GB2347168A - Electromagnetic lock with electromagnet held in a housing by an interference fit therebetween - Google Patents

Abstract

The lock includes an electromagnet 2 held within a housing 1 by means of a screw(s) 7 (Fig.2) which is fully retracted into the electromagnet to force the electromagnet outwards and ensure an interference fit between the electromagnet and the housing. The housing is connected via a dovetail joint to a mounting bracket 3 and locked thereto by a screw(s) 8 (Fig.2). In operation a door mounted armature plate 4 (Fig.1) is attracted to the electromagnet when electric power is applied thereto. The electromagnet may be positioned to the right or the left side of the housing which allows space at the other end thereof for a printed circuit board (Fig.3). Power supply cables (9,Fig.3) may feed in through an end cap (10,Fig.3) which eliminates the need for entry holes to be drilled or pressed into the bracket and the housing. The electromagnet may be handed at installation to fit a door which is hinged to the left or to the right.

Description

ELECTROMAGNETIC LOCK FIXING This invention relates to the method of fixing an electromagnet into its architectural housing and the fitment of its housing to a mounting bracket, for subsequent fitting to a door frame.

Electro-magnets used for door locking in access controlled situations are relatively common but suffer aesthetically by the amount of screws and fixing points not only to mount the electromagnet in its architectural housing (normally an aluminium channel section) but also the fixing of this housing to the door frame.

An object of this invention was to reduce the amount of drilled or pressed holes and threaded fixings to reduce the manufacturing and assembly costs whilst at the same time offer a more effective and flexible means of fixing the electro-magnet into its housing.

Accordingly this invention provides a simple cost effective means of:a) fitting an electromagnet into an architectural housing. b) fitting the housing to its mounting bracket The housing would normally be an aluminium extrusion but could equally be plastic, wood or any other substantial material.

A feature of this invention is the possibility of feeding electrical cables from either end of the housing or from any point along its length.

Another feature being the use put to the mounting bracket by being used for not only standard fixing but for very narrow frames which give limited material to screw into, but also by being used as a positioning template.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 shows the side view, in cross section, of typical installation.

Fig 2 shows the side view, in cross section the magnet fitting arrangement in the housing.

Fig 3 shows the front view, looking onto the face of the magnet showing how the magnet can be positioned on either side of the housing.

ELECTROMAGNETIC LOCK FIXING Referring to the drawing Fig. l (a section through a door/frame in, which forces the magnet away from the base and is therefore locked into place by the interference of the slot.

Again the dovetail joint between the housing (1) and the mounting bracket (3) are locked into position via screws (8) Fig. 3 (front view of a single magnet arrangement) Shows the Electromagnet (2) positioned to the right OR left hand side of the housing (1) allowing space at the other end for a small printed circuit board.

Cables (9) from the power supply can feed in through the end cap (10) thus eliminating the need for entry holes being drilled or pressed into the mounting bracket (3) and the housing (1).

In the event of wrong or unavoidable cable entry position then the space within the dovetail joint of the mounting bracket (3) and the housing (1) can be effectively used as a conduit to take the cable to the PCB end.

Due to the positioning flexibility of the electromagnet in its housing, a longer housing can be used and more than one magnet can be fitted at any position.

This would be useful for double door arrangements.

Claims (2)

1. ELECTROMAGNETIC LOCK FIXING CLAIMS 1 An Electromagnet fitted into an architectural housing without the use of side fixing screws through the housing to fix the electromagnet to its housing Thus affording no visual fixings from below or from the rear of the housing.
2. 2. An Electromagnet as Claim 1 whose housing can be attached to its mounting plate without the use of screws from below or the rear of the housing.

   3 An Electromagnet as claimed in Claim 2 which can move along its housing to any chosen position and be locked into place via jacking screws through the electromagnet causing an interference fit.

   4 An Electromagnet as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 which can be fitted to its mounting plate without falling until jacking screws produce a locked joint between the two when they are ready for use.

   5 An Electromagnet as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 which can be fitted with end blocks which not only provide rounded corners to provide protection to tall people against hitting their heads with low door installations but also to allow cable entry through the top of this end block.

   6 An Electromagnet as claimed in Claim 5 which can provide a cable passageway along the length of the housing.

   7 An Electromagnet as claimed in any preceding claim, which can be 'handed'on site to suit a door which is hinged to the left or right.

   8 An Electromagnet as claimed in Claim 7 which has as part of its mounting bracket a means of fixing in the correct position without templates or measuring.

   This arrangement also allows for fixing points to be used that are forward of the face of the electromagnet when used with narrow frame installations.

   9 An Electromagnet substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.