EP0163578B1 - Method and device for permanently fixing a movable part on to a frame, especially a safe door to a safe - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of security and the fight against theft, assault or break-in. It relates to a method and a device for the automatic or permanent locking or blocking of a movable member in a support frame, said device being triggered in the event of a break-in or attack. The invention mainly finds application in safes or vaults.

In the following, the invention will mainly be illustrated by setting out the problem to be solved in the case of its preferred application, namely the resetting of safes or vaults during an attempted break-in.

The doors of safes or vaults are generally shielded on the inside and outside, using steel sheets of several millimeters. The volume between these two sheets can be filled with steel elements of various shapes embedded in concrete. Such an assembly constitutes an effective protection against the fire of a cutting torch, or against an attack with a jackhammer or with the rotary perforator.

To protect against attacks, automatic locking systems have already been provided which block with the aid of means, such as cleats, all the locking bolts. The cleats are driven by a complicated and expensive mechanical control system. For example, for a small chest with a volume of 500 cm ³ , one can find four bolts on each vertical post, and two bolts on each horizontal line. The locking system may comprise two sliding tabs cooperating respectively with the two pairs of vertical bolts, and a cleat acting on the pair of upper horizontal bolts, as well as another cleat acting on the pair of lower horizontal bolts.

The solution to the locking problem is not, until now, satisfactory, because the mechanical control systems are complicated and expensive.

We have already used in the technique of safes means called "informers which, when the trunk is attacked, are capable of actuating a movable element which locks the trunk in the closed position by acting for example on the lock mechanism.

This is how we already know informing means constituted by a simple wire connected to a finger biased by a spring and which, when it is broken under the effect of aggression, releases the finger which, thus, locks the trunk.

However, these informing means are not always satisfactory insofar as burglars can not only cut the lock bolts of the trunk, but also the movable finger of the informer, so that, finally, the current re-blocking systems in the event of aggression do not really allow a permanent blocking of the trunk in the closed state.

US-A 1,850,337 describes a security device applicable to a safe door. In the event of an attempted violation, a gas trigger system actuates lugs allowing the door to be embedded. The gas is preferably the same as that used conventionally with incapacitating effects. This old patent (1930) describes a bolt closure system, operating under the action of a pressurized gas and mechanically controlled. Such a system only provides temporary security reinforcement, because it remains possible to return the bolt (s) to the initial position. The patent US-A 1 850 337 does not provide a permanent and permanent blocking. In addition, the detection means are not suitable for ensuring control other than mechanical of the system.

The object of the invention is to remedy the drawbacks noted in the prior art, by proposing definitive and simple closing and locking means, which ensure permanent and permanent locking and which, in particular, make it practically impossible to open the door. a safe undergoing any attack.

In its general form, the invention relates to a method for the automatic locking of a movable member in a support frame, said method being characterized in that there are in said member means sensitive to an external action, in that 'said means are brought into contact with a pyrotechnic firing assembly acting by explosion on at least one external part of said member, which deforms under the effect of the explosion, and in that the part of the frame is arranged -support located opposite this external part to allow the embedding of the latter in the support frame once it has been deformed by the explosion.

The invention also relates to a device for implementing the aforementioned method, said device comprising a support frame and a movable member therein, as well as means for locking said member on said support frame, said device being characterized in that said locking means comprise means arranged in said movable member and sensitive to an external action, a pyrotechnic firing assembly urged by said means in the event of external action on them and acting by explosion on at least one external part of said member, which deforms under the effect of the explosion, the part of the support frame located opposite this external part being arranged to allow the latter to be embedded in the frame -support once it has been deformed by the explosion.

In the foregoing, it has been indicated that according to one of the essential characteristics of the invention, the deformation, obtained by explosion, of the part of the movable member, ensured permanent and permanent embedding and blocking of this organ in the frame. Note that this deformation can go as far as the rupture of the concerned zone of the movable member. Furthermore, also falls within the scope of the invention, a reciprocal arrangement according to which it is the frame which is deformed (or at least partially broken) to block the movable member.

Alternatively, also, the means sensitive to an external action can be provided on the frame as well as on the movable member.

As mentioned above, the preferred embodiment of the invention consists in its application to locking and closing for armored doors of safes or vaults. The invention can however be used for locking any movable member in a support frame, as soon as this movable member and this support frame have opposite parts capable of being deformed so permanent under the effect of an explosion. This is the case in particular of all the closure systems comprising thick walls limited by steel sheets deformable by explosion.

