AU687159B2

AU687159B2 - Security door lock

Info

Publication number: AU687159B2
Application number: AU16140/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Maceachern
Original assignee: Dowell Australia Ltd
Current assignee: Crane Enfield Metals Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-03-29
Filing date: 1995-03-29
Publication date: 1998-02-19
Anticipated expiration: 2015-03-29
Also published as: AU1614095A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Title of Invention SECURITY DOOR LOCK Name of Applicant: DOWELL AUSTRALIA PTY. LIMITED o o r The following description is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -1- SJS C\WINWORDMSTACEYVJHN4766FtLEDOC

MEMO~

SECURITY DOOR LOCK The present invention relates to a lock and in particular to a security door lock. In one aspect, the lock has particular application for use in a security door which includes a plurality of locking points, typically a main bolt and one or two auxiliary bolts located remote from the main bolt. However, it should be appreciated that the invention has broader application and is not limited to this particular use.

In a security door, independent keyed operation of each locking point may be possible but for convenience a single actuator mechanism operating the main bolt and the auxiliary bolt or bolts is desirable.

An aim of a first aspect of the invention is to provide an actuator mechanism which is able to operate a plurality of locking points or other functions of the lock and is relatively simple to construct and smooth to operate.

15 According to the present invention, there is provided a lock including an actuator mechanism having a first and a second rack interconnected by a pinion, each rack having a toothed portion arranged to engage a complementary toothed portion of the pinion, each of the racks and the pinion being movable and being adapted to move on operation of the actuator 20 mechanism, a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and a latching device operatively associated with one of the racks and operable to latch the bolt in the extended position on operation of the actuator mechanism, wherein the latching device includes a rotatable member coupled to the toothed portion of one of the racks and driven in response to movement of that rack on operation of the actuator mechanism, the rotatable member including an abutment surface adapted to be moved into engagement with a portion of the bolt on operation of the actuator mechanism to latch the bolt in the extended position.

An advantage of the actuator mechanism according to the invention is that any force which is generated at the contact surface between the latching device and the bolt is able to be translated from the rotatable member through the first and second racks of the actuator mechanism. As these forces are not NT translated to the outer housing of the lock, the lock is able to have improved strength characteristics.

A further benefit of this arrangement is that the contacting surface between the rotatable member and the bolt is located near the axis of rotation of the rotatable member. In this way, the forces acting on the rotatable member to latch the bolt in an extended position may be minimised as the moment forces acting on the rotatable member are minimised.

Preferably the first and second racks are aligned substantially parallel to each other and move in opposite directions on operation of the actuator mechanism.

Preferably the lock further includes a drive arrangement coupled to the first rack and operable to impart drive to operate the actuator mechanism by moving the first rack which in turn causes a corresponding movement of the second rack through rotation of the pinion. Preferably the drive arrangement is 15 a key actuated mechanism.

Preferably an auxiliary lock is operatively associated with at least one of the racks such that movement of the respective racks in operation of the actuator mechanism provides drive to the auxiliary lock or locks.

In an alternative arrangement, the latching device is rotatably mounted to the housing and only engages the second rack on movement of that rack.

Once engaged, the latching device is prevented from rotating thereby causing the bolt to be locked.

An advantage of the present invention is that the actuator mechanism may be employed to operate a plurality of functions. Specifically, either or both of the racks may be used to drive other auxiliary items in the lock construction.

Such other auxiliary items may include, for example, a burglar alarm actuator, or an indicator to show the lock is deadlocked.

The form of the key actuated mechanism may be selected by those skilled in the art from appropriate mechanisms currently available.

Furthermore, typically the first rack is moved in operation of the actuator mechanism through a lock transport responsive to the key actuated mechanism.

Preferably, the lock of the present invention also includes an improved snib mechanism enabling the main bolt to be held in its extended position, the snib mechanism including engagement means movable between a snibbed position wherein the engagement means is adapted to engage the bolt in the extended position to retain the bolt, and an unsnibbed position wherein the engagement means is remote from the bolt, the snib mechanism further including first drive means operable to drive the snib mechanism between the snibbed and the unsnibbed position, and second drive means, responsive to operation of the actuator mechanism, to drive the snib mechanism from the snibbed to the unsnibbed position.

