Electromechanical door operator

• US 4,220,051 A
• Filed: 05/15/1978
• Issued: 09/02/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Catlett, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Staab, Lawrence J.
• Application Number:
  US05/905,767
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 49/137, 49/273, 49/274, 49/266, 49/264, 49/334-336, 49/340, 49/388, 74/30, 74/33, 74/89, 74/89.11, 74/89.12, 74/89.15, 74/89.17-89.19, 74/522, 267/150, 267/168
• US Class Current: 74/89.25
• 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 15/619 using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/622 using screw-and-nut mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/102 with rack-and-pinion transmission between driving shaft and piston within the closer housing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/11 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/722 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/302 during electromotoric braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/40 Mounting location; Visibility of the elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/11 Manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18592 Auxiliary drive [e.g., fluid piston, etc.] for load
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18688 Limit stop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18808 with rack

Abstract

A door operator with a reciprocable rack gear adapted to be actuated in opposite directions by an electric motor driven screw and a coaxial helical compression spring for rotating a drive gear of a door operating spindle in opposite directions for opening and closing a swinging door, the rack gear forming part of a spindle operator having lateral bearings engageable with the ends of the spindle and adapted to be mounted in either of two 180° angularly spaced positions about the axis of the drive screw for rotating the spindle in opposite directions, and the coaxial compression spring being operable via the rack gear for biasing the spindle in both directions to an intermediate position thereof.

Claims

1. In a door operator having a rotary spindle with a coaxial spindle drive gear and operable in opposite angular directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the spindle drive gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the spindle axis in opposite linear directions corresponding to rotation of the spindle in opposite angular directions respectively, a rotary electric drive motor, and a drive mechanism interconnecting the rotary electric motor and reciprocable spindle operator having a ball drive screw with an axis parallel to the axis of reciprocable movement of the spindle operator and a recirculating ball, drive nut mounted on the drive screw for relative rotation for translating linear and rotary motion between the reciprocable spindle operator and rotary drive screw respectively, the improvement wherein the spindle drive gear is intermediate the axial ends of the rotary spindle, wherein the drive screw and drive nut have an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the drive gear axis, one of said drive screw and drive nut being fixed to the spindle operator, and the rotary electric motor being connected for rotating the other, and wherein the reciprocable spindle operator comprises a pair of lateral thrust bearings generally diametrically of the rack gear and on opposite axial ends of the spindle drive gear respectively, for transmitting lateral thrust between the rack gear and spindle during linear movement of the spindle operator.

2. A door operator according to claim 1 wherein the reciprocable spindle operator has a bifurcated end with a first elongated leg having said rack gear and a second elongated leg having said pair of lateral thrust bearings.

3. A door operator according to claim 1 wherein the reciprocable spindle operator comprises a pair of lateral guide bearings engageable with the spindle generally diametrically of the pair of lateral thrust bearings respectively.

4. A door operator according to claim 1 wherein the spindle comprises rolling bearings on opposite axial ends of the spindle drive gear engageable by the lateral thrust bearings respectively of the spindle operator.

5. A door operator according to claim 1 further comprising an elongated generally helical, preloaded compression spring generally coaxial with the drive screw, a first pair of fixed axially spaced compression spring limits at opposite axial ends of the compression spring, and a second pair of axially spaced compression spring limits at opposite axial ends of the compression spring for compressing the spring in opposite directions as the spindle operator moves in opposite directions from an intermediate position thereof for returning the spindle operator to its said intermediate position with the preloaded compression spring.

6. A door operator according to claim 1 further comprising an elongated generally tubular support frame having a longitudinally extending chamber therein, the rotary spindle being rotatably mounted on the support frame to extend axially transversely across the support frame chamber generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof, the reciprocable spindle operator being reciprocably mounted and the drive screw being mounted to extend longitudinally within the chamber, a preloaded generally helical compression spring mounted within the chamber generally coaxially with the drive screw and having at least one axial end thereof restrained by the tubular support and its other axial end engageable with the spindle operator to bias it in one linear direction to a predetermined linear position thereof.

