Locking device comprising a deactivation mechanism

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrically driven fail-safe locking device comprising a tubular housing.

Background of the invention [0002] With the growing interest in access control plans and their array of locking devices on the market, there is a need for easy-to-install locking devices that can be actuated both mechanically and electronically without compromising security while at the same time protecting against theft and automatic unlocking (fail-safe) in the event of fire or other indoor hazards.

[0003] FR 2,653,480 discloses a fail-safe blocking device for emergency exits, blocking a device containing an electromagnet to keep the bolt closed. When the power supply to the solenoid is interrupted, the bolt is retracted into the blocking device housing by means of a spring. An electric motor is provided to move the bolt to the closed position of the blocking device after the power is restored.

[0004] A disadvantage of the interlocking device according to FR 2,653,480 is that it does not allow controlled opening and closing of the interlocking device without first interrupting the power supply and subsequently restoring power to the solenoid and electric motor.

[0005] A serious disadvantage of the interlocking device according to FR 2,653,480 is that if the power interruption occurs when the bolt electric motor moves to the closed position, the fail-safe mechanism will not be able to open the interlocking device because the electric motor will have to be disconnected first from the bolt actuating spindle. As such, it is obvious that such a blocking device does not apply to access control to access points that must be regularly opened and closed.

[0006] WO 2008/094039 discloses a fail-safe locking device which

EP 2 864 565 B1 will always be open in the event of a power outage.

[0007] Such a locking device, however, has the disadvantage that it does not allow the bolt to be driven in the longitudinal direction of the housing and requires several holes to be placed in the door. Therefore, the installation is uncomfortable, and the flexibility in choosing the location of the door lock is limited.

[0008] WO 87/04213, EP 0021670 and FR 2879643 disclose locking devices comprising drive means enabling the bolt to be moved between a first position protruding from the front end of the lock housing and a second position, in which the bolt is retracted into the housing and further comprising a deactivation mechanism allowing the drive means to move from the active position, in which the drive means are able to move the bolt between the first and second positions, and inactive position, in which the bolt is retracted into the housing regardless of its movement by electric propulsion means. However, the disclosed locking devices have the disadvantage that the deactivation mechanism is mechanically activated and will be activated only manually or by activating the alarm system. This can lead to dangerous situations in the event of a power outage and without an alarm being generated.

[0009] From the above, it is clear that there is a need for easy-to-install, universal and reliable failsafe locking devices.

Summary of the Invention [0010] The present invention addresses the above disadvantages by providing a universal, easy to install and reliable locking device. The locking device according to the present invention comprises:

(a) a tubular housing having a front end and a distal end;

(b) a bolt movable between a first position projecting from the front end of the housing and a second position in which the bolt is retracted into the housing;

(c) electrically driven driving means for moving the bolt

EP 2 864 565 B1 between said first and second positions, wherein said locking device further comprises a deactivation mechanism provided in said housing for allowing the driving means or at least part of them to move from the active position, in which the drive means are able to move the bolt between the first and second positions, and inactive position, in which the bolt is retracted into the housing regardless of its movement by electric propulsion means.

[0011] The deactivation mechanism is preferably electrically driven and preferably comprises a mechanical actuator for moving the driving means or parts thereof.

Brief description of the drawings [0012]

Figure 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a locking device according to the present invention in several positions of the locking device.

Figures 2 and 3 show alternative embodiments of the locking device of Figure 1 in similar positions.

Figure 4 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of the locking device of figure 1 in similar positions and a deactivation mechanism.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments [0013] Figure 1 shows a locking device with a tubular housing 1 having a distal end 2 and a front end 3. The bolt 4 is displaceable between a first position protruding from the front end of the housing (Fig. 1b) and a second position retracted into the housing ( Fig. 1a). Inside the housing, electric driving means 5 are provided for moving the bolt between said first and second positions.

[0014] According to the present invention, a deactivation mechanism 6 is provided in the housing allowing the driving means 5 or at least part of them to move from the active position (Figs. 1a and b), in which the driving means are able to move the bolt 4 between the first and second

In the position and inactive position (Fig. 1c), in which the bolt 4 is retracted into the housing irrespective of its movement by means of electric drive means.

[0015] The housing 1 is preferably made of a rigid material such as steel or aluminum and preferably has a length of not more than 20 cm, preferably not more than 15 cm and a diameter of a maximum of 4 cm, preferably a maximum of 3 cm, and most preferably a maximum diameter of 2.5 cm.

[0016] Inside the casing, a rim 7 is provided dividing the inner space in the casing into the front chamber 8 housing the bolt 4 and the further chamber 9 housing the deactivation mechanism 6. Preferably a longitudinally extending groove is provided in said front chamber 8.

