Spring winding device for use with overhead doors

摘要

A spring winding device, a counterbalancing force adjustment device for a counterbalancing mechanism, and a method of adjusting an amount of force stored in a spring of a counterbalancing mechanism are provided. The spring winding device includes a support bracket, a worm gear, and a drive gear. The worm gear is rotatably coupled to the support bracket and includes a mount portion for coupling a first end cone thereto. The drive gear is rotatably disposed adjacent the support bracket and is drivingly engaged with the worm gear. A rotation of the drive gear causes the worm gear to rotate within the support bracket. The spring winding device does not require pretensioning using winding rods, maintains rigidity and alignment when a counterbalancing force is applied, and decreases a cost and a complexity of the counterbalancing mechanism.

主权项

1. A counterbalancing mechanism comprising:
a first torsion spring having an end cone fixed to an end thereof; a second torsion spring having an end cone fixed to an end thereof; and a spring winding device, the spring winding device comprising:
a support bracket;a worm gear rotatably coupled to the support bracket, the worm gear including a mount portion coupled to the end cone fixed to the end of the first torsion spring and a gear portion coupled to the end cone fixed to the end of the second torsion spring, the mount portion and the gear portion of the worm gear defining a support recess between the mount portion and the gear portion; anda drive gear rotatably disposed adjacent the support bracket, the drive gear drivingly engaged with the worm gear, wherein a portion of the support bracket is disposed within the support recess between the mount portion and the gear portion of the worm gear to rotatably support the worm gear and a rotation of the drive gear causes the worm gear to rotate within the support bracket.