Method of operating a swing door, device for operating a swing door and a swing door operated by such a method and/or having such a device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of operating a swing door, whereby a drive moves a door leaf from a first position of the door leaf to a second position of the door leaf. For providing an operation of the swing door in a more effective and/or efficient way the method is characterized in that the drive adds an additional driving force and/or torque to the door leaf in the first position and/or the second position of the door leaf in relation to an external driving force and/or torque acting on the door leaf to hold the door leaf in the first position or second position, respectively.

Claims

1. A method of operating a door leaf of a swing door, the swing door comprising a control unit, a sensor connected with the door leaf and the control unit, the sensor communicating a current position of the door leaf and an applied torque on the door leaf to the control unit, and a drive connected with the control unit and the door leaf, and wherein the control unit computes a drive torque and controls the drive unit to apply the drive torque to the door leaf based on the communication from the sensor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) setting, by the control unit, the drive torque to a first torque and energizing the drive unit to apply the first torque to the door leaf, wherein the first torque moves the current position of the door leaf from a predetermined closed position to a predetermined open position; (b) setting, by the control unit, the drive torque to a second torque and energizing the drive unit to apply the second torque, wherein the second torque maintains the door leaf in the open position; (c) detecting, by the sensor, that the current position of the door leaf has moved away from the open position and that the door leaf is subject to the applied torqued by an external force; (d) calculating, by the control unit based on the current position of the door leaf and the applied torque detected by the sensor, a third torque as a difference between the second torque and the applied torque; and (f) setting the drive torque to the third torque and energizing the drive unit to maintain the current position of door leaf in the open position while it is subject to the external force.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the open position is an angular position of the door leaf with respect to a door frame between about 80 degrees and 150 degrees.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the closed position is an angular position of the door leaf with respect to the door frame of about 0 degrees.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the external force results from wind or a pressure difference between the sides of the door leaf.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the drive is an electro-mechanical motor.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when the door leaf is in the closed position, the control unit sets the drive torque to a closing torque and energizes the drive unit to maintain the door leaf in the closed position.

7. A swing door comprising: a door leaf having a predetermined closed position and a predetermined open position; a sensor connected with the door leaf, the sensor detecting a current position of the door leaf and an applied torque on the door leaf; a control unit connected to the sensor, the control unit calculating a drive torque; and a drive connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit causes the drive to apply the drive torque to the door leaf, wherein the control unit sets the drive torque to a first torque to move the door leaf from the closed position to the open position, wherein the control unit sets the drive torque to a second torque to maintain the door leaf in the open position, wherein the sensor detects that the current position is different from the open position and that the door leaf is subject to the applied torque due to an external force, wherein the control unit calculates a third torque as a difference between the second torque and the applied torque and sets the drive torque to the third torque to maintain the current position of door leaf in the open position while it is subject to the external force.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the open position is an angular position of the door leaf with respect to a door frame between about 80 degrees to 150 degrees.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the closed position is an angular position of the door leaf with respect to the door frame of about 0 degrees.

10. A method for operating a swing door comprising a door panel, a control unit, a sensor connected with the control unit and the door panel, the sensor determining a current position of the door panel and an applied torque on the door panel, and an electro-mechanical drive connected with the control unit and the door panel, wherein the control unit computes a drive torque and controls the electro-mechanical drive to apply the drive torque to the door panel so as to move the door panel, the method comprising: (a) setting, by the control unit, the drive torque to a first torque to energize the electro-mechanical drive to apply the first torque to the door panel, wherein the first torque moves the current position of the door panel from a predetermined closed position to a predetermined open position; (b) setting the drive torque to a second torque and energizing the electro-mechanical drive, wherein the second torque maintains the door panel in the open position; (c) detecting, by the sensor, that the current position of the door panel has moved away from the open position and that the door panel is subject to the applied torque due to an external force; (d) calculating, by the control unit based on the current position of the door panel and the applied torque, a third torque as a difference between the second torque and the applied torque; and (f) setting the drive torque to the third torque to maintain the current position of door panel in the open position while it is subject to the external force.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the open position is an angular position of the door leaf with respect to a door frame between about 80 degrees to 150 degrees.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the closed position is an angular position of the door leaf with respect to the door frame of about 0 degrees.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the drive is operable to apply a closing torque in the direction from the open position to the closed position, and wherein the method further comprises: (g) determining that the panel is in the closed position; and fill applying the closing torque to maintain the panel in the closed position.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the electromechanical drive comprises a permanent magnet brushed DC-motor.

