EP0712984A1

EP0712984A1 - Locking device for anti-panic doors

Info

Publication number: EP0712984A1
Application number: EP95308205A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Renzo Ravegnini
Original assignee: CORBIN Co
Current assignee: CORBIN S.R.L.
Priority date: 1994-11-21
Filing date: 1995-11-16
Publication date: 1996-05-22
Also published as: ITBO940195U1; IT232093Y1

Abstract

An improved locking device 1, particularly for use with anti-panic emergency doors, is disclosed, having relatively small dimensions in the pivoting plane of an anti-panic lever unit. This is achieved by transverse movement of a spring latch 8. The device also serves to lock the closing rod 2 of the emergency door in position.

Description

The present invention relates to an improved device for locking a closing rod of emergency doors and the like.
As is known, in order to gain access to public premises and the like, use is often required of emergency doors which are designed to open easily when necessary. Doors of this type, which are commonly known as "anti-panic", are provided for example for the emergency exits of public premises.
Some locks used for the emergency doors in question are provided with a rod which slides vertically in the door; the rod, which is thrust by suitable spring means, can engage at the top with a seat provided in the door frame. The rod is slid into the lowered, opening position by means of an external mechanism, for example an anti-panic grip.
The above locks are often also provided with a locking device which is designed to retain the closing rod in the lowered position when the door is open. This locking device is usually controlled by a unit which is mobile between a withdrawn position inside the door aperture, and an active position in which it projects from the door, for example adjacent to the closing rod.
When the door is closed, this mobile unit is maintained lowered by the stop on the door frame, and the locking device is deactivated. On the other hand when the door is opened, the mobile unit is thrust resiliently into the active, projecting position, and locks the closing rod. Obviously, when the door is being closed, as the said mobile unit is engaged in the fixed frame, it is once again thrust into the lowered position, such as to release the closing rod.
A locking device of the above-described type is illustrated in Italian patent application no MI19A 003046. This locking device consists of a lever unit which can be pivoted around a horizontal axis, between a lowered position and an active, raised position, towards which it is thrust by spring means. The lever unit forms a spring latch which is disposed on the front of the closing rod, in the direction of opening of the door, and is designed to project above the door, in the said active position of the lever unit. In the aforementioned active position, a coupling unit, which is integral with the lever unit, engages a profiled tooth on the closing rod, such as to prevent it from sliding vertically upwards.
This device permits optimum locking of the emergency door closing rod. However, although its dimensions are compact, it takes up a relatively large amount of space, in particular on the pivoting plane of the aforementioned lever unit. This can obviously constitute an obstacle to use of the device, in relation to the dimensions of the door.
The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-described disadvantage, by providing a smaller sized, improved device for locking a closing rod of an emergency door.
Within the context of this object, a further aim of the present invention is to provide an improved locking device which has a simple design, and is reliable and versatile in use.
This object and this aim are both achieved according to the invention by the present improved device for locking a closing rod of an emergency door, of the type which comprises a spring latch which is disposed on the front of the closing rod, in the direction of opening of the door, and is mobile between a lowered position and an active raised position, in which it is designed to project above the door, thrust by spring means, and is characterised in that it comprises means for guiding the spring latch, such as to displace it transversely when it is being moved into the said active, raised position, in an inclined direction of gradual approach of the spring latch to the closing rod; and in the active position, a coupling unit supported by the spring latch can engage a profiled tooth on the closing rod, such as to prevent it from sliding axially.
The details of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the improved device for locking the closing rod of emergency doors, illustrated by way of example in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical cross-section of the locking device in question, in the position in which the door is open;
Figure 2 is a corresponding cross-section in the position in which the door is closed; and
Figure 3 is a lateral view of the improved locking device, in the same position in which the door is closed.

