BRAKING DEVICE FOR A MOVABLE DOOR LEAF AND DOOR CLOSER HAVING SUCH A BRAKING DEVICE

Abstract

A braking device for a movable door leaf according to the invention comprises at least one generator, at the output terminals of which, a generator voltage can be generated, by means of which a charging circuit for supplying an open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit may be charged, by means of which an electric braking device, such as, in particular, a braking motor or the like, is controllable, which generates an effective braking force for damping the movement of the door leafs. Therein, the generator shaft of the generator is rotatable for generating the generator voltage with the discharging of a mechanical generator energy storage specifically associated with the generator, which is charged by a respective opening or closing movement of the door, and, during a respective closing or opening movement of the door, is mechanically decoupled from the same or its axis of rotation, and discharges in the state mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation. Further specified is a door closer, having a rotatable door closer axis, coupleable with a door leaf, cooperating with a mechanical door closer energy storage device, and a correspondingly designed braking device.

Claims

1. A braking device (28) for a movable door leaf, having at least one generator (30), at the output terminals (32) of which, a generator voltage may be generated, by means of which a charging circuit (36) for supplying an open-loop and closed-loop control unit (38) can be charged, by means of which the one electric braking device (40), such as, in particular, a braking motor or the like, is controllable, which generates an effective braking force for damping the movement of the door leaf, wherein the generator shaft (42) of the generator (30) is rotatable for generating the generator voltage with the discharging of a mechanical generator energy storage device (44), specifically associated with the generator (30), which is charged by a respective opening or closing movement of the door leaf, and which, during a respective closing or opening movement of the door, is mechanically decoupled from the same or its axis of rotation, and which discharges in a state mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation.

2. The braking device according to claim 1, wherein, during a respective opening or closing movement of the door leaf, by means of which the mechanical generator energy storage device (44) is charged, the mechanical generator energy storage device (44) is mechanically coupled with the door leaf or its axis of rotation by means of a generator driver (46), which, during a respective closing or opening movement of the door leaf, during which the mechanical generator energy storage device (44) discharges, is mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation.

3. The braking device according to claim 1, wherein the generator shaft (42) of the generator (30) is rotatable with a respective discharging of the mechanical generator energy storage device (44) by means of a generator gear unit (48) which is specifically associated with the generator (30).

4. The braking device according to claim 1, wherein the charging circuit (36) is associated with a protective diode (50), which prevents a voltage from is applied to the charging circuit (36) during a respective opening or closing movement of the door leaf, by means of which the mechanical generator energy storage device (44) is charged.

5. The braking device according to claim 1, wherein the generator (30) or the generator gear unit (48) is preceded by a one-way overrunning clutch, which prevents a voltage from being applied to the charging circuit (36) during a respective opening or closing movement of the door leaf, by means of which the mechanical generator energy storage device (44) is charged.

6. The braking device according claim 1, wherein at least two generators (30, 30) are provided for charging the charging circuit (36), wherein the generator shaft (42) of a first generator (30) is rotatable for generating a generator voltage with the discharging of a first generator energy storage device (44), specifically associated with this first generator (30), which is charged by a respective opening movement of the door and is mechanically decoupled from the same or its axis of rotation during a respective closing movement of the door, and discharges in the state mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation, and the generator shaft (42) of a second generator (30) is rotatable for generating a generator voltage with the discharging of a second generator energy storage device (44), specifically associated with this second generator (30), which is charged by a respective closing movement of the door and is mechanically decoupled from the same or its axis of rotation during a respective opening movement of the door, and discharges in the state mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation.

7. The braking device according to claim 6, wherein, during a respective closing or opening movement of the door leaf, by means of which the first and the second mechanical generator energy storage device (44 and 44) are charged, both the first and the second mechanical generator energy storage device may be mechanically coupled with the door or its axis of rotation, by means of a first and a separate second generator driver (46 and 46), which, during a respective closing or opening or closing movement of the door leaf, during which the respective mechanical generator energy storage device (44 or 44) discharges, is mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation.

8. The braking device according to claim 6, wherein the generator shaft (42 or 42) of the first and second generators (30 and 30) are each rotatable with the discharging of the first and second mechanical generator energy storage device (44 and 44) by means of the first and second generator gear unit (48 and 48) specifically associated with the first or second generator (30 and 30), respectively.

