Automatic door assembly and door operator therefor

• US 6,786,006 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2003
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• 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
• Application Number:
  US10/339,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 493/39, 493/40, 493/41, 493/38, 493/24, 493/33, 493/35, 493/34
• 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 controlling movements of a door panel between open and closed positions, said door operator comprising:

a rotatable operator output member, said operator output member being operatively connected with the door panel such that rotation of said output member moves said door panel between the open and closed positions thereof;

a housing having an opening providing access to the interior of said housing;

a motor disposed within the interior of said housing in operating position wherein said motor is coupled to said operator output member such that operation of said motor rotates said output member so as to move said door panel between an open and closed position thereof, said motor and said opening of said housing being configured with respect to one another to enable said motor to be moved out of said operating position thereof outwardly through said opening for servicing of said motor without disassembling said housing, said motor and said opening of said housing being configured with respect to one another to enable said motor to be moved inwardly through said opening to reposition said motor in the operating position thereof within said housing interior; and

a releasable fastener accessible through the opening of said housing from an exterior thereof, said fastener being constructed and arranged to be selectively manipulated through said opening (a) in a motor releasing manner to release said motor to allow for removal of said motor from the operating position thereof and (b) in a motor securing manner to releasably secure said motor in said operating position thereof within the interior of said housing.

2. A door operator according to claim 1, where said fastener is constructed and arranged to be releasably coupled with a structure within the interior of said housing to releasably secure said motor in the operating position thereof such that selectively manipulating said releasable fastener through said opening (a) in the motor releasing manner decouples said fastener from said structure within said housing to release said motor to allow for removal of said motor from the operating position thereof and (b) in the motor securing manner couples said fastener with said structure within said housing to releasably secure said motor in said operating position thereof within the interior of said housing.

3. A door operator according to claim 2, wherein said motor comprises a motor output member rotated by said motor and wherein said structure within said housing to which said fastener is constructed and arranged to be releasably coupled is a 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 seed 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.

4. A door operator according to claim 3, wherein said releasable fastener is an elongated bolt that extends along an axial length of said motor and that has a threaded end portion and wherein said transmission has a threaded bore for receiving said threaded end portion of said bolt in cooperating threaded relation to releasably secure said motor in said operating position thereof within the interior of said housing.

5. A door operator according to claim 4, wherein said motor is generally cylindrical and said opening in said housing is generally circular.

6. A door operator accordingly to claim 5, further comprising a second releasable fastener cooperating with the aforesaid releasable fastener to releasably secure said motor in said operating position thereof within the interior of said housing.

7. A door operator according to claim 6, further comprising an annular sleeve surrounding both said reduction transmission and said motor.

8. A door operator according to claim 3, wherein said operator output member and said motor output member are respectively rotatable about axes that extend generally radially with respect to one another.

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

a rotatable operator output member, said operator output member being operatively connected with the door panel such that rotation of said output member moves said door panel between the open and closed positions thereof;

a housing having an opening providing access to the interior of said housing; and

a motor disposed within the interior of said housing in operating position wherein said motor is coupled to said operator output member such that operation of said motor rotates said output member so as to move said door panel between an open and closed position thereof, said motor and said opening of said housing being configured with respect to one another to enable said motor to be moved out of said operating position thereof outwardly through said opening for servicing of said motor without disassembling said housing, said motor and said opening of said housing being configured with respect to one another to enable said motor to be moved inwardly through said opening to reposition said motor in the operating position thereof within said housing interior;

wherein said housing is formed from two housing halves assembled together.

10. A swing door operator controlling pivoting movements of a door panel that pivots about a generally vertical door axis from a closed position through a range of open positions, said swing door operator comprising:

a rotatable operator output member operatively connected with the door panel such that rotation of said output member pivots the door panel about the door panel axis 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 through said range of open positions thereof,

a first stop member operatively connected to said operator output member such that rotation of said output member rotates said first stop member; and

a second stop member mounted adjacent said output member, said second stop member being constructed and arranged such that said first stop member engages said second stop member during rotation of said output member so as to prevent further rotation of said output member, thereby limiting a range of rotational movement of said output member and thus limiting the range of open positions through which the door panel pivots,

said first and second stop members being constructed and arranged to be adjustably moved relative to one another through a range of adjusting positions and fixed in a selected one of said range of adjusting positions, thereby setting the range through which rotational movement of said output member will be permitted and thus setting the range of open positions through which the door panel pivots.

11. A swing door operator according to claim 10, wherein said first stop member is fixed to said output member and wherein said second stop member is movable relative to said first stop member to provide the relative movement through the range of adjusting positions.

