Electromechanical door lock actuator device with width-adjustable gripper mechanism, and kit with different gripper jaws.

Abstract

Electromechanical door lock actuator device with width adjustable gripper mechanism and kit with different gripper jaws. The electromechanical door lock actuation device (1) involves a motor (11) to rotate a connector receiver (13) having two jaws (18) for gripping a door knob (17) or a key (14) when the device (1) is installed on a door blade, and the width between the ten jaws (18) is adjustable to provide a tight fit against the knob (17) or key (14).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electromechanical door lock actuator device according to the preamble of the independent claim. The present invention also relates to a mounting kit with such a device.

Background Art

[0002] In International Publication No. 2017 / 114534, an international patent application devised by Overgaard and assigned to Danalock, an electromechanical door lock actuator mounted on the surface of a door blade is disclosed for operating a door lock inside the door blade. The actuator has a cylindrical body, and a battery-powered motor is provided inside the cylindrical body. The motor rotates a pin receiver connected to a driver pin extending from the door lock to the rear of the actuator. When the actuator that activates the motor in one direction or the other operates by a wireless signal, the pin receiver rotates by the motor. A manual rotation knob is provided for locking and unlocking by hand instead of the motor.

[0003] In U.S. Patent No. 9,546,504 by Overgaard, an electromechanical door lock actuator with a similar structure to the central pin receiver rotated by a motor is disclosed. Three types of adapters are provided to adapt the pin receiver to a specific type of driver pin of the door lock.

[0004] In International Publication No. 2005 / 024160, an international patent application assigned to Aptus Elektronik AB, an electromechanical door lock actuator with a manual rotation lock handle connected to a door lock by a driver pin is disclosed.

[0005] International Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 194304 discloses an electromechanical door lock actuator, comprising a lock motor / handle module and an adapter module, for gripping and rotating an existing knob on a door lock. Regarding appropriate couplings, the module can be equipped with couplings having grooves of different lengths and widths. Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 111379496 also discloses different couplings.

[0006] German Patent No. 102004021704 discloses an electromechanical door lock actuator in which a motor module using a sprocket gear rotates an adapter of an adapter module. The adapter has a slot for a door key to receive the key in the slot and acts to rotatably operate the key. A U-shaped claw grips around the end of the key. A spring load is applied to the claw to appropriately adapt to the length of the key. However, due to the predetermined width of the claw gripping around the end of the key, the width is not adjustable and, consequently, is only effective for a small number of standard keys.

[0007] In particular, with regard to locks used in the United States, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0011822 discloses a modified lock insert to provide a pin connection between the actuator and the lock.

[0008] As can be seen from the above, lock adaptation is mainly done by providing one adapter for each of the specific types of pin connectors, keys, or handles. While there seems to be a wide range of demands to adapt electromechanical door lock actuators to various types of locks, the common approach is to provide a new adapter, and each time the actuator needs to be adapted to a specific type of lock.

[0009] It would be desirable to provide a more general solution. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 114534 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 9546504 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2005 / 024160 [Patent Document 4] International Publication No. 2016 / 194304 [Patent Document 5] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 111379496 Specification [Patent Document 6] German Patent No. 102004021704 Specification [Patent Document 7] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0011822 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improvement to the art. Specifically, the object is to provide a more versatile technical solution for adapting an electromechanical door lock actuator to a particular type of door lock. This object and further advantages are realized by an electromechanical door lock actuator device and mounting kit as described below and in the claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In short, an electromechanical door lock actuation device has a motor to rotate a connector receiver having two jaws for gripping a doorknob or key when the device is installed on the door blade, and the width between the jaws is adjustable to fit tightly against the knob or key.

[0013] In practice, the device is mounted on the surface of the door blade to operate the door lock, and typically the Mortis lock is mounted inside the door blade or inside the door frame. For this operation, the device includes a driver mechanism for rotating a connector, such as a key or knob, with a motor. The driver mechanism is functionally connected to the door lock and is configured so that the rotation of the connector drives the lock bolt in the door lock.

[0014] The device comprises a casing, and inside the casing is a rotating connector receiver for receiving and rotating a connector, such as a key, pin, or knob, from the door lock when the casing is mounted on the door blade. To rotate the connector with a motor, the device comprises a motor inside the casing. The motor is functionally and mechanically connected to the connector receiver, usually by gears. The connector receiver has slots for receiving and connecting the connector.

