Condition Responsive Control Patents (Class 49/31)
  • Patent number: 4996467
    Abstract: A garbage container is disclosed, which will open automatically when a user is present in front of the container and will close after a predetermined time of the departure of the user. This garbage container comprises an infrared ray transmitter and an infrared ray receiver to detect the presence of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Inventor: Jong-Yih Day
  • Patent number: 4981084
    Abstract: A computer assisted transit car door operating system for augmented automation of transit car door panel operation while providing safety provisions to restrain rail movement unless all passage doorways are closed. A programmable logic controller generates a sequence initiating (opening or closing) signal for a door panel; or, a manual input signal can be introduced for such purpose. The controller receives signals from a panel position sensor and a panel movement sensor to evaluate door panel status and generate status indication and panel movement signals. Automated control of door panel movement is selectively directed to a doorway, or doorways, at which an opening or closing problem is being encountered; that is, the exclusion of door panel movement signals to properly operated door panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Morrison-Knudsen Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick E. Templeton, Robert F. Carter, David L. Crawforth
  • Patent number: 4937556
    Abstract: A window security system including a door disposed over a window and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The door may be selectively locked in the closed position by an electrically actuated lock. The system further includes a smoke detector and an actuator for automatically unlocking the door when the smoke detector detects smoke. The system also includes manual override features for unlocking the door even when the smoke detector detects smoke and also for preventing the door from unlocking when the smoke detector detects smoke. The system may also include audible or visual signals for indicating whether the door is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Inventors: Avery D. Scott, Donald R. Vessell
  • Patent number: 4919235
    Abstract: A fire escape system is described in which a latched escape door in a building is unlatched by withdrawal of a restraining pin from a latch mechanism, producing automatic opening of the door by any of various door-opening self actuating means described. In one embodiment, withdrawal of the restraining means results as a consequence of the transmission of a signal generated by a fire detection device, to an electric windlass system, which thereupon retractably winds a cable attached to the pin, withdrawing it from the latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventor: Eugene DelSavio
  • Patent number: 4916861
    Abstract: A power drive system for opening and closing the sliding side door of a van type vehicle includes an inclination detector controlled control circuit for adjustably regulating the closing force applied to the door in approximate proportion to the inclination of the vehicle to provide sufficient power to close the door when the vehicle is parked on an uphill grade while providing a reduced amount of power to close the door when the vehicle is on level ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventor: William W. Schap
  • Patent number: 4819551
    Abstract: A detector unit, for detecting fumes, including carbon monoxide, is located in a garage, and circuitry controlled thereby automatically opens the garage door, or operates an exhaust blower, or both. The door remains open, or the exhaust blower continues operating, or both, until the circuitry is manually reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Inventor: John Vole
  • Patent number: 4808995
    Abstract: A radio remote-controlled door operator for use, among other uses, as a residential garage door operator. The transmitter contains two buttons, one to produce normal door operation and the other to set the operator into a "secure" mode wherein it will be non-responsive to further valid operating codes until reset. In addition, a second deeper level of security may be established by means of a vacation switch which disconnects the operator from the AC power supply. The operator system comprises a microprocessor which is programmed to perform various accessory functions even through the accessories may not be present. Various microprocessor inputs are tied to a false "safe" level so that even though the accessory programs are run, no outputs result and no interference with normal door operation is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Stanley Automatic Openers
    Inventors: John E. Clark, Dean C. Duhame
  • Patent number: 4809000
    Abstract: A transom member for a sliding door having an elongate support member and a cover member secured to the support member. The transom member has a cavity defined between the support member and cover member and sensing means for sensing approach of a person towards the transom member is housed in the cavity. The sensing means includes an energy detector for detecting energy from a person approaching the transom member, and the detector is positioned for receiving such energy through the cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Inventor: Noel Carroll
  • Patent number: 4802306
