Electrified exit device

A method for engaging a dogging mechanism of a latch dogging assembly, wherein said latch dogging assembly is configured to be operable within a door latch system, the door latch system releasably securing a door in a door frame, a latch of the door latch system being selectively moveable by way of a panic bar from a latched position when the panic bar is in an extended position and the door is secured in the door frame, to an unlatched position when the panic bar is in a depressed position, whereby the door is releasable from the door frame, wherein said latch dogging assembly further comprises an electric actuator, an electromagnet separate from said electric actuator, and an armature, wherein when said armature is magnetically attracted to said electromagnet said panic bar is held in said depressed position, wherein said electric actuator includes an actuator shaft linearly movable in a first direction and in a second direction opposite said first direction upon actuation of said electric actuator, and wherein said latch dogging assembly includes a magnet catch magnetically attractable by said electromagnet, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) energizing said electromagnet;
• b) actuating said electric actuator in said first direction;
• c) bringing said magnet catch in contact with said energized electromagnet;
• d) actuating said electric actuator in said second direction whereby said panic bar is moved to said depressed position and said latch is moved to said unlatched position;
• e) bringing said armature in touching contact with said electromagnet to hold said panic bar in said depressed position;
• and
• f) decreasing or de-activating power to said electric actuator whereby said panic bar is held in said depressed position by said magnetic attraction of said armature to said electromagnet.

A latch dogging assembly configured to be operable within an exit device, said exit device including a latch movable between a latching position and an unlatching position thereby releasably securing a door in a door frame, said latch dogging assembly comprising:

• a) a mounting bracket for securing said latch dogging assembly to said door;
• b) an electromagnet connected to said mounting bracket;
• c) an actionable electric actuator separate from said electromagnet and connected to said mounting bracket, wherein said electric actuator includes an actuator shaft movable by said electric actuator in a first direction between a first position and a second position;
• d) a guide slide movably mounted to said mounting bracket and connected to said actuator shaft, wherein said guide slide is movable by said actuator shaft between a first position and a second position by movement of said actuator shaft;
• e) a pawl connected to said guide slide and movable between a resting position and a loaded position by said guide slide when said guide slide moves between said first position and said second position;
• f) a guide link movably connected to said bracket, wherein said guide link is contactable by said pawl and movable by said pawl when said pawl is in said loaded position;
• and
• g) an armature, wherein said armature is movable by said guide link toward said electromagnet,
• wherein when the guide slide is in said second position and said pawl is in said loaded position, movement of said actuator shaft, in a second direction opposite said first direction moves said guide link to move said armature into engagement with said electromagnet and to move said latch to said unlatching position, and
• wherein when the electromagnet is energized said armature is magnetically held by the electromagnet such that said latch remains in said unlatched position.

A latch dogging assembly configured to be operable within a door latch system, said door latch system releasably securing a door in a door frame, said door latch system being selectively moveable by way of a panic bar from a latched position when said panic bar is in an extended position and said door is secured in said door frame, to an unlatched position when said panic bar is in a depressed position, whereby said door is releasable from said door frame, said latch dogging assembly comprising:

• a) a mounting bracket;
• b) an electromagnet connected to said mounting bracket;
• c) a magnet catch mounted to said mounting bracket and movable between a first position when said magnetic catch is in touching contact with said electromagnet and a second position when said magnetic catch is not in touching contact with said electromagnet;
• d) an actionable electric actuator separate from said electromagnet and connected to said mounting bracket, wherein said electric actuator includes an actuator shaft;
• e) a pawl connected to said actuator shaft, wherein said electric actuator is configured to impart linear movement on said actuator shaft and said pawl when said electric actuator is actuated;
• f) a guide link connected to said mounting bracket and movable upon movement of said panic bar from said extended position to said depressed position, wherein said guide link is engageable by said pawl and movable by said pawl upon said linear movement of said actuator shaft;
• and
• g) an armature, wherein said armature is movable by said guide link toward said electromagnet upon movement of said guide link by said panic bar,
• wherein said pawl is selectively positionable by said magnet catch between a rested position and a loaded position, and wherein when said magnet catch is in said first position, said pawl is positioned to said loaded position and configured to engage said guide link,
• wherein when the electric actuator is activated to linearly move said actuator shaft, the pawl moves said guide link to move said armature into engagement with said electromagnet and to move said panic bar from said extended position to said depressed position, and
• wherein when the electromagnet is energized said armature is magnetically held by said electromagnet such that said panic bar remains in said depressed position.