Integrated clutch and semi-automatic smart lock

Abstract

This utility model discloses an integrated clutch and a semi-automatic smart lock. The integrated clutch includes a housing with an internal mounting cavity, within which are a drive assembly, a transmission assembly, a clutch assembly, and a rotatable rotating assembly. The drive assembly includes a generator, a circuit board, and a drive component. The generator is drive-connected to the rotating assembly, and both the generator and the drive component are electrically connected to the circuit board. The transmission assembly is drive-connected to the drive component and the rotating assembly. The clutch assembly is drive-connected to the transmission assembly. The self-generating integrated clutch features a simple structure and strong waterproof performance. Because the lock control mechanism and circuitry are protected within the housing, it effectively solves the security vulnerability where attackers can bypass authentication and forcibly unlock the lock simply by damaging the non-secure side of the housing and directly supplying power to the clutch. Furthermore, when unlocking, the user can directly press down the handle to complete power generation, authentication, clutch engagement, and unlocking, resulting in smooth operation. The clutch automatically disengages when the user releases the handle, further enhancing security.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of smart lock technology, specifically relating to an integrated clutch and semi-automatic smart lock. Background Technology

[0002] Semi-automatic smart locks typically use facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, or smart card authentication. Once authentication is successful, the internal circuitry supplies power to the electronic clutch, engaging the clutch. The user then presses down on the handle, causing the latch inside the lock body to retract and unlock the lock. After a delay, the internal circuitry supplies power to the electronic clutch in reverse, disengaging the clutch.

[0003] A typical semi-automatic smart lock generally includes a housing located on the security side and the non-security side, an electronic clutch, a lock control mainboard, an authentication module, a battery, a drive shaft (usually square, commonly known in the industry as a square shaft, square rod, or square steel), a lock body, fasteners, a cross-door wire, and a handle. The electronic clutch consists of a rotating block, a motor, an arc-shaped clutch plate, a pin, and a clutch block. After successful authentication, power is supplied to the motor, which pushes the pin through the arc-shaped clutch plate, connecting the clutch block and the rotating block. When the user presses down on the handle, the rotating block and clutch block rotate synchronously, driving the drive shaft and the lock body, causing the lock's latch to retract and unlocking the lock. After unlocking, a reverse current is supplied to the motor, which pushes the pin out of the rotating block through the arc-shaped clutch plate, disconnecting the rotating block from the clutch block and disengaging the clutch. This ensures that the semi-automatic smart lock can only be unlocked after successful authentication, thus guaranteeing a certain level of security.

[0004] However, the aforementioned semi-automatic smart locks have the following drawbacks: First, the electronic clutch relies on a battery for normal operation, which means that both the safe and unsafe sides of the semi-automatic smart lock must have housings to protect the electronic clutch. The battery used for power supply must be placed on the safe side to prevent direct operation of the battery on the unsafe side from causing the door lock to malfunction. This results in a complex structure and high cost for semi-automatic smart locks. Even with these features, since the electronic clutch itself does not have a verification function, it is possible to bypass authentication and forcibly unlock the door simply by breaking the housing on the unsafe side and powering on the electronic clutch, posing a security risk.

[0005] Secondly, the electric clutch requires power to the motor to engage and disengage, which means there is a possibility that the battery will run out of power after the clutch is engaged, making it impossible to disengage. Anyone could then press down the handle to open the door without authentication. Furthermore, the time between clutch engagement and disengagement is difficult to set. If the time is too short, it will be inconvenient for the user to open the door. If the time is too long, after the user unlocks the door and enters, a follower could also open the door and enter directly, posing a safety hazard.

[0006] Third, because the pin can be fixed in position by being pushed into the rotating block by the arc-shaped clutch plate, the handle must be in the initial position before authentication is successful. Users must authenticate via face, fingerprint, or smart card before pressing down the handle to open the door. This semi-automatic smart lock has strict requirements on the user's unlocking steps, which differs from the traditional mechanical lock's operation of turning the key simultaneously. This is inconvenient for users, especially for middle-aged and elderly users. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to disclose an integrated clutch and semi-automatic smart lock. The integrated clutch structure integrates the core functions of a semi-automatic smart lock and adopts self-generating technology, eliminating the need for batteries or external power supplies. This not only simplifies the structure of the semi-automatic smart lock but also effectively overcomes the common safety hazards and user experience problems of semi-automatic smart locks using electronically controlled clutches. Users only need to press down the handle, and the clutch automatically completes the generation, authentication, clutch engagement, and unlocking sequentially during the pressing process. It automatically disengages the clutch when the user releases the handle. This eliminates the need to divide the unlocking process into two steps: authentication followed by handle pressing. It also avoids the potential safety hazards of existing electronically controlled clutches, such as the need for power for both clutch engagement and disengagement, and the inability to automatically disengage the clutch due to timed disengagement. This improves security and is particularly user-friendly for middle-aged and elderly users accustomed to using mechanical locks.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the first aspect of this utility model discloses an integrated clutch, comprising: The housing includes a first housing and a second housing, which are fitted together to form a mounting cavity between them; A rotating assembly is rotatably disposed in the mounting cavity, and one end of the rotating assembly extends out of the housing for connection to a handle on the non-safety side; A drive assembly is located in the mounting cavity. The drive assembly includes a generator, a circuit board, and a drive component. The generator is connected to the rotating assembly via a transmission connection. Both the generator and the drive component are electrically connected to the circuit board. A transmission assembly is located in the mounting cavity and is connected to the drive component and the rotating component in a transmission manner. The clutch assembly is located in the mounting cavity, and one end of the clutch assembly extends out of the housing to be used for the transmission connection of the latch in the lock body. The clutch assembly can be transmitted to the transmission assembly. When the handle drives the rotating assembly to rotate, it can drive the generator to generate electricity and supply power to the circuit board. When the circuit board is powered on, it can generate control signals to control the start and stop of the drive components, so as to drive the transmission assembly and the clutch assembly to connect or disconnect, so that the rotating assembly and the clutch assembly rotate synchronously or relative to each other.

