ELECTROMECHANICAL LOCK

Abstract

 The present invention relates to the type of locking devices and, more particularly, to electrically operated locks for use in safe doors, residential homes, office premises, and also in vehicle doors. The electro-mechanical lock comprising an electric device, a locking element and its blocking means. The novelty of invention is that blocking means of locking element contains, at least, one displaced member and, at least, two coaxially placed rotating members, each of which has gear rim and radial slot, the electric device is made in a form of electric motor the output shaft of which has the built-in gear wheel entering an engagement with the mentioned rotating members in such a manner that the latter, being set in motion by the mentioned motor, rotate towards each other ensure alignment of radial slots with a possibility of displacement of a shifted member into the specified slots, thereby ensuring an unblocking of blocking means of a locking element. The technical result resides in simplifying of the design and improving reliability.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the type of locking devices and, more particularly, to electrically operated locks for use in safe doors, residential homes, office premises, and also in vehicle doors.

[0002] As known in the art, the locking device comprising an electric motor is attached to the rotating element of actuator and indexing, which has at least one cam, at least one actuator made with a possibility to be actuated by the corresponding cam from the element of actuator and indexing, and means for selective control of electric motor for placement in predetermined position of element of actuator and indexing and thereby setting into motion of actuator element or one of selected actuator elements for performance of necessary action in the locking device for locking or unlocking of the lock and/or completion of closing a door or other closing element (see WO 98/27301, June 25, 1998).
The disadvantage of known technical decision is considerable overall dimensions and weight, and also complexity of manufacturing, operation and servicing.

[0003] The patent RU 2,191,877, October 27, 2002 discloses the known electro-mechanical lock, which includes external and internal, relative to locked premise, handles, the mechanism for locking-unlocking of external handle, and the bolt including two barrels, fixed inside the housing and cover containing inside installed blocking barrel, which has recesses equally spaced along the exterior surface. The exterior surface of two barrels has two rotatably mounted disks rigidly linked by posts, one of which has the installed blocking lever. One of the lever arms is made with retainer lip having a capability of engagement with one of blocking barrel recesses, and the other arm has a capability of interaction with the spring-biased wheel. The wheel is made with notched segments and teeth for possibility of contact with the blocking lever, and also with pins located on the frontal surface of wheel for possibility of contact with the spring. The axle shaft is rigidly attached to the bolt with rotatably mounted spring biased lever and the locking bolt attached to it. The lever is located between disks, which have receptacles with the mounted locking bolt. One of the disks is made with the retainer lip having a possibility of contact with the limit stop. The internal handle is mounted on the plate installed on a door, and rotatably mounted on it through the use of the flange. The flange has a bolt fixed on it, which is eccentrically located relative to the internal handle rotation axis and enters the recess of one of disks. The external handle is mounted on the plate installed on a door, and rotatably mounted on it through the use of the flange. The flange has square receptacle with the square post installed in it with one end, the opposite end enters the square receptacle of blocking barrel, and is fixed by retaining washers. The lock design ensures elimination of forces transferred through the locking-unlocking mechanism by the external handle when the lock is closed that is attained owing to absence of interconnection of the external handle with the bolt and internal freely rotating handle. On the motor actuation blocking is done by way of connection of the bolt through the blocking-unblocking mechanism with the external handle.
As in the foregoing object, the disadvantage of known technical decision is considerable overall dimensions and weight, and also complexity of manufacturing, operation and servicing of the lock.

[0004] The preferred exemplary embodiment of an electro-mechanical lock is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,890, September 1, 1992 comprising a housing with arranged structural elements, and solenoid performing the role of blocking means of locking element.
The said lock is less reliable because under mechanical action, for instance, under vibration, the solenoid obtains a possibility of linear movement, i.e. it stops blockage of locking element, thereby allowing unauthorized opening of the lock.

[0005] It is an object of the proposed invention to provide an electro-mechanical lock easy in operation and servicing, and efficiently precluding unauthorized operation.

[0006] The technical result attained in embodiment of the proposed invention resides in simplifying of the design and improving reliability.

[0007] The said technical result is attained owing to the electromechanical lock comprising the electric device, locking element and its blocking means. The novelty of invention is that blocking means of locking element contains, at least, one displaced member and, at least, two coaxially placed rotating members, each of which has gear rim and radial slot, the electric device is made in a form of electric motor the output shaft of which has the built-in gear wheel entering an engagement with the mentioned rotating members in such a manner that the latter, being set in motion by the mentioned motor, rotate towards each other ensure alignment of radial slots with a possibility of displacement of a shifted member into the specified slots, thereby ensuring an unblocking of blocking means of a locking element.

