Method for electromechanical control of the operational parameters of a door in conjunction with a mechanical door control mechanism

• US 5,956,249 A
• Filed: 02/26/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dorma Door Controls, Inc. (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Dorma Door Controls, Inc. (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Inventors: Andrea, Davide, Beran, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baumgardner, Carolyn T.
• Application Number:
  US08/807,024
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 364/167.01, 364/400, 364/148, 49/13, 49/14, 49/24, 49/29, 49/31, 49/138, 49/139, 49/140, 49/28, 49/324, 16/49, 16/DIG. 7, 16/DIG. 9, 16/DIG. 16, 318/264, 318/265, 318/266, 318/267, 318/272, 318/275, 318/446, 318/278, 318/466, 318/283, 318/481, 318/626, 395/20, 395/903
• US Class Current: 700/56
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/00 Power-operated mechanisms for wings motor-operated accessories in locks for completing closing or initiating opening of a wing E05B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• 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 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 3/224 for assisting in opening the wing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/214 Disengaging means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/24 using lost motion
• 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 2201/499 Spring tensioners; Tension sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/722 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3015 Power assistance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/302 during electric motor braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/36 Speed control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/454 for accommodating handicapped users
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/514 of speed
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/612 : Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/822 : Light emitters, e.g. light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/252 : the elements functioning only in case of emergency
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 : Doors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18688 : Limit stop
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18808 : with rack

Abstract

A method is disclosed for selective alteration and control of door movement modes utilizing an apparatus that is primarily non-hydraulic and incorporated with a known mechanism which is functional independently from the apparatus in one mode of operation and which includes a piston for controlling door closing characteristics by selected fluid flow within the mechanism. The apparatus includes a motor driven lead screw having a linearly movable shuttle unit mounted thereon, the shuttle unit being positioned relative to the piston of the mechanism to accommodate nonattached contact with the piston to urge the piston, when the shuttle unit is moved, in a direction that will at least provide selective assistance with door opening in another mode of operation. Operation of the apparatus is controlled by programming of a related controller including non-volatile memory.

Claims

1. A method for learning, storing and controlling operational parameters of a door in conjunction with electromechanically influenced operation of an independently operable mechanism connectable with the door and including a piston for controlling door closing characteristics by selected fluid flow within the mechanism, said method comprising the steps of:

learning operational variables of a particular door installation without user intervention;

or activation and

storing said learned operational variables in memory.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating said learned operational variables during operation of the door.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the steps of learning and updating operational variable includes learning and updating friction inherent in operation of the door.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said unit and the mechanism includes a return spring, the step of learning operational variables including learning preload of said spring.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of learning operational variables includes learning the position of said piston when the door is closed.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of learning operational variables includes repeating a learn cycle until selected operational variables learned during a cycle match selected stored operational variables learned in a previous cycle.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising initiating a potential mechanical difficulty indication when no said match is found within a preselected number of learn cycles.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of continuously learning operational variables of a particular door installation is done by causing a unit to contact and move the piston and thus the door.