[0009] As an optional implementation, the rotating assembly includes a rotating shaft and a rotating block rotatably disposed in the mounting cavity. One end of the rotating shaft extends out of the housing for connecting a handle on the non-safe side, and the other end of the rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the rotating block. The rotating block is connected to the generator and the transmission assembly for transmission.

[0010] As an optional implementation, an elastic reset member is provided between the rotating component and the housing, and the process of the handle driving the rotating component to rotate is the process of elastic deformation of the elastic reset member.

[0011] As an optional implementation, the elastic reset member includes an elastic body, a first locking foot and a second locking foot. The elastic body is sleeved outside the rotating component and is located close to the housing. The first locking foot and the second locking foot are respectively located at both ends of the elastic body and extend away from the rotating component. The first locking foot and the second locking foot are spaced apart along the rotation direction of the rotating component. The housing is provided with a stop block corresponding to the elastic reset member, and the stop block is located between the first locking foot and the second locking foot.

[0012] As an optional implementation, the rotating assembly is provided with a fixing member corresponding to the elastic reset member, and the elastic body passes through the fixing member and is sleeved on the outside of the rotating assembly.

[0013] As an optional implementation, the rotating component and the generator are connected by a rack and pinion drive. The rotating component is provided with a meshing part, and both the meshing part and the gear are meshed with the rack. The gear is connected to the output shaft of the generator.

[0014] As an optional implementation, the rack has a plurality of first teeth and a plurality of second teeth, the first teeth meshing with a meshing part, the second teeth meshing with a gear, and the density of the first teeth is less than the density of the second teeth.

[0015] As an optional implementation, the housing may be provided with a groove corresponding to the rack, and the rack is provided in the groove for reciprocating motion and meshing with the meshing part and the gear.

[0016] As an optional implementation, the transmission assembly includes a transmission member, a driving member, and a rotating assembly, all of which are pulsatorically connected to the transmission member. The driving member can drive the transmission member to connect to the clutch assembly, so that the rotating assembly is pulsatorically connected to the clutch assembly.

[0017] As an optional implementation, the rotating assembly is provided with a receiving cavity and a receiving groove, the driving member is rotatably disposed in the receiving cavity, and the transmission member is rotatably disposed in the receiving groove. The receiving cavity and the receiving groove are connected so that the rotating shaft of the driving member is connected to the transmission member. The clutch assembly is located near the receiving groove. When the transmission component rotates, it can extend out of the receiving groove and connect to the clutch assembly.

[0018] As an optional implementation, the rotating component is provided with a limiting block, which is located at the end of the driving component away from the transmission component.

[0019] As an optional implementation, the housing is provided with an arc-shaped groove corresponding to the receiving groove, and the arc-shaped groove extends along the rotation direction of the receiving groove.

[0020] As an optional implementation, the clutch assembly includes a clutch element and a clutch block. The clutch element is located on the side of the rotating assembly closer to the safety side and close to the receiving groove. The clutch block is located on the side of the clutch element away from the rotating assembly, and the clutch block extends out of the housing to be used for driving the tongue in the lock body. The clutch component has multiple slots corresponding to the transmission component. The slots are located in the unlocking rotation direction of the transmission component. The drive component can drive the transmission component to rotate until it is engaged in the slot, so that the rotating component can be connected to the clutch component.

[0021] As an optional implementation, an elastic element is provided between one end of the transmission member and the receiving groove, and the other end of the transmission member can be rotatably extended out of the receiving groove to be engaged in the slot, and the elastic element is compressed during the process of the transmission member rotating to be engaged in the slot.

[0022] As an optional implementation, the receiving groove is provided with a limiting groove corresponding to the elastic element, and the elastic element is provided in the limiting groove in a telescopic manner.

[0023] The second aspect of this utility model discloses a semi-automatic smart lock, comprising: handle; The enclosure located on the non-safety side; Integrated clutch; Lock body; The handle is connected to the rotating component of the integrated clutch via the outer casing, and the clutch component of the integrated clutch is connected to the slanted tongue inside the lock body.

[0024] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: First, this utility model integrates the rotating component, driving component, transmission component, and clutch component into a single housing to form an integrated clutch structure. During installation, this integrated clutch structure is assembled with the handle, non-safety side housing, and lock body to obtain a semi-automatic smart lock. It eliminates the need for a safety side housing, battery, and cross-door wires, greatly simplifying the structure of the semi-automatic smart lock, reducing the number of parts, and helping to lower production costs and installation difficulty. Furthermore, the handle, non-safety side housing, and lock body do not require adaptation modifications for this integrated clutch, nor do they need to change the user's unlocking habits, resulting in strong compatibility.

[0025] Furthermore, this semi-automatic smart lock converts the mechanical energy of the user pressing down the handle into electrical energy to power communication, authentication, and unlocking control. Unlocking verification can be achieved through fingerprint, facial recognition, wireless signal, and other authentication methods, with the unlocking action itself completed by the user pressing down the handle. This self-generating design frees the semi-automatic smart lock from dependence on external power sources, achieving semi-automatic smart lock functionality without using batteries or liquid electrolyte storage, thus solving the problems of complex structure, inconvenient installation, and the need for regular battery replacement / charging found in existing semi-automatic smart locks. At the same time, cracking a semi-automatic smart lock, which uses electronic circuits and modern cryptographic algorithms as its core authentication method, is significantly more difficult than cracking a traditional mechanical lock, resulting in a substantial increase in security.

[0026] In addition, the integrated clutch structure integrates the complete functions of a semi-automatic smart lock. Its shell is preferably made of high-strength metal materials such as manganese steel, which has high structural strength and is difficult to damage. Even if the non-security side shell is damaged, it is difficult to bypass the authentication process and forcibly unlock it, thus ensuring high security.

