FR2681629A1 - Arrangement for locking a movable member for closing an opening, such as a door - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for locking a movable member for closing an opening. The arrangement is of the type comprising a remotely-controlled locker device which comprises a locker element (37) which can move between a position in which the said movable member is locked in its position in which it closes the opening, and a position in which this member is released and means for retaining the locker element in its locking position and for releasing this element, following a command. An element forming a lock bolt (30), which interacts with the locker element (37), is associated with the closure member. The arrangement is characterised in that it comprises a device (19) for multiplying up the locking force exerted by the locker element (37) on the element forming a lock bolt (30), which device comprises a plurality of levers (20, 21) with two arms, which are articulated to one another and mounted in series between the said movable member (1, 3) and the element forming a lock bolt (30). The invention can be used for locking a door.

Description

 The invention relates to a locking arrangement of a movable member for closing an opening, such as a door, of the type comprising a locking device, in particular a remote control device, which comprises a locking element movable between a locking position. said movable member in its position for closing the opening and a position for releasing this member and means for retaining the locking element in its position for locking and releasing this element, following a command, the locking member being associated with a bolt-forming element which cooperates with the locking element.

 Locking arrangements of this type are already known. However, they have the major drawback that the force which the locking arrangement can withstand is not sufficiently high.

 The object of the present invention is to propose a locking arrangement of the type described above, the locking force of which is higher.

 To achieve this object, the locking arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a locking force multiplier device, which comprises a plurality of levers with two arms, articulated to each other and mounted in series between said movable member and the bolt-forming element.

 The multiplier and the locking device are part of a locking mechanism which further comprises an element with substantially rectilinear movement, such as a slide, the free end of which is adapted to form a means for locking the movable member. in its closed position and which is movable, in a reciprocating movement, between its locking and unlocking positions of the movable member and cooperates with the movable member while its opposite end is articulated to the multiplier device .

 According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the free end of the element with a substantially rectilinear movement comprises a double ramp so that the closing member can operate as a beating member.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the appended schematic drawings given solely by way of example illustrating several embodiments of the invention, and in which
- Figure 1 is a top view in the direction of arrow I in Figure 3, of the locking arrangement according to the invention, the housing being open
- Figure 2 is a sectional view along line II-II of Figure 1
- Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of Figure 1
- Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of one arrangement according to Figure 1 ;;
- Figure 5 is a detail view of the locking element without the associated lever
- Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but shows a second embodiment of the overlock device shown at 47 in Figure 1;
- Figure 7 is a cutaway view, similar to Figure 6 and shows a second embodiment of the overlock device shown at 47 in Figure 1
- Figure 8 is a sectional view along line VIII-VIII of Figure 7
- Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but shows the overlocking device in its overlocking removal position
- Figure 10 shows, in the form of a block diagram, the electrical control assembly of the locking arrangement according to Figures 1 and 4 and 6; and
FIG. 11 shows, in the form of a block diagram, the electrical assembly of the locking arrangement in its embodiment according to FIGS. 7 to 9.

 In the embodiment shown in the figures, by way of example, the locking arrangement according to the invention is illustrated in its application to a door structure, the opening of the latter then forming the movable member of closing. The opening and the frame of the door structure are indicated by reference numbers 1 and 2 respectively. The opening 1 carries a bolt 3 secured to the opening and intended to cooperate with the locking mechanism 4 enclosed in a housing 5 which is fixed on the frame 2.

 All the constituent elements of the locking mechanism 4 are mounted on a support part 8 produced by cutting and folding from a flat metal plate, as shown in FIG. 4. This part essentially comprises a bottom part 81 through which the part is fixed to the bottom of the cover 5 and from which extends a U-shaped wall vertically, with a base part 82 and parts of upper and lower branches 83 and 84. The base wall 82 is oriented parallel to the vertical edge of the frame 2. Another wall in the form of a tab 85 extends parallel to the base wall 82 at the opposite edge of the bottom part 81 in the lower part of the room.

