1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an electric lock, and more particularly to the electric
lock which is operatable under an external force and has a solenoid disposed therein
for saving power.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] A conventional electrically operated door lock includes a latch keeper being rotatable
between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the latch keeper
obstructs the movement of a door latch. A solenoid has a plunger movable along a linear
path between a first position and a second position. An actuator is coupled to the
plunger. The actuator is movable along a linear path parallel to the plunger between
a first position and a second position. The actuator has a plurality of gear teeth
formed thereon. A pinion has a plurality of teeth formed thereon and cooperating with
the gear teeth of the actuator. A locking member has a plurality of gear teeth formed
thereon and cooperating with the teeth of the pinion. The locking member is movable
along a linear path between a first position and a second position. The path is perpendicular
to the path of the plunger. As the plunger moves from the first position to the second
position urges the locking member to move from the first position to the second position,
which urges the latch keeper to move from the first position to the second position.
[0003] However, the conventional electrically operated door lock does not have a power saving
function, because it requires to be provided continuous electric current for keeping
in an unlocked position. And as the door is impacted by a wind force, the door lock
is hard to be operated due to the mechanical design. Therefore, the conventional electrically
operated door lock described above is inconveniently used.
[0004] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved solenoid-operated
electric lock.
[0005] To achieve the objective, the solenoid-operated electric lock in accordance with
the present invention comprises a lock casing, a catch movably mounted on the lock
casing, and a solenoid received in the lock casing. A circuit means is received in
the lock casing and is electrically connected with the solenoid for controlling duration
of electric current and switching a direction of electric current which is applied
to the solenoid.
[0006] The solenoid comprises a housing, a first magnet and a second magnet respectively
mounted on two ends of the housing. The first magnet and the second magnet are arranged
in a NN or SS relationship to repel each other. A movable iron core is axially disposed
in the housing and located between the first and second magnets. One end of the movable
iron core has a first bolt axially disposed thereon for simultaneously moving with
the movable iron core. The first bolt is partially exposed the outside of the solenoid.
A wire coil is coaxially received in the housing. The wire coil is wound around the
movable iron core and located between the first and second magnets.
[0007] The solenoid-operated electric lock further comprises a driving member, a first gearing
device, and a second gearing device movably received in the lock casing. The driving
member corresponds to a location of the first bolt of the solenoid and is selectively
pressed by the first bolt. The driving member has an engaging hole defined therein.
The first gearing device has a pivot member pivotally connected with the lock casing
and a rotatable cylinder rotatably mounted on the pivot member. The pivot member has
a pin disposed thereon for engaging with the driving member, such that the first gearing
device is able to be simultaneously driven by the driving member. The second gearing
device has a lever pivotally mounted on the lock casing. The lever has an abutting
portion formed thereon for releasably connecting with an outer periphery of the rotatable
cylinder. The lever has a protrusion formed thereon and located adjacent to the catch
for selectively abutting against the catch. The second gearing device has a spring
disposed beside the lever. The spring provides a resilient force to the lever to bias
the lever toward the catch.
[0008] When the circuit means provides electric current in a short time to actuate the solenoid,
a magnetic field is generated around the wire coil and the movable iron core forms
two opposing magnetic poles. The movable iron core is axially moved toward the first
magnet by magnetic attraction. The first bolt is axially moved with the movable iron
core to press the driving member away from the solenoid. The pivot member of the first
gearing device simultaneously and pivotally moves by the movement of the driving member.
The abutting portion of the lever of the second gearing device is released from the
rotatable cylinder, such that the catch is in an unlock position.
[0009] When the solenoid is actuated again by providing reverse electric current in a short
time to generate a reverse magnetic field around the wire coil, the movable iron core
is axially moved away the first magnet by magnetic repulsion. The driving member axially
moves toward the solenoid and the first gearing device is driven to restore. The abutting
portion of the lever is restricted by the rotatable cylinder. The protrusion of the
lever abuts against the catch, such that the catch is in a lock position.
[0010] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration
only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
[0011] In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a solenoid-operated electric lock in accordance
with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the solenoid-operated electric lock in accordance
with the present invention cooperating with a latch of a door;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional assembled view of the solenoid-operated electric lock
in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a partially assembled perspective view of the solenoid-operated electric
lock in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a solenoid of the solenoid-operated electric lock
in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the solenoid of the solenoid-operated electric
lock in accordance with the present invention as a movable iron core moves toward
a first magnet;
Fig. 6A is a schematic circuit view in accordance with Fig. 6;
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the solenoid of the solenoid-operated electric
lock in accordance with the present invention as the movable iron core moves away
form the first magnet;
Fig. 7A is a schematic circuit view in accordance with Fig. 7; and
Figs. 8-10 are cross-sectional operational views of a lever and a rotatable cylinder
of the solenoid-operated electric lock in accordance with the present invention.
