GB2346925A

GB2346925A - Electromagnetic security lock

Info

Publication number: GB2346925A
Application number: GB9904018A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Douglas Gray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-16
Filing date: 1999-02-23
Publication date: 2000-08-23
Also published as: GB9903384D0; GB9904018D0

Abstract

An electromagnetic security locking device, that can be used for the remote locking and unlocking of access and/or entry points to domestic and industrial promises, comprising a solenoid which uses a coil 5, 12 wound around a former 7 with an armature comprising a bolt 16 made of non magnetic and non magnetic attracting material attached at one end to an axially polarised permanent magnet 4 and a securing socket 17 which is used to accommodate the bolt 16. The solenoid of the electromagnetic locking device is installed within the fixed frame of a door, window and/or any other entry/exit point. The securing socket 17 is installed within the moveable part of an entry/exit point such as a door and/or window. The solenoid and securing socket 17 are installed opposite each other such that the bolt 16 will enter the securing socket 17 in direction A and leave the socket 17 in direction B when the coil 5, 12 is energised with the required polarity of DC electrical power supply.

Description

ELECTROMAGNETIC SECURITY LOCK This invention relates to an electromagnetic security locking device that can be used for the remote locking and unlocking of access and/or entry points to domestic and industrial promises.

Several problems currently exist with traditional security locking mechanisms for windows and/or doors. For example; Window locks are an accepted method of securing widows when premises are vacated. However, with window locks, keys are often mislaid and the locking of windows takes considerable time to secure. Because of these problems, premises are often vacated without windows being secured. An added consequence is that if a break in occurs, and it was discovered that window locks were fitted but not secured, an insurance company would significantly reduce any compensation being sought.

Similarly, doors to a building that are not the main exist point often use bolts for added security. Again, time taken to secure these bolts sometimes prevents their use thereby reducing security.

One major problem is that the last person vacating a building has no means to know if all points are secure without going around each possible entry and exit point and physically checking that windows are closed and locked and that doors are locked and bolted. An oversight in this area means that a window could be left open when the person vacating the property believes all is secure, resulting in an open invitation for potential housebreakers and/or burglars.

The electromagnetic security locking device invention described herein overcomes these problems.

The diagram in figure 1 shows a solenoid comprising a coil 5,12 wound around a former 7 with an armature comprising a bolt 16 made of non magnetic and non magnetic attracting material attached at one end to an axially polarised permanent magnet 4 with magnetic polarisation depicted by N and S. The permanent magnet 4 is electrically insulated along its length except for an electrically conductive band 13, which is located midway between the magnetic poles of the permanent magnet 4. DC Electrical power to energise the coil 5,12 is made via terminal connections 6,11.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SECURITY LOCK The length of the armature, comprising the bolt 16 and the permanent magnet 4, as well as the length and positioning of the coil 5,12, are so designed to ensure that the electromagnetic force exerted on the magnet 4 when the coil 5, 12 is electrically energised, is sufficient to repel and/or attract the armature in direction A and/or B along the length of the former 7 indicated by points C and F.

The movement direction of the armature is determined by the polarity of the DC electricity supply presented at terminal connections 6,11. For the purpose of this description it is assumed that a positive electricity supply to terminal connection 6 and a corresponding negative electricity supply to terminal connection 11 will result in a force that moves the armature in direction A.

The electromagnetic locking device comes in two parts, the solenoid, comprising the former 7, coil 5,12, armature 4,16 conductive band 13 and associated elements 2,6,8,9,10,11,14 which will be described in detail later, and the securing socket 17 which is used to accommodate the bolt 16.

The solenoid of the electromagnetic locking device is installed within the fixed part, such as the frame of a door, window and/or any other entry/exit point. The securing socket 17 is installed within the moveable part of an entry/exit point such as a door and/or window. The solenoid and securing socket 17 are both installed opposite each other such that the bolt 16 will enter the securing socket 17 in direction A when the coil is energised with a positive DC electricity supply being connected to terminal connection 6 and a corresponding negative DC electricity supply connected to terminal connection 11. The Solenoid is fixed into position by screws, or other suitable means, located at points 2 and 14. The securing socket 17 is fixed into place by screws, or other suitable means, at points 1 and 15.

The electrical terminal connection 10 is used to electrically signal the correct positioning of the magnet 4 within the former 7. This signal is provided by the contact strip extension of terminal connection 10 becoming in contact with the conductive band 13 of the magnet 4 at points D and E, which represent locked and open respectively. The polarity of the signal voltage on the electrical terminal connection 9 will be positive when locked and negative when open. The contact strip 9, which derives is electrical polarity from terminal connection 6, provides a permanent contact with the conductive band 13.

