Door closer power adjusting device

• US 7,234,201 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CR Laurence Company Incorporated (CRH PLC)
• Original Assignee: Jackson Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Peter Edward, Toledo, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy; Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACKSON, ANDRE L
• Application Number:
  US10/890,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20050011040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 16/79, 16/71, 16/62, 16/58, 16/51, 16/76, 16/69, 16/49, 16/52, 16/53, 16/85, 16D/IG.9, 16D/IG.10, 49/29, 493/26, 493/34, 493/35, 49340-342, 493/48, 493/49, 493/57
• US Class Current: 16/79
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/105 with a compression spring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

A door closer power adjusting device for a door closer having a spindle driven by a compressed spring with a movable plate for adjusting spring compression, or with a screw for adjusting spring compression, between a high and low level of compression. A powered unit moves the plate in a first direction to achieve the low level of compression and in a second direction to achieve the high level of compression. A switch activates the powered unit in the first direction and a first switch is engaged when the spring is compressed to the low level of compression to deactivate the powered unit. A timing circuit activates the powered unit in a second direction after passage of a predetermined time. A second switch is engaged when the spring is compressed to the high level of compression to deactivate the powered unit.

Claims

1. A door closer power adjusting device for use with a door closer having a door engaging spindle rotatably driven by a spring with an adjusting screw for adjusting an amount of compression of said spring, comprising:

a shaft connected to said adjusting screw to rotatably drive said adjusting screw,

a reversible motor connected to said shaft to rotatably drive said shaft without rotatably driving said spindle,

a power supply for said motor,

a switch to activate said motor in a first direction,

a first switch arranged to be engaged upon said shaft rotating a sufficient number of times to adjust said compression of said spring to a predetermined level and to deactivate said motor when said compression of said spring reaches the predetermined level,

a timing circuit to activate said motor in a second direction after the passage of a predetermined amount of time following said deactivation of said motor by said first switch,

a second switch arranged to be engaged upon said shaft rotating a sufficient number of times to return said compression of said spring to its original level and to deactivate said motor when said compression of said spring reaches the original level.

2. A door closer power adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second switches comprise a single switch with two engagement positions.

3. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 1, including an override switch to activate said powered unit in a second direction in advance of activation via said timing circuit.

4. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 1, including an override switch engaged independently of the position of the door, to prevent operation of said switch to activate said motor in said first direction.

5. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 1, including a signal device to alert a user that the door closer spring is at the predetermined compression level.

6. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 5, wherein said signal device comprises a green illuminated device.

7. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 1, including a signal device to alert a user that the door closer spring is at the first higher compression level.

8. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 7, wherein said signal device comprises a red illuminated device.

9. A door closer power adjusting device for use with a door closer having a door engaging spindle rotatably driven by a compressed spring with a movable plate for adjusting an amount of compression of said spring between a first level of compression and a second level of compression, comprising:

a powered unit arranged to move said plate in a first direction to achieve said second level of compression and in a second direction to achieve said first level of compression without rotatably driving said spindle,

a user engageable switch to activate said powered unit in said first direction,

a first switch arranged to be engaged upon said spring being compressed to said second level of compression to deactivate said powered unit,

a timing circuit to activate said powered unit in a second direction after the passage of a predetermined amount of time following said deactivation of said powered unit by said first switch,

a second switch arranged to be engaged upon said spring being compressed to said first level of compression to deactivate said powered unit.

10. A door closer power adjusting device according to claim 9, wherein said first and second switches comprise a single switch with two engagement positions.

11. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 9, including an override switch to activate said powered unit in a second direction in advance of activation via said timing circuit.

12. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 9, including an override switch engaged independently of the position of the door, to prevent operation of said user engageable switch.

13. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 9, wherein said powered unit comprises a reversible motor.

14. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 13, wherein said motor is connected via a shaft to an adjustment screw engaged with said plate to provide the adjustment to the compression of said spring upon rotation of said shaft via said motor.

15. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 9, including a signal device to alert a user that the door closer spring is at the second lower compression level.

16. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 15, wherein said signal device comprises a green illuminated device.

17. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 9, including a signal device to alert a user that the door closer spring is at the first higher compression level.

18. The door closer power adjustment device according to claim 17, wherein said signal device comprises a red illuminated device.

19. A door closer power adjusting device for use with a door closer having a door engaging spindle rotatably driven by a compressed spring movable between a first level of compression and a second level of compression, comprising:

a powered unit for moving said spring in a first direction to achieve said second level of compression without rotating said spindle and in a second direction to achieve said first level of compression,

a user activated switch to activate said powered unit in said first direction,

a first switch arranged to be engaged upon said spring being compressed to said second level of compression to deactivate said powered unit,

a timing circuit to activate said powered unit in a second direction after the passage of a predetermined amount of time following the deactivation of said powered unit by said first switch,

a second switch arranged to be engaged upon said spring being compressed to said first level of compression to deactivate said powered unit.