GB2351316A - Shoot bolt drive mechanism with bolt located in main casing - Google Patents

Abstract

A shoot bolt drive mechanism comprising a casing, a pair of drive transfer members 13, 14, means 17 for transferring the rotation of a handle into movement of the drive transfer members 13, 14, at least one bolt 15, 16 mounted in the casing and means for converting movement of at least one drive transfer member 13, 14 into movement of the at least one bolt 15,16 in a direction normal to the movement of the drive transfer members 13, 14. The converting means may be provided by a lug or projection 71 provided on the bolts 15,16 and slots 54 provided on the drive transfer members 13, 14. The slots 54 have an angled first portion 55 to first move the bolt in a direction normal to the drive transfer members 13, 14 and a horizontal second portion 56 to subsequently move the bolts 15, 16 parallel to the drive transfer members 13, 14. Preferably the bolts 15, 16 engage keyhole shaped slots. The mechanism may be used in doors and windows.

Description

2351316 SHOOT BOLI-DRIVE-MECIIANISMS The invention relates to shoot bolt

drive mechanisms.

A shoot bolt drive mechanism may be mounted on the movable leaf of a door or window which closes into a co-operating frame. The mechanism is operated by a rotation of a handle and converts this rotation into reciprocation of drive bars which in turn retract and extend bolts at points on the leaf remote from the mechanism. These bolts provide extra security to the leaf when it is closed into the frame and the 10 bolts extended. There is, however, a need for additional security in the area of the shoot bolt mechanism. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a shoot bolt drive mechanism comprising a casing containing a pair of drive transfer members, a drive 15 transfer mechanism for converting rotation of a handle into simultaneous movement of the drive transfer members in opposite directions between respective retracted and extended positions relative to the casing and at least one bolt mounted in the casing, means being provided acting between at least one of the drive transfer members and the at least one bolt to convert movement of the at least one drive transfer member 20 into movement of the at least one bolt between latching and unlatched positions in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the drive transfer members between 2 a retracted inoperative position and an extended operative position relative to the casing.

Thus, the retraction and extension of the drive transfer members operates the remote bolts while the bolt incorporated in the mechanism is extended to engage with an associated frame and provide additional secunty.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a shoot bolt mechanism compi-ising a casing containing a pair of drive transfer members, a drive transfer mechanism for converting rotation of a handle into simultaneous movement of the drive transfer members in opposite directions between respective retracted and extended positions and two bolts mounted in the casing, the drive transfer mechanism also moving the two bolts between unlatched and latching positions on rotation of said handle.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure I Is an exploded view of a shoot bolt dnve mechanism and, Figure 2 is an assembled view of the shoot bolt dnve mechanism of Figure 1.

The shoot bolt drive mechanism comprises a casing formed by first and second casing halves 10, 11 and a cover plate 12. The casing contains two identical drive transfer members 13,14, two identical bolts 15,16, a quadrant gear 17, a mount 18 and a transfer pinion 19.

The identical casing halves 10, 11 each comprise a wall 20 having an upper edge 2 1, a lower edge 22 and end edges 23,24. The upper edge 21 has a straight central portion 25 terminating in two steps 26 leading to respective outer portions 27. The outer portions 27 are parallel to the central portion 25 and spaced outwardly of the central portion 25. Each outer portion 27 terminates in an associated inward step 28 leading to an end portion 29. The end portions 29 are parallel to the central portion 25 but are spaced inwardly of the central portion 25.

A flange indicated generally at 30 projects from the central portion 25, the steps 26, the outer portions 27 and the inward steps 28 but not from the end portions 29. The flange 30 is formed with two shaped depressions 31 with each shaped depression being adjacent an associated outer portion 27. At the middle of the central portion 25, the flange 30 is formed with a projecting lug 32 provided with a semi-circular cut-out 33. At each outer portion 27, the flange 30 is formed with a half peg 44. 20 The first and second end edges 23,24 (the left-hand and right-hand edges respectively as shown in Figure 1) lead from associated end portions 29 in a direction normal to- 4 the length of the associated end portion 29. Each end edge 23,24 is then provided with an inwardly directed step 34 having a portion 34a parallel to the upper edge 21 and a portion 34b normal to the upper edge 2 1, before connecting with the lower edge 22.

