GB2179696A - Improvements in locking systems for gates or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A remotely operated locking system for a gate, and particularly an emergency exit gate for sports stadiums, comprises vertically spaced lugs 29 mounted on the edge of the gate and formed with holes 30, and an elongate operating rod 33 reciprocable vertically in guide blocks 31 mounted in a fixed gate post. The guide blocks are formed with slots 37 in which the lugs 29 are received when the gate is closed, and there are coupled to the operating rod 33 locking devices which move vertically in bores in the guide blocks 31 and each of which comprises a ball 43 which is pushed vertically into the hole 30 in the lug so as to retain the lug in the guide block. The use of the separate balls 43 to retain the lugs 29 enables the operating rod 33 to be moved independently of the balls so that the locking mechanism may be unlocked even when lateral pressure is applied to the gate. The operating rod 33 is moved by solenoids 34, 35 which are actuated by radio transmission from a remote operating device, thus allowing the gate to be readily opened from a remote location in an emergency. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in locking systems for gates or the like The invention provides a locking system for a gate, door, window, or any similar structure which has a movable part which may be moved between open and closed positions relatively to a fixed support or frame. For convenience such structures will be referred to as "gates", since the invention is particularly applicable to gates, but it is to be understood that the invention may also be applied to other structures of the kind mentioned.

Although the invention is primarily applicable to gates which are mounted on hinges so as swing between the open and closed positions, the locking mechanism of the invention may also be applied to gates which move in a different manner, for example to sliding gates.

The invention finds particular appiication in locking systems for gates which are used to control the movement of people into and out of a particular area. For example, in a sports stadium the entry of the public into the stadium is normally effected through manned gates, sometimes incorporating turnstiles.

There may however be provided around the perimeter of the stadium exit gates which must normally kept closed and locked, to prevent unauthorised entry, and which are only opened at the end of the sports entertainment to allow people to leave the stadium. Similarly, at least some of the entry gates may also be closed and locked to prevent unauthorised entry after the sports entertainment has begun to avoid the necessity of continued manning of these gates.

Normally such gates would be opened manually shortly before the public will wish to leave the stadium. However, in case of emergency, such as a fire within the stadium, it may be desirable to open all the exit gates rapidly and at very short notice. If the gates are, however, designed to be opened manually, it is necessary for an authorised person to go to each gate to unlock it. In an emergency it may be difficult or impossible for the person to reach the gate and unlock it because of the press of the crowd in the vicinity of the gate.

The present invention provides a locking system for a gate which may be reliably operated from a position remote from the gate and, in a preferred embodiment, provides such a system which will operate reliably even if the gate is being subjected to substantial pressure from one side.

According to the invention there is provided a locking system for a gate or the like, and for locking a movable member of the gate to a fixed member when said members are brought into proximity upon the closing of the gate, the locking system comprising at least one lug for mounting on one of said members and formed with a hole, and an elongate operating rod reciprocable in bearing elements for mounting on the other said members, a locking device extending substantially parallel to the operating rod and connected thereto so as to move longitudinally with the rod, the locking device being so shaped and, in use, so located that it may be moved into and out of the hole in the lug, when the gate is closed, by reciprocal movement of the operating rod, electrically actuated power means for imparting longitudinal movement to the operating rod under the control of means for sensing an operating signal originating from a location remote from the locking system, and means for originating such operating signal from a remote location.

Where such a locking system is provided on a gate, it is not necessary for an operator to move to the gate itself but it may be unlocked from a remote location immediately the necessity for such unlocking is noted. Thus, in a sports stadium, the locking systems of all the exit gates from the stadium may be operated from a central location.

The locking device may comprise an elongate member mounted on the operating rod and extending substantially parallel thereto.

The locking device may be reciprocable in a bore in a guide block which, in use, is fixedly mounted on said other member. The guide block may, for example, be integral with one of the aforesaid bearing elements for the operating rod.

The guide block may be formed with a slot which receives the aforesaid lug when the gate is closed, the hole in the lug being then in register with the bore in the guide block.

The hole in the lug is preferably tapered outwardly on the side thereof which faces the bore in the guide block.

Preferably the locking device includes a main part which is directly connected to the operating rod so as to be movable therewith, and a separate part which is pushed, by the main part, along the bore in the guide block and partly into the hole in the lug. The separate part may then be so shaped that it will pass easily from the hole in the lug back into the bore in the guide block when the main part moves away from the hole in the lug, even in circumstances where the gate is under pressure from one side, causing the lug to be urged in a direction away from the guide block. For example, the separate part of the locking device may be in the form of a ball, the diameter of which is greater than the depth of the hole in the lug.

