FR3075240A1 - ELECTRONIC LOCK - Google Patents

Abstract

 Electronic lock in which:  - the center of gravity of a locking lever (34) is located at least 0.1 mm below a horizontal plane passing through an axis (36) of rotation of this lever (34) when the locking lever is in a locked position, and / or  - a mechanism (30, 33a, 38, 45, 46) for non-contact retaining of the locking lever (34) in its locking position, comprises a storage arm (38) movable in rotation, independently of the locking lever, around of the axis (36) of rotation, between a rest position and a storage position, the center of gravity of the storage arm being located at least 0.1 mm below the horizontal plane passing through the axis (36 ) of rotation when the storage arm is in its rest position.

Description

ELECTRONIC LOCK [ooi] The invention relates to an electronic lock.

The applicant knows electronic locks intended to be mounted vertically on a door and to be controlled by a key comprising electronic means for controlling the unlocking of the electronic lock. These electronic locks include:

- a stator and a rotor mounted for rotation in the stator and provided with a channel into which the key can be inserted,

- a rotor locking member movable in a housing of the stator between a locking position in which it is engaged with the rotor to block its rotation and a retracted position in which it releases the rotation of the rotor,

- an axis of rotation mechanically connected to the stator,

- a locking lever movable in rotation, around the axis of rotation, between:

• a vertical locking position in which the locking lever is able to hold the locking member in its locking position against a force urging the locking member towards its retracted position, and • a position of unlocking in which the locking lever does not oppose the displacement of the locking member from its locking position to its retracted position,

a contactless retaining mechanism for the locking lever in its locking position so that in its locking position, the locking lever is mechanically in contact with the stator only via its axis of rotation in the absence of a key inside the channel, this retaining mechanism comprising for this purpose at least one permanent magnet and at least one magnetic part attracted by this permanent magnet, one of the permanent magnet and of the magnetic part being movable in rotation around of the axis of rotation and the other of the permanent magnet and the magnetic part being integral with the stator, this permanent magnet and this magnetic part being arranged relative to each other so as to exert a magnetic force which keeps the locking lever in its locked position.

Such a known lock is for example disclosed in patent application WO2014037639A1. The embodiments described in application WO2014037639A1 are advantageous in that the stability of the locking position of the locking lever with respect to vibrations is important. Consequently, it is difficult to accidentally move the locking lever from its locking position to its unlocking position by applying vibrations to such an electronic lock. Typically, these vibrations are caused by shocks applied to the electronic lock.

To increase the stability of the locking position with respect to shocks, application WO2014037639A1 teaches that it is necessary:

- that the center of gravity of the locking lever is located on the axis of rotation,

- that, in the locking position, the locking lever is mechanically in contact with the stator only via this axis of rotation, and

- a magnetic force which permanently recalls the locking lever towards its locking position.

The invention aims to provide an alternative solution as stable, or even more stable, vis-à-vis vibrations in the particular case of locks intended to be mounted vertically in a door. It therefore relates to such an electronic lock in which:

- the center of gravity of the locking lever is located at least 0.1 mm below a horizontal plane passing through the axis of rotation when the locking lever is in its locked position, and / or

the retaining mechanism comprises a storage arm which can be moved in rotation, independently of the locking lever, around the axis of rotation, between:

• a rest position in which it maintains the locking lever in its locking position, and • a storage position in which it releases the movement of the locking lever towards its unlocking position, the center of gravity of the storage arm being located at least 0.1 mm below the horizontal plane passing through the axis of rotation when the storage arm is in its rest position.

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

the center of gravity of the locking lever and / or the storage arm is located more than 0.5 mm or more than 1 mm below the horizontal plane passing through the axis of rotation when the locking lever is in its locked position and the memory arm is in its rest position;

the distance between the axis of rotation and the center of gravity of a component chosen from the group consisting of the lever and the storage arm is greater than 0.05Linf or O.lLinf, where the length L _in f is equal to the shortest distance between the axis of rotation and a distant point, this distant point being defined as follows:

the distant point belongs to a straight line defined by the intersection of a first plane, containing the axis of rotation and the center of gravity, and of a second plane perpendicular to the first plane and passing through the center of gravity, and

- the distant point belongs to the lower part of the component, and

- the distant point is the point of the lower part of the component furthest from the axis of rotation the retaining mechanism comprises the storage arm, and the storage arm comprises a stop or a stud capable of coming into mechanical abutment on the locking lever when the storage arm is in its rest position to hold the locking lever in its locked position;

- the retaining mechanism includes the storage arm,

the lock comprises at least one magnet fixed to the stator or the storage arm to move the storage arm from its rest position to its storage position,

- one of the stator and the storage arm has a hoop made of magnetic material and the other of the stator and the arm has a magnetic tooth facing the hoop so as to create a first air gap by the through which a first magnetic circuit which loops connects two opposite poles of the magnet, the tooth and the hoop being shaped so that:

the thickness of the first air gap decreases as the storage arm rotates from its rest position to its storage position, and / or

- the surface of the faces of the arch and of the facing tooth increases, in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the arm, as the arm rotates from its rest position towards its memory position.

the stator also includes a finger made of magnetic material creating a second magnetic circuit connecting the two opposite poles of the same magnet passing through the storage arm and a second air gap between the storage arm and one end of the finger, the storage arm and the end of the finger being shaped so that the reluctance of the second air gap is less than that of the first air gap when the storage arm is in its rest position;

the blocking member comprises a magnetic part creating a third magnetic circuit which connects the two opposite poles of the same magnet by passing through the storage arm and a point of contact between the arm and the magnetic part of the blocking member, the storage arm and the magnetic part being shaped so that the magnetic moment generated by this third magnetic circuit is greater than the magnetic moment of the first magnetic circuit when the storage arm is in its storage position;

the locking lever is made of magnetic material and is shaped so that the permanent magnet permanently urges the lever towards its unlocking position;

at any point S of the face of the arch opposite the magnetic tooth, the center of the osculating circle at this point S is always on the same side of a plane containing the axis of rotation of the memorization arm and this point S;

the magnet and the arm form a fourth air gap, the arm and the magnet being shaped so that the thickness of the fourth air gap decreases as the arm moves from its rest position to its storage position.

