FR3069268A1 - ELECTRONIC LOCK - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic lock comprising an electrical contact (100-102) comprising: a front ball (140) of electrically conductive material capable of rotating on itself around at least two perpendicular axes intersecting at its center, this front ball being reversibly displaceably mounted within a duct (130) hollowed in a first piece (32), between: • a rest position in which a front face of the front ball protrudes inside a an elongate channel (50) adapted to receive a second movable 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 in support on the second piece to establish the electrical connection with the second piece, - means (142) for biasing permanently urge the ball before to its rest position.

Description

The invention relates to an electronic lock.

[002] An electronic lock authorizes access to a building only if an electronic key authorized to open this lock is inserted inside this 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 done via a wired connection established between the electronic key and the electronic lock. Due to the fact that the electronic key can be inserted and then removed from the electronic lock and, generally, turned inside the electronic lock, this wired connection must be established by means of parts which are movable one compared to each other. To this end, 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 into this electronic lock,

- a first part comprising:

• an elongate channel adapted to receive a second movable part in translation or in rotation inside this channel, and • an electrical contact able to establish an electrical connection with the second movable part when it is received inside the elongated canal,

- an electrical conductor which electrically connects the electrical contact to the electronic unlocking mechanism.

Because of its position at the interface between these first and second parts, the electrical contact rubs against the second part. It therefore wears down to a stage 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. However, an electronic lock must withstand, without breakdown 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 in which the electrical contact comprises:

- a conduit dug in the first room, this conduit comprising:

• a front end which opens into the interior of the long channel, and • a rear end which opens onto an external face of the first part,

- a front ball of electrically conductive material capable of rotating on itself around at least two perpendicular axes which intersect in its center, this front ball being mounted reversibly displaceable 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 inside this elongated channel, and • a retracted position in which the front ball is pushed back inside the conduit by the second movable part when it is introduced inside the elongated channel, in the retracted position the front ball being directly in contact with the second part to establish the electrical connection with this second moving part,

- return means which permanently urge the front ball towards its rest position.

The embodiments of this electronic lock can include one or more of the following characteristics:

the lock comprises a rear stud which at least partially obstructs the rear end of the duct, this rear stud being permanently urged by the return means in the direction of the front ball, and the electrical contact comprises a play of one or more balls of connection, each connection ball being able to rotate on itself around at least two perpendicular axes which intersect in its center, this set of connection balls being displaceable in translation reversibly inside the conduit and resting, on one side, directly on a rear face of the front ball and, on the opposite side, directly on the rear stud to permanently urge the front ball towards its rest position;

the rear stud is made of an electrically conductive material and integrated into the electrical conductor, and each connecting ball is made of an electrically conductive material so as to electrically connect the front ball to the electrical conductor;

the following relation is verified: D _BdL <O, 91Di3o, where:

- Dbcil is the diameter of the smallest inscribed circle capable of entirely containing the orthogonal projection, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the conduit, of all the connecting balls which are simultaneously directly supported on the rear stud, and

- Di3o is the diameter of the duct at the level of these connecting balls which are simultaneously directly supported on the rear stud;

the set of connecting balls comprises at least two connecting balls, and the diameter of each of these connecting balls is less than 0.5Di ₃₀ , where Di ₃₀ is the diameter of the conduit at these connecting balls;

the set of connecting balls comprises a single connecting ball;

the set of connecting balls comprises at least two connecting balls located one behind the other along the axis of the conduit;

the diameter of each connecting ball is less than 0.9Di ₄ o, where Di ₄₀ is the diameter of the front ball;

the elastic return means comprises a leaf spring, this leaf spring comprising:

- a proximal end fixed without any degree of freedom on the first part, and

a free distal end bearing on a rear face of the rear stud, this rear face of the rear stud being turned on the side opposite to the front ball;

the roughness Ra of the internal wall of the duct is less than 0.15 pm and the roughness Ra of each ball contained inside this duct is less than 0.1 pm;

the hardness of the inner wall of the conduit is strictly greater than the hardness of each ball contained inside this conduit;

the front end of the duct has a throttle capable of retaining the front ball inside the duct in its rest position;

the first part is a fixed stator of the electronic lock and the second part is the blade of the electronic key, or the first part is a rotor mounted in rotation inside a fixed stator of the electronic lock and the second part is the blade of the electronic key, or the first part is a fixed stator of the electronic lock and the second part is a rotor capable of turning on itself inside the elongated channel, this rotor comprising itself another elongated channel suitable for receiving the blade of the electronic key.

