Self-locking electronic lock

• US 5,033,282 A
• Filed: 06/06/1990
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Computerized Security Systems, Inc. (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: La Gard, Inc.
• Inventors: Uyeda, Alan K., Gartner, Klaus W., Phillips, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US07/533,896
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 70/277, 70/278, 70/279, 70/280, 70/281, 70/282, 292/169.12
• US Class Current: 70/278.7
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2063/207 Automatic deadlocking
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0603 the detent moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 49/00 Electric permutation locks; Circuits therefor ; Mechanical aspects of electronic locks; Mechanical keys therefor arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; mechanisms including electronic locks actuated by nonmechanical keys such as passive and active electrical keys and other data carriers G07C9/00, G07F7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0075 for safes, strongrooms, vaults, fire-resisting cabinets or the like safes, closures and fastenings therefor E05G
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5274 Combination operable only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]

Abstract

A self-locking electronic lock system is illustrated in association with safe doors having a door locking bolt works manipulated between door open and door locked positions by a door mounted handle. The bolt works includes a link which moves the door bolts and in turn is locked by an electronic lock in accordance with the present disclosure. The elctronic lock has a spring bias bolt normally biased into a locking gate provided on the link and is operated to a withdrawn position by an associated digital input electronic signal generating means. A lost motion connection is provided between an electric motor of the lock and the lock bolt such that the motor withdraws the lock bolt on entry of a correct combination to the digital input means and the lock bolt is biased back into locking engagement with the link gate by operation of an operator closing the safe door and manipulating the door handle to throw the door bolts into engagement with the safe door jamb, the electronic lock bolt automatically locking up with the bolt works link to prevent reopening of the door until the combination is entered again due to the bias of the lock bolt toward the link gate.

Claims

1. A self locking electronic lock for use with a safe door having manually operated bolt works including a door handle, linkage operated by said handle and door bolts operated by said linkage, said linkage having a lock bolt receiving gate whereby said linkage is immobilized when a lock bolt is received in said gate to thereby lock said safe door, said electronic lock comprising:

a biased lock bolt and mounting means for mounting said lock bolt relative said linkage whereby said bolt is normally biased into said linkage gate when aligned thereto in a linkage locking position and biased against said linkage when not aligned to said gate, in a linkage engaging position whereby manipulation of said linkage by said handle to align said gate to said lock bolt causes said lock bolt to automatically enter said gate due to its bias toward such linkage locking position; and

blocking means for normally blocking withdrawal of said bolt from said linkage gate after said bolt has entered said gate.

2. The self locking electronic lock of claim 1 wherein said lock further comprises:

electrically driven means for withdrawing said lock bolt against its bias from said gate on actuation thereof and for thereafter releasing said lock bolt whereby said lock bolt may assume its linkage engaging position if said linkage has been manipulated to move said gate out of alignment with said lock bolt when said lock bolt has been withdrawn therefrom by said electrically driven means, said electrically driven means including release means for releasing said blocking means as it operates to withdraw said bolt.

3. The self locking electronic lock of claim 2 wherein said electrically driven means further comprises:

a lost motion connection with said lock bolt whereby said electrically driven means is operable between a lock bolt withdrawn position and lock bolt released position and said lock bolt may remain in a lock bolt withdrawn position engaging against said linkage when said electrically driven means assumes said lock bolt released position following operation thereof to said lock bolt withdrawn position and said linkage has been manipulated to move said gate out of alignment with said lock bolt;

and said blocking means comprises a leaf spring having a stop surface normally biased into a blocking position relative said lock bolt when it is in said lock bolt released position.

4. The self locking electronic lock of claim 3 wherein said electrically driven means further comprises:

a reversible electric motor having a rotor shaft extending therefrom, said shaft being provided with a threaded portion thereon to engage with said lost motion connection with said lock bolt; and

said blocking means includes an engagement surface adapted to be engaged by a part of said lost motion connection to displace said stop surface from said lock bolt blocking position on operation of said lost motion connection to release said lock bolt.

5. The self locking electronic lock of claim 4 wherein said lost motion connection with said lock bolt comprises:

a slot in said lock bolt and a slide block located in said slot, said block having a threaded bore receiving said rotor shaft, to be moveable in said slot on operation of said motor, said slot having at least one block abutment surface whereby said lock bolt is moved to its withdrawn position by movement of said slide block when said block abuts said surface and releases said lock bolt when moved in said slot away from said abutment surface; and

said engagement surface is provided on a tab integral with said leaf spring and said part of said lost motion connection comprises said slide block which is provided to engage said tab to displace said stop surface from said lock bolt blocking position by said movement of said slide block.

