Door-operating assembly

Abstract

A door-operating assembly has first and second subassemblies each having a housing, a magnet, a sleeve carrying the sleeve and rotatable in the respective housing about an axis, an actuator for rotating the first sleeve about the respective axis, and a rotation limiter restricting rotation of the respective sleeve and magnet. The magnets in a first position repel and push the respective sleeves axially away from each other such that the first rotation limiter is effective in a first direction on the first sleeve and the second rotation limiter is effective in a second rotation direction on the second sleeve. Conversely, the magnets in a second position attract and pull the sleeves axially toward each other such that the first rotation limiter is effective against the first rotation direction on the first sleeve and the second rotation limiter is effective against the second rotation direction on the second sleeve.

Claims

1. A door-operating assembly comprising: a first subassembly having a first housing, a first magnet, a first sleeve carrying the first magnet and rotatable in the first housing about a first axis, a first actuator for rotating the first sleeve about the first axis, and a first rotation limiter restricting rotation of the first sleeve and magnet; and a second subassembly having a second housing, a second magnet, a second sleeve carrying the second magnet and rotatable in the second housing about a second axis, a second actuator for rotating the second sleeve about the second axis, and a second rotation limiter restricting rotation of the second sleeve and magnet, the magnets in a first functional position repelling each other and pushing the respective sleeves axially away from each other such that the first rotation limiter is effective in a first rotation direction on the first sleeve and the second rotation limiter is effective in a second rotation direction on the second sleeve, the magnets in a second functional position attracting each other and pulling the sleeves axially toward each other such that the first rotation limiter is effective against the first rotation direction on the first sleeve and the second rotation limiter is effective against the second rotation direction on the second sleeve.

2. The door-operating assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first axis and the second axis extend parallel.

3. The door-operating assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first rotation limiter has a first angularly extending guide and an engagement element on the first housing and riding in the first guide, the first sleeve being displaceable relative to the first housing along the first axis, the first guide having a first axially extending portion.

4. The door-operating assembly according to claim 3 wherein the first guide is a part-spiral groove on the first sleeve and that the first engagement element is a pin that is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner on the first housing and engages in the first groove.

5. The door-operating assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a first lost-motion coupling between the first actuator and the first sleeve; and a second lost-motion coupling between the second actuator and the second sleeve.

6. The door-operating assembly according to claim 5, wherein each lost-motion coupling has a lost motion of at least 90°.

7. The door-operating assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first magnet has a magnetic direction perpendicular to the first axis and the second magnet has a magnetic direction perpendicular to the second axis.

8. The door-operating assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second subassemblies are spaced from each other.

9. The door-operating assembly according to claim 8 wherein the axes are coaxial.

10. The door-operating assembly according to claim 1 wherein the first and second actuators are each lockable in a respective base position and can be rotated through 360° therefrom when unlocked.

11. In combination with the door assembly of claim 1, a door panel having a pair of faces; a door jamb forming a door opening freeable and closable by the door panel, the subassemblies each being mounted on a respective one of the faces of the door directly opposite each other.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the panel is wholly of glass.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein the subassemblies are mounted on the respective faces and do not extend into the panel.

14. The combination according to claim 11, further comprising: a latch on the jamb juxtaposable with the assembly in a closed position of the door panel.

15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein the latch is magnetically operable by the first and second magnets without contact with either of the subassemblies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a door having an operating assembly according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 a large-scale perspective exploded view of details of elements of the operating assembly;

(4) FIG. 3 is a sectional bottom view of the operating assembly; and

(5) FIGS. 4A-4G are views illustrating how the operating assembly works.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) As seen in FIG. 1, a door according to the invention has a door panel 1 that can be moved between an open position that clears a door opening 2 at least partially and a closed position (shown here) that blocks the door opening 2. The door panel 1 extends in a vertical direction x, a horizontal direction y parallel to a plane of the panel 1, and a horizontal thickness direction z perpendicular to directions x and y. In the illustrated embodiment, the door panel 1 can pivot between the open position and the closed position supported by at least one door hinge 3 about a vertical pivot axis parallel to the vertical direction x. The door opening 2 is bordered horizontally by a door jamb 4 that in the illustrated closed position receives the door panel 1, which here is entirely formed of glass. A first front face 1a of the door panel 1 is substantially flush with the level of the jamb 4 with an offset of less than half a centimeter. The jamb 4 carries a magnetically operable latch 19 as described in copending US patent application based on DE 10 2019100637.6, whose disclosure is herewith incorporated by reference.

