Rack Drive Patents (Class 49/336)
  • Patent number: 11859430
    Abstract: A heavy duty full energy, encoder driven non-handed electric door operator for industrial and commercial use a motor and an encoder configured to receive an external set of predetermined instructions. A motor mounting bracket connects the motor to a multi-layer housing. A controller is in electronic communications with the encoder and transmits external sets of predetermined instructions. Internally, the door operator contains a plurality of transfer shaft assemblies in communication with each other and connected with the motor at one end and an output shaft at the other end. The output shaft terminates at each end in a nondetachable spline. A detachable mounting plate serves as a base. The door operator operates heavy swing doors external to a building where the swing doors are required to be open or remain open in strong wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventor: Mary Alison Kirkland
  • Patent number: 9677317
    Abstract: A movable barrier system allows for varying the linear actuator speed to account for speed variances caused by the physical configuration of the system. An example system includes a processor configured to variably control operation speed of the linear actuator when it moves a movable barrier between a first position of the movable barrier and a second position of the movable barrier as a function of location of the movable barrier pivot connection relative to the linear actuator pivot connection. The function may be a function of a ratio of a distance from the linear actuator pivot connection to a fixed point and a distance from the movable barrier pivot connection to the fixed point. The function may be calculated by the processor or accessed by the processor according to information about the physical configuration of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Daniel-Wayman, Brian F. Butler, Patrick B. Evans
  • Publication number: 20120180392
    Abstract: A casement window unit including a fixed frame (2); a movable sash (3) connected to the fixed frame by a pair of hinged members (4, 5) joined to respective members of the fixed frame and of the sash so as to allow the movable sash to move between a closed position, where the fixed frame and the sash are in contact with each other, and an open position, where at least one stile (3c) of the sash is at a certain distance from the fixed frame towards the outside of the room where the window unit (1) is installed, and vice versa; and a movement arm (7) acting on the sash in such a way that it moves the sash from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: GSG INTERNATIONAL S.P.A.
    Inventor: Marco Lambertini
  • Publication number: 20080229666
    Abstract: A gate opener has a slide gate panel that slides between an open position and a closed position in order to control passage through the gate. A support plate has a lower spindle support and an upper spindle support and is secured to the ground in appropriate fashion. A motor assembly is rotatably disposed between the lower spindle support and the upper spindle support and has a sprocket operationally attached thereto. When the bidirectional motor within the motor assembly is operational, the sprocket, which directly gearably meshes with a drive rack gear on the gate, rotates causing the gate to slide back or forth. A magnetic reed switch on the sprocket, support plate or control box, senses the presence of a magnet located on either end of the gate deactivates the motor reverse its direction for the next cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Wayne Jones
  • Patent number: 7143548
    Abstract: A flap drive for a flap includes two identical lever joint arrangements which are arranged in pairs at a distance from one another. The flap can be moved out of its closing position into its opening position and back by the flap drive. In this case, the lever joint arrangements are articulated pivotably with one of their ends in each case on a side region of the flap and with their other ends at a fixed location on the motor vehicle. The mutually corresponding pivot axes of the articulation points extend coaxially to one another. Movement transmission devices for the pivotable drive of a driven lever of each lever joint arrangement are guided by a common motive drive unit, the driven levers being articulated at a fixed location on the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Kleinmann, Andreas Ritter
  • Patent number: 6754990
    Abstract: An actuator for gates, doors and the like, with at least one wing. The actuating motor (14) and the associated motor reduction unit (15) are housed inside as half-arm (2) which turns on a fixed support (9) in an oscillating way about a substantially vertical swinging axis (10). Advantageously, the electric motor (14) operates a maneuvering worm screw (12) which is carried by said half-arm (2) and engages a corresponding helical gear (13) coaxial with the swinging axis (10) and is fastened to the fixed support of the half-arm (2) by a torque-limiting device which prevents excessive stresses on the actuator as a result of external forces and also makes it possible to release the helical gear for manual emergency actuation of the wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Genius s.r.l.
    Inventor: Carlo Pedemonte
  • Publication number: 20030097794
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a double door drive unit with spring closing system wherein the double door is opened by means of a drive unit and closed by spring force. It is characterized in that a toothed rack is guided axially movable on a rotating driven ball screw, said toothed rack operating against the load of a spring actuator, and that the toothed rack is in combing engagement with a pinion, which, in turn is connected to the driving linkage for the double door drive unit in such a way that it is integral in rotation with said driving linkage. This results in a very space-saving design for the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: Landert-Motoren-AG
    Inventor: Daniel Brennwald
  • Publication number: 20020124468
    Abstract: A multi-position window includes a stationary window frame, a sash window frame positioned within the stationary window frame and selectively pivotable out of the stationary window frame about a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, and a drive train positioned between the sash window frame and the stationary window frame. The drive train is preferably moveable between at least a first position which enables the sash window frame to be pivoted about the vertical axis and a second position which enables that sash window frame to be pivoted about the horizontal axis. The drive train is preferably moved by a mechanical actuator which is concealed in the sash window frame to create a pleasing aesthetic appearance and is operatively connected to the drive train to move the drive train from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: Francis Manzella
  • Patent number: 6412785
    Abstract: A door closing device. The device includes a main body, a shaft, an annular cover mounted in the main body, and a planar gasket. Two ends of the shaft are rotatably supported in the annular cover by a collar. The planar gasket is mounted around the shaft and between the collar and a peripheral edge defining a central annular hole of the annular cover. The planar gasket includes an inner diameter approximately the same as an outer diameter of the shaft and an outer diameter approximately the same as an inner diameter of the annular cover. The planar gasket further includes two opposed planar surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 6134751
    Abstract: There is provided an adjustable window hinge suitable for casement and awning windows, the window hinge having a longitudinally extending track securable to a window frame, a shoe slidable along the track, a sash arm having one end pivotably connected to the shoe and the other end connected to the window, a support frame having a first end pivotably connected to the sash arm and a second end pivotably connected to the track, the second end being pivotably connected to the track by a rack and pinion arrangement such that rotational movement of the pinion will result in a longitudinal displacement of the stud along the longitudinally extending track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventors: Germain Carrier, Gaetan Bisson
  • Patent number: 6076304
    Abstract: A window opening and closing assembly formed of molded plastic components which includes first and second housing members suitably secured together with a rack slidably mounted in the housing, the rack being moveable between first and second positions which correspond to fully open and fully closed positions for the window, the rack having a tongue extending exteriorly of the housing and designed to engage window rollers, a pinon operatively engaged with the slidable rack, and a handle having a shaft connected to the pinion whereby rotatable movement of the shaft will cause the pinion to move the rack within the housing. There are preferably provided locking members means for locking the handle in at least filly open and fully closed positions. The assembly is easily manufactured and assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventor: Germain Carrier
  • Patent number: 6062663
    Abstract: A door for a computer case is provided which can be moved to a blocking position for blocking access to bays and/or drives of the case. The door can be attached to the case by a slide connection for sliding it along the front of the case between its blocking and accessing positions. In the preferred form, the case is a vertical tower type of case and the door is preloaded on track guides so that when it is raised such as to the blocking position it will not fall back to the accessing position under the influence of its own weight. A gear drive can be provided between the door and housing to provide for smooth manual sliding of the door to readily allow the door to be pushed to overcome the frictional resistance provided by the preload without hang ups in the track guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation Japan
    Inventors: Roger You, David Chen, Matthew Herron, Jacques Louis Gagne, Dore Chin Mark, Kevin Christian Coullahan, Tony Hieu Nguyen, Brian Keith Williams
  • Patent number: 4835905
    Abstract: A door position indicator for a door closer which senses the position of a door closer piston as a means of sensing door position. The door closer and hence the door position indicator may be recessed in the door jamb over the top edge of the door thereby providing additional security to the door position sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Lasier, William L. Downey
  • Patent number: 4630397
    Abstract: A control mechanism for opening and closing a window sash or like element pivotally mounted in a frame. The mechanism has a drive member mounted for rotation with an elongated drive shaft and a housing mounted on the drive member for rotation relative to the drive member and the elongated shaft. The housing includes a retaining mechanism which is subtended by a first portion of the drive member. A rod for reciprocating movement in response to rotation of the drive member is located between the retaining mechanism and the first portion of the drive member and held in direct contact with the drive member by the retaining mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Roper Corporation
    Inventors: George J. Dean, Jr., Robert S. Klaeser, Lloyd W. Braa
  • 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: 4580365
    Abstract: In a door lock comprised of an elongated housing in which a piston loaded with a spring is displaceable in two opposite axial directions, a rotatable locking shaft connected to the door wing and provided with a pinion engaged with a rack formed on that piston, the spring is prestressed in the direction of the closing of the door. The spring acts on a displaceable supporting member which displaces the piston in the housing of the lock. An electromotor actuated by a control unit is operated to displace the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Dorma-Baubeschlag GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Giselher Sieg
  • 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: 4367610
    Abstract: An opening and closing mechanism for a blast resistant pivoted door includes a torque tube assembly connected between a rotary actuator and the door, the torque tube assembly being arranged to absorb the rebound of the door after a blast to help prevent damage both to the actuator and the door by the rebound. Preferably the torque tube assembly is formed by a central shaft arranged inside a tube, one of the ends of the central shaft and tube being fixed together with the other end of the shaft being connected to the rotary actuator and the other end of the tube being connected to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Assignee: John Mowlem & Company Limited
    Inventor: David J. Goode
  • Patent number: 4333270
    Abstract: A door operator of electromechanical character for utilization with swing-mounted doors is provided in a self-contained unit for mounting as a part of a door frame or for attachment to existing doors and frames. The opener has a door driving shaft mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and connectable to a door for closing and opening of the door when rotated, and a transmission interconnecting a prime mover and door driving shaft for rotation to open the door upon selective delivery of power by the prime mover. A pinion interconnected with the shaft meshes with a rack gear for shifting of the rack gear about a longitudinal axis in response to rotation of the shaft. The unit includes a module of interchangeable character having a preloaded spring and configured for the intended direction(s) of rotation of the door for opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: BESAM-EADS, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Catlett
  • Patent number: 4220051
    Abstract: A door operator with a reciprocable rack gear adapted to be actuated in opposite directions by an electric motor driven screw and a coaxial helical compression spring for rotating a drive gear of a door operating spindle in opposite directions for opening and closing a swinging door, the rack gear forming part of a spindle operator having lateral bearings engageable with the ends of the spindle and adapted to be mounted in either of two 180.degree. angularly spaced positions about the axis of the drive screw for rotating the spindle in opposite directions, and the coaxial compression spring being operable via the rack gear for biasing the spindle in both directions to an intermediate position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1980
    Assignee: The Stanley Works
    Inventor: John C. Catlett