EP3680426A1 - Magnetic lock and door - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a magnetic lock with an operating unit (4a, 4b) and a magnetically actuated locking unit (6). The control unit (4a, 4b) has a magnet arrangement (8a, 8b) about a rotation axis (9) between a closed position and a release position (rotatable first magnets (8a). The locking unit (6) is in the closed position by the According to the invention, the magnet arrangement (8a, 8b) has a second magnet (8b) which is oriented in the same direction in the closed position and in the opposite direction to the first magnet (8a) in the release position.

Description

The invention relates to a magnetic lock with an operating unit and a magnetically actuated locking unit. The operating unit has a first magnet of a magnet arrangement which can be rotated about an axis of rotation between a closed position (first functional position) and a release position (second functional position). The locking unit is locked in the closed position by the magnetic field of the magnet arrangement. The invention also relates to a door provided with such a lock.

Numerous applications are known from the literature in which a locking unit can be magnetically controlled by a rotatable magnet of an operating unit. The locking unit is designed to prevent the movement of another object - for example a door leaf - in a locked state. For example, is off EP 1 608 830 B1 such a magnetic lock is known in which one or more bolts for locking a door can be moved by means of a rotatable magnet.

However, a disadvantage of such arrangements is that the driving magnet must have a high field strength in order to ensure reliable magnetic coupling with the bolts. The magnetic counterparts of the bolts are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the main magnet in order to improve the magnetic coupling. Power transmission over distances of several centimeters is not an option here. Furthermore, strong magnetic fields can also have a disruptive effect, since these can have, for example, unwanted effects on medical products such as pacemakers or magnetic storage media such as hard disks or credit cards.

Against this background, the object of the invention is to improve a generic magnetic lock in such a way that a secure magnetic coupling between the operating unit and the locking unit can also take place over larger distances, in particular of more than 2 cm. At the same time, unwanted side effects of the triggering magnetic field should be minimized.

The object of the invention and solution to this problem is a magnetic lock according to claim 1 and a door equipped with such a magnetic lock according to claim 8. Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent subclaims.

Proceeding from the generic magnetic lock, it is provided according to the invention that the magnet arrangement comprises a second magnet which is oriented in the same direction in the closed position and in the opposite position to the first magnet in the release position.

The spatial distance between the first magnet and the second magnet of the magnet arrangement is in particular smaller than the distance between the magnet arrangement and the closing arrangement, in particular the part of the closing arrangement interacting magnetically with the magnet arrangement. The distance between the magnet arrangement and the closing arrangement is preferably at least twice as large as the distance between the two magnets.

The invention is based on the knowledge that two separate magnets of a magnet arrangement form an individual magnetic field per se. However, if these two magnets are brought close enough together, the two magnetic fields overlap and can be regarded as a common "far field" at sufficiently large distances. For training In addition to the strength and position of the first magnet and the second magnet, this far field is also particularly important in terms of their relative orientation. The orientation of a magnet is to be understood as the direction of its leading magnetic dipole moment - in simplified terms the direction from the south pole to the north pole of a permanent magnet. The orientation of the first magnet and the orientation of the second magnet are to be referred to as "in the same direction" if they - when projected onto a normal plane of the axis of rotation - enclose an angle of less than 90 °. They are to be regarded as "opposite" if they enclose an angle of more than 90 °.

In the case of two magnets arranged in the same direction, the far magnetic field is strengthened, whereas it can weaken in the case of individual magnets arranged in opposite directions. With two magnets of similar strength aligned in anti-parallel in particular, an almost complete extinction of the magnetic far field can occur.

As a result, it is possible within the scope of the invention that the magnetic unit in the closed position has a stronger magnetic far field than in the open position. The magnetic far field can therefore be used in a closed position for magnetic transmission over larger distances. At the same time, the opening position has weakened to such an extent that the environment is not expected to be affected. Since the closed position is usually assumed in operating states in which the operating unit does not come into direct contact with the operator, this prevents damage, for example to medical products or magnetic storage media.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the alignment of the first magnet and the alignment of the second magnet each close projects an angle of less than 45 °, in particular 0 to 30 °, onto a normal plane of the axis of rotation in the closed position. The smaller the relative angle between the two orientations, the greater the reinforcing effect in the closed position.

Accordingly, the relative angle between the alignment of the first magnet and the second magnet in the open position is more than 135 °, in particular between 150 ° and 180 °.

