EP0278905B1 - Contact device for transmitting electrical signals between lock and key of a cylinder lock - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/CH88/00026 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 4, 1988 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 4, 1988 PCT Filed Feb. 2, 1988 PCT Pub. No. WO88/05854 PCT Pub. Date Aug. 11, 1988.A flat turning key (2) has a mechanically coded key bit (7) and an additional electronic information carrier (9), as well as a contact part (12) with contact points (8) located at the rear part of the key bit (7). In the cylinder lock (1) are arranged further electronic components (41) connected with a current source that cooperate with the information carrier (9) via the contact points (8) on the key (2). In the region of the contact part (12) of the cylinder lock (1) contact elements (55) arranged in a guiding element (50) establish an electric contact between the key (2) and the lock (1) when the key (2) is turned in the lock (1). The contact elements (55), the electronic components (41) and a microswitch (42) are connected with a common support or printed circuitboard (14) and detachably secured together with the guiding element (50) in the stator housing (3).

Description

The invention relates to a contact device for transmitting electrical signals between the lock and key on a cylinder lock with a stator housing, a rotor arranged in this with mechanical tumblers and a key channel, in which contact elements for signal transmission are present in a partial area, and a key with a Integrated electronic information carrier and contact points arranged on the key bit, in a partial area next to the mechanical coding.

Cylinder locks of this type are used where the security of the known, purely mechanical cylinder locks no longer meets the requirements and where additional electronic security means are arranged both on the key and on the lock. It is known to equip keys to such cylinder locks with at least one storage element which contains a magnetic or electronic code. A corresponding reading device is located in the lock, which can consist of a simple electronic reading unit or one or more microprocessors. Optical, inductive or mechanical contact elements can be used to transfer the stored data from the key to the lock. Since the key and cylinder lock in such locking devices are exposed to many interfering influences such as dirt, deformation, strong magnetic fields, etc., this often results Malfunctions when using such locks and keys equipped with additional electronic elements. This is particularly true where the stored data is transmitted via optical or inductive contact elements.

Keys and locks, in which electronic components with security information are combined with mechanical tumblers or codes, have only recently been used in a broader context. It has been shown that the use of mechanical contacts ensures the highest level of security when transmitting the signals. Due to the high degree of miniaturization of the known mechanical cylinder locks and the necessary long service life of the contact parts between the lock and key, the design of the contact elements in the lock is extremely difficult. Most of the contact elements known today do not meet the high demands on the service life and security of cylinder locks. Such a cylinder lock with an associated key is known from patent specification DE 3245681 A1. In the key described there, incisions are arranged on the key bit, into which pin tumblers engage when the key is inserted into the lock. These pin tumblers are mounted in a rotor which can be rotated in the stator housing of the cylinder lock. If the key incisions match the penetration depths of the pin tumblers, the mechanical lock between the rotor and the stator housing is released. In addition to these mechanical codes or tumblers, an electronic security system is arranged at the end of the key bit. For this purpose there is a data carrier ring on the key bit, for example in the form of a magnetic strip or with a light or electro-optical dot or strip pattern. In the lock, a read head is arranged in the area of the data carrier on the key, which makes contact-free contact with the transition of information between the key and lock. These The contact or reading unit decodes the data contained on the key and checks it for agreement with the data stored in the lock. If there is a match, the rotary movement of the rotor is released via an electromagnet and a locking element, and the lock can be opened. With this arrangement, the number of possible closure variations can be significantly increased by superimposing the electronic system on the mechanical one. However, the system described here is extremely susceptible to malfunction, since foreign parts can accumulate on the data carrier at the key bit and interfere with or even prevent the transfer of data between the key and the lock. In addition, the data stored on the data carrier at the key bit can be intentionally or unintentionally changed by strong magnetic fields or other external influences. As a result, this lock / key system loses considerable security and is extremely susceptible to failure. Faults in the electronic area also have the effect that the lock cannot be opened even if the mechanical coding between the key and lock matches, since the rotor remains locked electromechanically. If this lock is released by bridging the electronic system, the security of the lock is limited to that of a purely mechanically coded lock / key system.