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 an electronic lock,

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective illustration of an electric locking mechanism for the lock of FIG. 1,

- Figure 3 is a schematic illustration in front view of the locking mechanism of Figure 2

- Figure 4 is a schematic sectional illustration of a locking lever for the mechanism of Figure 2,

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration in front view of a storage arm for the mechanism of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a partial schematic illustration of the locking mechanism of FIG. 2 when the storage arm is in the rest position,

FIG. 7 is a partial diagrammatic illustration of the mechanism of FIG. 2 when the storage arm moves from its rest position to its storage position,

FIG. 8 is a partial schematic illustration of the mechanism of FIG. 2 when the storage arm is in the storage position,

- Figure 9 is a flowchart of a method of operating the lock of Figure 1,

FIG. 10 illustrates a first variant of the locking mechanism in FIG. 2,

FIG. 11 illustrates a second variant of the locking mechanism of FIG. 2, and

- Figure 12 illustrates a third variant of the locking mechanism of Figure 2;

FIG. 13 represents a variant of the storage arm of the locking mechanism of FIG. 11.

Chapter I: Definitions and notations:

In these figures the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[ooio] In the following description, the characteristics and functions well known to those skilled in the art are not described in detail.

[ooii] By "vertically mounted lock" means the fact that the axis of symmetry of the cross section of the lock is vertical and the locking lever is located below the locking member.

[ooi2] In this description, by “magnetic material” we mean a material whose relative magnetic permeability is strictly greater than 1 and, preferably, greater than 100 or 1000. For example, the material is a ferromagnetic material such as l 'steel.

[ooi3] In this description, the term “gap” designates the space, typically filled with air, which separates two magnetic pieces opposite and by means of which the field lines of a circuit are looped back. magnetic. Thus, an air gap mechanically separates the two magnetic parts.

[ooi4] We define the reluctance of an air gap using the following relation: R = E / (μ _0. S), where:

- R is the reluctance of the air gap,

- E is the thickness of the air gap,

- / Joest the permeability of the vacuum, and

- S is the cross section of the faces opposite each side of the air gap.

[ooi5] Chapter II: Examples of embodiments:

[ooi6] Figure 1 shows an electronic lock 2 in the particular case of a double barrel lock. A single barrel is visible in FIG. 1. By way of illustration, the lock 2 is here identical to that described in application EP2412901A1 except as regards the locking mechanism. Consequently, the reader is referred to the content of this application EP2412901A1 for more detail on the parts other than this locking mechanism.

[ooi7] It is recalled here that this lock 2 extends in depth along a direction Z perpendicular to horizontal and vertical directions, respectively X and Y. In this description, the terms "lower", "upper", " above ”,“ below ”are defined with reference to the direction Y.

[ooi8] The two barrels are conventionally housed in a door (not shown). In the space between the two barrels is arranged, in a conventional manner, a bit (not shown) which can be rotated by a rotor 4 of either of the two barrels when a suitable key, for example a key 5 is introduced into a channel 6 of the rotor 4 and turned manually by a user.

[ooi9] When rotated by the key 5 and the rotor 4, the bit controls a conventional lock mechanism (not shown) which causes the displacement of at least one bolt of the lock in a direction allowing the door opening or in a direction preventing the door from opening according to the direction of rotation of the key 5.

The rotor 4 of the barrel 2 is rotatably mounted in a profiled stator 7. The stator 7 is itself housed in an outer sheath 8 having the same profile. In the example, stator 7 has a standardized, so-called "European" profile. Still in the example, the axis of rotation of the rotor 4 is parallel to the direction Z.

The key 5, which for example has a substantially rectangular cross section, can cause the rotor 4 to rotate provided that a mechanism 9 for electronic locking is itself in an unlocked state.

Indeed, the lock 2 comprises an additional blocking member 10 intended to prevent the rotor 4 from turning until an appropriate digital code has not been transmitted to an electronic circuit 12 housed in the lock 2 (on the Figure 1 the circuit 12 is arranged outside the barrel 2 to simplify the drawings). The appropriate numeric code is contained in a memory (not shown) housed in the key

5. Circuit 12, when it receives the appropriate code, generates an electrical unlocking order. This order controls the mechanism 9 to allow the rotor 4 to be released.

For example, the code is transmitted from the key 5 to the electronic circuit 12 of the lock over the air or by means of electrical contacts. For radio transmission, preferably, the key 5 is equipped with a transponder and the circuit 12 is equipped with a transponder reader.

When the key 5 is introduced into the channel 6 of the rotor 4, the digital code contained in the memory of the key 5 is transmitted to the circuit 12. In response, the circuit 12 then compares the transmitted code to at least one code prerecorded in a memory. If the two codes match, the circuit 12 generates the electrical unlocking order of the mechanism 9.

In the embodiment of the lock shown in the drawings, the additional locking member 10 is a stator pin which cooperates with a corresponding rotor pin 18. When the correct key is introduced into the channel 6, the interface between these two pins is located exactly at the interface of the stator 7 and the rotor 4. The locking member 10 is extended by a conical stud 20, with rounded top , which is engaged in a corresponding frustoconical recess 22 formed in the rotor pin 18. In the example, the member 10 is made of a magnetic material.

