EP3431684A1 - Electronic lock - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic lock having an electrical contact (100-102) comprising: - A front ball (140) of electrically conductive material capable of rotating on itself about at least two perpendicular axes which intersect at its center, the front ball being mounted reversibly movable in translation within a duct (130) dug in a first piece (32), between: A rest position in which a front face of the front ball projects into an elongated channel (50) capable of receiving a second moving part (38), and A retracted position in which the front ball is pushed inside the duct by the second piece so that the front ball is directly resting on the second piece to establish the electrical connection with the second piece, - Reminder means (142) which constantly urge the front ball towards its rest position.

Description

The invention relates to an electronic lock.

• un mécanisme commandable de déverrouillage de la serrure électronique apte à déverrouiller la serrure électronique seulement lorsqu'une lame d'une clef électronique autorisée à déverrouiller cette serrure électronique est introduite dans cette serrure électronique,
• une première pièce comportant :
  • un canal longiligne apte à recevoir une seconde pièce mobile en translation ou en rotation à l'intérieur de ce canal, et
  • un contact électrique apte à établir une liaison électrique avec la seconde pièce mobile lorsqu'elle est reçue à l'intérieur du canal longiligne,
• un conducteur électrique qui raccorde électriquement le contact électrique au mécanisme électronique de déverrouillage,

dans laquelle le contact électrique comporte :

• un conduit creusé dans la première pièce, ce conduit comportant :
  • une extrémité avant qui débouche à l'intérieur du canal longiligne, et
  • une extrémité arrière qui débouche sur une face extérieure de la première pièce,
• une bille avant en matériau électriquement conducteur apte à tourner sur elle-même autour d'au moins deux axes perpendiculaires qui se coupent en son centre, cette bille avant étant montée déplaçable en translation de façon réversible à l'intérieur du conduit entre :
  • une position de repos dans laquelle une face avant de la bille avant fait sailli à l'intérieur du canal longiligne lorsque la seconde pièce mobile n'est pas reçue à l'intérieur de ce canal longiligne, et
  • une position rétractée dans laquelle la bille avant est repoussée à l'intérieur du conduit par la seconde pièce mobile lorsqu'elle est introduite à l'intérieur du canal longiligne, dans la position rétractée la bille avant étant directement en appui sur la seconde pièce pour établir la liaison électrique avec cette second pièce mobile,
• des moyens de rappel qui sollicitent en permanence la bille avant vers sa position de repos.

An electronic lock allows access to a building only if an electronic key authorized to open that lock is inserted inside that lock. For this, the electronic lock and the electronic key must communicate together. On this occasion, in many embodiments, an exchange of information and / or energy is then through a wired link established between the electronic key and the electronic lock. Due to the fact that the electronic key can be inserted and removed from the electronic lock and, generally, turned inside the electronic lock, this wired connection must be established via parts that are movable one. compared to each other. For this purpose, known electronic locks include:

• a controllable mechanism for unlocking the electronic lock capable of unlocking the electronic lock only when a blade of an electronic key authorized to unlock this electronic lock is inserted in this electronic lock,
• a first piece comprising:
  • an elongate channel adapted to receive a second part movable in translation or rotation within this channel, and
  • an electrical contact able to establish an electrical connection with the second moving part when it is received inside the long line channel,
• an electrical conductor which electrically connects the electrical contact to the electronic unlocking mechanism,

wherein the electrical contact comprises:

• a duct dug in the first piece, this duct comprising:
  • a front end that opens into the slender channel, and
  • a rear end which opens on an outer face of the first piece,
• a front ball made of electrically conductive material able to turn on itself around at least two perpendicular axes which intersect in its center, this front ball being mounted reversibly movable in translation inside the conduit between:
  • a rest position in which a front face of the front ball protrudes inside the elongated channel when the second movable part is not received within this elongated channel, and
  • a retracted position in which the front ball is pushed inside the conduit by the second moving part when it is introduced inside the elongated channel, in the retracted position the front ball being directly in resting on the second part to establish the electrical connection with this second moving part,
• return means which constantly urge the front ball towards its rest position.

Such a known lock is for example described in the application GB2190700 .

• EP0278905A1 ,
• EP0253499A2 ,
• GB2219340A ,
• GB2172928A ,
• US5905446A .

From the state of the art is also known from:

• EP0278905A1 ,
• EP0253499A2 ,
• GB2219340A ,
• GB2172928A ,
• US5905446A .

Because of its position at the interface between these first and second parts, the electrical contact rubs against the second part. It therefore wears to a point where it is no longer able to establish the electrical connection with the second moving part. The wear of this electrical contact shortens the life of the electronic lock. Or an electronic lock must withstand, without failure and maintenance, several tens of thousands of opening and, if possible, much more.

The invention aims to extend the life of the electronic lock. It therefore relates to such an electronic lock according to claim 1.

Embodiments of this electronic lock may include one or more of the features of the dependent claims.

