Abstract
The invention relates to a device (23) for actuating the locking mechanism of a lock, more particularly a furniture lock, said device comprised of a fixing unit (1) by means of which the device (23) can be fastened to a component, more particularly a door and/or window sash, at which the lock is also arranged, and comprised of a handle (27) which is pivoting mounted about a rotary axis at the fixing unit (1) and through the rotation of which the locking mechanism can be manually actuated, and comprised of a power transmission unit (8) which can be torque-proof coupled to the handle (27) to transmit the power applied on rotating the handle (27) to the locking mechanism, wherein the power transmission unit (8) is not coupled torque-proof to the handle (27) until a release code is entered and authenticated, and wherein the entry of the release code is effected by way of electronically picking-up at least one position of the handle (27) relative to the power transmission unit (8), and wherein the entry of the release code is accomplished by electronically picking-up of at least one position of the handle (27) relative to the power transmission unit (8), and wherein the device is comprised of a coupling mechanism through which the power transmission unit (8) can be torque-proof coupled optionally to the fixing unit (1) or to the handle (27).
Claims
1. A device (23) for actuating the locking mechanism of a lock, said device comprising a fixing unit (1) for fastening the device (23) to a component at which the lock is also arranged, and comprising a handle (27) which is pivoting mounted about a rotary axis at the fixing unit (1) and through the rotation of which the locking mechanism can be manually actuated, and comprising a power transmission unit (8) which can be torque-proof coupled to the handle (27) to transmit the power applied on rotating the handle (27) to the locking mechanism, wherein the power transmission unit (8) is not coupled torque-proof to the handle (27) until a release code is entered and authenticated, and wherein the entry of the release code is effected by way of electronically picking-up at least one position of the handle (27) relative to the power transmission unit (8), and wherein the power transmission unit (8) comprises a coupling mechanism through which the power transmission unit (8) is torque-proof coupled either to the fixing unit (1) or to the handle (27).
2. A device (23) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one position of the handle (27) relative to the power transmission unit (8) is caused to be electronically picked up via an axial movement of the handle (27) along its rotary axis into an end position whereby a switch allocated to the relative position is actuated.
3. A device (23) according to claim 1, comprising an electronic control unit (29), by means of which the coupling mechanism for optional coupling of the power transmission unit (8) to the fixing unit (1) or to the handle (27) can be electronically activated.
4. A device (23) according to claim 3, wherein the power transmission unit (8) can only be coupled torque-proof to the handle (27) by means of the control unit until a release code has been entered into the control unit (29) and been authenticated.
5. A device (23) according to claim 3, wherein the coupling mechanism is comprised of an actuator which can be electronically activated by the control unit (29) and by means of which the torque-proof optional coupling of the power transmission unit (8) to the fixing unit (1) or to the handle (27) is feasible.
6. A device (23) according to claim 5, comprising an energy supply unit by means of which the control unit (29) and the actuator can be supplied with energy.
7. A device (23) according to claim 1, wherein the handle (27) can be rotated in discrete steps relative to the power transmission unit (8) whilst it is coupled to the fixing unit (1).
8. A device (23) according to claim 7, wherein the handle (27) is comprised of a switching part (22) and wherein the switching part (22) at its inner diameter features a number of teeth (25) to allow for a movement of the switching part (22) in discrete steps.
9. A locking system comprising a lock that can be arranged at a component, and comprising a device (23) according to claim 1.
Description
(1) Further advantages and features of the present invention are elucidated in the following by way of practical examples outlined in the relevant figures, wherein
(2) FIG. 1: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the inventive fixing unit,
(3) FIG. 2: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the inventive power transmission unit,
(4) FIG. 3: shows another perspective representation of the power transmission unit shown in FIG. 2,
(5) FIG. 4: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for part of the inventive power transmission unit,
(6) FIG. 5: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for part of the coupling mechanism
(7) FIG. 6: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the actuating element of the coupling mechanism,
(8) FIG. 7: shows another perspective representation of the actuator element shown in FIG. 6
(9) FIG. 8: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for part of the inventive power transmission unit,
(10) FIG. 9: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the switching element of the inventive handle,
(11) FIG. 10: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the pawl of the coupling mechanism,
(12) FIG. 11: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the sleeve part of the inventive handle,
(13) FIG. 12: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the inventive handle,
(14) FIG. 13: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the inventive power transmission unit with a spring,
(15) FIG. 14: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the inventive device,
(16) FIG. 15: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the inventive handle,
(17) FIG. 16: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the inventive power transmission unit with a spring,
(18) FIG. 17: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the inventive device,
(19) FIG. 18: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the inventive power transmission unit with a spring,
(20) FIG. 19: shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the inventive device.
