A lock casing to be installed into a door or the like

Abstract: A lock casing (1) for installation in a door or the like, comprising a case-like lock housing (5) provided with a front plate (6) and including a bolt (7), follower means (12) turnable about an operating axis (A) at least from one side of the door by means of a key-operated locking mechanism, and force transmitting means (13,15,16,18,21), by which the follower means can be arranged in force transmitting connection with the bolt (7). The follower means (12) is part of a separate follower unit (2) which is arranged to be separately fastened to the lock casing (1) so that the distance of the operating axis (A) from the front plate (6) is adjustable.

Description: This invention relates to a lock casing for installation in a door or the like, the lock casing being in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. A known lock casing has follower means turnable about an operating axis by a key-operated locking mechanism. The position of the operating axis of the lock determines the position of operating devices of the lock and may vary, sometimes substantially, depending on the intended use of the lock. Consequently there is a need for the same basic lock to be produced with differently sized lock casings. It is also necessary to provide different lock casings for use with key-operated locking mechanisms and lock cylinders meeting different lock standards. These different standards affect the operation and the shaping of force transmitting means located in the lock casing. Thus the number of different lock casings that need to be produced and stocked is relatively large. This increases the manufacturing costs and the number and value of items needed to be stocked. It has been proposed in US-A-1 462 826 to provide means for pivotally adjusting the position of the locking mechanism relative to the lock casing. An aim of the invention is to provide a novel lock casing in which the drawbacks mentioned above can with advantage be eliminated. A further aim of the invention is to provide a lock casing of the kind disclosed in GB-A-2203794 and which is provided with solenoid operated dead locking means. According to the present invention there is provided a lock casing as claimed in the ensuing claim 1. A certain kind of basic lock casing can thus be utilized which is provided with a follower unit meeting the desired requirements. In addition, since the distance of the follower unit from the front plate is adjustable by selecting the number of spacer elements that are installed, key operated lock cylinders or locking mechanisms meeting different lock standards can be utilized each with a follower unit of its own, the distance of which from the front plate is only changed according to need. The follower unit can conveniently be fastened to the front plate by means of screw-threaded members which may also be used to fasten the spacer elements. In this case the spacer elements are provided with openings for the screw-threaded members. Advantageously the follower unit is provided with a first force transmitting element which is movable by means of the follower means and which, when the follower unit is fastened to the lock housing, is arranged to cooperate with a second force transmitting element located in the lock housing by making use of force transmitting surfaces on the force transmitting elements. These force transmitting surfaces are dimensioned in the direction of the adjustment of the follower unit so that they remain in force transmitting engagement with each other along the whole range of the desired adjustment. The follower unit is conveniently made in the form of a case or casing having inner guiding surfaces for guiding movement of the force transmitting element located in the follower unit in directions parallel to the length or longitudinal direction of the front plate. In order to firmly fasten the follower unit to the lock housing, the follower unit is suitably installed partly inside the lock housing to provide support for the follower unit in the direction of the operating axis. In addition the follower unit and the lock housing may be provided with guiding members or guiding surfaces which are arranged, in mutual cooperation, to support the follower unit in the longitudinal direction of the front plate. Preferably the lock casing has a latch bolt of the type which can be dead locked and which, when dead locking is released, can be pressed inside the lock casing for opening or closing the door, and solenoid means which are arranged to act on the force transmitting means to provide the dead locking. In this case the force transmitting means located in the lock housing comprises a further force transmitting element which is actuated by both the solenoid means and said first-mentioned force transmitting element independently of each other. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1a is a side view of one embodiment of a lock casing according to the invention and shown with its lock housing partly cut away; Figures 1b and 1c are views from the side and front, respectively, of a follower unit for attachment to the lock housing of Figure 1a; Figures 1d and 1e are side views of two different spacer elements used when attaching the follower unit of Figures 1b and 1c to the lock housing of Figure 1a; Figure 2 shows the lock casing of Figure 1a assembled in a basic form with the follower unit of Figure 1b but without any spacer elements according to Figures 1d or 1e and with its dead locking means in a releasing position; Figure 3 shows the lock casing of Figure 1a assembled with the follower unit of Figure 1b and one spacer element, an auxiliary bolt being in a protruding position and the dead locking means being in a releasing position; and Figure 4 shows the lock casing of Figure 1a assembled with the follower unit of Figure 1b and four separate spacer elements, the dead locking means being in a dead locking position. In the drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates a lock casing to be installed in a door or the like and comprising a lock housing 5 to which a separate follower unit 2 is fastened by means of screw-threaded members or screws 4. The follower unit is fastened to the lock housing either