• la figure 1 est une illustration schématique d'une porte équipée d'une serrure électronique ;
• la figure 2 est une illustration schématique en perspective d'un cylindre de la serrure de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une illustration schématique en coupe verticale et longitudinale du cylindre de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une illustration schématique, en vue éclatée et en perspective, d'un premier mode de réalisation d'un demi-stator de la serrure de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 5 est une illustration schématique, en coupe partielle et en perspective, du demi-stator de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une illustration schématique, en coupe verticale, du demi-stator de la figure 4 ;
• les figures 7 à 10 sont des illustrations, en coupe verticale, d'un contact électrique de la serrure de la figure 2 ;
• les figures 11 et 12 sont des illustrations schématiques, en coupe horizontale, du contact électrique des figures 7 à 10 ;
• la figure 13 est une illustration schématique, partielle et en perspective, d'un deuxième mode de réalisation d'un demi-stator d'une serrure électronique ;
• la figure 14 est une illustration schématique, partielle et en vue de côté, d'un troisième mode de réalisation d'un demi-stator d'une serrure électronique ;
• la figure 15 est une illustration schématique, partielle et en perspective, d'un quatrième mode de réalisation d'un demi-stator d'une serrure électronique ; et
• la figure 16 est une illustration schématique, partielle et en perspective, d'un cinquième mode de réalisation d'un demi-stator d'une serrure électronique.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a door equipped with an electronic lock;
• the figure 2 is a schematic perspective illustration of a lock cylinder of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a schematic illustration in vertical and longitudinal section of the cylinder of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a schematic illustration, in exploded view and in perspective, of a first embodiment of a half-stator of the lock of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 5 is a schematic illustration, partly in section and in perspective, of the half-stator of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 is a schematic illustration, in vertical section, of the half-stator of the figure 4 ;
• the Figures 7 to 10 are illustrations, in vertical section, of an electrical contact of the lock of the figure 2 ;
• the Figures 11 and 12 are schematic illustrations, in horizontal section, of the electrical contact of Figures 7 to 10 ;
• the figure 13 is a schematic, partial and perspective illustration of a second embodiment of a half-stator of an electronic lock;
• the figure 14 is a schematic, partial and side view of a third embodiment of a half-stator of an electronic lock;
• the figure 15 is a schematic, partial and perspective illustration of a fourth embodiment of a half-stator of an electronic lock; and
• the figure 16 is a schematic, partial and perspective illustration of a fifth embodiment of a half-stator of an electronic lock.

In these figures, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same elements. In the remainder of this description, the features and functions well known to those skilled in the art are not described in detail.

The figure 1 is a door 2. This door 2 has an inner side, typically located within a room, and an outer side of the opposite side. Subsequently, the terms "inner" and "outer" refer, respectively, to the inner and outer side of the door 2. The door 2 here extends in a vertical plane. Thereafter, the vertical direction is indicated by the direction Z of an orthogonal reference XYZ. The direction X is perpendicular to the vertical plane in which the door 2 extends mainly. All the figures are oriented relative to this XYZ mark.

The door 2 is equipped with a handle 4 and an electronic lock 6. To simplify the figure 1 only part of the door 2 is shown.

The general mechanical architecture of the lock 6 is, for example, identical to that described in the application FR3025236 . For this reason, only the details necessary for understanding the invention are given here. For other details, the reader is returned on request FR3025236 .

The lock 6 comprises a bolt 10 movable in translation, parallel to the Y direction, alternately and reversibly, between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the bolt 10 protrudes beyond the edge of the door 2 to engage in a strike fixed without any degree of freedom on the frame of the door 2. In the locked position, the bolt 10 locks the door 2 in its closed position. In the unlocked position, the bolt 10 is returned inside the door 2 and no longer protrudes beyond the edge of this door 2. In the unlocked position, the door 2 can be moved by a user of a closed position to an open position by actuating the handle 4.

The lock 6 also comprises a cylinder 12 and a screw 14 for fixing the cylinder 12 in the door 2. The cylinder 12 moves the bolt 10 from its locked position to its unlocked position when a key 16 ( figure 2 ), allowed to unlock the lock 6, is introduced and then turned inside this cylinder. The cylinder 12 also moves the bolt 10 from its unlocked position to its position locked when the authorized key is inserted and turned in the opposite direction inside this cylinder. Conversely, when an unauthorized key is introduced inside the cylinder 12, the cylinder prevents the displacement of the bolt 10 from its locked position to its unlocked position.

Here, the key 16 can be introduced inside the cylinder 12 from the outside and, alternately, from the inside of the door 2. For this purpose, the cylinder 12 opens on each side of the door 2.

The screw 14 has a head that is flush with the edge of the door 2. The threaded end of the screw 14 is screwed into the cylinder 12 to hold it in place inside the door 2.

The figure 2 represents in more detail the cylinder 12. Here, the cylinder 12 is in accordance with the European format. The cylinder 12 extends along a longitudinal axis 20 parallel to the direction X. It comprises a stator 22 fixed without any degree of freedom to the door 2 by means of the screw 14 and a bit 24 housed at the door. inside a transverse notch 26.

The notch 26 extends in a transverse plane 28 parallel to the directions Y, Z. Here, only part of the plane 28 is represented on the figure 2 . The plane 28 is a plane of symmetry for the bit 24.

The bit 24 rotates counterclockwise about the axis 20 to move the bolt 10 from its locked position to its unlocked position and in the opposite direction to move the bolt 10 from its unlocked position to its locked position.

The plane 28 also divides the stator 22 into two parts. The part of the stator 22 located on the inside of the door 2 is called "inner half-stator" and has the reference 30. The portion of the stator 22 located on the outside of the door 2 is called "outer half-stator" and door In this particular embodiment, the half-stators 30 and 32 are almost symmetrical to one another with respect to the plane 28. Thus, only the half-stator 32 is described in more detail by the after.

The half-stator 32 comprises a front cover 34 parallel to the plane 28 and directly exposed to the outside of the door 2. This front cover prevents direct access to the moving parts located inside the cylinder 12 so as to protect them from burglary attempts. This cover 34 is traversed by an orifice 36 intended to receive a blade 38 of the key 16. The orifice 36 is centered on the axis 20. The orifice 36 is shaped so as to allow the introduction of the blade 38 to the inside of the cylinder 12 by a translational movement parallel to the X direction. The orifice 36 is also shaped to allow the key 16 introduced inside the cylinder 12 to turn on itself about the axis 20 .

• autorise le déverrouillage de la serrure 6 si le code d'accès reçu est celui d'une clef autorisée à ouvrir la porte 2, et en alternance
• interdise le déverrouillage de la serrure 6 si le code d'accès reçu est celui d'une clef non-autorisée.