[0008] The use of an electric motor for actuation of blocking means of a locking element eliminates the possibility of unauthorized movement of structural elements of the lock that in combination with the proposed layout design of blocking means of a locking element allows to significantly enhance reliability of the electro-mechanical lock. The use of, at least, two coaxially placed elements rotating towards each other, which at alignment of radial slots provide displacement of a shifted member into the specified slots, thereby ensuring an unblocking of blocking means of a locking element, also leads to reliability improvement of the electro-mechanical lock.

[0009] It should also be emphasized that the proposed arrangement allows to simplify a design of the electro-mechanical lock, its maintenance, and prolong its mechanical life that also leads to reliability improvement.

[0010] The proposed invention is further disclosed in more detail taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, wherein:

Fig. 1

is a view of the electro-mechanical lock in locked position,

Fig. 2

is a view of the electro-mechanical lock in unlocked position,

Fig. 3

is a view of the blocking means of locking element,

Fig. 4

is a view of the locking element.

[0011] The materials of this claim disclose the preferred embodiment of proposed electro-mechanical lock which, however, is only exemplary of the many possible variations that should be obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0012] In order to facilitate disclosure of the proposed technical decision Figs. 1-4 demonstrate structural elements of the electro-mechanical lock that are arranged in the housing 1. The said embodiment may appear preferable in certain instances. When necessary, structural elements of the electro-mechanical lock can be arranged immediately inside the door, where it is supposed to install the electro-mechanical lock, and/or in the door frame.

[0013] The electro-mechanical lock contains an electric motor 2, the output shaft of which has the built-in gear wheel 3. The power and dimensional specifications of an electric motor 2 can be different and depend on operating conditions. The gear wheel 3 can be made from any material - metal, plastic, etc. that also depends on operating conditions.

[0014] The power supply of an electric motor 2 can be self-contained, for instance, from batteries, as well as from an external power supply that basically does not influence the design of proposed electro-mechanical lock and is not a subject of this claim.

[0015] The gear wheel 3 of an electric motor 2 is made with a possibility of contact with gear rims of at least, two rotating members 4 of blocking means of a locking element 5.

[0016] Fig. 3 demonstrates two rotating members 4, placed coaxially and having the possibility to interact with their gear rims with a gear wheel 3 at its rotation. Both a rotating element 4 and its gear rim can be made from any material - metal, plastic, etc. that also depends on operating conditions. Gear rims of the gear wheel 3 and rotating members 4 are made, preferably, cone-shaped. It is the most convenient, though not unique, type of engagement for this arrangement.

[0017] Retraction of rotating members 4 in the position at which the lock is closed provides the use of reciprocal means 6, which can be made, for instance, in the form of a spring the ends of which are fixed by studs 7 provided on rotating members 4.

[0018] The blocking means of a locking element 5 contains, besides rotating members 4, at least, one displaced member 8. The proposed embodiment presents one displaced member 8 though it is abundantly clear that it can be augmented when necessary. The displaced member 8 is made with a possibility to be placed in its first position (see Fig. 1) at which it is capable to block rotation of a locking element 5, and with possibility to be placed in its second position (see Fig. 2) at which a locking element 5 has the possibility to rotate.

[0019] For a possibility of placement of a displaced member 8 in the second position, each of rotating elements 4 has the radial slot 9 provided. Rotating elements 4 are activated by an electric motor 2 and, being rotated towards each other, i.e. in different directions - one in clockwise, and other - in counterclockwise, ensure alignment of radial slots 9 with a possibility of displaced member 8 shifting into the specified slots 9, thereby ensuring unblocking of blocking means of a locking element 5.

[0020] With a view to ensuring possibility of movement of displaced member 8 from the second position to the first position the provision is made for reciprocal element 10, for instance, a tumbler spring.

[0021] The locking element 5 is a bolt made with a possibility to rotate, and also with a possibility to interact with, at least, one displaced member 8. Parts of a locking element 5 and a displaced member 8, contacting among themselves, are made on radius so that they ensure smooth mutual movement without hooks and wedging, with shifting as a result of such interaction of a displaced member 8 from its first position to the second one. Retraction of a locking element 5 into a "closed" position provides the use of reciprocal element 11, for instance, an extension spring.

