GB2396658A

GB2396658A - Automated door opener including pivoting lever or track mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2396658A
Application number: GB0316323A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael James Dann
Original assignee: DANN ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: DANN ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 2002-11-14
Filing date: 2003-07-11
Publication date: 2004-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-11
Also published as: GB0316323D0; GB2396658B; GB0226601D0

Abstract

An automatic door opening apparatus for a canopy door (10) comprises a drive mechanism (18, 20) to be fitted to the canopy door and a pivoting lever arm mechanism (62) to be fitted to a structure (14), typically the walls of a garage, that defines an opening (12) in which the canopy door is housed. The pivoting lever arm mechanism (62) is driven by the drive mechanism (18, 20) to open and close the canopy door. The control circuitry for the drive device may be user actuated by a key fob containing an infra-red transmitter. The lever arm may take the form of a pivoting track mechanism.

Description

AUTOMATED DOOR OPENERS

The present invention relates generally to automated opening of canopy doors or doors requiring similar types of lifting and rotational forces.

A canopy door is a one-piece door typically used for closing garage door openings. Such doors are supported so as to allow pivotal and translational movement between a vertical, closed 10 position and a generally horizontal, open position in which the door is situated in the upper part of the doorway.

There are a number of types of mechanisms used to support and move canopy type doors between their 15 open and closed positions. Typically there are space limitations above the door arising from the garage ceiling being only slightly higher than the top of the door opening. Accordingly, if the door opening mechanism is to be fitted above the door 20 opening, it must be capable of fitting in a very limited vertically extending space above the door opening. As a consequence, a mechanism designed to be fitted above door opening cannot project a

significant distance above the door in its open, horizontal position.

In known mechanisms for supporting canopy-type doors, the door is pivoted relative to the edges of 5 the door opening in a track that permits pivot pins fixed to the sides of the door to slide to the top of the opening as the door is opened. The pivotal connection between the door and the track is below the middle of the door and sometimes toward the 10 lower edge of the door. A pair of crank arms are pivoted about fixed pivots at the top of the door opening with the other ends -of the crank arms pivoted in the upper half of the door at the opposite edges. Thus, the door can rotate between a 15 vertical closed position and a horizontal open position, by means of a pivotal and translational movement that provides an inward and upward movement putting the door adjacent the ceiling of the garage.

These known mechanisms for supporting canopy 20 type garage doors are typically relatively simple to operate manually. The doors are normally provided with springs to counterbalance the weight of the door. As a result, it is relatively easy for a person to open or close these doors by applying a

lateral force and a vertical force in the form of a lifting force or a pull downwardly to overcome the inertia of the door and move it from one position to the other. However, as a consequence of the 5 combined rotational and translational movement of the canopy door in moving between the open and closed positions, providing an automatic opener for such doors has proved difficult.

A typical automatic garage door opening 10 mechanism for a canopy door includes a carriage which is motor driven along a track by means of a screw. The carriage is moved back and forth along a rectilinear path defined by the track. The track is fixed to the ceiling of the garage and a coupling is 15 provided to connect the carriage to the upper end, or top, of the door. Usually it is possible to disconnect the carriage and the drive so as to permit manual operation of the door in the event of a malfunction or a power failure.

20 An example of this type of opening mechanism is disclosed in WO-A9317210, which discloses an arrangement for interconnecting the carriage of an automatic door opening mechanism to a canopy-type door or similar type of door. The door

opening mechanism comprises a carriage which is driven along a track that defines a generally horizontal, rectilinear path and is positioned above the level of the door being opened and closed.

5 The linkage interconnecting the carriage to the door includes a lever pivotally connected to the carriage at one end and extending generally parallel with the upper inside surface of the door together with a series of links which connect the lever to 10 two spaced pivot points on the door to apply translational and rotational motion to the door.

Two of the links are connected to the lever at spaced points on the lever with one of the links connecting directly to the door. The second of 15 these two links is connected to the door through a pivot, the position of which varies with the rotational position of the door. The varying position pivot to which the second link is connected provides a means for moving the rotational forces 20 delivered by the carriage through the lever, depending on the varying centre of rotation of the door itself.

The known arrangement disclosed in WO-A-9317210 is believed to have been marketed and can function

relatively well. However, this known arrangement has disadvantages. The first is that it has to be fitted to the ceiling of the garage. This means that the person installing the mechanism has to work 5 above his/her head and may have to work off a ladder or the like. Furthermore, if the garage does not have a continuous ceiling, but instead has a series of joists below a hollow roof-space, there may not be suitable locations for fitting the mechanism and 10 therefore suitable fixing points have to be built-in. Another disadvantage is that installation of the known mechanism requires a certain degree of skill, which has limited its success in the DIY (do-it-yourself) market. Yet another disadvantage 15 is that the mechanism is relatively complex and thus expensive to produce. Still another disadvantage is that due to the position at which the mechanism applies the opening/closing force to the door, a relatively powerful motor is required, which again 20 adds to the overall cost of the mechanism.

