Patent ID: 8627871

Claim:
A sliding overhead door operator system for an overhead door not employing a counterbalance mechanism, comprising: an overhead door including first and second side edges, the door comprising a plurality of hingedly connected longitudinally extending panels; first and second rodless cylinders, one located adjacent each of the first and second side edges of the door, each cylinder including a carriage; first and second bracket assemblies, each assembly including a first portion secured to a respective carriage of one of the first and second rodless cylinders and a second portion secured to one of the plurality of panels, wherein the first and second bracket assemblies each include: a first link secured to the carriage, the first link comprising the first portion of each of the first and second bracket assemblies, a second link pivotally attached to the first link, a bracket member secured to the door and pivotally attached to the second link, the bracket member comprising the second portion of each of the first and second bracket assemblies, wherein the first link is pivotally attached to the second link at a first pivot joint having an axis and the second link is pivotally attached to the bracket member at a second pivot joint having an axis; and a controller adapted to actuate the first and second rodless cylinders to move the door up and down, wherein the first pivot joint axis and the second pivot joint axis align along a common vertical plane when the door is in a closed position and the second pivot joint axis is adapted to pivot away from the common vertical plane when the door is actuated by the controller.