Where such separate part of the locking device is provided, there may also be connected to the operating rod a pusher element which, upon movement of the operating rod to withdraw the locking device from the hole in the lug, engages said separate part if it is retained in the hole in the lug, to assist in displacing the separate part from the hole in the lug. The pusher element and the main part of the locking device may be mounted on the operating rod by collars which co-operate with fixed abutments to limit the extent of reciprocal movement of the operating rod.

The aforesaid electrically operated power means may comprise one or more solenoids.

For example, there may be provided two solenoids for effecting longitudinal movement of the operating rod in its two directions respectively. Preferably the solenoids are so connected that, upon failure of the supply of electrical power thereto, the operating rod is moved in a direction to withdraw the locking device from the hole in the lug, and thus unlock the gate.

The aforesaid operating signal may be a radio signal, and in this case the means for originating the operating signal from a remote location will be an operator-controlled radio transmitter.

The system may further comprise an electrically powered lamp which is also under the control of said means for sensing the operating signal, whereby the lamp is illuminated upon receipt of a signal to withdraw the locking device from the hole in the lug and unlock the gate. The illumination of the lamp will thus indicate to the public that the gate has been unlocked. The lamp may be a flashing lamp.

Preferably there are provided a plurality of said lugs and respective locking devices, the locking devices being connected to a single operating rod.

The invention includes within its scope a gate assembly comprising at least one fixed elongate frame member and a gate movable between open and closed positions and having an elongate side member which is brought into proximity with the fixed frame member upon closing of the gate, and a locking system, of any of the kinds referred to above, mounted on said members. Preferably the lug of the locking system is mounted on the side member of the movable gate, and the operating rod and locking device are mounted on the fixed frame member.

The following is a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a gate assembly, Figure: 2 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Figure 1, the gate being shown in an open position, Figure 3 is a side view of the gate assembly of Figure f, Figure 4 is a front view of a fixed post of the gate assembly of Figure 1, the front panel of the post having been removed to show part of the locking mechanism, Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of parts of the locking mechanism, some portions thereof being broken away for clarity, Figure 6 is a side view, on an enlarged scale, of part of the locking mechanism in an unlocked position and, Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6, showing the parts of the locking mechanism in a locked position.

The gate assembly illustrated is particularly suitable for use as an emergency gate in a sports stadium or in other circumstances where it may be necessary to allow crowds to leave rapidly in case of fire or other hazard.

The gate assembly includes a fixed outer frame 10 within which is hingedly mounted a movable gate 11.

The outer frame 10 comprises two vertical steel support posts 12 of rectangular section, the lower ends of which are sunk into the ground. The posts are connected by an upper crossbar 13 and a lower crossbar 14 which is at ground level.

The frame 10 defines a space in a continuous fence or wall (not shown) which extends to each side of the gate assembly. Above the frame 10 stretches of barbed wire 15 extend between inclined brackets 16 mounted an the upper ends of the support posts 12 to prevent people climbing over the gate. A beacon lamp 17, operated in a manner to be described, is mounted at the upper end of a post 18 which extends upwardly from the centre of the upper crossbar 13.

Alongside the right hand main support post 12 there is mounted a further post 19 of hollow rectangular section which houses the main components of the locking mechanism.

The movable gate itself is mounted on the left hand main support post 12 by hinges 20, and comprises two vertical beams 21 and 22, and upper, lower and central crossbars 23, 24 and 25 respectively, a hinge 20 being located at one end of each crossbar. The central crossbar 25 divides the gate into upper and lower panels. The lower panel has welded across it a sheet of heavy gauge expanded metal as indicated at 26. The upper panel is filled with spaced vertical bars 27 welded between the upper crossbar 23 and the central crossbar 25 and reinforced by a further crossbar 28 which crosses, and is welded to, the vertical bars 27 as well as to the upright side beams 21 and 22 of the gate.

Two rectangular vertically spaced steel lugs 29 are welded to the outer edge of the- side beam 22 of the gate which is further from the hinges. As best seen in Figure 5, each lug is horizontal and is formed with a hole 30. The lugs form part of a locking mechanism for the gate assembly, the other components of which are located in the hollow upright post 19 as best seen in Figure 4, in which a cover panel of the post has been removed to show the mechanism. Fixed guide blocks 31 are mounted within the post 19 at vertically spaced locations corresponding generally to the vertical positions of the lugs 29 on the gate. Each guide block 31 is formed with a vertical bore 32 including a bush which forms a bearing for a vertically reciprocable operating rod 33 which extends through most of the height of the post 19.The operating rod 33 is connected at its upper end to the movable part of a solenoid device 34 mounted within the upper end of the post 19, and at its lower end to a similar solenoid device 35 mounted in the lower end of the post 19.

