Door operator armature connections

Abstract

An exemplary door control assembly includes a door control and an armature assembly. The door control includes a body and a pinion rotatably mounted to the body for rotation about a rotational axis. The pinion has a radially-outer periphery and a recess is formed in the radially-outer periphery. The armature assembly comprises an armature and a coupler. The armature is rotationally coupled with the pinion, and includes an opening in which the pinion is received. The coupler is movably mounted to the armature for movement between a coupling position and a decoupling position. With the coupler in the coupling position, the coupler projects into the recess and axially couples the armature and the pinion to prevent removal of the armature from the pinion. With the coupler in the decoupling position, the coupler axially decouples the armature and the pinion to permit removal of the armature from the pinion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A door control assembly, comprising:
 a door control, comprising:
 a body; and 
 a pinion rotatably mounted to the body for rotation about a rotational axis, the pinion having a radially-outer periphery and a recess formed in the radially-outer periphery; and 
   an armature assembly, comprising:
 an armature rotationally coupled with the pinion, the armature including an opening in which the pinion is received; and 
 a coupler movably mounted to the armature for movement between a coupling position and a decoupling position; 
   wherein, with the coupler in the coupling position, the coupler projects into the recess and axially couples the armature and the pinion to prevent removal of the armature from the pinion; and   wherein, with the coupler in the decoupling position, the coupler axially decouples the armature and the pinion to permit removal of the armature from the pinion.   
     
     
         2 . The door control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler is biased toward the coupling position. 
     
     
         3 . The door control assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a clamping collar including the coupler and a collar portion, the collar portion including a pair of arms operable to elastically deform the clamping collar to thereby move the coupler between the coupling position and the decoupling position. 
     
     
         4 . The door control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises a lever arm configured to facilitate manual movement of the coupler between the coupling position and the decoupling position. 
     
     
         5 . The door control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises an annular canted coil spring;
 wherein the recess comprises a retaining groove;   wherein the pinion further comprises a removal groove positioned between the retaining groove and the body;   wherein with the annular canted coil spring engaged with the retaining groove, movement of the armature in a first direction away from the body is prevented; and   wherein with the annular canted coil spring engaged with the removal groove, movement of the armature in the first direction away from the body is permitted.   
     
     
         6 . The door control assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a removable spacer seated positioned between the armature and the body and configured to prevent movement of the armature in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
 wherein removal of the spacer enables the annular canted coil spring to travel out of engagement with the retaining groove and into engagement with the removal groove.   
     
     
         7 . The door control assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler is operable to be manually moved from the coupling position to the decoupling position without requiring the use of a tool. 
     
     
         8 . An armature assembly configured for use with a door control comprising a pinion having an outer cross-section, the armature assembly comprising:
 an armature including a first end portion and an opposite second end portion;   an opening defined in the first end portion of the armature, the opening having an inner cross-section corresponding to the outer cross-section such that the opening is operable to receive the pinion to rotationally couple the armature with the pinion; and   a coupler movably mounted to the first end portion of the armature for movement between a coupling position and a decoupling position;   wherein with the coupler in the coupling position, the coupler projects into the opening and is operable to axially couple the armature with the pinion; and   wherein with the coupler in the decoupling position, the coupler is inoperable to axially couple the armature with the pinion.   
     
     
         9 . The armature assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the coupler comprises a pin comprising an enlarged-diameter portion and a reduced-diameter portion;
 wherein with the coupler in the coupling position, the enlarged-diameter portion projects into the opening; and   wherein with the coupler in the decoupling position, the reduced-diameter portion is aligned with the opening.   
     
     
         10 . The armature assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the coupler comprises a horseshoe member comprising a first leg and a second leg;
 wherein the first leg comprises the pin;   wherein the second leg comprises a second pin;   wherein the second pin comprises a second enlarged-diameter portion and a second reduced-diameter portion;   wherein with the coupler in the coupling position, the second enlarged-diameter portion projects into the opening; and   wherein with the coupler in the decoupling position, the second reduced-diameter portion is aligned with the opening.   
     
     
         11 . The armature assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the coupler comprises an annular canted coil spring. 
     
     
         12 . The armature assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a blocking ring rotatably mounted to the armature and a locking mechanism mounted to the armature;
 wherein the blocking ring has a blocking position in which the blocking ring retains the coupler in the coupling position;   wherein the blocking ring has an unblocking position in which the coupler is operable to move to the decoupling position in response to rotation of the pinion; and   wherein the lock mechanism is operable to move the blocking ring between the blocking position and the unblocking position.   
     
     
         13 . The armature assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the lock mechanism comprises:
 an adapter including an adapter recess sized and shaped for mating engagement with a projection of a magnetic key;   a gear component engaged with a toothed portion of the blocking ring; and   a magnetic coupler selectively coupling the adapter and the gear component, the magnetic coupler having a first position in which the adapter and the gear component are rotationally decoupled, and the magnetic coupler having a second position in which the magnetic coupler rotationally couples the adapter and the gear component; and   wherein the magnetic coupler is biased toward the first position and is configured to move to the second position in response to insertion of the projection into the adapter recess.   
     
     
         14 . The armature assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the coupler is biased toward the coupling position. 
     
     
         15 . A system including the armature assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the coupler is formed of a ferromagnetic material;
 wherein the system further comprises a removal tool comprising a magnet; and   wherein when the removal tool is placed adjacent the first end portion of the armature, the magnet drives the coupler to the decoupling position against the urging of the biasing mechanism.   
     
     
         16 . A door control assembly comprising the armature assembly of  claim 8 , and further comprising the door control; and
 wherein the armature is selectively axially coupled with the pinion by the coupler.   
     
     
         17 . A door control configured for use with an armature assembly including an armature and a coupler movably mounted to the armature, the door control comprising:
 a body portion; and   a pinion rotatably mounted to the body portion for rotation about a rotational axis, the pinion comprising a radially-outer periphery including at least one recess operable to receive the coupler to axially couple the pinion with the armature.   
     
     
         18 . The door control of  claim 17 , wherein the pinion has a polygonal outer cross-section, and wherein each recess is aligned with a corresponding and respective vertex of the polygonal outer cross-section. 
     
     
         19 . The door control of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one recess comprises a plurality of recesses that are evenly spaced about the outer periphery. 
     
     
         20 . A door control assembly comprising the door control of  claim 17 , and further comprising the armature assembly, wherein the armature is selectively axially coupled with the pinion by the coupler.