EP0292361A1 - Lock with an electrically operated unlocking mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

1. An electric lock comprising on the one hand a housing containing a locking bolt and on the other hand a strike intended for receiving said bolt in a closed-door position, said bolt comprising a sliding connecting member with a cocking mechanism contained in the bolt housing and which comprises : - an actuator (14) slidable through the front face of the bolt housing along the axis of a sleeve (10) slidably movable in parallel to the bolt ; - a locking lever (32) pivoted about a transverse rocking axis (33) perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve (10) and having a portion forming a retaining hook (31) cooperating with a step (30) formed on the outside of said sleeve (10) ; and - electromagnetic means (38) for releasing said locking lever (32) from said sleeve (10) on request, thereby causing said bolt (2) to be driven inwardly into said bolt housing (A) ; characterized in that the rocking motion of the locking lever (32) of the actuator (14) acts against the movable contact member (39) of a first micro-switch (40) which causes an electric motor and reduction gear unit (29) mounted in the bolt housing (A) to become energized via a timer, said motor unit driving a rotating disc (27) carried on the shaft (28) of said motor and carrying an eccentric pin (26) adapted for pushing a movable piston (24) acting upon said sleeve (10) while compressing a spring (12) and simultaneously causing said locking bolt (2) to move back outside of the bolt housing (A).

Description

The present invention relates to an electric lock where the locking of the bolt inside its keeper is carried out automatically when the door is closed, at the same time as it puts a mechanism on hold momentary unlocking, the latter being implemented on demand by an electromagnetic assembly operating, either by current pulse, or on the contrary by power cut.

Numerous lock embodiments are already known where the strike plate or the bolt respectively are controlled by an electrically actuated mechanism. In particular, in the case of an electric strike, a pivoting shutter actuated by an electromagnet is generally maintained in a position where it locks the bolt once it is engaged in this strike, under the action of a spring which repels this bolt when closing the door which supports the body of the lock. If the door is pushed without the shutter having been previously released, the latch abuts on this shutter and cannot authorize the opening of the door. On the other hand, if a current is sent into the electromagnet, it allows the flap to pivot under the push of the bolt, then releasing the lock and allowing the door to open. Depending on the case, the operation of the system is controlled by a current pulse which brings the shutter into the open position until the door has been operated, or alternatively by a current passing through the electromagnet via a time delay arranged so that the flap remains in the open position only for a determined period of time when the door can be opened, locking of it occurring beyond, thanks to the return of the flap in its initial position.

In locks using an electric lock, the bolt is generally controlled to open or close by an electromagnet system or by means of an electric motor, driving a worm or a gear, so that the bolt moves in one direction or the other, in order to cause the bolt to move. End-of-travel microswitches reverse the polarities of the motor and its direction of rotation, respectively on opening and closing.

These systems as a whole are generally fragile, expensive and relatively impractical to use. In particular, with an electric strike, the shutter retaining means as well as the shutter itself risk being frequently damaged in the event of a significant push on the door. In addition, this solution requires the installation in the door frame of an electrical system, which is difficult and involves significant installation costs.

FR 2,381,156 describes an electric lock which does not have the drawbacks of these devices. This lock comprises on the one hand a housing containing a transverse locking bolt suitable for projecting out of the front face of the housing under the effect of a spring mounted in the housing and bearing against the bolt, and on the other hand a keeper capable of receiving the bolt in the closed position of the door. The bolt of this lock comprises a sliding connection element with an arming mechanism, housed in the corresponding housing and which comprises:
a movable sheath parallel to the bolt and having a groove in which said sliding connecting element engages,
- an actuator mounted movable across the face front of said bolt housing along the axis of said sheath,
a locking lever, articulated around a transverse tilting axis perpendicular to the axis of said sheath and having a part forming a retaining hook, cooperating with a step formed externally on the sheath,
- And electromagnetic means releasing on demand said locking lever vis-à-vis said sheath, which causes the drive of said bolt inside said bolt housing.

The present invention relates to an electric lock of the same type, but which is designed so as to comprise a certain number of improvements ensuring it indisputable advantages over it both with regard to its operation and its conditions of use .

