Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02234334 1998-04-08
BACKGROUND OF THE lNV~. ~ lON
3This invention relates generally to door
4latch actuator~, and more particularly to improvements
5in lockable actuators providing multiple operating
6advantages, including clutching and de-clutching to
7prevent damage when the door is locked.
8When a lockable latch actuator mechanism is
ginstalled, it desirably allows for rotation of a handle
10to unlatch the door, when the actuator is unlocked; and
11it desirably restricts such handle movement when the
12actuator mechanism is in locked condition. However,
13the user may then apply such great force to the handle
14seeking to unlatch the locked door, that the locking
15mechanism becomes damaged. There is need to overcome
16this potential damage problem.
17Further, when door latch actuators carrying
18handles are installed, it may be necessary to produce
19either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the
20actuator output shaft, depending upon the installation;
21and it is desirable that a single actuator mechanism be
22usable for this purpose. Also, it is desirable that
23that same actuator mechanism be installable for either
24left or right-handed operation. There is need for a
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1 simple, rugged, easily adjustable mechanism that is
2 "universaln in its adaptability to any of the above
3 modes of operation, or combination of such modes.
5SUMMARY OF TH~ INVENTION
7It is a major object of the invention to
8provide improved latching mechanism meeting any and all
9of the above needs. Basically, one form of the
10mechanism of the invention comprises:
11a) an output shaft, which may be offset
12from a control handle, to control latching and
13unlatching of the door,
14b) first structure positioned for movement
15in response to rotation of the control handle,
16c) second structure having operative
17coupling to the first structure and to the output shaft
18for displacement to effect rotation of the output shaft
19in response to such movement of the first structure,
20d) and lock structure having an element
21movable into and out of blocking relation to the second
22structure, thereby to block displacement of the second
2 3structure when the lock structure element is moved into
24 blocking relation, and alternatively to allow such
CA 02234334 1998-04-08
1 displacement of the second structure when the lock
2 structure element is moved out of that blocking
3 relation,
4 e) the operative coupling providing lost
motion operative connection between the first and
6 second structures to allow continued rotation of the
7 control handle after the lock structure blocks that
8 displacement of the second structure.
9 It is another object to provide a simple,
effective mechanism, wherein the operative coupling
11 comprises at least one compression spring located in
12 yieldable force-transmitting relation between the first
13 and second structures. The first and second
14 structures, and operative coupling, are typically
located within a housing; and the first structure
16 preferably includes a first member, such as a first
17 plate movable longitudinally in the housing, and the
18 second structure preferably includes a second member,
19 such as a second plate movable longitudinally in the
housing, the compression spring preferably located
21 between the first and second plates to allow the first
22 plate to move longitudinally toward the second plate
23 when the second plate is blocked against longitudinal
24 displacement. Another compression spring is preferably
CA 02234334 1998-04-08
1 located in parallel relation with the one compression
2 spring, and in yieldable force-transmitting relation
3 between the first and second structures.
4 A further object includes provision of the
operative coupling in the form of a rack and spur gear
6 coupling between the second structure and the output
7 shaft. The second structure typically includes a
8 longitudinally linearly movable plate carrying the
9 rack, the spur gear coupled to the output shaft. The
rack may advantageously include primary and secondary
11 rack segments at opposite sides of the spur gear, and
12 controllably shiftable to alternately mesh with the
13 spur gear, whereby the direction of rotation of the
14 output shaft may be controlled. This accommodates
installation for either clockwise or counterclockwise
16 handle rotation to open the door.
17 Yet another object includes provision of the
18 lock structure element in the form of an arm shiftable
19 in one direction into blocking relation to the second
structure, and in another direction out of blocking
21 relation to the second structure. The secondary
22 structure may typically include a member or plate
23 having a stop shoulder engaged by the arm when the arm
24 is rotatably shifted into blocking relation, and
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1 disengaged by the arm when the arm is rotatably shifted
2 out of blocking relation.
3 An additional object includes provision of
4 cam and follower coupling between the handle and the
first structure; and further, wherein the coupling
6 includes multiple cam and follower engagement surfaces
7 allowing alternative clockwise and counterclockwise
8 rotation of the handle to effect the movement of the
9 first structure. In this regard, the cam and follower
structure may include a primary cam having a surface
11 engageable with primary follower surface on the first
12 structure, and a secondary cam having a surface
13 engageable with a secondary follower surface on the
14 first structure.
These and other objects and advantages of the
16 invention, as well as the details of an illustrative
17 embodiment, will be more fully understood from the
18 following specification and drawings, in which:
19
DRAWING DFSCRIPTION
21
22 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mechanism
23 incorporating the invention;
24 Fig. 1~ is a diagrammatic view of the output
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1 shaft of the Fig. 1 mechanism, in a door latch
2 operating position;
3 Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical elevation, in
4 section, on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an elevation taken in section on
6 lines 3-3 of Fig. 2;
7 Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 3 showing the
8 positions of elements after handle initial rotation;
g Fig. 5 is a section like that of Fig. 4
showing the position of elements after handle further
11 rotation;
12 Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view like
13 that of Fig. 4;
14 Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on lines
7-7 of Fig. 6;
16 Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken on lines
17 8-8 of Fig. 6;
18 Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of
19 elements shown in Figs. 2-6;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the lock arm
21 seen in Figs. 2-6;
22 Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an actuating
23 cam seen in Figs. 2-6; and
24 Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view
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1 showing parts of the mechanism of Figs. 2-6.
