EP2171190B1

EP2171190B1 - Bolt housing comprising a bolt, as well as a method of installing it

Info

Publication number: EP2171190B1
Application number: EP08766734.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jeroen Karssen
Original assignee: Assa Abloy Nederland BV
Current assignee: Assa Abloy Nederland BV
Priority date: 2007-06-25
Filing date: 2008-06-24
Publication date: 2013-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-24
Also published as: CN101784737A; CN101784737B; RU2477359C2; EP2171190A1; RU2010102053A; WO2009002155A1; NL1034029C2

Description

The present invention relates to a bolt housing provided with a bolt in accordance to the preamble of claim 1.
Bolt housings provided with a bolt are generally known. The bolt is a latch-bolt and/or a dead bolt. In both cases a bolt ensures that the rotational movement of a door, window or the like in a closed position can be prevented. A dead bolt is a bolt that can be locked, requiring a key or the like in order to receive the bolt in the housing or to release it. Latch-bolts can be subdivided in latch-bolts that allow locking and unlocking by exerting a force that exceeds a threshold value (rolling bolts) and latch-bolts for which a means such as a doorhandle is necessary. For the sake of clarity, hereinafter the description will merely refer to the invention with respect to doors, however, the invention is by no means restricted to that application. The same applies to the arrangement of the bolt housing. Depending on one's preference, this can either be mounted in a frame or in a door. For the sake of clarity, the description will merely refer to the arrangement of the bolt housing in a door, however, the invention is by no means restricted to that application. A bolt housing according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in EP1291479 .
It is the object of the present invention to provide an alternative bolt housing.
To this end the present invention provides a bolt housing provided with a bolt module according to claim 1.
This bolt housing forms an attractive principle for the operation of a bolt, which principle offers a variety of possibilities as will be expounded further in this application. Thus, according to one's needs the bolt can act as a latch-bolt (bolt module not locked) and as a dead bolt (bolt module locked). The bolt can effectively be held in the first or the second terminal position of the bolt. The organ may be a partially wound wire spring which on the one hand engages, for instance, the lock plate and on the other hand the blocking bolt. According to one practical embodiment the frame is provided with a second organ for exerting a force on the blocking bolt in the direction of the bolt. It allows locking to be accomplished in an effective manner. Better than a rolling bolt according to prior art, the bolt can pull a door shut when the bolt snaps into the strike box. Where in the present application the term strike box is used this is also intended to mean a strike opening. The second organ is for instance a bent leaf spring which rests against a second distal end of the bolt that is facing towards the second end of the bolt module, which leaf spring situated between the second distal end of the bolt and the second end of the bolt module, in the absence of the bolt is convex in the direction of the axis of the bolt. In addition, the bolt may be provided with such a bent leaf spring, which bent leaf spring points towards the second end of the bolt module when the bolt is between the first and second position of the bolt, and the frame comprises a barrier, such as a pin that is arranged parallel with the rotational axis of the bolt, which pin can only be passed by the leaf spring when the leaf spring is subject to bending. The organ for exerting a force on the bolt module can be the same organ as the organ that keeps the bolt alternately in the first terminal position of the bolt and the second terminal position of the bolt. In practice, the bolt module may be provided with its own organ, herein also referenced to as the second organ, for keeping the bolt alternately in the first terminal position of the bolt and the second terminal position of the bolt.
For locking one can either opt for blocking the movement of the bolt module in the bolt housing and/or the rotation of the bolt in the bolt module.
An advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the locking organ that acts as an abutment for the blocking bolt, limits the rotation of the bolt around the axis in the first blocking position to less than 10°, and preferably to less than 5°.
The shallow angle makes it difficult or even impossible to break through the blockage by exerting a large force on the bolt.
In order to reduce friction, especially in order to negate the force that has to be exerted on the locking organ in order to unlock at the moment when a force is exerted pushing the bolt into the bolt housing, it is preferred that the locking organ is movable between the first, blocking position and the second, releasing position resting against bearings.
Advantageously, in such a case the blocking bolt is provided will a bearing at the end facing away from the first end, which bearing in the first, blocking position rests against the locking organ. A suitable bearing is for instance a ball bearing.
Although the bolt in the bolt module optionally may also act as a dead bolt, in case of particular applications it is preferred that the bolt housing further comprises a dead bolt, and that the bolt housing is provided with an unlocking mechanism that is designated to bring the locking organ, after having brought the dead bolt at least partially into the bolt housing from the first, blocking position, into the second, releasing position and vice versa.
In special situations, a person who wishes to leave a room that is closed of by a door, for instance a prison cell in case of fire, may unintentionally prevent the release of a centrally operated dead bolt in that the electromagnet that should release the dead bolt does not have enough power because the dead bolt is pushed against the strike box (or strike opening) by the detainee. With the above bolt housing in such a case the bolt, and not the dead bolt, is pushed against the strike box. As a result the dead bolt can be retracted as normal. Once the dead bolt is received far enough into the bolt housing, the obstruction of the blocking bolt is eliminated. Consequently, the door can be opened because the external force exerted on the bolt (by the detainee) makes the bolt flip, whereby rather than a face of the bolt that is substantially transverse to the force, after flipping over the face is at an angle, causing the bolt to be pushed in the bolt housing so that the door opens.
The invention also relates to a method for mounting a bolt housing, which comprises a bolt and a dead bolt wherein