With particular reference to these figures, 1 indicates as a whole the device for locking the closing rod 2 of emergency doors.
The locking device 1 has a casing 3 which is intended to be attached to the door leaf. In practice, the casing 3 is in the shape of an inverted U, and in its enlarged upper wall 3a, it has an aperture 4 through which the closing rod 2 passes freely.
This rod 2 slides vertically in a known manner, thrust by appropriate spring means (not shown), and at the top can engage a seat 5 provided in the fixed frame 6 of the door. The closing rod 2 is also guided in a collar 7, which is attached to the base of the casing 3.
Inside the casing 3 there is guided in a sliding manner a spring latch 8, which in practice is disposed vertically; the spring latch 8 is disposed at the front of the closing rod 2, in the direction of opening of the door indicated A, such as to engage the rod 2 partially with the sides 8a.
More specifically, on their exterior, the sides 8a of the spring latch 8 have corresponding projecting components 9, for example pairs of pins which have horizontal axes transverse to the sides 8a, and are disposed on a plane which is slightly inclined relative to the vertical. These pairs of pins 9 can engage respective slots 10 provided in the lateral walls 3b of the casing 3, in a direction which is slightly inclined relative to the vertical and coincides with the aforementioned plane on which the pins 9 lie; this plane is inclined towards the closing rod 2, going from bottom to top.
It will be appreciated that the components 9 which are guided in the slots 10 can have a different shape. In particular the walls 8a of the spring latch 8 can be in the shape of a type of lozenge, the longitudinal axis of which is inclined according to the aforementioned plane.
As described in greater detail hereinafter, in an active position, one of the end portions of the spring latch 8 projects from the aperture 4 provided in the upper wall 3a of the casing 3. At this end portion, the spring latch 8 is in the shape of an inclined plane 8b, on the side opposite that which faces in the direction A of opening of the door.
It should be noted that in the said active position, the spring latch 8 abuts the closing rod 2, owing to the effect of transverse movement imposed on the spring latch by the slots 10. In fact, in practice, the slots 10 form a conventional inclined plane, on which the spring latch 8 is guided.
The spring latch 8 is thrust at its lower end by a helical spring 11, which acts against the collar 7. The spring 11 acts such as to thrust the spring latch 8 towards the aforementioned active position.
With the lower part of the spring latch 8 there is associated a coupling unit 12, which faces the closing rod 2. This coupling unit preferably consists of a pin which is supported such as to rotate according to a horizontal axis, in a seat which is provided transversely to the walls 8a of the spring latch 8 and faces the closing rod 2. The coupling unit can however also consist of other types of rotary units, such as a sphere.
In the said active, raised position, the coupling unit 12 can engage a toothed portion 13 of the closing rod 2, such as to prevent it from sliding axially. More particularly, the toothing 13 of the closing rod 2 has a sawtoothed profile, consisting of a plurality of conical teeth, the conicity of which faces upwards.
The functioning of the locking device is easily understandable from the following description.
When the door is opened, by moving the closing rod 2 downwards, for example by means of a handle of a known type, the spring latch 8 is no longer retained in the lowered position in which its end abuts the fixed frame 6 of the door. The spring latch 8 can therefore move into the active, raised position, by means of the resilient thrust exerted by the spring 11 (Figure 1).
Simultaneously with movement into the active, raised position, transverse movement is imparted to the spring latch 8, by the inclination of the slots 10 in which the pins 9 are guided. This transverse movement makes the spring latch 8 gradually approach the closing rod 2.
In the active, raised position, the coupling unit 12 therefore engages one of the conical teeth of the toothing 13 of the closing rod 2, locking the rod in the lowered position, against the spring means which act on this rod.
It should be pointed out that the coupling unit 12 consists of rotary means, in particular a pin with a horizontal axis. This coupling unit 12 can therefore roll on the surface of the closing rod 2, at the moment of contact, and until engagement in the toothing 13 takes place.
On the other hand when the door is closed, moving the device in the direction opposite to A, by means of the inclined plane 8b the spring latch 8 intercepts the edge of the frame 6, and is therefore forced downwards (Figure 2).
The spring latch 8 is moved by this means into the lowered position, along the inclined plane defined by the slots 10, against the spring 11, releasing the closing rod 2 from engagement with the coupling unit 12. The closing rod 2 can thus move vertically, engaging its own seat 5.
In other words, the device described solves in an optimum manner the problem of locking the closing rod of emergency doors.
In particular it should be noted that the improved locking device has a very small size, since in practice the spring latch moves adjacent to the closing rod and longitudinally along the latter, between the aforementioned lowered and raised positions.
The device also has a very simple structure, to the advantage of operation and production costs, and is additionally very robust, such as to ensure satisfactory durability even in conditions of continuous use. In the practical embodiment of the invention, any materials, form and dimensions can be used, according to requirements.

Claims

A device for locking a closing rod (2) of an emergency door, of the type which comprises a spring latch (8) which is disposed on the front of the closing rod (2), in the direction of opening of the door, and is mobile between a lowered position and an active raised position, in which it is designed to project above the door, thrust by spring means (11), characterised in that it comprises means (10) for guiding the spring latch (8), such as to displace it transversely when it is being moved into the active, raised position, in an inclined direction (8b) of gradual approach of the spring latch to the closing rod; and in the active position, a coupling unit (12) supported by the spring latch can engage a profiled tooth (13) on the closing rod, such as to prevent it from sliding axially.
A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the coupling unit (12) consists of rotary units which are supported such as to rotate by the said spring latch, in an area which faces the said closing rod.
A device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the rotary units consist of a pin which is supported such as to rotate according to a horizontal axis, in a seat formed transversely to the said spring latch.
A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the guide means (10) form an inclined plane, in a direction which is slightly oblique relative to the vertical, on which means (9) integral with the said spring latch are guided in a sliding manner.
A device according to Claim 4, characterised in that the inclined plane consists of a pair of slots (10) provided in the lateral walls of a casing (3), inside which the said spring latch (8) is mounted, there being guided in a sliding manner in the slots corresponding profiled components (9) externally on the sides (8a) of the spring latch.
A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the toothing (13) of the closing rod (2) consists of a plurality of conical teeth, the conicity of which faces upwards, which can be engaged by the said coupling unit (12).