AU687130B2

AU687130B2 - Process for operating a revolving door

Info

Publication number: AU687130B2
Application number: AU11057/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jurgen Stark
Original assignee: Dorma Deutschland GmbH
Current assignee: Dorma Deutschland GmbH
Priority date: 1994-02-02
Filing date: 1994-12-08
Publication date: 1998-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 2014-12-08
Also published as: CN1116438A; PL310952A1; EP0692059B1; NO951584D0; DK0692059T3; ES2080713T3; AU1105795A; HUT72216A; EP0692059A1; CA2159196A1; CN1098962C; HU214666B; NO951584L; ES2080713T1; HU9501124D0; SK120195A3; ATE169985T1; NO304498B1; DE59406738D1; WO1995021311A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for operating a revolving door in which an electric motor provides assistance in that the manual force exerted by a person on a wing is reduced by one DELTA v and thus the person using the door need exert only limited force.

Description

METHOD FOR OPERATING A REVOLVING DOOR The present invention relates to a method for operating a revolving door, whose door wings are powered by an electromotor and which is controlled or regulated by a microprocessor or monitoring device with respect to its drive and speed characteristics, wherein the electromotor does not apply the entire drive force, but rather only part thereof, while the person passing through the door has to exert force thereon by constant contact with the revolving door, which is not applied by the electromotor, in order to maintain the revolving speed of the revolving door.

The revolving speed of the revolving door is normally measured by an incremental measuring device. The centrally supported revolving door wings are positioned inside two cylindrical walls which are generally interrupted by diametrically opposed entrance and exit. A required safety 1o electronic device, such as sensors and the like, which are usually present, is indispensable for danger-free operation of such a revolving door.

For the safety of users a sensory mechanism is normally required for the revolving doors operated by an electromotor, according to construction circumstances. In particular this can be switch mats, sensor strips, light curtains, infrared and radar detectors and photoelectric barriers.

All these sensors allow trouble-free operation of this type of revolving door. If, however, such safety sensory mechanisms are more and more being built into revolving doors, and so it may eventuate that on account of the different safety systems a door is somewhat interrupted in its actual functioning, in other words, the revolving door has to be switched off in an emergency, necessitating manual switching of the door by appropriately trained personnel.

A revolving door of the abovedescribed type is disclosed in European Patent 0 340 771 Al.

The separate door wings attached at a central point are powered by a drive motor.

German Patent document 39 34 662 discloses a revolving door which is provided with a safety switch and an electrical braking or locking flywheel mass. A control fitted with a programmable microprocessor controls the sequence of the door and also ensures that the safety sensors and devices guarantee trouble-free operation of the door.

Apart from the abovedescribed revolving doors there are also those which are not fitted with a drive motor. These manually operated revolving doors are generally restricted in their circumference, as users have to set the revolving doors in motion manually using their own force.

Elderly or handicapped persons in particular can achieve this only with strenuous effor;, or not 1. ,I 'BLX)J(,(SV'd' I(9 tl 1NI -2at all. On account of the lack of dangers, these manually operated revolving doors do not have any sort of safety device, and are also severely limited in their structural dimensions.

The object of the present invention is to develop an operating method for controlling or regulating a motor-driven revolving door which for the user obviates the need for safety sensors or safety devices which are otherwise generally necessary for operation of such a door. Another basic requisite is that this revolving door must be accessible also to handicapped persons or to elderly people without much personal strength.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a method for operating a revolving door, whose door wings are powered by an electromotor and which is controlled or regulated by V a microprocessor or monitoring device with respect to its drive and speed characteristics and Swhose rotary characteristics are detected by an incremental measuring device, wherein: a) the door wings of the revolving door are set in motion by a manually applied force, b) an acceleration force generated by movement of the door wings is detected, or the peripheral speed of the door wings is detected, by the incremental measuring device and conveyed to the microprocessor, 20 c) the microprocessor calculates a rotary speed required for the electromotor, which is 5less by Av than a rotary speed corresponding to the manually applied acceleration force, or the peripheral speed of the door wings generated by the manual force.

In another aspect, there is provided a method for operating a revolving door, whose door wings are powered by an electromotor and which is controlled or regulated by a microprocessor or monitoring device with respect to its drive and speed characteristics and whose rotary characteristics are detected by an incremental measuring device, characterised by the following features: a) the door wings of the revolving door are set in motion by a releasable control signal, b) following the initial movement of the door wings a force directed in the direction of I II I""I I I~ 11197 2a the movement must be exerted on at least one of the door wings, c) the acceleration force generated by the movement of the door wings is detected or the peripheral speed of the door wings is detected by the incremental measuring device and conveyed to the microprocessor.

d) the microprocessor calculates a rotary speed required for the electromotor which is less by Av than the rotary speed corresponding to the manually applied acceleration force, or the peripheral speed of the door wings generated by the manual force.