Description

(1) The following detailed description, given by way of example and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a method according to some aspects of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of part of a method according to some aspects of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3a is a schematic diagram showing components of a swing door according to embodiments of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 3b is a top view of a swing door according to embodiments of the present invention.

(6) The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these illustrated embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a method for operating a swing door 2 according to some aspects of the invention. FIG. 3a shows elements of a control system for the swing door and FIG. 3b shows a top view of the swing door 2 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. A drive 12 is provided for moving a door leaf 4 from a first position of the door leaf to a second position of the door leaf 4.

(8) The operation method starts in step S 10. According to step S 11 the door leaf 4 of the swing door 2 is held in the first position. In this embodiment the first position of the door leaf 4 means that the swing door 2 is closed and the door leaf 4 is in its closed position. The door leaf 4 is held in the first position by the drive 12, which is activated to apply a driving force and/or a torque to the door leaf 4 to hold the door leaf 4.

(9) In addition to this a locking device and/or a magnetic holder may be used to hold the door leaf 4 in its first position.

(10) In a next step S 12 the door leaf is opened. Connected with drive 12 is controller 10. According to this embodiment the door leaf 4 is opened by the drive 12. The driving force and/or torque of the drive 12 acting on the door leaf 4 to open up the swing door 2 is higher than for holding the door leaf 4 in its first position according to step S 11. The value or amount of the driving force and/or torque of the drive 12 is controlled by a control unit 10. The door opening may be initialized by a motion sensor 4-6 and/or by manually pulling or pushing the door leaf 4 out of the first position towards the second position. During the opening movement an energy storage of a further drive is charged. In this embodiment the further drive a spring drive and a spring element is tensioned by the movement of the door leaf 4 from the first position to the second position.

(11) When the door leaf 4 reaches its second position the door leaf 4 is held in the second position according to step S 13. In this embodiment the second position of the door leaf 4 corresponds to a preset most opened up position of the door leaf 4 to open the swing door 2. The door leaf 4 is held in the second position by the drive 12, which is activated to apply a driving force and/or a torque to the door leaf 4 to hold the door leaf 4. The driving force and/or torque of the drive 12 acting on the door leaf 4 to hold the door leaf 4 in its second position is according to some aspects lower than for moving the door leaf and may be equal to the driving force and/or torque in the first position according. In addition to this a locking device and/or a magnetic holder 20, 22 may be used to hold the door leaf in its second position. Alternatively, the drive 12 may be deactivated in the first and/or second position of the door leaf 4 and the door leaf 4 may be held in the first and/or second position by the locking device.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a part of a method for operating a swing door 2 according to some aspects of the invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the first 4 steps of the method, S10 to S13, of FIG. 1 in more detail. The steps are the same as the first four of FIG. 1 besides the clarifying examples of how to control the swing door 2 in the first and/or the second position.

(13) In the steps of S11 and S13, the drive 12 adds S11b, S13b an additional driving force and/or torque to the door leaf 4 in the first position and/or the second position of the door leaf 4 in relation to an external driving force T.sub.ext and/or torque S11a, S13a acting on the door leaf to hold the door leaf 4 in the first position or second position, respectively. In the device according to the invention a control unit 10 may be provided for adding an additional driving force and/or torque by the drive 12 to the door leaf 4 in the first position and/or the second position of the door leaf in relation to an external driving force and/or torque T.sub.ext acting on the door leaf 4 to hold the door leaf 4 in the first position or second position, respectively.

