SE2250735A1 - Blocker, arrangement and lock device - Google Patents

Abstract

A blocker (10) for a lock device (52), the blocker (10) comprising a blocking member (12) rotatable about a blocker axis (18) between a blocking position (44) and an unblocking position (48); a resilient device (14) movable between a blocking forcing state (46) where the resilient device (14) forces the blocking member (12) towards the blocking position (44), and an unblocking forcing state (50) in which the resilient device (14) forces the blocking member (12) towards the unblocking position (48); and an actuator (16) arranged to move the resilient device (14) between the blocking forcing state (46) and the unblocking forcing state (50). An arrangement (54) and a lock device (52) are also provided.

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure generally relates to lock devices. In particular, a blocker for a lock device, an arrangement for a lock device, and a lock device, are provided. Background A lock device in a door leaf may comprise a manually operated handle and a bolt movable by the handle between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the bolt may engage a strike in a frame such that the door leaf cannot be opened. In the retracted position, the bolt does not engage the strike and the door leaf can be opened.

Such lock device may comprise a blocking member movable between a blocked position and an unblocked position. In the blocked position, the blocking member blocks movements of the handle such that the handle cannot be rotated. In the unblocked position, the handle can be rotated to retract the bolt.

Summary One object of the invention is to provide an improved blocker for a lock device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for a lock device. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved lock device.

These objects are achieved by the blocker according to appended claim 1, the arrangement according to appended claim 10 and the lock device according to appended claim 14. 1O The invention is based on the realization that by providing a rotatable blocking member driven between a blocking position and an unblocking position by an actuator via a resilient device, the blocker can be made very durable with a low-complex design, and can operate with extremely low power consumption.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a blocker for a lock device, the blocker comprising a blocking member rotatable about a blocker axis between a blocking position and an unblocking position; a resilient device movable between a blocking forcing state where the resilient device forces the blocking member towards the blocking position, and an unblocking forcing state in which the resilient device forces the blocking member towards the unblocking position; and an actuator arranged to move the resilient device between the blocking forcing state and the unblocking forcing state.

Since the resilient device is arranged to force the blocking member towards the unblocking position, the actuator can move the resilient device to the unblocking forcing state against the resiliency of the resilient device if the blocking member is blocked from being moved from the blocking position to the unblocking position. The actuator may then be stopped. Once the blocking member is unblocked, the resilient device will force the blocking member to move to the unblocking position. The blocker thus provides a mechanical memory enabling the actuator to only be driven for short periods of time. Thus, energy consumption is reduced.

Due to the blocking member being rotatable about the blocker axis, the blocking member can have a low mass and the blocking member can be moved a relatively short angular distance between the blocking position and the unblocking position. These effects enable a low energy consumption and more cost-efficient design. The blocker can perform a very reliable selective blocking and unblocking of an external member, such as a rotatable member, and has a low-complex yet durable design. 1O For example, if a handle of the lock device is depressed such that the blocking member becomes blocked and the actuator is commanded to move the blocking member by moving the resilient device from the blocking forcing state to the unblocking forcing state, the energy from the actuator will be temporarily stored in the resilient device as potential energy and will be released to drive the blocking member when the handle is released. The solution enables a low power consumption and requires very few parts. Moreover, the blocker efficiently solves the problem that the blocking member can be blocked by manually pressing the handle when the actuator is actuated.

The blocking member may be rigid. The blocking member may be a blocking lever. The blocking member may rotate less than 45 degrees, such as 30 degrees, between the blocking position and the unblocking position. The blocking member may comprise a blocking surface for being contacted by the rotatable member.

The resilient device may be configured to be resiliently deformed when the resilient device is moved from the blocking forcing state to the unblocking forcing state if the blocking member is held in the blocking position.

The blocking member may be elongated along a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to, or perpendicular to, the blocker axis. The blocking surface may be substantially perpendicular to, or perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis.

The resilient device may comprise a spring. As one possible alternative, the resilient device may comprise one or more magnets to force the blocking member with magnetic force.

The spring may be a torsion spring arranged around the blocker axis. The spring may for example be wound around a shaft concentric with the blocker axis.

The spring may comprise a driven leg for being moved by the actuator to thereby move the resilient device between the blocking forcing state and the unblocking forcing state. The driven leg may extend in a plane substantially parallel with, or parallel with, the blocker axis in each of the blocking forcing state and the unblocking forcing state.

The actuator may comprise a screw having a thread. The screw may be a worm. The screw may be rotatable about a screw axis. The longitudinal axis may be substantially perpendicular to, or perpendicular to, the screw axis when the blocking member adopts the blocking position.

