[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic door lock device, and more particularly,
to an electronic door lock device for connecting a clutch easily, in which two shafts
connected with two different door handles can be easily connected with or disconnected
from each other using the easy clutch connection structure.
[Background Art]
[0002] An electronic door locking device can easily lock and unlock a door without a key
which is cumbersome to carry. Therefore, the electronic door locking device is widely
used in an apartment house.
[0003] The electronic door locking device is classified into two kinds of structures. Herein,
in one of the structures, a latch is directly or indirectly operated by a driving
means such as a motor driven by identification signal, and in the other structure,
the latch is interlocked with an internal handle of a door, and a shaft of the internal
handle and a shaft of an external handle of the door are selectively connected or
disconnected according to the identification signal.
[0004] In case of the former, the configuration for operating the latch and the configuration
for operating the door handle are separated from each other, and thus a latch operation
assembly (i.e., door locking device) may be manufactured separately, and also the
assembly may be additionally installed at a door in which other door locking device
is already installed.
[0005] However, in the door locking device having such structure, since driving force of
the motor is transmitted through a plurality of gears, the gears are worn as time
passes and thus the latch is not operated normally or malfunctioned.
[0006] Further, in order to operate the relatively hard and heavy latch, the door locking
device having such structure has to use an expensive high power motor and thus the
current consumption is also high.
[0007] However, in case of the latter, since the latch is operated by rotation of the internal
handle of the door, the malfunction of the latch hardly occurs. Furthermore, since
the motor moved only a shaft connecting member for connecting two shafts instead of
operating the heavy latch, it is possible to use a relatively small motor and thus
the current consumption is low.
[0008] In such door locking device, only when an uneven portion of the shaft connecting
member is exactly engaged with an uneven portion of the shaft of the external handle
of the door, the external handle of the door is rotated and thus the door is unlocked.
Therefore, if the uneven portion of the shaft connecting member is exactly engaged
with the uneven portion of the shaft of the external handle of the door due to undesirable
rotation of the shaft of the external handle or the internal handle of the door, the
shafts are not connected through the shaft connecting member and thus the door is
not unlocked even though a user inputs correct identification signal.
[Disclosure]
[Technical Problem]
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic door lock device for
connecting a clutch easily which can easily connect the shaft of the external handle
of the door with the shaft connecting member even though the external handle of the
door is undesirably rotated in any state.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic door lock device
for connecting a clutch easily which can be easily installed at an existing door with
a handle.
[Technical Solution]
[0011] To achieve the object of the present invention, the present invention provides an
electronic door lock device for connecting a clutch easily, including a clutch assembly
including a first shaft which is connected with a first handle so as to operate a
latch when the first handle is rotated; a second shaft which is connected with a second
handle and coaxially disposed with the first shaft and of which an end is formed with
a first uneven portion; a shaft connection member which is disposed between the first
and second shafts and movably disposed at the first shaft and of which an end faced
with the second shaft is formed with a second uneven portion engaged with the first
uneven portion; and a driving part which operates the shaft connection member according
to an external signal, wherein the driving part includes a motor having a shaft; a
driving member which is movably installed on the shaft of the motor and in which a
coil spring is installed; a pin which is installed in the shaft of the motor so as
to move the driving member via the coil spring when the motor is operated; and an
operation member which is rotatably installed at the clutch assembly and connected
with the driving member and the shaft connection member so as to connect or disconnect
the shaft connection member with or from the second shaft according to movement of
the driving member.
[0012] Preferably, the operation member includes an axial portion which is coupled with
the clutch assembly; a first pair of legs which are vertically extended from the axial
portion so as to be connected with the driving member; and a second pair of legs which
are extended from the axial portion in a symmetric direction to the first pairs of
legs so as to be connected with the shaft connection member.
[0013] Preferably, a first groove in which the first pair of legs are inserted is formed
in an outer circumferential surface of the driving member, and a second groove in
which the second pair of legs are disposed is formed in an outer circumferential surface
of the shaft connection member.
[0014] Preferably, one end of the first shaft is formed into a square pillar shape, and
the shaft connection member is formed with a square hole in which the first shaft
having the square pillar shape is inserted.
[Advantageous Effects]
[0015] As described above, the present invention can facilely connect the shafts of the
handles of the door having the handles which are rotatably disposed at the door in
order to reduce the manufacturing cost and simplify the structure thereof.