12. A swing door operator according to claim 11, wherein said second stop member is constructed and arranged to be moved relative to said generally radially with respect to an rotational axis of said operator output member through said range of adjusting positions.

13. A swing door operator according to claim 12, wherein said second stop member has a plurality of teeth arranged generally radially with respect to said rotational axis of said operator output member, said operator further comprising:

a fixed toothed structure fixed with respect to said rotational axis of said operator output member, said fixed toothed structure having a plurality of teeth arranged radially with respect to said rotational axis of said operator output member, said teeth of said stop member and said teeth of said fixed structure being constructed and arranged to be engaged with one another in an intermeshed relationship when said second member is positioned in a selected one of said range of adjusting positions to maintain said second stop member against movement relative to said rotational axis; and

a fastener constructed and arranged to secure said second stop member to said fixed tooth structure to maintain said teeth of each in said intermeshed relation.

14. A swing door operator according to claim 13, wherein said fixed toothed structure has a threaded bore formed therein, wherein said second stop member has an elongated slot formed therethrough that extends generally radially with respect to said rotational axis of said operator output member, and wherein said fastener has a threaded end portion that is threadingly received in said threaded bore to secure said second stop member to said fixed toothed structure;

said fastener being constructed and arranged such that rotation thereof in a loosening direction enables the teeth of said second stop member to be disengaged from the teeth of said fixed toothed structure to allow for adjusting movement of said second stop member through said range of adjusting positions and such that thereafter rotation thereof in a tightening direction moves the teeth of said second stop member into said intermeshed relation with the teeth of said fixed toothed structure.

15. A swing door operator according to claim 14, further comprising a housing and wherein said fixed toothed structure is fixedly mounted to an exterior of said housing.

16. A swing door operator according to claim 11, wherein said first stop member is formed separately from said operator output member and then fixed to said operator output member for rotation therewith about a common axis.

17. A swing door operator according to claim 16, wherein said first stop member has an internally splined bore and wherein said operator output member has a splined portion, said first stop member being fixed to said first output member with said splined portion received in said internally splined bore in intermeshed relation.

18. A swing door operator according to claim 10, wherein said second stop member is fixed and wherein said first stop member is adjustably movable relative to said output member to provide the relative movement through the range of adjusting positions.

19. A swing door operator according to claim 18, wherein said first stop member comprises a pair of spaced apart stop members which are each adjustably movable relative to said output member generally circumferentially with respect to a rotational axis thereof.

20. A swing door operator according to claim 19, further comprising a mounting structure fixed to said output member and a pair of fasteners, said fasteners being constructed and arranged to fix said spaced apart stop members to said mounting structure after adjusting movement thereof, said fasteners being constructed and arranged to release said spaced apart stop members for the adjusting movements thereof.

21. A swing door operator according to claim 20, wherein each of said spaced apart stop members has an elongated slot extending generally circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis of said output member and wherein said mounting structure has a pair of spaced apart threaded bores and wherein said fasteners are each threaded for receipt in said bores,

said threaded fasteners being received through said elongated slots and in threaded relation within said threaded bores to fixed said spaced apart stop members to said mounting structure.

22. A swing door operator according to claim 21, wherein said mounting structure has a plurality of engaging teeth thereon and wherein each of said spaced apart stop members has a plurality of engaging teeth engaged in intermeshing relation with the engaging teeth of said mounting structure to prevent relative circumferential movement of said spaced apart stop members relative to said mounting structure in cooperation with said fasteners.

23. An automatic swing door assembly installed in a wall of a building having an opening formed therethrough, said assembly comprising:

a frame assembly mounted at the opening of said wall;

a door panel pivotally mounted to said frame assembly for pivotal movement about a generally vertically extending door panel axis between a closed position obstructing passage through the opening of the wall and an open position permitting passage through the opening of the wall;

a swing door operator comprising;

a rotatable operator output member operatively connected with the door panel such that rotation of said output member pivots the door panel about the door panel axis 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 through said range of open positions thereof,

a first stop member operatively connect to said operator output member such that rotation of said output member rotates said operator stop member; and

a second stop member mounted adjacent said operator stop member, said second stop member being constructed and arranged such that said first stop member engages said second stop member during rotation of said output member so as to prevent further rotation of said output member, thereby limiting a range of rotational movement of said output member and thus limiting the range of open positions through which the door panel pivots,

said first and second stop members being constructed and arranged to be adjustably moved relative to one another through a range of adjusting positions and fixed in a selected one of said range of adjusting positions, thereby setting the range through which rotational movement of said output member will be permitted and thus setting the range of open positions through which the door panel pivots;

an input device operable to transmit a door opening signal in response to detecting a presence of an object adjacent said door assembly; and

a controller communicated to said input device, said controller being operable to receive said door opening signal from said input device and to responsively control operation of said motor so as to affect door opening movement.

