Electronic cylinder lock

Abstract

The electronic cylinder lock (1) comprises a rotor (2), an actuating cam (3) for operating a lock opening mechanism, and a latching element (4) slidable supported in the rotor (2) between a latching position and a unlatching position between the rotor (2) and the actuating cam (3), within the rotor (2) being housed a movement actuator for the latching element (4) comprising an electric motor, a rotatable element (5) operable in rotation by the electric motor, and magnetic coupling means between the rotatable element (5) and the sliding latching element (4), where said magnetic coupling means comprise at least one primary permanent magnet (6, 7) attached to the rotatable element (5) and at least one secondary permanent magnet (8, 9) attached to the sliding latching element (4).

Description

[0001] ELECTRONIC CYLINDER LOCK

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention relates to an electronic cylinder lock comprising a rotor, a cam for operating the lock's opening mechanism, and a latching element between the rotor and the actuating cam.

[0004] In many known devices, the energy required for latching is typically provided by a battery housed in the key.

[0005] Current research is naturally focused on designing systems that minimize the energy required for latching in order to extend the battery's lifespan.

[0006] Additionally, some of these devices are constructed in a way that makes them more susceptible to accidental opening or tampering.

[0007] Therefore, the technical task of the present invention is to create an electronic cylinder lock that eliminates the technical drawbacks of known technology.

[0008] Within this technical task, one objective of the invention is to create an electronic cylinder lock that requires a reduced amount of energy to couple the rotor with the actuating cam.

[0009] Another objective of the invention is to create an electronic cylinder lock capable of recovering part of the energy required for latching from the normal operation of the lock.

[0010] A further objective of the invention is to create an electronic cylinder lock that allows for stable operational configurations.

[0011] The technical task, as well as these and other objectives, according to the present invention, are achieved by creating an electronic cylinder lock comprising a rotor, an actuating cam for operating the lock's opening mechanism, a latching element slidably supported in the rotor between a latching position and an unlatching position between said rotor and said actuating cam, characterized in that an actuator for moving said latching element is housed within the rotor, comprising an electric motor, a rotatable element operable in rotation by the electric motor, and means for magnetic coupling between said rotatable element and said sliding latching element, wherein said means for magnetic coupling comprise at least one primary permanent magnet fixed to said rotatable element and at least one secondary permanent magnet attached to said slidable latching element.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said rotatable element executes a reversible stroke between a end-of-travel position in closing, where the unlatching position is achieved, in which the rotation of the actuating cam is decoupled from the rotor's rotation, and an end-of-travel position in opening where the latching position is achieved in which the rotation of the actuating cam is coupled with the rotor's rotation.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are provided a first and a second primary permanent magnet, and a first and a second secondary permanent magnet.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in correspondence with said end-of-travel position in closing, said means for magnetic coupling are in a configuration adapted to maintain said rotatable element in a stable equilibrium position and to operate said latching element in the unlatching position.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in correspondence with said end-of-travel position in opening, said means for magnetic coupling are configured to maintain said rotatable element in a stable equilibrium position and to actuate said latching element towards the latching position.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said magnetic coupling means are adapted to reverse the direction of action of a magnetic torque generated on the rotatable element upon reaching a limit angular position during the rotation of the rotatable element from the end-of-travel position in closing to the end-of-travel position in opening, from a direction of magnetic torque opposing the opening to a direction of magnetic torque assisting the opening.

[0017] Other features of the invention are set forth in the following dependent claims.

[0018] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the electronic cylinder lock according to the invention, which is provided by way of example and not limitation, in the accompanying drawings, where:

[0019] • Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of a lock with key actuation from the outside and knob actuation from the inside;

[0020] • Figure 2 shows the lock of Figure 1 partially disassembled;

[0021] • Figure 3 shows some disassembled parts of the lock of Figure 1;

[0022] • Figure 4 shows the latching element of the lock of Figure 1 with the magnets removed;

[0023] • Figure 5 shows the rotatable element of the lock of Figure 1 with the magnets removed;

[0024] • Figures 6 A, B, C, D, E show a rear view of the rotor with the components mounted in various operational positions;

[0025] • Figure 7 shows a side elevation view of a vertical section of the lock with the key not fully inserted;

[0026] • Figure 8 shows a side elevation view of a vertical section of the lock with the key fully inserted;

[0027] • Figure 9 shows an exploded detail of the energy recovery system and the closure position locking mechanism.

