EP0258919B1 - Device for making access possible in a building to an exit closed by a trap door - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device which makes it possible to have access, in a building, to an outlet closed by a hatch or the like.

An approach to this problem is explained in document DE - C - 51.878 in the sense that the device according to this document describes means allowing, using a counterweight, to release several exits in buildings such as theaters, for example. by acting on the release of the counterweight to cause the opening of several exit doors. The object of this patent application is very particularly to allow access to an emergency exit closed by a hatch or the like by acting on the unlocking of a gate, closing in normal condition access to the exit hatch. . Situations of this kind can be encountered in different circumstances, in particular in metro stations, tunnels or buildings that the public must be able to leave without using mechanical, electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic means.

By exit or emergency exit, one understands any exit maintained, under normal circumstances, closed and inaccessible to the public, which can be reached or opened only after a particular operation.

The object of the invention is also to offer a device which is designed to be able to act, inter alia, in very delicate circumstances, when a panic is likely to occur or has occurred.

In particular, the invention aims to operate such a device infallibly and in all circumstances (electrical fault, breakdown or destruction of hydraulic or pneumatic circuits) somehow automatically.

To achieve this objective, the device according to the invention comprises a closure which blocks access to said outlet, comprising a locking mechanism which keeps said hatch or the like closed in the normal position and a counterweight for moving, when unlocking said mechanism. locking the hatch or the like under the effect of gravity and comprising, in addition, means for unlocking the locking mechanism of said hatch 13 when said closure is open to give access to the abovementioned outlet.

According to a preferably applied embodiment of the invention, said means for unlocking said locking mechanism during the opening of said closure, are formed by the pivot axis of said closure, around which is wound one end of a cable, the other end of which is connected to a component of said locking mechanism, all of this so that the rotation of said closure causes said locking mechanism to be unlocked.

In a particular embodiment, said hatch or the like is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis and said cables, one end of which is fixed to a counterweight, are each fixed by their other end to an arm which is part of said hatch.

Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description below, given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a general schematic representation of the device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a partial bottom view, on a larger scale, of the door of the device according to the invention, with the elements therein which cooperate with the locking device itself.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view schematic of the locking mechanism, according to Figure 2.

The device illustrated in the figures is intended to provide a room at a lower level with an exit, for example although not necessarily an emergency exit, so that, using a staircase for example, people who are at this lower level can reach a higher level. This arrangement is in no way limiting for the invention.

A device of the aforementioned type is therefore remarkably suitable for equipping metro stations, tunnels, etc., although it must be clear that devices which would be built according to the same principle, can be used in many other applications, according to local requirements.

Referring to FIG. 1, the lower level has been designated by the reference 1, while the reference 2 indicates the upper level which must be attainable, for example by using the staircase 3 represented in this figure. The lower level is for example that of a metro station whose users must be able to be evacuated quickly.

The invention is based on the combination of various elements which cooperate with each other without the use of electric, pneumatic or hydraulic motors.

At level 1 of the station, under normal circumstances, access to room 4, which is in direct connection with the staircase 3, is blocked by an obstacle or a closure. This closure is constituted in this specific case by a door 5 with a vertical pivot axis 6. At the upper part, a small drum 7 is part of this pivot axis 6. On this drum 7 is fixed a cable 8 which passes over a pulley 9, the other end of which is fixed to an element 10 of the locking mechanism designated by the general reference 11.

The operation of this locking mechanism will be described in more detail below.

The locking mechanism maintains in the closed position under normal circumstances, a hatch 13 pivoting vertically about a horizontal axis 12.

The exit which the hatch 13 closes, must therefore be considered as completely closed by the hatch 13. For a good understanding of the device, one must imagine the space above the staircase 3, which is connected to the room 4, as bounded upwards by said hatch and by the concrete structure which is indicated by reference 14.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the hatch 13 is provided at the lower part, that is to say in the vicinity of the pivot axis 12, with two lever arms 15.

The hatch 13 with its lever arms 15 is shown in the open position in dotted lines, and in the closed position in solid lines. In reality there are two lever arms: one along each longitudinal side of the hatch 13 or, in other words, one along each side of the staircase 3.

At the lower part of each lever arm 15 is fixed, by means of bars 16 welded to these lever arms 15, a cable 17 which is passed around a first pulley 18 (below) and a second pulley 19 (above). At the cable part hanging vertically downwards after this last pulley 19, hangs a counterweight. This counterweight is shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 in the position where it is when the hatch 13 is closed, and in dotted lines in the position where the hatch 13 is open. This counterweight bears the reference 20. When the hatch 13 is open, the counterweight 20 descends. It is clear that one can use a counterweight 20 which would be hooked to the cable ends 17ʹ, while of course each cable end 17ʹ can also be provided with its counterweight.