9. The braking device according to claim 6, wherein, between the charging circuit (36) and the first generator (30) and between the charging circuit (36) and the second generator (30), a protective diode (50 or 50) is provided, which prevents a voltage from being applied to the charging circuit (36) during a respective opening or closing movement of the door leaf, by means of which the first or second mechanical generator energy storage device (44 or 44), respectively, is charged.

10. The braking device according to claim 6, wherein the first and second generator (30 and 30) or the first and second generator gear unit (48 or 48), respectively, are each preceded by a one-way overrunning clutch, which prevents a voltage from being applied to the charging circuit during a respective opening or closing movement of the door leaf, by means of which the first or second mechanical generator energy storage device (44 or 44), respectively, is charged.

11. The braking device according to claim 1, wherein a respective mechanical generator energy storage device (44, 44) comprises a generator spring unit.

12. The braking device according to claim 1, wherein it is embodied as a module (62) with a housing (64), particularly a closed housing, and at least one generator (30, 30) and at least one mechanical generator energy storage device (44, 44).

13. The braking device according to claim 12, wherein the module also comprises at least one generator gear unit (48, 48) and/or at least one generator driver (46, 46).

14. A door closer (52) having a rotatable door closer axis (56), coupleable with a door leaf, cooperating with a mechanical door closer energy storage device (54), and a braking device (28), wherein the braking device (28) is designed in accordance with claim 1.

15. The door closer according to claim 14, wherein a door closer driver (58) coupled with the door closer axis (56) cooperates with a respective generator driver (46) such that it entrains the respective generator driver (46) during a respective opening or closing movement of the door leaf by means of which the mechanical generator energy storage device (44) concerned is charged, whereas it is decoupled from the respective generator driver (44) during a respective closing or opening movement of the door leaf, during which the mechanical generator energy storage device (46) concerned discharges.

16. The door closer according to claim 14, wherein a respective mechanical generator energy storage device (44) is dimensioned smaller than the mechanical door closer energy storage device (54).

17. The door closer according to claim 15, wherein a respective generator (30) and the generator gear unit (48) associated therewith are designed so that the discharging of the mechanical generator energy storage device (44) concerned or the relaxing of the generator spring unit concerned is damped at least strongly enough that the generator driver (46) concerned runs behind the door closer driver (58).

Description

[0030] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the fundamental principle of a conventional braking device for generative damping of movement of a door leaf, in which the generator shaft of the generator concerned is permanently, fixedly coupled with the axis of rotation of a door closer and thus permanently, fixedly coupled with the axis of rotation of the door leaf concerned,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a simplified schematic representation of the conventional generative braking device according to FIG. 1,

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a generative braking device according to the invention, having a generator for charging the charging circuit during a respective closing movement of the leaf,

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of another exemplary embodiment of a generative braking device according to the invention, having two generators for charging the charging circuit during both, a respective closing movement and a respective opening movement of the door leaf,

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of the various levels of another exemplary embodiment of a generative braking device according to the invention, which is embodied in the form of a module,

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a first level of the braking device module of FIG. 5, comprising a generator driver and a generator energy storage device, having, for example, a generator spring unit, and

[0037] FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of the second level, comprising a generator gear unit, and the third level, comprising a generator, of the braking device module according to FIG. 5.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the fundamental principle of a conventional braking device 10 for generative damping of movement of a door leaf. This conventional generative braking device 10 comprises a mechanical door closer energy storage device 12 having, for example, a spring unit, a door closer axis of rotation 14, coupled with the door leaf by means of a fitting of the door leaf, a door closer gear unit 16, a braking motor 18, a regulating and/or control unit 20 for controlling the braking motor 18, a charging circuit 22 for supplying the regulating and/or control unit 20 with electrical energy, and a generator 24 for charging the charging circuit 22.

[0039] In FIG. 2, this conventional generative braking device 10 according to FIG. 1 is shown again in a simplified schematic representation, with like parts being assigned like reference numerals.

[0040] In this conventional generative braking device 10, the generator shaft 26 is always fixedly coupled with the door closer axis of rotation 14, and thus always fixedly coupled with the axis of rotation of the door leaf concerned, during both, a respective opening movement as well as during a respective closing movement of the door leaf, which brings along the disadvantages mentioned above.