The member 10 is movable between a locking position (shown in Figure 1) in which it is engaged with the rotor 4 to block its rotation and a retracted position in which it releases the rotation of the rotor 4. A For this purpose, the member 10 is slidably mounted in a cylindrical housing 24 which is formed in the stator 7. The housing 24 is axially aligned with a housing 26 in the rotor 4 in which the rotor pin 18 slides. The member 10 also comprises a transverse bar 28 which is formed integrally with the member 10, at the lower end thereof. One end of the bar 28 is shaped to form a heel 29. Advantageously, the two sides of the bar 28 are engaged and guided in slots (not shown) formed in the wall of the housing 24. These slots prevent the member from blocking 10 to rotate when it moves in the cylindrical housing 24.

The mechanism 9 will now be described in more detail with reference to Figures 2 and 3.

The mechanism 9 includes a cavity 32. The cavity 32 is a hollowed out area arranged inside the stator 7. In the example, the cavity 32 is located below the housing 24 and receives the bar 28.

The mechanism 9 includes a spring 50 adapted to urge the member 10 towards its locking position when the housings 24 and 26 are opposite. This spring 50 bears, at its lower end, against the bottom of the cavity 32 and at its upper end against the underside of the heel 29 of the member 10.

The mechanism 9 also includes a permanent magnet 30 capable of radiating a magnetic field. The magnet 30 is housed in a compartment of the stator 7 provided for this purpose. In the example, the magnet 30 is disposed on a support 33 delimiting the lower periphery and the left side of the cavity 32. This support 33 is made of a magnetic material, preferably ferromagnetic, so as to channel the flux of the field magnetic radiated by the magnet 30. In the example, the support 33 has a bend from which extends a horizontal finger 33a and a vertical tooth 33b.

[oo3i] The finger 33a extends horizontally to the bottom of the cavity 32 and ends in a distal end 40 which extends mainly vertically. The end 40 is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6.

The tooth 33b extends vertically from the bottom of the cavity 32 to the bar 28. Here, the cross section of the tooth 33a flares from its free end towards the elbow.

The magnet 30 is arranged inside the elbow of the support 33.

The mechanism 9 comprises a controllable source 52 of magnetic field capable of modifying, and for example reversing, the flow of the magnetic field in the finger 33a. In the example, the source 52 is a coil wound around the finger 33a.

The mechanism 9 also includes a locking lever 34 movable between:

a locking position in which the lever 34 can be immobilized by the blocking member 10 to oppose its movement towards the retracted position, and

- An unlocking position in which the blocking member 10 is free to leave its blocking position.

The lever 34 is disposed in the cavity 32. Here, the lever 34 is in the locked position when the lever 34 is vertical, that is to say that it extends mainly along the direction Y The lever 34 is in the unlocking position when it extends in an oblique direction belonging to the plane formed by the directions X and Y. In FIGS. 2 and 3 the lever 34 is in the locking position. In FIG. 3, the parts which obscure the lever 34 have been omitted to make it more visible.

The displacement of the lever 34 from its locking position to its unlocking position is achieved by rotation of the lever 34 clockwise. To this end, the lever 34 is mounted to rotate freely on an axis 36. The axis 36 is parallel to the direction Z is fixed without any degree of freedom on the stator 7.

The lever 34 is shaped so that when it is in the locked position, a clearance 37a (visible in Figure 3) remains between the lever 34 and the bar 28. This clearance 37a is large enough to allow the lever 34 to turn from its locked position to its unlocked position. Thus, in the absence of a key inside the channel 7, the lever 34 is only in mechanical contact with the stator 7 via the axis 36.

However, when the lever 34 is in the locked position and the key 5 is inserted into the channel 6 and then turned, the rotor 4 exerts a force on the member 10 pushing this member 10 towards its retracted position. Organ 10 is slightly moved down. The game 37a is then canceled and the movement of the member 10 towards its retracted position is prevented. When the play 37a is zero, the lever 34 is immobilized in rotation.

Furthermore, in this example when the member 10 is moved down and the game 37a is canceled, the member 10 exerts on the lever 34 a force urging this lever 34 towards the bottom of the cavity 32 This force elastically deforms the axis 36 so that a lower end of the lever 34 abuts against the bottom of the cavity 32. Thus, when the play 37a is canceled, the lever 34 is immobilized between the member 10 and the bottom of the cavity 32.

Once the member 10 ceases to exert the force urging the lever 34 towards the bottom of the cavity 32, the axis 36, by reverse elastic deformation, returns to its initial position in which the lever 34 is not in abutment at the bottom of the cavity 32.

The mechanism 9 also includes a storage arm 38 able to store an electrical unlocking order even if the lever 34 is immobilized by the member 10. The arm 38 is movable between:

a rest position (shown in FIGS. 2 and 6), and

- a storage position (shown in FIG. 8), in response to the electrical unlocking order.

Here, the arm 38 is in the rest position when it extends essentially vertically. In the rest position, one end of the arm 38 is very close to the end 40 and mechanically separated from the end 40 by a gap 46 (Figure

6). Thus, in the rest position, the arm 38 is in contact with the stator 7 only through the axis 36.

The arm 38 is in the storage position when an upper end 39 of the arm 38 is in abutment against the heel 29 (see FIG. 8).

The arm 38 is disposed inside the cavity 32. Here, the arm 38 is mounted to rotate freely about the axis 36. The movement of the arm 38 from its rest position to its storage position s '' rotates clockwise around axis 36.

The arm 38 is shaped so that, when the arm 38 is in its rest position, a clearance 37b (visible in FIG. 2) separates the bar 28 from the upper end 39. This clearance 37b is larger than the clearance 37a so that even when the lever 34 is blocked by the bar 28 (and therefore that the clearance 37a is zero), the clearance 37b is non-zero. The arm 38 can therefore always move to memorize the unlocking order regardless of whether the lever 34 is immobilized or not.

