Concealed electrical door operator

• US 8,261,491 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globe Motors Incorporated (Allient, Inc.), Td Ip Holdco, LLC
• Original Assignee: Globe Motors Incorporated (Allient, Inc.), Leon Yulkowski
• Inventors: Yulkowski, Leon, Edwards, Gerard, Gebhart, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Menezes, Marcus
• Application Number:
  US12/416,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20090249699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 493/58, 493/59, 49/25, 492/79, 492/80, 493/00, 493/02
• US Class Current: 49/358
• 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 15/41 Detection by monitoring transmitted force or torque E05F15/48 takes precedence; Safety couplings with activation dependent upon torque or force, e.g. slip couplings
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/302 during electric motor braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/31 Force or torque control
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/326 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/45 Control modes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/51 of position, of back drive
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/514 of speed
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/532 Emergency braking or blocking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/554 sensing motor load
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/612 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/41 Concealed
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

A door assembly includes a first door skin, a second door skin spaced apart from the first door skin and a door operator disposed between the first door skin and the second door skin. An arm extends from the door operator. The door operator includes a motor moving the arm to move the door between a closed position and an open position and between the open position and the closed position. A current sensor generates a current signal corresponding to the current to the motor. A position sensor in communication with the door arm generates a position signal corresponding to the position of the door relative to the frame. A controller communicates with the sensor and the motor. The controller controls a motor current to the motor in response to the current signal and the position signal.

Claims

1. A door assembly comprising:

a first door skin;

a second door skin spaced apart from the first door skin;

a door operator disposed between the first door skin and the second door skin; and

an arm extending from the door operator,

wherein said door operator comprises;

a motor moving the arm to move the door between a closed position and an open position and between the open position and the closed position,

a current sensor generating a current signal corresponding to a current to the motor;

a position sensor in communication with the arm generating a position signal corresponding to the position of the door relative to a door frame;

a controller communicating with the current sensor, the position sensor and the motor, said controller controlling a motor current to the motor in response to the current signal and the position signal, and

wherein the controller increases the motor current to obtain a predetermined movement speed,

the door operator further comprising a gear set, and a belt drive in communication with the motor and gear set, said gear set operating the arm in response to the belt drive, and

the gear set comprises a planetary gear set.

2. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the controller changes the motor current based on the position signal.

3. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the controller changes the motor current based on the position signal at least three times between the open position and the closed position.

4. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a latch operator in communication with the controller, said controller controlling the motor current in response to a latch operator signal from the latch operator.

5. A door assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein the latch operator is disposed within the door.

6. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising an access controller in communication with the controller, said access controller enabling opening of the door.

7. A door assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein the access controller is disposed at least partially within the door.

8. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor disposed between the first door skin and the second door skin, said proximity sensor generating a proximity signal corresponding to an object approaching the door, said controller controlling the motor current in response to the proximity signal.

9. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising an environmental sensor in communication with the controller, said environmental sensor generating an environment signal.

10. A door assembly as recited in claim 9 wherein the environmental sensor comprises at least one of a smoke sensor, a toxic agent sensor, a light sensor and a heat sensor.

11. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the door operator comprises a power source disposed between the first door skin and the second door skin.

12. A door assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein the power source comprises a battery.

13. A door assembly as recited in claim 11 wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

14. A door assembly as recited in claim 13 wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery in communication with a solar cell, said solar cell recharging the rechargeable battery.

15. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the controller generates a braking current when the movement speed is greater than a desired speed.

16. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the controller generates a braking current when the movement speed is greater than a desired speed for a predetermined position.

17. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein a first end of the arm is rotatably coupled to the door assembly and a second end of the arm is slidably coupled within a channel coupled to the door frame.

18. A communication comprising:

a central controller; and

the door assembly as recited in claim 1,

wherein the door assembly comprises a communication interface for communicating with the central controller.

19. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor disposed on the first door skin generating a proximity signal corresponding to an object approaching the door.

20. A door assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the position sensor comprises an accelerometer.