    Abstract: A device is described for the automatic closing of openings on a floating structure whereby the need for human or manual intervention is eliminated. Once the floating structure is subjected to tilting (heeling), lateral, or other accelerating forces, an unstable mass is used as a triggering device to remove a block from interfering with the path of the closure. The closure rolls down a ramp and covers an adjacent opening to seal it., thus preventing uncontrollable flooding or fire from spreading within the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Darryl E. Laxo
  • Patent number: 4799331
    Abstract: A device is described for the automatic closing of openings on a floating structure whereby the need for human or manual intervention is eliminated. Once the floating structure is subjected to tilting (heeling), lateral, or other accelerating forces, an unstable mass is used as a triggering device to remove a block from interfering with the path of the closure. The closure rolls down a ramp and covers an adjacent opening to seal it, thus preventing uncontrolled flooding or fire from spreading within the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Darryl E. Laxo
  • Patent number: 4785293
    Abstract: A signalling system utilized in a firedoor control system. For warning and alerting personnel of the immanate (seconds) closing of a firedoor, to avoid injury of such personnel in the vicinity of the closing firedoor. The system is actuated by being responsive to either a smoke detector signal or to an electrical failure to the smoke detector. Means responsive to the smoke detector generates a first control signal, a first timer means generates a second control signal at the end of a first delay interval, and a second timer means generates a series of reoccurring control pulses transmitted to audible and visual signalling elements. A test means is provided to determined operational (functional) status of a rechargable battery utilized in the system in the event of an electrical failure to the smoke detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Inventors: Leonard Shearer, William Paulsen, Roger Moody
  • Patent number: 4763937
    Abstract: An electromagnetic door lock system employs an electromagnetic lock which magnetically bonds with an armature plate. An acoustical sensor generates a detection beam. The detection beam is directed toward the doorknob. Reflected energy is received and electronically processed to detect the presence of a foreign object in the vicinity of the doorknob. The lock automatically deactuates when a foreign object is detected in the vicinity of the knob. The electromagnetic lock, sensor and processing circuitry are mounted in a housing which is located near the top of a doorway. An audio alarm and status light indicators are mounted at the housing to indicate the status of the lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Inventors: Ralph A. Sittnick, Jr., Roy A. Mathers
  • Patent number: 4738052
    Abstract: An automatic door including a door body connected to a chain or belt extending between and wound around a drive pulley disposed on one side of a door opening and a driven pulley disposed on the other side thereof in which the door body is actuated to open and close by allowing the drive pulley to be rotated forwardly or reversely by an electric motor connected through a main switch and a controller to a main electric power supply source, comprises an apparatus for automatically moving the door body to its closing-stop point when the supply of electric power to the motor is interrupted by the OFF operation of the main switch, and a locking apparatus for automatically locking the door body in its closing-stop position at that time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventor: Yukio Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4706413
    Abstract: A smoke detector-activated door seal includes an extensible member in the form of an inflatable bladder disposed about the periphery of the door. A source of compressed air is connected to the bladder such that, upon a door-carried smoke detector sensing the presence of smoke, the source of compressed air inflates the bladder so as to provide a substantially airtight seal between the door and the door frame. A manually actuated release valve is provided to enable the seal to be released whenever desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Inventor: Kenneth S. James
  • Patent number: 4698937
    Abstract: An automatic door installation with two traffic sensors mounted on each side of the door adjacent the opposite side edges thereof, each having a reflected energy receiver and a plurality of radiant energy emitters with angularly spaced beam axes to provide broad coverage areas intersecting the traffic path of travel. The emitters of each sensor are selectively activated at different radiant energy levels and/or selectively deactivated to vary the affective coverage area as the door is swung between its closed and open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventors: Henning N. Kornbrekke, David M. Cirkot, Anthony R. Ranaudo
  • Patent number: 4697383
    Abstract: A controlling device for an automatic door which can detect a human body approaching the door assuredly in a relatively early stage and hence can assure smooth passage thereof by a person after another person has passed it. The controlling device comprises a controller, a first human body detecting sensor having a small detecting area near the door, and a second human body detecting sensor having a wider detecting area which extends remotely from the door and covers the detecting area of the first human body sensor. The controller develops a door opening signal in response to a human body detection signal received from the first human body detecting sensor when a door closing signal is not being developed from the controller whereas it develops a door opening signal in response to a human body detection signal from the second human body detecting sensor when a door closing signal is being developed from the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
