Patent · US Expired

Counterbalancing torsion spring mechanism for devices which move up and down and method of setting the torsion springs thereof

US4882806A · kind A · utility

88Cited by
11References
36Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 11, 1988
Grant dateNov 28, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 11, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE05Y2900/106
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

Counterbalancing mechanism for a garage door or other device in which a torsion spring end member is fastened to a second member to which it is connected during normal operation of the counterbalance by cooperating interfitting elements on the members which allow longitudinal movement of the end of the spring during a spring adjusting operation. The counterbalance hardware includes a self-locking winding mechanism for winding or unwinding one or more torsion springs which operates to fix one end of the spring connected thereto against movement during normal operation of the counterbalance. The structure connecting the ends of each torsion spring into the hardware is such that each end of the spring is always connected for rotation with either the torsion shaft of the counterbalance or the self-locking mechanism including during the adjustment or setting of the torsion in the springs. The mechanism is used in a novel method of setting or adjusting torsion spring tension in which the door is initially in a down position with the door unlocked and springs unwound. The springs are then wound to initially partly fit the door and then unwound to seat the door to establish the proper tens…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.