GB2601611A

GB2601611A - Improvements to security apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2601611A
Application number: GB2114496.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Washby Martin
Original assignee: Meesons AI Ltd
Current assignee: Meesons AI Ltd
Priority date: 2020-11-10
Filing date: 2021-10-11
Publication date: 2022-06-08
Also published as: GB202114496D0; GB202017695D0

Abstract

The turnstile apparatus includes a rotatable shaft 4 with members 8 which define sectors in which a person is positionable and a can pass through as a result of releasing the shaft. On one end of the shaft is an operating assembly with a cam plate which has a series of portions formed around the edge, each portion has a recessed part 72 located between peaks 78, 80. There may be a damper arm and a detent arm 92. The device may include a number of solenoids. A ratchet plate may be coaxial with the cam plate to prevent rotation of the shaft.

Description

Improvements to Security Apparatus The invention to which this application relates is a security apparatus in the form of a turnstile and in particular, although not necessarily exclusively, in the form of a turnstile which is known as a "full-height" turnstile.

Turnstiles are typically provided to allow the secure control of an access such as on a fence line, on a building perimeter or a secured area. The turnstile is typically operated and controlled in order to allow those persons who are entitled to, to enter or leave the building or area, by the operation of the turnstile but to prevent operation of the turnstile so as to prevent persons who are not authorised, to enter the secured building or area.

The turnstiles can be effective in allowing the passage of one person at a time through the access and thereby allowing the control of authorised persons movement and also the number of persons movement such as for example, at a sports or concert venue.

In addition to the security and safety aspects, the turnstile apparatus can also be used to provide information in terms of the number of persons who may be in a building or area at a particular time, particular times at which access has been gained through the turnstile, and, if the turnstile is used in conjunction with data detection means, then the particular identities of the persons who have passed through the turnstiles can also be recorded.

Full-length turnstiles are particularly effective in that they have a series of members which protrude outwardly from a central shaft and the members protrude outwardly towards the peripheral edges of the access opening so that they effectively act as a barrier to prevent access through the opening unless the shaft on which the members are located, is rotated at the same time as a person moves through the access opening.

Typically, in a full-length turnstile, there are provided a series of members in sets and the number of sets can be equally spaced around the shaft so as to, for example, allow the 360 degrees around the shaft to be split into three 120 degree sectors when three sets of members are provided or four 90 degree sectors when four sets of members are provided. The number of sets which are provided can be selected for particular uses.

Typically a sector is provided at one side of the turnstile to allow a person to move into the sector and if the person is authorised to move through the access, the shaft rotates and the person moves with and within the sector as the same rotates to the other side of the turnstile so as to pass through the access. If the person who enters the sector is not authorised then the shaft win not turn and so the sector and the person therein is stationary and the stationary sets of members are a barrier.

The operating assembly for the rotation of the shaft, is typically located above the same so that the operating assembly can be held in a secure housing and cannot be easily accessed in order to disable the same. Thus, the rotating shaft, has one end which is located with the operating assembly and the opposing end is typically located in a base and secured therein.

The operating assembly can be susceptible to being damaged or disabled, by the application of excessive force, to one or more of the members and/or the shaft in an attempt to move the shaft out of direct control of the actuating mechanism so that if this is achieved, then the turnstile can be freely rotated and is no longer secure.

There is therefore a need to be able to allow the operation of the turnstile shaft and members to be achieved in a reliable and efficient manner and, at the same time, to ensure that the apparatus is resistant to attack.

While there are known to be other full-height turnstiles in operation and available for use, it is typically found that these fall into two categories. A first category are those turnstiles for which the operating assembly is manufactured in a relatively small-scale and in a "bespoke" manner so that there can be reliability issues in terms of the use of the same on site and, when one considers that these turnstiles are used to allow access to personnel it is important that the same operate as and when required. A second type of conventional full-scale turnstiles are those which are relatively complex in terms of the operating assembly for the same and this therefore means that the apparatus is relatively expensive and is more complex and, in turn difficult to repair, than is perhaps necessary.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a turnstile apparatus, said apparatus including a rotatable shaft upon which are provided a series of sets of one or more members so as to define a plurality of sectors around the said shaft and in which sectors a person is positionable and the sectors move when the shaft is released and rotated so as to allow the person to nn-we from a first side of the apparatus to another side of the apparatus, said shaft located, at at least one end, with an operating assembly wherein said operating assembly includes a cam plate which has a series of portions formed around an edge, each portion having a recessed part intermediate first and second peak parts and the number of said portions matches the number of said sectors.

