An electronic padlock

Abstract

This invention relates to an electronic padlock, comprising a housing, a lock beam, and a locking module, the locking module being installed within the housing. The locking module includes a clutch block, a clutch bracket, and an eccentric shaft motor. The clutch block is installed in a groove in the clutch bracket, and a locking step is provided axially in the groove to limit the clutch block's movement. A lock groove is formed at the connecting end of the lock beam, which is inserted into a first beam hole in the housing. When the free end of the lock beam is inserted into a second beam hole in the housing, the leading end of the clutch block is embedded in the lock groove, and the locking step limits the clutch block's movement, thus locking the lock. When the eccentric shaft motor rotates, its output shaft pushes the clutch block to deflect, causing the clutch block to disengage from the locking step, thereby separating the leading end of the clutch block from the lock groove and unlocking the lock. This invention has the advantages of good shock resistance, excellent waterproofing, and long battery standby time (effective for at least 5 to 10 years without maintenance).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of locks, and particularly to an electronic padlock. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional electronic padlocks use fingerprint unlocking and are generally designed for indoor use. Therefore, waterproofing was not considered in their design, making them unsuitable for outdoor environments. Furthermore, when locked, the bolt inside a traditional electronic padlock can easily retract and open under vibration, indicating a lack of shock resistance. Thirdly, when locked, the circuit board is powered by an internal battery, keeping the padlock in standby mode. This results in short battery life and frequent battery replacements, causing inconvenience.

[0003] In view of the above problems, this invention designs an electronic padlock, and this case arises from this. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention first solves the problem of poor shock resistance of existing electronic padlocks, secondly it enhances the waterproof effect, making electronic padlocks suitable for outdoor use, and thirdly it improves the power supply method by disconnecting the power to the circuit board when not in use, thereby extending the battery life.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] An electronic padlock includes a housing, a lock beam, and a locking module, with the locking module installed inside the housing. The locking module includes a clutch block, a clutch bracket, and an eccentric shaft motor. A groove is formed on the clutch bracket, with a notch at one end. A locking step is provided on the inner wall of the groove, and a mounting post is provided at the end of the inner wall of the groove opposite to the notch. The clutch block is embedded in the groove, with its head extending out of the notch. A positioning post is provided at the tail end of the clutch block, and the positioning post is connected to a connecting post by a second spring. The axis of the second spring is perpendicular to the axis of the groove. The clutch has an acute angle; an annular connecting groove is formed on the clutch block, and the inner wall of the connecting groove has an irregular shape. The output shaft of the eccentric shaft motor extends into the connecting groove and is always in contact with the inner wall of the connecting groove; a first beam hole and a second beam hole are formed on the top of the housing respectively; a lock groove is formed on the outer wall of the connecting end of the U-shaped lock beam; the connecting end is inserted into the first beam hole and a first spring is sleeved at the bottom; the other end of the first spring abuts against the bottom surface of the first beam hole; the free end of the lock beam is inserted into the second beam hole so that the head end of the clutch block is embedded in the lock groove to realize the locking of the padlock.

[0007] Furthermore, the clutch block is provided with a limiting step at its tail end. The limiting step and the locking step lock each other to prevent the clutch block from sliding along the locking groove.

[0008] Furthermore, the inner wall of the connecting groove includes an arc surface and a plane.

[0009] Furthermore, the plane on the inner wall of the connecting groove intersects the outer end face of the clutch block at an acute angle.

[0010] Furthermore, the inner wall of the connecting groove includes a first plane, a second plane, and a wavy undulating surface. The first plane and the second plane are arranged facing each other but not parallel. The wavy undulating surface connects the first plane and the second plane. The wavy undulating surface includes a first concave arc surface, a convex arc surface, and a second concave arc surface connected in sequence.

[0011] Furthermore, the housing is formed by joining two half-shells together. A first sealing ring is provided on the contact surface of the two half-shells, a second sealing ring is provided between the locking beam connecting end and the first beam hole, a third sealing ring is fitted on the screw at the lower part of the free end of the locking beam for fixing the housing, and a fourth sealing ring is fitted on the screw at the bottom of the housing for fixing the housing and the locking module.