The result of this manual force is that the door wing is set in motion and an acceleration force is conveyed to the microprocessor/regulator through the measuring results of the incremental measuring device. It is through this that the microprocessor control recognises that a revolving speed of the wings is present, so it in turn now ensures that the electromotor drive 15 supplies support to this revolving speed. This support is understood to mean that the microprocessor/regulator calculates from the measured peripheral speed of the revolving doors or from the acceleration force of the revolving doors caused by the manual force (operating force) of a person a support speed v, which is less by an amount Av than the peripheral speed The following formula results for the support speed v, of the revolving 20 doors: a* V, Vni -AV S" The overall speed of the revolving doors is made up of the support speeo v by the Selectromotor and the difference Av for manual force and thus the speed Vm of the revolving door, whereby, following the brief start-up period of the revolving doors, the user has to apply only the essentially minimum force which corresponds to the speed Av. Accordingly, it can be said that the manual force is proportional to the speed Av. In the case of a large force the speed of the revolving doors is considerable, while it is minimal with a small force.

This interrelationship makes it clear that the overall peripheral speed of the revolving doors is dependent on the components of the manual speed and of the support speed from the electromotor. These prerequisites prevent the door wing from drifting away from the user, as constant contact with the door wing is necessary to keep it in motion.

-II In order to create a regulating method, in which the electromotor supplies a support mode, it is necessary for the peripheral speed, detected by the incremental measuring device, of door wings to be detected and be processed in the microprocessor/control in accordance with a selected operating program.

It becomes clear that is always under the manual speed The value of is adjustable, whereby it is possible to regulate or control the revolving door according to its point of installation to the effect that a corresponding support mode for the user predominates; this may be especially necessary in the case of doors having differing diameters.

Figure 1 shows the schematic progress of the speed of the door wings over time.

The action of force on at least one of the door wings sets them in motion. On account of starting ramp 8 set in the microprocessor/control, the speed rises to point 3. However, the overall speed is exerted not only through the action of force by the person, but also by the electromotor which its portion of the overall speed with curved path 4 Only the remainder of the support speed v, of the overall speed is applied by the user as Av. If the force of the user does not increase, the curved path transfers form the region of starting ramp 8 to a uniform straight speed of the door wings, namely motion speed 9. This speed is maintained long enough for the force on the door wing to be increased. The result of this is that at point 10 the overall speed drops, because support from the user is no longer there. In this instance point I becomes the intersection of speeds 9 and 4, and the speed of the door wings drops to zero on account of exit ramp 7 set in the microprocessor/control. This reduction after exit ramp 7 is imitated by the exit of the door wings of a purely manual revolving door.

If the energy content of the surfaces under the curved path is observed, it is shown that the kinetic energy of drive 5 is greater by a multiple than the kinetic energy of person 6. The drive does not therefore deliver the full required power, rather it just lends support.

In an existing door Av is constant and can be given in percentages of the peripheral speed of the door wings, which is to be applied manually, and can be deposited in a permanent memory so as to be able to be processed according to the selected operating program. Independently of the peripheral speed of the door wings by manual force, the support speed of the electromotor is a fixed amount of the overall speed, so that with both low and high peripheral speeds of the door wings the speed difference is always given and due to the constant contact on the individual door wings the door does not drift away from the user. Following the brief starting phase, when a greater force has to be expended, a lesser force is then required to move the wing than in the normal case with purely manually operated revolving doors. All the same, the person pushing on the door determines how fast the doors are to move. On the basis of the inventive idea, support of the momentary speed is given by the electromotor which, however, is always under the manually required or desired rotary speed of the door wings. This support mode represents an operating comfort for the user traffic, in that only minimal force has to be expended to operate the door wings.

As an alternative t tthe abovedescribed method, setting a stationary revolving door in motion can be triggered by means of a contact, a switch, keys, detection of force by wire strain gauges or some other appropriate electrical or electronic sensor mechanism. The pressure contact must 1o be present on the door wing itself.

With this type of operating method for a revolving door it is necessary that the users maintain constant contact with the door wings during the rotary movement of the doors. If the direct contact is broken, then the speed of the door wings diminishes and they drift away. The solution to this is provided by a braking curve or exit ramp being deposited in a memory, which imitates the drift of a door operated by hand.

