Locks – Operating mechanism – Using a powered device
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-21
2003-02-25
Gail, Lloyd A. (Department: 3676)
Locks
Operating mechanism
Using a powered device
C070S278700, C070S283100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06523377
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a blocking device for a cylinder lock with a stator, a rotor rotatable in this stator by means of a key, an additional blocking element which can linearly engage and disengage the rotor along a displacement axis, and an electrically driven control means for actuating this blocking element, with the control means comprising a rotating driven end of the shaft, a helical drive unit, which is disposed between the control means and the blocking element, as well as an electric control device for generating control signals for the control means and a method for operating this device.
Blocking devices of this type are applied in locks, in particular in cylinder locks. In the case of cylinder locks it is known to provide mechanically coded tumblers between rotor and stator and additionally a mechatronic blocking device which blocks the rotor independently of the mechanically coded tumblers. Through this combination of mechanically coded tumblers with an electric or electronic coding, the security and adaptability of such locks or locking devices can be considerably increased. Such locking configuration is known for example from EP A 730 073. This locking device comprises in known manner a rotatable rotor, wherein this rotor is provided with a key channel, into which a flat key can be inserted. This flat key comprises on the key bit in a manner known per se mechanical codings, which cooperate with tumblers between rotor and stator. With the correct coding of the key, these mechanical tumblers can be unblocked and thus the mechanical portion of the locking device can be moved into the opening position. The key comprises additionally an electronic coding, which, in this example, includes a transmitter for information signals. As a counterpiece on the cylinder lock a receiver is disposed which receives the information signals transmitted from the key and supplies them to an electronic processing device. This electronic device controls an additional electromechanical latch whose blocking part can engage and disengage the rotor. This electromechanical latch comprises an actuation component or a control means for the blocking part. The control means can be known means for generating translational motions, for a example a magnetic drive or a rotating setting drive. In order to hold the blocking part in the blocking position and to secure it against unauthorized interference from the outside, a reset spring is available which presses the blocking part in the direction of the rotor. This is especially necessary in the case of blocking parts which are moved translationally by solenoid magnets, since here in the de-energized condition the control means does not exert any forces onto the blocking part.
The above described and further known locking devices with cylinder locks, which comprise, on the one hand, a purely mechanical coding and, on the other hand, an electronic coding with additional mechanical blocking elements, for their orderly actuation or unblocking, a mechanically correctly coded key and an electronic module on the key, which exchanges information signals or data with an electronic module in the cylinder lock. This data exchange can take place through direct contact elements or free of contact via a transmitter-receiver system. If the electronic module on the key contains the correct data, the electronic module in the cylinder lock accepts this key as being authorized for opening and releases the additional blocking device. In spite of this twofold coding and increased security, the known electromechanical or mechatronic locking devices which can still be interfered with sufficient expenditure through magnetic forces, vibration or impacts or by combinations thereof.
In borderline cases this can lead to the fact that such a locking device can also be opened without authorization without keys with matching electronic coding. Of disadvantage with locking devices with cylinder locks of this type and with an additional electronically controlled blocking element is also the fact that the additional blocking element and the corresponding control means, have dimensions, in particular with the actuation by a solenoid magnet which are greater than the normal housing of commercial cylinder locks. Therefore additional housings are necessary and the corresponding locking devices cannot be applied in standardized, normally utilized lock boxes on doors or other objects. In order to make installation possible additional adaptations and changes are necessary.
In the mechanical coded cylinder locks, which are used for example with rotary grip locks or cylinder olive-shaped handles for rotary rod locks, it is known that the structural dimensions can be reduced if the blocking element is actuated via a helical drive unit. These known actuations of blocking elements through helical driving however, are not able to solve the problem of unauthorized unlatching by actions from the outside. WO 98/28508 discloses a solution which essentially employs an additional electromechanical latch, such as is described in EP A 730 073, in which inter alia for generating the movement of the blocking element a control means with different types of helical driving is proposed. In order to counteract unauthorized interference from the outside onto the blocking element, additionally reset means and/or force transmission means are necessary, which are said to counteract or neutralize forces potentially applied from the outside. These reset and force transmission means are essentially disposed on the control means approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the threaded drive, whereby either radially or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder lock additional space is required. This device can therefore also not be installed into the housing of normal cylinder locks, but rather additional annular housing or longitudinal housing components are necessary.
Due to the large number of requisite parts and their differing axes of action, the assembly and installation of this blocking device is complicated and costly and often requires additional adaptations in the installation region into an object, for example into a lock box and/or a door.
The present invention addresses the problem of providing a blocking device for a cylinder lock with an additional mechatronic blocking device in which this additional blocking device can be installed into a standard lock housing, for example into its crosspiece, simultaneously the unauthorized unblocking through interference from the outside is virtually prevented and the additional blocking device is structured as a compact structural unit in simple manner and with a minimum number of parts. The additional blocking device for a cylinder lock is furthermore developed as a kit which makes possible the retrofitting of mechanically coded cylinder locks and it will, moreover, be applicable in different systems of cylinder locks.
This problem is solved in terms of device through the characteristics defined in the characterizing clause of patent claim 1 and in terms of method according to the characteristics of the independent method claim. Advantageous further developments of the invention are evident based on the characteristics of the dependent patent claims.
In the blocking device according to the invention the driven end of the shaft of the control means, the rotational axis of the helical drive unit, as well as the blocking element and its linear guidance are disposed on a common longitudinal axis, or these elements have a common axis. This disposition yields the advantage that these elements can be combined to form a compact structural unit and a simplified method of construction is made possible. Due to the orientation of the rotational axis of the helical drive unit toward the common longitudinal axis, the rotary motion of the driven end of the shaft of the control means can be converted directly into the linear motion of the blocking element without additional elements, such as reset means of force transmission mea
Berchtold AG
Gail Lloyd A.
Notaro & Michalos P.C.
LandOfFree
Blocking device for a cylinder lock does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Blocking device for a cylinder lock, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Blocking device for a cylinder lock will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3138052