EP1249543A1 - Device for mutually latching two members, in particular a covering element on a support frame - Google Patents

Abstract

The lock for two components such as a manhole cover and surrounding frame has a sliding bolt (1) mounted under the cover and actuated by a key (2). The bolt has an aperture (114) into which the key is inserted, and three guide surfaces (112, 113, 115) for a pin (3), an angled bar (4) and the key. The insertion and rotation of the key slides the bolt and at the same time trips it over the edge of the angled bar so that the bar engages with a notched guide surface (113) in the open position and with the back of the bolt in the locked position.

Description

The present invention relates to a locking device for interlock two elements, including an element of covering on an element forming a support frame for this element of covering, and applies more particularly to road systems, for example to closings of manholes or inspection of an underground network, such as manholes or sidewalk, and to devices for closing technical inspection chambers underground cable network, such as hatches.

There are currently many mechanical devices for make tamper-proof such buffers or such hatches, either of the lock type, either of the lock type.

Locks have a mechanism that can be complex, causing a bolt to move under a strike through a specific key. They generally offer a relatively high level but their complex mechanism, often located in a corrosive and fouling environment, requires protection expensive ("noble" materials and waterproof case).

Locks are simple and economical devices, little sensitive to the environment, generally actuated by a key resulting in rotation a pivot with special head secured to a movable bolt under a strike. They generally offer a lower level of security, the pivot head being visible and capable of being manipulated by conventional tools.

The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by creating a lock-type device that is not very sensitive to fouling and corrosion, which can easily be made invisible from the outside and inaccessible to conventional tools, in order to offer a level of inviolability and security comparable to that of a lock.

To this end, the invention relates to a locking device for interlock first and second elements, including a cover element on a support frame element for the element cover, of the type comprising a movable bolt and a key for actuating the bolt, and two bolt guide members carried by one of said first and second elements, the bolt comprising a light key introduction, two guide rails adapted to cooperate respectively with the two guide members, and a third ramp guide adapted to cooperate with the outline of the key when it is introduced into said light, in order to actuate the bolt selectively by a locking position to an unlocking position or a locking position unlocking in a locked position, by rotation of the key, characterized in that one of the bolt guide members is carried by the first element and formed by a wedge-shaped finger, and the guide ramp adapted to cooperate with this organ is a region of a lateral edge of the bolt having a notch forming a housing for the finger, so as to lock the bolt in the locked position and in the unlocked position.

The fact that the lock itself is made up of little of organs, also makes it very economical.

• l'autre des organes de guidage du pêne est porté par le premier élément et est formé par un organe de solidarisation du pêne audit premier élément, et la rampe de guidage adaptée pour coopérer avec cet organe est une paroi d'un trou oblong ménagé dans le pêne et dans lequel est inséré l'organe de solidarisation et de guidage ;
• l'organe de solidarisation et de guidage est une vis dont le corps est enfilé à travers le trou oblong et porte un écrou-frein situé sous le pêne ;
• le doigt en forme de coin est en une seule pièce avec le premier élément et s'étend en saillie en sous-face de celui-ci ;
• la troisième rampe de guidage adaptée pour coopérer avec le contour de la clé est constituée par la paroi latérale de la lumière, cette paroi latérale étant adaptée pour coopérer avec un panneton de la clé lorsque celui-ci est introduit dans la lumière ;
• la lumière présente une échancrure dont un chant forme butée pour le panneton quand le pêne est en position de déverrouillage ;
• le panneton présente une encoche adaptée pour venir en prise avec un bossage en forme de couronne circulaire entourant un trou d'introduction de la clé, ménagé dans le premier élément et situé en regard de la lumière, ce bossage étant en saillie dans la lumière et coopérant également avec la troisième rampe de guidage ;
• le trou présente une forme tronconique évasée vers la face extérieure du premier élément et adaptée pour coopérer avec une surface tronconique complémentaire de la clé, de manière à assurer le guidage en rotation de la clé ;
• le trou tronconique présente un grand diamètre notablement plus petit que la lumière ; et
• la clé comporte, à la base d'une tige, une collerette destinée à prendre appui sur le premier élément, et la région de liaison du panneton à la collerette présente une surface tronconique adaptée pour coopérer avec une surface tronconique d'un trou du premier élément .

