WO2018065669A1

WO2018065669A1 - Electric lock actuator

Info

Publication number: WO2018065669A1
Application number: PCT/FI2017/050698
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jouni Petri Tapio KOLJONEN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-10-04
Filing date: 2017-10-04
Publication date: 2018-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-04
Also published as: FI129995B; FI20165740A7

Abstract

An electric lock opening device for coupling to each other two axles (2, 3), i.e. spindles of a lock handle and a twist knob, by means of actuators (10) working on both axles (2, 3), the opening device comprising two coaxial cylindrical members (14, 15) adapted to engage with each other under the control of an electric actuator (16), the first cylinder member (15) having its rotational motion linked to the second cylinder member (14), wherein the electric actuator (16) is included in a fixed body member (11, 12) present inside a periphery of the cylinder members(14, 15), and a locking piece (18) that couples the cylinder members (14, 15) to each other is adapted to be displaced by the actuator in such a way that, when rotating thefirst cylinder (15) member, the locking piece (18), being pushed by the first cylinder member (15), plants itself in its locking position so as to couple the first and second coaxial cylinder members (14, 15) to each other in such way that the locking piece (18) travels along with the cylinders (14,15), whereby rotating the first cylinder member (15) also rotates the second cylinder member (14), and the first axle (2) is coupled to rotate the first cylinder member (15) and the second cylinder member (14) is coupled to rotate the second axle (3).

Description

Electric lock actuator

The invention relates to an electrically controlled lock and a retrofittable electrically controlled opening device.

A disposable battery- or rechargeable battery-operated electric lock is required not to use plenty of electrical energy for opening and closing the lock. Accordingly, there is general trend to construct a battery-operated lock in such a way that the electric actuator, which opens and closes the lock, does not directly drive the lock's deadbolt but, instead, the electric actuator is only used for deploying the muscular energy of a user for opening the lock.

The electric unlocking device can be installed on the handle and twist knob spindle of an existing door lock in such a way that the electric lock, in the process of opening the lock, couples a movement of the handle spindle to the twist knob spindle and thereby performs the unlocking as the handle is pressed from outside the door.

It is an objective of the invention to provide an easy-to-make, electric locking device which is readily adaptable to various locks or lock cases and can be retrofitted inside an existing door on handle and twist knob spindles in such a way that the lock can still be operated normally from outside with a key or the lock can be opened from inside by means of a twist knob. The electric locking device links the spindle movements of the handle and twist knob to each other in such a way that, when pressing the handle from outside or inside, the locking device rotates the twist knob and thereby opens the lock.

In a locking device of the invention, the electric actuator is installed in a stationary body, whereby wires leading to the actuator do not bend when the lock is operated, and wiring can also be arranged by mounting the actuator on a printed circuit board. In several prior art solutions, the actuator is installed in a moving component, whereby the wires are stressed when the lock is operated. Moreover, the lock of the invention has its actuator in an effectively protected location inside gears or the like. Further, when the door is in a locked condition, the actuator and the actuator-driven locking elements are installed in a stationary door-mounted case, whereby the lockpicking by shaking the locking elements cannot be accomplished by striking or shaking the door handle. Without opening or breaking the door or the lock itself, it is not possible to impart such an acceleration to the actuator that the locking elements could be affected from outside the door by striking or shaking.

One preferred locking device of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a locking device of the invention mounted on a lock accessory mountable on the inside of a door.

Fig. 2 shows the installation of fig. 1 in cross-section.

Fig. 3 shows the locking device in an exploded view.

Figs. 4a-4h show the locking device operating steps in sequential views.

In fig. 1, the lock accessory's body is 1 provided with a through hole 2 for a handle spindle, the handle spindle extending through the accessory and the handle can be operated in a normal fashion notwithstanding the accessory. A twist knob spindle extends through an opening 3 of the door-mounted locking device. This enables in any event the door to be opened from inside by means of the twist knob.

