Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Closers
Utility Patent
1999-03-25
2001-01-02
Mah, Chuck Y. (Department: 3626)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Closers
C016S049000, C016S082000
Utility Patent
active
06167589
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to control mechanisms for controlling the closing or opening of doors or windows or the like of structures and/or vehicles, and more particularly, to a control mechanism of this type which includes a permanent magnet system.
Closing and opening mechanisms for doors or windows of buildings or vehicles, for example, typically include spring mechanisms, or pneumatic or hydraulic piston/cylinder devices. For example, door closers are used to return an opened door, typically a storm door or a screen door, to a closed position. Known door closers generally include a cylindrical tube having an end attachable to a door or a door frame. The cylindrical tube or cylinder contains a piston on a rod with an end extending from the free end of the tube. The extending end of the rod is attachable to a door frame or a door. A spring in the cylinder urges the piston to return to a maximum retracted position in the cylinder. As the door is opened, the rod is forced out of the cylindrical tube, compressing the spring. When the door is released, the spring causes the piston to return to its retracted position in the cylindrical tube, thereby closing the door. The controlled movement of the piston within the cylinder determines the rate at which the door is closed. However, hydraulic piston/cylinder type door closers are known to provide inconsistent operation as a function of weather because the consistency of the hydraulic fluid can change with temperature. Moreover, the coil spring used in such door closers to return the piston to its stationary position, are known to deteriorate in time and to break or otherwise fail following exposure to cold temperatures or excessive forces.
Moreover, both pneumatic and hydraulic type door closers are subject to leakage. The piston rod must project from the cylinder at one end for attachment to the door or door frame. The sealing between the cylinder and the rod wears in time and the sealing can also deteriorate as the result of exposure to extremes of heat in the summer and cold in the winter. To minimize loss of fluid due to leakage, the components that form the closed housing for the door closer generally are welded. However, in addition to increasing manufacturing costs, welding produces distortion of the housing and/or internal components. In addition, providing the necessary good sealing requires close tolerances for the piston, the cylinder and the sealing ring which are used in such door closers.
Many door closers include a mechanism for temporarily holding a door in an open position. Usually a manually operated latch, such as a cantable washer is mounted on the exposed part of the rod to allow a user to arrest the door temporarily in an open position. Such a latch is not very convenient to use. Its operation normally requires two hands, one being used to open and hold the door while the other is used to slide the washer on the rod until it contacts a stop provided on the cylinder. Upon release of the door, the stop cants the washer so that the washer traps and arrests the rod so that the door is held open. To unlatch the door, the user must open the door further to relieve the force on the washer applied by the stop and then slide the washer along the rod to a location where it will not contact the stop for the entire retraction movement of the rod into the cylinder as the door closes. In other arrangements, to unlatch the door, the user must turn, push or pull a button or lever to release the latching mechanism. This can be inconvenient if the person is carrying parcels or groceries, for example.
There are many other applications which require mechanisms for raising, lowering covers or lids, or for automatically opening doors or windows or other type of movable closure upon release of a latching mechanism. When released, the mechanism drives the movable closure to its open condition. Typically, these mechanisms include hinge type mechanisms, or springs, for example. In many cases, no automatic opening mechanism or “hold open” mechanism is provided so that the user is at the mercy of the door, lid, or closure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a magnetically operated positioning apparatus. The apparatus includes an elongated housing having first and second ends. A shaft, extending within the housing, is adapted for axial movement relative to the housing between retracted and extended positions. A magnet system is coupled to the shaft for moving the shaft from one of the positions to the other one of the positions. The magnet system includes a plurality of positioning permanent magnets located within the housing and extending in an aligned relationship coaxially with the shaft. Each of the permanent magnets has first and second poles of opposite polarities, and the permanent magnets are arranged in a repelling configuration with adjacent ones of the permanent magnets having their poles of common polarity located adjacent to one another. Consequently, repulsion forces produced by adjacent ones of the permanent magnets repel the permanent magnets away from one another, moving the shaft from the one to the other position. The shaft is movable from the other position to the one position, moving the permanent magnets towards one another against the repulsive forces produced by the permanent magnets.
Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided an apparatus for moving a movable member relative to an opening between closed and open positions. The apparatus includes a housing and shaft extending within the housing and being adapted for axial movement relative to the housing between retracted and extended positions. The shaft has a first end and a second end adapted to be coupled to the movable member such that the shaft is moved by the movable member as the movable member is moved between the closed and open positions. A magnet system is coupled to the shaft for moving the shaft between the retracted and extended positions. The magnet system includes a plurality of magnets located within the housing and extending in a coaxially aligned relationship with one another. The magnets are arranged in a repelling configuration for producing magnetic repulsion forces. The strength of the repulsion forces is a function of the spacing between adjacent ones of the magnets. The shaft is movable from one of the positions to the other one of the positions for decreasing the spacing between adjacent magnets to thereby increase repulsive forces produced by the magnets. Consequently, movement of the movable member from one of the positions toward the other one of the positions moves the shaft in a first direction to one of the extended and retracted positions, decreasing the spacing between adjacent magnets, thereby increasing magnetic repulsion forces produced by the magnets. Upon release of the movable member, the magnets are moved apart by the magnetic repulsion forces, moving the shaft in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction to the other one of the retracted and extended positions, thereby moving the movable member to the other position.
Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a door closer adapted to be coupled between a door and a door frame for providing controlled closing of the door. The door closer comprises a tubular housing having first and second ends, with the housing being coupled to one of the door and the door frame. A shaft, which extends within the housing, is adapted for axial movement relative to the housing. One end of the shaft projects from the housing at the second end thereof and is adapted to be coupled to the other one of door frame and the door. A magnet system is coupled to the shaft and includes a plurality of permanent magnets located within the housing and extending in a coaxially aligned relationship with one another. The permanent magnets are arranged in a repelling configuration for producing magnetic repulsion forces. The strength of the repulsion forces is a function of the relative spacing between ad
Mah Chuck Y.
Reinhart, Boerner, Van Deuren, Norris & Rieselbach, s.c.
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