This invention relates to a device for mechanically opening and closing a door,, especially a garage door, which comprises an upper door portion and a lower door portion, which are hingedly connected to each ot er along a line substantially in parallel with the upper and lower edge of the door, in such a manner, that the upper door portion at its upper edge is hingedly conn¬ ected to a case or wall, and the door comprises at least one linkage, which controls the movements of the door portions at the closing and opening of the door, and the linkage is designed so as at fully opened door to assume a self-braking position.

Doors of the afore-mentioned type usually are designed so that at opening the door at least one linkage is * folded together by the two hingedly connected door portions. When the door is fully open, the linkage has assumed a so-called self-braking position, which must be released when the door is to be opened. This releas¬ ing, in combination with the relatively complicated opening ane closing movement pattern of the door, has to a high degree increased the difficulties of prod¬ ucing an auxiliary equipment in the form of a device for opening and closing the door mechanically. -

The present invention, therefore, has the object to produce a device, which in a simple way overcomes the aforesaid difficulties. This object is achieved in that the device has been given the characterizing features defined in the attached claims.

Embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail in the following with reference to the accompan¬ ying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of a door embodiment according to known art of the type described above, Fig. 2 shows the door acc¬ ording to Fig. 1 completed with a davice according to

the invention, Fig. 3 shows the door according to Fig. 2 in half-open position, Fig. 4 shows the door accord¬ ing to Figs. 2 and 3 in fully open position, and Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, comp¬ ared to Figs. 2—4-.

Fig. 1 shows a door 1, which comprises an upper portion 2 and a lower portion 3- The door portions 2 and 3 are hingedly connected to each other. The upper door port¬ ion 2 is hingedly connected at its upper edge 5 to a case or wall. The door 1 further comprises two link¬ ages 6,7, which in their turn comprise each three hingedly connected slewing brackets 8-10, 11-13. The door also comprises two springs 14,15 connected to the slewing brackets 9 and 12, respectively. The linkages 6,7 control the movements of the door portions 2,3 at opening and closing of the door 1 and are designed so as at opened door to assume a self-braking position. The springs 14,15 facilitate manual opening of the door and at manual closing of the door slightly brake the door movement.

The invention renders it possible to mechanically open and close the door shown in Fig. 1. According to the invention, the slewing bracket 10 in Fig. 1 is exchanged ^• against a slewing bracket 20 of a different design, which is provided with a catching member in the form of a pin 21 (see Figs. 2-4). The device according to the invention further comprises a drive means 22, wire strands 23,24, a spring means in the form of a spring 25 interconnecting the wire strands, and guide memb¬ er? ^" -- for the wire strands 23,24 in the form of upward guiding wheels 26-28. A drum 29 is connected to the drive means 22, which e.g. comprises an electric motor with a drive shaft capable to bring about rotary movement in two directions. The drive means 22 is connected to the upper door portion 2. The wire strands 23 and 24 are conn-

ected to the drum 29 in such a manner, that at rotation of the drum in one direction one strand of the wire is wound off the drum while the second strand is wound on the drum, and vice versa.

The guide wheels 26-28 are located in a fixed spaced- - relationship to the case and/or wall. A stand 30 is provided for supporting the wheels 27 and 28. The wire strand 23 runs over the wheels 26 and 27. The wire strand 24 runs over the wheel 28. As already mentioned, the wire strands 23 and 24 are interconnected at their free ends via the spring 25*, which here is located between the wheels 27 and 28, but, of course, also can be located between the wheels 26 and 27. On both sides of the spring 25 stop members 32,33 are located which have the object to orient the spring 25, but must be located so spaced relative to each other, that there is space for the spring 25 even in its extended state. The spring means 25, of course, also can be designed in several ways different from the* one shown here and, for example, may comprise a rubber strop or the like.

Upon opening the door 1, the drive means 22 is start¬ ed with such a rotation direction, that the wire strand 24 is wound on the drum 29, and the wire strand 23 is wound off the same. In the final phase of the opening movement, the wire strand 23 is caught by the pin 21, whereafter the linkages 6,7 assume a self-braking pos¬ ition according to Fig. 4. The pin 21, thus, effects in the final phase of the opening movement a bending of the wire strand 23.

Upon closing the door 1, the drive means 22 is start¬ ed with such a rotation direction, that the wire strand 23 is wound on the drum 29, and the wire strand 24 is wound off the same. The wire strand 23 thereby

is tensioned and thereby affects the pin 21 and slew¬ ing bracket 20 so that the self-braking- of the link¬ ages 6,7 is caused to cease.

During the opening and closing movements, the drum 29 moves substantially along an arc, and the spring means 25 renders it possible that this proceeds without wire break.

At the embodiment according to Fig. 5 - the drive means 22' is located on the lower door portion 3.

The springmeans 25 preferably is completed with a damping member (not shown), in order to cause the door portions to move more uniformly, especially in the initial phase of the closing movement of the door.

As regards, for example, safety means for preventing pinching injuries, control equipment for the drive means, disengaging means for rendering manual opening and closing of the door possible, and remote control equipment, these, of course, can be designed in several different ways within the scope of the invention.

The invention is not restricted to what is shown and described, but alterations and modifications can be imagined within the scope of the attached claims.

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