[0041] In contrast, FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a generative braking device 28 according to the invention. As can be seen from FIG. 3, this braking device 28 for a movable door leaf comprises a generator 30, at the output terminals 32 of which, a generator voltage can be generated, by means of which a charging circuit 36 for supplying an open-loop and closed-loop control unit 38 may be charged, by means of which an electric braking device 40, such as, in particular, a braking motor or the like, is controllable, which generates an effective braking force for damping the movement of the door leaf.

[0042] Herein, in this generative braking device 28 shown in FIG. 3, in order to generate the generator voltage according to the invention, the generator shaft 42 of the generator 30 is rotatable with the discharging of a mechanical generator energy storage device 44 specifically associated with the generator 30, which is charged by a respective opening movement of the door leaf and is mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation during a respective closing movement of the door leaf and discharges in the state mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation.

[0043] Herein, during a respective opening movement of the door leaf, by means of which the mechanical generator energy storage device 44 is charged, the mechanical generator energy storage device 44 may be mechanically coupled with the door or its axis of rotation, for example, by means of a generator driver 46, which, during a respective closing movement of the door leaf, during which the mechanical generator energy storage device 44 discharges, is mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation.

[0044] As can be seen from FIG. 3, the generator shaft 42 of the generator 30 may be rotatable with a respective discharging of the mechanical generator energy storage device 44 by means of a generator gear unit 48 which is specifically associated with the generator 30.

[0045] The charging circuit 36 may be associated with a protective diode 50, which prevents a voltage from being applied to the charging circuit 36 during a respective opening movement of the leaf, by means of which the mechanical generator energy storage 44 device is charged.

[0046] Alternatively, or in addition to, the protective diode 50, the generator 30 or the generator gear 48 may also be preceded by a one-way overrunning clutch, which prevents a voltage from being applied to the charging circuit 36 during a respective opening movement of the door leaf, by means of which the mechanical generator energy storage device 44 is charged.

[0047] In the present embodiment according to FIG. 3, the door leaf concerned is associated with a door closer 52, having a rotatable door closer axis 56, which is coupleable to the door leaf concerned and cooperates with a mechanical door closer energy storage device 54, and a braking device 28 according to the invention, as described above with reference to FIG. 3.

[0048] As can be seen from FIG. 3, in the present exemplary embodiment, a door closer driver 58 coupled with the door closer axle 56 or a door closer gear unit 34 associated therewith cooperates with the generator driver 46 such that it entrains the generator driver 46 during the opening movement of the door leaf, by means of which the mechanical generator energy storage device 44 is charged, whereas during a respective closing movement of the door leaf, during which the generator energy storage device 44 discharges, it is decoupled from the respective generator driver 46.

[0049] Here, the mechanical generator energy storage device 44 may be dimensioned smaller than the mechanical door closer energy storage device 54, which are two separate mechanical energy storage devices.

[0050] In addition, the generator 30 and the generator gear unit 48 associated therewith may be designed such that the discharging of the mechanical generator energy storage device 44 or the relaxing of the generator spring unit, forming this mechanical generator energy storage device 44, is damped at least strongly enough that the generator driver 46 runs behind the door closer driver 58.

[0051] The mechanical decoupling of the generator 30 according to the invention ensures in a simple and correspondingly cost-effective manner that the generator supplies an at least substantially constant voltage, independent of the speed and direction of rotation of the door leaf, and that the charging circuit 36 can be accordingly designed for a smaller voltage range.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of another exemplary embodiment of a generative braking device 28 according to the invention, having two generators 30, 30 for charging the charging circuit 36 during both, a respective closing movement and a respective opening movement of the door leaf. In the present case, the generative braking device 28 is again provided in conjunction with a door closer 52, having a rotatable door closer axle 56, coupleable with door leaf, cooperating with a mechanical door closer energy storage device 54, a door closer gear unit 34, and a door closer driver 58. In this case, this generative braking device according to FIG. 4 comprises two generators 30, 30 for charging the charging circuit 36. The generator shaft 42 of the first generator 30 is rotatable to generate a generator voltage with the discharging of the first mechanical generator energy storage device 44 specifically associated with this first generator 30, which is charged by a respective opening movement of the door leaf and is mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation during a respective closing movement of the door leaf and discharges in the state mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation. In this case, the first generator 30 may be associated, for example, with a generator driver 46, cooperating with a door closer driver 58, as well as with a generator gear unit 48, as described above with reference to FIG. 3.

