Expansion gate lock, expansion gate and vehicle

By introducing linkage mechanism, sensor and elastic components into the swell lock, locking is only performed at a safe speed, the problems of false triggering of the electric-controlled swell lock and easy damage to the horseshoe lock are solved, and safe and reliable automatic control and anti-theft performance are achieved.

CN113404385BActive Publication Date: 2025-08-12SHANGHAI JUNZHENG NETWORK TECH CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202010179757.7
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2020-03-16
Publication Date
2025-08-12
Estimated Expiration
2040-03-16

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing electric-controlled bump locks cause safety accidents when the vehicle is driving rapidly due to accidental triggering of locking commands, and the horseshoe locks in shared vehicles are easily damaged and forgotten to lock.

Method used

A bump lock is designed to detect the motion state of the bump through linkage mechanism and sensors. The locking operation is only performed when the bump stops or the speed is lower than the preset safe speed. The elastic components and dual detection devices are used to ensure safety and automated control.

Benefits of technology

It avoids safety accidents caused by electrical control failures or accidental triggering, improves the anti-theft performance and automation of shared vehicles, and ensures the safety of cyclists.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention discloses a gate lock, comprising a lock body that cooperates with the gate to complete locking or unlocking; the lock body comprises a shell and an actuator, a driving component, a linkage mechanism and a control device arranged in the shell; the actuator comprises an actuator that cooperates with the gate, the actuator is separated from the gate to complete unlocking, and when the gate is in a stopped state or the speed of the gate is lower than a preset safety speed, the actuator cooperates with the gate to complete locking; the driving component is connected to the actuator through a linkage mechanism; the control device is electrically connected to the driving component to control the movement of the driving component; the linkage mechanism comprises a first connecting member connected to the actuator, and the first connecting member is configured to apply a force to the actuator when unlocking or locking. The gate lock of the present invention will not lock the vehicle due to erroneous triggering of a locking command during riding, thereby avoiding injuries to users.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of locks, in particular to an expansion gate lock, and an expansion gate and a vehicle using the expansion gate lock. Background Art

[0002] A brake lock, also known as an expansion lock, combines a locking mechanism with the vehicle's brake mechanism. Compared to a structure where the brake mechanism is separated from the anti-theft lock, a brake lock essentially maintains the original brake mechanism structure while offering better concealment, strong anti-theft performance, and ease of automated electric control. Currently, brake locks, especially electronically controlled brake locks, are widely used in electric vehicles, but not in shared vehicles.

[0003] The working principle of existing electric brake locks is as follows: the rotation of the motor is converted into linear motion of the lock tongue through a rigidly connected linkage mechanism such as a worm gear, reduction gear, and cam. Then, using the pin-hole principle, the lock tongue pin is outside the hole when unlocking and inside the hole when locking the vehicle, thereby locking or unlocking the brake. In this type of electric brake lock, the linkage mechanism between the motor and the lock tongue are rigid components, and the transition from unlocked to locked state is completed instantly. When the wheel is traveling at a high speed, if an abnormal command appears in the electronic control system or the electronic control background, the lock tongue will instantly lock into the hole, causing people in the normally moving vehicle to be injured without having time to react.

[0004] The horseshoe locks used in existing shared vehicles are installed in plain sight, making them vulnerable to damage such as being smashed or the locking ring cut, as well as theft. Furthermore, horseshoe locks require manual locking, which can lead to users forgetting to do so. The aforementioned electrically controlled expansion lock can be concealed within the vehicle body, offering enhanced theft protection. Furthermore, both opening and closing the lock are automatically controlled, making it more suitable for shared vehicles.

[0005] Therefore, those skilled in the art are committed to developing a brake lock that prevents the vehicle from being locked due to erroneous triggering of a locking command during riding, thereby preventing users from being injured. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One purpose of the present invention is to provide a brake lock that can lock a vehicle only when the safety of the vehicle user is guaranteed, thereby preventing safety accidents.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a gate lock, comprising a lock body that cooperates with the gate to complete locking or unlocking; the lock body comprises a housing and an actuator, a driving component, a linkage mechanism and a control device arranged in the housing; wherein,

[0008] The actuator includes an actuator component that cooperates with the expansion gate; the actuator is configured such that: the actuator component separates from the expansion gate to complete unlocking, and when the expansion gate is in a stopped state or the speed of the expansion gate is less than or equal to a preset safety speed, the actuator component cooperates with the expansion gate to complete locking;

[0009] The driving component is configured to drive the execution component to unlock or lock through the linkage mechanism;

[0010] The control device is electrically connected to the driving component and is used to control the movement of the driving component;

[0011] The linkage mechanism includes a first connecting member connected to the actuator, and the first connecting member is configured to apply a force to the actuator to move toward the gate expansion direction when unlocking and / or away from the gate expansion direction when locking.

[0012] The aforementioned brake lock provided by the present invention can solve the problem of bike theft caused by the horseshoe lock currently used on shared bicycles being smashed or the lock ring being cut, making it particularly suitable for shared bicycles. During vehicle operation, the brake lock provided by the present invention only locks when the brake is stopped or the speed of the brake is less than or equal to a preset safe speed. Therefore, it will not lock the vehicle when traveling above the safe speed due to electronic control failure or erroneous triggering of the lock command, thus ensuring the safety of the rider.