An object of the invention is to at least partially overcome one or more of the problems of the known mechanism and/or provide an alternative choice.

The invention provides an automatic door opening apparatus for a canopy door comprising a drive device, an elongate rotatable transmission to be driven by said drive device and at least one 5 drive receiving mechanism for receiving drive from said drive device, said drive receiving mechanism including a track arranged to be pivotable, in use, relative to a structure defining a door opening to which said drive receiving mechanism is fitted and a 10 driven part connected with said transmission and arranged to move along the track defined by the drive receiving mechanism in response to rotary movement of said transmission.

The invention also includes an automatic door 15 opening apparatus for a canopy door, said apparatus comprising a rotary drive to be fitted to a canopy door and at least one door opening mechanism to be driven by said rotary drive, the or each said door opening mechanism comprising a mounting by which the 20 door opening mechanism can be mounted to a fixed structure that defines a door opening in which the canopy door is fitted, an elongate track pivotably connected with the mounting and a driven part connectable with said rotary drive so as to be

driveable along said track, whereby rotation of said rotary drive generates a force for causing the canopy door to move between open and closed positions. 5 The invention also includes automatic door opening apparatus, said apparatus comprising rotatable drive means mountable to a canopy door, lever means, mounting means for mounting said lever means to a structure defining a fixed element at a 10 side of a door opening in which the canopy door is housed such that said lever means can pivot relative to said fixed element and means driven by said rotatable drive means and acting on said lever means such that, in use, rotation of said rotatable drive 15 means in a first direction causes pivotal movement of said lever means in one direction to generate a force that causes the canopy door to open and rotation of said rotatable drive means in a second direction opposite to said first direction causes 20 pivotal movement of said lever means in a return direction opposite to said one direction that causes the canopy door to close.

The invention also includes a method of opening and closing a canopy door comprising actuating a

powered drive to cause rotation of a transmission element mounted to the door, which transmission element is connected to a part interacting with a lever device pivotally mounted to a fixed part to 5 one side of a door opening in which said canopy door is housed, said actuating step comprising selectively actuating said powered drive to cause rotation of said transmission element in a first direction to cause pivotal movement of said lever 10 device upwardly to provide a force causing the canopy door to move towards an open position or to cause rotation in a second direction, opposite said first direction, to cause pivotal movement of said lever device downwardly to provide a force causing 15 the canopy door to move towards a closed position.

The invention also includes automatic door opening apparatus for a canopy door, said apparatus comprising a drive mechanism to be fitted to said canopy door and a lever arm mechanism to be fitted 20 to a structure defining a door opening in which said door is housed, said lever arm mechanism being driven by said drive mechanism for opening and closing said canopy door.

In order that the invention may be well understood, some embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which: 5 Figure l is a perspective view of a canopy door fitted in a schematic representation of a garage doorway and provided with an automatic door opening apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 10 Figure 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the door opening apparatus fitted to the centre of the door as viewed in Figure l; Figure 3 is an elevation view looking from the left in Figure 2; 15 Figure 4 is a partial elevational view of the left-hand side of the door, as viewed in Figure l and adjacent portions of the door opening apparatus; Figure 5 is a sectional view looking in the direction of arrow V in Figure 4; 20 Figure 6 is a section view on line Vl - Vl in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 showing an alternative embodiment of the door opening apparatus;

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view from the left and above in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a locking mechanism for use with the door closing 5 apparatus; Figure 10 is a side view of a canopy door fitted in a schematic representation of a garage doorway and provided with an automatic door opening apparatus according to yet another alternative 10 embodiment, with the canopy door in a closed position; Figure 11 is a view corresponding to Figure 10 after the door has moved someway towards its open position; 15 Figure 12 is a view corresponding to Figures 10 and 11 after the door has moved still further towards its open position; Figure 13 is an enlarged view of the door opening apparatus in the position shown in Figure 20 12; and Figure 14 is a sectional view looking in the direction of arrow XIV in Figure 13.

Referring to Figure 1, a canopy door 10 is fitted in a door opening 12 defined by fixed

structural elements 14 of a building, which will typically be a garage for housing automobiles.