The invention replaces the mechanical means of the prior art by means calling upon pyrotechnic assemblies capable of producing an explosion. In the case of a safe or a strong room, a final closing of the door is thus carried out, so that even the holder of the key and of the encrypted combination can no longer open it. The only solution then remains the break-in, but this is then greatly delayed.

The means sensitive to an external action, with which the movable member is provided, in particular the door to the safe or vault, can be produced in any way, provided that it fulfills a double function, namely detection a break-in, that is to say an involuntary action on the movable member, and secondly, to act on the pyrotechnic firing assembly capable of triggering the desired explosion. For the purposes of the present invention, it is preferred to use pyrotechnic means. for example a flammable and / or explosive product, sensitive to the shock and / or friction of an attack tool or to the flame of a torch. Such a layer can advantageously be produced in the form of a flat sheet embedded inside the frame and / or of the movable member, for example interposed between the two concrete layers of the wall constituting the safe door or vault.

Although such pyrotechnic means are preferred, it is also possible to use other means sensitive to an external burglary action. It will be noted that the pyrotechnic means constitute the best energy accumulator, which makes it possible to dispense with an external source of energy as would be the case of detection means using electrical energy. However, use could also be made of other types of accumulators, for example a vacuum or pressure tank, which, in the event of piercing, causes a mechanical initiation of the detonator triggering the explosion. Another example would be a spring held under tension by a glass plate or by a wire.

According to the invention, there is provided in cooperation with said means sensitive to an external action, a pyrotechnic firing assembly capable of causing an explosion. Such an assembly comprises, in a known manner, by way of illustration, at least one detonator and detonating cord. Under the effect of the explosion, at least one external part of the movable member or of the frame is deformed. The explosion causes an extension or a rupture of the constitutive wall of the movable member or of the frame, for example of the steel sheet of the armored door of a safe or a strong room.

To achieve the effect of. sought blocking, the support frame surrounding the movable member is shaped so that the external part thus deformed can be embedded, in order to achieve the final locking. In the case of a frame of a safe or vault door, the latter may have a groove in which the steel wall of the door is fitted. In the latter case, a continuous blocking of the door is thus carried out in its frame, which makes it unassailable other than with a torch.

Already known in the prior art, the general technique of expansion which involves the deformation of a tube by explosion to fix it in neighboring walls. The present invention preferably involves a combination of pyrotechnic detection and explosion means to produce a security system. No such teaching can be found in general documents or patent literature relating to expansion.

The invention, in its preferred application relates to a method for re-locking a safe or the like, characterized in that, when this safe is subjected to attack, at least part of the door of the safe is automatically deformed and turned back, or vice versa, thereby creating at least one artificial bolt preventing or considerably delaying the opening of this chest.

According to an advantageous development of this process, the aforementioned artificial bolt enters a housing formed in the wall opposite that giving rise to said bolt.

As previously mentioned, the deformation and the backflow of material producing the aforementioned artificial bolt, are caused by a small explosion or suitable pyrotechnic means.

A device for implementing the above method, of the type comprising an informing means associated with a safe and capable of operating under the effect of an attack to re-lock the safe, is characterized in that said informing means consists of a small mass of explosive housed in at least part of the safe door, preferably in the vicinity of the edge of this door.

This device is further characterized by at least one housing provided facing the small mass of explosive, in the wall of the trunk facing the edge of the door.

According to a particular embodiment, the small mass of explosive is housed in an insert which is internally integral with the door or the lock mechanism, and is preferably located in a hollow part formed in a plate or the like forming part of said part.

The aforementioned informant means may be supplemented by another small mass of explosive associated with the plaster and / or at least one of the bolts of the lock of the boot.

The invention also relates to a safe or a strong enclosure of any type, equipped with a device meeting one or the other of the above-mentioned characteristics.

• Fig. 1 montre schématiquement et en coupe une paroi de coffre-fort ou de chambre forte, munie d'une porte et équipée de moyens de verrouillage conformés selon l'invention.
• Fig. 2 est une vue partielle en coupe horizontale d'un coffre-fort équipé d'un dispositif conforme à l'invention.
• Fig. 3 est une vue partielle en coupe et à grande échelle de l'une des parois du coffre et de la porte associée à cette paroi, ladite vue illustrant un fonctionnement particulier du dispositif selon l'invention, et
• Fig. 4 est une vue partielle et en coupe d'une pièce rapportée sur la porte du coffre-fort et contenant une petite masse d'explosif.

