CA1293208C

CA1293208C - Clutch mechanism

Info

Publication number: CA1293208C
Application number: CA000532987A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Victor H. Yee; Ronald D. Lichty; Thomas W. Crosley
Original assignee: Schlage Lock Co LLC
Current assignee: Schlage Lock Co LLC
Priority date: 1986-04-08
Filing date: 1987-03-25
Publication date: 1991-12-17
Anticipated expiration: 2008-12-17
Also published as: GB2189860B; DE3711745A1; KR870010270A; SE8701410L; SE8701410D0; FR2600369B1; GB8707749D0; GB2189860A; FR2600369A1; JPS62242073A

Abstract

CLUTCH MECHANISM
ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a clutch mechanism suitable for use in an electronic lock. The clutch mechanism requires minimum electronic current draw for operation by utilizing mechanical power applied to operate the lock to engage the clutch mechanism. A camming device in combination with a timed function motion sensor and latching solenoid released interference shutter accomplishes the object of the invention.

Description

3~

CLUTCH MECHP~ISM
Backaround of the Invention The ad~ent of microprocessor logic znd its ability to operate with Ye~y low power requirements has spawned a lar~e number of applications to remote operations wherein it is impractical to supply other - 05 than bat~ery powerO In such operations, it is essential to conser~e power draw and thereby extend the life o~ ~he decision capability o~ the microprocessor.
One such application has been found in the reprogrammable combination electronic loc~. ~he. use -~ of a-battery-powered microprocessor eliminates the need ~or hard wixing doors and further allows such locks ~o be utilized in remote locations where power is not readily available. A problem in the past has 15 : been the amount_of power re¢uired to engage the lockin~ mechanism once the microprocessor has decided that it is appropriate to do so.
U.S. Patent No. 4,526,256 discloses a clutch mechanism o~ which this invention may be considered an improvement thereof.

Su~marv of the_Invention The present invention comprises a clutch mechanism which requires extremely low current draw by utilizing, in par~, mechanically applied power to assist in Pngagement of the clutch mechanism and a novel combination of timed function motion sensor and latching solenoid set and released inter~erenca shutter. The object of the invention is to provide a . ,, _ . , , ,, .. . ~. , , j . .. ,_.. _,_ ___, . _ ._ _ _. _,_ ~ __ _ . _ __ _ _ .. ... .. _ . _ . .. . .. _ . . . ... .
. .... . . . .. . ... . . . . ....

~3~o~

clutch mechanism which requires minimal current drain for operation onc~ a decisîonal command to operate the clutch is recei~ed.
; . A further object of the invention is to provide a 05 simple~ reliable and economical clutch mechanism. It : is a further object of the invention to provide a clutch mechanism which may be utilized in combination with a micrcprocessor logic circuit in many applications~
' Yet a ~urther object is to provide a clutch - mechanism for use with a combination electric lock which may be battery powered.
- .? These and other objects are obtained in a-clutch mechanism, for an electronic loc~ or the like, comprising: a first rotary clutch element, mcunted for ~ree ratation about, and relative to, a spindle, having a first jaw element; a second clutch element, mounted for translation along, and~rotation in common ; . '' .''''with, the"'spindle,"having a second jaw element .~ 20 engageable with the firs~ jaw element for effecting rotation of one of the clutch elements in response to the rotation of the other o~ the clutch elements;
. means interposed between the clutch elements normally restraining the clutch elements in spaced apart Z5 disposition; means for resiliently urging one of the clutch elements to move towards the other of the : clutch elements, in reponse to rotation of one o~ the clutch elements to cause said ~aw elements to engage:
means for selectively preventing movement o~ the one . . . 30 clutch element towards the other clutch element, whereby the ~irst and second jaw elements are ~Z93~

prevented from e~fecting engagement and rotation of the one clutch element in response to rotation of the other clutch element; the improvement comprising: a la~hing means in the means for sele~tive~y preventing 05 movem2nt of the one clu~ch element; timing means for release of the latching means; and motion sensing mea~s for alternatively releasing the latching means.

Brief Description o~ the Drawinas . ....... FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the clutch mechanism ....
according to the present invention, as applied to.a.
10 loc~;
.FIG. 2 is a side elevational ~iew in full line - ~ . illustration of the inne~ clutch plate, cam ~ol-lower, follower block, bias springs, and bias arms, the ; . - -- latter shown in engagement with the inner clutch plate, and in dashed outline the cam ~ollower and ollower-block are shown in a cammed or displaced disposition;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken from the left hand side o~ FIG. 2 in which, however, the inner clutch plate.is shown only in phantom; and FIG. 4 shows an electronic schematic showing the interrelationship between the timed latch function and - the motion sensing ~unction o~ the present in~ention.