[0015] Specifically, to broaden the applications beyond the prior art, a width-adjustable gripper device is provided, which includes jaws positioned on the opposite side of the slot for gripping the connector between the jaws. The width-adjustable gripper device includes a width adjustment mechanism for adjusting the width between the jaws, and thereby for tight-fit adjustment, to bring the connector into contact with the jaws. Advantageously, the distance between the jaws is infinitely adjustable, for example, by screws, and optionally, one screw acts on one jaw and another on the opposite jaw.

[0016] In some embodiments, at least one of the jaws, however both are positioned on opposite sides, has an elastomer surface for a firm grip on the connector. For example, the elastomer surface includes an elongated groove that is not perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the connector receiver, and optionally, the groove is parallel to the axis of rotation.

[0017] In some practical embodiments, at least one of the jaws comprises an elastomeric block for abutting against the connector.

[0018] Advantageously, the bending mechanism is provided inside an adapter module configured to adjust, for example, the radius of curvature of the jaws of the elastomeric block. By adjusting the bending, the jaws adapt to the outer bending of the connector for a firm grip with the connector. In particular, it has been pointed out that doorknobs have various sizes, can be circular or elliptical, and generally, the gripping force can be improved by adjusting the jaws to follow along a circular surface.

[0019] For example, in practice, the stabilizing plate is provided on or in the elastomeric block, and the stabilizing plate has a higher rigidity than the elastomeric block. Optionally, the bending mechanism comprises a screw mechanism with at least one screw configured to deform the jaws, for example, by deforming the stabilizing plate with the elastomeric block, by rotation of at least one screw. In some embodiments, two screws are provided, one screw at each of two opposite ends of the jaws, for example, one screw at each of two opposite ends of the stabilizing plate.

[0020] In some practical embodiments, the device is modular, - an actuator module having an actuator casing, for example a cylindrical casing, the casing containing a motor and usually also a battery for driving the motor as well as the necessary electronics, - an adapter module having an adapter casing that contains a connector receiver but no motor, - A connector module having a first side for abutting against a door blade and an opposite side for supporting an actuator module and an adapter module in an adjacent configuration, the connector module containing a part of a meshing gear device, the meshing gear meshing a gear at the location of the actuator module and a gear at the location of the adapter module with the motor of the actuator module to mechanically and functionally interconnect with the connector receiver of the adapter module, the connector module, and is provided with.

[0021] For example, instead of the adapter module, the actuator module is provided with a handle for manually rotating the connector receiver by means of a meshing gear device.

[0022] To adjust the device to various types of connectors including keys of different thicknesses and doorknobs of different sizes and types including oval, the kit is optionally provided as follows. The kit includes a device as described above with a first pair and a second pair of Joe's. The first pair of Joe's is provided with a flat surface, and the second pair of Joe's is provided with a curved surface. Next, the installer can select the best pair of Joe's joints and install that pair on the adapter module of the device on-site, for example, as an installation technique. In this way, the connector can be held by the best abutment either against the flat surface of the first pair of Joe's or against the curved surface near the second pair of Joe's. For example, Joe is provided with an elastomeric surface, for example, an elastomeric block, and is adjustable for its flexure useful for fine-tuning the connector receiver as described above.

[0023] The operation of the motor can be adjusted by the controller in various ways. It is important that the motor stops when the locking bolt of the lock moves to the final position or at least to a position protecting locking or unlocking.

[0024] For example, the lock bolt is driven until it contacts the equipment fastener, after which the motor is prevented from driving the lock bolt, and the motor's power consumption increases. The power consumption is measured electronically, and the motor's motion is stopped in this direction. Alternatively, an angular motion decoder is used to stop the motor before the lock bolt reaches the equipment fastener, controlling the angle of the connector receiver to its maximum or at least sufficient rotation.

[0025] The device's motor can, in principle, be activated by power from a power source, which is started by manually pressing a push-button contact, closing the electrical circuit. Instead of a push-button contact, a relay switch can be used, for example, to allow automatic operation. Alternatively, or further, the motor can be activated by rotating a handle, and the decoder reads the rotation of a connector receiver by the manually rotating handle, which activates the motor to assist the user in locking or unlocking the door.

