Door closer power adjusting device

• US 20050011040A1
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CR Laurence Company Incorporated (CRH PLC)
• Original Assignee: Jackson Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Peter Edward, Toledo, George
• Granted Patent: US 7,234,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/79
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/105 with a compression spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

A door closer power adjusting device for use with a door closer having a spindle driven by a compressed spring with a movable plate for adjusting an amount of compression of said spring, or with an adjusting screw for adjusting an amount of compression of said spring, between a first high level of compression and a second low level of compression. A powered unit is provided for moving the plate in a first direction to achieve the second low level of compression and in a second direction to achieve the first high level of compression. A user engageable switch is used to activate the powered unit in the first direction and a first switch is arranged to be engaged upon the spring being compressed to the second low level of compression to deactivate the powered unit. A timing circuit is used to activate the powered unit in a second direction after the passage of a predetermined amount of time. A second switch is arranged to be engaged upon the spring being compressed to the first high level of compression to deactivate the powered unit.

Claims

1. A door closer power adjusting device for use with a door closer having a spring driven spindle with an adjusting screw for adjusting an amount of compression of said spring, comprising:

a shaft connected to said adjusting screw,

a reversible motor for rotatably driving said shaft,

a power supply for said motor,

a switch to activate said motor in a first direction,

a first switch arranged to be engaged upon said shaft rotating a sufficient number of times to adjust said compression of said spring to a predetermined level,

a timing circuit to activate said motor in a second direction after the passage of a predetermined amount of time,

a second switch arranged to be engaged upon said shaft rotating a sufficient number of times to return said compression of said spring to its original level.

2. A door closer power adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second switches comprise a single switch with two engagement positions.

3. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein said powered unit comprises a reversible motor.

4. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 3, wherein said motor is connected via a shaft to an adjustment screw engaged with said plate to provide the adjustment to the compression of said spring upon rotation of said shaft via said motor.

5. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 1, including a signal device to alert a user that the door closer spring is at the second lower compression level.

6. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 5, wherein said signal device comprises a green illuminated device.

7. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 1, including a signal device to alert a user that the door closer spring is at the first higher compression level.

8. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 7, wherein said signal device comprises a red illuminated device.

9. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 1, including an override switch to activate said powered unit in a second direction in advance of activation via said timing circuit.

10. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 1, including an override switch to prevent operation of said user engageable switch.

11. A door closer power adjusting device for use with a door closer having a spindle driven by a compressed spring with a movable plate for adjusting an amount of compression of said spring between a first high level of compression and a second low level of compression, comprising:

a powered unit for moving said plate in a first direction to achieve said second low level of compression and in a second direction to achieve said first high level of compression,

a user engageable switch to activate said powered unit in said first direction,

a first switch arranged to be engaged upon said spring being compressed to said second low level of compression to deactivate said powered unit,

a timing circuit to activate said powered unit in a second direction after the passage of a predetermined amount of time,

a second switch arranged to be engaged upon said spring being compressed to said first high level of compression to deactivate said powered unit.

12. A door closer power adjusting device according to claim 11, wherein said first and second switches comprise a single switch with two engagement positions.

13. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 11, wherein said powered unit comprises a reversible motor.

14. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 13, wherein said motor is connected via a shaft to an adjustment screw engaged with said plate to provide the adjustment to the compression of said spring upon rotation of said shaft via said motor.

15. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 11, including a signal device to alert a user that the door closer spring is at the second lower compression level.

16. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 15, wherein said signal device comprises a green illuminated device.

17. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 11, including a signal device to alert a user that the door closer spring is at the first higher compression level.

18. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 17, wherein said signal device comprises a red illuminated device.

19. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 11, including an override switch to activate said powered unit in a second direction in advance of activation via said timing circuit.

20. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 11, including an override switch to prevent operation of said user engageable switch.

21. A door closer power adjusting device for use with a door closer having a compressed spring movable between a first high level of compression and a second low level of compression, comprising:

a powered unit for moving said spring in a first direction to achieve said second low level of compression and in a second direction to achieve said first high level of compression,

a user activated switch to activate said powered unit in said first direction,

a first switch arranged to be engaged upon said spring being compressed to said second low level of compression to deactivate said powered unit,

a timing circuit to activate said powered unit in a second direction after the passage of a predetermined amount of time,

a second switch arranged to be engaged upon said spring being compressed to said first high level of compression to deactivate said powered unit.