EP2155990A1

EP2155990A1 - Device for locking a lock

Info

Publication number: EP2155990A1
Application number: EP08747911A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Reinhard PÖLLABAUER
Original assignee: EVVA Sicherheitstechnologie GmbH
Current assignee: EVVA Sicherheitstechnologie GmbH
Priority date: 2007-06-19
Filing date: 2008-06-05
Publication date: 2010-02-24
Also published as: WO2008154664A1; JP2010530486A; RU2010101332A; AT504333B8; AT504333B1; IL202326A0; US20100126240A1; AT504333A4

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for locking a lock, wherein an actuating member (6) can be coupled to a locking device, such as a locking lug (2), while interposing a clutch device, the coupling device comprising a driver element (7, 7', 7', 15, 25, 30, 30', 36, 36') and an actuator (8, 8', 8', 16, 24, 31, 31', 38, 38') made of an electro-active polymer, wherein the driver element (7, 7', 7', 15, 25, 30, 30', 36, 36') can be moved with help of the actuator (8, 8', 8', 16, 24, 31, 31', 38, 38') between an engaged and a disengaged position.

Description

Device for locking a lock

The invention relates to a device for locking a lock, in which an actuator with the interposition of a coupling device with a locking device, such as. Locking nose, can be coupled.

Previously known locking devices are usually mechanical or electronic devices. For a long time mainly mechanical devices such. As all types of door locks, padlocks or the like. The advantage of these designs is the simple and cheap production with well-known technologies. However, a significant disadvantage is the sometimes insufficient security of such locks against unauthorized locking.

Increased protection against unauthorized access granted electronic locking devices, since in such locks the blocking information is encrypted and can not be imitated with the known technologies. However, it is usually disadvantageous that complex electronic and mechanical components are necessary for controlling the blocking elements of such closing devices and that a high energy consumption occurs. Due to the usually complex structure of such electronic locking devices, the constructions are expensive to manufacture and often error-prone due to the many components.

To lock a lock usually an actuator is provided, such as a door handle, a door knob, a key or the like, the movement either directly or with the interposition of a coupling device with the locking device, such as a Locking nose or a locking bolt, is coupled to open or close the lock, wherein the coupling device usually couples the actuator with the locking device only when an access authorization has been established. The access authorization can be determined mechanically by inserting a suitable key or electronically by an identification by means of an electronic code. Especially with electronic locks conventional coupling devices are complicated in construction and maintenance-prone, since the coupling members must be driven by motors usually to be moved between an engagement and a disengaged position.

EP 1 516 983 A1 describes a lock cylinder which has a drive device with a piezo element for driving a locking bolt. In this case, the locking bolt is moved during energization of the piezoelectric element from a lock cylinder locking position to an unlocking position and vice versa.

US 2005/0210874 A1 describes and shows a closure mechanism in which an electroactive polymer is used to hold a closure member in an engaged and a disengaged position.

The present invention aims to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide a locking device which is inexpensive to manufacture and has a lower maintenance susceptibility and a higher locking safety.

For this purpose, the invention is essentially characterized in that the coupling device comprises a driver element and an actuator made of an electroactive polymer, wherein the driver element with the aid of the actuator between an Ineingriffs- and a disengaged position is movable. Characterized in that the responsible for the coupling of the actuator with the locking device driver element is formed by an actuator made of an electroactive polymer and can be moved between a disengaged and a coupled position, manages a simple control of the driver element, wherein on engines including the required gears and the like can be dispensed with.

Electroactive polymers have already become known in various forms. Electroactive polymers convert electrical energy into mechanical work. In particular, electroactive polymers change shape and dimension when an electrical voltage is applied. The advantage of electroactive polymers is in particular the fact that they are able to perform large deformations or dimensional changes compared to conventional actuators and at the same time exert large forces. Because of their comparability with biological tissues, in particular as regards achievable elongation and achievable forces, electroactive polymers are often referred to as "artificial muscle".

Basically, a distinction is made between two different types of electroactive polymers. In dielectric electroactive polymers, activation is by electrostatic forces between two electrodes, between which the polymer is held. Very high voltages of the order of a few thousand volts are required for activation, but the power consumption is very low. Examples of dielectric electroactive polymers are electrostrictive polymers and dielectric elastomers. With ionic electroactive polymers, activation occurs as a result of the displacement of ions within the polymer. For activation, a voltage of only a few volts is sufficient, but the ion shift requires a relatively high electrical current. The electroactive polymer resumes its original shape as soon as the activation stream is switched off again. The group of ionic electroactive polymers includes conductive polymers, ionic metal polymer composites and ionic gels.

In the context of the present invention, the above-described properties of electroactive polymers can be exploited in a wide variety of ways. According to a preferred embodiment, the actuator may be designed such that it changes its dimension when an electrical voltage is applied. The change in length can for example be passed directly to the driver element, which is guided in translation. The driver element can be moved by performing a translational movement between an engaged and disengaged position. In this case, it is preferably provided that the driver element is guided translationally in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the actuating member.

According to a preferred embodiment, the driver element may be pivotally mounted. The driver element may in this case be designed, for example, as a lever which is rotatably mounted about a central or off-center pivot axis. In this case, the actuator can act on the one lever arm to move the other lever arm between an engagement and disengagement. With a corresponding eccentric arrangement of the pivot axis, a lever effect can arise, so that small dimensional changes of the electroactive polymer can be translated into correspondingly large movements of the driver element. According to a modified embodiment, the actuator may be designed such that it bends or bulges when an electrical voltage is applied. In an embodiment in which the actuator is bent when an electrical voltage is applied, the bending end can itself be designed as the driver element and assume an engagement position in one of its two interconnect layers and a disengagement position in the other of its two bend layers.

According to a preferred embodiment, the driver element is formed by the surface of an electroactive texture polymer or ionic electroactive polymer. In the case of such an electroactive polymer, the surface structure can be changed by applying a voltage, so that a frictional connection with a counter element occurs. In this case, the coupling device is thus a friction clutch.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment schematically illustrated in the drawing.

In this figure 1 shows the inventive device for

Locking a lock in a first training and the

Figures 2 to 9 further training. In the figure 1 is a

Lock cylinder shown, the locking lug is designated 2. The locking lug is non-rotatably connected to a rotatable about the axis 3 in the cylinder 1 mounted pipe 4. In the pipe

4, a bolt 5 is mounted, which carries an actuator, such as an operating knob 6. The actuator 6 is connected with the interposition of a coupling device with the locking lug 2, wherein the coupling device of the pipe 4 and the pipe 4 mounted in the bolt

5 is formed. The coupling device comprises a conventional entrainment element 7 made of a material, which preferably does not contain an electroactive polymer, wherein the Carrier element with the aid of an actuator 8 according to the double arrow 9 between an Ineingriffs- and disengaged position is movable. In the position shown in Figure 1, the driver element 7 is in the disengaged, so that the pin 5 is freely rotatable in the tube 4, so that a rotation of the knob 6 is ineffective and in particular causes no actuation of the locking lug 2. After applying a voltage or a current to the electroactive polymer having actuator 8 causes a dimensional change of the actuator displacement of the driver element 7 and an engagement of the driver 7 in a recess not shown in detail of the tube 4, so that the operating knob 6 with the locking lug. 2 is coupled.

In Figure 1, alternative arrangements are shown in addition to the arrangement shown by the reference numeral 7 and 8 of the driver element and the actuator. In a first alternative embodiment, the actuator 8 'is arranged horizontally and causes a change in dimension in the direction of the arrow 9' pivoting of the lever element designed as a driver element 7 'about the axis 10', wherein by such a pivoting movement of the actuator 8 'opposite end of the driver element 7 'is pivoted in the direction of the tube 4 and the driver element 7' comes into engagement with the tube 4.