A lock / key system is known from patent specification DE 3006128 A1, in which the information is transmitted from the key to the lock via a mechanical contact device. In this device, an electronic circuit is housed in the key of the key, which contains, among other things, storage units for electronic coding. Contact rings, which are connected to the electronic circuit, are arranged on the key bit. The receptacle housing for the key contains sliding contacts which rest on the contact surfaces on the key bit when the key is fully inserted. In addition to the key housing is an electromagnetic Actuated lock arranged, which is controlled by a locking control, such as a microprocessor. If the data stored in the electronics of the key matches the approval conditions in the locking control, this opens the electromagnetic lock. It is obvious that the mechanical contact arrangement in the form of a coaxial jack plug, as shown here, can only be used with difficulty on a mechanical cylinder lock with the known miniature construction. Coaxial connectors of this type are voluminous and do not meet the requirements for durability and security that mechanical cylinder locks require.

A further contact system with sliding contacts can be found in the patent specification US A 4379966. Here the contact springs are arranged on an elastic carrier plate, which also has conductor tracks. This elastic plate is placed around a part of the lock stator and held in the intended position with the help of complicated, pushed parts. This lock also has no mechanical locking elements, but can only accept electrical signals from a data carrier key. It is obvious that this contact device cannot be installed in a known mechanical cylinder lock, since the solution shown is too complicated and too voluminous and takes up the entire scope of the stator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanical contact device between the lock and key, which is so small that it can easily be installed in a known mechanical cylinder lock system and this can be expanded to form a mechanical / electronic cylinder lock which can only be used in a partial area of the Rotor circumference is arranged and only occupies a portion of the stator circumference, in which the trouble-free contact between lock and key ensures a long life and despite the strong miniaturization Operational security is achieved, which corresponds to that of the known mechanical lock / key systems.

This object is achieved in that a jacket segment is cut out on the stator housing in the area of the contact elements, this section exposes a partial area of the jacket of the rotor and the partial area of the key channel, which serves to accommodate the key bit part with the contact points, in the cutout of the stator housing and Within the protective sleeve, a guide element made of electrically insulating material for mechanical contact elements is arranged, which are attached to a carrier plate and which engage in the guide element, consist of pairs of grinding springs, the spring elements in the exposed partial area of the rotor shell depending on both sides of the central axis approximately tangentially and without contact with them are created and the carrier plate with the contact elements and the guide element are inserted radially into the stator cutout and are surrounded by the protective sleeve.

According to the invention, the contact device on the lock consists of a circular segment-shaped guide element on which a printed circuit board and at least two pairs of mechanical contact elements arranged next to one another are present. The contact elements are in the installed state in the areas of the lock in which the contact points arranged on the key bit are positioned when the key is inserted. The contact elements are connected directly to the circuit board, which results in a very compact design in the area of the guide element. Since the guide element has the shape of a circular ring segment of the stator housing, the unit formed by the guide element with the contact elements and the printed circuit board can be inserted radially into the stator housing. This facilitates the installation and removal of the contact device with at least some of the associated electronic components on the lock. In addition, contact elements and printed circuit boards can be removed without having to rotate them mechanical elements of the lock, especially the rotor, must be removed. This has the further advantage that the mechanical part of the lock / key system can be completed and checked without the contact device and / or electronic components having to be installed in the lock.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the carrier plate is formed from a reinforced printed circuit board and the connecting parts of the contact elements are connected to conductors on the plate. It has also proven to be advantageous that the spring elements of the contact elements are separated in the central region and have two contact points.

The contact elements, which are designed as spring elements, each with a pair of legs forming loop springs, are fixed in their position in the lock or on the guide element via the connection part fastened to the printed circuit board. The distance between the individual contact elements corresponds to the distance between the contact points on the key bit. One loop spring element of each contact element forms a tangent to an outside diameter of the rotor on both sides of the connection part without touching the rotor, which is ensured by the free guidance of the spring areas of the loop spring elements in the guide element and the shape of the spring areas. The position of the contact elements arranged one behind the other in the direction of the axis of the lock is clearly defined in terms of their position due to the fastening of the sliding spring elements on the printed circuit board on the one hand and the freely movable guidance of the spring areas in the guide element, but at the same time they only occupy a partial area of the circumference of the rotor. The arrangement and shape of the two loop spring elements of each contact element also ensure the exact dimensioning of the contact forces as well as a high level of safety and service life. Each of the loop spring elements has several spring areas. Since the loop spring elements are precisely positioned and fixed in their mutual position, can be made wider and separated. The separation takes place by means of a longitudinal slot or the arrangement of two spring elements. This creates two contact points on each key spring element for each contact point on the key bit, which represents an increase in the contact security factor in the second power. In addition, geometric irregularities in the transition area between the contact point on the key and on the lock are better compensated, which results in an additional improvement in the transition contact.