 The locking mechanism 4 comprises a slide element 7 of oblong shape which is mounted axially sliding on the wall 82, substantially at mid-height, in a housing determined by a piece 10 attached to the wall 82 and profiled to form a guide housing. 11. The slide is movable by the bolt 3, perpendicular to it. The free end 12 of the slide, which leaves the housing and cooperates with the bolt 3 has a profile in the form of an isolated triangle forming two ramps 13, which are inclined relative to the axis of the slide. In the closed state of the door, the bolt is applied by the cylindrical surface of its end against one or the other of the ramps 13, as is apparent from FIG. 3. It can also be seen that a guide stop 6 of the bolt 3 is arranged opposite the end with two ramps of the slide. It is fixed to the wall 82.

 The slide 7 carries on its surface opposite this support wall 82 two pins 15 and 16 which are laterally spaced along its length and engage in an oblong window 17 formed in the wall 82. This window also serves as a guide means of the slide.

The rear lug 16 crosses the window and projects from the inside of the wall 82.

 The inner face of the wall 82 carries a device 19 of two levers with two arms 20 and 21, each having the general shape of a triangle. The levers 20 and 21 are mounted at one of their pivoting angle around the pivots 22 and 23 respectively, the first being in the upper part of the support piece 8 and the last in the lower part. Both are arranged near the upper edge of the wall 82. The levers are arranged in parallel planes, slightly offset and parallel to the wall 82. They extend towards one another and overlap by zones d 'a second angle. They are hinged to each other at their overlapping areas. To this end, the lever 20 carries in this zone on its face opposite the lever 21, a lug 25 which engages in an oblong recess 26 which is formed in the lever 21 and extends from its angle covered by the lever 20 towards the pivot 23 of the lever 21. The lever 20 of general shape of an isosceles triangle is articulated at its third angle on the projecting end of the lug 16 of the slide 7, by a somewhat enlarged hole 27. The lever 20 is dimensioned so that the distance between the axes of the pivot 22 and the lug 16 forming a first lever arm bl is less than the distance between the axes of the pivot 22 and the lug 25, which constitutes the second arm b2.

 Since the articulation of the lever 20 to the slide 7, the relative position of the two levers depends on the position of the slide. The dimensions and arrangement of the levers is chosen so that the lug of the lever 20 is located at the end of the oblong recess 26 of the lever 21, which is adjacent to the pivot 23 thereof, when the slide occupies its position for locking the bolt 3 from the door leaf 1. As stated above, this is the state of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The lever 21 carries at the level of its third angle a lug 30 which forms the bolt element for a radial locking device 31. It is important to emphasize that in the illustrated state of blocking the door in its closed position, the distance between the lug 25 of the lever 20 and the pivot 23 of the lever 21, which plays the role of a first arm b3 of the lever 21 is less than the center distance of the pivot 23 and the lug 30, forming the second lever arm b4.

 The device 19 of the two levers 20 and 21 is associated with a return spring for the levers in their shown position, which comprises a helical spring 32 mounted on the pivot 22. This spring comprises at its ends substantially radial extensions 33, 34 fixed respectively to a lug 35 secured to the internal face of the support wall 82 and to the lug 25 of articulation of the two levers 20 and 21. The spring 32 is arranged so as to exert on the lug 25 a force tending to s' oppose the retraction movement of the slide 7 in its housing.

 The locking device 31 is mounted on the inner face of the support tab 85 of the support part 8 and essentially comprises a locking element 37 produced in the form of a circular disc mounted angularly mobile around an axis 38 but lockable in a predetermined angular position, under the effect of control means such as an electromagnet 43. Referring to FIG. 2 in which the disc 37 with its axis 38 is schematically indicated in dashed lines and FIG. 5, that the disc 37 is arranged opposite the lug 30 of the lever 21, the axis 38 being parallel to the axis of the lug but laterally offset. The external surface opposite the lug 30 carries a lyre 39 delimiting a radial groove 40 in which the free end of the lug 30 engages. In the illustrated state of blocking of the door in its closed position, c that is to say of the slide 7 in its extended position, the lyre 39 extends perpendicularly to the pivot path of the lug 30, symbolized by the arrow F1 in FIG. 5. In this position the lug is located at the radially innermost end of the lyre groove 40. The locking element 37 is lockable in this angular position. If the locking of the element 37 is removed, it can rotate freely and thus allows the pivoting of the lever 21 and the movement of the lug in the direction of the arrow F2.

