BACKGROUND
The present invention generally relates to electromechanical locks, and more specifically relates to an electromechanical lock which is configured to provide mechanical latch holdback and remote release.
A typical lock which is employed in, for example, correctional facilities (i.e., to secure cell blocks, etc.) is configured to allow a correctional officer to unlock the lock by inserting and rotating a key, causing a latch of the lock to retract and stay retracted even after the guard removes the key. This feature gives a correctional officer the ability to use his key to set one or more doors to an unlocked state for prolonged periods (e.g., during non-lockdown hours). In order to re-lock the lock, the correctional officer is required to re-insert and rotate the key, causing the latch to extend once again, thereby locking the door. The correctional officer must repeat this process for each lock he wants to lock.
SUMMARY
An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an electromechanical lock which is configured to provide not only mechanical latch holdback, but also remote release.
Briefly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an electromechanical lock which is configured to provide a mechanical latch holdback feature, whereby a key is useable to retract a latch of the electromechanical lock, the key can be removed, and the latch remains mechanically held back (i.e., the latch is maintained in the held back or retracted position) such that the lock remains unlocked. The electromechanical lock comprises an internal linkage which provides that the latch which is being mechanically held back is electronically remotely releasable. As such, a correctional officer can use his key to cause the lock to mechanically hold back the latch, such that the lock remains open. Subsequently, a control signal can be sent from a remote location causing the latch to be released and extended, such that the lock locks.
This feature allows a correctional officer at a control center to overcome the mechanical latch holdback and remotely lock doors either individually or severally (i.e., by groups), depending on the wiring logic between the electromechanical lock and the control center. This ability to override the mechanical latch holdback from a control station can be useful in a correctional institution—for example, when the mechanical latch holdback has been engaged for cell doors and an emergency situation arises where a quick remote lockdown may be necessary, instead of having to perform the, still possible but, time-consuming task of re-locking the doors one-by-one, locally by key. The option to remotely relock, singularly or in a group (depending on control circuit logic) may be employed with this feature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:
FIG. 1 is an external view of the outside of an electromechanical lock, wherein the electromechanical lock is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and wherein a latch of the lock is extended and a key is inserted into a lock chamber;
FIG. 2 is a view which is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the lock with the latch retracted and the key having been removed from the lock chamber;
FIG. 3 is a view of the internal components of the electromechanical lock, showing the lock in the locked position (i.e., with the latch extended);
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the lock being unlocked without latch holdback (i.e., using the key shown in FIG. 1);
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the lock being unlocked with latch holdback (i.e., using the key shown in FIG. 1);
FIGS. 6 and 7 show the latch holdback being released, causing the lock to re-lock, using the key shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of some of the internal components of the lock;
FIG. 9 is a view of the lock, showing a torsion spring thereof;
FIG. 10 shows the end of the motor assembly;
FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the lock;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a hold release lever/prop lever assembly, which is a part of the lock; and
FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12, but provides an exploded view.
DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
While this invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail, a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated.
FIG. 1 is an external view of the outside of an electromechanical lock 10, wherein the electromechanical lock 10 is in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the lock 10 comprises a key cylinder 12 which is configured to receive a key 14, as well as a latch 16 which is extendable to lock the lock 10.
FIG. 2 is a view which is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the lock 10 with the latch 16 retracted (i.e., the lock 10 in the unlocked state) and the key 14 having been removed from the key cylinder 12. As shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2, preferably the latch 16 is beveled which provides that a door (for example) in which the lock 10 is disposed can be closed even though the door is open and the latch 16 is extended.
FIG. 3 is a view of the internal components of the electromechanical lock 10, showing the lock 10 in the locked position (i.e., with the latch 16 extended). As shown, the lock 10 comprises an actuator 18 and linkage 20 which effectively ultimately links the actuator 18 to the latch 16 such that, while a key 14 can be used to mechanically holdback the latch 16, the latch 16 can nevertheless be released via the actuator 18 as a result of the actuator 18 receiving a signal from a remote source, such as from a control panel 19 (see FIG. 10) in a control center.
The actuator 18 may comprise, for example, an alternating or direct current motor 22 which is coupled to a gearbox 24, which is configured to drive a rotatable member 26 (see, for example, FIG. 10 which shows the end of the motor assembly), such as a disc. Preferably, a pair of switches 28 engage the outer surface of the rotatable member 26 and the switches 28 are in communication with the control panel 19 in the control center such that the rotatable position of the rotatable member 26 can be detected and the control panel 19 can, as a result, decide whether to start, and when to stop, driving the motor 22.
The rotatable member 26 is preferably linked, via a link point 29, to a link member 30 which is keyed to an operating lever 32. More specifically, preferably the link member 30 has a slot 34 thereon (see FIG. 9) which is effectively linked to the operating lever 32 (i.e., at section 36 as shown in FIG. 8). Preferably, the link member 30 also includes a hook portion 38 at its end which is configured to engage the hold release lever 40, as will be described in more detail later hereinbelow.
