Unlocking mechanism, electric lock and padlock

Abstract

The utility model discloses an unlocking mechanism, an electric lock and a padlock, the unlocking mechanism comprises a trigger part and an unlocking part, the trigger part is used for cooperating with the unlocking part to execute an unlocking action, the unlocking mechanism further comprises a connecting part, the connecting part is rotatably arranged by a positioning point, one end of the connecting part is connected with the trigger part, the other end of the connecting part is connected with the unlocking part, the trigger part drives the connecting part to rotate, and the unlocking part is connected with the connecting part. And the connecting piece rotates to drive the unlocking piece to execute an unlocking action. According to the scheme, indirect linkage of the triggering piece and the unlocking piece can be achieved through rotation of the connecting piece, the problem of linkage difficulty caused by position difference of the triggering piece and the unlocking piece is solved, and the setting range of the triggering piece is expanded.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an unlocking mechanism, in particular to an unlocking mechanism, an electric lock and a padlock. Background Art

[0002] In some unlocking mechanisms, the unlocking coordination is often difficult due to the different unlocking methods or the different positions of the trigger and unlocking parts, which makes direct linkage impossible, thus limiting the position of the trigger. Therefore, the unlocking part and the trigger generally need to be in direct contact to coordinate.

[0003] Generally speaking, the main problem is that when the trigger is far away from the unlocking part, it is difficult to trigger the unlocking part to unlock. In common solutions, the trigger is mainly a component such as a button that can be pressed; the unlocking part is mainly a component that can drive the locking part to unlock. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an unlocking mechanism, an electric lock and a padlock, which can achieve indirect linkage between the trigger part and the unlocking part through the rotation of the connecting part, solve the linkage difficulty problem caused by the position difference between the two, and expand the setting range of the trigger part.

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an unlocking mechanism, comprising a trigger member and an unlocking member, wherein the trigger member is used to cooperate with the unlocking member to perform an unlocking action, and further comprising a connecting member, wherein the connecting member is rotatable at a certain position, and one end of the connecting member is connected to the trigger member, and the other end is connected to the unlocking member, the trigger member drives the connecting member to rotate, and the connecting member drives the unlocking member to perform the unlocking action by rotating.

[0006] As a further improvement of the present invention, the unlocking member performs the unlocking action by rotating, and the unlocking member is driven to rotate by the connecting member.

[0007] As a further improvement of the present invention, it further comprises an electric actuator, which cooperates with the unlocking member to drive the unlocking member to rotate.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, an avoidance position is provided on the unlocking member at a position corresponding to the connecting member, and when the electric actuator drives the unlocking member to rotate, the connecting member remains in the avoidance position.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, a rotating member is provided at the output end of the electric actuator, the rotating member is driven to rotate by the electric actuator, and the rotating member is connected to the connecting member to drive the connecting member to rotate.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, the horizontal plane where the unlocking member rotates is perpendicular to or at an angle to the horizontal plane where the connecting member rotates.

[0011] An electric lock comprises a locking mechanism, a locked component, and an unlocking mechanism as described above; an unlocking member of the unlocking mechanism drives the locking mechanism to unlock or lock the locked component.

[0012] A padlock comprises a lock beam, a locking mechanism, an unlocking mechanism as described above, and a password wheel assembly; when the password of the password wheel assembly is correct, the activity restriction of the trigger member is released; otherwise, the activity of the trigger member is restricted; the unlocking member of the unlocking mechanism drives the locking mechanism to unlock or lock the lock beam.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, the locking mechanism includes at least one locking pin connected to the unlocking member, and a lock groove is provided on the lock beam at a position corresponding to the lock pin. When the lock pin is inserted into the lock groove, the lock beam is restricted from falling out to lock the lock beam; when the unlocking member rotates, it drives the lock pin out of the lock groove to unlock or drives the lock pin into the lock groove to lock.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, the lock pin is connected to an elastic component, and the lock pin maintains a movement tendency toward the lock slot through the elastic component; and / or, the lock pin also drives the unlocking member to rotate and reset during the movement toward the lock slot.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: by providing a rotatable connecting part, the trigger part and the unlocking part are indirectly connected, and the rotation of the connecting part is used to transmit power, which solves the problem of difficulty in linkage caused by the different positions of the trigger part and the unlocking part (such as long distance and direction differences) in the prior art, expands the setting position range of the trigger part, and improves the adaptability and flexibility of the unlocking mechanism. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the overall structure of the padlock of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the structure of the padlock part of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the unlocking mechanism of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the padlock structure of the present invention from another perspective.

