Electronic Lock Cylinder Sealed Actuator Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic lock cylinders face challenges in sealing the actuator within the lock cylinder housing, allowing moisture ingress and potential tampering, due to gaps between rotating coupling sections, which also transmit unwanted torque in the uncoupled state.
Innovation Solution
A V-shaped groove is formed between the driving bit coupling part and the shaft, sealed with a standardized O-ring, providing a hermetic seal that prevents moisture ingress and minimizes torque transmission in the uncoupled state, using a conical section and a radially oriented end face to accommodate the O-ring for effective sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a gap is provided between the driving bit coupling part and the shaft to allow free rotation in the uncoupled state, then the ease of operation is improved, but moisture can ingress into the actuator through the gap
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing ring is introduced as an intermediary element between the driving bit coupling part and the shaft. This sealing ring allows the two components to rotate freely relative to each other in the uncoupled state while simultaneously preventing moisture from passing through the gap, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and protection against harmful factors.
2Reliability
If the area around the actuator is sealed to prevent moisture ingress, then the reliability is improved, but torque transmission from the knob to the driver in the uncoupled state is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring serves as a mediator that differentiates between harmful forces (moisture pressure) and useful forces (torque transmission). It is designed to block moisture ingress while allowing torque to pass through when the actuator is in the uncoupled state, thus maintaining both reliability and force transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring provides localized sealing properties at the interface between the driving bit coupling part and the shaft. The sealing is applied only where needed (at the gap interface) rather than throughout the entire structure, allowing free rotation and torque transmission in operational areas while providing moisture protection at the critical sealing interface.
3Reliability
If an O-ring is clamped radially between two shafts to seal the actuator, then the reliability is improved, but a very high frictional force is generated causing frictional torque transmission
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of clamping the O-ring radially between two shafts (which creates high friction), the sealing ring is positioned and clamped in an inverted or alternative configuration that achieves sealing effectiveness while minimizing frictional contact. This inversion of the sealing approach eliminates the harmful frictional torque transmission while maintaining the beneficial moisture barrier.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to an electronic locking cylinder (42) comprising: a locking cylinder housing (40); a shaft (20) which is rotatably arranged at least partially within the locking cylinder housing (40) about a longitudinal axis (A) of the locking cylinder housing; and a drive bar (3) which is rotatably arranged about the longitudinal axis (A) and is fixedly connected to a drive bar coupling part (30). The drive bar coupling part (30) is rotatably arranged within the locking cylinder body (40) about the longitudinal axis (A), wherein the drive bar coupling part (30) has a conical section (102) which is arranged adjacent to an end (21) of the shaft (20), and a gap (101) is formed between the conical section (102) and the end (21). A circumferential seal (100) in the form of an O-ring is arranged in this gap (101).