the bolt housing is mounted in an element selected from a i) frame and ii) an organ that can rotate about an axis;
the bolt housing is mounted in the element in such a way that the bolt and the dead bolt along at least part of their length can be received in the other element of i) and ii);
the bolt housing is designed such that if the dead bolt is in a position protruding from the bolt housing, in order to be able to block the movement of the element relative to the other element, the bolt is also in a position protruding from the bolt housing, in order to be able to block the movement of the element relative to the other element,
the shape and arrangement of the recess or recesses for receiving the bolt and the dead bolt are chosen such that in case of a force exerted on the bolt housing by the other element, the force on the bolt is greater than the force on the dead bolt, and the bolt housing has a locking organ which limits the receiving of the bolt in the bolt housing until the dead bolt has been received in the bolt housing to a large extent.

This method is for instance useful for doors of prison cells, as discussed elsewhere in this application. The phrase "the force on the bolt is greater than the force on the dead bolt" also includes the situation where the external force (as e.g. exerted by a detainee) is exerted on the bolt only and not on the dead bolt. This external force will generally be substantially tangential to the rotational axis of the element. The organ that can rotate about an axis is for instance a cover, lid, door or window.
The present invention will now be illustrated by the drawings where

fig. 1a-d each show part of a case provided with a swing bolt in various positions thereof without showing the locking organ;
fig. 2 shows a cross section through a bolt that is suitable for the bolt housing according to the invention;
fig. 3a-e schematically show the variety of positions taken by a swing bolt when closing a door;
fig. 4a-h each show part of a case comprising a swing bolt wherein the swing bolt may be in a blocked position; and
fig. 5a-c show an alternative bolt housing which comprises both a bolt and a dead bolt.