The canopy door 10 is of conventional design and has pivots 16 protruding from opposite sides 5 thereof for engagement in respective vertical guide tracks (not shown) fitted in a conventional manner to the structural elements 14 adjacent the sides of the door. The door will also have the conventional arrangement of crank arms and springs (not shown) by 10 means of which the door can be moved between its open and closed positions by a combination of rotational and translational movement when a suitable force is manually applied.

The door 10 is provided with an automatic door 15 opening apparatus comprising a rotary drive 18 secured to the door, an elongate rotatable transmission 20 extending widthways across the door, which in use is driven by the rotary drive, and respective pivotable drive receiving mechanisms 22 20 secured to the structural elements 14 adjacent the sides of the door, which drive receiving mechanisms are connected with the transmission 20.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the rotary drive comprises an electric motor 24 that is

supported in a U-shaped bracket 26. In a prototype built by the applicant, the motor is a 24 watt motor. The U-shaped bracket 26 is secured to the door 10. Particularly in cases where the door 5 opening apparatus is intended for retrofitting, it is preferable that the U-shaped bracket 26 is secured to the door 10 by means of self-tapping screws 28 or 'pop' rivets. However, this is not to be taken as limiting, as the bracket may be secured 10 to the door by any convenient method.

A second U-shaped bracket 30 is mounted in the U-shaped bracket 26 so as to define a generally horizontal mounting platform 30P that extends between the opposed limbs 26L of the U-shaped IS bracket 26. The mounting platform 30P is provided with apertures arranged to allow the motor 24 to be secured to the mounting platform by means of bolts 32 that are screwed into threaded mounting holes in the motor body.

20 The second U-shaped bracket 30 is mounted to the U-shaped bracket 26 by means of respective pivot mounts 34 such that the bracket 30, and therefore the motor 24, is pivotable relative to the bracket 26 about an axis 36 that extends generally parallel

to the plane of the mounting platform 30P and perpendicular to the shaft 38 of the motor. As explained in more detail below, this permits the motor 24 to be pivoted about the axis 36 in the 5 direction of the arrow 40 (Figure 2) to permit the door opening apparatus to be disengaged and allow the door 10 to be opened by a conventional door opening handle 42.

The motor shaft 38 passes through an aperture lO in the mounting platform 30P and has a worm 44 secured to it. The worm 44 is engaged with a worm wheel 46. The worm wheel 46 is secured by screws 48 to a disc 50. The disc 50 is integral with a tapered split ring 52 that is received in a tapered 15 through-bore provided in the worm wheel. The respective tapers of the split ring 52 and worm wheel through-bore are such that when the screws 48 are tightened to secure the worm wheel to the disc 50, the split ring clamps onto a cross-shaft 54 of 20 the rotatable transmission 20 to form a taper lock by virtue of which the worm wheel is firmly secured to the cross-shaft and rotation of the motor shaft 38 is transmitted to the cross-shaft via the worm and worm wheel.

The cross-shaft 54 comprises a length of tubing that extends widthways across the garage door, supported by respective bearings 56 that are at least partially housed in the limbs 26L of the U 5 shaped bracket 26. The bearings 56 may be of any suitable design, although it is currently envisaged that the bearings will either be made of phosphor bronze or a plastics material, such as Delrin (trade name) or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Collars 58 10 are secured to the cross-shaft 54 adjacent the oppositely disposed faces of limbs 26L. The collars 58 serve to limit axial movement of the shaft.

The outer ends of the cross-shaft are supported by respective bearings (not shown) supported in L 15 shaped bearing brackets 62 (Figures 1 and 4) that are secured to the door 10. As with the U-shaped bracket 26, the Lshaped bearing brackets can be secured to the door by any convenient means, although for retrofitting, self-tapping screws or 20 pop rivets are preferred. Similarly, the bearings provided in the bearing brackets 62 may be of any suitable type, although at present it is envisaged that these bearings will be made of a plastics

material such as Delrin (trade name) or PTFE, or phosphor bronze.

Referring to Figures 3, 5 and 6, the rotatable transmission 20 comprises the cross-shaft 54 and 5 respective pinion gears 64 carried on sub-shafts 66 fitted at each end of the cross-shaft 54. The arrangement at each end of the shaft will preferably be identical and so for ease of description, only

one end will be described. The sub-shaft 66 has a 10 first end portion 68 sized to fit into the ends of the cross-shaft 54 and an annular flange 70, which serves to limit insertion of the first end portion 68 into the cross-shaft 54. The sub-shaft 66 is secured to the cross-shaft 54 by means of a screw 15 (not shown) screwed through an aperture in the cross- shaft 54 into a threaded bore 71 provided in the first end portion 68.

