DOOR HANDLE AND DRIVE SUPPORT FOR AN ELECTROMAGNETIC DOOR LOCK

Abstract

A door handle for actuating a mortise lock of a door with an output shaft and a handle facing away from the door. The output shaft and the handle have a common rotation axis and are connected to one another via an electromechanical clutch. The output shaft has a recess, on the side facing the handle, dimensioned for a coupling element that is axially displaceable between open and closed positions with a motor, while the handle has a receptacle dimensioned to accommodate the coupling element opposite to the recess. The door handle is particularly reliable when the motor drives a coupling (auxiliary) shaft on which and/or in which at least one coil spring is disposed non-rotatably and coaxially with respect to the stator of the motor. The auxiliary shaft has at least one protrusion engaging in an intermediate space between two neighbored windings of the coil spring to displace the coil spring axially as a result of rotation of the auxiliary shaft. The coil spring engages with the coupling element to at least preload the coupling element, as a result of the axial displacement of the coil spring, in a direction corresponding to such displacement.

Claims

1. An actuation element for a mortise lock of a door, the actuation element comprising at least an output shaft and a handle, the at least the output shaft and the handle having a common rotation axis and being coupled to one another via an electromechanical clutch, an auxiliary shaft; a coupling element; a motor configured to drive the auxiliary shaft; a coil spring disposed on or in the auxiliary shaft, said coil spring being non-rotatable with respect to a stator of the motor; wherein the at least one output shaft has a recess at least on a side thereof that faces towards the handle, said recess dimensioned to accommodate the coupling element that is axially displaceable, in operation, between an open position and a closed position with the motor, the handle has a receptacle dimensioned to accommodate the coupling element opposite to the recess, the auxiliary shaft has at least one protrusion engaging in an intermediate space between two neighbored windings of the coil spring to displace the coil spring axially upon rotation of the auxiliary shaft, and the coil spring is connected to the coupling element to at least preload the coupling element in a direction of an axial displacement of the coil spring in response to said axial displacement.

2. The actuation element of claim 1, further comprising a drive carrier with a drive carrier recess configured to receive the auxiliary shaft and the coil spring.

3. The actuation element of claim 2, wherein the drive carrier has a slot extending in an axial direction of the auxiliary shaft, and wherein at least one end of the coil spring engages into said slot to form a linear bearing supporting the coil spring.

4. The actuation element of claim 2, wherein the drive carrier has a plain bearing movably supporting the coupling element.

5. The actuation element of claim 2, wherein the drive carrier has a receptacle, and further comprising at least one gear wheel mounted on the auxiliary shaft and received, in operation, in said receptacle of the drive carrier, wherein at least a part of a boundary of the drive carrier recess supports the gear wheel in an axial direction.

6. The actuation element of claim 2, wherein the drive carrier has at least two parts, said at least two parts providing the drive carrier recess and securing the shaft in the drive carrier recess, the actuation element configured to release the auxiliary shaft in an axial direction when the drive carrier is opened as a result of separating the at least two parts.

7. The actuation element of claim 2, further comprising at least one plain bearing bush supported by the drive carrier, said at least one plain bearing bush is configured to support the auxiliary shaft radially.

8. The actuation element of claim 2, further comprising a plain bearing sleeve positioned on the auxiliary shaft, said plain bearing sleeve forming a plain bearing in combination with the drive carrier.

9. The actuation element of claim 7, wherein the auxiliary shaft is tapered step-wise and abuts a step at a front side of the plain bearing bush to form a support for the auxiliary shaft in an axial direction.

10. The actuation element of claim 8, wherein the auxiliary shaft is tapered step-wise and abuts a step at a front side of the plain bearing sleeve to form a support for the auxiliary shaft in an axial direction.

11. Actuation element of claim 1, wherein the coil spring is attached to the coupling element in a push-pull manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In the following portion of the disclosure, the invention will be described by way of example, without limitation of the general inventive concept, and with reference to the drawings.

[0030] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of an actuating element (door handle).

[0031] FIG. 1b shows the door handle of FIG. 1a in front view.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a linear drive.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the linear drive from FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a linear drive.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a locking cylinder with an actuating element.

[0036] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the locking cylinder of FIG. 5.

[0037] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of a coupling assembly group.

[0038] FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of the coupling assembly group of FIG. 7.