Furthermore, a preferred embodiment consists in the fact that the grinding springs are arranged in the range of at most 90 ° on both sides of the withdrawal position of the key channel. Since the withdrawal position of the key channel is identical to the position in which the key can be inserted into the lock, it follows that data can be transferred between the key and lock during a maximum 90 ° rotation of the key in both directions. The symmetrical design of the loop spring elements on both sides of the key channel ensures the generation of an electrical contact between the lock and key in both directions of rotation. Another inventive improvement is that the rotor has at least one annular groove in the area of the loop spring elements on the outer casing and there is a space between the loop spring elements and the groove bottom. A further preferred embodiment consists in that when the key is completely inserted into the key channel of the rotor, the one narrow side with the contact points of the key protrudes beyond the groove base on the rotor and touches the grinding spring elements during part of the rotary movement of the rotor.

A further improvement of the contact device can be achieved in that a microswitch is arranged on the carrier plate, this microswitch is switched on in the electrical circuit and one as a switching element Has switching pin, the end of which protrudes into the key channel. In a further embodiment of the invention, the microswitch comprises a membrane key which is integrated in the printed circuit board. Membrane keyboards are currently used in control panels of machine controls. The combination with a switching pin enables integration into the network of electrical conductors on the circuit board and thus the combination of the essential electrical parts on the circuit board or carrier plate.

In a simple manner, the subject of the invention can be used to control the current sources, in that the switching pin of the microswitch interacts with the key in the area of the rear three quarters of the length of the key bit, which extends from the beginning of the contact area towards the key end. The microswitch is thus activated before the key is fully inserted into the lock. This has the advantage that batteries, e.g. by removing the passivation layer in lithium batteries, and other electronic components can be activated before the signal transmission between key and lock begins. Depending on the inertia of the electronic system, the microswitch is placed more against the first quarter of the key bit or against the contact area.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that in the two contact surfaces between the stator housing and the guide element on the stator housing and / or on the guide element there are parallel guide grooves running approximately at right angles to the rotor axis, and the free ends of the loop spring elements of the contact elements are movably mounted in these grooves are. In this arrangement, the individual loop spring elements are supported at both ends. This enables a precise measurement of the spring forces in the central area of the sliding spring elements and results in a high level of mechanical safety. Guide element and contact elements can be easily radially into the stator housing without having to intervene in the mechanical part of the lock.

In a further preferred embodiment, the free ends of the loop spring elements of the contact elements are provided with an electrically insulating layer and / or the guide grooves are provided with an electrically insulating layer. Various known materials such as e.g. Teflon can be used.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the contact elements have a connection part in the region of the central axis of the lock, the two loop spring elements start from this connection part, and are bent in the area remote from the connection part and returned to the connection part and each in two approximately parallel Shaped spring areas, the spring area is directed with the free end of the spring element against the rotor and arranged without contact to the rotor and the free end of each loop spring element is supported on a central web of the guide element.

With the connecting part, the loop spring elements are attached to the circuit board and the spring areas are freely movable in the guides of the guide element. The position of the contact elements which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of the axis of the lock are clearly defined in their position, but at the same time only occupy a portion of the circumference of the rotor. This arrangement and shape of the two loop spring elements of each contact element ensure the exact dimensioning of the contact forces as well as a high level of safety and service life. Each of the loop spring elements has a plurality of spring areas in that it can deflect at the clamping point of the bending point and along the two spring areas running approximately in parallel. This reduces the stress on the material in the individual bending points. The bend is a minimum of 160 ° and a maximum of 200 °.

The contact device according to the invention can be implemented in a compact and miniaturized construction. It can be easily combined with the well-known mechanical lock / key systems and integrated into corresponding cylinder locks. The security of the contact between lock and key is considerably increased by the proposed device compared to the known systems, which results in a significant improvement in the operational security of the mechanical / electronic lock / key system. The assembly of corresponding lock units is very simple since the contact device does not comprise any rotating parts. It is also possible to exchange defective contact devices with the associated circuit board parts without interfering with the mechanical part of the lock.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Zylinderschlosses mit eingestecktem Schlüssel und einem Teilschnitt im Bereiche der Kontakteinrichtung mit einem Führungselement gemäss Figur 3,

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch das Zylinderschloss gemäss Figur 1 im Bereiche der Kontakteinrichtung,

Fig. 3

das Führungselement der Kontakteinrichtung im Schloss gemäss Figur 1 und 2 in vergrössertem Massstabe und in einem Längsschnitt,

Fig. 4

ein zum Führungselement gemäss Figur 3 passendes Kontaktelement mit den zwei Schleiffedern in vergrössertem Massstabe.