[0053] In contrast, the generator shaft 42 of the second generator 30 is rotatable to generate a generator voltage with the discharging of a second mechanical generator energy storage device 44 specifically associated with this second generator 30, which is charged by a respective closing movement of the door leaf and is mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation during a respective opening movement of the door leaf and discharges in the state mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation.

[0054] The second generator 30 may again be assigned a generator gear unit 48 as well as a generator driver 46 cooperating with the door closer driver 58 in the manner described above.

[0055] In this case, during a respective closing or opening movement of the door leaf, by means of which the first and the second mechanical generator energy storage device 44 and 44 are charged, both the first and the second mechanical generator energy storage device may be mechanically coupled with the door or its axis of rotation, via the door closer axis 56, by means of a first and a separate second generator driver 46 or 46, which, during a respective closing or opening or closing movement of the door leaf, during which the respective mechanical generator energy storage device 44 or 44 discharges, is mechanically decoupled from the door leaf or its axis of rotation.

[0056] The generator shaft 42 or 42 of the first and second generators 30 and 30 in the present case are each rotatable with the discharging of the first and second mechanical generator energy storage device 44 and 44 by means of the first and second generator gear unit 48 and 48 specifically associated with the first or second generator 30 and 30, respectively.

[0057] In the present case, between the charging circuit 36 and the first generator 30 and between the charging circuit 36 and the second generator 30, a protective diode 50 or 50 is again provided, which prevents a voltage from being applied to the charging circuit 36 during a respective opening or closing movement of the door leaf, by means of which the first or second mechanical generator energy storage device 44 or 44, respectively, is charged.

[0058] Alternatively or additionally to the respective protective diode, the first and second generator 30 and 30 or the first and second generator gear unit 48 or 48, respectively, may each again be preceded by a one-way overrunning clutch, which prevents a voltage from being applied to the charging circuit 36 during a respective opening or closing movement of the door leaf, by means of which the first or second mechanical generator energy storage device 44 or 44, respectively, is charged.

[0059] A respective mechanical generator energy storage device 44, 44 may in particular comprise a generator spring unit. As stated, the mechanical door closer energy storage device 54 may in particular comprise a door closer spring unit.

[0060] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a respective generative braking device 28 according to the invention may be embodied, for example, as a module 62, having with a housing 64, particular a closed housing, and at least one generator 30, 30, at least one mechanical generator energy storage device 44, 44, and particularly, at least one generator gear unit 48, 48 and/or at least one generator driver 46, 46.

[0061] Herein, FIG. 5 shows the various levels of such a braking device module 62, having at least one mechanical generator energy storage device 44, 44 and at least one generator driver 46, 46 in the first level, at least one generator gear unit 48, 48 in the second level, and at least one generator 30, 30 in the third level. In addition, in FIG. 5 also shows the door closer axis 56 as well as the door closer driver 58, cooperating with a respective generator driver 46, 46.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows the first level of the braking device module 62, comprising at least one mechanical generator energy storage device 44, 44 and the at least one generator driver 46, 46, while FIG. 7 represents the housing 64, in particular the closed housing, with the second level, comprising the at least one generator gear unit 48, 48, and third level of the braking device module 62 comprising the at least one generator 30, 30.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0063] 10 Conventional braking device [0064] 12 Mechanical door closer energy storage device [0065] 14 Door closer axis of rotation [0066] 16 Door closer gear unit [0067] 18 Braking motor [0068] 20 Regulating and/or control unit [0069] 22 Charging circuit [0070] 24 Generator [0071] 26 Generator shaft [0072] 28 Braking device according to the invention [0073] 30 Generator [0074] 30 Generator [0075] 32 Output terminals [0076] 32 Output terminals [0077] 34 Door closer gear unit [0078] 36 Charging circuit [0079] 38 Open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit [0080] 40 Electric braking device, braking motor [0081] 42 Generator shaft [0082] 42 Generator shaft [0083] 44 Mechanical generator energy storage device [0084] 44 Mechanical generator energy storage device [0085] 45 Generator driver [0086] 46 Generator driver [0087] 48 Generator gear unit [0088] 48 Generator gear unit [0089] 50 Protective diode [0090] 50 Protective diode [0091] 52 Door closer [0092] 54 Mechanical door closer energy storage device [0093] 56 Door closer axis [0094] 58 Door closer driver [0095] 62 Module [0096] 64 Housing