Door Closer Magnetic Spring Power Setting Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional door closers lack a visible indication of spring power setting during adjustment, making it difficult for manufacturers and installers to accurately set the force required for proper door closure, especially since they must cover a range of sizes from 1 to 6 as specified by ANSI standards.
Innovation Solution
A door closer mechanism featuring a magnetic ball and collar system within the adjustment screw mechanism, where the collar travels along the screw and a magnetic ball in an annular channel indicates the spring power setting externally through a corresponding indicator housing, allowing for visible adjustment and alignment with calibrated markings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional door closer uses an adjustable screw mechanism to pre-load the compression spring, then the spring power setting can be adjusted to meet different ANSI size requirements, but there is no visible indication of the current setting, making accurate adjustment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical adjustment screw mechanism with a magnetic field-based indication system. A permanent magnet is positioned within the adjustment mechanism, and its position relative to a magnetically permeable scale provides visual feedback of the spring pre-load setting. This substitution allows the mechanical adjustment to remain simple while adding precise measurement indication without significant complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs visual indication through magnetic field interaction, where the position of a permanent magnet relative to a magnetically permeable scale creates visible alignment marks or position indicators. This allows the operator to see the current spring power setting through visual changes in the indicator position, enabling accurate adjustment to meet specific ANSI size requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the door closer is designed to cover the entire range of ANSI sizes 1 through 6, then it can be universally applied to different door openings, but the adjustment range requires precise control over a wide spectrum of forces
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic indication system provides precise visual feedback across the entire adjustment range, allowing operators to accurately set spring pre-load forces for all ANSI sizes 1-6. The permanent magnet aligns with specific markings on the magnetically permeable scale at predetermined intervals, enabling precise control of the wide force spectrum required for universal adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in magnetic field position and strength as the adjustment screw moves the permanent magnet along its travel path. By correlating magnet position with spring pre-load force, the system provides continuous visual indication across the full range of ANSI sizes, enabling precise parameter control from the lowest force setting (size 1) to the highest (size 6).
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and accurate adjustment of the door closer's spring power setting, improving manufacturing efficiency and installation by providing a clear visual indication of the force setting, ensuring compliance with ANSI standards and simplifying the process.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic ball that is a permanent magnet is disposed in the annular channel
Data Source
AI summary
A spring power setting indicator for a closing apparatus for a wing such as a door or window, including a closer housing in which a compression spring is disposed. The spring power setting indicator includes a collar defining a threaded opening adapted to engage an adjustment screw for adjusting the bias of the compression spring. The collar may be substantially disc-shaped, and has a peripheral side that defines an annular channel in which a magnetic ball is disposed. An indicator housing with indicia of closer size may be mounted to the closer housing. Another magnetic ball may be disposed in the indicator housing. The magnetic balls are attracted to each other, and the ball in the indicator housing follows the ball in the channel as the collar moves in response to turning of the adjustment screw, permitting external reading of closer size with the indicia based on ball position.