Resettable auxiliary structure for encryption wheel locks
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE202022003143
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-07-08
- Filing Date
- 2022-07-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-06
- Estimated Expiration
- 2032-07-31
Smart Images

Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a resettable auxiliary structure for cipher wheel locks. Technical background
[0002] Encryption wheel locks combine the convenience of electronic locks with the stability of mechanical key locks and are therefore widely available on the market. However, the password of currently available encryption wheel locks remains unchanged between resets, making them difficult to use in high-traffic areas such as shopping malls and bathhouses. Furthermore, the correct password is displayed both when unlocking and locking, forcing the user to manually scramble the password to prevent it from being shared, which is cumbersome. Following an improvement specifically referenced in Chinese patent no. 201922402453.8, titled "An Encryption Wheel Lock," the key feature is a variable-code cam mechanism that relies on a step-by-step reset cam to ultimately drive the encryption wheel to change the code.In practice, however, the limited stroke of the lock switch means that the width of the highest point of the step-reset cam is relatively small, resulting in a very short code-changing stroke of the cipher wheel. Due to inertia, the cipher wheel can overshoot, leading to unstable and inaccurate code changes. For example, the cipher wheel should reset to 0000 during automatic reset, but due to the aforementioned instability and inaccuracy, these cipher wheels might not change the code stably and could potentially jump from "0" to an adjacent "1" or "9," providing users with an unstable code-changing experience. Description of the invention
[0003] To solve the aforementioned technical problems, the aim of the present invention is to provide a resettable auxiliary structure for cipher wheel locks.
[0004] The present invention is achieved by the following technical solution:
[0005] A resettable auxiliary structure for cipher wheel locks, comprising a knob; a cipher wheel assembly rotatable relative to the knob; a reset cam; and an auxiliary guide block. The knob has a receiving chamber in its center for receiving the cipher wheel assembly. The cipher wheel assembly includes a positioning element. The positioning element is equipped with a shift lever. The reset cam can rotate synchronously with the knob. The reset cam comprises a reset surface and a guide surface connected to each other. The guide surface is located adjacent to the reset surface. The reset surface is positioned at the highest point of the reset cam. The auxiliary guide block is movable relative to the reset cam. The support surface of the auxiliary guide block can be positioned adjacent to the reset surface. The shift lever is functionally connected to the reset cam.After tilting through the guide surface, the shift lever engages in the reset surface and the support surface of the auxiliary guide block.
[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the reset cam comprises the reset surface located at the highest point, with guide surfaces on both sides of the reset surface to move the shift lever to tilt.
[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the side wall of the auxiliary guide block can be in contact with the side wall of the shift lever, whereby the auxiliary guide block is displaced relative to the reset cam when the shift lever tilts on the guide surface.
[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the resettable auxiliary structure further comprises a rotary table which is rotatable relative to the reset cam; the auxiliary guide block is connected to the rotary table.
[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the knob comprises a base plate; the rotary plate is rotatably connected to the base plate; and the reset cam is arranged on the base plate.
[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base plate is provided with a connecting slot; the rotary table is provided with a limiting projection; and the limiting projection is positioned within the connecting slot.
[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the circumferential side of the rotary table is provided with a limiting groove; the base plate is provided with a limiting block; the cooperation between the limiting block and the limiting groove limits the rotation angle of the rotary table.
[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, a pin axle is provided on the base plate. The rotary table is mounted over the pin axle. The center of the pin axle is provided with a connecting hole, and a fastening bolt is inserted into the connecting hole. The rotary table is connected to the knob by the interaction of the fastening bolt and the connecting hole.
[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotary table is positioned in the center of the base plate. The reset cam is located on the outer circumference of the rotary table. The auxiliary guide block is located on the inner circumference of the reset cam.
[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the reset surface of the reset cam and the support surface of the auxiliary guide block can engage with the shift lever simultaneously.
[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning element comprises a pivot axis. The positioning element is rotatable relative to the cipher wheel assembly when it is tilted by the interaction between the shift lever and the reset cam.
[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the axis of rotation is located on the outer circumference of the reset cam.
[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the lower end of the guide surface is connected to the base plate. The guide surface is a curved surface.
[0018] The resettable auxiliary structure for cipher wheel locks of the present invention offers the following advantages:
[0019] Based on the prior art reset cam structure of the lock body, the auxiliary guide block is axially fixed to the base plate of the lock body. The auxiliary guide block can rotate radially within a certain angle, which limits its axial movement and prevents any vertical movement.