Indeed, the latter can then be released from the lyre groove 40 as the locking disc 37 rotates in the direction of arrow F2. An electric microswitch 42 is associated with the element 37 and is closed when the latter occupies its locking position shown.

The control means of the locking element could be of any suitable known type and for example comprise the electromagnet 43 coaxial with the element 37. The latter could be movable in translation on its axis of rotation 38 under the effect of the magnetic field of the electromagnet. It could include an eccentric pin, not shown, axially projecting and capable of engaging in a stationary recess
(not shown) of the electromagnet in the close position thereof, of the locking element 37. A moving away would allow the element 37 to disengage from the stationary recess, which would give it the freedom to rotate about its axis 38. A radial locker usable in the locking arrangement according to the invention could be of the type described in French patent No. 2,296,076 of December 24, 1974.

 It should also be noted that the locking device is provided with means for positioning the rotary element 37 in its angular locking position, these means comprising a pin 45 on the upper surface of the element 37 and an adjustment screw 46 which is screwed into a thread made in the support wall 84, and extends approximately tangentially to the element 37 coming to bear laterally against the pin 45.

 The locking arrangement, which has just been described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, is further provided with an overlock device 47. Referring to Figures 1 to 5, it can be seen that this overlock device 47 comprises a generally triangular lever 48 which is pivotally mounted around a pivot 49 located on the internal surface of the support wall 82, near the bottom wall 81 of the housing, and comprises at the corresponding angle a hole 50 by which it engages on the lug 16 of the lever with two arms 20. The side of the triangular lever 48, which is opposite the angle provided with the bore 50 comprises at the third angle a notch 51 in which can s 'Engage a lug 52 located at one end of a lever 53 which is pivotally mounted around the lug 35 secured to the support wall 82, near the upper edge thereof, this pivot 35 serving means for anchoring the arm 33 of the return spring 32, as indicated above.

A pin 55 which extends perpendicularly to its support lever towards the inside of the housing is installed at a suitable location between the lugs 35 and 52. At the free end of the pin 55 is fixed a rod 56 which extends perpendicular to the pin 55 and is part of the plunger member of an electromagnet 57. The latter is mounted on the outer face of the wall support 83. To allow the passage of the rod 56, the support wall 83 is provided with a suitable recess 58. From the end opposite to that of the rod 56, of the electromagnet 57, comes out a rod end 60 which is also integral with the plunger member and serves as a control element for a microswitch 61 at the end of electromagnet plunger stroke.

 Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the overlocking device 47, which differs from that shown in Figures 1 to 5 by the fact that it comprises, instead of the lever 53, a lever 63 which is pivotally mounted around 'a pivot 64 secured to the support wall 82 near the base wall 81, articulated at its free end to the rod 56 and comprises, at a suitable location between its two ends a toothless part 66 constituting the locking means of the lever 48 whose corner is configured accordingly.

 Figures 6 to 8 show another embodiment of the overlock device 47. The elements also present in the embodiments which have just been described bear the same reference signs. In this second embodiment, the lever 48 is associated, as before, with a second lever now bearing the reference 68, which is mounted, like the lever 63 according to FIG. 4, pivoting around a journal 69 and is connected by its another end to the rod 56 of the electromagnet 57. The particularity of this embodiment resides in the fact that it comprises an additional blocking member formed by a ball 70.