[0027] Secondly, this utility model's semi-automatic smart lock with an integrated clutch structure engages the clutch after the user presses down the handle to activate the generator and completes authentication, thus unlocking the door. When the user releases the handle, the generator stops generating electricity, and the clutch automatically disengages. In other words, the integrated clutch structure uses electricity only when the clutch needs to be engaged, and no electricity is needed to disengage it. This solves the security flaw of existing locks where, if the power is cut off due to battery depletion, malicious damage, or other factors, the clutch cannot be disengaged, allowing anyone to open the door directly. Furthermore, the clutch automatically disengages when the user releases the handle after opening the door, eliminating the need to set a time interval between clutch engagement and disengagement, thus enhancing the security of the semi-automatic smart lock.

[0028] Third, with this semi-automatic smart lock, users only need to place their finger on the fingerprint sensor, align it with the facial recognition sensor, or open the mobile app to unlock the door, and then press down on the handle. The smart lock will automatically complete a series of operations—generating power, authenticating, and unlocking—in sequence as the user presses down on the handle. The unlocking operation of this semi-automatic smart lock is the same as that of traditional mechanical locks, eliminating the need to divide the unlocking process into two steps: authentication and then pressing down on the handle. This makes it easier for users, especially improving the user experience for middle-aged and elderly users. Attached Figure Description

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0030] Figure 1This is a structural schematic diagram of the non-safety side of the integrated clutch of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the safety side of the integrated clutch of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the integrated clutch removal second housing of this utility model; Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the casing of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the integrated clutch of this utility model; Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the rotating component, driving component, transmission component, and clutch component of this utility model; Figure 7 This is an assembly drawing of the rotating block, transmission assembly, and clutch assembly of this utility model; Figure 8 This is a structural schematic diagram of the rotating block, driving component, clutch assembly, and transmission assembly of this utility model; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the integrated clutch removal second housing of this utility model.

[0031] Explanation of key figure labels: 1. Housing; 11. Mounting cavity; 12. First housing; 121. First through hole; 122. Stop block; 123. Fixing bracket; 124. Slide groove; 13. Second housing; 131. Second through hole; 132. Arc groove; 2. Rotating assembly; 21. Rotating shaft; 211. Fixed end; 212. Limiting block; 213. Blocking part; 22. Rotating block; 221. Engaging part; 222. Receiving cavity; 223. Receiving groove; 224. Limiting groove; 23. Elastic reset member; 231. Elastic body; 232. First 1. Clamping foot; 233. Second clamping foot; 24. Bearing; 25. Fixing component; 3. Drive assembly; 31. Generator; 311. Output shaft; 32. Circuit board; 33. Drive component; 331. Rotating shaft; 4. Transmission assembly; 41. Transmission component; 411. Abutment block; 412. Clamping end; 42. Elastic component; 5. Clutch assembly; 51. Clutch component; 511. Slot; 52. Clutch block; 53. Connecting component; 54. Snap ring; 6. Fastener; 7. Rack; 71. First tooth; 72. Second tooth; 8. Gear. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0033] In this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "middle," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this invention and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, element, or component to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0034] Furthermore, in addition to indicating direction or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in some cases to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0035] Furthermore, the terms "installation," "setup," "equipped with," "connection," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0036] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are primarily used to distinguish different devices, components, or parts (which may be the same or different in specific type and construction), and are not intended to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, components, or parts. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0037] The technical solution of this utility model will be further described below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0038] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5This application provides an integrated clutch, including a housing 1. The housing 1 includes a first housing 12 and a second housing 13, which are mutually capped to form a mounting cavity 11 within the housing 1. The first housing 12 and the second housing 13 are generally made of high-strength materials such as manganese steel and stainless steel. After the rotating assembly 2, driving assembly 3, transmission assembly 4, and clutch assembly 5 are assembled in the mounting cavity 11, the first housing 12 and the second housing 13 are assembled into the housing 1 by welding, bonding with special adhesive, screw connection, or other methods, so that the housing 1 has high structural strength and is difficult to be damaged by violent force.

[0039] Rotating component 2 is rotatably disposed in mounting cavity 11, with one end extending through housing 1 to connect to the handle on the non-safe side. Clutch component 5 is disposed in mounting cavity 11, with one end extending through housing 1 to drive the latch inside the lock body. Taking an entrance door as an example, the non-safe side is the outer side of the door closer to the outside, and the safe side is the inner side of the door closer to the inside. Rotating component 2 is disposed in mounting cavity 11 and closer to the non-safe side so that one end extends through housing 1 to connect to the handle. When the user presses down the handle, it will drive rotating component 2 to rotate synchronously. Clutch component 5 is disposed in mounting cavity 11 and closer to the safe side so that one end can extend out of housing and connect to the latch inside the lock body via a drive shaft and other components. When the user does not operate the handle, clutch component 5 and rotating component 2 are in a disengaged state. When the user presses down the handle and authentication is successful, clutch component 5 and rotating component 2 are driven to connect, so that the rotation of the handle can drive rotating component 2 and clutch component 5 to rotate synchronously, thereby driving the drive shaft to retract the latch and unlock the door.

[0040] The transition from a disengaged state to a connected state between the clutch assembly 5 and the rotating assembly 2 is achieved through the drive assembly 3 and the transmission assembly 4. The drive assembly 3 is located in the mounting cavity 11 and includes a generator 31, a circuit board 32, and a drive component 33. The generator 31 is connected to the rotating assembly 2, and both the generator 31 and the drive component 33 are electrically connected to the circuit board 32. The transmission assembly 4 is located in the mounting cavity 11 and is connected to both the drive component 33 and the rotating assembly 2. The clutch assembly 5 can be connected to the transmission assembly 4. The generator 31 is a commercially available miniature geared generator, which is connected to the rotating assembly 2 so that when the handle rotates the rotating assembly 2, the generator 31 is simultaneously driven to generate electricity to supply power to the circuit board 32. The circuit board 32 can be, but is not limited to, a PCB, PCBA, FPC, or FPCB, and is equipped with an authentication module and a drive module. The authentication module is used to authenticate the user's identity, and specific authentication methods include, but are not limited to, fingerprint authentication, facial recognition, or establishing wireless communication authentication with the user's mobile phone APP.

