U.S. patent number 3,753,316 [Application Number 05/174,863] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-21 for door lock with automatic and emergency control system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to R. Alkan Cie. Invention is credited to Georges Bourrie, Henri Savarieau.
United States Patent |
3,753,316 |
Savarieau , et al. |
August 21, 1973 |
DOOR LOCK WITH AUTOMATIC AND EMERGENCY CONTROL SYSTEM
Abstract
The door locking device according to this invention is
characterized in that it comprises a guiding sleeve disposed within
the locker or like box and having slidably mounted therein a piston
responsive to an electromagnet or a fluid pressure so as to actuate
with its lateral surface at least one lateral locking member
movable in said locker and adapted to co-act with a retaining
member rigid with the door so as to lock or release this door
according as said piston is in its front or back position in said
sleeve.
Inventors: |
Savarieau; Henri (Montgeron
(Essonne), FR), Bourrie; Georges (Neuilly-sur-Seine,
FR) |
Assignee: |
R. Alkan Cie (Paris,
FR)
|
Family
ID: |
27249400 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/174,863 |
Filed: |
August 25, 1971 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 10, 1970 [FR] |
|
|
7032848 |
Feb 10, 1971 [FR] |
|
|
7104460 |
Feb 10, 1971 [FR] |
|
|
7104459 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
49/31; 81/15.9;
292/19; 292/21; 292/23; 292/78; 292/144; 292/201; 292/337 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
63/121 (20130101); E05B 47/0607 (20130101); E05B
47/0603 (20130101); Y10T 292/62 (20150401); Y10T
292/0822 (20150401); Y10T 292/0883 (20150401); Y10T
292/1021 (20150401); Y10T 292/1082 (20150401); Y10T
292/082 (20150401); Y10T 292/0824 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
63/12 (20060101); E05B 63/00 (20060101); E05B
47/06 (20060101); A62b 025/00 (); E05b
047/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;49/21,31 ;70/DIG.48
;128/146.7,203 ;220/55.3
;292/19,23,78,144,201,207,219,252,302,303,304,DIG.4,DIG.65
;81/3R,3.46R ;285/33 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Craig, Jr.; Albert G.
Claims
What we claim as new is :
1. Device for locking the door of a locker comprising a guiding
sleeve, rigid with the inner part of said locker, piston slideably
positioned in said sleeve, remote control means for actuating said
piston, hollow retaining means rigid with the inner face of the
locker door and adapted, in the closed position of the door, to
axially surround the end of said sleeve, at least one lateral
locking member disposed within said sleeve and adapted to co-act
with the lateral surface of said piston in order either to engage
said retaining means thus ensuring the locking of the door, or to
disengage said retaining means and allow the opening of the door,
according as said piston is in a front or back position
respectively, the locker door presenting in axial alignment with
the piston axis an aperture allowing to impart to the piston, from
the external face of the door in locked position, a manual pushing
against the resistance of a relatively weak spring to permit an
emergency release of the device.
2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote control means
actuating said piston is an electromagnet.
3. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote control means
actuating said piston is a fluid pressure.
4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that locking
members are provided which consist of balls forming a ring in
openings formed in said guiding sleeve.
5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking
members are housed in lateral notches formed in said guiding sleeve
on which said members are supported through spring blades.
6. An application of the device described in claim 3, in the
specific case of the automatic control of the doors of individual
lockers provided on board airliners and containing oxygen masks,
characterized in that said piston is moved backwards for releasing
the locking system by energizing an electromagnet coil
automatically through an aneroid capsule or bellows adapted to
detect a predetermined reduction in the air pressure within the
aircraft.
7. Device according to claim 1 with auxiliary or emergency manual
control means for opening the door, characterized in that said
retaining means rigid with the door consists of a recess adapted to
receive said locking piston and formed on the side adjacent to the
opening edge of the door which is opposite to the hinged side, a
lateral aperture extending towards said door beyond the piston end
in the front position thereof to permit the introduction, between
said piston and said door, of the end of a special curved rod
inserted in the slit formed between the door and its frame and
through the lateral aperture of said recess solid with the door, so
that the piston can be pushed axially inwards to open the door.
8. Locking device for a container door, of the automatic control
type, acting by axial movement of a spring-loaded piston and
provided with a manual emergency control means, characterized in
that it comprises an olive-shaped stud coaxial with said piston and
mounted on the inner surface of said door, a pawl, pivot pin
connected to the container and positioned parallel to the plane of
said door and said pawl being pivotally supported by said pin and
normally held in the stud retaining position by holding the piston
in its position nearest to said stud.