[0012] Furthermore, a fingerprint sensor and a power button are provided on the surface of the housing, and a circuit board and a battery are provided inside the housing. The battery supplies power to the circuit board, and the power button is electrically connected to the circuit board to trigger the power supply command of the battery. The circuit board controls the rotation of the eccentric shaft motor.

[0013] Furthermore, the circuit board is provided with an external power supply connector, and an external power supply hole is provided on the housing. The power supply connector is fitted into the external power supply hole, and a sealing plug is provided at the power supply hole of the housing.

[0014] Furthermore, the battery is a button cell disposable dry cell.

[0015] Furthermore, a sealing ring is provided at the gap between the inner and outer rings of the fingerprint plate.

[0016] Furthermore, the semi-molded shell is divided into a front shell with a box structure and an L-shaped rear cover. The rear cover is provided with multiple buckle parts, and the front shell and the surface of the locking module facing the rear cover are respectively provided with buckle positions corresponding to the buckle parts on the rear cover. The buckle parts and buckle positions of the rear cover are engaged with each other to limit the rear cover and the front shell in different directions.

[0017] Furthermore, the upper part of the vertical plate of the rear cover is provided with a first latching part, a second latching part, and a third latching part in sequence; the lower part of the vertical plate of the rear cover is provided with a fourth latching part, a sixth latching part, and an eighth latching part; and the horizontal plate of the rear cover is provided with a fifth latching part and a seventh latching part. The second, first, eighth, and fourth latching parts are all L-shaped latches. The first, eighth, and fourth latching parts face the same direction, and the third latching part is perpendicular to the vertical plate of the rear cover. The base has a vertical opening, the fifth latch is a groove on the side, the seventh latch is a cylinder, and the sixth latch is a groove. After the front shell and locking module are assembled, they form the first to eighth latch positions corresponding to the first to eighth latches. The seventh latch position corresponding to the seventh latch is a round hole, the fifth latch position corresponding to the fifth latch is a locking block, and the sixth latch position corresponding to the sixth latch is an elastic fastener. The rear cover slides upward from the bottom of the front shell to achieve the latching of the rear cover and the front shell.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0019] The free end of the locking beam is inserted into the second beam hole of the housing, and the first end of the clutch block is inserted into the locking groove of the locking beam, so the lock is in the locked state; once the first end of the clutch block is disengaged from the locking groove of the locking beam, the free end of the locking beam is disengaged from the second beam hole of the housing, so the lock is in the open state.

[0020] When the person unlocking the lock issues the unlocking command, the eccentric shaft motor drives the clutch block to retract along the slide groove, causing the first end of the clutch block to disengage from the lock groove in the lock beam. Under the action of the first spring, the connecting end of the lock beam is pushed away, and at the same time, the free end is disengaged from the second beam hole of the housing. At this time, the lock beam can rotate freely, and the lock is in the open state.

[0021] 1. Excellent waterproof performance: A first sealing ring is provided at the contact surface of the two half-shells, which makes the overall shell well sealed.

[0022] In addition, a second sealing ring is installed in the gap between the lock beam and the first beam hole to prevent moisture from entering the lock from the first beam hole.

[0023] The sealing plug also serves to seal the inside of the housing, preventing moisture from entering.

[0024] 2. Extended Lifespan: Under normal conditions, the battery does not supply power to the circuit board, extending its battery life. When unlocking is needed, the power button is pressed first, allowing the battery to supply power to the circuit board, after which the fingerprint sensor recognizes the fingerprint and unlocks the lock. This saves battery power and extends battery life, eliminating the need for frequent battery replacements. A charging connector is also provided for emergency power supply to the circuit board.

[0025] 3. Excellent shock resistance: When the lock needs to be opened, the motor is started. First, the motor rotates counterclockwise to a certain angle, and the motor output shaft pushes the tail of the clutch block to rotate, causing the tail of the clutch block to disengage from the locking step. At this time, the clutch block can retract in the opposite direction. Second, the motor continues to rotate counterclockwise to a certain angle, and the motor output shaft drives the clutch block to move in the opposite direction along B, causing the head of the clutch block to retract into the slide groove, and the clutch block disengages from the lock beam and lock groove.