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung eines Zylinderschlosses mit eingestecktem Schlüssel und einem Teilschnitt im Bereiche der Kontakteinrichtung, mit einem Führungselement gemäss Figur 7,

Fig. 6

einen Querschnitt durch das Zylinderschloss gemäss Figur 5 im Bereiche der Kontakteinrichtung,

Fig. 7

ein Kontaktelement wie es in Figur 6 eingesetzt ist mit den beiden Schleiffederelementen in vergrössertem Massstabe,

Fig. 8

das Führungselement für die Kontaktelemente gemäss Fig. 7 in perspektivischer Ansicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

3 shows a schematic illustration of a cylinder lock with a key inserted and a partial section in the area of the contact device with a guide element according to FIG. 3,

Fig. 2

2 shows a cross section through the cylinder lock according to FIG. 1 in the area of the contact device,

Fig. 3

the guide element of the contact device in the lock according to Figures 1 and 2 on an enlarged scale and in a longitudinal section,

Fig. 4

a contact element matching the guide element according to FIG. 3 with the two grinding springs on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5

2 shows a schematic illustration of a cylinder lock with a key inserted and a partial section in the area of the contact device, with a guide element according to FIG. 7,

Fig. 6

5 shows a cross section through the cylinder lock according to FIG. 5 in the region of the contact device,

Fig. 7

6 a contact element as used in FIG. 6 with the two loop spring elements on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 8

the guide element for the contact elements according to FIG. 7 in a perspective view.

The cylinder lock 1 shown in Figure 1 is part of a double cylinder lock, which is provided with known mechanical tumblers and also with an electronic security device. The cylinder lock 1 essentially consists of a stator 4, a stator housing 3 and a rotor 5 shown in FIG. 2. The entire lock is surrounded by an outer casing 11. Further details of the lock / key unit shown in Figure 1 are shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. A flat key 2 inserted into the cylinder lock 1 consists of a ridge 10 and a key bit 7. In the rear area of the key bit 7 there is a contact part 12 on which contact points 8 are located. These contact points 8 are connected to an electronic information carrier 9 via electrical conductors 13. In the example shown, the electronic information carrier 9 consists of a microprocessor and / or an application-oriented integrated circuit (ASIC) with one or more memory elements, which can process and recognize electronic information. These electronic components of the information carrier 9 are installed in the box 10 of the key 2. Mechanical tumblers (not shown) are arranged in the area of the key bit 7 in the rotor 5 of the cylinder lock 1, which interact with mechanical codes on the key bit 7. This mechanical closure can be carried out in a known manner, for example according to European Patent No. 8,310. The mechanical part of the cylinder lock 1 is released when the correct key 2 is fully inserted into the key channel 6. In the lower part of the cylinder lock 1, an electromagnetic locking device is also installed, which acts between rotor 5 and stator 4. This electromagnetic locking device also includes a carrier plate 14 to which the contact elements 15 are fastened in the form of grinding springs. Electronic components 41 are further arranged on the carrier plate 14, which is formed from a printed circuit board, and connected to the contact elements 15 via electrical conductors. Depending on the design of the lock, these electronic components 41 comprise simple electronic parts, memory elements or one or more microprocessors. A power source, not shown, is also provided for operating the electronic system. The microprocessor of the electronic component 41 in the cylinder lock 1 reads the data from the electronic information carrier 9 on the key 2 and stores new data in this information carrier 9 if necessary. If the electronic information carrier 9 contains the correct data on the key 2, the electromagnetic lock, which is not shown, but is known per se, is released in the cylinder lock 1, and the lock can be opened by turning the rotor 5 if the mechanical codes on the key bit 7 are correct at the same time are. The data is transmitted from the key 2 to the lock 1 and vice versa via the sliding spring elements 27, 28 in the cylinder lock 1 and via the contact points 8 arranged on the contact part 12 of the key bit 7. In the example shown there are four contact elements 15 and, accordingly, on each narrow side 20, 21 of the key bit 7 four contact points 8 available. Both the individual contact elements 15 and the individual contact points 8 are insulated from one another and connected to the corresponding electronic components 9 and 41 via the integrated electrical conductors. The carrier or circuit board 14 and the contact elements 15 are arranged in a guide element 16, which consists of a circular ring segment and is inserted at right angles to the lock axis 17 into the jacket segment-shaped cutout 45 on the stator housing 3 and is detachably connected to this housing 3.

