WO2015097719A1

WO2015097719A1 - Electric lock

Info

Publication number: WO2015097719A1
Application number: PCT/IT2013/000361
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fausto Fustini; Vrashabhendra BASAVARAJ; Manfred Klostermeier; Martin Homberg; Gianluca Mattogno
Original assignee: Cisa S.P.A.
Priority date: 2013-12-23
Filing date: 2013-12-23
Publication date: 2015-07-02

Abstract

An electric lock (1) of the type comprising a main body (2) provided with a rotatable accommodation compartment (2a) for a carousel (3), provided with a substantially central seat (4) for the accommodation of the transverse stem (5) of a handle. Between the carousel (3) and the main body (2) elastic means (6) are interposed for contrasting the free rotation of the carousel (3). The carousel (3) comprises a shell (7) with a concavity that is complementary to a disk (8) for the corresponding rotatable accommodation; the shell (7) is provided with a perimetric hollow (9), the disk (8) comprises a perimetric receptacle (10). A linear actuator (11) is accommodated within a recess (2b) of the box-like body (2), outside the compartment (2a); the actuator (11) is aligned, along a radial direction, with the hollow (9) and the receptacle (10) and supports, at its movable end, a pivot (12) that can translate, due to the action of the actuator (11), between a first configuration for disabling the handle, in which it is accommodated in the recess (2b) and in the hollow (9), and a second configuration for enabling the handle, in which it is accommodated in the hollow (9) and in the receptacle (10).

Description

ELECTRIC LOCK

The present invention relates to an electric lock with simplified structure of high efficiency.

Electrically operated locks adapted to be applied on entrance doors of spaces such as rooms, offices, apartments use a component provided with a code as an access key.

The component is generally a card that can contain a microprocessor or can be provided with a magnetic strip; in any case, its purpose is to store a code that is correlated to the lock to be operated.

The door protected with this type of lock generally has an internal handle (or knob) that acts directly on a bolt element of the lock, always allowing an opening of said lock from the inside.

For entry from outside it is necessary to provide the coupling (generically of the electromagnetic type) of the coded component available to the user with an adapted reader (or more generally of the component with an adapted seat of a respective decoding assembly) that enables a handle (or knob) located on the outside of the door to move said bolt element.

The apparatuses normally used to enable opening, when the lock has received the correct access code, are constituted by a plurality of components: the high complexity of the apparatus makes faults more likely, and said faults moreover entail high maintenance costs, due to the need to disassemble and reassemble the many parts, which are often small.

Moreover, locks of the known type adopt mechanisms provided with levers that have arms of large dimensions that might easily undergo elastic deformations or yielding in case of malfunction.

These deformations and/or yieldings would not allow a reusage of the lock after the malfunction has occurred and indeed would require the replacement of the arm spring.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, proposing an electric lock that makes it possible to enable the external handle and is constituted by a small number of components.

Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to propose an electric lock that makes it possible to enable the external handle constituted by solid and compact components.

Another object of the invention is to propose an electric lock that is scarcely subject to malfunctions and breakages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric lock that has low costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and is safe in application.

This aim and these and other objects that will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by an electric lock of the type comprising a main body provided with a rotatable accommodation compartment for a carousel, provided with a substantially central seat for the accommodation of the transverse stem of a handle, between said carousel and said main body elastic means being interposed for contrasting the free rotation of said carousel, characterized in that said carousel comprises a shell with a concavity that is complementary to a disk for the corresponding rotatable accommodation, said shell being provided with a perimetric hollow, said disk comprising a perimetric receptacle, a linear actuator being accommodated within a recess of said box-like body, outside said compartment, said actuator being aligned, along a radial direction, with said hollow and said receptacle and supporting, at its movable end, a pivot that can change, due to the action of said actuator, between a first configuration for disabling the handle, in which it is accommodated in said recess and in said hollow, and a second configuration for enabling the handle, in which it is accommodated in said hollow and in said receptacle.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the electric lock according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electric lock according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of an electric lock according to the invention in a first configuration;

Figure 3 is a front view of an electric lock according to the invention in a second configuration;

Figure 4 is a sectional side view, along a longitudinal plane, of an electric lock according to the invention in a first configuration;

Figure 5 is a sectional side view, along a longitudinal plane, of an electric lock according to the invention in a second configuration.

With particular reference to the figures cited above, the numeral 1 generally designates an electric lock.

The electric lock 1 comprises a main body 2 provided with a rotatable accommodation compartment 2a for a carousel 3, which is provided with a substantially central seat 4 for the accommodation of the transverse stem 5 of a handle.

