Door closer assembly

• US 7,971,316 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Accessories and Door Controls Group, Inc. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Yale Security Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: White, John J. Jr., Tadlock, Robert L. Jr., McGinty, Joseph Ralph, Patterson, Wade C., Copeland, David James II, Weepie, Keith James, Gurley, Jason Scott, Burris, Charles E., Faes, Steven Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell; David J
• Assistant Examiner(s): SULLIVAN, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US12/109,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 340/606, 16/79
• US Class Current: 16/79
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/002 controlled by automatically acting means for powered-operated mechanisms E05F15/70
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/08 spring-actuated , e.g. for horizontally sliding wings counterbalancing sliding or lifting wings E05D; springs per se F16F, e.g. gas-springs F16F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/12 Special devices controlling the circulation of the liquid, e.g. valve arrangement E05F3/223 takes precedence; valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 3/18 with counteracting springs double-acting springs E05F1/14
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/20 Brakes; Disengaging means; Holders; Stops; Valves; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/25 Mechanical means for force or torque adjustment therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/254 Fluid or viscous friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/458 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/499 Spring tensioners; Tension sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/614 charging thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/616 Generators
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/22 of not identical elements of the same category, e.g. combinations of not identical springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/292 having apertures
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/298 having indentations
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/01 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken

Abstract

A door closer assembly is provided, including a valve regulating an amount of hydraulic fluid that flows through the valve. The amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve controls a force generated by the door closer assembly on a door. A first sensor measures an angular position of the door, and a second sensor measures an angular position of the valve. The angular position of the valve determines the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve. A controller controls the adjustment of the valve based on the angular position of the door and the angular position of the valve.

Claims

1. A door closer assembly, comprising:

a valve, the valve regulating an amount of hydraulic fluid that flows through the valve, the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve controlling a force generated by the door closer assembly on a door;

a first sensor, the first sensor measuring an angular position of the door;

a second sensor, the second sensor measuring an angular position of the valve, the angular position of the valve determining the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve; and

a controller, the controller controlling the adjustment of the valve based on the angular position of the door and the angular position of the valve,

wherein the controller reads a first angular position of the door from the first sensor and then reads a second angular position of the door from the first sensor, and the controller determines a difference between the first angular position and the second angular position and compares the difference with a threshold value.

2. The door closer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the controller determines whether the door is opening or closing based on the comparison and the difference between the first angular position and the second angular position.

3. The door closer assembly according to claim 2, wherein the controller retrieves one of opening mode threshold data or closing mode threshold data when the difference is above the threshold value.

4. The door closer assembly according to claim 3, wherein the controller controls the adjustment of the valve based on one of the opening mode threshold data or the closing mode threshold data.

5. The door closer assembly according to claim 3, wherein the opening mode threshold data and the closing mode threshold data define desired valve positions based on the measured angular position of the door.

6. The door closer assembly according to claim 5, wherein the controller makes no adjustment of the valve when the difference is below the threshold value.

7. The door closer assembly according to claim 3, wherein the opening mode threshold data and the closing mode threshold data are determined by settings on the exterior of the door closer.