GB2189838A - A control mechanism for a turnstile, and a turnstile - Google Patents

Abstract

The mechanism comprises a two-ratchet arrangement, one for each direction of turnstile rotation. Each ratchet has a rocker arm bearing on ratchet teeth (48, Fig. 2), which arm is releasable by means of a solenoid to allow turnstile rotation. Each ratchet is protected by a coil-spring (48) located between a hub (45) rotating with the turnstile and an outer ratchet collar (47). When the collar abuts the rocker arm, further force applied to the turnstile collapses the spring onto the hub (45). A turnstile (Fig. 1) has, to one side, horizontal bars (7) with which the free ends of the stiles (1) mesh. The free ends of the stiles are inclined or curved in the direction of forward rotation so as to contour around a person in the turnstile. The stiles (1) are U-shaped, and the tubular legs (8) of the U mate with corresponding horizontal projections (9) from the vertical stile support shaft (2) and are secured by an adhesive. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A control mechanism for a turnstile, and a turnstile The present invention relates to control mechanisms for turnstiles, and to turnstiles.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved control mechanism for a turnstile, and an improved turnstile. In particular the invention seeks to provide improved efficiency of operation, safety, and durability of the turnstile.

Control mechanisms for turnstiles are known which employ actuators in the form of solenoids.

Because of the forces exerted on the turnstiles, large solenoids have been used. These solenoids, though large, have been easily damaged. To overcome this problem a control mechanism has been used in which an actuator in the form of a solenoid is employed, but in which a leaf spring is provided to absorb the force on the solenoid. The leaf spring has been found to split.

The present invention provides a control mechanism for a turnstile comprising a ratchet arrangement which is releasable by means of an actuator to allow forward rotation, the ratchet arrangement and actuator being protected by a wrap spring arrangement.

A wrap spring arrangement is much stronger and more durable than a leaf spring, and protects the actuator and other components.

A difficulty which arises with control mechanisms for conventional turnstiles is that they can never rotate in the reverse direction, even though reverse rotation may be desirable in an emergency.

The present invention provides a control mechanism as described above and including a further wrap spring arrangement, one end of which is movable by means of a further actuator to either a first position in which the wrap spring arrangement prevents rotation in the reverse direction or a second position in which the wrap spring arrangement allows such free rotation.

Free rotation in the reverse direction is desirable primarily in the event of a fire or other emergency in an enclosurei. Free rotation in the reverse direction may also enable persons to leave an enclosure at the end of a sporting or other event not only by means of the main gates but also through the turnstiles.

The control mechanism is preferably so arranged that free rotation in the reverse direction is allowed when the further actuator is not activated.

Thus, in the event of a power failure, the control mechanism automatically allows people to freely leave the enclosure, without the need for operator intervention, but does not allow people to re-enter the enclosure.

The invention also provides a turnstile including a control mechanism as described above.

According to a further feature of the invention, the first mentioned actuator can be operated automatically in response to a signal from a control system for recognising that a person may be admitted through the turnstile.

The control system may be any one of a number of different systems, for example a coinoperated system, or a ticket reader.

Traditionally turnstiles have included only a few stiles between knee and chest height. It has been possible for persons to climb over or creap under the stiles. More recently turnstiles have been made which are of full height to prevent persons getting under or over. Persons wishing to evade payment have now resorted to other ways of getting past the turnstiles. These new avoidance methods will obviously be more often resorted to if no turnstile operator is present, as would be the case where the turnstile operates automatically in response to an automatic control system.

The invention provides a turnstile provided at the side thereof with horizontal bars or other formations spaced apart one above the other, with which the free ends of the stiles mesh during rotation.

This prevents persons moving the turnstile to the diagonal position and then squeezing past the free ends of the stiles.

The invention also provides a turnstile in which the free ends of the stiles are inclined or curved in the direction of forward rotation so as to contour around the person in the turnstile.

This feature prevents two persons being in the stile at the same time.

In a further aspect the invention provides a turnstile in which the stiles are U-shaped, the base of the U constituting the free ends of the stile.

This shape of stile makes the turnstile safer. If the free ends of the stile are for any reason exposed, persons coming up against these do not become injured. This is particularly important in an emergency when people are using the turnstile in a state of panic.

The U-shaped stiles may be of tubular material and the feet of the U may mate with corresponding horizontal projections from the vertical stile support shaft and be secured thereto by adhesive.

The advantage of this arrangement is that it allows the turnstile to be constructed relatively cheaply and simply.

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, a turnstile and a turnstile control mechanism.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a turnstile, shown partly exploded; and Figures 2a, 2b and 32, when put together, form an exploded perspective view of the control mechanism.

Referring initially to Fig. 1, the turnstile comprises stiles 1 on a vertical stile support shaft 2 which is rotatably supported between a bearing 3 mounted on a fixed base plate 4 at its lower end, and a turnstile control mechanism 5 contained within a housing 6 at its upper end.

The turnstile control mechanism 5, the construction and operation of which will be described in more detail later, allows the turnstile to be used in either one of two different modes, namely (a) an entry mode, in which the control mechanism operates to prevent rotation in either direction, but may be released to allow a quarter revolution of the turnstile in the direction indicated by arrow A, so as to permit someone to enter an enclosure; and (b) an exit mode, in which the control mechanism operates to prevent rotation in the direction of arrow A, but allows free rotation in the reverse direction, thereby allowing people to freely leave the enclosure.

Certain constructional features of the turnstile will now be described with reference to Fig. 1.

