Manually or automatically operated lock in particular for rolling gates

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manually or automatically operated lock, for closures in general and in particular for rolling gates, characterized in that said lock comprises, inside a holding body (1), an electric motor driving, through a gear chain (3), a side rod pair. Moreover, a key cylinder is provided which cooperates with a middle element of the gear chain (3) for disengaging, as a key is operated, the kinematic coupling with the driving electric motor (2) in order to cause a movable body (1) arranged between the two elements forming the middle element, to translate.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a manually or automatically operated lock for closures in general and, in particular, for rolling gates, according to the preamble of claim 1 As is known, a desiderable feature for the so-called electric locks is that these locks should be also manually operated, by means of a conventional lock key. At present, for this purpose there are conventionally used rather complex lock constructions which comprise two separated driving assemblies which can be respectively actuated by an electric motor and a key. This fact severily limits the use possibilities of automatically operated locks since it is necessary to arrange, at the installation time, the element to be closed so as to allow the application of these types of locks and, accordingly, it is not possible to apply electric locks to closure assemblies which have not been designed from the start for such an use. The document DE-A-3 606 620 discloses a manually or automatically operated lock having the features of the pre-characterizing portion of the main claim. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a lock which can be operated either manually or automatically, for closure assemblies in general and for rolling gates in particular, which affords the possibility of indifferently using either a manual operation or an electric cutomatic operation of the lock, without the need of providing discrete closing means, but which remarkably simplify the construction of the lock so as to provide a flexible lock which can also be applied to existing rolling gates. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a lock which can also be connected to an alarm system so as to enhance the safety characteristics thereof and which can be easily made starting from easily available elements and materials. According to an aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a manually or automatically operated lock for closures in general and for rolling gates in particular, having the features of the characterizing part of the main claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of a manually and automatically operated lock,for closures in general and rolling gates in particular, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a schematic view of the lock according to the invention the cover of the holding body of the lock being removed; Figures 2 is a cross-sectional view substant- ially taken along the line II-II of figure 1; Figure 3 is another cross-sectional view of the lock according to the invention, substantially taken along the line III-III of figure 1; Figure 4 is a further cross-sectional view of the lock according to the invention, substantially taken along the line IV-IV of figure 1; Figure 5 is a top plan view showing the top portion of a middle element included in the lock according to the invention; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of figure 5; Figure 7 is a top plan view illustrating a movable element included in the middle element or body; Figure 8 is a further cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line VIII-VIII of figure 7; Figure 9 is a further top plan view showing the bottom portion of the middle element, which portion is operatively coupled to an electric motor; and Figure 10 is a further cross-sectional view substantially taken along the line X-X of figure 9. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the manually and automatically operated lock, for closures in general and rolling gates in particular, according to the present invention,has the main feature of comprising, inside a box-like holding body of the lock, which holding body has been overally indicated at the reference number 1, an electric motor 2 which, optionally, can be remotely controlled, and is provided with an opening code with a high safety electronic digital coding arrangement. As shown, the electric motor 2 is coupled, through a kinematic chain or train, overally indicated at the reference number 3, and which will be disclosed in a more detailed way hereinafter, to a pair of opposite side rods 4 which are slidably associated with the body 1. The kinematic chain or train 3 comprises a pinion 10, engaged with the shaft of the electric motor 2, which pinion meshes with a bevel tooth arrangement 11 of a first gear 12 provided with a reduced diameter cylindrical tooth arrangement 13 which, in turn, meshes with a second gear 14 having a smaller diameter tooth arrangement and engaging with the larger diameter tooth arrangement of a third gear 15. In this connection it should be apparent that the first, second and third gears 12, 14 and 15 practically provide a movement reducing unit, with a high reduction ratio. The third gear 15 engages with a middle element, overally indicated at the reference number 20, which comprises a bottom portion 21, shown in figures 9 and 10, provided with an outer tooth arrangement 22 for coupling with the third gear 15, and an inner groove 23 in which there is engaged a movable body 24, clearly shown in figures 7 and 8, which is provided with outer projections 25 having shapes which mate with the inner groove or slot 23 so that said movable body can be made rotatively rigid with the mentioned bottom portion 21. The projections 25 engage with an inner groove or slot 26 of a top element 27 provided with an outer tooth arrangement 28, with which respectively engage a fourth gear 29 and a fifth gear 30 in turn engaging with a first and second gear wheels, indicated at 31 and 32, which are provided with eccentric pins 33 slidably housed in cross slots 34 formed on the rods 4 so as to cause said rods 4 to be translated as the gear wheels 31 and 32 turn. Owing to the disclosed coupling arrangement, as the electric motor is actuated, the rods are caused, through the mentioned kinematic chain, to perform opening and closing movements, since the movable body of the middle element 20 rigidly connects, during the rotary movement, the bottom portion 21 and top portion 27. Coaxially arranged with the mentioned middle element 20, there is provided a key cylinder 40 which can be a conventional piston type of cylinder, which is so designed that, as a key is operated, the movable body 24 is pushed against the counterbiassing force of the spring 51 which causes the movable body 24 to disengage from the bottom portion 21 and, accordingly, kinematically disengages said body from the electric motor. As the key is introduced into the lock cylinder, it causes the electric motor to be disengaged, while holding the kinematic coupling arrangement provided by the outer tooth arrangement with the rod operating gear wheels. On the bottom of the movable body 24 there is provided a slot 50 into which the key can be introduced, so that as the key is turned, the movable body will be also turned and, accordingly, the top portion 27. To the foregoing it should be moreover added that the tooth arrangement coupling the bottom portion, top portion and movable body are provided at their axial end portion with tapering parts provided for facilitating the mutual connection thereof, while absolutely preventing jams from occurring during the return movement. The movable body 24 is so designed as to return to its starting position as the key is removed, said movable body being pushed by the counterbiassing spring 51 operating between said movable body and top portion. From the above disclosure it should be apparent that a lock has been provided which, while having a single kinematic chain for operating the side rods, can be operated either manually or electrically. To the foregoing it should be added that, in the case of an operation by the motor, the several gears must not be forced one against the other as it should happen if the end of stroke element would be of a mechanical nature. Another important aspect of the present invention is that the lock holding body or housing has a very small thickness and, accordingly, it is very suitable for an application to rolling gates. The fact is to be moreover pointed out that the connection between the gears and rods is made so that at the start and end of its stroke, the electric motor is not subjected to any load and, accordingly, it will provide a very efficient operation in a loaded condition.

