FR2728613A1 - Autonomous code operated electronic door lock - Google Patents

Abstract

The code operated door lock has a piezoelectric device (14) to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. The piezo- electric device and mechanical and electrical components are housed in the lock case, which is fitted into the door. An external handle (13) is used to apply mechanical energy to the device. The lock has a bolt (3), internal (11) and external (13) lever handles, with a mechanism so the internal lever handle directly operate the bolt. A second mechanism couples the exterior handle to the bolt through an electrically operated clutch. The external handle operates a mechanism to drive the piezoelectric striker. The piezoelectric converter supplies an interface circuit that captures the entry code entered by the user and also supplies the power for the electrically operated clutch.

Description

ELECTRONIC LOCK WITH CODE
The present invention relates to an electronic code lock, not requiring an external source of electrical energy, and whose opening is conditioned by the recognition of an access code.

 The technical field of the invention is that of the manufacture of locks.

 It is known to associate with an opening lock of a door (for example a hotel entrance door), a reader of an access authorization code.

 For the purposes of the present application, the term code reader (or a support bearing a code) designates any electronic interface for receiving such an access code; indeed, it can be either a reader of a code written on a support such as a card equipped with an electronic memory or a badge equipped with lagnetic tracks it can also be a code of access which is transmitted by radio waves from a transmitter carried by the user to a receiver integrated in the door and / or in the lock, or in particular a code introduced by the user by the inter Keyboard integrated in the lock or door.

 In known manner, the codes read (or entered or entered) at this interface are compared to a list of authorized codes stored in a memory to allow or not the opening of the door by action on a bolt or any equivalent mechanical system unlocking the door.

 Already known from patent application FR2 500 520 (THONSON CSF) a lock whose bolt is actuated electrically, which comprises a reader of an access code carried by a key; the lock described in this document comprises an electrical energy generator consisting of a piezoelectric element integrated in the key bearing the code; the lock comprises pressure rollers which are used to drive the card or coded key and to apply on a zone thereof pressure to activate the piezoelectric generator supplying the electrical device integrated in the lock; these rollers are driven by the opening handle of the door and thus allow the generation of electrical energy necessary for the aliientation of the driving system of the bolt on the one hand and secondly to the power circuits reading the code carried by the key or the card.

 The self-contained electric lock code described in the aforementioned patent has a number of disadvantages; in fact, the piezoelectric generators have a very low efficiency, that is to say require that they be applied a very important mechanical energy to deliver a relatively low electrical energy form.

Furthermore, the lock described in this document has a further disadvantage related to the fact that the piezoelectric converter is integrated in the key or the card inserted into the lock by the user, which requires electrical connecting elements such as contacts. rubbers for transmitting the electrical energy delivered by the piezoelectric element to the circuits which are integrated in the lock, which rubbing contacts are susceptible to rapid wear and have very limited reliability
Moreover, the lock according to the document above, can not be modified to be adapted to another type of code support, for example code carriers in which the code is transized by infrared or radio link.

 Another significant disadvantage of the lock described in this document is the lack of security resulting from the design of this lock; indeed, the bolt of this lock is retained by a trigger which prohibits the movement of the bolt in the absence of electrical orientation or when the code is not recognized by the recognition system; consequently, the opening of the door is not possible for security reasons, in particular by a person located on one side of the door and not having the appropriate code, in case of failure of the electromechanical system. opening of the door.

 The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of locks as described in particular in the document aroused.

 According to the invention, a lock equipped with a mechanical energy converter with electrical energy is provided with a significantly higher efficiency than the output of a piezoelectric converter and which also comprises mechanical means for driving of this converter by an outer handle of the lock, which mechanical means peddle a clutch or coupler which is preferably electrically actuated.