    Inventor: Isao Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 4685316
    Abstract: A window guard latch with emergency release comprising a bracket having a channel for receiving a portion of the window guard, a lock for engaging the portion of the window guard received in the channel, the lock having a trigger for releasing the engagement with the window guard, and a solenoid linked to the trigger to operate it. A control box, mounted inside the building has an RF signal detector and means to activate the solenoid in response to the detector to release the window guard. Smoke detectors which trigger an RF transmitter and portable push button RF transmitters can transmit an RF signal to remotely activate the release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Inventors: Harry H. Hicks, Gerald E. Davenport
  • Patent number: 4679508
    Abstract: A transit vehicle having a door includes a zero speed condition detection apparatus provided to logically supply a zero condition output signal for each of a plurality of axles when both of the tachometers for each of those axles are under a predetermined zero speed condition. When two or more zero condition output signals are so supplied, a failsafe driver is energized to operate a control relay for determining the operation of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Mark T. Fruehan, Jeffrey A. Fennig, Jayant K. Kapadia
  • Patent number: 4674230
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding a motor vehicle door in a desired opening degree thereof comprises a touch sensor provided on the door for detecting whether or not the touch sensor is touched by an operator, an engaging member pivotally mounted at one end thereof onto a vehicle body, a pair of piston-cylinder assemblies each including a friction member which is driven by pneumatic power to clamp the engaging member, and a control unit for receiving signals from the touch sensor and delivering commands to a power supply unit to drive the piston-cylinder assemblies upon receipt of the signal indicating that the touch sensor is touched by the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Takeo, Tomohisa Yoshimi, Yoshio Shinoda, Ken Nomura
  • Patent number: 4665378
    Abstract: A signal light is projected in a concentrated beam downwardly when a garage door is fully opened to provide a light spot on the garage floor where no vehicle obstructs it and on the vehicle, such as on the dashboard thereof, when a vehicle is at a properly parked position in the garage. This provides signals both that the door is fully open, indicating that it is safe to exit or enter the garage as well as that the vehicle is in the proper position for parking. In addition, the light source itself may be arranged to glow visibly to an operator outside the garage as a further indication that it is safe to enter. Adjustable bracket means enables the location of the signaling lamp and signal-like spots to be adjusted. The light source is controlled by the position of the garage door, so as to only be illuminated when the door is fully opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Assignee: 3900 Corp.
    Inventor: John E. Heckethorn
  • Patent number: 4652862
    Abstract: A building has at least one security guard post to control the secured building exits, each of which has an unlocking instrumentality, without forbidding their emergency use. When activating the unlocking instrument to open a secured exit, there is a transmission of information to the security guard post and an initiation of a delay during which the security guard can forbid the opening of the exit. The unlocking instrument can also visually indicate events at the exit. The apparatus has an electro-mechanical lock, a sensor which is sensitive to motion of the unlocking instrument, a control line linking each door to be controlled to the security guard post, and a central electronic processing unit. A surveillance circuit responds to the sensor. A security circuit frees the unlocking instrument when a fault is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Constructions Electroniques de la Ferte Sous Jouarre
    Inventor: Alain R. Verslycken
  • Patent number: 4627193
    Abstract: A revolving door and controls therefor are set forth to restrict access into a room to only authorized personnel. The revolving door is disposed in a housing having an entrance and an exit into the room. The revolving door includes a plurality of wings which, in cooperation with the housing, define a plurality of compartments movable in response to rotation of the door to transport a person between the entrance and exit through the housing. Included are means for identifying authorized personnel and driving the door for rotation to transport that authorized person in a selected compartment between the entrance and the exit. Means are included for sensing two or more persons in the selected compartment moving from a starting point between the entrance and the exit, the sensing means reversely rotating the door to return the selected compartment to the starting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Inventor: Milan Schwarz
