Abstract: An auxiliary or backup locking mechanism which is used primarily with garage doors of the swing-up type which are controlled by an automatic garage door opener. The backup mechanism causes the lower corners of the door to be secured when in the closed position and to be unlocked by the oepration of the garage door opener when the door is to be opened.

Abstract: A fuel transfer system for transferring fuel assemblies through a transfer tube between fuel exchange locations respectively in a fuel storage and handling building and a containment structure of a nuclear reactor includes a segmented track comprising first, second and third track segments and a segmented drive screw comprising first, second and third drive screw segments respectively associated with the fuel storage and handling building, the transfer tube, and the containment structure. Gaps between the successive, corresponding track segments and drive screw segments permit operation of valves for closing the ends of the transfer tube during normal operation of the reactor, which valves are then opened during fuel exchange operations. The adjacent but normally displaced ends of the first and second and of the second and third drive screw segments include respective, mating engagement means.

Abstract: An automatic radio actuated mechanism for opening and closing panels, such as a garage door, makes use of an electric motor to rotate a specially constructed spiral drive screw and move a traveler along a track, the traveler being connected to the door to pull the door open or push the door shut. Included in the mechanism is a camming arrangement for precisely adjusting the full open and full closed positions by action of an electronic circuit which activates the motor. For reversing the operating direction of door movement in the event such movement should be obstructed, the motor housing is mounted in a manner allowing it when restrained to swing for a limited distance, one way or the other, thereby to actuate a switch in the electronic circuit for reversing movement of the door.

Abstract: A power operating device for use with vertically sliding garage doors provides a friction drive roller that can slide laterally to take into account variations in space between the side of the upper panel of the door and the guide tracks when the door is open or closed.

Abstract: An opening mechanism for a tip-up door especially for garages which comprises levers fixed on a shaft which is mounted hingedly on the door, the levers having their distal ends connected to the door frame and torque applying structure being functionally connected with the shaft and a motor to apply torque for opening the door with the structure and motor being mounted on the door. The torque applying structure can be a crank or a gear system. An initiator can comprise either a manually applied switch or remote initiating means such as ultra-sonic or radio signals. This opening mechanism applies a torque to the levers to lift the door open in a tip-up action but additionally applies a reaction torque to the door itself to swing it up in the typical tip-up fashion while the levers lift it.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for tilting and turning coke-oven doors for the purpose of maintenance and repair. It comprises a door-receiving support frame with upper guide rollers, which are guided in a guide rig having parallel rail pairs. At the lower end of the support frame a firmly connected drive device engages, which is movable on a raised horizontal rail track. The drive device pulls the support frame from the vertical into the horizontal position and pushes it back into the vertical position. The guide rig includes a vertical part and an inwardly extending part contiguous thereto. The center between the guide rig on the coke side and the guide rig on the machine side is interrupted. The rail pairs end at the bottom in sturdy stops for the guide roller. The invention is thus an accident proof tilting device, with sufficient space for repair purposes being available on the working platform.

Abstract: A latching device for overhead-type doors mounted for movement between a closed position and a raised position with respect to an opening defined by a frame. The latching mechanism includes a pivotable arm having a pivot end and an engagement end. The pivot end of the pivotable arm is mounted above the opening for pivotable movement about a substantially horizontal axis between a first position and a second raised position. The engagement end of the arm is adapted to engage a first latch portion associated with the door when the door is in a closed position and the arm is in the first position, and also adapted to engage a second latch portion associated with the door when the door is in the raised position and the arm is in an intermediate position between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for an overhead door has a drive pulley mounted on the door. A drive motor is coupled to the pulley. An arm pivotally mounted on the door extends from the upper portion of the door generally in the direction of opening movement of the door. A guide cable is mounted on the end of the arm. A drive cable strung above the door extends in a path from the front of the building, around the guide pulley, around the drive pulley, and over the guide pulley to the rear of the building. The guide pulley prevents contact between the top of the door and the cable. The drive motor may be movably mounted in the operating mechanism for performing a variety of control functions.