[0028] With reference to the mentioned figures, an electronic cylinder lock, generally indicated by reference number 1 , is shown.

[0029] The electronic lock 1 comprises a cylindrical stator 2' having a longitudinal axis L and a rotor 2 housed coaxially within the cylindrical stator 2' and rotatable around the axis L.

[0030] The electronic lock 1 also includes a cam 3 for operating the lock's opening mechanism (not shown).

[0031] The cam 3 is also supported by the cylindrical stator 2' and is rotatable around the axis L.

[0032] The rotor 2 houses a latching element 4 supported to slide between a latching position and a unlatching position between rotor 2 and the actuating cam 3. The latching element 4 is rotationally fixed to the rotor 2.

[0033] In the latching position, the latching element 4 engages a corresponding seat 19 formed in the actuating cam 3, and the actuating cam 3 is rotationally fixed to the rotor 2, while in the unlatching position, the latching element 4 disengages from the corresponding seat 19 formed in the actuating cam 3, and the actuating cam 3 is rotationally free from the rotor 2.

[0034] A linear actuator for moving the latching element 4, which includes an electric motor 16, a rotatable element 5 driven by the electric motor 16, and magnetic coupling means between the rotatable element 5 and the sliding latching element 4, is housed within the rotor 2.

[0035] The rotation axis L' of the rotatable element 5 can coincide, as shown, with the axis L of the cylindrical stator 2'.

[0036] The rotatable element 5 executes a reversible stroke between an end-of-travel position in closing and an end-of-travel position in opening, where it commands the transition from the unlatching position to the latching position of the latching element 4.

[0037] The electric motor 16 has a rotating output shaft on which a pinion 17 is mounted.

[0038] The output shaft of the electric motor 16 is rotatable around an axis parallel and offset relative to the axis L of the cylindrical stator 2'.

[0039] The pinion 17 meshes with a toothed arc 18 of the rotatable element 5.

[0040] The magnetic coupling means comprise at least one primary permanent magnet 6, 7 attached to the rotatable element 5 and at least one secondary permanent magnet 8, 9 attached to the sliding latching element 4.

[0041] The magnetic coupling means are configured and arranged to perform multiple functions; they indeed: develop forces to maintain the coupled and decoupled positions of the latching element 4; they generate magnetic forces sufficient to move the latching element 4 from the coupled position to the decoupled position and vice versa; they generate torques to maintain a stable equilibrium position of the rotatable element 5 when it is in the end-of-travel position in closing and in the end- of-travel position in opening; they generate torques on the rotatable element 5 at precise phases of the unlatching cycle that allow, in the case of incomplete unlatching, the actual achievement of unlatching; they assist a phase of the rotation of the rotatable element 5; and at the end, in the case that will be illustrated later where a key is provided, they store energy in the magnetic field from the key extraction for the next opening cycle.

[0042] The magnetic coupling means particularly comprise a first primary permanent magnet 6 and a second primary permanent magnet 7, and a first secondary permanent magnet 8 and a second secondary permanent magnet 9.

[0043] In the end-of-travel position in closing, shown in Figure 6A, the first primary permanent magnet 6 and the second primary permanent magnet 7, and the first secondary permanent magnet 8 and the second secondary permanent magnet 9 are arranged to collectively exert a magnetic torque in the closing direction on the rotatable element 5 and a magnetic force in the unlatching direction on the latching element 4.