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

- Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a door equipped with an electronic lock;

- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective illustration of a cylinder of the lock of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a schematic illustration in vertical and longitudinal section of the cylinder of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a schematic illustration, in exploded view and in perspective, of a first embodiment of a half-stator of the lock of Figure 2;

- Figure 5 is a schematic illustration, in partial section and in perspective, of the half-stator of Figure 4;

- Figure 6 is a schematic illustration, in vertical section, of the half-stator of Figure 4;

- Figures 7 to 10 are illustrations, in vertical section, of an electrical contact of the lock of Figure 2;

- Figures 11 and 12 are schematic illustrations, in horizontal section, of the electrical contact of Figures 7 to 10;

- Figure 13 is a schematic illustration, partial and in perspective, of a second embodiment of a half-stator of an electronic lock;

- Figure 14 is a schematic illustration, partial and in side view, of a third embodiment of a half-stator of an electronic lock;

- Figure 15 is a schematic illustration, partial and in perspective, of a fourth embodiment of a half-stator of an electronic lock; and

- Figure 16 is a schematic illustration, partial and in perspective, 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 characteristics and functions well known to those skilled in the art are not described in detail.

Figure 1 shows a door 2. This door 2 has an inner side, typically located inside a room, and an outer side on the opposite side. Subsequently, the terms "interior" and "exterior" refer, respectively, to the interior and exterior side of the door 2. The door 2 here extends in a vertical plane. Thereafter, the vertical direction is designated by the direction Z of an orthogonal coordinate system XYZ. The direction X is perpendicular to the vertical plane in which the door 2 mainly extends. All the figures are oriented relative to this reference XYZ.

The door 2 is equipped with a handle 4 and an electronic lock 6. To simplify 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 application FR3025236. For this reason, only the details necessary for understanding the invention are given here. For other details, the reader is referred to request FR3025236.

The lock 6 comprises a bolt 10 movable in translation, parallel to the direction Y, alternately and reversibly, between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the bolt 10 projects beyond the edge of the door 2 to engage in a keeper fixed without any degree of freedom on the frame of the door 2. In the locked position, the bolt 10 locks door 2 in its closed position. In the unlocked position, the bolt 10 is returned inside the door 2 and no longer projects 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 operating the handle 4.

The lock 6 also includes 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 (FIG. 2), authorized to unlock the lock 6, is introduced, then turned inside this cylinder. The cylinder 12 also moves the bolt 10 from its unlocked position to its locked position when the authorized key is introduced and then turned in the opposite direction inside this cylinder. Conversely, when an unauthorized key is inserted inside the cylinder 12, this cylinder prevents the bolt 10 from moving from its locked position to its unlocked position.

Here, the key 16 can be inserted 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 which is flush with the edge of the door 2. The tapped end of the screw 14 is screwed into the cylinder 12 to hold it in place inside the door 2.

Figure 2 shows in more detail the cylinder 12. Here, the cylinder 12 conforms to 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 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 shown in FIG. 2. The plane 28 is a plane of symmetry for the bit 24.

The bit 24 rotates counterclockwise around 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 interior side of the door 2 is called “interior half-stator” and is labeled 30. the reference 32. In this particular embodiment, the half-stators 30 and 32 are almost symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane 28. Thus, only the half-stator 32 is described in more detail by the after.

The half-stator 32 has a front cover 34 parallel to the plane 28 and directly exposed 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 against burglary attempts. This cover 34 is crossed 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 inside the cylinder 12 by a translational movement parallel to the direction X. The orifice 36 is also shaped to allow the key 16 inserted inside the cylinder 12 to turn on itself around the axis 20 .

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

- authorizes the unlocking of lock 6 if the access code received is that of a key authorized to open door 2, and alternately

- prohibits the unlocking of lock 6 if the access code received is that of an unauthorized key.

To this end, the key 16 includes a transmitter 40 and a battery 41.

