Locking device

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking device comprising a lock-side component (1) and a key (2), wherein the lock-side component (1) has at least one electrical consumer and an electrical generator (5) for supplying power to the electrical consumer, and wherein the key (2) has a bow (3) and a key shank (4) which can be inserted into a receiving channel (14) of the lock-side component (1) and which is designed to drive the electrical generator (5). The key shank (4) has a drive element (7) which is movable relative to the key shank (4) counter to the force of a force store (11) of the key (1), and the lock-side component (1) has a stop (9) for the drive element (7), such that, as the key shank (4) is inserted into the receiving channel (14), the drive element (7) is movable from an initial position into a pushed-back position counter to the force of the force store (11) and, from the pushed-back position, drives the generator (5) with the force from the force store (11).

Description

[0001] Locking device

[0002] The invention relates to a locking device comprising a lock-side component and a key, wherein the lock-side component has at least one electrical consumer and an electrical generator for supplying energy to the electrical consumer, and wherein the key has a reed and a key shaft which can be inserted into a receiving channel of the lock-side component and which is designed to drive the electrical generator.

[0003] The invention further relates to a lock-side component for use in such a locking device and a key for use in such a locking device.

[0004] Electric or electronic locks, in particular cylinder locks, usually contain, in addition to mechanical locks which can be mechanically locked with conventional keys, or instead of such a mechanical lock, at least one locking mechanism which can be actuated by means of an electric signal (e.g. driven by a motor, electromagnet, etc.), which is only released after an electronic identification check. The electronic authentication device for identification verification usually interacts wirelessly or wired with suitable identification media, with the electronic authentication device checking whether the respective identification medium is authorized to lock the lock. After successful identity verification, the lock is then released. To supply energy to such electric or...Electronic locking systems generally require a constant power supply to the lock and often also to the key. In addition to the expense of providing such a constant power supply, it is therefore important to ensure that an uninterruptible power supply is available to maintain the lock's function in every situation.

[0005] Electric or electronic locks can now be supplied with energy in any way you like. In addition to the option of a mains connection or a backup battery, there are already proposals in which the lock or key has a converter for converting mechanical into electrical energy. Such converters are designed, for example, as electrical generators. The movable component of the generator can, for example, be designed as a flywheel, as is known from EP 1039074 A1. This type of design ensures a self-sufficient energy supply because the electrical energy generated by the flywheel generator can be temporarily stored in an energy storage device and, if necessary, made available to the electrical circuit for identification testing or for electrically actuating the lock.

[0006] Furthermore, energy supply systems have become known in which the insertion movement of the key shank into the key channel of a lock is used to drive a generator. EP 2354389 B2 describes an electromechanical lock in front of the key channel of which a movable element is arranged which is gripped and moved when a key is inserted. This movement is passed on via a gear to a generator arranged in the lock cylinder housing, which generates electrical current from the movement. A similar system is known from EP 3363971 B1, in which not only the insertion movement of the key shank is used to drive the generator arranged in the lock cylinder housing, but also the withdrawal movement.

[0007] In the subject matter of DE 102021114239 A1, the key comprises a generator for supplying the key electronics, wherein a movable component is arranged on the key shaft or the key blade, which interacts with the key shaft when it is inserted into a locking cylinder in order to drive the generator.

[0008] A disadvantage of the described energy-generating mechanisms is that the insertion or withdrawal movement of the key shank is directly converted into a drive movement of the generator. As a result, the generator's drive depends on the insertion path, speed, and smoothness of the insertion movement by the respective user. If the key shank is inserted too slowly, for example, the generator will not reach the rotational speed required for efficient operation, meaning that sufficient power will not be generated.

[0009] The present invention therefore aims to create a self-sufficient power supply for a locking device that utilizes the insertion movement of the key shaft into the lock to generate electrical current. This overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and ensures that the electrical generator is always optimally driven.

[0010] To achieve this object, the invention provides for a

[0011] Locking device of the type mentioned at the beginning, in that the key shaft has a drive element which can be moved relative to the key shaft against the force of an energy accumulator of the key and the lock-side component has a stop for the drive element, so that when the key shaft is pushed into the receiving channel the drive element can be moved from an initial position against the force of the energy accumulator into a pushed-back position and from the pushed-back position drives the generator with the force from the energy accumulator.

[0012] The invention is therefore based on the idea of ​​not converting the insertion movement of the key shank directly into a drive movement of the generator, but rather using the insertion movement to preload a drive element that can be moved on or in the key shank against the force of the energy accumulator arranged in the key and to use the return movement of the drive element to drive the generator. As a result, the drive of the generator is not dependent on the speed or uniformity of the insertion movement. The return movement of the drive element, driven by the energy accumulator, depends solely on the design of the energy accumulator and can therefore be designed with a view to optimal and efficient drive of the generator.