(21) FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation for the inventive fixing unit 1. Fixing unit 1 can be fastened to a non-depicted component at which a non-depicted lock which is to be actuated is also arranged. To this effect, it is comprised of bores 35 through which the bolts can be guided. Fixing unit 1 is of a pot-shaped configuration and comprised of two sections 2 and 3 with a similar outer diameter which are separated from each other by a center section 4 having a larger outer diameter. On the inside of the fixing unit 1, an annular section 5 with a recess 6 is arranged which is provided for to take-up an appropriately configured pawl 11 which is more closely shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, 8 and 10. Recess 6 represents a known position relative to the fixing unit 1 which can be designated as 0-position. Concentrically to the symmetrical axis of fixing unit 1, an outlet bearing 7 is arranged which is adapted to the arrangement of the actuation axis of a mechanical lock to be actuated.
(22) FIG. 2 shows a perspective representation of a practical example for the inventive power transmission unit 8. It is comprised of an output element 9 which can be plugged through the outlet bearing 7 of the fixing unit 1, the relevant configuration of the output element 9 being adaptable in a well known and simple manner to the relevant prevailing configuration of a lock to be actuated. The output element 9 is rigidly connected to the base body 10 of the power transmission unit 8. Arranged in the power transmission unit 8 is a pawl 11 as an integral part of the coupling mechanism which is radially displaceably arranged in the power transmission unit 8. To be seen of pawl 11 in FIG. 2 are merely the blocking pin 12 configured at one end of the pawl 11 and a signal section 34 arranged at the other end, the function of which is described further below. Pawl 11 is pre-tensioned by means of a non-depicted spring, with the spring supporting itself unilaterally at surface A as indicatively shown in FIG. 10 in order to move pawl 11 away from the axial rotation center of the power transmission unit 8. On account of this pretension, pawl 11 automatically engages into the recess 6 of fixing unit 1 when fixing unit 1 and power transmission unit 8 are suitably aligned towards each other in the 0-position.
(23) Furthermore arranged in power transmission unit 8 is a switching means 13, of which merely the switching head 14 with a semi-spherical end is shown in FIG. 2. The end of switching head 14, however, can also be configured in any other suitable manner and way. Switching head 14 is pre-tensioned by another non-depicted spring into the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 4 in order to move switching head 14 away from the axial rotation center of power transmission unit 8 so that it protrudes beyond the rim of power transmission unit 8 as shown here.
(24) FIG. 3 shows another perspective representation of the power transmission unit 8 illustrated in FIG. 2. From this perspective, one can particularly see the signal section 34 and a retaining section 33 of pawl 11, the function of which is described in the following.
(25) FIG. 4 shows another perspective view of the power transmission unit 8 illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the cover 15 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 removed. Hereby, the coupling mechanism of the facility 23 can be recognized which is comprised of pawl 11 and switching means 13 which are interconnected via an actuator element 16. The coupling mechanism shown in FIG. 4 is situated in its release position in which the power transmission unit 8 is torque-proof coupled to the handle 27 shown in FIGS. 12 and 14.
