GB2360062A

GB2360062A - Espagnolette Bolting System

Info

Publication number: GB2360062A
Application number: GB0005920A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jose Maria Santos; Graham Wilfred Pearce; Stephen John Weaver
Original assignee: WILLENHALL ENGINEERING Ltd; SANTOS MANUF Lda
Current assignee: WILLENHALL ENGINEERING Ltd; SANTOS MANUF Lda
Priority date: 2000-03-10
Filing date: 2000-03-10
Publication date: 2001-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-10
Also published as: GB0005920D0; GB2360062B

Abstract

An espagnolette bolting system for a door, window comprises first and second bolts 7,17 moveable between locking and unlocking positions by first and second toothed racks 4,14. The first toothed rack 4 is driven by a toothed wheel 3 to which a handle is attached. The toothed wheel 3 also engages and drives a second toothed wheel 13 which in turn drives the second toothed rack 14. A dead lock, to lock the bolts 7,17 in their locking position, comprises a sliding plate 18 which can be brought into engagement with a slot in one of the bolts. The sliding plate 18 is retained in its locking or locking position by a toothed plunger 31. An anti-slam mechanism 41 is also provided to prevent movement of the bolts 7,17 to their locking position when the door or window carrying the mechanism is in its opened position.

Description

2360062 1 Title: IMPROVEMENTS IN ESPAGNOLETTE BOLTING SYSTEMS This

invention relates to bolts and is particularly concerned with espagnolette bolts for doors, windows and like openings.

In a known espagnolette bolting system, bolts are provided at the top and bottom of a door and are operated by a single central driving cog. The cog is arranged to be operated by a door handle or lever and engages racks which drive the bolts.

The racks engage the cog on opposite sides which means that at least one of the bolts has to be heavily cranked. The disadvantage with this is that if force is applied, flexing of the bolts can occur so that the bolts are deformed and the racks can jump out of engagement with the cog so that the door cannot then be bolted.

Attempts at solving this problem have involved the use of a second pinion or cog which is engaged by an extension of the rack driving one bolt and which serves in turn to drive the rack for the other bolt. These arrangements do not, however, provide a positive drive for the second rack.

The present invention aims to provide an espagnolette bolting system which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior arrangements and which ensures reliable operation.

According to the invention, there is provided an espagnolette bolting system for a door, window or like opening structure; said system comprising a first bolt movable between an operative position and an inoperative position, a second bolt movable between an operative position and an inoperative position, a first rack member arranged to move the first bolt between said operative and inoperative positions and vice versa, a second rack member arranged to move the second bolt between said operative and inoperative positions and vice versa, a first toothed member rotatably mounted in a case and arranged to engage with a toothed rack on said first rack member, a second toothed member rotatably mounted in the case 2 and arranged to be engaged by the first toothed member and to engage with a toothed rack on the second rack member, a spindle extending through the first toothed member and projecting from at least one side of the case and a handle or lever being mounted on a or the projecting end of the spindle; the arrangement being such that turning of the spindle by means of the handle or lever is effective to cause the first toothed member to rotate to drive the first rack member and to rotate the second toothed member to drive the second rack member whereby the bolts can be moved from the operative to the inoperative position or vice versa.

Preferably, each toothed member takes the form of a toothed quadrant.

The provision of the second toothed member which is driven directly by the first toothed member avoids the necessity for either of the bolts to be cranked and ensures reliable operation.

Preferably, the spindle projects from only one side of the case but it may for some applications project from both sides of the case if desired.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a dead bolt mechanism may be provided which is engageable with at least one rack member to lock the same in the bolted position. The dead bolt mechanism may be arranged to be operated either by a key or a turning knob.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the espagnolette bolting system is provided with an anti-slam device which, in the opened position of a door or like opening structure fitted with the system, prevents the bolts from being moved from the unbolted position to the bolted position and thus protects the bolts from possible damage which could occur if the door or other structure were to be moved to the closed position with the bolts in the closed position.

Preferably, the anti-slam device comprises a spring-loaded spigot which projects from the case.

