Patent Publication Number: US-5253903-A

Title: Espagnolette mechanism

Description:
This invention relates to an espagnolette mechanism, or bolt for casement doors and windows. 
     An espagnolette mechanism, or bolt, usually consists, in a casement window, of a rod lying along the edge of the opening sash of the window away from the hinges thereof and movable longitudinally by an appropriate mechanism, the rod having at its ends or otherwise spaced along it, projections which are engageable with complementary recesses such as keepers in the window frame to hold the window shut. The rod may be split at the middle where each half joins the handle thereby providing two rods which may be driven home at the sill and window head simultaneously, by turning the handle. Such a construction, however, is expensive to manufacture and install. 
     It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to provide an espagnolette bolt having a drive mechanism which provides for ease of manufacture and installation. 
     According to the invention there is provided an espagnolette mechanism, comprising first and second slidable elongate members displaceable in substantially opposite directions and drive means for the elongate members, the drive means comprising a first rotatable gear member adapted to be secured to a rotatable means, a second rotatable gear member, a first rack means connected to the first elongate member and operatively connected with the first and second gear members, and a second rack means connected with the second elongate member and meshing with the second gear member, the arrangement being such that rotation of the first gear member moves the first rack means longitudinally causing rotation of the second gear member which moves the second rack means and the second elongate member longitudinally in the opposite direction. 
     The first rack means may be operatively connected with the first gear member by an extension of the first elongate member which extension has a further rack means engaged by the first gear member, and may be operatively connected with the second gear member by meshing directly therewith. This provides an efficient construction. 
     The first and second rack means may be respectively carried by an angle member. This provides a relatively simple construction for providing a rack means, particularly as the angle members may each have a series of through holes in one limb which may comprise the respective first and second rack means. The holes may readily be formed in a forming operation such as punching. 
     The second angle member may comprise guide means, which may comprise an elongate slot in a limb of the second angle member in which is mounted a journal for the second gear member. 
     The slot may be a blind slot, so providing positive end positions of the journal. 
     The first and second gear members may be rotatable about axes disposed substantially mutually perpendicularly. This permits mounting of the gear members adjacent each other, without meshing in a confined space. 
     The first gear member may be a quadrant gear, suitably having three teeth equiangularly spaced over 90°. This provides a relatively inexpensive but operative gear. 
     The second gear member may comprise a circular gear, suitably having six teeth. Again, this provides a relatively inexpensive but operative gear. 
     The elongate members may each have a projection intermediate their distal ends and the gear member for engagement with complementary keeps of, in use, a frame. This provides a positive locking action, in use. 
     The projection may suitably comprise a roller mounted on a stud. 
     According to a further aspect the invention provides a closure, having mounted thereon a mechanism as hereinbefore defined. 
    
    
     Espagnolette mechanisms embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1 shows a front elevational view a first embodiment of mechanism according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows a front elevational view in cross section of the espagnolette mechanism of FIG. 1, with a body removed for clarity; 
     FIG. 3 shows a plan view in cross section of the espagnolette mechanism of FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of espagnolette mechanism according to the invention. 
    