[0026] As can be seen from the above, due to the locking step, the clutch block will not move along direction B after the lock is locked, and it cannot move along direction C due to the restriction of the groove wall. At the same time, since the first step of unlocking the lock is to rotate the clutch block, the locked clutch block will not move when subjected to external force vibration. The lock is in a stable locked state and has good anti-vibration performance. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 A perspective view of an embodiment of an electronic padlock provided by the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 An exploded view of an embodiment of an electronic padlock provided by the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of an electronic padlock provided by the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the clutch block provided by the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a top view of the installation of a clutch block embodiment provided by the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 This is a top sectional view of the installation of a clutch block embodiment in a locked state provided by the present invention;

[0033] Figure 7 This is a top sectional view of the installation of a clutch block embodiment in the first step of unlocking provided by the present invention;

[0034] Figure 8 This is a top sectional view of the installation of an embodiment of the second step of unlocking the clutch block provided by the present invention;

[0035] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of another clutch block connecting groove structure provided by the present invention;

[0036] Figure 10 A schematic diagram showing the corresponding sealing rings at the free end of the lock beam, the screws at the bottom of the housing, and the power supply connector;

[0037] Figure 11 A schematic diagram of the inner and outer sealing rings of the fingerprint sensor;

[0038] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the rear cover structure in the shell half-mold;

[0039] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the front shell in a shell half-molding.

[0040] Wherein: 1. Shell; 11. Semi-mold shell; 111. Front shell; 1111. First fastener; 1112. Second fastener; 1113. Third fastener; 1114. Fourth fastener; 1115. Fifth fastener; 1116. Sixth fastener; 1117. Seventh fastener; 1118. Eighth fastener; 112. Rear cover; 1121. First latching part; 1122. Second latching part; 1123. Third latching part; 1124. Fourth latching part; 1125. Fifth latching part; 1126. Sixth latching part; 1127. Seventh latching part; 1128. Eighth latching part; 12. First beam hole; 13. Second beam hole; 14. Charging hole; 2. Locking beam; 21. Locking groove; 22. Free end; 23. 1. Connecting end; 3. Locking module; 31. Clutch block; 311. Connecting groove; 3111. First plane; 3112. First concave arc surface; 3113. Convex arc surface; 3114. Second concave arc surface; 3115. Second plane; 312. Positioning post; 32. Clutch bracket; 321. Slide groove; 322. Locking step; 33. Motor; 331. Output shaft; 34. Circuit board; 35. Power button; 36. Indicator light; 37. Battery; 38. Fingerprint plate; 4. First sealing ring; 5. Second sealing ring; 6. First spring; 7. Second spring; 8. Limiting block; 9. Sealing plug; a. Third sealing ring; b. Fourth sealing ring; c. Power connector; d. Inner ring sealing ring; e. Outer ring sealing ring. Detailed Implementation

[0041] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the invention will be more thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0042] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments of the invention to provide a thorough understanding of these embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details. In other instances, well-known apparatuses, structures, and techniques associated with this disclosure may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

[0043] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims, the word “comprising” and its variations, such as “including” and “having”, shall be understood to have an open, inclusive meaning, that is, to be interpreted as “including, but not limited to”.

[0044] Throughout this specification, references to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Furthermore, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be combined in any manner in one or more embodiments.

[0045] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification and claims are used only for clarity of description to distinguish between different objects, and do not limit the size or other order of the objects they describe.

[0046] like Figure 1 , 2 As shown in Figures 1 and 3, an electronic padlock includes a housing 1, a locking beam 2, and a locking module 3. The locking module 3 is installed inside the housing 1. The locking beam 2 is connected to the housing 1. The locking groove 21 on the locking beam 2 dynamically engages with the locking module 3 inside the housing 1. When the clutch block 31 in the locking module 3 is inserted into the locking groove 21 of the locking beam 2, the locking beam 2 and the housing 1 cannot move relative to each other, and the lock is in a locked state. When the clutch block 31 in the locking module 3 disengages from the locking groove 21 of the locking beam 2, the locking beam 2 and the housing 1 can move relative to each other, and the lock is in an open state.

[0047] The specific connection method between the locking beam 2 and the housing 1 is as follows:

[0048] like Figure 2 As shown, the housing 1 is composed of two semi-molded shells 11 fitted together, and a first sealing ring 4 is provided at the contact surface of the two semi-molded shells 11.

