Mobile electronic lock

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile electronic lock comprising a lock body and a securing part which can be moved relative to the lock body between a closed position and an open position, the lock body comprising an electromechanical locking device which has: an electric motor having a rotor; a bolt coupled to the rotor; and a control circuit. The bolt can be electrically driven by means of the electric motor out of a locking position, in which the securing part located in the closed position is locked to the lock body, into an unlocking position, in which the securing part is released for movement into the open position. By moving the securing part out of the open position into the closed position, it is possible to mechanically drive the bolt, the bolt being drivingly coupled with the rotor of the electric motor in such a way that mechanically driving the bolt brings about a forced rotational movement of the rotor. The control circuit is designed to detect the forced rotational movement of the rotor.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a mobile electronic lock, comprising a lock body and a securing part that is movable relative to the lock body between a closed position and an open position. The lock body has an electromechanical locking device comprising an electric motor with a rotor, a bolt coupled to the rotor, and a control circuit. The bolt can be electrically driven by the electric motor from a locking position, in which the securing part in the closed position is locked to the lock body, to an unlocking position, in which the securing part is released for movement into the open position.

[0002] Such a mobile electronic lock is known from DE 10 2019 113 184 A1. A padlock with a purely mechanical locking mechanism, including a rotary bolt, is known from DE 43 23 693 C2.

[0003] Such a mobile electronic lock can be controlled, for example, by means of an electronic key, by entering a code on a numerical input device of the lock body, by biometric authentication (e.g. by means of a fingerprint sensor) or by remote control by a mobile terminal (e.g. smartphone), in particular in order to unlock the security part on the basis of an unlocking command transmitted thereby to the control circuit.

[0004] In some applications, it is desirable to be able to monitor the position of the security part, for example to avoid malfunctions when closing and locking the security part, and / or to display information about the status of the mobile lock or to transmit it to an associated central unit or remote control unit.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to be able to detect the position of the security part in a mobile electronic lock of the type mentioned with little effort and little space requirement and / or to output a corresponding signal (e.g. status information or command).

[0006] This object is achieved by a mobile electronic lock having the features of claim 1, and in particular by the fact that a mechanical drive of the bolt can be effected by moving the securing part from the open position to the closed position. The bolt is coupled to the rotor of the electric motor in such a way that the mechanical drive of the bolt causes a forced rotational movement of the rotor. The electric motor is designed to generate an electrical voltage based on the forced rotational movement of the rotor.

[0007] In the mobile electronic lock according to the invention, a movement of the securing part from the open position to the closed position by the user (for example, by inserting the securing part into the lock body) directly or indirectly causes a mechanical drive of the bolt. This can be achieved, for example, by directly displacing the bolt or by triggering a preloaded return spring, as explained below.

[0008] Due to the drive-effective coupling of the bolt to the rotor of the electric motor, a movement of the bolt caused by the mechanical drive is at least partially transmitted to the rotor of the electric motor. This can in particular be a movement of the bolt in the locking direction and / or a movement of the bolt in the unlocking direction. For this purpose, the bolt can be permanently coupled to the rotor of the electric motor. However, the drive-effective coupling does not preclude a certain amount of play between the bolt and the rotor. In some embodiments, such (slight) play can even be advantageous, in particular to relieve the rotor when the bolt is pretensioned by a spring. The bolt can move into the locking position due to the mechanical drive or due to a renewed control of the electric motor in order to secure the securing part to the lock body.

[0009] The forced rotation of the rotor, caused by the user through the mechanical drive of the bolt, generates an electrical voltage in the electric motor (particularly in the motor windings), for example, through induction. The electrical voltage generated by the mechanical drive of the bolt can be utilized, in particular by detecting and / or harvesting electrical energy. In particular, in some embodiments, the generated electrical voltage can be detected by the control circuit, so that the closed position of the security part can be indirectly detected. The detection of the closed position of the security part can subsequently form the basis for controlling the lock or for condition monitoring. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the generated electrical voltage can be at least partially stored as electrical energy (so-called "energy harvesting").This generated energy can, in particular, be stored temporarily, for example, to subsequently output an electrically generated signal. These possible applications are explained in more detail below.

[0010] One advantage of the invention is that the existing electric motor is used to detect the closed position of the security part and / or to generate electrical energy, for example, to output a closed position detection signal. Since no separate sensor is required to detect the closed position, both costs and installation space can be saved, and susceptibility to malfunctions (e.g., due to contamination of a separate sensor) is reduced or completely avoided. If the generated electrical energy is sufficient to temporarily activate an output device (e.g., radio transmitter or optical indicator), no additional energy source of the electronic lock is necessarily required to output the signal, or the signal can be output even when the (main) energy source is exhausted or removed.

[0011] Further embodiments of the invention are mentioned below and in the dependent claims.

[0012] In some embodiments, the bolt can be connected to a return spring configured to mechanically drive the bolt from the unlocked position into the locked position. The return spring can thus serve as a mechanical energy store for driving the rotor to perform the forced rotational movement. The forced rotational movement of the rotor can thus generate a predetermined and sufficiently high electrical voltage that can be reliably detected and / or is sufficient to temporarily supply electrical energy to an output device of the lock for transmitting a command or status information (e.g., radio unit or optical indicator).

