The Doorsmithian

The commercial application of OVERHEAD SECTIONAL DOORS is seen abundantly.Generally, a stack of 2′ tall PANELS are hinged together. Rollers are at the outer hinges, which travel through J-TRACK, or SAFETY TRACK. Rollers can be 2″ or 3″. They should always be LONG STEM SAFETY ROLLERS. Period.  And, I see a lot of doors that do not use them. If a door becomes too much out of alignment, by say, BROKEN CABLE, HIT BY FORKLIFT, SLIPPED DRUM, FORCED OPERATION WHEN JAMMED, well, short stem rollers can pull right out of the hinges, and the entire door can fall. Above all, IT COST A LOT LESS TO FIX A DOOR, THAN IT DOES TO FIX A PERSON.SAFETY TRACK is of heavier gauge, and is configured to make it even more difficult for the roller to be removed. A good example would be of those seen on ONE PIECE COUNTER BALANCE OVERHEAD DOORS.DOOR TRAVEL falls into three types: STANDARD LIFT, or REGULAR LIFT, has track radius at the header. This is typically used when there is ceiling space consideration. And, for some reason, ROLLING STEEL DOORS were not chosen. With the OVERHEAD TRACK being at it’s shortest height, this type is most vulnerable to FORKLIFT TRAFFIC.HIGH LIFT has track radius a distance above the header. This helps door equipment become less exposed.FULL VERTICAL LIFT lets the door travel straight up the wall.TORSION ASSEMBLIES are located above track radius.Consider DOOR REPAIR TECHNICIAN ACCESSIBILITY when building around DOOR EQUIPMENT. Wow, I just got to speak up for our industry, I love it.TORSION ASSEMBLIES consist of SHAFT, TORSION SPRINGS, PLUGS, CENTER BRACKET, BEARINGS, SUPPORT BRACKETS, CENTER COUPLER, DRUMS, FLAG BRACKETS, and DRIVE ASSEMBLIES, to name a few. Let’s go over them:A BENT SHAFT can be caused by a number of things. LIGHT GAUGE HOLLOW SHAFT is the least desirable, though more economical. TORSION TUBE is another term for this type. I would specify a minimum of 11 GAUGE SHAFT when using HOLLOW SHAFT. HOLLOW SHAFT does allow for good SET SCREW PENETRATION and bite. SOLID SHAFT is used for HEAVIER APPLICATIONS. It will make use of KEYED SHAFT, using 1/4″, OR 5/16″ KEY STOCK to secure positions of the drums.SPRING CALIBRATION affects DOOR TRAVEL. First off, we need to make sure the last guy didn’t re-use the TORSION ASSEMBLY from a previous door, with different WEIGHT / DOOR TRAVEL characteristics. SPRING CALIBRATION considers the weight of the DOOR, the travel of the DOOR, and the type of DOOR TRAVEL. A SPRING CONVERSION is sometimes used during SPRING REPLACEMENT.When having a BROKEN SPRING replaced, replace all of the springs. The other springs are just as fatigued, Disassembly of TORSION ASSEMBLY, would only have to be considered, once, if you replaced them all, at the same time.A PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIAN will lubricate TORSION ASSEMBLIES, to minimize SPRING FATIGUE. He will also make sure SET SCREWS, and HARDWARE are secure.SPRING ADJUSTMENT, should be properly adjusted, to match, DOOR TRAVEL. The door should be able to just hold itself up, when in the open position. If the door drifts downward, from open position, it exposes the lower panels to FORKLIFT TRAFFIC. If the door flies upward, an abrupt stop is met at the end of door travel. This scenario will cause hardware to loosen, and wear out. The ROLLERS, can also, come out of the track. The TOP SECTIONS will show damage at the TOP FIXTURES, where, hopefully, it is, at least, making contact, with BUMPER SPRINGS.BUMPER SPRINGS help cushion the end of upward DOOR TRAVEL. They also, keep positive tension against the CABLES, and help prevent CABLES from falling off the DRUMS. PUSH DOWN SPRINGS, can also, keep positive tension on the CABLE. These can allow for more CUSHION TRAVEL, and are helpful, when an ELECTRIC HOIST OPERATOR tries to negotiate the TRACK RADIUS, with the BOTTOM FIXTURES.BOTTOM FIXTURES require special attention. DO NOT mess with them. They are connected to a cable LOADED with kinetic energy. They need to be secure, and in good condition.CABLES need to be in good condition, without frays, kinks, or unwinding. The NICRO PRESSED SLEEVES of these cables should have been properly squeezed during previous installation.You might check, and see, if YOUR DOOR REPAIR COMPANY uses rollers that are rated for 10,000 cycles. The cost considerations are insignificant.STEEL ROLLERS can easily have the shoulders ground, for ONE PIECE DOOR APPLICATIONS. NYLON ROLLERS can limit noise. NOISE can often be a consideration. 