This lock is characterized in that the tilting of the actuator locking lever acts on the movable contact of a first micro-relay causing the supply through a timer of an electric gear motor mounted in the bolt box , which rotates a circular plate carried by the shaft of said motor and which, by means of a finger fixed eccentrically on said plate, exerts a pushing force on a movable piston acting on said sheath, compressing said first spring at the same time as it produces the return of said bolt out of the bolt housing.

According to another characteristic, the movable contact of said first micro-relay is adapted to tilt said locking lever in the position of immobilization of the sheath of said actuator, after compression of said first spring and return of said sheath.

Preferably, the bolt box comprises a second micro-relay, actuated by said movable piston of so as to maintain the electrical supply of the gear motor after return of the locking lever by said micro-relay, in order to return said plate to the initial position.

Advantageously, the bolt of the present lock is associated with a lever forming a locking bolt, mounted to pivot about an axis carried by said bolt housing and extending perpendicular to the direction of movement of said bolt, said bolt having its own extension. to engage behind a shoulder of said bolt when the latter protrudes from the housing, the pivoting of said bolt being produced by the cooperation of a bent plate carried by said movable actuator with respect to said sheath with beveled ramps formed in a tongue integral with said lock.

• - La Figure 1 est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'une serrure établie conformément à un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention.
• - La Figure 2 est une vue en coupe transversale de la serrure considérée, selon un plan horizontal schématisé par la ligne II-II de la Figure 1, avec le pêne en posi­tion de verrouillage.
• - La Figure 3 est également une vue en coupe de la serrure considérée, selon la ligne III-III de la Figure 1.
• - Les Figures 4, 5 et 6 sont des vues analogues, respectivement aux Figures 1, 2 et 3, illustrant la même serrure dans la position de déverrouillage du pêne de cette serrure.
• - Les Figures 7, 8 et 9 sont des vues analogues à nouveau aux Figures 1, 2 et 3, mais illustrant uniquement le boîtier de pêne de la serrure, avec les différents éléments qu'il comporte dans une position correspondant à l'ouverture de la porte.
• - Les Figures 10, 11 et 12 sont des vues similaires aux Figures 1, 2 et 3, correspondant à une autre variante de réalisation de la serrure selon l'invention.

Other advantages and characteristics of an electric lock established in accordance with the invention will become more apparent from the following description of several exemplary embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• - Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a lock established in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.
• - Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lock considered, along a horizontal plane shown schematically by the line II-II of Figure 1, with the bolt in the locked position.
• - Figure 3 is also a sectional view of the lock considered, along line III-III of Figure 1.
• - Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 1, 2 and 3 respectively, illustrating the same lock in the unlocking position of the bolt of this lock.
• - Figures 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to new in Figures 1, 2 and 3, but illustrating only the bolt housing of the lock, with the various elements which it comprises in a position corresponding to the opening of the door.
• - Figures 10, 11 and 12 are views similar to Figures 1, 2 and 3, corresponding to another alternative embodiment of the lock according to the invention.

In the example shown in Figures 1 to 9, the lock considered consists mainly of a bolt housing A mounted on the leaf of a door (not shown) and which, in the closed position of this door, is located placed opposite a strike box B.

Inside the housing A is mounted a bolt 2, extended towards its rear part inside the housing, opposite to that which projects out of it in the closed position of the lock, by a guide rod 3 around which is mounted a helical spring 4, pressing against a fixed stop piece 5, immobilized inside the housing A. The bolt 2 has a bore 6, extending perpendicular to the direction of the rod 3 and the interior of which is mounted a screw 7, the lower end of which projects beyond the bolt, so as to engage in a longitudinal groove 9, provided in a sheath 10, arranged parallel under the bolt inside the housing A. This sheath 10 has a bottom 11 at its innermost end of the housing A, against which a return spring 12 rests, itself pressing at its opposite end against a shoulder 13 formed in a part 14, called the actuator. This actuator 14 has a transverse slot 15, inside which is mounted, rotating about an axis 16 perpendicular to the plane of this slot, a caster 17, the latter being capable of rolling during closing the door carrying the housing A on a guide part with a curved profile 18 (see FIG. 2), mounted on one side of the strike housing B.

