CA1265857A - Apparatus for recording the opening or closing of a closure member - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR RECORDING THE OPENING
OR CLOSING OF A CLOSURE MEMBER
Apparatus for recording the opening or closing of a closure member, comprises means for providing an electrical signal on opening or closing of the closure member or on actuation of an ancillary device associated with opening or closing of the closure member, an electronic circuit adapted to generate one of a number of unique codes on receipt of the electrical signal and to store the generated code, and display means adapted to display the generated code. In one form of the invention a reusable seal for a vehicle or container comprises a housing (10), and a cable (12) secured at one end to the housing (10) and releasably attached to the housing at the other end (14) by a locking mechanism (20). Operation of the locking mechanism (20) causes an electronic circuit in the housing (10) to generate to random number, which is displayed by an LED display (70) when a button (60) is presssd. Any change in the number displayed indicates that the cable has been released. The seal can be used in the same way as can be repeatedly re-used.

Description

APPABAT~S ~ E~CO~DI~G T~ oP~ e 0~ CLOSI~G OF A CLOS~B M~B~R

This invention relates to apparatus for recording the opening or closi~g 0~ a clo~ure member., More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for recording the opening or closing of a closure member such a~ a door controlling access to an enclosed ~pac~. The invention i9 particularly, though not exclu~ively, concerned with good3 vehicles such as closed lorries or vans.

When good~ vehicles are loaded they are u~ually ~ealed at the point of despatch by mean~ of a metal or wire seal which passes throueh the door or shutter catch. Each sesl has ~tamped on it a unique number which i9 recorded on the driver's delivery documents. At the point of delivery the number on the ~eal i9 compared with that on the documents to cheek wheth0r the vehicle has been opened. This ~ystem has a number of di~advantage~.
Some meeh~ieal ~eal~ ca~ be "loeked" to appear ~esled when in faet the~ are not. The ~eal~ ca~ only be used once, and 80 add to the e~pense of vshicle operation. Moreover, to have numaro~s stocks of seals at all the locations a vehicle may vi~it i~
eostly and redue~ the ~eeurity of the ~ystem as the allocation of the seal~ muat be e~rafully eontrolled.
United States Patent 4 118 047 deseribes a reu~able seal .~"

- 2 - 21279-275 consisting of a body and a w~re loop, the ends of ~hich pass through holes in the body and are clamped in position by plungers actuated by ~urning a drum rotatably mounted in the body. One side of the drum forms a tray containlng a large number of balls of different colours, and rokatlng the drum to the clamping position movas five of the halls into a recess in the body, in which they are visible from outside the body. The five visible balls provide a colour code which is changed if ~he drum is rotated to release and unclamp the wire loop, so giving an lQ indlcation that the seal has been tampered wlth. This provldes a reusable seal, but requires a complex mechanism.

It ~s an object of this invention to provide apparatus which can ba used instead of mechanical seals, and which can be manufactured simply and inexpensively.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for recording the operation of a closure member, comprlsing means for generating an electrical signal on actuation of an ancillary devlce associated with operation of the closure member, an alectronic circuit for generating a random code, such as a random ~0 or quasi-random number on receipt of the electrical signal and for storing the generated code, and display means for displaying the generated code.

The apparatus comprises a housing containing the ele~tronic circuit and display means, an extending member attached at one end to the closure member and being llnked to a catch of the closure :

- 3 21279-275 member so that the ex~ending member must be withdra~m from the ca~ch before the closure member can be opened, and a~tachment means for releasably attaching the other end of said extending member to ~he housing, the means for generating an elec~rical signal being responslve to operation of khe attachmen~ means.

The apparatus fur~her comprises a housing containing the electronic circui~ and display maans, an ex~ending member attached at one end to the housing and being linked to a catch of the closure member so that the extending member must be withdrawn from tha catch be~ore ~he closure member can be opened, and attachment means for releasa~ly attaching ~he other end of said extending member to the housing, the means for generating an electrical signal being responsive ~o operation of the attachment means.

