Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02190429 2004-06-16
coNCBALED ROD OR CASL$ suRFAe$ hATC~iING LXIT DEVICE
~xcKG~oUND of THE zNY~rrzoN
This invention relates generally to a
mechanism for deadlocking a door member to a door
frame member i~n such manner as to acconanodate sudden
opening of the door member as by sudden pushing of an
associated panic bar. More particularly, i.t concerns
1o an external installation and fitting of mechanism,
such as a temperature--respQns~.ve mechanism, that
prevents opening of the door in case of fire.
Safety ~xiC doors are w~.dely used, and they
commonly incorporate lock mechani.ams which lock the
doors to door frames. and whieh.are releasable by
operation of panic bars. See U.S. patents 1,63e,~4s;
4,x.30,306; 4,083,590; and x,368,905. U.S- Patent
4,838,587 to Choi discloses an impxoved mechanism for
controllably dead~.ocking a door to a door frame, fox
panic release.
There is need for simple, compact, rel~.able
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mechanisms of this type, which are readily installable
externally upon such doors, using elongated actuator
links installable within such doors, to thereby
provide safety exit door operation, and which also
block opening of the exit door in case of fire. There
is also need for deadlocking mechanisms wherein only
one latch and its operating rod are needed on a door,
as adjacent the door top.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a major object of the invention to
provide door latching structure for operatively
interconnecting an upper latching structure carried by
a door and a lower actuator means carried by the door,
the upper latching structure located outside the door,
comprising,
a) a longitudinally elongated link sized
for reception within the door and to extend into
proximity to the latching structure, and to the
actuator means, the link operatively connected to the
actuator means,
b) and a laterally extending link attached
to an upper end portion of the longitudinally
elongated link, the laterally extending link
connectable to the latching structure to transfer
longitudinal movement of the longitudinal link
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effected by the actuator means to the external
latching structure, far operating same.
As will be seen, the elongated link may
advantageously comprise a flexible cable easily
installed lengthwise in a vertical passage within the
door, and easily connectable to the laterally
extending link at a location within the do>or, and also
easily connectable to the lower actuator means carried
by the door, as at push level. The flexible cable
easily accommodates to any irregularities in the
central passage.
Another object includes provision of the
latching structure, as referred to, and having an
element located outside the door, and. vertically
movable to effect latching to door framE~ structure,
the laterally extending link connected to the element,
whereby the laterally extending link extends from
within the door to the exterior thereof.
A further object includes provi:~ion of a nut
integral with the cable, and to which the laterally
extending link has threaded attachment, th.e nut offset
laterally from the latching structure, whereby the
attachment of the cable to the latching structure is
easily accomplished. In addition, the lower actuator
means typically has an element to which a lower end
portion of the longitudinally elongated link or cable
is attached. The lower actuator may include a push
bar actuator, or a lever actuator, operated by the
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user.
Another object is to provide a heat-
responsive means to independently control operation of
the latching structure in response to a predetermined
change in temperature.
It is another object to provide a
temperature-responsive blocking means including a
spring-urged element and a heat fusible part blocking
spring-urged movement of the element into a position
to block rod movement that would otherwise unlatch the
door.
It is a further object to provide a single
rod to extend in cooperation with a single latch
mechanism on the door, and to be movable from a first
location in which a latch dog is blocked to prevent
pivoting of a latch to release a bolt, to a second
location in which the dog is unblocked, to allow latch
pivoting. The single rod is typically carried by the
door member for endwise vertical movement, there being
a shoulder on the rod engageable by the temperature
responsive blocking means in response to a
predetermined increase in ambient temperature, as
during a fire. The single rod is normally movable
vertically endwise by the cable in the door, the
cable, however, typically melting at high temperature
during a fire, whereby the rod, which would otherwise
drop by gravity action, is prevented from dropping by
operation of the temperature responsive blocking
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means.
These and other objects and advantages of
the invention, as well as the details of an
illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood
from the following specification and drawings, in
which:
DRAWING DESCRIPTION
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the
link mechanism of the invention in relation to a lower
level panic bar and an upper level latching structure;
Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the
deadlocking mechanism;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation taken on lines 3-
3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a top plan view on .Lines 4-4 of
Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 4 showing a bolt
in captivated position;
Fig. 6 is a section on lines 6-6 of Fig. 2,
and showing details of a heat fusible rod movement
blocking device;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation
taken on lines 7-7 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 8 is a section showing an alternative
lower actuator; and
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a cable
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connection, as used in Fig. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the drawings, structure is ;provided for
operatively interconnecting an upper latching
structure or mechanism 13 carried by the door 12 near
its upper end, and a lower actuator means 100 carried
by the door at a lower or manually actuating level.
A panic bar 17 is shown extending horizontally and is
carried by the door. See U.S. Patent 4,368,905, for
example, incorporated herein by reference:.
