US1801863A - Control mechanism for automatically-operated doors - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1931. HU STQN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED DOORS Filed Dec. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l/YVE/YTOR JACK HUSTON April 21, 1931. J HUSTQN 1,801,863

' CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED DOORS Filed Dec. 16, 1929 2 Sheets-She s! 2 array/vs Patented Apr. 21, 193i PATENT OFFICE JACK HUSTON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA CONTROL MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATICALLY- OPERATED DOORS Application filed December 16,1929. Serial No. 414,510.

My invention relates to improvements in control mechanism for automatically operated garage doors and the like wherein a control switch, electrically connected to door operating mechanism, is mounted upon an arm movable from a normal inoperative receded position to an outwardly extending position to move the switch to a point accessible to the driver of avehicle approaching 10 the door, wherebyvsaid driver may operate the switch and cause the door to be opened without leaving the drivers seat of the vehicle.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved control mechanism for automatically operated doors.

Another object is to provide an improved device of the character described wherein a control switch is normally heldin an inoperative position, and is automatically released for movement to an operative position accessible to the driver by a vehicle approaching a garage door to be opened. 7

A further object is to provide an improved switch mounting arm movable from a normal inoperative position within awall, to an outwardly extending operative position, to permit the switch to beoperated at a point spaced in front of a garage door to energize 3o door operating mechanism, the arm being automatically returned to normal position when the door is moved to a closed position.

Another object is toprovide an improved control switch mounting wherein the switch is normally receded into the wall of a garage in a position inaccessible to intruders, the switch beingautomatically released and extended to operative position when a vehicle is moved to a proper position in front of the door of the garage.

A still further object is to provide an improved mechanism which is simple, positive, and efficient in its operation and which will facilitate the opening and closing of garage doors.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application wherein like characters of refpair of garage doors and power driven op- A crating mechanism therefor, and including a conventionalwiring diagram of the electrical connections;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device as viewed from the inside of the garage;

Fi 3 is a vertical section showing the arrangement and operation of my improved control means; r

Fig. 4 is abroken side elevation, partly in section, of the control arm as mounted within its guide member, the figure being drawn upon a larger scale;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional detail of the arm and actuating means taken upon the ling:1 55 of Fig.4 in the direction indicated; an

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the outer end of, the control arm and showingthe control switch thereon. V

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate in general a pair of ga- Tags doors hingedly mounted within a door opening formed in a wall 2 of a garage.

The doors 1 are provided with power driven operating mechanism for opening and closing said doors. For purpose of illustration, I have illustrated door operating mechanism of the form and arrangement disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 85 407,635, filed November 16, 1929. This operating mechanism consists briefly of a motor 3 provided with a driving gear 4 meshing with pinions 6 rotatably mounted upon a shaft 7. A worm 8 secured n 3011 the shaft 7 meshes with a worm gear 9. onnecting links 11 are pivotally connected at one end to diametrically opposite points of the gear 9 and at their opposite ends to door operating levers 12 secured to the doors. A clutch member 14:, feathered upon the shaft 7 between the pinions 6, is movable to engage clutch members formed upon said pinions 6, whereby the shaft 7 may be driven in either direction by the gear 4 to move the doors to open or closed 9 tacts 19 and 20.

positions as desired, the clutch member being automatically shifted to engage the opposite pinion 6 when the doors reach either extreme position. The gear 9 is provided with a circuit breaking contact plate 15 operative to automatically break the circuit to the motor 3 when the doors reach either extreme position, thereby stopping the operation of the door operating mechanism until the circuit is again closed through control switches operative to close the circuit and energize the motor and move the doors in the opposite direction.

