Single-Knob Electromechanical Cylinder with Internal Rotor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional double-knob electromechanical cylinders are not compatible with American, Australian, and Scandinavian mortise locks, and their complex design and manufacturing process lead to high production and storage costs, as well as security vulnerabilities due to exposed motor elements.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanical cylinder design featuring a single external knob with an internal electronic module, including a rotor and clutch mechanism, which is securely fixed to the mechanical cylinder body, allowing for axial protection and easy adaptation to various lock types, with interchangeable actuator elements and enhanced security features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a double-knob electromechanical cylinder design is used, then security is improved and all electronic components can be housed, but compatibility with American, Australian, and Scandinavian mortise locks is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The cylinder is divided into two separate parts: a mechanical body that provides compatibility with different lock types, and an electronic module that contains all electronic components. The electronic module can be detached and replaced, allowing the same mechanical body to be used across different lock types while maintaining security features.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical body of the cylinder is designed with universal compatibility to work with American, Australian, Scandinavian, and European mortise locks. This allows a single mechanical design to serve multiple lock types, while the electronic module provides the security functionality needed across all applications.
2Reliability
If a double-knob electromechanical cylinder design is used, then electronic components can be housed, but manufacturing complexity and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cylinder is divided into two separate parts: a mechanical body that provides compatibility with different lock types, and an electronic module that contains all electronic components. The electronic module can be detached and replaced, allowing the same mechanical body to be used across different lock types while maintaining security features.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic module merges the card reader, control circuit, batteries, and motor into a single integrated unit that attaches to the mechanical body. This consolidation simplifies manufacturing by allowing the electronic components to be assembled as one module rather than distributed across multiple separate components.
3Ease of operation
If the motor element is placed in the outer knob, then ease of operation is improved, but security is compromised due to accessible motor elements
Solution Approach 1:
The motor element is nested within the electronic module, which is itself attached to the mechanical body of the cylinder. This nested arrangement allows the motor to remain accessible for operation while being protected within the structured housing of the electronic module, preventing easy tampering while maintaining functionality.
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 simplifies manufacturing and distribution, maintains high security against fraudulent access, and allows for a wide range of models without significant warehousing investments, enabling easy assembly and adaptation in various lock types.
Implementation Method 1
some electrical supply batteries, while the rotor includes a drive motor and a clutch mechanism
Implementation Method 2
the rotor includes a drive motor and a clutch mechanism
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
The electromechanical cylinder is of the type which is formed by means of a knob (4) fixed to the cylinder body (5) mounted in the respective lock, connected to the outer face of the latter, namely it includes a single knob, with the particular feature that the rotor (6), which together with the knob (4) forms an electronic module, is situated inside a housing (15) of the cylinder body (5) and is retained inside the latter axially, but with the possibility of rotating freely so that, when the rotor (6) is mounted on the knob (4), it remains on the inside and inaccessible so as to prevent any tampering therewith, which is due to the fact that a base (7), which forms the element for fixing together the knob (4) and the cylinder body (5), is fixed by means of screws (38) which, when the assembly is mounted, are positioned facing each other in the vicinity of the associated door on which the lock is located, preventing said possible tampering or forcing.