The locking device according to the invention can also have one or more of the following characteristics:

• the other of the bolt guide members is carried by the first element and is formed by a member for securing the bolt to said first element, and the guide ramp adapted to cooperate with this member is a wall of an oblong hole formed in the bolt and into which the fastening and guiding member is inserted;
• the joining and guiding member is a screw, the body of which is threaded through the oblong hole and carries a lock nut located under the bolt;
• the wedge-shaped finger is in one piece with the first element and extends projecting below the latter;
• the third guide ramp adapted to cooperate with the outline of the key is constituted by the side wall of the slot, this side wall being adapted to cooperate with a key bit when the latter is introduced into the slot;
• the light has a notch, a song forming a stop for the bit when the bolt is in the unlocked position;
• the bit has a notch adapted to come into engagement with a boss in the shape of a circular crown surrounding a hole for introducing the key, formed in the first element and situated opposite the light, this boss projecting into the light and also cooperating with the third guide ramp;
• the hole has a frustoconical shape flared towards the outer face of the first element and adapted to cooperate with a frustoconical surface complementary to the key, so as to guide the key in rotation;
• the frustoconical hole has a large diameter significantly smaller than the lumen; and
• the key comprises, at the base of a rod, a flange intended to bear on the first element, and the region of connection of the bit to the flange has a frustoconical surface adapted to cooperate with a frustoconical surface of a hole in the first element.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'un pêne équipant un dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue montrant en coupe longitudinale selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1, le pêne de cette figure et une partie d'un tampon de voirie en position de fermeture auquel ce pêne est solidarisé en position de déverrouillage du tampon, les organes de fixation du pêne au tampon, et, en traits mixtes, une partie du cadre du tampon et le pêne en position de verrouillage du tampon,
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessus de la même partie du tampon équipée du pêne, mais ce dernier étant représenté en position de verrouillage du tampon,
• les figures 4 à 11 montrent schématiquement en vue de dessus, les positions relatives successives du pêne, du panneton de la clé, de la gâche (schématisée en trait mixte), et des organes de guidage du dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention, lorsque le pêne passe de sa position de verrouillage à sa position de déverrouillage puis de cette position de déverrouillage à nouveau à la position de verrouillage,
• la figure 12 est une vue similaire à la figure 2 montrant l'implantation dans le pêne d'une partie de la clé équipant le dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, of an embodiment of the invention given by way of nonlimiting example, illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a top view of a bolt fitted to a locking device according to the invention,
• Figure 2 is a view showing in longitudinal section along the line II-II of Figure 1, the bolt of this figure and part of a roadside buffer in the closed position to which this bolt is secured in the buffer unlocking position , the members for fixing the bolt to the buffer, and, in dashed lines, part of the buffer frame and the bolt in the buffer locking position,
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the same part of the buffer fitted with the bolt, but the latter being shown in the locking position of the buffer,
• Figures 4 to 11 show schematically in top view, the successive relative positions of the bolt, the key bit, the keeper (shown in dashed lines), and the guide members of the locking device according to the invention, when the bolt moves from its locking position to its unlocking position and then from this unlocking position again to the locking position,
• Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the implantation in the bolt of a part of the key fitted to the locking device according to the invention.

The locking device illustrated in the figures is intended to mutually lock a buffer T, part of which is shown on the Figures 2, 3 and 12, and a buffer frame C, part of which is shown in mixed lines in Figures 2 and 12. Advantageously, the tampon is provided articulation means (not shown) opposite the device for locking.