Here, the blade 38 is devoid of a raised pattern intended to move the pins of the lock to cause mechanical unlocking of the lock 6. By cons, the blade 38 comprises at least one pattern capable of cooperating with a pattern of complementary shape on a rotor of the cylinder 12 to drive this rotor in rotation when the key turns. Here, this pattern on the blade 38 is a flat 42 located on its distal end.

The transmitter 40 is in particular capable of transmitting, via a wired link, an access code to the lock 6. The battery 41 is here also used to power the lock 6 via d 'a wire link. These wired connections are established only when the blade 38 is inserted inside the lock 6. To this end, 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. By way of 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 l '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.

FIG. 3 shows in more 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 therefore 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, in particular, with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of application FR3025236. In particular, the rotor 52 comprises a housing 96 capable of receiving the end of the blade 38. The cross section of this housing 96 comprises at least one shape complementary to the end of the blade 38 so as to be meshed in rotation by the blade 38. Here, this complementary shape is a flat adapted to mesh with the flat 42 of the blade 38. Thus, when an authorized key is turned inside the lock 6, the rotation of the key 16 causes the rotor 52 to rotate, which itself rotates the bit 24.

At its ends, the channel 50 opens into the cover 34 opposite the orifice 36.

Here, the half-stator 32 includes a shell 54 entirely located on the outside of the plane 28 and one 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 includes the front cover 34, the orifice 36 and half of the channel 50 located on the outside. Preferably, the shell 54 is formed from 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 additionally non-conductive. For example, the rigid non-conductive material is ceramic.

The half-stator 32 includes 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, to the shell 54. For example, the mechanism 76 and the member 80 are similar or identical to those described in application FR3025236. To increase the readability of FIG. 3, the representations of the mechanism 76 and of the member 80 have been simplified.

The member 80 moves in translation between a locking position (shown in Figure 3) and a retracted position. In the blocking position, a distal end of the member 80 is received inside a crevice formed in the rotor 52 to prevent rotation of this rotor around the axis 20. In the retracted position, the distal end of the member 80 is located outside the crevice, 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 locking position and its retracted position. Here, this translational movement is parallel to the direction Z.

The mechanism 76 typically includes an controllable electric and / or magnetic actuator 82 and an electronic unit 84 for controlling 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 a command, the actuator 82 maintains the member 80 in its locked position.

The unit 84 is suitable:

to receive an access code contained in a key introduced into the cylinder 12 both from the inside and from the outside of this cylinder 12, then

- as a function of the access code received, to transmit to the actuator 82 an unlocking command which triggers the movement of the member 80 towards its retracted position and, alternately, to inhibit this command in order to keep the member 80 in its blocking position.

To authorize or, on the contrary, inhibit the transmission of the unlocking command, the unit 84 compares the access code received with prerecorded access codes. If the access code received corresponds to one of the prerecorded access codes, then the unit 84 transmits the unlocking command. Otherwise, the unit 84 does not transmit this unlocking command.

Here, the unit 84 communicates with the transmitter 40 via a wired link 106 which is established when the key 16 is fully pressed inside the channel 50. At the same time, the battery 41 transmits the energy necessary to supply the mechanism 76 via two wired links 107 and 108. The link 106 is established via terminal 44 and an electrical contact 100 of the half-stator 32. The connections 107 and 108 are established by means of the terminals 45, 46 and two electrical contacts 101 and 102 of the demistator 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 additional electrical terminals and contacts are used to simultaneously establish three additional redundant wire connections with the wire connections 106 to 108. These additional wire connections are deduced from the wire connections 106 to 108 by symmetries with respect to the vertical plane containing the axis 20. By therefore, they are not described in further detail below.

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 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 shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 in the particular case of the link 106. In these figures, this electrical conductor bears the reference 112. The conductor 112 here comprises a flexible conductive strip 114 and a rear conductive stud 120. The stud 120 comes to bear directly on the contact 100. For example, this stud 120 is a pad plane made of an electrically conductive and hard material. Here, the stud 120 is made of beryllium copper. Its diameter is typically greater than or equal to 1 mm.

In this description, by "electrically conductive material" means a material whose resistivity at 20 ° C is less than 10 ^-6 Qm and preferably less than 10 ^_7 Qm By "hard material" means 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 of the electrical contacts 100-102 are structurally identical to each other. Therefore, only contact 100 is described in more detail.