9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said piston
constitutes the plunger core of an electromagnet adapted to release
the door when the electromagnet winding is energized with a
suitable electrical control voltage.
10. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that members
connected to the container are enclosed in a protection case acting
as a support and consisting of a pair of moulded plastic
half-shells.
11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the support
of said locking mechanism is mounted to the fixed portion of the
structure equipped with the door adapted to be locked, by means of
button-holes permitting the proper adjustment of the position of
said support.
12. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that it further
comprises a spring urging said pawl to its stud retaining
position.
13. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said
olive-shaped stud is provided with an integral base flange adapted
to be retained in a socket secured to the inner surface of the door
and to oscillate slightly by causing the distortion of a resilient
washer interposed between said base flange and said door.
14. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said
olive-shaped stud has formed therethrough an axial passage
registering with a hole formed through the door, whereby said
piston can be pushed back to its release position by introducing a
metal rod through said door hole and stud passage, in case of
failure of the automatic door opening control system.
15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that it
comprises between said olive-shaped stud and said door a
shutter-like member adapted, in one position, to close the hole
formed through the door for the passage of the emergency control
rod.
16. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said fixed
structure carries in the vicinity of the door frame and opposite to
the door hinge a sliding member formed with a head registering with
the end of the locking piston for controlling the backward movement
of said piston and adapted to be pushed back in turn by means of a
rod formed with a slightly bent end portion which is inserted for
the manual opening manoeuver through the slit formed between the
door and frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to door locking systems and has
specific reference to a door locking device adapted to be actuated
either automatically, for example electrically or through
pressure-fluid means, or mechanically by manual means notably in
case of emergency.
This invention is applicable more particularly to the locking of a
normally closed box or small locker the opening of which may become
necessary under certain specific conditions. Thus, for instance,
the present invention is applicable to advantage to the closing of
lockers enclosing oxygen masks on passenger airliners flying at
high altitude. For obvious reasons, in this specific application
the primary requirement of the door opening device is a high degree
of reliability and it is the essential object of the present
invention to provide for each locker of this type a device capable
of opening same with the maximum reliability while having very
reduced overall dimensions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The door locking device according to this invention is
characterized in that it comprises a guiding sleeve disposed within
the locker or like box and having slidably mounted therein a piston
responsive to an electromagnet or a fluid pressure so as to actuate
with its lateral surface at least one lateral locking member
movable in said locker and adapted to coact with a retaining member
rigid with the door so as to lock or release this door according as
said piston is in its front or back position in said sleeve.
To open the door, the piston is advantageously actuated in a
direction opposite to said door to permit the manual opening
thereof by exerting a pressure against the piston through a small
aperture formed in the door or through the gap or slit formed or
left between the door and its frame, for instance by using a
special rod kept by the personnel (airhostess, steward, etc.),
either for an emergency opening, in case of failure of the
automatic control system, or for service maintenance
requirements.
According to a preferred form of embodiment of this invention, said
piston engages a recess formed in the internal surface of the door
and the lateral locking member is pushed radially outwards by the
lateral surface of the piston so as to engage an internal cavity of
said recess and thus provide the requisite locking action, the door
being released by causing the reverse movement of said locking
member during the controlled backward stroke of the piston.
According to another form of embodiment of the invention the
internal surface of the door carries an olive-shaped stud extending
coaxially with the locking piston and adapted to engage a retaining
mechanism comprising a pawl fulcrumed about a pivot pin parallel to
the door and normally urged in its closing direction by the
adjacent piston end, in the piston position nearest to said
olive-shaped stud, the backward movement of said piston causing
said pawl to release the stud and thus permit the door opening
movement.
Said olive-shaped stud may be formed with an axial through hole for
receiving a rod extending through said door and stud assembly, and
adapted to push the piston in case of emergency by a manual opening
manoeuver.
According to a complementary feature characterizing this invention
the ingress of the last-named axial through hole may be closed by a
shutter-forming element for normally preventing the insertion of
foreign bodies into said hole.
In either forms of embodiment broadly described hereinabove,
instead of contemplating for the emergency manual actuation of the
lock the pushing of said piston by means of an axial rod extending
through a small aperture formed in the door, the piston movement
may be obtained by using a bent rod introduced through the slit
normally formed between the door and its frame on the side opposite
to the door hinge. With this arrangement any risk of untimely door
opening manoeuver, by any unauthorized person tempted by the
introduction of a small rod through the small hole formed in the
door and aligned with the piston, is practically precluded.
