WO2022187874A1

WO2022187874A1 - Tamper-resistant gate lock

Info

Publication number: WO2022187874A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2022/050007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregory Paul MUMFORD; Darren Peter Morris TERNENT
Original assignee: Centurion Systems (Pty) Limited
Priority date: 2021-03-04
Filing date: 2022-02-25
Publication date: 2022-09-09
Also published as: ZA202205808B

Abstract

A tamper-resistant gate lock comprising: a housing for a lock mechanism, the housing including an internal nib, for trapping a locking bar; a releasable slide, that is configured and dimensioned to pass through a slot in the housing and to be received, at least partially, within the housing, the slide including a hook that is shaped eomplimentarily to the nib, and the slide being movable selectively between an engaged position, in which the hook is held captive by the nib, and a disengaged position, in which the slide moves freely within the housing; biasing means for biasing the slide in the engaged position; and an actuator, for moving the slide selectively between the engaged position and the disengaged position, characterised in that any unauthorised application of force to the lock results in the slide being moved into the engaged position.

Description

TAMPER-RESISTANT GATE LOCK

Field Of The Invention

THIS INVENTION relates, broadly, to a tamper-resistant gate lock. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention has application to both swing-operation gate locks, and slide operation gate locks.

Background To The Invention

Many lock mechanisms are disclosed in the prior art and, in particular, lock mechanisms that are intended for use with gates. The primary purpose of locks, of course, is to prevent (or, at least, mitigate against) forced entry past the gate.

There are as many methods of operation of locks as there are types of lock. One that is particularly well known to the inventors is CISA S.p.A’s European patent application no. EP 1 ,505,230. While this lock may have its particular applications, it suffers from a number of deficiencies - for example: it is does not stand-up particularly well to atempts at forced opening (for example: via the malicious application of a crowbar. Given sufficient pressure being applied by the crowbar, the lock mechanism will eventually buckle, and open). A further disadvantage of this lock is its rotary lock mechanism and latches, which are considered to be overly complicated. Moreover, it will be noted that this lock mechanism comprises multipie springs - this is considered to be disadvantageous, in that it is bulky, and with a larger number of mechanical components, the possibility of mechanical wear and/or failure is greater.

A further known lock is that of Kowalczyk in US patent no. 9,890,562. While this lock avoids the deficiencies associated with rotary lock mechanisms, it has other disadvantages of its own, notably: its dependence on the operation of a solenoid to engage and disengage the lock selectively. It will be appreciated that, in the event of a power outage or power failure, this necessarily negates the operation of the lock. Furthermore, this patent does not address the issue of how the lock stands up to (attempted) forced opening of the gate to which this lock is coupled.

A major shortcoming with these prior art solutions is that, by and large, they serve only as deterrents against theft. However, on the application of sufficient force to those prior art solutions, the lock mechanisms will fail, negating the lock’s use entirely.

Object Of The Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tamper- resistant gate lock, that will overcome, at least partially, the disadvantages DESdescribed above Summary Of The Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a tamper-resistant gate lock comprising:

* a housing for a lock mechanism, the housing including an internal nib, for trapping a locking bar;

* a releasable slide, that is configured and dimensioned to pass through a slot in the housing and to be received, at least partially, within the housing, the slide including a hook that is shaped complimentarily to the nib, and the slide being movable selectively between an engaged position, in which the hook is held captive by the nib, and a disengaged position, in which the slide moves freely within the housing;

* biasing means for biasing the slide in the engaged position; and

* an actuator, for moving the slide selectively between the engaged position and the disengaged position, characterised in that any unauthorised application of force to the lock results in the slide being moved into the engaged position.

Preferably, the locking bar is integrated fully into the releasable slide.

The slide may be urged, at least partially, within the housing on the ordinary dosing operation of the gate, The biasing means may be housed entirely within the housing, and include a spring and a linkage system comprising at least at least one arm and at least one pivot.

Preferably, the biasing means is characterised in that, on the closing of the gate, the spring is elongated, and urged to snap shut, preventing the slide from returning towards the disengaged position.

The biasing means may further include a displacement slide which, on the opening of the gate, is moved to urge the slide to reverse its movement within the housing, and thence into the disengaged position.

The lock further includes a spinning bush located within the pathway traversed by the displacement slide within the housing.

The displacement slide may include a lug formation, which is dimensioned and configured to act upon the spinning bush on the selective actuation of the actuator to open the gate, urging the slide towards the disengaged position.

