EP0769598B1 - Lock of the disengageable rotor type - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rotor lock disengageable.

The invention relates more particularly to a lock intended to be used for the control of a lock fitted to a motor vehicle allowing by example the locking of a window of the vehicle such as a door.

Among the various modes of break-in aimed at breaking in in a vehicle by opening a door, the main consist in acting on the lock, in particular by means of a wrong key.

In order to counter such acts, it has already been proposed many designs of rotor type locks disengageable which prevent any positive action on the lock mechanism as long as a compliant key is not inserted in the lock.

These different designs of a rotor lock disengageable are of the type comprising a mounted rotor swiveling in an intermediate stator in the form of a socket itself pivotally mounted in a fixed lock body, locking members such as glitter or couples pistons cooperating with the rotor and the intermediate stator to secure them in rotation in the absence of a key or presence of a non-conforming key, and to release the rotor by rotation relative to the intermediate stator after introduction of a conforming key, and of the type comprising a member angular indexing of the intermediate stator relative to the fixed body which is mounted to move radially between a position indexation in which it is recalled elastically and in which it is received in a notch of the fixed body, and a retracted position in which it is erased radially towards inside, against an elastic restoring force.

According to a known concept, the indexing member is for example made in the form of an arm arranged in a longitudinal housing formed in the peripheral wall of the intermediate stator, the arm having on its radial face external a projection which, in the indexing position, is received in a longitudinal groove formed in the inner wall of the fixed lock body so as to make the stator intermediary integral in rotation with the fixed body, in the absence key or in the presence of a conforming key.

A disengageable mechanism has also been proposed for controlling a lock, in particular fitted to an opening of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a rotor lock disengageable as described in document FR-A-2,642,463.

All of these known designs of rotor locks disengageable are not entirely satisfactory, in particular insofar as it is possible to act fraudulently directly on the output device, especially after a thief returned the assembly constituted by the stator intermediate and the idler rotor rotating relative to the body fixed lock, by means of a false key.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new design of a disengageable rotor lock of the type previously mentioned, which overcomes the disadvantages that have just been mentioned.

Document EP-A-0.659.961 which corresponds to the preamble of claim 1, describes and represents a disengageable rotor lock, in particular for controlling a opening of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a rotor pivotally mounted in an intermediate stator in the form of sleeve itself pivotally mounted in a fixed lock body, locking devices such as glitter or pairs of pistons cooperating with the rotor and the stator intermediary to secure them in rotation in the absence of a conforming key, and to release the rotating rotor by report to the intermediate stator after introduction of a key conforming, of the type comprising an angular indexing member stator intermediate to the fixed body which is mounted radially movable between an indexing position towards which it is elastically recalled and in which it is received in a notch of the fixed body, and a position retracted in which it is erased radially towards inside, against an elastic restoring force, and having an outlet member rotatably mounted in the body fixed bolt and which is linked in rotation to the rotor by disengageable means of drive whose disengagement is caused by the indexing device of the intermediate stator when in the retracted position.

The invention aims to propose a lock of this type, including the design of the drive and declutching is simpler.

To this end, the invention provides a lock characterized in that the lock body is essentially constituted by an external cylindrical annular jacket open to one of its axial ends and closed at its other end by a radial flank in the form of an annular disc delimiting a bottom which extends axially inwards by a skirt internal cylindrical coaxial with the external jacket which extends axially inwards over an axial length reduced by relative to the overall axial length of the outer jacket and in which said notch is formed, in that the member of angular indexing immobilizes the rotating output member relative to the fixed lock body when in position retracted and in that the angular indexing member is mounted to slide radially in a radial notch in the fixed body which opens radially at its two ends, on the one hand outward facing a cylindrical track concave of the intermediate stator with a notch in which the indexing body is received partially, in the indexing position, and secondly, towards the interior opposite a coaxial cylindrical shell of the outlet member which has a through radial slot at its two ends in which the indexing member is partially received, in retracted position, and which opens radially inward opposite a housing which receives with rotation an axial extension of the rotor end which has a radial cavity opening at one of its ends and in which a key is mounted mobile radially between a drive position towards which it is elastically stressed outwards and in which the key is partly received inside the slot of the output member and a declutching position in which the key is retracted radially inward in the rotor cavity.