The display means may, for example, be an LED or LCD display.

The invention also provides an apparatus for recording the operation of a closure member, comprising means for generating an ele~trical signal on operation of the closure member, and electronic ~ircuit for generating a random code, such as a random or quasi-random number on receipt of the electr~cal signal and to store the generated code, and display means for displaying the generated code.

When the invention is applied to a goods vehicle or container, the housing may be fixed to the outer face o~ the door or shutter o~
the vehicle or container, and the extending member may be a ~8~
- 3a - 21279-275 flexible element, such as a steel cable, which can be passed through the door or shutter catch, in a similar manner to a conventional seal, before beinq engaged with the houslng. Whan the vehicle has been loaded and the door or shu~er closed, the flexible cable is passed through the catch and secured in the housing by operation of the attachment means. This causes the electronic ~ircuit to genera~e a random number which is stored by tha electronic circuit. This number, as displayed by the display means, can be entered on the vehicle documentsr so that, at the de~tination, the number en-tered on the documentg can be checked a~ain~t the number displayed, to en~ure that the flexible cable ha~ not been withdrawn to allow the door or ~hutter to be opened during the journey.

Since the next number to be generated on relea~ing the cable from the houeing i9 unpredictable, the eecurity of the ~y~tem ia high.
Moreover, ~ince the apparatu~ i9 moun-ted on the vehicle there i~
no need for stocks of ~eals to be kept at each collection and delivery point. The apparatus thue provides a cheaper and more secure system than the conventional sy~tem employing mechanical ~eals.

The housing may al~o contain a battery for energi~ing the circuit. Preferably, the di~play means i9 actuated only when required, for e~ample, on depres~ion of a push button mounted on the hou~ing.

In another form of the invention, the mean~ for providing an electrical signal compri~e~ a ~n~or adapted to sen~e movement of the clo~ure member to an opened or a clo~ed po~ition. The electronic circuit then genrates a new code automatically whenever the clo~ure member i~ opened or closed. ~he electronic circuit can then be contained in a hou~ing adapted to be mounted in~ide the ~pace to be closed by the clo~ure member, for example in~ide the door or shutter of a vehicle or container, with the di~play mean~ mounted 80 a~ to be visible from outoide.
Alternatively, the hou~ing could be mounted on the outer face of - 5 ~

the door or shutter and connected -to the ~an~or by a cabls passing through a hole in the door or shutter.

The electronic circuit may include a free-running oscillator, a counter connected to the output of the 09cillator, a means for storing the count of the counter at the instant the electrical signal is received, and a multi-digit display arranged to display the value of the stored count.

The apparatus of this invention could be used in other application3, for example in sealing bank vaults, security boxe~, deed bo~es or other containers where access is allowed only to authorised persons. The apparatus could be used to seal buildings, e.g. at night, the key holder who locks the building recDrding the number display by the apparatus. The number could be communicated to security patrol~ to enable them to check that the door has not been opened since the building was locked.

The invention will now be described, by way of e~ample, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reusable seal in accordance with the invention, Figurs 2 is a front elsvation of the seal, Figure 3 is a section on line 111-111 of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a rear view of the seal, with n cover of the housing r,emoved~

- 6 - ~2~

Figure 5 i~ a block diagram of -the electronic circuit of the ~eal, Fi~ure 6 i~ a partial view of the interior of a vehicle illu~trating the mounting of apparatus in accordance with a Qecond embodiment of the invention, a~.d Fi~ure 7 is a partial view of the re~r of ~he vehicle of Figure ~.

Figures 1 to 5 illustrAte a reusable seal, primaril~ for vehicles or container3, consisting of a houqing 10 and n cable 12 per~anently ~ecured at one end to the hou~ing and having at its other end a head 14 enabling it to be connected to the housing by means of a catch mechanism 20. The houqing has a multi-digit di3play 70, which displays a number which is changed on each ,actuation of the catch mechani~m 20, as described below.