The electric circuit comprises a pair of main leads 16 and 17, connected to a suitable source of electrical energy. The lead 16 is connected to one side of the motor 8 while the other lead 17 is connected to a switch arm 18 movable to engage either oi a. pair of con- The contact 19 is electrically connected to one of a pair of contacts 22 by a connection 19 while the contact 20 is connected to one of a pair of contacts 21 by a connection 20. The opposite contacts of the pairs 21 and 22 are connected to the opposite terminal or" the motor 3, connection being closed alternately between the pairs of contacts 21 and 22 by means of the contact plate 15 as the circuit is broken between the opposite pair or" contacts. Suitable elcctromagnet coils 23 are arranged to be energized when a circuitis closed at either contact 19 or 20 to hold the arm 18 in circuit closing position until the circuit is broken at the plate 15 and contacts 21 or 22. The control switch 18 is mounted at any convenient location within the garage.

As the specific structure and operation of the door operating mechanism is fully disclosed in the co-pending application above referred to, a further detailed description of this mechanism is unnecessary.

The present invention directed to the provision of mechanism whereby the door operating mechanism may be controlled and operated from the point outside of the garage by the driver of a vehicle approaching the doors without necessitating that said driver leave the drivers seat.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention as disclosed in the drawings, 1 provide a control arm 26 mounted adjacent the door 1 and movable from a normally receded inoperative position to an outwardly extending operative position. The arm 26 consists preferably of a tubular member slidably mov able through a guide member 27 mounted transversely through the wall 2 at a point adjacent the top and one side of the door 1. The guide member 27 is preferably arranged at an angle inclining downwardly toward the outer end thereof. The inner end extends inwardly into the garage to provide a substantial bearing for the arm 26. The arm 26 is preferably provided with anti-friction rollers 28 whereby the arm will nor mally be moved by gravity to move outwardly through the guide member 27 to its operative outwardly extending position as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 or the drawings. A weight 25) is suspended upon a cord 31 having one end connected to afixed support 32 and the opposite end connected over a suitable pulley 33 secured upon the inner end of the guide member 27 to the inner end of the arm 26 to cooperate with gravity in moving the arm to its outwardly extending position. The cord 31 may comprise the electrical conductors extending to the arm 26,

hereinafter more fully described.

A control switch is mounted upon the outer end of the arm 26, said switch consisting of a switch arm 34 pivotally mounted at one end thereof and movable to engage either of a. pair of contacts 36 and 37 mounted adjacent thereto. The contacts 36 and 37 are connected in parallel with the contacts 19 and 20 respectively by suitable connections 38 and 39 extending through the arm and connected to the connections 19 and 20 respectively, said connections 38 and 39 being flexible and of suiticient length to accommodate the movemcnt of the arm 26 between its extreme positions. Electro-n'iagnet coils 41 are mounted upon opposite sides of the switch arm 34 and connected to the connections 38 and 39 in such manner as to be energized. when a current is passed through the respective connection to attract and hold the switch arm in circuit closing relation with the respective contacts 36 and 37. A conductor 42 is connected to the arm 34 and to the main lead 17 The arm 26 is normally held in its inwardly receded position by means of a latch 43 slidably mounted for movement through an opening 44 in. the guide member 27 to engage an opening 46 in the arm 26, the latch 48 being held in a normal locking position by means of a spring 47 The latch 43 is positioned upon the inside of the garage and is operated by means of a rod 48 connected at one end to said latch and at its lower end to one arm of a bell crank 49 pivotally mounted at the approximate level of the floor of the garage. The other arm of the crank 49 is engaged by a rod 51 extending longitudinally through a tubular guide 52 mounted within the floor of the garage and extending to a point spaced outwardly in front of the door 1. A trip member 53 is pivotally mounted substantially within the plane of the approach to the garage. said member having a body portion normally inclining slightly upwardly above said plane to be engaged and depressed by a wheel 54 of a vehicle 56. The member 53 is provided with a downwardly disposed extension 57 engaging the forward end of the rod 51 to move said rod inwardly and thereby actuate the crank 49 when the body portion of the member 53 is depressed by the wheel 54. A suitable spring resiliently holds the crank 49, rod 51 and member 53 in normal operative position.