[0013] In some embodiments, optionally, the shell of the expansion gate lock body is separately provided on the outer side of the expansion gate; this can facilitate the disassembly and assembly of the lock body and the expansion gate, saving troubleshooting time and cost.

[0014] In some embodiments, optionally, the first connecting member is a first elastic element. Preferably, the first elastic element can prevent the lock body from getting stuck and handle some abnormal lock opening and closing situations.

[0015] In some embodiments, optionally, the linkage mechanism further includes a crank, the crank is connected to the driving component, one end of the first elastic element is connected to the crank, and the other end of the first elastic element is connected to the actuator.

[0016] In some embodiments, optionally, the control device includes a sensor for detecting the movement state of the expansion gate, and the control device is configured to control the driving component to remain in a stopped state when it is determined that the movement speed of the expansion gate is greater than the preset safety speed in response to a signal detected by the sensor that the expansion gate is moving.

[0017] In some embodiments, optionally, the sensor includes a Hall sensor element, and the Hall sensor element is configured to detect the movement speed of the expansion gate by sensing a magnetic field generated by a magnet installed on the expansion gate.

[0018] In some embodiments, optionally, the execution component includes a first protrusion, and the first protrusion is configured to cooperate with a groove on the expansion gate to complete locking, and to separate from the groove to complete unlocking.

[0019] In some embodiments, the actuator optionally further includes a second elastic element, connected to the actuator and configured to apply a spring force to the actuator to cause the actuator to move toward the gate opening. While the use of a second elastic element can improve the accuracy of opening and closing the lock to a certain extent, this increases costs and affects the safety speed setting. Therefore, in practical applications, the second elastic element is omitted, and the actuator is directly pivoted to the lock housing without the use of an elastic element, thereby reducing the safety speed and cost.

[0020] In some embodiments, optionally, the lock body further includes a first detection device and a second detection device, the first detection device is coupled to the actuator, and the second detection device is coupled to the linkage mechanism;

[0021] The first detection device and the second detection device are configured to determine whether the lock body is in a locked state or an unlocked state according to the state of the first detection device and / or the second detection device.

[0022] In some embodiments, optionally, in the unlocked state, the execution component is separated from the first detection device, and the linkage mechanism is in contact with the second detection device; in the locked state, the execution component is in contact with the first detection device, and the linkage mechanism is separated from the second detection device.

[0023] In some embodiments, optionally, the execution component further includes a second protrusion, and the second protrusion is configured to contact the first detection device in the locked state and to be separated from the first detection device in the unlocked state.

[0024] In some embodiments, optionally, the expansion lock further includes a locking assembly cooperating with the actuator, and the locking assembly is configured to lock the actuator in a locked state to prevent the actuator from leaving the locked position.

[0025] In some embodiments, optionally, the locking assembly includes a buckle and a third elastic element connected to the buckle, and the actuator includes a mating portion that cooperates with the buckle; the buckle is configured to abut against the mating portion in the locked state to prevent the actuator from moving in a direction away from the expansion gate; the third elastic element is configured to apply an elastic force to the buckle to cause the buckle to move in a direction away from the expansion gate.

[0026] In some embodiments, optionally, the actuator further includes a toggle member, which is pivotally connected to the actuator component, and the toggle member includes an end and a blocking portion protruding along the thickness direction of the toggle member, and one end of the first connecting member is connected to the blocking portion, and the blocking portion is configured to convert the force of the first connecting member into a force applied to the actuator component during the locking process; the end is close to the buckle, and the end is configured to drive the buckle during the unlocking process of the lock tongue to separate the buckle from the mating portion.

[0027] In some embodiments, optionally, the actuator further includes a fourth elastic element, the fourth elastic element is connected to the toggle member, and the fourth elastic element is configured to apply an elastic force to the toggle member to move the blocking portion toward the actuator.

[0028] In some embodiments, optionally, the driving component is a waterproof motor with an encoder.

[0029] In some embodiments, optionally, the control device is configured to control the driving component to be powered on in response to an unlocking instruction and / or a locking instruction.

[0030] In some embodiments, optionally, the control device is configured to control the driving component to be powered off after executing the unlocking instruction and / or the locking instruction.

[0031] After executing the unlock command, the driving component is controlled to be powered off, that is, the driving component is kept powered off in the unlocked state, which can ensure that the driving component will not be locked due to the false triggering of the control device during the riding of the vehicle, causing a safety hazard; and the driving component is controlled to be powered on only after receiving the locking command. Combined with the set safety speed, it can ensure that the brake lock will not be locked due to false operation during the riding process, causing a safety accident; the double fault reporting makes the brake lock safer and more suitable for the application of shared bicycles. After executing the locking command, the driving component is controlled to be powered off, that is, the driving component is kept powered off in the locked state. On the one hand, it can reduce power consumption and save electricity. On the other hand, it can ensure that the vehicle will not be unlocked due to the false triggering of the control device in the locked state, causing the user to mistakenly believe that the vehicle cannot be used normally. Powering on the driving component immediately after receiving the unlock command can reduce the unlocking time and improve the user experience.

[0032] The present invention also provides a vehicle, comprising the expansion lock as described above.

