METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT OF THE HOLDING FORCE OF A DOOR CLOSER AND DOOR CLOSER FOR A DOOR

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for automatically adjusting the holding force of a door closer and to a door closer for a door.

[0002] These types of door closers are typically mounted on the door leaf and connected to the frame via a linkage to exert force on the door. The linkage may, for example, include a slide rail in which a sliding block is linearly slidable. The lever of the door closer is connected at one end to the sliding block and thereby exerts a closing force on the door leaf.

[0003] Hold-open devices for door closers are often integrated into the door closer's linkage. In a guide rail, for example, the hold-open device blocks the linear movement of the sliding block, thus holding the door open. To close the door, the hold-open device must be overridden to overcome its holding force. Alternatively, with electric hold-open devices, the door can be released using a manual release button.

[0004] Depending on the set closing force of the door closer, the hold-open device must be adjusted to be stronger or weaker to keep the door in the hold-open position. If the force required to overcome the hold-open mechanism is too high, the door cannot be manually released, potentially damaging components. If the force is too low, even the closing force of the door closer or a slight gust of wind can unintentionally release the door from the hold-open position.

[0005] The holding force of the locking device is usually adjusted manually during installation. In practice, the holding force is therefore often set "by feel," resulting in many locking devices being incorrectly adjusted and thus malfunctioning.

[0006] US 6,499,185 B1 discloses a door closer for a door, configured to close the door by applying a closing force, and comprising a hold-open device for holding the door open against the closing force, an actuator for applying a holding force to the hold-open device, and a control device for controlling the actuator. The holding force can be adjusted by electronically controlled means.

[0007] DE 10 2005 020 997 A1 discloses a locking device for a swing leaf of a door with a door closer, the sliding piece of which is guided in a guide rail, wherein the sliding piece can be locked by means of a magnet arranged in the guide rail.

[0008] DE 10 2010 061 246 A1 discloses a device for locking a leaf of a wing system in an open position. The device comprises a locking element and a locking element. The locking element is configured to lock the locking element in the locking position (one working position) and, in the unlocking position (the other working position), to prevent movement of the locking element and, in the unlocking position, to release the locking element with respect to such movement. One of the elements is operatively connected to the leaf such that it moves with the leaf when the leaf moves. The locking element is provided with a bistable electromagnet, which has an element that interacts with an armature in a permanent magnetic relationship such that the armature is held by this element with a holding force in the respective working position.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to propose a method for automatically adjusting the holding force of a door closer and a door closer for a door, with which an automatic and precise adjustment of the holding force is possible.

[0010] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the respective dependent claims.

[0011] The method according to the invention serves for the automatic adjustment of a holding force of a door closer for a door, in particular a revolving door. The door closer is designed to close the door by applying a closing force and has a hold-open device that can be actuated with the holding force to hold the door in a holding position against the closing force. The method comprises the following steps: Determining a release force at which the locking device releases the closing movement of the door due to the closing force, wherein, to determine the release force, the holding force is set to an initial holding force at which the locking device holds the door, and the holding force is reduced until the locking device releases the closing movement of the door due to the closing force, and adjusting the holding force to a normal operating holding force based on the release force, wherein the normal operating holding force is calculated by adding a predetermined overpressure force to the release force.

[0012] The process is therefore carried out automatically by the door closer, specifically by a control unit of the door closer, without requiring manual adjustment of the holding force. This means, in particular, that all process steps are performed automatically, controlled by the control unit. The door closer may have been previously put into a calibration mode in which the process is executed.

[0013] This method primarily allows for very precise adjustment of the holding force, preventing the door from closing unintentionally when it should remain in the hold-open position. Conversely, it also avoids the need to force the door out of the hold-open position with excessive force, which could potentially damage components. Furthermore, this provides a very convenient way to adjust the holding force during commissioning. Specifically, the only requirement is that a technician activates the process. The system then adjusts itself automatically.

[0014] To determine the release force, the holding force is set to an initial holding force at which the door stop holds the door in place. The holding force is then reduced, particularly gradually, until the door stop releases the closing force. In other words, the initial holding force is initially set high enough for the door stop to hold the door in place. If the holding force is then reduced from this initial holding force, and the closing force is released at a specific point in time, the holding force at that point can be determined. This force corresponds to the release force.