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

The diameter Di ₃₀ of the conduit 130 is typically greater than 0.5 mm or 1 mm and, generally, less than 4 mm or 3 mm. Here, the diameter Di ₃₀ 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 conduit 130. Typically , the dimensions of the recess 134 are adapted to limit the displacement of the stud 120 in the direction X and therefore maintain this stud 120 opposite the rear end of the conduit 130.

The stud 120 makes it possible to at least partially close the rear end of the conduit 130. For this purpose, its diameter here is strictly greater than the diameter of the opening of the conduit 130 which opens into the bottom of the recess 134.

At its front end, the conduit 130 has a throttle 136 (Figures 8 and 10) which reduces the diameter of the opening of the conduit 130 which opens inside the channel 50. Typically, the inner diameter of the constriction 136 is smaller, at least 0.05 mm or 0.1 mm, to the internal diameter of the duct 130. By way of illustration, the internal diameter of the constriction 136 is for example equal to 0, 95 mm. This constriction makes it possible in particular to retain inside the duct 130 a front ball as will be described in more detail below.

The inner wall of the conduit 130 is made of a hard material, and preferably very hard. Here, this internal wall is made of a material harder than the material used for the balls received inside this conduit. By “harder”, one typically designates a hardness 1.3 times or 1.5 times or 1.8 times greater than the hardness, measured under the same conditions, of the balls received inside this conduit.

The internal wall of the conduit 130 is smooth and, preferably, very smooth. By "smooth internal wall" is meant here an internal wall whose roughness Ra, denoted Rano, is less than 0.35 μm or 0.30 μm. By “very smooth internal wall” is meant here an internal wall whose roughness Ra is less than 0.15 μm or 0.10 μm.

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 ^ o 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 conduit 130 is hollowed out in the shell 54.

The contact 100 includes a spherical front ball 140 housed inside the conduit 130. The ball 140 is free to move in translation, inside the conduit 130, between a rest position, shown in the figures 8 and 10, and a retracted position, shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. In the rest position, the ball 140 rests on the throttle 136. In this rest position, part of the ball 140, called the face front, protrudes inside the channel 50. In the retracted position, the ball 140 is pushed further inside the channel 130 by the terminal 44 on which its front face is directly supported. Typically, the travel of the ball 140 between these rested 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 around any axis passing through its center. To have these different degrees of freedom, the diameter Di ₄₀ of the ball 140 is strictly less than the diameter Di ₃₀ . The diameter Di ₄₀ is also greater than the diameter Di ₃₆ of the constriction 136. For example, the diameter Di ₄₀ is less than Di ₃₀ - 25 pm or Diso - 50 pm. Here, the diameter Di ₃₀ is equal to 1 mm.

The roughness Ra, denoted Rai ₄₀ , of the ball 140 is very low, that is to say less than 0.1 pm and, preferably, less than 0.05 pm or 0.025 pm.

For example, the grade of the ball 140, as defined in the ISO32902002 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, ball 140 is made of stainless steel such as 420C stainless steel.

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

In this embodiment, the return means 142 comprise a leaf spring 144. The leaf spring 144 has a lower end anchored, without any degree of freedom, on the outer face of the shell 54. The spring leaf 144 comprises also a free upper end which permanently urges the stud 120 towards the rear end of the duct 130. For this purpose, the free upper end pushes against a rear face of the stud 120. Here, the lower end of the blade comes out 144 is fixed to the shell 54 using a rivet 146 which passes, for example right through, 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 support 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 leaf spring 144 to the ball 140 and, at the same time time, to electrically connect the ball 140 to the stud 120. In this embodiment, the set of connecting balls comprises a single connecting ball 150. Like the ball 140, the ball 150 can be moved inside the conduit 130 in translation along the axis 132. It is also free to turn on itself around any axis passing through its center. For this purpose, its diameter Di ₅₀ is less than the diameter Di ₃₀ - 25 pm or less than the diameter Di ₃₀ - 50 pm. Its diameter Di ₅₀ is also, for example, large enough so that in the retracted position, the ball 150 is simultaneously in contact, 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 Di ₅₀ is less than 0.9Di ₄₀ . Indeed, this has several advantages including that of reducing the length of the conduit 130 and therefore the size of the contact 100. This also makes it possible to free up free spaces inside the conduit 130 and therefore to allow a radial displacement of the ball 150, that is to say a displacement in a direction perpendicular to the axis 132. Typically, the radial clearance of ball 150 is greater than 0.1Di ₃₀ or 0.1 mm. Here, the diameter Di ₅₀ 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, noted Rai ₅₀ , is also very low. Here, the ball 150 is made of the same material as that 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 everything 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 (shown in Figures 8 and 10). Then, during a first phase of use, the blade 38 is introduced inside the channel 50 by sliding it in translation along the axis 20. During this movement, the outer periphery of the blade 38 comes to rub on the front face of the ball 140. This pushes the ball 140, against the return force of the leaf spring 144, towards its retracted position. This movement also causes the ball 150 and the stud 120 to move in the same direction. The electrical and mechanical contact between the ball 140 and the stud 120 is then ensured by the ball 150.