Typically, ea.ch portion of the cam plate is curved and the said peak parts of a first portion are also peak parts of respective adjacent portions.

Typically, the side edges of the cam plate move with the rotation of the rotatable shaft and cup member and a damper arm is biased to contact with the side edges of the cam plate and a detent arm is biased to engage with an inner surface of the cam plate which has a profile which matches the side edge of the Cain plate. Typically when the damper arm roller and the detent arm roller are located in a recessed part of a portion of the cam plate the action of the biasing means acts to retain the damper arm and detent arm in position until a sufficient movement force is exerted to rotate the shaft to which the cam plate is mounted to thereby allow the bia.sing force of one or more springs, to be overcome and allow the damper arm and detent arm to move over the peak part of that portion and enter the next portion of the cam plate and this represents one sector movement of the turnstile.

Typically the cam plate ensures that the turnstile restores to a home position 1 which it is locked and blocks the entrance through the turnstile.

Typically the force of the biasing means ensures that the turnstile requires a force to be applied thereto before the rotation of the shaft and the members will be achieved and said force will only have an effect when the rotation of the shaft is permitted.

Typically there is provided a ratchet plate which is coaxInlly mounted with the carn plate to rotate around the same axis as the shaft. Typically the ratchet plate prevents the reverse movement of the assembly.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes first and second solenoids which are located to act 180 degrees apart and the orientation of the solenoids can be selected to allow the turnstile to be held in a locked position. In one embodiment, if there is a loss of power, the turnstile is locked by die solenoids being maintained in a locking position so that the turnstile cannot be rotated or, alternatively, the solenoids move to a failsafe position upon the loss of power, in which case the turnstile can be freely rotated.

Typically the selection of the particular configuration of the solenoids can be made depending on the particular use of the turnstile at a particular location. Typically the solenoids act on location portions which in turn can engage with the ratchet plate to allow release and hence rotation of the shaft and turnstile members for the required duration to allow a person in a turnstile sector to move from one side of the turnstile to another side of the turnstile, typically the opposing side of the turnstile.

In one embodiment of the apparatus the damper arm is acted upon by a damper mechanism to allow a dampening of the movement of the damper arm and hence rotation of the turnstile to be relatively smooth rather than a relatively "rapid" snap action on the members of the turnstile.

In one embodiment, in order to resist efforts which may be made to move the cam plate, shaft, and/or ratchet plate into a position so that the same are disabled, such as by applying a lateral force to the shaft of the turnstile, the solenoids and locating portions are located on a plate to form an integral unit. This arrangement means that any movement force applied to the turnstile when it is locked, such as to the arms, to try and rotate the turnstile, is resisted by biasing means acting on the plate and which cause the solenoids and location portions to be retained within a correct operating position range and maintain the locked condition of the turnstile and prevent unauthorised movement of the turnstile and/or breach of the security provided by the turnstile apparatus.

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In one embodiment, the damper arm and the &tent aim are located on, and to rotate about, a common pivot axis.

Typically the said members in a set of members are provided at spaced locations along the length of at least a. portion of the length of the shaft and the spacing is such as to prevent the passage of a person between said adjacent members.

In one embodiment the apparatus includes a fixed barrier which can be selectively located -with the turnstile. In one embodiment the selective location of the barrier configures the apparatus to be located with an adjacent barrier such as a fence so that the fence is positioned at the centre of the barrier. In an alternative embodiment the fence can be provided at an edge of the turnstile. Typically the fixed barrier in the turnstile further aids in the prevention of unauthorised passage through the turnstile.

Typically the turnstile apparatus is provided in a form so as to allow sufficient visibility from one side to the other in order to allow visual security checks to be performed on the turnstile a.nd any attempts to gain unauthorised access through the same and/or manipulate the operation of the turnstile.