A microswitch 42 is arranged on the carrier or printed circuit board 14. This microswitch 42 comprises a membrane key 44 integrated in the printed circuit board 14, which opens or closes the circuit in the cylinder lock 1. The membrane key 44 is actuated by means of the key bit 7, which acts on a switching pin 43 when inserted into the key channel 6. The switching pin 43 is supported in the stator 4 and is also part of the microswitch 42.

The section through the cylinder lock 1 in the area of the contact device according to FIG. 2 shows the stator housing 3, the rotor 5 with the key channel 6, the contact part 12 of the key bit 7 and the guide element 16. This guide element 16 has a cutout 22 with side grooves 23, 24 in which the carrier or printed circuit board 14 is fastened. There are electrical conductors 25 on the printed circuit board 14, at least on the upper side. These form the connections to the microswitch 42 and to the connection points in the form of printed circuits. The contact elements 15 are arranged on the lower side of the carrier or printed circuit board 14. Each contact element 15 has a connection part 26 which penetrates the carrier or printed circuit board 14 and is connected on its upper surface to the electrical conductors 25, for example by soldering. In addition, each contact element 15 consists of two loop spring elements 27, 28, the ends 29, 30 of which are guided in the guide element 16.

For guiding the ends 29, 30 of the grinding spring elements 27, 28, the guide element 16 is provided with guide grooves 31 as shown in FIG. These guide grooves 31 are arranged in the support surface 32 of the guide element 16 and run at right angles to the lock axis 17. The guide element 16 lies with the surface 32 on the support surface 33 on the stator housing 3 and is detachably connected to the latter by means of screws 34, 35. The guide element 16 has the shape of a Annular ring segment and is inserted into the corresponding recess 45 on the stator housing 3.

The contact element 15 according to FIG. 4 has a pair of grinding springs 27, 28. Both loop spring elements 27 and 28 are provided in the middle with a longitudinal slot 36 and divided into two parts which can move independently of one another above the contact area. The ends 29 and 30 of the grinding spring elements 27 and 28 are bent and form sliding areas 37 and 38. These sliding areas 37, 38 are provided with an insulating layer 39, 40, Teflon being used in the example shown. These coatings 39 and 40 serve to electrically isolate the loop spring elements 27, 28 of the contact elements 15 from the guide element 16 and at the same time to ensure that the loop spring ends 29, 30 slide in the guide grooves 31. In the central region, the contact element 15 is shaped such that it can be inserted into the cutout 22 on the guide element 16 and the connecting part 26 can be molded out. To increase the insulation and sliding safety, the guide grooves 31 and the contact surface 33 are also provided with appropriate coatings made of Teflon.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the contact points 8 are arranged on the key 2 on its narrow sides 20 and 21. The contact points 8 are formed symmetrically on both narrow sides 20, 21 and are connected in the same way via the electrical conductors 13 to the electronic components 9 in the key 2. In the area of the contact device, an annular groove 18 is formed on the rotor 5, as a result of which an annular gap is formed in this area between the rotor 5, the stator housing 3 and the carrier body 16. The grinding spring elements 27, 28 of the contact regions 15 are positioned in the upper regions of this annular groove 18. Their position is determined on the one hand by the attachment of the connecting part 26 to the carrier plate 14 and on the other hand by the inevitable guidance of the ends 29, 30 in the guide grooves 31. The loop spring elements 27, 28 form tangents to an outer diameter of the rotor 5 on both sides of the connecting part 26 or of the key channel 6 in the pull-off position, wherein they are arranged without contact with the jacket of the rotor 5. There is therefore a gap between the groove bottom 19 on the rotor 5 and the two loop springs 27, 28 of the contact elements 15. The dimensions of the contact part 12 with the contact points 8 on the key bit 7 and the groove 18 on the rotor 5 are selected such that the narrow side 20 of the contact part 12 protrudes beyond the groove bottom 19. This protrusion is dimensioned such that, in the example shown, the contact points 8 on the narrow side 20 touch one of the sliding springs 27 or 28 when the rotor 5 is rotated and deflect it from its rest position until the desired contact force is reached. This creates the electrical connection between the electronic components 9, 41 in the lock 1 and in the key 2, and data can be transmitted as long as the contact points 8 are connected to one of the wiper springs 27, 28 of the contact elements 15.

