Intelligent Lock Powered by Micro-Energy

Abstract

The present invention discloses an intelligent lock based on micro-energy power supply, which includes a lock body and a lock rod, and further includes a multi-stage transmission unlocking and locking assembly and a passive micro-energy module assembled in the lock body; the multi-stage transmission unlocking and locking assembly includes an electric power source, a cam member and at least two-stage lever transmission units, and each lever transmission unit includes a functional lever and a energy storage elastic member; the passive micro-energy module provides a working power supply for the electric power source, and the cam member rotates under the drive of the electric power source; the at least two-stage lever transmission unit has a trigger end that is driven by the cam member to trigger the cascaded swing of the at least two-stage lever transmission unit, and the at least two-stage lever transmission unit further has a buckle mechanism that locks or releases the locking part when the at least two-stage lever transmission unit cascades and swings. The present invention can use the micro-energy temporarily obtained from the outside as a power supply to realize the unlocking of the lock.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of locks, and in particular to an intelligent lock powered by micro energy and a domino transmission unlocking mechanism. Background Art

[0002] Intelligent locks are often used as lock control applications for security and process control, and their application fields are very extensive. For example, they are used for lock control of power supply boxes for key urban public facilities, outdoor distribution cabinets of the power distribution network, substation mechanism boxes, and power metering boxes; and for lock control of packages, carriages, and containers in logistics; and also for lock control of oil and gas pipeline valves, confidential containers for commercial coal samples, etc. in material management.

[0003] The Internet of Things intelligent lock based on passive micro energy power supply technology has obvious advantages in industrial application environments where power cannot be obtained due to its passive technology characteristics. Since the micro energy power supply has a low power, the torque that can be exchanged by the provided weak energy is very limited, so there are high design requirements for the unlocking mechanism of the intelligent lock. Currently, the unlocking reliability structures of low-power ordinary intelligent locks have certain limitations in design. Especially for passive Internet of Things intelligent locks, due to the weak energy, the unlocking torque is too small, resulting in a short unlocking stroke and insufficient unlocking force, and they cannot be well promoted and applied. There is still a considerable gap in promotion compared with common intelligent locks powered by external or internal power supplies.

[0004] Specifically, the following problems mainly exist: 1. Traditional mechanical or active locks can easily overcome the elastic force + frictional force generated by the compression spring of the lock pin to achieve the unlocking purpose, while passive or micro energy locks are prone to insufficient unlocking torque according to the conventional design due to insufficient power supply. 2. When unlocking, passive locks need to obtain and store energy from the environment, which takes a long time and the unlocking experience is poor, and they cannot achieve the unlocking experience of traditional locks. 3. In order to solve the problem of insufficient energy, a larger lock body space is required for special structural design. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an intelligent lock that can use the micro energy temporarily obtained from the outside as a power supply to realize the unlocking of the lock.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] An intelligent lock powered by micro energy, comprising a lock body and a lock rod. The lock rod has a locking portion that fits inside the lock body and moves between an unlocking position and a locking position. It is characterized in that it further comprises a multi-stage transmission unlocking and locking assembly and a passive micro energy module assembled inside the lock body. The multi-stage transmission unlocking and locking assembly includes an electric power source, a cam member and at least two-stage lever transmission units. The lever transmission units each include a functional lever and a storage elastic member. The passive micro energy module provides a working power source for the electric power source, and the cam member rotates under the drive of the electric power source. The at least two-stage lever transmission unit has a triggering end that is driven by the cam member to trigger the cascading swing of the at least two-stage lever transmission unit, and the at least two-stage lever transmission unit also has a buckle mechanism that locks or releases the locking portion when the at least two-stage lever transmission unit cascades and swings.

