GB2081359A - Security vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A security vehicle having a secure compartment 11 provided with a lockable door 12 which has a locking mechanism operable from the exterior of the compartment. This mechanism has two locks 14, 15 which can, for example, be separately operated by the same key, the first lock 14 controlling a bolt to secure or free the door, the key being captive in the first lock until the door is shut and the key is in the secure condition. The second lock 15 controls a valve 20 in the fuel line 18 of the vehicle which, when operated, allows the fuel to flow. A switch is provided which, when actuated, both closes the valve, and, for a predetermined time, after the actuation of the switch, prevents the key from being removed from the second lock. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security vehicle The present invention relates to a security vehicle.

Various forms of security vehicle have been proposed including a secure compartment having a lockable door, the locking mechanism being operable from the exterior of the compartment. It is important, with any security vehicle, to ensure that it is as difficult as possible for an unauthorized person to enter the secure compartment. It is also important that the staff who are using the vehicle should carry out the necessary operations according to a laid down disciplinary procedure. While attempts have been made to achieve the first of these objects, it has been difficult to ensure that the crew carry out the necessary procedures. It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to overcome this difficulty and to provide a more secure vehicle.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a security vehicle comprising a secure compartment having a lockable door, a locking mechanism operable from the exterior of the compartment, the locking mechanism including a first lock controlling a bolt to secure/free the door, a second lock controlling a device to mobilize/immobilize the vehicle and a switch, which when actuated, both immobilizes the vehicle and, for a predetermined time after the actuation of the switch, prevents the first lock from being freed.

With such a vehicle, it is not possible, before the predetermined time, to use the vehicle or, more importantly, to open the compartment. This ensures that the crew have ample time to carry out their disciplinary procedures, so that there is no excuse for them not doing so. Furthermore, it prevents the secure compartment from being entered until the predetermined time period has elapsed. This will discourage bandits from attacking the vehicle because they will have to wait for the predetermined time, which is preferably of the order of 3 minutes, between their initial attack on the vehicle and their being able to enter the vehicle. Furthermore, the vehicle will be immobilized so that they will not be able to drive it away.

The first lock can take a number of forms. For example, it could be a lock with a key which is not insertable until after the predetermined time has elapsed, because of a masking plate over the entrance to the lock. Similarly, the first lock could be an electrically operated lock which is not operated until after the predetermined time.

According to a preferred construction, the first and second locks each have a common key which can be held captive in the lock.

Thus, according to a preferred construction, the present invention provides a security vehicle comprising a secure compartment having a lockable door, a locking mechanism operable from the exterior of the compartment, the locking mechanism including two locks, which can be separately operated by the same key, the first lock controlling a bolt to secure/free the door, the key being captive in the first lock until the door is shut and in the secured condition, the second lock controlling a device to mobilize/immobilize the vehicle and a switch, which, when actuated, both immobilizes the vehicle and, for a predetermined time after the actuation of the switch, prevents the key from being removed from the second lock.

With the construction of the present invention, the mobilizing or immobilizing of the vehicle can be achieved in a number of ways. For example, if the vehicle is an electric vehicle, then the power to the motor of the vehicle could be cut off. Secondly, if the vehicle is an internal combustion engine-operated vehicle, the switch could be placed in the ignition circuit of the vehicle. The preferred construction, however, has the switch actuating a solenoid operated valve in the fuel line of the vehicle, the solenoid being effective to open the valve. The valve is preferably located on the fuel tank side of the fuel pump.

The switch advantageously comprises a pushbutton switch which (a) closes a circuit to energize a hold relay for the pushbutton switch (b) initiates a delay timer and (c) opens a contact to immobilize the vehicle. With this arrangement the delay timer may be arranged to operate a lock solenoid which prevents the key from being removed from the second lock.

Advantageously the second lock includes an "immobilize" contact in series with the "immobilize" contact associated with the switch, whereby the key has to be in the "mobilize" condition and the contact of the switch closed for the vehicle to be able to be mobilized.

The second lock may then include a further contact in circuit with the "hold" relay, this further contact being closed only when the key is in the "mobilize" condition, whereby, when the key is moved from this condition, the hold relay will not operate.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood, the following description is given, merely by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa schematic view illustrating a security vehicle according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a majority of the locking mechanism of the vehicle of Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 1 there is illustrated a security vehicle including a cab portion 10 for the driver, and a secure compartment 11, access for which can be had via a door 12 leading from the cab 10, the door can be secured by a locking mechanism indicated by the general reference numeral 13 including a first lock 14 having a bolt for securing the door and a second lock 15 which will be discussed in more detail later.

The vehicle is shown as having an engine 16 and a fuel tank 17 connected to the engine via a fuel line 18. Within this fuel line, upstream of the fuel pump 19, is a valve 20 which is operated by a solenoid controlled by the second lock 15.

Reference is now made to Figure 2 in which the second lock 15 is illustrated in more detail. This lock 15 includes a first electrical input 30 and its associated earthline 31, a second electrical input 32 and an electrical output 33. The first electrical input 30 is connected via a contact 34 of a push switch 35, the contact 34 being connected to two different parts of a "hold" relay 36. In this connection the line 37 is connected to a hold coil 38 which in turn is connected to the earth connection 31 via a normally open contact 39 in the hold relay 36. A second normally open contact 40 is also connected to the contact 34. Finally, the hold relay includes a normally closed contact 41. When the push switch 35 is pushed, the contact 34 is made, contacts 39 and 40 are closed and contact 41 is opened.