  • Patent number: 4614057
    Abstract: An automatic mat-activated operating system for swinging doors provides approach circuitry for opening the doors when an approach mat at the entrance side of the doorway is activated and override safety circuitry for stopping door opening movement and returning the doors to a closed position when a safety mat at the exit side of the doorway is activated within a predetermined initial range of door movement but not thereafter and also for preventing door opening movement if the safety mat is already activated at the time of initial activation of the approach mat. The control system thus protects pedestrians at the exit side of the doorway from being struck by the doors during their initial opening movement which may not be readily recognizable and avoidable and also protects pedestrians entering the doorway from the entrance side from being struck by unexpected return movement of the doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: Keane Monroe Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Sorber
  • Patent number: 4609910
    Abstract: The system automatically warns when opening of an exit door is attempted, causing an alarm to be made and preventing full opening for a predetermined period of time. Such a system includes an electromagnet, timer, alarm and activator switch connected in series with a power source such as house current and disposed in and around the frame with no electrical connection to or from the door. A magnetically attractable plate or prong is secured to the door adjacent to the electromagnet. The switch may include a spring biased plunger on the frame, held in the closed circuit position against the spring bias with the door closed. The switch automatically moves to the closed circuit position when the door begins to open, causing an alarm to be immediately sounded and the plate to continue to be strongly held by the electromagnet, thereby preventing full opening of the door. The system permits the full opening of the exit door only after a suitable period of time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Inventors: Arthur V. Geringer, Richard G. Geringer, David A. Geringer
  • Patent number: 4604826
    Abstract: A solid state integrated regulating circuitry for incorporation in the conventional control circuitry of automatic sliding door systems includes timing and processing circuits operative through plural inverters to deliver enabling and disenabling electrical signals to the control circuitry when the elapsed time between cycles of door opening and closing actuations are greater or less than a predetermined time respectively either to prematurely terminate or to have no altering effect upon door opening actuation, thereby to open the doors to a reduced width during low traffic conditions and to open the doors to a full width during high traffic conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Keane Monroe Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Sorber
  • Patent number: 4598494
    Abstract: In an apparatus for closing a fireproof door in case of emergency, the fireproof door and a release, which is secured to a door frame, are interconnected by a link mechanism comprising first, second and supplemental link arms. One end of the first link arms is pivoted to a driving shaft of a door closer secured to the fireproof door. The other end of the first link arm is pivoted to one end of the second link arm, the other end of which is pivoted to the release. The supplemental link arm is connected between the central point of the second link arm and a slider which is slidably mounted inside the release and latched by a latch mechanism when the fireproof door is open.When the slider is released from the latch mechanism by electrizing a solenoid which operates the latch mechanism, the slider is slid inside the release by the closing force of the door closer transmitted via the link mechanism, thereby closing the fireproof door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignees: Ryobi Ltd., Hochiki Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihide Tsuji, Yoshinori Ioka, Hisatugu Anzai, Noboru Kasahara, Fujio Katagiri
  • Patent number: 4576088
    Abstract: Damper for the protection of equipment, through which a gaseous or vaporous medium, particularly air, flows, against pressure waves, particularly in ventilation and/or air conditioning installations for the protection of the components of the plant, its internals and ducts, consisting of a frame structure and a multiplicity of slats (15) which are supported therein hinged about parallel axes and in one plane and which are held in their open position by restoring forces and are braced against stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mathewes, Klaus Fitzner, Uwe Plitt
  • Patent number: 4565030
    Abstract: An emergency exit is provided through a revolving door, having leaves angularly spaced from each other and rotatable in an enclosure in an operating condition, by automatically aligning all of these leaves parallel to a line of exit traffic through the enclosure. The revolving door leaves may be so aligned by first biasing the leaves toward each other, but maintaining the leaves angularly spaced by releasable retention against the bias exerted by such biasing, and by thereafter releasing such retention in response to an emergency condition and aligning the leaves automatically by force of the bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: Dynametric, Inc.
