DOOR CLOSER ASSEMBLY

• US 20110231023A1
• Filed: 03/25/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Accessories and Door Controls Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Yale Security Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB), Synapse Retail Ventures
• Inventors: Copeland, David James II, Weepie, Keith James, Tadlock, Robert L. JR., White, John J. JR., Gurley, Jason Scott, Burris, Charles E., Faes, Steven Michael, McGinty, Joseph Ralph, Patterson, Wade C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/002 controlled by automatically acting means for powered-operated mechanisms E05F15/70
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/08 spring-actuated , e.g. for horizontally sliding wings counterbalancing sliding or lifting wings E05D; springs per se F16F, e.g. gas-springs F16F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/12 Special devices controlling the circulation of the liquid, e.g. valve arrangement E05F3/223 takes precedence; valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/18 with counteracting springs double-acting springs E05F1/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/20 Brakes; Disengaging means, e.g. clutches; Holders, e.g. locks; Stops; Accessories therefore
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/25 Force or torque adjustment therefore E05Y2400/21 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/254 Fluid or viscous friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/458 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/492 Spring tensioners, tension sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/614 charging thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/616 Generators
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/22 of not identical elements of the same category, e.g. combinations of not identical springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/292 having apertures
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/298 having indentations
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken

Abstract

A door closer assembly is provided, including a valve regulating an amount of hydraulic fluid that flows through the valve. The amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve controls a force generated by the door closer assembly on a door. A first sensor measures an angular position of the door, and a second sensor measures an angular position of the valve. The angular position of the valve determines the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve. A controller controls the adjustment of the valve based on the angular position of the door and the angular position of the valve.

Claims

1. A door closer assembly comprising:

a spring;

a movable element configured to move in response to movement of a door, the movement of the movable element loading the spring;

at least one gear configured to rotate responsive to a force exerted on one of the at least one gear by the spring; and

a generator configured to generate electrical power responsive to the rotation of the at least one gear.

2. The door closer assembly according to claim 1, the spring comprising a clock spring.

3. The door closer assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a trigger configured to engage the movable element and move the movable element in a first direction based on the movement of the door, the trigger further configured to disengage from the movable element thereby allowing the spring to move the movable element in a second direction opposite the first direction.

4. The door closer assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a second spring coupled to the trigger.

5. The door closer assembly according to claim 4, wherein the trigger engages the movable element due to a force exerted on the trigger by the second spring.

6. The door closer assembly according to claim 3, the trigger further comprising a notch that engages the movable element while the trigger moves the movable element in the first direction.

7. The door closer assembly according to claim 6, further comprising the trigger being configured to move such that the notch of the trigger disengages from the movable element at a certain point after movement in the first direction.

8. The door closer assembly according to claim 7, wherein the spring moves the movable element in the second direction responsive to the movable element being released from the trigger when the notch of the trigger disengages from the movable element.

9. The door closer assembly according to claim 3, the movable element further comprising a notch that engages the trigger while the trigger moves the movable element in the first direction.

10. The door closer assembly according to claim 9, the trigger further comprising a notch that engages the notch of the movable element while the trigger moves the movable element.

11. The door closer assembly according to claim 9, wherein the spring moves the movable element in the second direction responsive to the movable element being released from the trigger when the notch of the movable element disengages from the trigger.

12. The door closer assembly according to claim 9, wherein the movable element is configured to pivot responsive to a force exerted on the notch of the movable element by a notch of the trigger.

13. The door closer assembly according to claim 3, further comprising:

a star gear, the star gear configured to receive an arm shaft that rotates responsive to movement of a door thereby rotating the star gear;

a force activator engaged with the star gear; and

a pull arm, the pull arm being pushed in the first direction by the force activator responsive to the movement of the door, the pull arm being coupled to a cord, the cord being coupled to the trigger, the pull arm pulling the trigger in the first direction responsive to the movement of the door

14. The door closer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the generator generates an electrical pulse responsive to the rotation of the gear, the electrical pulse being usable to charge an energy storage device.

15. The door closer assembly according to claim 13, wherein the energy storage device comprises one of a capacitor or a battery.

16. A control unit for a door closer assembly comprising:

a spring;

a movable element configured to move in response to movement of a door, the movement of the movable element loading the spring;

at least one gear configured to rotate responsive to a force exerted on one of the at least one gear by the spring;

a generator configured to generate electrical power responsive to the rotation of the at least one gear; and

a printed circuit board (PCB), the PCB comprising an energy storage device and control logic, the energy storage device being charged by the generated electrical power, the control logic being powered by the generated power and configured to control a valve in a door closer,

wherein the control unit is configured to be attachable to a door closer.

17. A method for self-powered operation of a door closer comprising:

providing power to a control unit responsive to movement of a door;

reading an angular position of the door;

reading an angular position of a valve; and

adjusting the angular position of the valve based on the angular position of the door and the angular position of the valve.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising transitioning a processor controlling the adjustment of the angular position of the valve to a power saving sleep state after the adjustment of the angular position of the valve.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising determining a remaining available power level and shutting down the processor when the remaining power level is below a first threshold value.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising restoring the processor to an active state after a set period of time.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising enabling power to a first sensor reading that senses the angular position of the door and a second sensor that senses the angular position of the valve responsive to the movement of the door.

22. The method according to claim 17, further comprising determining a remaining available power level and adjusting the angular position of the valve only when the remaining power level is above a second threshold value.

23. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

reading a second angular position of the door;

comparing the read angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door; and

determining whether the door is opening or closing based on the comparison.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising retrieving opening mode threshold data when the door is opening and determining a desired valve position from the opening mode threshold data.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising comparing the read angular position of the valve with the desired valve position and determining if the valve requires adjustment based on the comparison.