Here, the key 16 is an electronic key capable of transmitting an access code to the cylinder 12 so that it, in response:

• authorizes the unlocking of the lock 6 if the access code received is that of a key authorized to open the door 2, and alternately
• prohibits the unlocking of the lock 6 if the access code received is that of an unauthorized key.

For this purpose, the key 16 comprises a transmitter 40 and a battery 41.

Here, the blade 38 is devoid of raised pattern for moving pins of the lock to cause mechanical unlocking of the lock 6. On the other hand, the blade 38 has at least one pattern adapted to cooperate with a pattern of complementary shape on a rotor of the cylinder 12 for driving the rotor in rotation when the key rotates. Here, this pattern on the blade 38 is a flat 42 located on its distal end.

The transmitter 40 is particularly suitable for transmitting, via a wired link, an access code to the lock 6. The battery 41 is here also used to supply the lock 6 via a link wired. These wired links are established only when the blade 38 is inserted inside the lock 6. For this purpose, the blade 38 has electrical terminals capable of cooperating with corresponding electrical contacts of the lock 6 to establish these wired electrical connections. between the key 16 and the lock 6. As an illustration, here, the blade 38 has six electrical terminals arranged symmetrically on either side of the axis of the blade 38. For example, the symmetrical terminals 1 one of the other are part of the same conductive ring. In the figures, only the terminals 44 to 46 located on the same side of the blade 38 are visible.

The figure 3 represents more in detail the interior of the cylinder 12. The stator 22 comprises a cylindrical channel 50, of circular cross section, passing right through the stator 22 and thus the two half-stators 30 and 32. This channel 50 extends along the axis 20. Here, the axis 20 coincides with the axis of symmetry of revolution of the channel 50.

The channel 50 receives a rotor 52. The rotor 52 is for example identical to that described in more detail, especially with reference to the Figures 5 and 6 demand FR3025236 . In particular, the rotor 52 comprises a housing 96 adapted to receive the end of the blade 38. The cross section of this housing 96 comprises at least one complementary shape of the end of the blade 38 so as to be engaged in rotation by the blade 38. Here, this complementary shape is a flat part capable of meshing with the flat part 42 of the blade 38. Thus, when an authorized key is turned inside the lock 6, the rotation of the key 16 causes rotation of the rotor 52 which itself causes the rotation of the bit 24.

At its ends, the channel 50 opens into the cover 34 vis-à-vis the orifice 36.

Here, the half-stator 32 comprises a shell 54 entirely located on the outside of the plane 28 and a half of a bar 56 located on the outside of this plane 28. The bar 56 is symmetrical with respect to the plane 28.

The shell 54 comprises the front cover 34, the orifice 36 and half of the channel 50 located on the outside. Preferably, the shell 54 is formed of a single block of rigid material. By "rigid material" or "rigid material" is meant a material whose Young's modulus at 25 ° C. is greater than 100 GPa or 150 GPa and, preferably, greater than 200 GPa. Here, the material of the shell 54 is in addition non-conductive. For example, the rigid non-conductive material is ceramic.

The half-stator 32 comprises a controllable mechanism 76 for unlocking the lock. This mechanism 76 is able to move a member 80 for blocking the rotation of the rotor 52. This mechanism 76 is fixed, without degree of freedom, on the shell 54. For example, the mechanism 76 and the member 80 are similar or identical. to those described in the application FR3025236 . To increase the readability of the figure 3 the representations of mechanism 76 and organ 80 have been simplified.

The member 80 moves in translation between a locking position (represented on the figure 3 ) and a retracted position. In the locking position, a distal end of the member 80 is received inside an anfractuosity formed in the rotor 52 to prevent the rotation of this rotor about the axis 20. In the retracted position, the distal end of the member 80 is located outside the anfractuosity, so that the rotor 52 can be rotated by the key 16 about the axis 20. For example, the member 80 moves only in translation between its blocking position and its retracted position. Here, this displacement in translation is parallel to the direction Z.

The mechanism 76 typically comprises a controllable electric and / or magnetic actuator 82 and an electronic control unit 84 for this actuator 82. The actuator 82 is able to move the member 80 between its blocking position and its retracted position in response to a command transmitted by the unit 84. In the absence of control, the actuator 82 keeps the member 80 in its locking position.

• à recevoir un code d'accès contenu dans une clef introduite dans le cylindre 12 aussi bien à partir du côté intérieur que du côté extérieur de ce cylindre 12, puis
• en fonction du code d'accès reçu, à transmettre à l'actionneur 82 une commande de déverrouillage qui déclenche le déplacement de l'organe 80 vers sa position escamotée et, en alternance, à inhiber cette commande pour maintenir l'organe 80 dans sa position de blocage.

Unit 84 is able to:

• to receive an access code contained in a key introduced into the cylinder 12 both from the inner side and the outer side of this cylinder 12, then
• according to the access code received, to transmit to the actuator 82 an unlocking command which triggers the movement of the member 80 to its retracted position and, alternately, to inhibit this command to maintain the member 80 in its blocking position.

To allow or, conversely, inhibit the transmission of the unlock command, the unit 84 compares the access code received with prerecorded access codes. If the access code received matches one of the access codes prerecorded, then the unit 84 transmits the unlock command. Otherwise, the unit 84 does not transmit this unlock command.

Here, the unit 84 communicates with the transmitter 40 via a wired link 106 which is established when the key 16 is fully depressed inside the channel 50. At the same time, the battery 41 transmits the signal. energy required to supply the mechanism 76 via two wired links 107 and 108. The link 106 is established via the terminal 44 and an electrical contact 100 of the half-stator 32. connections 107 and 108 are established via terminals 45, 46 and two electrical contacts 101 and 102 of the half-stator 32.