directly or by making use of one or more spacer or adjustment elements 3a and/or 3b which include openings 3a' and 3b' for the screws 4. The two types of adjustment elements 3a and 3b have different thickness and it is thus possible to install the lock with sufficient precision according to the dimensional requirements of different applications. The lock casing 1 is provided with a front plate 6, a bolt 7, an auxiliary bolt 8, dead locking means and a number of force transmitting means, which will be described in more detail later on. The bolt 7 and the auxiliary bolt 8 are urged by means of springs 22 and 26, respectively, into protruding positions protruding from the lock casing 1. The bolt 7 is of a type which includes a bevelled surface on either side so that, in the releasing position of the dead locking means, it can be pushed from its protruding position, when urged by a striking plate in a door frame (not shown), against the force of the spring 22 inside the lock casing 1 for opening or closing of the door. A more detailed description of this part is given in GB-A-2203794. The case-like lock housing 5 of the lock casing 1 is shown in the drawings with is cover plate largely cut away. The follower unit 2 is also case-like and has casing parts which are fastened to each other by screws 9. In Figures 2 to 4, the follower unit 2 is shown with its upper casing part removed. The follower unit 2 is provided with a fastening member 10 including screw openings 10a provided with screw threads, whereby follower unit 2 is fastened by means of the screws 4 to the front plate 6. The fastening member 10 has an L-form shape so that it constitutes a part of the housing of the follower unit 2 and at the same time protects the force transmitting members located inside the follower unit. When installed, the follower unit 2 additionally receives guidance from inner surfaces 5a and a guiding edge 5b of the lock housing 5, the guiding edge 5b cooperating with a guiding edge 11 of the follower unit 2. The guiding edge 11 may, for instance, comprise a formation pressed into the cover part of the follower unit 2 during manufacture of may comprise an edge of a separate plate fixed to the cover part. The follower unit 2 includes follower means 12 turnable about an operating axis A of the unit 2 at least from one side of the door, by means of a key operated locking mechanism (not shown). The follower means 12 may also be turned from the other side of the door for example by a turnable door knob. If there are operating devices on both sides of the door, these require separate follower means 12 to be installed each turnable about the operating axis A. In the illustrated arrangements, turning of the follower means 12 is achieved in a manner known as such by means of a torsion plate or the like acting on either one of followers 12a. The follower unit 2 also includes a force transmitting element 13. The turning movement of the follower means 12 is transmitted via a force transmitting surface 12b to the force transmitting element 13 which moves in a downwards direction (as viewed in the figures) guided by an inner surface 10b of the fastening member 10 and an inner surface 2a of the housing of the unit 2. The downward movement of the force transmitting element 13 is transmitted by means of its force transmitting surface 13a to turn a force transmitting element 15. The element 15 is turnably journalled on a joint pin 14 in the lock housing 5 and is turned by the surface 13a moving a counter surface 15a' located on a protrusion of the element 15. The force transmitting surface 13a is so dimensioned that the force transmitting connection with the protrusion 15a is maintained even if several adjustment elements 3a and/or 3b are used. The force transmitting element 15 has a further protrusion 15b angularly spaced from the protrusion 15a. Turning of the force transmitting element 15 causes the protrusion 15b to act on a protrusion 16a of a second force transmitting element 16 and to turn the latter. The force transmitting element 16 is turnably journalled on a pin 17 and includes additionally a protrusion 16b. Turning of the element 16 causes the protrusion 16b to turn a dead locking lever 18, turnably journalled on a pin 19, against the force of a spring 20 from the position shown in Figure 4 (in which dead locking is connected) into a position shown in Figures 1a, 2 and 3 (in which dead locking is disconnected). Thus the spring 20 urges the dead locking lever 18 towards its dead locking position. The lever 18, when in its dead locking position, cooperates with a ball-like dead locking member 21 so that the latter is held against a dead locking surface 7a of the bolt to prevent movement of the bolt 7 into the lock casing 1. At the same time, the dead locking lever 18 prevents movement of the dead locking member 21 into a position releasing the bolt 7. In the embodiment shown the lock casing 1 also includes solenoid means 23. The solenoid means is provided with a function member 24 which moves downwardly (as viewed in Figure 1a) against the force of a spring 25 when current passes through the solenoid means 23. On this downward movement of the function member 24, the element 16 is turned so that the dead locking lever 18 and dead locking member 21 are moved away from their dead locking positions to enable the door to be opened or closed. Correspondingly, when current is switched off, the spring 25 and the spring 20 urge both the function member 24 and the force transmitting element 16 into their positions shown in Figure 4, whereby the dead locking lever 18 and the dead locking member 21 are in their dead locking positions. Disconnection of the dead locking can thus be independently effected either manually from the operating axis A or electrically by means of the solenoid means 23. Normally when the door is closed, the striking plate of the lock, which is located in the door frame (not shown), prevents movement of the auxiliary bolt 8 into a position in which it protrudes from the lock casing (i.e. as shown in Figures 1a, 2 and 4). In Figure 3, the door is in an open (or non-closed) position and the spring 26 urges the auxiliary bolt 8 outwardly into its protruding position. During movement into its protruding position, a