ACTUATOR FOR A LOCK

Description

field of technology

[0001] The invention relates to an actuating device for a lock comprising a housing, a push-button nut rotatably mounted in the housing which has a first toothing, a spring carrier arranged in the housing which carries a return spring, wherein the return spring acts upon a second toothing which meshes with the first toothing, wherein the return spring holds the push-button nut in a starting position and is able to move the push-button nut, displaced from the starting position, back into the starting position. State of the art

[0002] Such an actuating device is described in EP 0 041 913 A1. External teeth on a nut mesh with teeth on a slide guided linearly within the housing. The slide rides on a rod that forms a spring carrier, which in turn supports a return spring. In a starting position corresponding to the neutral position of the push-button nut, the return spring holds the nut in this neutral position. When the push-button nut is moved from this neutral position either clockwise or counterclockwise, the return spring is tensioned. For this purpose, a sliding block actuated by the return spring is movably mounted within the housing.

[0003] An actuating device in the form of a fitting plate that can be attached to a door leaf is known from DE 10 2020 128 077 A1. The fitting plate has a flat housing that forms a bearing cavity in which a spindle is mounted, which can be connected to a door handle. The spindle can be connected to a square spindle, which can be used to operate a mortise lock fixed in the door leaf. A return spring allows the spindle to be rotated from a neutral position back to its neutral position. The return spring is formed by a spring strut that can be adjusted to reverse the actuating device from left to right. The spindle has stops that can abut against a counter-stop in both the neutral and rotated positions.

[0004] DE 20 2010 005 648 U1 describes an actuating device that can be mounted as a fitting plate on a door leaf and that has a lever spindle. A helical spring with two radially projecting legs is mounted on the lever spindle, which holds the lever spindle in a neutral position. By adjusting the counter stops, this lever spindle can be rotated both clockwise and counterclockwise against the restoring force of the return spring.

[0005] DE 20 2005 004 381 U1, WO 2014 / 019378 A1, WO 2014 / 019376 A1 and CN 204002119 U each disclose a push-button nut with an external toothing that meshes with an external toothing of a rotatable toothing in the lock housing of the toothing carrier. Summary of the invention

[0006] The invention is based on the objective of further developing an actuating device of the generic type in a way that is advantageous for use.

[0007] The problem is solved by the invention specified in the claims.

[0008] First and foremost, an actuating device for a lock is proposed, comprising a housing in which a spindle is mounted. The spindle is held in a starting position by a return spring. From this starting position, the spindle can be rotated when a door handle connected to it is actuated, for example, to retract a latch. The latch may be associated with a mortise lock located in a door leaf. The mortise lock may also have a spindle that is rotationally coupled to the spindle of the actuating device. This coupling can be achieved with a square spindle or similar component. The return spring causes the spindle to return to its starting position as soon as the handle is released. The return spring is supported by a spring carrier. A toothed section of the spindle can engage with a toothed section of the spring carrier.The toothed carrier can be designed as a spring carrier. The push button has teeth, preferably external teeth, on at least part of its circumference. The spring carrier can also have teeth. The two teeth mesh with each other, so that the spring carrier is displaced when the push button is turned. The return spring can be supported on the housing on one side and on the spring carrier on the other. This means that displacement of the spring carrier results in tension in the spring. A return movement of the spring carrier after the push button is released is then transferred to the push button, so that it is returned to its initial position. The teeth of the spring carrier can be external. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring carrier is rotatably mounted in the housing.According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the spring carrier or the push-button nut can be rotated from its initial position both clockwise and counterclockwise. In this embodiment, the actuating device can be used for both left- and right-handed push buttons. The movement from this central neutral position then occurs against the restoring force of the return spring. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the spring carrier carries only one return spring. This return spring has two ends which, in the neutral position, are simultaneously supported against a housing-fixed stop and a stop on the spring carrier. When the spring carrier is rotated, one end of the return spring moves away from one of the two housing-fixed stops. One of the stops on the spring carrier moves away from the other end of the return spring.After the return force of the return spring causes the spring carrier to move back, the two ends of the return spring hold the spring carrier in its initial position by simultaneously bearing against the stops of the housing and the spring carrier, which are spaced apart by the same circumferential angle around the axis of rotation of the spring carrier. Due to a preload, the spring carrier is held in position. Preferably, the return spring has two legs, each of which is supported against stops or at least against one stop. The return spring can be a helical spring with radially projecting ends, relative to the center of a helical central section of the return spring, which can bear against the stops. The spring carrier can be rotatably mounted on the housing about an axle.The axle body can be a cylindrical body whose cylindrical outer wall forms a bearing surface against which the inner wall of the spring carrier slides. The axle body can be fastened to the base body with a fixing screw. Means can be provided to prevent rotation of the axle body about its axis. For example, an eccentric pin can engage in an eccentric bore. The central portion of the return spring can be arranged around a cylindrical section of the axle body. This cylindrical section has a cavity in which the axle body is located. The toothing of the spring carrier, which only needs to extend over a portion of the circumference, can be arranged on a section with a larger diameter than the cylindrical section.

