Device for locking and unlocking a plug on a frame using a wrench

• US 8,132,436 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norinco (EJ Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Norinco (EJ Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dutilleul, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): GALL, LLOYD A
• Application Number:
  US12/337,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20090169299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 70158-173, 70423-428, 70453-455, 704/03, 704/04, 702/782, 702/783, 702/787, 702/77, 702/831, 70D/IG.38, 70D/IG.43, 70D/IG.47, 70D/IG.56, 404/25
• US Class Current: 70/169
• 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 locking device comprising:

a frame having an opening;

a plug that may be placed in the frame, in a closed position of the plug, closing the opening in the frame, and removed from the frame to an opening position of the plug;

a keeper mounted on the frame;

a wrench including means for storing an identification code of the wrench;

a lock having a bolt mounted on the plug, the plug having an opening providing 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 the keeper, to an unlocking position, in which the bolt is disengaged from the keeper;

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

a movable obstructing component that is movable with respect to the plug and that is located in the opening of the plug, wherein the obstructing component,

in an obstructing position, blocks passage of the wrench for operation of the lock by the wrench, and

in an unobstructing position, allows the wrench to be positioned for operating the lock when the identification code of the wrench read by the code reading means agrees with the identification 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 having opposed first and second ends and rotatable about an axis,

the rotor is accessible at the first end through the opening of the plug, and the second end of the rotor pivots the bolt around the axis of the rotor, between a first position, in which the bolt is captured by the keeper, and a second position, in which the bolt is disengaged from the keeper, by movement of the wrench when the socket engaging the engages the first end of the rotor, and

the obstructing component is located in the opening of the plug and, in the obstructing position, blocks the wrench from engaging the rotor, and, in the unobstructing position allows engagement of the wrench with the rotor only when the identification code of the wrench read by the code reading means agrees with the code stored in the electronic module.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the obstructing component includes a translationally movable bar located in the opening of the plug, between the first end of the rotor and the socket of the wrench, when the wrench is in the opening of the plug.

4. The device according to claim 3, further including a pinion gear, and an electric motor mounted on the plug and driving the pinion gear, wherein

the bar includes a rack engaging the pinion gear,

the electric motor is controlled by the electronic module to move the bar so that a passage between the first end of the rotor and the socket of the wrench is unobstructed only when the identification code of the wrench that is read agrees with the identification code stored in the electronic module.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the rack extends perpendicular to the axis of 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 socket has a thickness, 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, the distance being at least equal to the thickness of the socket.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the means storing an identification code of the wrench is a memory chip with an integrated antenna, the memory chip being mounted on the wrench, and

the code reading means has an antenna for reading the identification code of the wrench via radio frequency waves when the antenna of the memory 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 identification code of the wrench, to the electronic module for comparing the identification code read to the code stored in the electronic module.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the antenna of the memory chip of the wrench and the antenna of the code reading means use RFID radio frequency identification technology.

9. The device according to claim 1, including a sensor, housed in the opening of the plug, and connected to the electronic module, for detecting when the wrench is present 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.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the sensor provides the electronic module with a signal upon detection of the wrench within the opening of the plug and when the wrench is disconnected from the rotor so that the obstructing component is moved to the obstructing position, blocking access of the wrench to the lock.

11. The device according to claim 1, comprising

a first sensor detecting when the lock is in one of the locking and unlocking positions, and

a second sensor detecting one of the open position and the closed position of the plug.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the memory chip is writable for writing information into the memory chip when the antenna of the memory chip is facing the antenna of the code reading means, the information including at least one of duration of unlocking of the lock, duration of opening of the plug, the identification code of the wrench that unlocked the lock, date and time of unlocking of the lock, and charge level of a battery powering the electronic module.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the electronic module controls the obstructing component to move to the obstructing position, blocking access to the lock, when

one of the first and second sensors detects that the plug is in the closed position with respect to the frame and that the bolt is captured by the keeper, and

the first sensor detects that the wrench is located at the opening, after disconnection of the wrench from the lock.

14. The device according to claim 7, wherein the electronic module includes a memory card containing the identification code of the wrench.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic module is in communication with a remote monitoring station, the remote monitoring station communicating with the electronic module to erase an identification code stored in the electronic module upon loss of the wrench and to receive an abnormality signal from the electronic module, including an alarm signal indicating that the lock is in the unlocking position after placing of the plug in the frame.

16. 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,

the code reading means has an antenna for reading the identification code of the wrench via radio frequency waves when the antenna of the memory 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 identification code of the wrench to the electronic module to compare the identification code read to the code stored in the electronic module,

the opening of the plug opens into an internal cavity of the plug, the internal cavity of the plug having a bottom in which the socket of the wrench can be placed

the obstructing component includes a plate partially obstructing the socket of the wrench, the plate including the antenna of the code reading means, facing the antenna of the memory chip of the wrench when the socket is located at the bottom of the internal cavity, and

the internal cavity opens toward the rotor of the bolt, for movement of the wrench, by translation, toward the rotor, for engagement of the socket of the wrench with the rotor.

17. The device according to claim 1, including a casing mounted on the plug, wherein the electronic module is housed in the casing and embedded in a protective resin.