In the embodiment shown here, the key 16 and the half-stator 32 also comprise, respectively, three electrical terminals and three additional electrical contacts. These terminals and additional electrical contacts are used to simultaneously establish three additional redundant wired links with the wired links 106 to 108. These additional wired links are derived from the wired links 106 to 108 by symmetries with respect to the vertical plane containing the axis 20. By therefore, they are not described in more detail later.

The electrical contacts 100 to 102 are, for example, structurally identical to each other. Thus, subsequently, only the electrical contact 100 is described in more detail.

The half-stator 32 is now described in more detail with reference to the Figures 4 to 12 .

In this embodiment, the various elements of the mechanism 76 are mounted on an electronic card 110 in the shape of a "U" which fits on the lower part of the shell 54.

Each link 106 to 108 comprises a respective electrical conductor which electrically connects its electrical contact to the mechanism 76. The distal end of such an electrical conductor is represented on the Figures 7 to 10 in the particular case of the link 106. In these figures, this electrical conductor carries the reference 112. The conductor 112 here comprises a flexible conductive strip 114 and a conductive rear pad 120. The pad 120 bears directly on the contact 100. For example, this pad 120 is a flat pellet made of an electrically conductive and hard material. Here, the pad 120 is made of beryllium copper. Its diameter is typically greater than or equal to 1 mm.

In this description, the term "electrically conductive material" denotes a material whose resistivity at 20 ° C. is less than 10 ^-6 Ω.m and, preferably, less than 10 ^-7 Ω.m. By "hard material" is meant here a material whose Vickers hardness, measured under normal conditions, is greater than 300 HV and preferably greater than 350 HV. By "very hard material" is meant here a material whose Vickers hardness, measured under normal conditions, is greater than 500 HV or 600 HV.

In this embodiment, all electrical contacts 100-102 are structurally identical to each other. Therefore, only the contact 100 is described in more detail.

The contact 100 comprises a cylindrical duct 130 which extends along a horizontal axis 132 ( figure 7-10 ). This duct 130 has a front end that opens into the channel 50 and a rear end that opens onto a flat bottom of a recess 134 present on an outer face of the shell 54. Here, the cross section of the duct 130, that is to say, its section in a plane perpendicular to the axis 132, is circular.

The diameter D ₁₃₀ of the duct 130 is typically greater than 0.5 mm or 1 mm and, generally, less than 4 mm or 3 mm. Here, the diameter D ₁₃₀ is for example equal to 1.05 mm.

When the electronic card 110 is mounted on the shell 54, the stud 120 is received inside the recess 134. This stud 120 is then located opposite the rear end of the duct 130. Typically, the dimensions recess 134 are adapted to limit the displacement of the pad 120 in the direction X and thus maintain the stud 120 opposite the rear end of the conduit 130.

The stud 120 allows at least partially closing the rear end of the duct 130. For this purpose, here its diameter is strictly greater than the diameter of the opening of the duct 130 which opens into the bottom of the recess 134.

At its front end, the duct 130 has a constriction 136 ( Figures 8 and 10 ) which reduces the diameter of the opening of the conduit 130 which opens into the channel 50. Typically, the internal diameter of the throat 136 is smaller, at least 0.05 mm or 0.1 mm, to the inner diameter of the duct 130. By way of illustration, the internal diameter of the throat 136 is for example equal to 0.95 mm. This constriction allows in particular to retain inside the conduit 130 a front ball as will be described in more detail later.

The inner wall of the duct 130 is made of a hard material and, preferably, very hard. Here, this inner wall is made of a material harder than the material used for the balls received inside this conduit. By "harder" is typically meant a hardness 1.3 times or 1.5 times or 1.8 times greater than the hardness, measured under the same conditions, beads received within this conduit.

The inner wall of the duct 130 is smooth and, preferably, very smooth. By "smooth inner wall" is meant here an inner wall whose roughness Ra, denoted Ra ₁₃₀ , is less than 0.35 microns or 0.30 microns. By "very smooth inner wall" is meant here an inner wall whose roughness Ra is less than 0.15 microns or 0.10 microns.

Here, the inner wall of the conduit 130 is made of polished ceramic. The hardness of this polished ceramic is typically greater than 1000 HV or 1300 HV. The roughness Ra ₁₃₀ of the polished ceramic is less than 0.15 μm. For this, in this embodiment, the entire shell 54 is made of this ceramic and the duct 130 is hollowed into the shell 54.

The contact 100 comprises a ball before the spherical 140 housed inside the conduit 130. The ball 140 is free to move in translation, inside the conduit 130, between a rest position, shown on the Figures 8 and 10 , and a retracted position, shown on the Figures 7 and 9 . In the rest position, the ball 140 bears on the constriction 136. In this rest position, a part of the ball 140, called the front face, projects inside the channel 50. In the retracted position, the ball 140 is pushed back inside the channel 130 by the terminal 44 on which its front face is directly in support. Typically, the movement of the ball 140 between these rest and retracted positions is greater than or equal to 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm and, generally, less than 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.

The ball 140 is also mounted inside the conduit 130 so as to be able to rotate about any axis passing through its center. To possess these different degrees of freedom, the diameter D ₁₄₀ of the ball 140 is strictly smaller than the diameter D ₁₃₀ . The diameter D ₁₄₀ is also greater than the diameter D ₁₃₆ of the constriction 136. For example, the diameter D ₁₄₀ is less than D ₁₃₀ - 25 μm or D ₁₃₀ - 50 μm. Here, the diameter D ₁₃₀ is equal to 1 mm.

The roughness Ra, denoted Ra ₁₄₀ , of the ball 140 is very small, that is to say less than 0.1 μm and, preferably, less than 0.05 μm or 0.025 μm.

For example, the grade of the ball 140, as defined in the ISO3290-2002 standard or in the ANSI / AFDMA 10.1989, is equal to 10.

The ball 140 is also made of a material that is both very hard and electrically conductive. For example, the ball 140 is made of stainless steel such as 420C stainless steel.

