Door operator

An apparatus for use with a source of electrical energy for selectively automatically operating a door positioned within a door frame and hinged along one edge to the door frame for movement between a closed position and an open position, the door operating apparatus comprising:

• a bi-directional motor assembly adapted to be connected to the source of electrical energy;
• an automatic door closer assembly including a rotatable output shaft adapted to be operably connected to the door and means for providing a force on the output shaft when the door is in an open position for moving the door in a closing direction;
• a drive member including a protrusion formed on the surface of the drive member, one edge of the protrusion forming a first driving surface and the other edge of the protrusion forming a second driving surface, the driving surfaces defining a free space of at least about 90° between the driving surfaces, the drive member operably connected to the motor assembly for rotating the drive member about an axis through an arc in a first direction from a first angular orientation corresponding to the closed position of the door to a second angular orientation corresponding to the open position of the door and about the axis through an arc in an opposite direction from the second angular orientation to the first angular orientation, wherein rotation of the drive member from the first angular orientation to the second angular orientation corresponds to movement of the door from the closed position to the open position;
• and
• a driven member including a protrusion formed on the surface of the driven member, one side of the protrusion forming a first driven surface and the other side of the protrusion forming a second driven surface, the driven member disposed for relative rotation adjacent to the drive member such that the respective protrusions rotate in substantially the same plane and the driven member protrusion moves in the free space defined by the driving surfaces of the drive member protrusion, the driven member adapted to be connected for rotation with the output shaft of the door closer assembly about an axis through an arc between a first angular orientation corresponding to the closed position of the door and a second angular orientation corresponding to the open position of the door and about the axis through an arc in an opposite direction from the second angular orientation to the first angular orientation, wherein rotation of the driven member from the second angular orientation to the first angular orientation corresponds to movement of the door from an open position to the closed position,
• wherein when the drive member and the driven member are in their respective first angular orientations, one of the driving surfaces of the protrusion of the drive member is adjacent one of the driven surfaces of the protrusion of the driven member such that rotation of the drive member from the first angular orientation of the drive member to the second angular orientation of the drive member in a direction toward the adjacent driven surface causes rotation of the driven member for powered opening of the door from the closed position to the open position, and the protrusion on the driven member moves in the free space between the first angular orientation of the driven member and the second angular orientation of the driven member without engaging the protrusion surfaces when the door is opened manually from the closed position and allowed to close.

In combination:

• a door frame for mounting to a building wall;
• a door pivotally connected to the door frame for movement between a closed position and an open position;
• and an electro-mechanical door operator mounted on one of the door or the building wall, the door operator comprising:
• a bi-directional motor assembly adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy,
• an automatic door closer assembly adapted to be operably connected to the door, the door closer assembly including a rotatable output shaft and means for providing a force on the output shaft when the door is in an open position for moving the door in a closing direction,
• a drive member including a protrusion formed on the surface of the drive member, one edge of the protrusion forming a first driving surface and the other edge of the protrusion forming a second driving surface, the driving surfaces defining a free space of at least about 90° between the driving surfaces, the drive member operably connected to the motor assembly for rotating the drive member about an axis through an arc in a first direction from a first angular orientation corresponding to the closed position of the door to a second angular orientation corresponding to the open position of the door and about the axis through an arc in an opposite direction from the second angular orientation to the first angular orientation, wherein rotation of the drive member from the first angular orientation to the second angular orientation corresponds to movement of the door from the closed position to the open position, and
• a driven member including a protrusion formed on the surface of the driven member, one side of the protrusion forming a first driven surface and the other side of the protrusion forming a second driven surface, the driven member disposed for relative rotation adjacent to the drive member such that the respective protrusions rotate in substantially the same plane and the driven member protrusion moves in the free space defined by the driving surfaces of the drive member protrusion, the driven member adapted to be connected for rotation with the output shaft of the door closer assembly about an axis through an arc between a first angular orientation corresponding to the closed position of the door and a second angular orientation corresponding to the open position of the door and about the axis through an arc in an opposite direction from the second angular orientation to the first angular orientation, wherein rotation of the driven member from the second angular orientation to the first angular orientation corresponds to movement of the door from an open position to the closed position,
• wherein when the drive member and the driven member are in their respective first angular orientations, one of the driving surfaces of the protrusion of the drive member is adjacent to one of the driven surfaces of the protrusion of the driven member such that rotation of the drive member from the first angular orientation of the drive member to the second angular orientation in a direction toward the adjacent driven surface causes rotation of the driven member for powered opening of the door from the closed position to the open position, and the protrusion on the driven member moves in the free space between the first angular orientation of the driven member and the second angular orientation of the driven member without engaging the protrusion surfaces when the door is opened manually from the closed position and allowed to close.