This locking device comprises a bolt 1 and a key 2 (figure 12) adapted to actuate the bolt selectively from a position locking in an unlocking position, and vice versa, when, after to have been introduced into a light of the bolt, it is turned in one direction or in reverse. The locking and unlocking positions of the bolt are respectively a position thereof in which one of its end regions is trapped under a strike G carried by the chassis C (in phantom in Figure 2), the striker projecting towards inside the chassis, and a bolt position in which this region end is offset enough from the keeper so that the bolt is no longer engaged at all under the striker.

The device further comprises two members 3, 4 for guiding the bolt (Figures 4 to 11) carried here by the buffer and adapted to cooperate respectively with two ramps for guiding the bolt. One of the organs of guide may be constituted by a screw 3 for securing the bolt to buffer ; the other guide member is a fixed finger 4 which can be in one single piece with the pad, protruding below the bottom surface thereof and having a 90 ° wedge shape with the top facing one side side of the bolt as will be seen in more detail below. Thanks to this arrangement, it avoids housing the bolt in a housing whose fouling could ultimately affect the operation of the latch.

More specifically, the bolt 1 is constituted by a plate metallic elongated angled a hundred degrees and angled also at a hundred degrees so that it presents two wings 11,12 extending approximately parallel in opposite directions respectively on either side of a connecting part 13. One of the wings is an elongated guide wing 11 adapted to be secured to the buffer T by means of screw 3, being joined at moderate pressure against the underside of the buffer so that the bolt is movable in rotation around the axis of the screw as well as in translation in one direction parallel to this underside, and the other wing is a short wing of lock 12 comprising the end region 121 adapted to cooperate with the keeper G of chassis C and which will be designated in the following by "region locking end ”.

To allow this bolt mobility, the guide wing 11 is pierced with an oblong hole 111 in which the screw 3 is threaded, the width of which is slightly greater than the diameter of this screw, and whose length, limited by two surfaces of the edge of the hole against which the screw is stopper respectively in the locking position and in the bolt release, extends along the longitudinal axis of the wing guide and bolt. The wall 112 of the oblong hole, including the two locking and unlocking stop surfaces, thus constitutes the first ramp for guiding the bolt relative to the guide member consisting of screw 3.

The second bolt guide ramp is intended to block when it is in the unlocked position and in the locking, and is constituted by a region 113 of a lateral edge of the bolt which is opposite the fixed finger 4; this region 113 of the lateral edge of the bolt is located near the free end of the guide wing 11, which is located opposite the locking end region 121; she presents, plan view, a W shape with the central cut separating the two V constitutes a housing for finger 4 when the bolt is in the position of unlocking and with the side branch closest to the free end of the wing 11 constitutes a stop against the finger 4 when the bolt is in locking position.

The region of the free end of the guide wing 11 is further traversed right through by a light 114 for introducing the key, which does not not lead to the periphery of the bolt and whose wall 115 thus constitutes a third guide ramp forming a drive profile adapted for cooperate with the outline of the bit 21 of the key when it is introduced into the light 114.

Light 114 has, in plan view, a general shape approximately in square, the vertices of which would be rounded, and one present side, starting from one of the vertices of the square, a notch 116 in the shape of a right triangle. One of the diagonals of the square extends along from the longitudinal axis of the guide wing and the bolt, and the other is aligned with the axis of symmetry of that of the two Vs of the W formed by the second ramp 113 which is closest to the free end of wing 11.

The rounded shape of the vertices of the square formed by light 114 gives the bolt movement greater progressiveness during its key operated. The side of the square with the notch 116 in right triangle is the one that connects the top of the square the most near the oblong hole 111 at the top closest to the second ramp 113. The top of the square where the notch 116 comes into being is the one at proximity of the second ramp 113, and from where the diagonal which is in the axis of a V of the W formed by this second ramp; the side of the notch 116 which arises at this vertex is perpendicular to this diagonal, and the second side of the notch is parallel to this same diagonal; the edge of this second side thus constitutes a stop for the bit of the key when the bolt is in the unlocked position; when the bit is in abutment against this edge, the key is in a position such that its handle grip (not shown) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolt and therefore parallel to the axis of articulation of the buffer when the latter is equipped with a joint, thus facilitating the lifting of the tampon at way of the key.

