SELF-ALIGNING SAFETY LOCK

• US 20120119523A1
• Filed: 11/15/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Allen-Bradley Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Burdenko, Michael N., Galera, Richard, MacKey, Dennis C., Tambeau, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,562,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/251.5
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/0006 Devices for aligning wing and frame; Anti-rattling devices for vehicle doors E05B83/367
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/2088 Means to prevent disengagement of lock and keeper E05B63/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0073 Current to unlock only
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0076 Current to lock only, i.e. "fail-safe"
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/122 with transverse, i.e. vertically movable bolt or dropbolt E05B63/126 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/16 Devices holding the wing by magnetic or electromagnetic attraction E05C17/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/62 Bolt casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/68 Keepers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/705 Adjustable

Abstract

A safety lock mechanism is provided that facilitates accurate and consistent alignment between a locking bolt and a locking receptacle prior to engaging the locking bolt. To this end, a safety lock configured to mount to a door frame is provided with an internally disposed hard stop that protects the electrical and mechanical components within the safety lock housing from door impact shock. An extended portion of the hard stop protrudes through the housing facing the direction of door travel. A corresponding receptacle assembly configured to mount to the door is fabricated to include a bolt receptacle hole as well as an open window that engages with the extended portion of the hard stop when the door is in the closed position. When the window in the receptacle is engaged with the extended portion of the hard stop, door movement is limited in five directions even when the locking bolt is not yet engaged. An optional magnet embedded in the hard stop can limit door movement in the sixth direction by magnetically latching to a striking plate mounted behind the window. Thus, the window and the hard stop pre-position the receptacle for proper alignment between the locking bolt and the locking bolt receptacle, ensuring that the locking bolt will properly engage with the receptacle when advanced.

Claims

1. A locking system, comprising:

a hard stop configured to reside within a lock housing; and

a receptacle comprising a first plate having a window and a second plate having a bolt receptacle hole configured to receive a locking bolt that advances from the lock housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hard stop has at least one extended segment configured to protrude from at least one surface of the lock housing.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the window is configured to engage with the at least one extended segment, and the bolt receptacle hole is configured to substantially align with the locking bolt while the window is engaged with the extended portion.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the hard stop is disposed within the lock housing and substantially spans from a first wall of the lock housing to a second wall of the lock housing, wherein the second wall is opposite the first wall.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one extended segment has a magnetic latch embedded therein.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first plate configured to mount to a surface, and the second plate is affixed substantially perpendicular to the first plate.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the hard stop is at least one of a separate component from the lock housing or fabricated as part of the lock housing.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the receptacle further comprises a striking plate configured to mount behind the window.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the striking plate is configured to be adjustable in a sideways direction relative to the window.

10. A method for manufacturing a lock and a corresponding receptacle, comprising:

disposing a hard stop within a housing of a bolt-actuated lock;

fabricating a bolt receptacle assembly that includes a window on a first plate and a bolt receptacle hole on a second plate, the bolt receptacle hole configured to receive a bolt that advances from the bolt-actuated lock.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the disposing the hard stop comprises disposing the hard stop such that at least one extended portion of the hard stop projects through at least one surface of the housing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fabricating the bolt receptacle assembly further comprises orienting the window and the bolt receptacle hole such that the bolt receptacle hole substantially aligns with the bolt while the window is engaged with the at least one extended portion of the hard stop.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the disposing the hard stop comprises orienting the hard stop within the housing such that the hard stop spans from a first wall of the housing to a second wall of the housing, the second wall being opposite the first wall.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising embedding at least one magnet within the at least one extended portion of the hard stop.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising fabricating the window to be at least one of a hole or a recessed area shaped to receive the at least one extended portion.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the disposing the hard stop comprises at least one of installing the hard stop within the housing as a separate component from the housing or fabricating the housing and the hard stop to be a single incorporated component.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising mounting a striking plate behind the window such that the magnet adheres to the striking plate through the window while the window is engaged with the at least one extended portion.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising fabricating the striking plate to include at least two slots that allow sideways adjustability of the striking plate with respect to the window, and such that a portion of the striking plate behind the window is narrower than a total width of the striking plate.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising sizing the window such that a clearance between the window and the extended portion of the hard stop is less than a length of engagement between the bolt and the bolt receptacle hole.

20. A system for locking a door, comprising:

means for transmitting impact shock from a first surface of a lock mechanism to a mounting surface of the lock mechanism;

means for receiving a locking bolt that advances from the lock mechanism; and

means for limiting movement of the means for receiving in at least two directions using the means for transmitting.