The driven leg may be arranged to engage the thread during movement of the resilient device between the blocking forcing state and the unblocking forcing state. In this way, the resilient device cooperates with both the screw and the blocking member.

The screw may comprise two non-threaded sections. In this case, each non- threaded section may be configured to receive the driven leg and the thread may be arranged between the non-threaded sections. The provision of the non-threaded sections enables the actuator to drive the driven leg without position control. A cheaper actuator can thereby be used. The screw and the resilient device may be configured such that the driven leg is preloaded when positioned in each of the non-threaded sections. When the driven leg is positioned in a first non-threaded section among the non-threaded sections and the screw rotates in a first direction, the driven leg will remain disengaged from the thread. When the screw rotates in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, the preload of the resilient device will cause the driven leg to immediately start engaging the thread. Conversely, when the driven leg is positioned in a second non-threaded section among the non- threaded sections and the screw rotates the second direction, the driven leg will remain disengaged from the thread. When the screw rotates in the first direction, the preload of the resilient device will cause the driven leg to immediately start engaging the thread.

As an alternative, the resilient device may be undeformed in the blocking forcing state when the blocking member adopts the blocking position, and may be undeformed in the unblocking forcing state when the blocking member adopts the unblocking position. The actuator may comprise an electric motor arranged to rotate the screw.

According to a second aspect, there is provided an arrangement for a lock device, the arrangement comprising a blocker according to the first aspect and a rotatable member rotatable about a rotatable member axis and arranged to be blocked by the blocker. The rotatable member may be a spindle.

The blocking member may be arranged to be clamped between the rotatable member and the blocker axis when the blocking member is in the blocking position. In this way, the blocking member can take forces from the rotatable member without imparting loads on the resilient device or on the actuator.

The rotatable member may be capable of contacting and holding the blocking member in the blocking position against the force from the resilient device when the resilient device is in the unblocking forcing state.

The rotatable member may comprise a rotatable member surface. In this case, the blocking member may be arranged to be clamped between the rotatable member surface and the blocker axis along the longitudinal axis when the blocking member is in the blocking position.

The rotatable member may comprise an arm. The rotatable member surface may be provided at the arm, such as at a distal end of the arm. By increasing a length of the arm, the forces acting on the blocking member can be reduced.

By clamping the blocking member in this way, the blocking member can provide a high blocking force even with a relatively small and weak design. According to one example, a distance between the rotatable member surface and the rotatable member axis may be longer than a distance between the blocking surface and the blocker axis. 1O The rotatable member surface may be substantially perpendicular to, or perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis in at least one rotational position about the rotatable member axis when the blocking member is in the blocking position. The rotatable member surface may be arranged to be brought into contact with the blocking surface.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a lock device comprising a blocker according to the first aspect or an arrangement according to the second aspect.

The lock device may further comprise a handle for being manipulated by a human user. In this case, the handle may be drivingly connected to the rotatable member.

Brief Description of the Drawings Further details, advantages and aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: Fig. : Fig.

Fig.

Fig.

Fig.

Fig.

Fig. schematically represents a perspective side view of a blocker; schematically represents a side view of the blocker when a blocking member is in a blocking position and a resilient device is in a blocking forcing state; schematically represents a side view of the blocker when the blocking member is in an unblocking position and the resilient device is in an unblocking forcing state; schematically represents a side view of a lock device comprising an arrangement including the blocker; schematically represents a side view of the arrangement when the blocking member is in the blocking position; schematically represents a side view of the arrangement when the blocking member is in the unblocking position; and schematically represents a side view of the arrangement when the blocking member blocks a rotatable member. 1O Detailed Description In the following, a blocker for a lock device, an arrangement for a lock device, and a lock device, will be described. The same or similar reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar structural features.

Fig. 1 schematically represents a perspective side view of a blocker 10. The blocker 10 comprises a rigid blocking lever 12, a torsion spring 14 and an actuator 16. The blocking lever 12 is one example of a blocking member according to the present disclosure. The torsion spring 14 is one example of a resilient device according to the present disclosure.

The blocking lever 12 is arranged to rotate around a blocker axis 18. The blocking lever 12 is elongated along a longitudinal axis 20. In this example, the longitudinal axis 20 is perpendicular to, and intersects, the blocker axis 18. The blocking lever 12 comprises a blocking surface 22 at a distal end of the blocking lever 12. In this example, the blocking surface 22 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 20.