[0013] In such an embodiment, the return spring can be tensioned into the unlocked position by electrically driving the bolt. Moving the securing part from the open position to the closed position can subsequently trigger a release of the return spring. By releasing the return spring, the bolt can be mechanically driven to move into the locked position in order to effect the desired or detectable forced rotation of the rotor of the electric motor.

[0014] In particular, the electromechanical locking device can be designed to mechanically lock the bolt, which is electrically driven into the unlocked position, and to release the bolt for mechanical drive only when the securing part is moved from the open position to the closed position. For this purpose, the securing part can trigger the mechanical lock directly or indirectly. In some embodiments, the control circuit can be designed to control the electric motor to slightly rotate the rotor back in the locking direction after the bolt has been electrically driven into the unlocked position and the bolt has been mechanically locked in the unlocked position, in order to relieve the rotor. The rotor of the electric motor is thereby relieved of the spring force of the preloaded spring.The slight reversal can occur, in particular, according to a relative movement play existing between the rotor and the bolt. However, the rotor essentially remains in a position corresponding to the unlocking position of the bolt. For example, in one embodiment, the bolt can be designed as a rotary bolt and can be locked against a return movement due to the force of the return spring by the locking part in the open position, as is known from the aforementioned DE 43 23 693 C2.

[0015] In other embodiments with a return spring, the return spring can be tensioned by electrically driving the bolt into the unlocked position. The control circuit is configured to actuate the electric motor to return the bolt to the locked position after the bolt has been electrically driven into the unlocked position, in particular after a predetermined time elapses, thereby releasing the return spring. The mechanical energy released by the return spring can, in some embodiments, be converted into electrical energy by the electric motor in a generator mode and stored in a rechargeable electrical energy storage device.By subsequently moving the locking element from the open position to the closed position, the bolt can initially be mechanically driven into the unlocked position, thereby re-tensioning the return spring connected to the bolt. Subsequently, when the locking element finally reaches the closed position, the bolt can be mechanically driven again from the unlocked position to the locked position by releasing the spring, in order to effect the desired forced rotation of the rotor of the electric motor. The electrical voltage thus generated in the electric motor can in turn be utilized, in particular detected and / or converted into electrical energy.

[0016] For example, when the locking part is moved into the closed position, it can temporarily push back the pre-tensioned bolt via interacting guide bevels, particularly in the case of a linearly movable bolt. Once the locking part has finally reached the closed position, the bolt can snap into the locking position due to the force of the return spring. Since the bolt is drive-coupled to the rotor of the electric motor, the rotor moves accordingly, and at least one of the mechanically induced bolt movements (i.e. from the locking position to the unlocking position and / or from the unlocking position to the locking position) can be detected by the control circuit. Such a linearly movable, pre-tensioned bolt is known, for example, from DE 196 39 235 A1. This can, for example, be operated via a rack, a pinion meshing therewith, and optionallya reduction gear may be coupled to the rotor of the electric motor, as is known, for example, from CN 210598521 U, in order to drive the rotor by mechanically pushing back the bolt.

[0017] In some embodiments, in particular without a return spring, the control circuit can be designed to control the electric motor to return the bolt to the locking position after the bolt has been electrically driven into the unlocked position. This can happen in particular after a predetermined period of time in order to give the user the opportunity to move the securing part from the closed position to the open position. By subsequently moving the securing part from the open position back to the closed position, the bolt can be mechanically driven into the unlocked position in order to thereby effect the forced rotational movement of the rotor of the electric motor. The electrical voltage thus generated in the electric motor can be utilized, in particular detected and / or converted into electrical energy.In such an embodiment, the control circuit can be designed to control the electric motor again after detection of the forced rotational movement of the rotor to electrically drive the bolt from the unlocked position into the locked position.

[0018] When the securing element is moved from the open position to the closed position, the securing element can mechanically drive the bolt, for example via interacting guide bevels, into the unlocked position against the resistance of the electric motor rotor. The resulting forced rotation of the rotor is detected by the control circuit. The control circuit can use this event as a trigger to then move the bolt from the unlocked position to the locked position using the electric motor. For example, one or two bolts can be coupled to the electric motor rotor via a respective rack, a meshing pinion, and possibly a reduction gear, in order to drive the rotor by mechanically pushing back the bolt(s).Such an arrangement is known from the aforementioned CN 210598521 U, where interacting guide bevels would be provided at the two ends of the shackle and at the two latches. This design has the advantage that no return spring is required.