[0015] The initial holding force can, for example, correspond to a maximum holding force, i.e., in particular, the highest possible holding force that the locking device can provide.

[0016] The normal operating holding force is calculated by adding a predetermined overpressure force to the release force. This results in a normal operating holding force greater than the release force, ensuring that the door leaf is securely held in the holding position during normal operation. The overpressure force can therefore also be considered a (safety) buffer.

[0017] The overpressure force can be a constant value or dependent on the door size and / or closing force. For example, a predetermined force can always be added to the release force. Alternatively, the overpressure force can be based on the door's dimensions, so that, especially with a large or heavy door or a high closing force, the overpressure force, i.e., the buffer, is comparatively large, and with a small and light door or a low closing force, the overpressure force is comparatively small.

[0018] In particular, the process can be initiated by pressing a button provided on the door closer, especially on the control unit, or by means of a wired or wireless network connection, for example, LAN, WLAN, or Bluetooth. Preferably, initiation puts the control unit into calibration mode, and the process is then carried out fully automatically. Preferably, the actuator is electrically controllable, and the holding force is provided by the electrically controllable actuator. Control is performed in particular by the control unit. The actuator can be, in particular, a holding magnet or an electromagnet; however, other actuators, such as an electric motor, can also be used. To reduce the holding force, the voltage applied to the actuator and / or the current supplied to the actuator can be reduced.

[0019] In an advantageous embodiment, to release the closing movement of the door, the hold-open device is moved from a hold-open position, in particular in which a sliding block of the door closer coupled to the door is locked, to a release position, in particular in which the sliding block is released. For example, the hold-open device can be held in the hold-open position by the actuator, for example magnetically, and moved into the release position against the action of the actuator due to the closing force.

[0020] To determine the release force, it can be detected, in particular, by observing the position and / or state of the electrically controlled actuator or the holding device that provides the holding force, when the holding device has released the door. For example, in the case of an actuator designed as an electromagnet or holding magnet, the holding device can detach from the actuator against the magnetic force, creating a voltage spike that is detected by the actuator or the control unit. Alternatively, if the actuator is designed as an electric motor, the holding device can be connected to a motor shaft of the electric motor, for example, via a rack or pinion, so that the release of the door by the holding device can be detected because a detectable rotational movement of the motor shaft occurs via the rack or pinion.Alternatively, detection could take place using a microswitch, which is activated or released, for example, by the locking device when the door is released.

[0021] The door closer according to the invention for a door, in particular a revolving door, is designed to close the door by applying a closing force and comprises a hold-open device for holding the door in the opposite direction to the closing force, an actuator for applying a holding force to the hold-open device, and a control unit for controlling the actuator. The control unit is designed to perform the previously described method for automatically adjusting the holding force of the door closer in a calibration mode.

[0022] The control unit is powered, for example, via the building's electrical grid or, alternatively, via a battery or accumulator, and it itself supplies power to the actuator, which provides the holding force. The control unit also regulates the holding force of the actuator. This can be achieved through voltage regulation, pulse-width modulation, or similar methods. To reduce the holding force, the voltage applied to the actuator and / or the current supplied to the actuator can be decreased. Conversely, increasing the voltage and / or current results in a higher holding force.

[0023] The control unit is preferably configured to monitor the release state of the hold-open device in normal operating mode. This means that the control unit detects when the hold-open device has released the door. For example, with an actuator designed as an electromagnet or holding magnet, the hold-open device can detach from the actuator against the magnetic force, creating a voltage spike that is detected by the actuator or the control unit. Alternatively, if the actuator is designed as an electric motor, the hold-open device can be connected to a motor shaft of the electric motor, for example via a rack or pinion, so that the release of the door by the hold-open device can be detected because a detectable rotational movement of the motor shaft occurs via the rack or pinion.Alternatively, detection could take place using a microswitch, which is activated or released, for example, by the locking device when the door is released.

[0024] In an advantageous embodiment, the control unit is configured to activate a power-saving mode in which the actuator applies no or only a reduced holding force to the locking device when the control unit detects that the locking device has released the door. Preferably, the power-saving mode is activated when it is also detected that the door is closed. In this state, applying a holding force is not required, so the power-saving mode can be activated to conserve energy. This is particularly advantageous when the control unit and the actuator are powered by a battery or rechargeable battery.