In a further alternative embodiment, an actuator 8 '' is provided, which acts on a dimensional change in the direction of arrow 9 '' on a trained as a lever driver element 7 '', which in turn can pivot about an axis 10 '', in an Ineingriffsposition to get.

The actuators shown in FIG. 1 consist of electroactive polymers which expand in the longitudinal direction when a voltage is applied or are compressed in the transverse direction. prin- Actually, however, it is also possible to use actuators which are designed as membranes and which arch in a predetermined direction when a voltage is applied. The actuator may also comprise electroactive polymer which bends upon application of a voltage and in this way moves eg a metal bolt. Electroactive polymers which can be used are those which retain their changed dimension when the activation voltage is switched off or those which assume their original dimension again when the activation voltage is switched off. In an embodiment according to FIG. 1, the use of electroactive polymers, which resume their original shape when the activation voltage is switched off, results in that actuation of the blocking member is possible only when the actuator is activated. After switching off the activation voltage of the actuator assumes its original dimension again, so that the driver element is moved to its original disengaged position and an actuation of the locking member is prevented, since the operating knob 6 and the bolt 5 can be turned freely only without any effect.

In a modified embodiment according to Figure 2, however, the operating knob 6 is blocked in the non-released state of the locking member. The bolt 5 is in this case permanently connected to the locking lug 2 having ring rotation, wherein a rotation of the actuating knob 6 in the position shown in Figure 2 is blocked by the slidably guided in the lock cylinder 1 driving element 7 engages in a recess of the bolt 5. Only by applying a voltage to the actuator 8 is a shortening thereof in the direction of the arrow 11, so that the driver element 7 can disengage and the bolt is freely movable again. Alternative configurations with a tiltable driver element T or T 'are also alternatives in FIG shown. As an actuating element, a lock cylinder with one-sided or double-sided key function can be used instead of the operating knob 6.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the coupling device of two aligned bolts 12 and 13 is formed, wherein the bolt 12, for example, with the actuating element and the bolt 13 with the locking device, such as the locking lug, connected or coupled. The axis of rotation of the bolts 12 and 13 is denoted by 14, wherein parallel to the axis of rotation 14, a driver element 15 is translationally guided, which is movable by an actuator 16 made of electroactive polymer between an Ineingriffs- and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the driver element 15 comes to rest in a corresponding recess 17 of the bolt 13, so that a positive connection between the bolts 12 and 13 is made and it comes to a rotationally fixed connection between the two bolts. Instead of a coupling by the Mitnehmerelernent 15 may be mounted on the two facing end faces of the bolts 12 and 13, or even on only one of the two surfaces, a texture polymer or an ionic electroactive polymer, wherein by applying an activation voltage, the two surfaces to form a Frictionally cooperate with each other, so that in turn comes to a coupling of the bolt 12 with the bolt 13.

In an embodiment according to Figure 4 and Figure 5, wherein Figure 4 is a side view and Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view, again two bolts 18 and 19 are provided, wherein a bolt 18 with an actuator, such as a knob, and the bolt 19 with a Locking device, such as a locking lug connected. In this case, the pin 19 has a region 20 formed with a reduced cross-section on, which dips into an axial recess of the bolt 18. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 3, the attachment of the texture polymer or of the ionic electroactive polymer does not take place at the end faces, but at the mutually facing outer or inner circumferential surfaces of the bolts 18 and 19. In the non-activated state, this remains between the inner circumference of the bolt Pin 18 and the outer periphery of the stepped portion 20 of the bolt 19, a gap 21. Upon application of the activation voltage, the texture polymer or the ionic electroactive polymer changes such that it leads to a frictional engagement between the inner shell of the bolt 18 and the outer shell of the remote Area 20 of the bolt 19 comes so that the actuator connected to the bolt 18 is coupled to the bolt 19 connected to the locking member.