The contact 100 also comprises elastic return means 142 which permanently urge the ball 140 towards its rest position and a connecting piece interposed between these return means 142 and the ball 140. Here, the connecting piece is a set of spherical connecting balls.

In this embodiment, the return means 142 comprise a spring blade 144. The spring blade 144 has an anchored lower end, without any degree of freedom, on the outer face of the shell 54. The spring blade 144 also has one end. upper free which constantly solicits the stud 120 towards the rear end of the conduit 130. For this purpose, the free upper end pushes against a rear face of the stud 120. Here, the lower end of the spring blade 144 is fixed on the shell 54 with a rivet 146 which passes, for example from one side, the shell 54 in the direction Y.

The rigidity of the leaf spring 144 is chosen so that, in the retracted position, the bearing force exerted by the ball 140 on the terminal 44 is less than 0.5 N and, preferably, less than 0.2 N Generally, this bearing force is also greater than 0.05 N or greater than 0.1 N.

The set of connecting balls is inserted inside the conduit 130 between the ball 140 and the stud 120. Its function is to transmit the bearing force of the spring blade 144 to the ball 140 and, at the same time, to electrically connect the ball 140 to the pad 120. In this embodiment, the set of connecting balls comprises a single connecting ball 150. Like the ball 140, the ball 150 is movable inside the conduit 130 in translation along of axis 132. It is also free to turn on itself around any axis passing through its center. For this purpose, its diameter D ₁₅₀ is smaller than the diameter D ₁₃₀ - 25 μm or smaller than the diameter D ₁₃₀ - 50 μm. Its diameter D ₁₅₀ is also, for example, sufficiently large so that in the retracted position, the ball 150 is simultaneously supported, on one side, directly on a rear face of the ball 140 and, on the opposite side, directly in support on a front face of the stud 120.

Preferably, the diameter D ₁₅₀ is less than 0.9D ₁₄₀ . Indeed, this has several advantages, including that of reducing the length of the duct 130 and therefore the size of the contact 100. This also makes it possible to release free spaces inside the duct 130 and thus to allow a radial displacement of the duct 130. ball 150, that is to say a displacement in a direction perpendicular to the axis 132. Typically, the radial displacement of the ball 150 is greater than 0.1D ₁₃₀ or 0.1 mm. Here, the diameter D ₁₅₀ is equal to 0.8 mm.

The ball 150 is also made of a material that is both very hard and electrically conductive. Its roughness Ra, denoted Ra ₁₅₀ , is also very low. Here, the ball 150 is made of the same material used for the ball 140. In this example, the ball 150 is a ball of grade 10 or 28 according to the standards mentioned above.

The operation of the electronic lock 6 is as follows. This operation is described in the particular case of the contact 100 but all that is said in this particular case applies to the other contacts of the lock 6. In the absence of the blade 38 inside the channel 50, the ball 140 is in its rest position (represented on the Figures 8 and 10 ). Then, during a first phase of use, the blade 38 is inserted inside the channel 50 by sliding it in translation along the axis 20. During this movement, the outer periphery of the blade 38 rubs on the front face of the ball 140. This pushes the ball 140, against the restoring force of the leaf spring 144, to its retracted position. This displacement also causes the displacement of the ball 150 and the pad 120 in the same direction. The electrical and mechanical contact between the ball 140 and the pad 120 is then provided by the ball 150.

This displacement in translation of the blade 38 also causes the ball 140 to rotate about a vertical axis passing through its center. Thus, during this displacement in translation, the ball 140 rolls on the outer periphery of the blade 38, which reduces the friction between the blade 38 and the ball 140. The wear of the ball 140 is thus greatly limited.

The rotation of the ball 140 also causes the ball 150 to rotate in the opposite direction around a vertical axis passing through the center of this ball 150. Moreover, since there are free spaces around the ball 150, its vertical axis of rotation also moves in a horizontal direction, typically opposite to the direction X. This horizontal displacement of the ball 150 is illustrated on the figure 11 . In this figure and the figure 12 , the straight arrows in bold represent the direction of movement of the blade 38. The arrows arc in the vicinity of the balls 140 and 150 represent the corresponding directions of rotation of these balls.

Thus, the point of contact between the ball 150 and the stud 120 moves in this horizontal direction. Since the point of contact between the ball 150 and the stud 120 is displaced, the wear of the stud 120 is distributed over a larger surface and thus the ball 150 is prevented from digging a hole too deep inside the face. before the stud 120. This contributes to increasing the robustness of the contact 100 with respect to wear.

Once the blade 38 is at the end of stroke, that is to say for example that its end is supported within the housing 96, the contact 100 and more precisely the front face of the ball 140 is directly on the terminal 44. The wired links 106 to 108 are established and the electronic lock 6 is powered and communicates with the key 16. If the key 16 is a key authorized to open the door 2, the member 80 moves to its retracted position and the rotor 52 can be rotated to unlock the door 2. For this, the blade 38 is rotated on itself about the axis 20. In this second phase of use, as in the previous phase, the ball 140 rolls on the outer periphery of the blade 38. However, during this second phase, it turns on itself about a horizontal axis passing through its center. In a manner similar to that explained above, this also causes the rotation and the radial displacement of the ball 150. Here, the ball 150 rotates about itself about a horizontal axis and moves in a vertical direction. More specifically, ball 150 typically moves upward to reach the position shown in FIG. figure 9 when the key 16 is turned counterclockwise. When the key 16 is turned in the opposite direction, the ball 150 then moves downwards to reach the position represented on the figure 10 . These upward and downward movements also contribute to increasing the friction surface between the ball 150 and the front face of the stud 120. This therefore contributes to limiting the formation of a hole too much. deep inside the stud 120, caused by the friction between the ball 150 and the stud 120.

