Electrically Controlled Hold-open Device

Abstract

An electrically releasable hold-open device for use with a door closing mechanism employing a latch device that engages an element reciprocating in a trackway. The latch device has a pair of arms that are controlled by a solenoid. The solenoid, when energized, operates a wedge to spread the arms. The arms in spread position perform a latching function in cooperation with a cavity on the reciprocating element. The solenoid when deenergized deactivates the latching function.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an electrically controlled door hold-open device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many public buildings, such as hospitals, hotels, factories, offices, and the like, are provided with fire or smoke doors for closing the passages connecting various areas in the building in the event of an emergency. Automatic devices are used for closing these doors.

In some situations, it is desirable to hold these doors in open position, so as to allow circulation of air, or to allow free flow of traffic. Many hold-open devices in use release automatically in the event of fire. Some of the hold-open systems use electrical devices for maintaining the door in hold-open position that permit the door to close in the event of fire, for example, the devices shown in Peterson U.S. Pat. No. 3,415,562, and Arnold U.S. Pat. No. 3,164,404.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide an improved hold-open device that is electrically controlled so as to release a hold-open mechanism and to allow automatic closing of the door. It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved hold-open means that is automatically released upon electrical failure. It is another object of the invention to provide an electrically controlled hold-open device which is sufficiently simple in construction to make it economical to manufacture, and yet sufficiently reliable in service to provide for optimum safety and use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door closing and checking mechanism mounted in a door having a connecting arm to a trackway mounted in a door frame with which is associated the electrically controlled hold-open device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating the trackway and the electrically controlled hold-open device of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the trackway illustrating the reciprocating element.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the trackway partially broken away to illustrate the reciprocating element and latching mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 4 illustrating the trackway with the reciprocating element approaching hold-open position.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view similar to FIG. 5 but with the reciprocating element latched in hold-open position.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view similar to FIG. 5 but with the reciprocating element moved out of latched hold-open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a door closing mechanism 10 of a conventional type is shown mounted in the door 11. The door closing mechanism has a spindle 12 operated by a spring (not shown) imparting closing movements to the door. The door closing mechanism also may contain some sort of a checking system for regulating the speed of the closing movements in a predetermined manner.

The spindle 12 is rotated during opening and closing movements of the door. An arm 14 is secured at one end to the spindle 12 of the door closing mechanism 10. The other end of the arm 14 is pivotally connected to a spindle 25 that is reciprocated in trackway 22. The trackway 22 is affixed to the door frame 16, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the reciprocating spindle 25 journals a roller 28 for free rotation in trackway 22. The roller 28 thereby is reciprocated in the trackway 22 as the arm 14 is moved during the opening and closing movements of the door 11.

As more fully explained in Flint U.S. Pat. No. 2,772,439, the outer periphery of the roller has an arcuate configuration to permit inclination of the axis of the roller with respect to the trackway. The trackway has two spaced sides 35 and 36. Side 35, which is nearest the door closing mechanism, has an arcuate concave track. The opposite side 36 has a disked portion which has a somewhat larger radius of curvature on the concave face thereof than the outer periphery of the roller to permit some tilting of the roller with respect to the trackway.

Above the trackway provided by sides 35, 36 is a space into which the end of spindle 25 projects. That end of the spindle supports a reciprocating element 40, described more fully hereinafter.

As the door is opened, the spindle 12 moves arm 14, and the roller 28 supported on spindle 25 is caused to travel within the trackway 22. The reciprocating element 40, supported on spindle 25, likewise is caused to travel in the upper portion of the trackway 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the hold-open mechanism will be described. During door opening movements, the roller 28 carrying spindle 25 will move from right to left, whereas during door closing movements, the roller will travel from left to right, as viewed in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. The reciprocating element 40 has a yoke with a cavity 41. The cavity 41 has an opening 42. On the opposite sides of opening 42 are opposed shoulders 43, 43'. A latch mechanism 50 is positioned to engage the yoke and keep it in hold-open position when electrically energized. The latch mechanism 50 is operated by solenoid 65. The solenoid is connected to power source L.sub.1, L.sub.2 through series switches 17 and 18 (See FIG. 1). Switch 17 may be manually activated to open or closed position to energize or deenergize the solenoid 65. Switch 18 also in series with the power source is normally closed, but is controlled by a fire detection device 19 to open in the event of fire.

The latch mechanism 50 includes a pair of arms 51, 51' pivoted on pins 52, 52'. The pivoted arms at their end portions opposite the pins are provided with fingers 53, 53' for engaging shoulders 43, 43' and latching the element 40 in the door hold-open position as illustrated in FIG. 6. A wedge 60 connected to the armature of solenoid 65 is positioned to spread the arms to condition the latch mechanism for a door hold-open function when the solenoid is energized as shown in FIG. 6. The yoke 40 will cam the arms 51, 51' together to the position shown in FIG. 7 under the force provided by the door closer 10 to permit the door to swing to door-closed position when the solenoid is deenergized, or by manual manipulation of the door if the solenoid is energized.

The wedge 60 is secured to longitudinally movable rod 61 which is activated by the armature of solenoid 65. When solenoid 65 is energized, the armature is shifted toward the latch mechanism 50 so that the wedge is inserted between the arms 51, 51', and forces them apart. This action projecting the wedge between the arms 51, 51' causes the fingers 53, 53' to engage the shoulders 43, 43' inside the yoke cavity 41 in order to perform a latching function as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The arms 51, 51' at their end portions opposite to pivots 52, 52' are provided with inclined cam surfaces 55, 55' in advance of the fingers 53, 53'. The cam surfaces 55, 55' are designed to engage the shoulders 43, 43' and to cam the arms 51, 51' together when the solenoid is energized and the element 40 is moved from a door closed position toward a door hold-open position. As illustrated in FIG. 5 when the reciprocating element 40 approaches the arms 51, 51' as the door is opened, the shoulders 43, 43' acting on the surfaces 55, 55' close the arms together so that the reciprocating element 40 can be moved to the position shown in FIG. 6.