Abstract: A twin drum cable helical gear worm drive garage door opener which provides positive drive in either direction and ensures positive cable take-up and supply spool synchronization and ensures positive position relationship between the trolley and the operator head and has pre-assembled anchored cable ends which allow easy assembly and disassembly. The cable is oriented in the vertical plane which allows the point of cable latch to be in the same load/force plane and minimizes bowing of the support shaft under severe load conditions. The integral motor worm reels and support shaft results in a compact light weight unit and cable tensioning means are provided for allowing easy and simple adjustment of the unit when it is installed.

Abstract: An improved automatic garage door opener system is described, the delay linkage in the motorized door opening mechanism which enables actuation of latch closures for improved security and also provides improved shock cushioning in the system.

Abstract: A door operated drive assembly comprising an electric drive motor mechanically connected to a door pulling device by a transmission in the form of a belt drive or the like, utilizes an extension of a plate that is swingable in response to deviations of application pressure of the drive belt on belt guide pulleys carried thereby to trigger a switching arrangement utilized to trigger stopping or reversal of the drive motor. In order to make actuation of the switching arrangement a function of the degree of pressure applied by the drive belt, the plate is elastically loaded toward a middle position of its range of swingable movement. The elastic loading of the plate in accordance with a first embodiment is by way of two-arm springs positioned at opposite sides thereof, and in a second embodiment is produced by helical springs which act via actuators, on opposite sides of the plate extension.

Abstract: A door assembly for providing access to a chamber for processing food products includes a door supported at its midpoint and pivoted about a first axis. A pair of crank arms receive and support the door on the axis and are pivotally secured to the sidewalls of the chamber along a second axis parallel to the first axis. The opposite ends of the crank arms are secured together by a bar or beam preferably disposed along a third axis parallel to the first axis of pivot. A hydraulic cylinder extends between the beam and a pivoted support disposed on the top portion of the chamber. A pair of strut assemblies are pivotally secured to the door generally above the first axis and extend generally toward the second axis where they are likewise pivotally secured. Pivotal disposition of the door at four points on a pair of parallel axes ensures that all door motion is controlled and further provides a compact opening arc which permits placement of the chamber and door proximate loading docks and similar structures.

Abstract: A shrink tunnel, a gate for opening and closing the egress opening of the shrink tunnel, prime mover means for moving the gate, and sensing means operatively connected to the prime mover means to open the gate just prior to exit of an article from the shrink tunnel and to close the gate after the product has exited therefrom.

Abstract: A lock for use with a garage door having an automatic garage door opener attached thereto includes a housing which attaches to the garage door. A bracket attaches to the inside of the garage and is positioned such that the housing and the bracket are in close proximity to each other when the garage door is closed. An element is movably mounted on the housing to move between a locked and unlocked position. The automatic garage door opener attaches to the element and is capable of moving both the element between its locked and unlocked positions and moving the garage door via motion imparted to the door via the housing and the element. When the garage door is closed and the element is moved from its unlocked to its locked position the garage door is securely locked against being opened by an outside influence.

Abstract: For a system in which an overhead door is raised or lowered by a combination of a cable, spring, drum and torsion bar which is rotated by a chain-driven sprocket, a pair of pneumatic cylinders having elongated rods attached to the cylinder pistons are attached to the sprocket chain to drive the chain to raise and lower the door. Braking and safety features are provided.

Abstract: A garage door operator is provided which includes a flexible, elongated tape within a relatively rigid, elongated guide rail mounted in a garage. The tape has first and second runs longitudinally disposed in first and second guide channels in the guide rail. A motor is connected to drive a drive wheel with the tape wrapped around a part of the drive wheel and having a positive drive engagement therewith. A carriage is longitudinally guided on the guide rail and is connected both to the tape for movement therewith and by a link to a garage door for opening and closing movements of the door. The guide rail may be cut into sections for a shorter shipping package, and the tape coiled in a loop during shipment but then disposed within the guide channels during operation, the guide rail being spliced into one long, continuous assembly for use in the garage.