The cylinder lock 1 shown in Figure 5 is in most parts identical to the lock according to Figure 1 and is part of a double cylinder lock, which is provided with known mechanical tumblers and also with an electronic safety device. Here too, the cylinder lock 1 essentially consists of the stator 4, the stator housing 3 and the rotor 5, which can be seen more clearly in FIG. 6, and is surrounded by an outer casing 11. The flat key 2 inserted into the cylinder lock 1 consists of the ridge 10 and the key bit 7. In the rear area of the key bit 7 there is a contact part 12 on which contact points 8 are located. These contact points 8 are connected to an electronic information carrier 9 via electrical conductors 13. As in the example according to FIG. 1, the electronic information carrier 9 consists of a microprocessor and / or an application-oriented integrated circuit (ASIC) with one or more Storage elements that can process and recognize electronic information. These electronic components of the information carrier 9 are installed in the box 10 of the key 2. Mechanical tumblers, not shown, are arranged in the area of the key bit 7 in the rotor 5 of the cylinder lock 1, which interact with mechanical codings 47 on the key bit 7. This mechanical closure is also carried out in a known manner according to European Patent No. 8,310. The mechanical part of the cylinder lock 1 is released when the correct key 2 is fully inserted into the key channel 6. In the lower part of the cylinder lock 1, an electromagnetic locking device is also installed, which acts between the rotor 5 and the stator 4. This electromagnetic locking device includes the carrier plate 14, to which the contact elements 55 with the grinding springs 57, 58 are fastened. The electronic components 41 are arranged on the carrier plate 14, which is formed from a printed circuit board, and are connected to the connecting parts 56 on the contact elements 55 via electrical conductors. Depending on the design of the lock, these electronic components 41 comprise simple electronic parts, memory elements or one or more microprocessors. A power source, not shown, is also provided for operating the electronic system. The microprocessor of the electronic component 41 in the cylinder lock 1 reads the data from the electronic information carrier 9 on the key 2 and stores new data in this information carrier 9 if necessary. If the electronic information carrier 9 contains the correct data on the key 2, the electromagnetic lock (not shown) which is known per se in the cylinder lock 1 is released and the lock can be opened by turning the rotor 5 if the mechanical codes on the key bit 7 are correct at the same time are. The data is transmitted from the key 2 to the lock 1 and vice versa via the loop spring elements 57, 58 of the contact elements 55 in the cylinder lock 1 and via the contact points 8 arranged on the contact part 12 of the key bit 7 In the example shown, four contact elements 55 and, accordingly, four contact points 8 are also present on each narrow side 20, 21 of the key bit 7. Both the individual contact elements 55 and the individual contact points 8 are insulated from one another and connected to the corresponding electronic components 9 and 41 via the integrated electrical conductors.

A guide element 50 is radially inserted into the shell segment 45 cut out in the stator housing 3. This guide element 50 is in the form of a segment of a circle and consists of electrically insulating material, e.g. Plastic, and has guide slots for the loop spring elements 57, 58 of the contact elements 55. The carrier or circuit board 14 and the contact elements 55 are fastened to the stator housing 3 by means of screws 48, 49. The carrier plate 14 with the contact elements 55, like the guide element 50, is inserted into the stator housing 3 at right angles to the lock axis 17 and is detachably connected to this housing 3.

A microswitch 42 is arranged on the carrier or printed circuit board 14. This microswitch 42 comprises a membrane key 44 integrated in the printed circuit board 14, which opens or closes the circuit in the cylinder lock 1. The membrane key 44 is actuated by means of the key bit 7, which acts on a switching pin 43 when inserted into the key channel 6. The switching pin 43 is supported in the stator 4 and is also part of the microswitch 42.

The section through the cylinder lock 1 shown as an example in FIG. 5 in the area of the contact device according to FIG. 6 shows the stator housing 3, the rotor 5 with the key channel 6, the contact part 12 of the key bit 7 and the guide element 50. In FIG. 6 is the rotor 5 with the key turned by approx. 15 ° from the trigger position. The guide element 50 rests on surfaces 33 Stator housing 3 and is fastened with screws 34, 35. Electrical conductors 25 are located on the carrier or printed circuit board 14, at least on the upper side. These form the connections to the microswitch 42 and further electronic connection points in the form of printed circuits. The contact elements 55 with the grinding springs 57, 58 are arranged on the lower side of the carrier plate 14. Each contact element 55 has a connecting part 56, which penetrates the carrier or printed circuit board 14 and is connected on its upper surface to the electrical conductors 25, for example by soldering. Furthermore, the pairs of grinding springs 57, 58 belonging to each contact element are guided in the cutouts 68, 69 in the guide element 50.