[0026] As an option with specific advantages, the device operates remotely via radio signals. For example, the device may have a receiver inside the casing to receive and execute radio digital command data to lock or unlock a door lock, and the receiver may be functionally coupled to a motor to activate the motor in response to the lock or unlock command. For example, the receiver may be configured to receive radio digital command signals such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, ZigBee, or other radio frequency signals. The integrated circuit inside the casing may be configured and programmed to activate the motor in either direction when the receiver receives a corresponding radio command signal, typically from a smartphone or pager. However, the device may also include a transceiver for bidirectional digital communication with a programmable computer system to remotely control the device using encrypted digital communication, at the discretion of the user, for example, a smartphone or other type of computer. Encrypted digital communication can be achieved using a corresponding encryption key that communicates between the integrated circuit and the smartphone or other type of computer used to remotely operate the device. Additional Wi-Fi transmission to multiple devices is also optional.

[0027] For example, the actuator module includes electronic equipment for controlling the locking and unlocking of motor-driven actions via an adapter module. Optionally, the actuator module also includes a radio transceiver for wireless communication to receive radio commands for locking and unlocking and to transmit radio status information.

[0028] As can be seen from the above, the device is useful for installation on existing doors with existing door locks. During such installation, the device is mounted on the door blade, thereby the slot of the connector receiver receives the connector, for example, a key or knob, and then the width adjustment mechanism is adjusted to fit snugly against the connector.

[0029] The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0030] [Figure 1A] A device with a casing is shown in a perspective view. [Figure 1B] The device with the casing removed is shown in a perspective view. [Figure 2] This is a top view of the connector receiver that holds the doorknob between the jaws. [Figure 3] Shows a curved jaw. [Figure 4] This is a top view of the connector receiver that holds the key between the jaws. [Figure 5] This is a first-side perspective view of the connector module as it is mounted relative to the door blade. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] Figure 1A shows an electromechanical door lock actuator device 1. The device comprises a double module, which includes an actuator module 2 and an adapter module 3, in addition to a connector module 4 that mechanically and functionally connects the actuator module 2 and the adapter module 3. The adapter module 3 has a large cylindrical wall 5 that extends from the connector module 4 to a cover plate 6. The actuator module 2 has a large cylindrical wall 7, which extends from the connector module 4 to a manual handle 8 that functions as a cover for the actuator module 2. The manual handle 8 can be used to lock and unlock, in addition to its motor function. As part of the cylindrical wall 7 of the actuator module 2, a door 9 is provided for accessing the battery inside the actuator module 2.

[0032] Figure 1B shows the actuator device 1 with walls 5 and 7 removed to reveal the interior.

[0033] The actuator module 2 is equipped with several batteries 10 to supply electricity to the motor 11, which can be driven in the opposite direction by switching the direction of the current. During operation, the motor 11 drives a gear meshing device 12. The gears of the actuator module 2 mesh with the gears of the adapter module 3.

[0034] The adapter module 3 includes a motor-driven gear unit 12 and a connector receiver 13 for adapting to the door's rotary connector, for example, a key 14 or handle.

[0035] The actuator module includes electronic equipment 15 for controlling lock and unlock actions by motor 11 and adapter module 3. The electronic equipment 15 includes a controller 25 for motor 11 and a radio transceiver 26 for receiving digital radio commands, such as programming commands or actuation commands, and for transmitting radio status information.

[0036] Typically, wireless communication is done via Bluetooth using a smartphone and / or through a Wi-Fi system. Various other options exist, including Z-wave, ZigBee, or other types of radio frequency signals.

[0037] The controller 25 includes a start / stop function that rotates the rotary connector receiver 13, and thus the door lock connector, until the door lock bolt reaches the appropriate furthest end position for the open or closed state of the door. The start / stop function can be programmed into the computer program of the controller 25, or a sensor that measures the resistance of the lock bolt can be used as a start and stop feature, which can optionally be combined with a measurement of the distance the lock bolt travels to ensure that the lock bolt has moved sufficiently to actually lock the door.

[0038] Figure 2 shows some details of an embodiment, in which adapter module 3 contains a first embodiment of connector receiver 13. This connector receiver 13 includes a width-adjustable gripper device 16 designed for a doorknob 17, which is also used to unlock and optionally lock the door. The gripper device 16 includes two jaws 18 positioned opposite each other, abutting against the opposite side of the shown elliptical doorknob 17. The width between the jaws 18 can be adjusted by a width adjustment device, which typically includes a screw 19. The screw 19 is useful in that the width adjustment is stepless.