A second end portion 72 of the sub-shaft 66 is smaller in diameter than the first end portion 68 20 and extends axially inwardly from the free end of the sub-shaft to a shoulder 74. A threaded bore 76 extends axially inwardly from the free end of the second end portion 76. The free end of the second end portion is tapered and the pinion 64 has a

correspondingly tapered through-bore which mates with the tapered free end. The pinion gears 64 are secured on the sub-shafts 66 by screws 78 engaged in the threaded bores 76.

5 The pivotable drive receiving mechanisms 22 provided at each side of the door are preferably identical and so for the sake of brevity, only one will be described. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the drive receiving mechanism 22 comprises an elongate 10 member 86. An end of the elongate member 86 is connected to a bracket 88 by a pivot mounting 89 that allows pivotal movement of the member 86 relative to the bracket 88 as indicated by the arrow 90 in Figure 4. The bracket 88 is secured to the IS structural element 14 by any suitable means, such as screws or bolts.

The elongate member 86 is in the form of a metal plate folded to define a C-section. The major face of the member 86 is provided with an elongate 20 slot 92 (Figure 4) that extends over substantially the entire length of the elongate member 86. As shown in Figure 5, the slot is sized to receive the shoulder 74 of the sub-shaft 66 with a small clearance.

An upper limb 93 of the elongate member 86 is provided with gear teeth 94 (Figure 4) arranged to mesh with the teeth of the pinion gear 64 to provide a rack and pinion mechanism.

S Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the drive receiving mechanism 22 further comprises a carriage 100 mounted on the second end portion 72 of the sub shaft 66. The carriage 100 has a centrally disposed through-bore for receiving the second end portion 72 10 of the sub-shaft and two lengthways extending grooves, or channels 102, 104 that extend perpendicular to the axis of the through-bore. The uppermost groove 102 has two wheels, or rollers, 106 fitted in it on respective cross-shafts 108 15 supported in the opposed portions of the carriage that define the sidewalls of the groove 102. The respective axes of the cross-shafts 108 are parallel to the axis of the through-bore. The rollers 106 are free to rotate on their cross-shafts 108 and 20 bear against an overhead wall 110 defined by the elongate member 86. The lowermost groove 104 has a single wheel, or roller, 112 fitted in it on a cross-shaft 114 supported in the opposed portions of the carriage that define the sidewalls of the groove

104. The cross-shaft 114 extends parallel to the cross-shafts 108. The roller 112 is free to rotate on its cross-shaft 114 and bears against a bearing wall 118 defined by the elongate member 86.

5 A cover 119 is secured to the elongate member 86 to close off its open side (i.e. the side opposite to the side defining the slot 92), thereby preventing things from becoming caught in the gear mechanism and reducing the ingress of dust and dirt.

10 The cover may, for example, be made from a sheet metal or could be a plastics moulding or extrusion.

Referring to Figure 2, the garage door has a conventional garage door handle 42 that would normally have its inner end 120 connected with 15 conventional means for preventing opening of the door. In the embodiment, this means is removed and a cam plate 122 is secured to the end of the handle by a nut 124. The cam plate has a curved lower, or Damming, surface 126 that bears against mounting 20 platform 30P. By inserting a key in the handle and unlocking it, a user can then rotate the handle from the position shown in Figure 2, thus rotating the cam plate 122. Rotation of the cam plate causes the application of a force pressing down on the mounting

platform 30P. This causes the second U-shaped bracket 30, and therefore the motor 24 and worm 44, to pivot on the pivotal mounts 34 thereby disengaging the worm and wheel and allowing the user 5 to open the door manually in the usual way. A spring bias (not shown) may be provided to return the motor/bracket assembly to the Figure 2 position when the user rotates the handle back to the Figure 2 position.

10 A suitable electrical/electronic control package is provided for controlling the motor 24.

In principle, any suitable known control apparatus for controlling the motor of an automatic door opening can be used. It is envisaged that the 15 control apparatus will be triggered by an infra-red device, typically incorporated in a key fob, as is well known in the art. One supplier of suitable control apparatus is RF Solutions Ltd of Unit 21 Cliffe Industrial Estate, Lewes, Sussex BN8 6JL, 20 United Kingdom. Alternatively, or additionally, the control package may include means to permit voice activation of the door.

In use, in order to open the door 10, the user triggers the start of the motor 24, preferably by

using an infra-red key fob encoder such as those manufactured by RF Solutions Ltd. Rotation of the motor shaft 38 is transmitted to the crossshaft 54 via the worm and worm wheel 46. As the cross-shaft 5 54 rotates so do the pinions 64. Since the pinions are fixed to the door 10 and the elongate members 86 are secured to the fixed structural elements 14, relative movement of the pinions 64 and the rack teeth 94 causes the elongate members 86 to pivot lO about their pivot mountings 89 in such a way that as viewed in Figure 2 they rotate clockwise. The pivoting elongate members 86 act as cranks providing a force that causes the door 10 to rotate and translate, guided by the pivots 16 in their 15 respective vertical tracks (not shown). Closing of the door is caused by simply reversing the rotation of the motor shaft 38.