According to a preferred embodiment, the locking unit has a permanent magnet which interacts with the magnetic field of the magnet arrangement. As a result, particularly large forces can be generated in the locking unit due to the interaction with the magnetic field.

In an alternative embodiment, the locking unit can also have a soft magnetic element which interacts with the magnetic field of the magnet arrangement. Since the magnetic field of the magnet arrangement can be switched almost “on” and “off” in the far field, such configurations are also easy to implement.

The magnetic element (or the permanent magnet) can preferably be integrated into the locking unit in such a way that it is locked both in the event of an attractive interaction and in the event of a repulsive interaction between the permanent magnet and the magnet arrangement. On the one hand, this simplifies the installation of the magnetic lock, since it is not necessary to pay attention to the polarity of the magnet arrangement depending on the positioning of the locking unit. The operating arrangement can thus be used universally both with left-hinged doors and with right-hinged doors and on these both on the hinge side and on the Be positioned lining side. This also increases the security of the magnetic lock. Since the magnetic field has to be reduced to unlock the locking unit, opening with a simple and unspecific permanent magnet is not easily possible.

The alignment of the permanent magnet — at least projected onto a normal plane of the axis of rotation — is particularly preferably aligned with the first magnet in the closed and / or open position. The orientations of the first magnet and the permanent magnet run parallel or antiparallel to each other. In the height direction, they are at the same height. In the thickness direction, the permanent magnet is preferably arranged in alignment with the first magnet, but can also be arranged in the thickness direction between the first magnet and the second magnet. This enables good power transmission between the control unit and the clamping unit.

The locking unit particularly preferably has a return unit which unlocks it in the field-free or low-field state. This is to be understood in particular if the magnet arrangement in the area of the locking unit (in particular on its magnetically active component) has a magnetic field strength which is not greater than twice the earth's magnetic field strength. With such a magnetic field strength, interference fields - such as the earth's magnetic field or the magnetization of the environment - are dominant over the far field of the magnet arrangement.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the second magnet is arranged so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation. By triggering such a rotary movement, the magnet arrangement can also be changed between an orientation in the same direction and in the opposite direction. This will at the same time switching between the open state and the closed state is achieved.

A rotatable second magnet enables the realization of a second locking option such as a separate lock from the opposite side of the door or, alternatively, an emergency release.

The invention also relates to a door with a door leaf that can be moved between an opening position that at least partially releases a door opening and a closing position that closes the door opening. According to the invention, the door is provided with a magnetic lock as described above. Due to the magnetic coupling, the control unit and the locking unit can be arranged separately from one another in a particularly visually appealing manner. The control unit can be designed to be particularly delicate. At the same time, the magnetic field induced by the control unit in the open state is low.

The locking unit is designed such that in a locked state it prevents the door leaf from leaving the closed position. This is achieved in particular by positive locking of the opening movement. The operating unit is preferably arranged, in particular glued, on a first front side (which extends in the lateral direction and the vertical direction). In addition to the first magnet of the magnet arrangement, the control unit preferably has an engagement to form a door handle.

The control unit is particularly preferably arranged on the door leaf at a distance from a side edge. A distance remains between the control unit and the locking unit. As a result, the control unit can be provided with the visual appearance of a handle, which is its locking function does not look immediately. This can lead to an elegant appearance, especially with glass doors.

The locking unit is expediently arranged in a frame surrounding the door opening. This improves the visual appearance of the door both in the open and in the closed state, since the locking unit is essentially invisible.

The second magnet of the magnet arrangement is preferably arranged in a second operating unit on a second front side opposite the first front side in the thickness direction.

The door leaf expediently has an extension of less than 2 cm in the thickness direction. The magnetic superposition of the first magnet and the second magnet can thus take place through the door leaf. This is particularly useful for configurations in which the second magnet is rotatable to provide a secondary opening and closing function.

The invention can very particularly preferably be used if the door leaf is translucent, translucent and / or transparent, in particular made of clear or frosted glass. As a result, the filigree design of the lock is particularly effective.

The axis of rotation of the first magnet is expediently aligned perpendicular to a front surface of the door leaf. As a result, the alignment of the first magnet takes place parallel to the door leaf, so that a maximum remote magnetic effect can be exerted in the direction of the door frame. Then there is in the frame or arranged on the edge of the door leaf the associated locking unit.