[0039] Figure 3 shows one of the multiple jaws 18 in more detail. For example, the jaw 18 comprises a polymer block 18A preferably made of an elastomer polymer, which has a high degree of friction against smooth surfaces, particularly metal surfaces. The overall shape of the jaw 18 is concave in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the door knob 17, which is held between the jaws 18, so as to follow the curvature of the surface of the knob 17.

[0040] As an option, it is also possible to provide two-dimensional bending to Jaw 18, but in practice, no need for this has been found.

[0041] However, it has been found useful to provide the jaw 18 with a profile that includes a groove 22 extending across the jaw 18 in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the door knob 17. The groove 22 provides an increased gripping force on the door knob 17, especially when the jaw 18 has an elastomer surface such as an elastomer block 18A.

[0042] Optionally, the bending of the jaw 18 is adjustable. For this purpose, the elastomer block 18A of the jaw 18 is supported by a bending plate 20, for example, a metal plate. The adapter module 2 is equipped with bending adjustment screws 21A, 21B, as shown in Figure 1B, and the adapter module 2 acts on different ends of the bending plate 20 by tightening the bending adjustment screws 21A, 21B, causing the bending plate 20 to bend more and more so that the radius of curvature of the jaw 18 becomes smaller. Optionally, the bending adjustment screws 21A, 21B are fastened to the plate 20, thereby allowing the ends 20A, 20B of the plate 20 to be pushed or pulled from an idle state to a state of compressive stress in one or opposite directions, and as a result the radius of curvature can be decreased and increased from an idle state.

[0043] As an alternative to the described device with central width adjustment screw 19 and bending adjustment screws 21A, 21B, it is possible to use a device in which the central screw is used to adjust the bending instead of the width adjustment screw 19, and another width-adjustable gripper device is used for width adjustment. For example, it is conceivable to use two screws in the same locations as screws 21A, 21b.

[0044] Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the jaws 18 are linear. This embodiment is useful for keys 14 of different thicknesses. In this embodiment, the width between the jaws 18 can be adjusted by width adjustment screws 19 to match the distance between the jaws 18 to the thickness of the key 14.

[0045] At will, and in the idle state, these straight jaws 18 can be subjected to compressive stress by adjustment screws 21A and 21B to transition from a straight idle state to a bent state in one direction, where the jaw surface facing the key becomes concave.

[0046] As a further option, the screws 21A, 21B and jaw 18 are arranged so that jaw 18 can be bent into a convex configuration.

[0047] To provide a flexible electromechanical door lock actuator device 1 for adaptation to various door lock systems, the device can be provided as part of a kit, either with a key or with a knob, and various pairs of jaws 18 are provided, which are then inserted into an adapter module 3 as needed to achieve the best fit. In some cases, the kit included pairs of jaws 18 with straight surfaces, as well as pairs of jaws with curved surfaces, and optionally several pairs with different curves, to be adjusted to elliptical knobs 17 and round knobs of various sizes.

[0048] Figure 5 shows the possible connections between the adapter module 3 and the lock cylinder 23, which extends from the connector module 4 through a corresponding notch 27 into the door blade (not shown) where the door lock with a lock bolt (not shown) is located. The fastening bolt 24 extends from the connector module 4 into the door and typically into the door lock to fasten the electromechanical door lock actuator device 1 to the door. The key 14 extends into the lock cylinder 23 and is actuated by motorizing the key 14 of the adapter module 3. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1 Electromechanical Door Lock Actuator Device 1 2 Actuator Modules 3 Adapter Modules 4 Connector Modules 5. Cylindrical wall of adapter module 3 6. Adapter module cover plate 7. Cylindrical wall of actuator module 2 8 Manual handle 9 Battery Door 10 batteries 11 Motors 12. Measuring gears 13 Connector Receiver 14 keys 15 Electronic equipment 16 Width adjustable gripper device 17 Door handles 18 Joe 18A Jaw's Polymer Block 19 Width adjustment screw 20 Jaw 18 Polymer Block 18A Bendable Plate 20A, 20B End of plate 20 21A, 21B Bending adjustment screw 22 Jaw 18 groove 23 Lock Cylinder 24 Fastening means 25 Controllers 26 Wireless transceivers 27 Notches

