Electronic lock cylinder

Abstract

An electronic locking cylinder has a locking mechanism (3) with a rotatable blocking element (13) for selectively supporting or releasing the movement of a locking element (4). An actuator (10) of the locking mechanism (3) has a piezoelectric motor for driving a drive shaft (14) coupled to the blocking element (13) in two rotational positions. In one rotational position, projections (17) of the blocking element (13) are opposed to a shoulder (18) of the locking element (4), while in the other rotational position, the projections (17) are opposed to recesses (21) of the locking element (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electronic locking cylinder with a core rotatable in a housing, with an electronic locking mechanism for selectively blocking or releasing the movement of the core, with a locking element movable into one of the components of the housing or of the core and a locking recess arranged in the component of the core or of the housing opposite the locking element and with an electrically controllable actuator, wherein the actuator is arranged within the locking recess to support the locking element.

[0002] A locking mechanism for such a locking cylinder is known, for example, from EP 1 626 142 A2. In this locking mechanism, a holding element, which can be controlled by the actuator, is slidably guided parallel to the rotational axis of the core into a recess of a housing pin. When the actuator is de-energized, the holding element penetrates the recess in the housing pin, whereby a core pin is held in a parting plane between the housing and core. This blocks the movement of the core and the locking cylinder is in a locked position. As a result, the core is directly connected to the housing in a form-fitting manner in the locked position. A disadvantage is that the locking mechanism therefore has many components to assemble.

[0003] The invention is based on the problem of developing an electronic locking cylinder of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it is particularly simple in construction and particularly tamper-proof.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention in that the actuator has a blocking element that can be driven by a motor between two positions, wherein one position of the blocking element corresponds to a blocking position of the movement of the blocking element, in which the blocking element is held in the blocking recess, and the other position of the blocking element corresponds to the release position of the blocking element, in which the blocking element can be moved out of the blocking recess.

[0005] This design requires only a single locking element, making the locking cylinder particularly simple. Furthermore, ideally, the actuator only requires electrical power when its position is changed. Preferably, the locking recess is designed as a blind hole in the core and thus not accessible via a locking channel in the core. This significantly increases the tamper-proof nature of the electronic locking cylinder.

[0006] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking element can be permanently secured in the blocking and release positions if the locking element is held in a self-locking manner in both positions. This eliminates the need for electrical current to permanently hold the locking element in one of its positions. Thanks to the self-locking mechanism, vibrations do not lead to tampering with the locking cylinder.

[0007] According to another advantageous development of the invention, controlling the blocking element is particularly simple if the actuator's motor is designed as a piezo motor. Such a piezo motor utilizes the physical piezo effect to generate a linear or rotary movement and can be easily switched between two independently fixed positions. Furthermore, such a piezo motor consists of a very small number of components to be assembled.

[0008] When the blocking element of the initial movement of the core is in the release position, the blocking element can be easily pushed out of the blocking recess if the blocking recess is designed as a funnel-shaped depression and the end of the blocking element projecting into the blocking recess is hemispherical.

[0009] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the blocking of the blocking element in the position in the blocking recess is particularly simple if the blocking element has at least one shoulder and if the shoulder is engaged behind by the blocking element in the blocking position.

[0010] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the components of the locking mechanism are constructed particularly simply if one of the components of the locking element or of the blocking element has a radially projecting projection and the respective opposite component of the blocking element or of the locking element has a wide recess corresponding to the projection and if in one rotational position of the blocking element the projection is opposite the recess and in another rotational position the projection is opposite the shoulder.

[0011] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the blocking element is rotatably mounted to further simplify the design of the locking mechanism.

[0012] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the locking mechanism is particularly compact when the longitudinal axes of the locking element and the blocking element are aligned. This design allows the locking mechanism to support particularly high forces even with small dimensions in the locking cylinder, increasing tamper resistance.

[0013] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the design effort for moving the locking element can be kept particularly low if the locking element is pre-tensioned into the locking recess by a spring element.