[0016] Further, since the present invention has the relatively simple shaft connection structure,
it is advantageous to reduce the size of the door locking device.
[0017] Further, since the clutch assembly of the present invention has the same size of
the key cylinder of the conventional manual door locking device, it can be facilely
additionally provided or replaced with the conventional manual door locking device.
In other words, since the present invention has no a mortise formed in the door, it
can be applied to the existing door having the handles without any additional machining
processes.
[0018] Furthermore, since the connection and disconnection between the shaft of the internal
handle and the shaft of the external handle is mechanically achieved by the motor,
it is relatively strong on external electrical or magnetic shock and thus it is possible
to considerably the malfunction thereof caused by the shock.
[Description of Drawings]
[0019] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a clutch assembly provided in an electronic
door locking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the clutch assembly of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the clutch assembly of Fig. 2.
Figs. 4 and 5 are views showing an operation relationship between a coil spring and
a driving member in the clutch assembly upon driving of a motor according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing an operation state of the clutch assembly according
to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a partially cut away view showing a state that the clutch is not completely
engaged.
Fig. 9 is a partially exploded perspective view showing an installation structure
of an electronic door locking device having the clutch assembly of Fig. 2.
Fig. 10 is a side view showing a state that the electronic door locking device of
Fig. 9 is applied to a door.
Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure of an electronic door
locking device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a clutch assembly of Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a second handle of Fig. 11.
Figs. 14 and 15 are views showing an operation principle of the electronic door locking
device of Fig. 11.
[Best Mode]
[0020] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail
with reference to accompanying drawings.
(First embodiment)
[0021] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a clutch assembly provided in an electronic
door locking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig.
2 is an assembled perspective view of the clutch assembly of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a partial
cross-sectional view of the clutch assembly of Fig. 2, Figs. 4 and 5 are views showing
an operation relationship between a coil spring and a driving member in the clutch
assembly upon driving of a motor according to the first embodiment of the present
invention, Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing an operation state of the clutch assembly
according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 8 is a partially
cut away view showing a state that the clutch is not completely engaged, Fig. 9 is
a partially exploded perspective view showing an installation structure of an electronic
door locking device having the clutch assembly of Fig. 2, and Fig. 10 is a side view
showing a state that the electronic door locking device of Fig. 9 is applied to a
door.
[0022] The structure of a clutch assembly provided of an electronic door locking device
according to the embodiment is different from that of the conventional door locking
device, and thus the clutch assembly 10 will be mainly described. Therefore, other
configurations of the present invention may be the same as those of the prior art
and these configurations may be modified in the scope that a person skilled in the
art can recognize or achieve.
[0023] As shown in Fig. 1, the clutch assembly 10 according to the first embodiment of the
present invention includes upper and lower bodies 12 and 14, a first shaft 20, a second
shaft 30, a shaft connection member 40, a motor 50, a coil spring 60, a driving member
70 and an operation member 80 and may further include a guide member 90.
[0024] A space for receiving almost other elements is formed at a faced portion of the upper
and lower bodies 12 and 14 (i.e., a lower portion of the upper body 12 and an upper
portion of the lower body 14), thereby forming the outer appearance of the clutch
assembly 10. Herein, since the clutch assembly 10 formed by coupling the upper and
lower bodies 12 and 14 has a small size, it can be facilely installed at the conventional
or other electronic door locking device.
[0025] The first shaft 20 is disposed to be exposed to the outside through a hole 122 of
the upper body 12. The first shaft 20 is connected with an internal handle (not shown)
of the door or a shaft of the internal handle and rotated together when the internal
handle is rotated. And the first shaft 20 is mechanically connected with construction
elements for operating a latch (not shown) and thus directly or indirectly drives
the latch upon its rotation. One of both ends of the first shaft 20, which is coupled
with the shaft connection member 40, is formed into shape of a square pillar(22).
[0026] The second shaft 30 is disposed in the clutch assembly 10 so as to have the same
axial center as the first shaft 20 and also spaced part from the first shaft 20 so
as to be not directly connected or contacted with the first shaft 20. The second shaft
30 is connected with an internal handle (not shown) of the door or a shaft of the
internal handle and rotated together when the internal handle is rotated. And the
first shaft 20 is connected with an external handle (not shown) of the door or a shaft
of the external handle and rotated together when the external handle is rotated. One
end of the second shaft 30 is formed into a square pillar shape so as to be firmly
coupled with the external handle and the other end thereof has a first uneven portion
32 so as to be coupled with the shaft connection member 40. In the embodiment, as
shown in Fig. 1, the first uneven portion 32 consists of a cross-shaped groove and
protrusions formed by the groove. For reference, the first and second shafts 20 and
30 are rotatably disposed in the clutch assembly 10.
