The garage doors might have different types. In general, how garage doors work will depend on the type of garage doors specifically. Even though the different types of garage door might have different mechanisms to work, the two basic mechanisms behind their working are torsion spring lift mechanism, and extension spring lift mechanism.
Torsion Spring Lift Mechanisms
This mechanism normally involves one, or more than one springs on a steel shaft with cable drums on each side of the door. This apparatus is held up on the header, and is supported by a center bearing plate with a steel or nylon bearing, and two other bearing plates on both ends. The springs are designed in such a way that the steel wire in them has two cones, a winding cone at one end, and a stationary cone at the other. The first one includes holes that are perpendicular for winding the springs, and two set screws to hold the shaft. The other one is supposed to join with the center plate.
The steel cables are attached to a notch in the cable drums. These are coming from the roller brackets at the bottom corner of the door. As the door rises up, the springs unwind; this causes the stored tension in the springs to turn the shaft. Eventually, this turns the cable drums which roll up the cables around the drums. The opposite happens when the door is closed.
Extension Spring Lift Mechanisms
This type of a mechanism involves stretched springs that are aligned with the horizontal tracks. The counterbalance cables are running from the lower corners of the brackets by pulleys. These pulleys are responsible for lifting the door. As the door is raised, the springs contract, this means that the tension in the springs is released. As this happens, the door is lifted up. Select an option in the menu above to see how garage doors work with sensors and remotes.