(7) According to the invention, a first subassembly 5a is mounted on a first face 1a of the door panel 1. A second subassembly 5b is attached to a second face 1b that faces oppositely away from the first face 1a. The first subassembly 5a and the second subassembly 5b are substantially identical and each have a housing 6a or 6b formed as a handle. The first and second subassemblies 5a and 5b are basically identical.

(8) FIG. 2 shows the first subassembly 5a in an exploded view without the housing 6a. In the regular arrangement, the oppositely situated housing 6b is as shown by broken lines with the components that are accommodated therein. The first subassembly 5a comprises a first sleeve 7a in which a first magnet 8a is guided so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation d.sub.1 that extends in the thickness direction z. This magnet 8a is a bar magnet whose magnetic direction is perpendicular to the axis d.sub.1

(9) The second subassembly 5b is magnetically coupled to the first subassembly 5a and has a second sleeve 7b holding a second magnet 8b rotatable about an axis of rotation d.sub.2 coaxial to the axis d.sub.1. The first sleeve 7a and the second sleeve 7b each have a cylindrical outer surface that is held in a complementary cylindrical seat of the respective housing 6a, 6b and can be rotated about the respective axis of rotation d.sub.1 or d.sub.2.

(10) The first sleeve 7a can be rotated by an actuator that in this embodiment is formed by a first cylinder lock 9a and a first coupling 10a. The cylinder lock 9a is in the position shown here when a key is not inserted into it, and neither it nor its coupling 10a cannot rotate. Furthermore, a first dog 11a is also provided on the outside of the coupling 10a that engages in an associated recess 12a of the first sleeve 7a. The recess 12a is of substantially greater angular size than the dog 11a, so that the first sleeve 7a can rotate relative to the coupling 10a with a lost motion of approximately 180°. The coupling 10a has a cylindrical middle part that fits complementarily in an at least partially cylindrical hole of the sleeve 7a. The dog 11a projects radially therefrom. In the axial direction of the first axis of rotation d.sub.1, the recess 12a is deeper than the extension of the dog 11a. This enables the first sleeve 7a to move axially relative to the coupling 10a.

(11) The coupling 10a is held by and rotatable in a holder 13a in the axial direction d.sub.1/z. The holder 13a also carries a pin 14a. This pin 14a is part of a first rotation limiter. The rotation limiter further comprises a radially outwardly open groove 15a formed on the sleeve 7a.

(12) As indicated in FIG. 2, the magnets 8a, 8b are bar magnets that are aligned in parallel in the horizontal direction y. The north pole at the end is indicated by a letter N. As a result, there is repulsion between the first sleeve 7a and the second sleeve 7b in the direction of the common axis of rotation d.sub.1/d.sub.2 to push these sleeves 7a and 7b axially away from each other in their base positions.

(13) The mode of action of the first rotation limiter 14a, 15a can be seen from FIG. 3. The first guide groove 15a is a one-turn spiral and has an inner portion 16a that extends in the axial direction d/z. The groove 15a thus forms a step-shaped shoulder with a first end stop 17a and a second end stop 17b.

(14) In the illustrated first functional state, the first sleeve 7a and the second sleeve 7b are each displaced outward away from the door panel 1 due to magnetic repulsion. In the same rotational position, in which the first pin 14a is positioned in the first longitudinal portion 16a and the second pin 14b is positioned in the second longitudinal portion 16b, the transition to a second position in which the distance between the respective sleeve and the door panel 1 is smaller is also possible, depending on the axial magnetic attraction or repulsion. Since, in the illustrated functional state, the pin 14a bears against the first stop 17a, it is not possible to turn it counterclockwise (when viewing the first front face 1a of the door panel 1). The first rotation limiter is thus effective in this state in the first direction of rotation a. In the event of an axial attraction, the pin 14a would come into contact with the second stop 17b, so that the first rotation limiter 14a would be effective counter to the first direction of rotation a.

(15) As can be seen from a comparative examination of FIGS. 2 and 3, the second control element 5b is identical to the first control element 5a and is attached to the opposite face 1b, but offset by 180° about the vertical axis x. Only the relative orientation of the magnet differs, so that, in the first functional state shown, the first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b are parallel to one another as regards their magnetic directions. The corresponding assemblies of the second subassembly 5b each have the same reference numerals, these being provided with the index “b.” It is clear that the second direction of rotation, in which the second turnstile arrangement 14b, 15b is effective in the first illustrated functional state, is also counterclockwise when viewed toward the respective face 1b of the door panel. In absolute terms, the first direction of rotation a is opposite the second direction of rotation b.

