Motorized actuator for mortise lockset

In a mortise lock including a case, a latch bolt, means for retracting the latch bolt into the case, and a locking bar movable between a locked position engaging the retracting means to block retraction of the latch and bolt and an unlocked position disengaging the retracting means to allow retraction of the latch bolt, the improvement comprising

• means for moving the locking bar between its locked and unlocked positions, the moving means including a pivot hub having a pivot axis, a spring mounted on the pivot hub, and means for rotating the pivot hub about the pivot axis in a first direction to urge the spring into engagement with a first surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its locked position and in an opposite second direction to urge the spring into engagement with a second surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its unlocked position, the rotating means including a rotatable drive shaft and a slip-clutch mechanism engaging the pivot hub and the rotatable drive shaft, the slip-clutch mechanism including clutch means for permitting continued rotation of the rotatable drive shaft relative to the pivot hub upon movement of the locking lug to the unlocked position by the spring and the clutch means interconnects the rotatable drive shaft and the pivot hub, the pivot hub being formed to include and aperture receiving the drive shaft therein and an internal chamber communicating with the aperture and containing the clutch means therein.

In a mortise lock including a case, a latch bolt, means for retracting the latch bolt into the case, and a locking bar movable between a locked position engaging the retracting means to block retraction of the latch bolt and an unlocked position disengaging the retracting means to allow retraction of the latch bolt, the improvement comprising

• means for moving the locking bar between its locked and unlocked positions, the moving means including a pivot hub having a pivot axis, a spring mounted on the pivot hub, and means for rotating the pivot hub about the pivot axis in a first direction to urge the spring into engagement with a first surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its locked position and in an opposite second direction to urge the spring into engagement with a second surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its unlocked position, the rotating means including a rotatable drive shaft and a slip-clutch mechanism engaging the pivot hub and the rotatable drive shaft, the pivot hub being formed to include an aperture receiving the drive shaft therein, an internal chamber having one opening communicating with the aperture and another opposite opening, and a transverse slot communicating with said another opposite opening, the slip-clutch mechanism including a plunger movable in the internal chamber, spring means in the internal chamber for normally biasing the plunger into engagement with the drive shaft to establish a slippable driving connection causing rotation of the pivot hub about its pivot axis in response to rotation of the drive shaft, and a retaining plate positioned in the transverse slot formed in pivot hub, the retaining plate including a raised spherical bump extending into the internal chamber through said another opposite opening to provide a seat for one end of the spring means and to lock disengagement of the retaining plate from the transverse slot in the pivot hub.

In a mortise lock of the type including a case, a latch bolt, means for retracting the latch bolt into the case, and a locking bar movable between a locked position engaging the retracting means to block retraction of the latch bolt and an unlocked position disengaging the retracting means to allow retraction of the latch bolt, the improvement comprising

• means for moving the locking bar between its locked and unlocked positions, the moving means including a pivot hub having a pivot axis, a spring mounted on the pivot hub, and means for rotating the pivot hub about the pivot axis in a first direction to urge the spring into engagement with a first surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its locked position and in an opposite second direction to urge the spring into engagement with a second surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its unlocked position, the rotating means including a motor having a rotatable motor drive shaft, the pivot hub being mounted on the motor drive shaft for rotation therewith to move the sprig back and forth between the first and second surfaces on the locking bar during operation of the motor, the rotating means further including first stop means for limiting rotation of the pivot hub in the first direction so that movement of the spring in the first direction by the pivot hub is stopped at a first limit position after the locking bar has been moved to its locked position and second stop means for limiting rotation of the pivot hub in the second direction so that movement of the spring in the second direction by the pivot hub is stopped at a second limit position after the locking bar has been moved to its unlocked position, the first and second stop means being mounted in the case to lie in spaced-apart relation to one another, the pivot hub being mounted in the case to pivot between the first and second stop means, the pivot hub including a body portion formed to include aperture means for receiving the motor drive shaft and an elongated arm portion appended to the body portion and arranged to engage the first and second stop means during pivoting movement of the pivot hub, and the arm portion containing clutch means for selectively connecting the pivot hub to the motor drive shaft so that the pivot hub rotates with the motor drive shaft.

In a mortise lock including a case, a latch bolt, means for retracting the latch bolt into the case, and a locking bar movable between a locked position engaging the retracting means to block retraction of the latch bolt and an unlocked position disengaging the retracting means to allow retraction of the latch bolt, the improvement comprising

• means for moving the locking bar between its locked and unlocked positions, the moving means including a pivot hub having a pivot axis, a spring mounted on the pivot hub, and means for rotating the pivot hub about the pivot axis in a first direction to urge the spring into engagement with a first surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its locked position and in an opposite second direction to urge the spring into engagement with a second surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its unlocked position, the rotating means including a motor having a rotatable motor drive shaft, the pivot hub being mounted on the motor drive shaft for rotation therewith to move the spring back and forth between the first and second surfaces on the locking bar during operation of the motor, the rotating means further including first stop means for limiting rotation of the pivot hub in the first direction so that movement of the spring in the first direction by the pivot hub is stopped at a first limit position after the locking bar has been moved to its locked position and second stop means for limiting rotation of the pivot hub in the second direction so that movement of the spring in the second direction by the pivot hub is stopped at a second limit position after the locking bar has been moved to its unlocked position, the rotating means further including motor mount means for supporting the motor in the case, the first and second stop means being appended to the motor mount means, the motor mount means being a plate formed to include an aperture, the motor being attached to one side of the plate to extend the motor drive shaft through the aperture, the pivot hub being arranged to lie on an opposite side of the plate and to rotate with the motor drive shaft, the first stop means being a first tab appended to said opposite side of the plate, and the second stop means being a second tab appended to said opposite side of the plate and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first tab.