[0008] As a specific technical solution, the at least two-stage lever transmission unit includes a boosting lever, a boosting lever elastic member, a locking lever and a locking lever elastic member. The boosting lever is swingably arranged inside the lock body through a first fulcrum. The end of one side force arm of the boosting lever serves as the triggering end and is located below the cam member. The boosting lever elastic member applies an upward acting force to the one side force arm of the boosting lever. The locking lever is swingably arranged inside the lock body through a second fulcrum. The end of one side force arm of the locking lever presses against the lower part of the end of the other side force arm of the boosting lever. The end of the other side force arm of the locking lever is provided with the buckle mechanism. The locking lever elastic member applies an upward acting force to the other side of the locking lever.

[0009] As a specific technical solution, the end of the one side force arm of the boosting lever protrudes upward with a triggering block, and the triggering block is located below the cam member.

[0010] As a specific technical solution, the electric power source is a motor, which is horizontally arranged in the upper middle part of the lock body. The cam member is installed on the drive shaft of the electric power source, and the cam member has at least two cam vertices.

[0011] As a specific technical solution, the cam vertex is designed to have a relatively gentle rising edge first and then a steep falling edge in the reverse rotation direction.

[0012] As a specific technical solution, the boosting lever elastic member is a boosting lever torsion spring, which is sleeved on the first fulcrum. One end of it is in abutting cooperation with the lock body, and the other end is fitted in a cooperation hole on the boosting lever.

[0013] As a specific technical solution, the locking lever elastic member is a locking lever torsion spring, which is sleeved on the second fulcrum. One end of it is in abutting cooperation with the lock body, and the other end is fitted in a cooperation hole on the locking lever.

[0014] As a specific technical solution, a slot is provided on the locking part toward the side of the locking lever, and an annular groove is also provided circumferentially below the slot on the locking part; the locking mechanism includes a first clamping block and a second clamping block spaced apart in the upper and lower parts, the first clamping block is used to clamp the slot on the locking part of the locking rod downward; the second clamping block is in the shape of a fork with two fork arms, and the two fork arms of the second clamping block are clamped into the groove bodies on both sides of the annular groove on the locking part of the locking rod.

[0015] As a specific technical solution, the smart lock also includes a first sensor for detecting the swing position of the power-assisting lever, and the smart lock also includes a second sensor for detecting the swing position of the lock lever.

[0016] As a specific technical solution, the passive micro-energy module obtains electrical energy through NFC technology; the smart lock also includes an RFID board and a protective board, the RFID board is installed on the outside of the lock body, and the protective board cover is arranged on the outside of the RFID board, and the RFID board is provided with a coil for sensing and obtaining electrical energy.

[0017] The smart lock provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] (1) The unlocking assembly includes two or more lever transmission units. Each transmission unit is composed of a functional lever and an energy storage torsion spring. The energy storage torsion spring can be configured as needed, and the torsion spring can be replaced by other forms of elastic parts. Each transmission unit has the functions of mechanical energy storage, energy release, energy transmission, and force amplification. The unlocking assembly based on this structure can realize mechanical unlocking of the large elastic force lock rod under the drive of micro energy, and supports mobile terminals such as mobile phones, PDAs, and iPADs to realize contactless electronic authorization unlocking. Since it supports unlocking with an electronic key through a mobile terminal, it can have advanced functions and high reliability characteristics such as multi-level encryption, remote authorization, and unlocking process management.

[0019] (2) The transmission units of the unlocking assembly do not directly oppose the elastic force of the spring, but instead convert it into contact surface friction through structural design to reduce the force required for unlocking and thus reduce the energy requirement.

[0020] (3) The friction force is further reduced through multi-stage levers to minimize the unlocking torque and reduce the energy requirement. The mechanism increases the force required for the next stage of transmission by releasing the stored energy of the spring.

[0021] (4) There are more than two cam vertices on the cam member. Therefore, each energy supply only needs to drive the cam member to rotate by a fraction of a turn, reducing the idling time of the motor during unlocking, increasing the unlocking trigger times, avoiding idling losses, and completing an unlocking operation with relatively low energy consumption, thus improving the unlocking response and user experience.

