This invention relates to a high security lock mechanism and, more particularly, to an electronically controlled combination lock and lock-bolt operable by a very small amount of self-generated electrical power.
Items of extremely sensitive nature or very high proprietary value often must be stored securely in a safe or other containment device, with access to the items restricted to selected individuals given a predetermined combination code necessary to enable authorized unlocking thereof. It is essential to ensure against unauthorized unlocking of such safe containers by persons employing conventional safe-cracking techniques or sophisticated equipment for applying electrical or magnetic fields, high mechanical forces, or accelerations intended to manipulate elements of the locking mechanism to thereby open it.
Numerous locking mechanisms are known which employ various combinations of mechanical, electrical and magnetic elements both to ensure against unauthorized operation and to effect cooperative movements among the elements for authorized locking and unlocking operations.
One example of such recently-developed devices is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,945, to Sanderford, Jr., which relates to an electronic lock actuated by a predetermined input through a keyboard outside a safe to a programmable control unit within a housing of the safe. The device has an electric motor for driving a lock-bolt for locking a safe door to the safe housing, and means for displaying codes entered by the user, with a facility for selectively changing the necessary code. The device also has a battery-powered backup circuit maintained in a dormant state to conserve energy until an actuation key is operated. A microprocessor of the unit is programmed to activate a relatively high frequency of power output pulses at the start of movement of a locking bolt by the electric motor, to overcome inertia and any sticking forces on the bolt, and a lower frequency of power pulses to complete the movement of the bolt.
Another example is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,781, to Reece et al., which discloses an electric door lock actuator and mechanism having manual and electrically driven locking means. This device utilizes a combination of a lost motion coupling and resilient springs for driving a motive means to a neutral position, to thereby isolate an electric motor and gearing from the locking means so that the locking means may be operated manually without back-driving of the electric motor and intermediate gearing.
A major problem with such devices is that they require substantial amounts of electric power to perform their locking and unlocking functions. For securely storing and accessing highly sensitive or valuable items, it is important to avoid depending on the ready availability of sufficient electrical power for driving the locking mechanism. In fact, for many applications, the use of long-life batteries, even to power a small microprocessor, may also be deemed unacceptable.
The stringency of relevant U.S. government specifications is readily appreciated from Federal Specification FF-L2740, dated Oct. 12, 1989, titled “FEDERAL SPECIFICATION: LOCKS, COMBINATION” for the use of all federal agencies. Section 3.4.7, “Combination Redial”, for example, requires that once the lock-bolt has been extended to its locked position “it shall not be possible to reopen the lock without completely redialing the locked combination”, and defines the locked position as one in which the bolt has been fully extended. Section 3.6.1.3, “Emanation Analysis”, requires that the lock shall not emit any sounds or other signals which may be used to surreptitiously open the lock within a specified period. Section 4.5.2.2.4, “Surreptitious Entry”, requires that for any lock to be deemed acceptable, attempts shall be made to unlock the lock through manipulation, radiological analysis and emanations analysis, further including the use of computer enhancement techniques for signals or emanations. Even further, Section 6.3.2 defines surreptitious entry as a method of entry such as manipulation or radiological attack which would not be detectable during normal use or during inspection by a qualified person.
In short, for high security storage of sensitive or valuable material, in light of the availability of sophisticated computer-assisted means and methods for unauthorized operation of locking mechanisms, there exists a need for an autonomous locking mechanism that does not require batteries or external sources of power for any purpose, receives and recognizes only specific user-selected combination code information for access, emanates no information useful to persons attempting unauthorized operation, and is made to resist unauthorized operation even when subjected to strong externally imposed electrical, magnetic or mechanical forces, and satisfies other U.S. government specifications. Most important, once the mechanism is put in its locked position it loses all “memory” of the input combination code and requires a totally new and correct provision of the complete combination code to be unlocked again.
The present invention, as more fully disclosed hereinbelow, meets these perceived needs at reasonable cost with a geometrically compact, electrically autonomous, locking mechanism.
It is an object of this invention to provide a locking mechanism which remains securely in a locked state until, following receipt of a predetermined combination code, a very small amount of electrical power is employed to put it in condition to be manually unlocked thereafter.