[0019] In some embodiments, the latch can be designed as a rotary latch. Such a rotary latch is known, for example, from the aforementioned DE 10 2019 113 184 A1 and DE 43 23 693 C2. The rotary latch can be driven by the electric motor to rotate. In some embodiments, the rotary latch can be rotatable about an axis of rotation that runs coaxially, parallel to, or at an angle to a rotational axis of the rotor of the electric motor. In some embodiments, in the locked position, the rotary latch can push one or more blocking elements radially outward into engagement with the securing part, wherein in the unlocked position, the blocking element(s) can be pushed back radially inward by the securing part. For this purpose, the rotary latch can have radial depressions and elevations along its circumference. The blocking element(s) can be spherical or cylindrical, for example.Two such blocking elements can be arranged diametrically opposite each other, for example, to ensure two-sided locking of the U-shaped shackle in a securing part. However, locking only on one side is also possible. In such embodiments with a rotary latch, the return spring can be designed, in particular, as a torsion spring.

[0020] In some embodiments, the latch can be linearly movable. For example, the latch can be coupled to the rotor of the electric motor via a rack and a meshing pinion, as is known from the aforementioned CN 210598521 U.

[0021] In some embodiments, the control circuit can be configured to drive the electric motor during an unlocking operation to electrically drive the bolt from the locked position to the unlocked position. This can occur, in particular, based on an unlocking command transmitted to the control circuit via an electronic key, by entering a code on a numeric input device of the lock body, by biometric authentication, or wirelessly via a mobile device.

[0022] In some embodiments, the control circuit can be configured to detect the electrical voltage generated by the electric motor in a detection mode following the unlocking mode or to store it as electrical energy. The term "detection mode" in this context means that the electrical voltage generated due to the forced rotational movement of the rotor is utilized. In particular, the control circuit can monitor the electric motor to determine whether a forced rotational movement of the rotor occurs, which can be caused by the user through a mechanical drive of the latch. Alternatively or additionally, the electric motor can be put into a generator configuration for the detection mode, in which an external drive of the rotor causes an induction of electrical voltage, which can be stored, for example, in an electrical energy storage device.For this purpose, in particular the electrical connections of motor windings (e.g. coils of the stator of the electric motor) can be adapted or switched, and / or the mobile electronic lock can have a rectifier, as is known to the person skilled in the art for generator operation of an electric motor.

[0023] The mobile electronic lock may have its own electrical power source, such as a battery or accumulator, and / or electrical contacts for connecting to an external electrical power source. In some embodiments, the control circuit may connect the electric motor to the electrical power source during unlocking mode. For detection mode, the control circuit may disconnect the electric motor from the electrical power source.

[0024] In some embodiments, the detection operation can immediately follow the unlocking operation. However, in some embodiments, as already explained, it can be provided that after the unlocking operation (in particular after a predetermined time elapses that allows the securing part to be moved from the closed position to the open position), a locking operation takes place first, in which the control circuit drives the electric motor to electrically move the bolt from the unlocking position to the locking position, and that only then does the detection operation follow.

[0025] In some embodiments, the control circuit may be configured to detect the electrical voltage generated by the electric motor as a result of the forced rotational movement of the rotor. In particular, the control circuit may be configured to evaluate a value of the generated electrical voltage (for example, with regard to amplitude, frequency, and / or polarity). In some embodiments, the control circuit may compare an electrical voltage induced by the forced rotational movement of the rotor with a threshold value. For example, the electric motor may be configured as a DC motor, wherein the control circuit is configured to compare the value of an electrical voltage signal generated by the forced rotational movement of the rotor with a threshold value.In some embodiments, the electric motor may be configured as an AC motor, wherein the control circuit is configured to compare the amplitude of an AC electrical signal generated by the forced rotation of the rotor with a threshold value.

[0026] The successful detection of a generated voltage can, in particular, allow a conclusion to be drawn that the locking element of the lock has been moved to the closed position. Such a detection result can, for example, be used to control the electric motor, or can be displayed as information about the lock's status, or can be output to an associated (external) central unit or remote control unit.

[0027] Alternatively or in addition to such detection of a generated voltage, the mobile electronic lock can have a rechargeable electrical energy storage device, for example an accumulator or a capacitor. The control circuit can be designed to store at least part of the electrical voltage generated as a result of the forced rotational movement of the rotor as electrical energy in the rechargeable electrical energy storage device. In some embodiments, only temporary intermediate storage of the generated energy can be provided, for example in order to output an associated signal (in particular status information or an associated command) following detection of the generated electrical voltage. Such output can be effected in particular by radio or optically, for example by means of the radio unit mentioned below or by means of the optical indicator of the lock mentioned below.

[0028] In some embodiments, the control circuit can be connected to a radio unit. The control circuit can be configured to receive a control command (for example, an unlocking command for the electromechanical locking device or a query command) via the radio unit and to control the electric motor in response to the received control command. Alternatively or additionally, the control circuit can be configured to transmit status information representing the position of the securing part (closed position or open position) or a control command via the radio unit as a radio signal, for example to an associated central unit or remote control unit (in particular to a mobile terminal of the user).

[0029] In some embodiments, the mobile electronic lock may have an optical indicator to which the control circuit is connected. The control circuit may be configured to output status information representing a position of the security part (closed position or open position) as a visually perceptible signal on the optical indicator. The optical indicator may, for example, comprise a light-emitting diode.

