Adaptive Door Closer Force Control for Pressure Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Door closers pose a hindrance for disabled, elderly, or young people by making it difficult to open doors, and they often require high closing forces to ensure secure closure, which can be problematic in environments with air pressure loads such as positive pressure ventilation systems, especially during fires.
Innovation Solution
A door system with an adaptive closing force adjustment device controlled by a signaling device that adjusts the closing force based on ambient conditions, including air pressure and wind, using a control device and a motorized mechanism to modify the closing force as needed, ensuring secure closure and easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the closing force of the door closer is increased to ensure secure closure in windy conditions or positive pressure ventilation systems, then the door closes securely, but it becomes difficult for disabled, elderly, or young people to open the door
Solution Approach 1:
The door closer transitions from a static fixed closing force mechanism to a dynamic adjustable closing force mechanism. The control unit receives signals from signaling devices (fire alarm, weather service, positive pressure ventilation system) and automatically adjusts the closing force via the closing force adjustment device, allowing the system to adapt to different operational conditions and user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing force parameter is made variable rather than fixed. The closing force adjustment device modifies the closing force parameter based on signals from external systems, enabling the door closer to operate with different closing force levels - higher for secure closure in adverse conditions, lower for ease of access during normal operation or emergencies.
2Reliability
If the closing force is set to a high value to ensure secure closure in positive pressure ventilation systems, then the door remains closed securely, but the opening force required becomes excessively high during fires
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit proactively reduces the closing force in advance when it receives a signal from a fire alarm system or positive pressure ventilation system, preventing the dangerous situation where high closing force would make door opening impossible during emergencies. This preliminary adjustment ensures the door can be opened quickly when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from signaling devices (fire alarm systems, weather services, positive pressure ventilation systems) to automatically adjust the closing force. The control unit continuously monitors these external signals and modifies the closing force accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to changing conditions.
3Ease of operation
If the closing force is automatically adjusted based on environmental conditions, then accessibility is improved during normal operation, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door closer system performs self-adjustment of the closing force based on signals from external systems. The control unit automatically processes signals from fire alarm systems, weather services, or positive pressure ventilation systems and adjusts the closing force without requiring manual intervention, making the system adaptable while maintaining relatively simple operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a door system comprising a door with a leaf, a door closer for automatically closing the leaf, a closing force adjustment device for automatically adjusting the closing force of the door closer, a control device for the closing force adjustment device and a signal device which is configured to output a signal indicating whether an air pressure load is applied to the leaf which deviates from a predetermined air pressure load, wherein the control device is configured to adjust the closing force of the door closer depending on the signal.