GB2089416A - Multiple bolt mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

Bolts are simultaneously actuated by the movement of elements 10, 15 in response to motion of slider 4. Each element 10, 15 has a slot 11, 16 cut at an acute angle to its direction of movement, and these slots are engaged by common slider pin 6. Slider 4 is connectable via hole 5 to a tie-rod leading to a lock. The width of housing 1 is slightly more than the permitted travel of the slider 4 and the end of the slider opposite hole 5 projects from housing 1, at least in the retracted position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Draw mechanism for multiple bolt locks This invention refers to draw mechanisms for locks, that is to say, mechanisms in which the horizontal movement of a tie-bar or connectingrod connected to a lock is used to cause vertical displacement, in opposite directions, of two units which are connected to vertical bolts. These latter are generally installed close to the axes of the hinges of a door.

Known draw mechanisms include washer mechanisms which have small dimensions but are unsatisfactory from the point of view of smoothness of operation. Traction draw mechanisms are also known but these generally have large dimensions which makes it necessary for the vertical bolts to be installed at a relatively large distance from the hinge axis of the door.

The first object of the invention is to provide a draw mechanism of the traction type which permits a substantial reduction in its dimensions to be achieved so that it can be installed at the minimum possible distance from the edge of a door, adjacent to the hinges.

The invention also seeks to provide, in a preferred embodiment, an arrangement in which a further pair of vertical bolts is provided between the pair of bolts operated directly by the lock and the pair of bolts located close to the hinges, thus bringing the number of bolts to seven.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a draw mechanism for multiple bolt locks comprising a frame member, a horizontal slider disposed within the frame member, the slider carrying a draw pin, two vertical sliders each having a slot formed therein, which slots are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal slider and are disposed on opposite sides thereof but which are engaged by the draw pin, the horizontal slider having one end portion which projects from the frame and being connectable to a lock through the intermediary of a tie rod and the vertical sliders each having one end portion which projects from the frame and being connectable to vertical bolts through the intermediary of tie-rods, the frame member having a width slightly in excess of the permitted travel of the horizontal slider, the end portion of the horizontal slider remote from the end portion connectable to the lock projecting through a slot in the frame, at least when the horizontal slider is in its retracted position.

In this way, the dimensions of the draw mechanism are reduced to a minimum and such mechanism can be installed close to the corresponding edge of the door, while the additional projection of the horizontal slider is no hindrance to installation because of its small dimensions.

In a preferred embodiment, the end of the horizontal slider which is remote from the end connected, in use, to the lock and which can pass through the frame may be provided with an extension portion having means for coupling the mechanism to a further tie rod. In this arrangement, the mechanism may be located between a lock and a normal draw mechanism so as to operate a further intermediate pair of vertical bolts.

An embodiment of the draw mechanism according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a front view of the part of a draw mechanism which is intended to be located against the door, but in which only a horizontally displaceable slider is shown located in the frame of the draw mechanism; Fig. 2 shows the frame of Fig. 1 but with two vertically displaceable sliders now fitted therein; Fig. 3 again shows the frame of Figs. 1 and 2 but now completed by means of a cover plate and also having an extended horizontal slider.

In the drawings, there is shown a draw mechanism comprising a frame 1 provided with means enabling it to be fitted to a door (not shown). The frame includes two guide ribs 2 and two pins 3 each having a threaded hole 3. Guided by the ribs 2 is a horizontal slider 4 in the form of an elongated plate having an aperture 5 formed near one end thereof for connection to a tie bar which leads to the lock. The slider 4 also has a draw pin 6 formed thereon at a point intermediate its ends. The horizontal slider 4 is guided by the ribs 2 and is slidable longitudinally between a retracted position (indicated by the solid line in Fig. 1) and a locked position (indicated by the dotted and dashed line).The part of the slider 4 which carries pin 6 is located within the frame whilst the end portion in which the hole 5 is provided lies externally of the frame and projects, as is customary, through a slot formed in the corresponding wall of the frame.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the end of the slider 4 remote from hole 5 can also pass through an additional slot formed in the opposed wall of the frame 1 and, in fact, projects through the additional slot, at least when the slider is in the retracted position. As a result of this, the breadth of the frame 1 may be made slightly broader than the intended range of travel of the horizontal slider consequently providing the advantages already mentioned hereinbefore.