[0027] The shaft connection member 40 is disposed between the first and second shafts 20
and 30 so as to be reciprocated between the first and second shafts 20 and 30. More
detailedly, the shaft connection member 40 is disposed at a square pillar 22 of the
first shaft 20 so as to be movable in an axial direction thereof so that the first
and second shafts 20 and 30 are selectively connected with each other and thus the
rotation of the second shaft 30 can be transmitted to the first shaft 20. One end
of the shaft connection member 40 (which is faced with the first shaft 20) is formed
with a square hole 46 having a desired depth and the other end thereof (which is faced
with the second shaft 30) is formed with a second uneven portion 42 (a cross-shaped
protrusion in case of the embodiment) which is engaged with the first uneven portion
32. A second groove 44 having a desired width is formed at the outer circumference
of the shaft connection member 40. And a stepped portion is formed at both side ends
of the outer circumference of the shaft connection member 40 by the second groove
44. The shaft connection member 40 is formed to be longer than a spaced distance between
the first and second shafts 20 and 30. In other words, the shaft connection member
40 has an enough length to be engaged with the first uneven portion 32 of the second
shaft 30 while the shaft connection member 40 is coupled with the first shaft 20.
[0028] The motor 50 is installed at the lower body 14 so as to generate driving force for
driving the shaft connection member 40. The motor 50 is provided with a shaft 52 extended
in one direction (i.e., toward the first shaft 20 in case of the embodiment), and
the shaft 52 is rotated when the motor 50 is operated. The shaft 52 is formed with
a through-hole which is formed to be vertical to a length direction thereof, and a
pin 54 is inserted into the through-hole. The pin 54 functions to move a coil spring
60 inserted onto the shaft 52 of the motor 50 (this will be described later).
[0029] As described above, the coil spring 60 is installed at the shaft 52 of the motor
50 and functions to move the driving member 70 in the axial direction thereof when
the motor 50 is driven. This function can be achieved by that the pin 54 compresses
the coil spring 60 toward one side or the other side thereof according to forward
rotation or reverse rotation of the motor 50. Therefore, it is preferable that both
ends of the coil spring 60 is closely wound or opened unlike a conventional spring,
such that the pin 54 can be moved inside the coil spring 60.
[0030] The driving member 70 is installed at the shaft 52 of the motor 50 together with
the coil spring 60. A space for receiving the coil spring 60 is formed in the driving
member 70, and a first groove 72 is formed at an outer surface (i.e., an outer circumference)
of the driving member 70 so that a first leg 84 of the operation member 80 can be
inserted therein. An opening formed at each end of the driving member 70 has a smaller
diameter than a diameter of the coil spring 60 (but the shaft of the motor can be
inserted therein), such that the coil spring 60 disposed in the driving member 70
is not separated to the outside. For reference, in order to install the coil spring
60 in the driving member 70, one end of the coil spring 60 is firstly inserted into
the opening of the driving member 70 and the coil spring 60 is then rotated continuously
(i.e., the coil spring 60 is inserted into the driving member 70 by its own screw
motion).
[0031] The operation member 80 is rotatably disposed at the upper body 12 or lower body
14 and functions to convert a displacement of the driving member 70 into a displacement
of the shaft connection member 40. The operation member 80 is provided with an axial
portion 82 functioning as a rotational axis, and two pairs of legs 84 and 86 which
are symmetrically disposed about the axial portion 82. Each pair of legs 84, 86 are
extended to be parallel with each other and inserted into the driving member 70 and
the shaft connection member 40. In other words, the first pair of legs 84 are inserted
into the first groove 72 of the driving member 70 and the second pair of legs 86 are
inserted into the second groove 44 of the shaft connection member 40 (referring to
Fig. 3). Therefore, if the driving member 70 is moved to one side along the shaft
52 of the motor 50, the displacement of the driving member 70 is transmitted to the
shaft connection member 40 through the operation member 80 and thus the shaft connection
member 40 is reversely moved corresponding to the displacement of the driving member
70 (that is, the operation member 80 functions as a lever).