ELECTROMAGNETIC SECURITY LOCK Alternatively, constructing the former 7 out of a conductive metal such as brass, which has no magnetic properties, can make this permanent contact with conductive band 13.

To ensure that the door, window and/or any other entry/exit point is locked, the securing socket 17 incorporates a trimming stub 18 which is adjusted to ensure the bolt 16 stops at the required position for the locked signal to be provided at the electrical terminal connection 9. If the bolt 16 were not stopped at this point, it would extend beyond the contact point D positioned for the conducting band 13.

The only time the bolt 16 would extend beyond this point is when the door, window and/or and entry/exit point is left open. Similarly, a locked signal would not be provided if the bolt 16 was prevented from moving into the securing socket 17 because the door, window and/or entry exit point was not properly closed. As a result of this signalling, a person vacating premises can easily see (or be signalled) if all entry and/or exit points are secured by, for example, a control panel (incorporating suitable electronic circuitry and logic) located at the main exit point.

An added feature of the electromagnetic locking device is that if it was disturbed, for example by forced entry, causing the conducting band 13 to loose electrical contact with the contact strip extension of terminal connection 10, this loss of"locked"signalling could be used to trigger an intruder alarm.

Small pieces of non magnetic and attracting material 3,8 are located within the former 7 in a position such as to hold the bolt 16 in place when in the open and/or locked position. The holding of the bolt 16 is achieved as a result of the magnetic force between the magnet 4 and the small pieces of non magnetic material 3 (when locked) and 8 (when open). The magnetic force holding the bolt 16 in either the locked or open position is sufficiently low as not to inhibit the movement of the bolt 16 when the coil 5,12 is energised.

To prevent a potential intruder using strong magnets to attract the magnet 4 so as to open the entry/exit point when locked, the solenoid is shielded with a suitable magnetic attracting material such as steel (not shown on figure 1).

To enable occupants to vacate locked premises quickly in an emergency, such as a fire, a suitable switch can be located near to selected entry/exit points that can be easily operated to open associated locks (not shown on figure 1).

ELECTROMAGNETIC SECURITY LOCK The remote switching and control of one or more electromagnetic locking devices is not covered in this invention simply because there are many ways this can be achieved. For example, the open or locked voltage signalling available at terminal connection 10, combined with the energising voltage polarity of the coil 5,12, means there is sufficient electronic logic to enable the remote control of several electromagnetic locking devices using appropriate wiring, a suitable DC power source and a control panel with appropriate electronic circuitry, switching and indicators.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An electromagnetic security locking device that can be used for the remote locking and unlocking of access and/or entry points to domestic and/or industrial promises.
2. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 1 comprising a solenoid constructed with a coil wound around a former with an armature comprising a bolt made of non magnetic and non magnetic attracting material attached at one end to an axially polarised permanent magnet.
3. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 1 were the permanent magnet is electrically insulated along its length except for an electrically conductive band which is located between the magnetic poles of the permanent magnet.
4. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 1 were the length of the armature and the length and positioning of the coil are so designed to ensure that the electromagnetic force exerted on the magnet when the coil is electrically energised, is sufficient to repel and/or attract the armature in required direction.
5. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 1 were the electromagnetic locking device comes in two parts, the solenoid and the securing socket which is used to accommodate the bolt.
6. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 5 were the solenoid of the electromagnetic locking device is installed within the fixed frame of a door, window and/or any other entry/exit point and the securing socket is installed within the moveable part of an entry/exit point such as a door and/or window.
7. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 5 were the solenoid and securing socket are installed opposite each other such that the bolt will enter and leave the securing socket when the coil is energised with a suitable electricity supply.
8. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 1 were an electrical signal is provided to indicate the"locked"and"open"position of the permanent magnet within the former of the solenoid.
9. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 5 were the securing socket incorporates a trimming stub which is adjusted to ensure the bolt stops at the required position for the"locked"signal to be provided.
10. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 1 were a"locked" signal would not be provided if the bolt was prevented from moving into the securing socket because the door, window and/or entry exit point was not properly closed and/or left open.
11. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 1 that if it was disturbed, for example by forced entry would cause loss of the"locked" electrical signal.
12. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim I were small pieces of non magnetic and attracting material are located within the former in such a position as to hold the bolt in place when in the"open"and/or "locked"position.
13. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 1 were the solenoid locking device is shielded against external magnetic fields that could be used to open the lock.
14. An electromagnetic security locking device in Claim 1 were an easily operated switch device could be suitably located near to selected entry/exit points to unlock associated entry/exit points remote from the main entry/exit control panel.
15. An electromagnetic security locking device in any proceeding claim which is made from magnetic, non-magnetic material or material that is attracted to magnets, or form a combination of these materials.
16. An electromagnetic security locking device as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.