26. The method according to claim 23, further comprising retrieving closing mode threshold data when the door is closing and determining a desired valve position from the closing mode threshold data.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising comparing the read angular position of the valve with the desired valve position and determining if the valve requires adjustment based on the comparison.

28. A method for self-powered operation of a door closer comprising:

providing power to a control unit responsive to movement of a door;

reading an angular position of the door;

reading an angular position of a valve; and

comparing the angular position of the door to a previously read angular position of the door;

calculating a speed of the door based on the comparison;

predicting a next movement of the door based on the calculated speed and at least one previously stored calculated speed;

adjusting the valve based on the prediction; and

transitioning at least one component of a control unit controlling the adjusting of the valve to a power saving sleep state for a set period of time.

29. A method for self-powered operation of a door closer comprising:

reading a first door position and storing the read first door position;

reading a second door position and storing the read second door position;

comparing the first door position with the second door position;

calculating a speed of the door based on the comparison;

associating the calculated door speed with the first door position and the second door position and storing;

comparing the stored door speed with an average speed for the first door position and the second door position; and

adjusting the angular position of the valve based on the comparing the stored door speed with an average speed for the first door position and the second door position.

30. A system for reduced energy operation of a door closer comprising:

a controller, the controller comprising a processor;

a voltage storage device, the voltage storage device being operatively connected to the controller; and

a generator, the generator being operatively connected to the controller and the voltage storage device, the generator generating a voltage responsive to movement of a door, the voltage charging the voltage storage device,

wherein the controller enables power to a first sensor to read an angular position of the door only for enough time to insure an accurate reading the first sensor, and

wherein the controller enables power to a second sensor to read an angular position of a valve in the door closer only for enough time to insure an accurate reading the second sensor.

31. The system according to claim 30, further comprising the controller monitoring a voltage level of the voltage storage device and initiating an orderly powering down of the processor when the voltage level of the voltage storage device falls below a defined level.

32. The system according to claim 30, further comprising a regulator, the regulator being operatively connected to the controller, the voltage storage device, and the generator, the regulator regulating an output voltage of the voltage storage device to maintain a constant level.

33. The system according to claim 30, further comprising the controller monitoring a voltage level of the voltage storage device and one of delaying or preventing an adjustment of the valve position when the voltage level of the voltage storage device falls below a defined level.

34. The system according to claim 30, further comprising the controller monitoring a voltage level of the voltage storage device and allowing an adjustment of the valve position only when the voltage level of the voltage storage device is above a defined level.

35. The system according to claim 34, further comprising transitioning the processor to a low-power sleep state after the adjustment of the valve position.

36. The system according to claim 35, the controller further comprising a timer, the controller setting the timer to a defined time period before the transitioning the processor to the low-power sleep state and generating an interrupt upon expiration of the timer time period to awaken the processor from the low-power sleep state.

37. The system according to claim 30, wherein the first sensor comprises a magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor sensing a magnetic field that is related to the movement of the door.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the controller determines a value indicative of a strength of the magnetic field and maps the value to the angular position of the door.

39. The system according to claim 30, wherein the second sensor comprises a magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor sensing a magnetic field that is related to the angular position of the valve.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein the controller determines a value indicative of a strength of the magnetic field and maps the value to the angular position of the valve.

41. The system according to claim 39, wherein the second sensor comprises a radiometric sensor, a ratio (R) of an input voltage to an output voltage of the radiometric sensor being related to the angular position of the valve.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein the controller maps the R value to the angular position of the valve.

43. A method for reduced energy operation of a door closer comprising:

detecting movement of a door;

providing power to a controller responsive to the movement of the door;

enabling power to a door angle sensor only long enable to obtain an accurate reading of an angular position of the door and then disabling power to the door angle sensor;

enabling power to a valve sensor only long enable to obtain an accurate reading of an angular position of the valve and then disabling power to the valve sensor; and

adjusting the angular position of the value responsive to the read angular position of the door and the read angular position of the valve.

44. The method according to claim 43, further comprising checking a remaining voltage level of a voltage storage device and adjusting the angular position of the value only if the remaining voltage level is above a defined threshold.

45. The method according to claim 43, further comprising checking a remaining voltage level of a voltage storage device and initiating an orderly powering down of a processor when the remaining voltage level falls below a defined threshold.

46. The method according to claim 43, further comprising transitioning a processor to a low-power sleep state after the adjustment of the angular position of the valve.

47. The method according to claim 46, the controller further comprising setting a timer to a defined time period before the transitioning the processor to the low-power sleep state and generating an interrupt upon expiration of the timer time period to awaken the processor from the low-power sleep state.

48. A controller for reduced energy operation of a door closer comprising:

a timer; and

a processor, the processor detecting movement of a door, enabling power to a door angle sensor only long enable to obtain an accurate reading of an angular position of the door and then disabling power to the door angle sensor, enabling power to a valve sensor only long enable to obtain an accurate reading of an angular position of the valve and then disabling power to the valve sensor, and adjusting the angular position of the value responsive to the read angular position of the door and the read angular position of the valve,

wherein the controller receives power responsive to the movement of the door.

49. The controller according to claim 48, further comprising the controller transitioning the processor to a low-power sleep state after the adjustment of the angular position of the valve.

50. The controller according to claim 49, further comprising the controller setting the timer to a defined time period before the transitioning the processor to the low-power sleep state and generating an interrupt upon expiration of the timer time period to awaken the processor from the low-power sleep state.