Lock clutch
The door lock clutch design addresses the challenge of high costs and power consumption by using a minimal-part, hinge-pivoted coupling element for reliable torque transmission and secure operation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- UHLMANN & ZACHER
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing door locks face challenges in achieving reliable operation with low manufacturing costs and low power requirements for changing the clutch state.
A door lock clutch design comprising a first and second shaft with a movably supported coupling element that transitions between closed and open positions, allowing torque-proof coupling in the closed position and relative rotation in the open position, utilizing a minimal number of parts and a hinge pivot to enhance reliability and reduce costs.
The design achieves reliable operation with reduced manufacturing costs and enhanced security by ensuring robust torque transmission while minimizing part count and power consumption.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to a door lock clutch. Th door lock clutch may comprise a first shaft with a first rotational axis, a second shaft (200) and / or a coupling element. The coupling element may be movably supported between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the coupling element establishes and / or provides for a positive locking between the first shaft and the second shaft. In the open position the positive locking is released. The method further relates to a door lock and to a door.Description of the related art
[0002] Doors are generally opened by retracting a latch and / or a dead bolt. The latch and the dead bolt are driven by a shaft being coupled by a retraction mechanism to a handpiece. Example handpieces are door handles, doorknobs, a lever style handles or a key's bow. A pivotal moment of the handpiece is hence transferred by the retraction mechanism into a retraction of the latch and / or the dead bolt.
[0003] Door locks have been suggested that comprise a clutch (a selective coupling) configured to couple the door leaf and the shaft, or as a second variant, to connect the shaft via a clutch with latch and / or dead bolt retraction mechanism. In the first variant, closing the clutch blocks a rotation of the shaft and hence the door is locked. To unlock the lock, the clutch is opened again, allowing for pivoting the handpieces. In the second variant, opening the clutch decouples the handpieces from the retraction mechanism and in this case the door can be considered locked. In the second variant, unlocking is obtained by closing the clutch, as in this case a pivotal movement of the handpieces causes a retraction of the latch and / or dead bolt. US 2 497 328 A relates to a door latch. WO 2014 / 209217 A1 relates to an electronic door lock transmission.Summary of the invention
[0004] The problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a reliable door lock with low manufacturing costs and low power requirements for changing the clutch state.
[0005] Solutions of the problem are described in the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to further improvements of the invention.
[0006] A door lock clutch according to the invention comprises a first shaft with a first rotational axis and a second shaft. The second shaft has a second rotational axis and for conceptual simplicity, it is assumed herein that the axes are identical. However, it is noted that this alignment of the two shafts is not required, although preferred.
[0007] The door lock clutch further comprises a coupling element. The coupling element is movably supported. It may be moved, e.g. by an actuator, from a closed position to an open position and / or from the open position to the closed position. In the closed position of the coupling element, the two shafts are torque proof coupled, whereas in the open position, the shafts are rotatable relative to the other. In other words, in the closed position the coupling element establishes and / or provides for a positive locking between the two shafts and in the open position the locking may be released.
[0008] The first shaft has a first end section. The first end section is a portion of the first shaft that is terminated in a first axial direction by a first axial end surface of the first shaft. Accordingly, the second shaft has a second end section and this second end section is a portion of the second shaft that is terminated in a second axial direction by a second axial end surface of the second shaft. The first end section of the first shafts extends into a recess in the second end section of the second shaft. Hence, at least a portion of the first end face of the first shaft faces towards a portion of the second end surface of the second shaft. Only for completeness, it may be assumed that the second end surface of the first shaft and the first end face of the second shaft face away from each other.
[0009] The recess is delimited in the radial direction by a delimiting surface. This delimiting surface is not rotationally invariant under a rotation around the first rotational axis. The delimiting surface may still have a broken rotational symmetry. For example, in a cross section, the delimiting surface may be a polygon, e.g. a square, a hexagon, an octagon to name only a few examples. A polygonal cross section is not required, but simple to design and to manufacture.
[0010] The first end section of the first shaft has a first peripheral surface section and a second peripheral surface section. The sequence of these two surface sections does not matter, but they are distinguishable. Like the delimiting surface of the recess, the first peripheral is rotationally variant under a rotation around the first rotational axis and a first gap is formed between the first peripheral surface section and the delimiting surface. The first gap allows for a rotation of the two shafts relative to each other and can hence be considered as a ring gap.