According to FIG. 7, each of the contact elements 55 belonging, for example, according to FIG. 5 has a connecting part 56 and a pair of sliding springs 57, 58 which are arranged on both sides of the connecting part 56. In the example shown, the sliding springs 57, 58 each form an angle of approximately 60 ° with the axis 64, the angle being selected such that the springs 57, 58 in the installed state are approximately tangential to the rotary circle formed by contact points 8 on the key 2 run. The individual wiper springs 57, 58 each consist of an outer spring region 61 and an inner spring region 62. These two regions 61 and 62 are formed in one piece by the springs in the bending points 59 and 60 being bent through approximately 180 °. The two spring areas 61, 62 run approximately parallel after the bending. In the installed state, the ends 63 of the inner spring areas 62 rest on the central web 51 of the guide element 50, which results in the desired position of the spring elements 61 and 62. The contact elements 55 are made from known conductor materials. To increase the contact reliability, each loop spring element 57, 58 has a longitudinal slot 36. This creates two contact points on the spring areas 62 which can be moved independently of one another.

FIG. 8 shows the guide element 50 which is used in the example according to FIG. 5. The front part of the wall is cut away. This guide element 50 consists of an electrically insulating plastic with good sliding properties. The guide element 50 has the shape of a shell segment and is designed in the form of a bridge. The two side parts 52 and 53 are arranged on both sides of the central web 51 and have bores 65, 66 for the fastening screws 34, 35. In the central region, the guide element 50 is curved and forms a cavity 67 for the rotor 5. On both sides of the central web 51, guide slots 68, 69 are machined into the side parts 52 and 53. These serve to guide the contact elements 55.

The function of the lock shown in Figure 5 can be explained as follows. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the contact points 8 are arranged on the key 2 on its narrow sides 20 and 21. The contact points 8 are formed symmetrically on both narrow sides 20, 21 and are connected in the same way via the electrical conductors 13 to the electronic components 9 in the key 2. In the area of the contact device, an annular groove 18 is formed on the rotor 5, whereby an annular gap 18 is formed in this area between the rotor 5, the stator housing 3 and the guide element 50. The spring areas 62 of the loop spring elements 57, 58 are positioned in the upper areas of this annular groove 18. Their position is determined on the one hand by the attachment of the connecting part 56 to the carrier or printed circuit board 14 and on the other hand by the inevitable guidance of the ends 63 in the guide slots 68, 69. The grinding spring elements 57, 58 form on both sides of the connecting part 56 or the key channel 6 in the pull-off position tangents to an outer diameter of the rotor 5, wherein they are arranged without contact to the jacket of the rotor 5. There is therefore a gap between the groove bottom 19 on the rotor 5 and the two spring areas 62 of the loop springs 57, 58. The dimensions of the contact section 12 with the contact points 8 on the key bit 7 and of the groove 18 on the rotor 5 are selected such that the narrow side 20 of the contact section 12 protrudes beyond the groove bottom 19. This protrusion is dimensioned such that in the example shown the contact points 8 on the narrow side 20 touch the spring region 62 of the sliding spring 58 when the rotor 5 is rotated and deflect it from its rest position until the desired contact force is reached. This creates the electrical connection between the electronic components 9, 41 in the lock 1 and in the key 2, and data can be transmitted as long as the contact points 8 are connected to one of the wiper springs 57, 58 of a contact element 55.

The two exemplary embodiments of the lock 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 5 to 8 both have the following advantages. The construction according to the invention enables the pre-assembly of the contact elements 15 or 55 on the carrier or printed circuit board 14. In the example according to FIGS. 1 to 4, the guide element 16 is inserted radially into the stator housing 3 together with the carrier plate 14 and the contact elements 15 and attached. In the example according to FIGS. 5 to 8, the guide element 50 and the carrier plate 14 with the contact elements 55 are successively inserted and fastened radially into the stator housing 3. Regardless of the installation of the electrical parts and the contact elements, the entire mechanical part of the cylinder lock 1 can be fully assembled in both exemplary embodiments and tested in advance. As a result, the manufacturing process of such locks can be considerably simplified and the reject rate is considerably reduced, since the electrical parts can also be checked independently of the mechanical part. A further improvement in the contact between the contact elements 15, 55 and the contact points 8 on the key bit 7 is achieved by dividing the grinding springs 27, 28 and 57, 58 into two parts which can move independently of one another. This arrangement enables the error rate to be reduced to the level of the second power. Since the Contact elements 15, 55 can only be brought from the outside to the rotating parts of the rotor 5 and the key 2, the installation and removal of the guide element 16 or 50 with the carrier or printed circuit board 14 and the contact elements 15 or 55 take place without intervention in the mechanical part of the cylinder lock 1. In order to ensure this accessibility, the sliding spring elements 27, 28 or 57, 58 extend at most over the range of 90 ° on both sides of the withdrawal position of the key channel 6 in the cylinder lock 1.