A lead 41 from contact 40 is connected to the primary of a time delay 42 which is connected via a line 43 to an earth bar 44 which in turn is connected to the earth contact 31.

The output from the time delay includes a lead 45 connected to the earth bar 44, and a lead 46 connected to solenoid 47 of a lock 48 having a locking armature 49.

The closing of the switch 40 illuminates, via line 50, a bulb 51 and the energizing of the solenoid 47 illuminates a second bulb 52.

The armature 49 is normally urged into a key socket 53 of a solenoid controlled interlock, for example, of the type manufactured by Lowe and Fletcher Ltd.

This is operated by a key 54 which, when inserted, and turned, closes two normally open switches 55 and 56 and is retained in position in this turned condition by the armature 49 of the solenoid 48.

Switch 56 is connected to the normally closed contact 41 of the hold relay 36, and to the output terminal 33, which in turn is connected via line 57 (Figure 1) to the solenoid operated valve 20 in the fuel line 18.

The other contact of the solenoid controlled interlock, that is contact 55, is connected to the earth bar 44 and to the normally open switch 39 of relay 36.

The key 54 is also the key which fits the first lock 14.

In operation, with the key 54 initially in the lock 14, the door 12 is closed and the key is operated to lock the door. The key can then be removed and is inserted in socket 53 and turned so that it becomes locked by the armature 49 and closes the two contacts 55 and 56. The closing of the contact 56 allows current to be supplied from 32 via contact 41, contact 56, terminal 33 and lead 57 to the valve 20 so that fuel can now flow to the engine 16 of the vehicle which can then be operated in the normal way.

When it is next desired to enter the secure compartment, this will only be possible once the key 54 has been removed from the socket 53. However, it cannot be removed because of the armature 49. The operator now has to press the switch 35, which closes contacts 34,39 and 40 and opens the contact 41. The opening of contact 41 cuts off the supply of current to the valve 20, so that the vehicle is immobilized immediately. Since the contact 55 is closed, and the contact 39 has been closed by pressing the switch 35, coil 38 is energized which holds the switch locked. With the switch in this condition, current flows via contact 34 and contact 40 to the time delay 42. The light 51 comes on to indicate that this has happened.

After a suitable time delay, preferably about three minutes, the time delay operates and its output is sent via lines 45 and 46, and this serves to energize the solenoid 49 and to illuminate the light 52.

Energizing of solenoid 48 withdraws the armature 49 so that the key 54 can now be turned and removed.

The key can then be used to open the door. However, the turning of the key has the effect of opening the contacts 55 and 56. The opening of contact 55 de-energizes the coil 38 which releases the switch 35, opens contact 40 and closes contact 41. Both bulbs 51 and 52 will then cease to be illuminated.

With the contact 56 open, although contact 41 is closed, current is still not supplied to the valve 20 so that the vehicle remains immobilized.

The key 54 can now be used to open the lock 14 so that access can be had to the interior of the compartment 11. However, the key iself cannot be removed until the door 12 is shut and locked so that the vehicle cannot be mobilized until the key 54 is returned to the socket 53 and turned.

As explained above, the three minute delay when one wishes to enter the compartment, having stopped the vehicle, has the advantage that the crew will have plenty of time to carry out their normal safety procedures and secondly, has the advantage that a bandit will have to wait three minutes before he can get into the secure compartment and such a delay is likely to discourage the bandit from trying, because by this time the emergency services will probably have arrived.

Claims (10)

1. A security vehicle comprising a secure compartment having a lockable door, a locking mechanism operable from the exterior of the compartment, the locking mechanism including a first lock controlling a bolt to secure/free the door, a second lock controlling a device to mobilize/immobilize the vehi- cle and a switch, which, when actuated, immobilizes the vehicle and, for a predetermined time after the actuation of the switch, prevents the first lock from being freed.

2. A security vehicle comprising a secure compartment having a lockable door, a locking mechanism operable from the exterior of the compartment, the locking mechanism including two locks which can be separately operated by the same key, the first lock controlling a bolt to secure/free the door, the key; being captive in the first lock, until the door is shut and in the secured condition, the second lock controlling a device to mobilize/immobilize the vehicle and a switch, which, when actuated, both immobilizes the vehicle and, for a predetermined time after the actuation of the switch, prevents the key from being removed from the second lock.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switch actuates a solenoid operated valve in the fuel line of the vehicle, the solenoid being effective to open the valve.

4. A vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the valve is located on the fuel tank side of the fuel pump.

5. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switch is placed in the ignition circuit of the vehicle.

6. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, wherein the switch is a pushbutton switch which (a) closes a circuit to energize a hold relay (b) initiates a delay timer and (c) opens a contact to immobilize the vehicle.

7. A vehicle according to claim 2 and claim 6, wherein the second lock includes an "immobilized" contact in series with the "immobilized" contact associated with the switch, whereby the key has to be in the "mobilized" condition and the contact of the switch closed for the vehicle to be able to be mobilized.

8. A vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the second lock includes a further contact in the circuit to the "hold" relay, said further contact being closed only when the key is in the "mobilized" condition, whereby when the key is moved from this condition, the hold relay will not operate.

9. A vehicle according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the output from the delay timer is arranged to operate a lock solenoid, which prevents the key from being removed.

10. Asecurity vehicle constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.