The lower edge 22 is parallel to the upper edge 21 and extends between the first and second end edges 23,24. A flange 36 projects from the portions 34a,34b of the end edges 23,24 forming the steps 34,35 and along the lower edge 22 with a gap at the centre of the lower edge 22.

Each casing half 10, 11 is formed with a central hole 46 and two outer holes 45,47 spaced apart adjacent the lower edge 22. The outer hole 47 of the second casing half 11 carries a tube 79 which is fixed to the casing half 11 and is co-axial with the associated hole 47.

The cover plate 12 is, as seen in Figure 1, generally rectangular with a depressed central portion 37 and raised ends 38 with a ramp 39 between the central portion 37 and each end 38. Each end 38 is provided with an associated hole 40. The cover plate 12 also includes two shaped slots 41. Each slot 41 comprises a generally rectangular narrow portion 42 leading into a wider oval portion 43. As seen in Figure 1, each oval portion 43 is formed in the associated ramp 39 and the narrow portions project towards each other towards the centre of the cover plate 12.

As also seen in Figure 2, the casing halves 10, 11 to fit together with the flanges 30,36 abutting and the cover plate 12 overlying the upper edges 21 of the casing halves 10,11. The half pegs 44 co-operate to form two complete pegs which extend through the holes 40 in the cover plate 12 to locate the cover plate 12 on the casing halves 10, 11. The tube 79 on the second casing half 11 fits into the hole 47 on the f i rst casing half 10 and is spin rivetted to connect the casing halves 10,11 together.

The drive transfer members 13,14 are identical. Each dnve transfer member 13,14 comprises a central body 48 with a tongue 49 at one end and a projecting connector 50 at the other end. The body 48 is generally rectangular with an inner face 51 and an outer face 52 lying in spaced parallel planes. The inner face 51 is formed with a first rack 53 provided by a succession of rectangular indentations. The inner face 51 is also formed with a slot 54 having a first portion 55 extending at an acute angle to the length of the rack 53 and having a second portion 56 extending parallel to the length of the first rack 53. Further, the inner face 51 is provided with a projecting lug 57 lying in a plane normal to the plane of the body 48 and adjacent the associated tongue 49.

The connector 50 has an upper surface 58 lying in a plane normal to the plane of the body 48 and provided with a rectangular depression 59 with parallel serrated side edges 60.

6 The outer face 52 of each drive transfer member 13,14 is provided with a second rack 61 formed by teeth 62 and extending in a direction parallel to the first rack 53.

A flange 63 extends from an end edge of the body 48 adjacent the tongue 49 and a similar flange 64 extends downwardly from the inner end of the connector 50.

The two drive transfer members 13,14 are arranged in the casing side by side but reversed with respect to one another so that the tongue 49 of one drive transfer member 13 is alongside the connector 50 of the other drive transfer member 13,14.

As seen in Figure 1, the depth of the dn,e transfer members 13,14 are such that they fit between the portions of the flange 36 on the end edge portions 34a and the flange 30. This mounts the drive transfer members 13,14 for sliding movement relative to the casing in a direction parallel to the first racks 53.

The two bolts 15,16 are also identical and so only one bolt will be descnbed. Each bolt 15,16 comprises a body 65 and a head 66. The body 65 is generally rectangular in cross-section with parallel side faces 67,68 interconnected by end faces 69,70. One side face 68 carries a lug 71 projecting in a direction normal to the plane of the associated side face 67 and the other side face 68 is provided with a guide slot 72 extending along the length of the bolt 15,16. As seen in Figure 1, each bolt 15,16 has the end opposite the associated head 66 provided with an angled taper.

7 Each head 66 is generally oval, lies in a plane normal to the length of the associated bolt 15,16 and has a bigger area than the associated body 65.