[0030] In some embodiments, the rotor of the electric motor can be coupled to the latch via a reduction gear that is not self-locking. The fact that the reduction gear is not self-locking means that the reduction gear can also transmit a rotary motion from the output side toward the input, at least when a sufficiently high torque is applied, with a speed increase occurring in this direction. Thus, a compact, high-speed electric motor can be used, and yet a mechanical drive of the latch can be converted into a rotary motion of the rotor. The reduction gear can, for example, be a single-stage or multi-stage spur gear or an epicyclic gear.

[0031] In some embodiments, the rotor of the electric motor can be coupled to the latch with some play. This allows tolerances to be compensated and, as explained, force paths to be interrupted. However, the play between the rotor of the electric motor and the latch is significantly less than the rotor's movement path between the locked and unlocked positions, so that a mechanical drive of the latch can be converted into a rotary movement of the rotor.

[0032] In some embodiments, the securing part can be designed as a rigid shackle, in particular as a U-shaped shackle with equally long or two legs of different lengths. Such a shackle can have two ends, whereby the shackle can be inserted into the lock body at both ends and can be locked to the lock body at one end or both ends.

[0033] In some embodiments, the securing part can comprise at least one block that can be inserted into the lock body and locked to the lock body. The securing part can, in particular, comprise a wire rope or a chain, wherein a block for locking to the lock body can be attached to one end of the wire rope or chain, and another block or an eyelet can be attached to the other end.

[0034] In some embodiments, the securing part can be permanently attached to the lock body, particularly in the open position. In other embodiments, the securing part can be detachable from the lock body.

[0035] The lock body may have at least one insertion opening into which one end of the securing part can be inserted in the closed position.

[0036] The invention is explained below merely by way of example with reference to the drawings, whereby the invention is not limited to the padlock described below, but can also be applied to other types of lock. Fig. 1 shows a perspective sectional view of a padlock in a closed position of the shackle; Fig. 2 shows a top view of a rotary bolt in a locking position, including blocking elements; Fig. 3 shows a side view of parts of the padlock in the closed position of the shackle; Fig. 4 shows one of the Fig. 2 corresponding top view of the rotary latch in an unlocking position, including blocking elements; Fig. 5 shows one of the Fig. 3Corresponding side view of parts of the padlock in an open position of the shackle; Fig. 6 shows a circuit for detecting a forced rotational movement of a rotor; Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of a securing part with guide bevels and a linearly movable bolt.

[0037] Fig. 1shows a mobile electronic lock in the form of a padlock 10. The padlock 10 comprises a lock body 14 with a housing 30 and a security part designed as a lock shackle 12. The lock shackle 12 is U-shaped and comprises a short first shackle leg 16 and a long second shackle leg 18. On the upper side of the lock body 14, a first and a second insertion opening 20, 22 for the two shackle legs 16, 18 are formed, which open into a respective receiving channel 24, 26. The lock shackle 12 can be moved relative to the lock body 14 along the longitudinal axes of the shackle legs 16, 18 between a closed position and an open position. The second shackle leg 18 is permanently held in the lock body 14, wherein the second shackle leg 18 is inserted through the insertion opening 22 into the lock body 14 and is guided in the second receiving channel 26.The first, shorter shackle leg 16 is located outside the lock body 14 in the open position of the lock shackle 12. In the closed position of the lock shackle 12, the first shackle leg 16 is inserted through the insertion opening 20 into the first receiving channel 24.

[0038] In order to lock the lock shackle 12 in the closed position, the padlock 10 comprises an electromechanical locking device 34. The electromechanical locking device 34 comprises a bolt, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a rotary bolt 36 and drives two blocking elements 38, 40. The rotary bolt 36 and the blocking elements 38, 40 are received in a transverse bore 32, which runs between the first receiving channel 24 and the second receiving channel 26 in the upper region of the housing 30. The electromechanical locking device 34 further comprises an electric motor 46 with a stator, a rotor, and a reduction gear (not shown separately) for driving the rotary bolt 36, as well as a control circuit 102 (see Fig. 6). The electric motor 46 is mounted in a recess of the housing 30 such that the rotational axis A of the rotor of the electric motor 46 coincides with the rotational axis A of the rotary latch 36, and an output-side driver 48 of the electric motor 46 is positively connected to the rotary latch 36. Instead of such a coaxial arrangement, an angle (e.g., 90 degrees) can generally also be provided between the rotational axis of the rotor of the electric motor 46 and the rotational axis A of the rotary latch 36, in particular due to an angular gear.

[0039] The rotary latch 36 is coupled to the rotor of the electric motor 46 via the aforementioned reduction gear, which slows down the rotational movements of the rotor. The reduction gear is not self-locking, so that the reduction gear transmits rotational movements in both directions. The reduction gear can, for example, be a single-stage or multi-stage spur gear (in particular with coaxial input and output) or an epicyclic gear (e.g., planetary gear). The electric motor 46 is powered by a battery 66 located in a battery compartment 68 in a recess at the lower end of the housing 30. Alternatively, an external power supply can also be provided, for example, via two electrical contacts (not shown).