The turnstile is of full height. To prevent persons passing around the side of the turnstile, the turnstile is provided at the side thereof with horizontal bars 7 one above the other (only a few of which are shown). To prevent two persons fitting into the turnstile, the stiles are curved at their outer ends. The stiles 1 are U-shaped, the base of the U constituting the free end of the stile. The turnstile is assembled from the U-shaped stiles 1 by fitting the legs 8 of the U-shaped stiles, which are tubular, over horizontal projections 9 extending out from the vertical stile support shaft 2, and then pushing the legs 8 home so that they enter into the vertical shaft 2 through holes 10 provided in the side thereof. The legs 8 of the four stiles 1 at a particular level abut one another within the vertical shaft 2. The stiles 1 are secured in position by adhesives.

This is a relatively simple and inexpensive method of constructing a strong turnstile.

Referring now to Fig. 2a, 2b, 2c,, the construction and operation of the turnstile control mechanism will be described in greater detail.

The control mechanism comprises a mounting plate 20, having mounted on the bottom thereof a wrap spring arrangement and an actuator controlling turnstile rotation in the forward direction, and having mounted on the top thereof a wrap spring arrangement and an actuator for controlling turnstile rotation in the reverse direction, and having extending therethrough a rotatable keyed shaft 21 to which the vertical stile support shaft 2 is connected. The individual various components, working from the top down are as follows: circlip 30 polycarbonate collar 31 one collar stop 32 coil spring 33 rotatable hub, attached to central shaft 21 34 fixed hub, attached to mounting plate 20 35 solenoid 36 spring biased solenoid needle for engaging collar stop 32 37 and below the plate rocker arm 40 rocker arm spindle 41 adjustable rocker arm limiting stop 42 spring biased solenoid for operating rocker arm 40 43 fixed hub, attached to mounting plate 20 44 rotating hub, attached to central shaft 21 45 coil spring 46 polycarbonate collar 47 four ratchet teeth on polycarbonate collar 47, which may be engaged by rocker arm 40 48 circlip 49 Normal operation in the entry mode will now be described. While the patron is paying the tariff or showing his ticket, the rocker arm 40 engages one of the four ratchet teeth 48.When payment has been effected, the solenoid 43 is momentarily retracted by the turnstile operator or in response to a signal from an automatic turnstile control system against the spring bias, taking the rocker arm 40 out of engagement with the ratchet tooth 48. Retracting the solenoid 43 allows the ratchet tooth 48 to swing past the rocker arm 40, under the biasing action of the coil spring 46. The rocker arm 40 returns into engagement with the collar 47. When the patron subsequently pushes against the turnstile, the keyed shaft 21, rotating hub 45, coil spring 46 and collar 47 all rotate until the next ratchet tooth 48 on the collar 47 engages the rocker arm 40.Further pushing against the turnstile causes the coil spring 46, which is anchored to the collar 47, to wrap around the fixed 44 and rotating 45 hubs, limiting further forward movement, and again putting the coil spring 46 and collar 47 under tension. The stile has now completed a quarter revolution, admitting the patron to the enclosure.

In the entry mode, if the patron pushes forwards against the turnstile in the direction of the enclosure, without the rocker arm 40 having been released the wrap spring arrangement limits the forward movement.

In the entry mode, if the patron tries to push backwards against the turnstile in the direction away from the enclosure, the coil spring 33 locks. The coil spring 33 is anchored to the collar 31 the stop 32 of which abuts the retracted solenoid needle 37.

Normal operation of the turnstile in the exit mode will now be described. The solenoid 36 is inactive. Consequently, the solenoid needle 37 is no longer retracted. The position of the stop 32 on the collar 31, which abuts the end of the solenoid needle 37, is different and consequently so is the anchor point of the coil spring 33. When the coil spring 33 is anchored in this new position, rotation in the reverse direction may take place freely, as the coil spring 33 is not under tension and does not wrap around the hubs 34,35.

One example of an automatic control system is a ticket reader system. Patrons purchase a magnetized ticket in advance of the sporting event. The ticket reader system reads the ticket and then simultaneously releases the turnstile and demagnetizes the ticket so that it cannot be reused.

Claims (11)

1. A control mechanism for a turnstile comprising a ratchet arrangement which is releasable by means of an actuator to allow forward rotation, the ratchet arrangement and actuator being protected by a wrap spring.

2. A control mechanism for a turnstile according to Claim 1, comprising a further wrap spring arrangement one end of which is movable by means of a further actuator to either a first position in which the wrap spring prevents rotation in the reverse direction or a second position in which the wrap spring allows such rotation.

3. A control mechanism according to Claim 2, so arranged that such rotation is allowed when the further actuator is not activated.

4. A turnstile including a control mechanism according to any of Claims 1, 2 or 3.

5. A turnstile according to Claim 4, in which the first actuator can be operated automatically in response to a signal from a control system for recognising that a person may be admitted through the turnstile.

6. A turnstile provided at the side thereof with horizontal bars or other formations spaced apart one above the other, with which the free ends of the stiles mesh.

7. A turnstile in which the free ends of the stiles are inclined or curved in the direction of forward rotation so as to contour around a person in the turnstile.

8. A turnstile in which the stiles are U-shaped, the base of the U constituting the free end of the stiles.

9. A turnstile according to Claim 8, in which the U-shaped stile is of tubular material and the legs of the U mate with corresponding horizontal projections from the vertical stile support shaft and are secured by an adhesive.

10. A control mechanism for a turnstile substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c.

11. A turnstile substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.