CA1039464A

CA1039464A - Electrically actuated door holder and release

Info

Publication number: CA1039464A
Application number: CA221,664A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Richard E. D'hooge
Original assignee: Rixson Firemark Inc
Current assignee: Rixson Firemark Inc
Priority date: 1974-08-01
Filing date: 1975-03-10
Publication date: 1978-10-03
Also published as: US3926461A; GB1510724A; BE826236A; FR2280779A1; DE2531314A1; JPS5138757A; IT1035266B

Abstract

ABSTRACT
An electrically actuated door holder and release for the multi-point holding of a pivoted door throughout a range of door open angles, and for the release of a held door either electrically or in response to manual override. The door holder comprises a channel which pivotally supports through linkages an elongated hold-open bar. An elongated friction strip is carried by the hold-open bar. The hold-open bar is normally held in hold-open position under tension by an armature spring coupled to the hold open bar. The channel is formed with a slot which guides a slide block which moves linearly along the length of the hold-open bar in response to changes in the angle of door opening. The slide block carries a pivotally supported hold-open cam which engages the friction strip to effect door hold open in the event the armature linkage is further placed under tension by energization of an electromagnet. Upon deenergiza-tion of the electromagnet or alternatively upon the application of a manual override door closing force, the hold-open bar is pivoted away from the slide block and the friction strip engag-ing cam and the door is released.

Description

1(13~46~
The concept of smoke. actuated door cont~ol has become a ~ven tec~nique~ re~uired toda~ by most of the nation~ majQr model bu~lding codes.
These codes specify that the control must be applicable to doors which may be left open occasionally or at all times; because in many instances, it is desir-able to hold a door in an open position to permit adequate air flow or free flow of traffic, The prior art is prolific in door hold-open devices, Many of these devices include an electrically actuated control which releases the hold~open mechanism, Devices of this type are shown, for example, in U,S. patents 3,164,404; 3,415,562; 3,729,770 and 3,796,451.
This invention relates particularly to the means for effecting door hold open at any desired angle throughout a specified range and at the same time providing for release of the door either electrically or by manual over~
ride, The present invention provides an electrically actuated door holder for the multi-point holding of a pivoted door through a range of opening angles~ comprising a holder ~ tan adjustable linkage of a generally parallelogram configuration including an elongated hold~open bar and a pair of links each individually coupl;ng a diXferent end of the ~old~open bar to the holder element, hold~open bar engaging means moved lengthwise relative the hold-open bar in response to variations in door opening angles to thereby engage the hold-open bar at any selected lengthwise point corresponding to the desired angular door opening, and electro-mechanical means including an electromagnet and an armature coupled to the parallelogram linkage and in which the energization of the electromagnet and the resulting armature action moves the hold-open bar into frictional engagement with the hold~open bar engaging means, In order that all of the structural features for attaining the objects of this invention may be readily understood, reference is herein made to the accompanying drawings wherein:
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~ igure 1 i~ a perspecti~e vie~ sho~ng the appl~cat~on o~ the door holder and release o~ this ~nvent~on to a slngle doari Figure 2 is a vie~ showing the application of the door holder and release to each of a pair o~ corridor doors;
Figure 3 is a perspective vie~ in which the standard arm of ~ la -~3~469!~
the door holder and release is coupled to a conventional door supported closer;
Fig. 4 is a front elevatlon vlew of the door holder and re-; lease with the holder cover removed;
Fig. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showing the armature link assembly;
; Fig. 6 is a section view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and showing the inside linkage assembly for the hold-open bar;
Fig. 7 is a section vlew taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 4 and shawing the ~rictional engagement of the hold-open bar by the hold-open cam;
Fig. 8 is a section view taken along line 8-8 of Fig, 4 and showing a bottom view of the internal door holder and release mechanism in a door closed position with the electromagnet ener-gized;
Fig. 9 is a view related to that of Flg, 8 with the door be~
ing opened;
Fig. 10 is a view related to that of Fig. 9 with the door in hold open;
Fig, 11 is a vlew related to that of Fig, 10 with the door in the initial stage of manual override release;
Fig, 12 is a view related to that of Fig. 11 with the door closing in response to release ef~ected by manual o~erride;
Fig, 13 is a view related to that of Fig. 11 with the door in the initial stage of electrical release;
Fig. 14 is a view related to that of Fig. 13 with the door closed in response to release ef~ected by deenergization of the electromagnet;
Fig. 15 is an exploded view o~ the door holder and release;
and Fig, 16 is an electrical circuit incorporating the door hold-er and release as part of a smoke actuated door control system.