[0049] like Figure 2 , 3As shown, the housing 1 has a first beam hole 12 and a second beam hole 13. A limit block 8 is provided in the first beam hole 12. The locking beam 2 is U-shaped, with a connecting end 23 and a free end 22 at its two ends. A first spring 6 is fitted at the bottom of the connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2. The connecting end 23 with the first spring 6 is inserted into the first beam hole 12. One end of the first spring 6 abuts against the bottom of the first beam hole 12, and the other end of the first spring 6 abuts against the stepped surface at the bottom of the first beam hole 12 of the locking beam 2. Therefore, the connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2 in the first beam hole 12 can move along the hole axis between the limit block 8 and the bottom of the first beam hole 12. The movement of the connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2 further drives the overall movement of the locking beam 2. For ease of description, the direction in which the connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2 moves toward the bottom of the first beam hole 12 is regarded as moving along the positive direction A, and vice versa. The free end 22 of the locking beam 2 is movably engaged with the second beam hole 13 of the housing 1. When the connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2 moves along the positive direction A, the corresponding free end 22 of the locking beam 2 moves along the positive direction A and is inserted into the second beam hole 13. At this time, the locking beam 2 and the housing 1 form a closed loop. When the connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2 moves in the opposite direction A, the corresponding free end 22 of the locking beam 2 moves in the opposite direction A and is disengaged from the second beam hole 13. The free end 22 of the locking beam 2 can rotate and at this time, the locking beam 2 and the housing 1 form an open loop.

[0050] like Figure 2 , 3 As shown in Figures 10 and 11, in order to achieve the required waterproof effect for outdoor use, this embodiment also provides a second sealing ring 5 on the connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2. The connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2 is inserted into the first beam hole 12, and the second sealing ring 5 seals the gap between the two. Furthermore, a third sealing ring a is provided on the screw at the lower part of the free end 22 of the locking beam 2 for fixing the housing 1, and a fourth sealing ring b is provided on the screw at the bottom of the housing 1 for fixing the housing 1 and the locking module 3.

[0051] like Figure 2 , 3 As shown, a lock groove 21 is provided on the connecting end 23 or the free end 22 of the locking beam 2. The lock groove 21 cooperates with the head end of the clutch block 31 in the locking module 3. The head end of the clutch block 31 extends from the notch of the sliding groove 321 on the clutch bracket 32. When the head end of the clutch block 31 is inserted into the lock groove 21, the locking beam 2 cannot move relative to the housing 1, and the lock is in a locked state. When the head end of the clutch block 31 is disengaged from the lock groove 21, the locking beam 2 can move relative to the housing 1, and the lock is in an open state. By appropriately setting the position of the lock groove 21 on the locking beam 2, when the clutch block 31 is inserted into the lock groove 21, the free end 22 of the locking beam 2 is inserted into the second beam hole 13. At this time, the locking beam 2 and the housing 1 form a closed loop, and the locking beam 2 will not move relative to the housing 1, and the lock is in a locked state.

[0052] The specific connection method between the locking beam 2 and the locking module 3 is as follows:

[0053] like Figure 3 , 4 As shown, the locking module 3 includes a clutch block 31, a clutch bracket 32, an eccentric shaft motor 33, a circuit board 34, a power button 35, a battery 37, and a fingerprint plate 38.

[0054] The eccentric shaft motor 33, power button 35, battery 37, fingerprint plate 38, and circuit board 34 are connected. Circuit board 34 is the main control unit of the lock. The fingerprint plate 38 and power button 35 are located on the surface of the housing 1. Under normal conditions, the battery 37 does not supply power to the circuit board 34, and the circuit board 34 is in a power-off state. Pressing the power button 35 enables the battery to supply power to the circuit board 34, and the circuit board 34 is in a power standby state. Using the power button 35 can save battery power and extend the battery 37's usage time. When the fingerprint plate 38 recognizes the acquired fingerprint as an unlocking fingerprint, it sends an unlocking signal to the circuit board 34, which drives the eccentric shaft motor 33 to move. An indicator light 36 is also connected to the circuit board 34 to indicate the lock's open / closed status.