[0011] The second peripheral surface section is axially adjacent to the first peripheral surface section. Further the second peripheral surface section has maximum radial distance r 2,max (φ, l) to the first rotational axis (wherein φ is the azimuth angle) being smaller than the minimum distance d min between the coupling element in its open position and the first rotational axis, i.e. r(φ, l) ≤ d mín (l), for any given axial coordinate l. In other words, r 2,max (φ, l) may be considered as the spacing of the second peripheral surface section from the rotational axis as function of the azimuthal angle φ and the axial position of the respective point on the second peripheral surface section. As apparent, cylinder coordinates are used, and the z-axis of the cylinder coordinates is assumed identical with the first and / or second rotational axis.
[0012] In the closed position, the coupling element extends into the first gap and thereby provides for the positive locking between the first shaft and the second shaft, whereas in the open position, the coupling element is axially aligned with the second peripheral surface section. Accordingly, in the open position of the coupling element, the first shaft can rotate relative to the coupling element and the second shaft. In the closed position, however, the coupling element provides a torque proof coupling between the two shafts.
[0013] The door lock coupling comprises a minimum number of parts and can thus be manufactured at minimal costs while providing an enhanced reliability.
[0014] A hinge pivotally attaches the coupling element to the second shaft. The pivot axis of the hinge is in a first plane, being at least essentially perpendicular to the first rotational axis. In addition, the pivot axis is offset by a distance from the first rotational axis. This as well enhances reliability and reduces manufacturing costs.
[0015] The pivot axis of the hinge is closer to the first peripheral surface than to the second peripheral surface section. Closing the clutch then provides for a reduced radius because a portion of the coupling element is shifted closer to the second rotational axis. This shifting allows for a disengagement of the coupling element and hence of the second shaft from a housing as will be explained below in more detail.
[0016] For example, the coupling element may have a first leg and / or a second leg. Each of these legs preferably extends into the first gap, if the coupling element is in the closed position. When moved from the closed position into the open position, the at least one leg is retracted out of the first gap. Such legs can be particularly light while durable, hence high torques can be transmitted, while the volume of clutch remains small.
[0017] In a preferred example, the coupling element has a beam. The first leg and / or the second leg may extend / s into the first gap if the coupling element is in its closed position. The beam may connect the first leg and / or the second leg with the hinge. This enables a particularly robust coupling, because the legs may center the first shaft in the recess while at the same time any movement of the two legs is synchronized by the beam.
[0018] The door lock clutch may be installed in a housing. The housing is preferably configured to be torque proof attached to a door leaf and may have an azimuthal abutment being in engagement with the coupling element, if the coupling element is in its closed position. This increase the safety, as even pulling the first shaft does not release the blocking mechanism of the second shaft.
[0019] As already apparent, if the coupling element is in its closed position, the azimuthal abutment does preferably not interfere with a rotation of the coupling element relative to the second rotational axis at least for a predetermined angle. This predetermined angle can be e.g. between 30 and 45° which is the typical pivoting angle of a lever style handpiece.
[0020] Is axially centered trunnion of a first of the two shafts extends into mating second recess of the respective second of the two shafts. The shafts remain aligned even if under load.
[0021] Preferably, a second gap is formed between the second peripheral surface section and the delimiting surface. The coupling element may in the open position be "stored" (i.e. have been shifted) into the second gap, protecting the coupling element from unauthorized manipulation.
[0022] As usual an actuator having an open state and a closed state may be used to transfer the coupling element from the open position into the closed position and vice versa.
[0023] For example, if the coupling element is in the open position and the actuator is in the closed state, the actuator may bias the coupling element towards the closed position. This allows to operate the actuator even if the delimiting surface and the first peripheral surface are not (yet) azimuthally aligned, i.e. even if a movement of the coupling element into the first gap is presently blocked.
[0024] If the coupling element is in the closed position and the actuator is in the open state, the actuator preferably biases the coupling element toward the open position. The effect is rather similar, the actuator may be shifted towards the open state even if the coupling element is still blocked in the closed position.
[0025] If the door lock comprises an actuator driven abutment member that blocks a movement of the coupling element into the closed position if the coupling element is in the open position and the actuator is in the open state an authorized manipulation of the clutch is rendered even more difficult.
[0026] In a preferred example, the closed state of the actuator, the abutment member does not interfere with a movement of the coupling element from the open position to the closed position.
[0027] As already apparent, the abutment member is preferably driven by the actuator and has a blocking position and an unblocking position. In the blocking position, the abutment member is located in the trajectory of the coupling element, if the coupling element is moved from the open position to the closed position. In the unblocking position, the path of the coupling element along the trajectory is released.