In accordance with the invention, a
longitudinally elongated link, such as a flexible
cable 115, is sized for reception within a. passage 102
within the door. Passage 102 and link 115, for
example, are concealed from external view, whereby the
link is protected from impact with external objects.
The link extends into proximity to the upper latching
structure 13, and to the lower actuator means 100, and
the link is operatively connected to both.
In addition, a laterally extending link is
provided at 104, to be attached to the upper end of
cable 115,the lateral link 104 connectable to the
upper latching structure to transfer longitudinal
movement of the concealed cable 115, effected by
actuator means 100, to the latching means 13
externally of the door, to operate 13. As shown,
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lateral link 104 may advantageously comprise a
laterally elongated fastener having a threaded shank
104, thread connected at 106 to rod part 15, seen in
Fig. 3, and also thread connected at 107 to a sleeve
108 attached, as at 109, to the upper end of 115a_ of
cable 115.
Shank 104 projects laterally through a side
opening 110 in the door, and into vertical bore or
passage 102 in the door. The cable 115 anal the sleeve
108 are located in that passage, and the: sleeve 108
acts as a cable guide, as by sleeve sideward sliding
engagement at 112 with the side interior wall of the
bore or passage 102, and acting to approximately
center the cable in that bore. Such sideward
engagement, as at 112, accommodates to any slight
angularity of the shank 104a relative to an axis 113
normal to the axis 114 of the bore. Fastener 104 is
oriented laterally by the vertical rod 15 having
slidable bearing engagement at 47 and 48 'with arms 23
and 24 of the latching mechanism, acting to orient the
rod vertically.
The lower end extent 115 of the cable 115
is typically installed as by its vertical tensioning
and adjustable attachment to the lower actuator
mechanism 100. See for example Fig. 7 showing a set
screw 120 attaching the cable lower end 115~ to a
rotor 121 rotatable about horizontal axis 122, the
rotor located within the door (as at 100).
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A lever 126, actuated by pushing of panic
bar 17, acts to rotate the rotor, and move the locus
of set screw 120 downwardly, pushing the cable 115
downwardly, as well as fastener 104 and rod 15,
referred to above.
Fig. 1 also shows a door lever mechanism 150
at the outer side of the door and having a lever
handle 151 rotatable to rotate a coupling part 152
that rotates the rotor 121.
Referring now to Figs. 2-6, the mechanism 13
includes a hollow, metallic, box-like body 19 having
a side wall 20 attachable to the side of the door 12,
as via fasteners 21' receivable through holes 22 in
side wall 20. The body also includes upright flanged
walls 21 and 22 integral with wall 20 and bent at 90°
thereto. Walls 21 and 22 serve to support wall 23 if
and when 23 bends downward under load. Further, the
body includes top and bottom flanged walls 23 and 24
integral with wall 20, and bent at 90° thereto. See
for example bends 23a and 24~. A further upright wall
is integral with top wall 23, and bent upwardly at
25_a, for purposes as will appear.
A rotary latching means 26 is carried by the
body, and typically by top wall 23, to pivot about an
25 axis 28, which extends parallel to the axis 27 of bolt
10, both axes typically extending vertically. The
latching means includes a latch 29 in the form of a
plate, which is generally C-shaped in horizontal
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plane, and forms a recess 30 having a C-shaped inner
wall 30~ defined by arms 31 and 32 of the C-shaped
latch. The recess 30 is adapted to relatively receive
the bolt 10 as the door member closes or pivots
relatively toward t:he plane of the door frame member
11, whereby the bolt engages the inner esdge 30~' of
the arm 31, and forcibly pivots the latch plate about
the second axis 28, as referred to, and into Fig. 5
position.
In that position, the bolt is confined by
the C-shaped latch 29, and also by the upwardly
projecting wall 25, referred to above. Thins, the bolt
relatively moves from Fig. 4 position to Fig. 5
position, generally parallel to wall. 25. In
actuality, the wall 25 moves relative t.o the bolt,
which is typically carried by the fixed position frame
member 11.
Pivoting of the latch is accommodated by a
pivot shaft 33 carried by the top plate 23 to project
upwardly, for spacing the latch 29 well above the top
plate 23. Spacers 34--38 are mounted on shaft 33, and
confined in stacked relation between 23 and 29, as
shown. Other spacers may be employed, such as using
one mechanism or spacer only. A predetermined tension
torsion spring 40 is located beneath plate 23 and
wrapped about shaft 33, to urge, the shaft, latch
plate, and spacers in one direction in Figs. 4 and 5,
and toward Fig. 5 position. Thus, as the bolt centers
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the recess 30, it rotates the latch in the opposite
direction, and against the force of the spring,
further tensioning the latter. A head 41 on the lower
end of the shaft holds the spring between 41 and 23.