The housing 10, which may be of diecast aluminium or other ~uitable material, is in the form of a shallow box. The hou~ing can be qecured to the outer face of the door or shutter of the vehicle or container, with the rear wall 24 of the housing lying flat against the door or shutter, b~ means of bolts 22, the heads of which are recessed into the front wall 26 of the housing. At each end of the houqing i~ a bar 27~ providing alternative at~achment points for the cable 12. The cable 12, whlch ma~ for e~nmple be a multi-str~nded wlre cable, i8 ~ormed with a loop 1 at one end, by means of which it i9 9ecured to the housing, the cable passing around one of the bar~ 27 and through the loop 13.
This method of securing the end of the cable to the hou~ing enables the cable to be replaced, for example in the event of damage. The enlarged head at the other end of the cable 12 fits into a recess 30 in the front wall 26 of the housing 10. The reces3 ~0 opens laterally through a slot ~2 wide enough to n~,c~lnm~lnte th~ cable 12 but narrower than the head. The catch mechnYIism 20 consists of a knob 34 which is rotatably mounted on the front wall of the housing 10, 90 that it can be turned manually. A peg 36 projects outwards from the knob ~4. The knob can be moved between two positions, in one of which the peg ~6 extends over the recess 30 to trap the head 14 of the cable 12 in the recess Pnd in the other of which (shown in broken lînes in ~igure 2) the peg is clear of the recess 90 that the head can be moved into and out of the recess. The knob 34 has a shaEt 38 which e~tends through an aperture in the front ~all 26 and is retained by a nut 40. An O-ring 41 is provided to prevent moisture and dirt entering the housing.

A cam plate 42 is fixed to the shaft 38 90 as to rotate with the shaft. On one side, the cam plate is formed with two recess 44 which can be engaged by a spring detent 48 to define the two positiona of the knob 34. On the other side, the cam plate 42 has a cam surface 50 which engages the actuating arm of a microswitch 52, mounted in the housing 10, 90 that the mic~oswitch is actuated as the knob ~4 move~ from the release - f3 position to the lockin~ position.

The ~lob 34 has a central recea9 hou9 . , a 9ealed electric switch 58 opposed by a push-button 60 po9itioned in the centre of the knob. Depression of the push-botton 60 closes normally-open contact~ of the 3witch. A pair o~ leadg 62 extend from the 9Wi tch 58 through a bore in the ghaft 38 of the knob 34 to the interior of the housing 10~

Tlle p~rt 28 of the front wall 26 on which knob 34 is mounted is ~et back from the remainder of the front wall, so that the knob does not stand proud of the housing. The knob 34 has hole 54 which, when the knob is in the locking position, is aligned with a groove 56 in the bottom wall of the housing 10. This enables the knob to be secured in the locking position, for example by in~erting a pin or the shackle of a padlock through the hole 54 to engage in the groove 56, to prevent the knob 34 from being moved inadvertently to the release position.
The electronic components of the apparatus are mounted on two printed circuit boards 7~ and 74 fixed in the housing 10. ~he printed circuit board 72 carries the LED display 70, positioned behind R transparent window 76 in the front wall 26 of the housing 10. The compartment of the houoing containing the prlnted circuit boards is separated from the compartment combinin~ the micro~witch 25 and the associated moving part~ by a wall 78, 90 that the electronic components can be encapsulated by filling the compartment with a suitable potting material.

i~7 _ 9 _ Tn2 remainder of the housing 10 form~ a battery compartment contAining a number of dry cellg 78, which are permanently connected by leads to the electronic circuit-ry of the apparatu~.
The housing 10 has an opening in the base which is closed by a cover after as~embly of the apparatus. The cover may be removable, to allow the dry cells 78 to be replaced.
~lternatively, the dry cells may be potted and the cover m~y be permanently fixed in place to form a sealed-for-life unit.