[0041] If authentication is successful, the authentication module sends a signal to energize the drive module, which in turn powers the drive component 33. The drive component 33 then drives the transmission assembly 4 to move to the clutch assembly 5. Since the transmission assembly 4 is connected to the rotating assembly 2, the rotation assembly 2 and the clutch assembly 5 are also connected via the transmission assembly 4. This allows the rotating assembly 2 and the clutch assembly 5 to rotate synchronously when the user presses down the handle, thereby driving the transmission shaft to retract the latch inside the lock body and unlock the door. The entire operation is simple and efficient. The drive component 33 responds quickly after being energized, precisely moving the transmission assembly 4 into position. Pressing down the handle then quickly drives the rotating assembly 2 and the clutch assembly 5 to rotate synchronously, thus unlocking the door. The entire process is smooth and natural, without any stuttering or delay, improving the user experience. After the user unlocks and releases the handle, the generator 31 stops generating electricity, the transmission assembly 4 and the clutch assembly 5 disconnect, and the clutch automatically disengages. If authentication fails, the drive module will not energize the drive component 33, and the transmission component 4 will disconnect from the clutch component 5. This causes the rotation component 2 to disconnect from the clutch component 5. When the user presses down on the handle, the generator 31 will generate electricity through the rotation component 2, but the clutch component 5 will not rotate synchronously. Consequently, the latch cannot retract to unlock, effectively preventing forced unlocking and ensuring the safety of the semi-automatic smart lock. This intelligent control method ensures that only authorized users can perform the unlocking operation, and the unlocking action is consistent with that of a traditional mechanical lock. This allows users to enjoy the advantages of semi-automatic smart locks, such as not needing to carry a physical key and high security, without changing their unlocking habits.

[0042] Applying this integrated clutch to a semi-automatic smart lock only requires a handle, a housing located on the non-security side, and a lock body. The handle is connected to the rotating component 2 of the integrated clutch via the housing. The clutch component 5 of the integrated clutch is connected to the latch inside the lock body. When the handle is pressed down and authentication is successful, the rotating component 2 can drive the clutch component 5 to rotate synchronously, thereby controlling the transmission shaft to retract the latch inside the lock body to unlock.

[0043] Based on this, the integrated clutch and the semi-automatic smart lock having it in the embodiments of this application have the following technical effects: First, in this embodiment, the rotating component 2, driving component 3, transmission component 4, and clutch component 5 are all integrated into the housing 1 to form an integrated clutch structure. During installation, this integrated clutch structure can be assembled with the handle, the non-safety side housing, and the lock body to obtain a semi-automatic smart lock. This eliminates the need for a safety side housing, battery, cross-door wires, and other structures, greatly simplifying the structure of the semi-automatic smart lock, reducing the number of parts, and helping to lower production costs and installation difficulty. Furthermore, the handle, non-safety side housing, and lock body do not require adaptation modifications for this integrated clutch, nor do they need to change the user's unlocking habits, resulting in strong compatibility.

[0044] Furthermore, this semi-automatic smart lock converts the mechanical energy of the user pressing down the handle into electrical energy to power communication, authentication, and unlocking control. Unlocking verification can be achieved through fingerprint, facial recognition, wireless signal, and other authentication methods, with the unlocking action itself completed by the user pressing down the handle. This self-generating design frees the semi-automatic smart lock from dependence on external power sources, achieving semi-automatic smart lock functionality without using batteries or liquid electrolyte storage, thus solving the problems of complex structure, inconvenient installation, and the need for regular battery replacement / charging found in existing semi-automatic smart locks. At the same time, cracking a semi-automatic smart lock, which uses electronic circuits and modern cryptographic algorithms as its core authentication method, is significantly more difficult than cracking a traditional mechanical lock, resulting in a substantial increase in security.

[0045] In addition, the integrated clutch structure integrates the complete functions of a semi-automatic smart lock. Its housing 1 is preferably made of high-strength metal materials such as manganese steel, which has high structural strength and is difficult to damage. Even if the non-security side housing is damaged, it is difficult to bypass the authentication process and forcibly unlock it, thus ensuring high security.

[0046] Secondly, in the semi-automatic smart lock with an integrated clutch structure of this application embodiment, the user presses down the handle to activate the generator 31, and after successful authentication, the clutch is engaged to unlock the door. When the user releases the handle, the generator 31 stops generating electricity, and the clutch automatically disengages. That is, the integrated clutch structure uses electricity when the clutch needs to be engaged, and does not require electricity to disengage it. This solves the security flaw of existing clutches where, if the power is cut off due to factors such as battery depletion or malicious damage, the clutch cannot be disengaged, allowing anyone to open the door directly. Furthermore, the clutch automatically disengages when the user releases the handle after opening the door, eliminating the need to set the time interval between clutch engagement and disengagement, thus making the semi-automatic smart lock more secure.

[0047] Third, in the semi-automatic smart lock of this application embodiment, when the user opens the door, they only need to place their finger on the fingerprint recognition area, align it with the facial recognition area, or open the mobile APP, and then directly press down the handle. The smart lock will automatically complete a series of operations, including power generation, authentication, and unlocking, in sequence as the user presses down the handle. The unlocking operation of this semi-automatic smart lock is the same as the unlocking operation of traditional mechanical locks, without the need to deliberately divide the unlocking process into two steps: authentication and pressing down the handle. This makes it easier for users to operate, and is especially beneficial to improving the user experience for middle-aged and elderly users.

[0048] It should be noted that, since there are two types of entrance doors, left-opening and right-opening, the handle of the left-opening door is pressed down counterclockwise, and the handle of the right-opening door is pressed down clockwise, the integrated clutch of this application embodiment is applicable to both left-opening and right-opening semi-automatic smart locks. It is only necessary to adjust its internal structure according to the direction of rotation.