[0013] The energy storage device is integrated into the key and can preferably be arranged in the bow.

[0014] With regard to the design of the energy accumulator, any designs are conceivable which are suitable for storing energy from the displacement of the drive element into a pushed-back position and releasing this energy again for the return movement. The energy accumulator is preferably designed to store the mechanical energy acting on the drive element when it is pushed back as deformation energy. The energy accumulator is designed in particular as a mechanical spring element. The spring element can, for example, be designed as a longitudinal spring, tension spring, compression spring, tension / compression spring, spiral spring or leaf spring. Alternatively, a magnetic, pneumatic or hydraulic energy accumulator or spring is also possible.

[0015] The drive element can, for example, be displaceably mounted on or in the key shank. For this purpose, the drive element can be guided in a longitudinal guide, such as a guide groove in the key shank. The drive element preferably comprises a stop surface that acts in the direction of insertion of the key and interacts with the stop of the lock-side component when the key shank is inserted into the lock-side component, such as a keyway of a lock.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the stop is designed so as to be displaceable into a release position in order to release the force from the energy accumulator to drive the electric generator. When the stop is displaced into the release position, the drive element of the key can be displaced from its retracted position into the starting position by the force of the energy accumulator, which drives the electric generator. The stop can preferably be designed so as to be tiltable in order to be tilted or pivoted from its starting position into the release position. Alternatively, the stop can be designed so as to be displaceable essentially transversely to the insertion direction of the key shank.

[0017] Preferably, a trigger element is provided which causes the stop to be moved into the release position when the drive element is in the retracted position. The trigger element thus determines the time at which the drive element is released. The trigger element is preferably designed to release the drive element when the key shank has been inserted at least halfway, preferably at least two-thirds of the way, particularly preferably almost completely or completely, into the lock-side component, in order to ensure that a maximum stroke can be used to drive the generator.

[0018] The trigger element can, for example, be arranged on the key shank and, when inserted into the receiving channel, can cause or allow the key shank to be moved into the release position. The trigger element can be designed as a stationary element of the key shank which presses the stop into the release position in a predetermined insertion position of the key shank, preferably near the end or at the end of the insertion path. Alternatively, the trigger element can be designed as a stationary feature of the key shank which releases the stop, which is acted upon by the energy accumulator via the drive element, into the release position in a predetermined insertion position of the key shank, preferably near the end or at the end of the insertion path.For this purpose, the stop can have a blocking section supported on the key shaft, which can dip into a recess in the key shaft when the predetermined insertion position of the key shaft is reached, whereby the stop is displaced into the release position by the force-loaded drive element.

[0019] Alternatively, the trigger element can be arranged in the lock-side component and preferably be formed by a resistance element, such as a spring, which, when a defined force of the drive element on the stop is exceeded, allows the stop to be moved into the release position.

[0020] The resistance element thus opposes the drive element acted upon by the energy accumulator with a defined mechanical resistance which is dimensioned in such a way that the force of the energy accumulator, which increases with the progressive insertion of the key shaft, exceeds the resistance force of the resistance element at the end or near the end of the insertion movement and thus pushes it away into the release position.

[0021] To provide the drive speed required for operating the generator, a transmission is preferably provided, via which the electric generator can be driven by the drive element. The transmission is designed, in particular, as a transmission gear.

[0022] Furthermore, the transmission can have at least one transmission element with which the drive element cooperates to convert a displacement movement of the drive element into a rotational movement of the electric generator.

[0023] The electrical energy provided by the electrical generator can now be used to operate any desired electrical consumers of the lock-side component. The at least one electrical consumer is preferably formed by an electrically actuatable actuator for switching the lock-side component between a locked and a released state. The actuator can, for example, be designed as an electric motor which, for example, drives a locking nose, a latch or a bolt of the lock-side component. Alternatively, the actuator, such as the motor, can actuate a clutch which selectively couples or uncouples the manual operation of a handle of the lock-side component, for example with the locking nose, the latch or the bolt.The lock-side component can preferably have an electronic authentication device for authenticating an electronic access authorization, which interacts with the actuator to activate the actuator when access authorization is present. The electronic authentication device is also supplied with electrical energy by the electrical generator.

[0024] The lock-side component can basically be designed in any way and is used to grant access to a key holder if a mechanically and / or electronically coded access authorization is present.