The hatch 13 is braked by interposing hydraulic means constituted, for example, by brake stabilizers 21 with an attack point at 22 on the wall of the room 4 and at 23 on the lever arm 15. This stabilizer braking is also shown in two positions.

The unlocking mechanism is formed in an embodiment preferably adopted, by an arm 25 rotatably mounted with a pivot 24, on the underside of the hatch 13. To this arm is connected a tension spring 26, so that the arm 25 is always spread in the direction of the arrow 27. The travel along the arrow 27 of the arm 25 is limited by the cam 28 which can be controlled from outside the hatch, as explained in more detail below . The cam 28 is held in its normal position by a tension spring 29.

To make the operating mode of the locking mechanism 11 clear, reference will be made above all to FIGS. 2 and 3. It can be deduced from these figures that in the closed position of the flap 13, the arm 25, under the influence of the spring 26, jumped into the recess 30 of the element 31 mounted fixedly relative to the building. The hatch is then locked.

The hatch 13 is unlocked when a traction is exerted on the cable 8, a cable which, on the one hand, is fixed to a small lever 33 pivotally mounted around an axis 32 and, on the other hand, as described above, on the drum 7. The small lever 33 is moved away from the recess 30, under normal conditions, by a tension spring 34.

When a tensile force is exerted on the cable 8, the small lever 33 pushes back by its upper end, the arm 25 out of the recess 30 of the element 31. At this time the counterweights 20 come into action and the hatch 13 therefore opens exclusively under the influence of gravity.

If we want to unlock the hatch 13 from the outside, we can then act on the cam 28. During the rotation along the arrow 35 of said cam, the arm 25 also comes out of the recess 30. This cam is therefore intended to open the hatch in certain circumstances, without having to act on the closure 5.

If the hatch 13 is open, it can then be brought back to the closed position using a winch 36, which is mounted on the hatch 13 and with which a cable 37 with hook 38 can be pulled. It suffices to fix the hook 38 at one or other fixed point provided for this purpose on the wall of the building, to bring the hatch into the closed position, by winding the cable 38 around the winch 36.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiment and numerous modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention, defined by the claims.

Thus it should be noted that the device described here must be considered as a possible embodiment. It is also obvious that the hatch can have the most varied structures depending on local circumstances. Its axis of rotation can be vertical as well as horizontal. The space between the closure and the hatch does not necessarily have to be occupied by a staircase. The closure can be any obstacle whose displacement in any plane exerts a pulling force on a cable, so that one can act on the locking mechanism in order to open the hatch. The locking mechanism can also differ from the type described.

Claims (9)

1. A device allowing access, in a building, to an exit closed by a trap door (13) or the like, characterised in that it comprises a closure means (5) which obstructs access to said exit, a locking mechanism (11) which maintains said trap door (13) closed in the normal position and a counterweight for moving the trap door (13) or the like, when said locking mechanism (11) is released, under the action of gravity, and additionally comprising means for releasing the locking mechanism (11) of said trap door (13) when said closure means (5) is opened to provide access to said exit.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said means for releasing said locking mechanism (11), when said closure means (5) is opened, comprise the pivot shaft (6) of said closure means, around which is wound one end of a cable (8) whose other end is connected to a part of said locking mechanism (11), so that rotation of said closure means (5) causes the release of said locking mechanism (11).
3. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said means for releasing said locking mechanism (11) by opening said closure means (5) comprise a mechanical connection (8) between said locking mechanism (11) and said closure means (5) which is in the form of a sliding door.
4. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said counterweight (20) is suspended from one end of two cables (17), the other end of which is secured to a part (15) of said trap door (13).
5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that said trap door (13) is of the pivotable type.
6. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that said trap door (13) is of the sliding type.
7. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that said trap door (13) is mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis and said cables (17), one end of which is secured to a counterweight (20), are each secured at their other end to an arm (15) forming part of said trap door (13).
8. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , characterised in that said mechanism comprises at least the following parts:

   a) an arm (25) secured under said trap door (23) [sic] and able to rotate parallel thereto, said arm being brought into its rest position under the action of a spring (26);

   b) a part (31) which is fixed in relation to the building and in which is provided a recess (30) into which, in the locked position, said arm (25) is pushed back under the action of the spring (26) mentioned in a), and

   c) a cable (8) which connects said closure means (5) to a small lever (33) which can be moved against the action of a spring (34) and which, when a pull is applied to said cable (8), moves the arm (25) mentioned in a) away from said recess (30).
9. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 7 , characterised in that at least one retardation damper (21) is provided between said trap door (13), which can pivot about a horizontal axis, and the building.

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