US2827114A - Upwardly acting door - Google Patents

Description

March i8, 1958 E. l.. sTRoUP 2932?;14

UPWARDLY ACTING DooR Filed May 18, 195e 2 sheds-sheet 1 A, l Z5 N W Z- 7 9% 70 l cr 70 1K7 .March 18, ws@ El, STROUP Y827,114

UPWARDLY ACTING DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1956 INVENTOR. faf/ 5V/oaf ///a/wfa BY 5- l l" United States PatentOiiFlce 2,827,114 Patented Mar. 18, 17958 UPWARDILY ACTING DOOR Earl L. Stroop, Hartford City, Ind., assigner to Overhead Door Corporation, Hartford City, Ind.

Application May 18, 1956, Serial N0. 585,738

10 Claims. (Cl. 160-209) This invention relates to upwardly acting doors which are well adapted for embodiment in trucks, trailers, freight cars and the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an upwardly acting door provided with highly eiective sealing means when the door is in closed position.

Second, to provide an upwardly acting door having these advantages in which the resilient seal members are under compression when the door is closed and at the same time the door is moved to and from sealing position with a minimum of frictional engagement with the seal members.

Third, to provide a door structure having these advantages that can be readily installed or embodied in trucks, trailers,.freight cars, cold storage structures and the like without substantial structural modication of such structures.

Fourth, tor provide a door assembly embodying these advantages which is relatively simple and economical in its parts and may be readily installed.

' yObjects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

' A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical section of an upwardly acting door assembly embodying my invention, the door being shown in its open position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section corresponding to that of Fig. l and on a line .corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. with the door in partially closed position.

Fig.l 3 is a fragmentary View in section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 6 with the door in fully closed position.

y Fig. i is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section showing the door in an intermediate position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary View in horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section illustrating the lock for the door.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention as embodied by me in a truck or trailer. It should be understood, however, that my invention is capable of a wide adaptationsuch for example as freight cars, cold storage buildings and to garages and the like where sealing of the door is important. Y

In the accompanying drawings 1 represents the roof of a truck or the like, 2 a portion of a wall thereof having a door opening therein, and 3 door frame side members. The bottom 4 is provided with a sill portion 5. These parts 'are shown more or less conventionally as they form no part of my invention except as hereinafter pointed out and may vary considerably in structure. The door frame side members 3 do form an important function in the embodiment illustrated as they provide supports for the angle door side frame or jamb members 6 which are of `angle section and disposed facing inwardly. I have illustrated only one side of the door assembly, but it will be understood that it is commonly duplicated on the other side of the door.

The members 6 are xedly mounted but the details of such mounting are not illustrated. The door comprises horizontally articulated sections, the structures illustrated comprising the top section 7, the bottom section 8 and intermediate sections 9. These sections are desir-ably duplicates but they are designated by numerals 7, 8 and 9 for convenience in description. They are illustrated as being formed of wood and are hingedly connected by the hinges 10 and as having rabbeted meeting edges 11.

The door sections are provided with track engaging rollers 12 vcarried by the journal on the brackets 13 arranged so that the journals of the rollers are in approximate alignment with the joints of the sections. Upper guide rollers 14 are carried by the brackets 15 mounted on the upper or top section of the door adjacent its upper edge. Rollers 16 are mounted on the brackets 17 adjacent the lower edge of the bottom door section.

The track is of inwardly facing channel section and comprises the upright'sections 18 which are pivotally mounted at their upper ends on the inner sides of the rearwardly projecting arms of the angle jamb members 6, the pivots 19 being closely adjacent the upper ends of the upright sections as is clearly shown on the drawings. The

upper or horizontal sections 20 of the track have downwardly and forwardly inclined front end portions 21 desirably curved and xedly secured at 22 with their lower ends in aligned relation to the upper ends of the vertical sections so that the rollers on the door may travel or pass from the upright to the upper sections, and vice versa, with the exception that the rollers 14 carried by the brackets 15 adjacent the upper edge of the top section of the door remain in engagement with the forwardly inclined ends of the upper sections when the door is fully closed as is shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that inthis position the rollers 16 at the lower edge of the bottom door section are in engagement with the downwardly and forwardly inclined thrust members 23 which are flxedly mounted on the rearwardly projectin'3 arms of the jamb members 6 as is indicated at 24. These members 23 are in eect complementary to the upright track sections 18 which are notched or recessed at 25 to receive the same as is clearly illustrated in the drawing 6, particularly Fig. 4, but are in fixed relation.

