EP0077254B1 - Electronic lock having a motor the axis of which is in parallel to the longitudinal bolt axis - Google Patents

Abstract

The lock comprises, integrated in the lock (V), mechanical safety means, an electric motor (2), a control module (1), one or more small switches (9) for communicating the position of the bolts (7), one or more detectors (10, 11) for detecting the open or closed state of the door, and the degree of impacts received by the door. The shaft of the motor (2) is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolts (7) and the bolts (7) are guided by apertures formed in branches of a U-shaped element (3) and are driven in translation by a driving member (6) but are free to rotate about their axes. The invention is applicable to electronic locks.

Description

The subject of the invention is an electronically powered lock controlled by a coded signal, the axis of the motor of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolt (s).

There are other electronically controlled locks. These electric locks or strikes work, not with integrated electric motors, but by means of electromagnets. These locks cannot be considered as security locks. Indeed, due to the mechanism based on electromagnets, these locks are easily fractured and neutralized.

Also known from French patent FR-A-2280 773, an electronically motorized lock having the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1. In this lock, the bolt is driven directly by the axis of the motor so that a rotation of the bolt without the motor being controlled allows it to be released from the strike.

The invention seeks to avoid the drawbacks of locks already known. It makes it possible to obtain an electronically motorized lock which is effectively a safety closure, said lock is therefore only controlled by a coded signal. This electronically powered lock avoids these drawbacks thanks to the characteristics mentioned in the characterizing part of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in claims 2-4.

Of course, the same door or different doors can be operated simultaneously without there being any mechanical connections between them. For this purpose, the axis of the motor is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolt (s), the bolts are cylindrical mounted freely so that they can rotate and thus offer no grip on the teeth of a saw, for example and driven by a part itself set in motion by the axis of the motor; this lock comprises a control module, one or more means permanently indicating the position of the bolt or bolts, one or more means indicate whether the door is open or closed, one or more detection means providing information on the degree of the shock or shocks felt on locks or at the door; finally, electronic means make it possible to give opening orders by coded electronic signals. In the lock according to the invention, the movement of the bolts is limited towards the rear by the action of a finger of the workpiece on a microswitch which acts on the control module and that the movement is limited towards the front by the action of the second finger of the part on two coupled microswitches which also act on the control module, the detectors being constituted by a magnetic reversing switch making it possible to obtain the automatic closing of the lock when it is in agreement with the magnet contained by the strike and also used to trigger an alarm when the door is broken in, without the lock being operated by means of its control module and an inertial detector generating an electrical signal when the lock plate, on which it is fixed, itself secured to the door or its jamb, receives vibrations from shocks undergone by the opening.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique du verrou motorisé, vue en plan.
• La figure 2 est une vue schématique du verrou motorisé, vue en plan selon une variante dans laquelle un moyen anti-panique est combiné avec l'ensemble du verrou.

The attached figures given by way of indicative and non-limiting example will easily allow the invention to be understood. They represent a preferred embodiment according to the invention.

• Figure 1 is a schematic view of the motorized lock, plan view.
• Figure 2 is a schematic view of the motorized lock, plan view according to a variant in which an anti-panic means is combined with the entire lock.

A control module 1 is constituted by a printed circuit carrying electronic components and a terminal block which makes it possible to connect the wires connecting the latch V to the electronic central unit.

An opening and closing order, coming from the central unit, arrives at the module in the form of an electrical signal. If the characteristics of the signal comply with those required by the procedure defined beforehand for lock V, the control module will trigger the execution of the order. The lock can only be controlled by a signal.

The signal required can be a simple DC voltage of a well-defined level and meaning or complex coded information, requiring electronic decoding to be recognized.

A low-voltage direct current motor 2 is fixed to the internal wall of a U 3 secured to the plate 13 supporting all of the components of the lock.

On the axis of this motor is bonded an endless screw 4 on which moves a nut 5 immobilized in rotation by a drive part 6. This part comprises two semicircular forks at its ends which hold the two cylindrical bolts 7 by gorges.

The bolts 7 are guided by holes drilled in the sides of the U 3 and driven in translation by the part 6, but are free to rotate about their axes. They therefore offer no grip on the teeth of a saw, for example.

When the worm screw 4, under the action of the motor 2, turns in the "screwing" direction, the nut 5 moves from the rear to the front of the lock; the bolts 7 driven by the part 6 come out towards the outside and enter the keeper 14. When the worm 4 turns in the "unscrewing" direction, the nut 5 moves from front to back and the bolts 7 fit into the lock, releasing the keeper 14.

The movement is limited towards the rear by the action of a finger of the part 6 on a microswitch 8 which acts on the control module 1. The movement is limited towards the front by the action of the second finger of the piece 6 on two coupled microswitches 9 which also act on the control module, said microswitches 8, 9 can be replaced by detectors.

The lock V contains, in addition to the elements described which allow its operation, two detectors 10 and 11 used for additional functions, in order to simplify the equipment of the door.