The arm 38 is a magnetic part. It is made of a magnetic material, preferably ferromagnetic, so that it can be moved by magnetic forces which create a moment of rotation of the arm 38 around the axis 36. The directions and the intensities of the magnetic forces which are exerted on the arm 38 depend in particular on the shape and the thickness of the air gaps between the arm 38 and the nearby magnetic parts. The arm 38 is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5.

Figure 4 shows in more detail the lever 34. This figure is a sectional view along a vertical section plane passing through the lever 34 and the magnet 30. The lever 34 is also a magnetic part. It is made of a magnetic material, preferably ferromagnetic. The magnet 30 and the lever 34 are arranged facing each other so that the magnet 30 permanently biases the lever 34 towards its unlocking position. The part of the lever 34 facing the magnet 30 and the magnet 30 forms an air gap 341.

The lever 34 tends to position itself vis-à-vis the magnet 30 so as to minimize the reluctance of the air gap 341. Here, the lever 34 is shaped so that the thickness E of the air gap 341 decreases as the lever 34 rotates from its locked position to its unlocked position. To this end, the lower end of the lever 34 forms a foot 342 comprising a bevel 346 facing the magnet 30. The bevel 346 is inclined so that the distance between this bevel 346 and the magnet 30 decreases as lever 34 rotates clockwise. In the example, the reluctance of the air gap 341 is minimum when the lever 34 is in the unlocked position.

The lever 34 also includes a flat 348 disposed on an upper end 350 of the lever 34. This flat 348 forms a stop for the bar 28 opposing the movement of the member 10 when the lever 34 is in the locked position. and that the member 10 moves from its blocking position to its retracted position.

Preferably, the lever 34 is dimensioned so that its center of gravity is located more than 0.1 mm and, preferably more than 0.5 mm or 1 mm, below the horizontal passing plane by the pin 36 when it is located in its locked position. Here, the distance between the axis 36 and the center of gravity of the lever 34 is greater than 0.05L _in f34, or 0.1 lL _in f34, where the length L _in f34 is equal to the shortest distance between l axis 36 of rotation and a distant point. This distant point is defined as follows:

the distant point belongs to a straight line defined by the intersection of a first plane, containing the axis 36 and the center 112 of gravity of the lever 34, and of a second plane perpendicular to the first plane and passing through the center of gravity, and

the distant point belongs to the lower part of the lever 34, and

- The distant point is the point on the lower part of the lever 34 furthest from the axis of rotation.

For this purpose, here, the weight P _S up34 of the upper part of the lever 34 is strictly less than the weight P _in f34 of the lower part of the lever 34. The upper parts Psup34 and lower Pinf34 are the parts of the lever 34 located, respectively, above and below the horizontal plane passing through the axis 36 when the lever 34 is in its locked position. Preferably, the weight P _in f34 is greater than 1.2 P _SU p34 or 1.5 P _SU p34 or 2P _SUP 34.

The lever 34 also includes a pad 352 for repositioning the lever 34 which extends from the foot 342 in the direction Z.

Figure 5 shows in more detail the arm 38. The arm 38 has a hoop 42 which extends from a lower end 41 of this arm 38. The hoop 42 and the tooth 33b form a gap 44 by the through which a magnetic circuit Cl loops connecting the two opposite poles of the magnet 30. The magnetic circuit Cl exerts a magnetic force Fl on the arm 38. This circuit Cl passes successively through:

a gap 45 between the magnet 30 and the face opposite the arch 42,

- arch 42,

- the air gap 44, then

- the tooth 33b for looping back on the magnet 30.

To simplify the figures, the magnetic circuits presented in this description are illustrated for each one in a single figure. However, these magnetic circuits exist in all the positions shown in the figures and vary according to the position of the arm 38 and of the lever 34. Furthermore, still with the aim of simplifying the figures, only the preponderant magnetic circuits have been shown. However, an infinite number of magnetic circuits are looped back inside the lock described.

The hoop 42 is shaped so that the reluctance of the air gap 44 decreases when the arm 38 moves from its rest position to its storage position. Here, the shape of the hoop 42 is such that the thickness of the air gap 44 decreases as the arm 38 rotates from its rest position to its storage position. Under these conditions, the arm 38 is biased by the magnet 30 towards its storage position without consuming energy.

In the example, the hoop 42 has a concave face 420 facing the magnet 30 and the tooth 33b. The profile of the face 420 can be approximated, as a first approach, by an arc of a circle which extends over an angular portion greater than or equal to 10 degrees and, preferably, greater than or equal to 20, 30, or 40 degrees. The position of this circular arc is, for example, adjusted by the method of least squares to minimize the differences between this circular arc and the real profile of the face 420. In the example described, the profile of the face 420 n 'is not strictly an arc since its free end is slightly more curved inwards.

In this example, the arm 38 is shaped so that at any point S of the face 420, the center 422 of the osculating circle 424 at this point S is always on the same side of a plane 426 containing the axis 36 and the point S. Preferably, the center 422 does not belong to the plane 426 and is situated below the latter in this example. Under these conditions, the force F1 creates a moment M which can move the arm 38 from its rest position to its storage position. In the description, the term “moment of a magnetic force” designates the moment of the magnetic force capable of making the arm 38 pivot around the axis 36. A condition for a magnetic force to exert a moment on the arm 38 is that this force is directed in a non-intersecting direction with the axis 36.

In the example illustrated, the arm 38 is advantageously shaped so that the thickness of the air gap 45 also decreases as the arm 38 moves from its rest position to its storage position.

The arm 38 also includes a stop 51 capable of holding the lever 34 in its locking position against the stress exerted by the magnet 30 when the arm 38 is in its rest position. In the example, the stop 51 is a projection disposed on the arch 42. Here, the stop 51 extends radially over the internal radius of the arch 42. When the arm 38 is in the rest position, the stop 51 is supported on the pad 352 and thus keeps the lever 34 in the locked position.