The device according to this invention may be designed with a view
to resort to modern industrial processes for making light-weight
parts thereof, such as moulded plastic pieces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to afford a clearer understanding of this invention and of
the manner in which the same may be carried out, a few typical
forms of embodiments thereof will now be described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the
specific case of door locks for small lockers enclosing oxygen
masks on board aircrafts is illustrated. However, it is obvious
that the invention should not be construed as being strictly
limited by this specific application, since many other applications
may be contemplated within the scope of the invention. In the
drawings :
FIG. 1 is an axial section showing a first form of embodiment of
the locking device of this invention ;
FIG. 2 is a similar section showing one portion of the device
modified according to another form of embodiment of the invention
;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the locker, showing
the engagement of a curved rod for unlocking the door ;
FIG. 4 is a similar section showing the device brought to its
release or unlocking position by pushing said curved rod ;
FIG. 5 is an axial section showing another form of embodiment of
the device incorporating an olive-shaped retaining member ;
FIG. 6 is an end view of the support of the device shown in FIG. 5
;
FIG. 7 is a front view of the door illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6,
showing the shutter or tamper-proof seal of the passage formed
through said olive-shaped member, and
FIG. 8 shows a modified form of embodiment contemplated for an
emergency actuation of the device by means of a rod introduced into
the slit between the door and its frame.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 designates a
fixed part of the locker which comprises a tapped hole 2 permitting
the mounting and adjustment of the fixed support 3 through a screw
4 revolving on the trunnion 5 of the fixed support.
This fixed support 3 constitutes the external body of a control
electromagnet and encloses a coil 6 having its supply conductors 7
disposed in a lateral notch 8 of the fixed support 3 and inserted
in an electrical control circuit comprising for example a current
source and an electric switch adapted to close automatically under
the control of an aneroid capsule or bellows detecting a
predetermined reduction in the pressure of the internal atmosphere
of the aircraft, in case the locker is used for enclosing an oxygen
mask. However, if the locker encloses other safety or emergency
equipments, the electric circuit may be controlled in any other
suitable manner consistent with the specific equipment to be
released for use.
At its lower end the fixed support 3 carries a guiding sleeve 9
slidably engaged by a piston 10 constituting the core of the
electromagnet which is constantly urged outwards by a relatively
weak spring 11 interposed between a shoulder 12 of said support 3
and another shoulder 13 formed on the piston head. The piston end
or head comprises an extension 14 of reduced diameter beyond a
larger portion consisting of a hardened portion 15 adapted to
engage a circular set of locking balls 16 received in lateral
apertures 17 formed in said sleeve 9 so as to project outwards when
the ring 15 is coplanar with said balls (i.e., external or
inoperative position of the piston, as shown in FIG. 1).
The outer end of sleeve 9, in the closed locker position, engages a
recess 18 formed on the inner surface of the door 19 and the open
end 20 of this recess is narrowed so that the balls can clear this
end 20 only when they recede towards the piston axis as permitted
when the piston 10 is attracted by and moved towards the
electromagnet coil 6. A small aperture 21 is formed through the
door 19, coaxially to said recess 18, so that the authorized
personnel can introduce into this aperture 21 a rod permitting the
manual actuation of the device by pushing back against the force of
said weak spring 11 for unlocking the device and opening the
door.
The normal or automatic operation of the device takes place under
the control of the pressure within the passenger compartment of the
aircraft, as already explained in the foregoing ; in fact, a
predetermined pressure drop causes through means known per se the
energization of the electromagnet coil 6, whereby the core 10 is
attracted in spite of the moderate force of weak spring 11. As a
result, the narrower end portion 14 of piston 10 registers with the
balls in lieu of ring 15, the balls 16 being thus allowed to recede
towards the piston axis and thus permit the opening of door 19.
In the example described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1, the
balls 16 constitute the locking members of the device of this
invention. However, it will readily occur to those conversant with
the art that this arrangement should not be construed as limiting
the invention since other locking members may be contemplated in
lieu of said balls, for example in the form of elements having a
different configuration and mode of action, as exemplified in FIG.
2 showing in axial section the external portion of the
electromechanical control means of this modified form of
embodiment.
