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US 12,331,580 B1Granted
Damped door closer system and method
AssigneeAndersen Corporation
InventorsMitchell Marovets, Michael Wingert, Jesse Baldwin, Kevin Kappelmann, Chris Hilligas, Peter Haugh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Damped door closer systems, door assemblies including the damped door closer systems, and methods of operating damped door closer systems. The damped door closer systems include a closer assembly and damping assembly connected to each other through a connecting arm.
Claims9
A door closer system comprising:
- a closer assembly;
- a damping assembly;
- and
- a connecting arm configured to connect the closer assembly to the damping assembly, the connecting arm extending from a first end to a second end along an arm axis, the first end of the connecting arm configured to rotate about a first end axis oriented transverse to the arm axis when the door closer system is installed in a door;
- wherein the damping assembly comprises:
- a piston tube;
- a damper piston in the piston tube, the damper piston configured to move within the piston tube along a damping axis;
- a shoe attached to the damper piston and the second end of the connecting arm, the shoe configured to move along the damping axis, wherein the connecting arm is configured to rotate relative to the shoe about a second end axis extending through the second end of the connecting arm and the shoe;
- a metering valve configured to allow air to flow into and out of a metering volume in the piston tube, wherein the metering volume is defined by a location of the damper piston relative to the metering valve, wherein the metering volume increases when the damper piston moves within the piston tube in a direction towards the shoe and wherein the metering volume decreases when the damper piston moves within the piston tube in a direction away from the shoe, wherein the metering valve comprises an adjustable orifice configure to allow selective control of a rate of flow of air into and out of the metering volume through the metering valve;
- a ball valve located on the damper piston, the ball valve configured to allow air to enter the metering volume through the ball valve when the damper piston moves within the piston tube in a direction towards the shoe, and wherein the ball valve is configured to limit air from leaving the metering volume through the ball valve when the damper piston moves within the piston tube in a direction away from the shoe;
- and
- a sliding shuttle operably attached to the damper piston, wherein the sliding shuttle is configured to increase resistance to air flow out of the metering volume when the damper piston is moving away from the shoe to reduce the metering volume.
9 more elements
A door assembly comprising:
- a door panel;
- a door frame configured to at least partially frame a building opening, the door frame assembly comprising a hinge side jamb, a latch side jamb, and a head jamb, wherein the door panel is configured to rotate about a door axis aligned with the hinge side jamb when the door frame and the door panel are assembled in a building opening, the door assembly comprising a closed configuration in which a latch side edge of the door panel is proximate the latch side jamb and an open configuration in which the door panel is rotated about the door axis such that the latch side edge of the door panel is spaced apart from the latch side jamb;
- a door closer system configured to close the door panel when the door frame and the door panel are assembled in a building opening and the door panel is in an open configuration, wherein the door closer system comprises a closer assembly, a damping assembly, and a connecting arm configured to connect the closer assembly to the damping assembly, the connecting arm extending from a first end to a second end along an arm axis, the first end of the connecting arm configured to rotate about a first end axis oriented transverse to the arm axis;
- wherein the damping assembly comprises:
- a piston tube;
- a damper piston in the piston tube, the damper piston configured to move within the piston tube along a damping axis;
- a shoe attached to the damper piston and the second end of the connecting arm, the shoe configured to move along the damping axis, wherein the connecting arm is configured to rotate relative to the shoe about a second end axis extending through the second end of the connecting arm and the shoe;
- a metering valve configured to allow air to flow into and out of a metering volume in the piston tube, wherein the metering volume is defined by a location of the damper piston relative to the metering valve, wherein the metering volume increases when the damper piston moves within the piston tube in a direction towards the shoe and wherein the metering volume decreases when the damper piston moves within the piston tube in a direction away from the shoe, wherein the metering valve comprises an adjustable orifice configure to allow selective control of a rate of flow of air into and out of the metering volume through the metering valve;
- a ball valve located on the damper piston, the ball valve configured to allow air to enter the metering volume through the ball valve when the damper piston moves within the piston tube in a direction towards the shoe, and wherein the ball valve is configured to limit air from leaving the metering volume through the ball valve when the damper piston moves within the piston tube in a direction away from the shoe;
- and
- a sliding shuttle operably attached to the damper piston, wherein the sliding shuttle is configured to increase resistance to air flow out of the metering volume when the damper piston is moving away from the shoe to reduce the metering volume.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.