[0025] The control unit may include a push button and / or be connected to a network via cable or wirelessly, for example, using LAN, WLAN, or Bluetooth. The push button may be designed, in particular, to put the control unit into calibration mode and / or to initiate the procedure for automatically adjusting the holding force.

[0026] The invention is explained below with reference to an exemplary embodiment. The drawings, which schematically illustrate the exemplary embodiment, show... Fig. 1 a side view of a slide rail with a sliding block held by a locking device in a locking position, Fig. 2 a side view of the slide rail and the sliding block made of Fig. 1 , wherein the sliding block has been released by the locking device which is in a release position, and Fig. 3 shows a side view of the slide rail and the sliding block. Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the sliding block is moved back into the locking position.

[0027] Figs. 1, 2 and 3 Each figure shows a slide rail 23 of a door closer 10 with a sliding block 19 movably arranged along the slide rail 23, a holding device 11 designed as a locking element, an actuator 13, which in the present embodiment is designed as an electromagnet, and a control unit 15. The sliding block 19 is connected to a lever of the door closer (not shown in the figures).

[0028] The control unit 15 is connected via a Figs. 1 to 3 The network connection 21, indicated by a dashed line, is connected to a wired or wireless network, such as LAN, WLAN, or Bluetooth, and is powered via the building's electrical grid or alternatively via a battery. The control unit 15 is also equipped with a push button 17, which, as shown in Fig. 1The actuator 13 can be activated by pressing. The actuator 13 is connected to the control unit 15 to enable both a power supply to the actuator 13 and control or regulation of the actuator 13 by the control unit 15.

[0029] As already described, the actuator 13 in the present embodiment is designed as an electromagnet or holding magnet. The locking device 11 is designed as a locking element made of a material, in particular a magnetic material, has two free ends 11a, 11b, and is rotatably mounted on the slide rail 23 by a pivot joint at a bearing point 25 located between the free ends 11a, 11b. One of the free ends 11a is associated with the actuator 13, while the locking device 11 has a projection 27 at the other free end 11b, which interacts with the sliding block 19 to block movement of the sliding block 19. For this purpose, the projection 27 has a steep flank 27a and a flat flank 27b.

[0030] To execute the procedure for automatically adjusting the holding force of the door closer 10, the door is first opened beyond a holding position in which the door or door leaf is to be held. Then, by pressing the button 17 or via the network connection 21, the control unit 15 is put into a calibration mode and the automatic procedure is started. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable to initiate the calibration mode and the procedure with a time delay, i.e., that the button 17 is pressed first or the signal is sent via the network, then the door is opened beyond the holding position, and after a predetermined time interval has elapsed or after the locking element has been passed in the opening direction, the calibration mode is activated and the procedure is initiated.

[0031] In this process, the control unit 15 first activates the actuator 13 to apply an initial holding force to the locking device 11, which in this example corresponds to the maximum achievable holding force. This can be achieved, in particular, by increasing the voltage applied to the actuator 13 or the current supplied to the actuator 13, for example, by voltage regulation or pulse width modulation. This increases the magnetic force exerted on the locking element 11 in the Fig. 1 The depicted locking position is maintained in which the sliding block 19 of the door closer 10 is held against a closing force by the door closer, since the projection 27 extends into its travel path along the slide rail 23 and inhibits the movement of the sliding block 19.

[0032] The control device 15 then gradually reduces the holding force, that is, it reduces the voltage applied to the actuator 13 or the current supplied to the actuator 13, until the locking device 11 is in a Fig. 2 The release position shown is transferred, in which the sliding block 19, and thus the closing movement of the door, is released due to the closing force. As shown in Fig. 2As shown, the sliding block 19, due to the closing force of the door closer 10, presses against the flank 27a of the projection 27, thereby generating an upward force on the free end 11b of the locking device 11 and thus a torque acting at the bearing point 25, which counteracts the torque generated by the force of the actuator 13. As soon as the free end 11a of the locking device 11 "tears off" from the actuator 13 due to the closing force acting on the sliding block 19, the control unit 15 detects this and determines and stores the holding force of the actuator 13 at that moment, which is subsequently referred to as the "release force". More precisely, the control unit 15 stores a voltage or current value, a pulse width modulation parameter, or a similar parameter that corresponds to the release force.In particular, the control device 15 can detect the tearing due to a voltage spike that occurs when the free end 11a tears off the actuator 13.

[0033] Based on the release force, the control unit 15 sets the holding force to a normal operating holding force, which is applied by the actuator 13 during regular operation. The normal operating holding force is calculated by adding a predetermined overpressure force, which can be either a constant value or a value dependent on the dimensions of the door system, to the release force. Since large doors offer more surface area to the wind, it may be necessary to adjust the overpressure force depending on the door size. Large doors are also usually fitted with higher closing forces on the door closer.

[0034] In this way, the door closer 10 can be optimally and fully automatically set for normal operation, according to a normal operating mode, and for the next holding operations, so that damage to components is avoided and, on the other hand, the door is not unintentionally released from the holding position.

[0035] In normal operating mode, the control unit 15 can also monitor the release status of the hold-open device 11. Optionally, the control unit 15 can be equipped with illumination, for example an LED, and / or emit acoustic signals indicating the hold-open or release status. When the control unit 15 detects that the hold-open device 11 has released the door, it can switch to a power-saving mode in which the actuator 13 applies no or only a very reduced holding force to the hold-open device 11. Optionally, the control unit 15 can also monitor whether the door is closed to activate the power-saving mode. If the control unit 15 is in power-saving mode and the door is subsequently opened, causing the sliding block 19 to move the hold-open device 11, as described in Fig. 3As shown, the control unit 15 recognizes this and reactivates the normal operating mode in which the normal operating holding force is applied. Reference symbol list

[0036] 10 Door closer 11 Hold-open device 11a Free end 11b Free end 13 Actuator 15 Control unit 17 Push button 19 Sliding block 21 Network connection 23 Guide rail 25 Bearing point 27 Projection 27a Edge 27b Edge

Claims

1. Method for automatically adjusting a holding force of a door closer (10) for a door, which door closer is designed to close the door by applying a closing force and which has a hold-open device (11), to which the holding force can be applied, for holding the door open in a holding position counter to the closing force, and an actuator (13) for applying the holding force to the hold-open device (11), and a controller (15) for activating the actuator (13), wherein the method is carried out by the controller (15) and comprises the following steps: - determining a release force at which the hold-open device (11) releases the closing movement of the door on the basis of the closing force, wherein, in order to determine the release force, the holding force is set to an initial holding force at which the hold-open device (11) holds the door open and the holding force is reduced until the hold-open device (11) releases the closing movement of the door on the basis of the closing force, and - setting the holding force to a normal operation holding force on the basis of the release force, the normal operation holding force being calculated by adding a predetermined overpressure force to the release force.

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the holding force is gradually reduced.

3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the initial holding force corresponds to a maximum holding force.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the overpressure force is a constant value or is dependent on the door size and / or on the closing force.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method is initiated by actuating a button (17) provided on the door closer (10) or by means of a wired or wireless network connection (21), for example LAN, WLAN or Bluetooth.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator (13) is an electrically activatable actuator (13).

7. Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that, in order to reduce the holding force, the voltage applied to the actuator (13) and / or the current strength fed into the actuator (13) are / is reduced.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in order to release the closing movement of the door, the hold-open device (11) is adjusted from a hold-open position, in particular in which a sliding block (19) of the door closer (10) coupled to the door is held open, into a release position, in particular in which the sliding block (19) is released.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in order to determine the release force, in particular on the basis of a position and / or a state of the actuator (13) providing the holding force or of the hold-open device (11), it is detected when the hold-open device (11) has released the door.

10. Door closer (10) for a door, which door closer is designed to close the door by applying a closing force and which has a hold-open device (11) for holding the door open counter to the closing force, an actuator (13) for applying a holding force to the hold-open device (11), and a controller (15) for activating the actuator (13), characterized in that the controller (15) is designed to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims in a calibration mode.

11. Door closer (10) according to Claim 10, characterized in that the controller (15) is designed to monitor a release state of the hold-open device (11) in a normal operating mode.

12. Door closer (10) according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the controller (15) is designed to activate a power-saving mode in which the actuator (13) applies only a reduced holding force, if any, to the hold-open device (11) when the controller (15) detects that the hold-open device (11) has released the door.

13. Door closer (10) according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the controller (15) has a button (17) and / or is connected to a network in a wired or wireless manner, for example by means of LAN, WLAN or Bluetooth.