[0020] Figure numbers: 1. Trigger; 2. Unlocking part; 3. Connecting part; 4. Electric actuator; 5. Avoidance position; 6. Rotating part; 7. Lock beam; 8. Lock pin; 9. Lock slot; 10. Elastic component; 11. Password wheel assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Reference Figure 1-4 As shown, an unlocking mechanism of this embodiment includes a trigger member 1 and an unlocking member 2. The trigger member 1 is used to cooperate with the unlocking member 2 to perform an unlocking action. It also includes a connecting member 3. The connecting member 3 is rotatable at a certain position, and one end of the connecting member 3 is connected to the trigger member 1, and the other end is connected to the unlocking member 2. The trigger member 1 drives the connecting member 3 to rotate, and the connecting member 3 drives the unlocking member 2 to perform the unlocking action by rotating.

[0023] The trigger 1 can be a push-button, a pull-rod, or other structure. It is connected to one end of the connector 3 via an articulated connection (e.g., a pin or keyway), ensuring that the linear motion or rotation of the trigger 1 is effectively transmitted to the connector 3. The positioning point of the connector 3 can be achieved by a rotating shaft fixed to the mechanism housing or by connecting the rotating shaft on the connector 3 to the mechanism housing. The connector 3 forms a lever structure around the rotating shaft, which can change the direction and distance of force transmission during rotation. The unlocking member 2 can be a lever, a cam, or other structure. It is connected to the other end of the connector 3 via a slot or articulated connection. When the trigger 1 is operated (e.g., pressing a button to move it downward, pulling a rod to move it outward), the trigger 1 drives the connector 3 to rotate about the positioning point. The other end of the connector 3 pushes or pulls the unlocking member 2, causing it to perform the unlocking action (e.g., retracting the lock tongue). Through the rotation transmission of the connecting member 3, even if the trigger member 1 and the unlocking member 2 are far apart or not in the same straight line direction, they can still be stably linked, which solves the limitation of the existing technology that the two can only be linked together when they are in direct contact, expands the range of installation position selection of the trigger member 1, and improves the layout flexibility of the mechanism.

[0024] In an optional embodiment, the unlocking member 2 performs the unlocking action by rotating, and the unlocking member 2 is driven to rotate by the connecting member 3.

[0025] Unlocking member 2 is rotated via its own fixed axis (e.g., a pin mounted on the housing or on unlocking member 2). Its connection to connector 3 is provided with an eccentric fit, into which the end of connector 3 inserts, forming an eccentric connection. When trigger 1 drives connector 3 to rotate about its own positioning point, the end of connector 3, through the eccentric fit, pushes unlocking member 2 about its fixed axis. The rotation of unlocking member 2 directly drives subsequent locking components (e.g., the lock tongue) to unlock the lock. Compared to the linear motion of unlocking member 2, rotational motion is more adaptable to complex spatial layouts. Furthermore, the eccentric connection used to transmit power reduces jamming during transmission, improving the stability and reliability of the unlocking action.

[0026] Moreover, this rotation method can be used to synchronously drive multiple locking components to complete unlocking, for example Figure 1 、 2 , the two locking parts shown in 4.

[0027] As an embodiment capable of increasing the unlocking mode, an electric actuator 4 is further included. The electric actuator 4 cooperates with the unlocking member 2 to drive the unlocking member 2 to rotate.