This translational movement of the blade 38 also rotates the ball

140 around a vertical axis passing through its center. Thus, during this translational movement, 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 rotation of the ball 150, in the opposite direction, about a vertical axis passing through the center of this ball 150. In addition, since there are free spaces around of the ball 150, its vertical axis of rotation also moves in a horizontal direction, typically opposite to the direction X. This horizontal movement of the ball 150 is illustrated in FIG. 11. In this figure and in FIG. 12, the straight arrows in bold represent the direction of movement of the blade 38. The arrows in an arc near 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 moves, this distributes the wear of the stud 120 over a larger surface and therefore prevents the ball 150 from digging a hole too deep inside the face. front of the stud 120. This contributes to the increase in the robustness of the contact 100 with respect to wear.

Once the blade 38 is at the end of its travel, that is to say for example that its end is in support inside the housing 96, the contact 100 and more precisely the front face of the ball 140 is directly supported on terminal 44. The wire connections 106 to 108 are therefore established and the electronic lock 6 is supplied 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 around the axis 20. During 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 around a horizontal axis passing through its center. In a similar way to what has been explained previously, this also also causes the ball 150 to rotate and move radially. Here, the ball 150 turns on itself around a horizontal axis and moves in a vertical direction. More specifically, typically, the ball 150 moves upward to reach the position shown in FIG. 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 shown in FIG. 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 that is too deep inside the stud 120, caused by the friction between the ball 150 and this stud.

120.

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

Figure 13 shows 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 just 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 also 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 over its entire surface.

Figure 14 shows 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 balls of connection 174 to 176. Here, the balls 174 to 176 are located one next to the 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 more diameter small in order to be able to adopt the position shown in FIG. 14. Under these conditions, the balls 174 to 176 are directly in contact, on one side, on the stud 120 and, on the opposite side, on the ball 140. There are therefore three different electrical paths which connect the ball 140 to the stud 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.

FIG. 15 represents an electronic lock 180 identical to the lock 6 except that the contact 100 is replaced by an electrical contact 182. The contact 182 is identical to the 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 duct 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 mode embodiment, the spring is made of an electrically conductive material for electrically connecting the ball 140 to the stud 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 leaf spring 144 is replaced by a blade 186 much more rigid and of the same shape.

Tests have been carried out by the depositor 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 cannot roll on the blade 38 during of its introduction or of its rotation inside the channel 50. However, these tests also showed that the wear of the contact 182 was faster than in the previous embodiments provided with a set of connecting balls. This observation seems to apply to all embodiments without such a set of connecting balls.

Figure 16 shows 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 ball 150 is replaced by a cylindrical piston 194. One end of this piston 194 is directly supported 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 by example made of the same material as the ball 150. On the other hand, the piston 194 is unable to rotate on itself around an axis perpendicular to the axis 132 of the conduit 130.

Different variants of the embodiments described here will now be presented.

Variants of the electronic lock:

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

The mechanical architecture of the electronic lock can be different from that described here. For example, the electronic lock may have a single demistator. In this case, the interior 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 application FR3025236 also apply to the embodiments described here.