[0039] While the embodiment(s) of the invention can be variously modified and assume alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and are described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIG. 1 shows an actuating element configured as (in a form of) a door handle 1. The door handle 1 has a handle portion (handle, for short) 10 that is pivotable about a rotational axis 2, with a door-side (that is, positioned next to the door leaf, when the actuating element is mounted on the door) first leg 11. The longitudinal axis 2 of the first leg is oriented approximately orthogonally direction to a door leaf (which is not shown) when the element 1 is mounted on the door (i.e., in the mounted state). The handle also has a second leg 16 angled to (disposed at an angle with respect to) the first leg. The region in which the first and second legs meet at an angle includes two half-shells 13 being held together by a nut 15 on the side of the half-shells facing the door (on the door side) and a sleeve 16 on the other side. As indicated in the Figure, the handle 1 may have a receptacle dimensioned for a square shaft portion 17 (which is a portion of the output shaft that has a substantially square cross-section), to non-rotatably couple the door handle with the nut, i.e. the follower, of a mortise lock. A rosette 18 may be provided to fasten and mount the door handle 1 to a door leaf and to protect the clutch (which will be described in more detail below) against being manipulated with. An output shaft is partially covered by the handle 10, and only the square shaft portion 17 of the output shaft is visible. Rotational movements of the output shaft about the longitudinal axis 2 can be introduced via the square shaft portion into the follower of a mortise lock (which received the square shaft and couples it with the actuation mechanism of the latch), whereas tilting movements act orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis 2 and are preferably largely intercepted by the bearing of the handle 10 through the rosette 18 and directed into the door leaf. A clutch controlled by a lock control is arranged between the handle 10 and the output shaft to non-rotatably connect the handle 10 to the output shaft 17 (in case when clutch is closed), or to decouple the handle 10 and the output shaft (in case the clutch is open). Preferably, the handle 10 rests on the rosette 18 via a return spring, thus the door handle 1 does not hang down when the clutch is open. The rosette 18 may preferably be bolted or otherwise be fastened to the door leaf from the inner side of the door.

[0041] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a linear drive for a coupling element 40. The linear drive employs a commercially available motor 45, which is attached to a two-part drive carrier 46, which can also be referred to as a gear block. The motor 45 drives a gear wheel 44, which sits non-rotatably on and is axially fixed to a coupling, auxiliary shaft 80 ('shaft 80, for short). This auxiliary shaft 80 is rotatably mounted in the drive carrier and secured against axial displacement. On the shaft 80 there is a drive pin 81 formed as a protrusion 81, which engages between two turns of a coil spring 90. The coil spring 90 is seated coaxially on a trunnion 82 of the shaft 80 and engages with one of the shaft's ends 91 in a slot 463 of the drive carrier 46, which slot 463 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 80. At the other end, the coupling element 40 is mounted to the coil spring by a push-pull proof connection, i.e. an axial force is transmitted from the coil spring to the coupling element in each axial direction. A push-pull proof connection can be obtained, e.g., by means of a rivet attaching the coupling element 40 to an end of the coil spring. Due to the end 91 being engaged in the slot 463, the coil spring 90 is non-rotatably but axially displaceably seated in the drive carrier 46. If the auxiliary shaft 80 is now rotated by means of the motor 45, the protrusion 81 of the shaft 80 displaces the coil spring 90 further out of the drive carrier 46 in a fashion corresponding to the direction of rotation of the motor 45, or alternatively retracts the coil spring 90. The corresponding displacement of the coil spring 90 causes a corresponding displacement of the coupling element 40. If the coupling element 40 should be blocked, it would be pre-loaded in the corresponding direction and would release the pre-load bias as soon as the blockage is removed.

[0042] The protrusion 81 is preferably spaced apart from the open end of the channel 464, such that the free end of the spring 91 cannot be pushed out of the channel 464 and thus out of the slot 463. The distal free end of the shaft 80 also projects beyond the trunnion 82, such that the coil spring 90 remains on the shaft 80 even when the shaft 80 rotates until the protrusion 81 is threaded out of the coil spring 90. Upon reversal of the rotation direction of the shaft 80, the protrusion 81 thus automatically engages into the thread or guide provided by the coil spring 90.

[0043] The drive carrier 46 has two parts 461 and 462. On the first part 461, there is a support for the motor 45. In addition, the first part 461 may have a recess, in which preferably a bearing bush 468 with a flange-like widening 467 (shortly, flange 467 or edge bead 467) sits. The flange 467 preferably rests on the side that faces the protrusion 81. This side facing the protrusion can serve as a thrust bearing for the shaft 80. In the depicted example, the flange 467 supports the gear-wheel 44, which is seated on the shaft 80 in a friction- and/or form-fit manner. In other words, the side of the flange 467 facing the protrusion can serve as a thrust bearing for the shaft 80, which can be supported thereon by the gear-wheel 44.

