US3881332A

US3881332A - Electric lock assembly

Info

Publication number: US3881332A
Application number: US356187A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sr Howard T Ballew; Ellick E Burton; Charles C Lancaster
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-05-01
Filing date: 1973-05-01
Publication date: 1975-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-06

Abstract

This electric lock assembly is inaccessibly mounted inside a carrier vehicle and is actuated from the outside by utilizing a conventional power source. The lock assembly includes a solenoid having a movable core connected by a link member to a bolt which engages the door of the vehicle. The link member isolates the solenoid core from transverse forces applied to the bolt by the door.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,881,332

. Ballew, Sr. et al. May 6, 1975 [5 1 ELECTRIC LOCK ASSEMBLY 1,684,980 9/1928 Ward et al. 70/282 [76] Inventors: Howard T. Ballew, Sr., Rt. 3, R0.

30X 271; Enid Buflon, 3; 2,510,201 6/1950 Summey 292/144 Charles C. Lancaster, 400 S. Main St. c/o Missouri, Pacific Railroad,

n f poplar Bl ff 3901 Primary Exar ninerAlbert G. Craig, Jr.

[22] Filed: May 1, 1973 p [21] Appl. No.: 356,187 [57] ABSTRACT This electric lock assembly is inaccessibly mounted [52] 70/282; 292/150 292/l64 inside a carrier vehicle and is actuated from the out- 51 I t Cl /171 1 2 3 side by utilizing a conventional power source. The I 1 n l I lock assembly includes a solenoid having a movable [58] Field of Search 70/282; 292/144, 150, 164,

. k l 292H7h403l62119161163,406 core connected byalm member toabotwhlch en gages the door of the vehicle. The link member isolates the solenoid core from transverse forces applied [56] References Cited to the bolt by the door.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 305,294 9/1884 Com 292/175 v 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAY 6l975 3,881,332

FIGURE l FIGURE 3 4 4M? FIGURE 4 B4 ELECTRIC LOCK ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an improved lock for preventing theft from common carriers and particularly to an inaccessible electric lock actuated from the outside of the carrier.

The theft of goods from common carriers, particularly railroad cars and trucks, amounts to many millions of dollars each year. Much of this theft is carried out by individuals or small groups rather than by criminal organizations and could be prevented by providing adequate locking safeguards. However, in spite of the fact that locks are known which are installed inside cars for outside actuation such locks have not been successful. That this is so is clearly evident from the fact that conventional padlocks remain the most frequently used locks available, notwithstanding that such locks are relatively easily broken even by individuals. Railroad cars, for example are particularly susceptible to being broken into while they are standing in railroad yards between loading and unloading stations.

The primary reasons why more sophisticated locks are not used are that they are either too complex, and therefore expensive. or that they are difficult to mount and operate, and are therefore impractical. Moreover, even though solenoid operated locks have been used in attempts to cut down the incidence of theft they have not met with acceptance. The reason for this is that they suffer from a common disadvantage in that the bolt element is either provided by the movable core directly, or else by an extension rigidly attached to the core in such a fashion that any strain on the bolt is taken by the solenoid core, and this applies particularly to the strain resulting from the vibration of the carrier door against the bolt while the vehicle is in transit. This common structural arrangement of parts precludes effective operation of the solenoid and is probably the greatest factor contributing to the failure of this type of lock.

The present lock overcomes these and other deficiencies in a manner not disclosed by the known prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This electric lock assembly provides a solenoid operated bolt which is inaccessibly mounted interiorly of a vehicle, such as a common carrier, and is actuated exteriorly of said vehicle.

The bolt is connected to and movable with the solenoid by means ofa connecting link, which substantially precludes the transfer of transverse forces from the bolt to the solenoid core by permitting relative transverse movement between said bolt and core members.

The lock is actuated by a conventional electrical energy source available at loading and unloading points but not between such points. This electric lock assembly is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and use and is highly efficient in operation.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an interiorly mounted electric lock, which is attached to the door frame of a carrier vehicle for engagement with the door or, alternatively, is attached to the door itself for engagement with the frame, the lock being actuated exteriorly of the vehicle.