Preferably the snib mechanism includes a retaining stud located within a recess in one of the racks and is movable in the recess between the snibbed and the unsnibbed position. A snib bar extends from the retaining stud and in the snibbed position is cooperable with a recess in the main bolt to hold the bolt 15 in its extended position.

*o e Preferably the first drive means comprises a lever which engages the snib mechanism. A bush operatively associated with a latch is connected to the lever such that movement of the latch causes the snib mechanism to move between the snibbed and the unsnibbed position.

Preferably the second drive means incorporates a camming surface which is operable between the snib mechanism and the rack in which the recess is located. The second drive means is arranged such that when in the snibbed position, movement of the rack in operation of the actuator mechanism causes the snib mechanism to be moved from the snibbed to the unsnibbed position, and wherein once in the unsnibbed position, the second drive means is non-operative such that the snib mechanism remains in the unsnibbed position on further movement of the actuator mechanism.

It will be convenient to hereafter describe the invention in greater detail o ~with reference to the accompanying drawings. The particularity of those drawings and the associated description is not to be understood as superseding the .".generality of the preceding broad description of the inventive concept.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the lock construction, shown with a side panel of the lock housing removed, and with certain components omitted for greater clarity; the view of Figure 1 shows the lock in an unlatched and unsnibbed position with the bolt extended; Figure 2 is a similar view showing the embodiment of the lock construction except with the bolt retracted; Figure 3 is a similar view of the embodiment of the lock construction showing the lock in a latched but unsnibbed position; Figure 4 is a similar view of the embodimeit with the lock in an unlatched but snibbed position; and Figures 5-7 are detailed views of the snibbing mechanism used in the lock construction.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a lock 10 having an outer housing 11, a retractable bolt 12, an actuator mechanism 13 which is responsive to a key actuated mechanism (not shown). The lock 10 is arranged to be able to latch or lock the 6 bolt 12 in the extended position as well as operate auxiliary locks (not shown) in operation of the actuator mechanism 13.

The actuator mechanism 13 includes first and second racks 14 and each incorporating a toothed portion 16 and 17 and a pinion 18 interconnecting the toothed portions of the racks 14 and The first rack 14 includes a lock transport 19 responsive to the key actuated mechanism. The key actuated mechanism is arranged to be located in keyhole shaped orifice 20 formed in the housing 11. The key actuated mechanism is operable to force a retainer stud of the lock transport 19 out of a first recess position 21 into a second recess position 22. This causes operation of the actuator mechanism 13 with the first rack 14 being caused to move from an unlocked position seen in Figure 1 to a locked position as seen in Figure 3.

Movement of the first rack causes the toothed portion 16 of the rack to rotate the pinion 18. Rotation of the pinion 18 in turn draws the second rack 15 from an 15 unlocked position shown in Figure 1 to its locked position as shown in Figure 3.

Auxiliary bolts (not shown) are able to be operably connected to an end region (23, 24 respectively) of either of the racks 14, 15 such that movement of the racks from the unlocked position to the locked position in operation of the actuator mechanism 13 operates the auxiliary bolts to move to a locked position.

The bolt 12 is arranged to be latched in its extended position by operation the actuator mechanism 13. In the illustrated embodiment, a segmented gear which is operatively associated with the second rack 15, is moved by the movement of the rack 15 from the unlocked position shown in Figure 1 to the locked position shown in Figure 3. The segmented gear 25 includes an abutment surface 26 which is arranged to move from a remote position when the actuator mechanism 13 is in the unlocked position to a position where it abuts the inner corner 27 of the main bolt 12 when the actuator mechanism is operated.

Movement of the projection 26 into engagement with the inner corner 27 of the main bolt, latches the main bolt 12 in its extended position.