[0032] The guide member 90 is disposed in the clutch assembly 10 and functions as a guider
which allows the shaft connection member 40 to be stably moved within a preset range
and also functions as a boss which supports the axial portion 82 of the operation
member 80. The guide member 90 may further include a guide rod 92 which passes through
the shaft connection member 40 and the second shaft 30. Meanwhile, the guide member
90 and the guide rod 92 may be omitted or modified depending on the internal structure
of the clutch assembly 10.
[0033] Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, the movement of the driving member 70 upon the driving
of the motor 50 will be described.
[0034] As described above, the pin 54 is installed at the shaft 52 of the motor 50. The
pin 54 is moved along the spiral body of the coil spring 60 when the motor 50 is driven
(actually, the coil spring 60 is moved) and compresses the coil spring 60. For example,
if the motor 50 is driven clockwise (in an arrow direction of Fig. 4), the pin 54
is moved along the spiral body of the coil spring 60 and compresses left (in Fig.
5) the coil spring 60 (referring to Fig. 5a). If the motor 50 is driven counterclockwise,
the pin 54 is moved along the spiral body of the coil spring 60 and compresses right
the coil spring 60 (referring to Fig. 5b).
[0035] The compression of the coil spring 60 causes the driving member 70 to be moved by
restoring force of the coil spring 60. In other words, when the coil spring 60 is
compressed to the left side of the pin 54, the driving member 70 is pushed left by
the restoring force of the coil spring 60 (referring to Fig. 5a). And when coil spring
60 is compressed to the right side of the pin 54, the driving member 70 is pushed
right by the restoring force of the coil spring 60 (referring to Fig. 5b).
[0036] Hereinafter, the movement of the shaft connection member 40 according to the movement
of the driving member 70 will be described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. In the
electronic door locking device with the facile clutch connection structure, when an
authorized identification signal or a correct key operation is not provided, the first
and second shafts 20 and 30 are maintained in the state of being separated from each
other. In this case, a person on the inside of the door can rotate the door handle
and can release the locking state of the latch, but a person on the outside of the
door cannot release the locking state of the latch even though rotating the door handle.
[0037] Therefore, in the clutch assembly 10 of the present invention, the shaft connection
member 40 and the second shaft 30 are normally maintained in the state of being separated
from each other. This state is achieved by that the driving member 70 is moved to
the motor 50, as shown in Fig. 6. That is, if the driving member 70 is moved right
by the rotation of the motor 50 and the restoring force of the coil spring 60, the
shaft connection member 40 is moved left by the counterclockwise rotation of the operation
member 80 (in Fig. 6) rotated by the rotation of the driving member 70, and thus the
shaft connection member 40 and the second shaft 30 are separated from each other.
[0038] However, when the motor 50 is reversely rotated by the authorized identification
signal or the key operation, the driving member 70 is moved left by the restoring
force of the coil spring 60, and the shaft connection member 40 is moved right by
the operation member 80 which is rotated counterclockwise. Then, the second uneven
portion 42 of the shaft connection member 40 is engaged with the first uneven portion
32 of the second shaft 30, and the first and second shafts 20 and 30 are connected
with each other through the shaft connection member 40, and the internal handle of
the door can be rotated by the rotation of the external handle of the door. Meanwhile,
some of the door handles has an elastic member so as to be returned to its original
position when the handles are rotated by the user. However, in this case, it is necessary
to provide separate elements together with the elastic member.
[0039] Therefore, in order to simplify the configuration of the door handle, a recent handle
is formed to be freely rotated (that is, the handle is not returned to its original
position after the handle is rotated by the user).
[0040] In this configuration, when the user rotates the internal or external handle of the
door, a state that the second uneven portion 42 of the shaft connection member 40
cannot be engaged with the first uneven portion 32 of the second shaft 30 may occur
as shown in Fig. 8. In this case, the shaft connection member 40 is not engaged completely
with the second shaft 30 even by the authorized identification signal or the key operation,
and thus the user cannot open the door from the outside. However, the present invention
can solve the problem. In the clutch assembly 10 of the present invention, if the
state that the shaft connection member 40 cannot be engaged with the second shaft
30 occurs as shown in Fig. 8, the driving member 70 and the coil spring 60 are maintained
in the state shown by the solid line of Fig. 5a. In other words, the driving member
70 is maintained in a state of being not completely moved left, and the coil spring
60 is maintained in a state of being compressed.
