WO1997005352A1

WO1997005352A1 - Electromechanical lock

Info

Publication number: WO1997005352A1
Application number: PCT/UA1995/000004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vladimir Jurievich Petelin
Original assignee: Vladimir Jurievich Petelin
Priority date: 1995-07-31
Filing date: 1995-07-31
Publication date: 1997-02-13
Also published as: AU1336197A

Abstract

An electromechanical lock comprises a first locking member (3) attached at its free end to a spring-loaded lever (8) arranged to coact with a rotation-limitting stop (11) which is controlled by an electromagnet (13). The working end of the first locking member (3) comprises a slot (16) having a necked portion (17) at its mouth, a second locking member (18) having its cross section of an ellipse-like shape. Such an arrangement makes it possible for the member (18) to be extended into the slot (16) when releasing the lock and to fix the member (18) in the necked portion (17) when blocking the lock to provide a reliable engagement between the locking members while minimizing energy consumption needed for their relative displacement.

Description

ELECTROMECHANICAL LOCK

Technical Field

The present invention relates to iron-mongery, and more particularly it relates to locks, especially to electromechanical locks controlled by a low-voltage electromagnet preferably connected in a combinatorial control circuit having a self-contained power supply.

Background Art

Known in the art are many designs of electromechanical locks. In particular, known is an electromechanical lock comprising a first locking member in the form of a cross-bar which is coupled to a spring-loaded rotary lever via a shackle ( DE 4031077 ). The rotary lever counteracts the action of the springs via the shackle to provide an engagement between the first locking member and a second locking member, i.e. to displace the cross-bar into the locking position. The rotary lever is, in its turn, blocked by another lever system coupled to an electromagnet which retains the lock in the blocked state.

A significant energy consumption is needed to hold a lock of this type in the blocked position.

Also known is an electromechanical lock comprising a first locking member in the form of a latch which is disposed in a housing and is displaced with respect to the housing by a lever system consisting of a lever, spring and element which couples the lever to the latch ( GB 2230550 ). This electromechanical lock also comprises a second locking member and a blocking system having a rotation- limiting stop which is coupled to the armature of a controlled electromagnet. In response to a control signal, the blocking system is actuated to retain the lever system in such a position that the maximum displacement of the latch with respect to the second locking member is achieved.

It is understood, that the use of this design of a lock also requires a considerable energy consumption. It is also should be noted, that electromechanical locks of this type do not provide a sufficiently reliable engagement between first and second locking members.

For instance, the latch or cross-bar which is disposed in the housing of the first locking member engages a box disposed in the second locking member. The latch may take up the locking position, but when applying some force, the box, however, can be forced in a direction opposite to the lock resulting in releasing the latch and opening the using activity.

Disclosure of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide an electromechanical lock which, by virture of incorporating improved locking members therewithin, would provide a more reliable engagement between those members to minimize their relative displacement and, accordingly, to reduce the energy consumption and to provide the possibility of using small-sized long-life batteries as a power source.

The above object is achieved with an electromechanical lock comprising a first locking member disposed in a housing and attached at its free end to a spring-loaded lever which is arranged to coact with a rotation-limiting stop coupled to a controlled electromagnet, and a second locking member arranged to coact with the working end of the first locking member, wherein according to the invention the first locking member is mounted to be pivotable in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the lever, the working end of the first locking member having a slot comprising a necked portion at its mouth , the second locking member having a cross-section of a substantially ellipse-like shape to provide for extending the second locking member into the slot of the working end when releasing the lock, and for fixing the second locking member in the necked portion when blocking the lock, the connection between the first locking member and the spring-loaded lever being formed as a body of revolution disposed in the housing, and being adapted to put this member into releasing or blocking position of the lock in response to control signals supplied to the electromagnet.

Such an arrangement of the electromechanical lock of the invention will provide a reliable engagement between the locking members in the locking state ot the lock with a minimum energy consumption since, in case of an unauthorized attempt to open a door, for example, by simple forcing it down, the second locking member will substantially be seized at the necked portion, while providing the optimal relative displacement of the two locking members without seizing thereof when unblocking the lock.

It is advantageous, that the slot of the working end has a substantially Ω - shaped cross-section.

Such a design will provide the best conditions for engagement and disengagement of the locking members, especially at the necked portion.

It is desirable, at the free end of the first locking member, to have at least one recess forming a surface of engagement with the body of revolution.

The at least one recess makes it possible to fix the position of the working end of the first locking member such that the slot takes up the most optimal position with respect to the ellipse-shaped portion of the second locking member, prior to subsequent relative displacement of these two members.

