Method and apparatus for adjusting the opening speed and torque of a door with a door operator
AssigneeSchlage Lock Company LLC
InventorsJohn A. Wolfe, Jake E. Meckley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A door is coupled to a door operator assembly that includes a motor operable in a first mode of operation to open the door at a pre-defined speed. The first mode of operation is overridden in response to an output of the motor reaching a minimum threshold due to a force applied to the door. In the second mode of operation, the output of the motor is adjusted to assist manual opening of the door.
Claims20
A method for opening a door using a manual force while the door is operatively coupled to a door operator assembly having a motor, the method comprising:
- initiating movement of the door from a closed position toward an open position;
- operating the motor in a first mode to produce an output force that opens the door at a predefined angular speed in response to initiating the movement;
- determining that the output force of the motor has reached or fallen below a minimum threshold output force associated with the predefined angular speed while opening the door;
- and
- in response to the determining, operating the motor in a second mode by adjusting the output force of the motor to assist during the opening while the door opens at an opening speed greater than the predefined angular speed.
A system for opening a door mounted to a frame, the system comprising:
- a door operator connectable between the door and the frame;
- a motor operable to drive the door operator to move the door from a closed position to an open position;
- and
- a controller connected to the motor, wherein the controller is configured to:
- control the motor in a first mode to produce an output force that opens the door at a predefined angular speed from the closed position to the open position;
- determine the output force associated with the predefined angular speed of the motor during opening the door;
- and
- in response to the motor output force falling to or below a minimum threshold output force during the opening of the door, control the motor in a second mode so the output force of the motor assists to open the door at an opening speed greater than the predefined angular speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.