Tests of the lock 6 have been made by the applicant. These tests have shown that the contact 100 as described here still functioned after more than a million operations of the lock 6 using the key 16.

The figure 13 represents an electronic lock 160 identical to the lock 6 except that the contact 100 is replaced by an electrical contact 162. The electrical contact 162 is identical to the contact 100 except that the set of connecting balls comprises two balls 164 and 166 instead of only one as in the previous embodiment. For example, here, the balls 164 and 166 are identical to the ball 150 except that their diameter is smaller. Here, the diameters of the balls 164 and 166 are more equal.

In this embodiment, even if the rotation on itself of the ball 166 is blocked, this does not prevent the rotation on itself of the ball 164 and therefore the distribution of the wear of this ball 164 on any its surface.

The figure 14 has an electronic lock 170 identical to the lock 6 except that the contact 100 is replaced by an electrical contact 172. The contact 172 is identical to the contact 100 except that the ball 150 is replaced by a set of three connecting balls 174 to 176. Here, the balls 174 to 176 are located next to each other in the same plane perpendicular to the axis 132. For example, the balls 174 to 176 are identical to the ball 150 but of smaller diameter to be able to adopt the position represented on the figure 14 . Under these conditions, the balls 174 to 176 are directly supported, on one side, on the stud 120 and, on the opposite side, on the ball 140. In this embodiment, the connecting piece is therefore resting on the rear face of the ball 140 through only three separate point links and separated from each other. There are therefore also three different electrical paths that connect the ball 140 to the pad 120, each of these paths passing through a respective connecting ball. In addition, this embodiment makes it possible to limit the length of the conduit 130 since the diameter of the connecting balls is even smaller.

• le jeu de billes de liaison est omis, et
• les moyens de rappel 142 sont remplacés par un ressort hélicoïdal 184.

The figure 15 represents an electronic lock 180 identical to the lock 6 except that the contact 100 is replaced by an electrical contact 182. In this lock 180, the electrical contacts are made as described in the application GB2190700 . This embodiment is therefore not protected by the present application. Contact 182 is identical to contact 100 except that:

• the set of connecting balls is omitted, and
• the return means 142 are replaced by a helical spring 184.

Here, the spring 184 is located inside the conduit 130. It bears directly, on one side, on the rear face of the ball 140 and, on the opposite side, on the stud 120. In this embodiment, the spring is made of an electrically conductor for electrically connecting the ball 140 to the pad 120. Here, the stud 120 is fixed without any degree of freedom on the rear end of the conduit 130. For example, for this purpose, the spring blade 144 is replaced by a blade 186 many more rigid and of the same shape.

Tests have been carried out by the applicant and have shown that the contact 182 wears less quickly compared to an embodiment where the ball 140 is replaced by a cylindrical stud which can not roll on the blade 38 during its introduction. or its rotation within the channel 50. However, these tests have also shown that the wear of the contact 182 was faster than in the previous embodiments provided with set of connecting balls. This finding seems to apply to all embodiments without such a set of connecting balls.

The figure 16 represents an electronic lock 190 identical to the lock 6 except that the contact 100 is replaced by an electrical contact 192. The contact 192 is identical to the contact 100 except that the connecting piece is made otherwise. For this purpose, the connecting ball 150 is replaced by a cylindrical piston 194. One end of this piston 194 is directly bearing on the rear face of the ball 140 and an opposite end is supported on the stud 120. This piston 194 moves in translation inside the conduit 130. It is for example made of the same material as the ball 150. By cons, the piston 194 is unable to rotate on itself about an axis perpendicular to the axis 132 of the conduit 130. The end of the piston 194 bearing on the rear face 140 is, for example, flat so as to obtain a single point connection between this end and the rear face of the ball 140.

Various variants of the embodiments described herein will now be presented.

Variants of the electronic lock :

The number of electrical contacts of the electronic lock can be increased or decreased as needed.

The mechanical architecture of the electronic lock may be different from that described here. For example, the electronic lock may comprise a single half-stator. In this case, the inner half-stator can be replaced by a locking latch and, alternately, manual unlocking of the electronic lock.

The different variants of the electronic lock mentioned in the application FR3025236 also apply to the embodiments described herein.

In the previous embodiments, the electrical contact has been described in the particular case where it is used to establish an electrical connection between the blade of an electronic key and the mechanism 76 housed inside the fixed stator. of the electronic lock. However, the teaching given here can be implemented to limit the wear of an electrical contact between any first and second parts of an electronic lock from the moment the first piece comprises an elongate channel adapted to receive the second part and the second part is movable, in translation and / or in rotation, inside this channel. For example, in some embodiments of an electronic lock, the channel 50 is made inside a rotor. In this case, the mechanism 76 where at least the control unit 84 is housed inside this rotor and no longer inside the stator. The electrical contacts as described here are then implemented to ensure the electrical connection between the key 16 and this rotor. In particular, in this case, the duct is made in the rotor and no longer in the stator. In another embodiment, the channel 50 is made inside the rotor and the mechanism 76 remains housed inside the stator as described, for example, with reference to the figure 3 . In this case, electrical contacts such as those described here can be implemented to ensure the electrical connection between the blade 38 and the rotor and / or between the rotor and the stator.

Variant of the electrical conductor:

Alternatively, the electrical conductor is not a conductive tape but a simple guide wire.

The pad 120 may take other forms than that presented in the embodiments described so far. For example, the pad 120 is not necessarily flat. It can also be concave or convex.

The stud 120 can also be located inside the conduit. For example, the stud 120 is mechanically connected to the end of the spring blade 144 by a rod whose one end is fixed on the upper end of the leaf spring 144 and the other end is fixed on the rear face of the pad 120 In this case, the pad 120 is typically permanently located inside the conduit 130.