The bolts in Figure 1 are shown in a retracted position in which each head 66 sits in the shaped depressions 31 provided in the easing halves 10, 11 to limit the movement of the bolts 15,16 into the casing. In this position, each head 66 is aligned with an associated one of the oval portions 43 of the slots 41 provided in the cover plate 12.

Further, one end face 69 of each bolt 15,16 is in sliding engagement with the flange 63 provided on the drive transfer members 13,14. In this position, the lugs 71 on the bolts 15,16 engage in respective first portions 55 of the slots 54 and the lugs 57 on the drive transfer members 13,14 engage in respective guide slots 72 on the bolts 15,16.

Thus, each bolt 15,16 has a lug 71 engaged with the slot 54 on one drive transfer member 13,14 and a guide slot 72 engaged with the lug 57 on the other drive transfer member 13,14.

The quadrant gear 17 is generally laminar member with an outer edge that is pail circular and par-t formed by four radially projecting teeth 74. The centre of the quadrant gear 17 is provided with a rectangular hole 75. As seen in Figure 1, the teeth 74 engage the second rack 61 and the part circular edge sits in the gap in the flange 30 to mount the quadrant gear for rotation about an axis coincident with the centre of the rectangular hole 75.

8 The mount 18 has a central body 76 fon-ned with a central hole 77 which houses a cylindrical bush 86 with a square central hole. The bush 86 is free to rotate within the mount 18. The central body also has an upper surface 80 lying in a plane normal to the axis of the central hole 77 which carries a pin 80 mounting the transfer pinion 19.

This transfer pinion 19 is thus mounted for rotation about an axis normal to the axis of the central hole 77 and parallel to the lengths of the bolts 15,16.

As seen in Figure 1, the central body 76 has a trapezoidal shaped portion 82 that mounts the pin 61 and this sits on a wider portion 83. This wider portion 83 thus has surfaces 84 lying in planes parallel to the upper surface 80 that project to either side of the trapezoidal shaped portion 82. When the mount 18 is inserted into the casing, the lower edges of the bodies 48 of the drive transfer members 13,14 sit on these surfaces 84 which thus help in guiding the drive transfer members 13,14 in sliding movement. When so positioned, the bush 86 is aligned with the middle 46 of the three holes in the casing halves 10, 11 and the tube 79 are aligned with the outer holes 45,47 in the casing halves 10, 11.

In addition, when the mount 18 is in the casing halves 10, 11, the transfer pinion 19 engages with the first racks 53 in the drive transfer members 13,14. Further, the pin 18 is held between the cut-outs 33 on the lugs 32 of the casing halves 10, 11.

9 A seal 85 which is generally rectangular is provided between the cover plate 12 and the casing halves 10, 11 to prevent the ingress of dirt through the slots. As seen in Figure 1, the seal 85 is generally rectangular and is provided with elongate slits 86 in register with the narrow portions 42 of the slots 41 in the cover plate 12.

The mechanism described above with reference to the drawings and shown as assembled in Figure 2 is for mounting in a movable leaf of a window. The leaf may, for example, be rectangular and formed by four members carrying glazing. Each member has an outer edge face lying in a plane normal to the plane of the leaf. The leaf is hinged to a frame and can swing between an open position in which the leaf is outwardly of an angle relative to the frame and a closed position in which the leaf sits in the frame with each outer edge surface adjacent an associated parallel edge surface of the frame.

The mechanism described above with reference to the drawings is recessed into an edge surface of the leaf opposite the edge about which the leaf pivots. The ends 38 of the cover plate 12 are flush with the edge surface. The connectors 50 are connected to respective drive rods (not shown) via the serrated side edges 60 with the drive rods extending along the associated leaf member and carrying bolts at their ends remote from the mechanism. A square drive rod (not shown) extends through the central holes 46 in the casing halves 10, 11 and thus extends through the rectangular holes 75 in the quadrant gear 17 and the cylindrical bush 86. Handles (not shown) are attached to respective opposite ends of the square drive rod.

In a disposition shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drive transfer members 13, 14 and the bolts 15,16 are shown in respective retracted positions. The remote bolts operated by the drive rods (not shown) are also in their retracted positions.