Around the body of fig. 1 has not been sketched an actual protective case. The case is present on the inside of a locked door, so there are no high requirements for the strength of a case, nor need it be burglarproof. It is nevertheless preferred that no material or medium cannot be pushed or poured through the gaps of a protective case to interfere with the opening device. The device could be jammed up for example by glue or sand.

In the exemplary embodiment, the handle has its spindle fitted with a gear segment 4 which acts on a second gear segment included in a locking device 10 of the invention. The locking device 10 has its second toothed segment acting on a gear or a toothed segment included in the spindle of a twist knob. The handle's toothed segment has a radius from the spindle to the gear ring which exceeds the respective radius of the twist knob's spindle, providing thereby a step-up gear from rotational handle motion to rotational twist knob motion. This is usually necessary since most lock cases have a handle trajectory in the order of 30-45 degrees, and the opening movement of a twist knob requires generally a rotation of about 45-90 degrees. One benefit of the invention is a reasonably straightforward possibility of changing the gear ratio or of constructing lock cases with various axle spacings by replacing gears or segments. Also, for example the cylinder and spindle can be fitted with pulleys. The necessity of a pulley to turn not more than for example 90 degrees also enables the connection of a belt on the pulleys. What is required in practice is just a replacement of the gear and/or the segment and the fixing of a locking member to another spot in the lock case for example by using an appropriate spacer block or by providing the case 1 with a plurality of attachment points, for example screw holes. Alternatively, it is also possible to change the gears' diameter in the locking device 10.

In addition to or instead of the toothed segments, it is also possible to use wires or belts for the transmission of motion. An advantage of the belt is a straightforward possibility of reversing the direction of rotation and changing gear ratios. A drawback of the belt is wear resistance which is often inferior to that of gears, and the installation of belts is often more laborious than that of gears. In addition, the belt enables providing a variable gear ratio. It should be noted that the locking device's spindles need not be able to rotate a full circle. Hence, the belts or cables can be fixed to the gears with no friction needed between belt and gear, whereby the belt or cable need not be taut.

Further shown in figs. 1 and 2 are installation points for handle and twist knob fastening screws. In most cases, the handle and twist knob cover plates are fastened with screws to the lock case or through the lock case to a cover plate on the opposite side. The fastening screws can be installed through bushings 6 of figs. 1 and 2. The bushings facilitate installation of long screws. The actual accessory can have its body attached to the door just with the fastening screws of cover plates, whereby the door or lock does not require extra holes or attachment points. Fig. 3 shows the locking device 10 of figs. 1 and 2 in an exploded view. On a base element 11 is mounted an actuator 16 in an opening appropriate therefor. An inner gear ring is mounted on an outer periphery of the base element 11, and an outer cylindrical gear 14 on the outer rim of an inner gear 15. A spring 17 and a locking piece 18 are associated with the actuator's spindle so as to enable the actuator to compress the spring, thus enabling the spring to push the locking piece into an opening 15A from where the locking piece is able, in a subsequently described manner, to lock the opening or recess 14A and 15A to each other, whereby the gear rings 14 and 15 mesh with each other mechanically and the rotation of one ring is also transmitted to the other ring. It is by a cover 12 that the assembly is concealed and the actuator held in place.

Power supply for the actuator can be provided through the cover or the base. The cover or the base may also include electronics, enabling the actuator to be soldered directly to a circuit board of the cover or the base. For example, if the control of a lock is carried out by using a Bluetooth connection, the electronics can be constructed even in its entirety on the cover or the base, or the circuit board may extend beyond the cover or the base for example for connecting a battery or control cabling. In figs. 1 and 2, the assembly is depicted to be considerably bulkier or higher than what is necessary from the functional standpoint of the invention. At its minimum, the assembly can be designed to be sufficiently flat for replacing a cover plate of considerable thickness, and there is no need to change the length of handle and twist knob spindles and fastening screws. In this case, however, it is not possible to employ a rechargeable or ordinary battery for example in the shape of a finger battery unless a space for it is designed in the case.

