DEVICE FOR LOCKING AND UNLOCKING A PLUG ON A FRAME USING A WRENCH

• US 20090169299A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norinco (EJ Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Norinco (EJ Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dutilleul, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 8,132,436 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/25
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/1409 adjustable in height or inclination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/47 Laterally movable key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5589 Latching bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5606 Latching bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7853 Tubular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7977 Key-controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8595 Key guides, internal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8649 Keyhole covers

Abstract

The invention relates to a secured device for locking and unlocking a plug on a frame with a wrench. The device has an obstructing component that is mobile with respect to a plug and can be brought from an obstructing position to an unobstructing position in which the wrench can engage a rotor of a bolt when an identification code of the wrench, read by a reader, is in agreement with the code stored in an electronic module that is associated with the plug.

Claims

1. A device for locking and unlocking of a plug on a frame using a wrench, comprising:

a lock having a bolt connected to the plug, the plug having an opening for access to the lock by the wrench so the wrench can move the lock from a locking position, in which the bolt is captured by a keeper on the frame, to an unlocking position, in which the bolt is disengaged from the keeper, wherein the wrench includes means storing an identification code of the wrench;

code reading means integrated into the plug for reading the identification code when the wrench is introduced into the opening of the plug;

an electronic module integrated into the plug, and storing a code for comparison to the identification code read by the code reading means; and

obstructing component that is mobile with respect to the plug and located in the openings of the plug and, in an obstructing position, blocking passage of the wrench for operation of the lock, and movable to an unobstructing position in which the wrench can be positioned for operating the locks when the identification code of the wrench read by reading means, upon comparison, agrees with the code stored in the electronic module.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the wrench includes an arm having a first end including a socket,

the lock has a rotor rotatable in the plug, that is accessible at a first end through the opening of the plug and a second, opposite end for pivoting the bolt around an axis of the rotor, between a first position, captured by the keeper, and a second position, disengaged from the keeper, by action of the wrench with the socket engaging the the first end of the rotor, and

the obstructing component is located in the opening of the plug in the obstructing position to block the wrench from engaging the rotor and is located in the unobstructing position for engagement of the wrench with the rotor, when the identification code of the wrench read by the reading means, upon comparison, agrees with the code stored in the electronic module.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the mobile obstructing component includes a bar given a translational movement in the plug in an opening of the plug between the first end of the rotor and the socket of the wrench when the wrench is introduced into the opening.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the bar includes a rack, and further including a pinion gear engaging the rack, and an electric motor driving the pinion gear, connected to the plug, and controlled by the electronic module to move the bar in a direction clearing a passage between the first end of the rotor and the socket of the wrench, when the identification code of the wrench that is read, upon comparison, agrees with the code stored in the electronic module.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the rack extends perpendicular to the rotor, parallel to an upper wall of the plug, and has a recessed part that can be positioned facing the first end of the rotor and the socket of the wrench in an unobstructing position of the rack.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the bar is an electromagnetic bar extending radially with respect to the rotor, having a coil powered by the electronic module to move the bar in a direction clearing a passage between the first end of the rotor and the socket of the wrench, when the identification code of wrench that is read, upon comparison, agrees with the code stored in the electronic module.

7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the bar projects, between the first end of the rotor and the socket of the wrench, a distance from an external peripheral edge of the socket that is at least equal to thickness of the socket.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the means storing an identification code of the wrench is a memory chip with an integrated antenna, connected to the wrench, and coded before attachment to the wrench, and

the code reading means has an antenna for reading the identification code of the wrench by radio frequency waves when the antenna of the chip of the wrench is facing the antenna of the code reading means, upon introduction of the wrench into the opening of the plug, for transmitting a signal that represents the code of the wrench to the electronic module to compare the code read to the code stored in the electronic module and associated with the identification code of the wrench.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein a remote link between the antenna of the chip of the wrench and the antenna of the code reading means use RFID radio frequency identification technology.

10. The device according to claim 1, including a sensor, housed in the opening of the plug for introduction of the wrench into the plug, and connected to the electronic module, for detecting the wrench in the opening of the plug and providing the electronic module with a signal for triggering of a time delay for reading of the identification code of the wrench.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the sensor provides the electronic module with a signal for detection of the wrench in the opening of the plug when the wrench is disconnected from the rotor to enable the electronic module to bring the obstructing components to obstructing position, blocking access to the lock.

12. The device according to claim 1, comprising a sensor for detection of one of the locking and unlocking positions of the lock and a second sensor for detection of one of the open and closed positions of the plug with respect to the frame.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein the memory chip is passive, for reading-writing of information that can be written in the chip when the antenna of the chip is facing the antenna of the reading means, the other information including at least one of duration of unlocking of the lock duration of opening of the plug, identification code of the wrench that opened the plug, date and time of opening of the plug, and charge level of a battery powering electronic module.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the electronic module brings the obstructing component to obstructing position, blocking access to the lock, when one of the first and second sensors detects the closed position of the plug in the frame and locking of the bolt in the keeper, and the first sensor detects the wrench at the opening, after disconnection of the wrench from the lock.

15. The device according to claim 8, wherein the electronic module includes a memory card containing the identification code of the wrench and associated with a PCMCIA reading card containing an antenna for acquisition of a signal including the code of the wrench.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic module is connected to a remote monitoring station communicating with the electronic module to erase a code stored in the electronic module upon loss of the wrench and to receive an abnormality signal from the module, such as an alarm signal indicating that the lock with the bolt does not occupy the locking position after laying of the plug in the frame.

17. The device according to claim 2, wherein

the means storing an identification code of the wrench is a memory chip with an integrated antenna, connected to the wrench, and coded before attachment to the wrench,

the code reading means has an antenna for reading the identification code of the wrench by radio frequency waves when the antenna of the chip of the wrench is facing the antenna of the code reading means, upon introduction of the wrench into the opening of the plug, for transmitting a signal that represents the code of the wrench to the electronic module to compare the code read to the code stored in the electronic module and associated with the identification code of the wrench, and

the opening of the plug emerges into an internal cavity of the plug, at the bottom of which the socket of the wrench can rest and which is partially obstructed by a plate of the plug in which the antenna of the reading means is integrated, facing the antenna of the memory chip of the wrench when the socket located at the bottom of the internal cavity that emerges toward the rotors of the bolt, for movement of the wrench by translation toward the rotor, to engage the socket of the wrench and the rotor.

18. The device according to claim 1, that wherein the electronic module is housed in a casing connected to the plug and embedded in a protective resin.