3DFT~TTTm DFSCRIPTION
5In Figs. 1-6, a shell or housing 22 is
6elongated and has an outer wall 22a, side walls 22b and
722c, end walls 22d and 22e, and inner wall 22f. The
8shell is metallic and may be anodized. The shell or
9body carries a door control handle 23 rotation of which
10about axis 24 controls opening and closing of a door.
11An output shaft 25 is offset from the control handle
12and is movable, as for example rotatable about an axis
1336, to control latching and unlatching of the door.
14See the diagrammatic view of Fig. 1~ showing that
15rotation of the shaft 25 in door recess 27 operates
16mechanism 28. That mechanism in turn retracts bolt or
17latch 29 from keeper 30. Different arrangements of
18such latching and keepers are of course possible.
19First structure is positioned in the shell or
20housing for movement in response to rotation of the
21control handle. See for example the lost motion plate
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1 32, which is movable linearly in directions indicated
2 by arrows 33, and receives guide pin 34 in a bore 35 in
3 the plate. Pin 34 may move up and down with a
4 secondary plate 50 to guide movement of member or plate
32, and keep plates 32 and 50 aligned. A cam 37,
6 carried by a shaft 38, rotated by the handle, slidably
7 engages follower edge 39 on plate 32 as the handle
8 rotates in one direction, to elevate plate 32; and a
9 cam 40, also carried by the handle shaft 38, slidably
engages follower edge 41 on plate 32, as the handle
11 rotates in the opposite direction, to elevate the plate
12 32. Note also guide surfaces 43 and 44 on a retainer
13 or retainers 45 in the housing, for guiding linear
14 motion of the plate or plates.
Second structure is positioned in the shell
16 or housing to have operative coupling to the first
17 structure, for displacement to effect rotation of the
18 output shaft, in response to the upward linear movement
19 of the first structure. See for example the slide
plate 50, which is movable linearly in directions
21 indicated by arrows 33.
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1 Plate 50 i~ coupled, via a pin or pins 152,
2to a slide plate 54, to move longitudinally linearly
3therewith. Plate 54 carries gear racks 51a and 51b,
4selectively positioned so that one or the other rack
5rotates a spur gear 52 on the output shaft 25 in one
6direction or the other direction. Mechanism 52a allows
7such shifting of plate 54. Slide plate 54 slides
8adjacent the shell inner wall 22f.
9Operative coupling of the first structure to
10the second structure is provided, for example, as by
11compression spring structure 60, shown as including
12springs 60a and 60b, to provide operative yieldable
13coupling. Those springs extend between the lower end
14of plate 50 and bottom surfaces of openings 59 in plate
1532, seen in Fig. 6, so that when plate 32 moves
16upwardly, plate 50 is moved upwardly along with plate
1754, to effect rotation of the output shaft 25, provided
18that such upward movement of plate 50 is not stopped or
19blocked. Such springs 60a and 60b provide lost motion
20coupling or connection between the first and second
21structures. An auxiliary compression spring 58 urges
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1 plate 50 downwardly, so that plate 50 does not nbottom~
2 upwardly before the door handle is rotated.
3 In this regard, lock structure is provided to
4 have an element movable into and out of blocking
relation to the second structure, thereby to block
6 upward displacement of the latter, and alternatively to
7 allow such displacement. For this purpose, the element
8 may comprise an arm shiftable in one direction into
9 blocking relation to the second structure, and in
another direction out of blocking relation to the
11 second structure. Also, the arm may be rotatably
12 carried by the housing for the first and second
13 structures; and the second structure may include a
14 plate having a stop shoulder engaged by the arm when
the arm is rotatably shifted into blocking relation,
16 and disengaged by the arm when the arm is rotatably
17 shifted out of blocking relation.
18 In the example shown, the lock structure is
19 generally designated at 70, and the blocking arm
element at 71, to be rotated about an axis 72, parallel
21 to axis 36. Pivotal mounting of the arm element shaft
22 73 to the housing structure 22h is indicated at 74; and
23 a dog 75 is rotatable by a lock rotor 76 to engage one
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1 or the other of the arm element projections 71a and 7Ib
2 to rotatably shift it between blocking and unblocking
3 position relative to stop plate 50 associated with the
4 second structure, as referred to. Note the stop
shoulder 78 on the arm element shiftable between
6 blocking position, as seen in Fig. 3 (door locked
7 position), and unblocking position, as seen in Fig. 4
8 (door unlocked position). The stop shoulder on the
9 plate appears at 80.
As disclosed above, cam and follower coupling
11 is provided between the handle 23 and the first
12 structure 32. That coupling may advantageously include
13 multiple cam and follower engagement surfaces as
14 desired allowing alternative clockwise and
counterclockwise rotation of the handle to effect the
16 movement of the first structure. Also, the cam and
17 follower coupling may include a primary cam having a
18 surface engageable with primary follower surface on the
19 first structure, and a secondary cam having a surface
engageable with a secondary follower surface on the
21 first structure. Thus, rotation of the handle in
22 either direction will open the door, if the lock
23 mechanism is unlocked; and if the lock mechanism is
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1 locked, excessive pressure on the handle rotated in
2 either direction will not damage the lock structure
3 (which will remain locked) since lost motion of plate
4 32 will occur.
Slide bearings for plate 32 appear at 32a in
6 Figs. 6 and 8.
7 From the foregoing, it will be seen that the
8 handle lever 23 and internal operating mechanism are
9 protected by the clutch mechanism, whether the lock
structure 70 is in locked or unlocked condition or
11 position.
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