DescriPtion of the ~Pre~erred~Embodiment . FIGS. 1 through 4 show a clutch mechanism according ~o the presen~ in~ention embodied in a door lock mechanism. Th~ door lock mechanism is intended .3--~32~l3 for use with a microprocessor or other logic sequence, or decisional mechanism which would activate a latching solenoid such as ~olenoid 15 as depicted in FIG 1.
05 It is intended that the power requirements necessary to opera~e solenoid 15 be minimal. It is also intended that the clutch mechanism, which engages the outer handle with ~he spindle, derive its energy of operation primarily from ro~a~icn of the outer handle. Further, it is intended that engagement o the clutch mechanism will enable rot2tion of the lock actuating spindle by the outer handle, The lock may be of any convenient or conventional configuration which utilizes a manually energized spindle ta operate the latching mechanism.-Referring now to FIG. 1, the clutch mechanismaccording to this invention is comprised of an outer ; clutch plate 1, which is moun~ed for rotation about a '-' ' ;'' cylindrical~port'ion' of'an'outside spindle 7. 'In ' ~ ' mounting, the outer clutch plate 1 will not be free to translate axia].ly along the outer spindle 7.
An outer lever handle 5 is shown attached to the outer clutch plate 1 for rotation therewith by means not shown. It should be understood that outer handle 5 may be manufactured as part of the outer clutch plate 1 or attached thereto by any convenient means.
The outer clutch plate is provided with a set of oppos2d out~r jaws 3 and an operating cam 21 disposed on the outside periphery of the outer clutch plate 1 A coacting inner clutch plate 2 is mounted on an inside spindle 8 of square cross section. The inner clutch plate 2 rotates with the spindle ~ and is free ~

~Z~32~3 to translate axially along the spindle from an inner position to an outer position wherein a coacting female jaw me~ber ~ engages the outer jaw member 3.
It should be appreciated by on~ skilled in the art 05 that rotation of the outQr handle and outer clutch plate will not xotate the outer spindle, and the inner spindle will not rotate until the inner clutch plate is mo~ed towards the outslde and the coacting jaws OL
the clutch engage. Once engaged, the inner spindle 8 may be rotated by the outer handle 5.
A coil spring 10 is.disposed about the-oute~
spindle 7.and centered..partially.:in a.recess 30 ~ormed ..
-- - in the face of the outer clutch plate 1. The purpose ..~o~ coil spring 10 is to yieldingly urge the inner clutch plate 2 out of engagement with the outer clutch plate 1. A mounting plate 9 forms a positioning base for the 70ck mechanism.
FIG. 1 is an exploded ~i~w o~ the mechanism ~according~-to~~he prësent~invëntion, and it should be appreciated that on assembly, the ~ace 31 of the outer clutch plata 1 would be in close proximity or contact with the outer face of the moun~ing plate 9, with the outer clutch jaws concentric with and extending partially into the hole 32 o~ the mcunting plate. The 2S peripheral diameter of the inner clutch plate 2 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole 32 so ~ as to allow it to enter the hole to permit engagement af the jaws.
A shutter 11 is shown mounted on mounting plate 9 by means of a shutter pin 12. The mounting allows the shutter 11 to rotate about pin 12. A stop pin 16 fixed in and projecting outwardly from the mounting ~2932~8 plate 9, intrudes into a rectangular orifice 33 formed in the shutter 11 to limit rotation of the shu~ter 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the shutter is in its release or uppermost position which allows the inner clutch 05 plate to ccntac~ the outer clutch pla~e. I~ should ~urther be appreciated by one s~illed in the art that ~- the shutter may be rotated counterclockwise as shown in FrGo 1, in which position it will par~ially block . . hole 32 and interfere with the inner clutch plate passing into hole 32.
~ ... . . The position o~ the shutter ll Is controll-ed by.. ...
solenoid 15. The position shown in FIG. l.is.. the.... -:
activated or release position. .A.solenoid.spring 17 urges tha shutter 11 counterclockwise to the ~- - 15 interference or-lock position wherl the solenoid~-15.is..
not activated. The solenoid plunger is connected to the shutter 11 by means o~ a solenoid pin 14.
The mechanism which urges the inner clutch plate towards-the outer c~utch plate is comprised of basically five parts--a cam ~ollower 20, a follower block 23, biasing springs 24, bias arms 25, and spool 26. The af~resaid parts, in their cooperati~e assembled relationships, are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
5pool 26 is attached to inner clutch plate 2 and is ~ree to translate axially along spindle 8. Cam ~ollower 20 is provided with a cam shaft 22 which extends into a bearing hole through cam follower 20.
The cam follower 20 may be retained by any suitable means, such as a snap ring, on the cam shaft 22.
It should be understood that the cam sha~t 22 is ~ree to rotate in its bearing ~or the pre~erred embodiment; however, it is not necessary ko ha~e the . . ~ .

