LOCKING DEVICE

Abstract: A locking device comprises a disc member (7) pivotally journalled in a frame (1), a seat (8) being provided in the disc member (7) between a front portion (9) and a stop portion (10) of the disc member (7), said seat (8) receiving a catch device. The frame is incorporated into a house (2, 3) having a front wall (20) that terminates in an opening (17) of the house, said opening (17) receiving the catch device, said front wall (20) having a slot (21), in which the front portion (9) of the disc member (7) is movable between opening and locking positions. A retaining element that is pivotally journalled in the frame (1) is actuated by a spring that strives to carry the element to engagement with a shoulder of the disc member in order to lock said disc member in a locking position. The retaining element co-operates with a locking means (4) that together with the frame (1) is incorporated into the house.

Description: LOCKING DEVICE Technical Field of the Invention This invention relates to a locking device comprising a disc member pivotally joumalled between two plates of a frame, a seat being provided in said disc member between a front por¬ tion and a stop portion, for receiving a catch device, said disc member co-operating with a retaining mechanism that in a first state secures the disc member in a first, locking posi- tion in which said front portion prevents the catch device from leaving the seat and in a second state allows the disc member to pivot to a second, opening position in which the catch device is allowed to be released from the seat, said disc mem¬ ber being returnable from its opening position to its locking position by bringing the catch device to hit said stop portion, and said retaining mechanism comprising a retaining element which is pivotally joumalled relative to the frame plates, and actuated by at least one spring that constantly strives to carry the element to engagement with a shoulder of the disc member in order to lock said disc member in the locking posi¬ tion. Prior Art A locking device, especially designed for gates, of the type described above is previously known from GB 347 958. In this known locking device the retaining mechanism comprises a finger that at a lower end is pivotally connected with a bar projecting through a hole in a gate post, said bar being manu¬ ally operated from the rear side of the post in order to com- press a spring in connection with the opening of the locking device. A benefit of this locking device is that iz is auto¬ matically locked when a catch device mounted on the pivoting gate hits the stop portion cf the disc member in connection with the closing of the gate. Simultaneously the locking device also brings about an elevation of the catch device when the locking device is locked. However, a serious disadvantage of the known locking device is that it in no way prevents opening from unauthorised persons . For this reason the locking device can not be used for instance in road gates, industrial gates or the like. Objects and Features of the Invention The present invention aims at overcoming the above-men¬ tioned disadvantage of the previously known locking device and at developing it further so as to securely prevent opening from unauthorised persons. A primary object of the invention is thus to create a locking device that maintains the benefits of auto- matic locking but only can be opened by authorised persons by actuation by means of a certain locking means, e.g. a cylinder lock that is opened with a key. A further object of the inven¬ tion is to provide a locking device that has a simple struc¬ tural design and simultaneously is hard to force for unauthor- ised persons. Still an object of the invention is to provide a locking device that can be used within quite different techni¬ cal fields, e.g. with road gates, industrial gates, moorages for boats, doors, etc. According to the invention, at least the primary object is attained by means of the features defined in the character¬ ising clause of claim 1. Further, preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. From US 4 671 548 is previously known a locking device for bonnets, which includes a disc member pivotally joumalled relative to a frame, said disc member having a seat for receiv¬ ing a catch device or shackle. This disc member co-operates with a pivotal retaining element that can be brought into engagement with a shoulder of the disc member in order to lock it in a closing position. However, in this case the frame is not incorporated into an outer house having a locking means that can be opened with a key and having an opening defined between a roof member and a front wall, said opening receiving the catch device. Therefore, the locking device known from US 4 671 548 can not be used for fulfilling the objects that are the base of the Dresent invention. Brief Description of the Appended Drawings In the drawings: Fig 1 is an exploded view of the locking device according to the invention, Fig 2 is a vertical section of the device in an assembled state, the device being shown in a locking position, Fig 3 is an analogous section showing the device in a state when it can be opened, Fig 4 is a section showing the locking device in a complete opened position, Fig 5 is a perspective view of a road gate device including the locking device according to the invention, Fig 6 is a partial, enlarged view in detail showing, in two positions, a catch device that co-operates with the locking device, and Fig 7 is a partial perspective view of an industrial gate incorporating a locking device according to the inven¬ tion. Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention In figure 1 reference numeral 1 generally designates a frame, reference numeral 2 a box profile that together with a roof member 3 forms a house for incorporating the frame 1, and reference numeral 4 designates a conventional cylinder lock. The frame 1 is composed of two parallel plates 5, 5' that are essentially rectangular, said plates 5, 5' being kept together by means of a suitable number of bolts and spacing bodies. Between the frame plates 5, 5' a pivot pin 6 extends and a disc member, as a whole designated by 7, is pivotally joumalled around said pivc pin 6. A seat 8 is recessed in said disc mem¬ ber 7. More precisely, said seat 8 is provided between a fin¬ ger-like front portion 9 and a rear stop portion 10. In the shown, preferred embodiment the seat 8 is U-shaped in cross section by being defined by a planar bottom 11 and two parallel edge surfaces 12, 12' extending perpendicular to said bottom 11. As is clearly shown in figures 2-4 the disc member 7 has three different shoulders, i.e. a first shoulder 13, a second shoulder 14 and a third shoulder 15. The function of these shoulders will be exϋlained in detail below. The house that is jointly formed by the box profile 2 and the roof member 3 preferably also includes a bottom 16 in the shape of a plate that is welded to the lower end of the box profile 2. In the area of an upper, front corner the box pro- file 2 has a recess 17 that is defined by vertical and horizon¬ tal edge portions 18 and 19 respectively (see figure 1) . In the front wall designated by 20 an upwardly open, vertical slot 21 is recessed, said slot 21 having a width that is only slightly larger than the thickness of the disc member 7. The roof member 3 is composed of an upper plate, as a whole designated by 22, and a vertical flange 23 projecting down from the lower side of the plate 22, said flange 23 at a lower edge being transformed into a horizontal lower flange 24. In the disclosed preferred embodiment the upper, covering plate 22 is divided into two portions 22' , 22", the first-mentioned one of which is substan¬ tially horizontal, while the last-mentioned one is somewhat oblique and extends in a direction outwardly/upwardly from the upper edge of the vertical flange 23. In the flanges 23, 24 slots 25, 26 are recessed, said slots 25, 26 having a width that essentially corresponds to the thickness of the disc mem¬ ber 7. At the lower side of the rear plate section 22' rein¬ forcement flanges 27 are provided. In the assembled state of the locking device, when the frame 1 is inserted inτo the box profile 2, the roof member 3 is welded to the upper portion of the box profile, more precisely by having the flanges 23, 24 welded to the edge portions 18, 19 simultaneously as the rear section 27' of the upper plate is welded to the upper U-shaped edge portion of the box profile. A retaining mechanism for the disc member 7, more exact- ly shown in figures 2-4, includes, in the preferred embodiment:, a retaining element 28 and a lever 29. The retaining element 28 consists of an essentially V-shaped plate that is pivotally movable around a pivot pin 30 that preferably can be designed with a thick central portion, serving as a spacing body, and two narrower end portions that are mounted in holes in the frame walls 5, 5' . At an end remote from the pivot pin the retaining plate 28 has a recess 31. The retaining plate is activated by a spring in the shape of a coil tension spring 32 that always strives to pivot the retaining plate in a clock¬ wise direction around the pin. The lever 29 consists of a roughly C-shaped plate that is pivotally joumalled around a hinge 33. An upper portion 29 of the lever is in engagement with the recess 31 of the retain ing plate 28, while a lower portion 29" co-operates with a piv otally movable angle piece 34 of the cylinder lock 4. At its inner side the lower portion 29" of the lever is designed with an arched surface 35 aginst which the angle piece 34 bears. Reference is again made to figure 1 from which is evi¬ dent how the cylinder lock 4 can be mounted within the house, formed by the box profile 2, via an opening 36 in one side flange of the box profile. By means of conventional screws 37 the cylinder lock may be fastened in threaded holes 38 in the frame plate 5 and then secured by means of known tab washers 37' . In the mounted state the cylinder lock may also be covere by a special casing of sheet metal not shown. From figure 1 is also evident that the bottom 16 of the house has one or more holes 39 for evacuating possible condensing water. In figure 5 is shown how the locking device according t the invention is included in one of two posts 40 for a swingin road gate 41. At its free end the gate 41 has a catch device 4 in the shape of an oblong metal plate. In the disclosed, pre¬ ferred embodiment this catch device 42 is pivotally connected with the gate itself via a hinge 43, as is clearly shown in figure 6. The Function and Benefits of the Locking Device according to the Invention In figures 2 and 5 the locking device is shown in a locking state in which the catch device 42 is located in the opening that is formed by the recess 17 of the box profile 2, said catch device 42 being secured by the disc member 7. In this state