The invention relates to an operational force support device that is adapted to support a user when operating a lid (10). The invention further relates to a method for adjusting a force (F.sub.H) that has to be applied by a user to operate a lid (10). Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer module adapted to output an amplification factor and/or an armature voltage that is/are used in the method according to the invention.

A fire door operator for a rolling door includes a housing defining an axis. An outer main gear in the form of an annular ring is mounted within the housing for rotation about the axis and formed with exterior gear teeth and radially inwardly spaced interior teeth. Planet gears are meshed with the interior teeth and a sun gear is meshed with the planet gears for rotation about the axis. A carrier is secured to the planetary gears and coupled to the shaft. A lock normally locks the main gear in relation to the housing. A drive selectively rotates the sun gear and the carrier to transmit rotational power to a rolling door shaft when secured to the carrier. A releasing device selectively releases the lock to allow free rotation of the main gear and the carrier to allow a rolling door to be lowered under its own weight.

A movable barrier operator release mechanism includes an operator chassis having a first side. A shaft extending in a first direction from the first side of the chassis. A brake assembly coupled to the chassis and the first shaft extends into the brake assembly. The brake assembly includes a lever, mounted to a mounting plate of the brake assembly on end and freely movable at the other end. A cable attached to the lever that when pulled pivots the lever about its mounting point. When moved, the lever disengages the brake assembly allowing for free movement of the movable barrier.

A door operator assembly is configured to raise and lower a cargo door of a cargo enclosure. The assembly includes a power and control unit mounted on an exterior of the cargo enclosure. The power and control unit includes a motor, a coupler operatively connecting the motor to a torsion assembly of the cargo door, a manual release mechanism for actuating the coupler to connect and disconnect the motor and the torsion assembly of the cargo door, and a control circuit for the motor. The assembly may also include an operating switch disposed on the exterior of the cargo enclosure.

A household dishwasher includes a washing container having a loading opening, a door, an electrical drive device configured to move the door between a closed position, in which the door closes the loading opening, and an open position, in which the washing container is accessible from outside, and a control unit configured to identify a manual movement of the door performed by an operator in a direction of movement by detecting a characteristic variable of the drive device and to move the door further in the direction of movement via the drive device as a result of the manual movement of the door by the operator.

Apparatus allowing ventilation through a ventilation shaft to an underground ventilation duct fluidly communicating through the ventilation shaft to an atmospheric opening of the shaft and on threat of flooding operable to prevent downward flow of surface water into the ventilation duct includes support sidewalls fitting in the shaft providing a ventilation passage between support top and bottom openings and a suspension member supported on opposed lateral sidewalls proximate the top opening holding one or more hinge connected panels that manually release to rotationally close the passage and are manually rotationally liftable to a home position allowing ventilation. A panel drain automatically closes when the panel is raised to home position. A releasable latching system between panel and a suspension member holder catches rising panels to hold them in home position. The suspension member may include end keys received in keyed supports so a specific panel faces a specific sidewall.

Apparatus allowing ventilation through a ventilation shaft to an underground ventilation duct fluidly communicating through the ventilation shaft to an atmospheric opening of the shaft and on threat of flooding operable to prevent downward flow of surface water into the underground ventilation duct includes one or more hinged panels closing a ventilation passage between the top and bottom of a support fitting in the shaft to prevent flooding. The panels have handles on their topside and pivotable arms on their underside and are liftable to an upright home position allowing ventilation, using tools to reach through grating covering openings on the shaft and lift the panel handles and after the panels are partially lifted, using reach tools to engage and lift the arms to press them again support sidewalls to exert lateral force on underside of the panels to complete upward rotation to the home position.

A power actuation system for a motor vehicle closure panel includes a motor operable to pivot a driven gear. At least one pawl assembly is operably supported by the driven gear for movement between a lever driving position, whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to pivot a lever coupled to the door to pivot the door concurrently with movement of the driven gear, and a lever releasing position, whereat the pawl assembly is positioned to permit free pivotal movement of the lever and door relative to the driven gear. The pawl assembly includes a roller engaged with the lever for rolling movement therealong during movement of the pawl assembly between the lever driving position and the lever releasing position, which results in minimal static and kinetic friction, thereby lending to reliable, low effort movement of the pawl assembly between the lever driving position and the lever releasing position.

A drive device for a movable furniture part, comprising an ejection force accumulator which can be tensioned, an ejection element mechanically loaded by the ejection force accumulator and used to carry out an ejection movement of the moveable furniture part from a closed position into an open position. The ejection movement can be initiated by a compression movement of the movable furniture part into a compression position which is behind the closed position. The drive device also comprises a tensioning device for tensioning the ejection force accumulator with energy which can be emitted by the ejection movement. During the compression movement, at least 50% of the energy emitted by the ejection force accumulator during the ejection movement can be introduced into the ejection force accumulator by the tensioning device.

Apparatus allowing ventilation through a ventilation shaft to an underground ventilation duct fluidly communicating through the ventilation shaft to an atmospheric opening of the shaft and on threat of flooding operable to prevent downward flow of surface water into the ventilation duct includes support sidewalls fitting in the shaft providing a ventilation passage between support top and bottom openings and a suspension member supported on opposed lateral sidewalls proximate the top opening holding one or more hinge connected panels that manually release to rotationally close the passage and are manually rotationally liftable to a home position allowing ventilation. A panel drain automatically closes when the panel is raised to home position so it is already closed when the panel is released to rotationally close the passage.