[0041] In this situation, the state that the second uneven portion 42 of the shaft connection
member 40 cannot be engaged with the first uneven portion 32 of the second shaft 30
cannot be overcome. But since the driving member 70 has inertia tending to keep it
moving left due to the compressed coil spring 60, the user rotates the external handle
of the door, and the second uneven portion 42 of the shaft connection member 40 and
the first uneven portion 32 of the second shaft 30 can be engaged with each other,
and thus the driving member 70 is further moved left by the restoring force of the
coil spring 60. Finally, the shaft connection member 40 can be additionally moved
through the operation member 80 due to the further movement of the driving member
70, and thus the second uneven portion 42 of the shaft connection member 40 can be
firmly engaged with the first uneven portion 32 of the second shaft 30.
[0042] Therefore, according to the present invention, even in the state that the shaft connection
member 40 cannot be engaged with the second shaft 30 when the user rotates the door
handle, the shaft connection member 40 and the second shaft 30 are facilely engaged
with each other by only the rotational operation of the handle. And the installation
of the electronic door locking device having the clutch assembly 10 as described above
will be described.
[0043] As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the door locking device according to the embodiment of
the present invention includes an outer body 100, an inner body 200, a striker 300
and a clutch assembly 10.
[0044] The outer body 100 is disposed at an outside (or outdoor side) of the door D and
includes a plurality of buttons 104 (e.g., buttons for numerals from 0 to 9 or special
characters such as * and #) for receiving the secret code number or identification
signal and a handle 102 for operating a latch 204. Further, the outer body 100 is
formed with a hole for installing the handle 102. The hole passing through the outer
body 100 allows coupling between the handle 102 and the clutch assembly 10 which is
disposed at the inside of the door D.
[0045] The inner body 200 is disposed at an inside (or indoor side) of the door D and includes
the latch 204 and a handle 202 (referring to Fig. 10) for operating the latch 204.
And the inner body 200 further include various mechanical parts for allowing the latch
204 to be operated by rotational force of the handle 202, a power part for supplying
power to the mechanical parts and the clutch assembly 10, and a control part for transferring
an electric signal to the clutch assembly 10.
[0046] The striker 300 is disposed at a door frame (not shown) and formed with a hole for
receiving the latch 204 of the inner body 200. For reference, an installation position
of the striker 300 may be changed according to an installation position of the inner
body 200 and an operation direction of the latch 204, and a shape of the striker 300
may be also changed according to a shape of the latch 204 (for example, in case that
the latch 204 is formed into a hook shape, the striker 300 may be changed so as to
have a proper shape for receiving the hook-shaped latch).
[0047] The clutch assembly 10 is disposed in a hole H of the door D and connected with the
handle 102 of the outer body 100 and the handle 202 of the inner body 200. As described
above, the clutch assembly 10 connected with the two handles 102 and 202 functions
to selectively connect or disconnect the hand 102 of the outer body 100 and the handle
202 of the inner body 200 according to an external signal, such that the latch 204
is operated by only the authorized external signal.
[0048] In the electronic door locking device of the present invention, as described above,
since the inner body 100, the outer body 200 and the clutch assembly 10 can be easily
and simply installed through the hole H formed to install the handles of the door,
it can be facilely replaced with the conventional door locking device.
(Second embodiment)
[0049] Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure of an electronic
door locking device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, Fig.
12 is an exploded perspective view of a clutch assembly of Fig. 11, Fig. 13 is an
exploded perspective view of a second handle of Fig. 11, and Figs. 14 and 15 are views
showing an operation principle of the electronic door locking device of Fig. 11.
[0050] In the door locking device 110 according to the second embodiment of the present
invention, each construction element can be easily installed through the hole H for
installing the handles of the door D without a mortise installed in the door D. The
door locking device 110 of the present invention includes a first handle 120, a second
handle 130, a first body 140, a second body 150 and a clutch assembly 160.
[0051] The first handle 120 is rotatably disposed at an inside (i.e., an indoor side) of
the door D and provided with a shaft 122 which is disposed to be extended to the inside
of the door D through the hole H of the door D. The shaft 122 is connected with the
clutch assembly 160 and also connected mechanically with a latch assembly 142 disposed
at the first body 140. Therefore, when the first handle 120 is rotated, the latch
assembly 142 of the first body 140 can be operated so as to release the locking state
of the door D.
[0052] The second handle 130 is rotatably disposed at an outside (i.e., an outdoor side)
of the door D and coupled with a part (more detailedly, a housing 162) of the clutch
assembly 160 so as to be rotated integrally with the part (i.e., the housing 162).