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. of 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 part of an electronic lock from the moment when the first part comprises a slender channel capable of receive the second part and the second part is movable, in translation and / or in rotation, inside this channel. For example, in certain embodiments of an electronic lock, the channel 50 is produced 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 conduit is produced in the rotor and no longer in the stator. In another embodiment, the channel is produced inside the rotor and the mechanism 76 remains housed inside the stator as described, for example, with reference to FIG. 3. In this case, electrical contacts such as as those described here, can be implemented to provide 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 conductive wire.

The stud 120 can take other forms than that presented in the embodiments described so far. For example, the stud 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 leaf spring 144 by a rod, one end of which is fixed to the upper end of the leaf spring 144 and the other end is fixed to the rear face of the block 120 In this case, the stud 120 is typically permanently located inside the duct 130.

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

As a variant, the conduit 130 is inclined relative to the direction Y. In another variant, the conduit 130 is not straight.

The cross section of the conduit 130 is not necessarily circular. For example, the cross section of the duct can be square or ellipsoidal or any other shape which allows the ball (s) to be retained inside this duct. 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 conduit at the location where the set of connecting balls is located may be greater than the diameter of this same conduit at the level of the ball 140. In this case, there is space to allow the balls to move. of connection in a transverse plane of the conduit even if the diameter of these connecting balls is equal to or greater than that of the ball 140. By way of illustration, the conduit may be in the form of a truncated cone.

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

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

The internal wall of the conduit 130 can also be made of an electrically conductive material and electrically isolated from the other electrical contacts of the same lock. For example, for this, the shell 54 is made of an electrically insulating material and the internal 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 by means of 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 jacket which opens into the recess 134 without passing through the stud 120. In this case, the stud 120 is only used to permanently urge the ball 140 towards its rest position. It is therefore no longer necessary to produce it in a conductive material. For example, the stud 120 no longer necessarily constitutes the end of the conductor 112. In this embodiment, the ball 150 is also not necessarily used to establish the electrical connection between the ball 140 and the mechanism 76. Consequently , the ball 150 can 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 leaf spring 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 leaf spring electrically isolated from the other leaf springs. Electrical conductors, such as conductor 112, can then be omitted.

The different embodiments of the elastic return means described here can be combined together. For example, the return means can comprise both a leaf spring such as the leaf spring 144 and a helical spring such as the spring 184. It is also possible to replace, in all of the embodiments described here, the leaf spring by a coil spring and vice versa. It is possible to produce the return means using something other than a coil spring or a leaf spring. For example, the return means can be produced using an elastomer block. For example, in lock 180, spring 184 is replaced by such an elastomer block.

The set of connecting balls may include any number of connecting balls and, in particular, more than two or three connecting balls. These connecting balls can be placed one behind the other as described in the case of lock 160 and / or one next to the other as described in the case of lock 170.

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

A set of connecting balls can be introduced into all the embodiments described here where such a set of connecting balls is absent.

Conversely, in all the embodiments described here comprising a set of connecting balls, this can be omitted to keep only the ball 140.

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

Advantages of the embodiments described here:

The fact that the electrical contact between the part provided with the channel and the movable part inside this channel is ensured by a ball capable of rotating on itself around at least two perpendicular axes passing through its center, limit heavy wear of the electrical contact. Indeed, during the displacement of the second moving part, the ball 140 rolls on the outer periphery of this second moving part. This greatly limits the friction between this second movable 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 using this ball 140 and lengthens the life of the lock.

The use of a set of connecting balls interposed between the ball 140 and the stud 120 makes it possible to further limit the wear of the electrical contact.

The fact of making each connecting ball and the rear stud in 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 registered diameter of the connecting 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, allows d 'Improving the wear resistance of the stud 120. In fact, in this case, the point of contact between the connecting ball or balls and the stud 120 is not always in the same place. The wear of the stud 120 is therefore distributed over a larger area. Consequently, the thinning of the stud 120 at a specific point is reduced.

When the set of connecting balls comprises at least two connecting balls located one behind the other, the rotation blocking of the connecting ball bearing on the stud 120 does not prevent the rotation of the ball 140 and of the connecting ball which is supported on this ball 140. Thus, the wear of the ball 140 remains limited despite the blocking in rotation of one of the connecting balls.

