US2660753A - Counterbalance for vertically sliding doors - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1, c c MOLER COUNTERBALANCE FOR VERTICALLY SLIDING DOORS Filed March 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Dec. 1, 1953 c, Q MQLER 3 COUNTERBALANCE FOR VERTICALLY SLIDING DOORS Filed March 8, 1951 2 SheetsSheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 1, 1953 COUNTERBALANCE FOR VERTICALLY SLIDING DOORS Charles C. Moler, Hartford City, Ind., assignor to Overhead Door Corporation, Hartford City,

Application March 8, 1951, Serial No. 214,575

7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in counterbalance for vertically sliding doors.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an economical and simplified counterbalance of the coiled torsional spring type for vertically sliding doors.

Second, to provide counterbalance structure having a minimum number of parts in which the spring supporting structure coacts with the drum of a door supporting cable to maintain the drum in proper alignment.

Third, to provide a novel and inexpensiv form of cable drum which is easily mounted and connected to a coiled counterbalance spring.

Fourth, to provide novel means for connecting a coiled torsional spring to the cable drum of a door counterbalancing structure.

Fifth, to provide a counterbalance structure of the torsional coil spring variety for vertically sliding doors which is easily adjusted to proper tension and which is sturdy and long lived in operation.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims.

The drawings, of which there are two sheets, illustrate the preferred form of my counterbalance structure operatively associated with a door of the vertically sliding type.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary inside elevational view of a vertically sliding door with my counterbalance structure operatively connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the counterbalance structure partially broken away in longitudinal cross section along the plane of the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end of the counterbalance spring and its support ready to be connected to the drum of the door supporting cable.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the drum supporting spindle taken along the plane of the line 44 in Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the support and adjusting connections for the fixed end of the spring.

In Figure 1 I have illustrated portions of a conventional type of vertically sliding door. These include the door I having supporting hinge and guide brackets 2 secured along the edge thereof. The guide brackets carry pins 3 for supporting rollers in the guide track 4 as is common in doors of this type, and one of the brackets 2 carries a laterally extending support flange or bracket 5 to which a counterbalancing suspension cable 6 is 2 attached. The cable extends upwardly to the counterbalancing structure indicated generally at I to sustain most of the weight of the door and facilitate its opening and closing motion.

The counterbalancing structure I which constitutes my invention consists of a pair of flanged supporting brackets 8 and 9 which are fixedly secured to the wall in laterally spaced relationship above the door I. The major elements of the counterbalance structure include a drum 10 for taking up and paying out the cable 6, a coiled torsional spring I I which is attached to the drum to store up energy as the door is lowered and thus counterbalances the weight of the door, an anchor block 2 for adjustably supporting the fixed end of the spring II, and an inner wooden spacing core it which prevents buckling of the spring ii intermediate of its ends. The drum l0 and the right end of the counterbalance structure was rotatably supported from the rig-ht bracket 9 by a stub shaft or spindle M and the left end of the structure and the anchor block l2 are supported from the left bracket 8 by a pin [5.

Considering the construction of the drum [0 and its connection to the spring H in greater detail it will be noted that the drum includes an outer cylindrical rim portion [6 which is spirally grooved to take up and pay out the cable in neat coils. The interior portion of the drum consists of a Wheel-like disc ll formed integrally with the rim and apertured at the center to pass the spindle Hi. The spindle M which is fixedly secured to the bracket 9 by the nut I8 is provided with an annular flange or collar I9 located within the aperture in the disc ll of the drum. Fixedly secured at opposite sides of the disc I! are a pair of hub plates 2% which are provided with oppositely and inwardly concave hub flanges 2| projecting radially inwardly of the aperture in the disc ll. The hub flanges 2| form ways or retainers for a plurality of'ball bearings 22 which are thus retained on opposite sides of the collar l9. Quite obviously the drum l0 and supporting spindle M are initially and permanently assembled together as a unit by the permanent attachment of the hub plate 29 to the disc l1. Rivets 24 secure the elements of the drum structure together as is best shown in Figure 4.

The disc I! and hub plates 20 of the drum are formed with two diametrically opposed holes 25 extending completely therethrough to pass the threaded. ends of a pair of anchor pins 26. On their axially inner ends the pins 26 are enlarged and provided with transverse bores 2'! so that the pins may be threaded successively over the right end of the torsional spring II. Prior to being threaded over the spring H the inner ends of the pins 26 are engaged in holes 28 in the opposite ends of a lock plate 29 and the plate and 5 pins are thenthreadedonto thespring in a t wist ing motiq igso that theputer endjcoil gijthe sprin 5 retains the plate 29 axially while the engagement" of the inner ends of the pins 26 within the holes 28 prevents removal of the plate transversely '10 of the spring. The plate 29 is'providedwithial central aperture 30 which passes the inner end of the spindle I4.