The actuator 14 has a hollow extension 19, delimiting an internal housing 20 for a second spring 21, bearing on the one hand against the bottom of the housing 20 in the actuator 14 and on the other hand against the end of a fixed stop rod 22, integral with the part 5 immobilized inside the housing A. This rod 22 extends beyond the part 5 towards the opposite bottom of the housing A and is arranged so that it can slide thereon ci a movable piston 23, integral with a push rod 24 around which a return spring 25 is mounted, housed between the piston 23 and the opposite face of the part 5.

This sliding piston 23 is provided to cooperate with a projecting finger 26, provided under a turntable 27, immobilized at the end of the axis 28 of a gear motor 29 mounted inside the housing A.

The sleeve 10 furthermore comprises, in its outer surface, a step or recess 30, inside which a hook part 31 of a locking lever 32, which can be articulated inside the housing, can engage. A around an axis 33. In the position represented in FIG. 4, the locking lever thus blocks in position the sheath 10, the step 30 engaging in the hook 31. In this situation, the locking lever 32 is immobilized by its end 34, opposite the axis 33, which engages in a housing 35 formed at the end of a bar 36, itself pivotally mounted around an axis 37 parallel to the axis 33, this bar 36 being subjected to the action of an electromagnet 38 which attracts it against a small spring (not shown). In the position shown in Figure 1, the bar 36 therefore immobilizes the locking lever 32 which, in turn, blocks the sleeve 10; on the other hand, in the position illustrated in FIG. 4, where the electromagnet 38 has attracted the bar 36 and thus makes it pivot around its axis 37, the housing 35 escapes the end 34 of this bar, in allowing the tilting of the lever 32 pushed back by the sheath 10 subjected to the action of the spring 12, by allowing the latter to move from left to right in the drawing, inside the housing A.

The tilting of the lever 32 simultaneously causes the actuation of the contact 39 of a micro-relay or micro-switch 40, mounted under the lever, this micro-relay 40 controlling the rotation of the gear motor 29. The latter, by driving the plate 27, causes by the lug 26 thereof, the displacement of the movable piston 23, which slides on the fixed rod 22, allowing by the action of its own rod 24, a force on the end of the sleeve 10 to against the spring 12. In this movement, the piston 23 comes, at the end of the stroke, to actuate the contact 41 of a second micro-relay 42, which short-circuits the first micro-relay 40, controlling the actuation a timed relay outside the lock (not shown) which actuates the gear motor 29 at the end of a time set in advance, thereby allowing this gear motor to continue its stroke. Simultaneously, the force exerted by the contact 39 of the first micro-relay 40 on the lever 32, switches the latter towards the sheath 10, which brought back from right to left by the rod 24, allows the lever 32 to return to the position where, by its hook 31, it again blocks the step 30 of this sheath, the actuator 24 and the sheath 10 being returned to the initial position.

The equipment of the bolt box is completed as illustrated in FIG. 3 in particular, by means of an axis 43 around which a second lever or latch 44 is articulated, the end 45 of which is capable of engaging behind a shoulder 46 provided behind the bolt 2, in order to avoid the backward movement of the latter in the locking position of the lever 44. On this lever 44 is also provided a central tongue 47 whose bevelled sides 48 and 49 are capable of cooperating with the end 50 of a bent plate 51, immobilized by a clip 52 on the extension 19 of the actuator 14 so that the movement of the latter, from right to left in the drawing, causes a pushing effect on the tongue 47, by ensuring the pivoting of the lever 44 around its axis 43 and by releasing the bolt 2 which, under these conditions, can be brought back inside the bolt housing A.

The electric lock considered finally comprises a proximity detector 53 mounted inside the strike box B, in order to detect the position of the bolt 2 when the latter is engaged inside its strike, in order to lock the door in position closing. Finally, mounted inside the bolt housing A, a mechanical lock 54 is provided, comprising a barrel 55 and a deadbolt 56, normally retracted, this lock 54 being arranged so that, under the effect of a key (not shown) which controls it, in the direction of withdrawal of the deadbolt 56, the continued rotation of this key determines a complementary limited rotation of a finger or oblique lever 57, the lower end of which 58 then acts on the end of the bar 36 so as to mechanically free it from the locking lever 32 and allow the automatic unlocking of the lock, the bolt 2 being brought immediately inside the housing A.