The arm 26 is moved from extended operative position to its receded inoperative position preferably by means of a gear 58 meshing with a rack 60 carried by the arm 26. The gear 58 is secured upon a shaft 59 arranged in axial alinement with the shaft 7 with the adjacent end of the shaft 59 slightly spaced from the end of the shaft 7. A clutch member 61 is feathered on the end of the shaft 7 and arranged to be moved into driving engagement with a clutch member 62 secured upon the adjacent end of the shaft 59. The member 61 is actuated by means of a yoke 63 connected to and acting in common with the clutch 14, said member 61 being moved into driving engagement with the clutch member 26 when the clutch 14 is moved into engagement with the pinion .6 operative to move the doors in a door closing direction.

In operation, the arm 26 is normally held in its receded inoperative position by the latch 43. When a vehicle 56 approaches the closed doors of the garage, the trip member 53 is engaged by the wheel 54 and depressed to actuate the crank 49 and thereby move the latch 43 to release the arm. Gravity, assisted by the weight 29, causes the arm 26 to move outwardly through the guide member 27 to its'outwardly extending operative position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the end of said arm moving to a position conveniently accessible to the driver of the vehicle without leaving his seat in the drivers position. The control switch 34 is thereby moved to a position whereby it may be operated by the driver to close the circuit through the motor 3 and thereby energize the operating mechanism to open the door. This is done by moving the arm 34 to engage the door opening contact 36, either manually or by a suitable key operated mechanism of any conventional form not illustrated.

. When the arm 34 engages the contact 36, a

circuit is completed through the connections 38 and 19 to the contacts 22,"said contacts being bridged by the contact plate 15 and completing a circuit through the motor whereby the operating mechanism is actuated to open the doors. The circuit flowing through the connection 38 energizes the mag net 41 to hold the arm 34 in engagement with the contact 36. As soon as the doors reach the extreme open position, the plate 15 moves out of contact with the contacts 22, thereby breaking the circuit and causing the arm 34 to be released, and at the same time stopping the motor 3. As the doors reach their ex.- treme open position, the clutch 14 is automatically shifted to engage the opposite pinion 6 so that when the motor 3 is again energized, the operating mechanism will cause the doors to be closed. The clutch 61, being actuated by the yoke 63 which in turn is actuated by the clutch 14, is thus moved to engage the clutch 62 so that when the shaft 7 is rotated to close the doors, the shaft 59 will i be correspondingl rotated.

To close the doors 1 the circuit is closed through either the switch 18 or the switch 34 by moving either switch to engage the closing contacts 20 or 37 respectively. When the circuit is thus closed the motor 1 is energized through the connection 20' and operates to move the doors to the closed position.

At the same time, the shaft 59 is driven by the clutch 61 and operates through the gear 58 and rack 60 to move the arm 26 inwardly to its receded inoperative position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The latch 43 engages the arm 26 as it reaches its extreme receded position and operates to retain said arm until again released by driving a vehicle into engagement with the trip member 53. The switch 34 is carried by the arm 26 into the end of theguide member 27 so that the switch is fully enclosed and protected, and

held in a position such that it can not be the closing contact 37 by an occupant of the,

vehicle without leaving the vehicle, the arm being again moved to its receded position as the doors are closed.

While I have illustrated my invention in connection with only one type of door operating mechanism, the control arm and its associated elements may of course be adapted for use in connection with door operating mechanism of various other structures and arrangement. Furthermore, the specific structure and arrangement of the control arm and the actuating and releasing mechanism therefor may also be modified in a great many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to the specific details of Com struction and arrangement illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1., The combination with a garage door and power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with said door for opening and closing the same, of an arm mounted adjacent the door, said arm being movable to an extended position projecting outwardly from the door; and control means mount-ed upon said arm and connected to the operating mechanism to energize the same, said control means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of a vehicle approaching said door.

2. The combination with a garage door and power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with said door for opening and closing the same, of an arm mounted adjacent the door, said arm being movable to an extended position projecting outwardly from the door; control means mounted upon said arm and connected to the operating mechanism to energize the same, said control means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of a vehicle approaching said door; and means actuated by the approaching vehicle for releasing said arm for movement to its extended position.