[oo6i] The arm 38 is dimensioned so that its center of gravity is located more than 0.1 mm and, preferably more than 0.5 mm or 1 mm, below the horizontal plane passing through the axis 36 when it is located in its rest position. Here, the distance between the axis 36 and the center of gravity of the arm 38 is greater than 0.05L _itl f38, or 0.1 lL _in f38. The length Lmos is defined as the length L ^ except that the center of gravity and the distant point this time belong to the arm 38 and no longer to the lever 34.

For this purpose, here, the weight P _S up38 of the upper part of the arm 38 is strictly less than the Pinos weight of the lower part of the arm 38. The upper parts P _SUP 38 and lower P _in f38 are the parts of the arms 38 located, respectively, above and below the horizontal plane passing through the axis 36 when the arm 38 is in its rest position. Preferably, the weight P inf38 is greater than al, 2P _S up38 or 1.5P _S up38 OR 2Psup38 [0063] Figure 6 shows the arm 38 in its rest position. In the rest position, the lower end 41 of the arm 38 forms with the end 40 a gap 46 by which a magnetic circuit C2 is looped connecting the two opposite poles of the magnet 30. Advantageously, the end 40 is bevelled so as to maximize the magnetic force exerted between the ends 40 and 41. The magnetic circuit C2 passes successively through the finger 33a, the air gap 46, the arch 42 and the air gap 45. The reluctance of the air gap 46 is minimized when the arm 38 is in the rest position. The arm 38 and the support 33 are shaped so that when the arm 38 is in the rest position, the reluctance of the air gap 45 is lower and, for example twice less, than the reluctance of the air gap 44.

F2 denotes the magnetic force exerted by the magnetic circuit C2 on the arm 38. The combination of the arch 42, the magnet 30, the finger 33a and the air gaps 45 and 46 forms a non-contact retaining mechanism lever 34 in its locked position. In fact, in the rest position, these elements create a force F2 whose moment is greater, and for example 1.5 times or twice greater, at the moment of the force F1 exerted at the same instant on the arm 38. In these conditions, the force F2 retains the arm 38 in its rest position and therefore, by means of the stop 51 and the stud 352, the lever 34 in its locked position. In addition, this retaining mechanism retains the lever 34 in its locked position without consuming electrical energy. Indeed, for this, the source 52 does not need to be supplied.

Figure 7 shows the arm 38 rotating from its rest position to its storage position. In this position, the reluctance of the air gap 44 is less than the reluctance of the air gap 46.

Figure 8 shows the arm 38 in the storage position. In this position, the upper end 39 of the arm 38 is in mechanical abutment on the heel 29 at a point 48 through which a third magnetic circuit C3 which loops connects the two opposite poles of the magnet 30. This circuit C3 passes successively through the air gap 45, the arch 42, the arm 38, the point 48, the bar 28 and the tooth 33b.

F3 denotes the magnetic force exerted by the magnetic circuit C3 on the arm 38.

The operation of the lock will now be described with reference to FIG. 9.

In a preliminary step 60, the lock is in a locked state. In this locked state, the housings 24 and 26 face each other and the member 10 is in its locked position. The arm 38 is kept stable in the rest position (Figure 6). When the arm 38 is in the rest position, the air gap 46 being thinner than the air gap 44, the moment of the magnetic force F2 is stronger than the moment of the magnetic force Fl. In addition, the moment of the force F3 is very small in front of the moment of the force F2 because in the rest position the end 39 is separated by a great distance from the heel 29. The moment of the magnetic force F2 biases the arm 38 counterclockwise if the arm attempts to rotate clockwise and urges arm 38 clockwise if the arm attempts to rotate counterclockwise. The rest position of the arm 38 is therefore stable. In addition, due to the fact that the center of gravity of the arm 38 is located under the axis 36, the force of gravity also contributes to keeping the arm 38 in its rest position. In fact, in the rest position, the moment of the force of gravity is zero. By cons, as soon as the arm 38 moves away from the rest position, the moment of the force of gravity is opposed to displacement and tends to bring the arm 38 back to its rest position.

In its rest position, the arm 38 maintains the lever 34 in its locked position by means of the stop 51 and the pad 352.

[oo7i] During a step 62, a user inserts the key 5 into the channel 6 of the lock. The circuit 12 reads the digital code carried by the key 5. If this digital code is wrong, the mechanism 9 remains in the locked state. Thus, when the user tries to turn the rotor 4, the member 10 sinks into the housing 24 until the play 37a is canceled. The member 10 is then in abutment against the lever 34. The member 10 being unable to reach its retracted position, the rotor 4 cannot rotate and the lock remains in the locked state. The lock therefore returns to step 60.

If the digital code carried by the key is correct, an unlocking order for the mechanism 9 is generated during a step 64.

During this step 64, in response to the unlocking order, an electrical pulse is generated at the terminals of the source 52. The source 52 then radiates an electromagnetic field subtracting from the permanent magnetic field of the magnet 30 in finger 33a. Here, the source 52 cancels the flow of the magnetic field in the finger 33a. Thus, the intensity of the magnetic flux in the air gap 46 becomes less than the intensity of the magnetic flux in the air gap 44. Under these conditions, the moment of the magnetic force F1 becomes stronger than that of the force F2. The moment of the magnetic force F1 then triggers the movement of the arm 38 from its rest position to its storage position (FIG. 7). Once the rotation of the arm 38 has started, the source 52 is no longer supplied since the conformation of the arm 38 in a hoop allows the arm 38 to turn to its storage position without power consumption. The duration of the pulse is determined so that the power supply to the source 52 ends at a time when the arm 38 has already rotated enough for the moment of the force F1 to be stronger than that of the force F2. Thus, despite the stopping of the supply of the source 52, the arm 38 continues to move towards its storage position.

