SYSTEM

Technical Field The present disclosure generally relates to an arrangement for closing a door leaf or other access member. In particular, an arrangement for closing an access member rotatable relative to a frame, and an access member system comprising a frame, an access member and such arrangement, are provided.

Background Some conventional door closers comprise a spring and a hydraulic cylinder containing oil. The spring may be increasingly compressed (or otherwise deformed) during opening of the door leaf. The hydraulic cylinder may comprise valves providing a damping force proportional to the speed of the door leaf. The use of oil may however not be desired, for example due to fire safety, leakage, sustainability and viscosity variations due to temperature changes that affect the closing behavior. Moreover, such conventional door closers often have unsatisfactory reliability, for example due to wear. Furthermore, such conventional door closers are often bulky and expensive.

US 10487561 B2 discloses a mechanism for influencing opening and closing movements of a wing of a door, a window, or the like. The mechanism includes a sliding arm disposed between the wing and a fixed frame. The sliding arm is rotatably mounted to the wing or on the frame. A sliding block is disposed in a sliding rail and is coupled to the sliding arm. The sliding rail or the sliding block has means for energy conversion through which mechanical kinetic energy generated by the sliding block is converted into electrical energy to supply at least one electrical component with electric current to at least one of generate a braking torque or drive the sliding block. Summary

One object of the present disclosure is to provide an improved arrangement for closing an access member rotatable relative to a frame.

A further object of the present disclosure is to provide an arrangement for closing an access member rotatable relative to a frame, which arrangement has a compact, cost efficient and/or less complicated design.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide an arrangement for closing an access member rotatable relative to a frame, which arrangement has a reliable operation. A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide an arrangement for closing an access member rotatable relative to a frame, which arrangement provides a strong latching force at the end of a closing movement.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide an arrangement for closing an access member rotatable relative to a frame, which arrangement enables an accurate speed control of the access member.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide an arrangement for closing an access member rotatable relative to a frame, which arrangement enables an efficient energy harvesting. A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide an arrangement for closing an access member rotatable relative to a frame, which arrangement enables an easy integration of smartness functions.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide an arrangement for closing an access member rotatable relative to a frame, which arrangement solves several or all of the foregoing objects in combination.

A still further object of the present disclosure is to provide an access member system comprising a frame, an access member rotatable relative to the frame and an arrangement for closing the access member, which access member system solves one, several or all of the foregoing objects.

According to a first aspect, there is provided an arrangement for closing an access member rotatable relative to a frame, the arrangement comprising a frame part for fixation to the frame; an access member part for fixation to the access member, the access member part being movable relative to the frame part between a closed position and an open position; a movable element movable between a first position and a second position relative to the frame part; a forcing device arranged to force the movable element from the second position to the first position; and a cam transmission comprising a cam profile and a cam follower arranged to follow the cam profile, the cam transmission being configured to transmit a movement of the movable element from the second position to the first position to a movement of the access member part from the open position to the closed position. The cam transmission enables a force profile of a closing force acting on the access member part to be accurately designed. For example, the cam transmission enables a latching force acting on the access member part to be set as desired. The cam transmission also enables a use of a relatively simple and cheap forcing device, such as a tension coil spring. Furthermore, the cam transmission enables a slim and compact design of the arrangement.

When the access member makes an opening movement from the closed position to the open position, for example by being pushed or pulled by a human, the cam follower follows the cam profile. The opening movement is made against the force of the forcing device. When the access member is released, the forcing device causes the access member to perform a closing movement from the open position to the closed position.

The open position and a corresponding second position may be different in two opening sequences. A first time, a user may open the access member to an open position of 20 degrees, and a second time, a user may open the access member to an open position of 120 degrees. In each case, the cam transmission transmits a movement of the movable element from the second position to the first position to a movement of the access member part from the open position to the closed position. The open position may be at least 5 degrees and/or less than 180 degrees. The cam transmission may be arranged entirely outside of the frame part. One of the cam profile and the cam follower may be provided in the movable element, and the other of the cam profile and the cam follower may be provided in the access member part.

The movable element may be arranged at least partly outside the frame part. The movable element may constitute the only connection between the frame part and the access member part.

The access member may be rotatable relative to the frame about a hinge axis. Thus, also the access member part may be rotatable relative to the frame part about the hinge axis. The hinge axis may be vertical. The movable element may be positioned closer to the hinge axis in the second position than in the first position. The access member part may be rotatable relative to the movable element, e.g. in a plane perpendicular to the hinge axis.