This ball 70 is engaged in a recess 71 formed in the lever 48 and whose diameter is slightly greater than that of the ball. Between the lever 48 and the internal surface of the base 81 of the support wall 8 is disposed a plate 72 which also has a circular recess 73. The latter is placed in such a way that it is in axial alignment with the circular passage 71 of the lever 48 when the latter occupies the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 showing the overlocking device 47 in the blocking state of the arrangement according to the invention. The diameter of the circular recess 73 is less than that of the ball 70 so that the latter can only engage relatively weakly in the recess 73. In this relative position of the lever 48 relative to the plate 72, the lever 68 by engaging by its lateral edge slightly above the recess 70 comes into contact with the outer surface of the ball 70 and pushes the latter into the recess 73 of the plate 72. Under these conditions, the ball 70 secures the lever 48 of the plate 72. The latter is folded so as to have a cross section in the shape of a U delimiting a space in which the levers 48 and 68 are engaged and guided. The upper branch s' extends beyond the recess 71 and thus prevents the ball from being able to come out completely from this recess. As shown in FIG. 9, when the lever 68 completely clears the circular passage 71 in the lever 47, the effect of securing of the lever 48 and of the plate 72 ceases, insofar as, following a request in pivoting movement of the lever 48, the ball 70 can completely disengage from the recess 73 of the plate 72.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11 will be described below the electrical assemblies of the radial locking devices 31 and the overlocking device 47. In the figures appear the electromagnets 43 and 57 and their associated microswitches 42 and 61 respectively. locking arrangement according to the invention is electrically connected to a control unit not shown. Only input and output terminals 75 and 76 are shown. The electrical device is supplied with a continuous electrical voltage of for example 24 volts. The device comprises a first switch 77 with two bipolar contacts a and b actuated simultaneously and making it possible to bring about an emergency stop of the arrangement, causing the unlocking of the door steering wheel 1, and a contact 78 for the optional installation of the overlocking using the device 47
Switches 77 and 78 can be controlled remotely from the control center. The microswitches 42 and 61 are formed respectively by a switch contact and two switch contacts c and d which can be actuated simultaneously.

 FIG. 10 shows the various switches and microswitches in their locking position of the door leaf 1 in its closed position, both under the effect of the locking device 31 and of the overlocking device 47, the arrangement being at the state shown in Figures 1 to 3. It can therefore be seen that in the locked state in the closed position of the door leaf, the positive terminal of the electromagnet 43 of the radial locking device 31 is connected via the microswitch closed 42 by the contact element a of the switch 77 to the positive input terminal 75 of the electrical device, while the negative terminal of the electromagnet is connected directly to the negative input terminal 76. light-emitting diode D1 arranged in the circuit between the negative terminal of the electromagnet and terminal 76 indicates the state of excitation of the electromagnet. Concerning the electromagnet 57 of the overlocking device 47, which is of the bistable type and thus comprises two windings indicated diagrammatically by N1 and N2, its overlocking winding N1 is excited insofar as its positive terminal is connected by the switch 78 and the contact element b of the switch 77 to the positive terminal of the electromagnet 43 of the locking device 31 and thus to the positive input terminal 75. The negative terminal is directly connected to the negative input terminal 76 The second winding N2 is not excited.

Indeed, its positive terminal is connected to the open contact terminal of switch 78 and to the open contact terminal of movable contact b of switch 77. The negative terminal is connected to the negative brone of the winding
N1. It should also be noted that the open contact terminals of the contacts a and b are connected by the contact d of the microswitch 61 when it is closed. A light-emitting diode D2 of the LED type placed in the circuit between the terminals 75 and 76 is excited due to the closed state of the contact c of the microswitch 61. It appears from FIG. 10 that a change of position of the switch 78 would not bring no modification at the level of the radial locking device 31, but would cause the electrical isolation of the winding N1 and the excitation of the winding N2 of the bistable electromagnet 57 of the overlocking device 47. the electromagnet moving from its position shown to the right would cause a change in position of the microswitch 61. Under these circumstances the overlocking would be eliminated. Diode D2 would extend.