~L~)399L64 Briefly described, the present lnvenkion contemplates a novel door holder and release ~or the multi-polnt holding of a pivoted door throughout a range of specified door opening angles.
Additionally, the device permits the release of a hold door either electrically or in response to a manual overriding force applied to a controlled door.
The door holder and release mechanism ls contained within a housing which is preferably surface mounted upon a door ~rame header. An arm couples the door holder and release to a door supported pivot pin, or alternatively to an integral closer which is sur~ace mounted upon the controlled door~
An elongated hold-open bar is pivotally supported relative a channel by a plurality of linkages. An elongated ~riction strip is carried by the hold-open bar.
The hold-open bar is normally held in hold-open position under the tension generated by an armature spring which biases an armature linkage coupled to the hold-open bar. The channel is formed with an elongated slot having ad~acent edges which guide a plastic slide block which moves linearly along the length of the hold-open bar in response to changes in the angle of door opening.
The slide block carries a pivotally supported hold~open cam which engages the friction strip to effect door hold-open in the event the armature linkage i5 ~urther placed under tension by energization o~ an elec~romagnet.
On deenergi~ation of the electromagnet, or alternatively upon the application o~ a manual override door closing ~orce to a controlled door, the hold-open bar and its friction strip are pivoted away ~rom the slide block and the friction strip engaging cam and the door is thus released.
In the event an external door closer is coupled to the door, the release operation will also effect automatic door closing.

~3g~4 Referring now to Fig. 1, the electrically actuated door holder and release 1 of this invention is shown typically applied to a ~lush door 2 which is supported by a plurality o~ butt hinges 3 (only one of which is sho~m) upon a conventional metal door frame 4.
The internal mechanism of holder-release 1 is contained wlthin an elongated housing cover 5. A pivot pin 6 is surface mounted to the upper edge of door 2, and standard arm 7 couples pivot pin 6 to the internal mechanism of holder-release 1.
Accordingly, the opening of door 2 causes the right end of standard arm 7 to reciprocate within slot 8. This reciprocation moves responsively the slide block mechanism hereafter described in the specification.
In the embodiment shown in Flg. 1, door holder-release 1 merely accomplishes a hold-open and release function. In the event automatic closing is required, a surface mounted closer may be substituted for plvot pin 6. Alternatively, other means ~or clos-ing door 2 may be provided as is well known in the art.
Fig. 2 show~ the appllcation of holder-release 1 of this in-vention to control a pair o~ corridor doors. In particular,holder-release 1 is adapted to control corridor door 2 3 and com-panion holder-release 1' is adapted to control ad~acent corridor door 2'. In view o~ the fact that the holder-release of this invention is appllcable to life sa~ety control systems now gener-ally required throughout the United States, a pair of electrically controlled holder-releases 1, 1' as shown in Fig. 2 may be ad-vantageously incorporated in smoke and fire detection systems for such institutions as hospitals and schools.
Fig, 3 shows the applicatlon o~ holder-release 1 to a door incorporating a surface mounted closer 9. Accordingly, the ln-stallation o~ Flg. 3 is not only capable o~ performing a door hold-release function, but in addition by connecting the le~t end 94Gi4 of s~andard arm 7 to surface mounted closer 9, a companion clos-ing function can be attained in response to door release.
Referring to Figso 4 and 8, the principal elements of holder-release 1 comprise elongated hold-open bar 10 which ls pivotally supported relative metallic channel 11 by inside hold-open bar linkage assembly 12 and outside hold-open bar linkage assembly 13.
Armature linkage assembly 14 is coupled to inside bar linkage assembly 12 by armature sprlng 15.
Armature linkage assembly 14 is normally biased by armature linkage return sprlng 16 so that armature plate 17 contacts the r~ght pole of electromagnet 18.
Hold-open cam 20 is a part of slide block assembly 21, Slide block assembly 21 reciprocates within the guide provided by channel slot 22 so that cam 20 travels along a linear path whlch is ad~acent a urethane ~riction contact strip 23 affixed to a vertical surface of hold-open bar 10. Slide block drive post 24 performs the func-tion of reciprocating slide block assembly 21 within the path formed by channel slot 22. Additlonally, drive post 24 serves as a plvot for hold-open cam 20.
Cam bias spring 25 envelopes the shaft o~ drive post 24. Cam pins 26 and 27 restrain the terminal ends o~ cam spring 25 so as to normally bias cam 20 in the position shown ln Fig. 8.
In the event that electromagnet 18 is energized, thereby re-in~orcing the armature linkage assembly 14 tension generated by return sprlng 16, and door 2 is also opened as is shown in Fig. 9, standard arm 7 will be angularly rotated from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 9, thereby causing slide block assembly 21 to move leftwardly causing a rotation of hold-open cam 20.
With this rotation of cam 209 the friction engaging teeth of the cam contact an ad~acent portion of friction strip 23. When door