It is another object of this invention to provide a locking mechanism actuated by the input of a selected combination code followed by the delivery of a very small amount of electrical power generated during input of a user-selected combination code to a low friction engagement means to put the same in a position to enable purely manual unlocking of the mechanism thereafter.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a locking mechanism which upon being put into a locked state remains in that state immune to electrical, magnetic, thermal or mechanical inputs accompanying attempts at unauthorized unlocking thereof.
It is an even further object of this invention to provide a secure locking mechanism which is unlocked by the provision of a preselected combination code within a specified time followed by the provision of a very small amount of electrical power to move an engagement element to a position to enable solely manual unlocking of the mechanism thereafter.
It is an even further object of this invention to provide a locking mechanism which utilizes a very small amount of electrical power, generated during input of a user-provided combination code, to be put into condition for manual unlocking, the mechanism, upon being manually put into a locked state, remaining in such a locked state until a predetermined combination code is entered.
These and other related objects are realized, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, by providing a locking mechanism which comprises a first means for moving an engagement element from a disengaged position to an engageable position thereof solely upon receipt of a controlled predetermined electrical power output, a manually operated second means for engaging the engagement element when the latter is in its engageable position for thereby manually moving the first means further in a first direction and back in a second direction, and third means for driving a lock-bolt engaged by the further movement of the first means to drive the lock-bolt to locking and unlocking positions thereof in correspondence with movements of the first means in the first and second directions respectively. Movement of the first means in the second direction restores security by returning the engagement element to its disengaged position when the lock-bolt reaches its locked position.
In still another aspect of the invention, the first means comprises an electrical stepper motor having a rotor supporting the engagement element and having stable positions determined by magnetic detents which correspond to the disengaged and engageable positions of the engagement element.
A typical safe for securely storing valuable items, e.g., sensitive documents, precious jewelry or cash, hazardous materials such as radioactive or biologically dangerous substances, and the like, conveniently has a generally cubical form, with an opening closable by a single hinged door. Such a safe also typically has a multi-walled construction, both for the principal sides and for the door. As best seen in
As best seen in
A shaft 210, rotatable by knob 206, extends through the thickness of door 104 and into casing 208 to cooperate thereat with a combination of important elements of the present invention as described more fully hereinbelow. A lock-bolt 212 is slidably supported by casing 208 to be projected outwardly into a locking position, or to be retracted substantially within casing 208 to an unlocking position, upon appropriate manual operation of combination-input knob 206 by a user. Casing 208 is provided with a detachable cover 272 which also serves to provide support to various components of the lock mechanism according to this invention.
Referring again to
Casing 208 is conveniently formed, e.g., by machining, molding or otherwise in known manner, to provide a pair of guide slots 218, 218 which are shaped, sized and disposed to closely accommodate lock-bolt 212 in a sliding motion between its locked and unlocked positions. While an important object of this invention is to provide its locking function in a highly compact manner, which inherently necessitates the selection of strong materials for forming the casing 208 and lock-bolt 212, guides 218, 218 and lock-bolt 212 must be shaped and sized to provide the necessary strength to resist any foreseeable brute-force to open door 104. Persons of ordinary skill in the art are expected to know of suitable materials for such purposes. For example, although the safe walls and door may be made of highly tempered steel or alloy, the lock bolt itself may be made of a softer metal such as brass or an alloy such as “ZAMAK,” and so may other elements of the mechanism.
As also illustrated in
Note that sliding element 232 is also provided with a cam-engaging pin 236, at least one elongate straight side 238 which may be used in known manner to provide additional sliding guidance, one or more weight-reducing apertures such as 242 which may also be shaped to perform cam functions, a circular aperture 244 close to cam-engaging pin 236, and a cam-notch 246 at the end of sliding element 232 opposite the end closest to cam-engaging pin 236.
