GB2147351A

GB2147351A - Connecting-rod lock

Info

Publication number: GB2147351A
Application number: GB8418264A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fred Scheurer
Original assignee: KFV Karl Fliether and Co GmbH
Current assignee: KFV Karl Fliether and Co GmbH
Priority date: 1983-10-01
Filing date: 1984-07-18
Publication date: 1985-05-09
Also published as: GB8418264D0; DE3335730A1

Abstract

A connecting-rod lock which can be actuated by means of a lever and locked by means of a key, has a latch 9, a sliding bolt 9'' and a tumbler 14 which receives the lever spindle and which, by a positive engagement, upon turning of the lever in the direction opposite to that for actuating the latch, runs each connecting-rod 28 out into the locking position. A control segment 35 which is displaced by actuation of the key in the locking direction is arranged to uncouple the connection between the tumbler 14 and each connecting-rod 28. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connecting-rod lock The invention relates to a connecting-rod lock which can be actuated by means of a lever and locked by means of a key, and which has a latch, a sliding bolt and a tumbler which receives the lever spindle and which, by a positive engagement, upon turning of the lever in the direction opposite to that for actuating the latch, runs the or each connecting rod out into the locking position. Such a lock will hereinafter be referred to as "of the kind described".

A connecting-rod lock of this kind is known from CH-A-174 580, in which two connecting-rods are provided, which can be displaced in opposite directions by means of a tumbler.

For this purpose the tumbler is made with two arms and fitted at the ends with pins which engage in cross-slots facing one another in the connecting-rods and which can thus be shifted in opposite directions by the toothlike engagement. If the connecting-rods are lying in the locking position, the sliding bolt can be locked forward by means of actuation of the key and in its locked forward position engages, by means of a locking projection, a crosswise recess in one of the connectingrods. If in the locking position of the connecting-rods opening forces occur upon the tumbler, caused by actuation of the lever, these must be taken up by the locking projection on the sliding bolt, via the toothlike engagement.

The corresponding structural parts thereby undergo considerable wear. Furthermore, the construction of such a connecting-rod lock demands a rather large width because of the two connecting-rods running in parallel with one another with the tumbler arranged between them.

A problem underlying the object of the invention is to develop a connecting-rod lock in a way which is simpler in production technique and so that on the one hand a narrow construction can be realized and that on the other hand in the locking position of the connecting-rods they are unloaded from opening forces coming from the lever.

According to the present invention a lock of the kind described has a control segment which is displaced by actuation of the key in the locking direction to uncouple the connection between the tumbler and the or each connecting-rod.

In the locking position of the connecting rods it is now possible by means of the key to displace the control segment in such a way that in doing so the positive driving connection between the tumbler and the connectingrod(s) is suspended. If opening forces are then applied to the lever, the tumbler can indeed be twisted, but this does not lead to any displacement of the connecting-rod(s) itself.

Therefore no greater forces are induced in the rather sensitive toothlike engagement, so that increased life of the connecting-rod lock is to be expected. Movement of the connectingrods by the tumbler can only be effected by turning the key in the opposite direction, so that the control segment is pivoted to produce a toothlike engagement between the tumbler and the connecting-rod(s). Only after that can shifting of the connecting-rod(s) be performed by actuation of the lever. This consturction allows a narrow structure of the connectingrod lock, so that it may be used also with advantage in doors having tubular frames.

An advantageous further development is to be seen in the motion of the sliding bolt being derived from the displacement of the connecting-rod(s). Accordingly the key has the sole duty of pivoting the control segment. This may be performed by exerting only a small force so that the risk of the key breaking off cannot arise.

A favourable development consists in there being supported pivotally upon one connecting-rod connector piece a rack which meshes with a toothed segment on the tumbler and which via a pin-and-slot engagement can pivot with respect to the control segment through an angle as far as disengagement from the teeth on the tumbler. If in the locking position of the connecting-rods the control segment is pivoted by actuation of the key, this leads likewise to pivoting of the rack to suspend engagement of the teeth. In the case of subsequent turning of the tumbler the teeth of the toothed segment can therefore no longer catch those of the rack.