Claims

1. An electromechanical door lock actuation device (1) for mounting on the surface of a door blade and for operating a door lock (23) on the door blade, wherein the electromechanical door lock actuation device (1) comprises a driver mechanism (8, 11, 12) for rotating connectors (14, 17) with a motor, the driver mechanism (8, 11, 12) functionally connected to the door lock and configured to drive a lock bolt on the door lock by the rotation of the connectors (14, 17), The electromechanical door lock operating device (1) includes a rotary connector receiver (13) for receiving and rotating the connectors (14, 17) when the electromechanical door lock operating device (1) is mounted on the door blade, The electromechanical door lock operating device (1) includes a motor (11) that is functionally and mechanically connected to the rotary connector receiver (13) by a gear mechanism (12). The rotary connector receiver (13) comprises a width-adjustable gripper device having jaws (18) for gripping the connectors (14, 17) in a slot between them, and the width-adjustable gripper device comprises a width adjustment mechanism (19) for adjusting the width of the slot between the jaws (18) to bring the connectors (14, 17) into contact with the jaws (18) by tight-fit adjustment. The electromechanical door lock operating device (1) is modular, - An actuator module (2) having an actuator casing (7, 8) containing the motor (11), - An adapter module (3) having an adapter casing (5, 6) that contains the rotary connector receiver (13) but does not have the motor, - A connector module (4) having a first side for contacting the door blade and a opposite side for supporting the actuator module (2) and the adapter module (3) in an adjacent configuration, wherein the connector module (4) includes a gear mechanism (12) of a meshing gear, the meshing gear having a gear at the location of the actuator module (2) and a gear at the location of the adapter module (3) for mechanically and functionally interconnecting the motor (11) of the actuator module (2) with the rotary connector receiver (13) of the adapter module (3), Equipped with, An electromechanical door lock operating device (1) characterized in that the actuator module (2), rather than the adapter module (3), is provided with a handle (8) for manually rotating the rotary connector receiver (13) by the gear mechanism (12) of the meshing gear.

2. The electromechanical door lock operating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the jaws (18) is infinitely adjustable.

3. The distance between the jaws (18) is infinitely adjustable by a screw (19), where one screw acts on one jaw and the other screw acts on the opposite jaw, according to claim 2, the electromechanical door lock operating device (1).

4. The electromechanical door lock operating device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a bending mechanism provided inside the adapter casing (5, 6) configured to adjust the bending of at least one jaw (18) to match the outward bending of the connector (17).

5. The electromechanical door lock operating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaws (18) has an elastomer surface for gripping the connectors (14, 17).

6. The electromechanical door lock operating device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the elastomer surface includes an elongated groove that is not perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary connector receiver (13).

7. The electromechanical door lock operating device (1) according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the jaws (18) is provided with an elastomer block (18A) for contacting the connector (17), and a bending mechanism (20A, 20B, 21A, 21B) is provided inside the adapter casing (5, 6) and is configured to adjust the bending of the elastomer block (18A) for adjusting the jaw (18) to match the outward curvature of the connector (17).

8. The electromechanical door lock operating device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the stabilizing plate (20) is provided on or in the elastomer block (18A), the stabilizing plate (20) has higher rigidity than the elastomer block (18A), and the bending mechanism (20A, 20B, 21A, 21B) comprises a screw mechanism with at least one screw (21A, 21B) configured to deform the stabilizing plate (20) by the rotation of at least one screw (21A, 21B).

9. The electromechanical door lock operating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the actuator module (2) includes electronic equipment (15) for controlling locking and unlocking actions by the motor (11) and by the adapter module (3), the electronic equipment (15) comprises a controller (16) for the motor and a wireless transceiver (26) for wireless communication with a smartphone to receive wireless commands for locking and unlocking and to deliver wireless status information.

10. A kit comprising an electromechanical door lock actuation device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the first pair of jaws (18) having a flat surface, the second pair of jaws having a curved surface, and for selective mounting of the first pair of jaws or the second pair of jaws within the adapter casing (5, 6) to selectively bring the connectors (14, 17) into contact with the flat surface of the first pair of jaws or the curved surface of the second pair of jaws (18).

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