3. The combination with a garage door and power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with said door for opening and closing the same, of an arm mounted adjacent the door, said arm being movable from a normal inoperative position to an extended operative position; retaining means normally securing the arm in inoperative position and means mounted in spaced relation to the outer side of the door and connected to the releasing means and arranged to be engaged and actuated by a vehicle approaching the door for moving said retaining means to release the arm to operative position; and control means mounted upon said arm and connected to the operating mechanism to energize the same, said control means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of the Vehicle from the drivers position.

l. The combination with a garage door and power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with said door for opening and closing the same, of an arm mounted adjacent the door, said arm being normally held in an inoperative position and being movable to an outwardly extending operative position; means actuated by a vehi le approaching the door for releasing the arm to extended position; control means mounted upon the arm and connected to the operating mechanism to energize the same to open the door, said control means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of the approaching vehicle from the drivers seat; and means connected to the arm and operating mechanism and actuated by the door perating mechanism when operated to close the door for moving the arm to its normal inoperative position.

.5. The combination with a garage door and power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with said door for opening and closing the same, of an arm mounted adjacent the door; means normally holding the arm in an inoperative position; means actuated by a vehicle approaching the door for releasing said arm from normal position means for moving the arm to an outwardly extending operative position when released; control mechanism mounted upon the arm and connected to the operating mechanism to energize the same; arm actuating means mount-- ed adjacent the door operating mechanism and connected to the arm; and means automatically connecting the door operating mechanism to the arm actuating means to move the arm to its normal position when the operating mechanism is energized to close the door.

(3. The combination with a garage door and electrically driven operating mechanism mounted in connection with the door for opening and closing the same, of an arm mounted adjacent the door; means normally holding the arm in an inoperative position; means actuated by a vehicle approaching the door for releasing said arm from normal position; means cooperating with gravity for moving the arm to an outwardly extending operative position when released; circuit control means mounted upon the arm and electrically connected to the electric driving means of the door operating mechanism, said circuit control means normally breaking the circuit to said driving means and being movable to close said circuit to energize said driving means, said control means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of the vehicle from the drivers seat; and means actuated by the door operating mechanism when operated to close the door for moving the arm to its normal inoperative position.

7. The combination with a garage door and power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with said door for opening and closing the same, of an arm mounted adj acent the door; means normally holding the arm in an inoperative position; means actuated by a vehicle approaching the door for releasing said arm from normal position; means cooperating with gravity for moving the arm to an outwardly extending operative position when released; control mechanism mounted upon the arm and connected to the operating mechanism to energize the same, said control mechanism being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of the vehicle from the drivers seat; an arm actuating shaft mounted adjacent the arm; gear means connecting said shaft with the arm; and clutch means automatically moved and operated by the door operating mechanism to engage and actuate the shaft to move the arm to normal position when the door operating mechanism is operated to close the door. I V 1 8. The combination with a garage door and electrically controlled power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with the door for'opening and closing the same, of a tubular arm slidably mounted at one side of the door; means normally holding the arm in an inoperative receded position means for releasing said. arm; means for moving the :arm outwardly to an extended position; control means mounted upon the outer end of the arm connected through said arm to the operating mechanism to energize the same, said means being moved by the arm' to a position accessible to the driver of a vehicle approaching the door. I

9. The combination with a garage door and electrically controlled power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with the door for opening and closing the same, of a tubular arm mounted transversely through a wall adjacent the door and slidably movable between extreme inwardly and outwardly extending positions; means normally holding the arm in its extreme inwardly extending position; means actuated by a vehicle approaching the door for releasing the arm; means cooperating with gravity for moving the arm to its extreme outwardly extending position when released; electrical control means mounted upon the outer end of the arm and connected through said arm to the operating mechanism to normally break an electrical circuit thereto, said control means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of the vehicle and being operable to close the circuit to energize the operating mechanism.