    Inventor: William A. LaSance
  • Patent number: 4551944
    Abstract: Door control apparatus is provided for opening and closing the passenger doors of a transit vehicle and the cooperating doors of a station, which apparatus includes conductors respectively coupled with a station power supply and the station door motors and extending along the station platform where passengers load and unload relative to the vehicle, such that a shunt connection member carried by the vehicle and coupled with the vehicle door motor is operative to energize the vehicle door motor and the station door motor for operating the passenger doors and the station doors when the vehicle is positioned at the station platform to load and unload passengers in relation to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: George W. Donaldson
  • Patent number: 4549092
    Abstract: A control system for an illumination lamp installed in a building equipped with a door operation control apparatus. The system comprises a door opening and closing instructor, a control circuit responsive to an instruction signal from the instructor to produce a door control signal and a lamp control signal, a door driver responsive to the door control signal to drive the opening and closing of a door, an illumination lamp for illumination of the interior of the building, a detector for detecting the movement of a human body and producing an electric signal representative of the movement, and a circuit which is responsive to the lamp control signal and the electric signal to turn on the illumination lamp and keeps the illumination lamp turned on for a predetermined time extending from the termination of the lamp control signal and the electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Matsuoka, Koji Yamauchi, Hiroyuki Tadokoro, Seiji Yonekura, Mitsuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4546845
    Abstract: An electropneumatic door control for vehicles is disclosed which consists of a pneumatic portion and an electronic portion. The electronic portion processes successive commands actuated by the vehicle operator to channel the signals to the pneumatic portion of the apparatus to activate alternate door openings and closings. Any blockage of the door movement is detected and signals processed to reverse the door closing or to halt the opening until the fault is corrected. The electronic portion also assures that the vehicle doors can only be opened after the vehicle has come to a stop, that when the vehicle doors are open the station or parking brake is held engaged, and that an audible warning signal sounds for a predetermined interval before the closing of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: WABCO Fahrzeugbremsen GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Meyer, Horst Scheibe
  • Patent number: 4539555
    Abstract: An anti-security control for unlocking the normally locked door which separates the corridor side and the stairwell side of buildings, such as hotels. The anti-security control is preferably adapted for use with and draws power from any conventional-type of smoke and fire detection and alarm system. When the detection and alarm system senses the existence of a dangerous level of smoke or fire, current is shunted to a solenoid which operates to unbolt the normally locked separation door. A depressible button may be operatively affixed on the corridor side of the door to provide access from corridor to the stairwell regardless of whether a smoke or fire condition is sensed by the detection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Inventor: Edward E. Tefka
  • Patent number: 4501090
    Abstract: An automatic door operator for a swing door supported by a door supporting frame to swing about a vertical axis. The automatic door operator includes a mechanism for opening and closing the swing door, a drive for driving the door opening and closing mechanism to open the swing door, the drive including a prime mover for driving the door opening and closing mechanism, a door closer including a resilient device for storing part of mechanical energy provided by the drive in opening the swing door and for exerting driving force on the door opening and closing means by using the stored mechanical energy to close the door, a unit for electrically controlling the drive to swing the swing door, and a sensor for sensing a body accessing the door and thereby providing an electric signal to open the door to the controlling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Chikura Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kei Yoshida, Masayuki Murokawa, Toshiaki Nomura
  • Patent number: 4497133
    Abstract: A control circuit for unlatching a door, particularly a pet door, includes a transmitter coil (L1), a pulse driver (11) for pulse energizing the coil, and a discriminator (12, 13) for detecting a.c. components in the coil current caused by currents induced in an outside tuned circuit brought adjacent the coil, e.g. around the neck of a pet seeking entry, and for comparing the frequency of the a.c. components with a standard. A latch drive circuit (14) responds to the discriminator for operating the door latch if the frequency comparison is satisfactory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Inventor: Philip T. Blenkinsop
  • Patent number: 4493164
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Inventor: Richard P. Wagner
  • Patent number: 4464651
    Abstract: A home security and garage door operator system includes a gas sensor for detecting the level of toxic gas in the garage. When the gas level exceeds a predetermined threshold the garage door is automatically opened. Lock out circuitry is provided for preventing the door from being accidentally closed as long as the gas sensor detects an excessive level of toxic gas in the garage. A two button transmitter is used to sequentially close the garage door and set a security alarm subsystem. Warning devices are activated if the security alarm is attempted to be set without the garage door and windows in the home being closed. Once the security alarm has been set, the lock out circuitry also disables the garage door motor control circuitry until the security alarm is first deactivated. The transmitter generates a digital pulse train according to a preselected code, with the operation of the dual buttons changing the state of a particular control bit in the pulse train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: Stanley Vemco
    Inventor: Dean C. Duhame
  • Patent number: 4458446
    Abstract: A safe remote-control door opening-and-closing device for an automotive vehicle by which the door can not be opened or the door now being opened is closed, even if the driver operates the door open switch, in the case where there exists an obstruction within a predetermined warning region near the vehicle door or around the vehicle. The safe remote-control door device according to the present invention comprises an obstruction sensor for detecting the presence of an obstruction, if any, and a switching unit for disconnecting the door open switch from the door driving device or for connecting the door open switch to the reverse revolution terminal of the driving device in order to close the door now being opened, in addition to a conventional remote-control door opening-and-closing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Haruo Mochida, Mikio Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 4452009
