US3801144A

US3801144A - Mechanical and electrical control system for a door panic control device

Info

Publication number: US3801144A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Diehl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-02-24
Filing date: 1972-02-24
Publication date: 1974-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-02

Abstract

A system for controlling both mechanically and electrically a panic control device for a door. The panic control device is operable to retract a pair of bolts movably mounted in the door. A main solenoid has a plunger connected to the linkages which connect the panic control device to the bolts. By moving the plunger of the main solenoid, the linkages are moved to retract the bolts. An electrical switch is connected between a source of electrical energy and the main solenoid and has an actuating arm movable by the linkages. Initial downward movement of the panic control device causes the linkages to actuate the switch thereby connecting the main solenoid to a source of electrical energy and allowing the main solenoid to complete the retraction of the bolts. A second solenoid has its plunger connected to a dogging mechanism which is provided with a stop positionable adjacent the panic crash bar. Operation of the second solenoid prevents outward movement of the panic crash bar thereby insuring that the bolts remain in the retracted position even though the main solenoid is deactivated.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Diehl Apr. 2, 1974 MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A DOOR PANIC CONTROL DEVICE [76] Inventor: Robert B. Diehl, 3200 Longview Ave., Bloomington, lnd. 47401 22 Filed: Feb. 24, 1972 21 Appl.No.:229,049

3,097,007 7/1963 Eichacker et al.

3,345,099 10/1967 Paul at al 292/21 2,082,806 6/1937 Michel 70/283 3,677,043 7/1972v COX 70/283 X Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton [57] ABSTRACT A system for controlling both mechanically and electrically a panic control device for a door. The panic control device is operable to retract a pair of bolts movably mounted in the door. A main solenoid has a plunger connected to the linkages which connect the panic control device to the bolts. By moving the plunger of the main solenoid, the linkages are moved to retract the bolts. An electrical switch is connected between a source of electrical energy and the main solenoid and has an actuating arm movable by the linkages. lnitial downward movement of the panic control device causes the linkages to actuate the switch thereby connecting the main solenoid to a source of electrical energy and allowing the main solenoid to complete the retraction of the bolts. A second solonoid has its plunger connected to a dogging mechanism which is provided with a stop positionable adjacent the panic crash bar. Operation of the second solenoid prevents outward movement of the panic crash bar thereby insuring that the bolts remain in the retracted position even though the main solenoid is deactivated.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A DOOR PANIC CONTROL DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of electrically and mechanically controlled doors.

2. Description of the Prior Art A respresentative sample of the prior art is disclosed in the following US. Pat. Nos.:

1,72l,730 issued to H. E. Goss:

2,729,089 issued to A. L. Pelcin;

3,097,007 issued to H. A. Eichacker et al.; and

3,345,099 issued to G. D. Paul et al.

The door described herein performs all of the required functions of a manually operated panic type of door as required by Underwriters Laboratories and the Industry. In addition, it is electrically controllable. The door disclosed herein is advantageous over the prior art doors in that only slight manual pressure on the crash bar is required for the device to automatically unlatch itself. Prior art doors require manual pressure throughout the entire unlatching process. Some of the prior art doors have locking bolts which become disengaged as the door swings open and before the mechanism for holding the bolts retracted has been actuated. This results in the door swinging open and closed with the bolts extended. In such cases, the extended bolts usually interfere with the door jamb as the door closes. Another advantage of the door disclosed herein is that a remote switch is provided which will unlatch a particular panic device automatically. Also, the remote switch can unlatch several panic devices simultaneously. In the prior art doors, it is necessary in a locked building for someone to go inside and manually push the crash bar down on each door to unlatch the door.

Another advantage of the door disclosed herein is that it is provided with a remote switch which will automatically dog or retain a panic device or several panic devices in an unlatched position for long periods of time. In the prior art doors, each panic device must individually be manually dogged and subsequently undogged or locked manually one at a time. If for instance, a school building with several entrances has this task assigned to one person, then he must move from door to door and entrance to entrance carefully unlocking or locking each door. At times, only a few doors are unlocked initially to permit entry of early arriving maintenance people, teachers, etc., with all of the doors being unlatched at a later period in time. The system disclosed herein will allow control of the doors from a remote location.