An advantage of this latching arrangement is that the engagement surface between the projection 26 and the inner corner 27 of the main bolt 12 is close to the axis of rotation of the segmented gear 25. Consequently, the moment forces acting on the segmented gear in keeping the bolt in its extended position, are minimised thereby increasing the strength of the lock 10. Furthermore, with the arrangement of the segmented gear 25, any forces acting on the gear are translated to the second rack 15 through the teeth engagement between the segmented gear 25 and the toothed portion 17 of the second rack. This further increases the strength of the lock as the forces are not transferred directly to the outer housing 11.

The bolt 12 is movable from the extended position shown in Figure 1 to a retracted position as shown in Figure 2 through a drive arrangement 28, which comprises a bush 29 incorporating a key section 30 and a lever 31. In use, the drive arrangement 28 is actuated by a locking handle (not shown). The bush 29 is located concentric with the segmented gear wheel 25 in a central aperture formed in the gear 25. In this way, the bush 29 is independently rotatable with respect to the gear 25. The outer end 32 of the lever 31 is secured in a recess 33 S 15 in the main bolt 12 between a head portion 34 of the bolt 12 and a retaining lug With this arrangement, actuation by the lock handle causes rotation of the bush 29 and the lever 31 which in turn causes the bolt 12 to move from the extended position to the retracted position. Typically biasing springs (not shown) would act on the bolt 12 to bias it into the extended position.

The lock 10 further includes a snib mechanism 36 which enables the main bolt 12 to be held in its extended position independently of movement of the racks as actuated by the key actuated mechanism in operation of the actuator S•mechanism.

The snib mechanism 36 includes a retaining stud 37 which is located in a recess 38 formed in the first rack 14. A bar 39 extends from the stud 37 and is arranged to be received in a recess 40 formed in the bolt 12 when the bolt is in an extended position. Optionally a second recess (not shown) may be formed in the bolt 12 to receive the bar 39 when the bolt is in the retracted position to thereby allow snibbing of the bolt in the retracted position.

The snib mechanism 36 is movable from a first or unsnibbed position as illustrated in Figure 1 wherein the bar 39 is remote from the recess 40 and with 8 the retaining stud being located in a first part 41 of the recess 38, to a second or snibbed position illustrated in Figure 4 wherein the bar 39 is located within the recess 40 and the retaining stud 37 is located in a second part 42 of the recess 38.

An operating lever 44 which is connected to a bush 45 provides a drive to move the snib mechanism 36 from the unsnibbed to the snibbed position. The bush 45 of the operating lever is mounted concentric with the pinion 18 and located within a central aperture formed in the pinion 18. In this way the operating lever is independently rotatable with respect to the pinion 18. In use the operating lever 45 is moved by a latch mechanism (not shown) which is received in a square key section 46 of the bush The snib mechanism 36 includes a second drive arrangement 47 which is operable to move the snib mechanism from the snibbed position to the unsnibbed position on operation of the actuator mechanism 13.

In particular, the drive arrangement includes an extension 48 which Sextends from the operating lever 44 and which is arranged to engage a projection °o.o 49 of the first rack 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the projection 49 comprises a wall surface of the recess 38.

As illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, the extension 48 forms a camming surface which moves the retaining stud 37 out of the second part 42 of the recess 38 into the first part 41 on movement of the first rack from the unlocked position to the locked position. If the snib mechanism 36 is in the snibbed position as illustrated in Figure 6, then movement of the rack from the unlocked position as illustrated in 0 Figure 6 to the locked position as illustrated in Figure 7, will cause the drive arrangement 47 to be operable to rotate the operating lever 44 about the bush Rotating of the lever 44 causes the camming surface of the extension 48 to ride on the projection 49 forcing the retaining stud 37 out of the second part 42 of the recess 38 and into the first part 41.

Once in the unsnibbed position, the extension 48 moves out of engagement with the projection 49 thereby rendering the drive arrangement 47 inoperable. Consequently movement of the first rack 14 from the locked position 9 as illustrated in Figure 7 to the unlocked position of Figure 5 does not cause the snib mechanism 36 to move out of the unsnibbed position.

To assist in ensuring correct engagement of any biasing means acting on the main bolt 12, a window (not shown) may be provided in the lock housing 11 to provide access to the biasing means.