[0049] See Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 6The rotating assembly 2 includes a rotating shaft 21 and a rotating block 22 rotatably disposed in the mounting cavity 11. One end of the rotating shaft 21 extends out of the housing 1 to connect to the handle on the non-safe side, and the other end of the rotating shaft 21 is fixedly connected to the rotating block 22. The rotating block 22 is connected to the generator 31 and the transmission assembly 4 for transmission.

[0050] The first housing 12 has a first through hole 121 corresponding to the rotating shaft 21. One end of the rotating shaft 21 passes through the first through hole 121 and connects to the handle. A bearing 24 is provided between the rotating shaft 21 and the first housing 12 to improve rotation efficiency. The other end of the rotating shaft 21 has a fixed end 211, which is fixedly connected to the rotating block 22 axially by fasteners such as screws 6, so that the rotating shaft 21 and the rotating block 22 can rotate synchronously when the handle is rotated. When the rotating block 22 rotates, it can drive the generator 31 to generate electricity to supply power to the circuit board 32. After authentication, the drive component 33 drives the transmission assembly 4 to move to simultaneously connect the rotating block 22 and the clutch assembly 5, thereby realizing that the rotation of the rotating block 22 drives the clutch assembly 5 to rotate synchronously.

[0051] It should be noted that when the user presses down on the handle, a series of operations such as power generation, authentication, and unlocking are completed. After the user releases the handle, the handle will automatically reset for the next unlocking and use.

[0052] Based on this, see Figure 3-6 An elastic reset member 23 is provided between the rotating component 2 and the housing 1. The process of the handle driving the rotating component 2 to rotate is the process of elastic deformation of the elastic reset member 23. When the user presses down the handle to unlock, the elastic reset member 23 elastically deforms and accumulates energy. When the user releases the handle after opening the door, the elastic stress of the elastic reset member 23 drives the rotating component 2 and the handle to rotate back to their original positions synchronously. The elastic reset member 23 can be located at any position inside or outside the first housing 12. In this embodiment, the elastic reset member 23 is located in the mounting cavity 11 and between the first housing 12 and the rotating shaft 21 as an example for explanation.

[0053] The elastic reset member 23 can be a torsion spring structure. The elastic reset member 23 includes an elastic body 231, a first locking foot 232 and a second locking foot 233. The elastic body 231 is sleeved on the outside of the rotating component 2 and is located close to the housing 1. The first locking foot 232 and the second locking foot 233 are respectively located at both ends of the elastic body 231 and extend away from the rotating component 2. The first locking foot 232 and the second locking foot 233 are spaced apart along the rotation direction of the rotating component 2. The housing 1 is provided with a stop 122 corresponding to the elastic reset member 23. The stop 122 is located between the first locking foot 232 and the second locking foot 233.

[0054] The elastic body 231 is a ring-shaped structure sleeved around the rotating shaft 21 and positioned close to the first housing 12. The two ends of the ring of the elastic body 231 are positioned close to each other and extend outwards in a near-radial direction to form a first locking foot 232 and a second locking foot 233. The first locking foot 232 and the second locking foot 233 are respectively located on both sides of the stop block 122, referring to both sides in the rotation direction. Thus, when the handle is pressed down to unlock, the rotating shaft 21 drives the elastic reset component 23 to rotate, causing the first locking foot 232 or the second locking foot 233 to abut against the stop block 122 and undergo elastic deformation. This allows the elastic stress to drive the rotating assembly 2 and the handle to rotate back to their original positions when the handle is released.

[0055] In practical applications, whether the first locking foot 232 or the second locking foot 233 abuts against the stop block 122 depends on the door opening direction, i.e., the rotation direction. For example, for a right-opening door, the second locking foot 233 abuts against the stop block 122, while for a left-opening door, the first locking foot 232 abuts against the stop block 122.

[0056] Furthermore, the rotating assembly 2 is provided with a fixing member 25 corresponding to the elastic reset member 23, and the elastic body 231 passes through the fixing member 25 and is sleeved on the outside of the rotating assembly 2. The fixing member 25 can prevent the elastic reset member 23 from detaching from the rotating shaft 21, so as to ensure that the handle and the rotating assembly 2 can be reset. The fixing member 25 can be a bolt structure, and the elastic body 231 passes through the head of the bolt to be limited.

[0057] Of course, the fixed end 211 may also be provided with a blocking part 213 corresponding to the elastic body 231. The blocking part 213 is provided on the outside of the elastic body 231, and the blocking part 213 is spaced apart from the fixing member 25 to prevent the elastic body 231 from being excessively deformed and affecting the movement of other components.

[0058] For the transmission connection between the rotating assembly 2 and the generator 31, please refer to... Figure 3-5 The rotating assembly 2 and the generator 31 are connected by a rack 7 and a gear 8. The rotating assembly 2 has a meshing part 221, which meshes with the gear 8 and is connected to the rack 7. The gear 8 is connected to the output shaft 311 of the generator 31. The meshing part 221 is located on the outer ring of the rotating block 22. The meshing part 221 meshes with one end of the rack 7, and the other end of the rack 7 meshes with the gear 8. The gear 8 is fitted onto the output shaft 311 of the generator 31 through a flat structure. Thus, when the handle drives the rotating assembly 2 to rotate, the rotation of the rotating block 22 will drive the rack 7 to move linearly and drive the gear 8 to rotate, thereby driving the generator 31 to generate electricity. When the handle and the rotating assembly 2 rotate back to their original positions, the rack 7 and gear 8 will also move in the opposite direction to reset.

[0059] The transmission structure between the rotating component 2 and the generator 31 is simple and easy to assemble. The generator 31 can generate electricity quickly by pressing down the handle, enabling rapid response to door opening requests. During assembly, the rotating component 2 and the generator 31 can be positioned vertically, making efficient use of the internal space of the housing 1 and resulting in a high degree of integration for the integrated clutch.