[0009] Furthermore, the angle of a lever handle in its initial position can be adjusted. For example, the angle of the lever spindle in its initial position can be adjusted by a range between -10° and +10°, preferably between -3° and +3°. The spring carrier is positionally adjustable and attached to the housing for this purpose. The adjustment direction in which the spring carrier can be moved to adjust the angle of the lever spindle's initial position has a component that runs tangentially to the lever spindle's teeth at the point of engagement. For this purpose, the spring carrier is adjustably mounted to the housing in a direction tangential to the lever spindle's teeth. The teeth of the spring carrier can also be linear teeth whose position can be changed in the tangential direction. Preferably, however, the spring carrier is rotatable about an axis, the direction of which is adjustable.The spring carrier can also be attached to the housing in a way that allows for rotational adjustment, for example, by having an adjustable stop or by having an adjustable stop on the housing side. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the spring carrier is attached to the housing with a fastening screw that passes through an elongated hole in the housing. The elongated hole can extend in a direction parallel to the tangential direction through the point of tooth engagement. The fastening screw can thus secure the spring carrier or the axle body described above to the housing, so that when the fastening screw is loosened, the spring carrier or axle body can be slightly displaced relative to the housing. The fastening screw can then be tightened again at the displaced position.The spring carrier, which is fixed to the housing in a direction tangential to the first tooth, can thus be adjusted in this direction after loosening the fasteners and then reattached in this direction in a way that prevents displacement. If the axle body has an anti-rotation feature, such as a pin engaging in an opening, the axle body can be rotated slightly about this pin. The shank of the fastening screw has sufficient play within the elongated hole for this purpose. The head of the fastening screw can sit in an elongated recess.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the push button is located in a bearing cavity of the housing. The push button itself can have a cavity in which a coupling carrier is arranged. The push button with the cavity can be rotatably coupled to the coupling carrier, for example, if a coupling element of the coupling carrier engages in a coupling recess of the push button. An actuating device designed in this way allows the opening of a lock only if the push button is rotationally fixed to an output part that forms the coupling carrier. If the push button is not rotationally fixed to the output part, rotating the push button will not result in a locking action. Furthermore, end stops can also be provided that limit the maximum rotation of the push button either clockwise or counterclockwise.According to a preferred embodiment, the legs of the return spring can abut these end stops. The housing can be a flat housing in which an electronic circuit is also arranged that can evaluate an electronic key, for example, a transponder. If the electronic key has access authorization, the coupling elements described above enter a coupling position so that the lock can be opened by pressing the handle. The two bearing cavities of the handle nut and spring carrier can be closed by a cover. The cover can be a plate. Brief description of the drawings