The mechanism is operated by rotating one of the handles (not shown). The rotation will be in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 1 and 2.

This rotation rotates the quadrant gear 17 which, by virtue of its meshing with the second rack 61, moves the second drive transfer member 14 to the right as shown in Figure 1 in a direction parallel to the length of the first rack 53 and the second rack 5 1.

This movement rotates the transfer pinion 19 via the first-mentioned rack 53 on the is drive transfer member 14 which thus in turn moves the first drive transfer member 13 via the second rack 51 in the opposite direction, again moving the associated drive transfer member out of the casing. The drive transfer members 13,14 move simultaneously.

This movement forces the lugs 71 on the bolts 15,16 up the first portions 55 of the slot 54 so forcing the bolts 15,16 out of the casing and through the oval portions 43 of the slots 41 in the cover plate 12. At the same time, the lugs 57 on the drive transfer 11 members 13,14 engage side edges of the guide slots 72 in the bolts 15,16 to move the bolts 15,16 with respective drive transfer members 13,14 towards one another along the narrower portions 42 of the slot 42 in the cover plate 12. This first portion of the movement of the bolts 15,16 is thus principally in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the drive transfer members 13,14 with only a relatively small component in a direction parallel to this movement.

The bolts 15,16 reach fully extended positions when the lugs 71 reach the ends of the first portions 55. These lugs 71 then travel along the second portions 56 with the slot 54 as the dnve transfer members 13,14 continue to extend from the easing. On the other hand, the movement of the bolts 15,16 in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the dr-ive transfer members 13,14 towards one another continues until the drive transfer members 13,14 have reached their maximum extension from the casing 10.

The head 66 of the bolts 15,16 engage in apertures of a keeper (not shown) provided on the frame. The movement of the bolts 15,16 towards one another slides the heads behind flanges in the keeper to lock the leaf to the frame. Since the bolts 15,16 slide towards one another, the length of the keeper can be kept to a minimum.

The movement of the drive transfer members 13,14 out of the casing moves the associated drive rods and extends the bolts at the end of the drive rods to respective- 12 locking positions in which they engage with the associated frame to lock the leaf to the frame at positions remote from the mechanism.

Rotation of the handle in a counter clockwise direction reverses these movements.

The drive transfer members 13,14 retract into the casing via the quadrant gear 17, the second rack 61 and the engagement of the transfer pinion 19 in the first racks 53 so retracting the remote bolts. This movement also causes the lugs 57 to move the bolts 15,17 away from one another in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the drive transfer members 13,14 until the lugs 71 leave the second portion 56 of the slot 54 and enter the angled first portions when the bolts 15,16 are permitted to drop down and retract into the casing to the position shown in Figure 1. The leaf is then unlocked from the casing.

In this way, secure locking of the leaf to the frame is provided at three locations on the frame by a single mechanism. This improves considerably the security of the fastening. In addition, since the drive transfer members 13,14 are identical, manufacturing costs are reduced. It will be appreciated that the first drive transfer member 13,14 performs three functions, transmitting drive to the second dnve transfer member via the transfer pinion 19 and the racks 51,53 moving the bolt 15 via the slot and guiding the bolt 16 via the lugs 57.

13 It will be appreciated that there are a number of modifications that can be made to the arrangement described above with reference to the drawings. Two bolts 14, 15 need not be provided; only one bolt could be provided. The bolts 14,15 need not have heads 66; they could be plain bolts. The motion of the bolts 15,16, can be provided other than by the lug/slot arrangements described. It could be provided in any convenient way. In addition, the transfer of drive ftom one drive transfer member 13 to the other dr-ive transfer member 14 need not involve the transfer pinion arrangement 19 described above; it could be done in any suitable manner.

The cylindrical bush 86 is optional. It may be omitted with the square drive rod (not shown) engaging simply with the rectangular hole 75 in the quadrant gear 17 to transmit rotation of the associated handles to the mechanism.