7. In a door operator having a spindle with a rotary drive gear operable in opposite angular directions thereof for opening and closing a door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the drive gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the drive gear axis in opposite linear directions corresponding to rotation of the drive gear in opposite angular directions respectively, and means for actuating the spindle operator in at least one direction thereof for opening a door, the improvement wherein the door operator comprises mounting means for mounting the spindle operator in either of two 180°

angularly spaced positions thereof about an axis, parallel to the direction of linear reciprocable movement thereof, normal to and intersecting the drive gear axis and with the rack gear in mesh with the drive gear in diametrically opposed positions for rotating the spindle drive gear in opposite directions respectively relative to the direction of linear movement of the spindle operator.

8. A door operator according to claim 7 wherein the rotary drive gear is intermediate the axial ends of the spindle, and wherein the mounting means comprises lateral thrust bearing means on the spindle operator generally diametrically of the rack gear and on opposite axial ends of the drive gear respectively for transmitting lateral thrust between the rack gear and spindle during linear movement of the spindle operator.

9. A door operator according to claim 7 wherein the actuating means comprises bi-directional spring means for biasing the spindle operator in both linear directions thereof to an intermediate linear position for returning a swinging door in both angular directions to an intermediate closed angular position thereof.

10. In a door operator having a spindle with a rotary drive gear operable in opposite angular directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the spindle drive gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the spindle axis in opposite directions corresponding to rotation of the spindle in opposite angular directions respectively, and means for actuating the spindle operator in first and second opposite linear directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door respectively, the improvement wherein the actuating means comprises a rotary drive screw having an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the drive gear axis and rotatable in opposite angular directions thereof for reciprocating the spindle operator in opposite linear directions thereof respectively, an elongated generally helical, preloaded compression spring generally coaxial with and encircling the drive screw for biasing the spindle operator in opposite linear directions to an intermediate linear position thereof for rotating the rotary drive gear in corresponding opposite angular directions to an intermediate angular position thereof corresponding to a closed position of a swinging door, a first pair of fixed axially spaced compression spring limits at opposite axial ends of the compression spring, and a second pair of axially spaced compression spring limits at opposite axial ends of the compression spring for compressing the spring in opposite directions as the spindle operator moves in opposite directions from said intermediate position thereof for returning the spindle operator to its said intermediate position with the preloaded compression spring.

11. A door operator according to claim 10 wherein the actuating means further comprises motor means connected for actuating the spindle operator in at least one linear direction from its said intermediate position for opening a swinging door in a corresponding direction, the motor means permitting manually actuating the spindle operator, via a swinging door and the rotary drive gear, in the opposite linear direction from its said intermediate position for manually opening a swinging door in the opposite direction.

12. In a door operator having a rotary spindle with a door pivot shaft for a swinging door, spindle drive means for rotating the spindle in opposite angular directions from and to a pre-established angular position thereof for opening and closing a swinging door respectively, and lever means mounted on the door pivot shaft for connecting the door pivot shaft to a swinging door for opening and closing the swinging door with the rotary spindle, the improvement wherein the lever means comprises upper overlying and lower underlying coaxial levers respectively, the overlying lever being mounted on the door pivot shaft for being rotated thereby and the lower underlying lever being adapted to be mounted on the upper edge of a swinging door to swing the door, the lower underlying lever being pivotally mounted at its inner end for pivotal adjustment of the lower lever relative to the upper lever about the axis of the door pivot shaft, the upper and lower levers having locking means at their outer end, for selectively locking the lower underlying lever to the upper lever in any adjusted pivotal position thereof within a limited range of pivotal adjustment of the lower lever relative to the upper lever.

13. A door operator according to claim 12 wherein one of the levers comprises a lever arm, a locking element, detachably mounted on the lever arm, having a first circumferential tooth sector coaxial with the door pivot shaft and wherein the other lever has a second tooth sector conforming to and engageable by the first tooth sector of the locking element for selectively locking the lower lever to the upper lever.

