Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Plural strip – slat – or panel type – With mounting or supporting means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-26
2001-01-30
Lev, Bruce A. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Plural strip, slat, or panel type
With mounting or supporting means
C160S189000, C049S199000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179036
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic overhead door opening system for a transport container, such as the box container of a tractor-trailer transport vehicle. The door opening system is contained within a restrained size housing which incorporates therein two small d.c. motors which are gear-coupled to a drive train to displace a door constructed of folded panels, from a closed position to an opening position while also providing a locking feature for the door.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the prior art there is disclosed various automatic door opening systems for garages and for vehicle transport box-like container bodies. Such a mechanism is for example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,847 granted on Oct. 15, 1991. In that patent there is described a system which is quite complex in construction and which is operated from a single side of the door by a fairly large reversible electric motor which is mounted vertically along a side wall of the container. The fact that the motor and drive are located on one side of the door causes an imbalance of the load which may cause the door to jam in the track. Also, the motor occupies space which may interfere with the loading and unloading of cargo and therefore is a nuisance and can result in damage to the cargo or the motor. The motor is also exposed to the cargo and can be damaged during transport by shifting cargo when the vehicle is driven over rough roads. These systems are also not practical for installation and maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a feature of present invention to provide an automatic overhead door opening system for a transport container and which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an automatic overhead door opening system for a transport container and wherein the system utilizes a drive which is housed in a restrained size housing which is secured centrally on the top wall of a container and which does not obstruct the charging and discharging of cargo within the container as it occupies a space which is not much greater than the thickness of the folded panel door which is retracted against the ceiling of the container.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an automatic overhead door opening system for a transport container and wherein the system is easy to install, easy to service, simple, and which may be operated from the cab of the transport vehicle, or from a control box on the side of the container but made operational by a switch inside the cabin and operated by the conductor or remotely by a hand-held remote control.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an automatic overhead door opening system for a transport container and wherein the system incorporates a gear train which locks the folded panel door at any arrested position thereby eliminating the need for an anti-theft system.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an automatic overhead door opening system for a transport container and wherein the drive of the system as well as its magnetics and electronic control circuitry are protected in individual compartments of a protective housing of reduced size.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an automatic overhead door opening system for a transport container and incorporating a drive consisting of two small d.c. motors of reduced size and having a unique gear coupling capable of displacing any door assembly and achieving a door displacement of about 1 ft/sec.
Another feature of the present invention is to provide an automatic overhead door opening system for a transport container and wherein the housing is only slightly thicker than the folded panel door when retracted against the ceiling of the container and wherein the system has a long life and improved reliability while incorporating a simple construction and adaptable to existing chain drive systems and other door closure systems which can be modified.
According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides an automatic overhead door opening system for a transport container having an open end selectively closed by a door constructed of folded panels and guided between opposed guide rails for displacement from a closed position, to obstruct the open end, and an opened position where the door is positioned adjacent a top wall of the container. A motorized drive is provided for driving an endless chain secured between a drive sprocket and an idler sprocket. An elongated central guide track is associated with the chain. A trolley is secured to the chain and guidingly and displaceably secured to the track. The track is secured adjacent a top wall of the container and substantially central therewith. A connecting arm interconnects a top central connection of the door with the trolley for displacing the door in a guided manner between the guide rails. The motorized drive is mounted adjacent the top wall in a restrained size housing occupying a restrained space adjacent the top wall. A chain drive sprocket is mounted adjacent a top wall of the housing. The endless chain is in engagement with the chain drive sprocket. A driven sprocket is secured to a common driven shaft with the chain drive sprocket. A pair of d.c. motors, of reduced size, are mounted in the restrained size housing. The motors each have a drive gear which is drivingly coupled to a common driven gear of a gear drive including a worm gear in meshing engagement with the driven sprocket. The gear drive also arrests the door in a lock state when the motors are de-activated. A non-obstructed removable bottom wall plate is secured to the housing for access to the interior of the housing from below the housing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4047441 (1977-09-01), Kellogg
patent: 4191237 (1980-03-01), Voege
patent: 4597428 (1986-07-01), Iha
patent: 4706727 (1987-11-01), Leivenzon et al.
patent: 4821456 (1989-04-01), Nogaki
patent: 4860813 (1989-08-01), Ballyns
patent: 5056847 (1991-10-01), Stillwell
patent: 5139075 (1992-08-01), Desrochers
patent: 5195390 (1993-03-01), Nogaki
patent: 5221869 (1993-06-01), Williams et al.
patent: 5557887 (1996-09-01), Fellows et al.
patent: 5931212 (1999-08-01), Mullet et al.
Houle Guy J.
Lev Bruce A.
Swabey Ogilvy Renault
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