Previously disclosed locks, which are intended in the first instance for use in bank vaults and similar areas, such as a flap, a box, a door and framework structures, do not function entirely satisfactorily due to the construction and function of the lock.

The principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to solve the aforementioned problems with an effectively functioning and secure lock.

The aforementioned object is achieved by means of a device in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that the lock catch is formed by a locking shaft with a locking recess executed therein, in that the lock bolt exhibits a lock opening, in that the aforementioned lock opening exhibits a mouth part which opens out in a direction inwards towards the inside of the lock opening, in conjunction with which the locking recess exhibits a matching form to that of the lock opening enabling it to be introduced therein by rotation of the locking shaft, and in that a part of the locking shaft adjacent to the locking recess interacts with a projecting part of the lock ; bolt in the aforementioned locking position.

The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 1 and 2 show different perspective views of the lock in the engaged position with a lock bolt viewed respectivel, from below at an angle and from above at an

angle and with a manual actuating bar connected in one of the Figures; Fig. 3 shows an internal perspective view of the lock with one base plate removed; Fig. 4 shows a view from above of the inside of the lock in a partially sectioned position; Figs. 5 and 6 show plan views of a locking shaft included in the lock shown in positions rotated through 90° in relation to one another; Figs. 5A-5F show sectioned views along the corresponding lines in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows an end view of the locking shaft; Fig. 8 shows a plan view of a lock bolt; Fig. 9 shows a sectioned view along the line IX-IX in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 shows a further plan view of the lock bolt; Fig. 11 shows a sectioned view along the line XI-XI in Fig. 10; and Fig. 12 shows a detail of the embossing of the lock bolt ringed in Fig. 11.

A device 1 for a lock 2, which comprises a lock bolt 3 and a lock catch 4 capable of actuation for lockable engagement with the aforementioned lock bolt 3 and is illustrated in the drawings, has its lock catch 4 so arranged that it is formed by a locking shaft 5 with a locking recess 6 executed therein.

The aforementioned lock bolt 3 exhibits a lock opening 7, which exhibits a matching mouth part 8 which opens out in a direction inwards towards the inside 9 of the lock opening, in conjunction with which the locking recess 6 exhibits a matching form to that of the lock opening 7 enabling it to be introduced into the lock opening 7 by rotation of the locking shaft 5. In conjunction with this, a part 10 of the locking shaft 5, which is so arranged as to be adjacent to the aforementioned locking recess 6, is so

arranged as to interact with a part 11 of the lock bol 3 projecting inwards towards the mouth part 8 cf the locO opening 7 in the aforementioned locking position I.

The end part 5A of the locking shaft 5 exhibits the aforementioned locking recess 6, which is formed preferably by an approximately perpendicularly executed V-shaped recess in a circular shaft 5. The angle of the opening is preferably ca. 72°, although other angles are also possible.

By causing the lock bolt 3 to slide in the direction 12 of the locking shaft 5, the aforementioned shaft 5 is so arranged as to be caused to rotate through the interaction between the aforementioned locking recess 6 and the lock opening 7 in the locking shaft 5 and in the lock bolt 3.

The aforementioned device 1 is so arranged as to function as a lock on a flap or a door for the removable storage boxes in a bank vault in order to lock the door in a position enabling the boxes concerned to be locked securely in the intended secured position I. The lock 2 is so arranged as to function electrically and comprises a coil 13 and a core 14 interacting therewith and a lifter 15 for the core 14. The aforementioned lifter 15 is capable of actuation by a cam 16 attached to the locking shaft 5.

Situated at the opposite end 5B of the locking shaft 5 is an attachment 17 for a draw spring 18, which is retained by a fixed attachment 19 on a lower base plate 20, and which is forced to actuate the locking shaft 5 causing it to rotate in a direction 21 into a lockina position I.

The component parts included in the lock 2 are so arranged as to be accommodated in the space 22 formed between two mutually opposing and mutually connected base plates, namely a lower base plate 20 and an upper base plate 2, for example by means cf fixing screws 24, and with a spring- assisted sensor arm 25 accommodated between 22 the two base plates 20, 23, and with an end part 25A in the aforementioned

sensor arm 25 projecting from the formed flap 26. The two base plates 20,23 preferably consist of plastic material, preferably essentially a material such as acetal resin or some other polymer plastic.

The aforementioned two base plates 20,23 form an openable and lockable flap 26 for a bank vault compartment.

Situated at a certain distance from the aforementioned compartment (not shown here) is a lock capable of being actuated by the customers concerned, which is not shown here but is connected to the bolt 3 to enable it to be actuated in such a way as to be displaced, i. e. to rotate freely, and in so doing to interact with the lock bolt 3 and enter into engagement with the locking shaft 5.

The aforementioned bolt 3 is so arranged as to move into engagement with the locking shaft 5 in order to achieve closure of the lock 2, in conjunction with which the aforementioned lifter 15, which is intended to be capable of interacting with the core 14, is so arranged as to be lowered towards the locking shaft 5. In conjunction with this, the core 14 is so arranged as to drop down into a seat 27 arranged in the locking shaft 5 and, in so doing, to indicate that the lock is in the closed position.

The aforementioned bolt 3 can be formed by a single piece or by pairs of jointly embossed components 3', 3-, and in the illustrative example the embossings 28 are situated at three points separated from one another by a certain distance.

The lock 2 comprises a manually actuated bar 29, which is capable of connection to a rocker device 30 attached to the core 14. The aforementioned rocker 30 is so arranged, in conjunction with manual actuation of the bar 29, as to actuate the lock 2 so that it is capable of being opened manually.

