A flexible electric linear lock

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of electric lock technology, specifically providing a flexible electric linear lock, including a housing. Inside the housing are a first lock cylinder, a second lock cylinder, and a drive assembly, all elastically connected. The drive assembly drives the first and second lock cylinders to move. When the first lock cylinder cannot be fully inserted into the lock seat, the second lock cylinder compresses the elastic element between them, thus preventing damage to the drive motor or the first lock cylinder. A cleaning channel is provided to periodically clean debris from the ball bearing surfaces, reducing ball wear and improving ball transmission accuracy. A lubrication component is provided within the circulation channel to apply lubricating oil evenly to the ball bearing surfaces, further reducing ball wear and improving accuracy. A sequencing component is also included to periodically adjust the ball bearing sequence, evenly distributing the load across the balls and minimizing localized stress concentration.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electric lock technology, and in particular to a flexible electric linear lock. Background Art

[0002] An electric linear lock is a device that uses electric drive to lock and unlock, and is commonly used in locking systems requiring linear movement. It controls the opening and closing of the bolt through the linear motion generated by an electric motor or solenoid valve. Electric linear locks are widely used in automatic doors, cabinets, access control systems, and equipment requiring remote control or automated operation.

[0003] Existing electric linear locks are all rigidly driven, meaning that a motor drives a ball screw to rotate, achieving linear movement of the nut. The nut is rigidly connected to the lock cylinder, thus enabling the lock cylinder to extend and retract. During the movement, the lock cylinder moves accurately according to the pre-set position. However, when there are significant changes in the depth of the lock hole or when the center position of the lock hole does not correspond to the center position of the lock cylinder and has a large deviation, the lock cylinder may fail to reach the set position or the guide cone surface at the front of the lock cylinder may come into contact with the cone surface at the lock hole opening, preventing it from reaching the set position. This can cause problems such as the position sensor failing to capture the position signal, overloading the drive motor, and the entire device shutting down. Furthermore, during use, the wear and tear of the internal ball screw can lead to inaccurate precision. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a flexible electric linear lock to address the problems of current lock cylinders being unable to reach the set position, causing the position sensor to fail to capture the position signal, resulting in overload of the drive motor and inaccurate precision of the internal ball screw.

[0005] The above purpose is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0006] A flexible electric linear lock, comprising:

[0007] The outer casing contains a first lock cylinder and a second lock cylinder that are movable along the axial direction of the outer casing. The first lock cylinder and the second lock cylinder are coaxial and an elastic element is provided between them.

[0008] A drive assembly includes a lead screw and a push block. The push block is fixedly mounted on the second lock cylinder. The lead screw and the push block are driven by ball bearings. The push block is provided with a circulation pipe so that the ball bearings can circulate. The lead screw rotates and drives the push block to move axially. The push block pushes the second lock cylinder and the first lock cylinder to move axially. The second lock cylinder stops after reaching a preset position. The elastic element pushes the first lock cylinder to extend out of the outer shell.

[0009] A cleaning pipe is provided, with both ends of the cleaning pipe connected to the sidewall of the circulation pipe. A switch assembly is provided between the cleaning pipe and the circulation pipe to control their connection. The switch assembly can change the rolling direction of the ball bearings. When the cleaning pipe is working, the switch assembly connects to the circulation pipe, and the ball bearings in the circulation pipe pass through the cleaning pipe. A cleaning component is provided inside the cleaning pipe for cleaning the ball bearings.

[0010] Furthermore, the cleaning assembly includes a first cleaning plate, a second cleaning plate, and a third cleaning plate, all of which are arranged circumferentially on the inner wall of the cleaning pipe. One end of each of the three plates is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning pipe, and the other end of each plate is bent towards the axis of the cleaning pipe and has elasticity. The length of the first cleaning plate is less than the length of the second cleaning plate, and the length of the second cleaning plate is less than the length of the third cleaning plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the switch assembly includes a first shield and a second shield, the first shield and the second shield are connected at an acute angle, the first shield is slidably inserted into the circulation pipe, the second shield is slidably inserted into the connection between the circulation pipe and the cleaning pipe, the first shield has a first connecting hole, the second shield has a second connecting hole, and the first connecting hole and the second connecting hole are offset.

[0012] When the first connecting hole connects the cleaning pipe and the circulation pipe, the second baffle plate blocks the circulation pipe, and the ball enters the cleaning pipe;

[0013] When the first baffle obstructs the connection between the circulation pipe and the cleaning pipe, the second connecting hole opens the circulation pipe, and the ball enters the circulation pipe.

[0014] Furthermore, a screw is rotatably mounted on the first and second shielding plates, and the screw is screw-connected to the push block. The rotation of the screw drives the first and second shielding plates to move synchronously.