    Abstract: A light barrier is restricted to detecting blockage in a limited, constant region before the closing edges of a lift cabin-twin door. Two light emitters or transmitters are displaceably arranged in the door sill and are operatively associated with entrainment elements fastened to the lift cabin doors. The light emitters are synchronously displaced with light receivers mounted at the upper edges of the cabin doors. To increase reliability of operation, the lower edges of the lift cabin doors are provided with cleaning devices which clean the light exit locations of infrared luminescent or light-emitting diodes forming the light emitters during every opening and closing operation. Thus, the cleaning device of one door is arranged to clean the infrared luminescent diode of the light emitter of the other door and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1984
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Josef Baumeler, Hans-Ulrich Egli
  • Patent number: 4443978
    Abstract: A movable thermal barrier for a two-story building having a glass wall facing in a southerly direction and comprising a thermally insulated horizontal stationary rail panel adjacent to the glass wall. A thermally insulated horizontal movable inner panel is positioned between the rail panel and the glass wall, and is movable from horizontal alignment with the rail panel to above the rail panel. A similar outer panel is positioned between the inner panel and the glass wall and is movable from horizontal alignment with the rail panel to below the rail panel. Panel mounting means supported from the building are adapted to movably support the inner and outer panels so that one may be moved above and the other below the rail panel to provide a translucent thermal barrier between the upper and lower portions of the glass wall and the inside of the building. The inner and outer panels are of similar weights so they balance each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1984
    Assignee: Butler-Merritt Inc.
    Inventor: Robert B. Butler
  • Patent number: 4433274
    Abstract: A home security and garage door operator system includes a gas sensor for detecting the level of toxic gas in the garage. When the gas level exceeds a predetermined threshold the garage door is automatically opened. Lock out circuitry is provided for preventing the door from being accidentally closed as long as the gas sensor detects an excessive level of toxic gas in the garage. A two button transmitter is used to sequentially close the garage door and set a security alarm subsystem. Warning devices are activated if the security alarm is attempted to be set without the garage door and windows in the home being closed. Once the security alarm has been set, the lock out circuitry also disables the garage door motor control circuitry until the security alarm is first deactivated. The transmitter generates a digital pulse train according to a preselected code, with the operation of the dual buttons changing the state of a particular control bit in the pulse train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Inventor: Dean C. Duhame
  • Patent number: 4428278
    Abstract: An apparatus responsive to electric power failure for opening curtains or doors normally covering ventilation openings in a confinement house of the type used for raising poultry and livestock is disclosed. An electromagnet (59) is provided which is energized by the electric power supply (41) to the house (10) and is de-energized upon failure of the electric power supply (41). A pivoted metal strip (61) is normally in contact with the magnet (59) and is interconnected by means of a cord (66) with the winch (25) which is used to raise and lower the curtains (16). When the electric power (41) fails and the electromagnet (59) is de-energized, the cord (66) releases, and allows the curtains (16) to fall under their own weight. A capacitor (78) prevents de-energization of the magnet (59) when momentary power failures occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Inventor: James A. Sutton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4410843
    Abstract: Apparatus for an electrically moved sliding window, used illustratively in automotive applications, having first, a built-in safety device, for providing a signal whenever the window has been raised or lowered to a preselected height and second, a proximity detector is described. The device and detector comprise a plurality of conductors, bonded to the surface of the window. These conductors are, in turn, connected to an integrated circuit element which is also mounted to the surface of the window. This circuit element controls a power stage which, in turn, supplies power to the drive motor which raises and lowers the window. The circuit element and the conductors are placed directly on the window in a stationary position with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Gerd Sauer, Dieter Unbehaun
  • Patent number: 4383666
    Abstract: Pressure equalization between the upper and lower compartments of an aircraft is provided through normally covered openings along the edges of the floor of the upper compartment. The covers each are comprised of a double-flap arrangement in which one flap is constructed as two hinged panels with locking features in order to hold the other flap in a clinging position. The space between the flaps participates in the air-conditioning circulation. In the case of a pressure drop in the lower compartment, the pressure differential tends to fold the winged panels, thereby releasing the locks so that air pressure can be equalized through uncovering of the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Allerding, Heinz Borchers, Hermann Schellstede
  • Patent number: 4376971
    Abstract: A system for protection against getting caught in automatically operable doors or windows, particularly of vehicles. Specific intervals of time within which the closing or opening door should reach a given position are preset. When the door does not reach one of these positions within the time allowed, the reversing motion is initiated or the cycle of motions is stopped. For this purpose, an electric signal generator coupled to the door motion delivers electric position signals when predetermined positions of the door are reached. An electric storage element is set by the position signals and after a predetermined time interval automatically reset, with the logic value of its output signal changing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1983
    Assignee: Gebr. Bode & Co.
