ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED SWITCH COMBINATED OPERATING DEVICE FOR PERMITTING OPERATION OF LATCHES AND OTHER MECHANISMS

• US 3,641,396 A
• Filed: 05/21/1970
• Issued: 02/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emergency Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: Charles R. Benson, Dale J. Kossen, Richard W. Foster
• Inventors: Kossen, Dale J., Foster, Richard W., Benson, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moose, Jr., Harry E.
• Application Number:
  US05/039,470
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 317/134 70/278
• US Class Current: 361/172
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]

Abstract

A plurality of normally off, pushbutton secure switches are located at an outer side and a same plurality of presettable, multiple positionable, secure switches are located at an inner side of a door guarded by a latch, with the first nonsecure switch being electronically connected through a set-reset flipflop to the first position of all of the secure switches, the second nonsecure switch through a set-reset flip-flop to the second position of all of the secure switches and so forth. The output of each of the secure switches is connected to the input of an AND gate and the output of all of the AND gates are connected to the inputs of an OR gate, with the output of the OR gate and the other inputs of all of the AND gates being connected to an electronic counter formed by a plurality of toggle or clocked flip-flops. The output of the counter is connected through an AND gate of an electric solenoid circuit which is normally blocked from actuating the solenoid by a transistor, the transistor when driven to a conducting state permitting actuation of the solenoid. A timer circuit, including inverters, transistors, and AND gate, and other electronic components, is connected to the inputs of all of the secure switches through an OR gate and is also connected to the counter beginning an electronic timing upon predetermined correct momentary operation of one of the nonsecure switches to limit the total amount of time that the nonsecure switches can be correctly operated in proper sequence to finally permit energization of the electric solenoid. Thus, with the electrical circuitry including the electronic components, the secure switches may be set to any combination of multiple settings which determines the required sequence of operations of one or more of the nonsecure switches, the secure switches in their connection in the circuit requiring transmission therethrough in order or sequence. In the sequence of operation of the nonsecure switches does not follow the order of secure switches, the entire circuitry is reset to starting position including the timer circuit and if the time period of the timer circuit expires the entire circuitry is reset, thereby requiring exact operation of the nonsecure switches within a determined time period in order to energize the solenoid. The solenoid is mounted blocking operation of the latch guarding the door so that when the solenoid is energized, the latch can be operated and the door opened.

Claims

1. In an electrically actuated switch combinated operating device for permitting operation of certain mechanisms;

the combination of;

a plurality of selectively operable nonsecure switches capable of location operable by a person seeking to operate an operating device;

a plurality of multiple positionable and presettable secure switches capable of location nonaccessible to said person during said nonsecure switch operation by said person, said secure switches each being preset to a selected one of said multiple positions of that said secure switch;

an electrically actuated device operable upon electrical power being directed thereto; and

electrical circuit means including electronic component means and reset means, said electrical circuit means being operably connected to all of said nonsecure and secure switches and said electrically actuated device, said electrical circuit means through said electronic component means being sensitive to an exact required predetermined sequential operation of at least certain of said nonsecure switches as directly determined by said preset selected positions of all of said secure switches and through said secure switches as a result of initiation and complete carrying through of said exact required predetermined sequential certain nonsecure switch operation permitting through said electronic component means direction of electrical power to said electrically actuated device, said reset means being integrated into said electrical circuit means sensitive to operation of any of said nonsecure switches other than said operation of said certain nonsecure switches in said exact predetermined sequential operation fOr resetting said electrical circuit means to require reinitiation and complete carrying through of said operation of said certain nonsecure switches in said exact predetermined sequential operation before said permitting of said direction of electrical power to said electrically actuated device upon any of said nonsecure switches being operated other than said operation of said certain nonsecure switches in said exact predetermined sequential operation.

2. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 1 in which timer means is operably connected into said electrical circuit means for energization upon said exact required predetermined sequential operation of a first of said certain nonsecure switches in said sequence and always limiting the maximum amount of time thereafter during which a remainder of said certain nonsecure switches may be operated according to said exact required predetermined sequential operation and said electrical power may be directed to said electrically actuated device regardless of which of said nonsecure switches are operated after said energization, said timer means overriding said electrical circuit means sensitivity at lapse of said maximum time and preventing said direction of said electrical power to said electrically actuated device.

3. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said electrically actuated device is an electrically actuated solenoid device operably connected to a latch mechanism normally blocking operation of said latch mechanism to withdraw a bolt thereof in nonactuated position, said solenoid device being actuated upon electrical power being directed thereto and moved to a latch nonblocking position permitting bolt withdrawing operation of said latch.

4. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said electrical circuit means includes electrical circuits connecting each one of said nonsecure switches to one of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches, each of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches being connected to a different of said nonsecure switches, a plurality of first electronic component means forming a part of said electronic component means with there being a different of said first electronic component means connected to an output of each of said secure switches, at least one second electronic component means forming a part of said electronic component means connected to outputs of all of said first electronic component means and actionable upon actuation of all of said first electronic component means, said first electronic component means requiring through said selected positioning of said secure switches operation of said certain nonsecure switches in said predetermined sequence for said actuation of all of said first electronic component means, said second electronic component means upon actuation thereof permitting said direction of said electrical power to said electrically actuated device;

and in which said first electronic component means are constructed and arranged permitting said predetermined sequence of operation of said certain nonsecure switches to include multiple operation of any of said nonsecure switches as determined by said selected positioning of said secure switches.

5. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said electrical circuit means includes electrical circuits connecting each one of said nonsecure switches to one of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches, each of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches being connected to a different of said nonsecure switches, a plurality of first electronic component means forming a part of said electronic component means, there being at least one of said first electronic component means for each of said secure switches and having an input thereof connected to that particular of said secure switcHes, at least one second electronic component means forming a part of said electronic component means and having an input thereof connected to outputs of all of said first electronic component means, said reset means including third electronic component means connected to other inputs of all of said first electronic component means and an output of said second electronic component means, said second electronic component means requiring actuation of all of said first electronic component means for actuation thereof, actuation of said second electronic component means through said reset means third electronic component means permitting said direction of said electrical power to said electrically actuated device, said reset means third electronic component means requiring actuation of said first electronic component means through said secure switches by operation of said certain nonsecure switches in said predetermined sequence and automatically returning all of said electronic component means to original nonactuated condition upon operation of any of said nonsecure switches including said certain and any other of said nonsecure switches out of said predetermined sequence.

6. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said electrical circuit means includes electrical circuits connecting each one of said nonsecure switches to one of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches, each of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches being connected to a different of said nonsecure switches, a plurality of first electronic component means forming a part of said electronic component means, there being at least one of said first electronic component means for each of said secure switches and having an input thereof connected to that particular of said secure switches, at least one second electronic component means forming a part of said electronic component means and having an input thereof connected to outputs of all of said first electronic component means said reset means including third electronic component means connected to other inputs of all of said first electronic component means and an output of said second electronic component means, said second electronic component means requiring actuation of all of said first electronic component means for actuation thereof, actuation of said second electronic component means through said reset means third electronic component means permitting said direction of said electrical power to said electrically actuated device, said reset means third electronic component means requiring actuation of said first electronic component means through said secure switches by operation of said certain nonsecure switches in said predetermined sequence and returning all of said electronic component means to original nonactuated condition upon operation of any of said nonsecure switches including said certain and any other of said nonsecure switches out of said predetermined sequence, timer means connected to said secure switches actionable upon a correct sequential operation of a first of said certain nonsecure switches in said sequence for determining a maximum period of time upon actuation thereof and returning all of said electronic component means to nonactuated conditions upon expiration of said maximum period of time regardless of which of said nonsecure switches are operated after said timer means actuation by said correct sequential operation of said first of said certain nonsecure switches in said sequence.

