MANUALLY AND AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED LOCK IN PARTICULAR FOR ROLLING GATES

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manual­ ly and automatically operated lock in particular for rolling gates, comprising, inside a holding body (1), an electric motor (2) which, through a gear train (3), drives a pair of side rods (4). The lock further comprises a key cylinder which cooperates with an intermediate element of the gear train (3) to disengage, under the control of a key, the kinematic coupling with the motor (2), while holding the kinematic coupling with the side rods (4).

Description: The present invention relates to a manually and automatically operated lock, in particular for rolling gates. As is known, a problem associated with electrical locks in general, is that of allowing for the lock to be manually operated through a conventional key. This problem is at present solved by complex mechanical mechanisms which generally comprise two separated lock driving assemblies,one for actuation by the electric motor and one for actuation by the key. This fact represents a great limitation in the use of automatically operated locks since it is frequently necessary to specifically fit the element to be locked with means allowing these locks to be easily applied: in particular it is not at present possible to fit with electric locks locking elements which have not been at the start designed for this type of application. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aim of the present invention is to solve the hereinabove mentioned problem by providing a manually and automatically operated lock, in particular for rolling gates, which can be operated both manually and automatically, in particular electrically, in a very simple way, without the need of pre-fitting distinct locking means. Within the scope of the above aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a manually and electrically operated lock which is very simple construction-wise and can also be fitted to existing locking systems. Another object of the present invention is to provide such a lock which can be easily and quickly coupled to existing alarm systems and which can be easily made starting from easily available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint. According to one 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 and automatically operated lock, in particular for rolling gates, characterized in that said lock comprises, inside a holding body, an electric motor driving, through a gear train, a pair of side rods, there being moreover provided a key cylinder cooperating with an intermediate element of said gear train, for disengaging, under the control of a key, the kinematic coupling of said electric motor with said side rods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, though not exclusive,embodiment of a manually and automatically operated lock, in particular for rolling gates, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating the lock according to the invention, the closure cover of the lock holding body being removed; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is another cross-sectional view, taken along the line III-III of Figure 1; Figure 4 is another cross-sectional view, taken along the section line IV-IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is another cross-sectional view, illustrating a bush member of an intermediate body of the subject lock; Figure 6 is a plan view illustrating the bush member of the intermediate lock body; Figure 7 is another top plan view illustrating a movable element of said intermediate lock body; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line VIII-VIII of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a top plan view showing a portion of the intermediate element kinematically coupled to the electric motor; and Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the section line X-X of Figure 9. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the figures of the drawings, the manually and automatically operated lock, in particular for rolling gates, according to the invention, comprises, inside a holding body thereof, of substantially box-like shape, and indicated overally at the reference number 1, an electric motor 2 which, advantageously, can also be remotely operated and is provided with an unlocking code, of electronic type, of a high safety type. More specifically, the electric motor 2 is coupled, through a driving or kinematic train, indicated overally at the reference number 3 and which will be disclosed in a more detailed way hereinafter, to a pair of side rods 4, arranged opposite to one another and slidingly associated with the body 1. The kinematic train 3 comprises a small pignon 10, associated with the driving shaft of the electric motor 2, and engaging with a bevel tooth arrangement 11 of a first gear 12 having a reduced diameter spur tooth arrangement 13, engaging with a second gear 14, of greater diameter, engaging with the smaller tooth arrangement of a third gear 15. The first, second and third gears 13, 14 and 15 provide a motor-reducing unit with a high reduction ratio. The third gear 15 engages with an intermediate element, indicated overally at the reference number 20, which comprises a first portion 21, shown in figures 9 and 10, provided with an outer tooth arrangement 22, for coupling with the third gear 15, and being further provided with an inner slot 23 therein there is engaged a movable body 24, clearly shown in figures 7 and 8, which is provided with outer lugs 25 for coupling in rotation with the mentioned bottom portion 21. The lugs 25 can engage with the inner slot 26 of a top element 27 having an outer tooth arrangement 28 therewith there engage respectively a fourth gear 29 and a fifth gear 30 in turn engaging with a first and second gear wheels 31 and 32 respectively, and being provided