[0011] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention in the form of a long escutcheon which can be attached to a door leaf in which a mortise lock (not shown) is located, Fig. 2 a rear view of the Figure 1 The fitting shown in Fig. 3 shows the section along line III-III in Figure 2 , Fig. 4 the section according to line IV-IV in Figure 2 , Fig. 5 a front view, Fig. 6 the in the Figure 5 The section designated VI is partially broken open, wherein a spring carrier 4 and a nut 2 assume a central neutral position in which a push handle 26 is not pivoted, Fig. 7 a representation according to Figure 6 however, with the push-button handle 26 pivoted counterclockwise, Fig. 8 a representation according to Figure 6However, with the push-button handle 26 pivoted clockwise, Fig. 9 shows a rear view with the cover 38 removed in the central neutral position, in which the spring carrier 4 assumes a central position in which a fastening screw 18 passes through an elongated hole 19 of the housing 1 approximately in its center, Fig. 10 shows a view into a bearing cavity 11 for mounting the spring carrier 4 to illustrate the position of an axle body 14 which has an opening 22 into which a pin 21 engages, Fig. 11 shows a representation according to Figure 9 , wherein the fastening screw 18 is now arranged in the area of ​​the left end of the elongated hole 19, Fig. 12 a representation according to Figure 10 however, in relation to the one in the Figure 11 The position of the axle body 14 shown in Fig. 13 is a representation according to Figure 9 , wherein the fastening screw 18 is now arranged in the area of ​​the right end of the elongated hole 19, Fig. 14 a representation according to Figure 10 , however, referring to those in the Figure 13 Fig. 15 shows the position of the axle body 14 in a first perspective, Fig. 16 shows the spring carrier 4 together with the return spring 3 in a second perspective, Fig. 17 shows an exploded view of the first embodiment, Fig. 18 shows a perspective view of the housing 1 to illustrate the position and design of the bearing cavity 11 for mounting the spring carrier 4 and the bearing cavity 23 for mounting the lever spindle 2, and Fig. 19 shows a representation of a second embodiment of the invention in the form of a rosette fitting which can be attached to a door leaf. Description of the embodiments

[0012] The two in the Figures 1 to 17 or in the Figure 18The illustrated embodiments are essentially functionally identical. Both embodiments are escutcheons to be attached to a door leaf, which support a lever handle 26 that can be pivoted through an angle limited by stops in order to operate a lock (not shown in the drawings) located in a door leaf (also not shown). The lock shown in the Figures 1 to 17 The illustrated embodiment has, in addition to the one described in the Figure 18 In the illustrated embodiment, there is only an opening 39 through which a locking cylinder can protrude.

[0013] The housing 1 forms a bearing cavity 11 for mounting a spring carrier 4 and a bearing cavity 23 arranged directly adjacent to it for mounting a push-button nut 2. Both bearing cavities 11 and 23 each have a base, the base of bearing cavity 11 forming an elongated hole 19 and the base of bearing cavity 23 forming a bearing opening 34. A cover 38 in the form of a plate is provided, which extends over the entire broad side surface of the housing and with which the bearing cavities 11 and 23 can be closed.

[0014] The push-button socket 2 has a bearing collar by which the push-button socket 2 is rotatably mounted in the bearing opening 35. A square projection 24 extends from the bearing collar and projects into a square recess 25 of the push-button handle 26, thus coupling the push-button handle 26 to the socket 2 in a rotationally fixed manner. On the side opposite the square projection 24, the socket 2 has a recess 36 in which a coupling carrier 30 is arranged, which in turn is mounted in the bearing opening 34 of the housing. The coupling carrier 30 supports a coupling element 31. The coupling element 31 can engage in a coupling recess 32 of the socket 2 to connect the coupling carrier 30, which is otherwise freely rotatable relative to the push-button socket 2, to the push-button socket 2 in a rotationally fixed manner. A bearing ring 33 is used to support the coupling carrier 30, which is arranged in the bearing opening 34.The coupling carrier 30 has a square opening 28 into which a square pin can be inserted, with which the coupling carrier 30 can be connected to a nut (not shown) of a mortise lock of a door.

[0015] The push-button nut 2 has a first external toothing 5 over a partial area of ​​its circumference. The external toothing 5 consists of a plurality of teeth extending over a quarter-circle arc.

[0016] A spring carrier 4 is located in the bearing cavity 11. The spring carrier 4 has a large diameter, short axial section that forms a second external toothing 6. The teeth of the second external toothing 6, which also extends over a quarter-circle arc, engage with the teeth of the first toothing 5. By meshing the teeth of the two toothings 5 ​​and 6, a rotary motion of the push-button nut 2 is transmitted to the spring carrier 4.