    
     Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown an espagnolette mechanism comprising a first slidable elongate member or rod 1 and a second slidable elongate member or rod 2 which may be displaced in opposite directions by a drive means 9 which comprises a three tooth quadrant gear member 3 affixable to a rotatable handle (not shown) driven through a square 10, a second rotatable full gear member 4 which has six teeth and is substantially perpendicular to the quadrant gear 3, a first rack means 5 connected to the first rod 1 and meshing operatively connected with the first and second rotatable gear members 3 and 4, a second rack means 6 connected to the second rod 2 and meshing with the second rotatable gear member 4, the arrangement being such that in use turning the handle moves the first rack means 5 longitudinally causing rotation of the second gear member 4 which in turn moves the second rack means 6 and the second rod 2 longitudinally in the opposite direction as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 1-3. 
     Each rod 1, 2 is provided with a stud and roller device 7, 8 which is mounted on it between the drive mechanisms 9 and its distal ends 11 and 12. The projections 7 and 8 are engageable with complementary keepers in the frames of doors and windows when the rods 1 and 2 are in their closed positions. The rollers may be attached to the rods by rivets so that each roller can turn on its axis relative to the rods. 
     Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, in which parts like parts in FIGS. 1 to 3 are referred to by identical reference numerals, there is shown an espagnolette mechanism 20 comprising first and second slidable elongate members 21 and 22 displaceable in substantially opposite directions and drive means 23 for the elongate members, which elongate members 21, 22 comprise flat shoot bolts, the first one being longer than the second one and both having a stepped proximal end 24, 25, adjacent the drive means 23. The drive means 23 comprises a first rotatable gear member 26 adapted to be secured to rotatable means such as a rotatable handle (not shown) having a square section shaft for insertion in a square hole 27 of the gear member. The handle may be temporarily fixed to the gear by the shaft being a push fit in the hole for operation of the drive means. The drive means 23 also comprises a second rotatable gear member 28, a first rack means 29 connected to the first elongate member 21 and operatively connected with the first and second gear members 26, 28 and a second rack means 30 connected with the second elongate member 22 and meshing with the second gear member 28. 
     The first rack means 29 is operatively connected with the first gear member by an extension 31 of the first elongate member 21 at the proximal end thereof, the extension 31 having a further rack means 32 engaged by the first gear member 26. The first rack means 29 is operatively connected with the second gear member 28 by meshing directly therewith. To provide meshing with the rack means, the first gear member 26 is of quadrant shape and has three equiangularly spaced teeth in the embodiment, and the second gear member 28 is circular in plan with six equiangularly spaced peripheral teeth. 
     Each rack means 29, 30 comprises an angle section member of substantially L-shape, one limb of each member having spaced through holes 33 which provide the rack means. One L-shape 29 is inverted with respect to the other 30 and reversed so that the perforated limbs are vertically disposed (as viewed) and lie substantially in parallel, the other limbs then lying substantially horizontally and substantially in parallel. 
     The horizontal (as viewed) limb of the second rack means 30 has a blind slot 34 through which passes a central pin 35 which mounts the gear member 28 for rotation. The pin head is received below the first elongate member 21 a step 31 being to accommodate the head, the first member 21 then being able to slide over the head. The rivet 35 passes through the first rack means and is received in a hole 40&#39; in a cover plate 40. 
     The first rack means 29 is secured to the first elongate member 21 by securing means such as a rivet 21&#39; which passes through a second step 36 at the proximal end of the first elongate member 21. Likewise the second elongate member 22 and rack 30 are secured by securing means such as a rivet passing through a stepped proximal end 37 of the second elongate member 22. 
     The mechanism 22 is supported from a housing 38 which has a hole 39 for access to the square hole 27 in the first gear member 26 and which when the mechanism is assembled is exposed through the hole 39. 
     The housing 38 is secured to the mechanism by mounts 38a secured to the cover 40 by rivets in holes 38b of the cover 40. There are end covers 41 there being end cover guides 42 with slots 43 through which the distal ends of the respective elongate members 21, 22 or shoot bolts pass for engagement with or release from keep ends 44, in use, a frame of a closure mounting the espagnolette mechanism 20, the frame also mounting intermediate keeps 45 with blind slots 46 for receiving studs and rollers 8, 7 as in the first embodiment. The studs 7, 8 pass through respective elongate holes 47 in the cover 40 to be secured as by screwing into a hole in the respective elongate member or shoot bolt. 
     The keep ends 44 and keeps 46 are handed for mounting with any hang of closure, having two slots 44&#39;, 46 respectively for receiving the distal ends of the bolts, and rollers 7, 8. 
     In use, a handle turns the first gear member 26 clockwise, as viewed, so that the gear engages the teeth with the further rack 32, so shooting the bolt 21 to the left as viewed. Simultaneously, the first means 29 is moved to the left too, being secured with the shoot bolt by the rivet. This in turn rotates the second gear member 28, also in a clockwise sense so that it as it meshed with the second rack means 30, with the pivot at the centre of the slot 34, moves that rack means 30 to the right as viewed, which in turn throws the second shoot bolt 22 to the right, both the distal ends of the bolts 21, 22 engaging the end keeps 44 and the studs and rollers 7, 8 engaging in the keeps 45. A closure mounting the mechanism is then securely closed. A reverse turning of the gear member 26 has an opposite effect so that the two elongate members are moved longitudinally in opposite directions towards one another to release the distal ends and studs and rollers so that the closure can be opened. 
     The mechanism described is positive in operation and relatively simple to install in a relatively small space as the mutually perpendicular arrangement of the gears 26, 28 ensures that the mechanism can be mounted in a small space. The mechanism provides a smooth aspect as all the operating parts are above (as viewed in FIG. 4) the cover plate 40. 
     It will be understood that the mechanism of FIG. 4 for example may be modified. For example, there may be two gear wheels 28 spaced apart longitudinally of the rack means 29, 30. Such a mechanism operates identically to the mechanism of FIG. 4, the two gear wheels providing a positive action which obviates any tendency to lash.