14 CLAMS 1. A shoot bolt drive mechanism compnsing a casing containing a pair of drive transfer members, a drive transfer mechanism for converting rotation of a handle into simultaneous movement of the drive transfer members in opposite directions between respective retracted and extended positions relative to the casing and at least one bolt mounted in the casing, means being provided acting between at least one of the drive transfer members and the at least one bolt to convert movement of the at least one drive transfer member into movement of the at least one bolt between latching and unlatched positions in a direction non-nal to the direction of movement of the drive transfer members between a retracted inoperative position and an extended operative position relative to the casing.

2. A mechanism according to claim I wherein the means acting between the at least one bolt and said one of said drive transfer members comprises interengaging parts such that movement of said drive transfer member between said retracted and extended positions is converted by said parts to said unlatching and latching movement of said at least one bolt.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said interengaging parts comprise a projection and a slot engaged by the projection.

4. A mechanism according to claim 3 wherein the slot includes a portion extending in a direction subtending an angle with the direction of movement of the drive transfer members, the movement of the drive transfer member from the retracted position to the extended position, moving the projection along the angled portion of the slot to move the at least one bolt from said unlatched position to said latching position.

5. A mechanism according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the projection is provided on the at least one bolt and the slot is provided on the associated drive transfer member.

6. A mechanism according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the interengaging parts further comprise parts acting between the at least one bolt and the other of the drive transfer members, the parts acting to guide the at least one bolt in said movement between said retracted and extended positions 7. A mechanism according to any one of claims I to 6 wherein the movement of the at least one bolt between said unlatched and latching positions also includes a component lying in a direction parallel to the directions of movement of the drive transfer members.

8. A mechanism according to claim 7 wherein said parallel component is in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of a first of the drive transfer- 16 members from the retracted position to the extended positions and the same as the direction of movement of a second of the drive transfer members from the retracted position to the extended position.

9. A mechanism according to claim 7 when dependent on claim 2 wherein said one of the drive transfer members is the first drive transfer member, the interengaging parts acting to move the at leat one bolt between said retracted and extended positions with said normal and parallel components of movement.

10. A mechanism according to claim 9 wherein the interengaging parts acting between said other of the drive transfer members and the at least one bolt constrain the at least one bolt to move with said other of the drive transfer members as said drive transfer member moves between said retracted and extended positions to provide said parallel component of the movement of the at least one bolt while permitting said normal component of movement.

11. A mechanism according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein said interengaging parts comprise a projection and a slot engaged by the projection.

12. A mechanism according to claim 11 wherein the slot extends in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the said other of the drive transfer members, the slot having a side edge and engagement of said projection with said side edge- 17 moving the at least one bolt in said parallel direction as movement of the at least one bolt in the normal direction moves the projection along the slot.

13. A mechanism according to claim 12 wherein the slot is provided on the at least one bolt and the projection is provided on the second drive transfer member.

14. A mechanism according to any one of claims 7 to 13 wherein the movement of the at least one bolt from the unlatched to the latching positions includes a first portion in which the at least one bolt moves principally in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the drive transfer members followed by a second portion in which the at least one bolt moves parallel to the direction of movement of drive transfer members.

15. A mechanism according to claim 14 when dependent on claim 5 wherein the slot on the other of the drive transfer members includes a further portion extending parallel to the directions of movement of the dnve transfer members, the projection, as the associated drive transfer member moves from the retracted to the extended position, entering the further slot portion after leaving the angled slot portion to guide the associated bolt in said parallel movement.

16. A mechanism according to any one of claims I to 12 wherein the at least one bolt is one of two such bolts, means being provided acting between at least the 18 other of the drive transfer members and the other bolt to convert movement of the at least the other drive transfer member into movement of the other bolt between latching and unlatched positions in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the dnve transfer members.

17. A mechanism according to claim 16 wherein the means acting between the other bolt and said other of said drive transfer members comprises interengaging parts such that movement of said drive transfer member between said retracted and extended positions is converted by said parts to said unlatching and latching I movement of said other bolt.

18. A mechanism according to claim 17 wherein said interengaging parts comprise a projection and a slot engaged by the projection.

