Universal electronic latch retraction mechanism
AssigneeASSA ABLOY Access and Egress Hardware Group, Inc.
InventorsMichael Lorello, Ryan Piantek, Richard D. Sangster, JR., Ian Sweeney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic latch retraction mechanism for an exit device may include an actuator including an output shaft coupled to a crank head, where the crank head is configured to rotate between first and second rotational positions. The electronic latch retraction mechanism may also include a crank coupled to the crank head such that the crank is at least partially rotatable to the crank head, where the crank is configured to engage a push bar of the exit device to move the push bar from the from the extended position to the retracted position when the crank head moves from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.
Claims58
A latch retraction mechanism for an exit device, the exit device including a push bar configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position, the latch retraction mechanism comprising:
- an actuator including an output shaft;
- a crank head coupled to the output shaft and configured to rotate between a first rotational position and a second rotational position;
- a crank coupled to the crank head such that the crank is at least partially rotatable relative to the crank head, wherein the crank is configured to engage the push bar to move the push bar from the extended position to the retracted position when the crank head moves from the first rotational position to the second rotational position;
- and
- at least one spring coupling the crank to the crank head and transmitting force from the crank head to the crank.
A method of operating a latch retraction mechanism, comprising:
- engaging a mating plate coupled to a push bar with a crank;
- rotating a crank head from a first rotational position to a second rotational position, wherein rotating the crank head rotates the crank;
- moving the push bar from an extended position to a retracted position with the crank as the crank head rotates from the first rotational position to the second rotational position;
- stopping the crank when the push bar is in the retracted position;
- and
- rotating the crank head from the second rotational position to a third rotational position while the crank is stopped and the push bar is in the retracted position.
An exit device comprising:
- a rail configured to be fixed to a door;
- a latch configured to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position;
- a push bar configured to move between an extended position where the latch is in the engaged position and a retracted position where the latch is in the disengaged position;
- and
- a latch retraction mechanism, comprising:
- an actuator including an output shaft,
- a crank head coupled to the output shaft and configured to rotate between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, and
- a crank coupled to the crank head, wherein the crank is operatively coupled to the push bar to move the push bar from the extended position to the retracted position when the crank head moves from the first rotational position to the second rotational position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.