[0015] Furthermore, a lubrication component is provided inside the circulation pipe, which can apply lubricating oil to the surface of the balls inside the circulation pipe.

[0016] Furthermore, the lubrication assembly includes a lubrication sleeve and an oil inlet pipe. The lubrication sleeve is coaxial and fixedly disposed inside the circulation pipe. The sidewalls of the lubrication sleeve have different lengths and are hollow inside. The oil inlet pipe connects to the sidewalls of the lubrication sleeve. Several microholes are provided on the sidewalls of the lubrication sleeve. When lubricating oil is introduced through the oil inlet pipe, the lubricating oil is coated onto the balls passing through the lubrication sleeve through the microholes.

[0017] Furthermore, a sequencing component is provided inside the cleaning pipe. The sequencing component includes a sequencing cylinder and a push-pull component. The sequencing cylinder has an outlet and an inlet on its side wall. The sequencing cylinder divides the cleaning pipe into two sections, and the cleaning pipe is connected to the outlet and the inlet respectively. The push-pull component is located inside the sequencing cylinder. The push-pull component pulls the ball bearings from the inlet into the sequencing cylinder. The sequencing cylinder can adjust the order of the ball bearings. The push-pull component pushes the adjusted ball bearings out from the outlet.

[0018] Furthermore, a pulsator is coaxially and rotatably arranged inside the sequencing cylinder. Multiple blades are arranged on the outer periphery of the pulsator, and there is a space between two adjacent blades. Each space can accommodate a ball bearing, and two adjacent spaces are respectively connected to the inlet and the outlet.

[0019] The impeller is configured as follows:

[0020] After the first ball is pulled into the space by the push-pull component, the impeller rotates and drives the first ball away from the outlet. When the adjacent space connects to the inlet, the second ball is pulled into the space by the push-pull component. When the impeller rotates in the opposite direction and drives the second ball to the outlet, the push-pull component pushes it out. When the impeller continues to rotate in the opposite direction and drives the first ball to the outlet, the push-pull component pushes it out.

[0021] Furthermore, the push-pull component includes multiple magnets, all of which are located at the axis of the sequencing cylinder and are fixed in position. Each magnet corresponds to a space, and the magnetic poles of the magnet corresponding to the outlet position of the sequencing cylinder are opposite to those of the other magnets, and the magnetic field strength is greater than that of the other magnets. The ball bearing is magnetic.

[0022] Furthermore, the drive assembly also includes a drive motor, and the lead screw is coaxial with and fixedly connected to the shaft of the drive motor, and the drive motor drives the lead screw to rotate.

[0023] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0024] This invention provides a first lock cylinder and a second lock cylinder that are elastically connected. When the first lock cylinder cannot be fully inserted into the lock seat, the second lock cylinder compresses the elastic element between them, thereby avoiding damage to the drive motor or the first lock cylinder. In addition, a cleaning channel is provided to periodically clean the debris on the surface of the ball bearings, thereby reducing the wear of the ball bearings and making the ball bearing transmission more accurate.

[0025] This invention, by incorporating a lubrication component, enables the application of lubricating oil to the surface of the balls within the circulation pipeline, ensuring a more uniform application and further reducing ball wear while improving precision.

[0026] By setting up a sequencing component, this invention can periodically adjust the order of the balls, which can evenly distribute the load on the balls, making the force borne by all balls as consistent as possible and reducing local stress concentration. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a flexible electric linear lock provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A front view of a flexible electric linear lock provided in one embodiment;

[0029] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along AA of a flexible electric linear lock provided in one embodiment;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the drive assembly of a flexible electric linear lock according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 for Figure 4 An enlarged view of the X portion of the flexible electric linear lock provided in one embodiment;

[0032] Figure 6 for Figure 4 A left view of a flexible electric linear lock provided in one embodiment;

[0033] Figure 7 for Figure 6 An isometric view of a flexible electric linear lock provided in one embodiment, cut along section BB;

[0034] Figure 8 for Figure 7 An enlarged view of the Y-section of a flexible electric linear lock provided in one embodiment;

[0035] Figure 9 An exploded view of the switching assembly of a flexible electric linear lock according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the cleaning assembly of a flexible electric linear lock according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the lubrication assembly of a flexible electric linear lock according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 12 for Figure 11 A front view of the lubrication assembly of a flexible electric linear lock provided in one embodiment;

[0039] Figure 13 for Figure 12 A cross-sectional view along CC of a flexible electric linear lock provided in one embodiment.

