Door operator with electrical back check feature

• US 8,390,219 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2010
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• 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: Houser, Blue
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson, Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): GLASS, ERICK DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/845,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20120029701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 318/255, 318/256, 318/265, 318/266, 31840037-40039, 318/282, 318/285, 318/286, 491/18, 491/22, 491/38, 491/39, 493/49
• US Class Current: 318/255
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/424 for the final opening movement
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/718 Bevelled pinions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/302 during electric motor braking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/36 Speed control, detection or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/514 of speed
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/74 Specific positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

A door operator with an electrical back check feature is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention are realized by a motorized door operator that electrically creates a back check force for an opening door. The door operator simulates the back check normally created by hydraulic means in convention door closers, but without the use of pistons, springs or hydraulic fluid. The door operator includes a motor disposed to operatively connect to a door so that the door will open when the motor moves, and a position sensor to determine a position of the door. A processor is programmed to exert a closing force on the door in the back check region. In some embodiments, the closing force is exerted by injecting a voltage into the electric motor of the door operator.

Claims

1. A method of operating a door operator using a controller and an electric motor, the method comprising:

conditionally opening a door to which the door operator is attached;

determining using a Hall effect sensor that the door to which the door operator is attached is being pushed open through a back check region;

using the controller to cause the door operator, through electronic control of the electric motor, to exert a closing force on the door by injecting voltage into the electric motor until the door comes to a stop;

conditionally preventing the opening of the door while the voltage is being injected into the electric motor; and

closing the door.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein a polarity of the voltage is the same as the polarity that would close the door.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein a level of the voltage is controlled by a potentiometer.

4. A door operator comprising:

a motor;

a rotatable operator arm operatively connected between a door and the motor;

a clutch assembly conditionally, operatively engaged with the rotatable operator arm;

a Hall effect device to determine a position of the door;

a memory; and

a processor operatively connected to the motor, the position sensor and the memory, wherein the processor is programmed by the memory to determine that the door is opening through the back check region and control the motor to exert a closing force on the door by injecting a voltage into the motor, and to determine if the door is being pushed open and prevent the motor from opening the door while injecting the voltage into the motor when the door is opening through the back check region.

5. The door operator of claim 4 further comprising an input device connected to the processor.

6. The door operator of claim 5 wherein the input device further comprises a wall switch.

7. The door operator of claim 6 further comprising a potentiometer operatively connected to the processor to control a level of the voltage.

8. Apparatus for operating a door, the apparatus comprising:

means for opening the door;

means for determining a position of the door;

means for exerting a closing force on the door by injecting a voltage into a motor when the door is opening through a back check region, the means for exerting the closing force responsive to the means for determining the position;

means for conditionally engaging the means for opening with the door;

means for closing the door; and

means for preventing the means for opening from operating while the voltage is being injected into the motor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for receiving input from a user to allow the user to selectively control the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for adjusting a level of the voltage.