Lock-bolt 212, as best seen in
Lever arm 252 is provided with a lateral pin 254 which is disposed to be engaged by cam-notch 246 of sliding element 232 so as to be forcibly moved thereby, in a manner to be described more fully hereinbelow, when sliding element 232 is itself caused to be slidingly moved as guided by the coaction of guide pin 228 and the parallel sides of elongate aperture 230. The distal portion of lever arm 252 extending beyond the location of lateral pin 254 is formed as a hook 256, the shape of which is provided with an outside edge having a plurality of contiguous portions 258, 260 and 262 which coact with a downwardly depending fixed cam portion 264 formed at an inside surface of casing 208. This coaction, at different stages in the course of moving lock-bolt 212 between its locked and unlocked positions, is best understood with successive reference to
An end portion of shaft 210 which extends into space 214 preferably has a square cross-section, to which is mounted a rotary element 266 via a matchingly shaped and sized central fitting aperture 268, as best seen in
In the best mode of this invention, exemplified by the preferred embodiment illustrated in exploded view in
At a side of rotary element 266 between internal ring gear 274 and annular journal bearing 216 is a circular cam portion 400 provided with a radially-relieved mechanical detent 402 shaped and sized to receive hook 256 when lever arm 252 is pivoted to a predetermined degree about pivot 250 by a sliding movement of sliding element 232 and a corresponding coaction between lateral pin 254 of lever arm 252 and cam notch 246 of sliding element 232. A small magnet 245 is mounted to rotary element 266, at a predetermined angular disposition vis-a-vis mechanical detent 402, at a radius such that it passes by reed switch 224 to activate it under conditions selected by microprocessor 288 as described hereinafter.
As best seen in
Cover 272, as best seen in
As described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,061,923, incorporated herein by reference for such details, such affixation of cover 272 to casing 208, upon manual rotation of combination-input knob 206, causes rotation of shaft 210 and rotary element 266 mounted thereto, resulting in manual rotation of planetary gear train 298 to generate electrical power in electrical generator 294. Some of this electrical power is conveyed via a plurality of fine wires (not illustrated) which are disposed along shaft 210, to provide a liquid crystal display of numbers relating to a combination code in display window 204. A portion of the power generated by electrical power generator 284, under the control of microprocessor 288, is stored in power storage capacitor 286. Some of this stored electrical power is thereafter available for a period of time under the control of microprocessor 288, upon determination thereby that a correct combination code has been provided by a user, to perform a vital function of the present invention. This vital function is to create such a coaction of the above-described elements that lock-bolt 212 is positively and controllably moved, solely by a manually-provided force, from its locked position to its unlocked position.
In the best mode of this invention, as best understood with reference to
What is of particular importance is that motor 300 is electrically connected by a portion of circuit wiring 290 so as to be able to receive from power storage capacitor 286 at least one predetermined small pulse of electric power at a time controlled by microprocessor 288. Microprocessor 288 is initially provided a user-input reference combination code which, thereafter, serves as reference data until and unless it is replaced or changed as is fully described in copending application U.S. Ser. No. 07/250,918, incorporated herein by reference for relevant details disclosed therein. Subsequently, when a user rotates combination-input knob 206 to actuate the lock mechanism, rotation of shaft 210 (regardless of direction of its sense of rotation), generates electrical power to display elements of the combination code as they are being input and, simultaneously, enables the storage of a quantity of power in power storage capacitor 286. Then, upon microprocessor 288 recognizing that a correct combination code has been provided, e.g., upon receipt of a predetermined ordered set of three numbers, a portion of the power stored in power storage capacitor 286 is released to motor 300 when further rotation of rotary element 266 in a predetermined direction next brings magnet 245 close enough to reed switch 244 to actuate it. Alternatively, power can be supplied to the motor 300 by a separate capacitor (not shown).
This motor 300 has very low-friction bearings rotatably supporting rotor 302, preferably with no grease, oil or other lubricant being utilized therein to avoid deterioration thereof over prolonged period of time. The coaction of ring gear 274 and gear train 298 generates sufficient electric power during the process of inputting the requisite combination code to enable power storage capacitor 286 to store and deliver an adequate electrical power pulse (or more than one pulse, as needed) to cause rotor 302 to move from a stable disengaged position corresponding to a first magnetic detent to a stable engageable position corresponding to a second magnetic detent thereof. Motor 300 thus functions as a transducer in which a small amount of received electrical power is converted, i.e., transduced, to a small mechanical rotation of rotor 302.