The lock may comprise an override mechanism, to urge the slide towards the unlocked position without the need to engage the actuator, alternatively; to mimic the action of the actuator. The actuator may be selected from the group consisting of: a solenoid, a worm drive actuator, a linear actuator, and an eiectric actuator.

The override mechanism may comprise a key-and-gears manual release mechanism. Preferably, the override mechanism is a cam lock.

In a sliding gate embodiment of the invention: the housing may be fixed onto a post on the gate, alternatively alongside a post of the gate. in a swinging gate embodiment of the invention: the housing may be affixed to a first swinging portion of the gate, alternatively alongside a post of the gate, and the sliding bar affixed in complimentary fashion to a second swinging position of the gate.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

In order to describe the invention, embodiments thereof are described hereunder, purely as examples, without limiting the scope of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of the gate lock in use, with the slide in the disengaged position, specifically: when the lock is installed on a sliding gate; Figure 2 is a front view of the gate lock as depicted in Figure 1 , but with the slide in the engaged position;

Figure 3 is a dose up view of the lock as depicted in Figure 2, with a transverse section through the lock depicting the inner mechanisms in broken lines;

Figure 4 is a partial cutaway of the housing, showing the slide in the disengaged position;

Figures 5(a) show transitional stages of movement of the slide in Figure 4

&. 5(b) being urged towards the locked position;

Figure 6(a) is a partial cutaway of the housing, showing the slide in the (fully) engaged position;

Figure 6(b) is a partial cutaway of the housing, showing how the position in Figure 6(a) is reversed, as the slide is moved back towards the disengaged position;

Figure 6(c) is a partial cutaway of the housing, continuing the transitional movement shown in Figure 6(b), with the slide now in the (fully) disengaged position;

Figures 7(a) show transitional stages of movement of the slide in Figure 4 be- & 7(b) ing urged towards the locked position via the application of the override mechanism;

Figure 8 is a partial view of select components of the lock, as depicted in Figures 5(a) & 5(b), with exaggerated emphasis of the path of motion taken by certain components on the selective closing of the gate; and

Figure 9 is an alternative embodiment of the invention depicted in Figure 1 , when installed on a swinging gate.

Detailed Description Of The Drawings Referring to the figures, which depict a preferred embodiment of the invention, a tamper resistant gate lock in accordance with the invention is provided, and is referred to generaiiy by numeral 10, The invention is described in the context of a typical track-mounted sliding gate 20, However, it is equally conceivable that the invention has application in a swinging gate 30 (depicted in Figure 9) - here, a preferred type of swinging gate is that known in the trade as a “double leaf gate. All descriptions provided here apply equally to both embodiments of the gate (20, 30), The gate lock 10 includes a housing 60, which is fixed onto a post 190 on the sliding gate 20, Conversely, in a swinging gate 30 embodiment of the invention, the housing 60 is affixed to the first 34 of the pair of gates 30, which the slide is affixed in complimentary fashion on the second 36 of the pair of gates 30. In the interests of removing any doubt, it is stressed that, when referring to a swinging gate, a double-leaf configuration (such as the type depicted in Figure 9) is envisaged; a single-leaf configuration is more akin to a sliding gate - in any event: both are considered to fail wholly within the scope and the spirit of the present invention. Inside the housing 60 is a nib 40, which is dimensioned and configured to accommodate the pivoting of a locking bar 60 about it, thus trapping plate 90 (this is discussed in further detail below),

In the embodiment depicted, the locking bar is, in fact, the u- shaped releasable slide 50: the slide 50 itself being entirely substantially U- shaped. it is conceived that, in other embodiments of the invention (not depicted), the locking bar constitutes a discreet element attached to the slide

50.

The slide 50 Is configured and dimensioned to pass through a slot 70 in the housing 60 and to be received within the housing 60, the slide 50 includes a hook formation that is shaped complimentarily to the nib 40, It will be immediately apparent from Figures 2 and 9 how the slide 50 slots neatly into the housing 60 via slot 70 on the ordinary ciosing of the gate 20. Conversely, on the ordinary opening of the gate 20, slide 50 reverses its pathway from the housing 60, exiting via the same slot 70. To be more specific: gate 20 is opened or closed selectively via the operation of actuator 80 which, in the embodiment depicted in the accompanying Figures, takes the form of a conventional linear actuator, typical of the kind used conventionally in door locks, (not depicted specifically) that is manipulated selectively via the operation of an ordinary gate controller unit (not depicted). Alternatively to a conventional gate controller, it is also conceived that one might use equivalent solutions such as: standalone receiver units, manual trigger buttons, and the like. In other embodiments of the invention (not depicted), it is considered that the actuator will take the form of a solenoid, a linear actuator or generally any actuator that is capable of achieving linear motion. It Is also conceived, further, that non-electric equivalent means might be used - for example: pneumatic actuators.