Elastic means 6 for contrasting the free rotation of the carousel 3 are generally interposed between the carousel 3 and the main body 2.

According to the invention, the carousel 3 comprises a shell 7 with a concavity that is complementary to a disk 8 for the rotatable accommodation of said disk 8.

It is specified that the shell 7 is provided with a perimetric hollow 9; likewise, the disk 8 comprises a perimetric receptacle 10.

A linear actuator 1 1 is accommodated within a recess 2b of the box- like body 2, outside the compartment 2a.

The actuator 1 1 is aligned, along a radial direction, with the hollow 9 and with the receptacle 10.

Moreover, the actuator 1 1 supports, at its movable end, a pivot 12 that can translate.

The pivot 12 is movable, due to the action of the actuator 1 1 , along a linear stroke for translation between a first configuration for disabling the handle, in which said pivot 12 is accommodated in the recess 2b and in the hollow 9, and a second configuration for enabling the handle, in which the pivot 12 is accommodated in the hollow 9 and in the receptacle 10 (being thus external to the recess 2b).

According to a specific constructive solution, the linear actuator 1 1 comprises preferably a controlled electric motor 13 and a slider 14, which constitutes the previously cited movable end of the actuator 1 1.

Threaded means are interposed between the electric motor 13 and the slider 14 to convert the rotary motion of the axis of the motor 13 into a translational motion of the slider 14 (along a radial direction of approach/spacing with respect to the rotation axis of the carousel 3, which corresponds to the axis of the stem 5) and accordingly of the pivot 12.

In practice, the rotation of the motor 13 causes a translation of the slider 14 that causes the passage of the pivot 12 from the first handle disabling configuration to the second handle enabling configuration and vice versa.

It is specified that said threaded means comprise a shaft 15, which is keyed on the axis of the motor 13 and is provided with a helical surface crest 15a.

In this case, the slider 14 comprises an internal cavity 16 for an axially acting helical spring 17.

The first turn 18 of said spring 17 is coupled to the bottom of the cavity 16 (in particular to a protrusion 16a that is present on the bottom of said cavity 16) and the last turn 19 is inserted slidingly within the slot formed between two consecutive starting points of the helical crest 15a.

With particular reference to the constructive solution described in the preceding paragraphs, the rotations of the shaft 15 cause an axial movement of the last turn 19 along the slot formed by the helical crest 15a of said shaft 15, with consequent translation of the slider 14, except for elastic deformations of the spring 17.

In practice, if the carousel 3 is in the inactive configuration (and therefore the hollow 9 and the receptacle 10 are aligned with each other and with the shaft 15), a rotation of the shaft 15 causes a movement of the slider 14, with consequent advancement/retraction of the pivot 12 with respect to said receptacle 10 (moving from the first configuration to the second configuration cited earlier).

If instead the carousel is not in the inactive configuration (for example because a user has operated the handle, causing a rotation of the disk 8), the pivot 12 cannot translate to said second configuration, although the motor 13 continues to turn, pushing forward the second turn 19 of the spring 17. In this case, the spring 17 undergoes an elastic compression, since translations of the pivot 12 toward the bottom of the receptacle 10 are prevented.

It should be specified that the pivot 12 abuts against the end head of the slider 14.

According to a specific solution of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, the perimetric hollow 9 can comprise an abutment frame 9a for an elastic element 20 that is interposed between the shell 7 and the pivot 12.

Said elastic element 20 is coaxial with said pivot 12; the function of said elastic element (20) is to keep, with elastic forcing, the pivot 12 in the first handle disabling configuration (i. e., to keep the pivot 12 outside of the receptacle 10, barring external actions that are stronger than the elastic force applied by the element 20).

It is specified, furthermore, that the shell 7 comprises preferably a radial expansion 21 at the hollow 9.

The radial expansion 21 is shaped like an annular sector.

It is convenient to point out that the recess 2b comprises an annular track 22 for the partial sliding accommodation of the radial expansion 21 of the shell 7: the combined rotation and translational motion of the radial expansion 21 along the annular track 22 occurs at the second handle enabling configuration (by rotating the handle, the entire carousel 3 can rotate within the seat 2a and the expansion 21 can move along the track 22).

With particular reference to a constructive solution of particular interest in application, the pivot 12 comprises a rear portion 23 that has a larger diameter and a front portion 24 that has a smaller diameter.

The elastic element 20 is thus engaged on the front portion 24 in abutment, with one of its faces, against the discontinuity surface between the front portion 24 and the rear portion 23 (the border that corresponds to the diameter variation between the two portions) and, with its opposite face, against the abutment frame 9a of the hollow 9.

The main body 2 comprises internal walls 25 for delimiting accommodation recesses 2b for the motor 13 and for the slider 14.

The bands 26 that delimit the annular track 22, at the region where the track 22 faces and is proximate to the head of the slider 14, are interrupted in order to allow the advancement of the slider 14 with consequent entry of the head thereof in the track 22.

Advantageously, the present invention solves the problems described earlier, forming an electric lock 1 that makes it possible to enable the external handle and is constituted by a small number of components.

Conveniently, the electric lock 1 is constituted by solid and compact components.

A lock 1 according to the invention has in fact been described which is constituted by a small number of elements that have a simple shape and are simple to manufacture.

Efficiently, the lock 1 according to the invention is scarcely subject to malfunctions and breakages, since by using solid components that are subjected to predominantly axial action said components do not undergo permanent deformations or yieldings due to excessive stresses. Positively, the present invention allows the provision of an electric lock 1 that has low costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and is safe in application.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In the exemplary embodiments shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An electric lock of the type comprising a main body (2) provided with a rotatable accommodation compartment (2a) for a carousel (3), provided with a substantially central seat (4) for the accommodation of the transverse stem (5) of a handle, between said carousel (3) and said main body (2) elastic means (6) being interposed for contrasting the free rotation of said carousel (3), characterized in that said carousel (3) comprises a shell (7) with a concavity that is complementary to a disk (8) for the corresponding rotatable accommodation, said shell (7) being provided with a perimetric hollow (9), said disk (8) comprising a perimetric receptacle (10), a linear actuator (1 1 ) being accommodated within a recess (2b) of said box-like body (2), outside said compartment (2a), said actuator (1 1 ) being aligned, along a radial direction, with said hollow (9) and said receptacle and supporting, at its movable end, a pivot (12) that can translate, due to the action of said actuator (1 1), between a first configuration for disabling the handle, in which it is accommodated in said recess (2b) and in said hollow (9), and a second configuration for enabling the handle, in which it is accommodated in said hollow (9) and in said receptacle (10).

2. The electric lock according to claim 1 , characterized in that said linear actuator (1 1 ) comprises a controlled electric motor (13), a slider (14), which constitutes the movable end of said actuator (1 1), threaded means being interposed between said electric motor (13) and said slider (14) for converting the rotary motion of the axis of the motor (13) into a translational motion of the slider (14) and accordingly of the pivot (12).

3. The electric lock according to claim 2, characterized in that said threaded means comprise a shaft (15), which is keyed on the axis of said motor ( 13) and is provided with a helical surface crest, said slider ( 14) comprising an internal cavity (16) for an axially acting helical spring (17) whose first turn (18) is coupled to the bottom of said cavity (16) and whose last turn (19) is inserted slidingly within the slot formed between two consecutive starting points of said helical crest, the rotations of said shaft ( 15) causing an axial movement of said last turn (19) along the slot formed by the helical crest of said shaft (15), with consequent translation of said slider (14) except for elastic deformations of said spring (17).

4. The electric lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pivot (12) abuts against the end head of said slider (14).

5. The electric lock according to claim 1 , characterized in that said perimetric hollow (9) comprises an abutment frame (9a) for an elastic element (20) that is interposed between said shell (7) and said pivot (12) and is coaxial with said pivot (12), said elastic element (20) forcing said spring (12) into said first handle disabling configuration.

6. The electric lock according to claim 1 , characterized in that said shell (7) comprises a radial expansion (21 ) at said hollow (9).

7. The electric lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said recess (2b) comprises an annular track (22) for the partial sliding accommodation of said radial expansion (21 ) of said shell (7) in said second handle enabling configuration.

8. The electric lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pivot (12) comprises a rear portion (23) and a front portion (24), said rear portion having a larger diameter than said front portion (24), said elastic element (20) being engaged on said front portion (24) in abutment, with one of its faces, against the surface of discontinuity between said front portion (24) and said rear portion (23), and, with its opposite face, against said abutment surface (9a) of said hollow (9).

9. The electric lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main body (2) comprises internal walls (25) for delimiting accommodation recesses for said motor ( 13) and said slider (14).

10. The electric lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bands (26) that delimit said annular track (22), at the region where said track (22) faces and is proximate to the head of said slider ( 14), are interrupted in order to allow the advancement of said slider (14) with consequent entry of the head thereof in said track (22).