[0025] The lock-side component is preferably formed by a locking cylinder or a handle for operating a lock. The lock-side component can, for example, be designed as a locking cylinder, double-knob locking cylinder, double-knob locking cylinder with one-sided or double-sided key insertion function for a mechanical override, locking cylinder with just one knob, with or without a key insertion function on the locking cylinder side opposite the knob, double-locking cylinder, double-locking cylinder with double-sided mechanical or electronic or mechatronic authorization query, half cylinder, half cylinder with knob, half cylinder with mechatronic authorization query, half cylinder with electronic authorization query, knob, fitting with latch and / or bolt operation, mortise lock, self-locking mortise lock, furniture lock, furniture locking cylinder, padlock or switching cylinder.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the lock-side component comprises: a housing, a rotatable cylinder core received in the housing, and a locking member actuatable by the rotatable cylinder core, wherein the actuator is designed to switch between a locked and a released state, wherein the actuation of the locking member is locked in the locked state and released in the released state.

[0027] In this case, the cylinder core can have a key channel forming the receiving channel.

[0028] The electrical energy provided by the electrical generator can be supplied to the electrical consumer, such as the actuator and / or the authentication device, either directly or indirectly. In the case of indirect power supply, the locking cylinder can have an electrical energy storage device that supplies the electrical consumer, in particular the authentication device and / or the actuator, with power and can be fed by the electrical generator.

[0029] The key may contain the access authorization in mechanical and / or electronically coded form.

[0030] In the case of mechanical coding, the key shaft can have mechanically scannable coding elements and the locking cylinder can have movable scanning elements for scanning the coding elements.

[0031] In the case of electronic coding, the authentication device preferably has a reader for wirelessly reading electronic authorization data. For this purpose, the key can have a memory for electronically coded authorization data that can be wirelessly read by the reader of the authentication device. Alternatively, the key can have a memory for electronically coded authorization data that can be read by the reader of the authentication device via an electrical connection between the key and the locking cylinder.

[0032] In a reduced form, the key can also be designed without access authorization, but only be intended to supply the lock-side component with electrical energy through the insertion movement of the key shaft.

[0033] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a lock-side component for use in a locking device according to the invention, comprising a receiving channel for displaceably receiving a key shank, at least one electrical consumer and an electrical generator for supplying energy to the electrical consumer, wherein a stop decoupled from the generator is also provided, which is arranged to press a displaceable drive element of the key shank from an initial position into a retracted position when a key shank is inserted into the receiving channel, and wherein the generator can be driven by a return of the drive element from the retracted position into the initial position. It is essential here that the stop is decoupled from the generator in order to ensure that the insertion movement of the key shank does not directly drive the generator according to the invention.

[0034] With regard to the preferred embodiments of the lock-side component, reference is made to the embodiments described in connection with the locking device according to the invention. According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a key for use in a locking device according to the invention, comprising a reed and a key shaft insertable into a receiving channel of a lock-side component, which has a drive element displaceable relative to the key shaft against the force of a power accumulator of the key, wherein the key is designed without an electric generator.

[0035] With regard to the preferred designs of the key, reference is made to the embodiments described in connection with the locking device according to the invention.

[0036] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to further preferred embodiments, which are shown schematically in the drawings. In these, Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the locking device in a first insertion position of the key shank, Fig. 2 shows the first embodiment in a second insertion position of the key shank, Fig. 3 shows the first embodiment in a third insertion position of the key shank, Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the locking device in a first insertion position of the key shank and Fig. 5 shows the second embodiment in a second insertion position of the key shank.

[0037] In Fig. 1, a lock-side component, such as a locking cylinder, is designated by 1 and has a receiving channel 14 into which the key shank 4 of a key 2 can be inserted. The lock-side component comprises an electrical generator 5 which can be driven by a drive element 7 via a gear 6. The drive element 7 is guided so as to be displaceable essentially in the longitudinal direction of the key shank 4 or in this and has a stop 8 which comes to rest on a stop 9 of the lock-side component 1 when the key shank 4 is pushed into the receiving channel 14, as is shown in Fig. 1. The stop 9 has a blocking section 12 which is supported on the surface of the key shank 4 and thus prevents the stop 9 from moving away.

[0038] As the key shank 4 is further inserted into the receiving channel 14 (Fig. 2), the drive element 7 is displaced rearward relative to the key shank 4 and the bow 3 of the key 2. The drive element is designed as a rack and, during its linear displacement, interacts with the pinion 10 arranged in the bow 3, which in turn interacts with a force accumulator, namely a spring 11, in particular a spiral spring, to tension it.

[0039] Towards the end of the insertion movement (Fig. 3), the blocking section 12 of the stop 9 engages a recess 13 of the key shaft 4 due to the force exerted by the spring 11 via the drive element 7, whereby the stop 9 pivots into a release position which releases the drive element 7. The drive element 7 is now pressed into its initial position by the force from the spring 11 and interacts with the gear 6 via its toothing, thereby driving the generator 5 and providing electrical energy.

[0040] A suitable stop, which is arranged, for example, in the bow 3 or in the key shank 4, can prevent the drive element 7 from being pulled out of the key shank 4 when the key shank 4 is pulled out of the receiving channel 14. When the key shank 4 is pulled out, the teeth of the key shank 4 interact with the gear 6, so that the pulling-out movement can also be used to drive the generator 5. Alternatively, a freewheel can also be provided between the gear 6 and the generator 5.