[0055] Because the clutch block 31 designed in this embodiment can be driven with very little torque, the eccentric shaft motor 33 only requires a small amount of electrical energy to drive the clutch block 31 each time. Therefore, the battery 37 in this embodiment is a high-capacity, long-life disposable button cell battery, such as a CR2477 button cell battery, which can power the eccentric shaft motor 33 for 6 to 10 years (breaking the hassle of regular charging required by existing electronic locks and overturning the normal usage habits of existing electronic padlocks). At the same time, an external power supply connector c (such as...) is provided on the circuit board 34. Figure 10 As shown, a power supply hole 14 is provided on the housing 1, and a power supply connector c is fitted into the power supply hole 14. A sealing plug 9 is provided in the power supply hole 14 of the housing 1 to prevent external moisture from entering the lock through the power supply hole 14. When the battery 37 is depleted, an external power supply connector c can be plugged into an external power source to temporarily power the circuit board 34 for emergency use in order to open the lock. In this embodiment, the external power supply connector c is made of waterproof sealing material, which can act as a sealing ring to achieve waterproof sealing at the power supply interface. The power supply hole 14 is further sealed with a sealing plug 9 to enhance the waterproof sealing effect.

[0056] To further illustrate the enhanced waterproofing and sealing effect, in this embodiment, all gaps on the housing 1 have been sealed and waterproofed accordingly, such as... Figure 11 As shown, sealing rings are provided both inside and outside the steel protective ring of the fingerprint plate 38, namely the inner sealing ring d and the outer sealing ring e. Sealing rings are also provided in the gaps of the indicator light 36 and the power button 35.

[0057] like Figure 4 , 5 As shown, the clutch block 31 is installed in the groove 321 of the clutch bracket 32. One end of the groove 321 has a notch for the clutch block 31 to move in and out, and the other end of the groove 321 has a mounting post for assembling the second spring 7 on its inner wall. For ease of description, the axial direction of the groove 321 is considered to be direction B, and the direction perpendicular to direction B is direction C. Figure 5 As shown, the slide 321 is provided with several stepped surfaces to restrict the movement of the clutch block 31 in the B direction, one of which is a locking step 322.

[0058] The width of the clutch block 31 near the front end is consistent with the upward width of the slide groove 321C. The width of the tail end of the clutch block 31 is slightly smaller than the upward width of the slide groove 321C. Therefore, the groove walls on both sides of the slide groove 321C restrict the overall movement of the clutch block 31 upward at C.

[0059] The clutch block 31 has a positioning post 312 at its tail end. A second spring 7 is sleeved on the positioning post 312. The other end of the second spring 7 is sleeved on the mounting post on the end face of the slide groove 321. In order to ensure that the clutch block 31 is better disengaged from the locking step 322 of the slide groove 321, in this embodiment the axes of the positioning post 312 and the mounting post are not on the same straight line. That is, the axis of the second spring 7 forms an acute angle with the axis of the slide groove 321, so that the second spring 7 gives the clutch block 31 an oblique (between B and C) thrust.

[0060] The eccentric shaft motor 33 is linked to the clutch block 31. After the eccentric shaft motor 33 rotates, its output shaft 331 is always in contact with the inner wall of the connecting groove 311 on the clutch block 31, which can push the clutch block 31 to move in the sliding groove 321 of the clutch bracket 32. Specifically, the connection method between the eccentric shaft motor 33 and the clutch block 31 is as follows: the clutch block 31 has a connecting groove 311, and the output shaft 331 of the eccentric shaft motor 33 is inserted into the connecting groove 311. Due to the eccentric setting of the output shaft 331, when the eccentric shaft motor 33 rotates, the output shaft 331 abuts against the groove wall of the connecting groove 311, pushing the clutch block 31 to move. The rotational motion of the output shaft 331 is converted into the rotational motion of the clutch block 31 and linear movement in the B and C directions.

[0061] like Figure 6As shown, in the normal initial locking state, under the oblique pushing action of the second spring 7, the clutch block 31 moves along the slide groove 321 of the clutch bracket 32 ​​in the positive directions B and C. The head of the clutch block 31 extends out of the slide groove 321 of the clutch bracket 32. If the locking groove 21 of the locking beam 2 is exactly on the axis of the slide groove 321 of the clutch bracket 32, the clutch block 31 with its head extending out is just inserted into the locking groove 21 of the locking beam 2. At this time, the clutch block 31 is in the locked position of the slide groove 321. The limiting step at the tail of the clutch block 31 contacts the locking step 322, and the clutch block 31 cannot move in the direction B. The head of the clutch block 31 is restricted by the groove wall of the slide groove 321, and the clutch block 31 cannot move in the direction C. At the same time, the output shaft 331 of the eccentric shaft motor 33 also plays the role of restricting the movement of the clutch block 31.