Torsion spring arm 42 engages the wall 23; and the
opposite arm 43 of the spring is attached to the head
41.
Note that the space 45 between the latch
plate 29 and the top wall 23 accommodate bolts of
different lengths, i.e., that project downwardly to
different extents into that space, as th~~ bolt moves
relatively into the recess 30 during door closing.
Thus, wide tolerance levels for interengaging parts,
upon latching and unlatching, are provided for.
A blocking and unblocking part., as in the
form of rod 15 previously referred to, extends in
cooperating relation with the body 19. As shown, the
polygonal cross section rod 15 extends upwardly into
the hollow interior of the body, i.e., between walls
21 and 22, as via polygonal (square) cross section
guide openings 47 and 48 through the walls 23 and 24.
The rod uppermost extent 15~ in Fig. 5 extends into
laterally blocking relation or with a latch dog 50
integral with and projecting radially outwardly of
spacer 35, which is rotatably attached to shaft 33, as
via engagement therewith at flat area 51.
When the rod extent 15~ retracts downwardly
below the level of the latch dog, as by panic pushing
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of the bar 17, the spring urges the latch toward Fig.
4 position, suddenly freeing the latch from the bolt,
and allowing rapid opening of the door. Also, the
force pushing bar 17 accelerates freeing of the latch
from the bolt. Alternatively, when the rod upper
extent 15~ engages the dog 50 at 50~, in Fig. 5, the
door is positively latched to the bolt 10.
The plate 34 defines two angu:larly spaced
stops or stop shoulders 70 and 75 (s~=_e Fig. 5),
alternately engageable with a stop pin 77 integral
with top wall 23, thereby to limit rotation of the
latch at Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 positions.
As shown in Fig. 6, temperature responsive
blocking means is provided at 80, in association with
the latch mechanism, to block operation of the latch
to unlatch the door, in response to a predetermined
increase in ambient temperature. Device 80 operates
to project a blocking part from stored or retracted
position, indicated at 81, to extended position,
indicated by broken lines 81' , in which it projects
beneath a head 82 on the lateral link 104, preventing
dropping or lowering of the rod 15, and thereby
preventing unlatching of the mechanism that would
otherwise allow opening of the door. This is desired
in case of fire, since a closed door blocka the spread
of the flames.
The latch mechanism parts and the rod
typically consist of steel to resist melting during a
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fire. Device 80 is indicated generally in Fig. 6, to
represent a family or class of usable temperature
responsive devices that would prevent rod dropping,
i.e., endwise rod movement that would effect
unlatching.
The particular temperature responsive
blocking device 80, within the family of such devices,
as referred to, is preferred. As shown, it includes
a spring-urged element in the form of an arm 81
pivotally mounted on bottom wall 24, to swing about
upright axis 89'. A heat-fusible part 84 normally
blocks spring-urged movement of the arrn 81 into a
position beneath head 82 on the link 104. In that arm
released position, indicated by broken 7Lines 81' in
Fig. 6, the arm blocks rod 15 downward movement that
would otherwise release the door. The panic bar may
be melted by the fire, along with cable 115 (see Fig.
1); however, the rod 15 does not then drop, as by
gravity, to unlatch the latch, since the arm 81,
released by melting of part 84, then extends beneath
link head 82, to prevent rod 15 dropping.
Fusible part 84 may consist of plastic
(synthetic resin) that melts at elevated temperatures,
such as temperature above 500°F., encountered during
a fire. Part 84 is shown as a cylinder having a stem
received in an opening in bottom wall 24, whereby the
cylinder extends in front of the tip of arm 81 to
prevent its swinging about axis 89' . The arm has a
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CA 02190429 2004-05-18
pivot axle 90 alto received in an opening in wall 24.
A torsion spring 92 is wound about an upward
extension of theJaxle, and urges the arm clockwise in r
Fig. 6. See torsion spring end 92a bearing against
the arm 81, and end 92b_ bearing against wall 22.
The method of interconnecting the latch
mechanism 13 and-the actuator means 17 includes first
connecting the' flexible cable 115 to the latch
mechanism 13, as for example via rod 15 and a
transverse link 104; and then tensioning the cable
downwardly and connecting it to the actuator means 17,
as for example via rotor 121. The cable is installed
in passage 102 prior to such tensioning. Note in Fig.
3 that coil spring 149 urges link 104 upwardly, to
tension the cable 115.
Fig. 8 shows an alternative lower actuator
means 17', including a manually actuatable lever 160
rotatable in the direction of arrows 161 and 161_a, and
a cam mechanism 162 rotatable by the lever to move
cable 115 lower end fitting 163 manually or
downwardly.
Fig. 9 shows fitting 163 to include a base
164, and an upright sleeve 165 to receive the lower
end 115c of the cable . A set screw 166 retains the
cable lower end to the sleeve.
Link 15 may comprise a rod instead of a
cable.
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