[0022] (5) Through reasonable layout design, the space utilization is optimized to minimize the volume of the lock body to the greatest extent. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 The perspective view of the intelligent lock provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 The exploded view of the intelligent lock provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 The internal structure diagram of the intelligent lock provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 The view of the electric power source, cam member, assisting lever, and locking lever of the intelligent lock provided by the embodiment of the present invention when they are in the locked state.

[0027] Figure 5 The view of the electric power source, cam member, assisting lever, and locking lever of the intelligent lock provided by the embodiment of the present invention when they are in the unlocked state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The following further describes the specific embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the convenience of description, in this application, definitions may be made for orientations such as up, down, left, right, front, back, horizontal, vertical, and axial, aiming to clearly describe the relative positional relationship of the structure and not for the limitation of the actual orientation during the production, use, and sales of the product. The following further describes the specific embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0029] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the intelligent lock provided in this embodiment includes a lock body 10, a lock rod 20, a multi-stage transmission unlocking and locking assembly, and a passive micro energy module 40. Among them, the multi-stage transmission unlocking and locking assembly includes an electric power source 31, a cam member 32, an assisting lever 33, an assisting lever torsion spring 34, a locking lever 35, and a locking lever torsion spring 36.

[0030] It should be noted that the smart lock in this embodiment is a padlock, so the lock rod 20 is a hook-shaped lock rod; it can be understood that under other application requirements, the lock rod may be a straight rod or other forms. Regardless of the form, the lock rod 20 has a locking portion 21 that fits inside the lock body 10 and moves between an unlocked position and a locked position. The multi-stage transmission unlocking and locking assembly is assembled inside the lock body 10 and, by cooperating with the locking portion 21 of the lock rod 20, locks or releases the lock rod 20 in the locked position. The specific structures of each part are described in detail below:

[0031] As Figure 2 shown, the lock body 10 includes a main housing 11 and a cover plate 12. The cover plate 12 is fixedly assembled on the side of the main housing 11, and an assembly space is provided inside the lock body 10. A locking hole is opened in the left part inside the lock body 10, and the locking portion of the lock rod 20 cooperates with the locking hole. Combining Figure 3 shown, the electric power source 31 is a motor, horizontally arranged in the upper middle part of the lock body 10. The drive shaft of the electric power source 31 is located at the right end, and the cam member 32 is installed on the drive shaft of the electric power source 31 and rotates driven by the drive shaft. The cam member 32 has at least one cam apex 321, which is three cam apices 321 in this embodiment. The cam apex 321 is designed to have a relatively gentle rising edge first and then a steep descending edge in the reverse rotation direction.

[0032] Combining Figure 3 shown, the assisting lever 33 is swingably arranged inside the lock body 10 through a first fulcrum 101. The end of the right force arm 331 of the assisting lever 33 protrudes upwardly with a touch block 334, and the touch block 334 is located below the cam member 32. The assisting lever torsion spring 34 applies a counterclockwise rotational force to the assisting lever 33; specifically, the assisting lever torsion spring 34 is sleeved on the first fulcrum 101, one end of which abuts and cooperates with the lock body 10, and the other end cooperates with the fitting hole 335 on the assisting lever 33. The lock catch lever 35 is swingably arranged inside the lock body 10 through a second fulcrum 102. The end of the right force arm 351 of the lock catch lever 35 presses against the lower part of the end of the left force arm 332 of the assisting lever 33. The end of the left force arm 352 of the lock catch lever 35 is provided with a buckle mechanism 353. The lock catch lever torsion spring 36 applies a counterclockwise rotational force to the lock catch lever 35; specifically, the lock catch lever torsion spring 36 is sleeved on the second fulcrum, one end of which abuts and cooperates with the lock body 10, and the other end cooperates with the fitting hole 355 on the lock catch lever 35.