It may be desirable to set a limit stop to prevent the pinions 64 from approaching too near to 20 the free end of the elongate members 86. This is because if the apparatus is set high up on the door and the pinions get too near to the free ends of the elongate members when opening the door, an over centre position may be passed so that when the motor

is reversed to close the door, the drive instead attempts to further open the door. The skilled person will be able to envisage many ways of limiting the travel of the pinions. For example, a 5 physical stop may be secured to the elongate members at an appropriate position. In this case, when the pinions reach the stop, the torque loading on the motor will increase. Control systems for automatic door openers are typically provided with a torque 10 limiter so that the motor cuts-out if it experiences a torque load that exceeds a predetermined level.

This is to avoid damage to the door and the door opening apparatus in the event there is some form of obstruction preventing door opening or closing.

15 Thus, if the pinions reached the stops, the existing control circuitry would switch-off the motor in response to the increased torque loading.

Alternatively, proximity sensors may be used to detect the presence of the pinions and provide a 20 signal to the control circuitry that will cause the motor to be switched off when the pinions reach a predetermined position along the elongate members.

Yet another alternative would be to use a stepper motor to drive the apparatus. In this case, in

installing the apparatus the pinions and control circuitry would need to be calibrated to establish a start position for the control and from this known start position, the control can then know the 5 position of the pinions and ensure they do not exceed a safe position by counting the pulses supplied to the motor. Of course, it would also be possible to combine different ones of these options in the same apparatus. Yet another solution is to 10 ensure that the apparatus is not mounted too high up the door. Presently for this purpose, it is preferred that the apparatus is mounted no higher than midway up the door.

Three possible modifications to the door IS opening apparatus are shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Apart from these modifications, the apparatus shown corresponds to that described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Accordingly, like reference numerals will be used to indicate like parts.

20 Referring to Figure 7, the elongate members 86 have been rotated through 180 about their longitudinal axes so that the rack teeth 94 face inwardly instead of outwardly. This means that it is not necessary to have a slot 92 (Figure 4) in the

back of the elongate member to permit entry of the sub-shafts 66, which makes for a stiffer construction. It may still be desirable to provide a cover (not shown) for the 'gear side' of the 5 elongate member. Such a cover would have to be provided with a slot similar to the slot 92.

However, this would not affect the stiffness of the elongate member 86 and the cover could, if desired, be a plastics component.

10 The second modification is to the mechanism by which the worm 44 and worm wheel can be disengaged to permit manual opening of the door. For this purpose, the handle 42 has a polygonal end portion 170 to which is fitted a cam plate 172. The cam Is plate 172 has a curved cam track 174 which receives a pin 176 secured to the mounting platform 30P of the bracket 30 for mounting the motor 24. The arrangement is such that if a user unlocks the handle 42 by way of a key in a conventional manner 20 and turns the handle, the cam plate 172 is rotated and presses against the pin 176. The curve of the cam track 174 is such that this causes the bracket 30 to pivot on its pivot mountings 34 as indicated by the arrow 180 in Figure 7, thereby disengaging

the worm 44 and worm wheel 46 and allowing manual opening of the door 10. An advantage of the Figure 7 arrangement, as compared with the Figure 2 arrangement, is that the positive engagement of the 5 pin 176 in the cam track 174 means that when the handle 42 is returned to the locked position, the mounting platform 30P will be pushed back to the position shown in Figure 7, thereby bringing the worm 44 into engagement with the worm wheel 46.

10 There is therefore no need to provide any form of spring bias arrangement to do this.

The third modification is that the collars 58, which serve to limit axial movement of the cross-

shaft 54, are secured to the cross-shaft 54 outside 15 rather than inside of the U-shaped mounting bracket 26. Figure 9 shows schematically an arrangement for providing greater security. The security arrangement will be described with reference to the 20 embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8, but is equally applicable to the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3. Referring to Figure 9, a solenoid device 200 is secured to the door 10 adjacent its upper edge. The

solenoid device 200 has a plunger 202 that in its extended position engages in a bore or recess, provided in the structural elements 14. The bore will typically be provided by drilling into the 5 structural elements 14. However, as an alternative, or in addition, a plate (not shown) having a bore for receiving the plunger may be secured to the structural elements 14.