The movement of the arm 38 continues until its end 39 comes into contact with the heel 29 at the point 48. At this instant, the moment of the magnetic force F3 is stronger than the moment of the magnetic force F2. The moment of force F3 therefore maintains the end 39 of the arm 38 against the heel 29 (FIG. 8).

Furthermore, when the arm 38 leaves its rest position, the projection 51 no longer maintains the lever 34 in its locked position by means of the stud 352. The lever 34 is then unlocked. If the lever 34 is not immobilized by the member 10 when the unlocking order is generated, the latter then rotates to its unlocking position under the action of the magnetic forces of the magnet 30.

If a rotation of the rotor 4 precedes the electrical unlocking order, the lever 34 is immobilized by the member 10 when the unlocking order is generated. Under these conditions, the arm 38 stores the order by positioning itself in its storage position. Once the lever 34 is no longer immobilized, for example because the user replaces the key so that the rotor 4 no longer exerts a force on the member 10, the lever 34 is biased towards its position unlocking by the magnet 30. The mechanism 9 is unlocked.

During a step 66, the user turns the rotor 4 in the stator 7 by means of the key 5. The rotation of the rotor 4 causes the displacement of the locking member 10 in its retracted position, the member 10 no longer being blocked by the lever 34. The lock is then unlocked.

In a step 68, the user locks the lock. The user reposition the rotor 4 in the stator 7 by means of the key 5 so that the housings 24 and 26 are opposite. The member 10 is then urged by the spring 50 from its retracted position towards its blocking position. The arm 38 is brought back from its storage position to its rest position by means of the heel 29 which rises. The lever 34 is returned from its unlocking position to its locking position by means of the projection 51 and the stud 352. The lock then returns to the locked state.

FIG. 10 illustrates a locking mechanism 100 identical to the mechanism 9 except for the fact that the support 33 is replaced by a support 102. This support 102 is identical to the support 33 except for the fact that the tooth 33b is replaced by a tooth 102b. The arch 42 of the arm 38 and the tooth 102b form a gap 104. The tooth 102b is shaped so that the surface of the face of the arch 42 facing the tooth 102b increases as and as the arm 38 rotates from its rest position to its storage position. For this purpose, here the cross section of the tooth 102b widens, in the direction Z, from the elbow towards the free end of the tooth 102b. Thanks to this conformation, the area of the air gap 104 increases in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the arm, and therefore its reluctance decreases, as the arm 38 rotates towards its storage position. In this embodiment, it is therefore no longer necessary for the thickness of the air gap 104 to decrease as the arm 38 rotates.

Figure 11 illustrates a locking mechanism 80 identical to the locking mechanism 9 except that the arm 38 is replaced by an arm 81 for storage. The arm 81 is identical to the arm 38 except that it additionally comprises a permanent magnet 82 fixed without any degree of freedom on the hoop 42. The weight of the magnet 82 therefore further distances the center of gravity of the arm 81 from axis 36. In this embodiment, the magnet 30 is omitted. The support 33 is replaced by a support 84 identical to the support 33 except that the tooth 33b is replaced by a tooth 84b. This tooth 84b is shaped so that when the arm 81 moves from its rest position to its storage position, the thickness of an air gap 86 formed by the magnet 82 and the opposite tooth 84b decreases.

FIG. 12 illustrates a locking mechanism 90 identical to the locking mechanism 80 except for the fact that the storage arm 38 is replaced by a storage arm 92. The arm 92 is identical to the arm 81 except that its lower part is replaced by a lower part 93. The lower part 93 has a permanent magnet 95 in place of the magnet 82. This lower part 93 is dimensioned to operate as described in the particular case of the arm 81. In particular, this lower part 93 is dimensioned so that the center of gravity of the arm 92 is located more than 0.1 mm, and preferably more than 0.5 mm or 1 mm, below the horizontal plane passing through the axis 36 when this arm 92 is in its rest position. The lower part 93 does not have a hoop such as the hoop 42. The support 84 is replaced by a support 94 which is shaped so that the face of this support 94 facing the magnet 95 forms an arch 97.

The hoop 97 is shaped so that when the arm 92 moves from its rest position to its storage position, the thickness of an air gap 99 formed by the magnet 95 and the face of the 'hoop 97 in front of the magnet 95 decreases.

Figure 13 shows an arm 110 for storing in its rest position. This arm 110 is able to replace the arm 92 in the locking mechanism 90. It differs from arm 92 only in its conformation. In this figure, the position of the center of gravity of the arm 110 is represented by a target 112.

The dimensions shown in this figure are in millimeters. In this embodiment, the center of gravity of the arm 110 is located 1.09 mm below the axis 36 in the rest position.

In addition, in the arm 110 the stop 51 is replaced by a stud 114 which extends horizontally towards the lever 34. Here, this stud 114 is located above the horizontal plane containing the axis 36 when the arm 110 is in its rest position. When the arm 110 is in its rest position, the stud 114 is supported on the left side of the end 350 of the lever 34 so as to prevent it from turning clockwise towards its unlocking position.

The operation of the embodiments of FIGS. 10 to 13 is identical to that described in detail with reference to FIG. 9.

Chapter III: Variants:

Variants of the retention mechanism:

It is possible to use several magnets instead of a single permanent magnet to create the magnetic field which retains the storage arm in its rest position.

Another magnet can be added to move the lever 34 from its locked position to its unlocked position when the arm 38 is in its storage position.

The retaining mechanism may further comprise a spiral spring, one end of which is fixed to the storage arm and an opposite end is fixed without any degree of freedom to the stator 7.