[0028] The lock clutch may be a part of door lock and selectively couple a handle (as a pars pro toto of a handpiece) with a retraction mechanism. Similarly, the door lock clutch may be integrated in any control device, e.g. into a lockable door, lockable window, an ignition switch or the like. It is noted that there is no conceptual difference between a door lock or a window lock, accordingly the term door includes the term window.Description of Drawings
[0029] In the following the invention will be described by way of example, without limitation of the general inventive concept, on examples of embodiment with reference to the drawings. Figure 1shows a perspective view of a selective coupling (a clutch) in an open state. Figure 2shows a front view of the open clutch of Figure 1. Figure 3shows a side view of the open clutch of Figure 1. Figure 4shows a sectional view of the open clutch of Figure 1 along section plane A-A as indicated in Figure 2. Figure 5shows a longitudinal sectional view of the clutch of FIG. 1 with a coupling element in the open position, along the section plane B-B as indicated in Figure 3. Figure 6shows a cross sectional view of the clutch of FIG. 1 with a coupling element in the open position, along the section plane C-C as indicated in Figure 3 Figure 7shows a perspective view of a selective coupling (a clutch) in a closed state. Figure 8shows a front view of the closed clutch of Figure 1. Figure 9shows a side view of the closed clutch of Figure 1. Figure 10shows a cross sectional view of the closed clutch of Figure 1 along section plane A-A as indicated in Figure 8. Figure 11shows a longitudinal sectional view of the closed clutch of FIG. 1 with a coupling element in the closed position, along the section plane B-B as indicated in Figure 9. Figure 12shows a cross sectional view of the closed clutch of FIG. 1 with a coupling element in the closed position, along the section plane C-C as indicated in Figure 9
[0030] In FIG. 1 to 6 an embodiment of a clutch 10 is shown in an open state. In FIG. 7 to 12 the same embodiment of a clutch 10 is shown in a closed state. The clutch 10 has a first shaft 100 and a second shaft 200 being rotatable supported relative to a rotational axis 2 (hereinafter "axis" for short). The two shafts 100, 200 may have a single rotational axis 2 as shown, but this is not required. The two shaft axes could as well be tilted or offset. The clutch 10 may further comprise a hinge 20. The hinge 20 may pivotally attach the second shaft 200 and a coupling element 300 (cf. FIG. 1 to 12).
[0031] As can be seen best in the sectional views B-B (Fig. 5 and 11), the first shaft 100 may be rotationally supported relative to the second shaft 200. In the present example, a pin 30 radially supports the first shaft 100 and the second shaft 200 relative to each other, while allowing for a rotation around the axis 2. Of course, the pin 30 could be replaced by a trunnion extending from one shaft 100, 200 into recess of the respective other shaft 200,100 or any other radial bearing. In short, it is preferred if a radial bearing supports the two shafts relative to each other. In other words, a radial bearing may connect the two shafts (100, 200) rotatably.
[0032] The first shaft 100 may have a first end face 101 and a first end section that extends as least partially into a recess 205 of the second shaft 200. The first end section has two peripheral surface sections 110, 120, namely a first peripheral surface section 110 and a second peripheral surface section 120. The two peripheral surface sections 110, 120 differ in their contours, which is apparent from the sections C-C in FIG. 6 and 12. In the present example, the second peripheral surface section 120 is rotationally invariant under any rotation around the rotational axis 2. This is preferred, but not required. It is sufficient if the second peripheral surface section 120 has a smaller radius r 2 (φ, l) than the shortest distance of the coupling element 300 from the rotational axis 2. As usual φ is the azimuth angle (i.e.φ ∈ [0, 2π]) and l is the z- coordinate of the respective point (assuming cylinder coordinates). If l 2,1 is the z-component of the first end face 101 facing end of the second peripheral surface section 120 and l 2,2 is the z-component of end of the second peripheral surface section 120 facing away from the first end face 101 it is preferred if r 2 (φ,l) ≤ d 3 (l)∀φ ∈ [0; 2π], l ∈ [l 2,1 ; l 2,2 ] wherein d 3 (l) is the minimum distance of the coupling element in the open position to the axis 2 as a function of the z-coordinate l. Accordingly, if the coupling element 300 is in the open position, it does not interfere a rotation of the first shaft 100 (see FIG. 4 and 5).
[0033] The first peripheral surface section 110 however preferably fails to be rotationally invariant under any arbitrary rotation. In more detail, in the depicted example, only rotations by integer multiples of π 2 = 90 ° of the first shaft 100 map the first peripheral surface section 110 onto itself. Hence the radius r 1 l) of the first peripheral surface section 110 oscillates with increasing φ for a given z-coordinate. The shown four-fold rotational symmetry may be replaced by any other n-fold rotational symmetry, wherein n is an integer with n ≥ 1 (see FIG. 5 and 6).