In the example shown in FIG. 2 the piston 10 constituting the
electromagnet core is similar to the piston of FIG. 1 and the
corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals
in either case. The sleeve 9 is also formed with lateral cavities
17 but the locking members, also disposed circularly as in the
preceding example, consist in this construction of bent lugs 22
connected to the rear end of sleeve 9 by spring blades 23. Thus,
when the piston 10 is moved away from the door 19 the lugs 22 are
allowed to move inwards and thus permit the opening of door 19.
In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 the device comprising a
locking piston carried by the fixed portion of the locker and
internally thereof may be substantially similar to the
above-described device, for example with reference to FIG. 1. The
recess 18 engaged by the sleeve 9 and piston 10 is mounted on the
door 19 along its opening edge opposite the hinged edge, a slit
being normally left or formed between this opening edge and the
fixed frame 24 of the door. In this recess 18 and adjacent the
frame 24 a lateral opening 25 extending towards the door beyond the
end 14 of piston 10 in the forward position thereof is formed to
permit the insertion, through the slit formed between the door and
its frame and also through this opening 25, of a curved rod 26
adapted to project with its end between the piston end 14 and the
door 19, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 the door is formed with
an internal ledge 27 also formed with a suitable opening 28
permitting the passage of said curved rod 26.
When the curved rod 26 has thus been introduced it is clear that by
pushing same inwards of the locker the piston 10 is caused to
recede against the relatively reduced force of its return spring,
thus releasing the locking members (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) and
permitting the opening of door 19 as explained in the foregoing
with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 shows the backward position
of piston 10 which permits of opening the door 19.
This invention is also concerned with the special tool consisting
of a curved rod adapted to be introduced between the locking piston
and the door through the slit left or formed between the door and
its frame on the side opposite to the door hinge.
In the exemplary form of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 the
reference numeral 101 designates the locker to be closed and 102 is
the door hinged at 103 and adapted to open instantaneously either
by gravity or through the action of an opening spring (not shown).
Mounted to the inner surface of this door is an olive-shaped stud
104 having its axis perpendicular to the door main surface ; this
stud 104 is formed with a base flange retained in a socket 105
secured to the door. Between the door and the stud flange a
resilient washer 106 is disposed to permit a slight oscillation of
the olive-shaped stud 104 and therefore an improved locking
engagement between this stud and a retaining pawl to be described
presently. The olive-shaped stud 104 has an axial hole 107 formed
therein, this hole registering with the hole of washer 106 and also
with a corresponding hole 108 formed through the door 102.
The fixed element of the structure to which the door 102 is
hingedly mounted carries the locking device proper. This device
comprises in this example an electromagnet and a plunger core. The
electromagnet consists of a winding 109 housed in a cage 110
overlying a base plate 111 in a support-forming protection case
comprising advantageously a pair of shells 112, 113 assembled by
means of bolts 114. The plunger core 115 is coaxial with the
olive-shaped stud 104 and carries a retaining circlip or spring
ring 116 limiting the stroke of the plunger core by abutting
against a shoulder of said case 112, 113 ; this plunger core 115 is
normally urged to its lower position, as seen in the drawing, by a
coil compression spring 117 inserted between the base plate 111 and
circlip 116, but it is adapted to rise while compressing the spring
117 when a suitable voltage is fed to the terminals of winding 109
through energizing conductors (not shown). In the lower position
the lower end of plunger core 115 prevents the oscillation of a
latch pawl 118 fulcrumed about a horizontal pivot pin 119 and
adapted to wedge with one end or arm one side of the olive-shaped
stud 104, the other side of stud 104 engaging the inner wall of
case 112, 113, whereby the olive-shaped stud 104 is retained in the
position to close the door 102. A spring 120 constantly urges the
pawl 118 to its door-closing position.
When the electromagnet 109 is energized the plunger core 115 rises,
thus releasing the pawl 118 and permitting the rocking thereof
about the pivot pin 119 by the action of door 102, so that the stud
104 can drop and permit the opening of door 102.
To permit the proper adaptation of the relative positions of stud
104 and of the electromagnetic device, there are provided, in
addition to the possibility of tilting the olive-shaped stud 104
mentioned in the foregoing, means for securing the electromagnetic
device which include buttonholes 121 permitting the proper
adjustment of the operative position thereof. Moreover, the door
102 is closed with the interposition of a plastic gasket 122 giving
a certain flexibility to the positioning of these elements.
In case a failure in the current supply prevented the automatic
opening of the device, this opening can nevertheless be obtained by
introducing a thin metal rod through the door hole 108 and axial
passage 107 of the olive-shaped stud 104, the thrust produced with
this rod causing the plunger core 115 to move upwards and thus
permits the rocking of pawl 118 and the opening of the door 102.