A variation of this arrangement can be realized using simple modifications to the circuitry, so that power to actuate the motor 300 is provided directly from power generation elements to the motor without first storing that quantity of electrical charge in one or more capacitors. Power to operate the microprocessor, however, may still be stored in and provided through one or more capacitors.
As best seen in
Once such an engagement is initiated, further manual rotation of rotary element 266, due to manual torque provided by a user rotating combination-input knob 206, rotor 302 is forcibly and positively rotated in a rotational direction opposite to that of shaft 210. In other words, simply by the provision of a very small electrical power pulse, which is preferably in the range of only a few microwatts, rotor 302 becomes drivable solely by the manual rotary input under the control of the user, and this occurs only after the input of a correct combination code as recognized by microprocessor 288 with reference to its prestored reference combination code data.
Rotor 302, as best seen in
In this manner, further solely manual rotation of rotatable cam 312 will generate a forced sliding motion of sliding element 232, as guided b guide pin 228 engaging with elongate aperture 230, by overcoming of a biasing force provided by bias springs 222, 222. In the structure as illustrated in
As previously noted, cam notch 246 at the upper distal end of sliding element 232 engages with lateral pin 254 of lever arm 252. Thus, as best understood with reference to
Also, as best understood with reference to
Once the user has completed his or her business with the contents of the safe, door 104 may be put in a position to close safe 100 and the combination-input knob 206 rotated in the opposite sense, i.e., in a direction opposite to that which enabled lock-bolt 212 to be manually moved to its unlocked position. As best understood with reference to
Again, as best seen with reference to
Note that the rotation of rotary element 266 required to thus project lock-bolt 212 out of casing 208 into a locked position is minimal, and that very little electrical power is generated as an incident thereto. Consequently, the electrically discharged circuit does not acquire sufficient stored electrical charge to be able to influence stepper motor 300 while lock-bolt 212 moves from its unlocked to its locked position. A very important consequence of this, in the context of the present invention, is that the entire lock mechanism becomes totally deactivated upon lock-bolt 212 reaching its locked position. Once this happens, lock-bolt 212 can not be moved to its unlocked position without the provision of the correct and entire combination code which must be found satisfactory by microprocessor 288 to enable the unlocking process as described hereinabove. In short, once the door is locked, the only way to unlock it is to correctly provide the entire combination code.
The basic concept of this invention, as realized in the preferred embodiment described hereinabove, may also be practiced with other embodiments. One such embodiment 700 is illustrated, in various operational stages, in
Referring to
In this second embodiment, as in the first embodiment illustrated in
A low-friction, low-power, electric motor 300 is provided to receive a controlled electrical power pulse under the same conditions and is substantially the same manner as was described in detail for the first embodiment. Rotation of shaft 210 by a user, through a sun and gear train mounted on shaft 210, will generate and store some electrical power under the control of a microprocessor. Upon satisfactory reception of a correct combination code input from a user, the microprocessor will release from an electrical storage capacitor a small controlled pulse of electrical power to cause a rotor of electric motor 300 to rotate from a first stable “disengaged” position to a second stable “engageable” position, these positions being defined by corresponding magnetic detents. For the sake of conciseness, a detailed description is not repeated herein of the manner in which the electrical power is generated and how, upon being provided the correct combination code input the microprocessor provides the necessary small electrical power pulse to motor 300 to cause the rotor thereof to turn. These details are believed to be comprehensible to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon a study of the earlier provided detailed description.