The solenoid devices 34 and 35 are controlled by electrical circuitry (not shown) which incorporates means for sensing radio signals from a remote location and operating the solenoids in dependence on such signals. The locking mechanism therefore also includes a radio transmission device for sending such signals from a remote location. The arrangement is such that upon one signal being sent the upper solenoid device 34 is energised and the solenoid device 35 is de-energised, whereas when a different radio signal is sent, the lower solenoid device 35 is energised and the upper solenoid device 34 is deenergised.

Such radio control systems are commercially available and are well known in the art and will not therefore be described in detail.

One side wall of the hollow post 19 is formed with vertically spaced slots 36, and the removed front panel of the post is formed with similar slots which are so located that the lugs 29 on the gate may pass through the slots, as the gate is closed, and project into the interior of the post 19.

To prevent the ingress of dirt or moisture through the slots 36, and also to inhibit tampering with the locking mechanism, there are welded to the vertical post 22 of the gate weather plates 49 which overlie the slots.

When the gate is closed, the lugs 29 are received in slots 37 in the guide blocks 31 which slots are in register with the slots 36, as best seen in Figure 4.

Each guide block 31 is formed, below the slot 37, with a vertical bore 38 which receives a bush 39. The main cylindrical part 40 of a locking device is vertically slideable in the bush 39 and is welded at its lower end to a bracket 41 which is in turn welded to a collar 42 secured to the operating rod 33. A separate part of the locking device, in the form of a ball 43, is normally also located in the bore 38 above the main part 40 of the locking device.

Above the slot 37 there is formed in each guide block 31 a further bore 44. Projecting downwardly through the bore 44 is one limb of an L-shaped pusher member 45 the other limb of which is welded to a further collar 46 secured to the operating rod 33.

The locking mechanism operates as follows: When the mechanism is in the unlocked position, the operating rod 33 is in its lower most position, determined by engagement of the upper collar 46 with the upper surface of the guide block 31, and the balls 43 are wholly received in the bores 38, as shown in Figure 6. In this position the gate may be readily open and closed since the lugs 29 are free to move into and out of the slots 37. It will be seen from Figure 6 that the lower end of the pusher element 45 projects to a small extent into each slot 37 and, as shown in Figure 5, each lug 29 is provided with a recess 47 to provide clearance for the projecting lower end of the pusher element.

When the gate is to be locked the aforementioned radio transmission device is operated, sending a radio signal which is detected at the locking mechanism causing the upper solenoid device 34 to be energised. This causes the operating rod 23 to be moved upwardly to the position shown in Figure 7. It will be seen that the upward movement of the rod 33 causes the main part 40 of each locking device to push the associated ball 43 upwardly into the hole 30 in the associated lug 29. The lower portion of the hole 30 is formed with an outward taper as indicated at 48 and this facilitates entry of the ball into the hole. The upward movement of the rod 33 is limited by engagement of the bracket 41 with the underside of the associated guide block 31. The gate is now locked.

When it is required to unlock the gate, a further, different radio signal is sent from the remote location and this is arranged to cause the lower solenoid device 35 to be actuated, de-energising the upper solenoid device 34 and moving the operating rod 33 downwardly.

This withdraws the main parts 40 of the locking devices downwardly. The balls 43 will then normally drop downwardly out of the holes 30 in the lugs 29, permitting the lugs 29 to be moved out of the slots 37 and thus permitting the gate to be opened. Preferably the gate opens outwardly to facilitate the passage of people through the gate as it opens.

Since the main part 40 of each locking device does not itself pass into the hole in the associated lug 29, there is no risk that lateral pressure on the gate will jam the main part in the hole and prevent its downward withdrawal. The cooperating surfaces on each ball 43 and the associated tapered hole 30 in the lug 29 have the effect that, once the part 40 has been withdrawn downwardly, any sideways force on the lug 29, due to lateral pressure against the gate, will tend to force the ball 43 downwardly out of the hole in the lug, permitting the lug 29 to move out of the slot 37 and the gate to open.

In the event that there is still a tendency for each ball 43 to jam in the hole in the lug 29, the downward movement of the operating rod 33 will also move the pusher member 45 downwardly to engage the upper surface of the ball 43 and thus begin the dislodgement of the ball downwardly from the hole 30.

The electrical circuitry providing power to the solenoid devices 34 and 35, and controlling their operation, is preferably supplied from mains power for reliability, but a battery backup system may also be provided in case the mains supply should fail. In the event that there is total failure of both the mains supply and the back-up battery supply, neither of the solenoid devices 34 and 35 will be energised, but if the operating rod 33 is in its uppermost position where the gate is locked, the rod will fall downwardly under gravity due to its own weight and the weights of the parts mounted on it, to the unlocked position. The locking mechanism therefore operates in a "fail-safe" manner.