[0044] In the end-of-travel position in opening, shown in Figure 6E, the first primary permanent magnet 6 and the second primary permanent magnet 7, and the first secondary permanent magnet 8 and the second secondary permanent magnet 9 are arranged to collectively exert a magnetic torque in the opening direction on the rotatable element 5 and a magnetic force in the latching direction on the latching element 4.

[0045] Specifically, in the end-of-travel position in closing, illustrated in Figure 6A, the permanent magnets 7 and 9 are in a mutually magnetic coupling configuration that generates a first magnetic torque on the rotatable element 5 acting in the closing direction, and the permanent magnets 6 and 8 are in a mutually magnetic coupling configuration that generates a second magnetic torque on the rotatable element 5, also acting in the closing direction, though with less intensity.

[0046] Furthermore, in the end-of-travel position in closing, illustrated in Figure 6A, the second primary permanent magnet 7 and the second secondary permanent magnet 9 are in a mutually magnetic coupling configuration that generates a magnetic force on the latching element 4 in the unlatching direction.

[0047] At the end-of-travel position during opening, illustrated in Figure 6E, the first primary permanent magnet 6 and the second secondary magnet 9 are configured in such a way that their mutual magnetic coupling generates a magnetic force on the latching element 4 in the direction of engagement.

[0048] Moreover, at the end-of-travel position during opening, as illustrated in Figure 6E, the same permanent magnets 6 and 9 cooperate to maintain the rotatable element 5 in a stable position.

[0049] The latching element 4 is radially slidable relative to the rotational axis L of the rotor 2.

[0050] The first primary permanent magnet 6 and the second primary permanent magnet 7 are angularly offset around the rotational axis L' of the rotatable element 5 and have magnetic polarization axes lying on the plane of rotation and inclined relative to each other.

[0051] The latching element 4 is linearly slidable orthogonally with respect to the rotor's axis of the cylinder.

[0052] At the end-of-travel position during opening, the first primary permanent magnet 6 and the second secondary permanent magnet 9 are positioned with their polarization axes coaxially aligned and oriented in the direction of the latching element's 4 movement, with polarities that generate a magnetic force on the latching element 4 to achieve the latching position.

[0053] In the solution presented, the lock 1 includes a key 11 that can be inserted into a slot 12 of the rotor 2 to rotate the actuating cam 3 when the latching element 4 is in the latching position.

[0054] In this version of the electronic lock with key 11, specific energy storage means are provided from the extraction movement of the key 11 from the slot 12 to assist in a subsequent rotational actuation of the rotary element 5.

[0055] The energy storage means include a lever 22 slidable within the rotor 2 featuring releasable engagement means with the key 11. The releasable engagement means consist of a swinging hook 20 pivoted on the lever 22 and engageable in a notch 2 Ion the blade of the key 11.

[0056] The lever 22 engages with the key 11 during the insertion of the key 11 into the slot 12 and disengages from the key 11 during a final phase of the extraction of the key 11 from the slot 12.

[0057] The lever 22 features a shaped pin 13 for transmitting motion to an inclined plane 14 for taking up motion fixed to the rotatable element 5.

[0058] In practice, the inclined plane 14 is formed by a sliding surface for the pin 13 that develops along a line wrapping at an angle around the rotational axis L' of the rotatable element 5.

[0059] Specifically, the inclined plane 14 is formed by a helical surface.

[0060] In this way, a translational movement of the lever 22 is transformed into a rotational movement of the rotatable element 5.

[0061] The key 11 is connected to the lever 22 via the hook 20, which forces the lever 22 to follow the path of the slot 12 and to rotate the helical surface 14 via the pin 13.

[0062] During the initial phase of extracting the key 11, the lever 22 is driven by the latter, and once the engagement between the pin 13 and the inclined plane 14 is established, the rotatable element 5 begins to rotate.

[0063] Finally, the lock 1 includes mechanical blocking means for the rotary element 5 in the closed end- of-travel position.

[0064] The mechanical blocking means for the rotary element 5 in the closed end-of-travel position include a shoulder 15 on the inclined plane 14 intercepted by the pin 13 at the point where the lever 22 disengages from the key 11.

