High security lock mechanism

A locking mechanism having a lock bolt movable to be put in locking and unlocking positions thereof, comprising:

• an electrical motor, comprising a rotor rotatable about an axis for movement from an inoperative position to an operative position when power is supplied to the electrical motor;
• a first engagement element rotated by the rotor;
• lock bolt drive means, cooperating with the lock bolt, for manually moving the lock bolt between its locking position and unlocking position;
• and
• a slidable element disposed to be slidable between first and second positions thereof in response to a movement of the first engagement element by said rotor wherein the first engagement element is positioned between the rotor and the slidable element so as to contact said slidable element, said rotor remaining in said operative position after termination of power to said electrical motor to selectively couple together said lock bolt and lock bolt drive means and enable manual movement of the lock bolt between said locking and unlocking positions.

A locking mechanism comprising:

• an electrical motor, comprising a rotor rotatable about an axis for movement from an inoperative position to an operative position when power is supplied to the electrical motor;
• a first engagement element rotated by the rotor;
• lock bolt drive means, cooperating with the lock bolt, for manually moving a lock bolt between its locking position and unlocking position;
• and
• a slidable element disposed to be slidable between first and second positions thereof in response to a movement of the first engagement element by said rotor wherein the first engagement element contacts said slidable element, said rotor remaining in said operative position after termination of power to said electrical motor to selectively couple together said lock bolt and lock bolt drive means and enable manual movement of the lock bolt between said locking and unlocking positions wherein:
• said first engagement element comprises a low-inertia rotatable cam mounted to rotate on said axis of said motor by engagement with said rotor, and
• said slidable element is disposed to be engaged by the rotatable cam and by a lever pivotably connected to said lock bolt, the lever having a portion engageable with the slidable element to transmit a manually applied force to the lock bolt, wherein the slidable element is formed to have a cut-out cam portion and the lever is provided with a transverse pin engageable with the cut-out cam portion to be movable thereby in response to said sliding movement of the slidable element thereof.

A locking mechanism having a lock bolt to be put in locking and unlocking positions thereof, comprising:

• a first engagement element, having disengaged and engageable positions;
• a drive means for providing an electrical power pulse actuable by electrical power for driving the first engagement element to the engageable position thereof;
• a manually operated second engagement element which can be engaged with said first engagement element in said engageable position thereof;
• a lock bolt drive cooperating with the lock bolt;
• and
• means for moving said lock bolt drive to a position directly engaged to the manually operated second engagement element so that the lock bolt is moved from the locking position to unlocking position thereof in accordance with a manual movement of the manually operated second engagement element,
• wherein said drive means is arranged and controlled to move the first engagement element from the disengaged position into, but not beyond, the engageable position upon receipt of a short electrical pulse of electrical power whereat said lock bolt can be moved from said locking position to said unlocking position thereof in response only to movement of said manually operated second engagement element, wherein said drive means comprises an electrical motor having a rotor rotatable about a rotation axis, said rotor having first and second stable positions respectively corresponding to said engageable and disengaged positions of said first engagement element, wherein said first and second stable positions are separated by a predetermined angle about the rotation axis.

An electrically operated lock, comprising:

• a lock bolt having locking and unlocking positions;
• a lever arm pivotally coupled at one end thereof to said lock bolt and having at the opposite end thereof a laterally extending portion;
• a manually operated rotary cam having a peripheral recess for receiving the laterally extending portion of said lever arm;
• a mechanism having a first orientation retaining said lever arm displaced from said cam and a second orientation placing the lever arm into contact with said cam such that manual rotation of the cam will engage the laterally extending portion of said lever arm into the cam recess and then move said lock bolt to the unlocking position;
• and
• an electrically operated drive element being coupled to said mechanism, the electrically operated drive element having a first stable position decoupled from said cam, and being responsive to a short pulse of electricity to move into a second stable position so as to engage said cam and remain in said second stable position upon termination of said short pulse of electricity such that manual rotation of said cam translates said lever arm and causes said lever arm to move said lock bolt to said unlocking position.

A method of operating a lock of a type comprising a lock bolt having locking and unlocking positions, a lever arm pivotally coupled at one end thereof to said bolt and having at the opposite end thereof a laterally extending portion, and a manually operated rotary cam having a peripheral recess for receiving the laterally extending portion of said lever arm,

• the method comprising the steps of:
• positioning a mechanism into a first position for maintaining said lever arm and cam normally displaced from each other;
• and
• in response to a short pulse of electricity, repositioning at least a part of said mechanism into a second position for bringing together said lever arm and cam upon manual rotation of the cam such that further manual rotation of the cam will engage the laterally extending portion of said lever arm with the cam recess and then move said lock bolt to the unlocking position, said repositioning step maintaining said at least part of said mechanism in said second position after termination of said short pulse of electricity.