Fig. 1a shows part of a bolt housing 1 comprising a lock front 2 and a lock plate 3 that is transverse to the lock front 2. The lock front 2 has a through-opening 4 (fig. 1d) from which a bolt 5 protrudes. This bolt 5 is part of a bolt module 6 which comprises a frame, here constituted by two plane parallel strips 7, 8 that are interconnected and are arranged at a distance of each other. The bolt module 6 has a first end 9 that is situated near the opening 4, and a second end 10 that is situated at a distance of the opening 4. The bolt 5 is situated at the first end 9 of the bolt module 6 and can rotate about an axis that runs substantially parallel to the lock front 2 and the lock plate 3. In the present case, the bolt 5 is provided with round cams 11 which reside in round recesses 12 at the first end 9 of the bolt module 6. In fig. 1b and 1c the strip 8 of the frame is shown in a staggered position, i.e. at a distance of its actual position (as visible in fig. 1a and 1d), in order to show the recess 12 in strip 8 and to offer a view on a leaf spring 13 whose function will be discussed later.
It is noted that the bolt module 6 is movably mounted in the bolt housing 1 between a first terminal position (in fig. 1 to the left) wherein the bolt 5 is maximally outside the bolt housing and a second terminal position (in fig. 1 to the right) wherein the bolt 5 is maximally brought into the bolt housing. The bolt housing 1 is provided with a first organ 40, here a spiral push spring, which forces the bolt module 1 in the first terminal position. The first organ 40 is not shown in the other figures 1b-1d.
In order to allow a flexible to-and-fro movement of a bolt module, the case according to the invention will be provided with a bolt module guiding, here in the form of 4 cams 70-73 (shown only in fig. 1d).
Fig. 2 shows a cross section through the bolt 5 and leaf spring 13 of fig. 1. The bolt 5 has a distal end 14 at an end of the bolt 5 facing away from the second end 10 of the bolt module 6, which distal end 14 protrudes from the frame. Additionally, the bolt 5 has a profile that tapers towards the distal end 14 which is formed by a first side face 15 and a second side face 16. The bolt 5 can rotate between a first terminal position of the bolt 5 (fig. 1a and 1b) and a second terminal position of the bolt 5 (fig. 1c and 1d), wherein in the first terminal position the first side face 15 will be substantially transverse to the lock front 2, and in the second terminal position the second side face 16. The rotational movement around the axis that can be performed by the bolt 5 will now be illustrated with reference to fig. 3.
Fig. 3 schematically shows part of a door D and a profile P constituting a door frame against which the door D can close. Profile P is provided with an opening 0 which acts as strike box for receiving the distal end 14 of bolt 5.
In fig. 3a it can be seen that the bolt 5 is in the second terminal position. When closing the door D a force is exerted on the second side face 16, as a result of which the bolt 5 turns towards its first terminal position. Once it is in its first terminal position the bolt 5 acts as a regular latch-bolt and is forced into the bolt housing 1 (fig. 3c), wherein the bolt module 6, thus, moves from the first terminal position in the direction of the second terminal position. As soon as the bolt 5 reaches the opening O, the bolt module 6 is again forced towards its first terminal position and the bolt 5 is received in the opening O of the profile P. Because in this situation the bolt 5 is in, or almost in, its first terminal position, the door D can be retained without rattling.
The leaf spring 13 is shaped such that it holds the bolt 5 either in its first terminal position or in its second terminal position, and if the bolt 5 is not in one of these positions, it forces the bolt 5 towards one of these positions. In principle, any organ that can fulfill this function is suitable for a bolt housing according to the invention. The bolt 5 illustrated in fig. 1 has a second distal end 17 and third and fourth side faces 18, 19 resp. (cf. fig. 2). In order to keep the bolt 5 in the particular terminal position, the leaf spring 13 rests against either the third side face 18, or the fourth side face 19. When a force is exerted on the bolt 5 by a profile P, or more precise the edge of the strike opening in the profile P, the side face 18, 19 against which the leaf spring 13 rests will push the leaf spring in and/or away, allowing the bolt 5 to move to the other terminal position of the bolt 5.
Fig. 4 shows a bolt housing 101 comprising a lock front 102 and a bolt plate 103. The lock front 102 has an opening 104 from which a bolt 105 protrudes. The bolt 105 is part of a bolt module 106 in a manner as described for fig. 1, which bolt module 106 comprises a frame that comprises plane parallel strips 107, 108 which are interconnected. The bolt module 106 has a first end 109 that is situated near the opening 104, and a second end 110 that is situated at a distance of the opening 104. The bolt 105 is situated at the first end 109 of the bolt module 106, all this as previously set forth for fig. 1.
In order to force the bolt 105 in a first or second terminal position of the bolt, the bolt module 106 is provided with a blocking bolt 130 having a tapered end 131 at the side facing away from the second end 110 of the bolt module 106 (as illustrated in fig. 4c, 4e and 4g, where strip 108 has been omitted in order to illustrate the interior of the bolt module 106). In the embodiment shown, the blocking bolt 130 is provided with cams 150 and is movably mounted in the bolt module 106 by means of guides 132 in the strips 107, 108. A wire spring 133 forces the blocking bolt 130 in the direction of the first end 109 of the bolt module 106. Thus, the combination of wire spring 133 and blocking bolt 130 plays the part that is played by the leaf spring 13 with the bolt housing 1.
