System for detecting the incomplete closure of the doors of a chamber having at least two superposed doors

• US 4,771,269 A
• Filed: 04/14/1987
• Issued: 09/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Societe Anonyme DBA
• Original Assignee: Jouan
• Inventors: Pasty, Alain, Vaillant, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US07/038,225
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545, 340/547, 340/549, 340/556, 200/61.62, 200/61.64, 200/61.69, 49/13-14, 49/67
• US Class Current: 340/547
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/22 Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/02 Sensors detecting door opening
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/008 Alarm devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for detecting the incomplete closure of the doors of a chamber with at least two doors (14, 16), one an inner door and the other an outer door, arranged one behind the other in front of an orifice of the said chamber and mounted pivotally between an open position and a closed position about two parallel pivot axes (18, 24) respectively.

The detection system comprises an active element (34) capable of causing an action in a particular direction and a sensor element (36) sensitive to the said action, the said elements being fastened one to the inner door (14) and the other to the outer door (16) at a point located opposite the other element, in such a way that the sensor element is in the line of action of the active element only when the two doors are closed correctly.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the incomplete closure of the doors of a chamber with at least two superposed doors, one an inner door (14) and the other an outer door (16), arranged one behind the other in front of an orifice of the said chamber and mounted pivotally between an open position and a closed position about two parallel pivot axes (18, 24) respectively, the pivot axis (24) of the outer door being offset laterally outwards relative to that of the inner door and being raised offset relative to the plane of the inner door, the detection system being characterized in that it comprises an active element (34) capable of generating a detectable signal in a particular direction and a sensor element (36) sensitive to said detectable signal, the said elements being fastened one to the inner door (14) and the other to the outer door (16) such that each element is located opposite the other, in such a way that, when the two doors are closed correctly, the sensor element is in the line of detection of the active element, and, when at least one of the doors is closed incorrectly, the said elements are out of alignment because of the lateral and raised offsets of the two parallel pivot axes, whereby the sensor element is out of the line of detection of the active element, the said sensor element being capable of then generating a signal which actuates an acoustic or luminous alarm device.

2. A detection system according to claim 1, where the inner door (14) is equipped, near the edge opposite the pivot axis (18) of the said door, with a latch (20) actuable by means of a pivoting handle (22), characterized in that the active element (34) is fastened to the said handle at a point offset relative to the pivot axis of the handle.

3. A detection system according to claim 1, where the inner door is equipped with a latch actuable by means of a sliding handle, characterized in that the active element is fastened at any point on the handle.

4. A detection system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the said active element is formed by a magnet (34), and in that the sensor element is formed by a magnetic field detection sensor, for example a Hall-effect relay.

5. A detection system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the active element and the sensor element are formed respectively by a source of luminous, infrared or ultrasonic radiation and by a cell sensitive to the said radiation.