[oo9i] In the embodiments where the center of gravity of the storage arm is located under the axis 36, as a variant, the center of gravity of the locking lever is located on the axis 36 and not under this axis. Conversely, in the embodiments where the center of gravity of the locking lever is located under the axis 36, the center of gravity of the storage arm can be located on the axis 36.

The storage arm can be omitted. In this case, the locking lever is shaped and positioned as described in the particular case of the storage arm. Thus, in its locked position, the moment of the force F2 and greater than the moment of the force F1 so that its locked position is stable. In this embodiment, the storage lever can be immobilized in its locked position if the game 37b is canceled before an unlocking command is generated. To overcome this drawback, the locking order is for example repeated at regular intervals. Thus, as soon as the immobilization of the locking lever stops, in response to the following unlocking order, the lever moves to its unlocking position. Such use of the unlocking lever without using a storage arm is for example described in application WO2014037639A1.

As illustrated by the embodiments of Figures 2, 11 and 12, the positions of the magnet and the magnetic part can be reversed. In particular, the magnet can be either integral with the stator or integral with the locking lever or integral with the storage arm.

The magnetic part can also be a permanent magnet or additionally include such a permanent magnet.

The storage arm can be mechanically permanently connected to the locking lever by return means. These recall means allow:

- movement of the storage arm to its storage position even if the locking lever is immobilized, and

- permanently requests the locking lever towards its unlocking position when the storage arm is in its storage position.

Embodiments of such return means are described, for example, in application EP2248971A1 [0097] When the storage arm is in its rest position, it can retain the locking lever in its locking position by means other than mechanical contact between the stop 51 and the pad 352. In this case, the stop 51 and the pad 352 can be omitted. For example, the storage arm retains the locking arm in the locked position using magnetic force. For this, at least one of the arm and of the lever is equipped with a permanent magnet and the other of a ferromagnetic piece opposite when the arm is in its rest position and the lever in its position. lock.

Other variants:

The rotor 4 can be replaced by a rotor which moves in translation when a key authorized to unlock the lock is inserted into the lock 2. In this case, the locking member can be used to block the movement in translation of the rotor if a key not authorized to unlock the lock is inserted. Such an embodiment of the rotor is for example described in application WO2014037639A1. The locking mechanisms described here can be implemented in such a lock.

[ooioo] Pin 18 can be omitted. In this case, the recess 22 is made directly in the rotor 4.

[ooioi] The axis 36 can also slide vertically relative to the stator 7 as described in application FR3001751 instead of being fixed without any degree of freedom on the stator 7.

[ooio2] The lower part of the locking lever may include an arch.

[ooio3] Chapter IV: Advantages of the described embodiments:

[ooio4] Due to the fact that the center of gravity of the locking lever and / or of the memorizing arm is located under the axis 36 in their position, respectively, of locking and of rest, the force of gravity constantly requests the locking lever to its locking position. This stress by the force of gravity is added to that already created by the permanent magnet 30, 82 or 95. Thus, the stability of the locking position vis-à-vis the vibrations is improved compared to the embodiments. described with reference to FIGS. 4a to 4c of application WO2014037639. Indeed, in these embodiments of Figures 4a to 4c, the center of gravity is located on the axis of rotation so that the force of gravity does not participate in the stabilization of the locking position.

[ooio5] In addition, this additional stabilization is obtained without the need to modify the permanent magnet and / or the magnetic parts to increase the magnetic force which retains the locking lever in its locking position. This additional stabilization is also obtained without the need to use a spring for this purpose which permanently biases the locking lever towards its locking position.

[ooio6] Finally, this electronic lock retains the advantages of the electronic lock of application WO2014037639. Indeed, as in the electronic lock of application WO2014037639, in the locking position and in the absence of a key in the channel 7, there is only one point of mechanical contact between the locking lever and the stator which s 'established through the axis of rotation. Thus, by limiting as much as possible the number of contact points between the stator and the locking lever, the impact on the locking lever of the vibrations applied to the stator is reduced. In addition, in the embodiments described here, due to the fact that the center of gravity is eccentric relative to the axis of rotation, part of the vibrations applied to the stator can still propagate to the locking lever . However, this is not enough to degrade the stability of the locked position because here this is compensated for by increasing the stability of the locked position using the force of gravity. In addition, in order for vibrations to sufficiently distance the locking lever from its locking position, this requires that these vibrations create a pendulum movement of the locking lever. Thus, only vibrations at the resonant frequency of the lever 34 or of the arm 38 are capable of causing a displacement whose amplitude is sufficient to accidentally move the lever 34 from its locked position to its unlocked position. Thus, only vibrations of particular frequencies can cause such a substantial displacement of the lever 34 or of the arm 38. However, such vibrations at a very precise frequency are very difficult to produce by tapping the lock with an object.

[ooio7] The specific conformation of the air gap 44 makes it possible to complete, without electrical consumption, the movement of the arm 38 from its rest position towards its storage position.

The specific conformation of the air gap 46 keeps the arm 38 in its rest position without power consumption and this using the same permanent magnet as that used to complete the movement of the arm 38 to its storage position.

[ooio9] The specific conformations of the heel 29 and of the end 39 of the arm 38 make it possible to maintain, without electrical consumption, the arm 38 in its storage position while using the same magnet 30.

[oono] The specific configuration of the foot 342 of the lever 34 makes it possible to move the lever 34 to its unlocking position without a torsion spring and without electrical consumption.

[ooiii] Placing the center 422 of the osculating circle 424 always on the same side of the plane makes it possible to increase the moment exerted by the magnetic force of the magnet to rotate the memorization arm.

[ooii2] Reducing the thickness of the air gap 45 during the movement of the storage arm 15 makes it possible to minimize the electrical consumption of the lock.