[0034] The recess 205 is preferably radially delimited by a delimiting surface 210. In other words, the delimiting surface 210 may be a recess delimiting surface facing at least essentially into the volume of the recess 205. The second shaft 200 may further comprise an axially delimiting surface 207, that delimit the volume of the recess in an axial direction and that may face the front-end surface 101 of the first shaft 100 (see sections C-C in FIG. 6 and 12).
[0035] The radially delimiting surface 210 is not rotationally invariant but may have an n-fold rotational symmetry (n ≥ 1). As can be seen best in the sections B-B (see FIGs. 5), a first gap 231 may be formed between the first peripheral surface 110 and the radially delimiting surface 210. An optional second gap 232 may be formed between the second peripheral surface section 120 the radially delimiting surface 210. The first gap 231 is preferably dimensioned to allow a full rotation of the first peripheral surface section 110 in the recess 205 of the second shaft 200 if the coupling element does not extend into the first gap 231 between the radially delimiting surface 210 and the first peripheral surface section 110. If the coupling element 300 is its open position as shown in FIGs. 1 to 6, the first shaft may hence rotate freely relative to the second shaft 200.
[0036] To close the clutch 1 and thereby couple the two shafts 100, 200, the coupling element 300 may be moved into its closed position as shown in FIG. 7 to 12. As can be seen i.a. in the perspective view, the side view and section A-A (FIGs. 1, 3 and 4), the coupling element 300 may be attached by a hinge 20 to the second shaft 200 (cf. as well FIGs. 7, 9 and 10). The coupling element 300 may have a beam 310 from which two legs 320 may extend into the first gap 231, if the coupling element has been moved into the closed position. In the closed position, the coupling element 300 reduces the clearance of the first gap 231 thereby providing for a positive fit between the first peripheral surface section 110 and the recess delimiting surface section 210 (see i.a. FIGs. 10 and 11).
[0037] As shown in Fig. 7 to 10 and 12, the coupling element 300 preferably pivots towards the axis 2, if it is moved from the open position shown in FIGs. 1 to 6 into the closed position as shown in FIG. 7 to 12. This pivotal movement of the coupling element 300 can hence be considered as a retraction that enables to unblock a rotation of the second shaft 200 relative to a clutch housing that may be attached to a door leaf. If the coupling element 300 is in the open position, it may be considered extended and may prevent the second shaft 200 from being driven by a rotation of the first shaft 100 as explained above. Additionally, a rotation of the second shaft 200 may preferably be blocked, to thereby enhance the security level of a respective door.
[0038] As can be seen best in FIGs. 1, 2,6 to 8 and 12, the recess 205 may be open towards a side. Like in the depicted example, the side may be opened towards the beam 310 of the coupling element 300. In other words, an opening in the wall enclosing the recces may enable the coupling element 300 to extend into the recess 205 and thus into the first gap 231 and / or into the second gap 232 (see FIGs. 4, 6, 10 and 12). The recess 205 may thus be delimited in the radial direction (see sections C-C, i.e. FIGs. 6 and 12) by a wall having a central leg 252 in between of two legs 251. The end faces 253 of the two legs 251 of the second shaft 200 may provide abutments 253 that may delimit a rotation of the second shaft 200 to a predefined angle. This predefined angle may preferably correspond to the angle required to fully retract a latch and / or a dead bolt and may hence be defined by the retraction mechanism. The legs 251 thereby allow to avoid damaging the retraction mechanism by overstressing it. Once the respective end face 253 abuts a block of the clutch housing, any additional torque is braced by the clutch housing and not transferred into the retraction mechanism.
