RETAINING MECHANISM FOR TURNSTILES AND THE LIKE

Abstract: Retaining mechanism for turnstiles, full-height rotary gates and the like, and which incorporates a rotatable main shaft (4) with blocking arms (3), whereby means are provided for blocking the motion of the main shaft, the means for blocking the motion of the main shaft (4) being constituted by a mechanical disc brake (5, 6) arranged to be applied by actuation from a motor (7).

Description: RETAINING MECHANISM FOR TURNSTILES AND THE LIKE The present invention refers to a retaining mechanism for turnstiles, full-height rotational gates and similar passage control devices. For passage control, e.g. at public premises, sports arenas, etcetera, turnstiles is a suitable solution, as turnstiles are inexpensive, requires small installation space and allows large passage flows. Rotational gates operates better as a complement to turn¬ stiles in unmanned entrances, as they prevent unpermitted passage. The drawbacks at earlier known turnstiles and other similar passage control devices, such as rotating entrance barriers, swing gates, etcetera, are that the retaining mechanism, which is used, and which most often incorporates catch levers and similar means, adapted to engage in an impact¬ like manner in components cooperating therewith, give a very high sound level in form of a substantial rattle. Furthe ore there is risk for personal injuries as the motion of the movable crossbars of earlier retaining mechanisms are stopped immediately and rigidly. Furthermore earlier retaining mechanisms for such turnstiles and the like are construed from several movable details, which increases the space requirement for the equipment, increases the manufacturing cost and makes repair and maintenance more difficult. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a retain¬ ing mechanism for turnstiles and the like, which is not marred with the drawbacks stated above, but is substantially entirely noise-less, at the same time as its retaining func¬ tion is smooth, and which consists of a few movable ele¬ ments, which reduces the space requirement and manufacturing cost and also gives a more simple repair and maintenance work, and this has been achieved in that the retaining mechanism has been designed in accordance with what is defined in claim 1. Hereinafter the invention will be further described with reference to an embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows in perspective a turnstile of the type in which a retaining mechanism according to the invention is useful. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through a turnstile having a retaining mechanism according to the invention. Fig. 3 shows a sche atical principal presentation over the design and the mode of function of the retaining mechanism according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows in perspective a turnstile 1 having a hub 2, which is rotatable about its shaft, which hub in the example shown supports three blocking arms 3. Fig. 2 shows in cross-section a turnstile 1 with the rotatable hub 2 provided on a surface of the turnstile housing sloping obliquely downwards, and with the blocking arms 3 supported by the hub at an oblique angle, one of which arms is arranged to extend in a common manner substan¬ tially horizontally, thereby blocking the passage between the turnstile 1 and an opposed, not shown, fixed barrier structure, such as a railing, whereas the other two blocking arms are situated in a position pointing obliquely downwards but inside the sloping surface of the housing, thus that they do not form any hinder, and which horizontal blocking arm by rotation of the hub, caused by pressure from the body of a passing person or by a driving motor, can temporarily be brought to unblock the passage, whereby during rotation 120° of the hub, one of the blocking arms earlier pointing downwards is brought to blocking, horizontal position. The hub 2 is fixedly provided on a shaft 4 rotatably supported in the housing, on which shaft is arranged a concentric, fixedly attached brake disc 5, of rather large diameter. In connection to the brake disc 5 there is provided brεϋce blocks 6 cooperating therewith, and the function of which is controlled by an electric motor 7. Fig. 3 shows in a schematic principal drawing the shaft 4 of the hub, which shaft is rotatably supported in a bearing housing 9 applied to the foundation 8 of the turnstile. The shaft 4, which thus supports a brake disc 5, which is fixed¬ ly attached concentrically thereon, is also equipped with a decoding system 10, adapted to be used in a conventional manner for guidance and control of the motion of the turnstile. On a bracket 11 fitted to the foundation 8 there is provided a two-armed brake yoke. This brake yoke has two shanks 13, 14 pivotably supported in the bracket 11 about a common shaft 12, in the embodiment shown, supported by the bracket. The pivot point for the two shanks 13, 14 is situated between the two ends of the shanks. At one end each brake shank carries a pendelum suspended retainer 15 for one brake block 6 each. At the opposite end of each break shank at one 14 of the brake shanks is provided a pendelum nut 16, which cooperates with a threaded spindle 17, which furthermore extends through a threaded through-hole 18 in the other brake shank 13. The two brake blocks 6 in normal, non-braked position, are situated at each side of the brake disc 5 and at a short distance from this at its peripheral portion, and the spindle 17 is driven by the motor 7, which can cause the brake yoke to move the brake blocks 6 in the shanks 13, 14 of the brake yoke, in a tong-like manner in braking contact with the brake disc 5. As the common pivot point 12 for the shanks 13, 14 is situated at a larger distance from the engagement points of the motor spindle 17 than from the retainers 15, supporting the brake blocks 6, it is possible to obtain a very short and exact operation distance for the brake blocks 6. In order to avoid that unsatisfactory braking effect is achieved due to tendencies of elasticity in the shanks of the brake yoke, these are preferably moulded like the brack¬ et. The main shaft 4 is furthermore equipped with a solenoid 19 for releasing, and cooperating means 20, 21 for releasing of hub and blocking arms. However these do not form any part of the proper invention and is therefore illustrated only as squares. Due to the fact that the main shaft of the turnstile - or of the rotary gate - is equipped with a brake disc with large diameter, which mpves in a very narrow slot between two braking blocks controlled by a motor, it is possible to effect braking and blocking of the motion of the main shaft at a very short operation distance, without this causing rattle and other noises but instead a very quiet operation with a smooth but at the same time distinct braking ability. The invention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and described in connection thereto, but modifications and variβtions are possible within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Retaining mechanism for turnstiles, full-height rotary gates and the like, and which incorporates a rotatable main shaft (4) with blocking arms (3), whereby means are provided for blocking the motion of the main shaft, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i , that the means for blocking the motion of the main shaft (4) is constituted by a mechanical disc brake (5, 6) arranged to be applied by actuation from a motor (7). 2. Retaining mechanism as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r 1 i z e d t h e r e i n, that the disc brake incorporates a brake disc (5) mounted concentric on the main shaft (4) and having a substantially larger diameter relative to the main shaft, and that said motor (7) is in driving engagement with a brake yoke (13, 14) arranged to displace brake blocks (6) to and from rubbing contact with a portion of the brake disc (5) near its outer circumference. 3. Retaining mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i , that said motor (7) is in driving engagement with two shanks (13, 14) forming part of said brake yoke, and which are pivotably supported in a position between its different ends about a common axis (12) whereby these shanks support said brake blocks (6) at their ends turned away from the engage¬ ment with the motor (7). 4. Retaining mechanism as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i , that the shanks (13, 14) are pivotably supported about a common axis (12), whereby the distance between this axis (12) and the engagement position for the motor (7) is sub¬ stantially larger than the distance between itself and said brake blocks. 5. Retaining mechanism as claimed in claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i , that the shanks (13, 14) are moulded and supported by a bracket (11) rigidly mounted in a foundation (8) of the turnstile or the like. 6. Retaining mechanism as claimed in anyone of claims 2-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e r e i n, that said motor (7) via a spindle (17) is in driving engage- ment with the two shanks (13, 14) of the brake yoke.

Inventors: HEDSTROEM MARTIN, HEDSTROEM, MARTIN
Applicants: GUNNEBO PROTECTION AB, HEDSTROEM MARTIN, HEDSTROEM, MARTIN
Application year: 1995
Main classification: E06B11
IPC codes: E06B11