The swingable upright track sections 18 are urged rearwardly by means of the springs 26 which are mounted on the inner sides of the inwardly projecting arms of the jamb members. Stops 27 on the swingable track sections coact vw'th the slots 28 in the rearwardly projecting arms of the jamb members to limit the rearward swinging movement of the swingable upright track sections, see Figs. 4 and 5. With the parts thus arranged the door is automatically thrust forwardly towards the jamb when the door is in closed position, this resulting from the engagement Vof the rollers 14 with the downwardly and forwardly inclined front end portions of the upper track sections and the engagement of the rollers 16 with the downwardly and forwardly inclined relatively fixed thrust members 23 which are .channeled to effectively engage and provide side thrust on the rollers 16.

To seal the door in closed position I provide seal members designated generally by the numeral 29 formed of compressibly resilient material such as rubber or certain resilient synthetic materials, some of which have certain advantages as compared to rubber. These seal members 29 comprise body portions 30 and tubular outer portions 301 of flattened section and have laterally spaced ,Y longitudinal ns 31 and 32 on the face thereof of outdoor isA in fully closedY position.

` engage the dooras is illustrated in Fig. 6. The attaching strip 33 for the Vseal member 29V is disposed between the jamb members and the door frame side pieces 3 and has a flangeV 34 which is in embedding engagement with the body of the seal member. AV similar member 35 is mounted in inwardly facing relation' above the door opening. Aseal member 36` is mounted on the bottom edge of the bottom section to coact with the sill when the Y The means for attaching this seal member `36 is not illustrated, but it will be understood that it'is xedly attached'to the door and desirably has a forwardly projecting sealing lin 37 which laps'upon the sill when the door is in fully closed position, as is illustrated Vin Fig. 3.

With the parts thus arranged as the door approaches closed position it is'forced against the seals 29 and 35 which, as stated, are resiliently compressible.V The seal 36V on the bottom of the door is also resiliently compressible. tlie seals and of the Ybottom seal with the silloccurs as the door reaches closed position so there is very little frictional engagement of the door with the seal members. On the initial opening movement of the door, as a result of the Vupright sections 18 being pivoted at their upper The compressing engagement of the door with K y Vends of said upright tracks, the rollers adjacent the upperends and urged rearwardly by the springs 26 and the fact 'l that the rollers 14 are engaged with the forwardly and A downwardly inclined portions' 21 of the upper sections of the track, the door clears the seals with substantially no frictional movement thereon.

Y The details of counterbalancing the door are not'illus- Y asi-'nue y i 4 prising upright track sections` swingably' mounted attheir upper ends on the inner sides of the rearwardly projecting arms of said side frame members, relatively fixed upper track sections having'curved downwardly and forwardly Vinclined portions at their front ends registering with the upper ends of said upright track sections, resiliently compressible -sideseal members mounted on the inner sides of the laterally inwardly projecting arms of said side frame members, a resiliently compressible top seal member extending between the upper ends of said side seal members, downwardly and forwardly inclined thrust members fixedly mounted on the lower ends of the rearwardly projecting arms of said side frame members, said upright track sections having rearwardly facing'recesvses in their lower ends disposed to receive said thrust members and Y rearwardly facing portions on the front anges of the tracks opposed to said thrust members, said thrust members being positioned to be'engag'ed by said rollers adjacent the lower edge of the bottom door section as the .door approaches closed position whereby the lower rollers are engaged and cammed'forward by the thrust mem-l Vbers and in turn engage and thrust forward the lower edge of the top door section simultaneously engaging downwardly and forwardly inclined portions of said Vupper track sections spaced from the door frame so as to engage the upper edge of the Vupper door section withV the seal at the top of the door frame, and a resiliently compressible bottom seal member mountedon the lowerl edge of the bottom door section to engage the sill when the door is closed. v j 2; A vertically acting door assembly comprising side frame members of anglesection disposed with their angles vided'with means for locking the door inclosed position, n

the door being provided with a downwardly projecting keeper 40 which passes throughthe slot 41 in the sill 5 when the door is swung forwardly to closed sealing position. When the door is fully-closed the keeper automatically engages the bolt 42 disposed in the casing 43. The numeral 44 in Fi'g. 7 represents a bolt releasing key. I have not illustrated the details of the lock 43 as such details form no part of my present invention, and locks suitable for the purpose are commerciallyY available.

Y The providing ofthe door with arkeeper on its lower edge Y a wide variety ofzconditions.

facing inwardly, horizontally articulated top, bottom and intermediatedoor sections provided with track engaging rollers, the top and bottom sections having track engaging rollers adjacent their upper andjlower edges respectively, tracks of facing channel track section compris- The retracting movement of the door at the beginning of the opening thereof is highly important, not only in preventing frictional wear on the seals, but also breaking abond of ice that may have been formed between the door and the parts against which it closes.