[0014] According to a further advantageous development of the invention, the tamper security of the locking cylinder can be increased by minimizing the potential energy of the blocking element in the blocking position. This design ensures that the blocking element always strives to assume the blocking position. For example, overcoming the self-locking effect due to vibration introduced into the locking cylinder from the outside cannot lead to the release position being reached. In terms of design, the setting of the minimum potential energy can be implemented using a restoring force. This can be generated, for example, by a leg spring that preloads the blocking element towards the blocking position. Alternatively, the blocking element can be displaced counter to gravity via a ramp in the locking mechanism during movement into the release position.

[0015] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking cylinder can be installed particularly easily if the locking mechanism has an actuator housing for accommodating the actuator, the blocking element, and the locking element. This allows the actuator housing, the actuator, the blocking element, and the locking element to be combined into a pre-assembled assembly and installed together.

[0016] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the actuator housing has an external thread and a bore in the housing has a correspondingly designed internal thread to further simplify the assembly of the locking mechanism.

[0017] The invention permits numerous embodiments. To further clarify its basic principle, two of them are shown in the drawing and are described below. This shows in Fig. 1a partial section through an electronic locking cylinder, Fig. 2enlarged a sectional view through an actuator of the locking cylinder from Figure 1 in blocking position, Fig.3 a sectional view through the actuator Figure 2 along the line III - III, Fig.4the actuator from Figure 2 in a release position, Fig.5 a sectional view through the actuator Figure 4 along the line V - V, Fig.6 another embodiment of an actuator of the electronic locking cylinder in blocking position, Fig.7 the actuator from Figure 6 in release position.

[0018] Figure 1shows an electronic locking cylinder with a core 2 that can rotate in a housing 1 and with an electronic locking mechanism 3 for optionally blocking or releasing the movement of the core 2. The locking mechanism 3 has a locking element 4 that is guided longitudinally displaceably in the housing 1 and a locking recess 5 that is opposite the locking element 4 in the core 2. The locking recess 5 is designed as a funnel-shaped depression in the side walls, while the end of the locking element 4 that projects into the locking recess 5 is hemispherical. The locking element 4 is pre-tensioned into the locking recess 5 by a spring element 6. If the movement of the locking element 4 is not blocked by the locking mechanism 3, the locking element 4 can be pressed out of the locking recess 5 against the force of the spring element 6 when the core 2 rotates.If the movement of the locking element 4 is blocked by the locking mechanism 3, the locking element 4 is prevented from being pushed out of the locking recess 5 and thus from rotating the core 2. The electronic locking mechanism 3 has an actuator housing 7 with an external thread 8 for screwing into a correspondingly designed internal thread 9 of the housing 1. The electronic locking mechanism 3 can be controlled, for example, by a key (not shown) inserted into the core 2 or by a reader for a transponder chip (also not shown). An energy storage device arranged, for example, in the housing 1 and electrical lines for supplying the electronic locking mechanism 3 with electrical current and control signals are not shown to simplify the drawing.

[0019] Figure 2 shows the electronic locking mechanism 3 from Figure 1in an enlarged sectional view through the actuator housing 7 with an actuator 10 arranged therein. The actuator housing 7 is pot-shaped to accommodate a motor 11 designed as a piezo motor and an outer guide part 12. The outer guide part 12 supports a rotatably mounted blocking element 13 and a drive shaft 14 that can be rotated into two positions by the motor 11. An inner guide part 15 is fastened in the outer guide part 12 and guides the locking element 4. In addition, the inner guide part 15 supports the spring element 6. The drive shaft 14 is positively coupled to the blocking element 13 in the direction of rotation via a coupling device 16. In the blocking position shown, the blocking element 13 is supported by means of a plurality of projections 17 on a shoulder 18 on the underside of the locking element 4. As a result, the locking element 4 cannot sink into the blocking element 13.By means of elements not shown, such as a leg spring, the blocking position can be defined as the energetically most favorable position of the blocking element 13. Conventional mechanical manipulation attempts would thus lead to the locking mechanism being shifted into the blocking position, and the locking cylinder could not be easily released.

[0020] Figure 3 shows a sectional view through the electronic locking mechanism 3 from Figure 2 along the line III - III onto the coupling device 16. The coupling device 16 has positively interlocking coupling claws 19, 20 arranged on the drive shaft 14 and the blocking element 13.