The plunger 202 is connected with a linkage, 10 typically comprising a rod 204. The rod 204 is also connected with the U-shaped bracket 30.

It will be appreciated that when the plunger is in its extended position engaged in the bore, a physical lock is provided preventing unauthorized 15 opening of the door lo. If a user opens the door automatically, in addition to actuating the motor 24, the control package provides a signal to the solenoid device 200 that causes the plunger 202 to be withdrawn from the bore in the structural 20 elements 14, thus allowing the door to open. If the door is opened manually, when the U-shaped bracket 30 pivotsabout the pivot axis 36, the downward motion of the bracket will be transmitted to the plunger 202 by the rod 204 causing the plunger to be

withdrawn from the bore in the structural elements 14 and leaving the door free to open.

Although the rod 204 is shown connected to the U-shaped bracket, it could instead be connected to 5 the cam plate 122, 172. This would make it possible to have the solenoid device mounted at a side, instead of the top of the door.

It is anticipated the apparatus would be made with different length crossshafts 54 to take 10 account of different widths of standard size canopy doors. In the event of a door having a width less than that for which a cross-shaft is intended, it would be possible to simply remove the subshaft from one end and cut the cross-shaft to length Is before reinserting the sub-shaft. It will be appreciated that the cross-shaft does not need to be a single continuous length and could instead comprise one or more lengths of shafting coupled together. In this case, if the cross-shaft length 20 needed to be reduced, it might be more convenient to cut the cross-shaft at a coupling position. A further alternative would be to provide a telescopic cross-shaft made of telescopic tubing. Of course, adjacent lengths of the telescopic tubing would have

to be keyed together so as to permit relative longitudinal sliding movement of the tube lengths, but prevent relative rotational movement thereof.

It is presently envisaged that the telescopic shaft 5 will be made of extruded aluminium tubing. In that case, the keying arrangement can be an integral part of the extruded section.

Referring to Figures 10 to 12, a conventional canopy door 10 is shown fitted in a door opening lO defined by fixed structural elements 14 such as the walls of a garage. The door 10 is shown provided with yet another embodiment of the automatic door opening apparatus, which in most respects corresponds to the embodiments described with 15 reference to Figures 1 to 9. For that reason like components will be referenced by the same reference numerals as used previously and will not be described again in detail.

The main difference between door opening 20 apparatus described with reference to Figures 1 to 9 and the door opening apparatus shown in Figures 10 to 14 is to be found in the configuration of the elongate members 300 that are a part of the pivotable drive receiving mechanisms 22.

As best seen in Figure 13, the elongate members 300 comprise a relatively long rectilinear portion and a short arm 302 extending perpendicular to the rectilinear portion. The free end of the arm 302 is 5 provided with a lug 304 via which the elongate member 300 is pivotably connected to a bracket 88 that is fixed to one of the structural elements 14.

The elongate members 300 have a generally L-shaped cross-section, the shorter lower limb 306 10 of which, is provided with gear teeth 308 arranged to mesh with the gear teeth of the pinions 64 carried by the cross-shaft 54 (not visible in Figures 10 to 13). There is thus provided a rack and pinion mechanism. The rack defined by the gear 15 teeth 308 has a curved transition portion 310 connecting respective linear portions on the main length of the elongate member 300 and its arm 302 so that the pinion 64 can travel between the main length of the elongate member and the arm.

20 Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the elongate members 300 are provided with a groove 312 that extends parallel to the rack defined by the gear teeth 308. The groove 312 receives a spigot 314 that projects from the pinion 64. Although not

shown, the spigot 314 might carry a rolling bearing to engage in the groove, or alternatively, might be a component secured to the pinion and made of a material having suitable bearing properties to 5 ensure easy movement of the spigot along the groove 312. As with the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the rack teeth 308 are on the side of the elongate members 300 that faces the door 10 so that there is 10 no need for the crossshaft 54 to penetrate the elongate members. In the same way as the Figure 7 embodiment, the elongate members 300 may be provided with a cover (not shown) for the 'gear side' thereof. Such covers would have to be provided with 15 a lengthways extending slot for the cross-shaft and could, if desired, be plastics mouldings arranged to snap-fit onto the elongate members.

In use, the door opening apparatus shown in Figures 10 to 14 operates in a similar way to the 20 apparatus described with reference to Figures 1 to 9. One difference is that when the door 10 is in the closed position shown in Figure 10, the elongate members 300 project upwardly. In a preferred embodiment they extend generally parallel to the

door 10 so that when the door is closed they do not project significantly into the building space.