(14) When the door leaf 4 is in the first or second position, the intention is that the door leaf 4 should be held still in that position. However, due to external forces T.sub.ext such as wind, pressure applied by a person or a pressure difference on different sides of the door leaf 4, the door leaf 4 will move slightly and thus deviating slightly from the first and the second position before the system can compensate for the external force T.sub.ext. The first position and the second position are therefore considered to be the first position and the second position and positions to where the door leaf 4 moves due to an external force T.sub.ext before the additional driving force is applied to compensate for the external force. The first position and the second position are thus the first position and the second position and position close to the first position and the second position.

(15) The external driving force and/or torque T.sub.ext is for example measured by sensing the torque acting on the door leaf 4, by determining the movement, i.e. the change in position, of the door leaf due to the external force T.sub.ext, or the speed of the door leaf 4 when moved due to the external force T.sub.ext. When the external driving force and/or torque T.sub.ext is determined the additional force and/or torque is added to compensate for the external driving force and/or torque.

(16) It should be noted that the additional driving force and/or torque can be a negative driving force and/or torque. If for example, the door leaf 4 in in the second position, which is in this example an open position, and wind blows on the door such that the wind assists in holding the door leaf 4 in the open position, the additional driving force and/or torque is a negative force and/or torque such that the energy consumption of the drive 12 which moves the door leaf 4 is minimized. Another example is when the drive 12 holds the door leaf 4 in the first position, in this example a closed position, if the pressure difference on different sides of the door is such that the door could be held close mostly by the pressure difference, the additional driving force and/or torque is a negative driving force and/or torque. In these examples, if the wind instead would have been such that it worked to close the door leaf 4 or the pressure would instead be such that the door leaf 4 is pushed towards an open position, the additional driving force and/or torque is positive.

(17) According to some aspects, the drive 12 adds the additional driving force and/or torque to the door leaf 4 also in relation to a further driving force and/or a torque of a further drive g acting on the door leaf 4. The further drive is for example a spring element and/or a spring drive. Thus, the drive 12 adds the additional driving force in relation to the further driving force of the spring element and/or the spring drive. The control unit 10 is provided also for adding the additional driving force in relation to a further driving force and/or a torque of a further drive acting on the door leaf 4.

(18) Thus, according to some aspects, the amount of the additional driving force and/or torque is adjusted in relation to the external driving force and/or torque T.sub.ext and in case of a further driving force and/or torque also in relation to the further driving force and/or torque.

(19) The amount of the additional driving force and/or torque may be adjusted based on a desired force, torque and/or position in relation to an actual force, torque and/or position of the door leaf 4. The actual force, torque and/or position represents, or in other words reflects, the external driving force and/or torque T.sub.ext and in case of a further driving force and/or torque also the further driving force and/or torque. Preferably the actual force and/or torque includes the external driving force and/or torque T.sub.ext and in case of a further driving force and/or torque also the further driving force and/or torque.

(20) According to some aspects, the control unit 10 is adapted to adjust the amount of the additional driving force and/or torque according to above. The actual force, torque and/or position is the force and/or torque that actually acts on the door leaf 4, i.e. the sum of all forces and/or torques acting on the door leaf 4 before adjusting the additional force and/or torque. The actual position is the position in which the door leaf 4 actually is arranged, i.e. the position of the door leaf 4 before adding the additional force and/or torque.

(21) According to some aspects, the amount of the additional driving force and/or torque is adjusted in relation to the difference between the desired force, torque and/or position and the actual force, torque and/or position such that the desired force, torque and/or position is obtained. In other words, the difference between the desired force, torque and/or position and the actual force, torque and/or position is the additional force, torque and/or position that is needed to achieve the desired force, torque and/or position. The total force, toque and/or position is then the desired force, torque and/or position after addition of the additional force, torque and/or position. Thus, a total force, torque and/or position is the additional force, torque and/or position and the initial actual force, torque and/or position. Another term for desired force, torque and/or position is desired resulting force, torque and/or position.

(22) The desired force and/or torque is for example dependent on the position of the door leaf 4. This is beneficial for example if the actual position deviates a lot from the desired position. The desired force and/or torque may then be higher than if the deviation is small so as to facilitate a faster move of the door leaf 4 to the desired position.