According to a very interesting aspect of the present invention, not only can the bolt 105 act as a latch-bolt, but it can also function as a dead bolt. To this end the bolt housing 101, and the embodiment illustrated in fig. 4, more specifically, the bolt module 106, is provided with a locking organ 134. This locking organ 134 can be in a first position, in which the blocking bolt 130 is released, wherein the blocking bolt 130, as a result of a force exerted on the bolt 105, can move in the direction of the second end 110 of the bolt module 106. This situation is illustrated in fig. 4a to 4e. Alternatively, the locking organ 134 can also be in a second position, in which the blocking bolt 130 is blocked, wherein it is prevented that the blocking bolt 130, as a result of a force exerted on the bolt 105, can move in the direction of the second end 110 of the bolt module 106. This situation is illustrated in fig. 4f to 4h. In the embodiment of the bolt housing according to the invention shown in fig. 4, the locking organ 134 is shaped as a strip having a rectangular cam 135. In the blocked position this engages a half-circular cam 136 of the blocking bolt 130.
The locking organ 134 can be moved in a manner know per se from its first position towards its second position (vice versa), for instance by means of a latch, a key, or electrically (such as with an electromagnet). Fig. 5 shows such a bolt housing 301 that may be used for a prison cel door.
The bolt housing 301 comprises a lock front 302, which is provided with an opening (not visible) for bolt 305, a lock plate 303, a bolt module 306 comprising strips 307, 308 which comprise guides for blocking bolt 330. The blocking bolt 330 is pushed towards a first terminal position by a wire spring 333, and can be fixed in that position by a locking organ 334. All of these parts are essentially like the parts described above and essentially operate like the parts described above. The bolt housing 301 further comprises a dead bolt 350 which can be in a first terminal position, wherein the dead bolt 350 protrudes maximally outside the bolt housing 301, and a second terminal position in which the dead bolt 350 is received largely or entirely within the bolt housing 301. The dead bolt 350 is of the usual type and has generally and substantially a rectangular cross section (parallel to the lock front 302) first position. The dead bolt 350 has a plate member 351 that is provided with a guide 352 known per se. The movement of the dead bolt 350 is coupled to that of the bolt module 306, in such a way that when the dead bolt 350 is in its second terminal position, the bolt module 306 can freely move from its first terminal position towards the second, vice versa. However, when the dead bolt 350 is in the first terminal position, the blocking bolt 330 of the bolt module 306 is blocked. In the embodiment shown, this blocking of the bolt module 306 occurs by blocking the blocking bolt 330 with locking organ 334, which has a rectangular cam.
The dead bolt 350 and the locking organ 334 are operatively linked by a L-shaped arm 335 and a lever 336.
The lever 336 can rotate about an axis that is transverse to the lock plate 303, at an end that is situated near the second end 310 of the bolt module 306. At its second end 310, the bolt module 306 is provided with a half-wound wire spring 337, which wire spring exerts a force on the locking organ 334 in the direction of the lever 336. Consequently, the locking organ 334 exerts a force on the lever. The L-shaped arm 335 can rotate about an axis 338, and has two arm parts 360 and 361. Arm part 360 is arranged to slidingly rest against the end 363 of the lever 336 that is situated away from the second end 310 of the bolt module 306. In the embodiment shown, arm part 361 is provided with a guiding slot 341. A cam 342 on the plate member 351 is retained in the guiding slot 341.
The bolt housing illustrated in fig. 5 is arranged to release the dead bolt 350, wherein any lateral forces on the bolt housing 301 are absorbed by the bolt 305 until the dead bolt 350 has been received (sufficiently) far into the bolt housing 301. This operation will now be elucidated. Fig. 5a shows the bolt housing 301 in a position wherein the dead bolt 350 is in the first terminal position and the bolt 305 is in its first terminal position as well, which position is blocked by the locking organ 334. It would be possible to move the bolt module against the force of spring 340, but this is impossible as a result of a force that is exerted transversely to the bolt 305. A force transverse to the bolt 305 could cause rotation thereof, but the locking organ blocks the movement of the blocking bolt 330 towards the second end 310 of the bolt module 306.
When the dead bolt 350 is moved inwardly, in any manner known per se, such as electromagnetically (electromagnet not represented), the L-shaped arm 335 will turn and the arm part 360 will allow the turning of the distal portion 362 of lever 336 as a result of the force exerted via the locking organ 334 by the half-wound wire spring 337 on the lever 336 (fig. 5b). Consequently, the blocking bolt 330 is released by the locking organ 334.
Now, a lateral force exerted on the bolt 305 can cause the bolt 305 to swing over, as a result of which the lateral force is no longer perpendicularly exerted on the bolt 305 but on an oblique face thereof. Consequently, the bolt module 306 will move inwardly and the cell door can be opened.
Note that in case the cell is locked, a swinging over of the bolt and pushing it within the bolt housing 301, has no effect. The arm part 360 will not be turned and the dead bolt 350 will continue to block the cell door. The importance of the bolt 305 is not to keep the cell locked, but to prevent that a detainee who pushes hard against the cell door in case of fire could exert a lateral force on the dead bolt 350 to such an extent that the electromagnet that operates the dead bolt 350 is not powerful enough to overcome that external force, and the detainee unintentionally makes leaving the cell impossible. Because according to the invention the bolt housing 301 is mounted such that the lateral force is absorbed by the (blocked) bolt 305, leaving the cell in the given situation is ascertained.
Ball bearings 370 can be provided in order to reduce friction experienced by the locking organ 334.