In figs. 4A-4F, the operation of one locking device of the invention is illustrated on a step-by-step basis. All figures have the same elements. An electric actuator 16 is mounted on a stationary core which is made up of a base 11 and/or a cover 12. The actuator 16 has its spindle pushing a spring and a locking piece 18. When the actuator's spindle extends out and compresses the spring, the locking piece pushes its way into an opening 15A when the opening is in a correct location. In practice, the opening 15A may be in a correct alignment even when the handle is in a rest position without being rotated. Another possibility is that the opening comes to alignment as the handle is being slightly rotated from the rest position, whereby fig. 4H represents an initial condition. Stages shown in the figures:

4H Initial state after previous closure.

4A: Initial state before lock is opened, handle slightly pressed or handle in rest position. Actuator 16 holds locking piece 18 fixed inside base element 11 which functions as a core.

4B: Actuator has pushed locking piece from inside base element into the inner cylinder's opening.

4C Pressing of handle has rotated inner cylinder such that locking piece engages outer cylinder and interlocks their motion as inner cylinder continues its clockwise rotation. 4D Pressing of handle now also rotates outer cylinder whose gears further rotate twist knob spindle.

4E Handle is released and inner cylinder rotates back towards initial position with locking piece following the movement.

4F Engagement of locking piece begins to unfasten as twist knob has returned to normal position, and outer cylinder no longer follows the movement of inner cylinder and twist knob.

4G The inner cylinder's opening approaches initial state and locking piece is pushed back to its initial position forced by the diagonal surfaces of outer and inner cylinders. 4H Initial state again.

In the figures and in the foregoing exemplary embodiment, the axles or lock spindles are coupled to each other with gear segments of the locking device. From the standpoint of assembling and retrofitting the device, the gear is a convenient option yet it is also possible to employ for example toothed belts, bands, a chain drive or traction cables or pushrods.

One of the advantages gained by an unlocking device of the invention is that the actuator may be integrally mounted on a door or a lock body. Thus, it is difficult or impossible to apply acceleration thereto without opening the door, and wires leading to the locking device can be stationary, enabling the locking device actuator to be mounted on a circuit board. Further, the actuator must be capable of generating a force sufficient for moving just a locking piece alone. The locking piece can be for example a ball. In door locking, it is further possible to rely on the locking piece retaining its position just in response to gravity as the device cannot be turned upside down. As shown in figs. 4G and 4H, the locking piece can be forced back to its position by the action of a cylinder. A coil spring shown in the figures is necessary in the exemplary embodiment in the case of an employed actuator itself not providing flexibility. For example, a small linear motor or a bistable electromagnetic actuator is not capable of assuming an unlocking condition if the locking piece is not able to move. The bistable electromagnetic actuator can be for example a solenoid, including a permanent magnet core which again is capable of locking.

In addition to or instead of a spring, the actuator may include a force-guided pushing device, whereby the actuator disengages from the locking piece once the cylinders' openings rotate past the actuator and take the locking piece along. At the same time, however, the actuator can be clamped in what according to the figures is an upper position for example by means of a ridge on one side of the cylinder. Hence, the actuator cannot be returned by the cylinders to its initial position until stage 4H is resumed.

Since the actuator can be mounted on a circuit board, it is possible that the same circuit board also contains position sensors capable of detecting a return of the locking piece into the interior of the unlocking device or detecting a movement of the cylinders. Thereby, such knowledge can be obtained for example that the twist knob was rotated from inside or the handle of a locked door was turned without releasing the locking. This may be beneficial if it is desirable either to monitor attempts to open a door, or if it is desirable to excite the locking device by turning the handle prior to opening, whereby it is possible to save energy used by electronics operating the locking device or it is also possible to generate electric power from the handle-turning motion to the locking device control electronics.

