Door closers and dampers primarily for door closers

Details Door closers and dampers primarily for door closers Door closers and dampers primarily for door closers

1996-06-10

1998-01-13

Mah, Chuck Y.

Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,

Checks and closers

Liquid

16 61, E05F 304

Patent

active

057065519

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns door closers of the kind comprising an actuator intended for concealed fitting within the thickness of a door and an anchor member for fixing to a door frame, and in which a tension member coupled to said anchor member is slidably movable Within the actuator under the action of spring means, and under the control of a uni-directionally operative fluid-filled damper which serves to regulate the rate of movement of the door in the direction of closure without significantly restricting the rate of movement of the door in the direction of opening. The invention also concerns dampers primarily for such door closers.
It is desirable for the action of the damper in such a door closer to be adjustable so as to enable the rate of closure to be set to fall within a chosen range despite variations in the weight and other parameters of different doors with which the closer may be used.
Many different types of door closer are known.
One type, typified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,897, includes a main body adapted for fitting onto the face of a door with an articulated arm which is secured to the door frame. The arm is acted upon by a rotary spindle which projects from the body in a direction transverse to that in which a driving compression spring acts. Variable restrictor valves are provided to enable the rate of closure to be adjusted after installation, and because the body is entirely accessible this presents no design problems.
A somewhat similar closer, as shown in FR2279917 is adapted for mounting within the thickness of the door at the upper edge thereof, and includes a block-like body to be located in a recess formed in the top edge of the door. A flow-restricting orifice controls the rate of flow of fluid in the damper and adjustment of the rate of closure is available by means of an axially adjustable obturating member operable by means of a thumb-wheel which is disposed at one end of the body and exposed at the upper edge of the door within the recess formed to receive the body. Again, because the body is at least partially accessible at the top edge of the door, and the arm is acted upon by a rotary spindle which does not obstruct the ends of the body, it is not difficult to provide for the required adjustment.
Another type of closer utilises an actuating member which is movable lineally. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,961 discloses a closer for a sliding door in which a spring-driven rod carries a lineally movable piston in a cylinder serving as a damper, a fluid by-pass between the ends of the cylinder having an adjustable needle valve to regulate the rate of flow and hence the rate of closure. In this case, the closer is mounted on top of the door and accordingly the needle valve is readily accessible for adjustment.
By contrast, where a linear closer is to be concealed within a door there is generally no ready access to the flow-rate controlling orifice once the closer is installed.
For example, GB 1103857 shows such a closer in which the flow-rate control orifice is formed as a narrow groove in the face of a piston-like member which is overlaid by a spring-loaded washer. During closure movement, the washer is pressed against the face of the piston, and liquid can flow to the other side of the piston only by passing through the groove, which exerts the required restriction. During opening movement, the disc is allowed to lift from the face of the piston and open an alternative, relatively unrestricted passageway. No adjustment of the effect of the groove is possible as the piston which carries the flow-rate control orifice is not readily accessible.
However, an adjustable spring-loaded buffer member is provided to cushion movement of the piston at the end of the door-closing stroke. This buffer member is disposed at the inner end of the tubular body. To enable the buffer member to be adjusted, so as to regulate the closure position of the door relative to the door frame, it is proposed that the buffer member is movable longitudinally of the body by means

REFERENCES:
patent: 3487494 (1970-01-01), deBaan et al.
patent: 3887961 (1975-06-01), Saajos
patent: 4115897 (1978-09-01), Zunkel
patent: 4317254 (1982-03-01), Chaddock
patent: 4376323 (1983-03-01), Tillmann
patent: 4414703 (1983-11-01), Schnarr et al.
patent: 5259090 (1993-11-01), Fayngersh

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