EP0461013B1 - Locking device for emergency exit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to locking devices for emergency exits and more particularly to a device for locking an emergency exit comprising a door leaf mounted relative to a fixed wall, the locking device being able to have selectively for its unlocking a first operating mode in positive security in the presence of the public with remote control by power failure and a second operating mode with enhanced safety in the absence of the public, the locking device comprising a support plate fixed on the one of said elements constituted by said fixed wall and said door leaf defining the emergency exit, a bolt intended to cooperate with at least one wall element defining a keeper integral with the other of said elements constituted by said door leaf and said fixed wall, a means of locking the bolt, a means of controlling overhang connection of the locking means and a reinforced safety means for selectively inhibiting the operation of the unlocking control means.

Traditionally, the emergency exits of public or private places to receive the public are provided with locking means constituted by chains and padlocks. Such locking means have been found to be entirely inappropriate since, for example, in the event of a fire, it is not possible to unlock the emergency exits quickly and efficiently.

It has thus been recommended to produce unlocking locks for emergency exits which can operate with the aid of a remote control by power failure, that is to say which imply that the release of the door cannot be obtained. only under the effect of intrinsic energy stored in the lock, for example using a banded spring.

To be effective, the unlocking system of an emergency exit must, however, not only be able to be remote-controlled by a power failure but also be able to enter action even in the event that significant pressure is exerted on the door, for example by users panicking, when the intrinsic energy stored in the lock is released. This last condition is particularly difficult to obtain in a simple manner.

• en présence du public, généralement le jour, l'issue de secours doit être régie par des règlementations chargées d'imposer le respect de la sécurité des personnes, même au détriment de la sécurité des biens, celle-ci restant pourtant le souci majeur du responsable de la sécurité des locaux.
• en l'absence de public, généralement la nuit, l'issue de secours redevient une porte normale, sans contrainte administrative en ce qui concerne la sécurité des personnes, mais avec un rôle évident et accentué de protection des biens.

It should also be noted that, in practice, an emergency exit in a room open to the public almost always has at least two very distinct operating modes:

• in the presence of the public, generally during the day, the emergency exit must be governed by regulations responsible for enforcing respect for the safety of persons, even to the detriment of the safety of property, the latter however remaining the major concern of the responsible for the security of the premises.
• in the absence of an audience, generally at night, the emergency exit becomes a normal door, without administrative constraints as regards personal safety, but with an obvious and accentuated role of protection of property.

Locking products have already been proposed intended to ensure the locking of emergency exits while respecting safety regulations, these locking products being such that the door is held in place by a device which retracts upon switching off. of the supply current or when exerted on it forces greater than a predetermined value, for example of the order of 60 dN. Such locking products respond well to the conditions of protection of persons, in that they can be easily unlocked in an emergency, but prove to be ineffective with regard to the protection of property. It is therefore often necessary to add additional locking devices to strengthen the inviolability of emergency exits, especially in the absence of an audience.

We also know deadbolt locks moved by an electromagnet made in such a way that the energizing of the electromagnet propels a metal part which comes to come between the lock and its strike to oppose the opening of the door. This same action simultaneously compresses a return spring responsible for bringing the bolt back into the body of the bolt when the power supply to the electromagnet is interrupted. The solidity of the bolt fully satisfies the users, but there is no chance that the spring will unlock the door if pressure is applied to the leaf when it must act, which makes this system incompatible with the rules of security requiring that an unlocking of an emergency exit can be obtained even when significant pressure is exerted on the door.

There are also known safety devices adaptable to panic bars. Such devices introduce a delay in the action of the panic bar. When a user presses on a bar, this pressure does not act on the unlocking of the door, but triggers a time delay of a few seconds of duration and, simultaneously causes a remote alarm. If the user releases the bar, thinking that the door is locked, the timer resets to zero. If, on the other hand, it maintains its pressure throughout the duration of the time delay, the door unlocks at the end of this time delay. It should be noted that the panic bars, by the design of the locks on which they act, cannot be considered as high-security locking products. In addition, security devices based on a time delay and the triggering of a remote alarm present for their users the disadvantage of causing a lot of nuisance alarms coming from people who, often without malice, press on the bars, by carelessness , or inadvertently.

• décondamnation à la coupure du courant d'alimentation en présence du public, impassibilité quand cet évènement se produit en l'absence du public,
• verrouillage très robuste, le jour comme la nuit, qui s'escamote sans faille au moment opportun, même si plusieurs usagers, pris de panique, appuient frénétiquement sur les battants de l'issue de secours,
• changement de mode de fonctionnement "absence/présence du public" télécommandable et très fiable.

We still know electromagnetic door maintainers which are not strictly speaking locking products. With this type of product, an electromagnetic suction cup fixed on the frame of a door maintains, when it is supplied, a magnetic metal plate fixed on the opening. The attractive force of these devices is significantly lower than the burglary resistance that one expects a good locking product and, these devices are not able to prevent the unlocking of a real door subjected to a real attempt at intrusion with violent shocks. In addition, these products do not take into account the problem of locking in the absence of an audience in the premises. It follows from the above that none of the known escape route locking products correctly meets all the requirements of the buyers and the administration for locking the emergency exits, since none resolves the contradictions. that the addition of these requirements gives rise to:

• unlocking when the power supply is cut off in the presence of the public, impassibility when this event occurs in the absence of the public,
• very robust locking, day and night, which retracts flawlessly at the right time, even if several users, panicked, press frantically on the flaps of the emergency exit,
• change of operating mode "absence / presence of the public" remote-controlled and very reliable.

The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to take into account all of the requirements indicated above, in order to provide an effective locking device which has very high security in the absence of the public and can however be easily unlocked. , in the presence of the public, using a remote control, by a simple power supply cut-off of the device, the change of state between operation in the presence of the public and operation in the absence of the public can be achieved in a simple way, and preferably remotely controlled manually or automatically.

These objects are achieved by means of a device for locking an emergency exit of the type mentioned at the head of the description, and having the characteristics indicated in the preamble of claim 1 appended and which, according to the present invention, is characterized in that the bolt has a first portion comprising a stop means against said wall element defining a keeper for prevent relative movement between said door leaf and said fixed wall of the emergency exit and a second portion substantially perpendicular to said first portion and pivotally mounted about a bolt axis parallel to said first and second portions, the bolt cooperates with a withdrawal spring compressed in the closed position of the bolt, and with a locking piston guided by a guide piece in a direction perpendicular to said pivot axis to come to bring in locking position on the rear face of said second portion, the means locking device further comprises a first link pivoting about a first axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of said piston and to the bolt axis and having a fixed position relative to the support plate, and a second link articulated respectively around d '' a second and a third mobile axes parallel to said first axis with respect to the first re rod and to the locking piston, the first, second and third axes being substantially aligned in the axis of the piston in the locking position, and an ejection spring is tensioned in said locking position.

