Automatic Door Operator Testing Mode for Safety Compliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing swing door-based entrance systems often fail to comply with safety standard requirements due to improper installation or environmental constraints, leading to increased risks of accidents and malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

An egress entrance system with a swing door member, an initiate device for panic opening, and an automatic door operator that includes a motor, controller, and testing mode. The controller determines test parameters and takes actions based on these determinations, ensuring compliance with safety standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual settings or learn cycle are used to obtain control input data, then the controller can operate the automatic door operator, but the system may not comply with safety standard requirements due to improper installation or environmental constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompliance with safety standard requirementsVSAvoidtesting and verification process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary testing and verification through automated test routines that execute before normal operation. The controller automatically determines test parameters such as door position, opening force, and closing force to verify compliance with safety standards, preventing improper installation from compromising safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The automatic door operator system performs self-verification through automated testing. The controller automatically determines test parameters and evaluates whether the system meets safety standard requirements without requiring external manual verification, enabling the system to self-certify compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the controller uses automated testing to determine test parameters and verify safety compliance, then safety standard compliance is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety standard complianceVSAvoidcontroller functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the operational control unit for the automatic door operator and as a testing and verification unit. The same controller hardware and software determine test parameters, execute test routines, and evaluate safety compliance, eliminating the need for separate testing equipment and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If the system performs automated determination of test parameters including door leaf angles and torque values, then measurement precision for safety verification is improved, but the time required for testing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor leaf angle and torque measurementVSAvoidtesting duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The testing process continuously measures door leaf angles and torque values throughout the door's movement range rather than taking discrete snapshots. The controller continuously determines test parameters during the actual opening and closing cycles, allowing testing to occur during normal operational movements and minimizing additional time requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

The system effectively determines and verifies compliance with safety standard requirements, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring accurate operation of the swing door member.

Implementation Method 1

The automatic door operator causes opening of the swing door member by an electric motor which generates torque that is transferred to the swing door member via the linkage

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

the automatic door operator comprises a forced close arrangement which is adapted to provide mechanical energy from a loaded spring via a transfer mechanism to the linkage, so as to cause forced closing of the door leaf

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 3

The torque transfer characteristics of the linkage have a non-linear nature that makes the controller's task more complex

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTorque transmission: Torque

Data Source

PatentUS12227982B2Testing system for swing door-based entrance system

Publication Date: 2025.02.18 ASSA ABLOY ENTRANCE SYST AB

AI summary

An egress entrance system (1) comprising a swing door member (10) having a door leaf (12), an initiate device (13) for initiating a panic opening, and an automatic door operator (30) is provided. The automatic door operator (30) has a motor (34) capable of causing movement of the door member (10), a controller (31) for controlling operation of the motor (34), and the automatic door operator (30) being operable in a testing mode (60) and an operational mode, wherein the controller (31) is configured, in the testing mode (60), to automatically determine at least one test parameter; and causing an action in response to the determined test parameter.