Claims (10)

1. Electronic lock intended to be mounted vertically on a door and to be controlled by a key comprising electronic means for controlling the unlocking of the electronic lock, the electronic lock comprising: - a stator (7) and a rotor (4) rotatably mounted in the stator (7) and provided with a channel (6) into which the key can be inserted, - a rotor locking member (10) movable in a housing of the stator between a locking position in which it is engaged with the rotor (4) to block its rotation and a retracted position in which it releases the rotation of the rotor ( 4), - an axis (36) of rotation mechanically connected to the stator, - a locking lever (34) movable in rotation, around the axis of rotation, between: • a vertical locking position in which the locking lever is able to hold the locking member in its locking position against a force urging the locking member towards its retracted position, and • a position of unlocking in which the locking lever does not oppose the displacement of the locking member from its locking position to its retracted position, - a mechanism (30, 33a, 38, 45, 46) for contactlessly retaining the locking lever in its locking position, so that, in its locking position, the locking lever is mechanically in contact with the stator only by means of its axis (36) of rotation in the absence of a key inside the channel, this retaining mechanism comprising for this purpose at least one permanent magnet (30) and at least one magnetic part (38) attracted by this permanent magnet, one of the permanent magnet and the magnetic part being movable in rotation about the axis of rotation and the other of the permanent magnet and the magnetic part being integral with the stator, this permanent magnet and this magnetic piece being arranged relative to each other so as to exert a magnetic force which keeps the locking lever in its locking position, characterized in that: the center of gravity of the locking lever (34) is located at least 0.1 mm below a horizontal plane passing through the axis (36) of rotation when the locking lever is in its locked position, and or - the retaining mechanism (30, 33a, 38, 45, 46) comprises a memorizing arm (38; 81; 92; 110) movable in rotation, independently of the locking lever, around the axis (36) of rotation , Between : • a rest position in which it maintains the locking lever in its locking position, and • a storage position in which it releases the movement of the locking lever towards its unlocking position, the center (112) of gravity of the arm storage device being located at least 0.1 mm below the horizontal plane passing through the axis (36) of rotation when the storage arm is in its rest position. 2. Lock according to claim 1, in which the center (112) of gravity of the locking lever and / or of the storage arm is located more than 0.5 mm or more than 1 mm below the horizontal plane passing through. the axis (36) of rotation when the locking lever is in its locked position and the storage arm is in its rest position. 3. Lock according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the distance between the axis (36) of rotation and the center (112) of gravity of a component chosen from the group consisting of the lever (34) and the arm (38) of memorization is greater than 0.05L _in f or O, lL _itl f, where the length L _in f is equal to the shortest distance between the axis (36) of rotation and a distant point, this distant point being defined as follows: - the distant point belongs to a straight line defined by the intersection of a first plane, containing the axis (36) of rotation and the center (112) of gravity, and of a second plane perpendicular to the first plane and passing through the center of gravity, and - the distant point belongs to the lower part of the component, and - the distant point is the point of the lower part of the component furthest from the axis of rotation. 4. Lock according to any one of the preceding claims, in which: the retaining mechanism comprises the storage arm (38; 81; 92; 110), and - the storage arm (38; 81; 110) includes a stop (51) or a stud (114) capable of coming into mechanical support on the locking lever when the storage arm is in its rest position to hold the lever in its locked position. 5. Electronic lock according to any one of the preceding claims, in which: the retaining mechanism comprises the storage arm (38; 81; 92; 110), the lock comprises at least one magnet (30) fixed on the stator (7) or the storage arm (38; 81; 92, 110) to move the storage arm from its rest position to its storage position, - one of the stator (7) and of the arm (38; 81; 92, 110) for memorizing comprises a hoop (42) made of magnetic material and the other of the stator (7) and of the arm (38) comprises a tooth (33b) magnetic vis-à-vis the hoop (42) so as to create a first air gap (44) through which a first magnetic circuit (Cl) is looped which connects two opposite poles of the magnet (30), the tooth (33b) and the hoop (42) being shaped so that: • the thickness of the first air gap (44) decreases as the storage arm (38) rotates from its rest position to its storage position, and / or • the surface of the faces of the arch (42 ) and of the tooth (102b) opposite, in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the arm, as the arm (38) rotates from its rest position to its position storage. 6. Lock according to claim 5, in which the stator (7) also comprises a finger (33a) of magnetic material creating a second magnetic circuit (C2) connecting the two opposite poles of the same magnet (30) passing through the storage arm (38) and a second air gap (46) between the storage arm (38) and one end (40) of the finger (33a), the storage arm (38) and the end (40) of the finger (33a) being shaped so that the reluctance of the second air gap (46) is less than that of the first air gap (44) when the storage arm is in its rest position. 7. Lock according to any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein the blocking member (10) comprises a magnetic piece creating a third magnetic circuit (C3) which connects the two opposite poles of the same magnet (30) passing by means of the storage arm (38) and of a point (48) of contact between the arm (38) and the magnetic piece of the locking member (10), the storage arm (38) and the magnetic part being shaped so that the magnetic moment generated by this third magnetic circuit is greater than the magnetic moment of the first magnetic circuit (Cl) when the storage arm (38) is in its storage position. 8. Lock according to any one of claims 5 to 7, in which the locking lever (34) is made of magnetic material and is shaped so that the permanent magnet (30) permanently urges the lever (34 ) to its unlocked position. 9. Lock according to any one of claims 5 to 8, in which, at any point S of the face (420) of the hoop (42) facing the magnetic tooth (33b), the center of the osculating circle (424) at this point S is always located on the same side of a plane (426) containing the axis (36) of rotation of the storage arm (38) and this point S. 10. Lock according to any one of claims 5 to 9, in which the magnet (30) and the arm (38) form a fourth air gap (45), the arm (38) and the magnet (30) being shaped so that the thickness of the fourth air gap (45) decreases as the arm (38) moves from its rest position to its storage position.