Before describing the primary advantage achieved by the invention, it is necessary, first, to describe certain critical aspects of the mechanical operation of the lock 10. Starting with Figure 4. one notes the lock 10 in a fully disengaged position - this occurs Just as the slide 50 passes through the slot 70 into the housing 60. At this point, slide 50 and nib 40 are not coupled to each other. It will be noted that nib 40 is located at the terminal end of plate 90. Plate 90 is coupled to lever 110 via a first pivot 100, and that lever 110 is coupled to arm 140 via a second pivot 120. Finally, arm 140 is coupled, in turn, to spring 130 via second pivot 120. (Each of the plate 90, lever 110, arm 140, spring 130 and pivots (100, 120, 150) form part of what is described as the linkage system, so named as all are linked in sequence). Figure 6(a) depicts the lock 10 in a fully engaged (that is: locked) position - where slide 50 has pivoted to its furthest point about nib 40, and plate 90 is there held captive. The transitional change in position between Figures 4 and 6(a) is depleted in Figures 5(a) & 5(b): regarding Figures 4, 5(a), 5(b) and 6(a) sequentially reveal how the ordinary motion of the slide 50 info the housing 60 on the dosing of gate (20, 30) urges the various constituents to move in the direction of motion illustrated by arrows A & B. It will be appreciated that the components move in the predictable, snakellke motion, owing to the operation of the pivots (100, 120, 150). However, what particularly secures the slide 50 in the engaged position is the operation of the spring 130, as is described here:

As slide 50 is slid within housing 60, the pivoted sequence of components described above terminates in spring 130, which is caused to elongate as the slide 50 continues its pathway through the housing 60. When that elongation reaches its zenith, the inertial forces cause the spring 130 to “snap" locked into place, also bringing the second pivot 120 to come to nest in seat formation 160. In Figures 5(a), 5(b), 6(a) & 6(b), imaginary line “X" is indicated - this line joins pivots 100 & 150 and is useful for illustrating the following principle: initially, during the process of dosing gate (20, 30), lever 140 and arm 110 are not co-linear (as seen in Figure 5(a)); however, as slide 50 is urged further into housing 60, at a point in that transitional motion, Iever 140 and arm 110 will become co-linear (as seen in Figure 5(b)) - this is referred to colloquially as the “event horizon" because, as the slide 50 moves further along that path, and Iever 140 and arm 110 move past that relative co- linear point, this is the point at which spring 130 snaps locked and, beyond that event horizon, the slide 50 will lack inertia to reverse its direction of motion within housing 60. This principle is emphasised conveniently in the partial image in Figure 8, which provides an exaggerated Illustration of the movement of particular key components on the movement into the engaged position. At this point, plate 90 Is restrained by the natural inner boundary wall formed by housing 60 - this is regarded as advantageous to the Invention, however; it is stressed that the primary retaining mechanism at this stage is the lever 110 and arm 140 (and pivot 120) resting against the seat formation 160.. Simply put: plate 90 cannot move any further along than it is shown in Figure 6. All of this means that the slide 50 is prevented from ’'Jumping out” of its trapped position, pivoted about nib 40.

It is convenient now to describe how the slide 50 is moved selectively from this locked position back to the unlocked position. It will be noted that the lock 10 includes a displacement slide 170. When actuator 80 is actuated to open the gate (20, 30) the actuator 80 causes displacement slide 170 to move away from slide 50 (as is best illustrated in Figure 6(c), in the direction of arrow Ύ"). Displacement slide 170 includes a lug formation 190 which is configured and dimension to act on a spinning bush (located immediately adjacent pivot 120; obscured in the Figures) - this is best illustrated in Figure 6(b) - urging the slide 50 to reverse Its above-describe motion, until it is ultimately liberated entirely from within the housing 60. It will be appreciated by the expert in the field that this action on the spinning bush provides the slide 50 with the impetus needed to overcome the inertial forces described above.