[0040] The padlock 10 shown not only allows the lock shackle 12 to be electromechanically unlocked, as explained below. Furthermore, the padlock 10 shown also allows the rotary bolt 36 to be mechanically driven by moving the lock shackle 12 from the open position to the closed position (due to a corresponding actuation by the user). The rotary bolt 36 is in turn drive-effectively coupled to the rotor of the electric motor 46, so that the rotor of the electric motor 46 is also driven in a detectable manner, as also explained below. In some embodiments, electrical energy can also be generated by operating the electric motor 46 as a generator.

[0041] To lock the padlock 10, the two blocking elements 38, 40 are located in the transverse bore 32 between the shackle legs 16, 18 and the rotary bolt 36. The blocking elements 38, 40 are designed, for example, as balls. In the closed position of the electronic lock 10, to lock the lock shackle 12, one blocking element 38 is pushed by the outer circumference of the rotary bolt 36 into a first engagement recess 42 of the first shackle leg 16, and the other blocking element 40 is pushed by the outer circumference of the rotary bolt 36 into a second engagement recess 44 of the second shackle leg 18. For automatic, purely mechanical locking of the lock shackle 12, a return spring 50 is provided, which acts between the housing 30 and the rotary bolt 36 and is designed as a torsion spring. The return spring 50 is designed to mechanically drive the rotary latch 36 from the unlocked position into the locked position.This can be triggered by moving the lock shackle 12 from the open position, in which the shackle leg 18 locks the rotary bolt 36 in the unlocked position by means of the corresponding blocking element 40, into the closed position. In the closed position of the lock shackle 12, the second engagement recess 44 of the shackle leg 18 releases the corresponding blocking element 40 for radially outward movement, thereby releasing the rotary bolt 36 for rotational movement due to the spring force of the tensioned return spring 50. This mode of operation is generally known from the aforementioned DE 43 23 693 C2.

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, the lock shackle 12 is unlocked electromechanically by the electric motor 46 rotating the rotary latch 36 into the unlocked position, tensioning the return spring 50. In the unlocked position of the rotary latch 36, the blocking elements 38, 40 can retract radially inward from the engagement recesses 42, 44 of the lock shackle 12 with respect to the rotation axis A. The lock shackle 12 is thus released for movement from the closed position to the open position, with an ejection mechanism being provided so that the lock shackle 12 automatically springs toward the open position upon unlocking. As a result, the rotary latch 36 is locked in the unlocked position by the long second shackle leg 18 and the associated blocking element 40, as explained above.At least for this unlocking process, the electric motor 46 must be supplied with electrical energy from the battery 66 or from an externally connected energy source.

[0043] The ejection mechanism for the lock shackle 12 is designed as follows in the embodiment shown: At the lower end of the second shackle leg 18 there is a blind hole 54. The blind hole 54 is divided into two areas 56, 58, with the lower area 58 having a larger diameter than the upper area 56. A correspondingly shaped pin 76 is inserted into the blind hole 54. The pin 76 consists of three parts: in the upper area 56 the pin 76 has the same diameter as the blind hole 54 in this upper area 56, in the lower area 58 of the blind hole 54 the pin 76 has a slightly smaller diameter than the blind hole 54 in this lower area 58, with an ejection spring 62 being inserted between the pin 76 and the blind hole 54 in this lower area 58; At the lower end of the pin 76 there is a plate head 64 as the end of the pin 76.The ejection spring 62 is supported on the plate head 64 of the pin 76 and, when the lock 10 is unlocked, pushes the second shackle leg 18 and thus the lock shackle 12 upwards, so that the first shackle leg 16 emerges from the first insertion opening 20.

[0044] The interaction between the rotary latch 36 and the blocking elements 38, 40 is in Fig. 2 to Fig. 5 illustrated. The respective position of the rotary bolt 36 and the lock shackle 12 can be seen from these. Fig. 2 shows a top view of the rotary latch 36 in the locking position of the rotary latch 36, while the lock shackle 12 is in the closed position. Fig. 3shows the corresponding side view of the padlock 10. In the locked position of the rotary bolt 36, the blocking elements 38, 40 are pushed radially outward by the outer surfaces of the rotary bolt 36 and engage in the first engagement recess 42 of the first shackle leg 16 or in the second engagement recess 44 of the second shackle leg 18. As a result, the lock shackle 12 is locked in the lock body 14.

[0045] Starting from this state, the rotary latch 36 is moved in the direction of rotation 74 by means of the rotor of the electric motor 46 to unlock it. The rotation continues until the first blocking element 38 is released for retraction into a first recess 70 and the second blocking element 40 is released for retraction into a second recess 72 of the rotary latch 36. Fig. 4shows the rotary latch 36 in the unlocked position. The ejection spring 62, preloaded in the closed position of the lock shackle 12, now pushes the lock shackle 12 toward the open position until the second blocking element 40 engages in a further recess 60, which is formed in the form of an annular groove at the lower end of the second shackle leg 18. The lock shackle 12 is thus secured to the lock body 14 and can rotate about its vertical axis. Fig. 5 shows a side view of the padlock 10 in the open position.