11 GAUGE HINGES are available, which are sure to help the creaks.GEAR HEAD OPERATORS are definitely of the INDUSTRIAL GRADE, but are remarkably QUIET.SECTIONAL PANELS can be constructed of STEEL, WOOD, and FIBERGLASS / PLASTICS. They can be INSULATED, and made to REDUCE NOISE. I have even seen products made for READY RETROFIT, and BREAK AWAY DESIGNS, to consider forklift traffic.Special BOTTOM FIXTURE DESIGNS, are available, to help prevent the door from dropping, in the event of CABLE FAILURE, or, SPRING FAILURE. I’ve found a handy, spring loaded, tear dropped shaped “roller”, that locks itself off when it mechanically senses release of cable tension. Some BOTTOM FIXTURES, have a cable tension design, that helps maintain proper cable feeding onto the CABLE DRUM.TROLLEY OPERATORS are quite useful for OVERHEAD SECTIONAL DOORS, as the operator stays connected to the top section, rather than the shaft. REVERSING DEVICES, help detect obstructions, but nothing is fool proof. A HOIST OPERATOR can turn the CABLES right off the DRUMS, if it fails to detect an obstruction.Everything has their considerations, choose the right applications.Doorsmith, Inc. is a commercial repair, and installation, service that proudly serves Orange County, California. We find strength in communication, and awareness. I hope this comment will produce to more outside contributors.Feel free to post detailed, specific, inquiries regarding different FACILITY perspectives, with the nature of DOORS, DOCK LEVELERS, GATES, ELECTRIC OPERATORS, GATE OPERATORS, STORE FRONTS, GLASS / ALUMINUM DOORS, FRAME LESS GLASS DOORS, LOCKS, LOCK HARDWARE, EXIT DEVICES, PANIC HARDWARE, SAFETY DEVICES, PALLET RACK MANAGEMENT, ACCESS CONTROL, CCTV, EMERGENCY SERVICE, PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.Doorsmith, Inc. can be reached at800 315 6839California Contractor’s License number 902488.Doorsmith, Inc. will never advise self service in any, shape, or form. Please use the service of a professional.

Hello, my name is Tony.I appreciate anyone who might have browsed along on this page. With the help of some terrific staff, I have chosen to host this blog.I have a purpose to engage thought, and hopefully, to expose the service we provide. This is not a “how to” page, per se, but a “how should”, when it comes to making prudent choices, while managing your facilities.Q- How can you help prevent that forklift from hitting the door yet one more time?A- One effective way, is to get an electric operator installed on the door. The door either goes all the way up, or all the way down, period, no more half-mast.But wait; do not forget to install at least one, with the option of redundant, reversing devices…. Yes, reversing devices, there are all kinds of approaches, and I haven’t yet pinpricked the choice of operators.REVERSING DEVICESThese have the purpose of helping the operator detect an obstruction, while closing. This will then cause operator to reverse, into upward direction, until full open position.OVERHEAD DOORS & ELECTRIC OPERATORSThese are some other directions I hope to go this evening. Overhead doors have been around, since long before I was swinging in a cradle. They come in all sorts of varieties.Everyone would recognize a typical one-piece door at their home, which would be termed as a HALF CANOPY DOOR. If it were hinged at the header, it would serve the function of a FULL CANOPY DOOR.  This would provide maximum shade, but alas, wind causes potential operating hazards - and still, this configuration, in most cases, has limited wind tolerance, while locked off, correctly, in an open position.You might see AIRCRAFT HANGAR DOORS using this application, but in a much more heavy duty sense, as compared to, the style of FULL CANOPY DOOR you might find at an RV repair shop. Aircraft hangars can utilize BI - FOLD DOORS and some of the most interesting hybrids in between.A ONE PIECE OVERHEAD DOOR would bring a counterbalance style door to mind. One using a weight can, cable, a series of pulleys, and a roller inserted at each fixture, of each corner, to balance the weight throughout door travel. SECTIONAL DOORS are commonly seen in residential applications, as well as in commercial applications. A stack of panels, generally, two feet high, and two inches thick, to a width of assignment, hinged together. At each outer hinge, are rollers, which travel inside a J - TRACK, or SAFETY TRACK. The direction of travel can be REGULAR LIFT, with a track radius starting at the header. It can also be HI - LIFT, with a track radius half the distance of the opening height, above the header. There is also FULL VERTICAL LIFT, with no radius provided for overhead