LZ~32~

cam follower rotate except as a means o reducing friction to provide ease of operation.
Cam follower 20 is disposed in cam 21 and provides an index means for handle 5 as well zs a devioe to 05 rotate ~ollower block 23 when cam follower 20 is forced out of cam 21 and rides on the peripherzl diameter Q~ outer clutch plate 1. Foilower block 23 is provided with a pair of bias springs 24. Only the right hand spring is visible in FIG. 1. A - - - 10 corresponding spring is disposed on the lef~ hand-side o~ the follower block 23.- -~-~ Bias arms 25 are mounted for rotation abou~-the --follower block ~3 on-a common mounting-pin 27-. With _ ~ _ the bias springs 24 interpose~ between the following ~~ 15 block 23 and the bias arms 25, it should be obvious-to~
one skilled in the art that movement of the cam follower and hence the follower block will result in an urging force developed by bias springs 24 to rotate ~ ~he~bias a~ms in a clocXwise direction as viewed from the left of FIG. l.
The follower block 23 and bias arms 25 are mounted to the mounting plate g in a U-shaped saddle 28 by means of the mounting pin 27 as shown. It should be appreciated now that rotation of the handle 5 results in the clockwise ro~ation of the bias arms which, in turnl coact in the spool 26 to urge the inner clutch plate towards the outer clutch plate.
; I~ should also be appreciated that when the shutter 11 is in its inter~eriny position, relative movement-between the follower blocX 23 and the bias arms 25 is absorbed by the bias springs 240 This permits rotation of the outside handle 5 without rotation of the spindle 8 and operation of the lock.

~z~

When solenoid 15 is activated, by some activating ffleans r shutter 11 will be rotated to a position where its length obstructs the inner clutch plate and the bias arms w~ll urge the inner C1ULCh plate into 05 engagement with the outer clutcn plate when the handle is rotated. As a consequence, the inner and outer jaw members 4 and 3 will come into mutual engagement.
~: Accordingly, further rotation of th~ handle 5 will : cause rotation of the spindle 8. Where the spindle ~
serves as an operating element in.a..locX.,.its-rotation :,-,,, , . , can be used to ef~ect.operation.of,.the:lock:or.its- :. ..,.~.mechanism.
... ~n.-. An,inner handle 6 directly engages spindle 8 and... .....
may be utilized to rotate the spindle directly at any ,, ,", 15 tlme without engagement o~:the clutch pl~tes.a:..-~.......
.To this point, except for the use of a latching - sol~noid 15, the ~unction of the clutch mechanism i9 ,as described in U.S. Patent 4,526,256 assigned to 2~. Schlage-~ock-Company-.-,The present invention dramatically reduces the power demand by reducing the time re~uired to energize the solenoid. In addition to reduced power demand, loc]c security is improved by providing a motion sensing means in combination with the latching solenoid and a timing means. ~he com~ination can be utili~ed to sense lock,function and warn of tampering.
Referring now to FIG. 1, an electronic motion sensing device such as optical scanner 40 is shown conveniently mounted on mounting pla~e 9 ~y means of rivets 44. A target 42 or.,identity code is shown attached to the outer clutch plate 1. On assembly and operation the optical scanner ~reads~ or senses the ~3~