In a first preferred embodiment, the locking unit has a latch that can be moved linearly, in particular perpendicularly to the axis of rotation. Due to the linear displacement, the bolt can be moved between a locked position and a release position. In the locked position, the bolt prevents the door leaf from moving in the closed position.

According to an alternative preferred embodiment, it is provided that the locking unit has a pivotable holding body and a magnetically actuated locking element. The holding body locks the door leaf in the closed position in a form-fitting manner when the locking element blocks a pivoting movement of the holding body.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Tür in dreidimensionaler Darstellung,

Fig. 2A

einen Horizontalschnitt durch die Tür gemäß Fig. 1,

Fig. 2B

eine Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 2A in einem alternativen Schließzustand,

Fig. 3A

eine alternative Ausgestaltung der Schließeinheit in einer ersten Position,

Fig. 3B

die Schließeinheit aus Fig. 3A in einer zweiten Position,

Fig. 3C

eine Ansicht entsprechend Fig. 3B im verriegelten Zustand,

Fig. 4A und 4B

eine schematische Repräsentation des Schließmechanismus bei einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 5A bis 5C

schematische Repräsentationen verschiedener Schließzustände bei einer zweiten Ausführungsform und

Fig. 6A bis 6C

schematische Repräsentation unterschiedlicher Schließzustände bei einer dritten Ausführungsform.

The invention is explained below on the basis of drawings showing exemplary embodiments only. It shows schematically

Fig. 1

a door according to the invention in three-dimensional representation,

Figure 2A

a horizontal section through the door Fig. 1 ,

Figure 2B

a representation accordingly Figure 2A in an alternative closed state,

Figure 3A

an alternative embodiment of the locking unit in a first position,

Figure 3B

the clamping unit Figure 3A in a second position,

Figure 3C

a view accordingly Figure 3B in the locked state,

4A and 4B

1 shows a schematic representation of the locking mechanism in a first embodiment,

5A to 5C

schematic representations of different closing states in a second embodiment and

6A to 6C

schematic representation of different closing states in a third embodiment.

The Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional representation of a door according to the invention. This has a door leaf 1 which is designed to close a door passage 2. The door leaf 1 extends in a lateral direction x, a height direction y and a thickness direction z. In the thickness direction z, the door leaf 1 has a thickness d of less than 2 cm and in particular less than one tenth of the door leaf width measured in the lateral direction x and the door leaf height measured in the height direction y.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the door leaf 1 is designed as a pivoting door which is held on a door frame 3 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis running in the height direction y. According to the invention, a first operating unit 4a of a magnetic lock according to the invention is arranged on a first front side 1a of the door leaf 1. A second operating unit 4b is fastened on the second front side 1b opposite the first front side 1a. The first control unit 4a and the second control unit 4b are congruently arranged in the viewing direction of the thickness direction z with a distance a from the nearest side edge 1c of the door leaf and each form an engagement 5 for providing the function of a door handle.

A locking unit 6 for locking the pivoting movement A of the door leaf 1 is arranged in the frame 3. For this purpose, the door frame is shown partially broken open in order to make the locking unit 6 visible. The locking unit 6 comprises a frame 6a firmly connected to the door frame and a support 6b arranged therein. A locking element 6c is held on the carrier 6b so as to be displaceable in the lateral direction x. A permanent magnet 6d is received by the locking element 6c.

Furthermore, a plurality of holding magnets 6e are fastened in the housing 6b to provide a magnetic locking of the door. The holding magnets 6e interact with a magnetizable first sheet metal strip 7a, which is attached to a side edge of the door leaf 1 and extends in the height direction y over the same area as the holding magnets 6e.

A second, non-magnetizable sheet metal strip 7b adjoins the first, magnetized sheet metal strip, which provides an abutment for the positive locking of the locking element 6c. In order not to impair the magnetic closing behavior, the second metal strip 7b is not magnetizable. With regard to their optical appearance and cross section, the first sheet metal strip 7a and the second sheet metal strip 7b are adapted to one another or are of identical design.

In the Figure 2A and 2 B is a horizontal section through the door according to Fig. 1 represented in the middle by the permanent magnet 6d. The sectional diagrams show that the first control unit 4a and the second control unit 4b have a first magnet 8a and a second magnet 8b, which together have a magnet arrangement 8a, 8b form. At least the first magnet 8a is about an axis of rotation 9 between one in the Fig. 2a shown release position and one in the Figure 2B shown closed position rotatable.