 In other words, the invention consists in providing a code electrical lock which comprises a mechanical power converter in electrical energy (of high efficiency) which is integrated in the door or in the lock housing, and which carries mechanical means for driving said converter by an external handle, which comprise a clutch or coupler.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lock comprises
- a bolt,
- an interior lever,
- an external lever,
first direct mechanical means for actuating said bolt by said internal lever,
second mechanical means for actuating said bolt by said outer lip, which comprise means for slackening said second mechanical actuation means, which is actuated electrically,
- a mechanical energy converter into electrical energy, which is integrated in the door or in the housing of the lock,
third mechanical means of connection (actuation) for driving said converter by said outer lip,
an interface for entering an access code, which is powered by said converter and which is capable of delivering a code recognition signal,
means for supplying (selectively) said clutch by said converter as a function of said code recognition signal.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the lock comprises
- a bolt or latch,
- an internal lever or first handle,
- an external lever or second handle,
first non-disengageable mechanical means for driving said bolt by said internal lever, which comprise
an inner tree,
* a cam or pivoting lever,
* a pawn or cleat,
second disengageable mechanical means for driving said bolt by said outer lip, which comprise
* an outside tree,
an intermediate (sliding) shaft driven in rotation by said outer shaft,
- a clutch or coupling means which is electrically actuated, for transmitting to said inner shaft the rotational movement of said intermediate sliding shaft,
- a mechanical energy converter into electrical energy that is integrated in the door receiving the lock or in the lock housing,
third mechanical drive means for driving said converter by said outer lip, which peddle several gears or toothed wheels,
an encoded electronic or magnetic key reader (or card), which is powered by said converter and which is capable of delivering a code recognition signal,
a memory containing authorized codes,
means for selectively supplying said clutch by said converter as a function of said code recognition signal, that is to say when the code of the card read by said reader corresponds to one of said authorized codes stored in said memory .

According to preferred embodiments of the invention
said mechanical energy converter into electrical energy is an electromagnetic converter such as an alternator or a dynamo
said third mechanical means for driving said converter by said outer lip carries a multiplier of speed (or amplifier of the movement) of said beaker;
the multiplication (or amplification) ratio of said speed multiplier is at least 10, preferably between 20 and 500, for example around 50 to 150
said third mechanical means for driving said converter by said outer lip comprises a freewheel device
said clutch comprises a pinion, preferably helicoidal, and frustoconical, and comprises a female pinion, preferably helicoidal, frustoconical, which pinions male and female are likely to be brought closer to one another under the effect an electrical command to cooperate (meshing) and causing 1 drive of said inner shaft by said intermediate shaft
said clutch or coupler comprises a sliding intermediate shaft driven in rotation by said outer shaft and able to move in translation along the axis of rotation common to said inner, outer and intermediate shafts, under the action of a reel fed by said converter, which clutch further comprises means (such as a spring) for returning said intermediate shaft in a position corresponding to a disengagement (that is to say to a disengaged position) of said clutch
the axis of rotation of said converter is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said outer lip.

 The invention provides an access authorization code reading lock that allows the door to be opened safely during a failure of the access control system, by the inner handle of said lock or door; the opening authorization is preferably embodied by a "dry" contact whose state (open or closed) is controlled by the code recognition signal.

 The invention is very simple to manufacture and makes it possible to obtain a product with a very low cost and the characteristic constituent elements of the lock, namely the combination of the external lever, the electromagnetic converter and the clutch, can be very easily adapted to any electrical lock code by electrical connection wires from the generator to the encoded media reader and by a mechanical device (eg a pinion or gear) driving the converter through the spout. -cane exterior as well as a clutch for coupling or uncoupling the outer lip with the bolt opening the door.

The operation of the lock according to the invention is as follows
the rotation, for example at about one-eighths of an angular displacement, of the outer lip causes the drive of the electro-magnetic converter which generates electrical energy which is sent to the code reader; if the code read by the code reader on the encoded medium is recognized (by comparison with a series of codes stored in a memory), an electrical pulse (or signal) (or optical or other) corresponding to a code recognition signal is sent to a system that actuates by the electric energy supplied by the converter, a coil causing the coupling of the (intermediate) shaft driven by the outer lever with a shaft directly connected to the bolt, which causes the bolt to be driven by the outer latch and allows the opening of the door by an additional rotational movement of the outer latch.

 The external lever which is preferably rotatably mounted (& the usual manner of the door handles) can of course be replaced by a device that can be moved in translation or by any mechanical system (button ...) that can be actuated by the user, whose mechanical energy is transmitted to the converter.

 The invention may in particular apply to the authorization to open dispenser flaps of products (food in particular) whose payment and actuation (delivery) is performed by a "smart" electronic card ("holder"). electronic money "); in this case, no internal lever (or equivalent means) is expected.

The many advantages provided by the invention will be better understood through the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate without any limiting character. a preferred embodiment of a lock according to the invention,
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view, for example a vertical and perpendicular to the plane of the door on which the lock is to be mounted, a lock according to the invention contained in a housing and intended to be actuated by an internal bolt and a rotating external pene.