The free or inner end oi the spindle ligi shouldered as at 31 to press against and ex- 15 tend into the center of the spring spacin g co re l3. Sufficient room is provided between the inner hub flange 2| of the drum and the endflpi v the core to pass the anchor plate 29 as is most a sseatee 59? fsg p e mixer sle er the ve pins, ,32 serves a diabetes ables wh ch i dl y tiirdii li.ahcle 6" 'ifidfyvrapped' aroundthe pin a'sf iridi ii the support and po n iiqns, dfof the. spring ittvi'll be no ted. 35 hQi' 'blolckjlz is" rotatable about the s [capable of being secured in differdju ted positions by anchor screws ack 8. The anchor block' isg further so P n v p w a series of radially extendir ig holes or so kets'fii which are adapted to receive;

aspanner wrench 'for rotating the anchor block p ll s rin 1 ,7 r f l t l l eadin e.v s 33 are] inserted to v hold the pag The inner end of the rrv di th a bere s 'i alo ask Janis threaded nto the ag 1 ng n forms a spring clutch conj with; l5fwlliich supports theanchor block through the 'block linto, the end of g core f3 'so that the pin l 5 core 3; i p 1nd1 ej M are mutually selfisirppdrted in: alig merit within the spring l I; The core 13-- befinade :oi wood as shown or inexpensive pi or con'duit for light weight and'is'not sub; ject ed to any great loads bythe oper'ation er; th kounterbalance"structure. fiesirably'; the end of the; spring i i that engagesthepins ZEisb'ent from the circular shape of" thebody-"o'f' t'he spring as 'at m to prevent 3 the spring from twisting out of the holes 21 shlj'uldfthe nfit'S EZ b'e insufficiently tightened. 'Ih' holes] 1 aremaae 'large enough to permit theg'threading ofthe pins over thebent end of the spring dui'in g assemblybut once the pins are engaged through lthejdrum Iii they will not twfis or'jmri sufli cienjtly, to permit unintentional is adi g of th rin oms i e, P ne. i usvl sqr e i ent- 911 w t i aim s. er nd; egree. eere Pr Le ters 1. Spring counterbalance structure for a vertically movable door comprising, a pair of my porting brackets adapted to be mounted in transversely spaced relationship above said door, a spindle fixedly secured to one of said brackets and located to one side of said door, a collar ,on said spindle forming an inner bearing guide, a drum rotatably nounted on sai d spindle aiiddncluding an inner hub portion retaining ball bearings on each side of said collar, said drum including a radially extending disc portionl. defining-,- diametrically opposite located haiesand an outer cable supporting rim, a pin supp-ortedloy -the pther of said brackets and extending aligiied position toward said spindle, a spring'supporting core extending between and supported by said spindle and said pin, an ancherb'lock rotatabl-y adjustably mounted on rs ai d pir means for securing said block to said other bracket in adjusted position, a coiled tor- Q fi li a ififi la qull l qt9Q? 3 2 35C" me ii esifis g iq saiiqb eq a h r plate positionedj between the first 'and second tui ns of the other end offsai'd spring and having holes vriht r hree e. n i ent d pfie the sides of said outer tur'nlof said sp ringfw ith the center hole passing said spindl anchor'pins having theirinr erends received in-the end holes in idanchoriplate and forming transverse ap ertures "thr'dugh; wh1ch the-outer turn of --said g spring is passed; saidfanchor pins extending;- threugh the holes inthe disc portion; of saiddrum, and nuts on-the other endsof's'aid an chor pins clamping the: outer turnlofsaid springagai nst inne'r' side 'of s'aiddrum one ofsaid anchor pins and nuts 1 forming anl anchor attachrhent '-for a supporting cable--adapted-to-be coiled around saiddrinn an'd 'adapted-td extend dgwnwardly and ee connected; to said doom-"said other end of-said spring having-a hooked tipto'prc'vent said spring from-twistingout-onen gage'riie nt with said pins.