• l'organe d'indexation est un organe de révolution et le cran d'indexation présente un profil de came en forme de V inversé susceptible de provoquer l'escamotage, radialement vers l'intérieur, de l'organe d'indexation lorsque le stator intermédiaire est entraíné en rotation par rapport au corps fixe ;
• l'organe d'indexation est un galet d'orientation axiale ;
• un ressort de rappel est interposé entre la clavette et le fond de la cavité du rotor pour solliciter la clavette radialement vers l'extérieur ;
• en positon de repos du verrou, la clavette, sous l'action du ressort de rappel, sollicite l'organe d'indexation radialement vers l'extérieur vers sa position d'indexation dans laquelle il est reçu dans le cran d'indexation ;
• la clavette est un coulisseau monté coulissant radialement dans la cavité du rotor et une extrémité libre du coulisseau est reçue en partie dans la fente de l'organe de sortie pour l'entraínement en rotation de l'organe de sortie par le rotor ;
• le coulisseau comporte une queue qui est reçue en coulissement dans une rainure diamétrale complémentaire formée dans le corps du rotor.

According to other characteristics of the invention:

• the indexing member is a member of revolution and the indexing notch has an inverted V-shaped cam profile capable of causing the indexing member to retract, radially inwards, when the stator intermediate is rotated relative to the fixed body;
• the indexing member is an axial orientation roller;
• a return spring is interposed between the key and the bottom of the rotor cavity to urge the key radially outward;
• in the rest position of the lock, the key, under the action of the return spring, biases the indexing member radially outward towards its indexing position in which it is received in the indexing notch;
• the key is a slide mounted sliding radially in the cavity of the rotor and a free end of the slide is partly received in the slot of the output member for the rotational drive of the output member by the rotor;
• the slide comprises a tail which is received in sliding in a complementary diametrical groove formed in the body of the rotor.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée qui illustre les principaux composants d'un verrou d'ouvrant de véhicule automobile réalisé conformément aux enseignements de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective à plus grande échelle du corps du rotor du verrou de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective en section axiale partielle qui illustre le verrou en position assemblée de ses composants et en position de repos du verrou ;
• la figure 4 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 3 sur laquelle le verrou est illustré en position débrayée du rotor avec une rotation de 180° de ce dernier par rapport à la position de repos de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue de détail en perspective qui illustre le corps fixe de verrou ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de détail en perspective qui illustre l'organe de sortie du verrou ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de détail en perspective qui illustre le stator intermédiaire du verrou ;
• les figures 8 et 9 sont des vues en section radiale selon deux plans parallèles de la figure 2 et qui illustrent les positions relatives des composants du verrou dans la position de repos du verrou ;
• la figure 10 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 3 qui illustre un second mode de réalisation d'un verrou conforme aux enseignements de l'invention ;
• la figure 11 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 3 qui illustre une variante de réalisation du premier mode de réalisation du verrou ;
• la figure 12 est une vue de détail du coulisseau formant clavette du verrou illustré à la figure 11 ; et
• la figure 13 est une vue similaire à celle de la figure 1 qui illustre une variante de réalisation correspondant à un second mode d'assemblage des composants.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view which illustrates the main components of a motor vehicle window lock produced in accordance with the teachings of the invention;
• Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the rotor body of the lock of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view in partial axial section which illustrates the lock in the assembled position of its components and in the rest position of the lock;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 in which the latch is illustrated in the disengaged position of the rotor with a rotation of 180 ° of the latter relative to the rest position of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view which illustrates the fixed lock body;
• Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view which illustrates the latch release member;
• Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view which illustrates the intermediate stator of the lock;
• Figures 8 and 9 are views in radial section along two parallel planes of Figure 2 and which illustrate the relative positions of the components of the lock in the rest position of the lock;
• Figure 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 which illustrates a second embodiment of a lock according to the teachings of the invention;
• Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 which illustrates an alternative embodiment of the first embodiment of the lock;
• FIG. 12 is a detailed view of the slide forming the key of the lock illustrated in FIG. 11; and
• Figure 13 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 which illustrates an alternative embodiment corresponding to a second method of assembling the components.

The lock 10 illustrated in the figures is formed to essentially by a main lock body 12 forming a stator fixed intended for example to be mounted in a housing lock or directly into a door housing vehicle, an intermediate stator 14, a rotor 16 and by a output member 18 intended to be connected to a mechanism for lock control (not shown).

