Patent GB-1072671-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to keyless locks
IPC: E05B51/02
Filed: 1963-03-22
Abstract: 1,072,671. Combination locks; remotely operated fastenings. F. W. G. GREENER. March 17, 1964 [March 22, 1963], No. 11542/63. Heading E2A. A keyless lock for a security enclosure includes locking means operable by fluid pressure and comprises a plurality of passages 3 of which only a pre-arranged group communicate with the locking means for the purpose of conducting fluid pressure which will retract or disengage the locking means and means for transmitting fluid pressure selectively for selecting any required passage to enable pressure to be applied through the passages. In the construction shown the lock comprises an annular ring 1 in which is rotatably mounted a disc 2. The ring 1 is formed with a number of spaced radial bores A to P which form the passages mentioned above and the disc 2 is provided with a single radial bore 4 which is connected to a central axial bore 5. Each of the bores BEK and O is connected by a pipe to a respective locking means which comprises a cylinder 6 housing a piston 7 from which a rod 8 projects through one end wall of the cylinder; the rod 8 may either be a bolt if the locking device is fitted to the back of the door in which case the bolt engages a hole in the door frame or the rod 8 may be connected to a bolt for operating the bolt. The piston 7 is moved in both directions by hydraulic pressure, pressure applied via the appropriate passage BEK or O and moves the rod 8 to the releasing position. All the other bores in the ring 1 are connected to a closed pipe circuit 9 and the circuit 9 is also connected to each cylinder 6 so that when the circuit 9 is pressurised the rods 8 are moved to their locking positions. Pressure is applied to the various bores by a spring loaded press button plunger 28 which is mounted on the disc 1 a rolling diaphragm 27 being provided between the plunger and the bore 5; the end of the bore 4 adjacent the ring 1 is also sealed by a rolling diaphragm 27 and each of the bores in the ring 1 is sealed at its end adjacent the disc 2 by a rolling diaphragm 29, thus pressure on the plunger 28 moves the two diaphragms 27 and the diaphragm 27 at the end of the bore 4 in turn moves the diaphragm 29 so that pressure is applied to the fluid in the appropriate passage in the ring. The disc is rotatable to engage the required bore in the ring 1 by means (not shown). To increase security, valves 10 are connected in the releasing pipe for each cylinder 6 and the valve 10 for the cylinder 6 connected to bore E is only open if the cylinder 6 connected to bore B has already been pressurised to move its rod 8 to releasing position; similarly the valve 10 for the cylinder connected to bore K is only open when the cylinder 6 connected to bore E is pressurised and the valve 10 for the cylinder connected to bore O is only open when the cylinder 6 connected to bore K is pressurised. To open the valve for the cylinder connected to bore B the pipe circuit 9 must first be pressuried by aligning the bore 4 with say the bore A and depressing the plunger 28, this moves all the rods 8 to their locking positions if they are not already in this position and also opens the valve 10 for the cylinder connected to bore D. The valve is shown in Fig. 2 together with all details of the pipe work for the cylinder 6 associated with the valve; the valve comprises a slide 18 in a casing, which slide is biassed by a spring 20 to a position in which a bore 19 is out of alignment with a pipe 11. The pipe 11 is connected to the cylinder 6 so as to move its piston in a releasing direction if pressure is applied to the pipe. The slide is moved against the bias of the spring 20 by pressure applied through pipe 21 from a previously pressurised cylinder or from the circuit 9, a non-return valve (not shown) being incorporated in the pipe 21. A rolling diaphragm is incorporated in the casing between the pipe 21 and the sleeve 18. When the sleeve is aligned with the pipe 11 pressure can be applied to the piston 7 from the appropriate bore BEK or O in the ring 1 via pressure transmitting means 16 which incorporates a rolling diaphragm to seal the valve and its pipe work from the ring 1. The cylinder 6 is connected via a non-return valve 24 and a pipe 12 to a reservoir 13 and the pressure transmitting means 16 is also connected via a non-return valve 17 and a pipe 15 to the reservoir. In addition the valve is connected through a leakage outlet 22 and a pipe 23 to the reservoir and when pressure is applied via the pipe 21 to move the slide 18 to allow pressure to be applied to the cylinder 6 the pressure on the slide slowly reduces through the leakage outlet 22 and the slide is eventually restored by its spring to. the position in which it seals the pipe 11; thus pressure must be applied to the cylinder 6 within a predetermined time after the valve 10 is operated. The reservoir 13 has a spring-loaded diaphragm base 14 to maintain pressure in the pipes. Each of the cylinders can be connected to a common reservoir. In a modification instead of pressure being applied to the bores in the ring 1 via a plunger 28 and liquid in the bores 4 and 5 mechanical means can be substituted comprising a rod connected to the plunger 28 which is connected to a toggle for moving a rod in the bore 4 the outer end of the rod carrying a head which actuates diaphragm 29 upon depression of the plunger 28. A return pipe can be provided from the input side of valve 10 to the reservoir 13 in which there is a spring loaded non-return valve of resistance similar to that offered by a piston 6 so that an unauthorised operator cannot decide which of the bores are connected to the cylinder 6 by a testing procedure. A modified form of valve 10 can be employed if desired and this valve, Fig. 6, has a slide 18 which has two bores 19 and 33 the bore 33 when the valve is closed connecting the pressure inlet connected to the means 16 with a pipe 33 connected to the circuit 9, thus pressure transmitted when the valve is closed causes locking movement of any of the rods 8 which are in the releasing position. Instead of using a single cylinder 6 with a piston 7 and rod 8 the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 can be substituted, in this there are two cylinders 35 and 36 each of which has a rolling diaphragm, the two diaphragms being connected by a rod 37 which is connected to the rod 8; this arrangement avoids leakage through packing round the rod 8 in a cylinder 6. In use the ring 1 and disc 2 are mounted inside the door of a safe or strong room with the plunger 28 and a tube for rotating the disc 2 extending through a bore in the door for access from the outside, the tube being provided with a pointer and dial to indicate the position of the bore 4.