2 has been manually placed at the desired door hold-open position, cam 20 will engage friction strip 23 as is shown in Fig. 10, ~39469~
thereby holding the door in hold~open.
In the eYent that door 2 is manually closed by an overriding manual force, cam 20 will be rotated in the counterclockwise direction as is shown in Fig. 11. With this rotation, a force is applied to hold-open bar 10 so as to elongate armature spring 15, thereby plvoting the llnkage assemblies 12 and 13 so as to move hold-open bar 10 away ~rom slide block assembly 21.
It should be noted as shown in Flg. 11, upon the initlation of the manual release o~ door 2, hold-open cam 20 is vertically disposed in the same atkitude as the attitude assumed by the cam when the door is closed ~Fig. 8).
As door 2 is in the closing phase, cam 20 ls rotated counter-clockwise in the attitude shown in Fig. 12. Accordingly, hold-open bar 10 is moved closer to slide block assembly 21 somewhat.
However, fixed holding engagement is not maintained between ~ric-tion strip 23 and the teeth of cam 20, Accordingly, door 2 ulti-mately closes with the internal components assuming the disposition shown in Flg. 8.
In Fig. 13 electromagnet 18 has been deenergized either in response to a switch openlng function, or in the event that the electromagnet is part of a ~ire and smoke detection system in re-sponse to the detection o~ the products o~ combustion. According-ly, armature linkage 14 piVQtS clockwise in response to the re-lease of armature 17 ~rom the right pole o~ electromagnet 18~
With this operatlon, hold-open bar linkages 12 and 13 are pivoted ln a counterclockwise manner in view of the ~act that armature sprlng 15 is no longer under tension. With thls operation, hold-open bar 10 is moved away from slide block assembly 21, and the cam return spring 25 rotates hold-open cam 20 in a clockwise direc~
tlon. With this operation slide block 21 moves to the right as is shown in Fig. 13, until slide block assembly 21 assumes a dis-position within recess 19 as ~s shown in Fig. 8.

1~ 3~ ~ ~
Details o~ armature link assembly 14 are shown in Fig. 5.
The entire linkage 14 pivots about pivot pin 28. Pivot pin 28 is enveloped by bearing 29 which in turn supports and locates return spring 16. Retainer clips 30 and 31 fix pivot pin 28 ~ith respect to ~rame sections 32 and 33.
Armature links 34 and 35 pivot about bearing 29. The ~ree end of links 34 and 35 are ~oined together by coupling block 36.
Retalner clips 37 and 38 lock coupling block to armature links 34 and 35.
Spring support pin 39 is sandwiched between armature links 34 and 35. Retalner clips 40 and 41 locate armature spring 15 with respect to spring support pin 39. Armature ad~usting screw 42 couples armature plate 17 to coupling block 36, As is shown in Fig. 14, the threaded shaft section o~ ad~ust-ing screw 42 supports armature bias ad~usting spring 43. In Fig.
14, screw 42 has been partially withdrawn from the threaded bore wlthin coupling block 36. Accordingly, the tension in spring 43 has been reduc~d as compared to the tension o~ the same spring with the screw 42 adJustment shown in Figs, 8 through 13. This reduction in spring 43 tension e~fects a reduced or minimum hold- ;
open poundate ad~ustment. hccordingly~ manual override may be accomplished more easily.
Fig. 6 shows details o~ inside linkage assembly 12 for hold-~ open bar 10. Pivot pin 45 extends through the walls of channel 11 : and is retained with respect to the channel by means of retainer clips 46 and 47. Bearing 48 is carried by pivot pin 45. Inside links 49 and 50 are supported on bearing 48. Support pin 51 is carried by links 49 and 50. The central portion of support pin 51 is coupled to armature spring 15. Retainer clips 52 anA 53 locate armature sprlng 15 with respect to support pin 51.

As is shown in the exploded view o~ Fig. 15, inside links 119and 50 also carry hold-open bar connector pin 54 and hold-open bar 1f~)39464 bearing 55, As is also shown in the exploded vie~ o~ Fig. 15g the other end oP hold-open bar 10 ls pivoted relative channel 11 by outside links 56 and 57. These links are coupled to hold-open bar 10 by pin 58 and bearing 59. Links 56 and 57 are retained on pln 58 by retainer clips 60 and 61.
As is shown in Figs. 7 and 15, slide block assembly 21 includes a slide block 62 which is formed with a pair of holes ~3 and 64 which receive slide block drive post 24. The shaft of drive post 24 carries cam 20 and cam bias spring 25 within the rectangular opening 65 formed in the slide block. Pivot pins 26 and 27 are lodged withln holes 66 and 67 formed in slide block 62 so that the terminal ends of cam bias spring 25 wiil be limited as to movement by the pins, The lower end of slide block 62 is formed with a T-flange 68 which de~ines elongated grooves 69 and 70. T-flange 68 and its grooves 69 and 70 are matingly engaged by slot 22 formed in channel 11 so that slide block 62 is guided by the channel slot, The schematlc circuit o~ Fig. 16 shows an electrical circuit connectlng electromagnet 18 to ionization chamber 71 to effect hold open and release of door 2 in a failsafe manner of operation.
The detailed operation of the circuitry of Fig. 16 is as follows.
Assuming ionization detector 71 is in proper operating con-dition and that the ionization chamber 71 input appearing to ter~-inals 72 and 73 indicates an absence o~ a flame or smoke condition, door 2 will be held in an open position in response to manual clos-ing of switch 74; that ls, the closing of switch 74 applies line voltage ~rom terminals 75 and 76 to amplifier A. The applicatlon of l~ne voltage to amplifier A energizes the ampli~ier output relay 77, thereby closing normally open contacts 77a.
The closing of contacts 77a applies line voltage to the coil of power relay 78. With this occurrence, normally open contact 78a is closed, thereby applying line voltage to fullwave bridge recti-fier 79 to energize electromagnet 82 with a pulsating-dlrect-current voltage. ~ 9~64 The energization of electromagnet 18 attracts armature plate 17. With this operation, armature llnkage 14 places armature spring 15 under tension which in turn p~vots hold-open bar 10 into a close engagement position with respect to slide block assembly 21, as previously outlined.
In the event that ionlzation detector 71 detects a smoke condi-tion~ electromagnet 77 will be deenergized, thereby releasing contact 77a. This in turn removes line voltage from electromagnet lG 78, thereby opening contact 78a and thus deenergizing electromagnet 18. The deenergization of electromagnet 18 releases armature linkage 14 in a manner hereinbefore outlined with respect to Fig.
13, and accordingly, slide block cam 20 will be released relative hold-open bar 10. In the event a door closer is connected to door 2, as is set forth with respect t;o Fig, 3, door 2 will be automatically closed in response to the detection of smoke at ionization detector 71.
It should be understood that the above described structure is merely illustratlve of the prlnciples of this inventlon, and that modifications can be made wlthout departing from the scope of the invention as set rorth in the claims.

_ 9 _

Claims

The Embodiments of the Invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed and defined are as follows:

1. An electrically actuated door holder for the multi-point holding of a pivoted door through a range of opening angles, comprising a holder element, an adjustable linkage of a generally parallelogram configuration including an elongated hold-open bar and a pair of links each individually coupling a different end of the hold-open bar to the holder element, hold-open bar engaging means moved lengthwise relative the hold-open bar in response to variations in door opening angles to thereby engage the hold-open bar at any selected lengthwise point corres-ponding to the desired angular door opening, and electro-mechanical means including an electromagnet and an armature coupled to the parallelogram linkage and in which the energization of the electromagnet and the resulting armature action moves the hold-open bar into frictional engagement with the hold-open bar engag-ing means.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which the path of move-ment for the hold-open bar engaging means is linear, and in which the hold-open bar is supported for pivotal movement by the adjustable linkage toward and away from the linear path followed by the hold-open bar engaging means so as to maintain a substan-tially parallel spacing between the linear path followed by the hold-open bar engaging means and the hold-open bar.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which the hold-open bar engaging means includes a movable slide block,and a cam pivotally supported relative the slide block to engage frictionally the hold-open bar and to effect a yieldable latch therewith.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which the hold-open bar includes an elongated cam engaging friction surface.

5. The combination of claim 2 in which the holder element includes a channel having an elongated slot, and the hold-open bar engaging means includes a slide block movable within the elongated opening of the channel, and a cam pivotally supported relative the slide block to engage frictionally the hold-open bar and to effect a yieldable latch therewith.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which a door arm is coupled to the slide block to move responsively the slide block within the elongated opening.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which deenergization of the electrical actuated means enables the door arm to move freely the slide block in response to inadequate frictional engagement of the cam with res-pect to the hold-open bar.