track, and the door traveling straight up the wall. Ideally, straight up the wall minimizes exposure to things that can hit it, like forklifts. Not everyone has this luxury of ceiling space.And, well, there are also other approaches…ROLLING STEEL DOORS are one of my favorite. A household blind kinda acts on the same principle. Steel is coiled around a torsion tube, having internal springs; to balance changing weights applied to the barrel during door travel, through wall - mounted guides. It could be aluminum galvanized, cold - rolled steel, stainless steel, and other forms I haven’t brought to mind. The steel can come in the form of ribbed sheeting, thin enough to be measured in gauge that uses the idea of just rolling the steel sheet around the barrel. I would call this a SHEET ROLLING STEEL DOOR. These “barrels”, are themselves, sheet metal, wrapped around circular pans that house the torsion assembly. SHEET DOORS are more affordable, medium duty, and can provide years of reliable operation. Especially, with us on your side.There is also, the SLAT ROLLING STEEL DOOR. These slats, are formed to interlock with each other, and allow rigid steel to pivot around the barrel. Rigid steel can allow heavy-duty applications. Typically seen, are SMALL CURVED SLAT, SMALL FLAT SLAT, LARGE CURVED SLAT, LARGE FLAT SLAT, and INSULATED SLAT.Being a Doorsmith, for some time now, I remembered stories, echoed, of a family, passing along the Doorsmith trade, through generations. My friend, and co-worker, was the youngest one, involved with doors. He would reminisce the days, he would get spanked, with a piece of slat.By creating more weight, a standard BARREL is needed. These use SOLID SHAFT, bound, internally, in a STEEL TUBE, housing the TORSION SPRINGS, which balances the forces between the tube, and the shaft.There are regular springs, and HI - CYCLE springs. HI-CYCLE springs are rated for far more door travels, and can be a necessity when doors are used frequently during business hours.Today’s world loves automation, and so do I. This is where I’ll introduce ELECTRIC OPERATORS. There is a vast  spectrum of better mousetraps; I would like to focus on ones typically seen.TROLLEY OPERATORS can be used for SECTIONAL DOORS, and HALF CANOPY DOORS, the operator stays connected to a panel of the door, using a horizontal trolley, and some sort of pivoted drop arm. Standard drop arms allow manual disconnect, in times of power, or operator, failure.There are also disconnecting options available for keyed manual access, from the exterior side: TROLLEY OPERATORS are widely used in residential applications. I find them very useful for sectional doors, counterbalanced, using cable. They help prevent cable from having the opportunity to get slack, and fall off the DRUM, which spools the cable during door travel.HOIST OPERATORS, can also be used, which hoist the shaft of any given torsion assembly, through a series of mechanical reduction, typically BELT DRIVEN or GEAR DRIVEN. Belt driven would be the kind you would want for medium duty applications. For example, up to 14′ X 14′ ROLLING STEEL SHEET DOORS.GEAR HEAD OPERATORS typically provide a 60:1 gear reduction, and serve HEAVY DUTY ROLLING STEEL SLAT DOORS.  GEAR HEAD OPERATORS  are necessary for the larger and heavier ones. These are much less affected by changes of force during door travel. Another benefit, they are much quieter.MANUALLY OPERATED DOORS can be converted for use with electric operators. This provides ease of use, REMOTE OPERATION, and where I started in the business, one way to help prevent a forklift from hitting the door. It seems to never fail, the employee driver that hit the door, is always the one, most interested during our course of repair.Doorsmith, Inc. is a commercial repair, and installation, service that proudly serves Orange County, California. We find strength in communication, and awareness. I hope this comment will produce to more outside contributors.Feel free to post detailed, specific, inquiries regarding different FACILITY perspectives, with the nature of DOORS, DOCK LEVELERS, GATES, ELECTRIC OPERATORS, GATE OPERATORS, STORE FRONTS, GLASS / ALUMINUM DOORS, FRAME LESS GLASS DOORS, LOCKS, LOCK HARDWARE, EXIT DEVICES, PANIC HARDWARE, SAFETY DEVICES, PALLET RACK MANAGEMENT, ACCESS CONTROL, CCTV, EMERGENCY SERVICE, PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.Doorsmith, Inc. can be reached at800 315 6839California Contractor’s License number 902488.Doorsmith, Inc. will never advise self service in any, shape, or form. Please use the service of a professional.