[0017] The spring carrier 4 has a sleeve-shaped section whose diameter is slightly smaller than the previously described section forming the toothing 6. A torsion spring 3 sits on this sleeve-shaped section, forming two radially projecting legs 7, 8. The torsion spring 3 forms a return spring and has several helical turns. The larger-diameter section of the spring carrier 4 also forms a projection 12 extending over a circumferential angle, the two outer edges of which form stops 13, 13'.

[0018] An axle body 14 is fastened to the bottom of the bearing cavity 11 by means of a fastening screw 18 that passes through the elongated hole 19. The shank 18" of the fastening screw 18 passes through the elongated hole 19 and is screwed into an internal thread of the essentially rotationally symmetrical axle body 14. The bottom-facing end face of the axle body 14 has an eccentric opening 22 in which a housing-fixed pin 21 is inserted, which secures the axle body 14 against rotation. The head 18' of the fastening screw rests in a recess 20, which has an elongated plan view.

[0019] The axle body 14 forms a collar 17 resting on the bottom of the bearing cavity 11, the cylindrical outer wall of which abuts an inner wall of a cavity 15 of the spring carrier 4. The axially slightly longer but smaller-diameter cylindrical section of the axle body 14 forms a bearing surface for a bearing eye 16 of the spring carrier 4.

[0020] The two legs 7, 8 of the return spring 3 are in contact with the flanks of the extension 12. The flanks form stops 13, 13' against which the end sections 7, 8 of the return spring 3 abut. In the circumferential direction, the extension 12, i.e., the angular distance between the two flanks, has the same distance as a projection of the bearing cavity 11, which forms two stops 9, 10. In a Figure 6 In the depicted neutral position of the spring carrier 4, the corresponding stops 9, 13' and 10, 13 are at the same angular position, so that the end sections 7, 8 are simultaneously supported by both the stops 13, 13' formed by the flanks and by the stops 9, 10. The spring carrier 4 is thus held stably in a starting position. The engagement of the two toothed sections 5, 6 also holds the push-button nut 2, which carries the push-button handle 26, in this starting position.

[0021] Starting from the one in the Figure 6In the position shown, if the push-button handle 26 is rotated counterclockwise, the push-button nut 2, which also rotates counterclockwise, rotates the spring carrier 4 clockwise, as shown. Figure 7 This shows that the end section 7, which is acted upon by one of the two flanks of the extension 12, moves away from its associated stop 10 on the housing. In the final phase of this movement, the end section 7 can strike the end stop 37. When the push-button handle 26 is released, the return spring relaxes, allowing the push-button spindle 2 to move into the recess in the Figure 6 The starting position shown is returned to the original position.

[0022] Starting from the one in the Figure 6 The illustrated position of the push handle 26 is rotated clockwise, as shown. Figure 8 As shown, the push-button nut 2 also rotates clockwise. The spring carrier 4 is now rotated counterclockwise until the end section 8 abuts an end stop 37'.

[0023] The angle of the push handle 26 can be adjusted by means of the fastening screw 18 which passes through the elongated hole 19. In the Figures 9 and 10 The 18" shaft passes through the elongated hole 19 approximately in the middle of the elongated hole 19. Figure 10 shows the pin 21 engaging in the opening 22 of the axle body 14.

[0024] The Figures 11 and 12 show a comparable situation of Figures 9 and 10 however, the axle body 14 is in the direction of view of the Figure 11 to the left and in the direction of view Figure 12 has been displaced to the right. Due to the connection of the axle body 14 to the housing 1 via the pin 21, this displacement corresponds to a slight rotational movement of the axle body 14 about the pin 21. However, it is essential that the axle body 14, or rather the spring carrier 4 mounted on the axle body 14, has shifted in the direction of rotation of the push-button nut 2, meaning that one component of the displacement direction runs tangentially. Figure 11 It can be seen that the position of the push handle 26 has changed downwards due to the adjustment of the axle body 14 or the spring carrier 4.