With constant force exerted on the door wing, the latter moves at a consistent speed. If this force and thus the speed is increased, the Av also remains the same, that is, greater support is leant by the electromotor. If the manual support diminishes, the motor support is switched off.

A revolving door which is operated according to the abovedescribed operating method can be operated for people without safety mechanisms. The peripheral speed is determined only by th, user, that is, if several people arc inside the cabinet between the door wings, the rotary speed of the door wings is determined by the person who exerts the greatest force on the door wing in front of him/her. It is also possible for another person, for whom the peripheral speed is too great, to apply a braking effect by retention of the door wing in front of him/her and thereby to altogether reduce the peripheral speed of the door wings. The inventive idea of this operating method accordingly represents not only speed control on the basis of the walking speed of the user, but also a door wing contact between this user and the door wing must dominate at the same time. This is equivalent to a manual revolving door.

With the sensor mechanism present in a revolving door there must be a differentiation between a sensor mechanism for normal operating of a door and the so-called safety sensor mechanism. In this instance the working sensor mechanism is a tachometer generator or incremental measuring device which is used to measure the peripheral speed of the door wings.

I1IIIIII~ L Ix~V'DO(S~M I'MiI('IS~fI~lgIII 12111197 The safety r mechanism is required for the safety of the users who pass through a normal revolving door. This may be, in particular, light curtains, infrared detectors, contact mats, sensor strips, radar detectors and the like. All these safety mechanisms add enormous expense to the revolving door. So whenever it is possible to dispense with these, at the same time with risk-free use of such a door using the operating method according to the present invention, a cost-effective alternative is presented to the operator of a door operated by this method.

It is also conceivable for a user to release a switch, a key or a sensor to set the door in motion from a standstill. With respect to this, it is imperative to make contact with one of the door wings so that the force and thus the peripheral speed of the door wings can be detected for support of the drive.

SThroughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", 15 or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" or the term "includes" or variations thereof, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any other elements or integers. In this regard, in construing the claim scope, an embodiment where one or more features is added to any of the claim is to be regarded as within the scope of the invention given that the essential 20 features of the invention as claimed are included in such an embodiment.

S

Claims

1. A method for operating a revolving door, whose door wings are powered by an electromotor and which is controlled or regulated by a microprocessor or monitoring device with respect to its drive and speed characteristics and whose rotary characteristics are detected by an incremental measuring device, wherein: a) the door wings of the revolving door are set in motion by a manually applied force, b) an acceleration force generated by movement of the door wings is detected, or the peripheral speed of the door wings is detected, by the incremental measuring device and conveyed to the microprocessor, S c) the microprocessor calculates a rotary speed required for the electromotor, which is less by Av than a rotary speed corresponding to the manually applied acceleration force, or the peripheral speed of the door wings generated by the manual force.

2. Method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the electromotor speed is maintained as long as a manual force is exerted on the door wings. S 20

3. Method as claimed in Claim 2, wherein following a drop in the manual force the door wings come to a standstill by means of a ramped decrease in the rotary speed for the electromotor, given by the microprocessor.

4. Method as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the ramped decrease in the rotary speed is effective in imitating door wings of a manually operated revolving door coming to a standstill after removal of a corresponding manual force.

Method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein Av is adjustable by means of the electromotor.

6. Method as claimed in any one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein there is no additional safety sensor mechanism present on the revolving door. I L- IC I II W I'DOCNIN WIVS III VV ,J I IOV DI I 121,111W -7-

7. Method for operating a revolving door, whose door wings are powered by an electromotor and which is controlled or regulated by a microprocessor or monitoring device with respect to its drive and speed characteristics and whose rotary characteristics are detected by an incremental measuring device, characterised by the following features: a) the door wings of the revolving door are set in motion by a releasable control signal, b) following the initial movement of the door wings a force directed in the direction of the movement must be exerted on at least one of the door wings, c) the acceleration force generated by the movement of the door wings is detected or the peripheral speed of the door wings is detected by the incremental measuring device and conveyed to the microprocessor. d) the microprocessor calculates a rotary speed required for the electromotor which is S 15 less by Av than the rotary speed corresponding to the manually applied acceleration force, or the peripheral speed of the door wings generated by the manual force.

8. A method for operating a revolving door substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 12th day of November 1997 DORMA GMBH CO KG By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Summa ry The present invention relates to an operating method for a revolving door, wherein there is a support mode present by means of an electromotor which provides support in such a form the manual force applied to a door wing by a user is reduced by Av, necessitating only minimal force to be expended by the user.