Abstract: A door system designed for buildings that store large objects such as airplanes or farm, marine, and other heavy equipment. The door system is comprised of a door, a lift frame, and a brake system disposed within the lift frame and coupled with the door. Furthermore, an articulating arm system connects to the lift frame and the door and a drive system connects to the brake system. The drive system moves the brake system within the lift frame such that the brake system and the articulating arm system guide the door between an open and a closed position.

Abstract: A safety cage improves the safety of workers servicing tanker vehicles having top side hatches. A part or parts of the cage can be repositioned to permit the hatch cover to be opened and then can be returned to a safety enhancing position.

Abstract: A storage apparatus includes a storage unit defining a front opening, and a closure member configured to cover the front opening. The closure member is attached to the storage unit for movement between open, intermediate and closed positions. The storage apparatus further includes a dampening element operably coupled to the closure member and the storage unit. The dampening element provides enhanced resistance to the movement of the closure member during a final phase of the opening and closing movements of the closure member while not providing enhanced resistance during an initial phase of the opening and closing movements.

Abstract: A suspension mechanism for pivotally moving a door panel to close or open a doorway includes a first brace with one end attached to a point low on the panel and the opposite end to a stationary pivot and a second brace with one end attached to the first brace intermediate of its ends and the opposite end slidably and rotatably connected near the top of the panel for support thereof. A stationary but rotatable axial guide receives the second brace intermediate of its ends, and a torque generating spring assists with lifting and opening the panel with energy stored from the lowering of the panel. The spring may be a compression spring encircling the second brace with one end attached near the upper end of the second brace and the opposite end attached to the stationary axial guide, thus locating the spring near the top of the doorway.

Abstract: A canopy garage door opener including a mechanism for interconnecting a horizontal, rectilinear reciprocating carriage drive means to a canopy door having a first axis fixed to the door and movable vertically in a guide means and a pair of crank arms pivoted at the top of a door opening and to a horizontal axis fixed with respect to the door. The mechanism includes a lever pivoted to the carriage forming part of a quadrangular link assembly pivoted to the door at one apex and connected by another link to the door from an adjacent apex. Guard means including fixed and movable plates are disposed on both sides of the mechanism to shield it, the movable plates being pivotally connected to the mechanism and being rotated by a cam and follower connection to the fixed plates.

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 spring balanced door for closing a passage through a door frame comprises a closure panel having opposite lateral edges and movable from a closed position to an open position, fixed supports connected to the door frame at opposite sides of the passage, a vertical guide track connected on opposite sides of the door frame and rollers rotatably mounted to the panel at each lateral edge thereof and adjacent a lower corner of each lateral edge, movable in each track respectively. Rigid arms are connected to the panel at intermediate locations of each lateral edge and extend perpendicularly to a plane of the panel from an interior surface of the panel. A lever arm is journaled between each rigid arm and each support, with each lever arm pivotally connected to each rigid arm at a joint. A spring is connected between at least one of the supports and a corresponding lever arm with a stop provided on the support against which the lever arm stops during movement of the panel from its closed to its opened position.

Abstract: A hinge mechanism for an overhead baggage compartment which is generally located in the passenger section of an airliner. The hinge mechanism comprises, a dual-cam guided four-bar linkage mechanism which produces a compound motion to the door for retraction through a relatively narrow horizontal opening into an area above the baggage compartment. Ordinarily, a four-bar linkage mechanism would have its operation designed around two fixed pivot points; however, in this disclosure there is only one fixed pivot point and the other of said pivots is a walking pivot which is guided by a dual-cam device for profiling the travel of the door.

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.