Throughout the present disclosure, the arrangement may for example be a door closer. In this case, the arrangement can eliminate some or all of the drawbacks associated with prior art door closers containing oil. The arrangement may optionally also be a door operator, i.e. for controlling both opening and closing of a door leaf (or other access member).

The access member part may comprise an access member plate and/or the movable element may comprise a movable element plate. The access member plate and the movable element plate may be parallel. The access member plate and the movable element plate may be horizontal. The access member plate and the movable element plate may be overlapping at least in the open position, such as in each of the closed position and the open position. The access member plate and the movable element plate may lie in respective planes perpendicular to the hinge axis. The forcing device may be arranged inside the frame part. The frame part may comprise a stationary structure. The stationary structure may comprise a housing. The housing may house all components of the frame part, at least partly. The housing may be elongated. The movable element may comprise the cam follower and the access member part may comprise the cam profile. Alternatively, or in addition, the cam profile may comprise a groove. The groove forms a track for the cam follower.

The cam profile may be a groove in the access member plate. The access member plate and the groove may in this case lie in a plane parallel with a movement direction of the movable element and/or in a plane perpendicular to the hinge axis.

The cam follower may comprise a roller for engaging the cam profile. In case the roller is provided on the movable element, the roller may be rotatable relative to the movable element about a roller axis parallel with the hinge axis.

The cam profile may be curved to provide an increased latching force at the end of a closing movement from the open position to the closed position. The cam profile may comprise a straight section and a curved section. The cam follower may be positioned in the curved section in the closed position and in the straight section in the open position. The straight section may be positioned between the frame part and the cam follower in the closed position. The curved section may face away from the frame part in the closed position. The straight section may be parallel with a main extension plane of the access member. In case the forcing device is a spring, the curved section enables a relatively high closing force at the end of the closing movement despite the spring being less deformed in the first position than in the second position. The cam transmission may therefore serve to counteract the natural function (i.e. providing a force proportional to the deformation) of the spring. By means of the cam transmission, the latching force on the access member part can be made relatively high when the spring force is relatively low.

The arrangement may further comprise an electromagnetic generator arranged to be driven to generate electric energy by movement of the movable element between the first position and the second position. When the generator is driven to generate electric energy, movements of the access member part can be braked. Moreover, the generator enables various smartness functions to be integrated into the arrangement and eliminates the need for external hardwiring. The generator may be arranged to be driven to harvest electric energy at least from the closing movement, such as from each of the opening movement and the closing movement.

The generator may comprise a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be driven to rotate relative to the stator by movement of the movable element between the first position and the second position to thereby generate electric energy. The arrangement may further comprise a rotatable pulley and a flexible elongated element arranged to rotationally drive the pulley. In this case, the movable element may be fixed to the elongated element, and the pulley may be arranged to drive the generator. The elongated element may engage the pulley by means of teeth on the elongated element and on the pulley or by means of friction.

The elongated element enables an even more compact design of the arrangement. Moreover, the elongated element enables design flexibility and a silent operation of the arrangement.

During opening of the access member, the movable element moves from the first position to the second position against the force of the forcing device and drives the elongated element in a first direction. The elongated element in turn drives the generator. During closing of the access member, the forcing device forces the movable element from the second position to the first position. During this movement, the movable element forces the elongated element in a second direction, opposite to the first direction. The generator may be driven to harvest electric energy when the elongated element moves in the second direction, or when the elongated element moves in the first direction and in the second direction.

The elongated element may for example be a belt, a wire, a rope or a chain. The movable element may comprise an attachment part to which the elongated element can be directly connected.

The elongated element may be arranged in a closed loop. This enables the access member to be stopped and held at any position between the closed position and the open position. The attachment part may be arranged inside the loop.

The arrangement may further comprise a generator transmission arranged to transmit a rotation of the pulley to a rotation of the generator. The generator transmission may be a speed increasing transmission. In this case, the generator transmission transmits a first rotational speed of the pulley to a second rotational speed of the generator, higher than the first rotational speed. The generator transmission may comprise a plurality of gear wheels in series, such as spur gears, and/or a planetary gearing. The elongated element in combination with the speed increasing generator transmission enables a rating of the generator to be kept low. The arrangement may further comprise a control system configured to control an electric load of the generator. In this way, the access member part can be braked as desired and the closing movement of the access member part can accurately controlled. By braking the access member part by controlling the electric load of the generator, a dedicated brake device can be omitted. The design of the arrangement can thereby be made smaller and more compact. The arrangement may however optionally comprise a brake device, such as a friction brake device, in addition to the generator.