3 The espagnolette bolting system according to the invention may also be provided with a static bolt for alignment and security purposes.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of an espagnolette bolting system according to the invention, with the lid of the case removed; Fig. 2 is a front view of the case of the system shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line III-III in Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows in the locked and bolted condition of the bolting system; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line WAV in Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a section, corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing the bolting system in the unlocked and unbolted condition; and Fig. 6 is a section, corresponding to Fig. 4, but again showing the bolting system in the unlocked and unbolted condition.

In the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

Referring to the drawings, an espagnolette bolting system according to the invention comprises a case 1 which is adapted to receive and co- operate with a lid 2, both components being designed to be received and fitted in a recess in the opening edge of a door, window or like opening member (not shown) to abut against a channel 9. A toothed quadrant 3 is rotatably mounted in the case, the quadrant having a series of teeth over only part of its periphery. A first rack member 4 is slidably mounted in the casing, said member having a first toothed rack 5 the teeth of which are arranged to engage with the teeth of the quadrant 3 whereby the rack can be driven by the inter-engaging teeth when the quadrant 3 is 4 rotated. The quadrant is provided, for this purpose, with a square- sectioned bore 8 which is adapted to receive a spindle (not shown) of corresponding section, one end of the spindle being arranged to project from the case or the lid and to be engaged by a handle (not shown) whereby turning of the handle is effective to rotate the spindle and hence the quadrant 3.

A second toothed quadrant 13 is rotatably mounted in the case with its teeth in meshing engagement with the teeth of the quadrant 3. A second rack member 14 is slidably mounted in the case 1, in a similar manner to the rack member 4, and is provided with a toothed rack 15 the teeth of which are arranged to be engaged by the teeth of the quadrant 13. As can be seen from Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings, the two rack members 4 and 14 are laterally offset from one another whereby relative movement between the two rack members can take place without interference.

Respective drive rods 6,16 are connected to the rack members 4,14 and terminate in respective hooks 7,17 which project through elongated slots in the channel 9.

The drive rods are guided in said channel which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section. A static bolt 19 projects from the channel 9 at a location spaced from the case 1 and the channel is secured to the case by a screw 20. The purpose of the static bolt is to ensure that the bolting system is correctly aligned so that the hooks will enter slots in a surrounding frame. The static bolt further serves to prevent a door or other structure fitted with the bolting system from being lifted when in the closed position and is thus an important security feature.

A pair of pillars 12 project from the base of the case 1, each pillar being provided with a bore. The pillars serve to support the lid which can be secured to the case by means of rivets (not shown) which are passed through suitable apertures in the lid and engage with the bores in the pillars 12. The toothed quadrant 13 is rotatably mounted on the lower of the two pillars 12. Fixing blocks 10 are also provided at each end of the case 1, these also being provided with pegs by means of which the lid can be secured to the case by passing the pegs through suitable apertures in the lid which pegs are then riveted.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows the espagnolette bolting system according to the invention in the bolted position in which the drive rods are moved away from the case. Movement of the drive rod 6 is limited by the end of the first rack member 4 engaging an end wall 11 of the case 1. In order to move the bolting system to the unbolted position, the quadrant 3 must be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. This is achieved by turning the handle on the spindle which is engaged in the square-sectioned bore 8. This is effective to move the rack member 4 downwards and to move the associated drive rod 6 towards the case to retract the hook 7. At the same time, the quadrant 13 is rotated by the quadrant 3 in the opposite direction, i.e. clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1, which is effective to move the rack member 14 upwards and to move the associated drive rod 16 towards the case to retract the hook 17. The hooks can be moved back to the locking position by turning the handle in the opposite direction, the outwards movement of the drive rod 6 being halted by engagement of the end of the rack member 4 with the case wall 11. This has the effect of immobilising the quadrant 3 and hence the quadrant 13 so that the outwards movement of the drive rod 16 is likewise halted.

The espagnolette bolting system according to the invention is also provided with a dead bolt mechanism which comprises a cam 21 which is rotatably mounted in the case 1. On being turned, the cam is arranged to engage in a slot 23 provided in a bolt lathe 22 which is slidably mounted in the case. In the locked or thrown position shown in Figs. 1 - 4 of the drawings, the bolt lathe 22 is in a position in 25 which it engages in a slot 18 in the drive rod 16. The bolt lathe 22 is provided with a first pair of horizontal slots 26 in which are located guide pins 29 mounted on the case 1.

