Manipulator for an access member, access member comprising the manipulator, system and method

Abstract

A manipulator for controlling a locking function and a maneuvering function of an access member rotatably coupled to a frame is disclosed. The manipulator includes an actuator configured to provide a substantially linear first actuating movement in a first direction and a substantially linear second actuating movement in a second direction, opposite to the first direction; a latch bolt functionally coupled to the actuator, the latch bolt arranged to move to an unlocking position in response to movement of the actuator in the first direction and arranged to move to a locking position in response to movement of the actuator in the second direction; and a transmission mechanism functionally coupled to the actuator, the transmission mechanism configured to transmit the first actuating movement in the first direction provided by the actuator to an opening movement of the access member. An access member, a system and a method are also provided.

Claims

1. Manipulator for controlling a locking function and a maneuvering function of an access member rotatably coupled to a frame, the manipulator comprising: an actuator configured to provide a substantially linear first actuating movement in a first direction and a substantially linear second actuating movement in a second direction, opposite to the first direction; a latch bolt functionally coupled to the actuator, the latch bolt arranged to move to an unlocking position in response to the first actuating movement of the actuator in the first direction and arranged to move to a locking position in response to the second actuating movement of the actuator in the second direction; and a transmission mechanism functionally coupled to the actuator, the transmission mechanism configured to transmit the first actuating movement in the first direction provided by the actuator to an opening movement of the access member.

2. The manipulator according to claim 1, wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially horizontal.

3. The manipulator according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a rotatable lead screw.

4. The manipulator according to claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor arranged to rotate the lead screw.

5. The manipulator according to claim 3, wherein the actuator comprises a driven latch member rigidly connected to, or integrally formed with, the latch bolt and wherein the driven latch member is engaged with the lead screw.

6. The manipulator according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism comprises a rod arranged to move in the first direction in response to movement of the actuator in the first direction and arranged to move in the second direction in response to movement of the actuator in the second direction.

7. The manipulator according to claim 6, wherein the transmission mechanism further comprises an elastic element.

8. The manipulator according to claim 6, wherein the transmission mechanism further comprises a hinge mechanism configured to transmit a movement of the rod in the first direction to an opening movement of the access member.

9. The manipulator according to claim 1, further comprising a tube that houses components of the manipulator.

10. The manipulator according to claim 1, wherein the transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the second actuating movement in the second direction provided by the actuator to a closing movement of the access member.

11. Access member comprising a manipulator according to claim 1, wherein the manipulator is arranged inside the access member.

12. System comprising a frame, an access member rotatably coupled to the frame, and a manipulator according to claim 1, wherein the manipulator is arranged inside the access member.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a first arm and a second arm rotatably connected to the first arm, wherein the first arm is rotatably connected to the frame and the second arm is rotatably connected to the access member and wherein the second arm is guided in a slot in the frame.

14. Method of controlling a locking function and a maneuvering function of an access member rotatably coupled to a frame, the method comprising: providing a manipulator; driving an actuator of the manipulator to provide a substantially linear first actuating movement in a first direction such that latch bolt moves from a locking position to an unlocking position; transmitting, with a transmission mechanism, the first actuating movement in the first direction provided by the actuator to an opening movement of the access member; and driving the actuator to provide a substantially linear second actuating movement in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, such that the latch bolt moves from the unlocking position to the locking position.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: driving the actuator to provide the substantially linear second actuating movement in the second direction; and transmitting the second actuating movement in the second direction provided by the actuator to a closing movement of the access member by means of the transmission mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1: schematically represents a perspective view of a system comprising a frame, an access member and a manipulator;

(3) FIG. 2: schematically represents a partial top view of the system;

(4) FIG. 3: schematically represents a top view of an actuator of the manipulator of the system;

(5) FIG. 4a: schematically represents a top view of a hinge mechanism of the manipulator of the system;

(6) FIG. 4b: schematically represents a top view of the hinge mechanism; and

(7) FIG. 5: schematically represents a perspective view of an alternative hinge mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

(9) FIG. 1 schematically represents a perspective view of a system 10 comprising a frame 12, an access member 14 and a manipulator 16. In FIG. 1, the access member 14, exemplified as a door, is in an open position. FIG. 1 further illustrates a vertical direction 18, a first horizontal direction 20 and a second horizontal direction 22, perpendicular to the first horizontal direction 20.