 Figure 2 is a view along IN IN of Figure 1 and is a partial sectional view through a plane parallel to the vertical plane which extends the door equipped with a lock according to the invention.

 FIG. 3 illustrates a detail of embodiment of part of the connecting or driving means of the electromagnetic magnetic generator by the outer lip.

 With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lock is contained in a housing 2 delimited by substantially flat walls and delimiting a substantially rectangular parallelepipedal volume.

 As illustrated in Figure 2, the housing colporte an orifice 43 through which can slide a bolt 3 extending along a longitudinal axis 4 and capable of moving along this axis to lock or not the door on which is mounted the lock 1 .

 In known manner, the rear end of the bolt is biased into the closed position by a return spring 5 housed in a housing 6 fixed inside the housing 2 of the lock.

 The bolt is provided in its lower part with a pin or cleat 7 attached to said bolt, which pin or cleat 7 can be moved in translation along the longitudinal axis 4 by action of a lever or cam 8 secured to an inner shaft 10, partly housed inside the lock housing and projecting out of the housing to be rotated about an axis 9 by an internal lip Il, via a coupling of known type, for example by means of a "square".

 In this way, the inner lever-lever 11 can directly drive the bolt 3, which allows the door to be opened from the inside and thus makes it possible to comply with safety rules requiring the door to be opened by the door. interior in any situation.

 With reference to FIG. 1, it can be seen that said lock also carries an outer shaft 12 located in the extension of said inner shaft 10, coaxial with it, with axis of rotation 9, which outer shaft 12 can be rotated along said axis 9 by an outer lip 13 fixed to said outer shaft 12 by known Deans such as a "square".

 Said outer shaft 12 is substantially hollow and delimits two cavities 27 and 28 separated by a partition 29; the disk-shaped partition 29 provided with a central opening allows the passage of an intermediate shaft 32 slidable along the axis 9 of rotation of the spouts.

 The intermediate sliding shaft 32 is rotated by the outer shaft 12 via a square shaft 30 (integral with the outer shaft 12) which can cooperate with a corresponding square section orifice 31 provided in a end of the intermediate shaft 32, in order to ensure the rotational drive of the intermediate shaft 32 by the outer shaft 12.

 At rest, that is, when the coil 34 in the housing 28 of the intermediate shaft 32 is not energized, the intermediate shaft 32 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, that is, say that its end (located on the right in this figure) peddling a frustoconical face 35 (provided with teeth to form a male helical pinion) is not in contact with the co-nutrient teeth provided on a corresponding frustoconical face 37 provided on the shaft 10, so that the rotation of the intermediate shaft driven by the outer lever 13 does not cause rotation (in this position) of the inner shaft 10, and therefore does not cause the opening of the bolt 3.

 The intermediate shaft 32 is held in this position by a return spring 33 bearing on the partition 29 on the one hand and on a bearing face 36 of the intermediate shaft 32 on the other.

 On the other hand, when the coil 34 is supplied with electrical energy, the magnetic field that it creates causes the displacement to the right (with reference to FIG. 1) of the intermediate shaft 32 until the right end of this intermediate shaft (forming a helical male gear) meshes with the corresponding female pinion provided on the inner shaft 10, so as to cause the rotation of this shaft 10 by the external decane bit 13, and by consequently to allow the opening by release of the pene 3.

 The supply of the coil 34 causing this coupling or clutch and allowing the connection between the outer lever and the bolt, is performed by an electromagnetic generator 14 such as a dynamo or alternator having a stator 19 fixed to the inside the housing 2 and a rotor 20 also provided inside the housing 2 and rotatable about an axis 26 of rotation.

 The rotor 20 is rigidly connected (or by means of a freewheel device) to a toothed pinion 24 rotatable along said axis of rotation 26.

 The pinion 24 is driven by a pinion 23 of larger diameter causing a first speed multiplication, which pinion 23 is integral with a pinion 22 of smaller diameter itself driven by a pinion 21 large diameter driven him dream by 1 outer shaft 12, that is to say by the outer spigot 13.