In one embodiment, at least some of the bars and/or members of the turnstile are provided with an outer wall formed of a first, typically metal or metal alloy, material, and in a cavity within the said bars and/or members a second material, typically a further form of metal or metal alloy, is provided so as to provide additional strength and/or resistance to damage.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompany drawings; wherein; Figures -la and b-c illustrate views of a turnstile mechanism of a type with which the invention is particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, related; Figures 2a-c illustrate views of an operating assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention for the said turnstile; Figure 3 illustrates a plate on which the solenoids of the apparatus are located; Figure 4 illustrates a ratchet plate in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; FigThre 5 illustrates a cam plate in accordance NA. th one embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 illustrates the layout of an embodiment of the control means for the operation of the turnstile.

Figures 7a-e illustrate a further embodiment of the apparatus inaccordance with the thvention; Figures 8a-c illustrate a turnstile barrier in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and Figures 9a and b illustrate a perspective view of part of the frame of the turnstile apparatus and a plan view of one of the bars and member of the frame respectively.

Referring firstly to Figures la-c and 7a-e, there is illustrated a turnstile apparatus 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and in this case, the apparatus which is shown, is typically referred to as a full-height turnstile inasmuch that there is provided a rotatable shaft 4 which passes from the base of an access in which the apparatus is provided to the top of the said access and on the shaft 4 are mounted a series of sets, 6,8,10,11 of barrier members. The barrier members in each set are located along the shaft at spaced intervals as shown and are spaced apart in each set so as to effectively form a barrier to a person passing through or between the said set of members when the shaft is locked. The said sets 6,8,10,11 are spaced apart around the shaft, so as to provide a series of sectors 12,14,16,17 with each sector being large enough to accommodate one person but typically small enough to prevent more than one person being accommodated in each sector. Thus, in the embodiment shown, the arrangement has four sets of members 6,8, 10, 11 spaced apart by 90 degrees about the shaft In another embodiment there may be provided three sets of members in which case the same are typically spaced apart by 120 degrees about the said shaft and three sectors are formed.

The shaft and barrier members, are located in an access passageway 18 between a first side linked to a first area 20 which typically, may be a public area and a second, typically opposing, side linked to an area. 22 which may be required to be a more secure area and/or safe area and this is achieved by the provision of the turnstile apparatus 2 in the access passageway 18 which will only allow permitted persons to enter into the secure area 22 in a controlled manner via the operation of the turnstile apparatus 2.

In order to achieve this, the shaft 4 and hence sets of bather members, are provided to be in one of two possible conditions, a first, locked condition in which rotation of the shaft 4 and hence barrier members is prevented, and an unlocked position in which movement of the shaft 4 and barriers about the axis of rotation 24, is allowed to a sufficient extent so as to enable a person who enters a sector 12, 14, 16 or 17, to move in the sector as the same moves with the shaft 4 to move from the area 20 through the access passageway 18 and then to the secure area 22. Once that movement has been achieved the shaft 4 is returned to a. locked condition in normal usage. 'thus, it will be appreciated that each person that enters the area 22, does so in a con trolled manner and, if the same is used in conjunction with a control system, then the person can only gain access to area 22 by operation of the turnstile apparatus 2 if suitable permission is granted by the presentation of, for example, an identity card to electronic control means which, if approved, allow the shaft 4 to be moved to an unlocked condition but, if not accepted, then the shaft 4 will remain in the locked position.

Alternatively, the operation of the shaft 4 may be manually achievable by a Security guard who is required to view a pass or identify the person and, if they are satisfied that the person is authorised, they can then operate the turnstile manually to move the same to an unlocked condition to allow access for that person. It will be appreciated that the person may return to the 20, when permitted, through the turnstile.

In a situation where there may be a malfunction of the turnstile apparatus or there is a lack of power supply to the apparatus then it is not possible for the apparatus to be moved to either a condition in which the shaft movement is locked until normal operating conditions are returned or shaft movement is possible until normal

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operating conditions are returned. The selection of which of these two operating conditions is used is largely dependent on the particular use of the turnstile apparatus 2. 't he unit can be provided in fail secure or fail lock and entry and exit can be configured differently.

Figures 2a-c illustrate an operating assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and Figures 3-5 illustrate particular components of the assembly shown in Figures 2a-c. In Figure 2a there is shown a plan view of the operating assembly 26 for the turnstile and Figures 2b and c illustrate, respectively, an elevation and end elevation of the said assembly. The assembly includes a base 28 which, typically, is located in a secure housing 30 and is attached to the top end 32 of the shaft 4 which is provided to rotate about the axis 24. The barrier members 34 are mounted on the shaft 4 and this is illustrated with a. top level of barrier members 34 shown in Figure 2b.