According to one embodiment, control of the electromagnet is effected by an electronic circuit coupled to a code circuitry having a keyboard mounted on a handle, such as a handle of a door.

Such an arrangement of the electromechanical lock according to the invention allows to further simplify the process of mounting the lock and dialing a code.

Also, in this embodiment, it is desirable that the handle is of a bent shape and has a cavity adapted for mounting the keyboard therewithin to provide for secrecy of a code to be dialed. For convenience, it is desirable that the handle comprises, at its outer surface, orientation elements indicating locations of corresponding keys.

Also, it is advantageous, that the outer surface of the handle comprises at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of an element mdicating voltage drop, an element indicating a call, and an element indicating coupling to an external power supply, to provide for further convenience when using the lock of the invention.

Brief Description of Drawings

Further, the invention will be explained by the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention with reference to accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of an electromechanical lock according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows one embodiment of a handle having a built-in keyboard of a control circuit of the electromechanical lock according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 of Fig.

2;

Fig. 4 is another embodiment of the handle having the built-in keyboard of the control circuit of the electromechanical lock according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line Y - Y of Fig.

4; and

Fig. 6( a, b, c ) are different relative positions of the first and second locking members when locking and opening the electromechanical lock according to the invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reffering to Fig. 1 , the electromechanical lock comprises a metal housing 1 having two parallel flanges 2 with a first locking member 3 disposed therebetween. The housing 1 is secured to a movable part of a using activity to be locked. The locking member 3 is mounted between the flanges 2 by means of a bar having an axle 4 to swing about this axle 4, preferably by an angle of 50°. At the rear side of the locking member 3, there is formed a depression or hollow 5 for receiving a ball 6 ( in other embodiments, there may be several depressions, as shown in Fig. 6 ). The ball 6 (Fig. 1) is spring-loaded via a spring 7 by a rotary lever 8 swingably mounted on an axle 9 extending through the flanges 2.

The ball 6 serves as an element which connects the first locking member 3 to the spring-loaded lever 8. Those skilled in the art should understand that such an element may be made in the form of any body of revolution, such as a cylinder or the like. The free end of the lever 8 is blocked by a rotation-limiting stop 1 1 which is swingable about an axle 10 and joins the armature 12 of an electromagnet 13. Attached to the armature 12, at its side opposite to where the armature 12 joins the stop 11 , is a spring 14 which serves for changing the position of the stop 11. In different arrangements of the electromechanical lock of the invention, control of movoment of the armature 12 of the electromagnet 13 may be effected by mechanical means,such as a fixing arm 15 in the form of a lever which, as shown in Fig. 1 , when rotating by an angle of 90°, allows a mode of operation eliminating blocking the lock.

According to the invention , the first locking member 3 includes a slot 16 ( Fig. 6 ) having a necked portion 17 at its mouth.

In a preferred embodiment, the slot 16 is of a substantially Ω-shaped cross-section.

According to the invention, a second locking memeber 18 has its cross-section ot a substantially ellipse-like shape. This member 18 is typically secured to a frame (fixed part) of a door ( using activities to be locked ). In the locked position, the member 18 is in the slot

16, as shown in Fig. 6a, and is retained in this position by the ball 6 spring-loaded by the lever 8 to provide a reliable engagement between the members 3 and 18.

Thus, an unauthorized attempt to open a using activity will cause jamming the member 18 at the portion 17 and will not allow to disengage the members 3 and 18.

Control of the electromagnet 13 ( Fig. 1 ) is effected by an electronic circuit ( not shown in the drawings ) coupled to a code circuitry ( also not shown in the drawings ). According to one aspect of this invention, control of the electromagnet 13 may be effected by an electronic circuit coupled to a code circuitry having a keyboard 20 mounted on a handle 19, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 or Figs. 4 and 5.

In this case, the handle 19 is of a bent shape and has a cavity 21 for inner mounting the keyboard 20 to provide for secrecy of a code to be dialed.

For convenience of handling this keyboard, the outer surface of the handle 19 is provided with orientation elements 22 indicating the locations of keys in the form of corresponding inscriptions. In some embodiments, the handle 19 according to the invention also comprises an element 23 indicating a voltage drop ("clearence to enter"), an element 24 indicating a call, and an element 25 indicating coupling to an external power supply, to provide further functional possibililies of the lock. The electromechanical lock according to the invention is operated as follows.