This thrust exerted on the plunger core 115 also permits, before
the door closing, the oscillation of pawl 118 to re-introduce the
stud 104 into the locking device.
Considering again the specific case of the application of this
invention to the closing of lockers containing an oxygen mask on
board airliners, the current necessary for opening the lockers may
be fed automatically, if desired, in case of undesired or
accidental pressure drop in the passenger compartment, by using a
suitable or known manometric device therefor. In this respect, it
will be noted that the emergency opening device is of particular or
unusual design to avoid any untimely actuation of the device by a
passenger. In the case contemplated the door must be opened by an
air hostess or steward conversant with the mode of operation of the
device. For the same reasons, the door cannot be re-closed unless
the same tool is resorted to, so that the qualified personnel can
check the proper disposition of the contents of a locker before
closing same.
To reduce the weight and cost of the device, all the component
elements thereof, except of course the winding 109, the magnetic
circuit and the springs, may be moulded from suitable plastic
material.
Although the axial passage 107 and the door hole 108 registering
therewith are of relatively small diameter and scarcely visible, it
may be advantageous to provide a pivoting shutter 123 disposed
against the inner surface of door 102. This shutter 123 is pivoted
to a small pin 124 and extends through a slot formed in the lateral
ledge of the door so as to project externally with a bent lug 125
movable in the gap 126 formed or left between the door 102 and its
frame 127. This shutter 123 may consist for example of a lug formed
beneath the olive-shaped stud 104 with a wider portion 128 in which
a hole 129 is formed. In the normal position (lower or dash-line
position in FIG. 7) of bent lug 125, the hole 129 is shifted in
relation to the door hole 108 which is thus occluded by the wider
portion 128, thus preventing the untimely introduction of a foreign
body into the device. To free the door hole 108 the bent lug 125 of
shutter 123 is moved to its other end position (in dash and dot
lines in FIG. 7) by means of the same thin metal rod provided for
pushing the plunger core, the rod being introduced through the
aforesaid gap 126 ; this operation causes the hole 129 to be
aligned with the door hole 108 and stud passage 107, so that the
rod can be introduced home through the stud 104 to push back the
plunger core 115 and free the pawl 118.
The use of a single pawl such as 119 may be replaced by the use of
two or three similar pawls disposed around the olive-shaped stud
104. The locking piston 115 may if desired be actuated by means
other than an electromagnetic device ; thus, notably in the
specific application concerning oxygen mask lockers on boards
airliners, this piston could be actuated directly by a manometric
capsule or bellows responsive to any abnormal reduction in the
atmospheric pressure in the passenger compartment.
Finally, the locking device is applicable to various equipments,
whenever the opening of a door is to be controlled automatically,
or remote-controlled, by using electric current or fluid
pressure.
Instead of contemplating a manual emergency actuation of the device
by using an axial rod engageable through a door orifice, which may
lead to use the shutter device 123 described hereinabove, it is
possible, according to a preferred form of embodiment of this
invention, to push back the locking piston 115 by introducing a
slightly curved rod engaging the slit normally formed or provided
between the door and its frame, on the side opposite to the door
hinge, and this alternate form of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8
will now be described.
In this figure the reference numeral 102 designates similarly the
door, 105 being the socket retaining the base flange of the
olive-shaped stud 104, and 113 the case portion enclosing the
locking mechanism which may be similar to the one shown in section
in FIG. 5. This case is disposed behind the opening edge of the
door which is opposite to the hinge 130 shown in FIG. 8, and
carries laterally towards the door frame 131 an L-sectioned member
132 adapted to slide slightly in the direction of the axis of
locking piston 115, this member 132 being guided by a screw 133
extending through an elongated aperture formed in this member and
engaging a tapped hole formed in the case of the locking mechanism.
The member 132 comprises a bent lug 134 registering with the piston
end, adapted to be pushed by means of a slightly curved rod 135
inserted through the slit formed or left between the door 102 and
frame 131. It is clear that when the member 132 is pushed by means
of rod 135 the former pushes in turn the piston 115 to release the
door. In the example illustrated the door 102 comprises an inner
lip or ledge 136 in which an aperture 137 is formed for receiving
said rod 135.
Although the present invention has been described with particular
reference to a few typical forms of embodiment, it will readily
occur to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be
brought thereto without departing from the basic principles of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *