Automatic door operator for swing doors

• US 4,501,090 A
• Filed: 12/30/1982
• Issued: 02/26/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chikura Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Chikura Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nomura, Toshiaki, Yoshida, Kei, Murokawa, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Downey, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US06/454,867
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 49/264, 49/273, 49/274, 49/334, 49/336, 49/31
• US Class Current: 49/264
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/603 using rotary electromotors
• 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: E05F 3/222 electrically operated E05F3/223 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/224 for assisting in opening the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/246 by motors, magnets, springs or weights
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/26 Mechanical friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/266 rotary
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/41 for closing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/422 for opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/462 Electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/45 Control modes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/113 Power assistance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/205 forming a unit
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/234 of motors and brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/252 the elements functioning only in case of emergency
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

An automatic door operator for a swing door supported by a door supporting frame to swing about a vertical axis. The automatic door operator includes a mechanism for opening and closing the swing door, a drive for driving the door opening and closing mechanism to open the swing door, the drive including a prime mover for driving the door opening and closing mechanism, a door closer including a resilient device for storing part of mechanical energy provided by the drive in opening the swing door and for exerting driving force on the door opening and closing means by using the stored mechanical energy to close the door, a unit for electrically controlling the drive to swing the swing door, and a sensor for sensing a body accessing the door and thereby providing an electric signal to open the door to the controlling unit.

Claims

1. An automatic door operator for a swing door supported by a door supporting frame to swing about a vertical axis, comprising:

(a) opening and closing means attached to the swing door, for opening and closing the swing door;

(b) a support plate;

(c) an electric motor supported on one side of the support plate and having a rotation shaft;

(d) speed reducing means comprising a gear train disposed on the other side of the support plate and connected to the rotation shaft, the speed reducing means having a last gear member disposed remotely from the rotation shaft;

(e) a door closer supported on the one side of the support plate, including;

a hollow cylinder having closed opposite ends and containing an oil therein;

a piston member slidably and sealingly fitted into the cylinder and axially spring-biased to close the door, the piston member having a first passage and a second passage formed therethrough, each of said passages communicating one side of the cylinder to the other side, the second passage having a check valve incorporated therein so that the check valve is closed when the piston member is moved in a direction to close the door; and

a rack member attached to the piston member to extend in the axial direction of the cylinder;

a drive shaft perpendicularly passing through and rotatably supported by the support plate so as to be connected to the opening and closing means for driving the opening and closing means, the drive shaft passing through the wall of the cylinder and having a pinion mounted on one end portion thereof to engage with the rack member of the piston member, and the drive shaft further having the last gear of the speed reducing means mounted on the other end portion thereof;

(g) control means for electrically controlling the motor to swing the door;

(h) sensing means for sensing a body accessing the door to thereby provide an electric signal to the control means to energize the motor to open the swing door; and

(i) detecting means for detecting an open angle degree of the swing door, the detecting means including;

a program cam operatively connected to the drive shaft for being rotated; and

a photo detector for detecting the shape of the program cam to thereby provide an open angle degree signal to the control means for controlling the rotation of the motor.

2. An automatic door operator as recited in claim 1, wherein the control means is further adapted to energize the motor to close the swing door when the door is closed by the door closer via the drive shaft and the opening and closing means.

3. An automatic door operator as recited in claim 2, wherein the drive shaft consists of a first shaft having the pinion mounted thereon and a second shaft having the last gear of the speed reducing means mounted thereon, the first shaft and the second shaft being joined in alignment with each other by a mortise and a tenon formed in opposed or butted ends thereof.