In the second embodiment 700, as best seen in
It will be recalled that the location of a small magnet on the rotary element of the first embodiment actuates a reed switch 224 when the rotary element 266 turned to a predetermined position after reception by the microprocessor of a correct and complete combination input signal. For the sake of conciseness and clarity the details of such operation are not repeated and such elements are not illustrated in
As was the case in the first embodiment, there is provided a rotatable element (not shown in
A second spring 730 is engaged at one end to spring connection pin 714 of lever arm 702 and has a second end disposed to be pulled by cam pin 728. The length of second spring 730 is selected such that it is put under tension only after engagement of engagement lever 726 by detent 722 of rotary cam element 720 as described in the immediately preceding paragraphs. Until that happens, second spring 730 is not subjected to any external force. However, once cam pin 728 is manually moved, as described above, it turns about the axis of motor 300 to a point where it begins to exert a force along second spring 730 and this force is to spring connection pin 714 of lever arm 702. This force, manually provided, is sufficient to overcome the biasing force of first spring 716, and eventually draws lever arm 702 in a pivotable motion about pivot 250, so that point 712 of hook 704 is received within the hook engaging profiled detent 724. Once this happens, co-action between the appropriately shaped hook engaging profiled detent 724 and rear hook surface 710 causes lever arm 702 to be drawn forcibly to thereby draw lock bolt 212 from its locking position to its unlocking position (as best seen in
The second embodiment thus operates in the manner just described in accordance with the same basic principles as were earlier described with reference to the first embodiment.
When the user wishes to lock the mechanism, he or she simply needs to turn combination-input knob 206, and thus shaft 210 and rotary cam element 720, in a clockwise direction as would be seen with reference to
The third embodiment 800, operating to the same basic principles, is illustrated in
The rotor of electric motor 300 has a gear wheel 812 the teeth of which are continuously engaged with the teeth of an arcuate toothed sector 814 of an element 816 pivotably mounted at a pivot 818 attached to an inside surface of casing 208. Element 816, on the side opposite to toothed sector 814, has a sideways extension 820 having a generally triangular internal opening 822 and an external edge surface cam comprising a first straight portion 824, an obtuse angle 826, a short external edge portion 828, a substantially right angled corner 830, and a second straight edge portion 832, as illustrated in
Lever arm 802 has a spring connection point 834, a short rotatable arm 836 pivotably mounted on a pivot 838 and a stop pin 840 against which short rotatable arm 836 rests under a biasing force provided by a spring 842.
As illustrated in
When a user inputs the correct and complete combination code, as with the previously discussed embodiments, a microprocessor acts in combination with the reed switch and a magnet (not shown) mounted to the rotary element 806 in the manner previously described with respect to the other embodiments. A small electrical power pulse is then provided to electric motor 300 when hook-engaging detent 808 is at a predetermined position with respect to hook 804. Pivotably supported element 816 is very light in weight, therefore has a small mass inertia, and is supported at pivot 818 with very little friction, preferably without the use of lubricants that could deteriorate over time. It is also intended to be balanced about pivot 818 so that, even with a very small electrical power pulse, motor 300 can turn gear wheel 812 and, thereby, element 816. At this time, in the disposition illustrated in
Upon receiving the small electrical pulse, motor 300 causes rotation of its rotor and gear wheel 812 mounted thereto, and toothed sector 814 engaged therewith causes rotation of element 816 in a clockwise direction, preferably by about 30°, as illustrated in
Eventually, as rotary cam element 806 is manually turned counterclockwise, hook 804 enters hook-engaging detent 808 of manually rotated rotary element 806. Once this occurs, further counterclockwise manual rotation of rotary element 806 forcibly pulls lever arm 802 leftward, and thus lock bolt 212 slides into casing 208. An uppermost outer edge of the hooked distal end of lever arm 802 slips under fixed cam 264 provided at an upper portion of casing 208. The dimensions of the various elements are selected so that when lock bolt 212 has reached its “unlocking” position detent 808, the hook engaging detent 808 cannot pull on lever arm 802 any further, as best understood with reference to
Note that, as with the two previously described embodiments, in this third embodiment the basic principle utilized is to employ a very small electrical power pulse to cause a light-weight, low-friction electric motor to cause a small rotatable element to rotate to initiate an engagement between a lever arm and a manually driven rotatable rotary element to enable delivery of a manual force to drive lock bolt 212 from its locking to its unlocking position. Note also that, as with the previous embodiments, such an engagement becomes possible only after the microprocessor has received a correct and complete combination code input from the user, and only when the user manually torques rotary element 806 thereafter.