[0012] Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1-5, a solenoid-operated electric
lock in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises
a lock casing 1 which is mounted on a door frame 7, a catch 11 movably mounted on
the lock casing 1 for selectively engaging with a latch 81 of a door 8, and a solenoid
2 received in the lock casing 1. A circuit means 6 is received in the lock casing
1 and is electrically connected with the solenoid 2 for controlling duration of electric
current and switching directions of electric current which is applied to the solenoid
2.
[0013] The solenoid 2 comprises a housing 21, a first magnet 22 and a second magnet 23 respectively
mounted on two ends of the housing 21. The first magnet 22 has a through hole 221
axially defined therein. In this embodiment, the first magnet 22 and the second magnet
23 are arranged in a SS relationship to repel each other. A movable iron core 24 is
axially disposed in the housing 21 and located between the first 22 and second magnets
23. One end of the movable iron core 24 has a first bolt 25 axially disposed thereon
for simultaneously moving with the movable iron core 24. The first bolt 25 has a free
end passing through the through hole 221 of the first magnet 22 and partially exposed
the outside of the solenoid 2. A wire coil 26 is coaxially received in the housing
21. The wire coil 26 is located between the first 22 and second magnets 23 and wound
around the movable iron core 24. The wire coil 26 is electrically connected with the
circuit means 6, such that the circuit means 6 controls electric current which is
applied into the wire coil 26.
[0014] The solenoid-operated electric lock further comprises a driving member 3, a first
gearing device 4, and a second gearing device 5 movably received in the lock casing
1. The driving member 3 corresponds to a location of the first bolt 25 of the solenoid
2 and is selectively pressed by the first bolt 25. The driving member 3 has an engaging
hole 31 defined therein.
[0015] The first gearing device 4 has a pivot member 41 which has one end pivotally connected
with the lock casing 1 for rotating about a pivot axis. The other end of the pivot
member 41 has a rotatable cylinder 43 mounted thereon for rotating relative to the
pivot member 41 about a center axis. The pivot axis of the pivot member 41 is parallel
to the center axis of the rotatable cylinder 43. The rotatable cylinder 43 has a C-axis
perpendicular to the center axis and the pivot axis (shown in Fig. 8-10). The pivot
member 41 has a pin 42 laterally disposed thereon for engaging with the engaging hole
31 of the driving member 3, such that the first gearing device 4 is able to be simultaneously
driven by the driving member 3.
[0016] The second gearing device 5 has a lever 51 which has one end pivotally mounted on
the lock casing 1. The other end of the lever 51 has an abutting portion 52 formed
thereon and downwardly abutting against an outer periphery of the rotatable cylinder
43 for releasably engaging with the rotatable cylinder 43. Referring to Fig. 8-10,
as the abutting portion 52 is in an engaging position along the C-axis of the rotatable
cylinder 43, the abutting portion 52 of the lever 51 is engagedly restricted by the
rotatable cylinder 43. As the abutting portion 52 is moved away from the engaging
position, the lever 51 is pivotally movable. The lever 51 has a protrusion 53 formed
thereon and corresponding to a location of the catch 11 for selectively abutting against
the catch 11. The second gearing device 5 has a spring 54 disposed beside the lever
51 and providing a resilient force to the lever 51 for biasing the lever 51 toward
the catch 11.
[0017] The operation of the solenoid-operated electric lock in accordance with the present
invention will be described in detailed below. As shown in Figs. 6-10, when electric
current controlled by the circuit means 6 flows into the wire coil 26 of the solenoid
2 in a direction of arrow A in a short period of time, the solenoid 2 is actuated
to generate a magnetic field around the wire coil 26. The movable iron core 24 correspondingly
forms a N magnetic pole at one end which is close to the first magnet 22 and a S magnetic
pole at the other end which is close to the second magnet 23. The movable iron core
24 is axially moved toward the first magnet 22 by magnetic attraction. The first bolt
25 is axially moved with the movable iron core 24 to press the driving member 3 away
from the solenoid 2. The pivot member 41 simultaneously and pivotally rotates about
the pivot axis by the movement of the driving member 3. The abutting portion 52 of
the lever 51 is relatively moved away from the engaging position. The abutting portion
52 of the lever 51 is released from the rotatable cylinder 43, such that the catch
11 is in an unlock position and the door 8 (shown in Fig. 2) is openable.
