Door closer

• Main Authors: Houser, Blue, Zasowski, Peter, Lawhon, Dustin
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.04.2018
• Subjects: CHECKS FOR WINGS; DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; KEYS; LOCKS; SAFES; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THEFUNCTIONING OF THE WING

A door closer with an electric motor-assisted closing feature, that may generate its own power to assist in closing, and controls the speed of opening and closing of the door during generation is disclosed. Many conventional door closers are mechanically actuated and have a plurality of valves and springs for controlling the force applied to the door as a function of door angle and/or speed. Different arm configurations exist for creating a desired force curve in the opening and closing directions; however, all configurations have less force available in the closing direction than was required to open the door due to mechanical losses in the system, and are also subject to adverse closing conditions, such as an obstruction or force pushing the door in the opposite direction, as well as the system's dependency on temperature, pressure, wear, and installation configurations. Embodiments of the present disclosure are realized by a motorized door closer that electrically creates a latch boost force for a closing door when a motor assist is needed to overcome the presence of some adverse closing condition. The door closer includes a motor disposed to operatively connect to a door so that the door will moved toward closed when the motor moves, a timer, and a speed sensor to determine a closing speed of the door. A processor is programmed to exert a closing force on the door in the latch boost region or when it otherwise detects that a motor assist is needed based on the door failing to close within a predetermined acceptable closing time or with a predetermined acceptable closing speed due to adverse closing conditions. In some embodiments, the closing or other motor assist force is exerted by applying a voltage into the electric motor of the door closer. The door closer may be regenerative with respect to power and may be self-adjusting with respect to the latch boost/motor assist force applied and control of closing speed and opening speed.