The electrical conductors described herein can be used to make electrical connections that have functions different from those presented so far. For example, the electrical connections can only be used to power the electric lock or only to transmit data. The electrical connections can also be used to power the key from a power source contained in the electronic lock. The number of electrical connections necessary for the operation of the electronic lock is therefore variable. In particular, the number of electrical connection can be reduced.

In another variant of the lock 180, the stud 120 is interposed between the ball 140 and the spring 184. In this case, the stud 120 slides along the axis 132 inside the conduit 130.

Variants of the electrical contact :

In a variant, the duct 130 is inclined with respect to the direction Y. In another variant, the duct 130 is not rectilinear.

The cross section of the conduit 130 is not necessarily circular. For example, the cross section of the conduit may be square or ellipsoidal or any other shape that allows to retain the ball or balls within this conduit. When the cross section of the duct is not circular, the expression "diameter" designates the hydraulic diameter.

The conduit is not necessarily cylindrical. For example, the diameter of the duct at the location where the set of connecting balls is located may be greater than the diameter of the same duct at the level of the ball 140. In this case, there is a space to allow the balls to move. connection in a transverse plane of the conduit even if the diameter of these connecting beads is equal to or greater than that of the ball 140. By way of illustration, the conduit may be truncated cone-shaped.

In another variant, the hardness of the inner wall of the duct 130 is less than the hardness of the balls that it contains. The inner wall may also not be very smooth but only smooth.

In another embodiment, the conduit 130 is made in a hard material implant inserted in the shell 54. In this case, the shell 54 may be made of a material different from that forming the inner wall of the conduit 130 for example. The shell 54 is then made of a less hard material.

The inner wall of the conduit 130 may also be made of an electrically conductive material and electrically isolated from other electrical contacts of the same lock. For example, for this, the shell 54 is made of an electrically insulating material and the inner wall of the conduit 130 is made using a jacket of electrically conductive material such as a stainless steel jacket. The electrical connection between the ball 150 and the mechanism 76 can then be established via the internal wall of the conduit 130 without passing through the stud 120. For example, in this embodiment, the mechanism 76 is electrically connected directly at the end of the liner which opens into the recess 134 without passing through the stud 120. In this case, the stud 120 serves only to permanently urge the ball 140 to its rest position. It is therefore no longer necessary to make it in a conductive material. For example, the stud 120 does not necessarily constitute the end of the conductor 112. In this embodiment, the ball 150 is not necessarily used to establish the electrical connection between the ball 140 and the mechanism 76. , the ball 150 may also be made of a non-conductive material such as ceramic.

The return means can also fulfill the function of electrical conductor as in the case of the lock 180. For example, the spring blade 144 is then made for this purpose in an electrically conductive material. In this case, each electrical contact is electrically connected to the mechanism 76 by its own spring blade electrically isolated from the other leaf springs. Electrical conductors, such as conductor 112, can then be omitted.

The various embodiments of the elastic return means described herein may be combined together. For example, the return means can comprise both a spring blade such as the spring blade 144 and a coil spring such as the spring 184. It is also possible to replace, in all the embodiments described here the leaf spring by a coil spring and vice versa.

It is possible to realize the return means using something other than a coil spring or a spring blade. For example, the return means can be made using an elastomer block. For example, in the lock 180, the spring 184 is replaced by such an elastomer block.

Other embodiments of the connecting piece are possible while performing only one or more point links between the rear face of the ball 140 and the connecting piece. For example, the set of binding beads may comprise any number of binding beads and, in particular, more than two or three connecting beads. These connecting balls can be placed one behind the other as described in the case of the lock 160 and / or next to each other as described in the case of the lock 170.

The number of discrete point links between the connecting piece and the rear face of the ball 140 is generally less than thirty, twenty or ten. The shortest distance between two point links immediately adjacent to each other is generally greater than 50 μm or 100 μm or 250 μm.

The diameters of the different connecting balls of the same set may be identical or different. For example, the diameters of the connecting balls may decrease as the connecting ball approaches the stud 120. In other embodiments, the diameter of one or more of the connecting balls is greater than the diameter. of the ball 140.

A set of connecting balls may be introduced in all the embodiments described herein where such a set of connecting beads is absent.

The set of connecting balls or at least one of these connecting balls may also be replaced by a piston adapted to move in translation along the axis 132. This piston will then be identical or similar to the piston 194 of the lock 190 .

Advantages of the embodiments described here :

The fact that the electrical contact between the part provided with the channel and the moving part inside this channel is ensured by a ball capable of rotating on itself around at least two perpendicular axes passing through its center, strongly limits wear of the electrical contact. Indeed, during the movement of the second moving part, the ball 140 rolls on the outer periphery of the second moving part. This greatly limits the friction between the second moving part and the ball 140, so that the wear of this ball 140 is greatly reduced. This therefore reduces the wear of the electrical contact made with this ball 140 and extends the lifetime of the lock. The use of a connecting piece such as the connecting balls or the cylindrical piston 194 directly bearing on the rear face of the ball 140 only via point connections, limits the wear of the contact electric compared to the case of the lock 180 of the figure 15 . Indeed, in the lock 180, the connection between the rear face of the ball 140 and the spring 184 is via a complete turn. It is not therefore a point link. The bearing surface of this turn on the rear face of the ball 140 is much larger than in the case of one or more point links. Because of this, the wear of the ball 140 is faster in the case of the lock 180 than in the other embodiments described here where the contact between the rear face of the ball 140 and the connecting piece is only through point links.

The use, as a connecting piece, of a set of connecting balls interposed between the ball 140 and the pad 120 further limits the wear of the electrical contact.

The fact of making each connecting ball and the rear stud of electrically conductive material makes it possible to establish, in addition to the mechanical contact with the ball 140, an electrical connection between this ball 140 and the conductor 112.