[0044] The second part 462 of the drive carrier preferably has a bearing receptacle for the shaft 80. The bearing support can be configured to support a bearing ring 95 seated on the shaft 80 (the bearing ring 95 also referred to as a bearing sleeve 95). In the example shown, the shaft 80 is expanded towards the trunnion 82 in a step. The bearing ring is located laterally at the step. The bearing ring 95 is axially fixed by the gear-wheel 44 attached to the shaft 80. Thus, for mounting the shaft 80, the bearing ring 95 is first pushed on the shaft 80 from the tapered side of the shaft 80 until the step is reached. The step, therefore, provides an axial abutment. Subsequently, the gear-wheel 44 is mounted on the shaft, e.g. pressed thereon. Now, the bearing pin 83 of the shaft 80 can be inserted into the bearing bush 468. Thereby, the gear-wheel 44 engages with a complementary drive pinion 451 of the motor 45. Alternatively, the motor 45 could also drive a worm gear which meshes with the gear-wheel 44. Now, the drive carrier 46 can be closed by placing the second part 462, whereby the gearwheel is enclosed in a cavity 469, i.e. a corresponding receptacle 469 of the drive carrier 46.

[0045] The drive carrier 46 has a protrusion 465 in the form of a slotted sleeve 465, wherein the slot 463 extends towards the coupling element side. This facilitates easy threading of a free end 91 of the coil spring 90. The free interior of the protrusion 465, i.e. of the sleeve has previously been referred to as channel 464.

[0046] The embodiment of FIG. 4 differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 only in that the coil spring 90 is not attached on the coupling element, but only rests with the free end against the coupling element. Here, the coil spring 90 can therefore only transmit compressive forces to the coupling element 40, which is not shown in FIG. 4 for the sake of simplicity. A displacement of the coupling element 40 in the direction of the shaft 80 takes place by means of a spring element which is arranged on the side of the coupling element 40 facing away from the shaft and which spring element is tensioned into its closed position during the movement of the coupling element. By the widening of the slot 463 on the coupling element side it is ensured that the free end 92 of the coil spring 90 can always be safely moved back in the sleeve-like protrusion 465.

[0047] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a locking cylinder 5 for actuating a mortise lock. For this purpose, the locking cylinder usually has a ring 8 with a locking cam, said ring 8 being rotatably mounted in the locking cylinder 5. Upon rotation of the ring 8, the locking cam 9 rotates for actuation of an entrainer for a latch and/or a dead bolt of a mortise lock.

[0048] The locking cylinder 5 preferably has a demountable knob module as an actuating element 1. The knob 10 serves as a handle 10 and is the input shaft of a clutch. For this purpose, a two-part drive block 46 is non-rotatably connected with the handle. The drive block 46 has a housing made of two half shells 13, 14 as a carrier and accommodates the motor 45 of the clutch. On the knob-side, the motor 45 is protected by a drill-safe protection 19, which is also (preferably rotatably) mounted in the drive block (cf. FIG. 6). The motor 45 has a rotor which is non-rotatably connected to a shaft 80. At the shaft 80, there is an entrainer 81 formed as a protrusion 81, which engages between two turns of a coil spring 90.

[0049] The coil spring 90 is seated coaxially on the shaft 80 and engages with one of its ends 91 in a slot 463 of the drive carrier 46 being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 80. At the other end, there is a coupling element 40. The coupling element is fixed to the coil spring in a manner guaranteeing pressure resistance and tensile strength, e.g. by means of a rivet. The coupling element is mounted axially displaceable but non-rotatable relative to the drive carrier 46 in a guide 85. A rotation of the handle 10 about the longitudinal axis is thus transmitted via the drive carrier 46 to the coupling element 40, i.e. the coupling element rotates with the rotation of the handle 10, i.e. the guide 85 is non-rotatably connected to the drive carrier.

[0050] Due to the end engaging into the slot 463, the coil spring 90 is seated non-rotatable but axially displaceable in the drive carrier 46. If the shaft 80 is rotated by means of the motor 45, the protrusion 81 of the shaft 80 displaces the coil spring 90 forward or backward in the drive carrier 46, according to the rotation direction of the motor 45. The corresponding displacement of the coil spring 90 causes a corresponding displacement of the coupling element 40 through the slots of the guide 85 (cf. FIG. 6). If the coupling element 40 should be axially blocked, it would be biased in the corresponding direction and would release the bias as soon as the blockage is released.