(26) FIG. 5 shows a detail view of the coupling mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 4. The actuator element 16 is comprised of three elements 17, 18, and 19 which are pivoting mounted on a common axis 20. Each of these elements 17, 18, and 19 has a functional surface whose functional mode is described in the following. The actuator element 16 can be moved by means of a non-depicted actuator, for example an incremental path motor, from the release position shown here into a closing position and vice-versa. With the release position of the actuator element 16 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sections of the element 19 lean to the side of switching means 13 facing the switching facility 16 and thus they determine the release position by preventing a radial movement of the switching means 13. Pawl 11 is comprised of a blocking surface shown in FIG. 10 which can co-act with the element 18 that is configured as a circular disc with flattenings. This is done when element 18 and/or actuator element 16, respectively, are turned by 90 from the release position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 about axis 20, whereby a non-flattened section of element 18 engages at the blocking surface 21. With the release position of actuator element 16 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, however, this is not the case whereby the pawl 11 is arranged radially movable in the power transmission unit 8. Thus the power transmission unit 8 can be rotated relatively to fixing unit 1 about its rotary axis. With this release position of the coupling mechanism, in which the power transmission unit 8 is torque-proof coupled to the handle shown in the following and rotatable relative to the fixing unit 1, an actuation of the locking mechanism of the lock can be effected by rotating the handle 27. In order to rotate the actuator element 16 from its release position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 into its closing position, an arbitrarily configured suitable actuator is employed which is electrically activated by the control unit 29 illustrated in FIG. 14. To limit the rotary mobility of the actuator element 16, the element 17 features a recess extending by about 90 of its circumference which co-acts with a blocking section 36 arranged at the base body 10 of power transmission unit 8. To elucidate the configuration of actuator element 16, FIGS. 6 and 7 show further perspective representations of actuator element 16.
(27) FIG. 8 shows another perspective representation of part of the power transmission unit 8 and of the coupling mechanism which is situated in its closing position. This closing position has been reached by the fact that the actuator element 16 has been rotated by 90 versus the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that the blocking surface 21 of pawl 11 co-acts with one of the non-depicted sections of element 18. The position of pawl 11 illustrated in FIG. 8 is hereby fixed. Pawl 11 and, respectively, its blocking pin 12 are situated in the recess 6 at fixing unit 1 so that power transmission unit 8 is torque-proof coupled to fixing unit 1. This prevents torsion of power transmission unit 8 relative to fixing unit 1 and thus an actuation of the locking mechanism of the lock. At the same time, because of the 90 rotation of element 19, the sections of element 19 which are arranged downstream of the bifurcation of switching means 13 so as to block movements of switching means 13 are moved away so that the switching means 13 and thus the switching head 14 are enabled to move in radial direction relative to the power transmission unit 8. In this closing position of the coupling mechanism, an entry of the release code can be effected which upon authentication by control unit 29 causes a rotary movement of the actuator element 16.
(28) FIG. 9 shows another perspective view of a switching part 22 of handle 27. Moreover, handle 27 features the sleeve part 24 illustrated in FIG. 11 which can be fastened to the switching part 22 in order to form handle 27. Switching part 22 fits in between the outer diameter of power transmission unit 8 and the inner diameter of fixing unit 1 and it is torque-proof and displaceably arranged relative to it. Switching part 22 is essentially configured like a cylinder and it has a number of teeth 25 at its inner diameter. The inner diameter of switching part 22 is properly chosen this way in order to ensure that switching part 22 can be rotated around the power transmission unit 8. On this rotation, switching part 22 presses the switching head 14 of switching means 13 into the base body 10 of power transmission unit 8. The teeth 25 on the inside of switching part 22 are deep enough to allow for leaving the switching head 14 when switching means 13 and switching part 22 are moved relative towards each other in a suitable manner and way. Owing to this configuration of facility 23, switching part 22 moves in discrete steps. In the configuration shown here, 24 steps of 15 have been selected. The shape of the teeth 25 has been properly chosen to render a dwelling of the system in an intermediate position between teeth 25 unlikely.
(29) Switching part 22 is rigidly and coaxially connected to sleeve part 24. This sleeve part 24 is configured as a cylindrically shaped component with a reduced end 26 as one may gather from FIG. 12. The aperture at this end 26 is larger than the outer diameter of sections 2 and 3 of fixing unit 1, but smaller than the outer diameter of the center section 4. When sleeve part 24 has been connected to switching part 22, the handle 27 hereby formed can be freely rotated, but it has a limited axial mobility, typically in a magnitude of 1 to 2 mm. A spring 28 shown in FIG. 13 takes effect between fixing unit 1 and handle 27 in order to keep the latter under tension and in order to move it away from the assembly surface and, respectively, from the fixing unit when there is no force impacting on handle 27. The assembly surface, for example, is the door or outer surface of the component which the facility 23 is to be fastened to.