A lock according to any of the versions described and suggested in this specification has the advantage of relative simplicity and ease of operation.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or the ambit of the invention.

.o o *2

I-

Claims

1. A lock including an actuator mechanism having a first and a second rack interconnected by a pinion, each rack having a toothed portion arranged to engage a complementary toothed portion of the pinion, each of the racks and the pinion being movable and being adapted to move on operatcn of the actuator mechanism, a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and a latching device operatively associated with one of the racks and operable to latch the bolt in the extended position on operation of the actuator mechanism, wherein the latching device includes a rotatable member coupled to the toothed portion of one of the racks and driven in responsc to movement of that rack on operation of the actuator mechanism, the rotatable member including an abutment surface adapted to be moved into engagement with a portion of the bolt on operation of the actuator mechanism to latch the bolt in the extended position. 15 2. A lock according to claim 1, wherein the first and second racks are .ob..i S•aligned substantially parallel to each other and move in opposite directions on operation of the actuator mechanism.

3. A lock according to either claims 1 or 2, further including a drive arrangement coupled to the first rack and operable to impart drive to operate .;oo.o S: 20 the actuator mechanism by moving the first rack which in turn causes a corresponding movement of the second rack through rotation of the pinion.

4. A lock according to claim 3, wherein the drive arrangement is a key actuated mechanism. A lock according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the racks is adapted to be coupled to an auxiliary lock, and wherein movement of the or each rack in operation of the actuator mechanism provides drive to the respective auxiliary lock.

6. A lock according to claim 5, wherein both racks are adapted to be coupled to respective auxiliary locks and provide drive thereto on operation of the actuator mechanism.

7. A lock according to any preceding claim, wherein the latching device is operatively associated with the second rack. DJH:\A13140CL.DOC I--N 1!

8. A lock according to any preceding claim, wherein the rotatable member is a gear wheel.

9. A lock according to any preceding claim, further including a snib mechanism including engagement means movable between a snibbed position wherein the engagement means is adapted to engage the bolt in the extended position to retain the bolt, and an unsnibbed position wherein the engagement means is remote from the bolt, the snib mechanism further including first drive means operable to drive the snib mechanism between the snibbed and the unsnibbed positio i, and second drive means, responsive to operation of the actuator mechanism, to drive the snib mechanism from the snibbed position to the unsnibbed position. A lock according to claim 9, wherein the snib mechanism further includes a recess having a first and second portion, and a retaining stud, the recess being located in the actuator mechanism and the retaining stud being 15 connected to the engagement means and being located in the recess wheein in movement of the snib mechanism from the snibbed to the unsnibbed position, the retaining stud is caused to move from the first portion to the second portion of the recess.

11. A lock according to claim 10, wherein the first drive means comprises a S 20 lever coupled to said retaining stud, the lever including an engaging portion S: adapted to engage an actuator operable to drive the lever to move the retaining e stud between the first and second portion of the recess.

12. A lock according to claim 11, wherein the second drive means includes a cam surface located on the lever, the cam surface being adapted to engage a portion of the actuator mechanism during operation of the actuator mechanism and when the snib mechanism is in the snibbed position, wherein said engagement of said cam surface and said portion of the actuator mechanism causes the retaining stud to be moved from the first to the second portion of the recess.

13. A lock according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the recess is located in one of said racks. DJH:\1314CLDOC 12

14. A lock according to claim 13, wherein the recess is incorporated in the first rack. A lock substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 14 November 1997 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: DOWELL AUSTRALIA LIMITED *w e DJH \13140CL DOC I--II 13 ABSTRACT A lock 10 is disclosed which includes an actuator mechanism 13 incorporating a pair of toothed racks 14, 15 interconnected by a rotatable pinion

18. The actuator mechanism is driven by a key actuated mechanism and on operation of the actuator mechanism 13, both racks are caused to move. The racks are arranged to drive various functions of the lock 10 including a main bolt latching device 28, a snib mechanism 36 and auxiliary locks if required. An improved latching device and snib mechanism is also disclosed. -I v II