In the closed position shown in Figure 10, the pinions 64 engage the gear teeth 308 on the arms 302 5 of the elongate members 300. When the motor is activated to open the door, the pinions move along the arms through the transition portion 310 and along the main length of the elongate members. It will be appreciated that the engagement of the lO spigots 314 in the respective grooves 312 serves to maintain the engagement of the pinions 64 with the gear teeth 308. Since the pinions 64 are fixed to the door 10 and the elongate members 300 are fixed to the structural elements 14, the movement of the 15 pinions along the elongate members causes the elongate members to pivot in an anticlockwise direction away from the door opening 112 thereby providing a lever action that opens the door.

When the apparatus described with reference to 20 Figures 1 to 9 is in the closed position, the elongate members 86 project into the building space as shown in dashed lines in Figure 10. It is believed that the embodiment illustrated in Figures 10 to 14 may be considered advantageous in that when

the door lo is closed the elongate members 300 do not impinge on the building space to the same extent and should both be less vulnerable to damage and more attractive to potential users. Although when S the door is fully open the elongate members will project into the building space, this will not be to the same extent as the elongate members 86 when in their closed position and it is believed that having the elongate members project inwards when the door 10 is open is less likely to lead to damage and nuisance than when the door is closed.

It is preferred that the length of the arm 302 should not be greater than 5% of the main length of the elongate member 300 and more preferably, the 15 length of the arm will not be greater than 1% of the length of the main length. In a presently contemplated embodiment the length of the arm 302 is less than 0.01% of the main length.

It is preferred that when in the closed 20 position, the main length of the elongate member 300 extends upwardly at an angle not greater than 10 to the vertical. More preferably, the main length of the elongate member extends generally parallel to the plane of the door.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments provide several advantages over the prior art door

opening apparatus. For example, installation takes place to the door and adjacent side structure of the 5 door opening, well below head height, which is easier than having to work overhead as in the prior art. In first experiments with a prototype apparatus, the applicant has found it possible to install the apparatus in approximately one hour 10 without any difficulty. In this connection, it will be appreciated that it is not necessary to modify the door or the surrounding structure and all that is required is the drilling of a few holes so that the apparatus can be secured to the door and 15 surrounding structure. Accordingly, installation of the apparatus does not require the use of specialist tools and should be readily accomplished by professional installers and homeowners alike.

Further advantages are that the apparatus is 20 simple and economical to manufacture. It has been found that the apparatus permits the use of relatively low power motors. The prototype apparatus tested by the applicant uses a motor ten

times less powerful than those used for prior art

overhead devices.

Claims

Automatic door opening apparatus for a canopy door, said apparatus comprising a drive 5 device, an elongate rotatable transmission to be driven by said drive device and at least one drive receiving mechanism for receiving drive from said drive device, said drive receiving mechanism including a track arranged to be pivotable, in use, 10 relative to a structure defining a door opening to which said drive receiving mechanism is fitted and a driven part connected with said transmission and arranged to move along the track defined by the drive receiving mechanism in response to rotary 15 movement of said transmission.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim l, wherein said track has a first portion and a second portion that extends at an angle to said first portion, said first portion being shorter than said second 20 portion.
3. Automatic door opening apparatus for a canopy door, said apparatus comprising a rotary drive to be fitted to a canopy door and at least one door opening mechanism to be driven by said rotary

drive, the or each said door opening mechanism comprising a mounting by which the door opening mechanism can be mounted to a fixed structure that defines a door opening in which the canopy door is 5 fitted, an elongate track pivotably connected with the mounting and a driven part connectable with said rotary drive so as to be driveable along said track, whereby rotation of said rotary drive generates a force for causing the canopy door to move between 10 open and closed positions.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said elongate track has a first portion having a first length and a second portion which has a second length and extends at an angle to said first 15 portion, said first length being less than said second length.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second length extends substantially perpendicular to said first length.

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6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein said rotary drive comprises shafting which, in use, extends in a widthways direction of the canopy door.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said driven part is mounted to said shafting.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said rotary drive comprises a rotary gear 5 supported for rotation by said shafting and said elongate track is provided with a linear gear for engagement with said rotary gear.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said rotary gear is a spur gear mounted to an end 10 region of said shafting.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein said linear gear is integral with said elongate track.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 15 6 to 10, further comprising at least one bearing bracket for fitting to an edge region of the canopy door for supporting said shafting.
12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein said rotary drive includes a drive 20 device for imparting drive to said shafting.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said drive device comprises an electric motor.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said electric motor is provided with a first gear