Claims (12)

1. Contact device for transmitting electrical signals between lock and key in a cylinder lock (1) having a stator housing (3), a rotor (5) disposed in said housing, having mechanical tumblers and a key channel (6), with contact elements (15; 55) for signal transmission being provided in a part-section of the stator housing (3), also having a key (2) with an integrated electronic information carrier (9) and with contact points (18) disposed on the key bit (7) in a part-section next to the mechanical codings, with all the lock elements being enclosed by a cylindrical protective sleeve (11), characterised in that a casing segment (45) is cut out of the stator housing (3) in the region of the contact elements (15; 55), said cutout (45) exposes a part-section of the shell of the rotor (5) and the part-section of the key channel (6) which serves to receive the key bit portion (12) having the contact points (8), there is disposed in the cutout (45) of the stator housing (3) and inside the protective sleeve (11) a guide element (16; 50) made of electrically insulating material for mechanical contact elements (15; 55), the contact elements (15; 55) which are fixed on a carrier board (14) and engage into the guide element (16; 50) comprise pairs of brush spring elements (27, 28 or 57, 58), with the brush spring elements (27, 28 or 57, 58) being mounted in the exposed part-section of the rotor shell on either side of the centre line (46) approximately tangentially and in a contact-free manner relative to the rotor shell on the guide element (16; 50) and the carrier board (14) with the contact elements (15; 55) and the guide element (16; 50) being radially inserted into the stator cutout (45) and enclosed by the protective sleeve (11).

2. Contact device according to patent claim 1, characterised in that the carrier board (14) is formed by a reinforced printed-circuit board and the connecting pieces (26; 56) of the contact elements (15; 55) are connected to conductors (25) on the board (14).

3. Contact device according to patent claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the brush spring elements (27, 28 or 57, 58) of the contact elements (15; 55) are separated in the central region and have two contact points.

4. Contact device according to one or more of patent claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the brush spring elements (27, 28 or 57, 58) are disposed in the region of, at most, 90° to either side of the extraction position of the key channel (6).

5. Contact device according to one or more of patent claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the rotor (5) has at least one annular groove (18) in its outer shell in the region of the brush spring elements (27, 28 or 57, 58) and there is a space between the brush spring elements (27, 28 or 57, 58) and the groove base (19).

6. Contact device according to patent claim 5, characterised in that, when the key (2) is fully inserted into the key channel (6) of the rotor (5), the narrow side of the key with the contact points (8) projects beyond the groove base (19) of the rotor (5) and during part of the rotational movement of the rotor (5) contacts the brush spring elemeents (27, 28 or 57, 58).

7. Contact device according to one or more of patent claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a microswitch (42) is disposed on the carrier board (14), said microswitch (42) being switched into the electrical circuit and having as a switching element a contact pin (43) whose end projects into the key channel (6).

8. Contact device according to patent claim 7, characterised in that the microswitch (42) comprises a membrane switch (44) which is integrated into the printed-circuit board (14).

9. Contact device according to one of patent claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the contact pin (43) of the microswitch (42) cooperates with the key (2) in the region of the back three quarters of the length of the key bit (7) extending from the beginning of the contact section (12) towards the key end.

10. Contact device according to one or more of patent claims 1 to 9, characterised in that parallel guide grooves (31) extending approximately at right angles to the lock axis (17) are disposed in the two contact surfaces (32, 33) between stator housing (3) and guide element (16) on the stator housing (3) and/or the guide element (16), and the free ends (29, 30) of the brush spring elements (27, 28) of the contact elements (15) are movably supported in said grooves (31).

11. Contact device according to patent claim 10, characterised in that the free ends (29, 30) of the brush spring elements (27, 28) of the contact elements (15) are provided with an electrically insulating layer (39, 40).

12. Contact device according to one or more of patent claims 1 to 9, characterised in that in the region of the centre line (46) of the lock the contact elements (55) have a connecting piece (56), the two brush spring elements (57, 58) emanate from said connecting piece (56), are bent round in the region (59, 60) remote from the connecting piece (56) and led back towards the connecting piece (56) and in each case two approximately parallel running spring regions (61, 62) are formed, the spring region (62) is disposed with its free spring element end (63) directed towards the rotor (5) and in a contact-free manner relative to the rotor (5) and the free end (63) of each brush spring element (57, 58) is supported on a central web (51) of the guide element (50).

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