Choosing the inscribed diameter of the connection ball or balls which are directly in contact with the stud 120 so as to create a free space which allows these connecting balls to move in a radial direction, makes it possible to improve the In this case, the point of contact between the bonding ball or balls and the stud 120 is not always in the same place. The wear of the pad 120 is therefore distributed over a larger area. Therefore, the thinning of the pad 120 at a specific point is reduced.

When the set of connecting balls comprises at least two connecting balls situated one behind the other, the locking in rotation of the connecting ball bearing on the stud 120 does not prevent the rotation of the ball 140 and the ball link that is in support on the ball 140. Thus, the wear of the ball 140 remains limited despite the rotational locking of one of the connecting balls.

When the set of connecting balls comprises several connecting balls placed next to each other in a transverse plane of the conduit, there are then simultaneously several electrical paths to connect the ball 140 to the pad 120. This reduces the electrical resistance of the link electric. This also reduces the length of the conduit and therefore the bulk of the electrical contact.

The fact of using a single connecting ball simplifies the manufacture of the electrical contact.

The fact of using connecting balls whose diameters are smaller than the diameter of the ball 140 can reduce the length of the conduit 130 and thus reduce the size of the electrical contact.

The fact of using a conduit in the inner wall is very smooth and very smooth balls also reduces even more the wear of the balls and therefore the wear of the electrical contact.

The fact of using a conduit in the inner wall is very hard also reduces even more the wear of the balls and therefore the wear of the electrical contact.

Claims (13)

Electronic lock comprising: a controllable mechanism (76) for unlocking the electronic lock capable of unlocking the electronic lock only when a blade of an electronic key authorized to unlock this electronic lock is introduced into this electronic lock, a first piece (32) comprising: • an elongate channel (50) adapted to receive a second movable part (38) in translation or rotation within this channel, and An electrical contact (100-102; 162; 172; 182; 192) able to establish an electrical connection with the second moving part when it is received inside the long line channel; an electrical conductor (112) which electrically connects the electrical contact to the controllable unlocking mechanism, wherein the electrical contact comprises: a duct (130) dug in the first room, this duct comprising: A front end that opens into the elongated channel, and • a rear end which opens on an outer face of the first part, - A front ball (140) of electrically conductive material capable of rotating on itself about at least two perpendicular axes intersecting at its center, the front ball being mounted reversibly movable in translation inside the conduit enter : A rest position in which a front face of the front ball protrudes inside the elongated channel when the second moving part is not received inside this elongated channel, and A retracted position in which the front ball is pushed inside the duct by the second moving part when it is introduced inside the elongated channel, in the retracted position, the front ball being directly bearing on the second piece to establish the electrical connection with this second moving part, - Reminder means (142; 184) which constantly urge the front ball towards its rest position characterized in that the electrical contact comprises a connecting piece (150; 164; 166; 174-176; 194) movable in translation reversibly inside the conduit (130), this connecting piece being: interposed between the front ball (140) and the return means (142; 184), and - Support, only through one or more separate point links, directly on a rear face of the front ball (140). Lock according to claim 1, wherein: the lock comprises a rear stud (120) which at least partially obstructs the rear end of the duct, this rear stud being permanently biased by the return means towards the front ball, and the connecting piece comprises a set of one or more connecting balls (150; 164; 166; 174-176), each connecting ball being able to turn on itself around at least two perpendicular axes which cut at its center, this set of connecting balls being movable reversibly translationally inside the conduit (130) and bearing, on one side, directly on the rear face of the front ball (140) and, on the opposite side, directly on the rear stud (120) to permanently urge the front ball towards its rest position. Lock according to claim 2, in which: the rear stud (120) is made of an electrically conductive material and integrated with the electrical conductor (112), and each connecting ball (150; 164; 166; 174-176) is made of an electrically conductive material so as to electrically connect the front ball (140) to the electrical conductor (112). Lock according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the following relation is verified: D _BdL <0.91D ₁₃₀ , where: - D _BdL is the diameter of the smallest inscribed circle capable of completely containing the orthogonal projection, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the duct, of all the connecting balls which are simultaneously directly bearing on the rear stud, and - D ₁₃₀ is the diameter of the duct at the level of these connecting balls which are simultaneously directly bearing on the rear stud. Lock according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: the set of connecting balls comprises at least two connecting balls (164, 166, 174-176), and the diameter of each of these connecting balls is less than 0.5D ₁₃₀ , where D ₁₃₀ is the diameter of the duct at the level of these connecting balls. A lock as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the set of connecting balls comprises a single connecting ball (150). Lock according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the set of connecting balls comprises at least two connecting balls (164, 166) located one behind the other along the axis of the conduit. The lock of any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the diameter of each connecting ball is less than 0.9D ₁₄₀ , where D ₁₄₀ is the diameter of the front ball (140). Lock according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the means (142) of resilient return comprises a spring blade (144), the leaf spring comprising: a proximal end fixed without any degree of freedom on the first piece, and - A free distal end bears on a rear face of the rear stud (120), the rear face of the rear stud being turned on the opposite side to the front ball (140). Lock according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the roughness Ra of the inner wall of the duct (130) is less than 0.15 μm and the roughness Ra of each ball contained inside this duct is less than 0. , 1 μm. Lock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hardness of the inner wall of the duct (130) is strictly greater than the hardness of each ball contained inside this duct. Lock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front end of the duct has a constriction (136) adapted to retain the front ball inside the duct in its rest position. Lock according to any one of the preceding claims, in which: the first piece is a fixed stator (32) of the electronic lock and the second piece is the blade (38) of the electronic key (16), or the first part is a rotor rotatably mounted inside a fixed stator of the electronic lock and the second part is the blade (38) of the electronic key (16), or the first part is a fixed stator of the electronic lock and the second part is a rotor capable of rotating on itself inside the long channel, this rotor itself having another longiline channel able to receive the blade ( 38) of the electronic key (16).

Images