Door closer with power close

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024111315-A1
Application number	US-202318511970-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 16, 2023
Priority date	Sep 12, 2019
Publication date	Apr 4, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A door closer may utilize a door closing device (e.g., spring) and a force adjustment device (e.g., a motor) in order to allow for manual door opening and assisted door closing. During operation, as a door is manually opened, the spring is loaded (e.g., compressed or tensioned) above its pre-loaded closed position state. Once manual opening is completed, the spring that is loaded during opening begins returning to the pre-loaded closed position state, and thus, moves the door automatically towards the closed position. Depending on the pre-loaded spring setting, the closing force of the door may not be enough to close the door, or to close the door with the preferred force. As such, during closing a controller may engage a motor not to drive the door directly, but to increase the pre-load of spring to increase the closing force in order to allow the door to close as preferred.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A door closer, the door closer comprising:
a closing device, wherein the closing device is configured to aid in closing a door by providing a closing force to the door; and a force adjustment device comprising a motor, wherein the force adjustment device is operatively coupled to the closing device; a position sensor, wherein the position sensor is used to determine a position of the door; and a controller operatively coupled to the motor and the position sensor, wherein the controller comprises:
one or more memory devices with computer-readable program code stored thereon; and
one or more processing devices operatively coupled to the one or more memory devices, wherein when executed the computer-readable program code is configured to direct the one or more processing devices to:
determine when the door is in a position other than in a closed position and is stopped or is operating at a speed that is slower than a closing speed set for the door; and
control the motor to increase the closing force until the door is in the closed position or until the door is operating at the closing speed.

2 . The door closer of claim 1 , wherein the closing device comprises a spring, wherein the motor is operatively coupled to the spring, and wherein the motor adjusts the closing force or an opening force by adjusting a preload of the spring.

3 . The door closer of claim 2 , further comprising a damper operatively coupled to the spring for controlling the closing speed of the door.

4 . The door closer of claim 2 , wherein the spring is a single spring, and wherein adjusting the preload of the single spring comprises turning a fastener to increase or decrease the preload of the single spring.

5 . The door closer of claim 2 , wherein when executed the computer-readable program code is configured to direct the one or more processing devices to:
determine when the door is in the closed position; and control the motor to decrease the opening force.

6 . The door closer of claim 2 , wherein when executed the computer-readable program code is configured to direct the one or more processing devices to:
determine when the door is in the closed position; and allowing the spring to return to the preload of the spring.

7 . The door closer of claim 1 , wherein when executed the computer-readable program code is configured to direct the one or more processing devices to:
determine when the door is moving from an open position to the closed position; and control the motor to increase the closing force when the door reaches an angle from the closed position.

8 . The door closer of claim 7 , wherein the angle is a pre-determined angle from the closed position.

9 . The door closer of claim 1 , wherein the force adjustment device further comprises a gear assembly operatively coupled between the motor and the closing device.

10 . The door closer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive system operatively coupled to the closing device; and a linkage assembly operatively coupled to the drive system; wherein the drive system and the linkage assembly are operatively coupled to the door, a door frame, or a wall to allow for opening and closing of the door.

11 . A method of operating a door using a door closer, wherein the door closer comprises a closing device, a force adjustment device comprising a motor operatively coupled to the closing device, a position sensor, and a controller, the method comprising:
determine, via the position sensor and the controller, when the door is in a position other than in a closed position and is stopped or is operating at a speed that is slower than a closing speed set for the door; and control, via the controller, the motor to increase a closing force until the door is in the closed position or until the door is operating at the closing speed.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the closing device comprises a spring, wherein the motor is operatively coupled to the spring, and wherein the motor adjusts the closing force or an opening force by adjusting a preload of the spring.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the door closer further comprises a damper operatively coupled to the spring for controlling the closing speed of the door.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the spring is a single spring, and wherein adjusting the preload of the single spring comprises turning a fastener to increase or decrease the preload of the single spring.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determine, via the position sensor and the controller, when the door is in the closed position; and control, via the controller, the motor to decrease the opening force.

16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determine, via the position sensor and the controller, when the door is in the closed position; and allowing, via the controller, the spring to return to the preload of the spring.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determine, via the position sensor and the controller, when the door is moving from an open position to the closed position; and control, via the controller, the motor to increase the closing force when the door reaches an angle from the closed position.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the angle is a pre-determined angle from the closed position.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the force adjustment device further comprises a gear assembly operatively coupled between the motor and the closing device.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the door closer further comprises:
a drive system operatively coupled to the closing device; and a linkage assembly operatively coupled to the drive system; wherein the drive system and the linkage assembly are operatively coupled to the door, a door frame, or a wall to allow for opening and closing of the door.

Assignees

• Assa Abloy Access & Door Controls Group Inc

Inventors

• Lawhon Dustin

Classifications

• E05Y2400/44

  Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement · CPC title

• E05Y2800/30

  inclined, angled · CPC title

• G05D15/01 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• E05F3/222

  electrically operated (E05F3/223 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05Y2201/434

  Electromotors; Details thereof · CPC title