As shown in FIG. 3, the operating lever 32 preferably pivots about an axis 42, as a result of a pin 44 which extends through a throughbore 46 (see FIG. 8) provided in the operating lever 32, effectively securing the operating lever 32 to stationary support structure 48. The stationary support structure 48 may comprise a pair of spaced apart walls which are disposed in a housing 50 in which the lock 10 is disposed.
Preferably, a torsion spring 52 is disposed on the operating lever 32 and is configured to bias the operating lever 32 into an up position. A compression spring 54 is preferably provided proximate the latch 16, to spring bias the latch 16 into the extended position. The operating lever 32 preferably comprises an extending finger portion 56 which engages a shoulder 58 on the latch 16, such that the finger 56 can move the latch 16 toward a retracted position, against the force of the compression spring 54.
The operating lever 32 is preferably linked, via a pin 60, to the hold release lever 40 as well as a prop lever 62. Preferably, a torsion spring 64 (see FIG. 9) is disposed on the operating lever 32, wherein one end of the spring 64 engages the operating lever 32 and the other end of the spring 64 engages the prop lever 62, wherein the torsion spring 64 functions to spring bias the hold release lever 40 and prop lever 62 relative to the operating lever 32.
Preferably, the prop lever 62 comprises a hook end portion 68 which is configured to engage in a hole or slot 70 in the housing 50, thereby ultimately providing that the latch 16 is maintained in a hold back position (i.e., retracted).
As discussed above, the lock 10 comprises a key cylinder 12. Specifically, in addition to being configured to receive a key 14, the lock cylinder 12 comprises an internal cam 72 which is selectively rotatable into engagement with either the hold release lever 40 or the operating lever 32, depending on which direction the key 14 is rotated.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of some of the internal components of the lock 10. As shown, additional components include screws 74, a spacer 76, a washer 78, and a mounting pin 80 which collectively couple the hold release lever 40, prop lever 62 and operating lever 32. A roll pin 82 is also included which provides a surface which is engaged by the torsion spring 64. A screw 86 secures an eccentric adjustment pin 88 which functions to contact the underside of the operating lever 32 and limit rotation of the hold release lever 40 relative to the operating lever 32, about axis 90. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the hold release lever 40 linked to the prop lever 68 and adjustment pin 88, and FIG. 13 provides the same view, but exploded.
FIG. 11 provides an exploded view of the lock 10 in general and is self-explanatory given the description herein.
Operation of the electromechanical lock 10, and its various states, will now be described referring to the various Figures.
As discussed above, FIG. 3 shows the lock 10 in the locked state, with the latch 16 extended. In this state, the hook portion 68 of the prop lever 62 is not engaged in the hole or slot 70 in the housing 50, and the compression spring 54 biases the latch 16 into the extended position.
To unlock the lock 10 using the key 14, the key 14 must be inserted into the key cylinder 12 as shown in FIG. 1, and then the key 14 can be rotated in either direction. When the key 14 is rotated in one direction, the lock 10 unlocks (i.e., the latch 16 retracts as shown in FIG. 2) but the latch 16 is not heldback meaning that when the key 14 is rotated back to the neutral position and removed, the latch 16 is again biased into the extended position (as shown in FIG. 1). However, when the key 14 is rotated in the other direction, the lock 10 not only unlocks, but the latch 16 is held back meaning that when the key 14 is rotated back to the neutral position and removed, the latch 16 is held back in the retracted position (as shown in FIG. 2).
The progression from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4 shows the operation of the lock 10 when the key 14 is rotated in the direction which unlocks the lock 10 but does not holdback the latch 16. As shown, rotation of the key 14 in this direction (counterclockwise as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, clockwise as shown in FIG. 1) causes the cam 72 of the key cylinder 12 to rotate into contact with the hold release lever 40. Specifically, the cam 72 pushes on surface 92 (see FIG. 8) of the hold release lever 40 and this causes the hold release lever 40 to push down on the operating lever 32, causing the operating lever 32 to pivot about axis 42 (in the counter-clockwise rotational direction regarding FIGS. 3 and 4). As such, the extending finger portion 56 of the operating lever 32 pushes on the shoulder 58 of the latch 16, against the force of spring 54, causing the latch 16 to retract. When the key 14 has been fully rotated, because the cam 72 remains pushing down on the hold release lever 40, the hook portion 68 of the prop lever 62 does not drop into engagement in the hole or slot 70 in the housing 50. As such, in this state the latch 16 is not held back, meaning that after the key 14 has been rotated such that the cam 72 pushes down on the hold release lever 40 and the latch 16 has been retracted, once the key 14 is released the spring 54 pushes on the latch 16 causing the shoulder 58 of the latch 16 to push on the finger 56 of the operating lever 32 and causing the latch 16 to extend. The pushing on the finger 56 of the operating lever 32 causes the operating lever 32 to rotate back in the other direction about axis 42 (in the clockwise rotational direction regarding FIGS. 3 and 4), causing the hold release lever 40 to move upward and push the cam 72 back to the position shown in FIG. 3, after which time the key 14 can be removed from the key cylinder 12.