[0033] The present invention provides a method for controlling a vehicle using the above-mentioned expansion lock, including unlocking control and locking control;

[0034] The unlocking control comprises the following steps:

[0035] Accept unlocking instructions;

[0036] Controlling the driving device to perform the unlocking operation;

[0037] reporting whether unlocking is successful based on the status of the first detection device and the second detection device;

[0038] The locking control comprises the following steps:

[0039] Accept the lock command;

[0040] When it is determined that the vehicle is in a stopped state or the speed of the vehicle is lower than a preset safety speed, controlling the driving device to perform a locking operation;

[0041] When it is detected that the second detection device coupled to the linkage mechanism is in the disconnected state and the driving device has completed the preset rotation stroke, a locking completion signal is sent.

[0042] The expansion lock provided by the present invention has the following technical effects:

[0043] 1. Using a brake lock on a shared vehicle can better hide it inside the vehicle body, avoiding malicious damage caused by using a horseshoe lock.

[0044] 2. When locking the gate lock of the present invention, the control device controls the driving component, thereby driving the actuator to lock. The locking assembly automatically locks the actuator under the action of elastic force. When unlocking, the control device controls the driving component, thereby driving the toggle member to rotate, separating the buckle from the actuator. At the same time, the toggle member transmits the pulling force to the actuator, causing it to rotate. Whether unlocking or locking, manual operation is unnecessary, improving the degree of automation.

[0045] 3. The gate lock proposed in the present invention uses two detection devices to determine the status of the switch lock. The first detection device cooperates with the actuator, and the second detection device cooperates with the linkage mechanism. If the actuator cannot unlock normally due to abnormal reasons, the first detection device cannot be triggered. Even if the driving component executes the unlocking command, there will be no false alarm of successful unlocking. Similarly, if the second detection device cannot be triggered normally, it will not falsely report successful unlocking or locking. Compared with the gate lock in the prior art that only uses one detection switch, the present invention can accurately monitor the status of the switch lock without false alarms, which will affect the normal use of the gate lock.

[0046] 4. During vehicle travel, the brake lock provided by the present invention will only execute the locking operation when the brake is stopped or the speed of the brake is less than or equal to the preset safety speed. Therefore, the vehicle will not be locked when traveling at a speed higher than the safety speed due to electronic control failure or erroneous triggering of the locking command, thereby ensuring the safety of the rider.

[0047] 5. Using elastic elements as connectors in the linkage mechanism can complete the unlocking command in the case of abnormal unlocking compared to rigid connectors. When the abnormal situation is cleared, the unlocking action can be completed without being stuck and unable to unlock, for example, when parking on a slope.

[0048] The concept, specific structure and technical effects of the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings to fully understand the purpose, characteristics and effects of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Figure 1 This is an exploded schematic diagram of the assembly of the expansion lock and the expansion assembly of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 2 2. It is a structural schematic diagram of the expansion lock of the present invention in an unlocked state;

[0051] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of the expansion lock of the present invention in a locked state;

[0052] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the exploded lock body of the expansion lock of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 5 It is an exploded schematic diagram of the actuator;

[0054] Figure 6 It is a structural diagram of the lock tongue.

[0055] Among them, 100-lock body, 111-second housing, 112-cover plate, 113-second bolt, 114-through hole, 115-rubber pad, 120-driving component, 130-control device, 140-actuator, 141-lock tongue, 142-first protrusion, 143-corner, 144-second elastic element, 145-arc-shaped groove, 146-second protrusion, 147-side, 148-first end, 151-toggle member, 152-fourth elastic element, 153-toggle member shaft, 155-blocking part, 156-end part, 160-linkage mechanism, 161-crank, 162-first elastic element, 170-locking assembly, 171-buckle, 172-third elastic element, 181-first switch, 182-second switch, 200-first housing, 201-brake disc assembly, 202-brake disc, 203-first bolt, 204-groove, 205-strong magnet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The following describes the embodiments of the present invention through specific examples. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments. The details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other unless they conflict.

[0057] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are merely schematic illustrations of the basic concept of the present invention. Therefore, the illustrations only show components related to the present invention and are not drawn according to the number, shape, and size of components in actual implementation. In actual implementation, the type, quantity, and proportion of each component may be changed arbitrarily, and the component layout may also be more complex.

[0058] While some exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that the present invention may be implemented in other ways not specifically shown in the drawings.

[0059] like Figure 1As shown, a gate lock provided in a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a lock body 100 that cooperates with a gate assembly. The lock body 100 of the gate lock of this embodiment can be used in conjunction with any gate assembly already available in the prior art, without affecting the existing structure and use principle of the gate assembly. Preferably, the gate assembly selected in this embodiment includes a brake disc assembly 201 and a gate disc 202 arranged on a first shell 200, and the gate disc 202 is installed in the first shell 200 and cooperates with the brake disc assembly 201 to achieve a braking function. The lock body 100 cooperates with the gate disc 202 to complete locking or unlocking. The lock body 100 is fixed in the first shell 200 by a first bolt 203.

[0060] like Figure 4 As shown, the lock body 100 includes a second housing 111 and a cover plate 112. The cover plate 112 covers the second housing 111 to form a storage space. The main components of the lock body 100 are arranged in this storage space, including the actuator 140, the drive component 120, and the control device 130. The cover plate 112 is fixed to the second housing 111 by second bolts 113. The housing formed by the second housing 111 and the cover plate 112 has an IPX7 waterproof rating.

