patent number: 5127190
    Abstract: A sliding door with two for example panels coupled with a belt-drive mechanism driven in turn by a motor. The panels are also connected to an auxiliary drive mechanism that is provided with energy by the panel as it slides into a closed position and that can move the panel when the clutch is deprived of current. At least one programming switch, a motion sensor, and a limit switch activate regular controls that move the panel automatically. Self-monitoring additional electronic controls constitute a door-safety module.The object is to monitor the opening of the door in response to a signal from the motion sensor and to allow self-testing of the function of the auxiliary drive mechanism and ensure inherent reliability of the door-opening monitoring process. A door-safety module is controlled in accordance with a program and has at least one motion sensor and one limit switch associated with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Dorma GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Hein, Ulrich Theile
  • Patent number: 5019758
    Abstract: An opening and closing mechanism for a gate which utilizes an electric motor operating through a electromagnetic clutch. The clutch is to be operated at a significantly increased voltage during the initial period of starting movement of the gate. When the gate is rolling, the voltage through the clutch is significantly decreased to a substantially lower level. During this lower level of movement even a minor amount of resistance applied to the gate will cause the gate to stop thereby avoiding injury to animals (including people) and damage to devices such as automobiles. The gate opening and closing mechanism also includes a separate direct drive mechanism which by-passes the clutch when the gate is in the completely open or the completely closed position. This separate direct drive mechanism functions as a positive lock maintaining the gate in its established completely open or completely closed position when the gate is in either of these positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Court Security Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard V. Jones, Angel E. Ramirez
  • Patent number: 4995195
    Abstract: An automatic rear window opener for a vehicle including a frame adapted to fit into the opening left by the removal of a standard rear window. The automatic rear window is operated by a reversible electric motor having a rotating output shaft extending from each side of the motor. Left and right-hand threaded shafts attached to the output shafts on opposite sides of the motor carry threaded brackets that simultaneously move in opposite directions when the motor is activated. A pair of movable central panes are attached one to each of the brackets and ride in a track that extends across the bottom portion of the frame. The entire drive mechanism is located in the frame below the track and the control switch is located conveniently within the vehicle cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Inventors: Gordon D. Olberding, Mahlon W. Shearer
  • Patent number: 4991347
    Abstract: An opening/closing mechanism for use in a circular-arc shaped sliding door including a transverse frame having a circular-arc horizontal sectional shape and mounted on the upper parts of a pair of left and right door bodies; a drive pulley and a driven pulley mounted on the circumferentially one end of the transverse frame and on the other end thereof, respectively; and an endless belt wound between and around the drive pulley and a driven pulley, the pair of door bodies being connected in place to the endless belt so that they may be slidably moved in opposite directions to each other along a pair of left and right guide rails, respectively, each of which is bent in a circular-arc shape concentric with the center of the circular-arc of the transverse door frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Takimoto, Kenzo Ono, Yuichi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 4947964
    Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing the car door of an elevator car which is situated in the door opening zone of a floor is coupled together with a shaft door, and is driven automatically by a drive motor or, in the case of a power failure, manually by a passenger. If the elevator car is situated outside a door opening zone, the car door remains locked by the same apparatus. The car door is driven through a drive belt by way of an entraining parallelogram linkage, which linkage includes a rigid cam and a movable cam and is mounted at the upper part of a car door. For free travel through a door opening zone, the linkage is closed, and the linkage opens for the coupling with the shaft door between two coupling rollers mounted on the shaft door before a movement of the doors takes place. The movable cam includes a compressible ramp cam which, during the travel and on stopping outside a door opening zone, lifts off from a rigid cam carrier due to leaf springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Josef Husmann
  • Patent number: 4882876
    Abstract: Disclosed is an operator for a door mounted by frame means so as to be slidable along a track between open and closed positions. The door has a peripheral edge which is engaged to provide a positive locking of the door. The operator includes a shaft rotatably mounted alongside the door. A locking pawl is mounted to the shaft for rotation therewith so as to be movable between an unlocked position remote from a door edge and a locked position overlying the door edge so as to block the opening thereof. A lockout lever is also attached to the shaft for rotation therewith, and is movable between an idle position whereat the shaft is rotated to bring the locking pawl to its unlocked position and a lockout position whereat the shaft is rotated to bring the locking pawl to its locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Vapor Corporation
