Automatic door assembly and door operator therefor

• US 6,530,178 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stanley Works Limited (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kowalczyk, Thomas M., Hass, Brian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): REDMAN, JERRY E
• Application Number:
  US09/497,729
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 493/31, 493/40, 493/41, 493/38, 493/24, 493/33, 493/34, 493/35, 16/53
• US Class Current: 49/334
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/54 for opening both inwards and outwards
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2015/482 for panic doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/105 with a compression spring
• 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 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2003/228 Arrangements where the end of the closer arm is sliding in a track
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/631 the end of the arm sliding in a track; Slider arms therefor
• 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: E05Y 2201/214 Disengaging means
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/232 by automatically acting means
• 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 2201/71 Toothed gearing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/334 by using pulse generators
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/454 in or on the motor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/113 Power assistance
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/174 on the left or right side
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/25 Emergency conditions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/72 : Sets of mutually exchangeable elements
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/746 : emergency or extended
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 : Doors

Abstract

The present invention relates to automatic door assemblies and swing operators therefor. One aspect of the invention provides a swing door operator that has an opening in the housing thereof for easy access to the operator motor. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for servicing a door operator. Another aspect of the invention provides a door operator with a spring force adjusting member that moves in the generally longitudinal direction of the spring structure. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for adjusting the spring force of the spring structure in a door operator. Another aspect of the invention provides a swing door operator with an adjustable stop member.

Claims

1. A door operator for controlling movements of a door panel between open and closed positions, said door operator comprising:

a rotatable operator output member rotatable about an operator output axis, said operator output member being constructed and arranged to be operatively connected with the door panel such that rotation of said output member moves the door panel between the open and closed positions thereof;

a motor coupled to said operator output member such that operation of said motor rotates said output member so as to move said door panel between the open and closed positions thereof;

a door moving compression spring structure positioned in a spring force-applying relationship with respect to said operator output member such that operating said motor to rotate said output member in the first rotational direction thereof to move the door panel in a first door moving direction stresses said spring, said spring structure being constructed and arranged to thereafter apply a spring force to said operator output member that tends to rotate said operator output member in a second rotational direction opposite said first rotational direction to move the door panel operatively connected thereto in a second door moving direction opposite the first door moving direction; and

a selectively movable spring force adjusting member operatively associated with said compression spring structure, said spring force adjusting member being selectively movable in a generally longitudinal direction of said spring structure through a range of adjusting positions to control an extent to which said spring structure is stressed during movement of the door panel in the first door moving direction thereof, thereby enabling the amount of spring force that said spring structure applies to said operator output member during rotation in the second rotational direction to be selectively adjusted, wherein said adjusting member is selectively moved in said generally longitudinal direction of said spring structure by rotating said adjusting member;

further comprising an annular sleeve surrounding said motor and having a threaded exterior surface,

said compression spring being mounted in encircling relation about said sleeve, said adjustment member being an internally threaded annular ring, said annular ring being threadingly engaged with the threaded exterior surface of said sleeve such that rotating said ring moves said ring in a rectilinear linear manner in said generally longitudinal direction of said spring structure.

2. A door operator according to claim 1, further comprising a reduction transmission;

said motor comprising a motor output member rotated by said motor, said reduction transmission coupling said motor output member with said operator output member such that rotation of said motor output member rotates said operator output member;

said reduction transmission being constructed and arranged to rotate said operator output member at a lower rotational speed than a rotational speed at which said motor rotates said motor output member and at a higher torque than a torque at which said motor rotates said motor output member.

3. A door operator according to claim 2, further comprising an input member coupled between said reduction transmission and said operator output member, said input member being rotatable about an input member axis extending at an angle with respect to said output member axis under rotation of said motor output member, said input member being coupled with said output member such that rotation of said input member about said input member axis rotates said operator output member about said operator output member axis.

4. A door operator according to claim 3, wherein said input member axis extends radially with respect to said output member axis.

5. A door operator according to claim 1, wherein said spring structure includes only one compression spring.