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(11) | EP 0 562 526 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Device for facilitating the opening of two-leaf safety doors |
| (57) Device for facilitating the opening of two-leaf safety doors in which one leaf is
provided with an antipanic lock and the other leaf is provided with an antipanic strike
lock (1,101) both of which are actuatable by means of handles, having a movable element
(7,107) suitable to act on the lock when the handle of the strike lock is actuated.
The device comprises an articulated parallelogram shaped so that, when actuating the
handle, during a first rotation angle, the parallelogram acts on said element (7,107)
and pushes it against said lock to open it, and, during a second rotation angle, the
parallelogram disengages from said element. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for facilitating the opening of two-leaf safety doors.
[0002] In safety doors of the indicated type, both leaves open outwards, and the one which is normally used to enter and exit (hereinafter termed as leaf A) has an antipanic lock, provided with a spring latch and a bolt, designed so that the spring latch and the bolt can be moved simultaneously into release position by actuating the handle.
[0003] The other leaf (hereinafter termed as leaf B) acts as wing for leaf A and is provided with an upper and a lower bolts which are connected, by means of rods, to a so-called antipanic actuation strike lock actuatable by means of its own handle.
[0004] The particularity of safety doors of the indicated type is that the spring latch and the bolt of the lock installed on leaf A engage seats of the strike lock of leaf B, the mechanism of which is preset so that if only the lock of leaf A is actuated in order to open, thus retracting the spring latch and the bolt, only leaf A can be opened, since the strike lock keeps its bolts in locking position.
[0005] On the other hand, in the strike lock of leaf B there is an element which, when the strike lock is actuated, is expelled from the strike lock and acts on a button which releases the mechanism of the lock of leaf A, actuating the retraction of the spring latch and of the bolt. Thus, by actuating the strike lock, not only leaf B but also leaf A opens.
[0006] However, a certain effort in opening the leaves when acting on the strike lock has been observed in two-leaf safety doors. This effort is due to the constant pressure that the strike lock element meant to act on the lock of leaf A applies on said lock to release it. This pressure in fact produces a resisting moment about the pivoting axis of the leaves which individuals in an emergency situation can perceive as the impossibility to open the door, thus triggering a panic situation.
[0007] The technical aim of the present invention is to correct the movement of the element of the strike lock of leaf B which opens the lock of leaf A, so as to obviate the above described drawback.
[0008] This aim is achieved by means of a device for facilitating the opening of two-leaf safety doors, the characteristics whereof are detailed in the claims.
[0009] Further particularities of the present invention will become apparent from the following description on the basis of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
figure 1 is a view of the device according to a first embodiment, in inactive position;
figure 2 is a view of the device in two active positions;
figure 3 is a view of the device according to a further embodiment; and
figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along the plane IV-IV of figure 3.
[0010] With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a generic strike lock the constructive details whereof are not described since they are not pertinent to the present invention.
[0011] The strike lock comprises a casing 2 coupled to a faceplate 3 and provided with two parallel walls 4 and 5 which are normal to the faceplate 3.
[0012] The openings for the engagement of the spring latch and of the bolt of the lock, and a further opening 6, are defined in the faceplate 3; the element 7 meant to act on the lock to release it in emergencies is guided outside through said opening 6.
[0013] The element 7 comprises a cylindrical tang 8 frontally provided with a pad 9 and, in a rear region, with a fork 10 resting on the wall 4. The fork 10 slidably engages a bush 11 fixed between the walls 4 and 5 and aligned with the tang 8.
[0014] A connecting rod 12 is rotatably supported on the bush 11 and constitutes one side of an articulated parallelogram; the other side is constituted by a lever 13 which is radially fixed to the hub 14 of the handle. The hub 14 can turn between the walls 4 and 5 and is provided with a square hole 15 for the side-fitting engagement of the pivot of the handle.
[0015] The connecting rod 12 and the lever 13 are articulatedly connected by a triangular link 16 having a wing 17 along one edge; said wing engages the tang. Conveniently, the arm R1 of the lever 13 is longer than the arm R2 of the connecting rod 12, and the wing 17 is inclined with respect to the line R3 which connects the articulation points of the link 16 in the connecting rod 12 and in the lever 13.
[0017] When inactive, the line R3 which connects the articulation points of the link to the connecting rod 12 and to the lever 13 is at right angles to the axis C of the tang, and the wing 17 forms an acute angle with said axis (see figure 1).
[0018] By actuating the handle, i.e. by turning the hub 14 clockwise, the link 16, being connected to the connected rod 12 and to the lever 13, moves toward the faceplate 3 and, due to the greater length of the arm R1 of the lever 13 with respect to the arm R2 of the connecting rod 12, it tilts so that the wing 17 is increasingly perpendicular to the axis C of the tang.
[0019] At the same time, the wing 17 acts on the tang 8 which, once it has reached its maximum outward stroke, acts on the mechanism of the oppositely arranged lock, opening it. The maximum outward stroke of the tang 8 coincides with the position of the wing 17 which is perpendicular to the axis C of the tang 8 (position A of figure 2).