[0017] At the distal end 3, and especially on the plate 10 of the distal end of the housing, several connectors 11 are provided for feeding the drive means 5 and the deactivation mechanism 6 from the outside. The control of the drive means 5 is preferably achieved by a control unit comprising a printed circuit and a memory housed in the housing (not shown).

[0018] The driving means 5 in this case comprise an electric motor 12, the output axis of which is coupled to the rotary spindle 13 extends axially in the housing through a hole defined by the inner edge of the rim 7.

[0019] The bolt 4 is provided with a threaded hole 14 cooperating with the free end of the spindle 13. The bolt preferably further comprises an outwardly extending projection 15 cooperating with the above-mentioned groove in the front housing chamber, thus preventing the bolt 4 from rotating with respect to the housing 1.

[0020] The deactivation mechanism in this case comprises a spring 16 and a locking element 17. The spring is attached with one end to the electric motor 12 and the other end to the plate 10 of the distal end of the housing, thus shifting the driving means 5 towards the distal end 2 of the housing 1.

[0021] The locking element 17 is arranged to hold the drive

The means 5 are in the active position, counteracting the force exerted by the spring 16 and is mounted as rotatable about an axis 18 fixed in the housing. The second axis 19 provided in said element is attached to the free end of the rod 20 extending longitudinally in said housing and displaceable in the axial direction by means of a coil 21 electrically powered by the connector 11.

[0022] The operation of the locking device is rather simple and straightforward. Figure 1a shows the locking device in the active open position, in which the bolt is retracted into the housing and the driving means are held in the active position by the element 17. In this position, the coil 21 is electrically powered.

[0023] The actuation of the driving means results in rotation of the rotary shaft 13 and the bolt is pushed out of the housing into the closed position of the locking device. By driving the electric motor in the opposite direction, the rotary pin is screwed into the bolt, retracting the bolt into the housing.

[0024] When the locking device is in the closed position and there is a power outage, the coil forces the rod 19 to move towards the front end of the housing, thus rotating the element 17 and releasing the driving means 5, which are retracted to a further (second) position under the influence of spring forces 16. Movement of the drive means to a further position will automatically retract the bolt into the open position of the locking device as shown in figure 1c.

[0025] To reactivate the drive locks, the means 5 must be activated so that the electric motor unscrews the rotary spindle, counteracting the force of the spring 16, to their active position. At the same time, the supply of the deactivation mechanism is restored and the element 17 will keep the driving means 5 in the active position. The locking device is now open, with the bolt retracted into the housing as shown in figure 1a.

[0026] It should be noted that the deactivation mechanism can also be activated by mechanical movement of the rod 20 (in this case pushing it towards the front end of the housing). Therefore, the rod 20 preferably projects from the distal one

End of the housing.

[0027] Figures 2a-c show an alternative embodiment of the locking device according to the present invention in which the coil of the deactivation mechanism in the above embodiment is replaced by an electromagnet 22 mounted on the distal surface of the rim 7 and a permanent magnet 23 on the distal surface to which the electric motor is attached 12. When the electromagnet is energized, the permanent magnet 23 and the electric motor are kept at the front in the distal chamber 8, while in the event of a power outage the electric motor 12 and the permanent magnet 23 are retracted by the spring 16 to the inactive position of the driving means towards the distal end of the distal chamber 8.

[0028] Obviously, the permanent magnet and the electromagnet can be exchanged without changing the functioning of the locking device.

[0029] Figures 3a-c show a third embodiment of a locking device according to the present invention in which the electric motor 12 of the driving means is built into the bolt 4 and wherein the deactivation mechanism comprises an electromagnet 22 and a permanent magnet 23 which is displaceable in the housing and includes a threaded hole cooperating with the rotary shaft 13 drive means. In this case, the permanent magnet is attached to the spring 16 for distal retraction of the permanent magnet and thus the rotary spindle, electric motor and bolt in the event of a power outage.

[0030] It is further preferred that the locking device comprises a position locking sensor 24 located at the front end of the housing and having an equivalent 24 'located on the latching plate of the locking device. Such a locking position sensor may, for example, comprise a magnet provided in the striker plate and an RFID tag in the housing, where in the case where the RFID is positioned in front of the magnet, electric current is generated in the tag.

[0031] The RFID tag is in this case electrically coupled to a control unit for activating the electric motor. Preferably the locking position sensor includes a unique keyed engagement between the part

Positioned in the striker plate and part contained in the housing, so that accidental or unauthorized activation of the lock position sensor can be avoided.

[0032] When the block position sensor detects the presence of a magnet in this case, a signal is generated and received by the control unit, which in turn activates the electric motor to rotate and move the bolt out of the housing to the closed position of the blocking device (Figures 1b, 2b and 3b).

[0033] Two options are available for opening the locking device. In normal operation, unblocking can be achieved by an external signal (e.g. from an identifier reader) to the control unit, thereby starting the electric motor to rotate and withdraw the bolt (Figures 1a, 2a and 3a).