[0061] The actuator 140 is used to complete the unlocking or locking action. In this embodiment, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the actuator 140 is a locking tongue 141. The structure of the locking tongue 141 is shown in FIG. Figure 6 . A first protrusion 142 is provided on the lock tongue 141, and the first protrusion 142 protrudes from the lock tongue 141 toward a side 147 of the gate disc 202 toward the gate disc 202, forming a hook shape with the body of the lock tongue 141, that is, one side wall of the first protrusion 142 forms an obtuse angle with the side 147 of the lock tongue 141, and the other side wall of the first protrusion 142 forms an acute angle with the side 147 of the lock tongue 141. The first protrusion 142 can pass through the through hole 114 provided on the second shell 111 and extend out of the second shell 111, and cooperate with the groove 204 provided on the gate disc 202, thereby completing the locking and putting the gate lock in a locked state. A plurality of grooves 204 are evenly arranged on the circumference of the gate disc 202. As Figure 3 As shown, when the first protrusion 142 is separated from the groove 204, the expansion lock is in an unlocked state. Preferably, the lock tongue 141 is rotatably connected to the second housing 111, and the rotation axis is set near the first end 148 of the lock tongue 141.

[0062] The driving component 120 is used to drive the actuator 140 to move, so that the first protrusion 142 can be engaged with or separated from the groove 204 on the gate disc 202. The driving component 120 is preferably a waterproof motor with an encoder. Figure 4As shown, the driving component 120 is installed in the second housing 111 , and a rubber pad 115 is further provided between the driving component 120 and the cover plate 122 .

[0063] The driving component 120 is connected to the actuator 140 via a linkage mechanism 160 , and the linkage mechanism 160 converts the rotation output by the driving component 120 into translation of the actuator 140 .

[0064] The control device 130 is electrically connected to the drive component 120 and is used to control the movement of the drive component 120, thereby driving the movement of the actuator 140. The control device 130 is disposed within the second housing 111 and is a circuit board. The control device 130 can respond to lock / unlock commands to control the drive component 120 to unlock or lock the vehicle and report the unlocked or locked state. In some embodiments, the control device 130 has integrated communication functionality. This allows it to communicate with a backend server via remote communication to receive unlocking and locking commands and report vehicle status, enabling remote vehicle management. It can also communicate with a client terminal via short-range communication methods, such as Bluetooth or ZigBee, to receive unlocking and locking commands. In some embodiments, the control device 130 can be partially or entirely independently disposed outside the lock body 100 and can communicate with a separate communication module to exchange data. This separate communication module can include both remote communication with the backend server and short-range communication functions, such as Bluetooth or ZigBee.

[0065] The linkage mechanism 160 is connected to the drive component 120 and the actuator 140, respectively. Specifically, the linkage mechanism 160 includes a connector connected to the actuator 140, which transmits the force applied by the drive component 120 to the actuator 140, causing the actuator 140 to move toward the gate disc 202 when unlocking or away from the gate disc 202 when locking. The connector can be any rod-shaped member or other shaped component known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, an elastic element is used here. The use of elastic elements as connecting parts can complete the unlocking command in the case of abnormal unlocking compared to link-type connecting parts. When the abnormal situation is cleared, the unlocking action can be completed without causing the lock tongue 141 to be stuck and unable to unlock. For example, for a vehicle parked on a slope, under the action of gravity, the lock tongue 141 of the vehicle is compressed to a certain extent by the gate disc 202. After receiving the unlocking command, the driving component 120 runs to execute the unlocking action. Although the lock tongue 141 and the gate disc 202 are not separated due to the compression, it does not affect the vehicle's execution of the unlocking command. After the pressure on the lock tongue 141 is released, under the action of the elastic element, the lock tongue 141 and the gate disc 202 are separated, that is, restored to the normal unlocking state.