The invention will now be illustrated without being in any way limited, by the description below made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Fig. 1 schematically shows in section a wall of a safe or vault, provided with a door and equipped with locking means shaped according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a partial view in horizontal section of a safe equipped with a device according to the invention.
• Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view on a large scale of one of the walls of the trunk and of the door associated with this wall, said view illustrating a particular operation of the device according to the invention, and
• Fig. 4 is a partial view in section of an insert on the door of the safe and containing a small mass of explosive.

Fig. 1 represents a door 1 of a movable safe in a frame 2 by means of a hinge 3. The interior of the vault or of the safe is on the side of the hinge 3 and the exterior on the opposite side, that is to say at the bottom of FIG. 1. In known manner, the door 1 schematically comprises steel sheets 4, inside of which is placed concrete 5.

According to the invention, there is provided inside the door 1, embedded between the concrete layers, a pyrotechnic layer 6 for burglary detection. By way of example, there may be mentioned a layer of flammable product a few tenths of a mm thick consisting of black powder or equivalent, sensitive to heating (for example at temperatures of 200 ° C. or more). One can also use one or more layers of flammable and / or explosive type sensitive to shocks, for example an explosive paint based on penthrite or the friction of a tool or even the flame of a blowtorch. In some cases, it may be advantageous to use multiple layers of different pyrotechnic products, that is to say capable of responding to different external actions. For example, a layer of penthrite can be combined with a layer of flammable powder known as retarding powder, such as a minium-silicon layer. The function common to all of these means is to be sensitive to an external invasive action.

Layer 6 cooperates with a pyrotechnic ignition assembly acting by explosion. In the example chosen and shown in FIG. 1 attached, we see a detonator 7 which can be constituted by a few decigrams of penthrite primed with 1 dcg of lead azide. This detonator is in connection with the layer 6 on the one hand, and with detonating cords 8 on the other hand. The cords 8 are embedded in the vicinity of the exterior steel sheet of the door. These cords are, for example, cords loaded with penthrite at a rate of 20 g / m.

Opposite the cords 8, but on the side of the frame 2, there are grooves 9.

During a break-in at any point whatsoever of the protected wall, the layer 6 is put into action and the ignition is propagated via the detonator 7 to the detonating cords 8. The ignition takes place done almost instantly. The detonation of the cords 8 has the effect of inflating the steel wall 10 of the door 1, which is embedded in the groove 9 provided in the frame 2. This produces a blocking of the door 1 in the frame 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, a device for re-locking a safe according to the invention essentially consists of a small mass of explosive or any pyrotechnic means 11 housed in the door 12 of the safe and preferably located in the vicinity of the section 13 of this door.

In the wall 14 facing the edge 13 of the door 12, a housing 15 is provided facing the small mass of explosive 11.

Thus, during an attempted break-in, the explosive 11 which will detect the attack directly or indirectly, will produce a deflagration locally deforming and driving back the edge 13 of the door 12 towards the housing 15, as shown in 16, so as to re-lock the safe. Although not shown in FIG. 2, any means connected to the explosive 11 can be provided to cause the ignition of this explosive.

It is perfectly possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to provide a reverse arrangement to that shown in FIG. 2, that is to say that the explosive 11 would be housed in the wall 14 and that the housing 15 would be formed in the section 13 of the door 12. It is also possible to provide several masses of explosive such as 11, distributed inside and on the periphery of door 12, as well as several housings, such as 15, in correspondence with all these explosives and formed in the walls of the trunk at the level of their parts adjacent to the periphery of door 12. Deformation of the edge 13 of the door can result in a convexity of this edge, as shown in 16, or else in a deformation and tearing of this edge, as shown in 17 in FIG. 3. In the latter case, we see that the torn part 17 enters the housing 15 so as to produce one or more sharp edges which block the door 12 at the opening.

The housing (s) 15 can be omitted in the case where the door 12 forms with the walls 14 of the safe a rebate 18 in the form of a baffle, as can be seen in FIG. 2. Indeed, if the explosive is placed at 11a in one of the interior angles of the door 12, this explosive may deform the edge 13 of the door, as shown in 16a, and, although 'there is no housing opposite the explosive 11a in the wall 14, this will be enough to prevent the pivoting of the door 12 according to arrow F.

