US 10,947,756 B2 · Electromechanical lock with mechanical latch holdback and remote release

Abstract

An electromechanical lock which is configured to provide a mechanical latch holdback feature, whereby a key is useable to retract a latch of the lock, the key can be removed, and the latch remains mechanically held back. The held back latch is remotely releasable. As such, a correctional officer can use his key to mechanically hold back the latch, such that the lock remains open. Subsequently, a control signal can be sent from a remote location causing the latch to be released and extended, such that the lock locks. This ability to remotely override the mechanical latch holdback is useful in a correctional facility—for example, when the mechanical latch holdback has been engaged for cell doors and an emergency situation arises where a quick remote lockdown may be necessary, instead of having to perform the time-consuming task of re-locking the doors one-by-one, locally by key.

Claims32

Dependent claims

An electromechanical lock which provides a mechanical latch holdback feature, said lock comprising:

a latch and internal linkage, wherein the electromechanical lock is configured such that a key is useable to retract the latch of the electromechanical lock, the key can be removed, and the latch remains mechanically held back such that the lock remains unlocked, wherein the internal linkage provides that the latch which is being mechanically held back is electronically remotely releasable to the locked or extended position, further comprising a key cylinder which is configured to receive the key, further comprising an actuator and linkage which links the actuator to the latch such that, while the key can be used to mechanically holdback the latch, the latch can nevertheless be released via the actuator as a result of the actuator receiving a signal, wherein the actuator comprises a motor which is coupled to a gearbox, which is configured to drive a rotatable member, further comprising a pair of switches which engage an outer surface of the rotatable member, wherein the switches are in communication with a control panel such that a rotatable position of the rotatable member can be detected and the control panel can, as a result, decide whether to start, and when to stop, driving the motor.

An electromechanical lock which provides a mechanical latch holdback feature, said lock comprising:

a latch and internal linkage, wherein the electromechanical lock is configured such that a key is useable to retract the latch of the electromechanical lock, the key can be removed, and the latch remains mechanically held back such that the lock remains unlocked, wherein the internal linkage provides that the latch which is being mechanically held back is electronically remotely releasable to the locked or extended position, further comprising a key cylinder which is configured to receive the key, further comprising an actuator and linkage which links the actuator to the latch such that, while the key can be used to mechanically holdback the latch, the latch can nevertheless be released via the actuator as a result of the actuator receiving a signal, wherein the actuator comprises a motor which is coupled to a gearbox, which is configured to drive a rotatable member, further comprising a link member and an operating lever, wherein the rotatable member is linked to the link member which is keyed to the operating lever, further comprising a hold release lever, wherein the link member comprises a slot which is linked to the operating lever, wherein the link member comprises a hook portion which engages the hold release lever.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electromechanical lock with mechanical latch holdback and remote release

Life of this patent

Electromechanical lock with mechanical latch holdback and remote release

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32