Advantageously, in the locked position, the articulated assembly of the first and second links and of the locking piston comes to bear at the end of its travel on an eccentric pivoting stopper arranged so as to allow the links to slightly exceed the position of perfect alignment of the first, second and third axes and the creation of a small negative angle of the order of a few degrees between the first and second links in order to give the first and second links and the piston a stable equilibrium position.

According to another advantageous characteristic, the unlocking control means comprises an unlocking arm mounted to pivot about an axis parallel to said first, second and third axes, said arm being provided, on the one hand on the side of its free end, with '' a holding disc arranged so as to be pressed, in the locked position, on the active face of an electromagnetic lock, and, on the other hand, on the side of its articulation axis, a unlocking spring and an eccentric cam having a flat portion which, in unlocked position with positive safety , strikes the second link under the action of the unlocking spring during a cut in the electrical supply of the electromagnetic lock.

Preferably, the unlocking arm further comprises a counterweight disposed in the vicinity of the free end of the arm in order to increase the striking force of the latter.

According to a preferred embodiment, the locking device comprises an electric motor driving at least one reset cam cooperating with a reset mechanism and means for controlling a locking mechanism for placing the locking device respectively in the locking position and in an enhanced safety position.

In this case, according to a first embodiment, the reset mechanism may include a reset lever and a reset button cooperating with a return spring and with the unlocking arm. The locking mechanism may itself include a locking lever and a locking push button cooperating with a return spring and the first link.

According to another embodiment, the rearming mechanism can comprise a rearming lever and a rearming link articulated on the unlocking arm, while the locking mechanism can comprise a locking lever and a locking rod articulated on the first link.

In this case, the locking device may comprise a bearing bearing which exerts on the locking piston a back pressure to compensate for the lateral pressure caused by the action of the locking rod on the first rod.

According to a particular embodiment, the electric motor can comprise a worm screw coupled to its output axis, said screw being engaged with a drive pinion whose axis of rotation is common to that of the reset cam and to that of the means for controlling the locking mechanism constituted by a locking cam.

According to yet another advantageous characteristic, the locking device comprises a limit switch microswitch and a safety microswitch cooperating with elements synchronized with the movement of the reset and lock mechanisms as well as a reset micro switch and a lock microswitch signaling the position of the unlocking arm and the piston.

According to another aspect, at each locking device locking cycle, all of the parts are first positioned in the safety position and then, if the safety command is not present, the parts continue to move to finally come to a standstill in the positive safety locking position in which the door is locked and unlocked by remote control cut-off of the supply current to the electromagnetic lock.

Advantageously, the locking device is mounted on said fixed wall and the bolt can be provided to cooperate simultaneously with two wall elements defining two strikes fixed on different leaves of said door leaf of said emergency exit, so as to allow locking simultaneous of the two leaves of the emergency exit.

Magnetic contacts actuated by magnets placed in the strikes can also be provided to signal the closed position of the door leaves.

• la figure 1 est une vue de face montrant les éléments essentiels d'un dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention, dans une position de condamnation, selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue analogue à la figure 1, mais montre le dispositif de verrouillage en position de décondamnation,
• la figure 3 est une vue analogue aux figures 1 et 2, mais montre le dispositif de verrouillage en position de sûreté,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 5, et montre une gâche avec laquelle peut coopérer le pêne du dispositif de verrouillage des figures 1 à 3,
• la figure 5 est une vue de dessus montrant une paire de gâches avec lesquelles peut coopérer le pêne du dispositif de verrouillage des figures 1 à 3,
• la figure 6 est une vue de dessous du dispositif de verrouillage des figures 1 à 3,
• la figure 7 est une vue de face montrant un dispositif de verrouillage selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, le dispositif étant en position de condamnation,
• la figure 8 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 7, mais montre le dispositif de verrouillage en position de décondamnation,
• la figure 9 est une vue analogue aux figures 7 et 8 mais montre le dispositif de verrouillage en position de sûreté,
• la figure 10 est une vue de dessus du dispositif de verrouillage des figures 7 à 9,
• la figure 11 est une vue de face montrant un dispositif de verrouillage selon un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention, le dispositif étant en position de condamnation,
• la figure 12 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 11, mais montre le dispositif de verrouillage en position de décondamnation ou sécurité,
• la figure 13 est une vue analogue à celles des figures 11 et 12, mais montre le dispositif de verrouillage en position de sûreté,
• la figure 14 est une vue arrière de dessus montrant le dispositif de verrouillage des figures 11 à 13,
• les figures 15A et 15B sont des vues en perspective du levier de réarmement et du levier de condamnation mis en oeuvre dans le mode de réalisation des figures 11 à 14, dans deux positions successives différentes,
• la figures 16 et 17 montrent, respectivement selon une vue schématique en élévation et selon une représentation en perspective, un dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention monté de façon standard en haut d'une porte sur le dormant de celle-ci, avec une ouverture du pêne vers le plan de pose,
• les figures 18 et 19 montrent, respectivement selon une vue schématique en élévation et selon une représentation en perspective, un dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention, monté en haut d'une porte, avec un pêne inversé et une ouverture de celui-ci dans une direction opposée au plan de pose,
• les figures 20A et 20B montrent respectivement selon une vue schématique en élévation et selon une représentation en perspective, un dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention, qui présente une forme de pêne adaptée pour permettre une fixation du dispositif de verrouillage sur un plafond, au-dessus de la porte à verrouiller,
• les figures 21 à 26 montrent différents états des circuits de commande électrique du dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention, lors d'un cycle de condamnation de la porte, avec une position de sécurité positive,
• les figures 27 à 31 montrent différents états des circuits électriques de commande du dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention lors d'un cycle de mise en position de sûreté,
• les figures 32 et 33 montrent différents états des circuits électriques de commande d'un dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention, lors d'un cycle de retour en position de sécurité positive,
• la figure 34 montre sous forme de chronogrammes les états de différents éléments des circuits de commande électrique du dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention, lors d'un cycle de condamnation,
• la figure 35 montre sous forme de chronogrammes les états de différents éléments des circuits électriques de commande du dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention, lors d'un cycle de mise en position de sûreté, et
• la figure 36 montre sous forme de chronogrammes, les états de différents éléments des circuits électriques de commande du dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention, lors d'un cycle de retour en position de sécurité positive.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given by way of example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a front view showing the elements essentials of a locking device according to the invention, in a locked position, according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but shows the locking device in the unlocked position,
• FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but shows the locking device in the safety position,
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of FIG. 5, and shows a keeper with which the bolt of the locking device of FIGS. 1 to 3 can cooperate,
• FIG. 5 is a top view showing a pair of strikes with which the bolt of the locking device of FIGS. 1 to 3 can cooperate,
• FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the locking device in FIGS. 1 to 3,
• FIG. 7 is a front view showing a locking device according to a second embodiment of the invention, the device being in the locked position,
• FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, but shows the locking device in the unlocked position,
• FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIGS. 7 and 8 but shows the locking device in the safety position,
• FIG. 10 is a top view of the locking device in FIGS. 7 to 9,
• FIG. 11 is a front view showing a locking device according to a third embodiment of the invention, the device being in the locked position,
• FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 11, but shows the locking device in the unlocking or safety position,
• FIG. 13 is a view similar to those of FIGS. 11 and 12, but shows the locking device in the safety position,
• Figure 14 is a rear view from above showing the locking device of FIGS. 11 to 13,
• FIGS. 15A and 15B are perspective views of the reset lever and of the locking lever used in the embodiment of FIGS. 11 to 14, in two different successive positions,
• Figures 16 and 17 show, respectively in a schematic elevational view and in a perspective representation, a locking device according to the invention mounted in a standard manner at the top of a door on the frame thereof, with an opening from the bolt to the laying plane,
• Figures 18 and 19 show, respectively in a schematic elevational view and in a perspective representation, a locking device according to the invention, mounted at the top of a door, with an inverted bolt and an opening thereof in a direction opposite to the laying plane,
• FIGS. 20A and 20B show respectively in a schematic elevation view and in a perspective representation, a locking device according to the invention, which has a shape of bolt adapted to allow fixing of the locking device on a ceiling, au- above the door to be locked,
• FIGS. 21 to 26 show different states of the electrical control circuits of the locking device according to the invention, during a door locking cycle, with a positive safety position,
• FIGS. 27 to 31 show different states of the electrical circuits for controlling the locking device according to the invention during a cycle for placing in the safety position,
• FIGS. 32 and 33 show different states of the electrical circuits for controlling a locking device according to the invention, during a cycle of return to the positive safety position,
• FIG. 34 shows in the form of chronograms the states of different elements of the electrical control circuits of the locking device according to the invention, during a cycle of conviction,
• FIG. 35 shows in the form of chronograms the states of different elements of the electrical circuits for controlling the locking device according to the invention, during a cycle for placing in the safety position, and
• FIG. 36 shows in the form of chronograms, the states of different elements of the electrical circuits for controlling the locking device according to the invention, during a cycle of return to the positive safety position.

The emergency exit lock according to the present invention, which is preferably a lock controlled using an electric motor, can advantageously be placed at the top of a door, on the frame thereof, in order to be able to simultaneously lock the two leaves of an emergency exit with its bolt. However, this is not an obligation, and the lock can also be installed in any position as will be explained below, and can for example be used to lock a door with a single leaf.

Will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6, a locking device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

To facilitate the description, it will be considered that the plane of FIGS. 1 to 3 is vertical and that the bolt 24 of the locking device is arranged downwards, as is the case when the locking device is arranged at the top of a relates to the frame of it.

The locking device comprises a support plate 19 fixed to the frame of the emergency exit. A bolt 24 is articulated at the lower part of the plate 19 around a horizontal axis 25. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, the bolt 24 in the form of a hook, or of a beak, comprises a first portion 24a intended to come into engagement in the cavities 27 of the keepers 28 fixed on the leaves of the door (Figure 5), and a second portion 24b essentially perpendicular to the first portion 24a and pivotally mounted, at its part remote from the portion 24a, around a bolt axis 25 parallel to the first and second portions 24a, 24b and arranged horizontally according to the conventions previously indicated. The first portion 24a of the bolt 24 has at least one flat face 24c which serves as a retaining stop inside the keepers 28 and obstructs the movement of the leaves of the door.

The bolt 24 cooperates with a withdrawal spring 26 disposed around the axis 25, and compressed in the closed position of the bolt 24.

A locking piston 20 guided in a guide piece 21 in a vertical direction perpendicular to the pivot axis 25 comes to bear, in the locking position (FIG. 1) on the rear face of the second portion 24b of the bolt 24.

The withdrawal movement of the piston 20 is prevented by a mechanism comprising a first link 15 pivoting about a first horizontal axis 18 perpendicular to the direction of movement of the piston 20 and to the bolt axis 25.

The pivot axis 18 of the first link 15 has a fixed position relative to the support plate 19. A second link 17 is articulated around a movable axis 16 relative to the first link 15. The second link 17 is also articulated around a third movable axis 22 relative to the locking piston 20. The axes 18, 16 and 22 are mutually parallel and are substantially aligned in the axis of the piston 20 in the locking position of FIG. 1. In this locking position, an ejection spring 23 fixed between the articulation axes 18 and 22 is also bandaged.

The lower link 17 has an extension 17a which extends beyond the articulation axis 16 in the direction of the upper link 15. The extension 17a of the lower link 17 is located in the locking position of the locking device. locking of FIG. 1, facing a cam 30 integral with a locking arm 7, and arranged around the pivot axis 50 of the locking arm 7. The fixed axis 50 is itself parallel to the axes 18, 16 and 22. The unlocking arm 7 cooperates itself with a unlocking spring 10 disposed around the axis 50, and further has, on the side of its free end, a disc of holding 8 which cooperates with an electromagnetic suction cup 9.

An electric motor 1 drives a cam train 2 comprising at least one reset cam 3 and a locking cam 11. The reset cam 3 cooperates with a reset lever 4, the free end of which acts on a reset button 5 disposed horizontally and around which is wound a return spring 6. The end of the reset button 5 opposite the reset lever 4 is intended to act on the unlocking arm 7.

The locking cam 11 cooperates with a locking lever 12, the free end of which acts on a locking plunger 13 around which a return spring 14 is wound. The free end of the locking plunger 13 opposite the locking lever 12 is intended to act on the first upper link 15.