    Inventor: Kristupas Daugirdas
  • Patent number: 4785579
    Abstract: A circular door operating method and apparatus comprising two pairs of arcked door leaves, two pairs of arcked fixed panels arranged so as to form an enclosure defining a cylindrical wind blocking compartment. Each door leaf is hinged at an end and releasably coupled at the other end to a hanger assembly traveling on a circular track by means of a pulley mechanism. When a door leaf is released from the hanger assembly to pivot about upper and lower hinge mechanisms for operation as a hinged door, not only the upper and lower hinge mechanisms firmly support the door leaf in place but also a control unit disables the sliding door operation, thus providing a quick and safe escape from the building in the event of an emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignees: Nippon Air Brake Co., Ltd., Tajima Junzo Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoaki Sugiyama, Keizo Fujii, Shigemitsu Shimoyama
  • Patent number: 4698938
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for full-automatic opening and closing of a sliding door comprises two drive mechanisms for supplying different moving speeds to the door. A main motor for the higher speed drives a worm-gear spindle, a low-power motor for the lower speed drives a profiled bar. A gear wheel moving on the worm-gear spindle and a pinion slideably mounted on the profiled bar mesh with each other and are contained in a sliding carriage guiding the sliding door via a latch. The selective or common drive of both motors results in various combinations and enables an adaptation to the requirements for variable door speeds. The drive mechanism is of simple design, relatively cheap and does not require trained service personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Inventor: Jakob Huber
  • Patent number: 4683811
    Abstract: A ridge ventilating device that allows for the passive ventilation of agricultural buildings and the like, and which device resists the affects of snow or ice and allows for regulation of the flow of air from the building. Pairs of hinged door panels which operate by opening and closing coincidentally with each other, thereby covering and uncovering an elongate ridge passage cut into the ridge or peak of the roof structure. The doors are hingedly attached along the outside edges of the passage so that they open away from each other and create an unobstructed opening in the roof for the air to exhaust through. Each door is pivotally attached to a connecting link which connecting links are in turn connected at a common pivot point to the shaft of a dual-acting air cylinder. The air cylinder thus provides the motion for opening and closing the doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Willmar Poultry Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Huisinga, Rayburn E. Norling
  • Patent number: 4674231
    Abstract: A magnetic door opener device adapted to be positioned below a countertop made of non-magnetic materials, the device having a pair of magnets which attractively interact with a pair of magnets attached to the bottoms of a pair of windows which are suspended on a trolley for movement to or fro to determine closed and opened positions of the window. The device underneath the countertop comprises a pair of spaced toothed sprockets supporting an endless belt having inner and outer runs, the outer run supporting a magnet adapted to magnetically cooperate with a magnet in the bottom of one of the windows, and the other run of the belt supporting a different magnet adapted to attractively cooperate with a magnet in the bottom of the other window. A motor control and limit switches are provided for controlling the opening and closing positions of the windows when a control switch is operated by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Ready Metal Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John R. Radek, Richard Maks, Russell Vestuto
  • Patent number: 4614059
    Abstract: An automatic window includes an inverted U-shaped frame having a pair of window units pivotally supported within the frame for movement between open and closed positions. The combined width of the window units is substantially less than the spacing between the frame side walls to provide clearance spaces which are filled by resilient deformable finger guards on the side edges of the window units preventing injury. A power source acts through a rack and pinion gear arrangement to open and close the window units in unison. A backup locking device secures the window units in the closed positions thereof and deactivates the power source when the lock system is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Inventor: Douglas R. Trampe
  • Patent number: 4580413
    Abstract: A cooling and or freezing tunnel is described having a toggle linkage and a pressurized fluid drive to open and close a plurality of openable sections of the tunnel for access and cleaning of the interior. The toggle linkages provide more accurate and reliable movement than the prior art means for opening such tunnels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Klee
  • Patent number: 4543746
    Abstract: Sliding doors, particularly for railway and tramway vehicles, comprise two opposing doors which are movable relative to a doorway between an emplaced closed position and a withdrawn open position by guide means and motorized drive means. The drive means include a motorized chain transmission connected to the two doors to effect their opening and closing sliding movements, and rotatable cam means defining, for each door, an arcuate track with which feeler means connected to the two doors cooperate to effect, in the initial phase of the opening sliding movement and in the final phase of the closing sliding movement of these doors respectively, the withdrawal and the emplacement of the doors relative to the doorway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Fiat Ferroviaria Savigliano S.p.A.