passing of the target 42 in a well known mznner through a square slot 43 cut in the mounting plate 1 for that purposeO
FIG. 4 is a schematic of the interrelated function 05 of the elements of the present invention. In the prior art, the clutch meohanism was activated in response to a command by the lock logic 50 ko open.
Solenoid 15 was energized ~or a convenient period of time, for example 8 seconds, as determined.by timer . 10 55. If the operator was not ~uick enough, he or she ~ -- . . would be timed out .and would-again need:to."~e-~ey.!! -~
- - the lock for a second function cycle--. During th-e~8-- -~-- second cycle, the solenoid was fully energi2ed.::and--~:~~.--drawing on the battery.
- 15 ln the present invention, the DC solenoid 15' is--pulsed or energized for a short time only su~icient to retract the plunger and magnetically latch it in the open posi~ion. To accomplish thisj positive ` ~ voltage 1s applied to, for example, terminal A of the 20 solenoid 15'. At this point, timer 55 and motion sensor or detector 40 is activated and one of two op~ions takes place. If the lock handle is not rotated to rotate the outer clutch plate 1, the timer will reset the lock after a relatively longer period of time, say 15 seconds, ~y application of positive voltage to terminal B for a periad of time sufficient to unlatch the solenoid. The motion detector may also be deenergized. In the second alternative, the lock handl2 will ~e rotated to open the lock and the motion ..... . .. 30. detector 40 will sense sufficient rotation to open the lock and therea~ter the lock is reset again by a short application of positive voltage to terminal B.

.. , . , , ~ _ . .. _ .. , ~ ._ _. __ __ __ _. __ . _., __ _ .... .. _. .. . . . . . . . . .. .. ....... . . ........ .

. ~
~932~

It will now be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the amount of time reouired to have the solenoid 17' energized has been reduced from say 8 seconds to perhaps one second or less.
05 The pre¢ence.of motion detector 40 can serve a second ~se~ul purpose in that .if the lock handle is rotated wit~out proper "keying" of the lock function, an alar~ 60 may be sounded for a timed period, thus warning occupan~s of an a~tempted en~ry.
It should be obvious to one skilled in the art .
'.!,, ,,''' ' .that n~merous..~modifications.of..the clutch.mechanism.a~s ..... ' described, and:,numerous.. other applications.. ~o.r a :_ -,... , clutch mechanism.deriving a portion.. of its.ope~ating power from an input drive on selected command, will "become apparent. ...I-therefore do no~.want to be ,. limited in thP' scope of my invention e~cept a,s ,claimed.
.

Claims

1. A low power drain clutch apparatus for an electronic lock or the like comprising:

2 solenoid engaged clutch mechanism activated by a logic device;
a motion detection means in proximity of said clutch mechanism for sensing function of a portion of said clutch mechanism; and wherein said solenoid is a latching solenoid to enable engagement of said clutch mechanism and said solenoid is unlatched to disable engagement of said clutch mechanism in response to said motion detector sensing completion of function.
2. A clutch apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further comprises a timing means to unlatch said solenoid so as to disable engagement of said clutch mechanism in response to a determined time lapse.

3. A clutch mechanism, for an electronic lock or the like, comprising a first rotary clutch element, mounted for free rotation about, and relative to, a spindle, having a first jaw element;
a second clutch element, mounted for translation along, and rotation in common with, said spindle, having a second jaw element engageable with said first jaw element for effecting rotation of one of said clutch elements in response to the rotation of the other of said clutch elements;

means interposed between said clutch elements normally restraining said clutch elements in spaced-apart disposition;
means for resiliently urging one of said clutch elements to move towards the other of said clutch elements, in response to rotation of one of said clutch elements to cause said jaw elements to engage;
and means for selectively preventing movement of said one clutch element towards said other clutch elements, whereby said first and second jaw elements are prevented from effecting engagement and rotation of said one clutch element in response to rotation of said other clutch element;
the improvement further comprising a latching means in said means for selectively preventing movement of said one clutch element;
timing means for release of said latching means;
and motion sensing means for alternatively releasing said latching means in response to selected lock function.

4. A clutch mechanism according to claim 3 wherein:
said latching means is a latching solenoid which is depowered after function to permit continued function of the lock without power draw.

5. A clutch mechanism according to claim 4 wherein:
said timing means applies power to unlatch said latching means after a predetermined time.

6. A clutch mechanism according to claim 4 wherein:
said motion sensing means applies power to unlatch said latching means upon sensing a selected motion associated with operation and opening of the lock.

7. A clutch mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said motion sensing means further senses unauthorized attempt to make the lock function by sensing motion of said first rotary clutch element and sounding an-alarm.

8. A clutch mechanism according to claim 6 wherein:
said motion sensing means is an optical scanner.