As can be seen in the figures, the body of lock 12 is essentially made up of a jacket external cylindrical annular 20 open to one of its axial ends 22 and closed at its other end by a radial flank in the form of an annular disc delimiting a bottom 24 which extends axially inwards by a skirt internal cylindrical 26 coaxial with the external jacket 20 and which extends axially inwards over an axial length reduced in relation to the overall axial length of the jacket external 20.

The internal cylindrical skirt 26 (Figure 5) has a Radial through slot 28 with parallel radial edges 30 which extends axially from the annular end edge free 32 of the internal skirt 26 in the direction of the transverse bottom 24.

The outer shirt 20 and the inner skirt 26 define between them an annular cylindrical housing 34 intended for receive an axial end portion of the intermediate stator 14.

The internal cylindrical wall 36 of the internal skirt 26 delimits a cylindrical housing intended to receive a portion 38 of the output member 18.

The output member 18 (Figures 1 and 6), also called thresher of the lock mechanism, is made for essentially by a transverse arm of radial orientation 40 of which the central part 42 extends axially, from one of the transverse faces of the arm 40, by a cylindrical ferrule annular 44 whose external cylindrical wall 46 is received at rotation in the housing delimited by the cylindrical wall internal 36 of the skirt 26 of the lock body 12.

The ferrule 44 is axially delimited by an edge end ring 48 which, in the assembled position of components and as we can see in particular in the figure 3, extends axially in line with the annular end face axial 32 of the internal skirt 26.

The bottom 50 of the ferrule 44 extends in the plane of the face of the transverse arm 40 and it is pierced in its center with a coaxial hole 52.

The annular ferrule 44 has a radial slot opening 54 which extends axially from the face annular end 48 of the ferrule 44 and towards the bottom 50, over a reduced axial length equal to the axial length notch 28 of the skirt 26 so that, in position assembled, the axial bottom 56 of the slot 54 extends radially in line with the internal bottom 24 of the fixed body 12.

The intermediate stator 14 is in the form general of an annular cylindrical sleeve 60 of which the radial thickness is slightly less than the thickness radial of the housing 34 of the fixed body 12 so as to be received in rotation in the latter.

In the assembled position of the components, the face annular end 62 of the socket 60 is in axial support against the transverse bottom 24 of the housing 34 of the body lock 12.

In its main part, the socket 60 has two diametrically opposite windows 64 provided to allow the assembly of the sequins 66 which, according to a design known, are received in radial sliding in housings 68 of the body 70 of the rotor 16 of the latch 10.

Near its axial end annular face before 62, the concave internal cylindrical surface 72 of the socket 60 has an angular indexing notch made in the form of an inverted V-shaped cam profile 74 which extends axially from the annular end face 62.

The cam profile 74 is intended to receive, in position rest of the lock, a roller 76 for axial indexing.

The roller 76 is an axially oriented cylinder whose diameter is such that it is likely to slide radially at inside the notch 28.

The diameter of the roller 76 is also such that, when is radially outward in the bottom of the notch indexing 74, it extends radially inside the notch 28 but does not protrude radially inwards out of the latter, that is to say that it does not radially interfere inward beyond the internal cylindrical surface concave 36 of the internal skirt 26 (see FIG. 8).

In the indexing position, and as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 3, 8 and 9, the indexing roller 76 therefore constitutes a member for blocking the rotation of the stator intermediate 14 relative to the fixed body 12.

The rear main body 70 of the rotor 16 is mounted at rotation in the internal cylindrical surface 72 of the socket 60 of the intermediate stator 14 and its relative axial position by relative to stator 14 is determined by the abutment a collar 80 against the annular rear end edge 82 of the socket 60 which is itself radially aligned with the annular rear end edge 22 of the outer jacket 20 of the lock body 18.

The main body 70 of the rotor 16 extends towards the front by an axial end extension which includes a first section 84 and a terminal section 86 of diameter reduced.

The first section 84 is intended to be received in rotation inside the cylindrical housing delimited by the wall internal cylindrical 45 of the ferrule 44 of the outlet member 18.

The end section 86 constitutes a rod which crosses the central portion 42 of the outlet member 18, through the hole 52, which allows the mounting of an elastic ring (not shown) making it possible to axially retain all of the components relative to each other in their position assembly illustrated in particular in Figure 3, and which can also allow control of a switch electric.

The shoulder 88 which delimits between them the sections 84 and 86 is in axial abutment against the bottom 50 of the housing 45 and, in this position, the annular end face 89 before beyond from which extends the section 84 is located axially at right of the axial end edge 65 of the windows 64.