The actuator 16 of this example comprises an electric motor 24 and a screw 26. The screw 26 is here exemplified as a worm and comprises a thread 28. The electric motor 24 is arranged to drive the screw 26 to rotatable about a screw axis 30.

The blocker 10 of this example further comprises a shaft 32. The shaft 32 is concentric with the blocker axis 18. The blocking lever 12 is rotatably supported on the shaft 32.

The torsion spring 14 is wound around the shaft 32. Thus, the torsion spring 14 comprises a coiled portion (not shown) concentric with the blocker axis 18.

The torsion spring 14 of this example further comprises a driven leg 34. The driven leg 34 engages the thread 28.

The torsion spring 14 of this example further comprises a fixed leg 36. The fixed leg 36 is fixed to the blocking lever 12. 1O Fig. 2 schematically represents a side view of the blocker 10. Fig. 2 shows that the screw 26 comprises a first non-threaded section 38a and a second non- threaded section 38b. The thread 28 is positioned between the non-threaded sections 38a, 38b. The blocker 10 of this example comprises a blocking end stop 40 and an unblocking end stop 42.

In Fig. 2, the blocking lever 12 is in a blocking position 44 and the torsion spring 14 is in a blocking forcing state 46. In the blocking position 44 of this example, the blocking lever 12 extends transverse to the screw 26. The longitudinal axis 20 is thus perpendicular to the screw axis 30 in the blocking position 44.

In this example, the torsion spring 14 is deformed in the blocking forcing state 46. In the blocking forcing state 46, the driven leg 34 is received in the first non-threaded section 38a and is thus derailed from the thread 28. As a consequence to the deformation of the torsion spring 14, the torsion spring 14 forces the blocking lever 12 to rotate towards the blocking position 44 (in a clockwise direction about the blocker axis 18 in Fig. 2). In this example, the blocking lever 12 is stopped by the blocking end stop 40 in the blocking position 44 while the torsion spring 14 is deformed. The driven leg 34 is thereby forced towards the thread 28 (in a counterclockwise direction about the blocker axis 18 in Fig. 2). The screw 26 can be rotated in a first direction while the driven leg 34 stays in the first non-threaded section 38a and being derailed from the thread 28. Immediately when the screw 26 is rotated in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, the driven leg 34 will engage the thread 28.

The driven leg 34 is here U-shaped in a plane parallel with the blocker axis 18. The driven leg 34 here encloses the screw 26. In the blocking forcing state 46, the driven leg 34 extends substantially transverse to the blocker axis 18.

Fig. 3 schematically represents a side view of the blocker 10 when the blocking lever 12 is in an unblocking position 48 and the torsion spring 14 is in an unblocking forcing state 50. In the unblocking position 48, the blocking 1O lever 12 extends at an angle relative to the screw axis 30. In this example, the blocking lever 12 rotates 30 degrees about the blocker axis 18 between the blocking position 44 and the unblocking position 48.

By controlling the electric motor 24 to rotate the screw 26 in the second direction about the screw axis 30, the driven leg 34 will enter the thread 28 adjacent to the first non-threaded section 38a and move through the thread 28 to the second non-threaded section 38b where the torsion spring 14 adopts the unblocking forcing state 50. In this way, the actuator 16 is arranged to move the torsion spring 14 from the blocking forcing state 46 to the unblocking forcing state 50. When the blocking lever 12 is free to move from the blocking position 44 to the unblocking position 48, movement of the torsion spring 14 from the blocking forcing state 46 to the unblocking forcing state 50 will cause the blocking lever 12 to move from the blocking position 44 to the unblocking position 48, and vice versa.

In this example, the torsion spring 14 is deformed also in the unblocking forcing state 50. In the unblocking forcing state 50, the driven leg 34 is received in the second non-threaded section 38b and is thus derailed from the thread 28. As a consequence to the deformation of the torsion spring 14, the torsion spring 14 forces the blocking lever 12 to rotate towards the unblocking position 48 (in a counterclockwise direction about the blocker axis 18 in Fig. 3). In this example, the blocking lever 12 is stopped by the unblocking end stop 42 in the unblocking position 48 while the torsion spring 14 is deformed. The driven leg 34 is thereby forced towards the thread 28 (in a clockwise direction about the blocker axis 18 in Fig. 2). The screw 26 can be rotated in the second direction while the driven leg 34 stays in the second non-threaded section 38b and being derailed from the thread 28. Immediately when the screw 26 is rotated in the first direction, the driven leg 34 will engage the thread 28.

Also in the unblocking forcing state 50, the driven leg 34 lies in a plane parallel with the blocker axis 18 and extends substantially transverse to the blocker axis 18. The blocking lever 12 has a small mass, such as a few grams, 1O and a low inertia. The blocking lever 12 can thus be moved between the blocking position 44 and the unblocking position 48 with low power consumption. As shown, the design of the blocker 10 is of low complexity and involves few parts.

Fig. 4 schematically represents a side view of a lock device 52, here exemplified as a lock case. The lock device 52 comprises an arrangement 54. The arrangement 54 comprises the blocker 10 and a rotatable member 56, here exemplified as a spindle.

The rotatable member 56 is rotatable about a rotatable member axis 58. The rotatable member axis 58 is here parallel with the blocker axis 18.

The lock device 52 comprises a housing 60. The shaft 32 may be fixed to the housing 60 or may be constituted by a structure in the housing 60. The blocking end stop 40 and the unblocking end stop 42 may be constituted by structures in the housing 60.

The lock device 52 further comprises a handle 62 and a bolt 64. When the lock device 52 is unlocked, manual rotation of the handle 62 causes retraction of the bolt 64. The handle 62 is connected to the rotatable member 56 and is arranged to rotate about the rotatable member axis 58 in common with the rotatable member 56.

The lock device 52 further comprises a forend 66. In the illustrated extended position, the bolt 64 protrudes through the forend 66 for engagement in a strike (not shown).

The lock device 52 comprises an electronic control system 68. The control system 68 comprises a data processing device 70 and a memory 72. The memory 72 has a computer program stored thereon. The computer program comprises program code which, when executed by the data processing device 70, causes the data processing device 70 to perform, or command performance of, various steps described herein. The computer program may comprise program code which, when executed by the data processing device 1O 11 70, causes the data processing device 70 to command the electric motor 24 to drive the screw 26 in the second direction in response to a granted authorization request. The authorization request may be granted when a user presents a valid credential. The credential may be input by a user in numerous ways known to the skilled person, for example by means of a keypad or a wireless identification tag.

The computer program may further comprise program code which, when executed by the data processing device 70, causes the data processing device 70 to command the electric motor 24 to drive the screw 26 in the first direction in response to a locking signal and/ or upon expiry of a certain time limit.

Fig. 5 schematically represents a side view of the arrangement 54. In Fig. 5, the blocking lever 12 is in the blocking position 44 and the torsion spring 14 is in the blocking forcing state 46. As shown, the rotatable member 56 comprises a rotatable member surface 74. The rotatable member surface 74 is here provided at a distal end of an arm 76 of the rotatable member 56. In the illustrated neutral position of the rotatable member 56 about the rotatable member axis 58, the rotatable member surface 74 is parallel with the blocking surface 22. The rotatable member surface 74 does not contact the blocking surface 22 since the user does not actuate the handle 62. The rotatable member 56 and the handle 62 may be forced to this position by a handle spring (not shown).

In this example, the arm 76 also provides a blocking end stop 78. Also the blocking end stop 78 may be used to stop the blocking lever 12 in the blocking position 44 in the same or similar manner as the blocking end stop 40.

Fig. 6 schematically represents a side view of the arrangement 54. In Fig. 6, the electric motor 24 has driven the screw 26 to rotate such that the driven leg 34 has moved from the first non-threaded section 38a, through the thread 28 and to the second non-threaded section 38b. The torsion spring 14 thereby adopts the unblocking forcing state 50. Since the rotatable member surface 1O 12 74 was distanced from the blocking surface 22 (Fig. 5), the rotatable member 56 did not hinder movement of the blocking lever 12. The blocking lever 12 was thus forced by the torsion spring 14 to move from the blocking position 44 to the unblocking position 48 shown in Fig. 6. The rotatable member 56 is now free to rotate about the rotatable member axis 58 by manual actuation of the handle 62 to retract the bolt 64.