[0062] To better enable the eccentric shaft motor 33 to drive the clutch block 31 to deflect when it rotates, in this embodiment, the inner wall contour of the connecting groove 311 on the clutch block 31 is designed to be irregular in shape, such as... Figure 7 In the first embodiment shown, the inner wall of the connecting groove 311 has an arc surface and a flat surface, and the inclination direction of the flat surface is... Figure 7 The vertical outer end face of the clutch block 31 shown presents an acute angle. When the lock needs to be opened, the eccentric shaft motor 33 is started. The eccentric shaft motor 33 rotates counterclockwise to a certain angle. During the rotation, the output shaft 331 of the eccentric shaft motor 33 presses against the plane of the connecting groove 311, which can drive the tail of the clutch block 31 to deflect, causing the limiting step at the tail of the clutch block 31 to disengage from the locking step 322. At this time, the clutch block 31 can move in the opposite direction along B.

[0063] like Figure 8 As shown, the eccentric shaft motor 33 continues to rotate counterclockwise to a certain angle, and the output shaft 331 of the eccentric shaft motor 33 continues to push the clutch block 31 to move in the opposite direction along B, so that the first end of the clutch block 31 retracts into the slide groove 321, and the clutch block 31 disengages from the locking groove 21 of the locking beam 2.

[0064] After the eccentric shaft motor 33 continues to rotate one revolution, it returns to its initial position. The clutch block 31, under the oblique force of the second spring 7, also returns to its normal initial state.

[0065] Because of the locking step 322, the clutch block 31 will not move along direction B after the lock is locked, and the clutch block 31 cannot move along direction C due to the restriction of the groove wall 321. At the same time, since the first step of unlocking the lock is to rotate the clutch block 31, the locked clutch block 31 will not move when subjected to external force vibration, and the lock is in a stable locked state, which plays a role in shock resistance.

[0066] The working process of this lock is as follows:

[0067] The lock is in the locked state: such as Figure 3 ,6 As shown, the free end 22 of the locking beam 2 is inserted into the second beam hole 13 of the housing 1, and the connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2 is inserted into the first beam hole 12. Restricted by the first beam hole 12 and the second beam hole 13, the free end 22 of the locking beam 2 cannot rotate. At this time, the locking beam 2 and the housing 1 form a closed loop. Under the oblique force of the second spring 7, the clutch block 31 in the locking module 3 is inserted into the locking groove 21 of the locking beam 2. The clutch block 31 restricts the connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2 from moving in the first beam hole 12 of the housing 1.

[0068] The unlocking process is as follows: Pressing the power button 35 restores power to the circuit board 34 via the battery 37. The fingerprint sensor 38 recognizes the unlocking fingerprint. The circuit board 34 receives the signal and sends an unlocking signal to the eccentric shaft motor 33. The eccentric shaft motor 33 rotates. As the output shaft 331 of the eccentric shaft motor 33 rotates to a certain angle, it drives the clutch block 31 to rotate and move in the opposite direction along B. Figure 8 As shown, the clutch block 31 disengages from the locking groove 21 of the locking beam 2. The connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2 is pushed by the first spring 6. The connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2 moves in the opposite direction along A. Correspondingly, the free end 22 of the locking beam 2 moves in the opposite direction along A. The free end 22 of the locking beam 2 disengages from the second beam hole 13. The free end 22 of the locking beam 2 can rotate. At this time, the locking beam 2 and the housing 1 form an open ring, and the lock is in the open state.

[0069] The locking process is as follows: an external force is applied to the locking beam 2, causing the connecting end 23 of the locking beam 2 to move along the positive direction A. Correspondingly, the free end 22 of the locking beam 2 moves along the positive direction A. The free end 22 of the locking beam 2 falls into the second beam hole 13. When the locking groove 21 of the locking beam 2 moves to the axis of the sliding groove 321 of the clutch bracket 32, the clutch block 31, which is pushed by the second spring 7, is inserted into the locking groove 21 of the locking beam 2, and the lock is in the locked state.