(16) The switching function between the first functional state is shown in FIGS. 4A to 4G. The views are each to be understood as a schematic with a view of the first front face 1a of the door panel seen in the thickness direction z. The relevant parts of the first subassembly 5a are shown in the left half of the figure, and the corresponding parts of the second subassembly 5b, which are arranged behind them, are shown in the right half of the figure. In particular, this explains the interaction of the actuator, the lost-motion coupling, and the respective rotation limiters. For better visibility, the successively arranged components of the first control assembly 5a and the second control assembly 5b are shown side by side in the illustration.

(17) The basic state corresponding to the first functional state is shown in FIG. 4A. Both the first sleeve 7a and the second sleeve 7b are thus clearly fixed in place in the first functional state. The first sleeve 7a is blocked from rotating in the first direction of rotation a by the interaction of the first stop 17a with the first pin 14a. Rotation of the first sleeve 7a counter to the first direction of rotation a is, in turn, blocked by the form-fitting engagement of the first dog 11a with the recess 12a forming the lost-motion coupling. Accordingly, the second sleeve 7b locks in the second direction of rotation b through the third stop 17b in conjunction with the second pin 14b and in the opposite direction through interaction of the second dog 11b with the second recess 12b. In this position, further rotation of the first coupling 10a, 11a in the first direction of rotation a and further rotation of the second coupling 10b, 11b in the second direction of rotation b are both prevented, since the respective direction of rotational locking is active there.

(18) In the depicted embodiment, the first functional position represents the closed position of the door subassembly that is a magnetic door lock. The first direction of rotation a of the first door subassembly and the second direction of rotation b of the second subassembly each represent a “closing direction.” Further rotation in this direction from the closed position is prevented.

(19) In the illustrated embodiment, the closing direction is therefore defined as a counterclockwise direction both from the first front face 1a of the door panel and from the second front face 1b of the door panel. In order to adapt to a standard user experience in which the closing direction is “toward the door jamb” on both faces, an angle gear can be provided in the actuator 9a of the first subassembly 5a, which reverses the direction of rotation of the key upon transmission to the dog 11a.

(20) FIG. 4B shows a functional position in which the first coupling 10a, 11a is rotated by an angle of approximately 60° counter to the first direction of rotation a. Due to the repulsive torque between the first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b, the first sleeve 7a is entrained in spite of the existing lost-motion coupling. Rotation of the second sleeve 7b is blocked on both sides, so that the second half of the view remains unchanged. In this position, the first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b are still arranged in the same direction, so the axial repulsion reaction continues.

(21) In FIG. 4C, the orientation of the first magnet 8a and the orientation of the second magnet 8b form an angle of approximately 120°. They can thus be regarded as being arranged “in opposite directions,” which results in an axial attraction. As a result, the direction of action of the second rotation limiter changes: now the second pin 14b is in contact with the fourth stop 18b, so that both the locking device that is formed with the groove 15b and the pin 14b as well as the form fit between the second dog 11b and the recess 12b of the second sleeve 7b prevent rotation counter to the second direction of rotation d. However, the torque acting on the second sleeve 7b is oriented exactly in this direction, so that no movement occurs.

(22) In FIG. 4D, an angle α of rotation of the first drive relative to the base position of approximately 180° has been reached. Here, the magnetic directions first magnet 8a and second magnet 8b are aligned parallel but opposite to each other. The axial attraction that is exerted is maximal. The mutually interacting magnetic torques disappear.

(23) Upon further rotation, the first dog 11a now moves within the lost-motion coupling, whereas the first sleeve 7a does not move farther. Only when the end position (angle of rotation α of 360°) is reached does the first dog 11a reach the right-hand stop of the lost-motion coupling and carry the first sleeve 7a along with it for a small angular amount. Since the second rotation limiter acts counter to the second direction of rotation b when in the tightened state (second functional state), the second sleeve 7b can also rotate by a corresponding angular amount, as is shown in FIG. 4E. In this closed position, any key can be removed from the first lock 9a again because a complete revolution has been carried out.

(24) The first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b are arranged in opposite directions, antiparallel, so that a second functional state is formed. From this functional position, further rotation of the first drive 9a, 10a counter to the first direction of rotation a by one complete revolution is not possible. First, as shown in FIG. 4F, both the first sleeve 7a and the second sleeve 7b are rotated (due to magnetic coupling). At a second angle α.sub.2 of rotation of approximately 165°, the pin 14a again reaches the position of the longitudinal portion 16a. Due to the attractive interaction between the first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b, the rotation limiter is effective counter to the first direction of rotation a. The pin 14a thus comes into contact with the second stop 18a, so that further rotation is prevented. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 4G. It is therefore possible to leave the second functional state (FIG. 4E) only in the first direction of rotation a (closing direction). This replicates the haptic feedback of a conventional lock that can be operated on both sides.