The pushers 5 and 13 can be arranged substantially in the same horizontal plane. An example of an arrangement of the cams 3 and 11 and of the levers 4 and 12 with which they cooperate is shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 also shows the presence of a positioning microswitch 31, of a safety microswitch 34 arranged respectively in the vicinity of a positioning cam 32 and a safety cam 33 which, together with the cams 3 and 11, form part of the cam train 2 driven by the electric motor 1.

The operation of the locking device in FIGS. 1 to 6 will now be described.

We will first consider the operation of the locking device according to a process for locking the emergency exit, with reference to FIG. 1.

The gear motor 1, powered by an electric control voltage, causes the rotation of the cam train.

The cams, thanks to their eccentricity, will push levers, then will stop on positions which release these levers and allow them to return to their starting position, under the action of their return spring.

The reset cam 3 thus pushes the reset lever 4 which in turn pushes the reset button 5 by compressing its return spring 6. The free end of the reset button 5, opposite the reset lever 4, presses on the unlocking arm 7, and, at the end of its travel, causes the holding disc 8 fixed on the arm 7 to be pressed against the active face of the electromagnetic lock 9. The electromagnetic suction cup fixed on the support plate 19 is supplied by a electrical voltage using a remote control, and when energized, maintains the unlocking arm 7 despite the effort of the unlocking spring 10.

With a slight delay with respect to the reset cam 3, the relocking cam 11 acts on the relocking lever which depresses the relocking pusher 13 and compresses its return spring 14. The free end of the relocking pusher 13 presses the upper link 15, practically at its hinge pin 16 with the lower link 17.

The upper link 15 pivots about an upper axis 18 whose position is fixed relative to the support plate 19 and drives the lower link 17 in a movement which tends to close the angle which it formed in the unlocked position with it. ci (figure 2). The angle between the two links 15 and 17 thus passes from a starting position of approximately 120 ° to a flat angle.

The lower link 17 is articulated with the locking piston 1 which is guided in the vertical direction by the guide piece 21. The hinge pin 22 between the lower link 17 and the locking piston 20 therefore moves on a vertical passing through the fixed upper axis 18. The movement which realigns the two links simultaneously strips the ejection spring 23 placed beneath them.

The movement of the rods which realign, pushes the relocking piston 20 downwards. The latter presses on the bolt 24 which pivots about its upper axis 25 by compressing its withdrawal spring 26. The pivoting of the bolt 24 causes the portion 24a of this bolt 24 to penetrate into the corresponding cavities 27 of the two strikes 28 each fixed on one of the doors.

In fact, advantageously, the articulated assembly of the rods 15, 17 and of the locking piston 20 comes to bear at the end of its travel on an eccentric pivoting stop 29. This is adjusted to allow the assembly a slight movement of a few degrees from perfect alignment. This slight negative angle, combined with the action of the ejection spring 23, gives the three parts 15, 17, 20 a stable equilibrium position which they will retain after the withdrawal of the relocking pusher 13.

The locking or locking operation is completed when the unlocking arm 7 is glued by the disc 8 to the electromagnetic lock 9 and the three axes 18, 16 and 22 are aligned. In this position, a thrust exerted on the bolt 24 by the door will press on the alignment of the axes which will resist as a function of the solidity of the parts which make up the articulated assembly.

We will now describe with reference to FIG. 2, an unlocking operation according to positive safety operation. The positive safety operation takes place when an audience is present in the room equipped with the locking device according to the invention. In this case, the unlocking or unlocking is carried out only by the action of an intrinsic energy (banded spring) and caused by a break in the supply current, in this case the supply current of the suction cup 9.

The release of the unlocking arm 7 by the electromagnetic lock 9, at the breaking of the current which feeds it triggers the unlocking of the door.

The release of the suction cup 9 indeed releases the unlocking spring 10 which violently spreads the arm of unlocking 7 from its holding position.

The eccentric cam 30, coupled to the axis of the arm 7, strikes the extension 17a of the lower link 17, which contributes to breaking the alignment of the three axes 18, 16 and 22. The shock caused by the force accumulated by the mass represented by the holding disc 8 fixed to the end of the unlocking arm 7 has a significant action on the breaking of the equilibrium position.

The ejection spring 23 then takes over and causes the closure of the angle between the two links 15 and 17. The locking piston 20 rises under the pull of the links 15, 17 moved by the ejection spring 23. This causes the portion 24a of the bolt 24 to exit from the latching cavities 27 of the strikes 28 under the action of the withdrawal spring 26.

If pressure is exerted simultaneously, by the leaves of the door, on the face 24c of the portion 24a of the bolt 24, at the time of unlocking, this pressure promotes the withdrawal of the bolt instead of hindering it.

FIG. 3 itself represents the locking device in the safety position, that is to say for a negative safety operation outside the presence of the public in the room equipped with the locking device. In the position of FIG. 3, the locking device is transformed into a burglar-resistant security lock which cannot cause unlocking, even if the electrical supply to the suction cup 9 is interrupted.

During the initial locking operation, the action of the positioning cam 32 on the positioning microswitch 31 stopped the electric motor 1 after sufficient rotation to release the pushers 5 and 13 and allow them to return to their position of departure under the pressure of their return spring 6 and 14.

The safety position is obtained by a rotation of the motor 1 controlled by the action of the safety cam 33 on the safety microswitch 34. The engine 1 stops so as to maintain the reset push-button 5 bearing on the unlocking arm 7 and the reset or relocking push-button 13 pressing on the upper link 15.

In this position, the release of the electromagnetic lock 9 no longer causes the door to be unlocked. Only a new rotation of the cam train 2, accompanied by a break in the supply current of the suction cup 9 can do this.

• décondamnation par action d'une énergie intrinsèque, à la coupure du courant d'alimentation, pendant la présence de public dans le local équipé, tout en offrant la résistance à l'arrachement d'un verrou haute sécurité;
• libération de l'ouverture garantie même si une pression importante est exercée sur la porte pendant la phase de décondamnation du verrou;
• maintien de la condamnation en cas de coupure du courant d'alimentation hors de la présence du public, tout en permettant une décondamnation de la porte par une commande spécifique et en offrant toujours la résistance à l'effraction d'un verrou de haute sécurité.

The electrical locking device for an emergency exit according to the present invention therefore performs the following three functions well:

• unlocking by action of intrinsic energy, at the cut of the supply current, during the presence of the public in the equipped room, while offering the resistance to tearing of a high security lock;
• release of the guaranteed opening even if significant pressure is exerted on the door during the unlocking phase of the lock;
• maintenance of the condemnation in the event of a cut in the supply current outside the presence of the public, while allowing unlocking of the door by a specific command and always offering resistance to the burglary of a high security lock.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 7 to 10 which show a second embodiment of a locking device for an emergency exit, which is very similar in structure and operation to the first embodiment, but nevertheless presents some differences, in particular with regard to rearmament and sentencing mechanisms.

In FIGS. 7 to 10, the elements identical to those already described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 bear the same reference numbers and will not be described again.

In FIG. 7, it can be seen that a unlocking weight 63 has been fixed to the end of the unlocking arm 7, in order to increase the striking force of the unlocking arm 7, when the latter produces, by means of cam 30, one breaking action of the equilibrium position of the links 15 and 17.

FIGS. 7 to 9 also show the keepers 28 with which the bolt 24 cooperates, and one can see two magnetic contacts 38 arranged on the plate 19 opposite two magnets 39 placed in the keepers 28, in order to signal the closed position of the door leaves.

We also note in Figures 7 to 9 the presence of a reset microswitch 76 disposed in the vicinity of the unlocking arm 7 and the electromagnetic lock 9, and a condemnation microswitch 77, disposed in the vicinity of the piston 20, these microswitches 76 and 77 being intended to signal the position of the various moving parts of the locking device.

In FIGS. 7 to 10, it can be seen that the electric motor 1 has an output axis which is coupled to an endless screw 52. This screw 52 drives a drive pinion 53 whose axis of rotation constitutes the axis of the cams 54 and therefore constitutes a common axis for the resetting cam 55 and the locking cam 56.

The reset cam 55 cooperates with a reset lever 57 which is articulated with a reset link 58 itself articulated on the unlocking arm 7.

The locking cam 56 cooperates itself with a locking lever 64 which is articulated on a locking rod 65 which is itself articulated with the upper rod 15.

An end-of-travel microswitch 74 and a safety microswitch 75 are arranged in the vicinity of the cams 55, 56 and cooperate with pins placed on the drive pinion 53 to control the stopping of the electric motor 1 in predetermined positions.

Reference will now be made more particularly to FIG. 7 to describe the placing in the locking position of the locking device according to the variant of FIGS. 7 to 10.

The rotation of the motor 1 rotates the drive pinion 53 and the cams 55, 56.

The resetting cam 55, when rotating, presses on the resetting lever 57 which moves away from its rest position by pushing, by means of the resetting link 58, the unlocking arm 7. The rotation of the arm unlocking 7 around its axis 50 compresses the unlocking spring 10 wound around the axis. At the end of the race, at the peak of the reset cam 55, the holding disc 8 comes into contact with the active face of the electromagnetic lock 9. The latter, which is then energized, retains the holding disc 8 glued when the reset cam 55, continuing to rotate, releases the reset lever 57.

When the rearming cam 55 releases the rearming lever 57, the locking cam 56, which has started to rotate at the same time as it starts, begins to press on the locking lever 64. The latter, via the locking rod 65, pushes the upper rod 15 at the level of the median articulation axis 16 with the lower rod 17.

As in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6, the upper link 15 then pivots about the upper articulation axis 18 and drives the lower link 17 in a movement which tends to close the angle which it formed with it in the unlocked position.

The lower link 17 articulated with the locking piston 20, itself guided in the vertical direction by the guide piece 21 causes a downward movement of the piston 20. The locking piston 20 is supported, by moving, on a ball bearing 51 which constitutes a bearing bearing exerting a back pressure to compensate for the lateral pressure caused by the action of the locking rod 65 on the upper rod 15.

The articulation axis 22 between the lower link 17 and the locking piston 20 moves on a vertical passing through the fixed upper articulation axis 18. The movement which realigns the two connecting rods simultaneously strips the ejection spring 23 placed under them.

During their realignment, the connecting rods push the relocking piston 1 downwards and thus cause the engagement of the bolt 24 in the keepers 28.

As in the first embodiment, the articulated assembly of the rods and the locking piston 20 preferably comes to press at the end of its travel on an eccentric pivoting stop 29 which is arranged so as to allow the assembly to slightly exceed a few degrees from perfect alignment, in order to define a stable equilibrium position which will be maintained after removal of the locking cam 56.

FIG. 7 shows the locking device at the end of the locking operation, when the unlocking arm 7 is bonded by its plate 8 to the electromagnetic lock 9 and the three axes 18, 16 and 22 are substantially aligned.

FIG. 8 shows the locking device according to the second embodiment in a unlocked position, in positive security operation, that is to say in operation in the presence of the public in the room equipped with the locking device.

After the supply current to the electromagnetic lock 9 has been interrupted, the suction cup 9 releases the unlocking arm 7 which, under the action of the unlocking spring 10 moves away from its holding position. The unlocking eccentric 30, coupled to the axis 50 of the arm 57 strikes the lower link 17 and thus breaks the alignment of the three axes 18, 16 and 22. The shock, caused by the force accumulated by the mass represented by the unlocking weight 63 fixed to the end of the unlocking arm 7 contributes to clearly and effectively breaking the equilibrium position of the connecting rods.

The angle between the two connecting rods 15 and 17 is closed under the action of the ejection spring 23, and the locking piston 20 rises under the traction of the connecting rods 15, 17 moved by this ejection spring 23. The bolt to hook 24 then emerges from the attachment cavities 27 and strikes 28 under the action of this withdrawal spring 26, as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows the locking device according to the second embodiment placed in the safety position, that is to say in a negative safety operating position adapted to the absence of the public in the room equipped with the lock according to the 'invention.

During the initial locking, the stopping of the motor 1 is caused by the action of a pin 40 (FIG. 10), placed on the drive pinion 53, on the limit switch 74. A second pin 41 (FIG. 10) also placed on the drive pinion 53, makes it possible to stop the cams at the peak of their travel, by means of the safety microswitch 75 so as to prevent the action of the unlocking arm 7 and the misalignment of the three axes if the electromagnetic lock 9 releases its action on the holding disc 8. This position constitutes the safety position.

Reference will now be made essentially to FIGS. 11 to 14 which relate to a third embodiment of a locking device for an emergency exit.

The embodiment of Figures 11 to 14 is very similar to that of Figures 7 to 10. Similar elements have the same reference numbers and will not be described again.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 11 to 14, a spring 78 of the coil spring type has been placed between a fixed point situated on the side of the reset 57 and lock 64 levers and the unlocking arm 7.

The spring 78 can be substituted for the spring 10 of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10 or added to it to reinforce the effectiveness of the unlocking which can thus be obtained not only by the effect of gravity on the arm of unlocking 7 but also by the action of return springs.

The embodiment of FIGS. 11 to 14 also shows that the electric motor 1 is arranged a little differently from the previous embodiment and allows the implementation of a reducer consisting of a set of pinions 80 placed at the output of the electric motor 1. One of the pinions 80 is integral with the axis carrying the toothed wheel 53 which is no longer in direct engagement with the output of the motor 1, while the other pinion 80 is integral with the axis carrying the reset cam 55.

A torque limiter can be introduced for example into the pinion 80 integral with the axis carrying the reset cam 55 to mechanically protect the motor if the bolt 24 is blocked during locking.

As can be seen in FIGS. 11 to 13, a screw 79 is placed at the end of the axis of the motor 1 to allow a change of state controlled by a manual or electric tool, in the event that the motor 1 is faulty.

In the embodiment of Figures 11 to 14, the microswitches 74 and 75 are controlled by specific cams 82 and 83 respectively (Figure 14) while in the embodiment of Figures 7 to 10 the microswitches 74 and 75 are controlled by cleats arranged on the toothed wheel 53.

Another feature of the embodiment of Figures 11 to 14 is explained with reference to Figures 14 and 15A, 15B. The reset lever 57 is provided with a stopper 81 perpendicular to this lever 57, which stopper 81, during a reset operation, is housed in a notch 84 formed in the locking lever 64 to allow driving in rotation of this lever 64 by the reset lever 57. This eliminates the locking cam 56 of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10. In the opposite direction of rotation, opposite to that of the arrows in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the cleat 81 emerges from groove 84 so that the resetting lever 57, driven by the resetting cam 55 does not drive the locking lever 64.

Subject to the few variant embodiments indicated above, the operation of the locking device in FIGS. 11 to 14 is identical to that of the locking device in FIGS. 7 to 10.

Figures 16 and 17 show a first example of mounting of a locking device according to the invention, which is applicable to the various embodiments already described.

This first mounting example can be considered the most common and provides for an opening of the opening 90 of the door towards the plane of installation of the lock. The body of the locking device is mounted vertically by the base plate 19 on the frame 91 of a door, while the keeper or keepers, of which only one wall actually cooperates with the face 24c of the portion 24a of the bolt 24 forming a stop, are mounted on the opening 90 of the door on the side situated towards the plate 19. The pivot axis 25 of the bolt 24 is in this case disposed in an orifice 86 which is in a position relatively distant from the plate 19 of the locking device.

It is however possible to envisage other arrangements. According to the example of FIGS. 18 and 19, which constitutes an "opposite" arrangement, the opening of the door leaf 90 is carried out in a direction opposite to the plane of installation of the lock. The locking device is again mounted vertically by the base plate 19 on the frame 91 of a door while the striker (s) are mounted on the leaf 90 of the door on the side opposite to the plate 19. The axis 25 for pivoting the bolt 24 is in this case disposed in an orifice 85 which is in a position close to the plate 19, the curved portion 24a of the bolt 24 then being itself disposed on the side opposite to the plate 19 relative to the pivot axis 25 whereas in the embodiment of FIGS. 16 and 17 the curved portion 24a was precisely arranged between the pivot axis 25 and the plate 19.

Figures 20A and 20B show yet another possible mounting example of a locking device according to the invention.

The assembly of Figures 20A and 20B shows the establishment of the locking device by fixing the base plate 19 on a horizontal ceiling 92 located above the opening 90 of a door. In this case, which can be advantageous when the space between a door and the ceiling is reduced, the bolt 24 which pivots around a horizontal pivot axis 25 placed for example in an orifice 86 relatively distant from the plate 19, has a specific shape.

The bolt 24 of the locking device adapted to the assembly of FIGS. 20A and 20B clearly presents, as in the various embodiments already described, a second portion cooperating with a locking piston 20 and pivotally mounted relative to a horizontal pivot axis 25 , as well as a first portion 24a essentially perpendicular to the second portion 24b. However, the pivot axis 25 is placed in a zone of junction between the first and second portions 24a, 24b of the bolt 24, and not in a zone remote from the first portion 24a. In addition, the first portion 24a is extended by a third portion 24d which is substantially perpendicular to the first portion 24a and parallel to the second portion 24b, but directed in the opposite direction to the latter. The third portion 24d of the bolt 24 directed downwards has a flat face 24c which constitutes the stop cooperating with the leaf 90 of a door. On the side opposite to the third portion 24d, an inclined wall connects the first portion 24a to the second portion 24b so as to create in the latch 24 a mechanically reinforced central area.

In the foregoing, it has been considered that the locking device was mounted by its plate 19 on a fixed wall 91, 92 located in the vicinity of the opening 90 of a door while the striker (s) or the wall elements forming door opener were arranged on the opening 90 of the door.

If necessary, these roles could naturally be reversed and the locking device would then be mounted on the door leaf.

We will now describe with reference to Figures 21 to 36, in more detail, the operating cycles of the locking device according to the second embodiment of the invention. These operating cycles however apply in a similar manner to the first and third embodiments.

Figures 21 to 33 show different states of the control system of the electric motor 1, for different phases of the operating cycle of the locking device.

It can be seen that the electrical supply to the motor 1 takes place via two contacts S01, S02 arranged in series, the contacts S01 and S02 being constituted by relay contacts K01 and K02 respectively. Relays K01 and K02 are controlled by control switches S03 and S04 respectively. The relay K01 is also controlled by a contact SW01 arranged in parallel on the contact S03, the contact SW01 being linked to the limit switch 74. The relay K02 is itself also controlled by a contact SW02 arranged in series with the contact S04, contact SW02 being linked to safety microswitch 75.

FIGS. 21 to 33 also show the pins 40 and 41 arranged on the drive pinion 53 which cooperate with the microswitches 74 and 75. To simplify the representation of the microswitches, the drive pinion 53 is however represented by two overlapping views. The upper view shows the end pin or pin 40, and the lower view shows the pin or safety pin 41. In reality, in practice, the two pins 40 and 41 are fixed on a single pinion 53 and act on the microswitches 74, 75 which are arranged around the same pinion 53 but having offset positions. Other alternative embodiments are however also possible, as indicated with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 11 to 14.

In the following description made with reference to FIGS. 21 to 36, it will be seen that the safety position of the lock (door locked, cannot be unlocked by a power cut) is an intermediate phase of the locking cycle. In other words, each time the lock is locked, all of its parts are first positioned in the safety position, then, the safety control not being present, continue to move to finally come to a standstill in positive safety locking position (door locked, unlockable) by power cut). The safety position is thus not obtained by the action of an additional device, independent of the one that causes the door to lock. This contributes to simplifying the product which comprises only one actuator, and increases reliability insofar as there are no longer problems of synchronization between several devices nor of a source of risk of antagonism between two devices whose objectives and operating methods are contradictory.

FIG. 34 shows in chronogram form the different states of the contacts S01 to S04, of the contacts SW01 and SW02, as well as of the electric motor 1, during a locking cycle. By convention, when a contact is active, it is represented in state 1 while when the contact, or the motor is in the rest state, it is represented by a level 0.

FIGS. 21 to 36 represent the state of the electrical control device of the motor 1 at the different times t0 to t4 of FIG. 34.

FIG. 21 represents the state of rest of the device for locking the lock, at an instant t0 of a cycle for locking the door in the positive security position.

The door was unlocked by the release of the unlocking arm 7. All the parts of the unlocking device remained in the position reached at the end of the previous rearming cycle. The same applies to the control device external to the lock.

The electric motor 1 has been stopped by the stud 40, fixed on the drive pinion 53, acting on the limit switch 74. The contact SW01 is thus in the working position, that is to say it is open. Relays K01 and K02 are deactivated, their respective contacts S01 and S02 are in the rest position. The control switches S03 and S04 are open. The safety microswitch 75 is free, that is to say that the contact SW02 is in the rest position.

FIG. 22 represents the state at an instant t1 of the locking cycle, at the time of the start of a locking command Door.

Contact S03 closes, causing the relay K01 to stick. The contact S01 switches to the working position, that is to say, ensures a connection with the electrical supply of the motor. The motor 1 is then supplied, which drives the rotation of the drive pinion 53. The limit switch 40 moves on the activation ramp of the limit switch 74 without having yet left the latter.

FIG. 23 represents a state at an instant t2 corresponding to the end of the door locking command.

The microswitch 74 has been released by the pad 40, and the locking control contact S03 can be released.

FIG. 24 represents the state at an intermediate time t3 of the door locking cycle.

The motor 1 is rotating the pinion 53, which causes the pads 40 and 41 to move. The various contacts remain in their previous positions.

FIG. 25 represents the state at an instant t4 of the start of the transition to the safety position.

During the rotation of the pinion 53, the stud 41 reaches the ramp of the microswitch 75 and makes it tilt. Contact SW02 switches to working position. With contact S04 open, relay K02, which is not supplied, does not change state.

At the end of the transition to the safety position, that is to say, at time t5, the pad 41 which has traversed the entire activation ramp of the safety microswitch 75, releases the pallet from the latter . Contact SW02 returns to the rest position. (See figure 26).

At the end of the door locking cycle, the pinion 53 has returned to its starting position, illustrated in FIG. 21, after having made a complete rotation of 360 °. The pinion 53 actuates the microswitch 74 again. The contact SW01 switches to the working position. Relay K01 is deactivated and contact S01 switches to the rest position, which short-circuits motor 1 and causes it to stop immediately. From a command point of view, we are thus returned to the initial position of FIG. 21, but, this time, the unlocking arm 7 is armed and the three axes 16, 18 and 22 are aligned, so that the door is locked.

A description will now be given with reference to FIG. 35 and to FIGS. 27 to 31 of the cycle for placing in the safety position.

Remember that in the presence of the public in the room, the lock keeps the door locked. It is placed in a positive safety position which allows immediate unlocking caused by a remote control by cutting off the power to the electromagnetic lock 9.

The public having left the room by another opening, the lock is placed in the safety position which prevents unlocking when the power is cut. During the passage from one state to another, the door leaves are permanently blocked by the lock.

If you want to place an unlocked door in the safety position, you must first carry out a locking cycle in accordance with what has been explained with reference to FIGS. 21 to 26 and to FIG. 34.

At the initial instant t0 of a cycle for placing in the safety position, the lock is in the rest state of the device for locking the lock, according to a diagram conforming to that of FIG. 21, but the door is locked and the lock is in the positive security position.

FIG. 27 shows the state of the various elements of the control circuit at the start of a command to switch to the safety position, at an instant t1.

Contact S04 is closed, which does not otherwise cause any change.

FIG. 28 shows the various contacts at an instant t2 corresponding to an intermediate phase of the command to switch to the safety position.

Contact S03 is closed, which activates relay K01. Contact S01 switches to the working position. The motor 1, supplied, drives the pinion 53. The studs 40 and 41 are move.

FIG. 29 shows the state of the various contacts at an instant t3 corresponding to the end of the command to switch to the safety position.

The contact S03 is kept closed while the pad 40 traverses the activation ramp of the microswitch 74. When the microswitch 74 is released, the contact SW01 switches to the rest position.

FIG. 30 represents the state of the various elements of the control circuit at an instant t4 corresponding to an opening of the control contact S03.

Contact SW01 keeps relay K01 actuated, and motor 1 continues to run.

FIG. 31 represents the state of the various elements of the control circuit when the safety position is reached at an instant t5 of the cycle represented in FIG. 34.

The stud 41 actuates the microswitch 75. The contact SW02 switches to the working position. The K02 relay sticks, which causes the S02 contact to switch to the working position. Motor 1 is then short-circuited and stops immediately.

Figures 32, 33 and 36 relate to a cycle of return to the positive safety locking position.

When the public returns to the room, a command causes the lock to move from the safety position to the positive safety locking position.

FIG. 31 shows the lock in the safety position (time t0 of the positive safety return cycle in FIG. 26).

At time t1 of the cycle in FIG. 36, a command is returned to the positive safety locking position, which is illustrated in FIG. 32.

The S04 contact is open, which causes the K02 relay to take off. Contact S02 switches to the rest position. Motor 1 is energized and begins to rotate.

In an intermediate phase of operation at an instant t2, illustrated in FIG. 33, the pads 40 and 41 are move under the action of motor 1.

At the end of the positive safety return cycle, at an instant t3 of the cycle in FIG. 36, there is a stop in the positive safety command position and the system is found in the state of FIG. 21. 40 pushes in the paddle of microswitch 74. The contact SW01 switches to the working position. Relay K01 detaches, which causes switch S01 to switch to the rest position. Motor 1, short circuited, thus stops instantly.

Claims (18)

1. Locking device for an emergency exit including at least one door leaf (90) mounted relative to a fixed wall (91, 92), the locking device being capable for unlocking purposes of selectively taking up a first mode of operation when the public is present and that is fail-safe with unlocking being under remote control by an electrical current being interrupted, and a second mode of operation when the public is not present and that provides enhanced security, said locking device comprising a support plate (19) for fixing to one (91, 92) of said elements constituted by said fixed wall (91, 92) and said door leaf (90) defining said emergency exit, a bolt (24) for co-operating with at least one wall element defining a keeper (28) and fixed to the other one (90) of said elements constituted by said door leaf (90) and said fixed wall (91, 92), locking means (15 to 18; 20 to 22) for locking said bolt (24), unlocking control means (7 to 10) for unlocking said locking means (15 to 18, 20 to 22), and enhanced security means (3 to 6; 55, 57, 58) for selectively inhibiting the operation of said unlocking control means (7 to 10),
   characterized in that the bolt (24) has a first portion (24a) including abutment means (24c) for coming into abutment against said wall element to prevent relative movement between said door leaf (90) and said fixed wall (91, 92), and a second portion (24b) essentially perpendicular to said first portion (24a) and mounted to pivot about a bolt axis (25) parallel to said first and second portions (24a, 24b), in that the bolt (24) co-operates both with a retraction spring (26) which is compressed in the bolt-closed position (24), and with a locking piston (20) guided by a guide part (21) along a direction perpendicular to said pivot axis (25) to bear in a locking position against the rear face of said second portion (24b), and in that the locking means (15 to 18, 20 to 22) further includes a first link (15) pivoting about a first axis (18) perpendicular to the displacement direction of said piston and to the bolt axis (25) and having a position which is fixed relative to the support plate (19), and a second link (17) hinged firstly to the first link (15) and secondly to the locking piston (20) about respective second and third moving axes (16, 22) parallel to said first axis (18), the first, second and third axes (18, 16, 22), when in the locking position, being substantially in alignment on the axis of the piston (20),
   and a toggle-collapsing spring (23) having energy stored therein when in said locking position.
2. Locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the locking position, the hinged assembly of the first and second links (15, 17), and the locking piston (20) bears at the end of its stroke against an eccentric pivoting abutment (29) disposed so as to enable the links to move a little past the position in which the first, second, and third axes (18, 16, 22) are in accurate aligment, thereby creating a small negative angle of a few degrees between the first and second links so as to confer a position of stable equilibrium to the first and second links (15, 17) and to the piston (20).
3. Locking device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the unlocking control means (7 to 10) comprises an unlocking arm (7), pivotally mounted about an axis (50) parallel to said first, second, and third axes (18, 16, 22), said arm being provided firstly at its free end with a retention disk (8) disposed in such a manner as to lie, in the locking position, on the active face of an electromagnet (9), and secondly at its hinge end with an unlocking spring (10; 18) and with an eccentric cam (30) having a plane portion which, in the fail-safe unlocking position, strikes the second link (17) under the action of the unlocking spring (10; 78) whenever the electrical power feeding the electromagnet (9) is interrupted.
4. Locking device according to claim 3, characterized in that the unlocking arm (7) further includes a weight (13) disposed in the vicinity of the free end of the arm in order to increase the striking force thereof.
5. Locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it includes an electric motor (1) driving at least one resetting cam (3; 55) co-operating with a resetting mechanism (4, 5; 57, 58) and means (11; 56; 81, 84) for controlling a locking mechanism (12, 13; 64, 65) in order to place the locking device respectively in the locked position and in the enhanced security position.
6. Locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that the resetting mechanism (4, 5) includes a resetting lever (4) and a resetting pusher (5) co-operating with a return spring (6) and with the unlocking arm (7).
7. Locking device according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the locking mechanism (12, 13) includes a locking lever (12) and a locking pusher (13) co-operating with a return spring (14) and with the first link (15).
8. Locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that the resetting mechanism (57, 58) includes a resetting lever (57) and a resetting link (58) hinged to the unlocking arm (7).
9. Locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking mechanism (64, 65) includes a locking lever (64) and a locking link (65) hinged to the first link (15).
10. Locking device according to any one of claims 5, 8 and 9, characterized in that the electric motor (1) includes a worm screw (52) coupled to its outlet shaft, said screw engaging a drive gear (53) whose axis of rotation is common with the axis of rotation of the resetting cam (55) and with the axis of rotation of the locking mechanism control means which are constituted by a locking cam (56).
11. Locking device according to claim 9, characterized in that it includes a thrust bearing (51) which exerts a reaction on the locking piston (20) to compensate the lateral pressure caused by the action of the locking link (65) on the first link (15).
12. Locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that said means (11; 56) for controlling the locking mechanism (12, 13; 64, 65) include a locking cam (11; 56) driven by said electric motor.
13. Locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that said means (81, 84) for controlling the locking mechanism (64, 65) include a peg (81) fixed to the resetting mechanism (57, 58) and co-operating directly with a component (84) of said locking mechanism (64, 65).
14. Locking device according to any one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that it includes an end-of-stroke microswitch (74), and a secure-position microswitch (75) co-operating with components (40, 41; 82, 83) synchronized with the movement of the resetting mechanism and of the locking mechanism, and also a resetting microswitch (76) and a locking microswitch (77) for signalling the position of the unlocking arm (7) and the position of the piston (20).
15. Locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that on each locking cycle of the device, all of its parts are initially positioned in the secure position, and then if the command for taking up the secure position is not present, the parts continue to move and come finally to rest in the fail-safe locking position in which the door is locked while being unlockable by interrupting the feed current to the electromagnet (9) under remote control.
16. Locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it further includes magnetic contacts (38) actuated by magnets (39) placed in the keepers (28) to signal the closed position of the door halves.
17. Locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the locking device is mounted on said fixed wall (91, 92) and the bolt (24) is designed to co-operate simultaneously with two wall elements defining two keepers (28) fixed on two different halves of said door leaf (90) of said emergency exit.
18. Locking device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the locking device is mounted on said fixed wall (92) constituted by a horizontal ceiling component situated above the door leaf (90) and the bolt (24) has a first portion (24a) which extends a third portion (24d) substantially perpendicular to the first portion (24a) and parallel to the second portion (24b), but directed away therefrom, said third portion (24d) having a plane face (24c) constituting an abutment that co-operates with said wall element defining a keeper on said door leaf (90).

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