[0066] Preferably, if Figure 4As shown, the linkage mechanism 160 includes a crank 161 and a first elastic element 162. One end of the crank 161 is fixedly connected to the output end of the driving component 120 and rotates under the drive of the driving component 120; the other end of the crank 161 is connected to one end of the first elastic element 162, and the actuator 140 is connected to the other end of the first elastic element 162. By providing the first elastic element 162, after the driving component 120 drives the crank 161 to rotate, the first elastic element 162 will apply an elastic force to the lock tongue 141, driving the movement of the lock tongue 141 through the elastic force. The first elastic element 162 is preferably a spring. Due to the buffering effect of the first elastic element 162, the lock tongue 141 will not move immediately, and the unlocking or locking movement will be completed instantly, which helps to avoid safety accidents. For example, a hardware failure occurs in the lock body 100, and the movement state of the brake assembly cannot be detected, or a locking command is executed during riding for other reasons, and the vehicle is still in operation at this time; when the crank 161 rotates under the drive of the driving component 120, the first elastic element 162 has a buffering effect, so that the first protrusion 142 of the lock tongue 141 will not fall into the groove 204 of the gate disc 202 immediately. Instead, it will take a period of time for the first protrusion 142 to complete the cooperation with the groove 204. If the groove 204 of the gate disc 202 can prevent the lock tongue 141 from falling back into place within this period of time, the safe speed of rotation of the gate disc 202 is calculated based on this principle; according to the safe speed, by reasonably setting the number and arrangement of the grooves 204, the gate disc 202 can rotate only when the gate disc 202 is in a safe state. Only when the speed of the brake disc 202 is lower than the safe speed can the first protrusion 142 cooperate with the groove 204, thereby locking the vehicle. At this time, the vehicle is locked at a safe speed, which can ensure the personal safety of the driver and avoid accidents. When the speed of the brake disc 202 is higher than the safe speed, even if the driving component 120 completes the locking action and reaches the locked position due to reasons such as misoperation, the first elastic element 162 is in a compressed state. However, since the first protrusion 142 cannot cooperate with the groove 204 in time, the brake disc 202 rotates at a high speed, causing the groove 204 to collide with the first protrusion 142, but the first protrusion 142 will not fall into the groove 204, thereby failing to complete the locking of the vehicle traveling above the safe speed, thereby avoiding the occurrence of safety accidents. When the vehicle lock is lower than the safe speed, even if the first protrusion 142 falls into the groove 204, it will not cause a safety accident. Preferably, the corner 143 on the first protrusion 142 that first contacts the groove 204 when locked is set to a rounded corner. When the groove 204 collides with the first protrusion 142, the corner 143 is a smooth rounded corner, which allows the groove 204 to slide over the first protrusion 142 more conveniently.

[0067] In this embodiment, in order to further avoid the incorrect locking operation caused by the electric control failure or abnormal triggering of the locking instruction when the vehicle is in the running state, a sensor for monitoring the movement state of the gate assembly is also provided in this embodiment. The sensor is connected to the control device 130, or the sensor is integrated into the control device 130. When the sensor detects that the gate assembly is in motion, the control device 130 will determine whether the running speed of the gate is greater than the safe speed based on the detection information of the sensor. If it is greater than the safe speed, the control device 130 receives the locking instruction or the gate lock has an electric control failure, and the control device 130 will not control the movement of the drive component 120, but will control the drive component 120 to remain in a stopped state. In some embodiments, an angular velocity sensor can be used to measure the rotational speed of the wheel and transmit it to the control device 130. In this embodiment, it is preferred to use a Hall sensor element to detect the rotational speed. The control device 130 includes a Hall sensor element (not shown in the figure), such as Figure 1 As shown, a strong magnet 205 is installed on the brake disc 202. If the vehicle is in a riding state, the Hall sensor element will sense a corresponding signal, and the control device 130 determines whether the speed of the brake disc is greater than the safe speed based on this signal.

[0068] like Figure 4 As shown, the lock tongue 141 is further provided with a second elastic element 144, one end of which is connected to the second housing 111, and the other end is connected to the lock tongue 141. The second elastic element 144 exerts an elastic force on the lock tongue 141, which causes the lock tongue 141 to move in a direction protruding from the second housing 111. Preferably, the second elastic element 144 is a torsion spring, which is sleeved on the rotation axis of the lock tongue 141. The provision of the second elastic element 144 can make the positioning of the lock tongue 141 more precise, but it is necessary to provide a mounting groove on the lock tongue 141 for mounting the second elastic element 144. For example, when a torsion spring is selected, a hooking groove is required.

[0069] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, when the lock tongue 141 rotates until the first protrusion 142 is fully engaged with the groove 204 of the gate disc 202, a locking assembly 170 can be provided, and a matching portion is provided on the second end of the lock tongue 141 opposite to the first end 148 to cooperate with the locking assembly 170. Figure 4 As shown, the locking assembly 170 includes a buckle 171 and a third elastic element 172. The third elastic element 172 is used to apply elastic force to the buckle 171, prompting the buckle 171 to rotate toward the lock tongue 141. One end of the buckle 171 is rotatably connected to the second housing 111, and the third elastic element 172 is preferably a torsion spring, which is sleeved on the rotating shaft of the buckle 171. Figure 6As shown, the mating portion provided at the second end of the lock tongue 141 is preferably an arc-shaped groove 145, and the other end of the buckle 171 is set to a shape matching the arc-shaped groove 145. When the first protrusion 142 is mated with the groove 204 of the gate disc 202, the arc-shaped groove 145 corresponds to the other end of the buckle 171. Under the elastic force of the third elastic element 172, the buckle 171 rests on the arc-shaped groove 145, thereby locking the lock tongue 141 in the locked position.

[0070] In order to overcome the elastic force of the locking assembly 170 and automatically unlock, the actuator 140 is further provided with a toggle assembly, such as Figure 5 As shown, the toggle assembly includes a toggle member 151. The toggle member 151 is approximately triangular in shape, with a hole provided near the first corner. A toggle member shaft 153 passes through the hole, rotatably connecting the toggle member 151 to the lock tongue 141. The second and third corners are located on either side of the first corner, respectively. The second corner is used to connect to the first elastic element 162. Specifically, a blocking portion 155 is provided at the second corner and is connected to one end of the first elastic element 162. The blocking portion 155 protrudes along the thickness of the toggle member 151. During the locking process, the first elastic element 162 applies a thrust to the blocking portion 155, thereby forcing the toggle member 151 to rotate relative to the lock tongue 141. When the toggle member 151 is rotated to a certain angle, the blocking portion 155 contacts the sidewall of the lock tongue 141, preventing the toggle member 151 from rotating. The blocking portion 155 then applies a thrust to the lock tongue 141, thereby forcing the lock tongue 141 to rotate. A cylindrical end portion 156 is provided at the third corner for moving the buckle 171 to overcome the elastic force of the third elastic element 172. During the unlocking process, the first elastic element 162 exerts a pulling force on the blocking portion 155 of the toggle member 151, causing the toggle member 151 to rotate relative to the lock tongue 141. The blocking portion 155 begins to move away from the lock tongue 141. At this time, the end portion 156 begins to move the buckle 171 during the rotation process, causing the buckle 171 to overcome the elastic force of the third elastic element 172 and disengage from the lock tongue 141.

[0071] Preferably, in order to allow the toggle member 151 to more effectively release the toggle action on the buckle 171 when no external force is applied, a fourth elastic element 152 is further provided. The fourth elastic element 152 exerts an elastic force on the toggle member 151, which causes the toggle member 151 to separate from the buckle 171. Preferably, the fourth elastic element 152 is a torsion spring, which is sleeved on the toggle member shaft 153.

[0072] In order to accurately detect the unlocked state and locked state of the lock body 100, this embodiment also provides a detection device. Figure 2As shown, the detection device includes a first switch 181 and a second switch 182. The second switch 182 is arranged at the end position of the rotation stroke of the crank 161 when unlocking, and is coupled to the crank 161; the first switch 181 is arranged near the first end of the lock tongue 141, and is coupled to the lock tongue 141; a second protrusion 146 is provided on the first end of the lock tongue 141, and the second protrusion 146 protrudes from the lock tongue 141 in a direction away from the gate disk 202, so that the second protrusion 146 can contact or separate from the first switch 181. When the lock body 100 is in a normal unlocking state, the crank 161 is located at a position away from the lock tongue 141. At this time, the crank 161 is in contact with the second switch 182, the second switch 182 is in the on state, the lock tongue 141 is located at a position away from the gate disk 202, the second protrusion 146 is separated from the first switch 181, and the first switch 181 is in the off state. As shown Figure 3 As shown, when the lock body 100 is in the normal locked state, the crank 161 is located near the lock tongue 141, the crank 161 is separated from the second switch 182, the second switch 182 is in the off state, the lock tongue 141 is located near the gate disc 202, the first protrusion 142 is engaged with the groove 204, the second protrusion 146 is in contact with the first switch 181, and the first switch 181 is in the on state. Based on the states of the first switch 181 and the second switch 182, it is possible to accurately determine whether the lock body 100 is in the unlocked state or the locked state. The detection device is not limited to the first switch 181 and the second switch 182. In some embodiments, the detection device can also be a varistor, an optocoupler, etc. Any device that can be triggered by the position of the crank 161 and the lock tongue 141 in the locked or unlocked state can be used in this embodiment. In addition, even if the lock is abnormally switched on and off, a rough judgment can be made based on the detection signal of the detection device. When the abnormality is eliminated, the first elastic element 162 can also restore the vehicle lock to the normal switched on and off state.

[0073] In addition to the above-mentioned first elastic element 162 and the setting of the safety speed to ensure safety, the control device is also provided with a mechanism for powering on and off the driving component 120, further ensuring that the driving component 120 will not rotate due to system reasons in the unlocked state.

[0074] The working principle of this embodiment is described in detail below.

[0075] 1. Unlocking execution process

[0076] Normal unlocking execution process: This embodiment uses the driving component 120 to drive the crank 161 and the first elastic element 162 for transmission. The control device 130 responds to the unlocking command and immediately powers the control driving component 120 and rotates it, driving the crank 161 to rotate to increase the unlocking speed. The rotation direction is Figure 2As shown, from right to left, the elastic force exerted by the first elastic element 162 pulls the blocking portion 155 of the toggle member 151, causing the toggle member 151 to rotate relative to the lock tongue 141. The end 156 of the toggle member 151 pushes the latch 171 along the sidewall of the latch 171, causing the latch 171 to disengage from the arcuate groove 145 of the lock tongue 141. The lock tongue 141 is pulled away from the gate disc 202, causing the first protrusion 142 to separate from the groove 204 of the gate disc 202, thereby unlocking the lock. Simultaneously, the second protrusion 146 of the lock tongue 141 disengages from the first switch 181 as the lock tongue 141 rotates, turning the first switch 181 off. During rotation, the crank 161 contacts the second switch 182, turning it on. When the control device 130 receives the on signal from the second switch 182, the drive component 120 stops or stalls at the zero position. At this point, the first switch 181 is off and the second switch 182 is on, the lock body 100 is unlocked successfully, and a signal indicating the unlocking success is sent. After the unlocking is successful, the control device 130 powers off the drive component 120 and keeps the power off to ensure that the drive component 120 does not rotate due to internal system problems, especially when the lock is closed, when the lock is unlocked.