guiding surface 8a of the auxiliary bolt 8 presses against the protrusion 15b of the force transmitting element 15 so that the latter is turned into the position shown in Figure 3, which functionally corresponds to the position shown in Figure 2 in which the dead locking lever 18 and dead locking member 21 are prevented from moving into their dead locking position as described above. The door can then be closed by just pushing it. A requirement for the described function of the auxiliary bolt 8 is that the force of the spring 26 must be greater than the combined forces of the springs 25 and 20. As is apparent from Figure 4, dead locking is secured by arranging for the dead locking lever 18 to extend behind a support member 16c fixed to the force transmitting element 16. Thus dead locking can only be released by turning the force transmitting element 16, either by manually turning an operating device to turn the follower means 12 or by operation of the solenoid means 23. In Figures 2 - 4, the distance of the operating axis A from the front plate 6 is given, by way of example, in mm to illustrate the different installation possibilities for the follower unit 2. The adjustable mounting of the follower unit 2 on the lock housing 5 is achieved entirely independently of the latch bolt arrangement shown in the Figures, which arrangement offers only one advantageous application. In addition if it is desired to install devices at the operating axis A which meet different locking standards, it is possible to select in each case a suitable follower unit 2 provided, for example, with follower means 12 and other force transmitting members and having the necessary dimensions required for the standard in question. Thus it is possible, according to the invention, to install several different follower units 2 to the same basic lock housing 5. Naturally, it is also possible to create a locking system which includes at least one, e.g. several, lock housing(s) 5 and different follower units 2 to be installed thereto, the locking system being applicable for different purposes and meeting different locking standards. The direction of operation of the solenoid means, i.e. whether the solenoid is a pushing or pulling solenoid, can be selected according to need. If the direction of operation of the solenoid means differs from that of the embodiment shown in the Figures, this must be taken account of in the operation of the other force transmitting means. The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown but several modifications are feasible within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims: A lock casing (1) for installation in a door or the like, comprising a case-like lock housing (5) provided with a front plate (6) and including a bolt (7), a separate follower unit (2) adjustably fastened to the lock housing (5), follower means (12) mounted on the follower unit (2) and turnable, at least from one side of the door, about an operating axis (A) by means of a key-operated locking mechanism, and force transmitting means (13,15,16,18,21) operable, on movement of the follower means (12), to control operation of the bolt (7), characterised in that it includes one or more separate spacer elements, whereby no, one or more than one spacer element (3a, 3b) according to need is arranged to be installed between the front plate (6) and the follower unit (2) in order to adjust the distance of the operating axis (A) from the front plate (6). A lock casing (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the follower unit (2) is fastened to the front plate (6) by means of screw-threaded members (4). A lock casing (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the or each spacer element (3a,3b) is provided with openings (3a',3b') for said screw threaded members (4). A lock casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the force transmitting means includes a first force transmitting element (13) provided in the follower unit (2) which is movable on turning of the follower means (12) and which, when the follower unit (2) is fastened to the lock housing (5), cooperates with a second force transmitting element (15) located in the lock housing (5) by making use of force transmitting surfaces (13a,15a') of the said force transmitting elements which are dimensioned in the direction of the adjustment of the follower unit (2) so that they remain in force transmitting engagement with each other in whichever adjusted position the follower unit (2) is fastened to the lock housing (5). A lock casing (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the follower unit (2) is case-like and provided with guiding surfaces (2a,10b) for guiding movement of the force transmitting element (13) parallel to the direction of the front plate (6). A lock casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the follower unit (2) is arranged partly inside the lock housing (5,5a) to provide support for the follower unit (2) in the direction of the operating axis (A). A lock casing (1) accordingly to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the follower unit (2) and the lock housing (5) are provided with cooperating guiding members or guiding surfaces (11,5b) for supporting the follower unit (2) in the longitudinal direction of the front plate (6). A lock casing (1) according to claim 4 or 5, or claim 6 or 7 each when dependent on claim 4 or 5, in which the said bolt is a latch bolt (7) which can be dead locked and which, when dead-locking is released, can be pressed inside the lock casing for opening or closing the door, and in which solenoid means (23) are provided for acting on said force transmitting means (16,18,21) providing for the dead locking, wherein the force transmitting means (16,18,21) further includes a third force transmitting- element (16) located in the lock housing (5), the third force transmitting element (16) being arranged to be acted upon independently both by the said solenoid means (23) and said second force transmitting element (15).

Inventors: LEMETTINEN JAAKKO, PIRINEN ARI, RAATIKAINEN JUHA, LEMETTINEN, JAAKKO, PIRINEN, ARI, RAATIKAINEN, JUHA
Applicants: ABLOY OY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: E05B9
IPC codes: E05B47, E05B9, E05B55, E05B63, E05B65, E05B17