(30) By means of the described facility 23, a code can be entered, but without the actuator element 16 it would be required to utilize a very stiff spring to retain the pawl 11 in the recess 6 of fixing unit 1. A spring sufficiently rigid for this function would make it much more difficult and call for much higher power to perform the opening movement, possibly up to an extent at which a user believes the lock would still be in its closing position rather than in the really existing opening position. Overcoming such a stiff spring would also enhance the forces impacting on the inner components of facility 23 each time when facility 23 is actuated.
(31) As one may gather from FIG. 14, there is a control unit 29 in the form of a printed circuit board situated between the power transmission unit 8 and handle 27. Control unit 29 provides the standard functions of a known lock control circuit and carries the electronic components required for this purpose. It fulfils the additional function in this configuration of recording the entry of the relevant code. The entry function is reached by the arrangement of a suitable number of contact fields 30 which are peripherally arranged at the printed circuit board along a common contact field 31. Contact fields 30 are so positioned that each contact field 30 corresponds to a switching position and thus to a relative position between handle 27 and power transmission unit 8. In the case of 24 discrete steps, contact fields 30 have an angular extension of nearly 10 in order to allow for sufficient electrical isolation among each other.
(32) In another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the number of contact fields 30 on the printed circuit board corresponds to half the number of possible discrete steps. Accordingly, each number allocated to a relative position is preferably repeated once on the sleeve part 24 as outlined in FIGS. 11 and 14 so that the selected entry can be read-off from handle 27 at top and bottom. This configuration bears the advantage in that the lock on doors and the like can be positioned both at top and at bottom, without the choice of positioning adversely affecting the operation of facility 23. To realize this configuration, switching part 22 features two short-circuit contacts 32 diametrically arranged at the inner periphery of switching part 22 which can establish a connection between the common contact field 31 and one of the contact fields 30. Since contact fields 30 have an angular extension corresponding to the steps, the contact fields 30 fit into 180 of the circumference of the printed circuit board, wherein merely one short-circuit contact 32 can be in contact with contact fields 30 and 31 in any of the possible relative positions.
(33) The fixing of the printed circuit board on the power transmission unit 8 takes the effect that the relative position of contact fields 30 towards fixing unit 1 is changed when the power transmission unit 8 has been coupled to handle 27. If the system is designed to get loose independently without being correctly aligned in relation to fixing unit 1, a staggering of registered numbers will occur. To prevent this, the pawl 11 is provided with a retainer section 33 so that the tip of retainer section 33 is situated in the base body of power transmission unit 8 when pawl 11 engages into the recess 7 at fixing unit 1. When pawl 11 is freely displaceable by a rotation of actuator element 16 into its release position and when a rotation of power transmission unit 8 is effected by its user, then the actuator of pawl 11 causes the retaining section 33 to engage at one of teeth 25 of switching part 22 and thus the power transmission unit 8 is mechanically coupled to handle 27, irrespective of the relevant status of switching head 14 and actuator element 16. The quality of the coupling between power transmission unit 8 and handle 27 is thereby improved, thus also improving the resistivity against wear and tear.
(34) Had the actuator element 16 the intention to rotate when pawl 11 is not situated in recess 6 of fixing unit 1, the actuator element 16 would not position itself correctly relative to the blocking surface 21. Therefore, a signal section 34 is arranged at pawl 11, said signal section co-acting with any appropriate sensor, for example a spring wire contact, in order to confirm towards the control unit 29 that facility 23 has reached its 0-position and that the actuator element 16 can be rotated to modify its status.
(35) Facility 23 depicted in FIG. 14 is still to be provided with a non-depicted cover which can be fastened to the handle and which protectively covers the control unit 29. This cover can be configured of any desired kind and type.
(36) A use of master and multiple-user codes with actuation verification is known to be an advantage of electronic locks, and one or all of these features may be implemented in connection with the present invention. For example, alternative methods for entering the code can be applied, e.g. via a wireless or non-wireless interface utilizing surrounding maps, cell phones with wireless communication, biometrical data and the like. Even an integration into a wired or wireless network utilizing any appropriate protocol, e.g. an internet protocol or 802.11, is feasible, with all these techniques being known and freely obtainable. Each of these systems can be utilized in parallel to the described code entry as long as a suitable energy supply is available.