6. An electrically operated lock having a housing and comprising:

a spring biased bolt and mounting means for mounting said bolt to said housing for movement inward and outward of said housing, said bolt being normally biased outwardly of said housing;

an electric motor and connecting means between said motor and bolt for moving said bolt inwardly of said housing against its bias by operation of said motor;

electrical means for selectively operating said motor to move said bolt via said connecting means; and

blocking means for normally blocking inward movement of said bolt after it has moved outward under its bias to impede unauthorized movement of said bolt; and

release means associated with said connecting means and said blocking means to cause said blocking means to release said bolt for authorized inward movement of said bolt when said electrical means selectively operates said motor and connecting means.

7. The electrically operated lock of claim 6 wherein said connecting means comprises:

a lost motion connection between said motor and bolt whereby said bolt is selectively moveable independently of said motor; and

said blocking means comprises a blocking spring member having a stop surface normally biased into a blocking position relative inward movement of said bolt until displaced by deflection of said member.

8. The electrically operated lock of claim 7 wherein:

said motor is a reversible motor having a reversible rotor shaft;

said connecting means includes a slide block and means for providing a lost motion connection between said block and said bolt, said having a drive thread connection to said shaft whereby selective rotation of said shaft causes selective movement of said block relative said bolt;

spring mounting means are provided to position said blocking spring member to be deflected by said slide block as said slide block is moved relative said spring member.

9. The electrically operated lock of claim 6 wherein said electrical means comprises:

a lock combination entry means for receiving entry of a predetermined lock opening combination and a signal generating means operated by said entry means for sending a motor operating signal to said motor to move said bolt when said predetermined combination is entered on said entry means wherein said signal generating means is provided to first operate said motor in a first bolt withdrawal mode to cause movement of said bolt inwardly of said housing, then in a second mode wherein said motor is in a dwell condition and then in third mode wherein said motor is reversed;

said connecting means includes a lost motion connection between said motor and bolt whereby said bolt is movable independently to said motor when said motor has been operated in said third mode; and

said blocking means comprises a blocking spring member having a stop surface normally biased into a blocking position relative inward movement of said bolt until displaced by deflection of said member.

10. The electronic lock of claim 6 wherein said blocking means further comprises:

a stamped metal spring plate having a deflection surface normally positioned to engage a part of said lost motion connection and a left and a right side tongue normally biased in a blocking position relative said bolt;

whereby upon operation of said lost motion connection to release said bolt, said deflection surface is deflected by contact with said lost motion connection and said left and right side tongues are displaced from said bolt blocking position.

11. The electronic lock of claim 10 wherein:

said blocking means spring plate is rigidly mounted to a mounting surface within said lock housing; and

said deflection surface and said left and right side tongues depend from the plane of said mounting surface.

12. A self locking electronic lock system for use with safe doors having a door locking bolt works manipulated between door open and door locked positions by a door mounted handle, said lock system comprising:

an electronic lock combination entry means for receiving a predetermined lock opening combination and signal generating means for generating an electrical signal when said lock opening combination is entered;

a lock bolt and means for mounting said lock bolt for movement into and out of a bolt works locking position;

electric motor means operable by said signal and connecting means between said motor and bolt for moving said bolt on operation of said motor; and

blocking means for normally blocking unauthorized movement of said lock bolt out of said bolt works locking position, said blocking means being operable to allow movement of said lock bolt out of said bolt works locking position only when said electric motor means is operated by said signal and said connecting means is operated to move said bolt.

13. The electronic lock system of claim 12 wherein said connecting means includes a lost motion connection between said motor and lock bolt;

biasing means are provided for biasing said lock bolt toward said bolt works locking position; and

said blocking means comprise a blocking spring member having a stop surface normally biased into a blocking position relative inward movement of said bolt until displaced by deflection of said member.

14. The electronic lock system of claim 13 wherein said bolt works includes a lock bolt receiving gate provided in a bolt engaging surface;

said means for mounting said lock bolt mounts said bolt to be normally biased against said bolt engaging surface when said bolt works is in a door open position and automatically into said gate when said bolt works is manipulated to said door locked position; and

said blocking means operates automatically to block withdrawal movement of said bolt relative said gate when said bolt works is manipulated to said door locked position and said bolt automatically enters said gate.