[0022] The locking element 5 is connected with the door handle and made with a possibility to rotate around an axis 12. Mounting bores 13 of axis 12 are made with oval shape so that at sharp and/or impact action on the door handle the axis 12 would be displaced in its mounting bores 13, creating the lateral misalignment completely eliminating a possibility of the locking element 5 rotation.

[0023] Retraction of an axis 12 into initial position after removal of load (shock, vibration, etc.) provides the use of reciprocal element 14, for instance, a leaf spring.

[0024] The electro-mechanical lock operates as follows.
The electro-mechanical lock is in "closed" position, rotating members 4 are in position that blocks movement of a displaced member 8 from first to second position. In its turn displaced member 8 blocks rotating of a locking element 5 preventing the door handle from turning and opening the door. Force impact, shock, vibration, etc. affecting the door handle, a door and/or the lock preclude transferring of the lock into an "opened" position since blocking of rotation of a locking element 5 cannot be removed - there is no possibility of shifting of a displaced member 8 into second position and shifting of an axis 12 of rotation of a locking element 5 causes its wedging with other elements.

[0025] The electromechanical lock opening requires sending initially defined code signal (a certain set of characters and/or digits, bringing into a close proximity of an electronic/magnetic card to the reading device, a radio signal, etc.) that will activate rotation of the electric motor 2 and, accordingly, rotating members 4 with the radial slots 9, associated with it by means of the gear work. It is necessary to note that instead of the said gear work, preferably cone-shaped, it is possible to use worm, frictional or any other type, as known in the art and suitable for this purpose.

[0026] Each of the rotating members 4 shall be turned to a certain angle so that the placement of radial slots 9 will come in alignment with the end surface of displaced member 8, allowing the latter to occupy its second position. For the purpose of turn of rotating members 4 to a certain angle stepping electric motor or any other known means can be used. For the purpose of unobstructed retraction of rotating members 4 to initial position the electric motor shaft can be fitted with reciprocating, freewheel, frictional or any other type of clutch, as known in the art and suitable for this purpose.

[0027] After sending of a corresponding signal the electric motor 2 activates rotating members 4 that take such position that their radial slots 9 get aligned among themselves and are opposite to a displaced member 8. Further, at door handle turn there is a turn of a locking element 5, which, interacting with a displaced member 8, shifts the latter from its first position to the second one. While being shifted to the second position, a displaced member 8 unblocks rotation of a locking element 5, allowing it to make the shift sufficient for transfer of the electro-mechanical lock into "opened" position.

[0028] Removal of loading from the door handle allows a locking element 5 under the influence of a reciprocal element 11 to return to initial position, then there is a retraction of a displaced member 8 into initial (first) position under the influence of a reciprocal element 10 that blocks rotation of a locking element 5.

[0029] Simultaneously with retraction of a displaced member 8 in its first position, rotating members 4 under the influence of reciprocal means 6 occupy their initial position, thereby blocking shifting of a displaced member 8. The electromechanical lock is transferred into a "closed" position.

[0030] By this means the claimed electro-mechanical lock represents the device uncomplicated in manufacture, operation and servicing, and the proposed design and arrangement allow to significantly enhance its reliability in comparison with known embodiments, and also easily change its dimensional specifications depending on operating conditions.

Claims

1. An electro-mechanical lock comprising an electric device, a locking element and its blocking means, characterized in that blocking means of a locking element contains, at least, one displaced member and, at least, two coaxially placed rotating members, each of which has gear rim and radial slot, the electric device is made in a form of electric motor the output shaft of which has the built-in gear wheel entering an engagement with the mentioned rotating members in such a manner that the latter, being set in motion by the mentioned motor, rotate towards each other ensure alignment of radial slots with a possibility of displacement of a shifted member into the specified slots, thereby ensuring an unblocking of blocking means of a locking element.

2. The electromechanical lock as in claim 1, characterized in that gear rings of the gear wheel and rotating members are made cone-shaped.

3. The electromechanical lock as in claims 1 or 2, characterized in that a reciprocal means is provided, allowing to return rotating members into initial position at which the radial slots on rotating members do not align, the locking element is blocked, and the lock is in "closed" position.

4. The electromechanical lock as in claim 3, characterized in that said reciprocal means is made, for instance, in the form of a spring the ends of which are fixed on rotating members.

Drawing