After the element 40 reaches hold-open position, the arms spread in the cavity 41 and the fingers 53, 53' engage the inner surfaces of the shoulders 43, 43', so that the door is latched as shown in FIG. 6.

The solenoid when energized, however, does not have sufficient force to keep the fingers 53, 53' latched in the yoke if manual pressure is applied to close the door. Manual pressure may be used to move the door from the door hold-open position illustrated in FIG. 6 to the unlatched position illustrated in FIG. 7. When pressure is applied to close the door, the fingers 53, 53' are moved together and the wedge 60 ejected from therebetween as shown in FIG. 7 by the action of the shoulders 43, 43' on the fingers 53, 53'. Of course, if the solenoid 65 is deenergized, the latch will be deactivated and the door will be shut under the power of closer 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, solenoid 65 is connected to an electrical power source through lines L.sub.1, L.sub.2. Switch 17 is used to energize or deenergize solenoid 65 in order to activate or deactivate the door hold-open function previously described and is connected in electrical series with the solenoid. Switch 18 is also connected in electrical series with solenoid 65, but is normally closed, so that the solenoid may be manually controlled by switch 17. Switch 18 is part of a fire detection system 19 that operates to open switch 18 only if the conditions of a fire are within the surveillance of 19.

From the foregoing, it is believed that operation of the device will be apparent. In the usual condition, the electrically controlled hold-open device may be installed on the many fire and smoke doors of a large building in an electrical circuit as depicted in FIG. 1. When the switch 17 is manually closed, the power supply energizes solenoid 65 so that the hold-open device will perform a latching function when the door is fully opened to door hold-open position. If the power supply is interrupted, the latching mechanism is deactivated and the door closer 10 will shut the door. This event will occur, for example, if the fire detection system 19 operates to open the switch 18, or if the switch 17 is manually opened to deactivate the door hold-open function.

To place the door in hold-open position, the switch 17 is closed. This will energize solenoid 65 to spread the arms 51, 51' and fingers 53, 53' as illustrated in FIG. 5. The door is then moved to hold-open position. The door movement to hold-open position causes element 40 to force the arms 51, 51' together so that the fingers 53, 53' engage cavity 41 of element 40 to perform the hold-open function. In the event of fire, the switch 18 is opened, or if it is desired to deactivate the hold-open function switch 17 is opened; in either case, the solenoid 65 is deenergized, releasing the arms 51, 51' from spread condition, and allowing the closer 10 to move the door to closed position.

Other modes of applying the principles of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

Claims

I claim:

1. In an electrically controlled door hold-open mechanism for use with a door closing mechanism, the combination comprising, an element mounted for reciprocable movements along a predetermined path during door opening and closing movements, at least one arm member mounted for latching movements with said element when the door is moved to a hold-open position, solenoid means for moving said arm member to latching position when energized, a finger on said arm member adapted to be positioned in the path of and for engagement by said element when said solenoid means is energized, means on said finger for camming the arm to one side when said element is moved to hold-open position, means on said finger for latching said element in hold-open position, switch means in circuit with said electrically energized means for controlling the hold-open position and deactivated position of said arm member.

2. The electrically releasable hold-open mechanism defined by claim 1 wherein said arm member is pivoted whereby the finger engages said element in hold-open position.

3. The electrically releasable hold-open mechanism defined by claim 1 wherein said element has a cavity for engagement by said finger in hold-open position.

4. The electrically releasable hold-open mechanism defined by claim 3 wherein said finger coacts with a cavity in said element in a hold-open position.

5. In an electrically controlled door hold-open device, the combination comprising, an element mounted for reciprocating movements along a predetermined path during door opening and closing movements, a cavity in one end of said element, at least one arm member having a finger thereon for entering said cavity when the door is moved to a hold-open position, means for coacting between said finger and said cavity to perform a hold-open function, solenoid means for operating said arm member and for latching said finger in said cavity to perform such door hold-open function, and switch means in circuit with said solenoid for electrically controlling said solenoid.

6. The door hold-open device of claim 5 wherein a pair of arms are pivotally mounted with fingers for performing a latching function in cooperation with said cavity in the reciprocating element.

7. In an electrically controlled hold-open device, the combination comprising, a door closer, a trackway adapted to be secured to a door frame, a reciprocable element mounted for movements in said trackway, arm means connected between said door closer and said reciprocable element, said element having side and end walls, a pair of arm members positioned within said trackway to coact with the end wall of said element, means on said arm members and said element for performing a latching function, said arm members pivoted for movements to latching condition, solenoid means for controlling said arm members, and switch means in circuit with and for controlling energization of said solenoid.

8. The hold-open device of claim 7 in which said reciprocating element includes a cavity in the end wall for coaction with means on the arm member to perform a latching function.

9. In an electrically controlled hold-open device, the combination comprising, a door closer, an element mounted for reciprocating movements along a predetermined path during door opening and closing movements, arm means connected between said door closer and said reciprocating element, said reciprocating element is provided with a cavity, a pair of pivoted arm members adapted to be moved relative to each other for latching and unlatching coaction with said element to perform door hold-open and release functions, solenoid means for operating said arm members, said solenoid means when energized spreading said arm members for latching action in said cavity, and switch means in circuit with and for controlling said solenoid means.