Abstract: This invention is a method and an apparatus by which a barrier is automatically placed before partially opened doors, which barrier is automatically removed when the door is fully opened and safe for travel. The invention includes means to detect when the door is fully opened and thereupon to activate barrier removal means, together with barrier placement means automatically activated at any time when the door is not fully opened.

Abstract: A garage door operator is disclosed which has a motor-driven screw nearly enclosed within a guide, and a partial nut is guided by this guide means and moved longitudinally therealong by engagement with the rotating screw. The partial nut is adapted to be connected to a garage door to open and close the same. In order to shorten the package in which the garage door opener is shipped, the screw and guide means are in two or more parts and adapted to be coupled together to make an operative long screw and an operative long guide means. The screw parts, instead of being connected together at the factory by a double pivot connection, are shipped to the customer in a disconnected condition but one in which the coupling readily may be connected in a proper phase to avoid mismatch of the threads.

Abstract: A garage door operation control apparatus comprises a disc rotatable in interlocked relation with a door driving system, which disc actuates an upper limit switch and a lower limit switch at the door upper and lower limit positions respectively. The interlocked relation of the driving system and the disc may be cancelled thereby to adjust the responsive position of the limit switches.

Abstract: An improved mechanism is disclosed for use in mounting a door on a pressure vessel for opening and closing movements in a manner permitting minimum clearing distances to be maintained between obstructions and the front or sides of such vessel.

Abstract: A door member such as a garage door is driven by a motor through a roller chain having a finite length to travel in the garage opening and closing directions. The roller chain is driven by a single drive sprocket driven by the motor to make its reciprocating movement along the same path while making rolling engagement at its roller portion with a guide rail constructed to support the roller portion of the roller chain from the opposite sides. A trolley connected to the door member by an arm is releasably coupled to the roller chain and is also guided along the guide rail while making sliding engagement therewith. A mechanism for detecting abutment of the door member with an obstruction present on the traveling path is provided to detect the above situation when a physical force is imparted to the roller chain due to the abutment. The opening and closing movement of the door member, stopping of rotation of the motor and detection of the presence of an obstruction are electrically controlled.

Abstract: A railway car for carrying autos includes a loading end having lower folding and an upper swinging door which is actuated from the lower platform of the car. The upper and lower doors are opened and closed independently to provide a complete closure for loading end.

Abstract: A door opener has a housing in which is contained a small fractional-horsepower reversible motor whose output shaft is connected to a worm gear journaled in the apparatus and meshing with a main gear in turn connected to an output member constituted as a sprocket. A clutch is provided between the main gear and the sprocket for disconnecting the two when rotation of the output member is resisted with a torque exceeding a given limit torque. A step-down transmission is connected between this output member and a control disk that carries opening and closing stops that are respectively engageable with opening and closing switches of an electrical control circuit. Thus the angular position of the control disk is directly related to the position of a door connected to the output member. A switch is provided which is actuated whenever the torque exerted between the motor and the worm exceeds a predetermined limit, and serves to reverse the displacement direction of the door in this case.

Abstract: An obstruction sensor for an electro-mechanically operated garage door which utilizes a bracket for supporting one end of the trolley that carries the door and which is driven by the motor either through a chain or worm and wherein an obstruction encountered by the door will cause the rail to move relative to a fixed bracket thus causing a reversing switch to be energized due to relative motion between the fixed bracket and the rail which will cause the motor driving circuit to reverse the motor thus causing the door to move away from the obstruction.

Abstract: A conventional garage door opener assembly has integrated therewith an electrically actuated solenoid assembly at each side of the garage door actionable between the garage door frame and the door. In the case of a solidly assembled door pivotal between closed and opened position, the solenoid assemblies are mounted near the lower extremities of the door so as not to interfere with door movement, while still being capable of locking the door in closed position. The solenoid assemblies are interiorly secured at the door frame sides with the housings thereof permanently projecting across the clearance spaces between the door frame and door and interiorly overlapping the door with the solenoid plungers projectable therefrom in this overlapping positioning into aligned latch members secured interiorly of the door.