The door disclosed herein is also provided with a warning device which will signal any appreciable movement of the crash bar. This warning device can be wired to indicate by door, by entrance, or by building. A dogging bolt is provided for holding the entire bolt mechanism in a retracted position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for a door having a panic crash bar and linkages operably connecting the bar to a locking bolt of the door whereby moving the bar toward the door causes the bolt to be retracted unlocking the door comprising electrical control means connected to the linkages and operable to retract the bolt unlocking the door.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical and mechanical control system for controlling the panic crash device on a door.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a monitoring system to indicate appreciable movement of the panic crash device of a door.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved door having a mechanically and electrically controlled panic control device.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a door incorporating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the electrical circuitry for the door of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the portion of the door viewed generally in the direction of arrows 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the door and dogging bolt 50 shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear view of lock viewed in the direction of arrows 55 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and it will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a fragmentary perspective view of a door 10 which is hinged in the conventional way to the door frame. These doors are quite conventional, having glass 11 and a panic crash bar 12. A pair of

identical bolt mechanisms

13 and 14 are respectively mounted to the top and bottom of door 10 and are operably connected to panic crash bar 12. Each

mechanism

13 and 14 has a locking bolt 15 hingedly mounted thereto. Bolts 15 are connected to panic crash bar 12 and may be withdrawn into the door by pivoting crash bar 12 downward in the direction of arrow 16. That is, as bar 12 is pivoted in the direction of arrow 16, bolt 15 of mechanism 13 will pivot downward in the direction of arrow 17, whereas bolt 15 of mechanism 14 will pivot upward in the direction of arrow 18, thereby allowing the door to be swung open in the conventional manner. In the closed position, bolts 15 of

mechanism

13 and 14 project into recesses formed in the threshold and/or floor and the door jamb thereby preventing opening of the door without retracting the bolts.

Panic crash bar 12 has a horizontally extending rod fixedly mounted to a pair of crash bar brackets pivotally mounted to the door. Each crash bar bracket is mounted adjacent to the opposite sides of the door. For example, crash bar bracket 19 mounted adjacent the free edge of the door is shown in FIG. 1. Bracket 19 is pivotally mounted by pin 20 to door 10. The inner end 21 of bracket 19 is bifurcated with member 22 having its lower end pivotally mounted to cam 23 which is rotatably mounted by pin 24 to door 10. A second member 25 has its bottom end pivotally mounted to cam 23 and its top end connected to bolt 15 of mechanism 13. Thus, as bracket 19 is pivoted downward in the direction of arrow 16, end 21 will move upwardly along with member 22 causing cam 23 to rotate in the direction of arrow 32 thereby causing member 25 and bolt 15 of mechanism 13 to move downward in the direction of arrow 17. Door has a hollow frame which is sufficiently large to receive

members

22 and 25, cam 23 and the other elements to be described later in this specification.

Link 26 is slidably mounted in door 10 and extends freely through guide 33 fixedly secured to the door. Link 26 also extends through a helical spring 34 which is positioned between guide 33 and ring 35 fixedly secured to the link. The spacing between guide 33 and ring 35 is such that when link 26 moves upwardly, the spring is compressed thereby urging the link in its normal downward position. The top end 37 of link 26 is pivotally connected by pin means 38 to end 21 of the bracket 19. The bottom end of link 26 is fixedly secured to an inverted U-shaped bracket 27 which extends around main solenoid 28 fixedly secured to the door. A connecting shaft 39 is fixedly secured and extends between the two arms of the inverted U-shaped bracket 27 and passes freely through movable plunger 29 of solenoid 28 and the top end 40 of link 31. The bottom end of link 31 is connected to bolt of mechanism 14. By pivoting bracket 19 downward in the direction of arrow 16 causing end 21 to move upwardly, link 26 and bracket 27 are also caused to move upwardly thereby pulling link 31 and bolt 15 of mechanism 14 in the upward direction of arrow 18. Shaft 39 extends freely through slit 41 of movable plunger 29. As a result, when shaft 39 moves upwardly along with top end 40 of link 31, shaft 39 will move towards the top of slot 41 of plunger 29 thereby allowing the plunger to remain in a stationary position. It may therefore be seen that as panic crash bar 12 is pivoted downward, bolt 15 of

mechanism

13 and 14 are withdrawn simultaneously into the door.

A snap switch S-7 is mounted to door 10 and has a movable arm 42 with a lower end in engagement with the cam surface of cam 23. Switch S-7 is connected between solenoid 28 and a source of electrical energy. Switch S-7 is normally opened when the crash bar is in the upward position. When the bar is moved donwnwardly in the direction of arrow 16 causing cam 23 to rotate in the direction of arrow 32, the enlarged end 43 of cam 23 will force arm 42 upwardly thereby closing switch S-7 and connecting the source of electrical energy to solenoid 28. By connecting solenoid 28 to a source of electrical energy, the movable plunger 29 is withdrawn into the solenoid thereby causing upward movement of

links

26 and 31 which in turn move bolt 15 of mechanism 14 in the, direction of arrow 18 and further cause bracket 19 to pivot downwardly causing bolt 15 of mechanism- 13 to move downwardly in the direction of arrow 17. Thus, when the apparatus of FIG. 1 is connected to a source of electrical energy, the crash bar bracket may be manually pivoted downward a slight amount with the remaining withdrawal of bolt 15 being electrically assisted by the activation of switch S-7 and solenoid 28.

A second solenoid 44 is fixedly mounted to door 10 and has a movable plunger 45 (FIGS. 1 and 3) pivotally connected to the horizontal portion of an inverted L- shaped link 46 pivotally mounted by pin 48 to door 10. The bottom end of link 46 is connected to bolt 50 of dogging mechanism 47. A slot 49 is provided in the top wall of housing 48' of mechanism 47 through which link 46 projects. As bolt 50 is withdrawn into housing 48, link 46 pivots. A pair of opposed L-shaped

legs

51 and 52 extend through the bottom wall of housing 48' having ends spaced apart forming gap 54 through which finger 55 may pass. Housing 48 is fixedly secured within door 10 with

legs

51 and 52 freely projecting through the bottom wall of housing 48' and being rigidly attached to bolt 50. Thus, as bolt 50 is withdrawn,

legs

51 and 52 will move in the direction of arrrow 56 with respect to housing 48' and finger 55. Finger 55 projects into recess 53 formed between the vertical portions of

legs

51 and 52. Bolt 50 is always retracted when the door is closed since the door jamp is not provided with a recess for receiving bolt 50.

The electrical circuitry will now be described by referring to FIG. 2. A suitable source of electrical energy, such as volts alternating current, is connected to termimals 60 and 61 which are connected to the primary coils of step-down

transformers

62 and 63. Indicator light L-l is connected across the primary coil of transformer 62 whereas indicator light L-3 is connected across the primary coil of transformer 63. A normally opened switch S-l is connected between terminal 61 and the primary coil of transformer 62 whereas switch 8-3 is connected between terminal 61 and the primary coil of transformer 63. Thus, whenever switch 8-1 is closed, energy will be applied to the primary coil of transformer 61 and light L-l will light. Likewise, whenever switch S-3 is closed, electrical power will be applied across the primary coil of transformer 63 thereby lighting light L-3.

The secondary coil of transformer 63 is connected through rectifier 64 to the control coil of soleniod 44. Thus, it may be seen that whenever switch S-3 is closed, electrical energy will be applied to solenoid 44 thereby causing plunger 45 (FIGS. 2 and 3) to be retracted, thereby also causing retraction of bolt 50 into door 10. Retraction of plunger 45 causes link 46 to pivot so that the bottom end of link 46 moves in the direction of arrow 56 (FIG. 3). The bottom end of link 46 is connected to bolt 50, therefore, also causing bolt 50 to move in the direction of arrow 56.

The oppsoite ends 65 and 66 of the secondary coil of transformer 62 are connected across the control coil of solenoid 28. Snap switch 8-7 is connected between end 65 of the secondary coil and end 67 of solenoid 28. Thus, by closing switch S1, an electrical assist will be provided in retracting bolts 15. As previously explained, whenever panic crash bar 12 (FIG. 1) is pivoted downward in the direction of arrow 16 while switch 8-1 is closed, switch S7 will thereby be closed by the action of cam 23 applying power to solenoid 28 thereby providing an assist in retracting bolts 15.

End 65 of transformer 62 is connected through switch S-2 to end 67 of solenoid 28 with end 68 of the solenoid being connected to end 66 of transformer 62. Thus, by closing switch S-1 and switch S-2, solenoid 28 will automatically be activated thereby retracting bolts 15 even though the panic crash bar is not manually pushed downwardly. An indicator light L-2 is connected between contact 69 of switch S-2 and end 66 of transformer 62 thereby allowing for a visual indication whenever switch S-1 and S-2 are closed at the same time. It may therefore be seen that bolts may be retracted into the door by an operator control from a remote location even though the panic crash bar is not manually pushed.

A fourth switch 8-4 is connected between end 66 of transformer 62 and end 68 of solenoid 28 and is a normally closed switch giving a closed circuit for action triggered by switches S-2 or 8-7. Another switch 8-5 is connected between end 66 of transformer 62 through L-6 to 8-7 so a completed circuit is available to light the warning light L-6 when switch S-7 is closed by movement of the crash bar. Indicator light L-S is connected between contact 70 of switch S-5 and end 65 of transformer 62 so as to indicate whenever switch S-5 is closed. A warning light L6 is connected between contact 70 of switch S-5 and contact 69 of switch 8-2. When switches S-1 and S-5 are closed, warning light L-6 will signal any appreciable movement of the panic crash bar. In many cases, undesired entry is gained into a building by simply inserting a wire rod between the door and door jamp and then grasping the panic crash bar with the wire rod and pulling downwardly. With the invention disclosed herein, the door may be monitored by simply closing switches S-1 and 8-6 and opening switches S-4 and 8-2 thereby allowing the source of electrical energy to be connected to warning light L-6 whenever switch 8-7 is closed by downward movement of the panic crash bar. The circuitry above line A-A is located at the remote control station whereas the circuitry below line B-B is located in door 10.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end view of the door of FIG. 1 illustrating bolt 50 withdrawn into the door. A small plate 58 is slidably mounted within the door and may be moved in a direction towards or away from bolt 50. The curved outer surface 63 of bolt 50 is provided with a recess 57 for receiving the outer edge portion of plate 58 when bolt 50 is retracted and plate 58 is located at the extended position. Plate 58 is provided with a slot 64 which slidingly receives mounting pin 62'. A small aperture 60' is provided in the lower outer corner of the plate to enable insertion of a small tool to assist in sliding the plate towards or away from bolt 50. Opening 59 of the door is of sufficient size so as to allow bolt 50 to project therethrough and is further enlarged in area 61 to facilitate the retraction of plate 58 by forcing the plate to the right by means of a tool inserted through aperture 60. When plate 58 is enlarged with the bolt as shown in FIG. 4, finger 55 (FIG. 3) will be positioned over the horizontal portion of leg 51 thereby preventing movement of the panic crash bar and locking of the door. To manually dog the door, that is, to secure the panic crash bar in the unlocked position, the panic crash bar should be depressed and the door should be opened, with plate 58 then being extended against bolt 50 which should be depressed as shown in FIG. 4. Finger 55 will thus be immediately over the horizontal portion of leg 51.

To electronically dog the door, that is, to secure the panic crash bar in the unlocked position, switches S-1 and 8-2 are closed thereby actuating the main solenoid 28. Next switch 8-3 is closed thereby actuating solenoid 6 44 causing bolt 50 to retract and positioning leg 51 beneath finger 55. Switch S-2 may then be opened deactivating solenoid 28. The panic crash bar remains in the dogged position. To release the panic crash bar, swtich S-2 should be closed and switch S-3 opened. Bolt 50 will extend and finger 55 will pass through gap 54. Switch S-2 may then be closed.

When the door is opened by depressing the panic control bar with plate 58 in the retracted position, bolt 50 will move outwardly with respect to the door thereby positioning finger 55 immediately over the horizontal portion of leg 52. This will therefore prevent the panic crash bar from pivoting upward and will insure that bolts 15 remain retracted until the door closes. Closing of the door will result in the retraction of bolt 50 since bolt 50 will contact the door jamb thereby allowing finger 55 to pass through gap 54 allowing the panic crash par to pivot upward and bolts 15 to extend once again outwardly into the door jamb. Thus, bolts 15 will not be slammed against the door jamb when the door closes since they will be withdrawn into the door.

Door 10 is provided with a key lock mounted to plate 71 secured to the outer wall of the door. A thumb knob 72 positioned beneath the keyhole is mounted on shaft 74 which extends through plate 71. Gear 75 is fixedly mounted on shaft 74 which may be rotated by turning knob 72. The teeth of gear 75 are in meshing engagement with the teeth of rack 73 which extends vertically upward having an enlarged ear 78 positioned beneath end 21 of crash bar bracket 19. Suitable bracketry is provided for slidably mounting rack 73. By turning knob 72, rack 73 may be forced upwardly so as to be positioned immediately beneath and against the crash bar bracket thereby preventing downward movement of the panic crash bar. Rack 73 may be locked in place by inserting a key into the lock keyhole and turning the key to the appropriate position thereby forcing a locking bolt 77 (FIG. 5) into engagement with disc 76 fixedly mounted to shaft 74 adjacent to gear 75. Locking bolt 77 is a ring-shaped top end 79 through which cam 80 projects. The bottom end 81 of locking bolt 77 is slidable through guide 82 securely mounted to the door. Recess 8 3 is provided in disc 76 for end 81 to project thereby locking rack 73 in place. Cam. 80 is connected to the casing receiving thekey and is rotated when the key and casing are rotated.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected. A variation of the invention includes a plurality of doors wired together so as to actuate simultaneously as a result of a signal provided from a remote location.

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for a door havinga panic crash bar and linkages operably connecting said bar to a locking bolt of the door whereby moving said bar toward the door causes said bolt to be retracted unlocking the,

door comprising:

electrical control means connectedto said linkages and operable to retract said bolt unlocking the said electrical control means includes a main solenoid mounted to said door with a movable plunger connected and operative to move said linkages to retract said bolt and with a main solenoid actuating switch located remotely from the door to connect said main solenoid with a source of electrical energy;

an assist switch mounted to said door with actuating means movable by initial movement of said bar and operable to connect said solenoid to said source of electrical energy to finish retracting said bolt.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising:

a dogging mechanism mounted to said door having a first movable stop; and,

a dogging solenoid mounted in said door having switch means operable to connect said dogging solenoid to a source of electrical energy, said dogging solenoid having a second plunger movable to position said stop against said bar preventing outward movement of said bar.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

said mechanism includes a dogging lug and a movable plate, said movable plate is slidably mounted in said door and is movable against said lug to keep said lug in the retracted position, said lug is connected to and between said second plunger and said stop.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

said door has another locking bolt operably connected to said bar by links whereby both bolts may be simultaneously retracted by moving said bar toward the door and further comprising:

a cam rotatably mounted to said door and pivotally connected to said links; and wherein:

said actuating means of said assist switch is an arm with an end engaged with said cam.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

said monitor means includes an indicator light connected between said assist switch and said source of electrical energy.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 and further comprising:

a rack slidably mounted in said door;

a lockable gear rotatably mounted to said door and in meshing engagement with said rack so that rotation of said gear in one direction causes said rack to move against a portion of said panic crash bar locking said bolts in the retracted position.

7. An apparatus for a door having a panic crash bar and linkages operably connecting said bar to a locking bolt of the door whereby moving said bar toward the door causes said bolt to be retracted unlocking the door comprising:

electrical control means connected to said linkages and operable to retract said bolt unlocking the door; and,

an assist switch mounted to said door with actuating means movable by initial movement of said bar and operable to connect said electrical control means to a source of electrical energy to finish retracting said bolt.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 and further comprising:

a dogging mechanism mounted to said door having a first movable stop; and,

a dogging solenoid mounted in said door having switch means operable to connect said dogging solenoid to a source of electrical energy, said dogging solenoid having a plunger movable to position said stop against said bar preventing outward movement of said bar.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

said mechanism includes a dogging lug and a movable plate, said movable plate is slidably mounted in said door and is movable against said lug to keep said lug in the retracted position, said lug is connected to and between said plunger and said stop.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein:

said door has another locking bolt operably connected to said bar by links whereby both bolts may be simultaneously retracted by moving said bar toward the door.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,80l,l44 Dated April 2 1974 Inventor-(H) Robert B. Diehl,

