Door closer assembly

• US 9,399,884 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASSA ABLOY Accessories and Door Controls Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Yale Security Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Copeland, David James II, Weepie, Keith James, Tadlock, Robert L. Jr., Burris, Charles E., White, John J. Jr., Gurley, Jason Scott, Faes, Steven Michael, McGinty, Joseph Ralph, Patterson, Wade C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson, Victor
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sullivan, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US14/091,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20140330436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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, e.g. clutches; Holders, e.g. locks; Stops; Accessories therefore
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/25 Force or torque adjustment therefore E05Y2400/21 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/254 Fluid or viscous friction
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/458 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/492 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 system for reduced energy operation of a door closer comprising:

a controller, the controller comprising a processor;

a voltage storage device, the voltage storage device being operatively connected to the controller; and

a generator, the generator being operatively connected to the controller and the voltage storage device, the generator generating a voltage responsive to movement of a door, the voltage charging the voltage storage device,

wherein the controller enables power to a first sensor to read an angular position of the door only for enough time to insure an accurate reading the first sensor,

wherein the controller enables power to a second sensor to read an angular position of a valve in the door closer only for enough time to insure an accurate reading the second sensor, and

wherein the controller monitors a voltage level of the voltage storage device and initiates an orderly powering down of the processor when the voltage level of the voltage storage device falls below a defined level.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a regulator, the regulator being operatively connected to the controller, the voltage storage device, and the generator, the regulator regulating an output voltage of the voltage storage device to maintain a constant level.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising the controller monitoring a voltage level of the voltage storage device and one of delaying or preventing an adjustment of the valve position when the voltage level of the voltage storage device falls below a defined level.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising the controller monitoring a voltage level of the voltage storage device and allowing an adjustment of the valve position only when the voltage level of the voltage storage device is above a defined level.

5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising transitioning the processor to a low-power sleep state after the adjustment of the valve position.

6. The system according to claim 5, the controller further comprising a timer, the controller setting the timer to a defined time period before the transitioning the processor to the low-power sleep state and generating an interrupt upon expiration of the timer time period to awaken the processor from the low-power sleep state.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor sensing a magnetic field that is related to the movement of the door.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the controller determines a value indicative of a strength of the magnetic field and maps the value to the angular position of the door.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises a magnetic sensor, the magnetic sensor sensing a magnetic field that is related to the angular position of the valve.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the controller determines a value indicative of a strength of the magnetic field and maps the value to the angular position of the valve.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the second sensor comprises a radiometric sensor, a ratio (R) of an input voltage to an output voltage of the radiometric sensor being related to the angular position of the valve.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the controller maps the R value to the angular position of the valve.