Abstract: An integral unit is provided comprising a raisable and tiltable door panel member and a frame structure therefor containing the driving mechanism. All the components of the driving mechanism are not only contained within the door frame member, but are also entirely concealed therewithin so that the integral unit has an agreeable and esthetic appearance, both from the front and from the rear side. Nobody can tamper with the driving mechanism, neither from its front nor from its rear side. No greased nor oiled components (such as chains, cables and the like) are exposed, with which the user may soil its clothes or its hands when passing by. The entire unit may be manufactured and its operation tested at the factory, and thereafter it can be assembled at the site of use by only fixing the frame in position in the corresponding wall aperture.

Abstract: A hinged screw section for a worm drive garage door operator which allows the worm shaft to be assembled at the factory and folded back upon itself so that it can be shipped in a smaller and shorter package. Two different joints have been developed, one of a "I" type in which the connecting link between the two sections of worm shaft is merely a flat metal section with a hole in each end which fits into a slot in the ends of the two worm shaft sections and the assembly is pinned together with two rivets or bolts and the spacing between the two threaded shafts is such that a rack driven carrier will mate with threads of each portion. A second configuration utilizes an "H" joint and the link contains slots and flat tangs are formed on the ends of the two threaded shafts and joined with rivets to the link.

Abstract: The armored door of a field artillery ammunition support vehicle has a door opener on each side of the door, the door being hinged at the top to the top of the vehicle for movement into raised substantially horizontal position to supply added protection for crew members. Each door opener includes a cylinder pivoted at its bottom to the floor of the vehicle with a rod actuated compression spring in the cylinder. The upper end of the rod is pivoted to the end of an arm and the arm is in turn pivoted to an extension from the door opening into the vehicle body. The other end of the arm is pivoted to a link which in turn is pivoted at its other end to the interior of the door. On opening of the door the spring which is compressed assists in raising the weight of the door and on closing of the door the spring compresses countering the downward action of the weight of the door. In door close position the four pivots are aligned on the axis of the cylinder and rod to assist in holding the door in closed position.

Abstract: A door opener system which includes a compact unit containing a motor, circuitry and various accessories, which can be quickly connected to and disconnected from the operator system, said motor having a first gear which easily is positioned into a meshing relationship with a second gear upon connection of the compact unit to the operator system. The operator system further includes the use of only two common switch actuators for operating the motor to move the door in open and closed positions, and to stop the motor upon the door striking an obstruction in its path of travel, said actuators being cooperatively associated with a cam actuator and drive chain pressure responsive means. Also, a unitary gear and drive sprocket structure is utilized in the drive system. Finally, an adjustable shock absorber type draw bar interconnects the door to the chain drive.

Abstract: A sensing system for use in a garage or other similar enclosure having an automatic door operator for automatically opening a garage door responsive to a lack of sufficient oxygen therein including a gas detector located within the enclosure responsive to actuate a detection relay which in turn will close a normally open detection switch, the closing of the detection switch will normally cause operation of the door operator to allow oxygen to enter into the enclosure through the door opening, the detection switch being located in a door opening control circuit which includes therein a first limit switch which is open whenever the door is open in order to prevent actuation of the door operator when the door is already open, the door opening control circuit also including a delay clock and delay switch which will be normally closed to allow operation of the door operator, this system also including a time delay circuit with a second limit switch therein which is adapted to be normally open and to close only whe

Abstract: An overhead garage door opener in which an actuating motor is secured to the door and is coupled to a capstan. A heavy cord, secured at one end to the garage wall above the door and at its other end near the back of the garage, is wound around the capstan. A motor control system such as a coded sound producing device and a time delay receiving circuit is disclosed, to start the motor to open or close the door.

Abstract: Improved traveler and guide rail apparatus for use with a garage door operator includes an elongated guide rail having a longitudinal screw channel and outwardly extending integral flanges disposed along the screw channel. An elongated T-shaped flange extends upwardly from the screw channel. An improved traveler apparatus for use with the guide rail includes a screw-driven traveler and a coupling traveler, each mounted on respective tracks formed by separate outside surfaces of the guide rail. The screw-driven traveler carries a nut engaging a screw in the screw channel through a slot between the flanges and further includes opposed U-shaped channels slidably mounted over the exterior surfaces of the guide rail flanges for slidable movement along the guide rail.