[0051] By the displacement, the coupling element 40 can be brought into engagement with a coupling piece 17, which is seated non-rotatable in the locking cam ring 8; then the clutch is closed. The coupling piece 17 has the function of an output shaft of the clutch. For this purpose, the coupling piece 17 has protrusions or recesses between or in which the coupling element may engage when it is rotated accordingly upon rotation of the shaft 80. When the coupling element is rotated about the longitudinal axis 2, the locking cam ring 8 is thus entrained; the clutch is closed. Of course, the coupling piece 17 and the locking cam ring 8 may be formed in one piece. Notably, the coupling piece 17 is configured to operate in functionally-analogous or similar fashion to the manner in which the square shaft 17 of FIG. 1 operates.

[0052] If the coupling element 40 is retracted again by a corresponding rotation of the coil spring 90, the engagement between the coupling element 40 and the locking cam ring 8 is released, i.e. the clutch is reopened and an actuation of the handle 10 is not transmitted to the locking cam ring 8.

[0053] The linear drive illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be used, similar to the previously described, in a coupling assembly of a clutch for coupling of a handle (e.g. a knob) with a locking cam ring of a locking cylinder, or for coupling of a door handle with an output shaft. For identical or similar elements, largely identical reference numerals are used. The descriptions of FIGS. 1 to 6 may also be read on FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0054] Instead of the half shells 13, 14, the coupling assembly has a drive carrier 46 which holds the motor 45. Furthermore, a guide 85 for a coupling element 40 is attached to the drive carrier 46. In addition, the drive carrier 46 supports a printed circuit board 96 via a circuit carrier 97 with a circuit, e.g. for controlling the motor 45. Of course, the assembly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 may be accommodated in a housing, e.g. of two half shells as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0055] Via a drive pinion 46, the motor 45 drives a shaft 80 being mounted at the drive carrier 46 and the guide 85. A gear wheel 44 seated on the shaft 80 engages with the drive pinion 46. The shaft has a radial protrusion 81 engaging between two turns of the coil spring 90 as already shown in the previously described embodiments. The coil spring 90 is seated axially displaceable on the shaft 80 and is mounted to the coupling element 40. The coupling element 40 is mounted axially displaceable relative to the shaft 80 in the guide 85 (i.e. similar as the coil spring 90 non-rotatable relative to the guide 85). For this purpose, the guide 85 has radial recesses extending axially, which serve as guiding slots for corresponding protrusions of the coupling element 40. Upon rotation of the shaft 80 about the longitudinal axis 2, the coil spring 90 and thus the coupling element 40 are displaced in the guide. By a corresponding control of the motor 45, the coupling element 40 can thus be moved forward or backward on the shaft 80. Upon corresponding displacement, the coupling element 40 can be brought into engagement with a coupling piece 17 (cf. FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0056] In the alternative according to FIGS. 7 and 8, the shaft 80 is embodied as a hollow shaft. A conductive pin 86 is arranged in the hollow shaft, wherein the conductive pin 86 is electrically isolated against the drive carrier 46, the hollow shaft 80, and the guide 85 by an air gap and an isolating shell 87 on the one hand and an isolating piece 88 on the other hand. On both ends of the pin 86 is one contact 89, respectively, such that via the carrier 46 and/or the guide 85 on the one hand, and the pin 97 on the other hand, a bifilar electrical line can be established between to mutually movable knobs, and/or between a knob and the circuit on the drive carrier 46.

[0057] It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention is believed to provide a door handle with an electromagnetic coupling. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0058] 2 rotation axis/longitudinal axis
5 locking cylinder
8 locking cam ring
9 locking cam
10 handle
11 first leg
13 upper half shell
14 lower half shell
15 union nut
16 second leg
17, 17 output shaft (square shaft portion, coupling piece)
18 rosette
19 anti-drill protection
40 coupling element
44 gear wheel
45 motor
451 drive pinion
46 drive block or drive carrier
461 part of the drive block or drive carrier
462 part of the drive block or drive carrier
463 slot
464 channel (free space of the protrusion 465)
465 protrusion/sleeve
467 flange/edge bead
468 bearing bush
469 receptacle for gear wheel
80 auxiliary shaft, coupling shaft
81 protrusion
82 trunnion
83 bearing trunnion
85 guide
86 pin
87 isolating sleeve
88 isolation piece
89 contacts
90 coil spring
91 end/end section of the coil spring
92 end/end section of the coil spring
95 bearing ring/bearing sleeve
96 printed circuit board/circuit
97 circuit carrier