(37) FIG. 15 illustrates a perspective view of an alternative power transmission unit 8. In power transmission unit 8, in turn, a switching means 13 is arranged at which the switching head 14 is shown with a semi-spherical end. The switching means features a U-shape, with the legs supporting themselves via springs 102 at the base body. The end of switching head 14, however, can be configured in any appropriate manner here, too. Switching head 14 is pre-tensioned by springs 102 towards the direction of arrow B in FIG. 4 in order to move switching head 14 away from the axial rotary center of power transmission unit 8 so that it protrudes as shown beyond the rim of power transmission unit 8.
(38) Likewise visible in FIG. 15 is the actuator element 16 through which the mobility of a pawl 11 non-depicted in FIG. 15 and of the switching means 13 is regulated. Actuator element 16 can be moved by means of actuator 100, for example an incremental path motor, from a release position into a closing position and vice versa.
(39) FIG. 16 shows a perspective representation of power transmission unit 8 from FIG. 15. Now clearly visible is the actuator element 16 featuring elements 110, 112, and 114 which are pivoting mounted on a common axis 20. Elements 112 and 114 represent limit stops in order to confine a rotation of actuator element 16 in the direction R. The surface 110 features a circumference which constantly changes in rotary direction R so that on rotating the actuator element the pawl 11 experiences an upward and downward movement in the direction z. Owing to this movement, pawl 11 is moved between one release position and one closing position. This may be elucidated in detail hereinafter in FIGS. 17 and 18:
(40) FIG. 17 shows another perspective representation of power transmission unit 8 from FIG. 15. In the closing position shown here, the actuator element 16 is so rotated by means of motor 100 that the blocking pin 12 formed at one end of pawl 11 constantly engages into a counterpart recess 6 of fixing unit 1. In this closing position, the switching head 14 can be moved in the direction B so that a movement of a handle non-depicted in FIG. 17 merely causes a rotation of the same relative to the base body 10 and thus to the power transmission unit 8. The reason lies in that recesses, e.g. tooth-shaped recesses (see FIG. 8, teeth 15) allow the switching head 14 to engage into the same, to be true, but owing to the fixation of the power transmission unit at the fixing unit via pawl 11 and because of the mobility of the switching head in the direction of B, merely a slippage of the switching head 14 at these tooth-shaped recesses is effected when the handle is rotatedbut a power transmission to the power transmission unit 8 and thus to one of the output elements 9 (non-depicted) arranged at the power transmission unit 8 is not realized.
(41) FIG. 18 now schematically shows the release position of the actuator element 16 which was prompted by a rotation of actuator element 16 by means of motor 100. Owing to the rotary movement of the actuator element, pawl 11 was raised in the direction of z, whereby the blocking pin 12 formed at the end of pawl 11 does no longer engage into the counterpart recess 6 of fixing unit 1. At the same time, switching means 13 is blocked, thus preventing a movement of switching means 13 in the direction B shown in FIG. 17the switching head 14 of switching means 13 permanently stays in its position shown in FIG. 18 and thus it constantly engages into one of the tooth-shaped recesses of a handle non-depicted in FIG. 18. With this release position of the coupling mechanism, the power transmission unit 8 is thus torque-proof coupled to the handle and besides it can be rotated relative to the fixing unit 1. Thus, an actuation of the locking mechanism of the lock can be accomplished by rotating the handle.
(42) FIG. 19 finally shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a device for actuating the locking mechanism of a lock. The device is comprised of the fixing unit 1 and the power transmission unit shown in FIG. 15. As has already been depicted in FIG. 14, a control unit 29 in the form of a printed circuit board is situated between the power transmission unit 8 and the handle 27 (non-visible in FIG. 19). An entry function is again achieved by the arrangement of an appropriate number of contact fields 30 which are peripherally arranged at the printed circuit board along a common contact field 31. Furthermore, FIG. 19 shows a cover of the printed circuit board in the form of a battery take-up 130 through which electrical contacts 132 of the printed circuit board are guided which serve for power supply to the printed circuit board, utilizing a battery non-depicted in FIG. 19 and to be inserted into take-up 130.