[0028] The electric actuator 4 can be a DC motor, whose output shaft engages with the unlocking member 2 through gear meshing (e.g., the motor shaft gear meshes with the sector gear on the unlocking member 2) or a connecting rod mechanism (e.g., the motor output shaft is connected to a crank, and the crank is hinged to the unlocking member 2 through a connecting rod). When electric unlocking is required, the electric actuator 4 is energized, and its output end directly drives the unlocking member 2 to rotate about its own axis, achieving the unlocking action. When manual unlocking is required, the trigger member 1 can still drive the unlocking member 2 to rotate through the connecting member 3. The two drive modes are independent and do not interfere with each other. This structure implements both manual and electric drive modes, suitable for different scenarios (e.g., manual operation during a power outage, electric operation during remote control), improving the applicability and emergency response capabilities of the unlocking mechanism. At the same time, the coordination structure of the electric actuator 4 and the unlocking member 2 is simple and easy to integrate.

[0029] Of course, the output shaft of the electric actuator 4 can also push the unlocking member 2 to rotate in a telescopic manner.

[0030] In order to reduce the interference between electric unlocking and manual unlocking, in an optional manner, an avoidance position 5 is provided on the unlocking member 2 at a position corresponding to the connecting member 3. When the electric actuator 4 drives the unlocking member 2 to rotate, the connecting member 3 remains in the avoidance position 5.

[0031] The avoidance position 5 is an arcuate groove, through-hole, or notch formed on the unlocking member 2. Its dimensions are larger than the connecting end of the connector 3 and the unlocking member 2, and the trajectory of the avoidance position 5 matches the rotational trajectory of the unlocking member 2. When the electric actuator 4 drives the unlocking member 2 to rotate, the end of the connector 3 is located within the avoidance position 5. There is no contact or force transmission between the two, meaning that the connector 3 remains stationary (does not rotate with the unlocking member 2), preventing the connector 3 from obstructing the electric rotation of the unlocking member 2. When the trigger member 1 is manually operated, the connector 3 rotates and pushes the unlocking member 2 through the inner wall of the avoidance position 5, achieving manual drive. The provision of the avoidance position 5 ensures the independence of electric and manual drive, resolves the potential motion interference between the two drive modes, improves the smoothness of the mechanism's operation, and simplifies the coordinated control logic of the dual drive.

[0032] Optionally, a rotating member 6 is provided at the output end of the electric actuator 4 , and the rotating member 6 is driven to rotate by the electric actuator 4 , and the rotating member 6 is connected to the connecting member 3 to drive the connecting member 3 to rotate.

[0033] The rotating member 6 can be a gear or a swing arm, the output shaft of the electric actuator 4 (such as a motor) is fixedly connected to the rotating member 6 (such as a key connection), and the rotating member 6 and the connecting member 3 are engaged by gears (such as the rotating member 6 is a driving gear, and the connecting member 3 is provided with a rack segment) or contact fit (refer to Figure 2 、 3 As shown in Figures 4 and 5, rotating member 6 is a swing arm, and unlocking member 2 has a component capable of contacting the swing arm. When the swing arm moves, it rotates unlocking member 2 via the contact component, for example, a protrusion. When electric actuator 4 is in operation, it drives rotating member 6 to rotate. Rotating member 6, through engagement or contact, drives connecting member 3 to rotate about its positioning point, which in turn drives unlocking member 2 via connecting member 3. This structure transmits electric drive power to unlocking member 2 via connecting member 3, sharing the same transmission path as manual drive. This simplifies the overall structure of the mechanism, reduces the number of components, and reduces assembly difficulty and cost, while improving the power transmission efficiency of both drive modes.

[0034] In a further optional arrangement, the horizontal plane in which the unlocking member 2 rotates is perpendicular to or at an angle to the horizontal plane in which the connecting member 3 rotates. This spatial layout design allows the trigger member 1 and the unlocking member 2 to be arranged on different horizontal planes, resolving the difficulty in their linkage caused by their spatial position.

[0035] The above introduces an unlocking mechanism and its optional implementation methods, which can be cited in electric locks to constitute the following scheme: an electric lock, including a locking mechanism, a locked component, and an unlocking mechanism as any of the above embodiments; the unlocking member 2 of the unlocking mechanism drives the locking mechanism to unlock or lock the locked component.

