Regenerative feedback door control device with one-way clutch

• US 5,243,735 A
• Filed: 03/09/1992
• Issued: 09/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Thomas Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Brien, James A. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Application Number:
  US07/848,302
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 185/39, 16/49, 16/64, 16/65, 318/376, 318/759, 318/760, 74/89.17
• US Class Current: 16/64
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/105 with a compression spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• 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 3/104 with cam-and-slide transmission between driving shaft and piston within the closer housing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/224 for assisting in opening the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/02 specially for preventing the slamming of swinging wings during final closing movement, e.g. jamb stops
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/234 direction dependent
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/25 Force or torque adjustment therefore E05Y2400/21 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/41 for closing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/302 during electromotoric braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/11 Manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18808 with rack

Abstract

A device for closing swinging doors of the type utilizing a rotating member to compress a spring during door opening to store energy in the spring to effect a closing of the door is provided with a driving connection to a d.c motor/generator effective to cause rotation of the motor during a closing movement of the door. The motor/generator acts as a generator during the closing with the generated electrical energy fed back to the motor/generator to retard rotation of the rotor, providing a brake on the closing movement of the door. The feedback circuitry includes a switch disabling or diminishing the braking during the final degrees of closing movement as well as a variable setting device allowing control of braking force.

Claims

1. A door control device for use with a pivotable door comprising:

a housing mounted to one of either said door and a door frame;

a rotatable spindle member journaled in said housing for engagement with the door to rotate when said door is pivoted;

a cam having a cam surface, connected for rotation with said spindle;

a cam plate slidable within said housing and having a portion engageable with said cam surface, rotation of said cam during door opening sliding said cam surface against said portion to slide said cam plate within said housing;

energy storage means operatively connected to said cam plate for receiving energy as said door is opened and for releasing energy to close said door;

d.c. motor/generator means having a rotor shaft;

selective transmission means between said spindle member and said rotor shaft for preventing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a first rotary direction of said spindle member and for causing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a second rotary direction of said spindle member; and

circuit means for connecting an electrical output of said d.c. motor/generator means to an electrical input for said motor/generator means such that electrical energy provided to said input from said output will retard rotation of said rotor shaft and spindle.

2. A door control device according to claim 1, wherein said selective transmission means comprises a one-way clutch mechanism.

3. A door control device according to claim 1, wherein said energy storage means comprises a spring.

4. A door control device according to claim 3, wherein said spring comprises a coil spring.

5. A door control device according to claim 1, wherein said selective transmission means comprises a gear rack and pinion mechanism.

6. A door control device according to claim 1, wherein said selective transmission means comprises a one-way clutch mechanism and a gear rack and pinion mechanism.

7. A door control device for use with a pivotable door comprising:

a rotatable spindle member for engagement with the door to rotate when said door is pivoted;

energy storage means operatively connected to said spindle member for receiving energy as said door is opened and for releasing energy to close said door;

d.c. motor/generator means having a rotor shaft;

selective transmission means between said spindle member and said rotor shaft for preventing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a first rotary direction of said spindle member and for causing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a second rotary direction of said spindle member;

circuit means for connecting an electrical output of said d.c. motor/generator means to an electrical input for said motor/generator means such that electrical energy provided to said input from said output will retard rotation of said rotor shaft and spindle; and

wherein said circuit means comprises an adjustable resistance device to adjust the amount of electrical energy being provided to said electrical input.

8. A door control device for use with a pivotable door comprising:

a rotatable spindle member for engagement with the door to rotate when said door is pivoted;

energy storage means operatively connected to said spindle member for receiving energy as said door is opened and for releasing energy to close said door;

d.c. motor/generator means having a rotor shaft;

selective transmission means between said spindle member and said rotor shaft for preventing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a first rotary direction of said spindle member and for causing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a second rotary direction of said spindle member;

circuit means for connecting an electrical output of said d.c. motor/generator means to an electrical input for said motor/generator means such that electrical energy provided to said input from said output will retard rotation of said rotor shaft and spindle; and

control means for actuation during the closing of the door to provide at least a two speed control for the closing of the door.

9. A door control device according to claim 8, wherein said control means comprises a switch in said circuit means engaged by moving elements in said door control device, which elements move in response to rotation of said spindle member.

10. A door control device according to claim 9, wherein said switch is mounted relative to said moving elements so as to cause a door speed increase during a final few degrees of closing movement of the door.