Claims

A bolt housing (1) provided with a bolt module (6), wherein
the bolt housing (1) has an opening (4) for a bolt (5), which bolt (5) is a bolt (5) that can rotate about an axis, and wherein
- the bolt module (6) comprises a frame (7, 8) for rotatably holding the bolt (5) that can rotate about an axis, the frame (7, 8) having a first end and a second end, and the axis being situated near the first end of the frame (7, 8),

- the bolt module (6) is movably mounted in the bolt housing (1) between a first terminal position wherein the bolt (5) is brought maximally outside the bolt housing (1) and a second terminal position wherein the bolt (5) is brought maximally into the bolt housing (1),

- the bolt housing (1) has an organ (40) for exerting a force on the bolt module (6) in the direction from the second terminal position of the bolt module (6) towards the first terminal position of the bolt module (6),

- the bolt (5) that can rotate around the axis
- has a distal end at an end of the bolt (5) facing away from the second end of the bolt module (6), which distal end protrudes beyond the frame (7, 8);

- has, in a plane transverse to the axis, along at least part of the length between the axis and the distal end, a profile that tapers towards the distal end formed by a first side face (15) and a second side face (16);

- is rotatable between a first terminal position and a second terminal position, wherein in the first terminal position of the bolt (5) the first side face (15) of the bolt (5) is at an angle with the direction in which the bolt module (6) can move in the housing of less than 15° and wherein in the second terminal position of the bolt (5) the second side face (16) is at an angle with the direction in which the bolt module (6) can move in the housing of less than 15°, and