V'track Vengaging rollers, the top and bottom sections having trackrengaging rollers adjacent Ytheir upper'andV lower edges respectively, tracksA of facing channel section coming upright sections swingably mounted at their upper ends on the inner sides of the rearwardly projectinggarms of said side frame members,'relatively fixed upperV track sections having curved downwardly and forwardly inclined portions at their front ends registering with'theA upper ends of said upright track sections, downwardly and forwardly inclined thrust members iiXedly mounted on the lower ends of the rearwardly projecting arms of Vsaid side `frame members, said uprightV track sections having rearwardly facing recesses in their'lower endsdisposed to receive said thrustmembers and rearwardly facing portions on the front anges Vof the tracks opposed to said,

' forward by the thrust members and inturn engagel and thrust forward the lower endsV of said upright tracks, the rollers adjacent the upper-edge of the top door section simultaneously engaging downwardly andfforwardly inclined portions of said uppertrack sections spaced from thedoor frame so as to engage the upper edge of the upper door section with the top of the'door frame(- 3. A vertically acting door assembly comprising side frame members of angle section disposedfwith their angles facing inwardly, horizontally articulated'top, bottom and intermediate door sections provided with track engaging rollers, the top and bottom sections having track engaging rollers adjacent their upper and lower `edges respectively, tracks of' facing channel track section comprising upright-sections swingably mounted at their upper ends on the inner sides of the rearwardly projecting arms of said side frame members, relatively fixed upper trackV sections having curved downwardly andforwardly inclined'portions at' their front ends registering with the upper ends of saidV upright track sections, stops limiting the rearward swinging movement of the lower ends of said upright track sections, springs mounted on said side frame members to yieldingly urge the lower ends of said upright track sections rearwardly, downwardly and forwardly inclined thrust members xedly mounted on the lower ends of the rearwardly projecting arms of said side frame members, said upright track sections having rearwardly facing recesses in their lower ends disposed to receive said thrust members and rearwardly facing portions on the front anges of the tracks opposed to said thrust members, said thrust members being positioned to be engaged by said rollers adjacent the lower edge of the bottom door section as the door approaches closed position whereby the lower rollers are engaged and cammed forward by the thrust members and in turn engage and thrust forward the lower ends of said upright tracks, the rollers adjacent the upper edge of the top door section simultaneously engaging the downwardly and forwardly inclined portions of said upper track sections spaced from the door frame so as to engage the upper edge of the upper door section with the top of the door frame.

4. A vertically acting door assembly comprising side frame members, a sill member, horizontally articulated top, bottom and intermediate door sections provided with track engaging rollers, the top and bottom sections having track engaging rollers adjacent their upper and lower edges respectively, tracks comprising upright sections swingably mounted at their upper ends on said side frame members, relatively Xed upper track sections having downwardly and forwardly inclined portions at their front ends registering with the upper ends of said upright track sections, resiliently compressible seal members mounted on said side frame members in facing relation to the door, downwardly and forwardly inclined thrust members disposed at the lower ends of said side frame members, said thrust members being positioned to be engaged by said rollers adjacent the lower edge of the bottom door section as the door approaches closed position, the lower ends of said tracks having rearwardly facing portions opposed to said thrust member and engageable with said lower rollers when the rollers are engaged by the thrust members to swing said tracks forwardly, the rollers adjacent the upper edge of the top door section engaging the downwardly and forwardly inclined portions of said upper track sections to swing the upper portion of the door forwardly on closing, and a resiliently compressible bottom seal member mounted on the lower edge of the bottom door section to engage the sill when the door is closed.

5. A vertically acting door assembly comprising side frame members, horizontally articulated top, bottom and intermediate door sections provided with track engaging rollers, the top and bottom sections having track engaging rollers adjacent their upper and lower edges respectively, tracks comprising upright sections swingably mounted at their upper ends on said side frame members, relatively fixed upper track sections having downwardly and forwardly inclined portions at their front ends registering with the upper ends of said upright track sections, resiliently compressible seal members mounted on said side frame members in facing relation to the door, downwardly and forwardly inclined thrust members disposed at the lower ends of said side frame members, said thrust members being positioned to be engaged by said rollers adjacent the lower edge of the bottom door section as the door approaches closed position, the lower ends of said tracks having rearwardly facing portions opposed to said thrust member and engageable with said lower rollers when the rollers are engaged by the thrust members to swing said tracks forwardly, the rollers adjacent the upper edge of the top door section engaging the downwardly and forwardly inclined portions of said upper track sections to swing the upper portion of the door forwardly on closing.