In order to put the locking mechanism in its locking state, the user must manually rotate rotary element 806 in the contrary direction, i.e., clockwise in
Further uncontrolled, e.g., unauthorized, rotation of shaft 210 and rotary element 806 will not cause a lock-opening engagement between hook 804 and hook-engaging detent 808 until and unless element 816 is again caused to rotate out of the way of cam pin 844, this being possible only under the control of the microprocessor after the microprocessor receives a correct and complete combination code input. The lock is thus safe from unauthorized opening once lock bolt 212 is put in its “locking” position, i.e., once it is extended outwardly of casing 208 as best illustrated in
As will be appreciated, to ensure against forcible or clever attempts at unauthorized unlocking operation of the locking mechanism, additional security elements may be provided. Two embodiments of such an aspect of an improving addition to the above-described invention are illustrated in
This security device 900 preferably has its principal components disposed within a common casing 902 shared with the electrical windings 904 and rotor 906 of the electrical motor (otherwise used in the same manner as electric motor 300 of the previous embodiments). Rotor 906 is supported on an axle 908 mounted in low friction bearings (not shown) and has an external gear wheel 910 which mechanically coacts with other elements as previously described.
At the inside end of rotor 906, within casing 902, there is provided a blocking member formed as a non-magnetic disk 912 which clears the inside surface of casing 902 and is rotatable with rotor 906 and shaft 908 to which external gear wheel 910 is mounted. Therefore, when blocking member disk 912 is prevented from rotating, so is external gear wheel 910 which, by its coaction with other elements previously described, is operable to put the lock in condition for unlocking.
Non-magnetic locking member disk 912 is preferably provided with a slight recess 914, as best seen in
Also mounted within casing 902 is a small magnetic coil, e.g., a voice coil 918 mounted concentrically with an extending portion of axle 908 supported at a rear wall of casing 902 in a bearing 920. The voice coil is free to move axially of axle 908 and is biased toward rotor 906 and blocking member disk 912 by one or more springs 922 acting against the back end of and within casing 902. At the end of voice coil 918 closest to blocking member disk 912, there is mounted a cantilevered pin 924 which normally extends through aperture 916 in blocking member disk 912, as shown in
A permanent magnet 926 is mounted inside casing 902 with its north and south poles aligned in such a manner that when an electric current is provided to voice coil 918, an electromagnetic field generated therein produces a pole of like kind so that mounted permanent magnet 926 repells voice coil 918 axially of axle 908. Consequently, when a sufficient electric current is provided to voice coil 918, and the magnetic field thereof interacts with permanent magnet 926 to overcome the biasing force of springs 922, voice coil 918 bodily moves away from blocking member disk 912. In doing so, it causes pin 924 to be totally extracted from aperture 916 in blocking member disk 912. So long as such a current continues to be provided to voice coil 918, and pin 924 remains retracted entirely out of aperture 916 in blocking member disk 912, blocking member disk 912, rotor 906, shaft 908 and external gear wheel 910 are then free to rotate. On the other hand, so long as such an electrical current is not being provided to voice coil 918, springs 922 force it in such a direction that when the distal end of pin 924 becomes aligned with aperture 916 in blocking member disk 912 it projects therethrough and prevents rotation of axle 908 and external gear wheel 910 mounted thereto.
In know manner, voice coil 918 is connected in conjunction with windings 904 of the electric motor (not numbered), which is used in the same manner as electric motor 300 of the previous embodiments. The electric current which activates voice coil 918 into retracting pin 924 out of blocking member disk 912 does so just before passing of electric current through windings 904 causes rotor 906 to turn axle 908 and, thus, external gear wheel 910.
As will be appreciated, to avoid binding between pin 924 and the edges defining aperture 916 in blocking member disk 912, the pin must be retracted before windings 904 generate enough torque on rotor 906 and blocking member disk 912 to turn them inside casing 902. As a practical matter, there are numerous known mechanisms and techniques for delaying the flow of electrical current to coils 904 until pin 924 has been entirely retracted from aperture 926, thereby setting rotor 906 free to turn.