[0077] Abnormal unlocking process: During the unlocking process, the lock tongue 141 may be partially compressed or other abnormal conditions may occur, preventing the lock tongue 141 from moving into the lock body 100. Since the crank 161 and the toggle member 151 are connected and transmitted via the first elastic element 162, the driving component 120 can still move normally to its position. The driving component 120 contacts the second switch 182. When the control device 130 receives the on signal from the second switch 182, the driving component 120 stops or stalls at the zero position. At this time, the control device 130 de-energizes the driving component 120 and maintains the de-energized state. Although the first switch 181 is still in contact with the second protrusion 146 of the lock tongue 141 and is in an undisconnected state, the first elastic element 162 has already exerted a pulling force on the lock tongue 141, causing the lock tongue 141 to move into the lock body 100. When the external force or other abnormal condition acting on the lock tongue 141 is removed, the lock tongue 141 will continue to move toward the interior of the lock body 100 under the pulling force of the first elastic element 162, thereby automatically unlocking and disconnecting the first switch 181, thus completing the entire unlocking process. This situation is mainly aimed at scenarios where the vehicle is parked on a slope or under other abnormal loads, causing the gate disc 202 to exert a certain pressure on the lock tongue 141, which may prevent the lock tongue 141 from moving during the unlocking process. However, once the external force is released, the lock body 100 can still automatically return to the normal unlocking state. In fact, this abnormal unlocking process is a step-by-step normal unlocking process.

[0078] 2. Lock execution process

[0079] Normal locking process: The gate disc 202 is in a stopped state. When the control device 130 receives the locking instruction, it supplies power to the driving component and controls the driving component 120 to rotate. The crank 161 rotates according to the Figure 3 As shown, the crank 161 rotates from left to right, releasing contact with the second switch 182, and the second switch 182 is disconnected. When the driving component 120 rotates through a predetermined angle, it stops rotating. The control device 130 receives the disconnection signal from the second switch 182 and the electrical frequency signal indicating that the driving component 120 has stopped rotating, and then determines that the locking action has been executed. When the locking action has been completed, the control device 130 de-energizes the driving component 120 and maintains the de-energized state. At this time, the lock tongue 141 has the following two states:

[0080] The first state is the normal locked state. The first protrusion 142 of the lock tongue 141 is directly opposite the groove 204 on the gate disc 202. The lock tongue 141 rotates under the force of the second elastic element 144, causing the first protrusion 142 to move from the inside of the lock body 100 to the outside of the lock body 100 and fall into the groove 204 of the gate disc 202. At the same time, due to the rotation of the lock tongue 141, the second protrusion 146 contacts the first switch 181, turning on the first switch 181. At this time, the second switch 182 is off, indicating that the vehicle is locked successfully. During the movement of the lock tongue 141, the toggle member 151 rotates under the action of the fourth elastic element 152, and the end 156 releases the abutment against the buckle 171, so that the buckle 171 rotates under the action of the third elastic element 172 and abuts against the arc-shaped groove 145 at the second end of the lock tongue 141, thereby locking the lock tongue 141 and preventing it from being opened due to external force, thereby achieving reliable locking.

[0081] The second state is an abnormal locked state. The first protrusion 142 of the lock tongue 141 is not facing the groove 204 on the gate disc 202. The lock tongue 141 will, under the action of the first elastic element 162 and the second elastic element 144, make the first protrusion 142 abut against the outer wall of the gate disc 202. At this time, the second switch 182 is disconnected, and it is judged that the vehicle is locked successfully. The status is reported to the server, and the control device 130 cuts off the power to the driving component 120 to keep it in the off state; although the first switch 181 is still in the disconnected state at this time, the first elastic element 162 is in the compressed state. As long as the gate disc 202 rotates and reaches the position where the first protrusion 142 faces the groove 204, the lock tongue 141 automatically falls into the groove 204 due to the action of the second elastic element 144 and the first elastic element 162; at the same time, the second protrusion 146 of the lock tongue 141 presses the first switch 181, making the first switch 181 conductive, thereby achieving physical locking success. Same as the first state, the buckle 171 locks the lock bolt 141 in the same way. In fact, this abnormal unlocking process is a normal locking process in steps.

[0082] Additional safety protection: If a system failure occurs and the lock body 100 receives an abnormal locking command, the Hall sensor element will first detect the magnetic field state on the gate disc 202. If the vehicle is in a riding state, the Hall sensor element will sense the corresponding signal, and the control device 130 will determine that the vehicle is in a riding state. The working circuit of the drive component 120 will still not be powered, thereby avoiding safety hazards. If the hardware system also fails and cannot detect the Hall signal, or the hardware executes the locking command for other reasons, the gate lock of this embodiment can still ensure safety. This is because, if the vehicle is riding, the gate disc 202 has a corresponding angular velocity, and due to the buffering effect of the first elastic element 162, it takes some time for the first protrusion 142 of the lock tongue 141 to fall into the groove 204 of the gate disc 202. If the groove 204 cannot allow the first protrusion 142 to fall back into place within this specific time period, a safety speed can be set based on this principle. Only when the vehicle's running speed is lower than the safe speed will the first protrusion 142 fall into the groove 204, thereby locking the vehicle; when the speed is higher than the safe speed, the first protrusion 142 will collide with the groove 204 of the brake disc 202, but will not fall back into the groove 204, thereby failing to lock the vehicle that is traveling at a speed higher than the safe speed, thereby avoiding the occurrence of safety accidents.

