Door closer assembly

• US 8,600,567 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2011
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• 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): SHECHTMAN, SEAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/071,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20110231023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 700/275, 700/282, 16/71, 16/79, 713/323, 49/21, 49/31
• US Class Current: 700/282
• 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 2201/492 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 method for self-powered operation of a door closer operatively connected to a door, the door closer including a movable valve for controlling fluid flow through a flow path for controlling the movement of the door, the method comprising the steps of:

providing power to a control unit adapted to be responsive to movement of the door;

reading an angular position of the door;

reading a position of the valve;

adjusting the position of the valve based on the read angular position of the door and the read position of the valve;

reading a second angular position of the door;

comparing the read angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

determining whether the door is opening or closing based on the comparison; and

retrieving opening mode threshold data when the door is opening and determining a desired valve position from the opening mode threshold data.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising

providing a processor for controlling the adjustment of the position of the valve;

and

transitioning the processor to a power saving sleep state after the adjustment of the position of the valve.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising determining a remaining available power level and shutting down the processor when the remaining power level is below a threshold value.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising restoring the processor to an active state after a set period of time.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising enabling power to a first sensor reading the angular position of the door and a second sensor reading the position of the valve.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a remaining available power level and adjusting the position of the valve only when the remaining available power level is above a threshold value.

7. A method for self-powered operation of a door closer including a rotatable valve for controlling fluid flow, the door closer operatively connected to a door, the method comprising the steps of:

providing power to a control unit responsive to movement of the door;

reading a first angular position of the door;

reading a second angular position of the door;

reading an angular position of the valve;

comparing the first read first angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

determining whether the door is opening or closing based on the comparison of the first read first angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

retrieving opening mode threshold data when the door is opening;

determining a desired valve position from the opening mode threshold data;

comparing the read angular position of the valve with the desired valve position;

determining if the valve requires adjustment based on the comparison of the read angular position of the valve with the desired valve position; and

adjusting the angular position of the valve if the valve requires adjustment.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising

providing a processor for controlling the adjustment of the position of the valve;

and

transitioning the processor to a power saving sleep state after the adjustment of the position of the valve.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising determining a remaining available power level and shutting down the processor when the remaining power level is below a threshold value.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising restoring the processor to an active state after a set period of time.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising enabling power to a first sensor reading the angular position of the door and a second sensor reading the position of the valve.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising determining a remaining available power level and adjusting the position of the valve only when the remaining available power level is above a threshold value.

13. A method for self-powered operation of a door closer operatively connected to a door, the door closer including a movable valve for controlling fluid flow through a flow path for controlling the movement of the door, the method comprising the steps of:

providing power to a control unit adapted to be responsive to movement of the door;

reading an angular position of the door;

reading a position of the valve;

adjusting the position of the valve based on the read angular position of the door and the read position of the valve;

reading a second angular position of the door;

comparing the read angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

determining whether the door is opening or closing based on the comparison; and

retrieving closing mode threshold data when the door is closing and determining a desired valve position from the closing mode threshold data.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising

providing a processor for controlling the adjustment of the position of the valve;

and

transitioning the processor to a power saving sleep state after the adjustment of the position of the valve.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising determining a remaining available power level and shutting down the processor when the remaining power level is below a threshold value.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising restoring the processor to an active state after a set period of time.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising enabling power to a first sensor reading the angular position of the door and a second sensor reading the position of the valve.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising determining a remaining available power level and adjusting the position of the valve only when the remaining available power level is above a threshold value.

19. A method for self-powered operation of a door closer including a rotatable valve for controlling fluid flow, the door closer operatively connected to a door, the method comprising the steps of:

providing power to a control unit responsive to movement of the door;

reading a first angular position of the door;

reading a second angular position of the door;

reading an angular position of the valve;

comparing the first read angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

determining whether the door is opening or closing based on the comparison of the first read angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

retrieving closing mode threshold data when the door is closing;

determining a desired valve position from the closing mode threshold data;

comparing the read angular position of the valve with the desired valve position;

determining if the valve requires adjustment based on the comparison of the read angular position of the valve with the desired valve position; and

adjusting the angular position of the valve if the valve requires adjustment.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising

providing a processor for controlling the adjustment of the position of the valve;

and

transitioning the processor to a power saving sleep state after the adjustment of the position of the valve.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising determining a remaining available power level and shutting down the processor when the remaining power level is below a threshold value.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising restoring the processor to an active state after a set period of time.

23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising enabling power to a first sensor reading the angular position of the door and a second sensor reading the position of the valve.

24. The method according to claim 19, further comprising determining a remaining available power level and adjusting the position of the valve only when the remaining available power level is above a threshold value.