 In the case of an emergency stop, the two contact elements a and b of the switch 77 are brought into their position indicated by broken lines. The change of position of the switch 77 electrically isolates the winding N1 of the bistable electromagnet 57, but the winding N2 is now activated.

The excitation of this winding causes the displacement of the control rod 60 to the right and the opening of the two switch contacts c and d of the microswitch 61, which results in the opening of the excitation current circuits of the two electromagnets 43 and 57. The displacement to the right of the control element 61 of the microswitch is the result of the displacement of the plunger member of the electromagnet to the right. This displacement also has the result that the rod 56 is retracted in the electromagnet, which causes the pivoting of the lever 53 or 63 in the direction of the arrow F3 and thus the release of the lever 48. On the other hand, the de-excitation of the electromagnet 43 of the radial locking device 31 releases the locking element 37 which can then rotate in the direction of the arrow F2 when a force in the direction of the arrow F1 is exerted on the lug 30 of the lever 27. The release of the rotary locking element 37 and of the lever 48 has the consequence that the slide 7 of the locking arrangement becomes axially displaceable under the effect of the bolt 3 of the door leaf 1 under the effect of a force tending to open the door, that is to say acting in the direction of arrow F5 in FIG. 3.

 It follows from the above, that in an emergency stop case, it is first the overlocking which is eliminated and only after the locking of the radial locking device. This successive unlocking prevents a blocking of the overlocking device 47 in its active position from the door leaf 1 which could occur if the lever 27 was released simultaneously with the release of the lever 48. The blocking could prevent the pivoting of the lever 53 or 63 despite a correct command and actuation of the electromagnet 61.

 Figure 11 shows the electrical diagram of the arrangement according to the invention, in its second embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 9. In the case of Figure 11, instead of the complex switch 77 of Figure 10 a simple switch 80 mounted in series with the microswitch 42 and the winding of the electromagnet 43. The electromagnet 57 comprises only one winding mounted in parallel on the electromagnet 43. It can be seen that the excitation of the electromagnet 43 depends only on the position of the switch 80 and that an emergency stop caused by the opening of the switch 80 would simultaneously de-energize the electromagnets 43 and 57, if the latter is excited as in the case shown.

 This unlocking of the locking device 31, simultaneously with the removal of any overlocking device is possible in the case of the second embodiment since the jamming effect described on the occasion of the first embodiment cannot occur in the second embodiment, due to the use of the ball 70.

The arrangement according to the invention which has just been described with reference to the appended figures has the advantage that, even without overlocking, the force which must be exerted on the door leaf 1 to open the door to the against the locking provided by the radial locker 31 is considerably increased by the use of the series mounting of the two two-arm levers 20 and 21. The factor of increase in the holding force, for a given holding torque of the device radial locker 31, is a function of the ratio of the arms of the two levers. We see that this factor is equal to the expression b2 x b4
bl x b3.

It emerges from this expression that the holding force can be increased when, as in the case shown, the lever arm lengths bl and b3 are chosen so that they are shorter than the arm lengths b2 and b4 .

Claims (14)