14. In a door operator having a rotary spindle with a coaxial drive gear and operable in opposite angular directions thereof for opening and closing a door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the spindle driver gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the spindle axis in opposite linear directions corresponding to rotation of the spindle in opposite angular directions respectively, a rotary electric motor, a bi-directional drive mechanism interconnecting the rotary electric motor and reciprocable spindle operator having a ball drive screw with an axis parallel to the axis of linear movement of the spindle operator, and a recirculating ball, drive nut mounted on the drive screw for relative rotation for actuating the spindle operator in at least one linear direction thereof with the electric motor, and a preloaded, generally helical compression spring axially biasing the spindle operator in at least the opposite linear direction to a predetermined linear position thereof, the improvement wherein the drive screw and drive nut have an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the drive gear axis, one of said drive screw and drive nut being fixed to the spindle operator, and the rotary electric motor being connected for rotating the other, wherein the generally helical compression spring is coaxial with and encircles the drive screw, wherein the door operator comprises a first pair of fixed axially spaced compression spring limits at opposite axial ends of the compression spring, and a second pair of axially spaced compression spring limits at opposite ends of the compression spring mounted for compressing the spring in opposite directions upon linear movement of the spindle operator in opposite linear directions from its said predetermined linear position.

15. In a door operator having a rotary spindle with a rotary drive gear operable in opposite angular directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the spindle drive gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the spindle axis in opposite linear directions corresponding to rotation of the spindle in opposite angular directions respectively, and means for actuating the spindle operator in first and second opposite linear directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door respectively, the improvement wherein the actuating means comprises bi-directional spring means for biasing the spindle operator in opposite linear directions to an intermediate linear position thereof for rotating the rotary drive gear in corresponding opposite angular directions to an intermediate angular position thereof corresponding to a closed position of a swinging door and drive means including a rotary electric drive motor, connected for actuating the spindle operator with the electric drive motor by rotation of the motor in one angular direction, in one linear direction from its said intermediate position for opening a swinging door in a corresponding direction, and connected for rotating the electric motor in said one angular direction by actuation of the spindle operator in its said one linear direction, the drive means permitting manually actuating the spindle operator, via a swinging door and the rotary drive gear, in the opposite linear direction from its said intermediate position for manually opening a swinging door in the opposite direction, and motor circuit means including first switch means for energizing the electric drive motor for rotation in said one angular direction for actuating the spindle operator in said one linear direction for opening a swinging door in a corresponding direction, second switch means, automatically operated when the spindle operator is manually actuated in the opposite linear direction from its said intermediate position, for preventing said energization of the electric drive motor in said one angular direction for actuating the spindle operator in said one linear direction, and motor shunting means operatively connected to the motor by the second switch means to shunt the motor and thereby dampen the door return to its closed position when manually released to permit the bi-directional spring means to actuate the spindle operator in its said one linear direction to its intermediate position.

16. In a door operator having a rotary spindle with a coaxial spindle drive gear and operable in opposite angular directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the spindle drive gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the spindle axis in opposite linear directions corresponding to rotation of the spindle in opposite angular directions respectively, a rotary electric drive motor, and a drive mechanism interconnecting the rotary electric motor and reciprocable spindle operator having a ball drive screw with an axis parallel to the axis of reciprocable movement of the spindle operator and a recirculating ball, drive nut mounted on the drive screw for relative rotation for translating linear and rotary motion between the reciprocable spindle operator and rotary drive screw respectively, the improvement wherein the spindle drive gear is intermediate the axial ends of the rotary spindle, wherein the reciprocable spindle operator comprises a pair of lateral thrust bearings generally diametrically of the rack gear and on opposite axial ends of the spindle drive gear respectively, for transmitting lateral thrust between the rack gear and spindle during linear movement of the spindle operator, wherein the drive screw has an axis intersecting the spindle axis, and wherein the reciprocable spindle operator is adapted to be mounted in either of two 180°

angularly spaced positions thereof about the axis of the rotary drive screw with the rack gear in engagement with the spindle drive gear in diametrically opposed positions of the rack gear for rotating the spindle in opposite directions relative to the direction of linear movement of the reciprocable spindle operator.