(10) The manipulator 16 comprises a latch bolt 24, an actuator 26 and a transmission mechanism 28. The transmission mechanism 28 comprises a rod 30 and a hinge mechanism 32. The transmission mechanism 28 thereby constitutes a linkage. The access member 14 is rotatably coupled to the frame 12 by a barrel hinge 34 and by the hinge mechanism 32. A strike plate 36 is provided in the frame 12 for being engaged by the latch bolt 24 to lock the access member 14 in a closed position.

(11) The manipulator 16 further comprises a tube 38. In this example, the components of the manipulator 16, i.e. the latch bolt 24, the actuator 26 and the transmission mechanism 28 are arranged within the tube 38. The hinge mechanism 32 of the transmission mechanism 28 is partly arranged within the tube 38. The tube 38 is inserted in a horizontal bore through the access member 14.

(12) FIG. 2 schematically represents a partial top view of the system 10. In FIG. 2, the access member 14 is in a closed position. The latch bolt 24 has adopted a locking position where the latch bolt 24 is received in the strike plate 36 of the frame 12. The access member 14 is thereby also in a locked position.

(13) FIG. 3 schematically represents a top view of the actuator 26 of the manipulator 16 of the system 10. With collective reference to the example in FIGS. 2 and 3, the actuator 26 of the manipulator 16 comprises an electric motor 40 and a lead screw 42. By means of the electric motor 40, the lead screw 42 can be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise about its extension axis. The electric motor 40 may alternatively be arranged outside the tube 38 and drive the lead screw 42 via a suitable transmission, such as a gear.

(14) The actuator 26 further comprises a driven latch member 44 and a driven rod member 46. Each of the driven latch member 44 and the driven rod member 46 has a generally cylindrical appearance and is engaged with the lead screw 42. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the external thread of the lead screw 42 is threadingly engaged by internal threads of the driven latch member 44 and the driven rod member 46. Thus, by rotating the lead screw 42 in one direction (e.g. clockwise), the driven latch member 44 and the driven rod member 46 are moved in a first direction 48. By rotating the lead screw 42 in another direction (e.g. counterclockwise), the driven latch member 44 and the driven rod member 46 are moved in a second direction 50, opposite to the first direction 48.

(15) The driven latch member 44 and the driven rod member 46 are each guided linearly within the tube 38 and are prevented from rotating. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the first direction 48 and the second direction 50 are parallel with the first horizontal direction 20 and are perpendicular to an interface plane between the access member 14 and the frame 12.

(16) The movement of the driven latch member 44 and the driven rod member 46 in the first direction 48 is referred to as a first actuating movement by the actuator 26 and the movement of the driven latch member 44 and the driven rod member 46 in the second direction 50 is referred to as a second actuating movement by the actuator 26.

(17) In the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, the latch bolt 24 is integrally formed with the driven latch member 44. Thus, the latch bolt 24 is arranged to move to an unlocking position in response to movement of the actuator 26 in the first direction 48 and arranged to move to the illustrated locking position in response to movement of the actuator 26 in the second direction 50.

(18) The manipulator 16 further comprises an elastic element 52. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the elastic element 52 is exemplified as a compression spring arranged between the driven rod member 46 and the rod 30. Due to the first actuating movement in the first direction 48 provided by the actuator 26, the elastic element 52 is initially compressed. When the first actuating movement continues, also the rod 30 starts to move in the first direction 48 within the tube 38. The rod 30 pushes on the hinge mechanism 32 such that the hinge mechanism 32 starts to open. In this way, the transmission mechanism 28 is functionally coupled to the actuator 26 and configured to transmit the first actuating movement in the first direction 48 provided by the actuator 26 to an opening movement of the access member 14.