It is another important object to provide an electric lock which includes solenoid means, having a movable core member; bolt means having a bolt member, and link means operatively interconnecting said members for movement of said bolt member by said core member from an engaged lock position to a disengaged withdrawal position.

It is an object to provide that the solenoid can be energized by an external, conventional energy source such as a volt power supply.

It is another object to provide a bolt member, which is substantially longitudinally aligned with the movable core member and which has considerably greater resistance to transverse locking forces than said movable core member.

An important object is to provide link means which includes a link element pivotally connected to both the bolt member and the core member to permit relative transverse movement of said members in at least one direction.

Another object is to provide a link member having a pair of arms, each pivotally and slidably connected to at least one of the bolt and core members for relative transverse movement of said members in at least two directions.

It is an object to provide a bolt means having a bracket member in which the bolt member is slidingly mounted and supported independently of the solenoid core member and to provide spring means between said bracket member and said bolt member to bias the bolt member into a locked position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a cross sectional plan view through a railroad car showing a typical lock assembly location;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the lock assembly;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a similar view to FIG. 2 showing the assembly mounted in conjunction with the swinging door of a truck; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing and first to FIGS. 1 through 3, it will be understood that the electric lock, generally indicated by numeral 10 is shown, by way of example, as mounted within the interior of a railroad car 11. The same lock 10 may also be used in conjunction with a truck as will be described.

As shown in FIG. I the lock 10 is mounted within the interior 12 of the car 11 by attachment to the door frame 13. The door frame 13 defines the opening 14 to the interior l2, and constitutes a framing means. A sliding door 15 provides a door means operatively closing said opening 14.

In the preferred embodiment, the electric lock 10 is electrically connected to a male electrical outlet 16, provided on the side of the railroad car 11, by means ofa cable 19. In order to actuate the lock 10 the outlet 16 is connected to a I 10 volt electrical energy source. generally indicated by numeral 17, by means of an extension cord 20, having appropriate male and

female plugs

21 and 22 respectively at each end. It will be understood that this arrangement permits the use of a conventional llO volt outlet for actuating the electric lock, such outlets being commonly'available at loading docks.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the lock includes a solenoid 23, constituting a solenoid means, and a bolt assembly 24, constituting a bolt means. The solenoid 23 is mounted to a base plate 25, as by screws 26, and the base plate 25 is mounted in turn to the frame 13, as by mounting screws 27.

The solenoid 23 includes a body 29 and a movable core member 30, having a T-shaped head 31, engageable with the face 33 of the body 29 when the solenoid 23 is energized to withdraw the movable core member 30.

The bolt assembly 24 includes a U-shaped bracket 34 attached to the base plate 25 as by screws 35. The legs 36 of the U-shaped bracket 34 are provided with apertures 37 which receive a bolt member 40 in sliding relation and provide spaced points of support for the bolt member 40 independently of the core member 30. In the preferred embodiment, the bolt assembly 24 also includes a compression spring 41, which is retained on the bolt member 40 by means ofa retaining pin 42. The spring 41 provides a bias means urging the beveled end 43 of the bolt member 40 into engagement with an engagement means on the sliding door 15. In the embodiment illustrated the engagement means is provided by an apertured catch member 44, which is attached to the sliding door as by fasteners 45, and presents a face 46 for engagement with said bolt member 40, it being understood that the catch member 44, in effect, constitutes part of the door means.

lmportantly, the bolt member 40 is connected to the solenoid core member 30 by means of a link element generally indicated by numeral 50 and constituting a link means. In the preferred embodiment, the link element 50 is substantially U-shaped and includes

arm portions

51 and 52 received within

apertures

48 and 49 provided respectively in the core member 30 and the bolt member 40, the apertured ends of said members providing connection means for the link element. As shown in FIG. 3 the arm 51 is bent at its remote end to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the link element 50. The lower arm 52 of the link element 50 is engageable with the upper leg 36 of the bracket 34 and acts to limit downward movement of the bolt member 40.

