Exit push rail monitoring system with hall effect sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9816291-B2
Application number	US-201515102452-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2015
Priority date	Jan 10, 2014
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A delayed egress exit push rail system for a door has a push rail movable relative to a housing between a home position and a second position to open the door, a sensor for determining the position of the push rail as the push rail moves between the home position and the second position and a controller connected to the sensor. The sensor detects a current position of the push rail in the home position and the controller determines if the current position of the push rail detected by the sensor is within a predetermined acceptable range of positions relative to the home position. If the controller determines that the current position of the push rail is outside of the predetermined range, the controller unlocks the door for immediate egress, relays an error message via light or sound and/or communicates with a remote monitoring device.

First claim

Thus, having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An exit push rail monitoring system comprising:
a housing mountable to a door;
a push rail movable relative to the housing between a home position having a predetermined acceptable range of positions relative thereto and a second position;
a sensor connected to one of the rail or housing;
a control circuit connected to the sensor to detect a current position of the push rail in relation to the home position,
the control circuit using the current position of the push rail detected by the sensor to determine if the push rail is within the predetermined acceptable range of positions relative to the home position; and
a timer connected to the control circuit, the control circuit determining if the push rail is within the predetermined acceptable range of positions relative to the home position at intervals set by the timer.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the monitoring system is for a delayed egress exit device and the sensor is an analog Hall effect sensor connected to one of the rail or housing, and further including a magnet connected to the other of the rail or housing, the analog Hall effect sensor and the magnet being mounted for relative motion therebetween as the push rail moves between the home position and the second position; and wherein the control circuit is connected to the analog Hall effect sensor to detect the current position of the push rail in relation to the home position, the control circuit using the current position of the push rail detected by the analog Hall effect sensor to determine if the push rail is within the predetermined acceptable range of positions relative to the home position.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the control circuit connected to the analog Hall effect sensor detects a current position of the push rail as the push rail moves away from the home position.

4. The system of claim 3 further including an alarm connected to the control circuit, the control circuit activating the alarm if the current position of the push rail is outside of a predetermined range.

5. The system of claim 1 further including an alarm connected to the control circuit, the control circuit activating the alarm if the current position of the push rail is outside of a predetermined range.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit detects the current position of the push rail at periodic intervals.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit connected to the sensor detects a current position of the push rail as the push rail moves toward the home position, and wherein if the current position of the push rail is outside of the predetermined acceptable range of positions when the push rail has concluded moving, the control circuit initiates an error mode in the exit push rail system.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein if the current position of the push rail is outside of a predetermined range, the control circuit initiates one or more of the following: a) activating an alarm via light and/or sound, b) unlocking the door for immediate egress, and/or c) communicating an error message to a remote monitoring device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit determines whether the push rail is in the second position, and wherein the current position of the push rail is detected at periodic intervals if the push rail is not determined to be in the second position.

10. A method of monitoring an exit push rail system for a door comprising a push rail movable relative to a housing between a home position having a predetermined acceptable range of positions relative thereto and a second position to open the door, and an analog Hall effect sensor magnet mounted on one of the push rail or the housing for sensing relative motion therebetween as the push rail moves between the home position and the second position, the method comprising:
using the analog Hall effect sensor magnet to detect a current position of the push rail in relation to the home position at intervals set by a timer; and
using the current position of the push rail detected by the analog Hall effect sensor magnet to determine if the push rail is within the predetermined acceptable range of positions relative to the home position at each interval.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the analog Hall effect sensor magnet is used to detect a current position of the push rail as the push rail moves away from the home position.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the current position of the push rail is detected at periodic intervals.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the current position of the push rail is detected by a control circuit in a controller.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the analog Hall effect sensor magnet is used to detect a current position of the push rail as the push rail moves toward the home position, and wherein if the current position of the push rail is outside of the predetermined acceptable range of positions when the push rail has concluded moving, the controller initiates an error mode in the exit push rail system.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein if the current position of the push rail is outside of a predetermined range, the controller initiates one or more of the following: a) activating an alarm via light and/or sound, b) unlocking the door for immediate egress, and/or c) communicating an error message to a remote monitoring device.

16. The method of claim 10 further including determining whether the push rail is in the second position to open the door, and wherein the current position of the push rail is detected at periodic intervals if the push rail is not determined to be in the second position.

17. A method of monitoring a delayed egress exit push rail system for a door comprising a push rail movable relative to a housing between a home position and a second position to open the door, a sensor for determining the position of the push rail as the push rail moves between the home position and the second position, and a controller connected to the sensor, the method comprising:
using the sensor to detect a current position of the push rail in relation to the home position at intervals set by a timer connected to the controller; and
using the controller to determine if the current position of the push rail detected by the sensor is within a predetermined acceptable range of positions relative to the home position at each interval.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the sensor is used to detect a current position of the push rail as the push rail moves toward the home position, and wherein if the controller determines that the current position of the push rail is outside of the predetermined acceptable range of positions when the push rail has concluded moving, the controller initiates an error mode in the delayed egress exit push rail system.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein if the current position of the push rail is outside of a predetermined range, the controller initiates one or more of the following: a) activating an alarm via light and/or sound, b) unlocking the door for immediate egress, and/or c) communicating an error message to a remote monitoring device.

20. The method of claim 17 further including using the controller to determine whether the push rail is in the second position to open the door, and wherein the controller determines the current position of the push rail if the push rail is not determined to be in the second position.

Assignees

• Sargent Mfg Co

Inventors

• Wong Wai P
• Limoncelli Jr Arthur F
• Debiase David C
• Nunez Paul
• Lawrence Iii Eugene W
• Walsh John E
• Arcaria Angelo S

Classifications

• E05B2047/0059

  by transfer between frame and wing · CPC title

• E05B45/06

  Electric alarm locks {(E05B45/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E05B65/1053

  sliding towards and away form the door · CPC title

• E05B2045/0615

  triggered by movement of the handle · CPC title

• E05B47/00 Primary

  Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means (electric permutation locks E05B49/00) · CPC title