A magnetic reversing switch 10 makes it possible to obtain the automatic closing of the lock when it is in concordance with the magnet 15 contained by the keeper 14 and also serves to trigger an alarm when the door is broken open, without the lock being actuated through its control module.

An inertial detector 11 generates an electrical signal when the plate 13 of the latch V, on which it and fixed, itself integral with the door or its jamb, receives vibrations coming from the shocks undergone by the opening. This electrical signal transmitted to the Electronic Central, will allow, after analysis, to trigger a deterrent alarm.

An inverter 12 can be placed on the cover, not shown, of the latch V. This inverter 12 is connected directly to the control module, it makes it possible to open or close the latch V from inside the room without the need for '' send the coded signal necessary for the operation of module 1.

For the use of the lock on the openings of public establishments subject to “anti-panic” security rules, a lock W is provided, which is a variant according to the invention.

The operation and the main technical characteristics are similar but springs 16 are added to the bolts 7 to exert a force which tends to push them backwards. The nut 5 is made integral in translation with the part 6 by a pin 17 which is connected by a chain 18 to a ring 19 accessible from the outside of the lock W, said pin 17 can be replaced by a circlip.

When the ring is pulled, the pin 17 is torn off, the bolts 7 pushed back by the springs, drive the part 6 which is no longer secured to the nut 5 and the assembly will position itself at the rear of the lock which will remain in the open position, even if a reverse command was sent to the control module 1.

• 1. Verrou motorisé électroniquement comportant, intégrés dans le verrou (V ou W) des moyens mécaniques de sécurité, un moteur électrique (2), un module de commande (1), un ou plusieurs minirupteurs (9) pour communiquer la position des pênes (7), un ou plusieurs détecteurs (10, 11) de l'état d'ouverture ou de fermeture de la porte et du degré des chocs reçus sur celle-ci, caractérisé par le fait que les moyens mécaniques de sécurité consistent à ce que l'axe du moteur (2) est parallèle à l'axe longitudinal des pênes (7), à ce que les pênes (7) sont guidés par

The unlocking ring 19 can be connected to the panic bar, not shown in Figure 2, which equips the opening.

• 1. Electronic motorized lock comprising, integrated into the lock (V or W) mechanical security means, an electric motor (2), a control module (1), one or more microswitches (9) for communicating the position of the bolts (7), one or more detectors (10, 11) of the state of opening or closing of the door and of the degree of shocks received on it, characterized in that the mechanical safety means consist of that the motor axis (2) is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolts (7), that the bolts (7) are guided by

Claims (4)

1. An electronically motorized lock comprising, integrated in the lock (V or W), mechanical safety means, an electric motor (2), a control module (1), one or more mini-switches (9) for communicating the position of the bolts (7), one or more detectors (10, 11) detecting the open or closed state of the door and the degree of impacts received by the latter, characterised by the fact that the mechanical safety means comprise an arrangement wherein the shaft of the motor (2) is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolts (7), the bolts (7) are guided by openings provided in the sides of the U-shaped element (3) and driven in translation by a member (6) but free to rotate about their axes, by the fact that the movement of the bolts is rearwardly limited by the action of a finger portion of the member (6) on a mini-switch (8) which acts on the control module (1) and that the movement ist forwardly limited by the action of the second finger portion of the member (6) on two coupled mini-switches (9) which also act on the control module, by the fact that it comprises a magnetic inverting switch (10) permitting the obtainment of the automatic closure of the lock when it is in concordance with the magnet (15) contained in the keeper (14) and also serving to set off an alarm when the door is forced open without actuation of the lock by means of its control module, and an inertia detector (11) which generates an electric signal when the plate (13) of the lock on which it is fixed and which is also rigid with the door or the door frame receives vibrations coming from impacts upon the door opening.

2. An electronically motorized lock according to claims 1, characterised bythefactthat the low voltage DC motor (2) is fixed on the inner wall of a U-shaped element (3) rigid with the plate (13) carrying all of the components of the lock (V); there is adhered to the shaft of said motor a lead-screw (4) toward which is movable a nut (5) which is prevented from rotating by the driving member (6).

3. An electronically motorized lock according to any one of the claims 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the driving member (6) comprises two semi-circular forks at its ends which maintain the two cylindrical bolts (7) by grooves.

4. An electronically motorized lock according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that springs (16) are added to the bolts (7) for exerting a force which tends to bias the latter rearwardly and that the nut (5) is connected to move in translation with the member (6) by a pin (17) or a circlip which is connected by a chain (18) to a ring (19) which is accessible from outside the lock (W) so that, when a pull is exerted on the ring, the pin (17) is pulled away and the bolts (7), which are rearwardly biased by the springs, drive the member (6) which is no longer connected to the nut (5) and the assembly assumes a position at the rear of the lock which will remain in an open position even if an opposite order is sent to the control module (1).

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