In that case it is of advantage if the pinand-slot engagement is suspended in the open position of the connecting rods and if the pin on the rack, upon displacement of the connecting rods into the locking position, runs into the slot which is open to the edge of the control segment. By this means the control segment may be made dimensionally smaller.

The pin-and-slot engagement is only carried out if the connecting-rods have been directed into the locking position. The subsequent displacement of the control segment about its point of hinge therefore always leads to secure carrying along of the rack which then swings out of the position of engagement of the teeth.

Advantages in lock technique result if the sliding bolt blocks pivoting of the control segment in the locked-back position. The pivoting of the control segment can only happen if the connecting rods and sliding bolt have been brought into the locking position.

Definite positions of the control segment are achieved by its end positions being defined by engagement with the lock cover. A ball catch may advantageously be used for this.

In order that, upon withdrawal of the latch and the twisting of the tumbler connected with it, no carrying along of the connectingrods occurs, in the open position of the connecting-rods the tumbler can be swung out of engagement with the rack in the direction of actuation of the latch. The last tooth on the toothed segment then swings past the opposite tooth on the rack without causing it to be carried along with it, but turning of the tumbler in the opposite direction leads to positive engagement with carrying along of the rack and displacement of the connecting-rods.

A further advantage is to be found in the rack being shaped as a two-armed rocker. The one arm of the rocker serves for the creation of the pin-and-slot engagement, whilst the other arm of the rocker can be brought into engagement with the teeth of the toothed segment on the tumbler.

Heavy forces arising to press back the connecting-rods are securely taken up if, in the locking position, the endface of the rack is blocked against shifting by a stud on the lock casing.

Advantageously the control segment 5 formed as a double lever and has at its bottom end an opening for engagement with a locking tang and at its top end the slot.

One example of a lock according to the invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of the connectingrod lock with the connecting rods and sliding bolt lying in the open position; Figure 2 is an illustration corresponding with Figure 1 but with the lock cover omitted; Figure 3 shows the connecting-rod lock partially in elevation, partially with the lock cover cut away and with the latch displaced inwards into the lock by the tumbler; Figure 4 is an illustration corresponding with Figure 2, in which by means of the lever having been swung upwards through 90 the connecting-rods and the sliding bolt have been brought into the locking position;; Figure 5 is an illustration corresponding with Figure 4, that is, with the control segment pivoted by the locking tang to suspend the toothed engagement between the rack and the toothed segment on the tumbler; Figure 6 is a section along the line VI--VI in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a section along the line VIl-VIl in Figure 5; and, Figure 8 is a section along the line VlIl-V- Ill in Figure 2.

The connecting-rod lock has a lock casing 1 which has a lock shield 2, a lock base 3 mounted on the latter and a lock cover 4 running parallel with the base. Screws 5 are used for mounting the lock cover 4, and engage in projections 6,7,8 fixed to the base 3.

A latch 9 is supported in the upper region of the lock casing, the head 9' of the latch passing through an aperture, in the lock shield 2, shaped to fit it. The neck 9" of the latch extending from the latch head 9' is circular in cross-section and carries at its free end a slide plate 10 which is guided on the base of the lock and is acted upon by a latch compression spring 11 which in turn bears against one arm of a pawl 1 2.

The slide plate 10 is acted upon by one tumbler arm 1 3 of a two-part tumbler 14 which in known manner is supported in appropriate openings in the lock base 3 and the lock cover 4. In the centre of the tumbler 1 4 a square opening 1 5 is machined for receiving the spindle 1 6 of a lever. A lever 1 7 shown in dash-dot line in Figures 3 and 4 is seated on the lever spindle 1 6. In the open position of the connecting-rod lock the trigger 1 7 extends approximately horizontally, see the dash-dot outline in Figure 3.

The tumbler arm 1 3 is supported in oneway float upon a collar 1 8 of the tumbler 1 4.