A lower vertical slider 10 having two vertical slots 9 formed therein is located over the pins 3 of the frame 1 so that one pin 3 is located in each slot 9.

The slider 10 includes an inclined slot 11 in which the pin 6 of the horizontal slider 4 engages.

The lower slider 10 projects downwardly from the frame 1 through a corresponding slot in the bottom, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, wall of the frame. The projecting portion has an aperture 1 3 formed therein for the connection of a tie rod which is intended to operate a lower vertical bolt.

An upper vertical slider 15, also having two vertical slots referenced 14 is then similarly located over the pins 3 of the frame 1 so as to lie on top of the lower slider 10. The slider 1 5 includes an inclined slot 1 6 which extends on the opposite side of the axis of the slider 4 from the slot 11. The pin 6 of the horizontal slider 4 also engages in the slot 14. The upper slider 1 5 projects upwardly from the frame 1 through a corresponding slot formed in the, as shown, top wall and has a similar projection 17 in which an aperture 1 8 is formed for the connection of a tie rod which is intended to operate an upper vertical bolt.

It is clear that when the horizontal slider 4 is displaced from its retracted position to that indicated by the dotted and dashed line, the result of the action of a tie rod connected to the lock causes the pin 6, engaged in the grooves 11 and 16 to move the lower slider 10 downwardly and to move the upper slider 1 5 upwardly. The vertical bolts are thus engaged and the door locked. The reverse occurs when the horizontal slider 4 is returned to its retracted position.

The sliders are held in position by a cover plate arrangement in the form of a plate 1 9 which is fixed by means of screws 20 engaged in the threaded holes of pins 3. The plate 1 9 preferably includes a guide slot 21 for pin 6.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the length of the horizontal slider 4 is selected so as to be the minimum necessary to ensure effective guidance in all positions; the end withe slider remote from the aperture 5 therefore only projects from the frame 1 when the slider is in its retracted position and is located within the frame when the slider is in its locked position. The horizontal slider 4 may however, be made longer by means of an extension portion 7 (see Fig. 3) having an aperture 8 formed in its end region remote from the aperture 5. In such a case the free end of the extension portion projects from the frame 1 in all operationa! conditions. This embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 3.

A similar draw mechanism may be installed in a very wide door in an intermediate position between a lock and a conventional draw mechanism. . The draw mechanism of the present invention connects the conventional draw mechanism to the lock by means of a tie-rod connected to aperture 8. It is then possible to add a further intermediate pair of vertical bolts which advantageously supplement the security of a broad door. The embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and Fig. 3 differ, as will be seen, only in the detail of the horizontal slider while all the other parts remain identical. This ensures virtually complete standardisation in the construction of the two embodiments.

Claims (5)

1. A draw mechanism for multiple bolt locks comprising a frame member, a horizontal slider disposed within the frame member, the slider carrying a draw pin, two vertical sliders each having a slot formed therein, which slots are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal slider and are disposed on opposite sides thereof but which are engaged by the draw pin, the horizontal slider having one end portion which projects from the frame and being connectable to a lock through the intermediary of a tie rod and the vertical sliders each having one end portion which projects from the frame and being connectable to vertical bolts through the intermediary of tie-rods, the frame member having a width slightly in excess of the permitted travel of the horizontal slider the end portion of the horizontal slider remote from the end portion connectable to the lock projecting through a slot in the frame, at least when the horizontal slider is in its retracted position.

2. A draw mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the horizontal slider is selected so as to be as small as possible whilst ensuring guidance of the vertical sliders in all circumstances, the end of the horizontal siider remote from the end portion connectable to the lock being located with the frame member when the horizontal slider is in the extended position.

3. A draw mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the horizontal slider is so selected that the end portion remote from the end portion connectable to the lock projects from the frame in all operating positions.

4. A draw mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein the end portion of the horizontal slider remote from the end portion connectable to the lock includes means capable of receiving a further tie rod capable of operating a further draw mechanism.

5. A draw mechanism for a multiple bolt lock constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.