The end section 84 of the rotor 16 has a radial orientation cavity 90 which opens radially into the outer cylindrical surface 85 of the section 84 and which is delimited radially inwards by a bottom 92 (Figure 3).

The cavity 90 is delimited axially by a first transverse front end face 94 which, in the assembled position, is located to the right of the annular end surface 48 and the bottom 24 and by a transverse rear end face 96 coplanar with the annular face 89.

In the coplanar faces 96 and 89, there is provided a through diametrical groove 98 formed in the body 70 of the rotor 16 which opens radially right through the external cylindrical surface of this body 70 and which communicates axially with the cavity 90.

The cavity 90 is designed to receive sliding radial a key 100 which, in the illustrated embodiment in Figures 1 to 9, is in the form of a slide disengageable.

The slide 100 is essentially formed under the shape of a head 102 of generally parallelepipedal section delimited in particular by two parallel lateral faces 104 of axial orientation whose dimensions are such that it can slide radially, i.e. vertically considering in particular FIG. 8, inside the cavity 90.

The axial dimensions of the head 102 forming a key of slide 100 are such that the distance between its opposite axial faces 106 and 110 is substantially equal to the axial length of the indexing roller 76.

The slide 100 is completed by a tail of guide 112, made integrally with the head forming key 102 which is guided in sliding in the groove diameter 98 of the rotor 16.

Key 102 is stressed elastically, radially outwards, by a helical compression spring 114 which bears against the bottom 92 of the cavity 90 and against the face opposite 116 (FIG. 4) of the key 102.

As can be seen in the figures, the face upper 118 of head 102 has a cylindrical profile convex whose diameter is substantially equal to the diameters complementary to the internal cylindrical surface 36 and the external cylindrical surface 46.

As can be seen in Figures 8 and 9, the diameter of the roller 76 and the axial thickness of the internal skirt 26 are such that, when the key 102 is pressed against the roller 76 against which it bears by its upper face 118, the latter is located substantially in alignment with the complementary cylindrical surfaces 36 and 46 so as to allow a possible rotation of the assembly constituted by the rotor 16, 84, the key 102 and the outlet member 18, 44 by relative to the latch body 12. For this purpose, the radial height of key 102, i.e. the average radial distance separating surfaces 116 and 118 is greater than the thickness radial of the ferrule 44 so that the key 102, in the rest position illustrated in FIG. 8, ie simultaneously engaged in the slot 54 and in the cavity 90.

In the first embodiment illustrated in exploded perspective in Figure 1 in which the groove indexing 74 opens axially only in the face annular end 62 of the intermediate stator 14, the roller is introduced axially back and forth, from left to right, considering figure 1 in groove 74.

The other components are assembled in introducing axially, from right to left in considering FIG. 1, the assembly constituted by the rotor 16 with the flakes 66, the spring 114 and the slide 100, 102 in the intermediate stator 60 then the sub-assembly in the fixed body completed by axial insertion, from left to the right considering figure 1, part 38 in the form of ferrule 44 of the thresher 18 until the components are brought in the position illustrated in Figure 3.

We will now describe the operating mode of the lock, in particular with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9.

In the rest position of the lock illustrated in the figures 3, 8 and 9, the intermediate stator 14 is immobilized in rotation relative to the fixed body 12 via the roller indexing 76 which is received simultaneously in the groove indexing 74 and in notch 28.

In the absence of a key, the sequins 66, according to a known design, immobilize the rotor 16 in rotation by compared to the intermediate stator 14, the flakes protruding in windows 64.

The output member 18 is immobilized in rotation by compared to the rotor 16 due to the presence of the key 102 simultaneously in the slot 54 and in the cavity 90.

When the user enters a compliant key into the body of the lock 16, it causes the erasure of the flakes 66, as shown in Figure 3.

The rotor 16 is therefore released in rotation relative to the intermediate stator 14 and the user can control the lock mechanism by rotating the rotor 16 using the key (not shown), rotation that causes the drive in rotation of the thresher 18 which is linked in rotation to the rotor 16 by means of the key 100, 102.

If a non-compliant key is introduced, and as we can see it in figure 4, the flakes 66 are not erased radially inside the rotor 16 and the latter therefore remains integral in rotation with the intermediate stator 14.

Any attempt to rotate using a non-key compliant acting on rotor 16 will therefore cause a driving in rotation of the intermediate stator 14.