[0034] Figure 4 shows another alternative embodiment of the locking device according to the invention, the locking device being produced as a set of parts. The first part is the actual locking device as shown in fig. 4a, comprising a tubular housing 1 having a distal end 2 and a front end 3. The bolt 4 is displaceable between a first position protruding from the front end of the housing (fig. 1b) and the second position retracted into the housing (fig. 1a). Inside the housing there are electric driving means 5 for moving the bolt between said first and second positions.

[0035] Again, according to the present invention, a deactivation mechanism 6 is provided in the housing allowing the driving means 5 or at least part of them to move from an active position (Figs. 4a and b), in which the driving means are able to move the bolt 4 between the first and second positions , and inactive position (Fig. 4c), in which the bolt 4 is retracted into the housing irrespective of its movement by electric driving means.

[0036] In figure 4a, the deactivation mechanism comprises a plate 26 that is displaceable in the housing and includes a threaded hole cooperating with the rotary shaft 13 of the driving means. In this case, plate 26 is attached to spring 16 to retract plate 26 and is therefore rotatable

In the case of activation of the deactivation mechanism, the mandrel, electric motor and bolt are activated.

[0037] The deactivation mechanism comprises said plate 26 and slider 27, said plate 26 comprising a drilled hole in which the element 28 is located which is moved by the spring 29 in the direction in which the element 28 protrudes out of said drilled hole, thus cooperating with a slot 30 located in the inner surface of the housing. The slide 27 is displaceable in the longitudinal direction between the plate and the housing, between a position in which it is away from the element 28 extending into the slot 30 and a position in which the slide pushes the element into the drilled hole in the plate 26.

[0038] When the element 28 projects into the slot 30, the plate 26 cannot move backwards in the housing under the force of the spring 16, although when the element 28 is pushed into the interior of the plate 26, the plate 26 will be retracted, thereby deactivating the lock in the same way as explained before with reference to figure 3.

[0039] In figure 4a the slider 27 is actuated by means of a cable connected to a manually actuated locking actuator.

[0040] In figure 4b a second part (fail-safe module) of the set of parts is provided at the distal end of the housing of the first part. The second part includes electrically driven means cooperating with a deactivation mechanism in a real blocking device to keep the propulsion means in the active position, a break in the supply of electrically driven propulsion means in the second part triggering the deactivation mechanism in the first part, causing the propulsion means to move the inactive position.

[0041] In the present case, the second part comprises a tubular housing 31 connected to the housing of the first part. In said housing 31 of the second part, there is provided a rotary pusher 32 cooperating with the slider 27 of the first part of the locking device.

[0042] Said rotary pusher 32 is attached to the free end of the rod 33 extending longitudinally in said housing and

EP 2 864 565 B1 displaced in the axial direction by means of a coil 34 electrically powered by connector 35.

[0043] When the locking device is in the closed position and there is a power outage, the coil 34 forces the rod 33 to move towards the front end of the housing, thus rotating the pusher 32 forward and thereby pushing the slider 27 between the housing and the plate 26 in the first part of the lock, so that element 28 is pushed inside the plate 26 and said plate is retracted into the housing, thus also distally moving the rotary mandrel, electric motor and bolt in the event of a power outage. Movement of the drive means to a further position will automatically retract the bolt into the open position of the locking device as shown in figure 4c.

[0044] The housings of the first and second parts of the kit of parts shown in figures 4b and 4c are preferably firmly connected by means of a snap fastening, which ensures that the pusher 32 and the slide 27 cooperate correctly.

[0045] It is clear that the set of parts, as shown in figure 4, allows to provide a self locking device in fail-secure mode (fig. 4a), in which during the power supply the blockage remains closed until it is manually deactivated (the electric motor will not operate in the event of a power outage, because during a power failure the bolt will remain in the closed position of the blocking device) or in the "fail-safe" mode ( figures 4b and 4c), in which a deactivation mechanism is provided which is automatically activated in the event of a power outage.

[0046] It is clear that, thanks to its tubular housing, due to the axial alignment of the electric motor and bolt in the housing and the distal placement of connectors for both the coil and the electric motor and / or control unit, the installation of the locking device is very simple. In essence, the insertion of the locking device into the side wall of the door only requires a circular hole in which the locking device can be inserted and later attached. Furthermore, the movement enabled by the driving means and by the deactivation mechanism is in both cases directed

EP 2 864 565 B1 in the same direction, allowing for a very compact housing design.

[0047] To adjust the position of the lock in the context of the distance between the door and the frame, it is sufficient to simply move the locking device in the round hole. What's more, the lock can be easily attached to the door frame with a striker plate located in the door itself. This configuration has the additional advantage that the locking device can create an additional anchoring of the frame to the wall, thereby reinforcing the frame.

EP 2 864 565 B1