17. In a door operator having a rotary spindle with a coaxial spindle drive gear and operable in opposite angular directions therof for opening and closing a swinging door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the spindle driver gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the spindle axis in opposite linear directions corresponding to rotation of the spindle in opposite angular directions respectively, a rotary electric drive motor, and a drive mechanism interconnecting the rotary electric motor and reciprocable spindle operator having a ball drive screw with an axis parallel to the axis of reciprocable movement of the spindle operator, a recirculating ball, drive nut mounted on the drive screw for relative rotation for translating linear and rotary motion between the reciprocable spindle operator and rotary drive screw respectively, and bi-directional spring means for biasing the spindle operator in both reciprocable directions to an intermediate linear position thereof for returning the rotary spindle to a corresponding intermediate angular position thereof, the rotary electric motor being adapted to be energized in one angular direction for shifting the spindle operator in one linear direction from said intermediate position thereof for opening a swinging door in one direction from a closed position thereof corresponding to said intermediate angular position of the rotary spindle, the rotary electric motor being rotatable via the rotary spindle, reciprocable spindle operator and drive screw, in the opposite angular direction for manually opening a swinging door in the opposite direction from its closed position, the improvement wherein the spindle drive gear is intermediate the axial ends of the rotary spindle, wherein the reciprocable spindle operator comprises a pair of lateral thrust bearings generally diametrically of the rack gear and on opposite axial ends of the spindle drive gear respectively, for transmitting lateral thrust between the rack gear and spindle during linear movement of the spindle operator, and wherein the door operator further comprises motor circuit means including first switch means for energizing the electric drive motor for actuating the spindle operator in said one linear direction for opening a swinging door in a corresponding direction and second switch means, automatically operated when the spindle operator is manually actuated in the opposite linear direction from its said intermediate position, for preventing said energization of the electric drive motor for actuating the spindle opertor in said one linear direction.

18. In a door operator having a spindle with a coaxial rotary drive gear operable in opposite angular directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the drive gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the drive gear axis in opposite linear directions corresponding to rotation of the drive gear in opposite angular directions respectively, and means for actuating the spindle operator in at least one linear direction thereof for opening a swinging door, the improvement wherein the drive gear is intermediate the axial ends of the spindle, wherein the spindle operator comprises lateral thrust bearing means generally diametrically of the rack gear and on opposite axial ends of the drive gear for transmitting lateral thrust between the rack gear and spindle during linear movement of the spindle operator, and wherein the actuating means comprises a drive screw member and a drive nut member mounted on the drive screw for relative rotation, the drive screw and drive nut members having an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the drive gear axis, one of said drive members being fixed to the spindle operator, and a rotary electric drive motor connected for rotating the other drive member for shifting the spindle operator in at least said one linear direction thereof.

19. A door operator according to claim 18 wherein the actuating means comprises bi-directional spring means for biasing the spindle operator in both reciprocable directions to an intermediate linear position thereof for returning a swinging door in both angular directions to an intermediate angular position thereof.

20. A door operator according to claim 19 wherein the actuating means further comprises motor means for shifting the spindle operator from its said intermediate position in at least said one linear direction thereof for opening a swinging door in a corresponding direction, the motor means permitting manually shifting the spindle operator, via the rotary drive gear, in the opposite linear direction from its said intermediate position, for manually opening a door in a corresponding opposite direction.

21. A door operator according to claim 19 wherein the bi-directional spring means comprises a preloaded generally helical compression spring coaxial with the reciprocable spindle operator, wherein the door operator comprises a first pair of fixed axially spaced compression spring limits at opposite axial ends of the compression spring, and a second pair of axially spaced compression spring limits at opposite ends of the compression spring operable for compressing the spring in opposite directions upon linear movment of the spindle operator in opposite linear directions from its said intermediate position.

22. In a door operator having a spindle with a coaxial rotary drive gear operable in opposite angular directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the drive gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the drive gear axis in opposite linear directions corresponding to rotation of the drive gear in opposite angular directions respectively, and means for actuating the spindle operator in at least one linear direction thereof for opening a swinging door, the improvement wherein the drive gear is intermediate the axial ends of the spindle, wherein the spindle operator comprises lateral thrust bearing means generally diametrically of the rack gear and on opposite axial ends of the drive gear for transmitting lateral thrust between the rack gear and spindle during linear movement of the spindle operator, and wherein the spindle operator is adapted to be mounted in either of two 180°

angularly spaced positions thereof about an axis of linear reciprocable movement thereof extending normal to and intersecting the drive gear axis and with the rack gear in mesh with the drive gear in diametrically opposed positions for rotating the drive gear in opposite directions respectively relative to the direction of linear movement of the spindle operator.

23. In a door operator having a spindle with a rotary drive gear operable in opposite angular directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the spindle drive gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the spindle axis in opposite directions corresponding to rotation of the spindle in opposite angular directions respectively, and means for actuating the spindle operator in first and second opposite linear directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door respectively, the improvement wherein the actuating means comprises bi-directional spring means for biasing the spindle operator in opposite linear directions to an intermediate linear position thereof for rotating the rotary drive gear in corresponding opposite angular directions to an intermediate angular position thereof corresponding to a closed position of a swinging door, and further comprising mounting means for mounting the spindle operator in either of two 180°

angularly spaced positions thereof about an axis, parallel to the direction of linear reciprocable movement thereof, normal to and intersecting the drive gear axis and with the rack gear in mesh with the drive gear in diametrically opposed positions for rotating the drive gear in opposite directions respectively relative to the direction of linear movement of the spindle operator.

24. In a door operator having a rotary spindle with a coaxial spindle drive gear and operable in opposite angular directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the spindle drive gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the spindle axis in opposite linear directions corresponding to rotation of the spindle in opposite angular directions respectively, a rotary electric drive motor, and a drive mechanism interconnecting the rotary electric motor and reciprocable spindle operator having a ball drive screw with an axis parallel to the axis of reciprocable movement of the spindle operator and a recirculating ball, drive nut mounted on the drive screw for relative rotation for translating linear and rotary motion between the reciprocable spindle operator and rotary drive screw respectively, the improvement wherein the spindle drive gear is intermediate the axial ends of the rotary spindle, wherein the reciprocable spindle operator comprises a pair of lateral thrust bearings generally diametrically of the rack gear and on opposite axial ends of the spindle drive gear respectively, for transmitting lateral thrust between the rack gear and spindle during linear movement of the spindle operator, further comprising an elongated generally helical, preloaded compression spring generally coaxial with the drive screw, a first pair of fixed axially spaced compression spring limits at opposite axial ends of the compression spring, and a second pair of axially spaced compression spring limits at opposite axial ends of the compression spring for compressing the spring in opposite directions as the spindle operator moves in opposite directions from an intermediate position thereof for returning the spindle operator to its said intermediate position with the preloaded compression spring, and wherein the reciprocable spindle operator comprises an elongated cylindrical slide mounted coaxially between the helical compression spring and drive screw, one of said second pair of spring limits being mounted on the slide for compressing the spring in one direction upon movement of the spindle operator in said one direction from its said intermediate position, the slide being mounted to permit the rack gear to move relative to the slide in the opposite direction, the other of said second pair of spring limits being shiftable with the rack gear for compressing the spring in the opposite direction upon movement of the spindle operator in said opposite direction from its said intermediate position.

25. In a door operator having a rotary spindle with a coaxial spindle drive gear and operable in opposite angular directions thereof for opening and closing a swinging door, a reciprocable spindle operator with a rack gear in mesh with the spindle drive gear, mounted for linear movement perpendicular to the spindle axis in opposite linear directions corresponding to rotation of the spindle in opposite angular directions respectively, a rotary electric drive motor, and a drive mechanism interconnecting the rotary electric motor and reciprocable spindle operator having a ball drive screw with an axis parallel to the axis of reciprocable movement of the spindle operator and a recirculating ball, drive nut mounted on the drive screw for relative rotation for translating linear and rotary motion between the reciprocable spindle operator and rotary drive screw respectively , the improvement wherein the spindle drive gear is intermediate the axial ends of the rotary spindle, wherein the reciprocable spindle operator comprises a pair of lateral thrust bearings generally diametrically of the rack gear and on opposite axial ends of the spindle drive gear respectively, for transmitting lateral thrust between the rack gear and spindle during linear movement of the spindle operator, wherein the rotary spindle has a door pivot shaft for a swinging door and wherein the door operator further comprises lever means mounted on the door pivot shaft for connecting the door pivot shaft to a swinging door for opening and closing the swinging door with the rotary spindle, the lever means comprising upper overlying and lower underlying coaxial levers respectively, the overlying lever being mounted on the door pivot shaft for being rotated thereby and the lower underlying lever being adapted to be mounted on the upper edge of a swinging door to swing the door, the lower underlying lever having means mounting the lower lever at its inner end for pivotal adjustment of the lower lever relative to the upper lever about the axis of the door pivot shaft, the upper and lower levers having locking means at their outer end, for selectively locking the lower underlying lever to the upper lever in any adjusted pivotal position thereof within a limited range of pivotal adjustment of the lower lever relative to the upper lever.