[0039] As can be seen best in the sections B-B (FIG. 5 and 11), the clutch 10 can be assembled by simply inserting the first end section of the first shaft 100 into the recess 205, which is delimited by the radially delimiting surface 210 of the legs 251 of the second shaft 200, until the first end face 101 of the first shaft 100 abuts the axially delimiting surface 207. The axially delimiting surface 207 may hence provide (or be) a first axial bearing surface 207. Subsequently, a brace 400 may be mounted. The brace 400 may provide a second axial bearing surface 407 of the first shaft 100 (see sections B-B). The brace 400 may thus as well be referred to as an axial recess cover 400.List of reference numerals
[0040] 2rotational axis (first rotational axis and second rotational axis) 10clutch / selective coupling 20hinge 100first shaft 101first end surface / first end face 110first peripheral surface section / first peripheral surface 120second peripheral surface section / second peripheral surface 200second shaft 205recess 207axially delimiting surface 210radially delimiting surface 231first gap (between radially delimiting surface 210 and the first peripheral surface section) 232second gap (between radially delimiting surface 210 and the first peripheral surface section) 300coupling element 310beam 320leg 400brace / recess cover / axial bearing cover
Claims
1. A lock clutch comprising a first shaft (100) with a first rotational axis (2), a second shaft (200) with a second rotational axis (2) and a coupling element (300), wherein the coupling element (300) is movably supported between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the coupling element (300) establishes and / or provides for a positive locking between the first shaft (100) and the second shaft (200) and in the open position the positive locking is released, wherein - a first end section of the first shaft (100) extends into a recess (205) in a second end section of the second shaft (200), - the recess (205) is delimited in the radial direction by a delimiting surface (210), wherein the delimiting surface (210) is not rotationally invariant under an arbitrary rotation around the first rotational axis (2), - the first end section has a first peripheral surface section (110) and a second peripheral surface section (120), - the first peripheral surface section (110) is not rotationally invariant under an arbitrary rotation around the first rotational axis (2), - a first gap (231) is formed between the first peripheral surface section (110) and the delimiting surface (210), - axially adjacent to the first peripheral surface section (110) is the second peripheral surface section (120), wherein the second peripheral surface section (120) has maximum radial distance r2,max(φ, l) being smaller than the minimum distance dmin(l) between the coupling element (300) in its open position and the first rotational axis (2), wherein φ is the azimuthal angle and l the axial coordinate, - in the closed position, the coupling element (300) extends into the first gap (231) and thereby provides for the positive locking between the first shaft (100) and the second shaft (200), and - in the open position, the coupling element (300) at least partially retracted out of the first gap (231) and / or axially aligned with the second peripheral surface section (120), characterized in that: - a hinge (20) with a pivot axis pivotally attaches the coupling element (300) to the second shaft (200), wherein the pivot axis of the hinge (20) is in a first plane and in that the first plane is perpendicular to the rotational axis (2) and in that the pivot axis is offset by a distance from the first rotational axis (2), - wherein the pivot axis of the hinge (20) is closer to the first peripheral surface section (110) than to the second peripheral surface section (120).
2. The lock clutch of claim 1, characterized in that the coupling element (300) has a first leg (320) and in that the first leg (320): - extends into the first gap (231), if the coupling element (300) is in the closed position, and - is retracted out of the first gap (231), if the coupling element (300) is in the open position.
3. The lock clutch of the previous claim, characterized in that the coupling element (300) has a second leg (320) and in that the second leg (320): - extends into the first gap (231), if the coupling element is in the closed position, and - is retracted out of the first gap (231), if the coupling element (300) is in the open position, wherein the second leg (320) extends at the opposite side of the first rotational axis (2) than the first leg (320).
4. The lock clutch of one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that: - the coupling element (300) has a beam (310), - the first leg (320) and / or the second leg (320) extend / s from the beam (310) into the first gap (231) if the coupling element (300) is in its closed position, and - the beam (310) connects the first leg (320) and / or the second leg (320) with the hinge (20).
5. The lock clutch of one of the previous claims, characterized in that: - it comprises a housing configured to be torque proof attached to a door leaf, - the housing has an azimuthal abutment being in engagement with the coupling element (300), if the coupling element (300) is in its closed position, and - if the coupling element (300) is in its closed position, the azimuthal abutment does not interfere with a rotation of the coupling element (300) relative to the second rotational axis (2).
6. The lock clutch of one of the previous claims, characterized in that an axially centered trunnion or pin (30) of a first of the two shafts extends into mating second recess of the respective second of the two shafts.
7. The lock clutch of one of the previous claims, characterized in that a second gap (232) is formed between the second peripheral surface section (120) and the delimiting surface (210).
8. The lock clutch of one of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises an actuator having an open state and a closed state, and in that - if the coupling element (300) is in the open position and the actuator is in the closed state, the actuator biases the coupling element (300) towards the closed position, and / or - if the coupling element (300) is in the closed position and the actuator is in the open state, the actuator biases the coupling element (300) towards the open position.
9. The lock clutch of the previous claim, characterized in that it comprises an actuator driven abutment member, and in that if the coupling element (300) is in the open position and the actuator is in the open state, the abutment member blocks a movement of the coupling element (300) into the closed position.
10. The lock clutch of the previous claim, characterized in that in the closed state of the actuator, the abutment member does not interfere with a movement of the coupling element (300) from the open position to the closed position at least for a predetermined angle.
11. An electric lock comprising the lock clutch of one of the previous claims.
12. An access control device comprising the lock clutch of one of the previous claims 1 to 10.