7. In an electrically actuated switch combinated operating device for permitting operation of certain mechanisms;

the combination of;

a plurality of selectively operable nonsecure switches capable of location operable by a person seeking to operate an operating device;

a plurality of multiple positionable and presettable secure switches capable of location nonaccessible to said person during said nonsecure switch operation by said person, said secure switches each beiNg preset to a selected one of said multiple positions of that said secure switch;

an electrically actuated device operable upon electrical power being directed thereto;

first electrical circuit means including electronic component means, said first electrical circuit means being operably connected to each of said nonsecure and secure switches;

second electrical circuit means operably connected to said first electrical circuit means and said electrically actuated device, said second electrical circuit means including blocking means normally interrupting a flow of electrical power therein and to said electrically actuated device when nonenergized and permitting said flow of said electrical power therein and to said electrically actuated device when energized;

said first electrical circuit means through said electronic component means permitting energization of said second circuit blocking means only upon an initiation and complete carrying through of an exact required predetermined sequential operation of at least certain of said nonsecure switches as directly determined by said preset selected positions of said secure switches; and

reset means operably connected to at least one of said first and second electrical circuit means and being sensitive to operation of any of said nonsecure switches other than said operation of said certain nonsecure switches in said exact predetermined sequential operation for resetting said electronic component means of said first electrical circuit means to require reinitiation and complete carrying through of said operation of said certain nonsecure switches in said exact predetermined sequential operation before said permitting of said energization of said second circuit blocking means upon any of said nonsecure switches being operated other than said operation of said certain nonsecure switches in said exact predetermined sequential operation.

8. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 7 in which timer means is operably connected to certain of said first and second electrical circuit means for energization of said timer means upon operation of a correct first of said certain nonsecure switches in said sequence said timer means upon energization thereof limiting the maximum period of time during which said second circuit blocking means may be energized permitting said flow of said electrical power to said electrically actuated device regardless of which of said nonsecure switches are operated after said energization, said timer means upon lapse of said maximum period of time preventing any of said flow of said electrical power to said electrically actuated device.

9. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 7 in which said electrically actuated device includes an electrically actuated solenoid device operable upon electrical power being directed thereto, said electrically actuated solenoid device being positioned normally blocking operation of a latch to withdraw an extended bolt thereof and being free of blocking operation of said latch to withdraw said extended bolt upon operation thereof by said electrical power being directed thereto.

10. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 7 in which said first electrical circuit means includes electrical circuits connecting each of a plurality of said nonsecure switches to one of said multiple positions of each of a plurality of said secure switches, each of said multiple positions of said secure switches connected to said nonsecure switches being connected to a different of said nonsecure switches for that particular of said secure switches, said electronic component means including a plurality of electronic component means, certain of said electronic component means being connected each to a different one of said secure switches and being actionable through said secure switches by said operation of said certain nonsecure switches in said predetermined sequence, other of saId electronic component means forming said reset means and being connected to said certain electronic component means and requiring actuation of said certain electronic component means in a predetermined sequence for energization of said second circuit blocking means through said other electronic component means upon actuation of all of said certain electronic means, said other electronic component means interrupting said first electrical circuit means and returning all of said certain electronic component means to original nonactuated conditions upon any actuation of any of said certain electronic component means not in said predetermined sequence.

11. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 7 in which said first electrical circuit means includes electrical circuits connecting each of said nonsecure switches to one of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches, each of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches being connected to a different of said nonsecure switches, said electronic component means including a plurality of first electronic component means and a plurality of second electronic component means, each of said first electronic component means being connected to a different of said secure switches and being actionable through said secure switches by said operation of said certain nonsecure switches as directly determined by said preset selected positions of said secure switches, said second electronic component means forming said reset means and being connected to each of said first electronic component means and requiring actuation of said first electronic component means in a predetermined sequence for actuation of said second electronic component means, said second electronic component means upon actuation thereof permitting said energization of said second circuit blocking means and said flow of said electrical power to said electrically actuated device, said second electronic component means upon actuation of any of said first electronic component means out of said predetermined sequence returning all of said electronic component means to original nonactuated condition effectively preventing said energization of said second circuit blocking means, timer means operably connected to said first electronic component means actuated by an actuation of an initial of said first electronic component means through operation of a correct first of said certain nonsecure switches in said sequence, said timer means upon initial actuation thereof thereafter determining a maximum period of time within which said energization of said second circuit blocking means may be permitted and returning all of said electronic component means to original nonactuated condition upon said period of time expiring regardless of which of said nonsecure switches are operated after said timer means initial actuation.

12. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 7 in which said first electrical circuit means includes electrical circuits connecting each of said nonsecure switches to one of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches, each of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches being connected to a different of said nonsecure switches, said electronic component means including a plurality of first electronic component means and a plurality of second electronic component means, each of said first electronic component means being connected to a different of said secure switches and being actionable through said secure switches by said operation of said certain nonsecure switches as directly determined by said preset selected positions of said secure switches, said second electronic component means forming said reset means and being connected to each of said first electronic component means and requiring actuation of said first electronic component means in a predetermined sequence for actuation of said second electronic component means, said second electronIc component means upon actuation thereof permitting said energization of said second circuit blocking means and said flow of said electrical power to said electrically actuated device, said second electronic component means upon actuation of any of said first electronic component means out of said predetermined sequence returning all of said electronic component means to original nonactuated condition effectively preventing said energization of said second circuit blocking means;

and in which said second circuit blocking means includes electronic blocking means normally electronically blocking said flow of electrical power therein and to said electrically actuated device when nonenergized and permitting said flow of said electrical power therethrough and to said electrically actuated device when energized.

13. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 7 in which said first electrical circuit means includes electrical circuits connecting each of said nonsecure switches to one of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches, each of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches being connected to a different of said nonsecure switches, said electronic component means including a plurality of first electronic component means and a plurality of second electronic component means, each of said first electronic component means being connected to a different of said secure switches and being actionable through said secure switches by said operation of said certain nonsecure switches as directly determined by said preset selected positions of said secure switches, said second electronic component means forming said reset means and being connected to each of said first electronic component means and requiring actuation of said first electronic component means in a predetermined sequence for actuation of said second electronic component means, said second electronic component means upon actuation thereof permitting said energization of said second circuit blocking means and said flow of said electrical power to said electrically actuated device, said second electronic component means upon actuation of any of said first electronic component means out of said predetermined sequence returning all of said electronic component means to original nonactuated condition effectively preventing said energization of said second circuit blocking means, timer means operably connected to said first electronic component means actuated by an actuation of an initial of said first electronic component means through operation of a correct first of said certain nonsecure switches in said sequence, said timer means upon initial actuation thereof thereafter determining a maximum period of time within which said energization of said second circuit blocking means may be permitted and returning all of said electronic component means to original nonactuated condition upon said period of time expiring regardless of which of said nonsecure switches are operated after said timer means initial actuation;

and in which said second circuit blocking means is electronic blocking means normally electronically blocking said flow of electrical power therethrough and to said electrically actuated device when nonenergized and permitting said flow of said electrical power therethrough and to said electrically actuated device when energized.

14. An electrically actuated switch combinated operating device as defined in claim 7 in which said first electrical circuit means includes electrical circuits connecting each of said nonsecure switches to one of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches, each of said multiple positions of each of said secure switches being connected to a different of said nonsecure switches, said electronic component means including a plurality of first electronic component means and a plurality of second electronic component means, each of said first electronic component means being connected to a different of said secure switChes and being actionable through said secure switches by said operation of said certain nonsecure switches as directly determined by said preset selected positions of said secure switches, said second electronic component means forming said reset means and being connected to each of said first electronic component means and requiring actuation of said first electronic component means in a predetermined sequence for actuation of said second electronic component means, said second electronic component means upon actuation thereof permitting said energization of said second circuit blocking means and said flow of said electrical power to said electrically actuated device, said second electronic component means upon actuation of any of said first electronic component means out of said predetermined sequence returning all of said electronic component means to original nonactuated condition effectively preventing said energization of said second circuit blocking means, timer means operably connected to said first electronic component means actuated by an actuation of an initial of said first electronic component means through operation of a correct first of said certain nonsecure switches in said sequence, said timer means upon initial actuation thereof thereafter determining a maximum period of time within which said energization of said second circuit blocking means may be permitted and returning all of said electronic component means to original nonactuated condition upon said period of time expiring regardless of which of said nonsecure switches are operated after said timer means initial actuation;

in which said second circuit blocking means is electronic blocking means normally electronically blocking said flow of electrical power therethrough and to said electrically actuated device when nonenergized and permitting said flow of said electrical power therethrough and to said electrically actuated device when energized; and

in which said electrically actuated device includes an electrically actuated solenoid device operable upon electrical power being directed thereto, said electrically actuated solenoid device being positioned normally blocking operation of a latch to withdraw an extended bolt thereof and being free of blocking operation of said latch to withdraw said extended bolt upon operation thereof by said electrical power being directed thereto.