In addition to the explosive 11 and / or 11a, another small mass of explosive 11 can be provided at the level of the plaster 19 of the door 12 which supports the lock mechanism, not shown and housed in space 20. Thus, the action of the explosive 11 b will cause local deformation of the plaster 19, as shown in 16b. This deformation 16b may, for example, block the rear part of a bolt P of the lock, which bolt cannot therefore be erased from the wall 14. It would also be possible, without departing from the scope of the invention, to provide a small mass of explosive inside at least one bolt such as P, which explosive, under the effect of an assault, may deform or tear the bolt in its strike, thereby strengthening the blocking of the safe closed position.

According to the variant visible in FIG. 4, the explosive 11 is housed in an attached piece 21 and secured to the section 13 of the door 12, inside said door. More specifically, the explosive 11 is located in a hollow 22 formed in a plate or a sheet 23 integral with the part 21. Thus, the explosive 11 may cause the visible deformation at 24 and forming as before an artificial bolt penetrating the inside the housing 15 formed in the box of the safe, materialized here by the wall 14.

Thus, according to the invention, a system for re-blocking a safe was made using a simple delivery of material which can be located either at the door of the safe, or at the level of the body or walls of this safe, or even at the locksmith.

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given only by way of example.

It is thus perfectly possible to provide a means other than an explosive or a pyrotechnic system for carrying out the deformation and the repression of material.

Claims (16)

1. Method for permanently locking in case of aggression or breach of close of a movable member within a supporting framework, said method being characterized by providing within said member and/or said framework means sensitive to an outer action, bringing said means in contact with a pyrotechnical firing package acting through explosion upon at least one outer part of said member or framework which is deformed under the effect of the explosion and arranging the portion located in front of this outer part to enable the later to be set in once it has been deformed by the explosion.

2. Method for relocking a safe or similar characterized in that when the safe undergoes an attack at least one portion of the safe door is automatically deformed an upset towards an adjacent wall or reversely to thereby provide at least one artificial bolt preventing or delaying the opening of said safe.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the artificial bolt extends into a recess provided in a wall in front of those from which said artificial bolt originates.

4. Method according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in that deformation and upsetting of material giving the artificial bolt are induced by explosion.

5. Device to carry out the method according to claim 1, said device comprising a 'supporting framework (2) and a member (1) movable therein as well as means for locking said member onto said supporting framework, said device being characterized in that said locking means comprise means (6) provided within said movable member (1) and/or said framework (2) and sensitive to an outer action, a pyrotechnical firing package (7, 8) biaised by said means (6) in case of an outer action thereupon and acting through explosion upon at least one outer part (10) of said member (1) or framework (2) which is deformed under the effect of the explosion, the portion located in front of this outer part (10) being arranged (9) to cause the latter to be set in once it has been deformed by the explosion.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the movable member (1) is a door.

7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the movable member (1) is an armoured door of a safe or strong-room.

8. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the means (6) sensitive to an outer action and made fast with the movable member (1) are pyrotechnical means (6) such as one or several layers of ignitable and/or explosive product.

9. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the pyrotechnical firing package liable of initiating an explosion and in connection with said means (6) sensitive to an outer action comprises at least one detonator (7) and some detonating fuse (8).

10. Device according to claim 9 characterized in that the detonating fuse (8) induces an expansion or break of the wall (10) constituting the movable member (1) in particular made from steel sheet of the armoured door of the safe or the strong-room.

11. Device according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the supporting framework (2) is a door frame formed with a groove (9) into which the outer wall (10) of the door deformed upon the explosion is caused to be set in.

12. Device to carry out the method according to claim 2 comprising a detector means associated with a safe and liable to act under an aggression effect in view to relock the safe, characterized in that the said detector means comprises a small body of explosive inserted in at least one part of the safe door preferably in the proximity of the door slab.

13. Device according to claim 12 characterized in that it is provided at least an housing in front of the small body of explosive in the safe wall facing the door slab.

14. Device according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the small body of explosive is provided into an internal inserted element integral with the door or the lock mechanism and is preferably located in an hollow portion of a plate or similar constituting said element.

15. Device according to any one of claims 12 to 14 characterized in that the detector means comprises moreover a small body of explosive associated with the lock plate and/or with at least one of the safe lock bolts.

16. Safes and strong-rooms provided by the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and by the device according to any one of claims 5 to 15.

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