When the set of connecting balls comprises several connecting balls placed one next to the other in a transverse plane of the conduit, there are then simultaneously several electrical paths for connecting the ball 140 to the stud 120. This reduces the electrical resistance of the electrical connection. This also reduces the length of the conduit and therefore the size 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 less than the diameter of the ball 140 makes it possible to reduce the length of the conduit 130 and therefore to reduce the size of the electrical contact.

The fact of using a conduit in the internal wall is very smooth and very smooth balls also makes it possible to further reduce 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 makes it possible to further reduce the wear of the balls and therefore the wear of the electrical contact.

Claims (13)

1. 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 inserted into this electronic lock, - a first part (32) comprising: • an elongated channel (50) capable of receiving a second movable part (38) in translation or in rotation inside this channel, and • an electrical contact (100-102; 162; 172; 182; 192) capable of establish an electrical connection with the second moving part when it is received inside the elongated channel, - an electrical conductor (112) which electrically connects the electrical contact to the controllable unlocking mechanism, characterized in that the electrical contact comprises: - a conduit (130) hollowed out in the first part, this conduit comprising: • a front end which opens into the interior of the long channel, and • a rear end which opens onto an external face of the first part, - a front ball (140) of electrically conductive material capable of rotating on itself around at least two perpendicular axes which intersect at its center, this front ball being mounted reversibly displaceable 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 inside this elongated channel, and • a retracted position in which the front ball is pushed back inside the conduit by the second movable part when it is introduced inside the elongated channel, in the retracted position the front ball being directly in contact with the second part to establish the electrical connection with this second moving part, - Return means (142; 184) which permanently urge the front ball towards its rest position. 2. Lock according to claim 1, in which: the lock comprises a rear stud (120) which at least partially obstructs the rear end of the duct, this rear stud being permanently urged by the return means in the direction of the front ball, and - The electrical contact includes a set of one or more balls (150; 164, 166; 174176) of connection, each connection ball being able to turn on itself around at least two perpendicular axes which intersect in its center, this set of connecting balls being reversibly displaceable in translation inside the duct (130) and bearing, on one side, directly on a 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. 3. Lock according to claim 2, in which: the rear stud (120) is made of an electrically conductive material and integrated into 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). 4. Lock according to claim 2 or 3, in which the following relation is verified: D _Bc il <0,91Di ₃₀ , where: - D _BdL is the diameter of the smallest inscribed circle capable of entirely containing the orthogonal projection, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the conduit, of all the connecting balls which are simultaneously directly supported on the rear stud, and - Diso is the diameter of the duct at the level of these connecting balls which are simultaneously directly supported on the rear stud. 5. Lock according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which: the set of connecting balls comprises at least two connecting balls (164, 166; 174176), and - The diameter of each of these connecting balls is less than 0.5Di ₃₀ , where Di ₃₀ is the diameter of the conduit at the level of these connecting balls. 6. Lock according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the set of connecting balls comprises a single connecting ball (150). 7. Lock according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the set of connecting balls comprises at least two connecting balls (164, 166) located one behind the other along the axis of the conduit . 8. Lock according to any one of claims 2 to 7, in which the diameter of each connecting ball is less than 0.9Di ₄₀ , where Di ₄₀ is the diameter of the front ball (140). 9. Lock according to any one of claims 2 to 8, in which the elastic return means (142) comprises a leaf spring (144), this leaf spring comprising: - a proximal end fixed without any degree of freedom on the first part, and - A free distal end resting on a rear face of the rear stud (120), this rear face of the rear stud being turned on the side opposite to the front ball (140). 10. Lock according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the roughness Ra of the internal wall of the conduit (130) is less than 0.15 pm and the roughness Ra of each ball contained inside this conduit is less at 0.1 pm. 11. Lock according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the hardness of the internal wall of the duct (130) is strictly greater than the hardness of each ball contained inside this duct. 12. Lock according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the front end of the duct has a throttle (136) capable of retaining the front ball inside the duct in its rest position. 13. Lock according to any one of the preceding claims, in which: - the first part is a stator (32) fixed to the electronic lock and the second part is the blade (38) of the electronic key (16), or - the first part is a rotor mounted for rotation 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 turning on itself inside the elongated channel, this rotor itself comprising another elongated channel capable of receiving the blade ( 38) of the electronic key (16).