[0020] During the unlocking process, the reset cam drives the positioning element, which in turn drives the cipher wheel cam to change the code sequentially and incrementally. When the reset cam reaches its highest point, the cipher wheel cam reaches its lowest point, thus achieving the desired code change effect. Due to the rotational inertia during the movement of the cipher wheel, the auxiliary guide block and the shift lever interlock, keeping the positioning element in the reset state for a longer period. This results in a delayed code change, leading to a more stable and accurate code change for the cipher wheel.
[0021] During the locking process, the reset cam drives the positioning element, which in turn drives the cipher wheel cam to change the code sequentially and step by step, while simultaneously moving the auxiliary guide block to its end position. When the reset cam reaches its highest point, the auxiliary guide block engages to delay the code change, making the cipher wheel's code change more stable and accurate. Brief description of the characters
[0022] To clarify the technical solution of the present invention, a brief introduction to the drawings used in the exemplary embodiments or the description of the prior art is given below. It is evident that the following drawings represent only some exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the field can easily derive further drawings based on these drawings. Fig. Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the present invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the cipher wheel assembly in the present invention. Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the button in the present invention. Fig. Figure 4 shows a first schematic diagram of the unlocked state in the present invention. Fig. Figure 5 shows a second schematic diagram of the unlocked state in the present invention. Fig. Figure 6 shows a third schematic diagram of the unlocked state in the present invention. Fig. Figure 7 shows a first schematic diagram of the locking state in the present invention. Fig. Figure 8 shows a second schematic diagram of the locking state in the present invention. Fig. Figure 9 shows a third schematic diagram of the locking state in the present invention. Fig. Figure 10 shows a first section of the present invention. Fig. Figure 11 shows a second section of the present invention. Fig. Figure 12 shows a third section of the present invention. Fig. Figure 13 shows a schematic diagram of the rotation limit of the turntable in the present invention. Fig. Figure 14 shows an application scheme of the rotation limiting of the turntable in the present invention. Detailed description of the figures
[0023] To clarify the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention, the technical solutions in these embodiments are described clearly and comprehensively in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is evident that the described embodiments represent some, but not all, embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments that could be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to present selected embodiments.All other embodiments which are obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort based on the embodiments of the present invention fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0024] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that terms such as "center," "longitudinal," "transverse," "length," "width," "thickness," "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "above," "below," "inside," "outside," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," and similar positional or directional terms are based on the positions or orientations shown in the drawings. These terms are used to simplify the description and facilitate understanding of the invention and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element in question must have a particular orientation, be constructed in a particular orientation, or be operated in a particular orientation. Therefore, these terms should not be interpreted as limiting the present invention.
[0025] Furthermore, terms such as "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be interpreted as indicating relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features. Features defined as "first" or "second" may therefore expressly or implicitly include one or more of these features. In the description of the present invention, the term "several" means two or more unless otherwise specified.
[0026] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly stated and defined, the terms "install," "fasten," "connect," "fix," and similar terms should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may mean a permanent connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they may refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they may refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection via an intermediate piece. They may refer to internal communication between two elements or to an interaction relationship between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
[0027] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly stated and defined, the first feature that lies "above" or "below" the second feature can include both direct contact between the first and second features and the case where the first and second features are not in direct contact but are connected by another feature between them. Furthermore, the first feature that lies "above," "above," or "on" the second feature includes both the case where the first feature is located directly or diagonally above the second feature and the indication that the first feature is located on a higher horizontal plane than the second feature.The first feature, which is “below”, “under” or “below” the second feature, includes both the case where the first feature is located directly or diagonally below the second feature, and the indication that the first feature is located on a lower horizontal plane than the second feature.