[0025] The Figures 13 and 14 show a comparable situation of Figures 9 and 10 , however, the axle body 14 in the direction of view of the Figure 13 to the right and in the direction of view Figure 14 has been shifted to the left. This leads to the situation described in the Figure 13 A noticeable upward change in the position of the push handle 26 is observed. Here too, the axle body 14 pivots slightly around the pin 21. However, the crucial factor here is also an adjustment of the spring carrier 4 relative to the direction of rotation of the push handle nut 2.

[0026] The coupling carrier 30 contains the electronic and electromechanical components already known from the aforementioned DE 10 2020 128 077 A1. In particular, the coupling carrier 30 contains an electromechanical drive for repositioning the coupling element 31 and includes the housing or cover 38. The coupling carrier 30 also contains an electronic circuit for controlling the electromechanical drive. Furthermore, the actuating device has an independent power source in the form of batteries or accumulators and communication means for communicating with an electronic key, for example, a transmitter and receiver for transmitting access authorization data. List of reference symbols

[0027] 1 Housing 20 in-depth 2 Push nut 21 Cones 3 Return spring 22 opening 4 spring carrier 23 storage cavity 5 First interlocking 24 Square projection 6 Second gearing 25 Square cavity 7 Final section 26 Push handle 8 Final section 28 Square opening 9 stop 29 Lagerbund 10 stop 30 hitch-mounted carrier 11 storage cavity 31 Coupling element 12 extension 32 Clutch recess 13 Flank, attack 33 bearing ring 13' Flank, attack 34 Warehouse opening 14 axle body 35 Warehouse opening 15 cavity 36 cavity 16 Bearing eye 37 End stop 17 collar 37' End stop 18 fastening screw 38 cover 18' Head 39 opening 18" shaft 19 Slotted hole

Claims

1. Actuating device for a lock comprising a housing (1), a follower (2) which is rotatably mounted in the housing (1) and which has a first toothing (5), and a spring carrier (4) which is arranged in the housing (1) and which carries a return spring (3), the return spring (3) acting on a second toothing (6) which meshes with the first toothing (5), the return spring (3) holding the follower (2) in an initial position and being capable of moving the follower (2), which has been displaced from the initial position, back into the initial position, characterised in that the spring carrier (4) is fastened to the housing (1) so as to be adjustable in a direction having a directional component running tangentially to the first toothing (5), in order to adjust the angle of the follower (2) in the initial position, and in that the spring carrier (4) is rotatably mounted on a shaft body (14) which is fastened to the housing (1) in an adjustable manner by means of a fastening element (18).

2. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterised in that the initial position is a central neutral position from which the follower (2) can be rotated both in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction in each case against the return force of the return spring (3).

3. Actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spring carrier (4) is rotatably mounted in a bearing recess (11) of the housing (1).

4. Actuating device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the return spring (3) has two legs (7, 8) which, in the initial position, are supported on stops (9, 10) of the housing (1) and on stops (13, 13') of the spring carrier (4), and which, upon rotation of the follower (2), move away from the stops (9, 10, 13, 13') associated therewith.

5. Actuating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the spring carrier (4) is fastened to the housing (1) by means of a fastening screw (18) which passes through a slot (19) in the housing (1), the slot (19) extending in a direction which runs parallel to a tangential line passing through the tooth engagement point of the two toothings (5, 6).

6. Actuating device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first toothing (5) and the second toothing (6) are each an external toothing.

7. Actuating device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the toothing (5, 6) in each case extends only over a partial circumference of the follower (2) and of the spring carrier (4), respectively.

8. Actuating device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the follower (2), which is mounted in a bearing recess (23) of the housing (1), has a cavity (36) in which a coupling carrier (30) is arranged, which can be brought into a rotationally fixed connection with the follower (2) by means of a coupling element (31) engaging in a coupling recess (32).

9. Actuating device according to claim 4, characterised in that a bearing recess (11) for mounting the spring carrier (4) forms the stops (9, 10) and end stops (37) against which the legs (7, 8) strike after rotation of the follower (2) out of the neutral position.

10. Actuating device according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterised in that the bearing recess (11) for mounting the spring carrier (4) and the bearing recess (23) for mounting the follower (2) are closed off by a cover (38).