with eccentric pins 33 which are slidingly housed in cross slots 34 formed on the rods 4 so as to cause said rods 4 to translate as the gear wheels 31 and 32 are rotatively driven. By the disclosed arrangement, as the electric motor is driven through the kinematic train, the rods 4 are caused to translate, by opening and closing displacements, since the movable body of the intermediate element 20 makes the top portion 21 and bottom portion 27 rotatively rigid with one another. Coaxial with the above mentioned intermediate element 20,there is provided a key cylinder 40, which can be a conventional piston type of cylinder, which is so designed that, as the key is introduced thereinto, the movable body 24 is pushed away so as to disengage it from the bottom portion 27, thereby kinematically separating said movable body 24 from the electric motor 2. As the key is engaged, moreover, the kinematic train of the electric motor is disengaged, while holding the kinematic coupling provided by the outer tooth arrangement 28 with the rod driving gear wheels. Inside the portion 27 there is provided a tooth 40', eccentrically arranged, which can be contact engaged by the key, thereby, as the key is turned, also the bottom portion 27 will turn. Moreover, the tooth 40' is provided with a tapering portion 41 which allows for the key to be easily inserted even if the key is arranged, at the start of its introducing movement, at the tooth: in fact, said tapering portion of the tooth operates as a lead-in element which facilitates the slipping of the key on the flank of the tooth thereby allowing for the lock slider to easily rotate as the lock bush is rotated. The inner movable body is so designed as to return to its start position as the key is removed: to this end, there is provided a biassing spring 50 operating between the movable body and top portion 21. Thus, a lock is provided which, while having a single kinematic or operating train, for driving its side rods, can be operated both manually and electrically. To the foregoing it is to be added that, in the case in which the lock is operated by the electric motor, rod end of stroke microswitches will be provided so as to prevent the lock gears from being forced against one another which would occur if mechanical end of stroke elements would be used. Another very important aspect of the invention is that the lock holding body has a very reduced thickness and, accordingly, can be easily applied on rolling gates. Moreover, the fact is to be pointed out that the coupling between the gears and rods is made in such a way that, at the start and end of each stroke, the motor is practically unloaded and, accordingly, can easily reach its operating speed, thereby providing a more efficient operation in its loaded condition. While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims: A manually and automatically operated lock, in particular for rolling gates, characterized in that said lock comprises, inside a holding body (1) thereof, an electric motor (2) driving, through a gear train (3), a pair of side rods (4), there being moreover provided a key lock cylinder (40) cooperating with an intermediate element (20) of said gear train (3) for disengaging, under the control of a key, the kinematic coupling of said electric motor (2) with said side rods (4). A lock according to Claim 1, characterized in that said electric motor (2) is remotely controlled through an electronic control code. A lock according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said gear train (3) comprises a bevel gear associated with said electric motor shaft, engaging with a first gear (12) in turn engaging with a second gear (14) which engages with a third gear (15) so as to provide a high reducing ratio motor reducing unit. A lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said third gear (15) is kinematically coupled with said intermediate element (20) which engages with a fourth (29) and fifth (30) gears in turn engaging with a first (31) and second (32) gear wheel, said gear wheels (31, 32) being kinematically coupled to said rods (4) in order to transform a rotary movement into a translation movement of said rods (4). A lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second gear wheels (31, 32) are respectively provided with an eccentric pin (33) which can be slidingly engaged in a cross slot (34) formed on said rods (4). A lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said intermediate element (20) comprises a bottom portion (21) engaging with said third gear (15) and a top portion (27) engaging with said fourth (29) and fifth (30) gears,said bottom (21) and top (27) portions being adapted to be removably coupled to one another through a movable body (24). A lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bottom portion (21) and said top portion (27) are provided with an inner slotted surface (26) in which said movable body (24), including outer lugs (25), can translate. A lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said key cylinder (40) is coaxially arranged with said intermediate element (20) and said key, as introduced into said key cylinder (40), is adapted to cooperate with said bottom portion (21) in order to rotatively drive it as said key is operated. A lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bottom portion (21) of said intermediate element (20) is provided with a tooth member (40') which can be engaged by contact with said key in order to cause said bottom portion (21) to rotate as said key is turned. A lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tooth member (40') is provided with tapering portions (41) operating as a lead-in element for said key with said tooth member (40') arranged at the introduction zone of said key.

Inventors: FINARDI, IVO
Applicants: PREFER COMMERCIALE S.R.L.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E05B65
IPC codes: E05B47, E05B63