15. An electronic door lock for use with a human passage door having a spring biased cam bolt which deflects inwardly of the door on closing of the door relative an associated door jamb and which moves under its spring bias into a bolt receiving receptacle in the jamb when the door is in its closed position, said electronic door lock comprising:

electrical motor means for withdrawing said cam bolt against its bias inwardly of said door and out of said receptacle on actuation thereof;

an electronic code entry means on an accessible side of said door for manual entry of a predetermined code; and

circuit board means electrically connected to said code entry means and to said electrical motor means for actuating said motor means to withdraw said cam bolt from said receptacle upon entry of said predetermined code via said code entry means.

16. The electronic door lock of claim 15 wherein said electrical motor means for withdrawing said cam bolt comprises:

a reversible electric motor having a threaded motor driven shaft engaging said cam bolt whereby rotation of said motor in a first direction withdraws said cam bolt and rotation in a second direction releases said cam bolt.

17. The electronic door lock of claim 16 wherein:

a lost motion connection is provided between said motor driven shaft and said bolt whereby said cam bolt is free to move inwardly and outwardly of said door when said motor is rotated in said second direction to release said bolt.

18. The electronic door lock of claim 16 wherein said circuit board means is provided so as to rotate said motor in said first direction and then in said second direction upon a single entry of said predetermined code.

19. An electrically operated spring bolt lock for controlled access door having a fixed handle which is not connected to said bolt, comprising:

a cam bolt and means for mounting it in said door for movement inwardly and outwardly of said door;

spring means for normally biasing said bolt outwardly of said door;

electrically driven means for moving said bolt inwardly of said door against the bias of said spring means for a given time interval to allow opening of said door by said fixed handle and for releasing said bolt after the expiration of said time interval; and

code entry means for actuating said electrically driven means upon entry therein of a predetermined code.

20. The electrically operated spring bolt lock of claim 19 wherein said electrically driven means comprises:

a lost motion connection with said cam bolt whereby said cam bolt is moveable inwardly of said door to allow closing of said door when released by said electrically driven means.

21. The electrically operated spring bolt lock of claim 20 wherein said electrically driven means further comprises:

a reversible electric motor having a motor shaft connected via said lost motion connection with said cam bolt whereby rotation of said motor in a first direction withdraws said bolt inwardly of said door and subsequent reverse rotation in a second direction releases said bolt to be free to move under its spring bias inwardly and outwardly of said door as said door is closed against an associated door jamb.

22. The electrically operated spring bolt lock of claim 19 wherein:

means are provided for mounting said code entry means on an exterior accessible side of said door;

a lock housing is provided on an interior non-accessible side of said door; and

mounting means are provided for mounting said electrically driven means, cam bolt and spring means within said housing, said cam bolt being moveable to protrude from said housing and door.

23. An automatically operated electronically controlled door unlocking and locking system comprising:

a bolt having a cam end face and means for mounting said bolt for movement inwardly and outwardly of said door with said cam end face opposing an adjacent door jamb as said door is closed;

spring biasing means for biasing said bolt outwardly of said door, while allowing deflective movement of said bolt inwardly of said door as it is closed relative said jamb, whereby said bolt is receivable in a receptacle in said jamb;

an electric motor and connecting means between said motor and bolt for moving said bolt inwardly of said door against its bias by operation of said motor to a bolt withdrawn position and for releasing said bolt to a bolt protracted position; and

electrical means, including a code entry means for entry of a predetermined code, for operating said motor to initially withdraw said bolt inwardly of said door on entry of said code to allow opening of said door and automatically, subsequent thereof, to release said bolt.

24. The automatically operated electrically controlled door unlocking and locking system of claim 23 wherein said door is provided with a fixed handle and said connecting means comprises:

a lost motion connection between said motor and said bolt whereby operation of said bolt independently of said motor is available as said door is being closed and said bolt deflects past said door jamb and said door may be opened by pulling on said fixed handle when said bolt is withdrawn by operation of said electrical means.

25. The electrically operated spring bolt lock of claim 24 wherein a housing is provided interiorly of said door and in which said bolt and means for mounting said bolt are provided and said electrical means comprises:

means for mounting said code entry means on an exterior, accessible side of said door;

circuit board means providing electrical circuitry to operate said motor upon entry of said predetermined code; and

means for mounting said circuit board within said housing.