(19) Due to the second actuating movement in the second direction 50 provided by the actuator 26, the elastic element 52 is initially expanded. When the second actuating movement continues, also the rod 30 starts to move in the second direction 50 within the tube 38. The movement of the rod 30 in the second direction 50 may or may not generate a closing movement of the access member 14. If not, the closing movement of the access member 14 may be generated by means of a spring mechanism (not illustrated) outside the manipulator 16, e.g. adjacent to the barrel hinge 34.

(20) The transmission mechanism 28 may alternatively comprise only the rod 30, i.e. not comprise the elastic element 52 or the hinge mechanism 32. In this case, the rod 30 can push directly on the frame 12 to provide an opening movement of the access member 14.

(21) Alternatively, the transmission mechanism 28 may comprise only the rod 30 and the elastic element 52, i.e. not comprise the hinge mechanism 32. In this case, the rod 30 can push directly, or via the elastic element 52, on the frame 12 to provide an opening movement of the access member 14.

(22) Alternatively, the transmission mechanism 28 may comprise only the rod 30 and the hinge mechanism 32, i.e. not comprise the elastic element 52. In this case, the rod 30 may immediately push on the hinge mechanism 32 when the first actuating movement in the first direction 48 provided by the actuator 26 is initiated.

(23) FIGS. 4a and 4b schematically represent a top views of the hinge mechanism 32 of the manipulator 16 in a closed position and an open position, respectively. With collective reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b, the hinge mechanism 32 comprises a first arm 54 and a second arm 56. The first arm 54 and the second arm 56 are rigid and each has a general L-shaped appearance. The first arm 54 is rotatably connected to the second arm 56 by means of a pin joint 58. The first arm 54 is rotatably connected to the frame 12 at a first pivot 60 and the second arm 56 is rotatably connected to the access member 14 at a second pivot 62. A horizontal slot 64 is provided in the frame 12. The second arm 56 comprises a pin 66 engaged in the slot 64 such that the pin 66 can travel along the slot 64.

(24) In FIG. 4a, the access member 14 is in the closed position and the rod 30 abuts the end of the first arm 54 of the hinge mechanism 32. When the rod 30 moves in the first direction 48, due to the actuating movement in the first direction 48 provided by the actuator 26, the rod 30 pushes the first arm 54 of the hinge mechanism 32. As a consequence, the hinge mechanism 32 moves from the closed position to the open position illustrated in FIG. 4b. The hinge mechanism 32 is thereby configured to transmit a movement of the rod 30 in the first direction 48 to an opening movement of the access member 14.

(25) As can be seen in FIG. 4b, the pin 66 of the second arm 56 has travelled along the slot 64 (to the left in FIG. 4b) and the pin joint 58 has also been displaced. Both the first arm 54 and the second arm 56 have also been slightly rotated counterclockwise.

(26) FIG. 5 schematically represents a perspective view of an alternative hinge mechanism 68. The hinge mechanism 68 may replace the hinge mechanism 32 in the manipulator 16 according to FIGS. 1 to 4. The hinge mechanism 68 in FIG. 5 is constituted by a concealed hinge. The hinge mechanism 68 is configured to be connected between surfaces of the access member 14 and the frame 12 facing each other when the access member 14 is in the closed position.

(27) The hinge mechanism 68 of the example in FIG. 5 comprises four central links 70. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the rod 30 is coupled to one of the central links 70. The central link 70 of the hinge mechanism 68 is thereby configured to transfer movements of the rod in the first direction 48 to an opening movement of the access member 14. In this case, the central link 70 is pushed by the rod 30. The central link 70 of the hinge mechanism 68 is also configured to transfer movements of the rod 30 in the second direction 50 to a closing movement of the access member 14. In this case, the central link 70 is pulled by the rod 30.

(28) While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to what has been described above. For example, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the parts may be varied as needed. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention may be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.