ACTUATING DEVICE FOR LOCK DEVICE, AND LOCK DEVICE

Abstract

An actuating device (10) for actuating a lock device (12), the actuating device (10) comprising an actuating element (14) rotatably arrangeable with respect to a stationary structure (22) for rotation about an actuation axis (28); an electric generator (16) In fixed with respect to the actuating element (14) for common rotation with the actuating element (14); a drive member (18) connected to the actuating element (14) and arranged to drive the electric generator (16), the drive member (18) being arrangeable to be driven by engaging the stationary structure (22) and by manually rotating the actuating element (14); and an electromechanical coupling device (20) fixed with respect to the actuating element (14) for common rotation with the actuating element (14), and arranged to be electrically powered by the electric generator (16), the coupling device (20) being configured to adopt a decoupling state and a coupling state. A lock device (12) is also provided.

Claims

1. An actuating device for actuating a lock device, the actuating device comprising: an actuating element rotatably arrangeable with respect to a stationary structure for rotation about an actuation axis; an electric generator fixed with respect to the actuating element for common rotation with the actuating element; a drive member connected to the actuating element and arranged to drive the electric generator, the drive member being arrangeable to be driven by engaging the stationary structure and by manually rotating the actuating element; and an electromechanical coupling device fixed with respect to the actuating element for common rotation with the actuating element, and arranged to be electrically powered by the electric generator, the coupling device being configured to adopt a decoupling state, for decoupling the actuating device from a locking member of the lock device, and a coupling state, for coupling the actuating device to the locking member.

2. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the electric generator is spatially separated from the coupling device.

3. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element comprises a knob.

4. The actuating device according to claim 3, wherein the electric generator is arranged inside the knob.

5. The actuating device according to claim 1, further comprising a spindle fixed with respect to the actuating element.

6. The actuating device according to claim 5, wherein the coupling device is arranged inside the spindle.

7. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the drive member is offset with respect to the actuation axis.

8. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the drive member is rotationally connected to the actuating element for rotation about a drive member axis.

9. The actuating device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission arranged to transmit a driving movement of the drive member to a driving movement of the electric generator.

10. The actuating device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical conductor, and wherein the coupling device is electrically connected to the electric generator via the at least one electrical conductor.

11. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises a blocking member arranged to transmit a rotation of the actuating element to a rotation of the locking member when the coupling device adopts the coupling state, and arranged to allow relative rotation between the actuating element and the locking member when the coupling device adopts the decoupling state.

12. The actuating device according to claim 11, further comprising a holder movable between a holding position, for holding the blocking member when the coupling device adopts the coupling state, and a release position, for releasing the blocking member when the coupling device adopts the decoupling state.

13. The actuating device according to claim 1, further comprising electronics arranged to be electrically powered by the electric generator and configured to produce an authorization signal for switching the coupling device from the decoupling state to the coupling state, upon authorization of a user.

14. A lock device comprising an actuating device according to claim 1.

15. The lock device according to claim 14, further comprising a stationary structure, wherein the actuating element is rotatably arranged with respect to the stationary structure about the actuation axis, and wherein the drive member engages the stationary structure.

16. The lock device according to claim 14, wherein the actuating element is configured to rotate continuously about the actuation axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] Further details, advantages and aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0046] FIG. 1: schematically represents a cross-sectional side view of a lock device comprising an actuating device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] In the following, an actuating device for a lock device, which actuating device comprises an actuating element, an electric generator, a drive member and an electromechanical coupling device, and a lock device comprising such actuating device, will be described. The same reference numerals will be used to denote the same or similar structural features.

[0048] FIG. 1 schematically represents a cross-sectional side view of an actuating device 10 and a lock device 12 comprising the actuating device 10. The actuating device 10 is configured to actuate the lock device 12. The lock device 12 is here exemplified as a lock cylinder.

[0049] The actuating device 10 comprises an actuating element 14, an electric generator 16, a drive member 18 and an electromechanical coupling device 20. The lock device 12 comprises a stationary structure 22 formed on a cylinder housing 24 (which is also stationary) and a locking member 26. The locking member 26 is rotatably arranged in the cylinder housing 24.

[0050] The actuating element 14 is rotatably arranged with respect to the stationary structure 22 for rotation about an actuation axis 28. In FIG. 1, the entire actuating device 10 can be rotated continuously about the actuation axis 28 by manually grabbing and rotating the actuating element 14. The actuating device 10 may be permanently or detachably rotationally connected to the stationary structure 22.

