Handle set engagement cartridge
A spring assembly for a handle set assembly includes a housing and a gear rotatably positioned within the housing. The gear has a default position and at least one actuated rotated position. The spring assembly includes at least one rack positioned within the housing. The at least one rack is movable in a rack displacement direction that is normal to the axis of rotation of the gear in response to rotation of the gear between a neutral position and a displaced position. The spring assembly includes a slider positioned at a first end of the at least one rack, the slider being slidable along the rack displacement direction. The spring assembly includes at least one spring captured between the housing and slider. The at least one spring is positioned to apply a spring force to the at least one rack toward the neutral position when the at least one rack is in the displaced position.
1. A door actuator assembly comprising:
a housing adapted to be mounted to a door, the housing including a face plate;
an actuator supported by the housing and operably connected to a latch that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position along a first direction, the actuator being rotatably movable around an axis normal to the first direction to move the latch between the extended position and the retracted position; and
a spring assembly positioned behind the face plate, the spring assembly comprising:
a gear axially positioned with and rotatable with the actuator, the gear having a default position in which the latch remains in the extended position and at least one actuated position in which the latch is moved to the retracted position;
a first rack and a second rack movable in a rack displacement direction that is normal to the axis in response to rotation of the gear between a neutral position and a displaced position, wherein the rack displacement direction is also normal to the first direction, and wherein the first rack is positioned on an opposite side of the gear from the second rack, such that rotation of the gear moves the first rack and the second rack in opposite directions;
a first slider positioned along a first end of the first rack and the second rack;
a second slider positioned along a second end of the first rack and the second rack opposite the first end;
at least one spring positioned to apply a spring force to the first rack and the second rack toward the neutral position when the first rack and the second rack are in the displaced position, wherein the at least one spring includes a first spring positioned to bias the first slider toward the neutral position of the first rack and a second spring positioned to bias the second slider toward the neutral position of the second rack; and
wherein the first slider is in contact with the first end of the first rack and contacting the first spring, the first slider movable in the rack displacement direction, the second slider is in contact with the second end of the second rack and contacting the second spring, the second slider moveable in the rack displacement direction, wherein the gear, the first and second racks, the at least one spring, and the first and second sliders are all disposed on a plane that is parallel to the face plate.
2. The door actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gear and the first and second racks include intermeshing teeth.
3. The door actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring assembly comprises a case and a cover, wherein the first and second sliders, the first and second racks, and the at least one spring are positioned within an interior of the case.
4. A spring assembly for a handle set assembly operably connected to a latch that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position along a first direction, the spring assembly comprising:
a housing;
a gear rotatably positioned within the housing and having an axis of rotation normal to the first direction, the gear having a default position and at least one actuated rotated position;
a rack positioned within the housing, the rack being movable in a rack displacement direction that is normal to the axis of rotation of the gear in response to rotation of the gear between a neutral position and a displaced position, wherein the rack displacement direction is normal to the first direction; and
a slider positioned at a first end of the rack, the slider being slidable along the rack displacement direction; and
at least one spring captured between the housing and the slider, the at least one spring positioned to apply a spring force to the rack toward the neutral position when the rack is in the displaced position, wherein the gear, the rack, the slider, and the at least one spring are all disposed on the same plane within the housing.
5. The spring assembly of claim 4 , wherein the rack is a first rack and the slider is a first slider, and wherein the spring assembly comprises:
a second rack positioned on an opposite side of the gear from the first rack, such that rotation of the gear moves the first rack and the second rack in opposite directions;
a second slider positioned along a second end of the first rack and the second rack opposite the first end, the second slider being slidable along the rack displacement direction;
wherein the at least one spring comprises a first spring positioned to bias the first slider toward the neutral position and a second spring positioned to bias the second slider toward the neutral position.
6. The spring assembly of claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a case and a cover, wherein the slider, the rack, and the at least one spring are positioned within an interior of the case.
7. The spring assembly of claim 4 , wherein the gear and the rack include intermeshing teeth.
8. The spring assembly of claim 4 , wherein the gear includes a central aperture that is positionable around an actuator of a door handle set so that the gear is rotatable with the actuator, wherein the actuator is rotatable via a handle.
9. A door actuator assembly comprising:
a door housing adapted to be mounted to a door, the door housing including a face plate;
an actuator supported by the door housing and operably connected to a latch that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position along a first direction, the actuator being rotatably movable around an axis normal to the first direction to move the latch between the extended position and the retracted position; and
a spring assembly positioned behind the face plate, the spring assembly comprising:
a housing;
a gear rotatably positioned within the housing and having an axis of rotation normal to the first direction, the gear having a default position and at least one actuated rotated position;
a rack positioned within the housing, the rack being movable in a rack displacement direction that is normal to the axis of rotation of the gear in response to rotation of the gear between a neutral position and a displaced position, wherein the rack displacement direction is normal to the first direction; and
a slider positioned at a first end of the rack, the slider being slidable along the rack displacement direction; and
at least one spring captured between the housing and the slider, the at least one spring positioned to apply a spring force to the rack toward the neutral position when the rack is in the displaced position, wherein the gear, the rack, the slider, and the at least one spring are all disposed on the same plane within the housing.