The progression from FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 shows the operation of the lock 10 when the key 14 is rotated in the direction which unlocks the lock and holds back the latch 16, meaning that the key 14 can be removed and the latch 16 stays held back in the retracted position. As shown, rotation of the key 14 in this direction (clockwise as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 1) causes the cam 72 of the key cylinder 12 to rotate into contact with the surface 96 of the operating lever 32 and push down on the operating lever 32 such that the operating lever 32 pivots about axis 42 (in the counter-clockwise rotational direction regarding FIGS. 3 and 5). This causes the finger 56 of the operating lever 32 to push on the shoulder 58 of the latch causing the latch to retract. Additionally, the pivoting of the operating lever 32 about axis 42 causes the operating lever 32 to pull the hold release lever 40 down. Once the hold release lever 40 moves sufficiently downward, the hook portion 68 of the prop lever 62 drops into engagement in the hole or slot 70 in the housing 50, thereby placing the latch 16 in the hold back position. In this state, the key 14 can be rotated in the other direction, into its neutral position, and removed from the key cylinder 12 without causing the latch 16 to extend. The key cylinder 12 can be specifically configured to allow one type of key to unlock the lock, but a require a second, different key to not only unlock the lock, but also engage the latch hold back function.
The progression from FIG. 6 to FIG. 7 shows the operation of the lock 10 when the key 14 is rotated in a direction which releases the hold back of the latch 16. As shown, rotation of the key 14 in this direction (counterclockwise as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, clockwise as shown in FIG. 1) causes the cam 72 of the key cylinder 12 to rotate into contact with the hold release lever 40. Specifically, the cam 72 pushes on surface 92 (see FIG. 8) of the hold release lever 40. This causes the hold release lever 40 to move slightly downward, causing the prop lever 62 to also move slightly downward such that the hook portion 68 of the prop lever 62 disengages from the top surface of the hole 70 in the housing 50, thereby releasing the hook portion 68 of the prop lever 62 from the hole or slot 70 in the housing 50 (i.e., as a result of the torsion spring 64 pivoting the prop lever 62). Thereafter, release of the key 14 causes the spring 54 to push the latch 16 back to the extended position. This causes the shoulder 58 to push on the finger portion 56 of the operating lever 32, causing the operating lever 32 to pivot about axis 42 (in the clockwise rotational direction regarding FIGS. 6 and 7). This pivoting results in surface 92 of the hold release lever 40 pivoting the cam 72 of the key cylinder 12 back to the top position such that the key 14 rotates back to its neutral position at which time the key 14 can be removed.
While the lock 10 is configured such that the key 14 can be used to release the latch 16 from its held back position, the lock 10 is also configured such that the latch 16 can be released remotely via a control panel 19 at a control center, without having to engage a key 14 with the key cylinder 12. To this end, the switches 28 which are in contact with the rotating disc 26 effectively inform the control center whether the lock 10 is in the unlocked or locked state. If the lock 10 is in the locked state and the remote signal is given to unlock the lock 10, the control panel 19 in the control center sends a signal to the lock 10 which causes the motor 22 to start. This causes the motor 22 to drive the gearbox 24 which causes the rotatable disc 26 to rotate. Rotation of the disc 26 causes the link member 30 to pivot downward until a hook portion 38 of the link member 30 contacts and pushes down on the hold release lever 40. This causes the operating lever 32 to be pivot downward as well, and causes the hook portion 68 of the prop lever 62 to move downward and pivot out of engagement with the hole or slot 70 in the housing 50. Further rotation of the disc 26 causes the link member 30 to move upward which causes the torsion spring 52 on the operating lever 32 to pivot the operating lever 32 about axis 42. This causes the finger portion 56 of the operating lever 32 to shift, allowing the compression spring 54 to push the latch 16 back to its extended position.
The lock 10 is also configured such that the latch 16 can be retracted remotely, via the control panel 19 at the control center, without having to use a key 14. To this end, the switches 28 which are in contact with the rotating disc 26 effectively inform the control center whether the lock 10 is in the unlocked or locked state. If the lock 10 is in the unlocked state and the remote signal is given to lock the lock 10, the motor 22 is driven such that the rotatable disc 26 rotates one hundred eighty degrees. This causes the link member 30 to move down and pull the hold release lever 40 downward, causing the operating lever 32 to pivot about axis 42, causing the finger portion 56 of the operating lever 32 to push on the shoulder 58 of the latch 16, thereby driving the latch 16 to the retracted position (see FIG. 2). From this state, the remote signal can subsequently be given to re-lock the lock 10. This causes the motor 22 to be driven such that the rotatable disc 26 rotates another one hundred eighty degrees. This causes the link member 30 to move up and push the hold release lever 40 upward, causing the operating lever 32 to pivot about axis 42, causing the finger portion 56 of the operating lever 32 to pivot, thereby allowing the spring 54 to push the latch 16 back to its extended position (see FIG. 1).
The ability to remotely override the mechanical latch holdback is useful in a correctional facility—for example, when the mechanical latch holdback has been engaged for cell doors and an emergency situation arises where a quick remote lockdown may be necessary, instead of having to perform the time-consuming task of re-locking the doors one-by-one, locally by key.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Patent Application
20180328080