Therefore, when the second handle 130 is rotated from the outside of the door D, the
housing 162 is rotated together with the second handle 130. Meanwhile, the second
handle 130 is comprised of various members including a cylinder assembly 134 which
can operate the clutch assembly 160 through an operation of a key.
[0053] As shown in Fig. 13, the second handle 130 includes the cylinder assembly 134, a
cam member 136 and a third contact member 138. The cylinder assembly 134 is disposed
at the second handle 130. The cylinder assembly 134 or a shaft 1342 of the cylinder
assembly 134 is rotated by the operation of the key K. The configuration of the cylinder
assembly 134 for the operation of the key is already well known, and thus the description
thereof will be omitted. The cam member 136 functions to convert a rotational motion
of the cylinder assembly 134 into a linear motion of the third contact member 138
and includes a fixed pin 1362, a bushing 1364 and a half moon-shaped protrusion 1366.
The cam member 136 is rotated together with the shaft 1342. One end of the third contact
member 138 is inserted into a hole 1628 of the housing 162 of the clutch assembly
160, and the other end thereof is contacted with the protrusion 1366. The other end
of the third contact member 138 has a half moon-shaped protrusion similar to the protrusion
1366 so as to be moved inside of the housing 162 when the protrusion 1366 is rotated.
For reference, in the embodiment, the cam member 136 is divided into three pieces,
but it may be formed into a single member which can convert the rotational motion
of the shaft 1342 of the cylinder assembly 134.
[0054] The first body 140 is disposed at the inside of the door D and provided with the
latch assembly 142 which allows the door lock setting. The latch assembly 142 includes
a latch which is protruded from the door frame and a mechanical part which can operate
the latch. The latch assembly 142 is mechanically connected with the first handle
120 or the shaft 122 of the first handle 120 so as to be operated when the first handle
120 is rotated. For reference, the configuration of the latch assembly 142 and the
connection structure between the latch assembly 142 and the shaft 122 would be obvious
to a person skilled in the art from the already well know technique, and thus the
description thereof will be omitted.
[0055] The second body 150 is disposed at the outside of the door D and provided with an
identification signal input part 152 and a driving means 154. The identification signal
input part 152 is provided with a plurality of buttons for inputting the identification
signal and electrically connected with the driving means 154. When the correct identification
signal is input through the buttons, the identification signal input part 152 transfers
an electric signal for driving the driving means 154. The driving means 154 is operated
depending on the electric signal of the identification signal input part 152. The
driving means 154 operates the clutch assembly 160 so that the shaft 122 and the second
handle 130 are connected with each other.
[0056] As shown in Fig. 12, the clutch assembly 160 includes a housing 162, a first contact
member 164, a second contact member 166, a press member 168 and an elastic member
169.
[0057] The housing 162 is formed into a cylindrical shape and provided with a supporting
portion 1622 for installing one pair of press member 168 and a hole 1626 having a
square shape in section, in which the contact members 164 and 166 are installed. The
supporting portion 1622 is formed at an outer circumference of the housing 162, and
the hole 1626 is formed to be elongated at one side of the housing 162 (which is opposed
to the first handle 120) in the length direction of the housing 162. A through-hole
1624 which is communicated with the inside (i.e., the hole 1626) of the housing 162
is formed in a circumferential side (a lower side of Fig. 12) of the housing 162.
[0058] The first contact member 164 is an elongated shaft-shaped member and functions to
connect the shaft 122 of the first handle 120 and the clutch assembly 160. One end
of the first contact member 164 has a thick rod shape which is coupled to the shaft
122, and the other end thereof has a cylindrical shape which is inserted into the
hole 1626 of the housing 162. Herein, since the other end of the first contact member
164 has a circular shape in section, of which a diameter is the same as a width of
the hole 1626, the first contact member 164 can be rotated while being contacted with
the inner wall of the hole 1626. Meanwhile, the other end of the first contact member
164 is formed with a protrusion 1642 for connecting with the second contact member
166.
[0059] The second contact member 166 is formed with a hexahedral shape which is inserted
into the hole 1626 of the housing 162. The second contact member 166 is installed
in the hole 1626 of the housing 162 so as to be movable in the length direction of
the housing 162. One end of the second contact member 166 is formed with a groove
1662 which is mated with the protrusion 1642 of the first contact member 164, and
an insertion hole 1664 in which a protrusion of the press member 168 is inserted is
formed in a side surface (a lower side of Fig. 12) of the second contact member 166.