    Inventors: Hans Landgraf, Joachim Dorner, Siegfried Heinrich, Manfred Horn
  • Patent number: 4375019
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the position of a drive element for automatically opening and closing a sliding door which is automatically opened upon stepping on of a mat switch by a customer who intends to enter a store and is automatically closed upon releasing of the mat switch by the customer who entered the store. The drive element of the automatically opening and closing sliding door is adjusted by merely once manually opening and closing sliding door. The drive elements such as limit switches are slidably mounted, not on the sliding door but on an endless wire such as an endless belt. Thus, adjusting the drive element so that the sliding door may stop just upon completely opening or closing of the door when mounting such an automatic sliding door can be rapidly and readily accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1983
    Assignee: Solic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4365250
    Abstract: A garage door operation control apparatus includes a door operating system for opening and closing the main door of a garage, a main detection circuit for detecting the open or closed condition of the main door, an auxiliary detection circuit for detecting an open condition of a window or an auxiliary door of the garage, a fire in the garage or generation of a special gas therein, an alarm and a signal processing circuit. Electrical signals from the detection circuit are logically analyzed thereby to control the door operating system and the alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Matsuoka, Takeshi Tokunaga, Seiji Yonekura, Mituo Suzuki, Kenji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4360801
    Abstract: A home security and garage door operator system includes a gas sensor for detecting the level of toxic gas in the garage. When the gas level exceeds a predetermined threshold the garage door is automatically opened. Lock out circuitry is provided for preventing the door from being accidentally closed as long as the gas sensor detects an excessive level of toxic gas in the garage. A two button transmitter is used to sequentially close the garage door and set a security alarm subsystem. Warning devices are activated if the security alarm is attempted to be set without the garage door and windows in the home being closed. Once the security alarm has been set, the lock out circuitry also disables the garage door motor control circuitry until the security alarm is first deactivated. The transmitter generates a digital pulse train according to a preselected code, with the operation of the dual buttons changing the state of a particular control bit in the pulse train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: Stanley Vemco
    Inventor: Dean C. Duhame
  • Patent number: 4357998
    Abstract: Between floors or landings the elevator car door may be opened allowing passengers to open the hall door. To prevent this from occurring, a stop apparatus is attached to the car door and hall door. This apparatus allows the car door to only be opened to a certain minimum acceptable distance when the car is above a predetermined distance above the landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1982
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: George W. Gibson, Joseph P. Mahon, John McAulay, Stanley M. Wolper
  • Patent number: 4356668
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Inventor: Richard P. Wagner
  • Patent number: RE33407
    Abstract: A revolving door and controls therefor are set forth to restrict access into a room to only authorized personnel. The revolving door is disposed in a housing having an entrance and an exit into the room. The revolving door includes a plurality of wings which, in cooperation with the housing, define a plurality of compartments movable in response to rotation of the door to transport a person between the entrance and exit through the housing. Included are means for identifying authorized personnel and driving the door for rotation to transport that authorized person in a selected compartment between the entrance and the exit. Means are included for sensing two or more persons in the selected compartment moving from a starting point between the entrance and the exit, the sensing means reversely rotating the door to return the selected compartment to the starting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Inventor: Milan Schwarz