As shown in Figure 3 the operating assembly also includes first and second solenoids 36,38 which, in this embodiment are welded onto a solenoid mounting plate 40 which is provided M. a U-shape with arms 42,44, each of which are secured to the base 28 via slotted apertures 46,48 respectively and at the base via a slotted aperture 30. Biasing means in the form of springs 52,54, are also mounted to the base plate 28 at one end and at the other end act on the solenoid mounting plate 40 in order to bias the same towards the rotational axis 24 of the shaft 4 and, in turn, into engagement with a ratchet plate 56 which is mounted for rotation about said rotational axis 24. Thus, when the apparatus is in an operating or open condition, the ratchet plate 56 is free to rotate to allow sector movement and when that is achieved, then the securing portions 58,60 acted on by the respective solenoids 36,38 locate on the ratchet plate 56 and prevent further rotation of the same and the shaft 4 until the solenoids are subsequently released again to allow a further movement. The slotted apertures 46,48 and provision of the biasing springs 52,54, and the provision of the integral solenoid mounting plate mean that if an attempt is made to gam' unauthorised access through the turnstile such as, for example, by applying a lateral sideways force on the shaft 4 as indicated by arrow 62, and/or a rotational force to the bars of the turnstile to try and break the locking of the turnstile so as to gain unauthorised access through the turnstile, while some movement of the plate 40 may occur the movement is only possible within a predetermined range which is less than that required to allow release of the locked turnstile. Thus, in accordance with the invention it is not possible to disengage the ratchet plate 56 and securing portions 58,60, as this is resisted by the biasing means springs 52,54 which act against any movement force in the direction of arrow 62. Furthermore, as soon as any force is released from the shaft 4, the biasing means bias the mounting plate 40, and hence the solenoid securing portions 58,60, back into engagement with the ratchet plate 56 and thereby return the same to the locked condition and prevents the possibility of unauthorised disengagement of the ratchet plate 56 and the securing portions 58,60.

Also provided on the operating assembly is a cam plate 64 which is also located on the rotational axis 24 and rotates about the same. In this case, the cam plate 64 has four recessed parts 66,68,70,72 and four peaks 74,76,78,80 located intermediate the recessed parts. This means that there are four portions, each having one recessed part and a peak at each end of the recessed part. 'the peaks typically act as a peak of two adjacent portions. In this embodiment there are provided four sets of members on the shaft and it will be appreciated that if there are three sets of members on the shaft 4 then the cam plate 64 will have three recess portions and three peaks.

The assembly includes a damper arm 82 which at one free end 84 has a roller 86 which follows the side edge 88 of the cam plate 64 into the recessed parts and over the peaks in sequence with the movement of the ratchet plate 56 and the damper arin 82 is pivoted about a pivot axis 90 which is the same pivot axis for a &tent arm 92 which acts on an interior track 94 on the cam plate 64 which has a profile which substantially matches that of the side edge 88. the detent arm 92 is acted upon by a spring 94 which in turn, is mounted on to the base plate by location means 96. The damper arm is acted upon a dampening spring assembly 98 which is also anchored to the base plate 28.

Figures 8a-c illustrate a fixed barrier 100 which is formed of a series of vertically oriented bars 102 located between upper and lower horizontal members 104, 106 and the barrier can be selectively positioned with respect to the turnstile assembly so as to allow the configuration and positioning of the assembly with respect to the installation location, such as with regard to adjacent perimeter fencing, to be selected. In one embodiment the selective location of the barrier configures the apparatus to be located with an adjacent fence so that the fence is positioned at the centre of the barrier. In an alternative embodiment the fence can be provided at an edge of the turnstile. Typically, the fixed barrier in the turnstile further aids in the prevention of unauthorised passage through the turnstile.