This illustrates one of the advantages of the invention, namely that its single spring 130 arrangement is sufficient to achieve a bias of moving the plate 90 (via lever 110 and arm 140) towards the engaged position, or towards the disengaged position, as desired - allowing transition of slide 50 into or out of the housing 90 respectively. Moreover, Xt results in a more compact design compared to other multiple-spring variants of the prior art.

This also leads to a discussion of the primary advantage achieved by the invention 10 - as is best illustrated in Figure 7(a): in the event of any unauthorised force to the gate (20, 30), alternatively to the housing 60 directly, when the slide 50 is in the engaged position. At the time of the application of unauthorised force to the gate ···· for example: via the application of a crowbar - the relative arrangement of lever 140 and arm 110 is already past the event horizon. This means that the application of that unauthorised force will be directed only to apply further pressure on arm 110 onto plate 90 as a result of its seating 160, causing slide 50 to be held captive even tighter than before! The action of the plate 90 being restrained by the housing 60 is especially true for forced-entry and it is this mechanism that results in the lock 10 jamming closed, preventing failure. Whereas the internal mechanisms of prior art locks would buckle and break under the application of unauthorised external pressure to the gate (20, 30), in the case of the present invention, the application of unauthorised external pressure to the gate (20, 30) actually results in firmer locking of the lock! Certainly, it is accepted that, on the application of sufficient unauthorised force, the internal components of the lock 10 will ultimately buckle and/or distort under pressure, however: the lock 10 would still remain in its locked state, unlike the prior art locks - this is a key advantage of the present invention. While not essential to the operation of the invention, in an embodiment of the invention, the lock 10 further includes an override mechanism, here in the form of a conventional CAM iock 160, the operation of which ultimately urges the slide 50 towards the unlocked position without the need to engage the actuator 80. Simply put: in the embodiment of the invention as depicted in the accompanying Figures ~~ notably Figure 7(b) ~ turning an override key (not depicted) into the override iock 180, in direction illustrated by arrow "Z", urges a CAM lever (not depicted) to urge the displacement slide 170 to act on the spinning bush in the manner described above, in essence, the CAM lock lever mimics the mechanical action achieved by the actuator, it will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art how this achieves yet another advantage, namely that the present invention can continue to be used selectively even in the event of a power outage, and no standby power unit is required, either. it will be appreciated that the advantages achieved through the use and exercise of this invention overcomes, to at least some degree, each one of the disadvantages described above. It will be appreciated, further, that numerous embodiments of the invention could be performed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the consistory statements above.

Claims

1. A tamper-resistant gate lock comprising:

* biasing means for biasing the slide in the engaged position; and

2. A gate lock according to claim 1, wherein the locking bar is Integrated fully into the releasable slide.

3. A gate lock according to claim 1 , wherein the slide is dimensioned and configured to be urged, at least partially, within the housing on the ordinary dosing operation of the gate.

4- A gate lock according to claim 1 , wherein the biasing means is housed entirely within the housing, and includes a spring and a linkage system comprising at least at least one arm and at least one pivot,

5, A gate lock according to claim 4, wherein the biasing means is characterised in that, on the dosing of the gate, the spring is elongated, and urged to snap shut, preventing the slide from returning towards the disengaged position,

6, A gate lock according to claim 4, wherein the biasing means further includes a displacement slide which, on the opening of the gate, is moved to urge the slide to reverse its movement within the housing, and thence into the disengaged position.

7. A gate lock according to claim 6, wherein the lock further includes a spinning bush located within the pathway traversed by the displacement slide within the housing.

8. A gate lock according to claim 7, wherein the displacement slide includes a lug formation, which is dimensioned and configured to act upon the spinning bush on the selective actuation of the actuator to open the gate, urging the slide towards the disengaged position,

9. A gate lock according to claim 1 , wherein the lock further includes an override mechanism, to urge the slide towards the unlocked position without the need to engage the actuator, alternatively: to mimic the action of the actuator.

10. A gate lock according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of: a solenoid, a worm drive actuator, a linear actuator, and an electric actuator.

11. A gate lock according to claim 1, wherein the override mechanism comprises a key-and-gears manual release mechanism.

12. A gate lock according to claim 11 , wherein the override mechanism is a cam lock.

13. A gate lock according to claim 1, wherein the housing is fixed onto a post on the gate, alternatively alongside a post of the gate,

14. A gate lock according to claim 1, wherein the housing is affixed to a first swinging portion of the gate, alternatively alongside a post of the gate, and the sliding bar affixed in complimentary fashion to a second swinging position of the gate.