- the bolt housing (1) has an organ (13) for keeping the bolt (5) alternately in its first terminal position and its second terminal position, wherein the organ (13), when the bolt (5) is between its first and second terminal position, forces the bolt (5) towards one of the first and second terminal position of the bolt (5), wherein the bolt (5) has a second distal end situated between the axis and the second end of the frame (7, 8), said second distal end being formed by a third and fourth side face (18, 19), the frame (7, 8) being provided with a blocking bolt (330) between the axis and the second end of the bolt module (6), which blocking bolt (330) is movably mounted in the frame (7, 8), the blocking bolt (330) has a tapered end at the side that is facing away from the second end of the bolt module (6), the organ for keeping the bolt (5) alternately in its first terminal position and its second terminal position being an organ (13) for exerting a force on the blocking bolt (330) in the direction of the bolt, in such a way that the distal end of the blocking bolt (330) rests against a side face of the bolt (5) selected from the third and fourth side face (18, 19), characterized in that the frame (7, 8) is provided with a locking organ (134) for locking and unlocking the bolt module (6), the locking organ (134) for locking and unlocking the bolt module (6) being a locking organ (134) movable between
- a first, blocking position wherein the locking organ (134) acts as an abutment for the blocking bolt (330), as a result of which the movement of the blocking bolt (330) in the frame (7, 8) in the direction of the second end of the frame (7, 8) is restricted and the distal end of the bolt (5) facing the second end of the frame (7, 8) cannot pass the distal end of the blocking bolt (330) when the bolt (5) is rotated about the axis; and

- a second, releasing position in which the blocking bolt (330) is released and the blocking bolt (330) is movable along such a distance in the direction of the second end of the frame (7, 8) that the distal end of the bolt (5) facing the second end of the frame (7, 8) can pass the distal end of the blocking bolt (330) when the bolt (5) is rotated around the axis.
The bolt housing (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking organ that acts as an abutment for the blocking bolt (330), limits the rotation of the bolt (5) around the axis in the first blocking position to less than 10°, and preferably to less than 5°.
The bolt housing (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the locking organ movable between the first, blocking position and the second, releasing position is resting against bearings.
The bolt housing (1) according to claim 3, wherein the blocking bolt (330) is provided with a bearing at the end facing away from the first end, which bearing in the first, blocking position rests against the locking organ.
The bolt housing (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bolt housing (1) further comprises a dead bolt (350), and the bolt housing (1) is provided with an unlocking mechanism that is designed to bring the locking organ, after having brought the dead bolt (350) at least partially into the bolt housing (1) from the first, blocking position, into the second, releasing position and vice versa.
A bolt housing (1) provided with a bolt module (6) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bolt (5) is kept alternately in its first terminal position and its second terminal position by a leaf spring.
A method for mounting a bolt housing (1), which comprises a bolt (5) and a dead bolt (350), wherein
- the bolt housing (1) is mounted in an element selected from a i) frame and ii) an organ that can rotate about an axis;

- the bolt housing (1) is mounted in the element in such a way that the bolt (5) and the dead bolt (350) along at least part of their length can be received in the other element of i) and ii);

- the bolt housing (1) is designed such that if the dead bolt (350) is in a position protruding from the bolt housing (1), in order to be able to block the movement of the element relative to the other element, the bolt (5) is also in a position protruding from the bolt housing (1), in order to be able to block the movement of the element relative to the other element,

- the shape and arrangement of the recess or recesses for receiving the bolt (5) and the dead bolt (350) are chosen such that in case of a force exerted on the bolt housing (1) by the other element, the force on the bolt (5) is greater than the force on the dead bolt (350), and the bolt housing (1) has a locking organ which limits the receiving of the bolt (5) in the bolt housing (1) until the dead bolt (350) has been received in the bolt housing (1) to a large extent.