[0033] On one side of the locking part 21 of the lock rod 20 facing the lock catch lever 35, a clamping groove 211 is formed, and an annular groove 212 is circumferentially formed below the clamping groove 211 on the locking part 21. The clamping mechanism 353 provided at the end of the left force arm 352 of the lock catch lever 35 includes a first clamping block and a second clamping block which are distributed at intervals up and down. The first clamping block is used to clamp the clamping groove 211 on the locking part 21 of the lock rod 20 downward; the second clamping block is in a fork shape with two fork arms, and the two fork arms of the second clamping block are clamped into the two side groove bodies of the annular groove 212 on the locking part 21 of the lock rod 20.

[0034] The passive micro energy module 40 is assembled in the lower part of the lock body 10 and is used to manage passive micro energy and provide working electric energy to the electric power source 31. In this embodiment, the passive micro energy is the electric energy obtained by NFC technology induction. Refer to Figure 2 As shown, the intelligent lock further includes an RFID board 13 and a protection board 14. The RFID board 13 is installed on the outer side of the cover plate 12, and a coil for sensing and obtaining electric energy is provided on the RFID board 13.

[0035] Combined with Figure 3 、 Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the working principle of the above intelligent lock is as follows:

[0036] When unlocking is required, the passive micro energy module 40 obtains micro energy from a mobile terminal (such as a mobile phone, PDA, iPad, etc. with an NFC module), and drives the electric power source 31 (i.e., the motor) to work, so as to drive the cam member 32 to rotate. The cam apex 321 on the cam member 32 presses down the end of the right force arm 331 of the boosting lever 33. The boosting lever 33 overcomes the acting force of the boosting lever torsion spring 34, the right force arm 331 descends, and the left force arm 332 rises; the boosting lever 33 amplifies the torque to overcome the frictional resistance of the lock catch lever 3,5. At this time, the left force arm 332 of the boosting lever 33 releases the right force arm 351 of the lock catch lever 35, and the lock catch lever 35 releases the stored energy of the lock catch lever torsion spring 36. The lock catch lever torsion spring 36 drives the lock catch lever 35 to swing, so that the left force arm of the lock catch lever 35 rises. At the same time, the clamping mechanism 353 provided at the end of the left force arm 352 of the lock catch lever 35 releases the locking part 21 of the lock rod 20. At this time, the lock rod 20 can move upward from the current locked position to the unlocked position.

[0037] When locking is required, the locking portion 21 of the locking rod 20 is pressed downward, pressing the second clamping block downward, so that the left lever 352 of the locking lever 35 is lowered and the right lever 351 is raised. At this time, the locking mechanism 353 set at the end of the left lever 352 of the locking lever 35 clamps the locking rod 20 downward; at the same time, since the cam member 32 has rotated further, the cam vertex 321 thereon has been staggered with the right lever end of the power-assisting lever 33. At this time, the power-assisting lever torsion spring 34 lifts the right lever 331 of the power-assisting lever 33 and lowers the left lever 332. The left lever 332 of the power-assisting lever 33 presses downward again against the right lever 351 of the locking lever 35, and the locking lever torsion spring 36 is compressed and stores energy.

[0038] In this embodiment, the second block has the function of pushing the lock rod 20 upward when unlocking. However, in order to facilitate the lock rod 20 to pop out after unlocking, a lock rod spring (not shown) is installed at the bottom of the locking hole to apply an upward force to the lock rod 20. Figure 3 As shown, the smart lock provided in this embodiment also includes a first sensor 61 and a second sensor 62. The first sensor 61 is used to detect the swing position of the power-assist lever 33, and the second sensor 62 is used to detect the swing position of the lock lever 35, so as to determine the unlocked state of the smart lock. Specifically, the first sensor 61 is used to detect whether the right lever arm of the power-assist lever 33 swings downward to a first preset position, and the second sensor 62 is used to detect whether the right lever arm of the lock lever 35 swings downward to a second preset position. In this embodiment, when the right lever arm of the power-assist lever 33 swings to the first preset position and the right lever arm of the lock lever 35 swings downward to the second preset position, the smart lock is in the open state. The first sensor 61 and the second sensor 62 can be light sensing, contact sensing or touch sensing.

[0039] The above embodiments are intended to fully disclose rather than limit the present invention. Any replacement of equivalent technical features that can be obtained based on the creative purpose of the present invention without creative work should be regarded as within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. An intelligent lock powered by micro energy, comprising a lock body and a lock rod. The lock rod has a locking portion that fits inside the lock body and moves between an unlocking position and a locking position; characterized in that: It also includes a multi-stage transmission unlocking and locking component and a passive micro energy module assembled in the lock body; the multi-stage transmission unlocking and locking component includes an electric power source, a cam member and at least two-stage lever transmission units, and each lever transmission unit includes a functional lever and a energy storage elastic member; the passive micro energy module is assembled at the lower part inside the lock body to provide a working power source for the electric power source, and the cam member rotates under the drive of the electric power source; the at least two-stage lever transmission units have a trigger end that is driven by the cam member to trigger the cascaded swing of the at least two-stage lever transmission units, and the at least two-stage lever transmission units also have a buckle mechanism that locks or releases the locking part when the at least two-stage lever transmission units swing in cascade; The at least two-stage lever transmission units include a boosting lever, a boosting lever elastic member, a locking lever and a locking lever elastic member; the boosting lever is swingably arranged in the lock body through a first fulcrum, and the end of one side force arm of the boosting lever serves as the trigger end and is located below the cam member, and the boosting lever elastic member applies an upward acting force to the one side force arm of the boosting lever; The locking lever is swingably arranged in the lock body through a second fulcrum, and the end of one side force arm of the locking lever abuts against the lower part of the end of the other side force arm of the boosting lever, and the buckle mechanism is arranged at the end of the other side force arm of the locking lever; the locking lever elastic member applies an upward acting force to the other side of the locking lever; A clamping groove is formed on one side of the locking part facing the locking lever, and an annular groove is also circumferentially formed below the clamping groove on the locking part; the buckle mechanism includes a first clamping block and a second clamping block that are distributed at intervals up and down, and the first clamping block is used to clamp the clamping groove on the locking part of the locking rod downward; the second clamping block is in a fork shape with two fork arms, and the two fork arms of the second clamping block are clamped into the two side groove bodies of the annular groove on the locking part of the locking rod.

2. The intelligent lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, A triggering block protrudes upward from the end of the one side force arm of the boosting lever, and the triggering block is located below the cam member.

3. The intelligent lock according to claim 2, wherein The electric power source is a motor, which is horizontally arranged in the upper middle part of the lock body, the cam member is installed on the drive shaft of the electric power source, and the cam member has at least two cam vertices.

4. The intelligent lock according to claim 3, characterized in that The cam vertices are designed to have a relatively gentle rising edge first and then a steep falling edge in the reverse rotation direction.

5. The intelligent lock according to claim 1, wherein The boosting lever elastic member is a boosting lever torsion spring, which is sleeved on the first fulcrum, one end of which is in abutting cooperation with the lock body, and the other end is fitted in a fitting hole on the boosting lever.

6. The intelligent lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking lever elastic member is a locking lever torsion spring, which is sleeved on the second fulcrum, one end of which is in abutting cooperation with the lock body, and the other end is fitted in a fitting hole on the locking lever.

7. The intelligent lock according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, It also includes a first sensor for detecting the swinging position of the boosting lever and a second sensor for detecting the swinging position of the locking lever.

8. The intelligent lock according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The passive micro energy module obtains electric energy through NFC technology induction; the intelligent lock further includes an RFID board and a protection board. The RFID board is installed on the outer side of the lock body, and the protection board covers the outer side of the RFID board. A coil for inducing and obtaining electric energy is arranged on the RFID board.

Images