11. A door control device for use with a pivotable door comprising:

a housing;

a rotatable spindle member rotatably mounted to said housing for engagement with the door to rotate when said door is pivoted;

a cam having a cam surface, connected for rotation with said spindle member;

a slider means slidably held within said housing, said slider means for receiving a force from said cam surface upon rotation of said spindle and sliding with respect to said housing;

compressible spring means operatively connected to said slider means and said housing for receiving energy as said door is opened and for releasing energy to close said door;

dc motor/generator means having a rotor shaft;

a one-way clutch mechanism arranged between said slider means and said rotor shaft for preventing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a first sliding direction of said slider means and for causing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a second sliding direction of said slider means; and

circuit means for connecting an electrical output of said dc motor/generator means to an electrical input for said motor/generator means such that electrical energy provided to said input from said output will retard rotation of said rotor shaft and spindle.

12. A door control device according to claim 11, wherein said spring comprises a coil spring.

13. A door control device according to claim 11, wherein said door control device further includes a gear rack and pinion mechanism between said spindle and said rotor shaft for transmitting rotary motion of said spindle member to said rotor shaft.

14. A door control device for use with a pivotable door comprising:

a rotatable spindle member for engagement with the door to rotate when said door is pivoted;

compressible spring means operatively connected to said spindle member for receiving energy as said door is opened and for releasing energy to close said door;

d.c. motor/generator means having a rotor shaft;

a one-way clutch mechanism arranged between said spindle member and said rotor shaft for preventing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a first rotary direction of said spindle member and for causing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a second rotary direction of said spindle member;

circuit means for connecting an electrical output of said d.c. motor/generator means to an electrical input for said motor/generator means such that electrical energy provided to said input from said output will retard rotation of said rotor shaft and spindle; and

wherein said circuit means comprises an adjustable resistance device to adjust the amount of electrical energy being directed to said electrical input.

15. A door control device for use with a pivotable door comprising:

a rotatable spindle member for engagement with the door to rotate when said door is pivoted;

compressible spring means operatively connected to said spindle member for receiving energy as said door is opened and for releasing energy to close said door;

d.c. motor/generator means having a rotor shaft;

a one-wag clutch mechanism arranged between said spindle member and said rotor shaft for preventing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a first rotary direction of said spindle member and for causing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a second rotary direction of said spindle member;

circuit means for connecting an electrical output of said d.c. motor/generator means to an electrical input for said motor/generator means such that electrical energy provided to said input from said output will retard rotation of said rotor shaft and spindle; and

control means for actuation during the closing of the door to provide at least a two speed control for the closing of the door.

16. A door control device according to claim 15, wherein said control means comprises a switch in said circuit means engaged by moving elements in said door control device, which elements move in response to rotation of said spindle member.

17. A door control device according to claim 16, wherein said switch is mounted relative to said moving element so as to cause a door speed increase during a final few degrees of closing movement of the door.

18. A door control device for use with a pivotable door comprising:

a housing member;

a spindle member rotatably carried in said housing and having a portion extending beyond said housing for engagement with the door to rotate when said door is pivoted;

a cam member carried on said spindle to rotate with said spindle;

a cam plate member mounted for longitudinal movement in said housing and engageable by said cam member whereby rotational movement of said cam member effects longitudinal movement of said cam plate;

an extension arm secured to said cam plate to move therewith;

a rack gear on said extension arm;

a stationary pinion gear engageable with said rack gear whereby longitudinal movement of said rack gear results in rotational movement of said pinion gear;

a d.c. motor/generator having a rotatable rotor shaft mounted in said housing;

a gear train positioned between said pinion gear and said rotor shaft to transmit rotary motion from said pinion gear to said rotor shaft;

a one-way clutch mechanism positioned between said pinion gear and said rotor shaft to prevent transmission of rotary motion to said shaft in a first rotary direction of said pinion gear and for causing transmission of rotary motion to said rotor shaft in a second rotary direction of said pinion gear; and

an electrical circuit connecting an electrical output of said motor/generator to an electrical input for said motor/generator such that electrical energy provided to said input from said output will retard rotation of said rotor shaft and spindle;

an adjustable resistance device in said circuit to adjust the amount of electrical energy transmitted from said output to said input; and

a switch in said circuit means engaged by said cam plate to effect a two speed control for the closing of the door.