 1. Locking arrangement of a movable member for closing an opening, such as a door, of the type comprising a locking device, in particular a remote control device, which comprises a movable locking element between a locking position of said movable member in its position for closing the opening and a position for releasing this member and means for retaining the locking element in its position for locking and releasing this element, following a command, to the member with the closure being associated with a bolt-forming element, which cooperates with the locking element, characterized in that it comprises a multiplying device (19) of the locking force exerted by the locking element (37) on the bolt-forming element (30), which comprises a plurality of levers (20, 21) with two arms, articulated to each other and mounted in series between said movable member (1, 3) and the bolt element (30).  2. Locking arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the multiplier device (19) and the locking device (31) are part of a locking mechanism (4) which further comprises a substantially rectilinear movement element (7 ), such as a slide, the free end of which is adapted to form a means for locking the movable member in its closed position and which is movable, in a reciprocating movement, between positions of locking and unlocking of the movable member and cooperates with the movable member while its opposite end is articulated to the multiplier device (19).  3. Locking arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the free end  (12) of the slide element (7) is configured to form a double ramp (13) so that the arrangement can cooperate with a closure member operating by beating.  4. Locking arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multiplier device (19) comprises two levers with two arms (20, 21) which are articulated to each other by the ends of the one (b2, b3) of their arms and one of which  (20) is articulated by its other arm (bl) to the slide  (7) while the end of the other arm of the second lever (21) carries the aforementioned bolt element (30).  5. Locking arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the end of one  (b2) arms (b2, b3) articulated to each other of the two levers (20, 21) carries a lug (25) engaging in an oblong recess (26) formed in the other arm (b3 , b2) and that in the locking position of the movable member the lug (25) is located in the oblong recess (26) in its position closest to the pivot point of the second lever (21) and the most distant from the pivot point of the first lever (20) and in that the levers are dimensioned in such a way that the lengths of the arms (b1 and b3) are less than the lengths of the arms respectively (b2 and b4).  6. Locking arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the levers (20, 21) of the multiplier device (19) have triangular shapes and are pivotally mounted at an angle while the other two angles constitute zones end of the two lever arms.  7. Locking arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an overlocking device suitable for blocking the slide (7) in its position for locking the movable member and comprising an element movable between a position blocking and a slide release position, the element being capable of being controlled remotely.  8. Locking arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a first lever with two arms (48) pivotally mounted on a fixed support (49) between an unlocking position of the slide (7) and a release position of the latter and that this lever is articulated by an arm at the point of articulation of the multiplier device (19) to the slide (7) while the end of the other arm is provided with means (spinnaker, 70) cooperating with means for blocking a member (53, 63, 68) movable between a position for blocking the lever (48) in its unlocked position and a non-blocking position, the movable element being capable of being controlled by distance.  9. Locking arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the movable element is formed by a lever (53) which is pivotally mounted (at 35) on a fixed support, carries at its free end the aforementioned blocking means formed advantageously by a lug (52) and is articulated between the locking means and its pivot point to the movable rod of a control electromagnet (57).  10. Locking arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the movable element is formed by a lever (63) which is pivotally mounted (at 64) on a fixed support, articulated at its free end to the rod (56) mobile of an electromagnet (57) and has between its points of articulation and pivoting the aforementioned blocking means formed by a toothless part (66).  11. Locking arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the aforesaid other arm of the lever (48) has a circular recess (71) having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of a ball (71) engaged in this recess, that the movable element (68) is engaged in its blocking position partially above the recess (71), that a fixed plate (72) is disposed below the lever (48) which comprises a circular recess (73) whose diameter is less than that of the ball (70) and which is in the locking position of the lever (48) in a position axially aligned with the recess (71) of the lever (48), the thickness of the latter at the recess (71) is less than the diameter of the ball (70) so that the latter is partially engaged in the recess (73) of the plate (72) when the movable element (68) occupies its position of partial engagement of the recess (71) and in that the movable element ( 68) is advantageously formed by a pivoting lever between said partial engagement position and a disengagement position of the recess under the effect of a pivoting control member such as an electromagnet (57).  12. Locking arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking mechanism (4) comprises means (32) for returning to its locking position.  13. Locking arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that the return means (32) are formed by a helical spring which is mounted on the pivot pivot of one of the two-arm levers (20 , 21), comprises at its ends radial extensions (33, 34) one of which is retained fixed in the locking mechanism and the other is connected to the articulation of the two arms (20, 21) so as to force into their position they occupy when the mechanism is in its locked position.  14. Locking arrangement according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the electrical circuit for controlling the locking device (31) and the overlocking device (47) comprises an electrical contact mounted in the activation circuit of the means for retaining the locking element (37) in its locking position, which is part of a switch controlled by the electromagnet (57) for controlling the suppression of the overlocking so that this suppression occurs before the release of the locking element (37).