So that the bolt cannot be actuated by insertion and rotation in the lumen 114 of any tool, the pad has, in look of this light 114, a tapered hole T1 in diameter significantly smaller than the diagonal of the square of light, preventing thus to see, from the outside, the shape of the light 114 which allows the bolt drive; so that on the one hand the key can be inserted in this hole, and that on the other hand it can cooperate with the third ramp 115 (light wall), it has an angled shape and its bit has a relatively small thickness and width; the system to multiple ramps of the bolt requiring good precision of the positioning of the key, it is necessary that the rotational movement of the bit is precisely guided and that the rod 22 of the key remains perfectly perpendicular to the guide wing 11 of the bolt during the key rotation. This guiding in rotation of the key is ensured by the fact that the hole T1 has a frustoconical shape flared towards the outside face of the buffer ; in addition, a circular counterbore surrounding the hole T1, outside of the buffer, improves the guiding in rotation of the key. In addition, the face of the buffer to which is attached the wing 11 comprises, around the frustoconical hole T1, a boss T2 in the form of a circular crown concentric with the hole, and the bit 21 of the key has a notch 211, centered at a distance of the axis of rotation of the key equal to the mean radius of the circular crown in boss. In addition, the base of the rod 22 of the key has a collar 221 semi-circular intended to rest on the pad when the notch 211 is engaged with the boss T2. The bit 21 preferably extends approximately perpendicular to the rod 22, its length being greater than the diameter of hole T1 while its width and thickness are smaller than the diameter of this hole T1, and its region of connection to the flange 221 has a frustoconical surface having a groove in curved bottom, at which level the binding region takes shape flattened facilitating the introduction of the bit in the hole T1 when the rod 22 of the key is in position almost parallel to the upper face of the pad.

It follows from this arrangement that the rotation of the key 2 takes place around an axis perpendicular to the buffer T and held in a fixed position relative to this one.

The fact that the shape of the key insertion hole T1 is different from the shape of the bit 21 makes it possible to hide the particular profile of key to be used to activate the bolt and thus offers effective security against "picking".

The protrusion T2 projecting inside the lumen 114 constitutes an obstacle to the access of the third ramp 115 to hinder the introduction of a picking tool and acts as a stop for the bolt limiting the its travel, and the radius of the "rounding" of the vertices of the square located on the longitudinal axis of the bolt is approximately equal to the radius of the projecting crown forming a boss, so that the crown is housed in the apex side of the oblong hole when the bolt is in position unlocking (Figures 7 and 8) and in the top on the free end side of the wing guide when the bolt is in the locked position (Figures 4 and 11).

The length of the bit 21 (distance from the front surface of this one to the axis of the rod 22 of the key) is equal to the half-diagonal of the square (Figures 7 and 8), the dimensions of the hole T1 being significantly smaller than the length of the bit.

Thanks to the adjustment of key 2 in buffer T and the rigorous positioning of the light 114 of the bolt 1 relative to the buffer, the frustoconical surface of the hole T1 of the buffer provides a reaction effective support to the thrust of the front face of the bit 21 against the wall 115 of light 114 for actuating the bolt.