[0018] When electric current controlled by the circuit means 6 flows into the wire coil
26 in a direction of arrow B opposite to arrow A in a short period of time, the solenoid
2 is actuated again to generate a reverse magnetic field around the wire coil 26.
The movable iron core 24 correspondingly forms a S magnetic pole at one end which
is close to the first magnet 22 and a N magnetic pole at the other end which is close
to the second magnet 23. The movable iron core 24 is axially moved away the first
magnet 22 by magnetic repulsion. The driving member 3 axially moves toward the solenoid
2 and the first gearing device 4 (shown in Fig. 1, 3-4) is driven to restore. The
abutting portion 52 of the lever 51 is relatively moved back to the engaging position
and is restricted by the rotatable cylinder 43. The protrusion 53 of the lever 51
abuts against the catch 11 (shown in Fig. 3), such that the catch 11 is in a lock
position and securely fastened to the latch 81 of the door 8 (shown in Fig. 2).
[0019] Moreover, electric current is supplied in the short period of time when the catch
11 changes to the lock position from the unlock position or to the unlock position
from the lock position. Therefore, the solenoid-operated electric lock in accordance
with the present invention is power saving. And due to the two magnets 22, 23 applied
in the solenoid 2, the solenoid 2 in accordance with the present invention is able
to generate a sufficient force which is substantially greater than three times a force
of a conventional solenoid. Furthermore, as the catch 11 is in the lock position and
a strong external force is applied on the door 8, the latch 81 may force the catch
11 to abut against the lever 51. The abutting portion 52 would press on the outer
periphery of the rotatable cylinder 43. Because the rotatable cylinder 43 which is
pressed is rollable relative to the lever 51 and the pivot member 41, the pivot member
41 is pivotally movable by the movement of the driving member 3. Therefore, the solenoid-operated
electric lock is operatable as the strong external force is applied on the door 8.
1. A solenoid-operated electric lock comprising:
a lock casing, a catch movably mounted on the lock casing;
a solenoid received in the lock casing, the solenoid comprising:
a housing;
a first magnet and a second magnet respectively mounted on two ends of the housing;
a movable iron core axially disposed in the housing and located between the first
and second magnets, one end of the movable iron core having a first bolt axially disposed
thereon for simultaneously moving with the movable iron core,
the first bolt partially exposed the outside of the solenoid; and
a wire coil coaxially received in the housing, the wire coil wound around the movable
iron core and located between the first and second magnets;
wherein when the solenoid is actuated by providing electric current in a short period
of time to generate a magnetic field around the wire coil, the movable iron core axially
moved toward the first magnet by magnetic attraction; when the solenoid is actuated
again by providing reverse electric current to generate a reverse magnetic field around
the wire coil, the movable iron core axially moved away the first magnet by magnetic
repulsion;
a driving member movably received in the lock casing, the driving member selectively
pressed by the first bolt of the solenoid;
a first gearing device pivotally received in the lock casing, the first gearing device
engaged with the driving member so as to be driven by the driving member, the first
gearing device having a rotatable cylinder rotatably mounted therein; and
a second gearing device received in the lock casing, the second gearing device having
a lever pivotally mounted on the lock casing for selectively abutting against the
catch, the lever having an abutting portion formed thereon and abutting against an
outer periphery of the rotatable cylinder for releasably engaging with the rotatable
cylinder;
whereby when the first bolt is axially moved with the movable iron core to press the
driving member away from the solenoid, the first gearing device simultaneously and
pivotally moves by the movement of the driving member, the abutting portion of the
lever of the second gearing device released from the rotatable cylinder, such that
the catch is in an unlock position; when the driving member axially moves toward the
solenoid and the first gearing device is driven to restore, the abutting portion of
the lever of the second gearing device is restricted by the rotatable cylinder, the
lever abutting against the catch, such that the catch is in a lock position.
2. The solenoid-operated electric lock as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a circuit
means electrically connected with the solenoid for controlling duration of electric
current and switching the direction of electric current applied to the solenoid.
3. The solenoid-operated electric lock as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first
magnet and the second magnet are arranged in a NN/ SS relationship to repel each other.
4. The solenoid-operated electric lock as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein
the first gearing device has a pivot member pivotally connected with the lock casing,
the pivot member having a pin disposed thereon, the driving member having an engaging
hole defined therein for engaging with the pin, such that the driving member is able
to simultaneously drive the first gearing device.
5. The solenoid-operated electric lock as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein
the lever has a protrusion formed thereon and located adjacent to the catch for selectively
abutting against the catch, the second gearing device having a spring disposed beside
the lever for providing a resilient force to the lever.