[0070] Through repeated use tests, it was found that if the connecting groove 311 on the clutch block 31 is designed as follows... Figures 6 to 8 Due to the shape of the connecting groove 311, occasional issues arise where the tail end of the clutch block 31 gets stuck on the locking step 322 and cannot fully disengage during unlocking. Therefore, the inventors further improved the inner wall contour shape of the connecting groove 311, designing a second embodiment structure, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the inner wall of the connecting groove 311 in the second embodiment includes a first plane 3111, a second plane 3115, and a wavy undulating surface. The first plane 3111 and the second plane 3115 are arranged facing each other but not parallel. The wavy undulating surface connects the first plane 3111 and the second plane 3115. The wavy undulating surface includes a first concave arc surface 3112, a convex arc surface 3113, and a second concave arc surface 3114 connected in sequence. With this shape of connecting groove 311, the clutch block 31 will not be stuck by the locking step 322 when the eccentric shaft motor 33 rotates, thus the unlocking effect is better.

[0071] To further explain, since the housing 1 of this invention is assembled from two semi-molded shells 11, in order to protect the internal structure and achieve the anti-disassembly effect of the housing 1, in addition to being externally fixed with screws, the two semi-molded shells 11 are also provided with multiple snap-fit ​​structures inside, which are used to limit the relative movement of the two semi-molded shells 11 in the up, down, left, right, and front and back positions. Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, the semi-molded shell 11 can be divided into a front shell 111 with a box structure and an L-shaped rear cover 112. The rear cover 112 has a total of eight latching parts, and the front shell 111 and the locking module 3 have a total of eight latching positions corresponding to the eight latching parts. The eight latching parts are as follows: the upper part of the vertical plate of the rear cover 112 has a first latching part 1121, a second latching part 1122 and a third latching part 1123; the lower part of the vertical plate of the rear cover 112 has a fourth latching part 1124, a sixth latching part 1126 and an eighth latching part 1128; and the horizontal plate of the rear cover 112 has a fifth latching part 1125 and a seventh latching part 1127. Among them, the second latching part 1122, the first latching part 1121, the eighth latching part 1128, and the fourth latching part 1124 are all L-shaped latches. However, the first latching part 1121, the eighth latching part 1128, and the fourth latching part 1124 face the same direction. The fifth latching part 1125 is a groove located on the side of the horizontal plate. A locking block is provided at the fifth buckle position 1115 corresponding to the fifth latching part 1125 at the bottom of the front shell 111. The first latching part 1121, the eighth latching part 1128, the fourth latching part 1124, and the fifth latching part can play a role in limiting left and right movement. The third latching part 1123 is a fixing seat perpendicular to the vertical plate of the rear cover 112. The fixing seat has a vertical opening and is used to extend into the lower part of the free end 22 of the locking beam 2 and fix it to the housing of the locking module 3 by screws. The seventh latch is a cylinder located on the top surface of the horizontal plate. Correspondingly, a circular hole is opened at the seventh latch position at the bottom of the front shell 111. The cylinder of the seventh latch is inserted into the circular hole at the seventh latch position to limit vertical movement. The L-shaped open end of the second latch 1122 faces upward. The sixth latch 1126 is a groove, and the sixth latch position 1116 corresponding to the sixth latch 1126 is an elastic latching piece. When the front shell 111 and the rear cover 112 are assembled, the vertical plate of the rear cover 112 is pushed upward from the bottom of the front shell 111 until all the latching positions are engaged with the latches. The elastic latching piece of the sixth latch position 1116 then springs up and latches into the groove of the sixth latch 1126, thereby achieving the locking and fastening of the rear cover 112 and the front shell 111. Then, the rear cover 112 and the front shell 111 are reinforced and locked by the upper and lower screws, thus achieving the anti-disassembly effect of the shell 1.

[0072] Unless otherwise specified in this specification, all techniques described herein are conventional in the field.