The modified embodiment of the coupling device shown in Figure 6 is particularly suitable for integration in fittings, handle rosettes and Einstemmschlösser. The part 22 shown on the left in FIG. 6 is in this case connected to the actuating element, for example a pusher of the fitting, and the part 23 shown on the right in the drawing to the locking device, such as the lock latch actuation. Again, an actuator 24 of electroactive polymer is provided which can move a driver such as a steel pin 25 between a disengaged position and an engaged position such that the steel pin 25 can engage the recess 26 to couple the actuator to the disabler ,

In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, a texture polymer or an ionic electroactive polymer is provided on the mutually facing surfaces 27 and 28 in comparison to the embodiment according to FIG. 6, so that a frictional engagement between the parts 22 and 23 is produced with appropriate activation. The facing surfaces 27 and 28 may, if necessary, have a special surface structure in order to ensure a better power transmission.

Figure 8 shows a modification of the embodiment according to Figures 6 and 7, wherein now the operation of the locking device is prevented by the fact that the component 29 is blocked in its rotational movement when the driver element 30 has been moved by the actuator 31 into the recess 32. Instead of the axially displaceable entrainment element 30, a radially adjustable entrainment element 30 'can be provided, which can be displaced by an actuator 31' into a radial recess 32 'in order to block the rotation of the component 29. The component 29 is in this case connected on the one hand with a bolt 33 which leads to the actuating element, and on the other hand with a bolt 34, which leads, for example, to lock latch actuation.

A similar embodiment is shown in Figure 9, wherein the same reference numerals have been used again for the same parts. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 8, a fork-like or cylindrical component 35 which encompasses the component 29 is provided between the bolts 33 and 34 next to the component 29, so that the bolts 33 and 34 can in principle be rotated relative to one another. The coupling is again effected by displacing the driver element 36 into a recess 37 with the aid of the actuator 38. Alternatively to the positive connection, a texture polymer or an ionic electroactive polymer can be arranged on the mutually facing surfaces of the components 29 or 35, so that upon activation of this polymer a frictional connection can be generated. With 36 'is a driver element referred to, which is pivoted by an actuator 38' about an axis in the recess 37 '. Zusairanenfassend it can be seen that a variety of arrangements is possible in which the use of electroactive polymers in closing technical products is possible and conceivable, in all cases, a reliable release or a reliable lock the lock is possible.

Claims

Claims:

1. Device for locking a lock, in which an actuator with the interposition of a coupling device with a locking device, such as locking nose, can be coupled, characterized in that the coupling device is a driver element (7, T ₁ 7 ", 15, 25, 30 , 30 ', 36, 36') and an actuator (8, 8 ', 8 ", 16, 24, 31, 31', 38, 38 ') made of an electroactive polymer, wherein the driver element (7, 7 ', 7 ", 15, 25, 30, 30', 36, 36 ') by means of the actuator (8, 8', 8", 16, 24, 31, 31 ', 38, 38') between an engaging and a disengaged position is movable.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator (8, 8 ', 8 ", 16, 24, 31, 31', 38, 38 ') is designed such that it changes its dimension when an electrical voltage is applied ,

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuator (8, 8 ', 8 ", 16, 24, 31, 31', 38, 38 ') is designed such that it engages upon application of a electrical tension bends or bulges.

4. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the entrainment element (7, 7 ', 7 ", 15, 25, 30,

30 ', 36, 36') is translationally guided.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the driver element (7, 7 ', 7 ", 15, 25, 30, 30', 36, 36 ') in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation (3) of the actuating member (6) is guided translationally.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the driver element (7, 7 ', 1 ", 15, 25, 30, 30', 36, 36 ') is pivotally mounted.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the entrainment element (7, 7 ', 1 ", 15, 25, 30, 30', 36, 36 ') from the surface of an electroactive texture polymer or ionic electroactive polymer is formed.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the actuating member (6) is designed as a rotary knob.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the actuating member (6) comprises a motor.