19. A mechanism according to claim 18 wherein the slot includes a portion extending in a direction subtending an angle with the direction of movement of the drive transfer members, the movement of the drive transfer member from the retracted position to the extended position, moving the projection along the angled portion of the slot to move the other bolt from said unlatched position to said latching position.

19 20. A mechanism according to claim 18 or claim 19 wherein the projection is provided on the other bolt and the slot is provided on the associated dnve transfer member.

21. A mechanism according to any one of claims 17 to 20 wherein the interengaging parts further comprise parts acting between the other bolt and said one of the drive transfer members, the parts acting to guide the other bolt in said movement between said retracted and extended positions.

22. A mechanism according to any one of claims 16 to 21 wherein the movement of the other bolt between said unlatched and latching positions also includes a component lying in a direction parallel to the directions of movement of the drive transfer members.

23. A mechanism according to claim 22 wherein said parallel component is in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of a first of the dnve transfer members from the retracted position to the extended positions and the same as the direction of movement of a second of the drive transfer members from the retracted position to the extended position.

24. A mechanism according to claim 22 when dependent on claim 18 wherein said other of the drive transfer members is the first drive transfer member, th- interengaging parts acting to move the other bolt between said retracted and extended positions with said normal and parallel components of movement so that, as said one and said other bolts move from said unlatched to said latching positions, said parallel movement moves said bolts towards one another.

25. A mechanism according to claim 24 wherein the interengaging parts acting between said one of the drive transfer members and the other bolt constrain the other bolt to move with the said one of the drive transfer members as said drive transfer member moves between said retracted and extended positions to provide said parallel component of the movement of the other bolt while permitting said normal component of movement.

26. A mechanism according to claim 24 or claim 25 wherein said interengaging parts compfise a projection and a slot engaged by the projection.

27. A mechanism according to claim 26 wherein the slot extends in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the said one of the drive transfer members, the slot having a side edge and engagement of said projection with said side edge moving the other bolt in said parallel direction as movement of the other bolt in the normal direction moves the projection along the slot.

21 28. A mechanism according to claim 27 wherein the slot is provided on the other bolt and the projection is provided on the one of the drive transfer members.

29. A mechanism according to any one of claims 22 to 28 wherein the movement of the other bolt from the unlatched to the latching positions includes a first portion in which the other bolt moves principally in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the drive transfer members followed by a second portion in which the other bolt moves parallel to the direction of movement of drive transfer members.

30. A mechanism according to claim 29 when dependent on claim 20 wherein the slot on the other of the drive transfer members includes a further portion extending parallel to the directions of movement of the drive transfer members, the projection, as the associated drive transfer member moves from the retracted to the extended position, entering the further slot portion after leaving the angled slot portion to guide the associated bolt in said parallel movement.

31. A mechanism according to any one of claims I to 30 wherein the or each bolt projects from the casing through a seal for preventing the ingress of dirt into the casing.

32. A shoot bolt mechanism comprising a casing containing a pair of driivetransfer members, a drive transfer mechanism for converting rotation of a handle into- 22 simultaneous movement of the drive transfer members in opposite directions between respective retracted and extended positions and two bolts mounted in the casing, the drive transfer mechanism also moving the two bolts between unlatched and latching positions on rotation of said handle.

33. A mechanism according to claim 32 wherein the movement of the bolts between said unlatched and said latching positions include a component in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the device transfer members.

34. A mechanism according to claim 33 wherein the movement of the bolts between said unlatched and said latching positions include a component in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the dnve transfer members.

35. A mechanism according to claim 34 wherein the movement of the bolts from the unlatched to the latching positions includes a first portion in which the bolts move principally in a direction normal to the direction of movement of the drive transfer members followed by a second portion in which the bolts move parallel to the direction of movement of the drive transfer members.

36. A mechanism according to claim 35 wherein in the parallel movement of the bolts from the unlatched to the latching position, the bolts move towards one another.

23 37. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 36 wherein the or each bolt comprises a body carrying a head for engagement with a keeper.

38. A mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.