24. A swing door operator in conjunction with a controller for which controls pivoting movements of a door panel that pivots about a generally vertical door panel axis from a closed position through a range of open positions, said swing door operator comprising:

an outermost housing;

a rotatable operator output member extending outwardly from said housing, said output member being operatively connected with the door panel such that rotation of said output member pivots the door panel about the door panel axis thereof;

a motor disposed interiorly of said housing, said motor being coupled to said operator output member such that operation of said motor rotates said output member so as to move said door panel through said range of open positions thereof, said motor being communicable with said controller to enable said controller to control operation of said motor;

a contact switch mounted exteriorly of said housing and being communicable with said controller such that contacting said switch transmits a contact signal to said controller; and

a contact member mounted exteriorly of said housing adjacent said contract switch and providing a contact switch contacting surface, said contact member being operatively connected to said output member such that rotation of said output member to pivot the door panel through its range of open position affects movement of said contact member through a corresponding range of contact member positions, said contact member being constructed and arranged to contact said contacting surface thereof with said contract switch during movement through said range of contact member positions so as to cause said contact switch to transmit said contact signal to said controller, thereby indicating a corresponding position of said door panel in said range of open positions thereof to said controller for use in controlling operation of said motor;

said contact member being adjustable relative to said output member from the exterior of said housing to enable the position within said range of contact member positions at which said contact surface of said contact member contacts said contact switch to be selected with respect to the range of open positions of said door panel.

25. A swing door operator according to claim 24, wherein said contact member is mounted to said output member for rotation therewith and wherein said contact switch is mounted adjacent said output member and said contact member.

26. A swing door operator according to claim 25, wherein said contact member is constructed and arranged such that adjustment of said contact member relative to said output member is affected by rotating said contact member about said output member.

27. A swing door operator according to claim 26, further comprising a generally cylindrical collar fixedly mounted to said output member,

said contact member having a generally cylindrical bore complementary to said collar formed therethrough, said contact member being mounted on said collar with said bore being received over said collar in a friction fit relation such that said contact member can be adjusted relative to said output member by rotating said contact member relative to said collar and said output member with sufficient torque to overcome the friction fit between said collar and said bore.

28. A swing door operator according to claim 24, wherein said output member, said contact member, and said contact switch are each located on an underside of said operator housing.

29. A swing door operator according to claim 24, wherein said contact member is a switch cam.

30. An automatic swing door assembly installed in a wall of a building having an opening formed therethrough, said assembly comprising:

a frame assembly mounted at the opening of said wall;

a door panel pivotally mounted to said frame assembly for pivotal movement about a generally vertically extending door panel axis between a closed position obstructing passage through the opening of the wall and an open position permitting passage through the opening of the wall;

a controller;

a swing door operator comprising;

an outermost housing;

a rotatable operator output member extending outwardly from said housing, said output member being operatively connected with the door panel such that rotation of said output member pivots the door panel about the door panel axis thereof;

a motor disposed interiorly of said housing, said motor being coupled to said operator output member such that operation of said motor rotates said output member so as to move said door panel through said range of open positions thereof, said motor being communicated with said controller to enable said controller to control operation of said motor;

a contact switch mounted exteriorly of said housing and being communicated with said controller such that contacting said switch transmits a contact signal to said controller; and

a contact member mounted exteriorly of said housing adjacent said contact switch and providing a contact switch contacting surface, said contact member being operatively connected to said output member such that rotation of said output member to pivot the door panel through its range of open position affects movement of said contact member through a corresponding range of contact member positions, said contact member being constructed and arranged to contact said contacting surface thereof with said contact switch during movement through said range of contact member positions so as to cause said contact switch to transmit said contact signal to said controller, thereby indicating a corresponding position of said door panel in said range of open positions thereof to said controller for use in controlling operation of said motor;

said contact member being adjustable relative to said output member from the exterior of said housing to enable the position within said range of contact member positions at which said contact surface of said contact member contacts said contact switch to be selected with respect to the range of open positions of said door panel;

an input device operable to transmit a door opening signal in response to detecting a presence of an object adjacent said door assembly; and

said controller being communicated to said input device, said controller being operable to receive said door opening signal from said input device and to respectively control operation of said motor so as to affect door opening movement.

31. An automatic door assembly according to claim 30, further comprising a header extending along an upper portion of said frame assembly, said swing door operator being mounted in said header so as to be concealed from view with said output member extending downwardly therefrom for operative connection to said door panel.