The control system may comprise various smartness functions. For example, the control system may comprise reading electronics arranged to communicate wirelessly with an external device, such as a mobile phone. The wireless communication may for example be carried out by means of BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) or RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). In this way, various settings of the arrangement, in particular the electric load of the generator to brake the access member part, can be controlled via an application in a mobile phone.

The control system may be configured to control the braking of the closing movement in dependence of the speed of the closing movement. A heavier braking may be applied for higher speeds and less heavy braking, or no braking at all, may be applied for lower speeds. The speed of the closing movement may be determined in various ways, for example based on a rotational speed of the rotor.

The control system may comprise at least one data processing device and at least one memory having at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one computer program comprising program code which, when executed by the at least one data processing device, causes the at least one data processing device to perform, or command performance of, various steps as described herein.

The control system may be electrically powered by the generator. Also an optional brake device, in addition to the generator, may be electrically powered by the generator.

The generator may be constituted by an electric machine that is also configured to operate as an electric motor. In this case, the motor/generator can drive the access member part from the closed position to the open position. However, the rating of the electric machine can be substantially lower in an access member system implementation if this functionality is omitted. Thus, the electric machine may only operate as a generator, and not as a motor.

The arrangement may further comprise an electric energy storage. The energy storage may store electric energy generated by the generator and may electrically power the control system. The movable element may be linearly movable between the first position and the second position. The movable element may be linearly movable in a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis.

The frame part may be elongated and have a longitudinal axis. In this case, the movable element may be linearly movable in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis. The straight section of the cam profile may be parallel with the longitudinal axis in the closed position.

The forcing device may comprise a spring. The spring may be a coil spring, such as a tension coil spring. A first end of the spring may be fixed to the movable element, e.g. to the attachment part thereof. A second end of the spring may be fixed to the stationary structure of the frame part. The spring may enclose the elongated element.

According to a second aspect, there is provided an access member system comprising the frame, the access member and an arrangement according to the first aspect. In this case, the frame part may be fixed to the frame and the access member part may be fixed to the access member. The access member may be a door leaf. Further examples of access members include hatches and windows.

The movable element may be linearly movable in parallel with the frame between the first position and the second position. The straight section of the cam profile may be parallel with a main extension plane of the access member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further details, advantages and aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1: schematically represents a front perspective view of an access member system comprising a frame, an access member in a closed position and an arrangement for closing the access member; Fig. 2: schematically represents a front perspective view of the access member system when the access member is in an open position; Fig. 3: schematically represents a front perspective view of the arrangement; Fig. 4: schematically represents a partial front perspective view of the arrangement; Fig. 5: schematically represents a side perspective view of the arrangement; and Fig. 6: schematically represents a generator and a control system. Detailed Description

In the following, an arrangement for closing an access member rotatable relative to a frame, and an access member system comprising a frame, an access member and such arrangement, will be described. The same or similar reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar structural features.

Fig. 1 schematically represents a front perspective view of an access member system 10. The access member system 10 comprises a frame 12 and an access member, here exemplified as a door leaf 14. The door leaf 14 is rotatable relative to the frame 12 about a hinge axis 16. The hinge axis 16 is vertical in this example.

The access member system 10 further comprises an arrangement 18 for closing the door leaf 14. The arrangement 18 of this example is thus a door closer.

The arrangement 18 comprises a frame part 20 fixed to the frame 12. The frame part 20 is here fixed to the frame 12 above the door leaf 14.

The arrangement 18 further comprises an access member part 22 fixed to the door leaf 14. The access member part 22 is thereby also rotatable relative to the frame 12 about the hinge axis 16. The arrangement 18 further comprises a movable element 24 movable relative to the frame part 20. The movable element 24 protrudes out from the frame part 20. The movable element 24 here provides the only connection between the frame part 20 and the access member part 22. In Fig. 1, each of the door leaf 14 and the access member part 22 fixed thereto is in a closed position 26. The movable element 24 is in a first position 28.

Each of the access member part 22 and the movable element 24 comprises a flat and rigid plate. The plates are horizontal and parallel.