In practice, the security device illustrated in
It may be theoretically possible to apply a strong inertial force, e.g., by a violent blow, to the lock along the direction of the axis of axle 908, sufficient to cause voice coil 918 to compress springs 922. While doing so, in theory one could retract pin 924 from aperture 916 while, simultaneously, applying a strong rotating external magnetic field to rotate rotor 906. However, since most safes are very heavy or are built into a structure, the likelihood of such a complex contrivance putting the lock into condition for unlocking for practical purposes is eliminated by the presence of the security device per
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the performance of the voice coil and pin 924 attached thereto, involving retraction during the provision of a small electric current to the voice coil, can be utilized under other comparable circumstances to prevent movement of an element capable of coacting with pin 924, e.g., a sliding element that may be employed as a magnetic key, or the like.
Voice coil 918 is preferably connected in series with winding coils 904 of the electric motor in such a manner that when an electrical current is provided under the control of the microprocessor to enable rotor 906 to turn, the same current causes voice coil 918 to act against springs 922 to withdrawn pin 924 from aperture 916 of disk 912. Only then can disk 912 and the rotor 906 turn to rotate the toothed element 910 into an engageable position to allow the user to apply manual force to lock bolt 212 to move it to its unlocking position. Rotation of rotor 906 by the imposition of an external magnetic field is prevented by this simple structure, while normal authorized opening of the lock mechanism is automatically made possible.
In this manner, by the use of relatively inexpensive and commonly available elements, e.g., a voice coil, springs and essential wiring, additional security can be provided against unauthorized unlocking of the locking mechanism as described hereinabove.
An alternative security device is illustrated in
As best seen in
Under the above-described circumstances, with the magnets, by pairs, staying away from the knurled surface 1008, the rotor of electric motor 300 remains free to operate as described previously, i.e., to turn between its two detent positions upon the reception of the required small electrical power pulse under the control of the microprocessor. However, should an unauthorized attempt be made to unlock the locking mechanism by the imposition of a large magnetic field upon the locking mechanism, the pairs of magnets will no longer balance each other radially outwardly and, therefore, their sharp ends will come into contact with knurled surface 1008 of rotor 1004 and will prevent rotation thereof. Consequently, the rotor of electric motor 300 also cannot turn and the mechanism cannot be put into condition for operation in any of its embodiments as described hereinabove. This mechanism thus insures safety against attempts at unauthorized opening of the locking mechanism by the imposition of extraneously provided large magnetic or electrical fields.
It should be appreciated that persons of ordinary skill in the art, armed with the above disclosure, will consider variations and modifications of the disclosed embodiments and various aspects of this invention. Consequently, the disclosed embodiments are intended to be merely illustrative in nature and not as limiting. The scope of this invention, therefore, is limited solely by the claims appended below.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/328,379 filed on Jan. 9, 2006 (pending) which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/965,305 filed on Oct. 14, 2004 (abandoned) which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/391,830 filed on Mar. 19, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,917) which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/985,975 filed Nov. 7, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,769) which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/409,760 filed Sep. 30, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,314,773) which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/985,901 filed Dec. 5, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,655) which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/593,725 filed Jan. 29, 1996 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,194), which is a division of application Ser. No. 08/371,319 filed Jan. 11, 1995 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,290), which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/819,216 filed Jan. 13, 1992 (abandoned).
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 08371319 | Jan 1995 | US |
Child | 08593725 | Jan 1996 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 11328379 | Jan 2006 | US |
Child | 11848362 | Aug 2007 | US |
Parent | 10965305 | Oct 2004 | US |
Child | 11328379 | Jan 2006 | US |
Parent | 10391830 | Mar 2003 | US |
Child | 10965305 | Oct 2004 | US |
Parent | 09985975 | Nov 2001 | US |
Child | 10391830 | Mar 2003 | US |
Parent | 09409760 | Sep 1999 | US |
Child | 09985975 | Nov 2001 | US |
Parent | 08985901 | Dec 1997 | US |
Child | 09409760 | Sep 1999 | US |
Parent | 08593725 | Jan 1996 | US |
Child | 08985901 | Dec 1997 | US |
Parent | 07819216 | Jan 1992 | US |
Child | 08371319 | Jan 1995 | US |