and said shafting is provided with a second gear for interengaging said first gear.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first gear is a worm and said second gear is a 5 worm wheel.
16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 or 15, further comprising a pivotal support arrangement for said electrical motor, said support arrangement being securable to the canopy door, whereby, in use, 10 said first gear can be selectively disengaged from said second gear to permit manual opening of the canopy door.
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a rotatable handle for securing to the IS canopy door such that a hand grip portion thereof is outside of the canopy door, in use, and an inner part of said handle is inside of the canopy door, said inner part of the handle being provided with a camming part which interacts with said pivotal 20 support arrangement, whereby rotation of said rotatable handle causes said pivotal movement of the motor relative to the canopy door.
18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a rotatable handle for securing to the

canopy door such that a hand grip portion thereof is outside of the canopy door, in use, and an inner part of said handle is inside of the canopy door, said inner part carrying a Hamming device arranged 5 to be interengaged by a part carried by said pivotal support arrangement, whereby rotation of said rotatable handle in one direction causes said pivotal movement of said motor relative to the canopy door.

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19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said camming device comprises an arcuate slot and said interengaging part is a pin carried by said pivotal support arrangement and wherein rotation of said rotatable handle in a second direction opposite 15 said one direction, causes pivotal movement of said motor relative to said canopy whereby the first gear is moved into engagement with the second gear.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 19, wherein said shafting is telescopic.
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21. Automatic door opening apparatus, said apparatus comprising rotatable drive means mountable to a canopy door, lever means, mounting means for mounting said lever means to a structure defining a fixed element at a side of a door opening in which

the canopy door is housed such that said lever means can pivot relative to said fixed element and means driven by said rotatable drive means and acting on said lever means such that, in use, rotation of said 5 rotatable drive means in a first direction causes pivotal movement of said lever means in one direction to generate a force that causes the canopy door to open and rotation of said rotatable drive means in a second direction opposite to said first 10 direction causes pivotal movement of said lever means in a return direction opposite to said one direction that causes the canopy door to close.
22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said rotatable drive means includes telescopic shaft 15 means.
23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 or 22, wherein said lever means comprises a cranked lever arm.
24. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the 20 preceding claims, further comprising a controller actuable by an infrared signal.
25. A canopy door housed in a structure defining a door opening fitted with automatic door

opening apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
26. A door as claimed in claim 22 when dependent on a claim dependent on claim 3, wherein 5 said rotary drive is fitted to the door with said shafting extending in said widthways direction of the door and said at least one door opening mechanism is mounted to said fixed structure at one or respective sides of said door opening mechanism.

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27. A door as claimed in claim 22, when dependent on claim 21 or 22 or claim 25 or 26 when dependent on claim 21 or 22, wherein said drive means is mounted to said canopy door and said fixed element is to one side of the door opening and said 15 lever means is pivotally mounted to said fixed element by said mounting means.
28. A door as claimed in claim 25, 26 or 27, wherein said canopy door has a lower end and an upper end and said door opening apparatus is mounted 20 no higher than midway between said lower and upper ends.
29. A method of opening and closing a canopy door comprising actuating a powered drive to cause rotation of a transmission element mounted to the

door, which transmission element is connected to a part interacting with a lever device pivotally mounted to a fixed part to one side of a door opening in which said canopy door is housed, said 5 actuating step comprising selectively actuating said powered drive to cause rotation of said transmission element in a first direction to cause pivotal movement of said lever device upwardly to provide a force causing the canopy door to move towards an 10 open position or to cause rotation in a second direction, opposite said first direction, to cause pivotal movement of said lever device downwardly to provide a force causing the canopy door to move towards a closed position.

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30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said actuating step includes using a device comprising an infra-red transmitter.
31. Automatic door opening apparatus for a canopy door, said apparatus comprising a drive 20 mechanism to be fitted to said canopy door and a lever arm mechanism to be fitted to a structure defining a door opening in which said door is housed, said lever arm mechanism being driven by

said drive mechanism for opening and closing said canopy door.
32. Apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein said lever arm mechanism comprises an elongate 5 member having a first section having an end arranged for pivotal connection with connecting means to be secured to said structure defining a door opening and a second section extending transverse to said first section, said drive means comprising means for 10 engaging and moving along a track defined by said first and second sections of said elongate member whereby said lever arm mechanism is driven for opening and closing said canopy door.
33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein 15 said first section has a length no greater than 1% of the length of the second section.
34. Apparatus as claimed in claim 32 or 33 fitted in a said door opening, said elongate being arranged such that when said door is in a closed 20 position, said second section extends upwardly.
35. Apparatus as claimed in claim 34, wherein said second section extends at an angle not greater than 10 to the vertical.
36. Automatic door opening apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
37. A canopy door fitted with apparatus 5 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
38. A method of opening and closing a canopy door substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.