IP Library Granted Patent US 8,600,567
Granted Patent B2
US 8,600,567 · App. 13/071,968 · Granted Dec 3, 2013

Door closer assembly

Inventors: David James Copeland, II (Indian Trail, NC); Keith James Weepie (Marthasville, MO); Robert L. Tadlock, Jr. (Charlotte, NC); Charles E. Burris (Norwood, NC); John J. White, Jr. (Huntsville, AL); Jason Scott Gurley (Madison, AL); Steven Michael Faes (Canisteo, NY); Joseph Ralph McGinty (Madison, AL); Wade C. Patterson (Huntsville, AL)
Assignee: Yale Security Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,600,567
App. No.
13/071,968
Granted
Dec 3, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A door closer assembly is provided, including a valve regulating an amount of hydraulic fluid that flows through the valve. The amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve controls a force generated by the door closer assembly on a door. A first sensor measures an angular position of the door, and a second sensor measures an angular position of the valve. The angular position of the valve determines the amount of hydraulic fluid flowing through the valve. A controller controls the adjustment of the valve based on the angular position of the door and the angular position of the valve.

Claims (70)

1. A method for self-powered operation of a door closer operatively connected to a door, the door closer including a movable valve for controlling fluid flow through a flow path for controlling the movement of the door, the method comprising the steps of:

providing power to a control unit adapted to be responsive to movement of the door;

reading an angular position of the door;

reading a position of the valve;

adjusting the position of the valve based on the read angular position of the door and the read position of the valve;

reading a second angular position of the door;

comparing the read angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

determining whether the door is opening or closing based on the comparison; and

retrieving opening mode threshold data when the door is opening and determining a desired valve position from the opening mode threshold data.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

providing a processor for controlling the adjustment of the position of the valve; and

transitioning the processor to a power saving sleep state after the adjustment of the position of the valve.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising determining a remaining available power level and shutting down the processor when the remaining power level is below a threshold value.

4. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising restoring the processor to an active state after a set period of time.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising enabling power to a first sensor reading the angular position of the door and a second sensor reading the position of the valve.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining a remaining available power level and adjusting the position of the valve only when the remaining available power level is above a threshold value.

7. A method for self-powered operation of a door closer including a rotatable valve for controlling fluid flow, the door closer operatively connected to a door, the method comprising the steps of:

providing power to a control unit responsive to movement of the door;

reading a first angular position of the door;

reading a second angular position of the door;

reading an angular position of the valve;

comparing the first read first angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

determining whether the door is opening or closing based on the comparison of the first read first angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

retrieving opening mode threshold data when the door is opening;

determining a desired valve position from the opening mode threshold data;

comparing the read angular position of the valve with the desired valve position;

determining if the valve requires adjustment based on the comparison of the read angular position of the valve with the desired valve position; and

adjusting the angular position of the valve if the valve requires adjustment.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising

providing a processor for controlling the adjustment of the position of the valve; and

transitioning the processor to a power saving sleep state after the adjustment of the position of the valve.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising determining a remaining available power level and shutting down the processor when the remaining power level is below a threshold value.

10. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising restoring the processor to an active state after a set period of time.

11. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising enabling power to a first sensor reading the angular position of the door and a second sensor reading the position of the valve.

12. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising determining a remaining available power level and adjusting the position of the valve only when the remaining available power level is above a threshold value.

13. A method for self-powered operation of a door closer operatively connected to a door, the door closer including a movable valve for controlling fluid flow through a flow path for controlling the movement of the door, the method comprising the steps of:

providing power to a control unit adapted to be responsive to movement of the door;

reading an angular position of the door;

reading a position of the valve;

adjusting the position of the valve based on the read angular position of the door and the read position of the valve;

reading a second angular position of the door;

comparing the read angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

determining whether the door is opening or closing based on the comparison; and

retrieving closing mode threshold data when the door is closing and determining a desired valve position from the closing mode threshold data.

14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising

providing a processor for controlling the adjustment of the position of the valve; and

transitioning the processor to a power saving sleep state after the adjustment of the position of the valve.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising determining a remaining available power level and shutting down the processor when the remaining power level is below a threshold value.

16. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising restoring the processor to an active state after a set period of time.

17. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising enabling power to a first sensor reading the angular position of the door and a second sensor reading the position of the valve.

18. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising determining a remaining available power level and adjusting the position of the valve only when the remaining available power level is above a threshold value.

19. A method for self-powered operation of a door closer including a rotatable valve for controlling fluid flow, the door closer operatively connected to a door, the method comprising the steps of:

providing power to a control unit responsive to movement of the door;

reading a first angular position of the door;

reading a second angular position of the door;

reading an angular position of the valve;

comparing the first read angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

determining whether the door is opening or closing based on the comparison of the first read angular position of the door with the second read angular position of the door;

retrieving closing mode threshold data when the door is closing;

determining a desired valve position from the closing mode threshold data;

comparing the read angular position of the valve with the desired valve position;

determining if the valve requires adjustment based on the comparison of the read angular position of the valve with the desired valve position; and

adjusting the angular position of the valve if the valve requires adjustment.

20. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising

providing a processor for controlling the adjustment of the position of the valve; and

transitioning the processor to a power saving sleep state after the adjustment of the position of the valve.

21. The method according to claim 20 , further comprising determining a remaining available power level and shutting down the processor when the remaining power level is below a threshold value.

22. The method according to claim 20 , further comprising restoring the processor to an active state after a set period of time.

23. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising enabling power to a first sensor reading the angular position of the door and a second sensor reading the position of the valve.

24. The method according to claim 19 , further comprising determining a remaining available power level and adjusting the position of the valve only when the remaining available power level is above a threshold value.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: YALE SECURITY INC.
To: ASSA ABLOY ACCESSORIES AND DOOR CONTROLS GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 049518/0624 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2019
From: COPELAND, DAVID JAMES, II; WEEPIE, KEITH JAMES; TADLOCK, ROBERT L., JR.; BURRIS, CHARLES E.
To: YALE SECURITY INC.
Reel/Frame 048047/0429 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2019
From: WHITE, JOHN; GURLEY, JASON; FAES, STEVEN; MCGINTY, JOSEPH; PATTERSON, WADE
To: SYNAPSE
Reel/Frame 048047/0460 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2019
From: SYNAPSE WIRELESS, INC.
To: YALE SECURITY INC.
Reel/Frame 048047/0588 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12109184 · Apr 24, 2008
Related Publication 20110231023A1 · Sep 22, 2011