10. The combination with a garage door and electrically controlled power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with the door for opening and closing the same, of a tubular arm mounted transversely through a wall adjacent the door and slidably movable between extreme inwardly and outwardly extending positions; means normally holding the arm in its extreme inwardly extending position; means actuated by a vehicle approaching the door for releasing the arm; means cooperating with gravity for moving the arm to its extreme outwardly extending position when released; electrical control means mounted upon the outer end of the arm and connected through said arm to the operating mechanism to normally break an electrical circuit thereto, said control means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of the vehicle and being operable to close the circuit to energize the operating mechanism; and means actuated by the door operating mechanism when energized to close the door for automatically moving the arm to its extreme receded position.

for moving the retaining means to release the arm for movement to its extreme outwardly extending position; electrical control means mounted upon the outer end of the arm and connected to the operating mechanism to normally break an electric circuit thereto, said; 2

control means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of the vehicle and being operable to close the circuit to energize the operating mechanism.

12. The combination with a garage door and electrically controlled power actuated operating mechanism mountedin connection with the door for opening and closing the same of a guide member mounted transversely through a wall at one side of the door and downwardly inclined toward the outer side of the wall and door; an arm slidably mounted wit lnn the guide member and axially movable thcrethrough between extreme inwardly and outwardly extending positions;- retaining means normally holding the arm in an extreme inwardly projecting position;

means actuated by a vehicle approaching the door for moving the retaining means to release the arm for movement to its extreme outwardly extending position; electrical control means mounted upon the outer endof the arm and connected to the operating mechanism to normally break an electric circuit thereto, said control means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of the vehicle and being operable to close the circuit to energize the operating. mechanism; and means actuated by the door operating mechanism when actuated to close the door for automatically moving the arm to its extreme inwardly extending position.

13. The combination with'a garage door and electrically controlled power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with the door for opening and closing the same of a guidemember mounted transversely through a wall at one side of the door and inclined downwardly toward the outer side of said wall and door; an arm slidably mounted within the guide and axially movable therethrough between extreme inwardly and outwardly extending positions; a latch. normally engaging the arm to hold said M1 in its inwardly extending position; a

trip mounted in outwardly spaced relation to the door to be engaged and moved by a vehicle approaching the door; means connecting the trip with the latch for moving the latch to release the arm when the trip is engaged by a vehicle; and circuit control means mounted upon the outer end of the arm and electrically connected with the operating mechanism and normally breaking the circuit thereto, said means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of the vehicle and being operable to close the circuit to energize the operating mechanism to open the door.

14. The combination with a garage door and electrically controlled power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with the door for opening and closing the same, of a guide member mounted transversely through a wall at one side of the door and inclined downwardly toward the outer side of said wall and door; an arm slidably mounted within the guide and axially movable therethrough between extreme inwardly and outwardly extending positions; a latch normally engaging the arm to hold said arm in its inwardly extending position; a trip mounted in outwardly spaced relation to the door to be engaged and moved by a vehicle approaching the door; means connecting the trip with the latch for moving the latch to release the arm when the trip is engaged by a vehicle; circuit control means mounted upon the outer end of the arm and electrically connected with the operating mechanism and normally breaking the circuit thereto, said means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of the vehicle and being operable to close the circuit to energize the operating mechanism to open the door; and means actuated by the door operating mechanism when actuated to close the door for automatically moving the arm to its extreme inwardly extending position.

15. The combination with a garage door and electrically controlled power actuated operating mechanism mounted in connection with the door for opening and closing the same, of a guide member mounted transversely through a wall at one side of the door and inclined downwardly toward the outer side of said wall and door; an arm slidably mounted within the guide and axially movable therethrough between extreme inwardly and outwardly extending positions; a latch normally engaging the arm to hold said arm in its inwardly extending position; a trip mounted in outwardly spaced relation to the door to be engaged and moved by a vehicle approaching the door; means connecting the trip with the latch for moving the latch to release the arm when the trip is engaged by a vehicle; circuit control means mounted upon the outer end of the arm and electrically connected with the operating mechanism and normally breaking the circuit thereto, said means being moved by the arm to a position accessible to the driver of the vehicle and being operable to close the circuit to energize the operating mechanism to open the door; an arm actuating shaft mounted adjacent the door operating mechanism; means connecting the shaft to the arm, said means being operable to move the arm axially through the guide member; and a clutch actuated by the door operating mechanism to engage and actuate the shaft when the door operating mechanism is moved to close the door.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my signature.

JACK HUSTON.

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