For this purpose a striker pin 1 9 extends from the tumbler arm 1 3 and extends in front of the end tooth 20 of a toothed segment 21 on the tumbler 1 4. The latter is subject to the action of a tumbler spring which is not shown. It lies inside the projection 7. The tumbler spring acts via a pushrod 22 upon the tumbler 1 4 and engages with it at the level of the end tooth 20 on the tumbler 14.

A stop shoulder 23 extends from the tumbler opposite the point of engagement of the pushrod 22 with the tumbler.

A connecting-rod connector piece 24 is guided in the region between the tumbler 1 4 and the lock shield 2, and lies flat against the base 3. The circular projection 8 serves for the guidance of the connector piece 24 parallel with the lock shield, passing through a longitudinal slot 25 in the connector piece 24. A longitudinal slot 26 is machined at the bottom opposite end of the connecting-rod connector piece 24 and a guide pin 27 on the lock base 3 engages in the latter. Connecting rods 28 extend from the ends of the connecting-rod connector piece 24 and are fitted with locking studs 29.

In the open position of the connecting rods 28 a rack 30 extends at the level of the tumbler 14. It is designed as a two-armed rocker and is supported pivotally about a pin 31 on the connecting-rod connector piece 24.

The side of the rack 30 facing the tumbler 1 4 forms the teeth 32. In the open position of the connecting rods it is exclusively the other end tooth 20' of the toothed segment 21 which engages with the rack 30, in such a way that upon turning the tumbler 14 clockwise (as seen in Figure 2), which corresponds with the normal actuation of the lever, no movement of the rack 30 is effected, but such that upon displacement in the opposite direction positive displacement of the rack is carried out.

The bottom arm 30' of the rocker carries a pin 33 which extends at the level of a slot 34 in a control segment 35 which is formed as a double lever which can pivot about a stud 36 on the lock casing. The slot 34 is provided at the upper end 35" of this double lever and has a portion at its edge which runs in parallel with the lock shield 2, and a portion 34' connecting with it which is angled to it.

The control segment 35 lies flat against a sliding bolt 37 guided in the lock casing underneath the tumbler 1 4. For guiding the bolt 37 there is used on the one hand the aperture in the lock shield 2 and on the other hand a guide pin 38 inserted in the sliding bolt. The guide pin 38 is made with a step, and its end 38', having the smaller crosssection, engages in a slot 39 in the lock base 3, which runs in the direction for unlocking the sliding bolt 37, whilst the region of the guide pin connected with it projects into a striker slot 40 in the connecting-rod connector piece 24, aligned obliquely to the locking direction of the sliding bolt. At the ends the striker slot 40 continues into notches 40' and 40" running parallel with the lock shield 2.

The guide pin 38 extends into the notch 40" in the open position of the connecting-rod lock, see Figure 2.

The bottom end 35' of the control segment 35 is of thicker shape and includes an opening 41 for engagement with a locking tang 42 of a lock cylinder 43 inserted in the lock casing 1. In the bottom end 35', above the opening 41, a drilled hole 44 is provided.

This receives a compression spring 45 which acts upon a ball catch 46. Two catch openings 47 and 48 in the lock cover 4 are associated with the catch 46. In the open position of the connecting-rod lock the ball of the catch 46 extends into the catch opening 47 and holds the control segment 35 in the position shown in Figure 2. The end 35' of the control segment 35, which is of thicker shape, has the effect that in the locked-back position of the sliding bolt 37 no pivoting of the control segment can occur through actuation of the key.

The following method of operation results: If the latch 9 is to be withdrawn by means of the lever 17, the lever 1 7 has to be pressed downwards clockwise as seen in Figure 3. The one end tooth 20 on the tumbler 1 4 acts upon the striker pin 1 9 on the tumbler arm 1 3 which pulls the latch 9 inwards into the lock via the slide plate 1 0. After releasing the lever 1 7 the tumbler spring brings the tumbler back into the starting position via the pushrod 22, whilst the latch compression spring locks the latch 9 forwards.