[0021] Figure 4 shows a sectional view through the electronic locking mechanism 3 in a position releasing the movement of the locking element 4. The blocking element 13 is opposite to the Figure 2shown position with the projections 17 into a position in which these projections 17 are aligned with elongated recesses 21 in the locking element 4. As a result, the locking element 4 can be moved by turning the Figure 1 shown core 2 are pressed out of the locking recess 5 and dive into the blocking element 13.

[0022] Figure 5 shows a sectional view through the locking mechanism 3 from Figure 4 along the line V - V, that the inner contour of the blocking element 13 with the projections 17 corresponds to the outer contour of the locking element 4 with the recesses 21, so that the locking element 4 can only dive into the blocking element 13 in the intended rotational position shown.

[0023] Figure 6 shows a sectional view through another embodiment of a locking mechanism 103 with an actuator 110 in a blocking position. This embodiment differs from that shown in Figure 2 in that a projection 117 of a blocking element 113 is designed as a lug projecting radially from a drive shaft 114. In the blocking position shown, the projection 117 is supported on a shoulder 118 arranged in the central region of a blocking element 104. A motor 111 designed as a piezo motor drives the drive shaft 114 in two Figures 6 and 7 shown positions.

[0024] Figure 7 shows the locking mechanism 103 from Figure 6 in a release position. Compared to the Figure 6 In the position shown, the drive shaft 114 is rotated by 90°, so that the projection 117 of the blocking element 113 is moved out of the range of movement of the locking element 104. Thus, the locking element 104 can be moved out of the Figure 1 shown locking recess 5 and dive into the locking mechanism 103.

Claims

1. Electronic locking cylinder with a core (2) rotatable in a housing (1), with an electronic locking mechanism (3) for selectively blocking or releasing the movement of the core (2), with a locking element (4) movable into one of the components of the housing (1) or of the core (2) and a locking recess (5) arranged opposite the locking element (4, 104) in the component of the core (2) or of the housing (1), and with an electrically controllable actuator (10, 110), wherein the actuator (10, 110) is arranged within the locking recess (5) to support the locking element (4, 104), characterized in thatthe actuator (10, 110) has a blocking element (13, 113) which can be driven by a motor (11, 111) between two positions, wherein one position of the blocking element (13) corresponds to a blocking position of the movement of the blocking element (4, 104), in which the blocking element (4, 104) is held in the blocking recess (5), and the other position of the blocking element (13, 113) corresponds to the release position of the blocking element (4, 104), in which the blocking element (4, 104) can be moved out of the blocking recess (5).

2. Lock cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocking element (13, 113) is held self-locking in both positions.

3. Lock cylinder according to claim 2, characterized in that the motor (11, 111) of the actuator (10, 110) is designed as a piezo motor.

4. Lock cylinder according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe locking recess (5) is designed as a funnel-shaped depression and the end of the locking element (4, 104) projecting into the locking recess (5) is designed as a hemispherical recess.

5. Lock cylinder according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element (4, 104) has at least one shoulder (18, 118) and that the shoulder (18, 118) is engaged behind by the blocking element (13, 113) in the blocking position.

6. Lock cylinder according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the components of the locking element (4) or of the blocking element (13) has a radially projecting projection (17) and the respective opposite component of the blocking element (13) or of the locking element (4) has a wide recess (21) corresponding to the projection (17) and that in one rotational position of the blocking element (13) the projection (17) is opposite the recess (21) and in another rotational position the projection (17) is opposite the shoulder (18).

7. Lock cylinder according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element (13, 113) is rotatably mounted.

8. Lock cylinder according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Longitudinal axes of the locking element (4) and the blocking element (13) are aligned.

9. Lock cylinder according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (4, 104) is pre-tensioned into the locking recess by a spring element (6).

10. Lock cylinder according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the potential energy of the blocking element (13, 113) is at a minimum in the blocking position.

11. Lock cylinder according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking mechanism (3, 103) has an actuator housing (7) for receiving the actuator (10, 110) of the blocking element (13, 113) and the locking element (4, 104).

12. Lock cylinder according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator housing (7) has an external thread (8) and a bore in the housing (1) has a correspondingly designed internal thread (9).