[0028] With reference to the accompanying drawings, a resettable auxiliary structure for cipher wheel locks comprises a knob 10, a cipher wheel assembly 20 rotatable relative to the knob 10, a reset cam 30, and an auxiliary guide block 40. The knob 10 is provided in its center with a receiving chamber 17 for receiving the cipher wheel assembly 20. During use, the cipher wheel assembly 20 remains stationary, and locking and unlocking are effected by turning the knob 10. The reset function of the cipher wheel assembly 20 in this invention (represented by a four-digit code that can be reset to all zeros, thus forming 0000) is not described further here, as specific reference can be made to the background technology in Chinese Patent No. 201922402453.8 entitled "A Cipher Wheel Lock". The cipher wheel assembly 20 includes a positioning element 21.The positioning element 21 is equipped with a shift lever 22. The reset cam 30 can rotate synchronously with the knob 10. When locking or unlocking, the rotation of the knob 10 causes the reset cam 30 to rotate together with the knob 10, thereby engaging the reset cam 30 with the shift lever 22. The reset cam 30 comprises a reset surface 31 and a guide surface 32, which are connected to each other. The guide surface 32 is located next to the reset surface 31. The reset surface 31 is positioned at the highest point of the reset cam 30. The auxiliary guide block 40 is movable relative to the reset cam 30. The support surface of the auxiliary guide block 40 can be positioned next to the reset surface 31, preferably at the upper end of the auxiliary guide block 40. The shift lever 22 engages with the reset cam 30.After tilting by the guide surface 32, the shift lever 22 can be connected to the reset surface 31 and the support surface 41 of the auxiliary guide block 40. In this invention, when the knob 10 is turned, the reset cam 30 engages with the shift lever 22, causing the guide surface 32, the reset surface 31, and the shift lever 22 to interact. This interaction causes the shift lever 22 to rise or fall without rotating. Simultaneously, while the shift lever 22 is moving, it engages with the auxiliary guide block 40, keeping the auxiliary guide block 40 stationary, as well as the shift lever 22, without rotating.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reset cam 30 comprises a reset surface 31 located at its highest point. Guide surfaces 32 are located on both sides of the reset surface 31 to move the shift lever 22 to tilt. In one embodiment, the two guide surfaces 32 can be arranged symmetrically relative to the reset surface 31. During the locking or unlocking process, the shift lever 22 moves from the guide surface 32 on one side to the guide surface 32 on the other side. In this process, the auxiliary guide block 40 initially does not rotate with the knob 10. As the knob is turned further, the auxiliary guide block 40 eventually rotates synchronously with the knob 10, as described in more detail below.
[0030] The side wall of the auxiliary guide block 40 can be in contact with the side wall of the shift lever 22, whereby the auxiliary guide block 40 is displaced relative to the reset cam 30 when the shift lever 22 tilts on the guide surface 32.
[0031] The invention further comprises a rotary table 50. The rotary table 50 is rotatable relative to the reset cam 30. The auxiliary guide block 40 is connected to the rotary table 50. In one embodiment, the auxiliary guide block 40 can rotate synchronously with the rotary table 50. The rotary table 50 can rotate synchronously with the knob 10 (or the reset cam 30) under the influence of external forces, or the rotary table 50 can rotate independently of the knob 10.
[0032] Furthermore, the knob 10 in the present invention comprises a base plate 11. The rotary table is rotatably connected to the base plate. The reset cam 30 is arranged on the base plate 11. The knob 10, the base plate 11, and the reset cam 30 are integrally formed. The rotation of the knob 10 synchronizes with the rotation of the base plate 11 and the reset cam 30. The rotary table 50 can either rotate synchronously with the knob 10 under the influence of external forces or remain stationary.
[0033] In the first embodiment of the present invention, the base plate 11 is provided with a connecting slot 12, preferably an arc-shaped slot. The rotary table 50 is provided with a limiting projection 51. The limiting projection 51 is positioned within the connecting slot 12. In other words, the interaction between the connecting slot 12 and the limiting projection 51 allows the auxiliary guide block 40 and the knob 10 to perform independent rotational movements. When the rotation angle of the knob 10 reaches the arc angle of the connecting slot 12, further rotation of the knob 10 will cause the auxiliary guide block 40 (or the rotary table 50) to begin rotating synchronously with the knob 10.
[0034] In the second embodiment of the present invention, the circumferential side of the rotary table 50 is provided with a limiting groove 52, preferably an arcuate groove. The base plate 11 is provided with a limiting block 13. The interaction between the limiting block 13 and the limiting groove 52 limits the rotation angle of the rotary table 50. As mentioned above, the interaction between the limiting groove 52 and the limiting block 13 enables the independent rotation of the auxiliary guide block 40 and the knob 10. When the rotation angle of the knob 10 reaches the arc angle of the limiting groove 52, further rotation of the knob 10 will cause the auxiliary guide block 40 (or the rotary table 50) to begin rotating synchronously with the knob 10. For specific details, see [reference to be inserted here]. Fig. 13 and Fig. 14. The limiting groove 52 is formed between two projections 521 located on the outer circumference of the turntable 50.
[0035] With reference to Fig. 3. A pin shaft 14 is provided on the base plate 11. The turntable 50 is mounted on the pin shaft 14. The center of the pin shaft 14 is provided with a connecting hole 15. A fastening bolt 16 is inserted into the connecting hole 15. The turntable 50 is connected to the knob 10 by the interaction of the fastening bolt 16 and the connecting hole 15. In use, the turntable 50 is fixed to the pin shaft 14 and can only rotate along the pin shaft 14 without detaching from it, thus ensuring the stability of the cipher lock during operation.