[0046] Fig. 6 shows a block diagram 100 of the essential electrical and electronic components of the padlock 10. According to the above explanations, a control circuit 102 can, in an unlocking operation, control the electric motor 46 to cause the rotary bolt 36 to rotate in the direction of rotation 74 (cf. Fig. 2 and 4) to move the rotary latch 36 from the locking position ( Fig. 2 ) into the unlocking position ( Fig. 4 ). For this purpose, the electric motor 46 is supplied with electrical energy from the battery 66. The control circuit 102 may, for example, comprise a microprocessor and additional switches (e.g., transistors).

[0047] In the padlock 10, the rotary bolt 36 is coupled to the rotor of the electric motor 46 in such a way that - in the opposite direction - a mechanical drive of the rotary bolt 36 via the driver 48 ( Fig. 1) causes a forced rotary movement 106 of the rotor of the electric motor 46. The control circuit 102 is designed to detect and evaluate, in a detection mode, an electrical voltage induced in the motor windings by the forced rotary movement 106 of the rotor. Such a detection mode can in particular follow the unlocking mode. To detect the induced voltage, the control circuit 102 is connected to a voltage measuring device 108 (e.g., voltmeter) and to a switch 110. By means of the switch 110, the electric motor 46 can be disconnected from the battery 66 during the detection mode (in particular in the unlocking position of the rotary latch 36). In this state, the control circuit 102 is designed to detect, by means of the voltage measuring device 108, an electrical voltage signal in the motor windings generated by the forced rotary movement 106 of the rotor and to evaluate the voltage signal.In particular, the control circuit 102 can compare the voltage signal with a threshold value, wherein the control circuit 102 concludes, when the threshold value is reached or exceeded, that the rotary latch 36 has been driven mechanically (i.e. not by the electric motor 36) to rotate.

[0048] Alternatively or in addition to such (mere) detection of a drive of the rotary bolt 36 caused from the outside (via the lock shackle 12), in a generator configuration of the electric motor 46, the electric motor 46 can be connected directly or indirectly to an electrical energy storage device (not shown) in the detection mode, so that the mechanical energy released during locking due to the relaxation of the return spring 50 is at least partially converted into electrical energy and temporarily stored.

[0049] This mechanical drive of the rotary latch 36, which can be detected by the control circuit 102, can in the embodiment shown be in particular the rotary movement of the rotary latch 36 due to the force of the return spring 50. As explained above, the return spring 50 can mechanically drive the rotary latch 36 from the unlocked position into the locked position, which can be triggered by the user by moving the lock shackle 12 from the open position into the closed position.

[0050] A particular advantage of the described padlock 10 is that no additional sensor and, consequently, no additional installation space for a sensor are required for such detection of an externally induced rotary movement 106 of the rotary bolt 36. Retrofitting existing locks, in which a rotary bolt 36 or other bolt is coupled to the rotor of an electric motor 46 for driving purposes, with such an indirect sensor system can thus be carried out relatively easily. In the case of the described generator operation of the electric motor 46, electrical energy can be generated and stored while the padlock 10 is being locked.

[0051] Out of Fig. 6It can be seen that the control circuit 102 can further be connected to a radio unit 104, wherein the control circuit 102 can be configured to receive a control command (for example, an unlocking command for the electromechanical locking device 34 or a status query command) via the radio unit 104 and, for example, to control the electric motor 46 in response to the received control command. Furthermore, the control circuit 102 can be configured to transmit requested status information, which represents, for example, the position of the lock shackle 12 (in particular, the detected closed position), as a radio signal via the radio unit 104.

[0052] A further advantage of the padlock 10 is that the use of a radio unit 104 not only enables the padlock 10 to be unlocked by remote transmission, for example using a smartphone or other mobile device, but also allows information about a detected change in state (in particular a detected transition from the open position to the closed position of the lock shackle 12) to be transmitted remotely by radio, for example to a mobile device.

[0053] In the case of the explained generator operation of the electric motor 46, the electrical energy obtained can be used to output a signal representing information about a successful transition to the closed position of the lock shackle 12. Consequently, the battery 66 is not necessarily required for outputting such a signal (and thus in particular for the entire locking process, including the external signal output); that is, the battery 66 can also be discharged or removed at this time.

[0054] As explained, in the illustrated embodiment, the electromechanical locking device 34 can mechanically lock the rotary latch 36, which is electrically driven into the unlocked position, whereby the rotary latch 36 is only (automatically) released when the shackle 12 is moved from the open position to the closed position. This results in the particular advantage that the mechanical drive of the rotary latch 36 generated by the return spring 50 causes a defined rotary movement of the rotor of the electric motor 46, which generates a predetermined electrical voltage with high reproducibility and reliability.