Abstract: An improved traveler apparatus includes a screw-driven traveler and a coupling traveler which are both slidably mounted within a track that is formed by the interior surfaces of opposed U-shaped channels of a guide rail. The guide rail also includes a screw channel which communicates through a longitudinal slot with the track. The screw-driven traveler includes a nut that engages a screw in the screw channel through the slot. The coupling traveler includes a manually actuable, bistable latch to selectively engage and disengage the coupling traveler and the screw-driven traveler for cooperative and independent slidable movement within the track, respectively, and the coupling traveler is adapted for connection to a closure, such as a garage door, to open or close same as the coupling traveler is moved along the track.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power door opener, such as the type of opener used for opening overhead garage doors includes a worm gear rod having a major thread and a carrier member coupled to the door and releasably engageable with the major thread for moving the door between open and closed positions as the rod rotates. A second thread whose pitch is smaller than the major thread is formed on the rod and on a portion thereof located between a pair of spaced apart limit switches. A control member threadably engages the second thread for movement between the limit switches as the rod rotates for terminating motor operation as the door moves into its open and closed positions. The carrier member is mounted for radial movement into and out of engagement with the major thread to permit manual operation of the door.

Abstract: An improved position control apparatus is disclosed to control a motor-driven door operator to halt movement of a door at an open position and a closed position. The position control apparatus includes a control screw means in the form of a threaded shaft extension of the motor shaft or a threaded rod coupled to the motor shaft which is rotated when the motor is energized. A travel nut is threadedly engaged with the control screw means and is constrained against rotational motion so as to reciprocate along the control screw means. Position detection means, such as switches, are disposed near the control screw means for actuation by the travel nut to control the motor as the door approaches the open position and the closed position. In another embodiment, a toggle switch is mounted on the travel nut, and the switches are replaced by stops for actuation of the toggle switch to control the motor.

Abstract: A garage door operator includes a drive screw, rotationally and longitudinally movable in a shuttle track or guide rail, and a screw-driven shuttle mounted on the track and connected to the door. A lever arm is attached to the screw at a rearward end thereof and is pivoted to the operator at one side of the screw. Another end of the lever arm, adjacent an opposite side of the screw, is operatively disposed with respect to control switches and is spring-loaded, whereby door engaged obstructions cause the rotating screw to move longitudinally, against the spring bias, and to actuate, through the lever arm, a switch for stopping or for reversing the operator motor. A sleeve coupling permits longitudinal screw movement with respect to the operator's motor, and is provided with means to permit continued motor operation, drivingly disengaged from the screw, upon control malfunction, in order to prevent damage or injury.

Abstract: A loading gate for a mine roof bolter apparatus forms a protective canopy for mine working personnel when opened, and when closed, it seals an opening in the bolter containing manual controls and roof bolt storage cartridges. Access to the stored cartridges and controls by the personnel can only be made when the gate is open. The gate is operated by an over-center toggle joint driven by a hydraulic cylinder. As a fail-safe feature, once the gate has been fully opened, the over-center toggle joint maintains the gate open even upon failure of the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A door operator for moving a door between a closed position wherein the door extends substantially vertically and closes a door opening and an open position wherein the door extends substantially horizontally and is disposed adjacent the upper edge of the door opening. The operator includes an elongated guide which extends in a substantially horizontal direction away from the door opening. A carriage is engaged with the guide and is movable therealong. A drawbar assembly is connected between the carriage and the door, and a motor is drivingly interconnected to the carriage for moving same along the guide to result in movement of the door between the open and closed positions. The drawbar assembly includes a first arm member hingedly connected to the carriage at a first pivot axis, and a second arm member hingedly connected to the door at a second pivot axis which is substantially parallel to but spaced from the first pivot axis.