Fig. 7 schematically represents a side view of the arrangement 54. In contrast to Fig. 5, the user now manually presses the handle 62. This causes the rotatable member surface 74 to be brought into contact with the blocking surface 22 such that the blocking lever 12 blocks the handle 62 in an upright orientation (in Fig. 7). As shown in Fig. 7, the blocking lever 12 is clamped between the rotatable member surface 74 and the blocker axis 18 along the longitudinal axis 20. In this example, a distance between the rotatable member surface 74 and the rotatable member axis 58 is longer than a distance between the blocking surface 22 and the blocker axis 18. Since the blocking surface 22 and the rotatable member surface 74 make contact along the longitudinal axis 20, the force from the rotatable member 56 will not generate any torque on the blocking lever 12 about the blocker axis 18. When the rotatable member 56 engages the blocking lever 12 in the blocking position 44 in this way, the torsion spring 14 can still be moved from the unblocking forcing state 50 to the blocking forcing state 46 against the deformation of the torsion spring 14. Once the screw 26 has been rotated by the electric motor 24 such that the driven leg 34 moves from the first non- threaded section 38a, through the thread 28 and to the second non-threaded section 38b such that the torsion spring 14 adopts the unblocking forcing state 50, the electric motor 24 is stopped. The tension introduced to the torsion spring 14 is stored as potential energy. Once the user releases the force on the handle 62, the handle 62 returns to its neutral position where the rotatable member surface 74 no longer contacts the blocking surface 22. The deformation of the torsion spring 14 will then automatically cause the blocking lever 12 to rotate about the blocker axis 18 from the blocking position 44 to the unblocking position 48 without having to actuate the 1O 13 electric motor 24 a second time. The electric motor 24 thus only has to be driven for a short period of time, i.e. to move the torsion spring 14 from the blocking forcing state 46 to the unblocking forcing state 50.

Despite the blocking lever 12 alone has a relatively small mass, the arrangement of the blocking lever 12 in the blocker 10 enables a strong blocking of the rotatable member 56. The low-complex design of the blocker provides extreme durability and reliability.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to what has been described above. For example, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the parts may be varied as needed. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention may be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims (1)

1.Claims A blocker (10) for a lock device (52), the blocker (10) comprising: - a blocking member (12) rotatable about a blocker axis (18) between a blocking position (44) and an unblocking position (48); - a resilient device (14) movable between a blocking forcing state (46) where the resilient device (14) forces the blocking member (12) towards the blocking position (44), and an unblocking forcing state (50) in which the resilient device (14) forces the blocking member (12) towards the unblocking position (48); and - an actuator (16) arranged to move the resilient device (14) between the blocking forcing state (46) and the unblocking forcing state (50). The blocker (10) according to claim 1, wherein the blocking member (12) is elongated along a longitudinal axis (20) substantially perpendicular to the blocker axis (18). The blocker (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the resilient device (14) comprises a spring (14). The blocker (10) according to claim 3, wherein the spring (14) is a torsion spring arranged around the blocker axis (18). The blocker (10) according to claim 4, wherein the spring (14) comprises a driven leg (34) for being moved by the actuator (16) to thereby move the resilient device (14) between the blocking forcing state (46) and the unblocking forcing state (50). The blocker (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator (16) comprises a screw (26) having a thread (28). The blocker (10) according to claim 5 and 6, wherein the driven leg (34) is arranged to engage the thread (28) during movement of the resilient device (14) between the blocking forcing state (46) and the unblocking forcing state (50). 1O The blocker (10) according to claim 7, wherein the screw (26) comprises two non-threaded sections (38a, 38b), wherein each non-threaded section (38a, 38b) is configured to receive the driven leg (34), and wherein the thread (28) is arranged between the non-threaded sections (38a, 38b). The blocker (10) according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the actuator (16) comprises an electric motor (24) arranged to rotate the screw (26). An arrangement (54) for a lock device (52), the arrangement (54) comprising a blocker (10) according to any of the preceding claims and a rotatable member (56) rotatable about a rotatable member axis (58) and arranged to be blocked by the blocker (10). The arrangement (54) according to claim 10, wherein the blocking member (12) is arranged to be clamped between the rotatable member (56) and the blocker axis (18) when the blocking member (12) is in the blocking position (44). The arrangement (54) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the rotatable member (56) is capable of contacting and holding the blocking member (12) in the blocking position (44) against the force from the resilient device (14) when the resilient device (14) is in the unblocking forcing state (50). The arrangement (54) according to any of claims 10 to 12, when comprising a blocker (10) according to claim 2, wherein the rotatable member (56) comprises a rotatable member surface (74), and wherein the blocking member (12) is arranged to be clamped between the rotatable member surface (74) and the blocker axis (18) along the longitudinal axis (20) when the blocking member (12) is in the blocking position (44). A lock device (52) comprising a blocker (10) according to any of claimsto 9 or an arrangement (54) according to any of claims 10 to15. The lock device (52) according to claim 14, further comprising a handle (62) for being manipulated by a human user, wherein the handle (62) is drivingly connected to the rotatable member (56).