    Inventor: Carlo Racca
  • Patent number: 4503637
    Abstract: A sensor activated, automatic sliding door assembly for installation in building entrance openings for automatic opening and closing of sliding doors. The roller track, drive belt pulley, door carrier, and door guide allow adjustment to compensate for distortion of the system as a result of stress caused by use or expansion and contraction of the building. The rotatable safety hinges, one-way hinges, door stops and electrical interruptors provide integrated safety devices to the automatic door assembly. Linear sliding devices such as linear bearings provide improved movement of the sliding doors on a linear track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Inventor: Jerry Parente
  • Patent number: 4476678
    Abstract: The control mechanism is for pneumatic apparatus of the kind comprising a piston-and-cylinder motor coupled between two relatively-movable parts (such as door-leaves) for driving them, when energized, to a predetermined relative position. A pilot valve is actuated when required to switch the apparatus to an emergency mode by isolating the motor from its power source and discharging it into an emergency reservoir having a volume large compared with the maximum volume of gas in the motor. While the pilot valve is actuated, the relatively-movable parts are urged towards their predetermined relative positions by a force small compared with the normal operating force. The pilot valve may be arranged to operate operation of an emergency release bolt, on obstruction detected by a detector valve (in which case a timing reservoir provides time delay before full power is restored), on power failure, or as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: PLC Peters Limited
    Inventor: John L. Hall
  • Patent number: 4457108
    Abstract: A door includes an elongated bearing rail and at least one door section which is operatively connected to the rail for sliding movement in a direction along the elongation of the rail. The door section is so mounted relative to the rail as to perform transversal movement about an axis extending substantially in parallel to said rail. During the transversal movement of the door section frictional rotation between the bearing rail and the connecting means is precluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: IFE Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Konrad Kuschel, Alfred Wiehl
  • Patent number: 4409905
    Abstract: A device for controlling the movement of the two doors is housed in a tile-shaped elongate support which is disposed above the doorway and is pivoted about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the roof of the car. The tile-shaped support carries centrally an electric motor for rotating two screws which are situated on respective sides of the motor and are threaded in opposite directions. A nut is mounted on each screw to run longitudinally, and has a forked part which engages a draw-bolt carried by the respective door of the doorway. When the tile-shaped support is pivoted upwardly by hand from outside the car, each fork is disengaged from its respective bolt to allow the emergency opening of the doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Nuova Agudio S.p.A.