A locking device of the invention can be retrofitted on the inside of a door, whereby the gears or for example pulleys or segments driving the belts or cables are mounted on handle and a twist knob spindles between the door and the knob or handle. The parts associated with spindles can be so thin that the length of the spindles need not be changed, whereby it is sufficient to just replace cover plates in the enclosure used for a device of the invention, or the parts attached to the device's spindles can even be sufficiently thin to fit under the cover plates. In this case, however, it is necessary to provide holes for fastening screws through the device and the cover plate. In case the device is to replace cover plates, the fastening screws need not extend all the way to an outer surface of the device. The device can also be constructed from two plate-like cylinder members, whereby therebetween can also be a stationary thin and low-friction plate which effectively precludes jamming of the motion caused by glue or sand. In this case, the operating principle is the same as above, yet the actuator's pushing element may also rest in a groove present in the device's body on one or both sides of the plate-like cylinders because the locking piece need not be pushed through the inner cylinder's opening or cavity. In this case, likewise, the cylinders may only engage with each other as long as the grooves therein are in alignment and the locking piece is able to take hold of both cylinders at the same time. In this case, as well, the grooves can be inclined with respect to radial direction in such a way that the locking piece finds its way to a locking position and, on the other hand, is pushed back at the end of a return motion by the action of the inclined cylinder surfaces. In addition, the inner and outer surfaces of plate-like cylinders can be slotted in such a way that, when the locking piece is in its locking position, the actuator's pushing element may be held stationary in its position outside the cylinder plates, between the cylinder plates and the body member, or possibly also between the cylinder plates, whereby space is also needed for a stem of the pushing element between the rotating plates. The locking piece may also extend beyond the sides of the cylinder members, whereby the locking piece can have its ends moving outside the cylinder members in the body member's groove after the locking piece has had its ends twisted off of the actuator's pushing element, whereby the pushing element may return or both or either of the cylinder members may hold the pushing element stationary until the locking piece returns to its position.

The locking piece present between plate-like cylinder members experiences shearing forces in a direction different from that of the first example. The locking piece can be for example a flat piece, which has its trailing edge pushed against an edge of the first cylinder's groove and which works itself further, possibly assisted by the shaping of a body member, to the engagement with what in the motion direction is a leading edge of the second cylinder member's groove. Thus, the locking piece strives to rotate in response to the cylinder members' forces. Therefore, in this case, the locking piece can be shaped in such a way that the ends are not clamped because of rotation, nor does the locking piece generate an excessive force that would lever the plate-like cylinder members further from each other and against a body of the device. Another difference is that the plate-like cylinders must be propped from sides, because the locking piece generates at least some lateral force. Concentric cylinders, wherein the employed locking piece comprises for example a ball or a circular element, do not experience lateral forces generated by the locking piece.

Claims

1. An electric lock opening device for coupling to each other two axles, i.e. spindles of a lock handle and a twist knob, by means of actuators working on both axles, the opening device comprising two coaxial cylindrical members adapted to engage with each other under the control of an electric actuator, the first cylinder member having its rotational motion linked to the second cylinder member, characterized in that the electric actuator is included in a fixed body member present inside a periphery of the cylinder members, and a locking piece that couples the cylinder members to each other is adapted to be displaced by the actuator in such a way that, when rotating the first cylinder member, the locking piece, being pushed by the first cylinder member, plants itself in its locking position so as to couple the first and second coaxial cylinder members to each other in such way that the locking piece travels along with the cylinders, whereby rotating the first cylinder member also rotates the second cylinder member, and the first axle is coupled to rotate the first cylinder member and the second cylinder member is coupled to rotate the second axle.

2. An electric lock opening device according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second cylinder member includes a gear or gear segment part, which is adapted to mesh with a gear or gear segment of at least one of the lock's spindles.

3. An electric lock opening device according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second cylinder member includes a rotating means making use of a belt, a pushrod or a cable.

4. An electric lock opening device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second cylinder members are concentric, whereby an outer surface of the inner one and parts of an inner surface of the outer one respond to each other and the locking piece is displaced through the cylinder member's opening or recess to a locking position.

5. An electric lock opening device according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second cylinder members are parallel.

6. A lock opening device according to any of the preceding claims, which is adapted to operate inside a lock case and whereby the cylinders are further able to also operate for example deadlocking actuators.

7. A lock opening device according to any of the preceding claims 1-5, which is adapted to operate inside a door on the locked side in such a way that it is adapted to be retrofitted to an existing door.