[0040] in:

[0041] 100. Housing; 110. Base; 120. Drive motor; 130. Lead screw; 140. Push block; 150. Circulation pipe; 160. Sealing gasket; 170. First lock cylinder; 180. Second lock cylinder; 190. Elastic element; 191. Connector;

[0042] 200. Cleaning pipe; 210. First cleaning plate; 220. Second cleaning plate; 230. Third cleaning plate; 240. First connecting flange;

[0043] 300, switch assembly; 310, first shield; 311, first connecting hole; 320, second shield; 321, second connecting hole; 330, connecting plate; 331, connecting shaft; 332, protrusion; 340, connecting bracket; 350, screw;

[0044] 400, Lubrication sleeve; 410, Arc plate; 411, Micro-hole; 420, Oil inlet pipe; 430, Second connecting flange;

[0045] 500, Sequencing cylinder; 501, Inlet; 502, Outlet; 510, Push-pull component; 520, Impeller; 521, Blade. Detailed Implementation

[0046] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention will be further described in detail below through embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0047] The component designations used in this document, such as "first" and "second," are merely for distinguishing the described objects and do not have any sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this invention, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages). In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise," indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description. They do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the invention.

[0048] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediary. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0049] The following reference Figures 1-13 This invention describes a flexible electric linear lock.

[0050] A flexible electric linear lock includes a housing 100 and a lock seat (not shown). Inside the housing 100 are a first lock cylinder 170 and a second lock cylinder 180, which are axially movable along the housing 100. The axes of the first lock cylinder 170 and the second lock cylinder 180 are collinear, and an elastic element 190 is provided between them, allowing the first lock cylinder 170 and the second lock cylinder 180 to be elastically connected. A drive assembly is provided inside the housing 100 to push the second lock cylinder 180 and the first lock cylinder 170. The drive assembly includes a push block 140 and a lead screw 130. The push block 140 is fixedly connected to the second lock cylinder 180, and the lead screw 130 is ball-driven with the push block 140. Specifically, the push block 140 has a helical groove, which is connected to the lead screw... The spiral grooves on the surface of the lead screw 130 are compatible, and there are several balls between the lead screw 130 and the push block 140. The balls roll in the spiral grooves to reduce friction on the spiral grooves and improve transmission accuracy. Since the length of the spiral grooves in the push block 140 is limited, the push block 140 will be unable to move after the balls roll to the end of the spiral grooves. Therefore, a circulation pipe 150 is provided on the push block 140. The circulation pipe 150 connects the end and the beginning of the spiral grooves of the push block 140, so that the balls that roll to the end can re-enter the beginning through the circulation pipe 150, thereby enabling the balls to circulate and achieve continuous movement of the push block 140. To facilitate the ball transmission between the push block 140 and the lead screw 130, sealing gaskets 160 are installed at both ends of the spiral grooves of the push block 140.

[0051] The push block 140 is fixedly connected to the second lock cylinder 180. Under the action of the screw 130 rotating, the push block 140 can push the second lock cylinder 180 to move. The second lock cylinder 180 pushes the first lock cylinder 170 through the elastic member 190. When the second lock cylinder 180 moves to the preset position (the preset position means that under normal circumstances, the first lock cylinder 170 is fully inserted into the lock seat, and the length that the elastic member 190 can be compressed is at least greater than the depth of the lock seat), the first lock cylinder 170 extends out of the outer shell 100 and inserts into the lock seat. At this time, the elastic member 190 is not in a fully compressed state, and the length of the compressible margin of the elastic member 190 is at least greater than the depth of the lock seat. The advantage of this setting is that it can prevent the first lock cylinder 170 from being forcibly inserted into the lock seat when there are foreign objects in the lock seat or when the first lock cylinder 170 is offset from the lock seat.

[0052] It is understandable that electric locks generally have sensors inside to detect whether the lock cylinder has reached a designated position. When the sensor fails to detect that the lock cylinder has reached the designated position, it will continuously push the lock cylinder, which may damage the lock cylinder or the motor that drives the lead screw 130. If a spring element 190 and a second lock cylinder 180 are provided, the sensor can detect the position of the second lock cylinder 180. Under normal circumstances, the second lock cylinder 180 pushes the spring element 190, and the spring element 190 pushes the first lock cylinder 170, causing the first lock cylinder 170 to enter the lock seat. If there are foreign objects in the lock seat or the first lock cylinder 170 is misaligned with the lock seat, the push block 140 will still push the second lock cylinder 180. The second lock cylinder 180 will compress the elastic element 190. Since the first lock cylinder 170 is blocked, the second lock cylinder 180 can only compress the elastic element 190. When the second lock cylinder 180 can still move to the preset position, the sensor will detect the second lock cylinder 180 and stop the rotation of the lead screw 130, thus stopping the second lock cylinder 180 and preventing the first lock cylinder 170 from being forcibly inserted into the lock seat, and also preventing damage to the motor.