[0065] The mechanical blocking means for the rotatable element 5 in the closed end-of-travel position are further defined by the engagement geometry between the pinion 17 and the rotary element 5, limited to the toothed arc 18, whose angular width defines the rotational end stops.

[0066] The operation of the electronic lock is briefly as follows. The rotatable element 5 is initially in a stable end-of-travel position in closing, secured by the initial configuration of the magnets 6, 7, 8, 9 as shown in Figure 6A.

[0067] As seen in Figure 6A, magnets 7 and 9 are in a repulsive configuration because they are facing each other with magnetic poles of the same sign, generating a clockwise rotational torque on the rotatable element 5, which ensures the stability of the end-of-travel position in closing and applies a magnetic force in the unlatching direction on the latching element 4.

[0068] In the case illustrated, the unlatching direction is only incidentally vertical. The unlatching direction varies as it is not possible to define the angular position of the rotor 2 in advance.

[0069] The contribution of the magnet pair 6 and 8 to performing the functions described above, as seen in Figure 6 A, is minor.

[0070] During the insertion of the key 11, the lever 22 engages with the key 11 and is moved backward so that the pin 13 disengages from the shoulder 15, unlocking the end-of-travel position in closing. The key 11, equipped with a battery, if enabled, charges a capacitor on the electronic board of the cylinder once it is inserted into the slot 12.

[0071] The capacitor's energy powers the motor 16, which drives the pinion 17, causing the rotatable element 5 to rotate counterclockwise.

[0072] The initial opening torque applied to the rotatable element 5 by the motor 16 overcomes the magnetic holding torque of the closed position generated by the magnetic coupling means.

[0073] When the rotatable element 5, during the opening rotation, surpasses a limit angular position illustrated in Figure 6B, the magnetic torque generated by the magnetic coupling means reverses direction and aids the opening.

[0074] During the angular rotation of the rotatable element 5 in the opening direction, the initial opening torque is provided by both the permanent magnets 6 and 8 in mutual magnetic coupling, which provide a first contribution of opening magnetic torque, and by the permanent magnets 7 and 9 in mutual magnetic coupling, which provide a second contribution of opening magnetic torque

[0075] (Figure 6C).

[0076] Specifically, permanent magnets 6 and 8 repel each other by facing each other with magnetic poles of the same sign, and permanent magnets 7 and 9 also repel each other by facing each other with magnetic poles of the same sign, but with an opposite sign to the poles with which permanent magnets 6 and 8 are facing each other.

[0077] As the angular rotation of the rotatable element 5 in the opening direction proceeds, the opening magnetic torque is provided by the permanent magnets 6 and 9, which come into mutual magnetic coupling (Figure 6D).

[0078] Specifically, permanent magnets 6 and 9 attract each other by facing each other with magnetic poles of opposite signs.

[0079] The rotatable element 5 reaches the end-of-travel position in opening (Fig. 6E).

[0080] The permanent magnets 6 and 9 are aligned and facing each other with opposite magnetic polarity, exerting a latching force on the latching element 4.

[0081] The equilibrium of the rotatable element 5 is maintained by the permanent magnets 6 and 9: in fact, in the case of a slight disturbance of the equilibrium, the permanent magnets 6 and 9 generate a magnetic torque that returns the rotatable element 5 to its initial position.

[0082] It should be noted that latching is dependent on the correct angular alignment of the latching element 4 with its engagement seat 19. If such angular alignment does not exist, it must be manually adjusted by the user by rotating the rotor 2.

[0083] When the latching element 4 is latched, the actuating cam 3 is rotationally fixed to the rotor 2, and the rotation of the key 11 in the rotor 2 can be transmitted to the actuating cam 3 to actuate the lock's opening mechanism.

[0084] As previously mentioned, during the subsequent extraction of the key 11, the lever 22, pulled forward by the key 11, re-arms the rotatable element 5 in the end-of-travel position in closing by engaging the movement transfer cam 13 with the movement intake cam 14, and upon disengaging from the key 11, locks the rotatable element 5 against the shoulder 15 in the end-of-travel position in closing.