The bolt lathe is held in the locked or thrown position by a lever 31 which has, at one end, teeth 32 which engage with teeth 28 on the bolt lathe. A rod 33 extends 6 from the other end of the lever 31 and passes through an aperture in a plate 34 which projects from the base of the case 1. A coil spring 35 is mounted on the rod 33 bearing at one end against the fixed plate 34 and at the other end against the lever 31 to urge the lever into engagement with the bolt lathe 22. In this way, the bolt lathe cannot be moved from the thrown position and the bolting system is effectively locked.

In order to withdraw the bolt lathe 22, the cam 21 must be turned in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 3. Initially, the cam contacts a plate 36 which is provided with a pair of vertical slots 37 by means of which it is mounted on the guide pins 29. The plate 36 is engaged by the lever 31 and is urged into the position shown in Fig. 3 by the spring 35. Further movement of the cam in a clockwise direction is effective to move the plate 36 upwards against the action of the spring 35, the slots 37 permitting this movement. The lever 31 is thus raised upwards by the upwards movement of the plate 36 to lift the teeth 32 out of engagement with the teeth 28 on the bolt lathe 22. At the same time, the cam enters the slot 23 in the bolt lathe.

The cam then engages the side 25 of the slot 23 and continued rotation of the cam is effective to move the bolt lathe 22 from its thrown or locked position to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 to its withdrawn position, the horizontal slots 26 permitting this movement. As the cam 31 leaves the slot 23, it moves out of engagement with the plate 36, the spring 35 can re-exert itself and move the lever 31 back to the position in which the teeth 32 can engage the teeth 28 on the bolt lathe 22 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The bolt lathe is then held in the withdrawn or unlocked position in which it is clear of the drive rod 16. The drive rods 6 and 16 can then be moved between the bolted and unbolted positions.

In order to return the bolt lathe to the locked position, the cam 31 must be turned in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 6. Initially, the cam contacts the plate 36 and lifts it which is effective to lift the lever 31 and move the teeth 32 out of engagement with the teeth 28 on the bolt lathe 22. The 7 cam then enters the slot 23 and engages the side 24 of the slot to move the bolt lathe 22 to the left back to the thrown or locked position. The guide rod 16 must already have been moved to the bolted position to permit the bolt lathe to re-enter the slot 18. Further movement of the cam results in it moving out of the slot 23 and out of engagement with the plate 36. The spring 35 can then again re-exert itself and move the lever 31 back into the position in which the teeth 32 engage with the teeth 28 to hold the bolt lathe 22 in the thrown or locked position.

The cam may be operated by means of a key or by means of a turning knob. The cam can be provided on a conventional cylinder lock and a key hole may be provided on both sides or on only one side of the lock. A turning knob will normally be provided on only one side of the lock.

The espagnolette bolting system according to the invention may further be provided with an anti-slam device which comprises a plunger 41 having a recess 42 by means of which it can be mounted in the case 1 over a pillar 38 projecting from the base of the case. A coil spring 39 is mounted in the recess and bears at one end against a side of the pillar 38 and at the other end against the base of the recess 42 to urge the plunger 41 against the drive rod 16. A pin 43 extends from the plunger 41 through an elongated slot 46 in the drive rod 16 and engages in an aperture 45 in the channel 9. When a door or like opening structure fitted with the bolting system according to the invention is in the closed position, the jamb will force the pin 43 and associated plunger 42 into the case, against the action of the spring 39, so that the end of the pin 43 is located in the aperture 45 in the channel 9 and the flanks of the pin are located in the slot 46 in the drive rod 16. This position is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings and, in this position, the drive rod 16 can be moved provided that the dead bolt mechanism is inoperative.