[0055] Deviating from the Fig. 1 to 5In addition to the exemplary embodiment explained, other embodiments are also possible in which a mechanical drive of a bolt is effected by moving a securing part (such as the lock shackle 12) from the open position to the closed position, and this drive of the bolt - as a result of its drive-effective coupling with the rotor of the electric motor - can be detected by the control circuit.

[0056] For example, according to an alternative embodiment, the control circuit 102 may be configured to, after electrically driving a bolt (corresponding to the rotary bolt 36 according to Fig. 1 to 5 ) into the unlocking position, in particular after a predetermined time period, to activate the electric motor 46 to return the bolt to the locking position and thereby to relax the return spring 50. By subsequently moving the securing part (corresponding to the lock bracket 12 according to Fig. 1 to 5) from the open position to the closed position (due to a corresponding operation by the user), the bolt can be temporarily mechanically driven into the unlocking position (for example, by the bolt being pushed back by the securing part), whereby the return spring 50 connected to the bolt is thereby tensioned again. If the securing part (corresponding to the lock shackle 12 according to Fig. 1 to 5) has finally reached the closed position, the bolt is forced from the unlocked position back into the locked position by relaxing the return spring 50. Thus, the (automatic) locking of the securing part on the lock body causes a mechanical drive of the bolt, which, via a drive-effective coupling, drives the rotor of the electric motor 46 to a corresponding rotational movement. The control circuit 102 can, in turn, be configured to utilize this rotational movement of the rotor, for example, to detect and evaluate it.

[0057] Such an alternative embodiment can be used particularly well with a linearly movable bolt (instead of a rotary bolt 36 according to Fig. 1 to 5 ) realize. Fig. 7shows a schematic representation of a security part in the form of a block 202 according to such an embodiment of an electronic lock. In this case, a bolt 236 is linearly movable and pretensioned in the locking direction via a return spring 250. The bolt 236 is temporarily pushed back via a first guide bevel 204, which is attached to the front end of the block 202, and a second guide bevel 206, which is formed on the bolt 236, while the block 202 is being moved into the closed position. After the closed position of the block 202 has finally been reached, the bolt 236 can snap into the locking position due to the force of the return spring 250. Since the bolt 236 is drivingly coupled to the rotor of the electric motor 46, the rotor moves accordingly, and at least one of the mechanically caused bolt movements (iefrom the locking position to the unlocking position and / or from the unlocking position to the locking position) can be controlled by the control circuit 102 (corresponding to . Fig. 6 ) can be detected. Such a linearly movable, prestressed latch 236 is known, for example, from DE 196 39 235 A1. This could, for example, be coupled to the rotor of the electric motor 46 via a rack, a meshing pinion, and possibly a reduction gear, as is known, for example, from CN 210598521 U, in order to also drive the rotor by mechanically driving the latch 236.

[0058] According to a further alternative embodiment, a return spring is not absolutely necessary. In such an embodiment, the control circuit 102 can, after electrically driving the bolt into the unlocking position (in particular due to a corresponding unlocking command), control the electric motor to electromechanically return the bolt to the locking position. By subsequently moving the securing part (corresponding to the lock shackle 12 according to Fig. 1 to 5 or the clamp 202 according to Fig. 7 ) from the open position to the closed position, the bolt (corresponding to the rotary bolt 36 according to Fig. 1 to 5 or the bolt 236 according to Fig. 7) into the unlocked position and thus mechanically driven to cause a forced rotational movement of the rotor of the electric motor 46. For this purpose, a suitable drive-effective coupling between the latch and the rotor can be provided. The control circuit 102 can, in turn, be configured to detect and evaluate this rotational movement of the rotor. List of reference symbols

[0059] 10 Mobile electronic lock 12 Security part 14 Lock body 16 First shackle 18 Second shackle 20 First insertion opening 22 Second insertion opening 24 First receiving channel 26 Second receiving channel 28 Lock body cover 30 Housing 32 Cross hole 34 Locking device 36 Turning bolt 38 First blocking element 40 Second blocking element 42 First engagement recess 44 Second engagement recess 46 Electric motor 48 Driver 50 Return spring 52 Flattening 54 Blind hole 56 Upper section 58 Lower section 60 Groove 62 Ejection spring 64 Disc head 66 Energy source 68 Battery compartment 70 First recess 72 Second recess 74 Direction of rotation 100Block diagram 102Control circuit 104Radio unit 106Rotary movement 108Voltage measuring device 110Switching element 200Schematic representation of a locking part with guide bevels 202Bolt 204First guide bevel 206Second guide bevel 236Latch 250Return spring ARotation axis

Claims

1. A portable electronic lock (10), comprising a lock body (14) and a securing part (12) which is movable relative to the lock body (14) between a closed position and an open position, wherein the lock body (14) comprises an electromechanical locking device (34) which has an electric motor (46) having a rotor, a latch (36, 236) coupled to the rotor, and a control circuit (102), wherein the latch (36, 236) can be electrically driven by means of the electric motor (46) from a locking position, in which the securing part (12) located in the closed position is locked to the lock body (14), into an unlocking position in which the securing part (12) is released for a movement into the open position, characterized in that a mechanical driving of the latch (36, 236) can be effected by a moving of the securing part (12) from the open position into the closed position, with the latch (36, 236) being drive-effectively coupled to the rotor of the electric motor (46) such that the mechanical driving of the latch (36, 236) effects a forced rotational movement (106) of the rotor, with the electric motor (46) being configured to generate an electrical voltage on the basis of the forced rotational movement (106) of the rotor.