Claims: A manually or automatically operated lock for closures in general and for rolling gates in particular, said lock comprising a holding body (1) including an electric motor (2) adapted to drive with a translation movement, through the interposition of a gear chain (3), a pair of opposite rods (4) there being moreover provided a key cylinder (40) cooperating with a middle element (20) of said gear chain (3) and being adapted to disengage, as it is operated through a key, the kinematic coupling with said electric motor (2) for the translation of a movable body (24), said rods (4) being held kinematically coupled with the gears of said gear chain, said gear chain comprising a bevel gear (10) associated with the shaft of said electric motor (2), and meshing with a first gear (12) in turn meshing with a second gear (14), which engages with a third gear (15) so as to provide a movement reducing unit, said third gear (15) being kinematically coupled with said middle element (20) in turn engaging with a fourth (29) and afifth (30) gear, meshing with a first (31) and second (32) gear wheels respectively, which are kinematically coupled to said rods (4), for transforming a rotary motion into a translation motion of said rods, characterized in that said middle element (20) is provided with a bottom portion (21) and a top portion (27), said bottom portion (21) and top portion (27) being mounted together on the same axis of rotation, said bottom portion (21) engaging with said third gear (15) and said top portion (27) engaging with said fourth (29) and fifth gears (30), that said bottom (21) and top (27) portions are provided, on their inner surfaces, with slots (23, 26) therein can be slidably engaged said movable body (24), said movable body being provided with mating outer projections (25) so that the movable body rigidly connects the bottom portion 21 with the top portion 27, and that said key cylinder (40) is coaxially arranged with respect to said middle element (30) as the key is introduced into said cylinder said key causing the movable body to be pushed to disengage from the bottom portion and thereby kinematically disengage said body from the electric motor (2), so that as said key is turned said movable body (24) is also turned and the top portion thereof and the said rods can be manually operated. A lock according to Claim 1, characterized in that said movable body (24) is provided with a bottom slot (50′) for removably housing an end portion of said key. A lock according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said lock further comprises a biassing spring (50) adapted to resiliently push said movable body (24) so as to hold it engaged with said top (27) and bottom (21) portions, the biassing force of said spring (50) being overcome as said key is introduced into said lock in order to cause said movable body (24) to exclusively engage with said top portion (27). A lock according to Claim 1, characterized in that said first (31) and second (32) gear wheels are each provided with an eccentrical pin (33) slidably engaged in a cross slot (34) formed on said rods (4). A lock according to Claim 1, characterized in that said electric motor (2) can be remotely controlled through an electronic digital coding arrangement.

Inventors: FINARDI IVO, FINARDI, IVO
Applicants: PREFER COMMERCIALE SRL, PREFER COMMERCIALE S.R.L.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E05B47
IPC codes: E05C9, E05B47