Timer for bank vaults
AssigneeMiss D, Inc.
InventorsOrin H. Davis, John J. Contus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low current drain timer for bank vaults is easily settable to limit opening of the vault to a predetermined time, irrespective of the time of closing the vault. Three thumb wheels having corresponding indicia are set to designate the elapsed time necessary for reopening. A timer is activated by a reset switch and the manual repositioning of a mechanical latch, which latch permits later closure of a vault door. Either of sequentially operating solenoids at the lapsed time permit opening of the vault door. A backup battery power source renders the timer unaffected by failure of a conventional electrical power source.
Claims40
A time lock device for a bank vault door having a rectilinearly translating rod, which rod translates as a function of the open and closed position of the vault door, said device comprising in combination:
- (a) a body block for receiving the rod when the vault door is in the open position;
- (b) a lock block supported by said body block for selectively precluding translation of the rod within the body block, said lock block having a latched position for inhibiting translation of the rod within said lock block and an unlatched position for accommodating translation of the rod within said body block;
- (c) mechanical means for positioning said lock block in the latched position;
- (d) release means for accommodating repositioning of said lock block into the unlatched position in response to the force of gravity;
- (e) a timer for determining the time period after which said release means will be actuated to reposition said lock block to the unlatched position and to permit translation of the rod within said body block to open the vault door;
- (f) said timer including a constant frequency source for establishing a train of pulses;
- (g) at least one counter responsive to the train of pulses for providing a first output signal as a function of an elapsed time period;
- (h) at least one settable number generator for providing a second output signal reflective of the time period to elapse before actuation of said release means;
- (i) at least one comparator for receiving and comparing said first and second output signals to provide a third output signal upon comparison between said first and second output signals;
- and
- (j) means responsive to said third output signal for actuating said release means upon correspondence between the elapsed time determined by said counter and the set time determined by said generator.
A time lock device for a bank vault door having a rectilinearly translating rod, which rod translates as a function of the open and closed position of the vault door, said device comprising in combination:
- (a) means for restricting translation of the rod subsequent to closing of the vault door to prevent opening of the vault door;
- (b) means for disengaging said restricting means to permit opening of the vault door;
- (c) means for urging actuation of said restricting means prior to closing of the vault door;
- (d) means for developing a first signal responsive to the passage of time;
- (e) means for developing a second signal reflective of the passage of a predetermined time period subsequent to energization of said first signal developing means;
- (f) means for comparing the first and second signals and for developing a third signal;
- and
- (g) means responsive to the third signal for actuating said disengaging means.
A method for locking a bank vault door for a preset time period and wherein the vault door includes an axially translatable rod translatable from a first position to a second position and return in response to opening and closing of the vault door, respectively, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a passageway within a body block for receiving the rod and for accommodating translation of the rod from the first position to the second position;
- (b) blocking with a lock block disposed in the body block translation of the rod from the second position to the first position to preclude opening of the vault door;
- (c) unblocking translation of the rod from the second position to the first position;
- (d) said step of blocking including the step of translating the lock block to a latched position;
- (e) said step of unblocking including the step of unlatching the lock block and repositioning the lock block in response to the force of gravity to an unlatched position;
- (f) generating a train of pulses indicative of passage of time;
- (g) counting the pulses in the train of pulses and generating a first output signal indicative of the passage of time;
- (h) setting a predetermined period of time by setting at least one generator to generate a second signal reflective of the predetermined time period;
- (i) comparing the first signal with the second signal and further generating a third signal reflective of correspondence between the first and second signals;
- and
- (j) producing an output signal in response to the third signal to actuate said step of unlatching and to permit translation of the rod from the second position to the first position within the body block.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.