2. A portable electronic lock (10) according to claim 1, wherein the latch (36, 236) is connected to a return spring (50, 250) which is configured to mechanically drive the latch (36, 236) from the unlocking position into the locking position.

3. A portable electronic lock (10) according to claim 2, wherein the return spring (50, 250) can be tensioned by the electrical driving of the latch (36, 236) into the unlocking position, wherein a relaxation of the return spring (50, 250) can be triggered by the moving of the securing part (12) from the open position into the closed position, wherein the latch (36, 236) can be mechanically driven to perform the movement into the locking position by the relaxation of the return spring (50, 250).

4. A portable electronic lock (10) according to claim 3, wherein the electromechanical locking device (34) is configured to mechanically block the latch (36, 236) when electrically driven into the unlocking position and to release the latch (36, 236) for the mechanical driving only by the moving of the securing part (12) from the open position into the closed position, wherein the control circuit (102) is preferably configured, after the electrical driving of the latch (36, 236) into the unlocking position and the mechanical blocking of the latch (36, 236) in the unlocking position, to control the electric motor (46) to slightly rotate the rotor back in the locking direction in order to relieve the rotor.

5. A portable electronic lock (10) according to claim 2, wherein the return spring (50, 250) can be tensioned by the electrical driving of the latch (36, 236) into the unlocking position, wherein the control circuit (102) is configured, after the electrical driving of the latch (36, 236) into the unlocking position, to control the electric motor (46) to return the latch (36, 236) into the locking position and hereby to relax the return spring (50, 250), wherein, due to a subsequent moving of the securing part (12) from the open position into the closed position, first the latch (36, 236) can be mechanically driven into the unlocking position and the return spring (50, 250) connected to the latch (36, 236) can hereby be tensioned again, and wherein, on a final reaching of the closed position of the securing part (12), the latch (36, 236) can be mechanically driven from the unlocking position into the locking position by a relaxing of the spring (50, 250).

6. A portable electronic lock (10) according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit (102) is configured, after the electrical driving of the latch (36, 236) into the unlocking position, to control the electric motor (46) to return the latch (36, 236) into the locking position, wherein, due to a subsequent moving of the securing part (12) from the open position into the closed position, the latch (36, 236) can be mechanically driven into the unlocking position in order hereby to effect the forced rotational movement (106) of the rotor, and wherein the control circuit (102) is configured, after the detection of the forced rotational movement (106) of the rotor, to control the electric motor (46) to electrically drive the latch (36, 236) from the unlocking position into the locking position.

7. A portable electronic lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latch (36) is configured as a rotating latch (36); or wherein the latch (236) is linear movable.

8. A portable electronic lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric motor (46) is configured to generate the electrical voltage by induction on the basis of the forced rotational movement (106) of the rotor.

9. A portable electronic lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control circuit (102) is configured to detect the electrical voltage generated by the electric motor (46); wherein the control circuit (102) is in particular configured to evaluate a value of the generated electrical voltage, preferably by a comparison with a threshold value.

10. A portable electronic lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a rechargeable electrical energy store which is configured to store at least a portion of the generated electrical voltage as electrical energy.

11. A portable electronic lock (10) according to claim 10, wherein the control circuit (102) is configured to use the electrical energy stored on the basis of the generated electrical voltage to outwardly output a signal, in particular by radio or optically.

12. A portable electronic lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control circuit (102) is configured, in an unlocking operation, to drive the electric motor (46) to perform an electrical driving of the latch (36, 236) from the locking position into the unlocking position, wherein the control circuit (102) is further configured, in a detection operation following the unlocking operation, to detect the electrical voltage generated by the electric motor (46) or to store it as electrical energy.

13. A portable electronic lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control circuit (102) is connected to a radio unit (104), wherein the control circuit (102) is configured to receive a control command for the electromechanical locking device (34) via the radio unit (104) and to control the electric motor (46) in response to the received control command; and / or wherein the control circuit (102) is configured to transmit a state information, which represents a position of the securing part (12), or a control command via the radio unit (104) as a radio signal.

14. A portable electronic lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotor of the electric motor (46) is coupled to the latch (36, 236) via a reduction gear unit which is not self-locking; and / or wherein the rotor of the electric motor (46) is coupled with clearance to the latch (36, 236).

15. A portable electronic lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the securing part (12) is a hoop (12) and has two ends, wherein the hoop (12) can be introduced with both ends into the lock body (14) and can be locked with one end or with both ends to the lock body (14); or wherein the securing part (12) has at least one bolt (202) which can be introduced into the lock body (14) and which can be locked to the lock body (14).

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