[0036] The locking mechanism can utilize a bolt assembly (including a bolt and bolt seat). The locked component can be a door, drawer, or lock beam 7, for example. The bolt seat is fixed within the lock housing, and the bolt can be slidably mounted on the bolt seat. An unlocking member 2 is connected to the bolt via a cam structure (the edge of the cam contacts the end of the bolt). When the unlocking mechanism performs the unlocking action, the unlocking member 2 rotates, and its cam pushes the bolt back into the bolt seat (disengaging the lock hole on the locked component), unlocking the locked component. When the unlocking member 2 rotates in the opposite direction, the cam releases the bolt, which, under the action of a return spring, extends and inserts into the lock hole, locking the lock. Alternatively, when the unlocking member 2 rotates in the opposite direction, it moves the bolt into the lock hole, locking the lock. By integrating the aforementioned unlocking mechanism, this electric lock inherits the advantage of the flexible configuration of the trigger member 1, solving the problem of traditional electric locks requiring close proximity between the trigger member 1 and the lock body, thereby improving the installation convenience and user experience.

[0037] In addition, the following technical solution can be constructed: a padlock comprising a lock beam 7, a locking mechanism, an unlocking mechanism as described in any of the above embodiments, and a combination wheel assembly 11. When the combination wheel assembly 11 contains a correct code, the movement of the trigger 1 is released; otherwise, the movement of the trigger 1 is restricted. The unlocking member 2 of the unlocking mechanism drives the locking mechanism to unlock or lock the lock beam 7. The combination wheel assembly 11 can utilize existing technical solutions. By locking and unlocking the combination wheel 11, the trigger 1 (button) can be enabled or disabled, and manual unlocking can be performed when enabled. In particular, when the aforementioned electric unlocking solution with an electric actuator is used in conjunction with each other, dual electric and manual actuation can be achieved. Combined with the combination wheel assembly 11, manual emergency unlocking can be performed in the event of a power outage during electric unlocking. Specifically, the electric actuator can be identified and controlled using existing authentication solutions such as fingerprint recognition, NFC, Bluetooth, and IRFD.

[0038] The locking beam 7 is a U-shaped structure, hinged at one end to the padlock housing and free and retractable at the other. A locking mechanism restricts the extension and retraction of the free end of the locking beam 7, and the unlocking member 2 is connected to the locking mechanism via a connecting rod. When the padlock is locked, the locking mechanism clamps the free end of the locking beam 7. When the unlocking mechanism is activated, the unlocking member 2 drives the locking mechanism via the connecting rod to release the locking beam 7, causing the locking beam 7 to spring out (unlocking). When the free end of the locking beam 7 is pressed back into the housing, the unlocking member 2 reverses the direction of the locking mechanism to re-engage the locking beam 7 (locking) or push the locking beam 7 out of the locking mechanism. Once the locking beam 7 is fully inserted, the locking mechanism re-locks the locking beam 7 under the force of the spring. The application of the unlocking mechanism to the padlock allows the trigger 1 (such as a PIN pad or fingerprint module) to be flexibly positioned anywhere within the housing (without needing to be directly aligned with the locking mechanism). This addresses the limited internal space in conventional padlocks that limits the placement of the trigger 1 and enhances the padlock's functional expandability (e.g., integrating multiple unlocking methods).

[0039] In an optional solution, the locking mechanism includes at least one lock pin 8 connected to the unlocking member 2, and a lock slot 9 is provided on the lock beam 7 at a position corresponding to the lock pin 8. When the lock pin 8 is inserted into the lock slot 9, the lock beam 7 is restricted from disengaging to lock the lock beam 7; when the unlocking member 2 rotates, it drives the lock pin 8 out of the lock slot 9 to unlock or drives the lock pin 8 into the lock slot 9 to lock.

[0040] The lock pin 8 is slidably disposed within the guide structure of the padlock housing. One end of the lock pin 8 is connected to the unlocking member 2, while the other end is wedge-shaped (facilitating insertion into the lock slot 9 and being pushed open by the lock beam 7). The free end of the lock beam 7 is provided with a lock slot 9 that matches the lock pin 8. When the padlock is locked, the lock pin 8 is inserted into the lock slot 9, restricting the axial movement of the lock beam 7. When the unlocking member 2 rotates, the lock pin 8 is pulled along the guide structure by a connecting rod, disengaging from the lock slot 9 (unlocking). The lock beam 7 can then be freely ejected by a spring or manually removed. The matching structure of the lock pin 8 and the lock slot 9 is simple and reliable, with high locking strength. The unlocking member 2 can be used to drive the lock pin 8 in linear motion, and the power transmission is direct, improving the locking stability and unlocking efficiency of the padlock.