[0073] The above are preferred embodiments of the present invention. Any other simple substitutions and modifications made under the premise of the present invention should be considered as falling within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An electronic padlock, comprising a housing, a lock beam, and a locking module, wherein the locking module is installed within the housing, characterized in that: The locking module includes a clutch block, a clutch bracket, and an eccentric shaft motor. The clutch bracket has a sliding groove with a notch at one end. A locking step is provided on the inner wall of the groove, and a mounting post is provided at the end of the inner wall of the groove opposite to the notch. The clutch block is embedded in the sliding groove, with its head extending out of the notch. A positioning post is provided at the tail end of the clutch block, and the positioning post is connected to the connecting post by a second spring. The axis of the second spring forms an acute angle with the axis of the sliding groove. The clutch block has an annular connecting groove with an irregularly shaped inner wall profile. The output shaft of the shaft motor extends into the connecting groove and is always in contact with the inner wall of the connecting groove; the top of the housing has a first beam hole and a second beam hole respectively; a locking groove is opened on the outer wall of the connecting end of the U-shaped locking beam; the connecting end is inserted into the first beam hole and a first spring is sleeved at the bottom; the other end of the first spring abuts against the bottom surface of the first beam hole; the free end of the locking beam is inserted into the second beam hole so that the head end of the clutch block is embedded in the locking groove to realize the locking of the padlock; the tail end of the clutch block is provided with a limiting step, and the limiting step and the locking step lock each other to prevent the clutch block from sliding along the locking groove.

2. The electronic padlock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the connecting groove includes an arc surface and a flat surface.

3. An electronic padlock according to claim 2, characterized in that: The plane on the inner wall of the connecting groove intersects the outer end face of the clutch block at an acute angle.

4. An electronic padlock according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inner wall of the connecting groove includes a first plane, a second plane, and a wavy undulating surface. The first plane and the second plane are arranged facing each other but not parallel. The wavy undulating surface connects the first plane and the second plane. The wavy undulating surface includes a first concave arc surface, a convex arc surface, and a second concave arc surface connected in sequence.

5. An electronic padlock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing is formed by joining two half-shells together. A first sealing ring is provided on the contact surface of the two half-shells. A second sealing ring is provided between the locking beam connecting end and the first beam hole. A third sealing ring is fitted on the screw at the lower part of the free end of the locking beam for fixing the housing. A fourth sealing ring is fitted on the screw at the bottom of the housing for fixing the housing and the locking module.

6. An electronic padlock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface of the housing is provided with a fingerprint plate and a power button. The inside of the housing is provided with a circuit board and a battery. The battery supplies power to the circuit board. The power button is electrically connected to the circuit board to trigger the power supply command of the battery. The circuit board controls the rotation of the eccentric shaft motor.

7. An electronic padlock according to claim 6, characterized in that: The circuit board is provided with an external power supply connector, and an external power supply hole is provided on the housing. The power supply connector is fitted into the external power supply hole, and a sealing plug is provided at the power supply hole of the housing.

8. An electronic padlock according to claim 6, characterized in that: The battery is a button cell disposable dry cell.

9. An electronic padlock according to claim 6, characterized in that: The fingerprint plate has sealing rings at the gap between the inner and outer rings.

10. An electronic padlock according to claim 5, characterized in that: The semi-molded shell is divided into a front shell with a box structure and an L-shaped rear cover. The rear cover is provided with multiple buckle parts. The front shell and the surface of the locking module facing the rear cover are respectively provided with buckle positions corresponding to the buckle parts on the rear cover. The buckle parts and buckle positions of the rear cover are engaged with each other to limit the rear cover and the front shell in different directions.

11. An electronic padlock according to claim 10, characterized in that: The upper part of the vertical plate of the rear cover is provided with a first latching part, a second latching part, and a third latching part in sequence. The lower part of the vertical plate of the rear cover is provided with a fourth latching part, a sixth latching part, and an eighth latching part in sequence. The horizontal plate of the rear cover is provided with a fifth latching part and a seventh latching part in sequence. The second latching part, the first latching part, the eighth latching part, and the fourth latching part are all L-shaped latches. The first latching part, the eighth latching part, and the fourth latching part face the same direction. The third latching part is a fixing seat perpendicular to the vertical plate of the rear cover. The fixing seat has a vertical opening. The fifth latching part is a groove located on the side. The seventh latching part is a cylinder. The sixth latching part is a groove. After the front shell and the locking module are assembled, they form a first to an eighth latching position corresponding to the first to eighth latching parts. The seventh latching position corresponding to the seventh latching part is a round hole. The fifth latching position corresponding to the fifth latching part is a locking block. The sixth latching position corresponding to the sixth latching part is an elastic fastener. The rear cover slides upward from the bottom of the front shell to achieve the latching of the rear cover and the front shell.

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