    Inventor: Pier C. Zerbi
  • Patent number: 4370826
    Abstract: This disclosure is an automated method of opening and closing thermal insulation shutters used in combination with glass windows, glass sliding doors, glass walls or solar panels and the like disposed, in large buildings such as green houses, high rise commercial buildings, super markets, auto show rooms Etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Inventor: James D. Davidson
  • Patent number: 4259810
    Abstract: There is disclosed a door motion control apparatus for the passenger entry and exit doors of a mass transit vehicle, which passenger entry and exit doors are opened by a drive motor when the vehicle is stopped at a desired location for passenger entry and exit within a station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Harold E. West
  • Patent number: 4186521
    Abstract: Safety gate mechanism for use in protecting persons working around automobile service equipment installed in a floor pit comprising bi-parting gate sections mounted for movement between closed positions in front of the floor pit and open positions along side the floor pit, circuit means for automatically opening the gate sections once a signal is generated that a vehicle is to be placed in the floor pit area for service, and means in the circuit for locking and unlocking the gate sections and for reclosing the open gate sections in a desired time period should a vehicle fail to move into the floor pit area or after a vehicle has been removed from the floor pit area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1980
    Inventor: Lee Hunter
  • Patent number: 4152870
    Abstract: A system consisting of a door closure and door hanger which are integrated to achieve improved operation and simple construction and particularly characterized by a single action pneumatic cylinder and an internal return spring coiled around the piston rod to achieve pneumatic opening of the sliding doors and spring closing of the latter respectively in combination with novel track units featuring removing the load on the balls when the doors are in closed position and shorter track units less subject to longitudinal deflection of the passenger vehicle. The return spring is taken advantage of to produce unhurting impact and closure force at the end of the closing course and to eliminate the sealing requirements around the piston rod at the corresponding end of the pneumatic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Canadair Limited
    Inventor: Joseph Knap
  • Patent number: 4148377
    Abstract: An apparatus for actuating the hoistway doors of an elevator, which comprises a coupling element fixedly arranged at the hoistway or elevator shaft door and a movable electromagnetically actuatable coupling element arranged at the elevator cabin door which, at the region of an elevator landing or storey can be brought into engagement with the fixed coupling element of the hoistway door. The movable coupling element arranged at the elevator cabin door comprises an entrainment member composed of discs arranged at essentially the same spacing from one another. The stationary or fixed coupling element mounted at the hoistway door comprises a comb having prongs which possess an essentially uniform spacing from one another, which spacing is dimensioned such that the discs of the entrainment member, during the coupling action, engage with play between the prongs of the comb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1979
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Heinz D. Foelix, Georg Lang
  • Patent number: 4142326
    Abstract: There is disclosed a motion control and locking apparatus for the passenger entry and exit doors of a mass transit vehicle, which passenger entry and exit doors are desired to be locked when the vehicle is moving between stations and are desired to be unlocked only when the vehicle has stopped at the desired location for passenger entry and exit within a station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: William E. Schmitz
  • Patent number: 4108283
    Abstract: A master door operator employs gate mounted driving clutch members which are locked in the clutching position by linkage arms, and a plurality of driven clutches are respectively mounted on the landing doors and each includes a rotatable cam carrying a pair of clutch rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Inventor: Karl Mangel
  • Patent number: 4097029
    Abstract: An open-topped vessel for converting molten ferrous metal to steel is pivotal about a horizontal axis and has bottom tuyeres for blowing oxygen or other gases upwardly through molten metal. An enclosure at least partially surrounds the vessel and cooperates with a smoke hood to prevent the escape of pollutants when the vessel is in its vertical position. A pair of access doors are provided for closing an opening provided in the enclosure laterally of the vessel tilt axis. The doors are mounted for movement in opposite directions on roller support means external of the enclosure and an auxiliary smoke hood is mounted in the enclosure above the opening for capturing pollutants when the vessel is tilted toward said opening for being charged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1978
    Assignee: Pennsylvania Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Ziegler
  • Patent number: 4091570
    Abstract: The door comprises at least one sliding leaf which is capable of engagement and disengagement transversely within a stationary door-frame, a leaf-stabilizing system consisting of at least one slide-bar mounted opposite to the top leaf-edge alone, operating means for displacing the leaf in the direction of sliding motion, a deformable coupling system provided with means for suspending the leaf from the associated slide-bar so that the leaf can be displaced in translational motion by the operating means and transversely under the action of at least one guide rail which is rigidly fixed to the door-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Assignee: Faiveley S.A.
    Inventor: Michel Favrel
  • Patent number: 4087939
    Abstract: Door operator for doors on a passenger carrying vehicle such as a bus or the like for moving a door between open and closed positions and having a locking mechanism with a lost motion action for unlocking the doors prior to the door opening cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Assignee: Vapor Corporation
    Inventors: Samir M. Elguindy, Kristupas Daugirdas