the spring 32 keeps the retaining plate 28 pivoted upwards to an upper end position in which the upper portion of the retaining plate bears against the first shoulder 13 of the disc member 7. The disc member 7 is pivoted to an upper end position in which the seat 8 is oriented essentially vertical whereby the finger-like front portion 9 of the disc member keeps the catch device 42 in place and makes displacement of the catch device impossible. In this state the second shoulder 14 is located immediately inside the portion of the front wall 20 of the house that defines the lower portion of the slot 21. In other words the shoulder 14 prevents that tools, e.g. screw drivers or the like, are inserted between the edge portion of the disc member and the bottom of the slot . It should also be noticed that a bevel cut end surface 9' of the finger-like front portion 9 is located immediately adjacent to the oblique plate portion 22" of the roof member 3. In this state the angle piece 34 of the locking means 4 is pivoted to an upper end position in which the lever 29 is not subjected to any force. In the locking state shown in figure 2 the catch device 42 and consequently the gate 41 are thus properly locked by the lock- ing device. When the road gate 41 is to be opened the locking means or the cylinder lock 4 is opened in a conventional way by means of a key that is pressed only by an authorised person. With the help of the key the angle piece 34 of the cylinder lock is piv- oted from the upper end position according to figure 2 to a lower end position according to figure . Such a displacement of the angle piece causes the lever 29 to pivot while simulta¬ neously driving the retaining plate 28 that is distanced from the engagement with the shoulder 13 of the disc member 7. In this state the disc member 7 is free to pivot around the hinge 6. Therefore, when the road gate 41 is manually swung sideways the catch device 42 will drive the disc member to the position disclosed in figure 4 where the shoulder 15 contacts the inner side of the vertical flange 23 of the roof member 3. In this opened state the key may be removed from the cylinder lock. When this is effected the retaining plate 28 is again displaced upwards by the spring 32 and contacts the rounded edge surface of the disc member 7, as is shown in figure 7. In this way the disc member is secured by a slight spring force in the stand-by position where the seat is open and ready to receive the catch device. Since the front portion 9 of the disc member 7 is located below the horizontal plane where the catch device 42 is movable the catch device may, when the road gate is swung back to the closed position according to figure 5, by-pass the front portion 9 and contact the stop portion 10 of the disc member. Due to the fact that this stop portion has an oblique surface relative to the seat 8 the contact with the m-commg catch device makes the disc member to pivot back from the position according to figure 4 to the position according to figure 2 in which the catch device is secured by the front portion 9. Since the key has been removed from the cylinder lock the angle piece 34 is freely movable and does not counteract the tendency of the spring 22 to again bring the retaining plate 28 into engagement with the shoulder 13 when the disc member is returned to its locking position according to figure 2. An essential advantage of the device according to the invention is thus that the locking device is automatically locked when the road gate is returned to its closing starting position. In otner words, after the opening of the road gate the user does not need to return to the road gate to lock the cylinder lock with a key. Another essential advantage of the locking device according to the present invention is that the structural design is robust and hard to force for an unautho- r sed person. Further the device is aesthetically attractive in its design incorporated in a post. In figure 7 is shown how the locking device according to the invention is integrated into a gate construction, e.g. an industrial gate, the device being integrated into a frame piece that includes not only a part located below the locKing device but also a part located above said locking device. In other words the locking device is allowed to be integrated as a por¬ tion of the frame piece. Feasible Modifications of the Invention The invention is m no way resLπcted to the embodiment described above and shown m the drawings. Thus it is possible to eliminate the separate lever according to figures 2-4 and let the cylinder lock (or another locking means) co-operate directly with the retaining element of tne disc member. It is further possible to complete the outer house, that holds the disc supporting frame, with an arched guiding element that makes it possible to swing e.g. a road gate not only forwards from the adherent post but also in a direction backwards from said post. If the catch device 42, as shown in figure 6, is pivotally joumalled relative to the road gate itself said catch device can, after opening of the locking device, be pivo¬ ted above the rear portion of the locking device and allowed to fall down to a horizontal position of repose. When the road gate then is swung back towards the locking position the pivo¬ tal catch device will follow such a guiding element and again fall down in a horizontal position at the front side of the post to be automatically locked as described above.