The operation of the electric lock in the embodiment described above is as follows:

In the position of the various elements of this lock, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the door is locked. Bolt 2 is under these conditions engaged in the strike box B, the sheath 10 disposed under the bolt, being immobilized by the locking lever 32, itself blocked by the bar 36 which engages its housing 35 behind the end 34 of this lever. The lug 8 provided under the bolt 2 is located in the left part of the groove in abutment 9 against the bottom of the latter. The caster 17 of the actuator 14 presses against the edge of the strike box B and compresses the spring 12 between the shoulder 13 of the actuator and the bottom 11 of the sleeve 10. Similarly, the spring 21 is compressed between the bottom of the housing 20 and the fixed rod 22.

If, in this position of the various parts of the lock, an electric current pulse is sent to the electromagnet 38 so that the bar 36 pivots about its axis 37 while being attracted for a short time by the electro -magnet against the small spring (not shown) which keeps it normally apart, the housing 35 provided at the end of the bar will escape the end 34 of the locking lever 32 which therefore, under the effect of the thrust of the sheath 10 swings down around its axis 38 and comes into the separated position, illustrated in FIG. 4, this sheath having moved from left to right being pushed back by the spring 12. In its movement of tilting thus controlled, the lever 32 acts on the contact 39 of the first micro-relay 40, which in turn, through the time delay relay, controls the rotation of the gear motor 29. Note that the displacement thus achieved sheath 10 and actuator 14 drives c elui of the bent plate 51 which by its end 50 acts on the bevelled part 48 of the tongue 47, by lifting the lever 44 which releases the bolt 2.

Simultaneously, in its movement from left to right, the sheath 10 has, via the lug 8, driven the bolt 2 which is no longer blocked by the lever 44 so that it has disappeared inside the housing A, by compressing its return spring 4. The door carrying the lock is then released and can be opened by the user.

According to the invention, the lock is also provided with a security device which allows, when after command to unlock the door in the manner indicated above, it is not operated and then closed within a period of determined time, to automatically cause the recondamnation of this door.

To this end, the rotation of the gear motor 29 allows, through a suitable time delay, the continuation of the drive movement of the turntable 27 and by the lug 26 thereof, of the sliding piston 23, which by moving on the rod 22 compresses the spring 24 while the actuating rod 25 is pressed against the rear part of the sleeve 10 by gradually pushing the latter back and consequently compressing the spring 12.

When the sheath 10 has undergone a suitable displacement from the right to the left, so as to present its step 30 in front of the hook 31, the restoring force exerted by the contact 39 of the micro-relay 40 on this lever 32 is sufficient to raise it which, under these conditions, again blocks the sleeve 10. Simultaneously, the movement from right to left of this sleeve has, via the pin 8 and the groove 9, brought the bolt 2 in the initial position provided that the locking lever 44 has pivoted about its axis 43, this thanks to the action of the bent plate 50, which driven by the extension 19 of the actuator 14 with the sleeve 10, has acted on the transverse tongue 47.

Under these conditions, after the door has been unlocked in the manner indicated, if it is not not open at the end of a determined period of time, measured by the time delay system of the lock, the bolt 2 automatically returns to the initial position where it closes the door again, all the parts of the lock being returned to the situation illustrated in Figure 1.

On the other hand if, after unlocking the door, it is open, it is clear that the process implemented and in particular the driving of the movable plate 26 through the time delay by the gear motor 29 due to the closing of micro-relay 42, has the consequence, as specified above, of the bolt 2 leaving its housing A, at the same time as that of the actuator 14, in the position illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9. In these conditions, when the door is then brought back against the strike box B, in order to be closed again, the caster 16 of the actuator 14 rolls on the curved guide piece 18, fixed on the case B so as to produce a reverse thrust on the actuator 14 which compresses the spring 21 mounted inside its housing 20 in the extension 19, in a way arming this spring 21 and allowing the next pulse sent to the electromagnet 38, again to unlock the door and then re subsequent conviction according to the indicated process.

Figures 10 to 12 schematically illustrate an alternative embodiment of the electric lock in question, in the various positions of its parts corresponding to those illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 respectively.