[0051] In FIG. 1, the actuating element 14 is constituted by a knob 30. However, alternative types of actuating element 14 for being manually rotated in order to rotate the actuating device 10 about the actuation axis 28 are possible.

[0052] The actuating device 10 of this example further comprises a spindle 32. The spindle 32 is received in a cavity 34 of the cylinder housing 24. The spindle 32 is fixed with respect to the actuating element 14. In FIG. 1, the actuating element 14 is rigidly connected to the spindle 32. The spindle 32 of this example comprises a relatively narrow distal portion and a relatively wide proximal portion (not denoted).

[0053] The coupling device 20 is fixed with respect to the actuating element 14 for common rotation with the actuating element 14. The coupling device 20 of this example comprises a blocking member 36, and a biasing member 38, here exemplified as a compression spring, arranged to bias the blocking member 36 in a distal direction (to the left in FIG. 1) into a recess 40 of the locking member 26. The coupling device 20 further comprises a holder 42, and an electric motor 44 arranged to drive the holder 42. The coupling device 20 is configured to adopt a decoupling state, for decoupling the actuating device 10 from the locking member 26, and a coupling state, for coupling the actuating device 10 to the locking member 26. In FIG. 1, the coupling device 20 has adopted the coupling state.

[0054] When the coupling device 20 adopts the coupling state, the locking member 26 of the lock device 12 can be rotated by rotating the actuating element 14. Thus, in the coupling state of the coupling device 20, the lock device 12 can be locked or unlocked by rotating the actuating device 10.

[0055] When the coupling device 20 adopts the decoupling state, rotation of the actuating element 14 is not transmitted to rotation of the locking member 26. Thus, in the decoupling state of the coupling device 20, the lock device 12 cannot be locked or unlocked by rotating the actuating device 10.

[0056] The holder 42 is movable between a holding position, as shown in FIGS. 1, and a release position, under the control of the electric motor 44. In the coupling state of the coupling device 20, the blocking member 36 is held in the illustrated distal position in the recess 40 by the holder 42 in the holding position. When the actuating element 14 is rotated, the actuating device 10 and the locking member 26 rotate in common about the actuation axis 28. The blocking member 36 is thereby arranged to transmit a rotation of the actuating element 14 to a rotation of the locking member 26 when the coupling device 20 adopts the coupling state.

[0057] By moving the holder 42 from the illustrated holding position to the release position, the blocking member 36 is allowed to jump out of the recess 40 when the actuating device 10 is rotated. In this way, the coupling device 20 can adopt the decoupling state. The electric motor 44 can thereby be used to switch the coupling device 20 between the decoupling state and the coupling state.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 1, each of the spindle 32 and the actuating element 14 is hollow. The electric generator 16 is arranged inside the actuating element 14.

[0059] The coupling device 20 is arranged inside the spindle 32, except for the blocking member 36 which protrudes to the exterior of the spindle 32 at least in the distal position. The electric generator 16 is thereby spatially separated from the coupling device 20. As a possible alternative configuration, both the electric generator 16 and the coupling device 20 may be spatially separated inside the spindle 32.

[0060] The electric generator 16 is fixedly connected to the actuating element 14. Thus, the electric generator 16 is arranged to rotate in common with the actuating element 14 about the actuation axis 28. Also the electric generator 16 is offset with respect to the actuation axis 28.

[0061] Moreover, the drive member 18 is rotationally connected to the actuating device 10 for rotation about a drive member axis 46. The drive member 18 is thus arranged to rotate both about the drive member axis 46 relative to the actuating element 14 and about the actuation axis 28, when the actuating element 14 is manually rotated. The drive member axis 46 is thereby arranged to rotate about the actuation axis 28. As shown in FIG. 1, the actuation axis 28 and the drive member axis 46 are parallel and offset.

[0062] The drive member 18 of this example is constituted by a gear wheel comprising a toothed gearing and the stationary structure 22 comprises a toothed ring gear 48 engaged by the toothed gearing of the drive member 18. Alternative types of engagement, such as a friction engagement, are however possible.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 1, the drive member 18 is offset with respect to the actuation axis 28. Thereby, a free passage can be provided in the actuating device 10 between the hollow actuating element 14 and the hollow spindle 32. Any need for sliding contacts is consequently avoided which contributes to a more reliable design of the actuating device 10. An engagement point or section between the drive member 18 and the ring gear 48 of the stationary structure 22 is also offset with respect to the actuation axis 28.