 A second freewheel device may be provided in the rotational connection means between the outer shaft 12 and the first toothed gear 21, which freewheel means may for example be constituted (in known manner) by pawls 39 rotatably mounted. relative to a disk 44, integral with the outer shaft 12, which pawls 39 are preferably distributed at the periphery of the disk 44, are rotatable about respective axes 40 and biased in a position of prominence relative to the periphery of the disk 44; the pawls can bear on notches 38 provided on an inner part or ring of the disk 21 in order to cause in one direction of rotation the driving of the disk or the toothed wheel 21 by the outer shaft 12 and so that erasing (sliding on said notches) to allow free rotation, in the opposite direction of rotation, of said toothed wheel 21 with respect to said outer shaft 12.

 The electrical energy generated by the electromagnetic converter 14 is sent on the one hand to the reader 15 of a coded medium such as an electronic memory card 16 which is introduced via a slot 18 provided in a wall of the housing 2 to be read by the encoded card reader 15, the movement of the card 16 is effected according to the arrows 17 marked Figure 1.

 If the code carried by the card 16 is read by the reader 15 and recognized, that is to say corresponding to a code previously stored in a memory (not shown) provided in the lock, an electronic device (of the door type) allows the supply by the electrical energy delivered by the converter 14 of said coil 34 which causes as explained above the temporary mechanical connection between the outer shaft 12 and the bolt 3, which allows the opening of the bolt 3 by a subsequent movement of the outer lip 13.

 It can be seen in FIG. 3 that, preferably, the crimping lever 13 and the outer shaft 12 to which it is connected are rotated towards a rest position by a helical spring 41 connecting the outer shaft 12 to a crown 42 fixed to said housing 2 of the lock.

Claims (10)

 1. A code electrical lock characterized in that it comprises a converter (14) of mechanical energy into electrical energy which is integrated in the door or in the housing (2) of the lock, and in that it comprises mechanical means for driving said converter (14) by an external handle (13) which comprises a clutch or coupler.  2. Code lock comprising  - a stalemate (3).  means for supplying said clutch via said converter as a function of said signal.  an interface (15) for inputting an access code, which is fed by said converter and which is capable of delivering a signal,  third mechanical actuation means for driving said converter by said outer lip,  - a converter (14) of mechanical energy into electrical energy, which is integrated in the door or in the housing (2) of the lock,  second mechanical means for actuating said bolt by said outer lip, which comprise a clutch means which is actuated electrically,  first direct mechanical means for actuating said bolt by said internal lever,  - an external lever (13),  - an interior lever (11),  - an internal lever (11) or first handle.  - a bolt or latch (3)  3. Self-powered electric lock with code comprising  - Means for selectively supplying said clutch by said converter according to said code recognition signal.  - a memory containing authorized codes,  a coded key reader (15), which is powered by said converter and which is capable of delivering a code recognition signal,  third mechanical means for driving said converter by said outer lip, which comprise a plurality of gears or toothed wheels (21, 22, 23, 24),  - a mechanical energy converter into electrical energy that is integrated in the door receiving the lock or in the housing (2) of the lock,  - a clutch or coupling means which is electrically actuated, for transmitting to said inner shaft (10) the rotational movement of said intermediate shaft (32),  an intermediate shaft (32) rotated by said outer shaft (12),  an outer shaft (12),  second disengageable mechanical means for driving said bolt by said outer lip, which comprise  * a pawn or cleat (7),  a cam or pivoting lever (8),  an inner shaft (10),  first non-disengageable mechanical means for driving said bolt by said internal lever, which comprise  an external lever (13) or second handle,  4. Lock according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said mechanical energy converter into electrical energy is an electromagnetic converter such as an alternator or dynamo.  5. A lock according to any one of claims 1 & 4 wherein said third mechanical means for driving said converter by said outer latch comprises a speed multiplier.  The lock of claim 5 wherein the multiplication ratio of said speed multiplier is at least 10.  7. A lock according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said third mechanical means for driving said converter by said outer lip has a freewheel device.  8. A lock according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said clutch comprises a pinion and a pinion female which are likely to be brought closer to each other under the effect of an electric control.  9. Lock according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said clutch or coupler comprises an intermediate shaft (32) sliding, rotated by said outer shaft (12) and capable of moving in translation along the axis ( 9) of rotation common to said inner, outer and intermediate shafts, under 1 action of a coil (34) fed by said converter, which clutch further comprises means (33) for returning said intermediate shaft in a position corresponding to a uncoupling  10. A lock according to any one of claims 1 & 9 wherein the axis (26) of rotation of said converter (14) is substantially parallel to the axis (9) of rotation of said outer lip (13). .