6. A vertically acting door assembly comprising side frame members, horizontally articulated top, bottom and intermediate door sections provided with track engaging .6 rollers, the top and bottom sections having track engaging rollers adjacent their upper and lower edges respectively, tracks -comprising upright track sections swingably mounted at their upper ends on said side frame members, relatively xed upper track sections having downwardly and forwardly inclined portions at their front ends registering with the upper ends of said upright track sections, stops limiting the rearward swinging movement of the lower ends of said upright track sections, springs mounted on said side frame members to yieldingly urge the lower ends of said upright track sections rearwardly, resiliently compressible seal members mounted on said side frame members in facing relation to the door, downwardly and forwardly inclined thrust members disposed at the lower ends of said side frame members, said thrust members being positioned to be engaged by said rollers adjacent the lower edge of the bottom'door section as the door approaches closed position, the lower ends of said tracks having rearwardly facing portions opposed to said thrust member and engageable with said lower-rollers when the rollers are engaged by the thrust members to swing said tracks forwardly, the rollers adjacent the upper edge of the top door section engaging the downwardly and forwardly inclined portions of said upper track sections to swing the upper portion of the door forwardly on closing. 7. A vertically acting door assembly comprising side frame members, a sill member, horizontally articulated door sections, the top door section having track engaging members adjacent its upper edge and the bottom section having track engaging members adjacent its lower edge, upright track sections swingably mounted at their upper ends on said side frame members, upper track sections Y having relatively fixed downwardly and forwardly inclined portions at their front ends aligned with upper ends of said upright track sections, downwardly and forwardly inclined relatively fixed members disposed at the lower ends of the upright track sections to be engaged by the track engaging members adjacent lower edges of the bottom door section as the door approaches closed position and acting to swing the upright door sections forwardly, the lower ends of said tracks having rearwardly facing portions opposed to said inclined xed members to be engaged by said track engaging members when in contact with said fixed members to swing said tracks forwardly. said track engaging members adjacent the upper edge of the upper door section engaging downwardly and forwardly inclined portions of the upper track sections to swing the upper door section forwardly simultaneously with the swinging of the vertical track sections, resiliently compressible rearwardly facing seal members mounted on said side frame members in facing relation to the door, a rearwardly facing top seal member in facing relation to said top door section, and resiliently compressible bottom seal members mounted on the bottom door section to engage the door sill when the door is closed.

8. A vertically acting door assembly comprising side frame members, a sill member, horizontally articulated door sections, the top door section having track engaging members adjacent its upper edge and the bottom section having track engaging members adjacent its lower edge, upright track sections swingably mounted at their upper ends on said side frame members, upper track sections having relatively fixed downwardly and forwardly inclined portions at their front ends aligned with upper ends of said upright track sections, and downwardly and forwardly inclined relatively fixed members disposed at the lower ends of the upright track sections to be engaged by the track engaging members adjacent lower edges of the bottom door section as the door approaches closed position and acting through the lower of said track engaging members and said upright track sections to swing the upright door sections forwardly, said track engaging members adjacent the upper edge of the upper door section engaging downwardly and forwardly inclined portions of the upper track sections to swing the upper door 95A vertically acting door .assembly comprising jamb members provided Vwith rearwardly facingcompressible seal-members, horizontally articulated door sections, the topA section having trackj engagingmembers adjacent'its Y upper edgeand the bottom section having track engaging members adjacent its lower edge, upright track sections swingably mounted at rtheir upper ends, upperY track sections having relativelyv xeddownlwardiy and forwardly inclinedportions at theirjorwardends aligned withrupper en ds of said upright track` sections, relatively ,Xed downwardly andrforwardly inclined thrustmembers disposed at thelower ends of said uprighttrack sectionsto be engaged-by thetrak engaging/members on the bottom sectionvandactingrto swing theupright track sections foi'-4 wardly asthe door approaches Yclosed position, theY track engagin'gjmem'bers'on themupper doorsection engaging the downwardly andff'orwardly inclined portions of the upper track sectionstorswing the upperl door section forwardly so'thatthe door ras aV unit is `moved forwardly against said sealv members. V V

10.- A vertically acting door assembly comprising jamb members, horizontally articulated door sections, the top section having track engaging members adjacent its upper edge, and the bottom section having track engaging members adjacent its lower edge, upright track sections swingably monntecl. at their upper ends, upper t track sections having'r'elatively IiXeddownwardly and forwardly inclined portions .at.theirforwardfendsaligned withv upper ehds of. saidiipri'ght track sections, downwadlynand .forwardly inclined thrust membersfdispo'sed at (the lower ends of said upright track vsectionsto be engaged by trackl engaging members en the bottom section Vand acting Yto yswing the upright tracksections forwardly as .the Ydoor approaches closed position, the track engaging members nrthe upper.

door section engaging the downwardly and forwardly inclined portions ofthe vupper track sections toswing the upper doorsection forwardly so that the door'as aunit' isY movedforwardly against said jamb members.

ReerencesrCited inthe levof this patent UNITED YSTATES PATENTS 'Johnson j July 26,` 1932

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