1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to locks and more particularly, to an electromagnetic lock that can be conveniently and selectively adjusted between two reversed modes, allowing the magnetic lock to be locked or unlocked when electrically connected.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional magnetic locks include two types, the type that is locked when electrically connected, and the type that is unlocked when electrically connected. It greatly complicates the manufacturer's inventory control and the related management cost to fabricate these two types of magnetic locks. Taiwan patent publication no. 384904, filed by the present inventor on Apr. 14, 1998, discloses a magnetic lock, which has the electromagnetic valve adjustable between two positions to have the magnetic lock be locked or unlocked when electrically connected.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,225 issued on Oct. 9, 2001, discloses a magnetic lock entitled ┌Electrical Lock Device┘. According to this design, as shown in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,830 discloses another structure of magnetic lock, entitled ┌Electric Strike Assembly┘. According to this design, as shown in
It is a primary object of the invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide an electromagnetic lock that permits a free adjustment of the locked or unlocked state.
It is another object of the invention to provide an electromagnetic lock that meets the power-saving requirement.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, an electromagnetic lock in accordance with the invention includes a receiving space defined by a housing and a cover. A lock catch, a solenoid valve, an adjusting unit, and a decoration plate are received within the receiving space.
The lock catch is pivotally coupled to a housing by a positioning shaft in match of a torque maintaining element.
The solenoid valve includes a movable shaft and an end stop adapted to the lock. The position of the end stop is changeable when a voltage is applied to the solenoid valve, thereby determining whether or not the lock catch is engaged into the bottom of the housing.
The adjusting unit includes an slide carriage to receive the solenoid valve. A restoring spring is interposed between the slide carriage and a fixing piece. The adjusting unit further includes an adjusting element with an operating head sitting on a free side of the cover for controlling the position switching of the slide carriage, thereby controlling the position of the solenoid valve carried by the slide carriage relative to the lock catch. Accordingly, the electromagnetic lock may be brought into an unlocked or locked state.
The decoration plate is positioned at the bottom of the cover for sheltering the internal elements.
The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following descriptions and its accompanying figures of which:
First of all, referring to
The lock catch 30 is pivotally coupled to the housing 10 by a positioning shaft 31 in match of a torque maintaining element 32 like a torsion spring.
The solenoid valve 40 includes a movable shaft 41. An end stop 42 adapted to the lock catch 30 is disposed at a position opposing to the movable shaft 41. The position of the end stop 42 is changeable when a voltage is applied to the solenoid valve 40, thereby determining whether or not the lock catch 30 is engaged into the bottom of the housing 10.
The adjusting unit 50 includes an L-shaped slide carriage 51 to receive the solenoid valve 40. A restoring spring 53 is interposed between the L-shaped slide carriage 51 and a fixing piece 52. The adjusting unit 50 further includes an adjusting element 54 with an operating head 543 sitting on a free side of the cover 20 for controlling the position switching of the L-shaped slide carriage 51. In other words, the operating head 543 of the adjusting element 54 is extended into a round hole 22 of the cover 20. The adjusting element 54 in accordance with the invention includes a stem 541 at the bottom of the operating head 543 and a push lug 542 perpendicular to the bottom of the stem 541, thereby forming an L-shape body like a golf club. The adjusting element 54 is disposed within a recess 11 at the side of the housing 10. The push lug 542 rests against the external side of the vertical side of the L-shaped slide carriage 51. In use, the stem 541 is rotated by the operating head 543 so as to push the push lug 542 against the L-shaped slide carriage 51 for displacement. In this way, the position of the solenoid valve 40 carried by the L-shaped slide carriage 51 relative to the lock catch 30 is controllable. Accordingly, the electromagnetic lock may be brought into an unlocked or locked state.
The decoration plate 21 is positioned at the bottom of the cover 20 for sheltering the internal elements.
Besides, the operating head 543 in accordance with the invention includes a hexagonal socket nut. Thus, an Allen wrench is required for controlling the tightening action. However, it should not be restricted thereto.
Moreover, the fixing piece 52 can be an opposite side of the housing 10. Alternatively, the fixing piece 52 can be replaced by a fixing seat of the housing 10.
Based on the above-mentioned configuration (see
Please now refer to
Accordingly, a door can be unlocked or locked in application of power by means of the position change of the L-shaped slide carriage 51 through the adjusting element 54. In other words, the unlocked or locked state of the electromagnetic lock may be changed. Since the operating head 543 of the adjusting element 54 is positioned at the free side of the cover 20, it is possible for the operator to undergo a desirable change by use of a simple tool 90 when the electromagnetic lock is mounted onto a door 80 (see
Based on the above-mentioned features, the electromagnetic lock has a few application possibilities. For example, the electromagnetic lock may be applied at a site where no control of entrance is required at a specific time (such as an office accessible by any person at the working period). In this case, the door can be set “unlocked by application of power” only when the control of entrance has to be done. That is, the power is only applied when people want to enter or leave the office. Meanwhile, the door can be set “locked by application of power” at a specific period when no control of entrance is required. That is, the office will be freely accessible for any person without application of power to the solenoid valve 40. As a result, the time of the application of power to the solenoid valve can be reduced for saving energy by changing the locked and unlocked state of the electromagnetic lock according to different needs in use.
Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 11272708 | Nov 2005 | US |
Child | 11902102 | Sep 2007 | US |