The bolt 1 is secured to the buffer 2 as is saw it by screw 3, passing through a machined passage hole in the buffer, of which the frustoconical head rests on an elastic member 5 inserted in a milling of this through hole, the compression of the member 5 ensuring sets the optimum pressure for its operation; opposite of the head of screw, a lock nut 6 is screwed around the body of the screw, and a washer support 7 interposed between the lock nut and the guide wing 11 of the bolt receives the latter resting around the oblong hole 111; thanks to this assembly, the screw 3 can rotate freely, without this rotation loosening the lock nut and thus leads to the release of the bolt; thus, to disassemble the bolt, it is necessary to act simultaneously on the head of screw 3 and on the lock nut located under the bolt, the lock nut being inaccessible from the outside when the buffer is in the closed position.

• du guidage de la rampe 112 du trou oblong 111 par la vis 3,
• du guidage de la rampe 113 en W par le doigt 4,
• du guidage de la rampe 115 de la lumière 114 par le panneton 21 de la clé,

   provoquant, en raison de la forme approximativement carrée de la lumière 114, un mouvement du pêne selon une trajectoire sensiblement quadratique. The operation of the device during unlocking and locking results from the conjunction:

• guiding the ramp 112 of the oblong hole 111 by the screw 3,
• guiding the ramp 113 in W by finger 4,
• guiding the ramp 115 of the light 114 by the bit 21 of the key,

causing, due to the approximately square shape of the light 114, a movement of the bolt along a substantially quadratic trajectory.

To make it easier to understand the kinematics of the movement, the boss in crown T2 is shown in thin dashed lines and the end free of the keeper G is symbolized in a strong dashed line, in Figures 4 to 11.

When the bolt is in the locked position (figure 4), the end of the oblong hole 111 on the light side 114 is substantially in abutment against screw 3, while the part of the ramp 113 on the free end side of the guide wing 11 bears against the inclined face of the finger 4 side spoils ; the longitudinal axis of the bolt is then merged with the straight line through the center of the buffer passage hole for screw 3 and the center of the hole T1, and the boss T2 is in abutment against the rounded wall of the side light free end of the guide wing 11.

If the bit 21 of the key is inserted into the slot 114, the only possibility to move the bolt is to turn the key in the direction hourly until the bit pushes a section of ramp 115 to the opposite of finger 4 on the free end side of the guide wing 11; it results from this rotation of the key as the second ramp 113 slides against finger 4 towards the top of it, until the longitudinal axis of the bolt is sufficiently inclined with respect to the straight line passing through the center of the hole for the screw 3 and the center of the hole T1, so that the second ramp 113 is completely clear of finger 4 (Figure 5); screw 3 is then approximately in the middle of the length of the oblong hole 111; during this operation, the bolt is partially released from the grip of the strike.

If you continue to rotate the key clockwise, the face front of the bit pushes a section of the third ramp 115 on the side of finger 4, and the notch of the second ramp 113 envelops the finger while the longitudinal axis of the bolt returns to the position it occupies when the bolt is in the locked position; at the end of this movement, the end of the length of the oblong hole 111 on the strike side is substantially in press against screw 3 (figure 6).

Continuing the key rotation, the front face of its bit comes into abutment at the bottom of the notch 116 of the light 114, and one is ensured that the bolt is in the unlocked position (Figure 7); we can then remove the bit from the light 114 by tilting the key shank or use the key as a gripping tool to lift the tampon.

To lock the bolt, insert the key bit into the light 114 as above (figure 8), but the only possibility to move the latch is to turn the key counterclockwise until what the bit pushes a section of the ramp 115 also to opposite finger 4 but on the striker side of the guide wing 11; it results from this rotation of the key as the bottom of the notch of the second ramp 113 moves away from finger 4 and the bolt slides in the direction of the strike, until that the longitudinal axis of the bolt is sufficiently inclined relative to the straight through the center of the hole for screw 3 and the center of hole T1, for that the second ramp 113 is completely disengaged from finger 4 (figure 9); screw 3 is then approximately in the middle of the length of the hole oblong 111.