For disengaging the working end of the first locking member 3 ( Fig. 1 ) and the second locking member 18, it is necessary to apply voltage to the electromagnet 13 by dialing, for example, an appropriate code at the keyboard 20 (Fig. 2 ) of the handle 19. The electromagnet 13, through the armature 12, will attract the stop 11 to vocate the path for the rotary lever 8. As a result of a force applied by a hand to open the door, the first locking member 3 will rotate about the axis 4, while bearing against the second locking member 18 attached to the door frame, to push out the ball 6 from the depression 5 until achieving complete disengagement between the members 3 and 18. When opening the lock, the member 3 is fixed by means of another depression 26 ( Fig. 6 ) having a smaller diameter than that of the depression 5 and spaced apart from it by a cirtain angle.

Locking of the lock is effected in a reverse order. By virture of the springs 7, 14 ( Fig. 1 ) and force applied to close the door, the lock is easily set to the initial position without switching on the electromagnet 13.

The arrangement of the first locking member 3 and housing 1 with parallel flanges 2 makes it possible to mount the lock to a door of any type of opening ( pulling back, pulling forward ) and to drawers. The depressions 26 disposed at both sides of the depression 5 makes it possible to retain the first locking member 3 in the opening mode in any direction of movement of using activity ( door, drawer, and the like ).

Preferably the lock is attachet to a movable part ( door, drawer, and the like ) as a hasp or rim lock through mounting bores 27, while the second locking member 18 is attached to a frame 28.

In different embodiments of the lock according to the invention, it is possible to mount the lock housing on a frame, while the second locking member is mounted on a movable part ( door, drawer, and the like ), without additional changes in construction.

The electromechanical lock according to the invention is easy in handling and posesses a wide range of functional possibilities. In particular, on failing the power source it is possible to couple the lock to an additional power supply through a corresponding element disposed on the handle.

Industrial Applicability

The electromechanical lock of the invention may be used for locking movable parts of using activities in construction industry, carpentry or furniture industry, in particular, for doors of different types and other using activities ( drawers, and the like ).

Advantageous is to install the lock of the invention on different doors of cars in combination with anticreeping means.

Claims

1. An electromechanical lock comprising a first locking member ( 3 ) disposed in a housing ( 1 ) and attached at its free end to a spring-loaded lever ( 8 ) which is arranged to coact with a rotation- limiting stop ( 11 ) coupled to a controlled electromagnet ( 13 ), and a second locking member ( 18 ) arranged to coact with a working end of the first locking member (3), characterized in that the first locking member ( 3 ) is arranged to be pivotable in the plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the lever ( 8 ), the working end of the first locking member ( 3 ) having a slot ( 16 ) comprising a necked portion ( 17 ) at its mouth , the second locking mtmber ( 18 ) having a cross-section ot a substantially ellipse-like shape to provide for extending the second locking member ( 18 ) into the slot ( 16 ) of the working end when releasing the lock, and for fixing the second locking member ( 18 ) in the necked portion ( 17 ) when blocking the lock, the connection between the first locking member ( 3 ) and the spring-loaded lever ( 8 ) being formed as a body of revolution disposed in the housing ( 1 ) and being adapted to put the member ( 3 ) into releasing position or blocking position of the lock in response to control signals supplied to the electromagnet ( 13 ).

2. The electromechanical lock according to Claim 1, characterized in that the slot ( 16 ) of the working end of the first locking member ( 3 ) has a substantially Ω-shaped cross- section.

3. The electromechanical lock according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e ri z e d in that the free end of the first locking member ( 3 ) comprises at least one recess ( 5 ) forming a surface of engagement with the body of revolution.

4. The electromechanical lock according to Claim 1, characterized in that the control of the electromagnet ( 13 ) is effected by an electronic circuit coupled to a code cifcuitry having a keyboard ( 20 ) mounted on a handle ( 19 ).

5. The electromechanical lock according to Claim 4, c harac terize d in that the handle ( 19 ) is of a bent shape and has a cavity adapted for mounting the keyboard ( 20 ) therewithin to provide for secrecy of a code to be dialed.

6. The electromechanical lock according to Claim 5, characterized in that the outer surface of the handle ( 19 ) comprises orientation elements ( 22 ) indicating locations of corresponding keys.

7. The electromechanical lock according to Claim 6, characterized in that,on the outer surface of the handle ( 19 ), there is mounted at least one of the elements selected from the group cosisting of an element ( 23 ) indicating voltage drop, an element (24) indicating a call, and an element ( 25 ) indicating coupling to an external power supply.