[0083] The gate lock provided by the present invention is applicable to various vehicles, such as bicycles, electric power-assisted bicycles, etc., and is preferably applicable to shared bicycles or shared power-assisted bicycles. When used in shared vehicles, it can accurately detect the switch lock status, improve the vehicle management efficiency, and reduce operating costs. At the same time, because the gate lock is concealedly installed in the vehicle body, it is not easily subject to malicious damage; the gate lock contains a locking component, which ensures that the vehicle is not easily unlocked by external force in the locked state; the safe locking process of the gate lock will not cause the vehicle to be abnormally locked when the speed is higher than the safe speed, thereby ensuring the safety of the rider.

[0084] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone skilled in the art may modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and technical principles disclosed herein are intended to be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gate lock, characterized in that: It includes a lock body that cooperates with the expansion gate to complete locking or unlocking; the lock body includes a shell and an actuator, a driving component, a linkage mechanism, a control device, a first detection device and a second detection device arranged in the shell; wherein, The actuator includes an actuator component that cooperates with the expansion gate; the actuator is configured such that: the actuator component separates from the expansion gate to complete unlocking, and when the expansion gate is in a stopped state or the speed of the expansion gate is less than or equal to a preset safety speed, the actuator component cooperates with the expansion gate to complete locking; The driving component is configured to drive the execution component to unlock or lock through the linkage mechanism; The control device is electrically connected to the driving component and is used to control the movement of the driving component; The linkage mechanism includes a first elastic element and a crank connected to the actuator, the first elastic element being configured to apply a force to the actuator to move away from the gate expansion direction when unlocking and toward the gate expansion direction when locking, the first detection device being coupled to the actuator, and the second detection device being coupled to the crank; When unlocking, the driving component drives the crank to move and contact the second detection device. After the crank contacts the second detection device, regardless of whether the first detection device is separated from the actuator or in contact with the actuator, the crank stops moving, and the crank causes the first elastic element to continue to apply a force to the actuator that moves away from the direction of the gate.

2. The expansion lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The crank is connected to the driving component, one end of the first elastic element is connected to the crank, and the other end of the first elastic element is connected to the actuator.

3. The expansion lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control device includes a sensor for detecting the movement state of the expansion gate. The control device is configured to control the driving component to remain in a stopped state when it is determined that the movement speed of the expansion gate is greater than the preset safety speed in response to a signal detected by the sensor indicating that the expansion gate is moving.

4. The expansion lock according to claim 3, characterized in that: The sensor includes a Hall sensor element configured to detect the movement speed of the expansion gate by sensing a magnetic field generated by a magnet installed on the expansion gate.

5. The expansion lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The execution component includes a first protrusion, which is configured to cooperate with a groove on the expansion gate to complete locking, and separate from the groove to complete unlocking.

6. The expansion lock according to claim 5, characterized in that: The actuator further includes a second elastic element, which is connected to the actuator and is configured to apply an elastic force to the actuator to move the actuator toward the gate expansion direction.

7. The expansion lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first detection device and the second detection device are configured to determine whether the lock body is in a locked state or an unlocked state according to the state of the first detection device and / or the second detection device.

8. The expansion lock according to claim 7, characterized in that: In the unlocked state, the actuator is separated from the first detection device, and the linkage mechanism is in contact with the second detection device; In the locked state, the execution component contacts the first detection device, and the linkage mechanism is separated from the second detection device.

9. The expansion lock according to claim 8, characterized in that: The execution component further includes a second protrusion, which is configured to contact the first detection device in the locked state and separate from the first detection device in the unlocked state.

10. The expansion lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The expansion lock further includes a locking assembly cooperating with the execution component, and the locking assembly is configured to lock the execution component in a locked state.

11. The expansion lock according to claim 10, characterized in that: The locking assembly includes a buckle and a third elastic element connected to the buckle, and the execution component includes a mating portion that cooperates with the buckle; the buckle is configured to abut against the mating portion in the locked state to prevent the execution component from moving in a direction away from the expansion gate; the third elastic element is configured to apply an elastic force to the buckle to cause the buckle to move in a direction away from the expansion gate.

12. The expansion lock according to claim 11, characterized in that: The actuator further includes a toggle member pivotally connected to the actuator component, the toggle member including an end portion and a blocking portion protruding along a thickness direction of the toggle member, one end of the first elastic element being connected to the blocking portion, the blocking portion being configured to convert an action force of the first elastic element into an action force applied to the actuator component during a locking process; The end portion is close to the buckle, and the end portion is configured to drive the buckle during an unlocking process so as to separate the buckle from the mating portion.

13. The expansion lock according to claim 12, characterized in that: The actuator further includes a fourth elastic element connected to the toggle member, and the fourth elastic element is configured to apply an elastic force to the toggle member to move the blocking portion toward the actuator.

14. The expansion lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control device is configured to control the driving component to be powered on in response to an unlocking instruction and / or a locking instruction.

15. The expansion lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control device is configured to control the driving component to be powered off after executing the unlocking instruction and / or the locking instruction.

16. A vehicle, characterized in that: The invention comprises an expansion lock as described in any one of claims 1 to 15.

Citation Information

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