[0036] Preferably, the rotary table 50 is positioned in the center of the base plate 11. The reset cam 30 is located on the outer circumference of the rotary table 50. The auxiliary guide block 40 is positioned on the inner circumference of the reset cam 30. In a preferred embodiment, the pin axis 14 and the axis of rotation of the knob 10 are coaxial, meaning that the knob 10, the rotary table 50, the reset cam 30, and the auxiliary guide block 40 can all rotate coaxially.
[0037] In a preferred application of the invention, the reset surface 31 of the reset cam 30 and the support surface 41 of the auxiliary guide block 40 can engage with the shift lever 22 simultaneously. This configuration enables a smoother tilting action of the shift lever 22. In other words, when the shift lever 22 is engaged with the reset surface 31, it can also engage with the support surface of the auxiliary guide block 40, holding the shift lever 22 in a tilted position. As the knob 10 continues to rotate, the shift lever 22 disengages from the reset surface 31 but can remain engaged with the support surface of the auxiliary guide block 40, maintaining the tilted position of the shift lever 22.
[0038] With reference to Fig. The positioning element 21 comprises a pivot axis 23. The positioning element 21 is rotatable relative to the cipher wheel assembly 20 when it is tilted by the interaction between the shift lever 22 and the reset cam 30. The pivot axis 23 is located on the outer circumference of the reset cam 30. In one embodiment of the invention, one end of the shift lever 22 is connected to the positioning element 21, while the other end of the shift lever 22 can be extended to engage with the auxiliary guide block 40.
[0039] With reference to Fig. 3 is the lower end of the guide surface 32 connected to the base plate 11. The guide surface 32 is a curved surface. The height of the end of the curved surface 32 near the turntable 50 is greater than the height of the end farther from the turntable 50, which facilitates engagement with the shift lever 22 to tilt the turntable 50.
[0040] With reference to the Fig. Figures 4-6, which show schematic representations of the unlocking process of the encryption lock, illustrate the specific process as follows: In the first state, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the shift lever 22 is located on the right side of the reset cam 30 and engages with the right guide surface 32. At this point, the shift lever 22 is in contact with the right side wall of the auxiliary guide block 40. When the knob 10 is turned to the right, the reset cam 30 also rotates to the right, and under the action of the guide surface 32, the other end of the shift lever 22 begins to tilt upwards. In this state, the auxiliary guide block 40 (or the rotary table 50) rotates relative to the reset cam 30, while the reset cam 30 itself rotates. In the second state, as shown in Figure 4, the shift lever 22 is located on the right side of the reset cam 30 and engages with the right guide surface 32. Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the shift lever 22 reaches the reset surface 31 while the knob 10 continues to rotate. At this moment, the auxiliary guide block 40 and the reset surface 31 of the reset cam 30 engage, thereby resetting the cipher wheel assembly 20. Because the rotation of the knob 10 is continuous and the stroke of the shift lever 22 on the reset surface 31 is short, the auxiliary guide block 40 effectively compensates for this short stroke. Even as the knob 10 continues to rotate and the shift lever 22 disengages from the reset surface 31, the shift lever 22 can still be supported by the support surface of the auxiliary guide block 40, thus keeping the shift lever 22 in a tilted position.This stability allows the cipher wheel assembly 20 to be reset correctly, for example, to display “0” on all four cipher wheels, and avoids inaccuracies due to inertia, such as resetting the wheels to “1” or “9” or anywhere between “0 and 1” or “0 and 9”. When the limiting projection 51 engages one end of the connecting slot 12, further rotation of the knob 10 causes the auxiliary guide block 40, together with the reset cam 30, to rotate clockwise until the other end of the shift lever 22 disengages from the support surface of the auxiliary guide block 40. At this point, as shown in . Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the shift lever 22 engages with the left guide surface 32. Further turning of the knob 10 causes the shift lever 22 to slide down the left guide surface 32 and completes the unlocking process, with the shift lever 22 now located on the left side of the auxiliary guide block 40.
[0041] With reference to the Fig. Figures 7-9, which show schematic diagrams of the locking process of the encryption lock, illustrate that the process is the reverse of the unlocking process. In particular, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the shift lever 22 is located on the left side of the reset cam 30 and engages with the left guide surface 32. When the knob 10 is turned to the left, the reset cam 30 also turns to the left, and under the action of the guide surface 32, the other end of the shift lever 22 begins to tilt upwards. Regarding Fig. 8 At this point, the shift lever 22 engages with the reset surface 31 and the support surface of the auxiliary guide block 40, while the knob 10 continues to rotate. When the limiting projection 51 engages with one end of the connecting slot 12, further rotation of the knob 10 causes the auxiliary guide block 40, together with the reset cam 30, to rotate counterclockwise until the other end of the shift lever 22 disengages from the support surface of the auxiliary guide block 40. With reference to Fig. 9 The shift lever 22 engages with the right guide surface 32. Further turning of the knob 10 causes the shift lever 22 to slide down the right guide surface 32 and complete the locking process, restoring the initial state of the unlocking process, and the shift lever 22 is located on the right side of the auxiliary guide block 40.