In the release position, the first magnet 8a and second magnet 8b are arranged in opposite directions. The magnetic fields thus weaken each other, which is illustrated by the field lines 10 indicated by dash-dotted lines. The magnetic far field acting on the bar magnet 6d of the clamping unit 6 is therefore negligible. The distance c between the bar magnet 6d and the first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b is significantly larger - more than a factor 3 larger in the exemplary embodiment - than the distance b between the first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b. The magnetic interaction of the bar magnet 8d with the far field of the first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b is therefore negligibly small, so that the locking element 6c cannot be pulled out of the housing 6b against the lateral direction x with respect to the spring force of a return element 6f. The door is thus unlocked and the door leaf 1 can be pivoted out of the illustrated closed position in the opening direction A.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the side frame spar 3 has a stepped recess 3a, which receives an end section of the door leaf 1. In the stepped recess 3a, a profile seal 11 is also provided on the stop side, which does not protrude into the door passage 2. Likewise, the second sheet metal strip 7b visible in the sectional view does not protrude into the door passage 2, but remains invisibly within the stepped recess 3a. In the closed position shown, the door leaf 1 closes essentially flush with a mirror section 3b of the frame spar, the offset e in the thickness direction z being less than that Door leaf thickness d - in particular less than half the door leaf thickness d - is.

In the Fig. 2b the closed state is shown. By rotating the axis of rotation 9 through 180 °, the first magnet 8a now has the opposite orientation and is therefore oriented in the same direction as the second magnet 8b. The far field of the two magnets 8a, 8b thus adds up, as can be seen from the field lines 10 indicated by dash-dotted lines. Due to the increased far field, a magnetic attraction is now exerted on the bar magnet 6d. As a result, the latter is deflected in the direction of the door leaf 1, so that the locking element 6c forms a positive engagement with the second metal strip 7b. This prevents the door from opening in opening direction A. If the magnetic field is no longer present, the locking element 6c is moved back into the original position by the return element 6f.

An alternative embodiment of the closing element is in the 3A to 3C shown. The locking unit has a frame 12 connected to the door frame 3 and a holding body 13 which can be pivoted about a vertical axis h within the frame 12. The vertical axis h runs parallel to the pivot axis of the door leaf 1, that is to say in the height direction y. Furthermore, a groove 13a extending in the height direction y is formed on the holding body 13. When the door leaf 1 closes, it swings into the groove 13a shortly before reaching the closed position and is positively gripped by the latter in the thickness direction z. This condition is in the Fig. 3b shown. The pivoting movement about the vertical axis h can be blocked by means of a blocking element 13b arranged in the interior of the holding body 13. In the Fig. 3b an unlocked position is shown in which the holding body 13 is pivotable about the vertical axis h. By magnetic Interaction with the control element, the locking element 13b in one in the Figure 3C shown locking position are moved. There, the locking element 13b engages in an associated receptacle 12a of the frame. Furthermore, the locking element 13b is in positive engagement with the holding body 13, so that a pivoting movement about the vertical axis h is prevented. An extension spring, not shown in the figures, is preferably provided, which in the unloaded state moves the holding body into the position shown in FIG Figure 3A shown basic position pivoted, in which the end of the door leaf 1 can pivot into the groove 13a.

The basic principle of the magnetic lock according to the invention and various variants for driving the locking unit are in the 4A to 6C pictured.

The 4A and 4B show the simplest variant. The locking unit 6 has a bar magnet 6d as a magnetically active component. In the exemplary embodiment, this is designed to drive a locking element 6c, which is only indicated by dashed lines. The bar magnet 6d, like the first magnet 8a and second magnet 8b of the magnet arrangement, is aligned in the horizontal plane (xz plane) shown. In the thickness direction z, the bar magnet 6d is arranged approximately centrally between the first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b.

In the in Figure 4A shown opening state, the first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b are arranged in opposite directions, so that the far magnetic field - indicated by the field lines 10 - is weakened. As a result, the locking element 6c is held in a retracted release position by the return element 6f.

A comparison with the Figure 4B one can see that the first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b are oriented in the same direction. The magnetic far field (field lines 10) is thereby strengthened and exerts a magnetic attraction on the bar magnet 6d in the opposite direction x. The return element 6f is thereby stretched and the locking element 6c is moved into a position in which it locks the door leaf 1.