[0064] The drive member 18 is arranged to drive the electric generator 16. To this end, the actuating device 10 of this example comprises a transmission 50, here exemplified as a gearbox comprising a plurality of gear stages, arranged to transmit a rotation of the drive member 18 about the drive member axis 46 to a driving movement of the electric generator 16, e.g. a rotation of a rotor (not shown) of the electric generator 16. As shown in FIG. 1, the drive member 18 is partially arranged inside the actuating device 10, except for a section of the drive member 18 that engages the stationary structure 22.

[0065] The actuating device 10 may further comprise an overload protection (not shown), such as a slip clutch, in order to protect the transmission 50 from violent rotations of the actuating element 14. The slip clutch may be arranged between the drive member 18 and the transmission 50.

[0066] The actuating device 10 further comprises electronics, generally indicated by reference numeral 52. The electronics 52 is arranged to be electrically powered by the electric generator 16. The electronics 52 is further configured to produce an authorization signal 54 upon authorization of a user. When the authorization signal 54 is received by the coupling device 20, the coupling device 20 switches from the decoupling state to the coupling state.

[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the electronics 52 electrically connects the electric generator 16 to the coupling device 20. The electronics 52 of the example in FIG. 1 comprises power management electronics 56, reading electronics 58, credential evaluation electronics 60 and electrical conductors 62, here constituted by electrical cables. One electrical conductor 62 connects the electric generator 16 to the power management electronics 56, one electrical conductor 62 connects the power management electronics 56 to the reading electronics 58, one electrical conductor 62 connects the reading electronics 58 to the credential evaluation electronics 60, and one electrical conductor 62 connects the credential evaluation electronics 60 to the electric motor 44. The coupling device 20 is thereby arranged to be electrically powered by the electric generator 16.

[0068] In the specific configuration of FIG. 1, the power management electronics 56 and the reading electronics 58 are arranged inside the actuating element 14 and the credential evaluation electronics 60 is arranged inside the spindle 32. The power management electronics 56 of this example comprises energy harvesting electronics, such as diodes (not shown) and a capacitor (not shown). The reading electronics 58 of this example comprises an antenna (not shown) for receiving an input signal, and a reading unit (not shown).

[0069] When the actuating element 14 is manually grabbed and rotated by the hand of a user, the engagement between the drive member 18 and the stationary structure 22 causes the drive member 18 to be driven to rotate about the drive member axis 46 and the actuation axis 28. The electric generator 16 and harvests electric energy from the rotation of the actuating element 14.

[0070] When sufficient electric energy has been harvested by the electric generator 16, an authorization process is initiated. During the authorization process, the reading electronics 58 is powered by the power management electronics 56 and can for example communicate wirelessly with an external device, such as with a mobile phone via BLE. The reading electronics 58 receives a credential from the external device and sends an access signal 64, based on the credential, to the credential evaluation electronics 60.

[0071] The credential evaluation electronics 60 then determines whether or not access should be granted based on the access signal 64. If the authorization request is denied, the coupling device 20 is not switched, i.e. remains in the decoupling state. If the authorization request is granted, e.g. if a valid credential is presented, the credential evaluation electronics 60 issues an authorization signal 54 to the electric motor 44. When sufficient electric energy has been harvested by the further continuous rotation of the actuating element 14, the electric motor 44 is driven to switch the coupling device 20 from the decoupling state to the coupling state, in this case by locking the blocking member 36 in the recess 40 when the actuating device 10 becomes rotationally positioned such that the blocking member 36 is aligned with the recess 40 in the locking member 26.

[0072] The actuating element 14 can be continuously rotated about the actuation axis 28 during the authorization procedure. Electric energy harvested by manually rotating the actuating element 14 can thereby be used to authorize a user and to switch the coupling device 20 from the decoupling state to the coupling state. When the coupling device 20 has adopted the coupling state, the locking member 26 can be rotated by further rotation of the actuating element 14. Thus, the user can rotate the actuating element 14 continuously during the authorization process, the subsequent switching process of the coupling device 20, and the subsequent rotation of the locking member 26. Thereby, a seamless access is provided.

[0073] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to what has been described above. For example, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the parts may be varied as needed.