When the door or like opening structure is to be moved to the open position, the hooks 17 must first be withdrawn from engagement in respective slots in the jamb by rotating the quadrants 3 and 13 as above described whereupon the door or other structure can be opened. The spring 39 is then effective to urge the plunger 41 8 and associated pin 43 outwards so that the pin projects from the channel 9 and a widened portion 44 of the pin 43 engages in a widened portion of the slot 46 in the drive rod 16 as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This engagement prevents the drive rod 16 from being moved from the withdrawn position to the bolted position and thus protects the hook 17 from damage. The immobilisation of the drive rod 16 also means that the quadrants 3 and 13 and the drive rod 6 are also immobilised so that the hook 7 is also protected from damage. They hooks can only be returned to the bolted position when the pin 43 is once more depressed against the action of the spring 39 so that the widened portion 44 of the pin is moved out of the slot 46 in the drive rod 16 and the drive rod can again be moved by the toothed quadrant 3 via the quadrant 13 and the rack member 14.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiment but modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the dead bolt mechanism need not be provided if the subsequent loss of security is acceptable. Further, while the anti-slam device is a preferred feature and is not essential.

9

Claims

1. An espagnolette bolting system for a door, window or like opening structure; said system comprising a first bolt movable between an operative position and an inoperative position, a second bolt movable between an operative position and an inoperative position, a first rack member arranged to move the first bolt between said operative and inoperative positions and vice versa, a second rack member arranged to move the second bolt between said operative and inoperative positions and vice versa, a first toothed member rotatably mounted in a case and arranged to engage with a toothed rack on said first rack member, a second toothed member rotatably mounted in the case and arranged to be engaged by the first toothed member and to engage with a toothed rack on the second rack member, a spindle extending through the first toothed member and projecting from at least one side of the case and a handle or lever being mounted on a or the projecting end of the spindle; the arrangement being such that turning of the spindle by means of the handle or lever is effective to cause the first toothed member to rotate to drive the first rack member and to rotate the second toothed member to drive the second rack member whereby the bolts can be moved from the operative to the inoperative position or vice versa.

2. An espagnolette bolting system according to Claim 1, wherein each 20 toothed member takes the form of a toothed quadrant.

3. An espagnolette bolting system according to Claim 1, wherein teeth are provided over only part of the periphery of the toothed quadrant constituting the first toothed member.

4. An espagnolette bolting system according to any one of the preceding 25 claims, wherein the spindle projects from only one side of the case.

5. An espagnolette bolting system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the spindle projects from both sides of the case.

6. An espagnolette bolting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a dead bolt mechanism is provided, said mechanism being engageable with at least one rack member to lock said rack member in the operative position.

7. An espagnolette bolting system according to Claim 6, wherein the dead bolt mechanism comprises a cam which is rotatably mounted in the case and a bolt lathe which is slidably mounted in the case and which has a slot in which the cam 10 is engageable to move the bolt lathe; said bolt lathe being engageable in a slot in one of the bolts in the thrown position of the bolt lathe to immobilise the said one of the bolts.

8. An espagnolette bolting system according to Claim 7, wherein the bolt lathe is arranged to be held in its thrown position by a lever having teeth which are is engageable with corresponding teeth on the bolt lathe.

9. An espagnolette bolting system according to Claim 8, wherein the lever is urged into engagement with the bolt lathe by resilient means.

10. An espagnolette bolting system according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the teeth on the lever are engageable with the teeth on the bolt lathe in the 20 withdrawn position of the bolt lathe.

11. An espagnolette bolting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an anti-slam device is provided which is arranged, in the opened position of a door, window or like opening structure fitted with the system, to prevent the bolts from being moved from the inoperative position to the operative 25 position.

11

12. An espagnolette bolting system according to Claim 11, wherein the anti-slam device includes a spring-loaded plunger having a pin which is arranged to project from the case.

13. An espagnolette bolting system according to Claim 12, wherein one of the 5 bolts is provided with a slot through which the pin on the plunger is arranged to extend, said slot having a widened end and the pin having a widened portion which is engageable in the widened end of the slot when the bolt is in the inoperative position and the door, window or like opening structure is in the open position.

14. An espagnolette bolting system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a static bolt is provided for alignment and security purposes.

15. An espagnolette bolting system substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.