Due to the presence of the indexing groove 74 forming a cam, the beginning of rotation, in either direction, of the intermediate stator 14 relative to the fixed lock body 12 causes radial erasure towards the inside of the roller indexing 76 which emerges from the indexing groove 74 and penetrates more radially into the notch 28 and partly in slot 54.

This radial movement towards the inside of the roller 76 also causes a radial inward displacement of the key 102 which, due to the choice of the diameter of the roller 76 and radial thicknesses of the skirt 26 and of the ferrule 44, will be fully retracted into the cavity 90 thus allowing a relative rotation of the rotor 16, 84 relative to the fixed body 12.

During this rotation, the roller 74 rolls along the concave internal cylindrical surface 72 of the socket 60 forming intermediate stator 14 and the outer surface of cylindrical profile 118 of the key 102 rotates inside of the internal cylindrical surface 36 of the internal skirt 26 of the body lock 12.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the rotation of the rotor 16 simultaneously with the intermediate stator 14 is therefore without action on the output member 18 and the attempt of break-in remains without effect.

In other words, the key 100.102 constitutes means disengageable of drive.

In addition, the output member 18 is blocked in rotation by relative to the fixed body 12 via the roller indexing 76 which is received simultaneously in notch 28 and in slot 54.

If the rotation is continued with the non-conforming key and at each passage of the head 102 forming the slide key in the angular position corresponding to the rest position of the lock, the roller 76 is again facing the profile of the indexing groove 74 in which the roller 76 can penetrate radially again to reindex all components of the lock in one position of use.

After an attempt to break in with a non-key compliant, and if the components are not in position angularly reindexed, the introduction of the compliant key by the user of the vehicle will cause the radial erasure towards inside the flakes 66, the intermediate stator 14, 60 then no longer made integral in rotation with the rotor except by through the tail 112 of the slide.

Rotation of the rotor using a conforming key will therefore allow to drive the intermediate stator 14, by via the tail 112 of the slide 100 to the reindexing the mechanism in the rest position of the lock illustrated in particular in FIGS. 3, 8 and 9.

In case of ordinary maneuvering difficulty, such as example in case of frost, we see that the design of the bolt allows a great effort to be exerted on the threshing machine 18, using a compliant key, without presenting any risk of inadvertent release of the lock.

In the event of an assault attempt aimed at fraudulently opening the door through which a thief tries to act directly or indirectly on the output thresher 18, at from the rest position illustrated in Figures 3 and 8, it can cause a slight rotation of a few degrees of the threshing machine 18 which then drives the rotor 16 via the key 102 and therefore it causes a simultaneous rotation of the intermediate stator 14 which is linked to the rotor 16 by the flakes 66 and therefore a disengagement of the mechanism because the roller 76 is pushed inward radially by the cam profile of indexing groove 74 and it comes over immediately rotationally block the thresher 18 relative to the fixed body 12 due to the presence of the roller 76 simultaneously in the notch 28 and in the slot 54.

The thief cannot therefore cause the rotation of the threshing machine 18 beyond an initial stroke of a few degrees, and therefore cannot operate the lock connected to the thresher 18.

The second embodiment illustrated schematically in Figure 10 differs from the previous in that the organ forming a clutch release key is constituted by a ball spherical 102 on which the spring 114 acts and which acts on a indexing member constituted by a spherical ball 76. A variant embodiment equivalent to this second mode of realization would consist in replacing the balls 102 and 76 by two axially oriented cylindrical rollers.

The mode of operation of this second mode of achievement is broadly equivalent to that of the previous but it does not allow to reindex the mechanism using a compliant key because there is no possibility of driving, for this reindexing, the stator intermediate 14 by means of rotor 16.

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates a variant in which the indexing groove 74 is open axially at its two ends.

For the assembly of the components, it is possible to produce a first sub-assembly formed by the rotor 16, its flakes 66, the spring 114 and the slide forming key 100 and to partially introduce this subset in the intermediate stator 14 as illustrated in the figure 13.

It is then possible to radially introduce the roller 76 through window 64 by pushing radially inwards the key 100 then finish the axial translation, from the right to the left when considering figure 13, of the subset constituted by the rotor 16, the flakes 66, the key 100 and the roller 76 in the intermediate stator.

The assembly ends with the introduction of the sub-assembly 14, 16 in the fixed body 12 and the axial introduction of the ferrule 44 of the thresher 18.

In the case of such a type of mounting, it is advantageous to use the alternative embodiment of the slide forming key 100 illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12.