The aforementioned flashing beacon lamp 17 is connected into the control circuitry for the solenoid devices so that it becomes energised when the lower solenoid device 35 is energised to unlock the gate.

If required, a manually operated mechanism may be provided to over-ride the electrical system and move the operating rod 33 manually. Preferably such manual system is keyoperated.

In the arrangement shown the solenoid-operated part of the locking mechanism is mounted in a fixed post and the cooperating lugs are mounted on the gate itself. While this facilitates the supply of electric current to the solenoids, it would also be possible for the solenoid-operated part of the mechanism to be mounted in a hollow vertical post on the gate itself, the lugs 29 being mounted on the fixed post.

Although the installation shown in the drawings include only a single gate, the invention is equally applicable to arrangements where double gates are hinged at their outer ends and cooperate with a central post between them, the locking mechanism for each gate being provided in the central post.

In place of the ball type locking elements 43, taper-faced, spring-loaded levers may be provided on the gate or on the fixed post, these being arranged to permit the gate to be closed and locked automatically by slamming action.

Claims (21)

1. A locking system for a gate or the like, and for locking a movable member of the gate to a fixed member when said members are brought into proximity upon closing of the gate, the locking system comprising at least one lug for mounting on one side of said members and formed with a hole, an elongate operating rod reciprocable in bearing elements for mounting on the other of said members, a locking device extending substantially parallel to the operating rod and connected thereto so as to move longitudinally with the rod, the locking device being so shaped and, in use, so located that it may be moved into and out of the hole in the lug, when the gate is closed, by reciprocal movement of the operating rod, electrically actuated power means for imparting longitudinal movement to the operating rod under the control of means for sensing an operating signal originating from a location remote from the locking system, and means for originating such operating signal from a remote location.

2. A locking system according to Claim 1, wherein the locking device comprises an elongate member mounted on the operating rod and extending substantially parallel thereto.

3. A locking system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the locking device is reciprocable in a bore in a guide block which, in use, is fixedly mounted on said other member.

4. A locking system according to Claim 3, wherein the guide block is integral with one of the aforesaid bearing elements for the operating rod.

5. A locking system according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the guide block is formed with a slot which receives the aforesaid lug when the gate is closed, the hole in the lug being then in register with the bore in the guide block.

6. A locking system according to any of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the hole in the lug is tapered outwardly on the side thereof which faces the bore in the guide block.

7. A locking system according to any of Claims 3 to 6, wherein the locking device includes a main part which is directly connected to the operating rod so as to be movable therewith, and. a separate part which is pushed, by the main part, along the bore in the guide block and partly into the hole in the lug.

8. A locking system according to Claim 7, wherein said separate part is in the form of a ball, the diameter of which is grater than the depth of the hole in the lug.

9. A locking system according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein there is also connected to the operating rod a pusher element which, upon movement of the operating rod to withdraw the locking device from the hole in the lug, engages said separate part, if it is retained in the hole in the lug, to assist in displacing the separate part from the hole in the lug.

10. A locking system according to Claim 9, wherein the pusher element and the main part of the locking device are mounted on the operating rod by collars which cooperate with fixed abutments to limit the extent of reciprocal movement of the operating rod.

11. A locking system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said electrically operated power means comprise one or more solenoids.

12. A locking system according to Claim 11, wherein there are provided two solenoids for effecting longitudinal movement of the op erating rod in its two directions respectively.

13. A locking system according to Claim 12, wherein the solenoids are so connected that, upon failure of the supply of electrical power thereto, the operating rod is moved in a direction to withdraw the locking device from the hole in the lug.

14. A locking system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said operating signal is a radio signal, and the means for originating the operating signal from a remote location is an operator-controlled radio transmitter.

15. A locking system according to any of the preceding claims, and further comprising an electrically powered lamp which is also under the control of said means for sensing the operating signal, whereby the lamp is illuminated upon receipt of a signal to withdraw the locking device from the hole in the lug.

16. A locking system according to Claim 15, wherein the lamp is a flashing lamp.

17. A locking system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein there are provided a plurality of said lugs and respective locking devices, the locking devices being connected to a single operating rod.

18. A gate assembly comprising at least one fixed elongate frame member and a gate movable between open and closed positions and having an elongate side member which is brought into proximity with the fixed frame member upon closing of the gate, and a locking system, according to any of the preceding claims, mounted on said members.

19. A gate assembly according to Claim 18, wherein the lug is mounted on the side member of the gate and the operating rod and locking device are mounted on the fixed frame member.

20. A locking system for a gate, according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A gate assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.