In a mortise lock including a case, a latch bolt, means for retracting the latch bolt into the case, and a locking bar movable between a locked position engaging the retracting means to block retraction of the latch bolt and an unlocked position disengaging the retracting means to allow retraction of the latch bolt, the improvement comprising

• means for moving the locking bar between its locked and unlocked positions, the moving means including a pivot hub having a pivot axis, a spring mounted on the pivot hub, and means for rotating the pivot hub about the pivot axis in a first direction to urge the spring into engagement with a first surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its locked position and in an opposite second direction to urge the spring into engagement with a second surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its unlocked position, the rotating means including a motor having a rotatable motor drive shaft, the pivot hub being mounted on the motor drive shaft for rotation therewith to move the spring back and forth between the first and second surfaces on the locking bar during operation of the motor, the rotating means further including clutch means for permitting continued rotation of the motor drive shaft relative to the pivot hub upon movement of the locking lug to its locked position by the spring, the clutch means interconnecting the motor drive shaft and the pivot hub, the pivot hub being formed to include an aperture receiving the drive shaft therein and an internal chamber communicating with the aperture and containing the clutch means therein.

In a mortise lock including a case, a latch bolt, means for retracting the latch bolt into the case, and a locking bar movable between a locked position engaging the retracting means to block retraction of the latch bolt and an unlocked position disengaging the retracting means to allow retraction of the latch bolt, the improvement comprising

• means for moving the locking bar between its locked and unlocked positions, the moving means including a pivot hub having a pivot axis, a spring mounted on the pivot hub, and means for rotating the pivot hub about the pivot axis in a first direction to urge the spring into engagement with a first surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its locked position and in an opposite second direction to urge the spring into engagement with a second surface on the locking bar to move the locking bar to its unlocked position, the rotating means including a motor having a rotatable motor drive shaft, the pivot hub being mounted on the motor drive shaft for rotation therewith to move the spring back and forth between the first and second surfaces on the locking bar during operation of the motor, the rotating means further including clutch means for permitting continued rotation of the motor drive shaft relative to the pivot hub upon movement of the locking lug to its unlocked position by the spring, the clutch means interconnecting the motor drive shaft and the pivot hub, the pivot hub being formed to include an aperture receiving the drive shaft therein and an internal chamber communicating with the aperture and containing the clutch means therein.

In a mortise lock including a case, a latch bolt, means for retracting the latch bolt into the case, and a locking bar movable between a locked position engaging the retracting means to block retraction of the latch bolt and an unlockable position disengaging the retracting means to allow retraction of the latch bolt, the improvement comprising

• means for moving the locking bar between its locked and unlocked positions, the moving means including a drive shaft, motor means for rotating the drive shat about an axis, a spring having means for engaging the locking bar, and means for driving the engaging means against the locking bar during rotation of the drive shaft about its axis to compress the spring between the locking bar and the drive shaft whenever and obstruction blocks movement of the locking bar to one of its locked and unlocked positions so that a predetermined amount of potential energy is stored in the spring owing to its compressed state to enable the spring to decompress and move the locking bar to said one of its locked and unlocked positions upon removal of said obstruction without further rotation of the drive shaft, the spring further including a base and the driving means including a pivot hub, a slip-clutch mechanism connecting the pivot hub to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, and means on the pivot hub for supporting the base of the spring to project the engaging means toward the locking bar.

In a mortise lock including a case, a latch bolt, means for retracting the latch bolt into the case, and a locking bar movable between a locked position engaging the retracting means to block retraction of the latch bolt and an unlocked position disengaging the retracting means to allow retraction of the latch bolt, the improvement comprising

• means for moving the locking bar between its locked and unlocked positions, the moving means including a drive shaft, motor means for rotating the drive shaft about an axis, a spring having means for engaging the locking bar, and means for driving the engaging means against the locking bar during rotation of the drive shaft about its axis to compress the spring between the locking bar and the drive shaft whenever an obstruction blocks movement of the locking bar to one of its locked and unlocked positions so that a predetermined amount of potential energy is stored in the spring owing to its compressed state to enable the spring to decompress and move the locking bar to said one of its locked and unlocked positions upon removal of said obstruction without further rotation of the drive shaft, the spring further including a base, the driving means including a pivot hub, means for connecting the pivot hub to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, and means on the pivot hub for supporting the base of the spring to project the engaging means toward the locking bark, the pivot hub being formed to include an aperture receiving the drive shaft therein and an internal chamber communicating with the aperture and containing the connecting means.