The frame part 20 of this example comprises a box-shaped housing 30. The movable element 24 here protrudes out from the housing 30. The housing 30 is elongated and has a longitudinal axis 32. The longitudinal axis 32 is perpendicular to the hinge axis 16. The housing 30 is one example of a stationary structure.

Fig. 2 schematically represents a front perspective view of the access member system 10 when each of the door leaf 14 and the access member part 22 is in an open position 34 and the movable element 24 is in a second position 36.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the door leaf 14 and the access member part 22 move from the closed position 26 to the open position 34 by an opening movement 38. Conversely, the door leaf 14 and the access member part 22 move from the open position 34 to the closed position 26 by a closing movement 40.

When the access member part 22 moves from the closed position 26 to the open position 34, the movable element 24 moves relative to the frame part 20 from the first position 28 to the second position 36. The movable element 24 moves linearly in a horizontal direction parallel with the frame 12 between the first position 28 and the second position 36. In the second position 36, the movable element 24 is closer to the hinge axis 16 than in the first position 28. The plates of the access member part 22 and the movable element 24 here overlap in each of the first position 28 and the second position 36. Fig. 3 schematically represents a front perspective view of the arrangement 18. As shown, the arrangement 18 further comprises a cam transmission 42. The cam transmission 42 comprises a cam profile 44 and a cam follower 46. The cam profile 44 is here exemplified as a groove in the access member part 22. The cam profile 44 lies in a horizontal plane. The cam follower 46 is here exemplified as a roller in the movable element 24. The roller is rotatable about a vertical axis and engages in the cam profile 44. The cam follower 46 is thereby arranged to follow and move along the cam profile 44. When the movable element 24 moves from the second position 36 to the first position 28, the movable element 24 pulls the cam follower 46 to move along the cam profile 44 to force the access member part 22 to undergo the closing movement 40. The cam transmission 42 is thereby configured to transmit a movement of the movable element 24 from the second position 36 to the first position 28 to a movement of the access member part 22 from the open position 34 to the closed position 26.

As shown in Fig. 3, the cam transmission 42 is here arranged entirely outside of the frame part 20. The cam profile 44 of this example comprises a straight section 48 and a curved section 50. In the closed position 26, the cam follower 46 is positioned in the end of the curved section 50. In the open position 34, the cam follower 46 is positioned in the straight section 48.

The curved section 50 faces away from the frame part 20 in the closed position 26. The straight section 48 is here parallel with a main extension plane of the door leaf 14, and parallel with the longitudinal axis 32.

Fig. 4 schematically represents a partial front perspective view of the arrangement 18. The view in Fig. 4 differs from Fig. 3 in that the housing 30 has been removed. As shown in Fig. 4, the arrangement 18 further comprises a spring 52. The spring 52 is arranged to force the movable element 24 from the second position 36 to the first position 28. The spring 52 is one example of a forcing device according to the present disclosure. Fig. 4 further shows that the movable element 24 comprises an attachment part 54. The attachment part 54 is arranged inside the housing 30.

The spring 52 of this specific example is a tension coil spring. One end (the left end in Fig. 4) of the spring 52 is fixed to the attachment part 54, and the other end (the right end in Fig. 4) of the spring 52 is fixed to the housing 30. The spring 52 is arranged inside the housing 30.

The arrangement 18 further comprises an electromagnetic generator 56. The generator 56 is arranged to be driven by movements of the movable element 24 from the first position 28 to the second position 36, and from the second position 36 to the first position 28, to harvest electric energy. To this end, the arrangement 18 of this specific example further comprises a generator transmission 58, a rotatable first pulley 60, a rotatable second pulley 62 and a flexible elongated element, here exemplified as a belt 64.

The belt 64 is wound in a closed loop around the first pulley 60 and the second pulley 62. The movement of the belt 64 drives the first pulley 60 and the second pulley 62 to rotate. The attachment part 54 of the movable element 24 is arranged inside the loop and is fixed to one side of the belt 64.

The generator transmission 58 transmits a rotation of the first pulley 60 to a rotation of a rotor of the generator 56. The generator transmission 58 is a speed increasing transmission such that the rotor rotates faster than the first pulley 60. The generator transmission 58 of this example comprises a plurality of serial spur gears. The generator transmission 58 may alternatively comprise a planetary gearing.

The arrangement 18 further comprises a control system 66 and an electric energy storage 68. The energy storage 68 may comprise a battery and/or a capacitor. The energy storage 68 stores electric energy generated by the generator 56. The control system 66 is electrically powered by the energy storage 68. The generator 56 is thereby arranged to electrically power the control system 66 without the need of external hardwiring. Each of the first pulley 60, the second pulley 62, the belt 64, the generator transmission 58, the generator 56, the control system 66 and the energy storage 68 are also arranged inside the housing 30.

Fig. 5 schematically represents a side perspective view of the arrangement 18. In Fig. 5, it can more clearly be seen that the straight section 48 is positioned between the frame part 20 and the cam follower 46 in the closed position 26. Moreover, the roller of the cam follower 46 can more clearly be seen. Fig. 5 further shows that the roller of the cam follower 46 is rotatable about a roller axis 70 parallel with the hinge axis 16. Fig. 6 schematically represents the generator 56 and the control system 66. In Fig. 6, the rotor 72 and a stator 74 of the generator 56 can be seen. The control system 66 of the specific example in Fig. 6 comprises power management electronics 76 and a microcontroller 78. The microcontroller 78 comprises a data processing device 80 and a memory 82. A computer program is stored in the memory 82. The computer program comprises program code which, when executed by the data processing device 80 causes the data processing device 80 to perform, or command performance of, various steps as described herein.

The power management electronics 76 in Fig. 6 comprises energy harvesting electronics including an electric energy storage, here exemplified as a capacitor 84, and four diodes 86 arranged in a diode bridge. The diodes 86 are arranged to rectify the voltage from the generator 56.

The arrangement 18 further comprises a disconnection switch 88 and a shorting switch 90. The disconnection switch 88 and the shorting switch 90 are examples of control elements. The disconnection switch 88 and the shorting switch 90 are electrically powered by the generator 56.

Each of the disconnection switch 88 and the shorting switch 90 is controlled by the control system 66, more specifically by the microcontroller 78. Fig. 6 further shows a positive line 92 and a ground line 94. The positive line 92 and the ground line 94 are connected to respective terminals of the generator 56. In this example, the disconnection switch 88 is provided on the positive line 92. Each of the disconnection switch 88 and the shorting switch 90 may be implemented using a transistor, such as a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor). The disconnection switch 88 is arranged to selectively disconnect the generator 56. When the disconnection switch 88 is open, the electric resistance becomes high, and the first pulley 60 rotates lightly, in comparison with when the first pulley 60 is rotated to harvest electric energy.

The shorting switch 90 is arranged to selectively short-circuiting the terminals of the generator 56 over an electric resistor 96. When the shorting switch 90 is closed, the harvested electric energy is converted to heat in the resistor 96. The first pulley 60 thereby rotates heavily in comparison with when the first pulley 60 is rotated to harvest electric energy. Thus, when the shorting switch 90 is closed, a high counter torque is provided in the generator 56, making the rotor 72 heavy to rotate by rotation of the first pulley 60.

By selectively controlling the disconnection switch 88 and the shorting switch 90, the control system 66 can selectively change an electric load of the generator 56 in order to brake movements of the door leaf 14. The arrangement 18 of this example does not comprise any friction brake for braking movements of the door leaf 14.

When the door leaf 14 is opened by a user, the access member part 22 follows the door leaf 14 in the opening movement 38. The cam transmission 42 transmits the opening movement 38 to a movement of the movable element 24 from the first position 28 to the second position 36 against the force of the spring 52. During the opening movement 38, electric energy is harvested by the generator 56.

When the door leaf 14 is released by the user in the open position 34, the spring 52 forces the door leaf 14 to close. In this implementation, the spring 52 pulls the movable element 24 to move from the second position 36 to the first position 28. Electric energy is harvested by this movement of the movable element 24. The movement of the movable element 24 is transmitted by the cam transmission 42 to the closing movement 40 of the access member part 22 and the door leaf 14. By controlling the generator 56, the closing movement 40 can be braked or stopped at any position. At the end of the closing movement 40, the curved cam profile 44 provides an increased latching force to the door leaf 14 despite the spring 52 being less deformed closed to the first position 28 than in the second position 36. The spring 52 and the cam transmission 42 can be designed to provide a desired force profile for the opening movement 38 and closing movement 40 of the door leaf 14.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to what has been described above. For example, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the parts may be varied as needed. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention may be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.