In this variant embodiment, the locking lever 32 a has a shape substantially different from that envisaged in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 9. In this case, in fact, this lever 32a, still articulated around an axis 33a , has an end 61, directly provided with an internal shoulder 62, for the blocking of the sheath 10, this lever being however secured by screws 60 of a bent bracket 59 which is, in the locking position of the sheath by the lever 32a, is directly applied against the electromagnet 38a during power-up of it.

In this variant, the unlocking command, therefore the unlocking of the door, is obtained, not by sending a current pulse on the electromagnet 38a but on the contrary while this electromagnet is permanently energized, by causing a brief cut in its power supply, so that, no longer being attracted at this time, the bracket 59 can tilt down as shown in Figure 10, then closing the contact 39 of the first micro-relay 40, the rest of the process implemented being exactly identical to that described above.

An electric lock is thus produced which has specific advantages, while eliminating the drawbacks of the previously known prior solutions.

In particular, thanks to the provisions of the invention, the lock ensures immediate locking of the door on which it is mounted as soon as this door is closed, the bolt engaging immediately in its keeper, immediately after the actuator has crossed the casing of the latter having been pushed back inside the bolt casing by the guide part with curved profile. This door is locked in all cases, even if an incorrectly adjusted door closer device tends to cause the door to rebound. This results in a very significant advantage over conventional electric locks.

The lock according to the invention can be equipped with a particularly robust bolt and having mechanical qualities far superior to those of systems with an electric strike and a pivoting flap. Furthermore, the recondamnation of the lock is envisaged here by means of an electric motor which causes the automatic closing of the bolt only if the door is not operated, which gives the assembly a particularly long service life.

Generally, the parts brought into play in the lock are mechanical parts which undergo only minimal wear, thus allowing an extremely large number of operations under normal operating conditions.

According to one or the other of the two variants more specifically envisaged, the lock brings into play a mechanical memorization of the unlocking of the bolt in the event of its blocking caused by a strong push on the door, which again constitutes a another advantage over already known solutions.

Of course, it should be considered that the invention is not limited to only the examples of implementation which have been more particularly described and represented above; on the contrary, it embraces all its variants.

Claims (4)

1. Electric lock comprising on the one hand a housing containing a locking bolt, and on the other hand a keeper intended to receive this bolt in the closed position of the door, the latter comprising a sliding connection element with a mechanism armament, housed in the corresponding box and which includes:
an actuator (14) mounted movable through the front face of the bolt housing along the axis of a sheath (10) movable parallel to the bolt,
- a locking lever (32), articulated around an axis (33) of transverse tilting perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve (10) and having a part forming a hook (31) for retaining, cooperating with a step (30) formed externally on this sheath,
- and electromagnetic means (38) releasing on demand said locking lever (32) with respect to said sheath, which causes said bolt (2) to be driven inside said bolt housing (A), characterized in that the tilting of the locking lever (32) of the actuator (14) acts on the movable contact (39) of a first micro-relay (40) causing the supply, through a timer, of an electric gear motor (29) mounted in the bolt housing (A), which rotates a circular plate (27) carried by the shaft (28) of said motor and which, by means of a finger ( 26) fixed eccentrically on said plate, exerts a pushing force on a movable piston (24) acting on said sheath (10), compressing a spring (12) at the same time as it produces the return of said bolt (2 ) out of the bolt housing (A). 2. Electric lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable contact (39) of said first micro-relay (40) is adapted to switch said locking lever (32) in the immobilization position of the sheath (10) of said actuator (14), after compression of the spring (12) and return of said sheath (10). 3. Electric lock according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the box (A) of bolt comprises a second micro-relay (42), actuated by the movable piston (24) so as to maintain the supply electric of the gear motor (29) after return of the locking lever (32) by said micro-relay (42), in order to return said plate (37) to the initial position. 4. Electric lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said bolt (2) is associated with a locking bolt (44) pivotally mounted about an axis (43) carried by said housing (A ) of bolt and extending perpendicular to the direction of movement of said bolt (2), said bolt (44) comprising an extension (45) suitable for engaging behind a shoulder of said bolt when the latter protrudes from the housing ( A), the pivoting of said lock being produced by the cooperation of a bent plate (5) carried by said movable actuator (14) with respect to said sheath (10) with bevelled ramps (48-49) formed in a tongue (47) integral with said lock.

Images