Patent ID: 6530178
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: E05D,E05F,E05Y

Abstract:
A door operator for controlling movements of a door panel between open and closed positions, said door operator comprising:a rotatable operator output member rotatable about an operator output axis, said operator output member being constructed and arranged to be operatively connected with the door panel such that rotation of said output member moves the door panel between the open and closed positions thereof; a motor coupled to said operator output member such that operation of said motor rotates said output member so as to move said door panel between the open and closed positions thereof; a door moving compression spring structure positioned in a spring force-applying relationship with respect to said operator output member such that operating said motor to rotate said output member in the first rotational direction thereof to move the door panel in a first door moving direction stresses said spring, said spring structure being constructed and arranged to thereafter apply a spring force to said operator output member that tends to rotate said operator output member in a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction to move the door panel operatively connected thereto in a second door moving direction opposite the first door moving direction; and a selectively movable spring force adjusting member operatively associated with said compression spring structure, said spring force adjusting member being selectively movable in a generally longitudinal direction of said spring structure through a range of adjusting positions to control an extent to which said spring structure is stressed during movement of the door panel in the first door moving direction thereof, thereby enabling the amount of spring force that said spring structure applies to said operator output member during rotation in the second rotational direction to be selectively adjusted, wherein said adjusting member is selectively moved in said generally longitudinal direction of said spring structure by rotating said adjusting member; further comprising an annular sleeve surrounding said motor and having a threaded exterior surface, said compression spring being mounted in encircling relation about said sleeve, said adjustment member being an internally threaded annular ring, said annular ring being threadingly engaged with the threaded exterior surface of said sleeve such that rotating said ring moves said ring in a rectilinear linear manner in said generally longitudinal direction of said spring structure.