Locks – Operating mechanism – Using a powered device
Patent
1993-06-03
1995-04-18
Cuomo, Peter M.
Locks
Operating mechanism
Using a powered device
70413, E05B 4700
Patent
active
054068150
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to locks which are operated by magnetic keys.
Such locks are already known and described for example in European applications EP 0241323 and EP 002422 and PCT Application PCT/GB90/00246.
Briefly, in such locks a slide member carries a plurality of tumblers in the form of small cylindrical magnets (magnet pins) which are slidably received in bores in the slide member so as to slide transversely of the direction of movement of the member. In the locked position, the pins are attracted towards a magnetic plate so that they extend part way out of the bores and through apertures in a non-magnetic lock plate which is fixed in position and located between the slide member and magnetic plate. Hence the pins lock the slide member in position relative to the non-magnetic lock plate. To unlock the lock, a magnetic key is slid between the magnetic plate and a non magnetic plate and repels the pins so that they are pushed out of the apertures in the lock plate. The slide member is then free to slide relative to the lock plate. The key engages a flange on the slide member so that further movement of the key moves the slide member to allow operation of the lock.
The code of the lock is governed by the number, position and polarity of magnet pins relative to the lock plate. In PCT/GB90/00246 the lock code can be changed by providing rotatable wheels or carriers for some of the magnet pins which are coupled to rotate together and caused to rotate by the action of inserting a code changing key. The code changing key moves appropriate of the magnets in the carriers to enable the carriers to rotate through a predetermined angle as the key is inserted to unlock the lock so that the relative location of the magnets in the plane of the slider is changed. This action normally involves a selected magnet or magnets in the carriers being acted upon by the code changing key, so that movement of the slider causes the carriers to rotate to a new angular position for the next code in a sequence of codes.
According to the present invention there is provided a magnetic key operated lock comprising a slide member movable from a locked position to an unlocking position with a key having a magnetic code encoded in it, a plurality of magnet pins slidable transversely of the slide member from a first position locking the slide member in said locked position to a second position unlocking said slide member on operation of the lock by a said key, the position and polarity of some or all of the magnet pins forming a code for the lock, one or more of said magnet pins being mounted in at least one rotatable carrier in said lock for moving said pins from a first location to a second location to change the code of the lock from a first code to a second code, the carrier being rotated through a predetermined angle when a code changing key having a code changing code encoded in it is inserted into said lock in which securing means are provided for preventing rotation of the carrier arranged to be released by said key whenever it is substantially fully inserted in the lock.
The securing means may comprise a spring biassed bar slidably mounted in the lock to press at one end against the carrier, the bar being shaped to be urged by the code changing key when it is substantially fully inserted to disengage the one end from the carrier.
The lock may comprise a carrier with peripheral gear teeth and the bar may be slidable in a plane off-set from the rotational axis of the carrier such that the one end of the bar moves towards the periphery it always tends to abut between a respective pair of teeth, causing if necessary a small rotation of the carrier.
The carrier may be positioned adjacent the entry of the lock and the securing means released by engaging a forward end of the code changing key when it is substantially fully inserted.
The securing means may comprise alternatively or additionally a magnet pin in the carrier and a respective aperture in the slide member aligned with the pin into which the pin can be located for pre
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Cuomo Peter M.
Dino Suzanne L.
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