[0060] The housing 1 may be provided with a groove 124 corresponding to the rack 7. The rack 7 is reciprocatingly disposed in the groove 124 and meshes with the meshing part 221 and the gear 8. The groove 124 is formed in the first housing 12 and has a guiding and limiting function for the rack 7 to ensure the linear movement of the rack 7, thereby ensuring the transmission accuracy between the rotating component 2 and the generator 31. The length of the groove 124 needs to ensure the reciprocating movement of the rack 7. If there is enough space, the gear 8 can also be disposed in the groove 124. The gear 8 and the rack 7 are arranged back and forth in the direction between the non-safe side and the safe side. The generator 31 is fixed to the first housing 12 by the fixing bracket 123. The rotating component 2, the generator 31 and the circuit board 32 can be arranged sequentially from top to bottom to reduce the left and right dimensions of the housing 1 and further improve the integration of the integrated clutch.

[0061] Based on the above structure, the rack 7 in this embodiment of the application is provided with a plurality of first teeth 71 and a plurality of second teeth 72. The first teeth 71 mesh with the meshing part 221, and the second teeth 72 mesh with the gear 8. The density of the first teeth 71 is less than the density of the second teeth 72. In simpler terms, the first teeth 71 are large teeth with a larger spacing, and the second teeth 72 are small teeth with a smaller spacing. In this way, a small rotation of the handle can drive the gear 8 to rotate a large angle, which not only enables the generator 31 to generate electricity quickly, but also reduces the linear movement distance of the rack 7, further reducing the size of the integrated clutch.

[0062] It should be noted that the handles of left-opening and right-opening semi-automatic smart locks rotate in different directions, which results in different movement directions of rack 7. From the non-security side perspective, Figure 3 It has a right-opening integrated clutch structure, and the rack 7 moves downward when the handle is pressed down to unlock; Figure 9 It has a left-opening integrated clutch structure, and the rack 7 moves upward when the handle is pressed down to unlock.

[0063] For the transmission component 4 in the embodiments of this application, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 5-7The transmission assembly 4 includes a transmission component 41, a driving component 33, and a rotating assembly 2, all of which are connected to the transmission component 41. The driving component 33 can drive the transmission component 41 to connect to the clutch assembly 5, so that the rotating assembly 2 is connected to the clutch assembly 5. When the user presses down the handle to generate electricity and the authentication is successful, the authentication module sends a signal to energize the driving module to the driving component 33. The driving component 33 drives the transmission component 41 to move to connect to the clutch assembly 5. Since the transmission component 41 is connected to the rotating assembly 2, the transmission component 41 can realize the transmission connection between the rotating assembly 2 and the clutch assembly 5, so that when the user presses down the handle, the rotating assembly 2 and the clutch assembly 5 rotate synchronously, thereby driving the transmission shaft to retract the oblique tongue in the lock body to unlock.

[0064] Specifically, the rotating assembly 2 is provided with a receiving cavity 222 and a receiving groove 223. The driving member 33 is rotatably disposed in the receiving cavity 222, and the transmission member 41 is rotatably disposed in the receiving groove 223. The receiving cavity 222 and the receiving groove 223 are connected so that the rotating shaft 331 of the driving member 33 is connected to the transmission member 41. The clutch assembly 5 is disposed close to the receiving groove 223. The transmission member 41 can extend out of the receiving groove 223 and connect to the clutch assembly 5 when rotated.

[0065] The driving component 33 is a rotating component, which can be a rotary motor, a rotary electromagnet, or other structures. In this embodiment, the driving component 33 is a hollow cup motor. The rotating block 22 has an axially extending receiving cavity 222, and the rotating block 22 has a receiving groove 223 communicating with the receiving cavity 222 near the safety side. The driving component 33 is located in the receiving cavity 222, and the transmission component 41 is located in the receiving groove 223. The rotating shaft 331 of the driving component 33 passes through the connecting part and is connected to the transmission component 41 through a flat structure, so that after the power generation certification is passed, the driving component 33 can drive the transmission component 41 to rotate to connect the clutch assembly 5. The driving component 33 and the transmission component 41 are both located at the rotating block 22, which not only ensures precise transmission but also further improves the internal integration of the integrated clutch.

[0066] Furthermore, the rotating assembly 2 is provided with a limiting block 212, which is located at the end of the driving member 33 away from the transmission member 41. The limiting block 212 is located at the fixed end 211, on the side of the driving member 33 closer to the non-safe side, and can limit the driving member 33 to prevent it from disengaging from the receiving cavity 222 during operation, thereby ensuring effective transmission between the driving member 33 and the transmission member 41. Moreover, the housing 1 is provided with an arc-shaped groove 132 corresponding to the receiving groove 223, which extends along the rotation direction of the receiving groove 223. When the rotating block 22 rotates, the receiving groove 223 rotates synchronously. The arc-shaped groove 132 is located in the second housing 13, and its arrangement can avoid the receiving groove 223, so as not to affect the transmission between the transmission member 41 and the clutch assembly 5.

[0067] It should be noted that the circuit board 32 is electrically connected to both the drive unit 33 and the generator 31. The circuit board 32 is located below the generator 31, and the two can be directly connected via wires. The generator 31 is located between the drive unit 33 and the circuit board 32. Although there is a gap between the drive unit 33 and the circuit board 32, the distance between them is relatively short, allowing for direct connection via wires. Since the drive unit 33 rotates during operation, even though the rotation angle does not exceed 80°, the rotation still accelerates the damage and breakage of the wires. Therefore, in this embodiment, the wires between the drive unit 33 and the circuit board 32 can be made of a highly flexible material with strong fatigue resistance, and multiple sets of wires can be used to prevent fatigue breakage of the wires from affecting the clutch drive effect.

[0068] For clutch assembly 5, see [link / reference] Figure 6-8 The clutch assembly 5 includes a clutch element 51 and a clutch block 52. The clutch element 51 is located on the side of the rotating assembly 2 near the safety side and close to the receiving groove 223. The clutch block 52 is located on the side of the clutch element 51 away from the rotating assembly 2, and the clutch block 52 extends out of the housing 1 to be used for transmission connection to the inclined tongue in the lock body. The clutch element 51 is provided with multiple slots 511 corresponding to the transmission member 41. The slots 511 are located in the unlocking rotation direction of the transmission member 41. The driving member 33 can drive the transmission member 41 to rotate until it is engaged in the slots 511, so that the rotating assembly 2 is transmission connected to the clutch assembly 5.