[0020] Further rotation of the handle produces the further inclination of the wing 17 so that, when the arms R3 of the link 16 and R2 of the connecting rod 12 are substantially aligned, the wing 17 is spaced from the tang 8 (position B of figure 2). In this situation, the element 7 no longer presses on the lock, so that no resisting moment is created and the safety door can be opened without effort.
[0021] In the embodiment of figures 3 and 4, the elements of the device which are similar and equivalent to those of the example shown in figures 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals increased by 100.
[0022] In particular, the link 116 is provided with an expansion 18 extending downwards and in which a slot 19 is defined; the slot is V-shaped and its vertex is directed toward the faceplate 103.
[0023] The element 107 is arranged between the expansion 18 and the wall 104; it comprises a prism-shaped block 20 the upper and lower faces whereof are parallel and perpendicular to the faceplate 103. Grooves 21 and 22 are defined in these faces and are engaged by the oppositely arranged wings 23 and 24 of a guide 25 which is C-shaped and is fixed to the wall 104; said guide allows the block 20 to slide at right angles to the faceplate 103. The block 20 is crossed by a threaded hole 26 which is parallel to its sliding direction and continues with a smooth hole 27. A screw 28 is screwed in the threaded hole 26 and has a stem 29 rotatably inserted in a ring 30 which is guided in the hole 27. The ring 30 is retained axially on the stem by an elastic washer 31 and has a pivot 32 protruding laterally from the block 20 through an axial slot (not shown in the drawing) to engage in the slot 19.
[0024] With the device according to figures 3 and 4, actuation of the handle moves the block 20 toward the faceplate 103; the block 20 can thus act, through an opening 33 of the faceplate 103, on the oppositely arranged lock to actuate it. The opening 33 of the illustrated example has such dimensions as to also allow the engagement of the bolt so that, in the leaf closure position, the block 20 and the bolt are arranged on top of one another.
[0025] When the pivot 32 has passed beyond the vertex of the slot 19, further rotation of the handle forces the pivot 32 to follow the lower portion of the slot 19, so as to retract the block 20 by a small extent and interrupt the thrust on the lock, which can be opened without effort.
[0026] By acting on the screw 28 it is possible to move the collar 30 in the hole 27 and correct the stroke limit of the block 20 according to the position of the elements of the lock on which the block must act.
[0027] Conveniently, a friction ring 34 acts on the screw 28 and prevents its unintentional rotation.
[0028] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
1. Device for facilitating the opening of two-leaf safety doors in which one leaf is
provided with an antipanic lock and the other leaf is provided with an antipanic strike
lock (1, 101), both of which are actuatable by means of handles, said lock and strike
lock cooperating to cause opening of the door by acting on any one of said handles,
said strike lock (1, 101) having a movable element (7, 107) adapted to act on the
lock when the handle of the strike lock is actuated, characterized in that it comprises
an articulated parallelogram which is composed of a lever (13, 113) rotationally rigidly
coupled to the hub (14, 114) of the handle of the strike lock (1, 101) and a connecting
rod (12) which is pivoted in the strike lock and is connected to said lever by a link
(16, 116) being operatively connected to said element (7, 107); said lever (13, 113),
said connecting rod (12, 112) and said link (16, 116) being shaped so that when the
handle is actuated said parallelogram moves through a first rotation angle, along
which said link (16, 116) acts on said element (7, 107) and pushes it against said
lock to open it, and through a second rotation angle, along which said link disengages
from said element.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said element (7) comprises a tang
(8) which is guided at right angles to the vertical front edge of said leaves; in
that the length (R1) of said lever (13) is greater than that of said second connecting
rod (12); and in that said link (16) has a wing (17) which engages said element (7)
and is inclined so that it is at right angles to the axis C of the tang at the point
of maximum stroke extent thereof and so that it is inclined in a position in which
it is spaced from the tang when said connecting rod (12) is substantially aligned
with the point at which said lever (13) is articulated to said link (16).
3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said element (107) comprises a
block (20) being guided at right angles to the vertical front edge of said leaves
in a guide (25) which is fixed in said strike lock (101); in that the length (R1)
of said lever (113) is greater than that of said connecting rod (112); and in that
said link (116) has an expansion (18) in which a slot (19) is defined; said slot (19)
is engaged by a pivot (32) protruding from said block (20); said slot (19) is shaped
so as to cause, upon a first rotation angle of the lever (113), an advancement of
the block (20) toward said front edge and, upon a second rotation angle of said lever,
a backward movement of said block (20).
4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said pivot (32) is rigidly coupled
to a ring (30) guided in a hole (27) of said block (20) and fixed axially but so as
to be rotatable on a stem (29) of a screw (28) which is engaged in said block, said
pivot (32) protruding laterally from said block (20) through an axial slot to engage
in said slot (19) of said expansion (18).