The longitudinal axes of the core member 30 and the bolt member 40 are substantially aligned. The link element 50 provides a somewhat loose connection between the two members, which permits slight transverse movement of one relative to the other. In effect, in the engaged position any strain experienced by the bolt member 40 is not transferred to the core member 30 because of the double pivot provided by the link element 50 and because of the sliding relationship between the

link arms

51 and 52 and the

respective apertures

48 and 49 receiving said arms. Thus, the solenoid core member 30 does not suffer the frequently severe, vibratory forces experienced by the bolt member 40,

which can readily be made sufficiently strong to resist such forces. However, when the car is stationary it is a simple matter for the bolt member 40 to be withdrawn from engagement with the sliding door 15 by actuation of the solenoid 23, which withdraws the core member 30. In practice the solenoid 23 is a relatively small conventional unit readily available commercially.

The lock assembly illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is essentially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 but is mounted for use with a truck having a pair of interlocking swinging doors one of which is indicated by numeral 15a. FIG. 4 shows the bolt member 40 in the locked position and FIG. 5 shows the bolt member in the withdrawn position. In the locked position the bolt member 40 is engageable with an aperture provided on the bottom edge member 130. In effect, the bottom edge member 13a provides a framing means defining the opening to the interior of the truck and includes an apertured upper portion 44a presenting an engagement face 46a to said bolt member 40.

As shown clearly in FIG. 4, the bolt member 40 includes a transverse aperture 55 at its beveled end 43. FIG. 5 shows the location of the aperture 55 when the bolt member 40 is in a withdrawn position and, as can be seen, the aperture receives a stop pin 56, which may be attached to the bracket 34 as by chain 57 and which is engageable with the lower of the legs 36 of the U- shaped bracket 34. Said stop pin 56 thereby provides a means by which the bolt member 40 can be held in a withdrawn position during those times when it is not convenient to use the lock, as for example when the truck is empty. In some instances, to discourage tampering and preclude inadvertent damage, the lock may be provided with a cover 60, indicated in phantom outline.

Although not specifically shown, it will be understood that the lock 10 of the railroad car 11 may be fitted with similar holding means and may also be provided with a cover 60.

We claim as our invention:

1. An interiorly mounted, electrically operated lock assembly for a carrier vehicle to prevent theft from the vehicle between loading stations comprising:

a. framing means defining an opening to the vehicle interior,

b. door means operatively closing said opening,

c. an electric lock mounted to one of said means and lockingly engageable with the other of said means the lock including:

1. solenoid means carried by said one means and including a movable core member having a longitudinal axis of movement and a connection means,

2. bolt means carried by said one means and including a bolt member engageable with said other means said bolt member having a longitudinal axis of movement and a connection means, and

3. link means including spaced end portions operatively interconnecting said solenoid core member and said bolt member between said connection means for longitudinal movement of said bolt member by said core member, said spaced end portions permitting relative, transverse translational movement of said bolt member and said core member connection means substantially without transfer of transverse shear forces to said solenoid core member from said bolt member, and d. an electric energy supply means selectively connectible with the solenoid means for actuating said solenoid means and inducing longitudinal movement into the bolt member said supply means including:

l. a remote conventional 1 l0 volt alternating current power supply outlet at the loading station, and

2. an extension cord extending between the outlet and the carrier vehicle.

Claims

1. An interiorly mounted, electrically operated lock assembly for a carrier vehicle to prevent theft from the vehicle between loading stations comprising: a. framing means defining an opening to the vehicle interior, b. door means operatively closing said opening, c. an electric lock mounted to one of said means and lockingly engageable with the other of said means the lock including: 1. solenoid means carried by said one means and including a movable core member having a longitudinal axis of movement and a connection means, 2. bolt means carried by said one means and including a bolt member engageable with said other means said bolt member having a longitudinal axis of movement and a connection means, and 3. link means including spaced end portions operatively interconnecting said solenoid core member and said bolt member between said connection means for longitudinal movement of said bolt member by said core member, said spaced end portions permitting relative, transverse translational movement of said bolt member and said core member connection means substantially without transfer of transverse shear forces to said solenoid core member from said bolt member, and d. an electric energy supply means selectively connectible with the solenoid means for actuating said solenoid means and inducing longitudinal movement into the bolt member said supply means including: 1. a remote conventional 110 volt alternating current power supply outlet at the loading station, and 2. an extension cord extending between the outlet and the carrier vehicle.

2. an extension cord extending between the outlet and the carrier vehicle.