An alternative embodiment is in the 5A to 5C shown. The locking element 6c is driven via a magnetizable core 6g. Thus, attraction by the first magnets 8a and 8b oriented in the same direction is independent of the overall orientation of the far field. The elementary magnets arranged within the magnetizable core 6g each align themselves under the influence of the magnetic far field 10 in such a way that magnetic attraction occurs. With such a configuration, the operating state between the open position and the closed position can be achieved by rotating both the first magnet 8a and the second magnet 8b.

A further embodiment of the closing element, in which the closing state can be achieved, regardless of whether the north or south pole of the far field faces the closing unit, is shown in FIGS Figures 6A to 6C pictured. There, a bar magnet 6d ′ is guided in a multi-part sleeve 14 so that it can move along the lateral direction x. The sleeve 14 has a first half-shell 14a and a second half-shell 14b, each of which has a surface designed as a toothed rack. The two surfaces designed as toothed racks are coupled to one another by a deflection gear 14c. The two half-shells 14a and 14b are in the field-free state ( Figure 6A ) compressed by a return element 6f 'designed as a compression spring. As a result, the bar magnet 6d 'is centered within the Half shells held. Both by magnetic attraction ( Figure 6B ) as well as by magnetic repulsion ( Figure 6C ) the two half-shells 14a, 14b are pressed apart by means of the deflection gear 14c. The locking element 6c is coupled to the movement of the first half-shell 14a.

The drive construction of the 4A to 6C can also be used with the alternative unlocking element 3A to 3C be combined. With the inclusion of suitable deflection elements, the prescribed drives can also be used in connection with the locking of sliding doors.

Claims (15)

Magnetic lock with an operating unit (4a, 4b) and a magnetically actuable locking unit (6), the operating unit (4a, 4b) having a first magnet (8a) of a magnet arrangement (8a,) which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (9) between a closed position and a release position. 8b) and wherein the locking unit (6) is locked in the closed position by the magnetic field of the magnet arrangement (8a, 8b), characterized in that the magnet arrangement (8a, 8b) comprises a second magnet (8b), which in the closed position is in the same direction and in the release position is oriented in the opposite direction to the first magnet (8a). Magnetic lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the orientation of the first magnet (8a) to the orientation of the second magnet (8b) projects in each case onto a normal plane of the axis of rotation (9) in the closed position an angle of less than 45 °, in particular 0 to 30 °, includes. Magnetic lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking unit (6) has a permanent magnet (6d) which interacts with the magnetic field of the magnet arrangement (8a, 8b). Magnetic lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking unit (6) is locked both in the case of an attractive interaction and also in the case of a repulsive interaction between the permanent magnet (6d) and the magnet arrangement (8a, 8b). Magnetic lock according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the permanent magnet (6d), at least projected onto a normal plane of the axis of rotation (9), is aligned with the first magnet (8a). Magnetic lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking unit (6) has a return element (6f) which unlocks the locking unit (6) in a field-free or low-field state. Magnetic lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second magnet (8b) is rotatable about a second axis of rotation (9). Door with a door leaf (1) which can be moved between an opening position which at least partially releases a door opening (2) and a closing position which closes the door opening (2) and which extends in a side direction (x), a height direction (y) and a thickness direction (z) , characterized by a magnetic lock according to one of claims 1 to 7 and characterized in that at least one operating unit (4a, 4b) of the magnetic lock is arranged on the door leaf (1). Door according to claim 8, characterized in that the control unit (4a, 4b) is arranged on the door leaf (1) at a distance (a) to a side edge (1c) and that between the control unit (4a, 4b) and the locking unit (6 ) there is a gap. Door according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the locking unit (6) is arranged in the frame (3). Door according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the door leaf (1) has a thickness (d) of less than 2 cm. Door according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the door leaf (1) is translucent, translucent and / or transparent, in particular made of clear and / or frosted glass. Door according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the axis of rotation (9) is aligned perpendicular to the door leaf (1). Door according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the locking unit (6) has a latch (6c) which can be displaced linearly, in particular perpendicularly to the axis of rotation (9) and which in the closed position pivots (A) the door leaf (1 ) locks positively. Door according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the locking unit (6) has a pivotable holding body (13) and a magnetically actuated locking element (13b), and that the holding body (13) the door leaf (1) in the closed position in a form-fitting manner locks when the locking element (13b) blocks a pivoting movement of the holding body (13).

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