Locking Cylinder Spring Preload Motor Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lock cylinders with additional blocking elements require cyclic activation, leading to high energy consumption, especially when battery-operated, as they cannot transition to the locking position unless the lock core is in the specific release rotational position.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a spring that provides locking force and can be locally displaced by a motorized drive, allowing energy storage in a deviating rotational position, enabling the locking element to move into the locking position when the lock core reaches its release position, thus eliminating the need for continuous motor drive activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking element is controlled by cyclic activation of the motor drive, then the locking element can be moved into the locked position, but energy consumption is considerable
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is pre-loaded by the motor drive before the locking operation is needed. This preliminary action stores energy in the spring, which is then released automatically to move the locking element into the locked position without requiring continuous motor activation, thereby reducing energy consumption while ensuring reliable locking
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded mechanism enables the locking element to move into its locked position automatically using the stored energy from the pre-loaded spring, without requiring continuous external power or control signals. The system serves itself by converting the pre-stored mechanical energy into the locking action, eliminating the need for cyclic motor drive activation
2Use of energy by moving object
If the locking element is activated only in the release rotational position, then energy consumption is reduced, but the locking element cannot be positioned in non-release positions
Solution Approach 1:
The motor drive pre-positions the spring-loaded locking element during the locking operation, preparing it in advance so that when the cylinder reaches the release position, the locking element can be quickly and reliably moved into the locked position without requiring the cylinder to be held in a specific position for extended periods
Solution Approach 2:
The spring acts as an intermediary between the motor drive and the locking element. It stores energy and provides the force needed to move the locking element into the locked position, allowing the system to achieve reliable locking without requiring the cylinder to remain in the release position or requiring continuous motor activation
3Use of energy by moving object
If the spring is pre-loaded to enable automatic locking, then energy consumption is reduced, but the spring force must be sufficient to overcome friction and misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The motor drive applies a pre-load to the spring during the locking operation, storing sufficient energy to overcome friction and minor misalignments when the locking element needs to move into its locked position. This preliminary force application ensures the spring has enough stored energy to reliably actuate the locking mechanism without requiring excessive continuous force
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded mechanism provides dynamic force delivery to the locking element. Rather than requiring constant high force from the motor, the spring stores energy and releases it dynamically when needed, providing the necessary force surge to overcome friction and misalignment only at the moment of locking, thereby reducing overall energy consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design extends the battery life of lock cylinders by allowing energy storage and efficient transfer of the locking element into its locking position, even when the lock core is not in the release rotational position, reducing energy consumption and ensuring reliable locking without continuous motor operation.
Implementation Method 1
the spring can be moved by means of the motor drive from its release position into a locking position... When the locking core is in a different rotational position than its release position, the movable spring stores energy and applies a preload to the locking element
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a locking cylinder (10) with a locking core (16) rotatable in a housing (12), wherein the locking core can be locked to the housing by means of at least one locking element (24) operable with a key, wherein the key can be inserted into and removed from the locking core in a release rotation position of the locking core, wherein an additional locking mechanism (26) is provided for locking the locking core to the housing, which can be actuated independently of the locking element and the key and by means of a motor drive (28), wherein the additional locking mechanism comprises a locking element (30) which, in a locked position, prevents a rotational movement of the locking core relative to the housing and, in a release position, allows a rotational movement of the locking core relative to the housing.wherein the additional locking mechanism comprises a spring (54) which can be displaced locally by means of the motor drive and which interacts with the locking element, wherein in a release position of the spring the locking element (30) cannot be moved into its locking position and wherein in a locking position of the spring the spring acts on the locking element with a force which biases the locking element in a rotational position deviating from the release rotational position of the locking core in the direction of its locking position and which moves the locking element into the locking position in the release rotational position of the locking core.