Claims: Claims 1. Locking device comprising a disc member (7) pivotally jour- nalled between two plates (5, 5') of a frame (1) , a seat (8) being provided in the disc member (7) between a front portion (9) and a stop portion (10) for receiving a catch device (42) , said disc member (7) cooperating with a retaining mechanism that in a first state secures the disc member in a first, lock¬ ing position in which said front portion (9) prevents the catch device (42) from leaving the seat (8) and in a second state allows the disc member (7) to pivot to a second, opening posi¬ tion in which the catch device is allowed to be released from the seat , said disc member being returnable from its opening position to its locking position by bringing the catch device to hit said stop portion (10) , and said retaining mechanism comprising a retaining element (28) which is pivotally jour- nalled relative to the frame plates (5, 5') , actuated by at least one spring (32) that constantly strives to carry the ele¬ ment to engagement with a shoulder of the disc member in order to lock said disc member in the locking position, c h a r a c¬ t e r i z e d in that the frame (1) is incorporated in a house (2, 3) having an opening (17) for receiving the catch device (42) , said opening (17) being located between a roof member (3) and a front wall (20) having a slot (21) , in which the front portion (9) of the disc member is movable between said opening and locking positions, and that the retaining element (28) directly or indirectly co-operates with a locking means (4) which together with the frame is incorporated into the house and which is possible to open with a key or the like, said locking means (4) on one hand, in a locked state, allowing, by action from the spring, the retaining element to be kept in engagement: with the shoulder (13) of the disc member (7) and on the other hand, when transformed to an opening state, forcing the retaining element to a position distanced from the shoulder where the disc member is free to pivot to its opening position. 2. Locking device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e¬ r i z e d in that the house comprises a box profile (2) and that the roof member (3) is composed of an upper plate (22) and a downwardly, from the lower side of said upper plate (22) , projecting vertical flange (23) that at its lower edge is transformed into a horizontal lower flange (24) , and that the box profile at an upper front corner has a recess (17) which is defined by edge portions (18, 19) , against which said flanges (23, 24) are welded, said flanges having second and third slots (25, 26) located in the same vertical plane as the first- mentioned slot (21) recessed in the front wall (20) of the house. 3. Locking device according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e¬ r i z e d in that the disc member (7) , apart from the first shoulder (13) co-operating with the retaining element (28) , has a second shoulder (14) that in the locking state of the disc member (7) is located immediately adjacent to the lower edge of the first slot (21) in order to prevent the insertion of objects between the edge portion of the disc and the lower end of the slot . 4. Locking device according to claim 2 or 3, c h a r a c e¬ r i z e d in that the disc member (7) has a third shoulder (15) that, when pivoting the disc member (7) towards the ope¬ ning position, defines the outer end position of the disc member by contacting the inner side of the vertical flange (23) of the roof member (3) . 5. Locking device according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the seat (8) of the disc member (7) is U-shaped in cross-section by being defined by a bottom (11) and two edge surfaces (12, 12') oriented perpendi¬ cularly thereto.

Inventors: EDLUND GUNNAR, EDLUND, GUNNAR
Applicants: EDLUND GUNNAR, EDLUND, GUNNAR
Application year: 1997
Main classification: E05B65
IPC codes: E05B65, E05C3