GB2288634A

GB2288634A - Sliding-bolt locking mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2288634A
Application number: GB9507896A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Bennison
Original assignee: Expanded Metal Co Ltd
Current assignee: Expanded Metal Co Ltd
Priority date: 1994-04-20
Filing date: 1995-04-18
Publication date: 1995-10-25
Also published as: GB9407816D0; GB9507896D0

Abstract

A locking mechanism comprising a bolt 2 which can be locked in an extended position by a blocking member 6. The blocking member 6 is carried on a pivoted lever 7. The lever 7 is held in a position in which the blocking member 6 obstructs the bolt 2 by a pin 9. The pin 9 has adjacent to each end a hole to receive the hasp of a padlock 10 which prevents removal of the pin. <IMAGE>

Description

LOCKING MECHANISM The present invention relates to a sliding bolt locking mechanism, for use for example in securing a gate of a security compound.

There is sometimes a requirement that any one of two or more different padlocks may be independently operated to release the bolt.

In accordance with the present invention, a locking mechanism comprises a bolt slidable between an engaged and a disengaged position; a blocking member which is capable of obstructing movement of the bolt from its engaged position; a pivoted lever carrying the blocking member; and a pin which is insertable through an aperture in a fixed part of the mechanism to hold the lever in a position in which the blocking member is in its obstructing position; the pin having adjacent to each end a hole to receive the hasp of a respective padlock which prevents withdrawal of the pin from the aperture.

With this arrangement, removal of either padlock allows withdrawal of the pin from the aperture and hence release of the lever and removal of the blocking member from its obstructing position upon pivoting of the lever.

If release is to be achieved by unlocking of any one of three or four padlocks then the pin may provide a second pivot for the lever and the first pivot may be provided by a second pin which is insertable through a second aperture in a fixed part of the mechanism to hold the lever in the position in which the blocking member is in its obstructing position, provided that the first pin is inserted through its aperture, the second pin having adjacent to at least one end a transverse hole to receive the hasp of a padlock, which prevents withdrawal of the second pin from the second aperture, but removal of which allows withdrawal of the second pin of the second aperture and hence release of the lever to pivot about the second pivot and hence remove the blocking member from its obstructing position.

In the latter case, the blocking member is preferably carried by an intermediate portion of the lever, each end of which is provided with an aperture, for cooperation with the aperture of the respective fixed part of the mechanism, to receive the respective pivot pin.

Typically, the sliding bolt will have a lateral projection usable as a hand piece for moving the bolt to and fro, and slidable in a slot in a fixed part of the mechanism. The blocking member then preferably, in its blocking position, fits into the slot between the projection from the bolt and an end of the slot.

An example of a mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing.

The illustrated mechanism has a steel plate 1 which will be welded to an edge of a security gate. A bolt in the form of a steel bar 2 is slidably mounted behind the plate in guides 3 between the illustrated extending position for engagement with a complementary slot in a frame surrounding the gate, and a retracted disengaged position. The movement of the bolt 2 is limited by a knob 4 which projects laterally from the bolt 2 through a rectangular slot 5 in the plate 1.

The bolt can be locked in its projecting position by means of a cylindrical blocking member 6 which can be inserted into the slot 5 between the knob 4 and opposite end of the slot, thereby preventing the knob 4 from moving back along the slot. The blocking member 6 is fixed to a mid portion of a lever 7 each end of which can be positioned between the arms 8 of a respective clevis fixed to the front of the plate 1. A locking pin 9 can then be passed through aligned holes in the clevis and respective end of the arms 7 and secured in position by padlocks 10 extending through apertures in the respective ends of the pins 9.

The mechanism thus locked can be unlocked by removal of any one of the padlocks 10, and then sliding the respective pin 9 to disengage the adjacent end of the lever 7 from the respective clevis arms 8. The lever 7 and blocking member 6 can then rotate forwardly from the plate about the other pin 9, thus bringing the blocking member 6 out of the slot 5 and releasing the knob 4 for withdrawal of the bolt 2.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism comprising a bolt slidable between an engaged and a disengaged position; a blocking member which is capable of obstructing movement of the bolt from its engaged position; a pivoted lever carrying the blocking member; and a pin which is insertable through an aperture in a fixed part of the mechanism to hold the lever in a position in which the blocking member is in its obstructing position; the pin having adjacent to each end a hole to receive the hasp of a respective padlock which prevents withdrawal of the pin from the aperture.

2. A locking mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the pin provides a second pivot for the lever and the first pivot is provided by a second pin which is insertable through a second aperture in a fixed part of the mechanism to hold the lever in the position in which the blocking member is in its obstructing position, provided that the first pin is inserted through its aperture, the second pin having adjacent to at least one end a transverse hole to receive the hasp of a padlock, which prevents withdrawal of the second pin from the second aperture, but removal of which allows withdrawal of the second pin of the second aperture and hence release of the lever to pivot about the second pivot and hence remove the blocking member from its obstructing position.

3. A locking mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the blocking member is carried by an intermediate portion of the lever, each end of which is provided with an aperture, for cooperation with the aperture of the respective fixed part of the mechanism, to receive the respective pivot pin.

4. A locking mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding bolt has a lateral projection usable as a hand piece for moving the bolt to and fro, and slidable in a slot in a fixed part of the mechanism.

5. A locking mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the blocking member, in its blocking position, fits into the slot between the projection from the bolt and an end of the slot.

6. A locking mechanism substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.