[0069] The non-safety side of the clutch 51 is provided with a connecting member 53, which passes through the rotating block 22 and is limited by a retaining spring 54. The rotating block 22 and the connecting member 53 can be rotated relative to each other. The safety side of the clutch 51 is fixed with a clutch block 52, which is connected to the transmission shaft to drive the tongue to retract after authentication. The clutch 51 is provided corresponding to the transmission member 41, and the distance between the clutch 51 and the receiving groove 223 is set so that the receiving groove 223 can rotate relative to the clutch 51. The outer ring of the clutch 51 is provided with multiple slots 511 corresponding to the transmission member 41 so that the transmission member 41 can rotate and engage in the slots 511 in time after authentication, realizing the transmission between the rotating component 2 and the clutch component 5.

[0070] It is worth noting that when the user presses down the handle, a series of operations such as power generation, authentication, and unlocking are completed, and when the user releases the handle, the transmission component 41 will automatically reset in preparation for the next unlocking use.

[0071] Based on this, an elastic element 42 is provided between one end of the transmission member 41 and the receiving groove 223, and the other end of the transmission member 41 is rotatably extended out of the receiving groove 223 to engage with the slot 511, and the elastic element 42 is compressed during the process of the transmission member 41 rotating to engage with the slot 511. One end of the transmission member 41 is provided with an abutment block 411, and the elastic element 42 can be a spring, which is located between the abutment block 411 and the groove wall of the receiving groove 223, and is initially in a naturally extended state or a slightly compressed state. The other end of the transmission member 41 is provided with a engaging end 412, and the receiving groove 223 has an opening corresponding to the engaging end 412. The abutment block 411 and the engaging end 412 move in the same direction, and the elastic element 42 and the clutch element 51 are respectively provided on both sides of the transmission member 41. Once authentication is successful, the drive component 33 drives the transmission component 41 to rotate. The abutment block 411 compresses the elastic component 42, causing the elastic component 42 to deform. The locking end 412 extends out of the receiving groove 223 and locks into the corresponding locking groove 511, thereby realizing the transmission between the rotating component 2 and the clutch component 5. When the user releases the handle, the drive component 33 does not apply power to the transmission component 41. Under the combined action of the elastic component 42, the elastic reset component 23, and the lock body tongue reset spring, the transmission component 41 rotates back to its original position. The elastic component 42 returns to its initial state, and the locking end 412 rotates back into the receiving groove 223.

[0072] The receiving groove 223 is provided with a limiting groove 224 corresponding to the elastic element 42, and the elastic element 42 is telescopically disposed in the limiting groove 224. The limiting groove 224 has a limiting and guiding function for the elastic element 42, preventing the elastic element 42 from disengaging from the receiving groove 223 and affecting the reset function of the transmission element 41.

[0073] It is worth noting that for left-opening and right-opening semi-automatic smart locks, the orientation of the slot of the integrated clutch 51, the engagement part 221 and receiving groove 223 of the rotating block 22, and the transmission component 41 are different, such as... Figure 3 and Figure 9 As shown, you can choose according to the situation in actual application.

[0074] Based on this, the working principle of the semi-automatic smart lock with integrated clutch in this application embodiment is as follows: On the non-secure side, the user opens the mobile APP, facial recognition, or fingerprint recognition, and presses down the handle to drive the rotating component 2 to rotate. The meshing transmission between the meshing part 221 of the rotating block 22, the rack 7, and the gear 8 drives the generator 31 to generate electricity and supply power to the circuit board 32. The authentication module on the circuit board 32 authenticates the user's identity.

[0075] If the authentication fails, the drive module on the circuit board 32 will not power the drive component 33, the drive component 33 will not drive the transmission component 41, the rotating component 2 and the clutch component 5 will be in a disengaged state, and unlocking will not be possible.

[0076] If authentication is successful, the authentication module on circuit board 32 sends a signal to energize the drive module to drive component 33. Drive component 33 rotates, driving transmission component 41 to rotate. The abutment block 411 compresses the elastic component 42, causing it to deform. The locking end 412 extends out of the receiving groove 223 and engages with the corresponding locking slot 511, thus enabling the rotating component 2 to rotate synchronously, driving the clutch component 5 to rotate. The clutch is engaged, and further pressing down on the handle retracts the latch in the lock body via the transmission shaft, unlocking the door. After the user opens the door and releases the handle, generator 31 stops generating electricity, and drive component 33 no longer applies power to transmission component 41. Transmission component 41 rotates back to its original position under the combined action of the elastic component 42, the elastic reset component 23, and the lock body latch reset spring. The elastic component 42 returns to its initial state, and the locking end 412 rotates back into the receiving groove 223. The clutch component 5 separates from the rotating component 2, and the clutch is disengaged. Furthermore, when the user presses down the handle, the elastic reset member 23 undergoes elastic deformation to store energy; after the user releases the handle, the handle and the rotating assembly 2 rotate back to their original position under the elastic stress of the elastic reset member 23.

[0077] The technical means disclosed in this utility model are not limited to those disclosed in the above embodiments, but also include technical solutions composed of any combination of the above technical features. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of this utility model, and these improvements and modifications are also considered within the scope of protection of this utility model.

