System for adjusting the counterbalance of an overhead door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11441345-B2
Application number	US-202016805729-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 29, 2020
Priority date	Feb 29, 2020
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

A counterbalance system for an overhead door is disclosed. The system includes a torsion adjustment comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being rotatable relative to one another in a first direction and not in a second direction opposite the first direction. The system also includes an anchor fixed to the first portion, a collar fixed to the second portion, the collar being selectively fixable to a shaft of the overhead door, and a spring coupled between the collar and the anchor. The spring supports at least a portion of the weight of the overhead door as the overhead door is raised and lowered. Rotating the first portion of the torsion calibration collar relative to the second portion of the torsion calibration collar increases torsion in the spring and therefore calibrates the spring to support a desired amount of the weight of the overhead door.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for adjusting the counterbalance of an overhead door, comprising:
a torsion spring;
an anchor adapted to attach to a stationary structure, so that the anchor does not rotate;
a collar attached to and adapted to rotate with a shaft, wherein rotation of the shaft in one direction raises an overhead door and rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction lowers the overhead door and wherein the torsion spring is pre-loaded with an amount of torsion so as to assist in raising the overhead door;
a torsion adjustment mechanism coupled to the shaft and comprising:
a first portion non-rotatably attached to one end of the torsion spring;
a second portion non-rotatably attached to either the anchor or the collar, wherein the first portion and second portion together form a one-way bearing between the first portion and the second portion, which allows relative rotation between the first portion and second portion in one direction, but not in the opposite direction;

whereby the amount of torsion pre-loaded in the torsion spring can be increased by rotating the first portion of the torsion adjustment mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the spring is coupled to the anchor and to the first portion of the torsion adjustment mechanism.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the spring is coupled to the collar and to the second portion of the torsion adjustment mechanism.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the collar is releasably attached to the shaft, wherein releasing the collar releases the torsion in the spring.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the collar and the second portion of the torsion adjustment mechanism are integral.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a torsion sensing unit coupled to the shaft and configured to measure an amount of torsion in the spring; and
a computing device in communication with the torsion sensing unit and being configured to receive a readout of torsion in the spring, wherein the computing device stores information describing a desired torsion range, and wherein the computing device is configured to display to a user when torsion in the spring reaches the desired torsion range.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the torsion adjustment mechanism, the anchor, the spring, and the collar encircles a portion of the shaft.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising set screws in the collar that can be turned to grasp the collar to the shaft.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the torsion adjustment mechanism comprises at least one of a ratchet, a needle bearing, or a Sprag bearing.

10. A counterbalance system for an overhead door, comprising:
a counterbalance spring having a first end fixed to an anchor and a second end selectively fixable to a shaft of the overhead door, wherein rotating the shaft raises and lowers the overhead door and wherein the counterbalance spring urges the overhead door upward;
a torsion adjustment mechanism having a first portion coupled to the anchor and a second portion selectively fixable to the shaft; and
a torsion measuring unit coupled to the spring and being configured to measure torsion in the counterbalance spring, wherein:
one of the first or second portions of the torsion adjustment mechanism is coupled to the counterbalance spring;
rotating the second portion of the torsion adjustment mechanism relative to the first portion of the torsion adjustment mechanism in a tightening direction increases tension in the counterbalance spring;
the first portion of the torsion adjustment mechanism does not rotate relative to the second portion of the torsion adjustment mechanism in a loosening direction;
the torsion in the spring can be released by releasing the second portion of the torsion adjustment mechanism from the shaft.

11. The counterbalance system of claim 10 , further comprising a device configured to store a desired torsion range and to receive an indication from the torsion measuring unit of whether or not the torsion in the counterbalance spring is within the desired torsion range.

12. The counterbalance system of claim 11 wherein the torsion measuring unit is further configured to weigh the overhead door and derive the desired torsion range from the weight.

13. The counterbalance system of claim 10 wherein the counterbalance spring is fixed to the anchor and to the first portion of the torsion calibration collar.

14. The counterbalance system of claim 10 , further comprising a collar selectively fixable to the shaft and wherein the counterbalance spring is coupled between the collar and the second portion of the torsion calibration collar.

15. A method of calibrating a counterbalance spring for an overhead door, the method comprising:
rotating a first portion of a torsion adjustment mechanism relative to a second portion of the torsion adjustment mechanism in a tightening direction to increase tension in a spring coupled to the torsion calibration collar, the spring also being coupled to an anchor and to a shaft of the overhead door, wherein rotating the shaft raises and lowers the overhead door;
receiving an indication of torsion from a torsion measuring unit coupled to the spring; and
setting the torsion adjustment mechanism with the torsion in the spring within a desired torsion range according to the torsion measuring unit.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising locking the torsion adjustment mechanism by locking the first portion to the second portion.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving data at a remote device.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising releasing torsion in the spring by releasing the torsion adjustment mechanism from the anchor.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising releasing torsion in the spring by releasing the torsion adjustment mechanism from the shaft.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising monitoring torsion after setting the torsion adjustment mechanism and issuing an alarm if the torsion in the spring falls outside of the desired torsion range.

Assignees

• Hall Labs Llc

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Hall Michael
• Miles Jerome
• Groesbeck David

Classifications

• E05Y2400/8515

  Smart phones; Tablets · CPC title

• G01L5/0057

  measuring forces due to spring-shaped elements · CPC title

• E05D13/1261 Primary

  specially adapted for overhead wings (E05D13/1269 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05Y2900/132

  Doors · CPC title

• E05Y2900/106

  for garages · CPC title