[0042] In the present invention, the short length of the reset surface helps to prevent the cipher wheel assembly 20 from becoming blocked. To ensure that the shift lever 22 remains in a tilted position for a sufficiently long time during continuous rotation, an additional support is required to guarantee the accuracy of resetting the cipher wheel assembly.
[0043] The above description illustrates and describes the preferred embodiments of the present invention. As already mentioned, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. Rather, it is applicable to various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and modifications may be made within the scope of the utility model concept described in this invention by using the above teachings or related knowledge in the field. Any changes and variations made by those skilled in the art in this field, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, should fall within the scope of protection of the appended claims of the present invention. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION
[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature
[0000] CN201922402453.8 [0002, 0028]
Claims
[1] A resettable auxiliary structure for cipher wheel locks, comprising a knob and a cipher wheel assembly rotatable relative to the knob; the knob is provided in the center with a receiving chamber for receiving the cipher wheel assembly; characterized by , that the encryption wheel assembly comprises a positioning element; the positioning element is provided with a switching lever; the resettable auxiliary structure further comprises a reset cam and an auxiliary guide block; the reset cam is rotatable synchronously with the knob; the reset cam comprises a reset surface and a guide surface that are connected to each other; the guide surface is located adjacent to the reset surface; the reset surface is positioned at a highest point of the reset cam; the auxiliary guide block is movable relative to the reset cam; the support surface of the auxiliary guide block is positioned adjacent to the reset surface; The shift lever is operatively connected to the reset cam; after tilting through the guide surface, the shift lever engages both the reset surface and the support surface of the auxiliary guide block. [2] The resettable auxiliary structure for encryption wheel locks according to claim 1, wherein the reset cam includes the reset surface at the highest point; the guide surfaces are provided on both sides of the reset surface to move the switching lever to tilt. [3] The resettable auxiliary structure for encryption wheel locks according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side wall of the auxiliary guide block is in contact with the side wall of the shift lever; when the shift lever tilts on the guide surface, the auxiliary guide block is displaced relative to the reset cam. [4] The resettable auxiliary structure for encryption wheel locks according to claim 3, further comprising a turntable; the turntable is rotatable relative to the reset cam; the auxiliary guide block is operatively connected to the turntable. [5] The resettable auxiliary structure for encryption wheel locks according to claim 4, wherein the knob comprises a base plate; the turntable is rotatably connected to the base plate; the reset cam is arranged on the base plate. [6] The resettable auxiliary structure for encryption wheel locks according to claim 5, wherein the base plate is provided with a connecting slot; the turntable is provided with a limiting projection; the limiting projection is positioned within the connecting slot. [7] The resettable auxiliary structure for encryption wheel locks according to claim 5, wherein the peripheral side of the turntable is provided with a limiting groove; the base plate is provided with a limiting block; the cooperation between the limiting block and the limiting groove limits the rotation angle of the turntable. [8] The resettable auxiliary structure for encryption wheel locks according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a pin axis is provided on the base plate; the turntable is mounted via the pin axis; the center of the pin axis is provided with a connecting hole; a fixing bolt is installed in the connecting hole; the turntable is connected to the knob through the cooperation of the fixing bolt and the connecting hole. [9] The resettable auxiliary structure for encryption wheel locks according to claim 8, wherein the turntable is positioned at the center of the base plate; the reset cam is located on the outer periphery of the turntable; the auxiliary guide block is located on the inner periphery of the reset cam; the reset surface of the reset cam and the support surface of the auxiliary guide block are simultaneously engaged with the switching lever. [10] The resettable auxiliary structure for encryption wheel locks according to claim 1, wherein the positioning member comprises a rotation axis; the positioning member is rotatable relative to the encryption wheel assembly when tilted by the cooperation between the switching lever and the reset cam. [11] The resettable auxiliary structure for encryption wheel locks according to claim 10, wherein the rotation axis is located on the outer periphery of the reset cam; a lower end of the guide surface is connected to the base plate, and the guide surface is a curved surface.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Character wheel coded lock
CN211900099U
201922402453.8