For the purpose of bringing about the locking position of the connecting-rod lock the lever 1 7 has to be twisted anticlockwise through 90 into the position shown in Figure 4. The stop shoulder 23 on the tumbler 14 in cooperation with the narrow edge facing it on the connecting-rod connector piece 24 limits the pivoting motion of the tumbler 1 4. In this case the tumbler arm 1 3 remains stationary because of its one-way float, whilst the toothed segment 21 meshes with the rack 30 and moves it in the downwards direction. As a result the connecting-rod connector piece 24 is displaced in the downwards direction. The locking forwards of the bolt 37 into the position shown in Figure 4 is effected by the oblique run of the striker slot 40 in the connecting-rod connector piece 24.After displacement has been effected the pin 33 is lying in the slot 34 in the control segment 35, that is, at the level of the bend in the slot 34. Now through actuation of the key the control segment 35 may be pivoted into the position shown in Figure 5. This position is fixed by the ball catch 46 then engaging in the catch opening 48 in the lock cover 4. By the pivoting of the control segment 35 the rack 30 has been pivoted via the pin-and-slot engagement 33, 34, so that the teeth 32 on it have come out of engagement with the teeth 21 on the toothed segment 21. in the pivoted position of the rack 30 the upper endface 30" of it moves under a stud 49 on the lock casing, whereby the latter acts as a backstop.In the locked-forward position of the sliding bolt 37 the guide pin 38 on the sliding bolt 37 extends at the level of the notch 40' of the striker slot 40 in the connecting-rod connector piece 24. If the position is as shown in Figure 5 and if pivoting of the lever 1 7 is effected clockwise, the tumbler 1 4 runs free. It is merely possible in the final phase of this pivoting motion of the lever to pull the latch 9 inwards into the lock. But in doing so the locking position of the connecting-rod lock is not cancelled.

In order to be able to bring about the open position, starting from the position shown in Figure 5, the control segment 35, by actuation of the key, has to be pivoted into the position shown in Figure 4, producing engagement of the teeth between the rack 30 and the toothed segment 21 on the tumbler 1 4. Upon subsequent pivoting of the lever 1 7 clockwise, the connecting-rod connector piece 24 is then carried along as far as the position shown in Figure 2, whereupon the sliding bolt 37 is also pulled inwards into the lock via the oblique-siit control.

Claims

1. A connecting-rod lock which can be actuated by means of a lever and locked by means of a key and which has a latch, a sliding bolt and a tumbler which receives the lever spindle and which, by a positive engagement, upon turning of the lever in the direction opposite to that for actuating the latch, runs the or each connecting-rod out into the locking position, characterized by a control segment which is displaced by actuation of the key in the locking direction to uncouple the connection between the tumbler and the or each connecting-rod.

2. A lock according to claim 1, in which the arrangement is such that the motion of the sliding bolt is derived from the displacement of the or each connecting-rod.

3. A lock according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which a rack is pivotally supported on a connecting-rod connector piece, the rack meshing with a toothed segment on the tumbler, and via a pin-and-slot mechanism being pivotable with respect to the control segment through an angle sufficient to disengage the teeth.

4. A lock according to claim 3, in which the pin-and-slot mechanism is disengaged in the open position of the or each connecting-rod, a pin of the mechanism located running into a slot, open to the edge of the control segment, upon displacement of the or each connectingrod into the locking position.

5. A lock according to claim 2 or any claim when dependant thereon, in which the sliding bolt blocks pivoting of the control segment in the locked-back positiOn.

6. A lock according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the end positions of the control segment are defined by engagement with a lock cover which encloses the lock mechanism.

7. A lock according to claim 3 or any claim when dependant thereon, in which, in the open position of the connecting-rods. the tumbler can be swung out of engagement with the rack in the direction of actuation of the latch.

8. A lock according to claim 3 or any claim when dependant thereon, in which the rack is formed as a two-armed rocker.

9. A lock according to claim 3 or any claim when dependant thereon, in which, in the locking position, an endface of the rack is blocked against shifting by a stud on the lock casing.

10. A lock according to claim 3 or any claim when dependant thereon, in which the control segment is formed as a double lever and has at its bottom end an opening for engagement with a locking tang and at its top end a slot of the pin-and-slot mechanism.

11. A lock substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.