(23) The position of the door leaf 4 is for example measured by measuring the angle of the door leaf 4 compared to a door frame 6. Thus the first position, when being a closed position, has an angle of 0 and the second position, if corresponding to an open state of the door leaf, i.e. being a fully open position, may have an angle of about 80-150, preferably the angle exceeds 90, and in most applications is an angle of 120 sufficient.

(24) According to some aspects, the control unit 10, at least one sensor and/or an encoder 14 is designed for determining that the door leaf is in its first position and/or second position, preferably the control unit 10, the sensor and/or encoder 14 is provided for measuring parameters related to the position of the door leaf 4.

(25) The first position of the door leaf 4 corresponds to, according to some aspects, a closed state of the door leaf 4 and in the first position of the door leaf 4 an additional driving torque is added and the amount of the additional driving torque is adjusted by the difference between the desired torque and the actual torque. The difference between the desired torque and the actual torque thus corresponds to the additional driving torque that should be added to reach the desired torque.

(26) The second position of the door leaf 4 corresponds to, according to some aspects, an open state of the door leaf 4 and in the second position of the door leaf 4 an additional driving torque is added and the amount of the additional driving torque is adjusted in relation to the difference between the desired position and the actual position such that the door leaf 4 is moved from the actual position to the desired position. The desired position and the actual position may both be comprised in the term second position. As previously described, the first and the second position will vary slightly due to the external force and/or torque T.sub.ext. Thus the desired position is the intended precise second position and the actual position is the actual second position, both positions being, in this example, in the open state of the door leaf 4.

(27) As previously described, the external driving force and/or torque T.sub.ext is for example a force and/or torque caused by wind and/or wherein the external driving force and/or torque T.sub.ext acting on the door leaf in a first position corresponding to a closed state of the door leaf 4 is for example a force and/or torque caused by a pressure difference between the sides of the door leaf 4.

(28) The drive 12 gives rise to a driving force and/or torque. The additional driving force and/or torque is added to the driving force such that an adjusted driving force is provided by the drive 12.

(29) In some aspects, the drive 12 adds an additional driving force and/or torque to the door leaf 4 in the first position of the door leaf 4 in relation to an external driving force and/or torque T.sub.ext acting on the door leaf 4 to hold the door leaf 4 in the first position.

(30) After expiration of a preset time period a closing of the door leaf 4 is initiated according to step S 14. According to step S 15 it is checked by a control unit 10 if an additional driving force and/or torque shall be applied for realizing the closing movement.

(31) If no additional driving force and/or torque has to be applied, the door leaf 4 is closed according to step S 16 only by the force available by the further drive 18 and the charged energy storage, which is in this case a tensioned spring element 4-9. When the door leaf 4 reaches its first position the door leaf 4 is hold in the first position according to step S 11.

(32) If an additional driving force and/or torque has to be applied, the drive 12 is activated by the control unit 10 as shown by step S 17 to add a preset additional driving force and/or torque to the door leaf 4 during the closing movement. Thus, the driving force and/or torque of the further drive is supplemented and extended by an additional driving force and/or torque by the drive 12 according to step S 18. A driving force and/or a torque is applied to the door leaf 4, whereby the driving force and/or torque is increased by the drive 12 during the movement of the door leaf 4. When the door leaf 4 reaches its first position the door leaf 4 is held in the first position according to step S 11.

(33) Although preferred embodiments of the present invention and modifications thereof have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to these precise embodiments and variations and may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

(34) The use of expressions like particularly, preferably, more preferably or especially preferred etc. is not intended to limit the invention. Features which are not specifically or explicitly described or claimed may be additionally included in the structure or method according to the present invention without deviating from its scope.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(35) S 10 Start S 11 Holding door leaf in first position S 12 Door opening S 13 Holding door leaf in second position S 14 Door closing initiation S 15 Additional driving force/torque? S 16 Closing by energy storage/spring element S 17 Activation of drive S 18 Closing by energy storage/spring element plus drive