[0041] In the modified embodiment according to Figs. 4 and 5, a spring element 15 is assigned to the stop 9, which brings the stop 9 into the starting position shown in Fig. 4 after the key shaft 4 has been pulled out of the receiving channel 14.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Locking device comprising a lock-side component (I) and a key (2), wherein the lock-side component has at least one electrical consumer and an electrical generator (5) for supplying energy to the electrical consumer, and wherein the key (2) has a (3) and a key shaft (4) which can be inserted into a receiving channel (14) of the lock-side component (1) and which is designed to drive the electrical generator (5), characterized in that the key shaft (4) has a relative to the key shaft (4) against the force of a force accumulator (II) of the key (2) has a displaceable drive element (7) and the lock-side component (1) has a stop (9) for the drive element (7), so that the drive element (7) can be moved from an initial position against the force of the energy accumulator (11) into a pushed-back position when the key shaft (4) is pushed into the receiving channel (14) and drives the generator (5) from the pushed-back position with the force from the energy accumulator (11).

2. Locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy accumulator (11) is arranged in the bow (3).

3. Locking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the energy accumulator (11) is designed as a spring element.

4. Locking device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the stop (9) is designed to be displaceable into a release position in order to release the force from the energy accumulator (11) to drive the electric generator (5).

5. Locking device according to claim 4, characterized in that a trigger element (13) is provided which causes or allows the displacement of the stop (9) into the release position when the drive element (7) is in the retracted position.

6. Locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that the trigger element (13) is arranged on the key shaft (4) and, in a position inserted into the receiving channel (14), cooperates with the stop (9) to displace the stop into the release position.

7. Locking device according to claim 5, characterized in that the trigger element is arranged in the lock-side component (1) and is preferably formed by a resistance element, such as a spring, which, when a defined force of the drive element (7) on the stop (9) is exceeded, allows the stop (9) to be displaced into the release position.

8. Locking device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a gear (6) is provided, via which the electric generator (5) can be driven by the drive element (7).

9. Locking device according to claim 8, characterized in that the gear (6) has at least one gear element with which the drive element (7) cooperates to convert a displacement movement of the drive element (7) into a rotational movement of the electric generator (5).

10. Locking device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the at least one electrical consumer is controlled by an electrically actuated actuator for Switching of the lock-side component (1) between a locked and a released state is formed.

11. Locking device according to claim 10, characterized in that the lock-side component has an electronic authentication device for authenticating an electronic access authorization, which cooperates with the actuator to actuate the actuator when an access authorization is present.

12. Locking device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lock-side component (1) is formed by a locking cylinder or a handle for actuating a lock.

13. Locking device according to claim 12, characterized in that the lock-side component comprises: a housing, a rotatable cylinder core received in the housing, and a locking member actuatable by the rotatable cylinder core, wherein the actuator is designed to switch between a locked and a released state, wherein the actuation of the locking member is locked in the locked state and released in the released state.

14. Locking device according to claim 13, characterized in that the cylinder core has a key channel forming the receiving channel (14).

15. Locking device according to claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the locking cylinder supplies the authentication device and / or the actuator with power supplying electrical energy storage device which can be fed by the electrical generator (5).

16. Locking device according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the authentication device has a reader for wirelessly reading authorization data.

17. Locking device according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized in that the key shaft (4) has mechanically scannable coding elements and the locking cylinder has movable scanning members for scanning the coding elements.

18. Locking device according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the key (2) has a memory for electronically coded authorization data which can be read wirelessly by the reader of the authentication device.

19. Locking device according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the key (2) has a memory for electronically coded authorization data, which can be read by the reader of the authentication device via an electrical contact between the key (2) and the locking cylinder.

20. Lock-side component (1) for use in a locking device according to one of claims 1 to 19, comprising a receiving channel (14) for displaceably receiving a key shaft (4), at least one electrical consumer and an electrical generator (5) for supplying energy to the electrical consumer, wherein a stop (9) decoupled from the generator (5) is further provided, which stop is arranged to, when inserting a key shaft (4) into the receiving channel (14) to press a displaceable drive element (7) of the key shaft (4) from an initial position into a retracted position, and wherein the generator (5) can be driven by a return of the drive element (7) from the retracted position into the initial position.

21. Key (2) for use in a locking device according to one of claims 1 to 19, comprising a reed (3) and a key shaft (4) which can be inserted into a receiving channel (14) of a lock-side component (1), which has a drive element (7) which can be displaced relative to the key shaft (4) against the force of a force accumulator (11) of the key (1), wherein the key (1) is designed without an electrical generator.

Images