If you continue to rotate the key counterclockwise, the front face of the bit pushes a section of the third ramp 115 of the side of finger 4, until the bit reaches the notch 116 light 114 (FIG. 10), the bolt then being in the locked position, position in which the part of the second ramp 113 on the end side free of the guide wing 11 bears against the inclined face of the finger 4 strike side, the longitudinal axis of the bolt is again merged with the right passing through the center of the hole for screw 3 and the center of hole T1, the boss T2 bears against the rounded wall 115 of the lumen 114 on the end side free from wing 11, and the end of the oblong hole 111 on the light side 114 is substantially pressed against screw 3. Continued rotation of the key remains ineffective until it reaches the stop; so it is possible remove the key, and the bolt remains locked (Figure 11).

It will be noted that the locking device according to the invention is economical, space-saving and insensitive to the environment because the rotation of the key in the direction of locking or in the direction of unlocking acts directly on the bolt and causes the only movement of the bolt, unlike traditional mechanisms where the rotation of the key generates additional movement of other parts coupled to the bolt.

It should also be noted that thanks to the mounting method by means of the screw 3 and the lock nut, the bolt cannot be removed from the outside. Moreover, thanks to the small diameter of hole T1, it is impossible to observe the mode actuation of the bolt. Finally, thanks to the T2 projection projecting under the buffer around hole T1, it is difficult to access ramp 115 from the light 114 and so to "hook" the lock, and thanks to the shape tapered hole T1, the difficulty of "hooking" is further increased.

Claims (10)

Locking device for mutually locking a first and a second element, in particular a covering element (T) on a support frame element (C) for the covering element, of the type comprising a movable bolt (1) and a key ( 2) for actuating the bolt, and two members (3, 4) for guiding the bolt carried by one of said first and second elements (T, C), the bolt (1) comprising a light (114) for introduction of the key, two guide ramps (112, 113) adapted to cooperate respectively with the two guide members (3, 4), and a third guide ramp (115) adapted to cooperate with the outline of the key (2) when the latter is introduced into said lumen (114), in order to actuate the bolt (1) selectively from a locking position to an unlocking position or from an unlocking position to a locking position, by rotation of the key (2), characterized in that one (4) of the members for guiding the bolt is carried by the first element (T) and formed by a wedge-shaped finger, and the guide ramp (113) adapted to cooperate with this member is a region of a lateral edge of the bolt comprising a notch forming a housing for the finger (4), so as to lock the bolt (1) in the locked position and in the unlocked position. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the other (3) of the bolt guide members is carried by the first element (T) and is formed by a member for securing the bolt to said first element, and the guide ramp (112) adapted to cooperate with this member is a wall of an oblong hole (111) formed in the bolt and into which the fastening and guiding member (3) is inserted. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastening and guiding member (3) is a screw, the body of which is threaded through the oblong hole and carries a lock nut (6) located under the bolt. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wedge-shaped finger is in one piece with the first element (T) and projects in projection on the underside thereof. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the third guide ramp (115) adapted to cooperate with the outline of the key is formed by the side wall of the light (114), this side wall being adapted to cooperate with a bit (21) of the key when the latter is introduced into the slot (114). Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the light (114) has a notch (116) including a song forming an abutment for the bit (21) when the bolt is in the unlocked position. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the bit (21) has a notch (211) adapted to engage with a boss (T2) in the form of a circular crown surrounding a hole (T1) for introducing the key (2), formed in the first element and located opposite the light (114), this boss projecting into the light (114) and also cooperating with the third guide ramp (115). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the hole (T1) has a frustoconical shape flared towards the external face of the first element (T) and adapted to cooperate with a frustoconical surface complementary to the key (2), so as to ensure the guiding in rotation of the key. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the frustoconical hole (T1) has a large diameter significantly smaller than the lumen (114). Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the key (2) comprises, at the base of a rod (22), a flange (221) intended to bear on the first element (T), and the connection region the bit (21) to the flange (221) has a frustoconical surface adapted to cooperate with a frustoconical surface of a hole (T1) of the first element (T).

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