~ ho~n in Figllre 5, the microswitch 52 is connected to a pulse 3haping circuit 80 which, on actuation of the microswitch, ~upplies an input signal pulse to an integrated circuit 82 which incorporates a free-running oscillator, counter and driver. The oscillator runs continously, 90 that the counter, which is driven by tlle oscillator, counts repeatedly through a cycle from O to 9999. On receipt of the signal pulse from the pulse shaping circuit, the count of the circuit 82 i8 latched at ~he instantaneous count of the counter. Ths circuit thus acts as a random number generator, producing a random number as a result of ~ach actuation of the microswitch 52, the number being ~tored in tba circuit 82 until the ne~t actuation of the microswitch. Tha output o~ tlle counter is supplied to the four-digit LED displ~y 70. The di~play 70 is energised through four AND gates 86, which al90 receive an input from a timar 88 connected to the push-button switch 58, 90 that the display is enabled only for a pre-set time, say for five 3econds after actuation of the push-button switch 58. A sensing circuit 90 il,provided to sense when the battery voltage falls below a predetermined thre~hold and to give a warning displa~, for example by cau~ing decimal point~ to appear on the di~play 70.
The microswitch 52, cam plate 42 an~ ;nob ~4 are 90 arranged that, when the knob i9 moved from the relea3e position to the locking position, the micro~witch is actuated before the knob reaches a point at which the head 14 will remain held in the recess 30 by the peg ~6, to en~ure that a new number i9 generated even if the knob is not moved fully to the locked position. This can be achieved by arranging for the micro~witch to be actuated before the peg ~6 reaches the recess 30, or before it reache~ a point at which the spring detent will allow the knob 34 to remain in position without returning it to the relea~e position.

The circuit can be arranged 90 that a new number i8 generated only when the knob 34 is moved to the locking po~ition.
Alternatively, the circuit can be arranged 90 that a new number is generated both when the knob is moved to the release position and also when it is moved to the locking posit;on. In a further alternative, the device could be arranged to generate a new nu~ber only when the knob 34 moves to the r~lease position, in Nhich case it is necessary to ensure that the microswitch 52 operates before the head 14 is relea~ed. In use of the seal, after the vehicle or container has been loaded and the door or shutter closed, the free end of the cable 12 is detached from the housing 10 and pas~ed through the door or shutter catch 200, in similar manner to a conventional wire seal, ~o that the door or shutter cannot be opened without withdrawing the cable. ~he free end of the cable is then reattached to the houging 10 and the knob 34 turned to the lockine position. Turnin~ the knob 34 actuates the micro~witch 52 to cau~e a new random number to be gener~ted. Button 60 i9 pre93ed to li~pl~y tha number on the LED
display 70, and the nùmber is enter?d on th0 Yehicle documents-When the vehicle has reached its de3tination, the button is again depressed and the number displayed`checked against the number entered on the vehicle documents, to check that the ~eal ha3 not been opened during the journey.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, apparatus for recording the opening of the shutter 100 of a vehicle comprises a rAndom number generator contained in a hou~ing 121, a sensor 122 electrically connected to the random number generator and arranged to actuate the random number generator on opening of the shutter tO0, and an LED di3play 123 arranged to display the last random number generated.

: The random number generator, and a battery, are contained in the housin~ 121, which i9 mounted on the inner face of the shutter 100, so as to be visible through sn aperture cut in the shutter 100. Alternatively, the display 12~ mqy be mounted on the e~terior face of the shutter and connected to the electronic circuits in the housin~ by leads pa~-~ine through the ~hutter. A
push button 124 i~ mounted ne~t to the LED display, the display being actuated only when the button i9 depressed.

The sensor 122 consists of a switch or other suit~ble de~ice mounted on the shutter 100 near one vertical edge, and an ~,~

~æ~$~

actuator 126 fixed to the vehicle body in such a position that the s~itch is actuated whenever the shutter 100 is opened or close~. The sensor 122 is connected to the electronic circuits in housing 121 by a ~lexible armoured conduit 127 fixed to the interior face of the shutter 100.
The electronic circuits in the housing 121 include a random number generator arranged to generate a random number on receipt of a signal from the sensor 122, to store the number until a new number is generated on l~eceipt o~ the next signal from sensor 122, and to display the stored number on the LED display 123 on depression of the push-button 124. The electronic circuits may be similar to those of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 or may take any other suitable form.
In use of the apparatus, after the vehicle has been loaded and the shutter closed, the button 124 is pressed, and the random number displayed is entered on the vehicle documents. At the destination, before the shutter is opened, the button is again depressed, and the number disyiayed is ch~cked ~gai~ numb~ teled on the documen~s, to ensure that the shutter has not been opened during the ~ourney.
It will be appreciated that modifications could be made in the described embodiment. For example, the method of releasably attaching the free end of the cable to the housing could take different forms. The other end of the cable could be permanently attached to the housing in different ways or could be attached to the door or shutter near the housing, rather than to the housing itself. Instead of having one end permanently secured to the housing, both ends of the cable could be releasably atta.ched to the housing. In~tead of generating and di~playing random number, other recognisable codes could be used, for example a series of letters.

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Claims (12)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Apparatus for recording the operation of a closure member, comprising means for generating an electrical signal on actuation of an ancillary device associated with operation of the closure member, an electronic circuit for generating a random code, such as a random or quasi-random number on receipt of the electrical signal and for storing the generated code, and display means for displaying the generated code.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, and comprising a housing containing the electronic circuit and display means, an extending member attached at one end to the closure member and being linked to a catch of the closure member so that the extending member must be withdrawn from the catch before the closure member can be opened, and attachment means for releasably attaching the other end of said extending member to the housing, the means for generating an electrical signal being responsive to operation of the attachment means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, and comprising a housing containing the electronic circuit and display means, an extending member attached at one end to the housing and being linked to a catch of the closure member so that the extending member must be withdrawn from the catch before the closure member can be opened, and attachment means for relensably attaching the other end of said extending member to the housing, the means for generating an electrical signal being responsive to operation of the attachment means

4, Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, and adapted for use with a goods vehicle or container, in which the housing is adapted to be fixed to the outer face Or the door or shutter of the vehicle or container, and the extending member is a flexible element which can be passed through the door or shutter catch before being engaged with the housing.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which the attachment means comprises a recess in the housing adapted to receive an enlarged head on the end of the extending member and a catch member movable on the housing between a clamping position in which the catch member prevents the head from being removed from the recess and a release position in which the head can be moved into and from the recess.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, in which the means for generating an electrical signal comprises a switch in the housing actuated on movement of the catch member from one of the said positions to the other.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, in which a battery for energizing the electronic circuit and the display means is mounted within the housing, and manually operated means are provided for causing actuation of the display means to display the code stored by the electronic circuit.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which said manually operated means comprises a push button mounted on the housing.

9. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the electronic circuit includes a free-running oscillator, a counter connected to the output of the oscillator, and means for storing the count of the counter at the instant the electrical signal is received, and in which said display means comprises a multi-digit display arranged to display the value of the stored count.

10. Apparatus for recording the operation of a closure member, comprising means for generating an electrical signal on operation of the closure member, and electronic circuit for generating a random code, such as a random or quasi-random number on receipt of the electrical signal and to store the generated code, and display means for displaying the generated code.

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, in which the means for generating the electrical signal comprises a sensor adapted to sense movement of the closure member to an opened or closed position.

12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, in which the electronic circuit is contained in a housing adapted to be mounted inside the space to be closed by the closure member, with the display means mounted so as to be visible from outside.