Indeed, for the mechanism to work, it is necessary prevent the roller 76 from being able to penetrate radially into the groove 98 of the rotor.

To this end, it is possible (as illustrated in Figures 1 to 9) to provide that the transverse width of the groove is less than the diameter of the roller 76.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 11 and 12, an axial stop is provided for the roller 76 produced on the slide forming a key.

For this purpose, we see that the tail 112 extends radially outwards beyond the upper face 118 of the head 102 forming a key by an extension 120 which defines an axial abutment face 122 against which comes axially abut the transverse face opposite the roller 76.

Claims (7)

1. A lock (10) having a releasable rotor (16), especially for controlling an openable part of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a rotor (16) mounted for rotation in an intermediate stator (14) in the form of a sleeve (60), which is itself mounted for pivoting movement in a fixed lock body (12), locking members such as pallets (66) or pairs of pistons cooperating with the rotor (16) and the intermediate stator (14), to couple them for rotation together in the absence of a correct key and to release the rotor (16) in rotation with respect to the intermediate stator (14) after introduction of a correct key, of the type including a member (76) for the angular indexing of the intermediate stator (14) with respect to the fixed body (12), the indexing member being mounted for radial movement between an indexing position towards which it is biased elastically and in which it is received in a notch (74) of the fixed body (12), and a retracted position in which it is withdrawn radially inwards against the action of a resilient return force (114), the lock including an output member (18, 44) mounted for rotation in the fixed body (12, 20, 26) of the lock, the output member being coupled in rotation to the rotor (16) by disengageable drive means (100, 102), disengagement of which is caused by the indexing member (76) of the intermediate stator (14) when in the retracted position, characterised in that the lock body (12) consists essentially of an external annular cylindrical sleeve (20) open at one of its axial ends (22) and closed at its other end by a radial wall in the form of an annular disc, which defines a base (24) extended axially inwards by an internal cylindrical skirt (26), which is coaxial with the external sleeve (20) and which extends axially inwards over an axial length which is small in comparison with the overall axial length of the external skirt (20), and in which the said notch (74) is formed, in that the angular indexing member immobilises the output member (18, 44) against rotation with respect to the fixed lock body (12, 26) when in the retracted position, and in that the angular indexing member (76) is mounted for radial sliding movement in a radial slot (28) of the fixed body (12, 26) which is open radially at both ends, firstly towards the outside facing a concave cylindrical portion (72) of the intermediate stator (14, 60) that includes an indexing notch (74), in which the indexing member (76) is partially received in the indexing position, and secondly towards the inside, facing a coaxial cylindrical collar element (44) of the output member (18, 38) which has a radial slot (54) open at both ends, in which the indexing member (76) is partially received in the retracted position, and which is open radially inwards facing a housing (44) which receives, for rotation therein, an axial end projection (84) of the rotor (16), which has a radial cavity (90) open at one of its ends, in which a key piece (100, 102) is mounted for radial movement between a driving position, towards which it is elastically biased outwards and in which the key piece (102) is partly received within the slot (54) in the output member (18, 44), and a disengaged position in which the key piece (102) is retracted radially inwards into the cavity (90) of the rotor (16, 84).
2. A lock according to Claim 1, characterised in that the indexing member (76) is an organ of revolution, and in that the indexing notch (74) has a cam profile in the form of an inverted V which is adapted to cause the indexing member (76) to be retracted radially inwards when the intermediate stator (14) is rotated with respect to the fixed body (12).
3. A lock according to Claim 2, characterised in that the indexing member is an axially oriented roller.
4. A lock according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a return spring (114) is interposed between the key piece (102) and the base (92) of the cavity (90) of the rotor (16, 84), whereby to bias the key piece radially outwards.
5. A lock according to Claim 4, characterised in that, in the rest position of the lock (10), the key piece (102), under the action of the return spring (114), biases the indexing member (76) radially outward towards the indexing position in which it is received in the indexing notch (74).
6. A lock according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the key piece is a slider (102) mounted for radial sliding movement in the cavity (90) of the rotor (16, 84), and in that a free end (118) of the slider (102) is partly received in the slot (54) of the output member (18, 44) whereby the output member (18) is rotated by the rotor (16, 84).
7. A lock according to Claim 6, characterised in that the slider (102) has a tail (112) which is received in sliding relationship in a complementary diametral groove (98) formed in the body of the rotor (16).

Images