Z Spring counterbalance structure for--aver-, tic al lymovable-deer comprising; a pairof-sup porting brackets adapted to be 1n'ou-ntednitransversely spaced relationship above-said decr a' spindle fixedly secured to one (obsaidehra ckets and located to one Slde Ofi said doorQarollar on said spindle=-forming-an .-inner-bearing guide, a drum rotatably mounted-.011saidspindlew arid including an -{innen huh portion retaining ball --bearings on each L side 'Jof said collar, said-,- drum including a radially extending-disc--per-- tion defining aghole radially spaced from-ii'its center and an outer ca-ble;supportingurimga.pin/ supported by the otheh-ofsaid bracketsandex tending toward said spindle; a'.spring support ing core -exten'ding. betweeri an d supportedz by said spindle-and "saidpin, an-anehorblock-wo tatably adjustably amounted-on said -pingmeansl for securing said block to said:other bracketin adjusted position; a coil; spring disposed around said c'or'e' and havinlglloneendffixed to said block,- an anchor plate-positioned betwee-rnthemfirsts and second turns ofthe other end of said: spring and having halesfor'ined therethrough, one; passing said spindle and another oppositeethew outer turn of said. spring, wan Janchor- =has/ind; itsilinner' end received inthe; outer hole in said wee-a e? a e; felt-mi e. t s r e e ur thrcugh hich -the outer turn or said-spring is; a se s id eh r, e. n in e e i hole; in said disc portion of said drum a nutonthe other end of said anchor pin clamping the outer turn of said spring against th -ihfiffia? 3. Spring counterbalance structure for a vertically movable door comprising, a pair of supporting brackets adapted to be mounted in transversely spaced relationship above said door, a spindle fixedly secured to one of said brackets and located to one side of said door, a drum rotatably mounted on said spindle and axially fixed thereon, said drum including a radially extending disc portion defining a hole radially spaced from its center and an outer cable supporting rim, a pin supported by the other of said brackets and extending toward said spindle, a spring supporting core extending between and. supported by said spindle and said pin, an anchor block rotatably adjustably mounted on said pin, means for securing said block to said other bracket in adjusted position, a coiled spring disposed around said core and having one end fixed to said block, an anchor pin having a transverse aperture through which the outer turn of said spring is passed, said anchor pin extending through the hole in said disc portion of said drum, a nut on the other end of said anchor pin clamping the outer turn of said spring against the inner side of said drum.

4. counterbalance structure for a vertically movable door having a supporting cable attached thereto comprising, a pair of brackets fixedly supported above said door, pins projecting inwardly from said brackets, a spring sup-porting core supported between and aligning the inner ends of said pins, an anchor block rotatably adjustably mounted on one of said pins, a drum rotatably mounted and axially fixed on the other of said pins and adapted to be connected to said cable to wind up the same, a. coil spring sleeved around said core and having one end connected to said block, and means including pins passed axially through said drum and connected to the other end of said spring for drivingly connecting said drum to said spring, said connecting pins having recesses embracing said spring, and clamping nuts on the opposite ends of said pins from said spring for clamping the end of the spring axially against said drum, said other end of said spring having a hooked tip to prevent said spring from twisting out of engagement with said pins.

5. Counterbalance structure for a vertically movable door having a supporting cable attached thereto comprising, a pair of brackets fixedly supported above said door, pins projecting inwardly from said brackets, a spring supporting core supported between and aligning the inner ends of said pins, an anchor block rotatably adjustably mounted on one of said pins, a drum rotatably mounted on the other of said pins and adapted to be connected to said cable to wind up the same, a coil spring sleeved around said core and having one end connected to said block, and means connected to the other end of said spring for drivingly connecting said drum to said spring, said connecting means having portions overlapping the end turn of said spring and clamping nuts for clamping the end of the spring axially against said drum.

6. Counterbalance structure for a vertically movable door having a supporting cable attached thereto comprising, a pair of brackets fixedly supported above said door, pins projecting inwardly from said brackets, a spring supporting core supported between and aligning the inner ends of said pins, an anchor block rotatably adjustably mounted on one of said pins, a drum rotatably mounted on the other of said pins and adapted to be connected to said cable to wind up the same, a coil spring sleeved around said core and having one end connected to said block, and means connected to the other end of said spring for drivingly connecting said drum to said spring.

7. counterbalance structure for a vertically movable door having a supporting cable comprising, a drum rotatably mounted and adapted to take up said cable in the elevated position of the door, a coil spring mounted in generally coaxial alignment with said drum with one end positioned adjacent to said drum and with its other end fixed, means for securing the free end of said spring to said drum including an anchor pin having a transverse recess through which the end turn of said spring extends, said pin extending axially of said drum through a hole provided therefor in a portion of said drum spaced radially from its axis of rotation, and a nut threaded on said pin on the opposite end of said drum from said spring and clamping the end of said spring against said drum.

CHARLES C. MOLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name Date 2,010,214 Braun Aug. 6, 1935 2,201,636 Siess et a1 May 21, 1940 2,257,484 Rowe Sept. 30, 1941.

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