Referring now to Figures 9a and b there is illustrated one embodiment of at least part of the turnstile frame and which acts as the barrier 100 and/or possibly other walls of the turnstile so as to prevent and resist attempts to gain unauthorised access through the turnstile and hence frame. The frame is formed of horizontal members 104, 106, a bottom one of which is shown M. Figure 9a and the bars 102 are located between the same. The bars 102 are substantially diamond shaped in cross section and it is seen that the bars are oriented with respect to the horizontal members such that the axis 108 between a first pair. of opposing corners 112, 114 of each of the bars 102 is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis 110 of the horizontal members 104,106 and the axis 116 between the second pair of opposing corners 118" 120 of each of the bars 102 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 110 of the horizontal members 104,106. It is found that this provides additional resistance to the attempts to move the members of the barrier apart and gain access through the enlarged gap.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, there is provided operating means which, when rotation of the shaft is permissible, allow the secure and smooth operation of the shaft and barrier members, whilst, ensuring that there is provided a secure locking system for the sa.me which can be operated to provide additional security and resistance to attempts to overcome the same. 't he operation of the various components of the electrical system and, in particular, the operation of the solenoids, can be achieved via, a control system 100 such as that illustrated schematically in Figure 6 and it will be seen that the operating system includes visual indication means in the form of a range of LEDs 102 to indicate the correct or incorrect operation of the apparatus, one or more sensors 104 to detect the condition of the apparatus at a particular time and to feedback that back to the control system, control means 106 to operate the solenoids 36,38 and signalling means 108 to allow the signals to be input to the apparatus to indicate the occurrence of a particular operation of the apparatus and thereby allow the sequential control of the same. It is also possible to input an emergency signal 110;so as to allow the apparatus to move to an emergency operating condition if required.

Claims

Claims 1 A turnstile apparatus, said apparatus including a. rotatable shaft upon which are provided a series of sets of one or more members so as to define a plurality of sectors around the said shaft and in which sectors a. person is positionable and the sectors move when the shaft is released and rotated so as to allow the person to move from a first side of the apparatus to another side of the apparatus, said shaft located, at at least one end, with an operating assembly wherein said operating assembly includes a cam plate which has a series of portions formed around an edge, each portion having a recessed part intermediate first and second peak parts and the number of said portions matches the number of said sectors.
2 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each of said portions is at least partially curved and each of said peaks is common to two adjacent portions.
3 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said edge of the cam plate moves with the rotation of the rotatable shaft.
4 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a cup member and a damper arm are provided and are bia.sed to contact with the side edge of the cam plate.
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein a detent arm is biased to engage with an inner surface of the cam plate which has a. profile which substantially matches the side edge of the cam plate.
6 Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the damper and de tent arms have a roller.
7 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein biasing means act to retain the damper arm and detent arm in position until a movement force greater than a predetermined force is exerted to rotate the shaft and hence cam plate to overcome the biasing means and allow the damper arm and detent arm to move over a peak part of that portion of the cam plate and move into the recessed part of the adjacent portion of the cam plate.
8 Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein movement of the &tent arm and damper arm along one portion of the Cain plate represents one sector movement of the turnstile apparatus.
9 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the cam plate ensures that the shaft and sets of members are restored to a home position in which it is locked and prevents the entrance of a person from the first side to another side of the apparatus.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding clanns wherein there is provided a ratchet plate coaxialli mounted with the cam plate to rotate around the same axis as the shaft.
11 Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the ratchet plate prevents the reverse movement of the shaft.
12 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus includes first and second solenoids which are located to act substantia. lly180 degrees apart.
13 Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the orientation of the solenoids is selected to allow the turnstile to be held, upon a loss of power in either a locked position or a failsafe position in which the turnstile is freely rotatable.
14 Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the selection of a particular configuration of the solenoids is made with respect to the particular we of the apparatus.
Apparatus according to any of the claims 10-14 wherein the solenoids, when operated, act on location portions which, in turn, engage with the ratchet plate to allow the release and hence rotation of the shaft and turnstile members for the required duration to allow a person in a turnstile sector to move from the first side of the turnstile to another side of the turnstile.
16 Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the solenoids and locating portions arc provided on a plate to form an integral unit.
17 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the damper arm and detent arm a.re located on and rotated about a common pivot axis.
18 Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the said members in the set of members are provided at spaced locations along the length of at least a portion of the shaft and spaced so as to prevent the passage of a person between said sectors.
19 Apparatus according to any of the preceding clam* is wherein the apparatus includes a fixed barrier.Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein at least some of the bars and/or members of the apparatus have an outer wall formed of a. first metal or metal alloy material and a cavity withth the said bars and/or members in which a second material is provided so as to provide additional strength and/or resistance to damage.