[0041] Preferably, the lock pin 8 is connected to an elastic component 10, which maintains the lock pin 8's tendency to move toward the lock slot 9; and / or, during its movement toward the lock slot 9, the lock pin 8 also drives the unlocking member 2 to rotate and reset. The elastic component 10 is a compression spring, one end of which abuts the padlock housing and the other end abuts the lock pin 8. In its natural state, the spring pushes the lock pin 8 to maintain its tendency to move toward the lock slot 9 (ensuring that the lock pin 8 can be securely inserted into the lock slot 9 when locked). When unlocking, the unlocking member 2 drives the lock pin 8 to move, overcoming the spring's force and pulling the lock pin 8 out of the lock slot 9. After unlocking is complete, the external force on the unlocking member 2 is removed, and the spring pushes the lock pin 8 toward the lock slot 9. The provision of the elastic component 10 ensures that the lock pin 8 is securely locked and prevents it from being dislodged due to factors such as vibration. Furthermore, the structure in which the lock pin 8 drives the unlocking member 2 to reset eliminates the need for a separate reset device (such as a torsion spring) for the unlocking member 2. This simplifies the internal structure of the padlock, reduces assembly costs, and improves the reliability of the automatic reset mechanism.

[0042] Of course, the trigger member 1 can be reset by providing a reset structure to drive the unlocking member 2 to reset through the connecting member 3. The reset structure can also be a spring.

[0043] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. All technical solutions based on the concept of the present invention are within the scope of protection of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, various improvements and modifications that do not depart from the principles of the present invention should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An unlocking mechanism, comprising a triggering member and an unlocking member, wherein the triggering member is used to cooperate with the unlocking member to perform an unlocking action, characterized in that: It also includes a connecting piece, which is rotatably arranged at a certain position, and one end of the connecting piece is connected to the trigger piece, and the other end is connected to the unlocking piece. The trigger piece drives the connecting piece to rotate, and the connecting piece drives the unlocking piece to perform the unlocking action by rotating.

2. The unlocking mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The unlocking member performs an unlocking action by rotating, and the unlocking member is driven to rotate by the connecting member.

3. The unlocking mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes an electric actuator, which cooperates with the unlocking member and is used to drive the unlocking member to rotate.

4. The unlocking mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: An avoidance position is provided on the unlocking member at a position corresponding to the connecting member. When the electric actuator drives the unlocking member to rotate, the connecting member remains in the avoidance position.

5. The unlocking mechanism according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The output end of the electric actuator is provided with a rotating member, which is driven to rotate by the electric actuator, and the rotating member is connected to the connecting member to drive the connecting member to rotate.

6. The unlocking mechanism according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that: The horizontal plane where the unlocking member rotates is located and the horizontal plane where the connecting member rotates is located are arranged perpendicularly or at an angle.

7. An electric lock comprising a locking mechanism, a locked component, and the unlocking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6; the unlocking member of the unlocking mechanism drives the locking mechanism to unlock or lock the locked component.

8. A padlock comprising a lock beam, a locking mechanism, an unlocking mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and a password wheel assembly; when the password of the password wheel assembly is correct, the restriction on the movement of the trigger member is released; otherwise, the movement of the trigger member is restricted; the unlocking member of the unlocking mechanism drives the locking mechanism to unlock or lock the lock beam.

9. The padlock according to claim 8, wherein: The locking mechanism includes at least one locking pin connected to the unlocking member, and a locking groove is provided on the lock beam at a position corresponding to the locking pin. When the locking pin is inserted into the locking groove, the lock beam is restricted from coming out to lock the lock beam; when the unlocking member rotates, the locking pin is driven out of the lock groove to unlock or is driven to be inserted into the lock groove to lock.

10. The padlock according to claim 9, wherein: The lock pin is connected to an elastic component, and the lock pin maintains a movement tendency toward the lock slot through the elastic component; and / or, the lock pin also drives the unlocking member to rotate and reset during the movement toward the lock slot.

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