[0053] A cleaning pipe 200 is provided on the push block 140. Both ends of the cleaning pipe 200 are connected to the side wall of the circulation pipe 150. A switch assembly 300 is provided at the connection between the cleaning pipe 200 and the circulation pipe 150 to control their connection. The switch assembly 300 can change the rolling direction of the ball. That is, when the ball flows through the connection between the cleaning pipe 200 and the circulation pipe 150, the switch assembly 300 can adjust whether the ball enters the cleaning pipe 200 or continues to enter the circulation pipe 150. After the flexible electric linear lock has been used for a period of time, the surface of the ball will inevitably wear. The debris from the wear on the ball surface will affect the accuracy of the ball transmission of the lead screw 130, and the debris will also accelerate the wear of the ball. Therefore, the cleaning pipe 200 is provided to clean the debris on the surface of the ball, thereby reducing the debris on the surface of the ball and reducing the wear of the ball. The flexible electric linear lock is regularly maintained at set intervals. At this time, the control switch assembly 300 connects the cleaning pipe 200 and the circulation pipe 150, so that the ball in the circulation pipe 150 enters the cleaning pipe 200 through the switch assembly 300. The cleaning pipe 200 is equipped with a cleaning component, which can clean the debris on the surface of the ball, thereby reducing the wear of the ball.

[0054] It should be noted that the elastic element 190 in this invention is a butterfly spring. The outer edge and inner hole of the butterfly spring are tapered. When a load is applied, the spring gradually flattens out, generating a strong axial force. The butterfly spring can provide a large elastic force in a compact cavity, so it can also be used in locks. At the same time, a connector 191 is provided between the butterfly spring and the second lock cylinder 180. The connector 191 fixes one end of the butterfly spring, and the other end of the butterfly spring is connected to the first lock cylinder 170.

[0055] Specifically, the cleaning assembly of the present invention includes a first cleaning plate 210, a second cleaning plate 220, and a third cleaning plate 230. The first cleaning plate 210, the second cleaning plate 220, and the third cleaning plate 230 are arranged in a circumferential array within the cleaning pipe 200. One end of each plate is fixedly connected to the cleaning pipe 200, and the other end of each plate is elastic and bent towards the axis of the cleaning pipe 200. When the ball passes over the first cleaning plate 210, the second cleaning plate 220, and the third cleaning plate 230, the bent end can scrape off surface debris, thereby reducing debris on the surface of the ball. Simultaneously, the length of the first cleaning plate 210 is less than the length of the second cleaning plate 220, and the length of the second cleaning plate 220 is less than the length of the third cleaning plate 230. Therefore, when the ball passes over the first cleaning plate 210, the bent end can scrape off surface debris, thus reducing debris on the surface of the ball. Furthermore, the length of the first cleaning plate 210 is less than the length of the second cleaning plate 220, and the length of the second cleaning plate 220 is less than the length of the third cleaning plate 230. When the ball passes the bent end of the first cleaning plate 210, it does not contact the bent ends of the second cleaning plate 220 and the third cleaning plate 230, but instead contacts other parts of the second cleaning plate 220 and the third cleaning plate 230. This results in uneven force on the ball, causing it to rotate as it passes the first cleaning plate 210. After the ball leaves the first cleaning plate 210, it only contacts the second cleaning plate 220 and the third cleaning plate 230, where the force is also uneven. The ball continues to rotate, and after passing the bent end of the second cleaning plate 220, it is cleaned a second time by the second cleaning plate 220, and then a third time by the third cleaning plate 230. After multiple cleanings, the remaining debris on the surface of the ball is almost completely removed, and then it re-enters the circulation pipe 150.

[0056] It should be noted that, in order to facilitate the fixing of the first cleaning plate 210, the second cleaning plate 220 and the third cleaning plate 230 inside the cleaning pipe 200, one end of the first cleaning plate 210, the second cleaning plate 220 and the third cleaning plate 230 are fixedly mounted on the first connecting flange 240, and the first connecting flange 240 is then fixedly connected to the cleaning pipe 200 by bolts, thereby fixing the first cleaning plate 210, the second cleaning plate 220 and the third cleaning plate inside the cleaning pipe 200.

[0057] In a further embodiment, the switch assembly 300 includes a first baffle plate 310 and a second baffle plate 320, which are connected at an acute angle. The first baffle plate 310 is slidably inserted into the circulation pipe 150, and a first connecting hole 311 is provided on the first baffle plate 310. The size of the first connecting hole 311 is adapted to the circulation pipe 150. When the first connecting hole 311 is completely located within the circulation pipe 150, the ball can pass through the first connecting hole 311 without being obstructed by it. The second baffle plate 320 is slidably inserted at the connection between the circulation pipe 150 and the cleaning pipe 200, and a second connecting hole 321 is provided on the second baffle plate 320. The second connecting hole 321 is offset from the first connecting hole 311 on the first baffle plate 310, that is, the first connecting hole 311 and the second connecting hole 321 are not at the same height.

[0058] When the first baffle plate 310 and the second baffle plate 320 move synchronously to connect the second connecting hole 321 to the circulation pipe 150 and the cleaning pipe 200, the first connecting hole 311 on the first baffle plate 310 is located outside the circulation pipe 150, and the first baffle plate 310 blocks the circulation pipe 150. The balls in the circulation pipe 150 pass through the obstruction of the first baffle plate 310 and enter the cleaning pipe 200 through the second connecting hole 321 on the second baffle plate 320. Similarly, when the first baffle plate 310 and the second baffle plate 320 move synchronously to connect the first connecting hole 311 to the circulation pipe 150, the second connecting hole 321 on the second baffle plate 320 is located outside the circulation pipe 150 and the cleaning pipe 200, and the second baffle plate 320 blocks the connection between the circulation pipe 150 and the cleaning pipe 200. The balls no longer pass through the cleaning pipe 200.

[0059] It is understandable that the direction of the ball can be controlled by controlling the position of the first baffle 310 and the second baffle 320. That is, when the ball needs to be cleaned, the first baffle 310 and the second baffle 320 can be controlled to move synchronously so that the second connecting hole 321 on the second baffle 320 connects to the cleaning pipe 200, and the ball enters the cleaning pipe 200 for cleaning. When cleaning is not needed, the second baffle 320 can be controlled to block the connection between the cleaning pipe 200 and the circulation pipe 150.

[0060] Specifically, a screw 350 is rotatably mounted on the first baffle plate 310 and the second baffle plate 320. The screw 350 is helically connected to the push block 140. When the first baffle plate 310 and the second baffle plate 320 need to move, the screw 350 is rotated. The screw 350 rotates around itself and moves axially, thereby driving the first baffle plate 310 and the second baffle plate 320 to move. For easy connection, a connecting plate 330 is fixedly installed on the first baffle plate 310 and the second baffle plate 320. A connecting shaft 331 is provided on the connecting plate 330. The outer periphery of the connecting shaft 331 has a protrusion 332. A connecting groove is provided on the end of the screw 350 near the connecting shaft 331. The protrusion 332 of the connecting shaft 331 is in the connecting groove. The connecting groove and the protrusion 332 can restrict the relative axial movement of the connecting shaft 331 and the screw 350. A connecting frame 340 is fixedly installed on the push block 140. The screw 350 is specifically screwed to the connecting frame 340 on the push block 140. When the screw 350 is rotated, the first baffle plate 310 and the second baffle plate 320 can be moved.

[0061] It should be noted that the structure for moving the first baffle 310 and the second baffle 320 is not limited to the structure described above. It can also be a telescopic cylinder. One end of the telescopic cylinder is fixedly connected to the connecting plate 330, and the other end of the telescopic cylinder is fixedly set on the connecting frame 340. When the telescopic cylinder extends or retracts, it can drive the first baffle 310 and the second baffle 320 to move.

[0062] In a further embodiment, a lubrication assembly is also provided inside the circulation pipe 150, which can apply lubricating oil to the surface of the balls, thereby reducing wear on the balls.

[0063] Specifically, the lubrication assembly includes a lubrication sleeve 400 and an oil inlet pipe 420. The lubrication sleeve 400 is coaxial and fixedly installed inside the circulation pipe 150. The sidewalls of the lubrication sleeve 400 have different lengths, meaning that the lubrication sleeve 400 is composed of multiple arc plates 410. In this embodiment, there are three arc plates 410, and the lengths of the three arc plates 410 are different, which causes the passing balls to rotate due to uneven force. The interiors of the three arc plates 410 are hollow, and the oil inlet pipe 420 connects to the interior of the arc plates 410, supplying lubricating oil into the interior of the arc plates 410. Several micropores 411 are opened on the side of the three arc plates 410 near the balls, and the lubricating oil inside the arc plates 410 seeps out through the micropores 411 to coat the passing balls. When the balls pass through the three arc plates 410, they rotate due to uneven force, which greatly improves the coverage of lubricating oil on the surface of the balls.

[0064] It should be noted that, in order to facilitate the connection of the oil inlet pipe 420 and the fixing of the three arc plates 410 inside the circulation pipe 150, a second connecting flange 430 is bolted to the circulation pipe 150. The second connecting flange 430 is hollow inside. The three arc plates 410 are fixed to one side of the second connecting flange 430 and the interior of the second connecting flange 430 is connected to the interior of the three arc plates 410. The oil inlet pipe 420 is connected to the interior of the second connecting flange 430. The lubricating oil delivered by the oil inlet pipe 420 first passes through the interior of the second connecting flange 430, then enters the interior of the arc plates 410, and finally seeps out from the micropores 411 on the arc plates 410 onto the surface of the ball bearings.

[0065] In a further embodiment, a sequencing component is provided on the cleaning pipe 200. The sequencing component can adjust the order of the balls in the cleaning pipe 200, thereby changing the arrangement order of the balls. This structure can effectively avoid the situation where some balls are severely worn and the balls are subjected to uneven force (the uneven force refers to the force on the balls in the two spiral grooves, rather than the uneven force on the balls in the cleaning pipe 200 and the circulation pipe 150 as mentioned above).

[0066] It is understandable that in ball drives, the balls roll along the helical grooves and bear the load. Some balls may experience greater pressure due to manufacturing errors, assembly issues, or uneven load distribution, leading to accelerated wear. By periodically adjusting the ball sequence, the load on the balls can be evenly distributed, ensuring that all balls bear the force as consistently as possible and reducing localized stress concentration. If the balls roll in the same arrangement for a long time without adjustment, some more worn balls will affect adjacent balls, eventually accelerating their wear. Periodically adjusting the ball sequence can effectively alleviate this situation and extend the service life of the lead screw 130 and the push block 140.

[0067] Specifically, the sequencing component of this invention includes a sequencing cylinder 500 and a push-pull member 510. The sequencing cylinder 500 has an inlet 501 and an outlet 502 on its side wall. The sequencing cylinder 500 is disposed on the cleaning pipe 200 and divides the cleaning pipe 200 into two sections. The inlet 501 and outlet 502 of the sequencing cylinder 500 connect the two sections of the cleaning pipe 200. The push-pull member 510 is disposed inside the sequencing cylinder 500 and is used to pull the ball from the inlet 501 into the sequencing cylinder 500 or to push the ball inside the sequencing cylinder 500 out of the sequencing cylinder 500 from the outlet 502.

[0068] The sequencer cylinder 500 is coaxially and rotatably connected to a pulsator 520. Multiple blades 521 are arranged on the outer periphery of the pulsator 520, and the blades 521 are evenly distributed. The ends of the multiple blades 521 are in sliding contact with the interior of the sequencer cylinder 500. The space between two adjacent blades 521 can accommodate a ball bearing, that is, the ball bearing can enter the space between two adjacent blades 521. When the pulsator 520 rotates, it can cause multiple spaces to revolve around the rotation center of the pulsator 520, thereby driving the ball bearing in the space to revolve around the rotation center of the pulsator 520. The inlet 501 and outlet 502 on the side wall of the sequencer cylinder 500 are close to each other, and there are always two adjacent spaces in the multiple spaces that are connected to the inlet 501 and outlet 502.

[0069] When the push-pull component 510 pulls the first ball from the cleaning pipe 200 into the sequencer cylinder 500, the ball enters the space connected to the inlet 501, which is named the first space. The impeller 520 first rotates a preset angle (preset angle is 360° / N, where N is the number of spaces, and N is greater than or equal to 3) away from the outlet 502, making the adjacent space (called the second space) connected. The push-pull component 510 pulls the second ball into the second space, and then the impeller 520 rotates in the opposite direction by twice the preset angle. When rotating in the opposite direction by the preset angle, the second space is connected to the outlet. At point 502, the push-pull component 510 pushes out the second ball in the second space. When the impeller 520 continues to rotate in the opposite direction at the preset angle, the first space is connected to the outlet 502 of the sequencer cylinder 500. The push-pull component 510 pushes out the first ball, thereby adjusting the order of the first and second balls. Similarly, the order of the third, fourth, and nth balls changes. The number of balls must be odd to achieve the desired change in the order of the balls. If the number is even, multiple reorderings will cause the even number of balls to revert to their original order.

[0070] Specifically, in this embodiment, the push-pull component 510 includes multiple magnets, all of which are fixedly disposed at the axis of the sequencer 500. The sidewall of the impeller 520 slides in contact with the multiple magnets, with each magnet corresponding to a space. The magnetic pole of the magnet corresponding to the outlet 502 of the sequencer 500 is opposite to that of the other magnets, and the magnetic field strength of this magnet is greater than that of the other magnets. At the same time, the ball bearing in this embodiment is magnetic. When the space is connected to the inlet 501 of the sequencer 500, the ball bearing is attracted by the magnet and passes through the inlet 501 into the space. At this time, the ball bearing in the space is attracted by the magnet and cannot rotate. As the impeller 520 rotates, the space where the ball bearing is located is connected to the outlet 502. At the same time, the magnetic pole of the magnet corresponding to the outlet 502 is opposite and the magnetic field strength is greater, so that the ball bearing that was originally attracted is pushed and passes through the outlet 502 into another section of the cleaning pipe 200.

[0071] Specifically, the drive assembly in this embodiment also includes a drive motor 120, which is used to drive the lead screw 130 to rotate. To facilitate the connection of the drive motor 120, a base 110 is connected to the end of the housing 100 away from the first lock cylinder 170. The drive motor 120 is fixedly installed in the base 110. The lead screw 130 is coaxial and fixedly connected to the rotating shaft of the drive motor 120. The rotation of the drive motor 120 drives the lead screw 130 to rotate, thereby driving the push block 140.

[0072] The specific working process of a flexible electric linear lock provided by the present invention will be described in conjunction with the above embodiments:

[0073] Normal operation:

[0074] Locking: Start the drive motor 120, drive the lead screw 130 to rotate, the lead screw 130 drives the push block 140 to move along the axial direction of the outer shell 100, the push block 140 drives the second lock cylinder 180 to move, the second lock cylinder 180 stops after moving to the preset position, the second lock cylinder 180 compresses the elastic element 190, the elastic element 190 pushes the first lock cylinder 170 to move, so that the first lock cylinder 170 extends out of the outer shell 100 and completely enters the lock seat (not shown in the figure), thereby completing the locking function. At this time, the length of the elastic element 190 that can still be compressed is at least greater than the depth of the lock seat;

[0075] Unlocking: The drive motor 120 rotates in the reverse direction, which drives the lead screw 130 to rotate in the reverse direction. The lead screw 130 drives the push block 140 to move in the reverse direction along the axis of the outer shell 100. The push block 140 drives the second lock cylinder 180 to move in the reverse direction. The second lock cylinder 180 pulls the elastic element 190, which pulls the first lock cylinder 170 to reset, thereby disengaging from the lock seat to complete the unlocking function.

[0076] When an anomaly occurs:

[0077] If a foreign object appears inside the lock seat or the first lock cylinder 170 cannot align with the lock seat, the push block 140 pushes the second lock cylinder 180 to continue moving. The second lock cylinder 180 compresses the elastic element 190. The elastic element 190 cannot push the first lock cylinder 170. However, since the length that the elastic element 190 can be compressed is at least greater than the depth of the lock seat, even if the first lock cylinder 170 cannot be fully inserted into the lock seat, the drive motor 120 will stop after the second lock cylinder 180 reaches the preset position. This avoids the situation where the drive motor 120 keeps working when the first lock cylinder 170 is not fully inserted into the lock seat, which could lead to damage to the drive motor 120 or the first lock cylinder 170.

[0078] lubricating:

[0079] After a period of use, lubricating oil is introduced into the oil inlet pipe 420. The lubricating oil enters the arc plate 410 after passing through the second connecting flange 430, and finally seeps out from the micropores 411 of the arc plate 410. Since the lengths of the multiple arc plates 410 are different, the balls rotate when passing through the arc plates 410, so that the lubricating oil can be evenly coated on the surface of the balls.

[0080] clean:

[0081] After setting an interval (the interval can be determined according to the frequency of use, and is not specifically limited here), the screw 350 is rotated to move the first baffle 310 and the second baffle 320. The first connecting hole 311 on the first baffle 310 slides to the outside of the circulation pipe 150, and the first baffle 310 blocks the circulation pipe 150. At this time, the second connecting hole 321 on the second baffle 320 connects the connection between the circulation pipe 150 and the cleaning pipe 200. The balls in the circulation pipe 150 enter the cleaning pipe 200 through the second connecting hole 321 on the second baffle 320. At the same time, the impeller 520 is driven to rotate to change the order of the balls. The balls after changing the order pass through the first cleaning plate 210, the second cleaning plate 220 and the third cleaning plate 230 in sequence. Since the lengths of the three are different, the balls are subjected to uneven force when passing through the three cleaning plates, which causes them to rotate and thus makes the surface of the balls more thoroughly cleaned.

[0082] After cleaning, the screw 350 is rotated in the opposite direction to reset the first baffle 310 and the second baffle 320. The first connecting hole 311 of the first baffle 310 connects to the circulation pipe 150, and the second connecting hole 321 of the second baffle 320 slides to the outside, so that the second baffle 320 blocks the connection between the cleaning pipe 200 and the circulation pipe 150, ensuring that the ball rolls in the circulation pipe 150.

[0083] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0084] The above-described embodiments merely illustrate several embodiments of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that a person skilled in the art would be able to make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A flexible electric linear lock, characterized in that, include: The outer casing contains a first lock cylinder and a second lock cylinder that are movable along the axial direction of the outer casing. The first lock cylinder and the second lock cylinder are coaxial and an elastic element is provided between them. A drive assembly includes a lead screw and a push block. The push block is fixedly mounted on the second lock cylinder. The lead screw and the push block are driven by ball bearings. The push block is provided with a circulation pipe so that the ball bearings can circulate. The lead screw rotates and drives the push block to move axially. The push block pushes the second lock cylinder and the first lock cylinder to move axially. The second lock cylinder stops after reaching a preset position. The elastic element pushes the first lock cylinder to extend out of the outer shell. A cleaning pipe is provided, with both ends of the cleaning pipe connected to the sidewall of the circulation pipe. A switch assembly capable of controlling the connection between the cleaning pipe and the circulation pipe is provided between the cleaning pipe and the circulation pipe. The switch assembly can change the rolling direction of the ball. When the cleaning pipe is working, the switch assembly connects to the circulation pipe, and the ball in the circulation pipe passes through the cleaning pipe. A cleaning component is provided inside the cleaning pipe, and the cleaning component is used to clean the ball. The switch assembly includes a first shield and a second shield, which are connected at an acute angle. The first shield is slidably inserted into the circulation pipe, and the second shield is slidably inserted into the connection between the circulation pipe and the cleaning pipe. The first shield has a first connecting hole, and the second shield has a second connecting hole. The first connecting hole and the second connecting hole are offset. When the first connecting hole connects the cleaning pipe and the circulation pipe, the second baffle plate blocks the circulation pipe, and the ball enters the cleaning pipe; When the first baffle obstructs the connection between the circulation pipe and the cleaning pipe, the second connecting hole opens the circulation pipe, and the ball enters the circulation pipe.

2. The flexible electric linear lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning assembly includes a first cleaning plate, a second cleaning plate, and a third cleaning plate, all of which are arranged circumferentially on the inner wall of the cleaning pipe. One end of each plate is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the cleaning pipe, and the other end of each plate is bent towards the axis of the cleaning pipe and is elastic. The length of the first cleaning plate is less than the length of the second cleaning plate, and the length of the second cleaning plate is less than the length of the third cleaning plate.

3. The flexible electric linear lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first and second shields are rotatably equipped with screws, which are helically engaged with the push block. The rotation of the screws causes the first and second shields to move synchronously.

4. The flexible electric linear lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, The circulation pipe is equipped with a lubrication component, which can apply lubricating oil to the surface of the balls inside the circulation pipe.

5. The flexible electric linear lock according to claim 4, characterized in that, The lubrication assembly includes a lubrication sleeve and an oil inlet pipe. The lubrication sleeve is coaxial and fixedly installed inside the circulation pipe. The side walls of the lubrication sleeve have different lengths and are hollow inside. The oil inlet pipe connects to the side walls of the lubrication sleeve. Several micro-holes are provided on the side walls of the lubrication sleeve. When lubricating oil is introduced through the oil inlet pipe, the lubricating oil is coated onto the balls passing through the lubrication sleeve through the micro-holes.

6. The flexible electric linear lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cleaning pipe is equipped with a sequencing component, which includes a sequencing cylinder and a push-pull component. The sequencing cylinder has an outlet and an inlet on its side wall, which divides the cleaning pipe into two sections. The cleaning pipe is connected to the outlet and the inlet respectively. The push-pull component is located inside the sequencing cylinder. The push-pull component pulls the ball bearings from the inlet into the sequencing cylinder. The sequencing cylinder can adjust the order of the ball bearings. The push-pull component pushes the adjusted ball bearings out from the outlet.

7. The flexible electric linear lock according to claim 6, characterized in that, The timing cylinder is equipped with a pulsator that is coaxially and rotatably arranged inside. Multiple blades are arranged on the outer periphery of the pulsator, and there is a space between two adjacent blades. Each space can accommodate a ball bearing, and two adjacent spaces are respectively connected to the inlet and the outlet. The impeller is configured as follows: After the first ball is pulled into the space by the push-pull component, the impeller rotates and drives the first ball away from the outlet. When the adjacent space connects to the inlet, the second ball is pulled into the space by the push-pull component. When the impeller rotates in the opposite direction and drives the second ball to the outlet, the push-pull component pushes it out. When the impeller continues to rotate in the opposite direction and drives the first ball to the outlet, the push-pull component pushes it out.

8. The flexible electric linear lock according to claim 7, characterized in that, The push-pull component includes multiple magnets, all of which are located at the axis of the sequencing cylinder and are in a fixed position. Each magnet corresponds to a space. The magnetic poles of the magnet corresponding to the outlet position of the sequencing cylinder are opposite to those of the other magnets, and the magnetic field strength is greater than that of the other magnets. The ball bearing is magnetic.

9. The flexible electric linear lock according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive assembly also includes a drive motor, and the lead screw is coaxial with and fixedly connected to the shaft of the drive motor, and the drive motor drives the lead screw to rotate.

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