The second contact member 166 is rotated integrally with the housing 162 and moved
forward and backward in the length direction of the housing 162 and also selectively
engaged with the first contact member 164.
[0060] The pair of press members 168 has a curved shape which is bent like a bow. When the
pair of press members 168 are disposed at the housing 162 so as to be pressed in any
radial direction of the housing 162, they are formed into a ring shape (i.e., since
the press members 168 is disposed so as to enclose the housing 162, the housing 162
can be pressed by the driving means 154 even though the housing 162 is rotated). Each
of the press members 168 has a branched portion 1682 which is protruded from a middle
portion of the curved body toward a center portion of a virtual circle formed by the
curved body. The branched portion 1682 is fixed to the supporting portion 1622 of
the housing 162 by a pin or the like so that the press members 168 can be rotated
around a hole formed by the supporting portion 1622. Meanwhile, one of the press members
168 (which is disposed at a lower side of the housing 162) is formed with a protrusion
1684 which is inserted into the insertion hole 1664 of the second contact member 166
through the through-hole 1624 of the housing 162. The protrusion 1684 may be formed
by further extending the branched portion 1682. As described above, the pair of press
members 168 installed on the housing 162 function to move the second contact member
166 according to a rotational direction thereof and thus to connect or disconnect
the second contact member 166 with or from the first contact member 164.
[0061] The elastic member 169 is disposed between the housing 162 and the press member 168
and functions to rotate the pair of press members 168 in one direction (e.g., a direction
that the press members 168 are spaced part from each other or a direction that the
protrusion 1684 is rotated counterclockwise). Therefore, if external force (generated
by the driving means 154) is not applied to the pair of press members 168, the press
members 168 are maintained in a state shown in Fig. 11. In this case, the second contact
member 166 is separated from the first contact member by the protrusion 1684 of the
press member 168.
[0062] Hereinafter, the operation principle of the present invention will be described with
reference to Figs. 12 to 15.
[0063] In the door locking device 110 of the present invention, the connection between the
first handle 120 and the second handle 130 is released at normal times so that the
latch assembly 142 mechanically connected with the shaft 122 of the first handle 120
is not operated even though rotating the second handle 130 at the outside. That is,
the first and second contact members 164 and 166 disposed in the housing 162 of the
clutch assembly 160 is maintained in the state shown in Fig. 11 in which they are
disconnected from each other.
[0064] In this situation, if the identification signal is input through the identification
signal input part 152, the driving means 154 is operated (i.e., a rod of the driving
means 154 is moved down) so as to press at least one of the press members 168. Then,
the protrusion 1684 is rotated clockwise (in Fig. 11) by the rotation of the press
members 168 and thus the first and second contact members 164 and 166 are engaged
with each other as shown in Fig. 14 (the detailed structure of each element is shown
in Fig. 12). The rotational force of second handle 130 can be transmitted to the first
handle 120 due to the engagement between the first and second contact members 164
and 166. Therefore, when the second handle 130 is rotated by the user, the latch assembly
142 connected with the first handle 120 is operated and the locking state of the door
is released.
[0065] Meanwhile, in the state shown in Fig. 11, if the key K is operated, the cylinder
assembly 134 or the shaft 1342 of the cylinder assembly 134 is rotated. And as shown
in Fig. 15, the cam member 136 pushes the third contact member 138 toward the inside
of the housing 162, and the third contact member 138 pushes the second contact member
166 toward the first contact member 164, and thus the first and second contact members
164 and 166 are engaged with each other (the detailed structure of each element is
shown in Fig. 12). As described above, since the rotational force of the second handle
130 can be transmitted to the first handle 120 due to the engagement between the contact
members 164 and 166, the latch assembly 142 connected with the first handle 120 is
operated by the rotation of the second handle 130 and the locking state of the door
is released.
[Industrial Applicability]
[0066] As described above, since the first and second handles are connected by the operation
of the key or the inputting of the identification signal, the mortise is not needed
and the locking device can be facilely installed at the door.
[0067] In addition, since the present invention can be installed at any doors having the
hole for installing the handle, it is prevented that the door is damaged undesirably
when replacing the door locking device.
[0068] While the present invention has been described with respect to the specific embodiments,
it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications
may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined
in the following claims.