With reference specifically to Fig. 3, which shows the lock in the locked position, and with the upper cover

plane removed, the opening frequency with the lock 2 activated is as follows: Opening sequence with lock activated: Both contact points are closed, and a scanning current is present in the coil 13, although this is not high enough to"stick"the core 14 and the anchcr plate 31 together. It is possible to pass a current through the coil 13 in this position.

When the coil 13 is activated, the core 14 is magnetized, and this causes it to take hold of the anchor plate 31, which is recessed into the lifter 15 for the core 14.

Actuation via a customer lock mounted in a flap 26 of the kind in question causes the bolt 3 to be displaced and to be drawn into the flap 26. As part of the same movement, the bolt 3 engages with the locking shaft 5, which rotates in a clockwise direction in conjunction with the displacement of the bolt 3. The cam on the periphery of the locking shaft 5 raises the lifter 15 for the core 14, which in turn takes the core 14 with it via the anchor plate 31. The lifting height for 20° rotation of the locking shaft 5 is ca. 1. 7 mm. In this position, the lower locking part of the core 14 is situated above the periphery of the locking shaft 5 and permits continued rotation of the locking shaft 5 past the locking point on the shaft. After further rotation of the locking shaft 5, when the lifter 15 for the movement of the core is ca. 2.2 mm, a breaker plate 32 in a micro switch changes position and breaks the contact with a contact plate 33. The front breaker plate 32 is actuated by the movement of the core via a rocker 34 and the breaker rocker 30, in conjunction with which the current loop is broken and the current tc the coil 13 falls. The core 14 releases the anchor plate 31 and positions itself at the top or the locking shaft 5, in conjunction with which the compartment is indicated as being open. The total rotational movement of the locking

shaft 5 is ca. 100°. The flap 6 is opened, and the flap sensor 25 retracts out the way with spring assistance, and the contact point between the front contact plate 33 and the upper contact spring 35 is broken.

A closing sequence for the aforementioned lock 2 is as follows: Lock closing sequence: The flap 26 is closed, in conjunction with which the flap sensor 25,25A forces in the front contact plate 33 against the upper contact spring 35, in conjunction with which the front contact point is closed. The loop remains broken, however. The bolt 3 is moved to the closed position via the customer lock. The bolt 3 engages with the locking shaft 5, which rotates in anti-clockwise direction, synchronously with the movement of the bolt 3. The lifter 15 for the core 14 is lowered in time with the rotation of the locking shaft 5. After rotation of the locking shaft 5 through 80°, the core 14, which is lying on top of the locking shaft 5, drops down into a seat 27 on the periphery of the locking shaft 5. When the core 14 is ca. 0.7 mm from its lowest position, the breaker plate 32 changes position, in conjunction with which the loop is closed and the compartment is indicated as being closed.

With specific reference to Fig. 1, an opening attempt with a non-activated lock is as follows: Opening attempt with a non-activated lock: Both contact points are closed, and a scanning current is present in the coil, although this is not high enough tostic :" the core 14 and the anchor plate 31 together.

When the coil 13 is without current, the core 14 is not magnetized, and this causes it not to take hold of the anchor plate 31, which is recessed into the lifter 15 for the core 14.

Actuatior. via a customer lock (not shown here), which is mounted in the flap 26, causes the bolt 3 to be displaced and to be drawn into the flap 26. As part of the same movement, the bolt 3 engages with the locking shaft 5, which rotates in a clockwise direction in conjunction with the displacement of the bolt.

The cam 27 on the periphery of the locking shaft raises the lifter 15 for the core 14 by ca. 1.7 mm, but the core 14 remains in its lowest position because there is no attraction between the core 14 and the anchor plate 31.

After ca. 20° rotation of the locking shaft 5, the rotation of the core 13 is stopped as the core comes into contact with a locking seat on the periphery of the shaft.

The lock is then in an indicated locked position.

With reference to Fig. 2, which shows a lock 2 with an applied bar 29, which can be used if it is wished to open the lock 2 manually in the event of failure of the power supply, for example, or if a fault is present in the bank vault or similar, the function is as follows: Function: Rotating a lock present on the flap 26 will cause the bar 29 to be lowered until the top edge or a rectangular groove 40 rests against a pin 30-in the rocker 30, and will prevent the upward movement of the pin 30-. If the locking shaft is now rotated through 20°, the movement of the lifter will raise the core 14 so that the shaft 5 runs freely and the rotation can be completed. The breaker plate 32 will change position as in the normal case, and an indication that the compartment is open will be given (assuming that it is not without current). The closing sequence is the same as in the normal case. The lock on the flap 26 is rotated back, in conjunction with which the bar 29 is caused to be moved back into its normal position.

A significant aspect of the invention is the function of the micro switch to ensure the security of the

design. In order to ensure that the switch switches on and switches off in such a way that open/closed is indicated with 100-reliability, the micro switch has built-in hysteresis of ca. 1.5 mm. This is the difference between the switching-on point and the switching-off point Function of the micro switch: During unlocking: The micro switch is so arranged as not to switch on before the shaft 5 has been rotated through at least ca. 20°. When switching takes place, the core 14 is unable to drop back down into its recess 27 in the shaft 5.

During locking: When in the locked position, the core 14 must have dropped down into its matching recess 27 in the shaft 5 before the micro switch switches on again. If not, the lock will still be open in spite of the fact that the switch is reporting the locked position. This is the basis of the entire security concept of the invention.

Also illustrated in Fig. 4 are components included in the lock 2 which are not referred to above, namely a lower contact spring 41 and a contact strap 42 and a breaker rocker 43.

The invention is not restricted to the illustrative examples described above and shows in the drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention.