DOOR CLOSER ASSEMBLY

• US 20150113876A1
• Filed: 11/03/2014
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Accessories and Door Controls Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Yale Security Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Burris, Charles E., Tadlock, Robert L. Jr., White, John, Gurley, Jason Scott, Faes, Steven Michael, McGinty, Joseph, Patterson, Wade
• Granted Patent: US 9,523,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/31
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/614 operated by meshing gear wheels, one of which being mounted at the wing pivot axis; operated by a motor acting directly on the wing pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/616 operated by push-pull mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/102 with rack-and-pinion transmission between driving shaft and piston within the closer housing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/227 mounted at the top of wings, e.g. details related to closer housings, covers, end caps or rails therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/11 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/43 Motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/612 Batteries
• 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 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials

Abstract

A door closer comprises a piston cooperating with a rotating pinion. Upon rotation of the pinion in the door opening direction, the piston moves toward the second end of the housing forcing fluid from a second variable volume chamber through a passage to a first variable volume chamber and compressing a spring assembly for storing energy. The spring assembly urges the piston toward the first end of the housing for forcing fluid from the first variable volume chamber to the second variable volume chamber and rotating the pinion in the door closing direction. A controller controls the position of a valve in the passage based on the sensed angular position of a door and the position of the valve for determining the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve.

Claims

1. A door closer assembly for a door, the door closer assembly comprising:

a drive gear operatively connected to an arm shaft that rotates responsive to movement of the door for rotating the drive gear;

a drive sprocket;

a chain engaging the drive gear and the drive sprocket for rotation of the drive sprocket upon rotation of the drive gear responsive to the movement of the door;

a box gear connected for rotation with the drive sprocket;

a pair of clutch gears mounted on a shaft for rotation with the shaft, a first gear of the pair of clutch gears engaging the box gear for rotation of the first gear and the shaft in a first direction;

an idler gear engaged between the box gear and a second gear of the pair of clutch gears for rotation of the second gear and the shaft in a second direction;

a generator;

gear means operatively coupled between the shaft and the generator for increasing rotational velocity of an output gear relative to the arm shaft,

wherein the generator is configured to generate electrical power responsive to the rotation caused by movement of the door.

2. 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.

3. The door closer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises one of a capacitor or a battery.

4. A control unit for a door closer assembly for a door, the control unit comprising:

a drive gear operatively connected to an arm shaft that rotates responsive to movement of the door for rotating the drive gear;

a drive sprocket;

a chain engaging the drive gear and the drive sprocket for rotation of the drive sprocket upon rotation of the drive gear responsive to the movement of the door;

a box gear connected for rotation with the drive sprocket;

a pair of clutch gears mounted on a shaft for rotation with the shaft, a first gear of the pair of clutch gears engaging the box gear for rotation of the first gear and the shaft in a first direction;

an idler gear engaged between the box gear and a second gear of the pair of clutch gears for rotation of the second gear and the shaft in a second direction;

a generator;

gear means operatively coupled between the shaft and the generator for increasing rotational velocity of an output gear relative to the arm shaft, wherein the generator is configured to generate electrical power responsive to the rotation caused by movement of the door; 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 adapted to control a valve in the door closer,

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