Claims

1. An integrated clutch, characterized in that, include: The housing (1) includes a first housing (12) and a second housing (13), which cover each other to form a mounting cavity (11) between them. Rotating assembly (2), which is rotatably disposed in the mounting cavity (11), and one end of the rotating assembly (2) extends out of the housing (1) for connecting a handle on the non-safety side; The drive assembly (3) is located in the mounting cavity (11). The drive assembly (3) includes a generator (31), a circuit board (32) and a drive component (33). The generator (31) is connected to the rotating assembly (2) in a transmission manner. The generator (31) and the drive component (33) are both electrically connected to the circuit board (32). A transmission assembly (4) is disposed in the mounting cavity (11) and is connected in transmission to the drive member (33) and the rotating assembly (2); The clutch assembly (5) is located in the mounting cavity (11), and one end of the clutch assembly (5) extends out of the housing (1) for transmission connection of the tongue in the lock body. The clutch assembly (5) can be transmission connected to the transmission assembly (4). When the handle drives the rotating component (2) to rotate, it can drive the generator (31) to generate electricity and supply power to the circuit board (32). When the circuit board (32) is powered on, it can generate a control signal to control the start and stop of the drive component (33) so as to drive the transmission component (4) to connect or disconnect with the clutch component (5) so that the rotating component (2) and the clutch component (5) rotate synchronously or relative to each other.

2. The integrated clutch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rotating assembly (2) includes a rotating shaft (21) and a rotating block (22) rotatably disposed in the mounting cavity (11). One end of the rotating shaft (21) extends out of the housing (1) to connect to the handle on the non-safe side. The other end of the rotating shaft (21) is fixedly connected to the rotating block (22). The rotating block (22) is connected to the generator (31) and the transmission assembly (4) in a transmission connection.

3. The integrated clutch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: An elastic reset member (23) is provided between the rotating component (2) and the housing (1). The process of the handle driving the rotating component (2) to rotate is the process of elastic deformation of the elastic reset member (23).

4. The integrated clutch according to claim 3, characterized in that: The elastic reset member (23) includes an elastic body (231), a first locking foot (232) and a second locking foot (233). The elastic body (231) is sleeved on the outside of the rotating assembly (2) and is located close to the housing (1). The first locking foot (232) and the second locking foot (233) are respectively located at both ends of the elastic body (231) and extend away from the rotating assembly (2). The first locking foot (232) and the second locking foot (233) are spaced apart along the rotation direction of the rotating assembly (2). The housing (1) is provided with a stop (122) corresponding to the elastic reset member (23), and the stop (122) is located between the first locking foot (232) and the second locking foot (233).

5. The integrated clutch according to claim 4, characterized in that: The rotating assembly (2) is provided with a fixing member (25) corresponding to the elastic reset member (23), and the elastic body (231) passes through the fixing member (25) and is sleeved on the outside of the rotating assembly (2).

6. The integrated clutch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The rotating assembly (2) and the generator (31) are connected by a rack (7) and a gear (8). The rotating assembly (2) is provided with a meshing part (221). The meshing part (221) and the gear (8) are both meshed with the rack (7). The gear (8) is connected to the output shaft (311) of the generator (31).

7. The integrated clutch according to claim 6, characterized in that: The rack (7) is provided with a plurality of first teeth (71) and a plurality of second teeth (72). The first teeth (71) mesh with the meshing part (221), and the second teeth (72) mesh with the gear (8). The density of the first teeth (71) is less than the density of the second teeth (72).

8. The integrated clutch according to claim 6, characterized in that: The housing (1) may be provided with a groove (124) corresponding to the rack (7), and the rack (7) is provided in the groove (124) and meshes with the meshing part (221) and the gear (8).

9. The integrated clutch according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The transmission assembly (4) includes a transmission component (41), and the driving component (33) and the rotating assembly (2) are both connected to the transmission component (41). The driving component (33) can drive the transmission component (41) to connect to the clutch assembly (5), so that the rotating assembly (2) is connected to the clutch assembly (5).

10. The integrated clutch according to claim 9, characterized in that: The rotating assembly (2) is provided with a receiving cavity (222) and a receiving groove (223). The driving member (33) is rotatably disposed in the receiving cavity (222), and the transmission member (41) is rotatably disposed in the receiving groove (223). The receiving cavity (222) and the receiving groove (223) are connected so that the rotating shaft (331) of the driving member (33) is connected to the transmission member (41). The clutch assembly (5) is located near the receiving groove (223), and the transmission member (41) can rotate to extend out of the receiving groove (223) and connect to the clutch assembly (5).

11. The integrated clutch according to claim 10, characterized in that: The rotating assembly (2) is provided with a limiting block (212), which is located at the end of the driving member (33) away from the transmission member (41).

12. The integrated clutch according to claim 10, characterized in that: The housing (1) is provided with an arc-shaped groove (132) corresponding to the receiving groove (223), and the arc-shaped groove (132) extends along the rotation direction of the receiving groove (223).

13. The integrated clutch according to claim 10, characterized in that: The clutch assembly (5) includes a clutch element (51) and a clutch block (52). The clutch element (51) is located on the side of the rotating assembly (2) near the safety side and near the receiving groove (223). The clutch block (52) is located on the side of the clutch element (51) away from the rotating assembly (2). The clutch block (52) extends out of the housing (1) to be used for the transmission connection of the tongue in the lock body. The clutch (51) is provided with multiple slots (511) corresponding to the transmission component (41). The slots (511) are located in the unlocking rotation direction of the transmission component (41). The drive component (33) can drive the transmission component (41) to rotate until it is engaged in the slots (511), so that the rotating component (2) is connected to the clutch component (5).

14. The integrated clutch according to claim 13, characterized in that: One end of the transmission member (41) is provided with an elastic element (42) between it and the receiving groove (223). The other end of the transmission member (41) is rotatably extended out of the receiving groove (223) to be inserted into the slot (511), and the elastic element (42) is compressed during the process of the transmission member (41) rotating and being inserted into the slot (511).

15. The integrated clutch according to claim 14, characterized in that: The receiving groove (223) is provided with a limiting groove (224) corresponding to the elastic member (42), and the elastic member (42) is retractably provided in the limiting groove (224).

16. A semi-automatic smart lock, characterized in that, include: handle; The enclosure located on the non-safety side; The integrated clutch as described in any one of claims 1-15; Lock body; The handle is connected to the rotating assembly (2) of the integrated clutch via the housing, and the clutch assembly (5) of the integrated clutch is connected to the tongue inside the lock body.

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