[0085] The mechanical energy required by the user to extract the key 11 from the slot 12 is thus used to re-arm the system and store energy in the magnetic field for the next opening cycle.

[0086] In the described solution, the cylinder's electronic board interacts with a key.

[0087] In other solutions, the command to authorize the opening and the energy can be transferred to the cylinder not by a key but by a magnetic card or other means. However, the key-operated cylinder lock has the undeniable advantage of being able to implement an energy recovery system, as described above, which exploits the key's extraction movement.

[0088] The electronic cylinder lock thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

[0089] For example, specific means 25, 26 can be provided for the mechanical locking of the latching element 4 unlatched in the end-of-travel position in closing.

[0090] In particular, such locking means may include a small tooth 25 formed on the rotatable element 5, designed to cooperate with a stop 26 formed on the latching element 4.

[0091] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Electronic lock (1) with a cylinder comprising a rotor (2), an actuating cam (3) for a lock opening mechanism, a latching element (4) slidably supported in the rotor (2) between a latching position and an unlatching position between said rotor (2) and said actuating cam (3), characterized in that an actuator for moving said latching element (4) is housed in the rotor (2), comprising an electric motor, a rotatable element (5) operable in rotation by the electric motor, and means for magnetic coupling between said rotatable element (5) and said slidable latching element (4), wherein said means for magnetic coupling comprise at least one primary permanent magnet (6, 7) fixed to said rotatable element (5) and at least one secondary permanent magnet (8, 9) fixed to said slidable latching element (4).

2. Electronic lock (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotatable element (5) performs a reversible stroke between a end-of-travel position in closing and an end-of- travel position in opening where it controls the switch from the unlatching position to the latching position of the latching element (4).

3. Electronic lock (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized by comprising a first (6) and a second (7) primary permanent magnet, and a first (8) and a second (9) secondary permanent magnet.

4. Electronic lock (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said means for magnetic coupling in correspondence with said end-of-travel position in closing are in a configuration adapted to maintain said rotatable element (5) in a stable equilibrium position and said latching element (4) in the unlatching position.

5. Electronic lock (1) according to any of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said means for magnetic coupling in correspondence with said end-of-travel position in opening are in a configuration adapted to maintain said rotatable element (5) in a stable equilibrium position and actuate said latching element (4) towards the latching position.

6. Electronic lock according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said latching element (4) is slidable orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the rotor (2).

7. Electronic lock (1) according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that said means for magnetic coupling are adapted to reverse the direction of a magnetic torque generated on said rotatable element (5) when reaching a limit angular position during the rotation of the rotatable element (5) from the end-of-travel position in closing to the end-of-travel position in opening, from a direction of magnetic torque opposing the opening to a direction of magnetic torque assisting the opening.

8. Electronic lock (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized by comprising a key (11) insertable into a slot (12) of the rotor (2) to actuate the actuating cam (3) when the latching element (4) is in the latching position, and means for energy accumulation from a key extraction movement (11) from the slot (12) to assist a subsequent rotational actuation of said rotatable element (5).

9. Electronic lock (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said energy recovery means comprise a slidable lever (22) in the rotor (2) with means for releasable engagement with the key (11), said lever (22) having a pin (13) for transferring motion to an inclined plane (14) for taking up motion fixed to said rotatable element (5).

10. Electronic lock (1) according to any preceding claim, characterized by presenting means (25, 26) for mechanical locking of the rotatable element (5) in said end-of-travel position in closing.

11. Electronic lock (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that said mechanical locking means of the rotatable element (5) in said end-of-travel position in closing include a shoulder (15) of the inclined plane (14) intercepted by the pin (13) in correspondence with the release position of the lever (22) from the key (11).

12. Electronic lock (1) according to the previous claim, characterized by the fact of having means (25, 26) for mechanically blocking the latching element (4) unlatched in said end- of-travel position in closing.

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