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

1. In column 3, lines 1 and 2 presently read "its lower end pivotally mounted to cam 23 which is rotatably mounted by pin 24 to door 10. A second mem-". A portion of the description has been omitted and the lines should read "its lower end pivotally mounted to end 21. The top end of member 22 is pivotally mounted to cam 23 which is rotatably mounted by pin 24 to door 10. A second mem".

line 37, "slit" should read "slot".

2. In column 3,

3. In column 3, line 50, "donwn-" should'read "down-". 4. In column 4, line 16, "arr-" should read "ar".

5. In column 4, line 20, "Jamp" should read "Jamb".

6. In column 4, line 36, the number "6l""should be "62". 7. In column 4, line 62, after the number "62" and before the word "is", please insert the word "also".

8. In column 5, line 24, "jamp" should read "j'amb". 9. In column 5, line 27, "5-6" should read "5-5". 10. In column 5, line 51, "enlarged" should be changed to read "engaged".

Signed and sealed this. 29th da of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: I

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM PO-IOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 50376-P69 fi U.S. GOVERNMENT PR NTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334

Claims

1. An apparatus for a door having a panic crash bar and linkages operably connecting said bar to a locking bolt of the door whereby moving said bar toward the door causes said bolt to be retracted unlocking the door comprising: electrical control means connected to said linkages and operable to retract said bolt unlocking the door; electrical monitor means mounted to said door operable to indicate movement of said bolt by said bar; said electrical control means includes a main solenoid mounted to said door with a movable plunger connected and operative to move said linkages to retract said bolt and with a main solenoid actuating switch located remotely from the door to connect said main solenoid with a source of electrical energy; an assist switch mounted to said door with actuating means movable by initial movement of said bar and operable to connect said solenoid to said source of electrical energy to finish retracting said bolt.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: a dogging mechanism mounted to said door having a first movable stop; and, a dogging solenoid mounted in said door having switch means operable to connect said dogging solenoid to a source of electrical energy, said dogging solenoid having a second plunger movable to position said stop against said bar preventing outward movement of said bar.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said mechanism includes a dogging lug and a movable plate, said movable plate is slidably mounted in said door and is movable against said lug to keep said lug in the retracted position, said lug is connected to and between said second plunger and said stop.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: said door has another locking bolt operably connected to said bar by links whereby both bolts may be simultaneously retracted by moving said bar toward the door and further comprising: a cam rotatably mounted to said door and pivotally connected to said links; and wherein: said actuating means of said assist switch is an arm with an end engaged with said cam.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: said monitor means includes an indicator light connected between said assist switch and said source of Electrical energy.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 and further comprising: a rack slidably mounted in said door; a lockable gear rotatably mounted to said door and in meshing engagement with said rack so that rotation of said gear in one direction causes said rack to move against a portion of said panic crash bar locking said bolts in the retracted position.

7. An apparatus for a door having a panic crash bar and linkages operably connecting said bar to a locking bolt of the door whereby moving said bar toward the door causes said bolt to be retracted unlocking the door comprising: electrical control means connected to said linkages and operable to retract said bolt unlocking the door; and, an assist switch mounted to said door with actuating means movable by initial movement of said bar and operable to connect said electrical control means to a source of electrical energy to finish retracting said bolt.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 and further comprising: a dogging mechanism mounted to said door having a first movable stop; and, a dogging solenoid mounted in said door having switch means operable to connect said dogging solenoid to a source of electrical energy, said dogging solenoid having a plunger movable to position said stop against said bar preventing outward movement of said bar.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said mechanism includes a dogging lug and a movable plate, said movable plate is slidably mounted in said door and is movable against said lug to keep said lug in the retracted position, said lug is connected to and between said plunger and said stop.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said door has another locking bolt operably connected to said bar by links whereby both bolts may be simultaneously retracted by moving said bar toward the door.