Patent Application
20240076904
Locks are found in many enclosures, such as tool storage devices. Typical locks can be opened manually with a key driven actuator, and others can be opened remotely with an electronic lock. The electronic lock is located inside a component of the enclosure being locked and communicates with a remote through wireless or wired methods to lock the component. Some locks use lock rods to engage the enclosure and prevent the opening of the component in a locked state. To unlock the component, an apparatus retracts the lock rod from the enclosure so the component can freely move.
Several example implementations relate to a locking device with a key-driven actuator and a motor-driven assembly. Example locking devices described herein may be incorporated in a tool storage unit to lock or unlock a component of the unit, such as a door or drawer.
More particularly, example locking devices include a dual directional clutch. Namely, example implementations include a motor-driven assembly and a key driven actuator. The motor-driven assembly is configured to selectively decouple from a lock rod of the locking device when the key-driven actuator is actuated. In this way, when a user utilizes the key-driven actuator, the user does not need to displace components of the motor-driven assembly which would require a greater application of force when locking and unlocking the locking device. Further, if the motor-driven assembly is not operational (e.g., mechanical failure or loss of power), the user can still use the key-driven actuator without engaging or displacing components of the motor-driven actuator.
In a first implementation, a locking device is provided. The locking device includes a locking arm movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking device also includes a shaft including a first set of gear teeth and a set of ratchet teeth that engage the locking arm so as to move the locking arm between the locked position and the unlocked position. The locking device further includes a key-driven actuator configured to rotate the shaft with movement of a key. The locking device additionally includes a motor-driven assembly configured to selectively engage the shaft and rotate the shaft. The motor-driven assembly includes a motor and a rotatable screw coupled to the motor. The motor-driven assembly also includes a gear including a second set of gear teeth on an outer perimeter of the gear, a first cam surface on an inner perimeter of the gear and a second cam surface on the inner perimeter of the gear, wherein the second set of gear teeth engage the rotatable screw. The motor-driven assembly further includes a clutch configured to selectively engage the shaft upon rotation of the gear. The clutch includes a first pawl configured to be actuated by the first cam surface, when the gear rotates in a first direction, so as to engage the first set of gear teeth of the shaft. The clutch additionally includes a second pawl configured to be actuated by the second cam surface, when the gear rotates in a second direction, so as to engage the first set of gear teeth of the shaft. The first and second pawls are configured to disengage with the shaft when the rotatable screw is stationary.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the first pawl is coupled to a first pawl spring and the second pawl is coupled to a second pawl spring. The first and second pawls are configured to disengage with the shaft when the rotatable screw is stationary by way of the first and second pawl springs.
In an embodiment of the locking device, when the first pawl is actuated by the first cam surface, the first pawl spring is compressed.
In an embodiment of the locking device, when the second pawl is actuated by the second cam surface, the second pawl spring is compressed.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the first pawl and the second pawl are bias in a disengaged position.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the locking arm comprises rack gear engageable with the set of ratchet teeth.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the locking device includes a lock rod coupled to the locking arm by way of a lock rod finger, wherein the lock rod is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the lock rod finger is a first lock rod finger, and wherein the key-driven actuator comprises a second lock rod finger coupled to the lock rod.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the motor comprises a transceiver that is configured to communicate with a remote control apparatus to remotely operate the motor.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the transceiver is configured to communicate with the remote control by way of at least one of infrared, radio frequency identification (RFID), cellular, WIFI, Bluetooth, wireless signal, or a wired connection.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the clutch comprises a wave spring set.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the gear is a worm gear and wherein the rotatable screw is a worm gear screw.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the locking device is coupled to a tool box, wherein moving the locking arm to the locked position locks the toolbox, and wherein moving the locking arm to the unlocked position unlocks the tool box.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the first cam surface is a first set of cam surfaces, and wherein the second cam surface is a second set of cam surfaces.
In an embodiment of the locking device, wherein the first pawl is a first set of pawls, and wherein the second pawl is a second set of pawls.
In an embodiment of the locking device, the key-driven actuator is configured to move the locking arm between the locked position and the unlocked position with movement of a key.
In a second implementation, a tool storage unit is provided. The tool storage unit tool storage unit includes a housing configured to store a tool and a locking device coupled to the housing. The locking device includes a locking arm movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking device also includes a shaft including a first set of gear teeth and a set of ratchet teeth that engage the locking arm so as to move the locking arm between the locked position and the unlocked position. The locking device further includes a key-driven actuator configured to rotate the shaft with movement of a key. The locking device additionally includes a motor-driven assembly configured to selectively engage the shaft and rotate the shaft. The motor-driven assembly includes a motor, a rotatable screw coupled to the motor, and a gear. The gear includes a second set of gear teeth on an outer perimeter of the gear, a first cam surface on an inner perimeter of the gear and a second cam surface on the inner perimeter of the gear, wherein the second set of gear teeth engage the rotatable screw. The motor-driven assembly also includes a clutch configured to selectively engage the shaft upon rotation of the gear. The clutch includes a first pawl configured to be actuated by the first cam surface, when the gear rotates in a first direction, so as to engage the first set of gear teeth of the shaft and a second pawl configured to be actuated by the second cam surface, when the gear rotates in a second direction, so as to engage the first set of gear teeth of the shaft. The first and second pawls are configured to disengage with the shaft when the rotatable screw is stationary and moving the locking arm between the locked position and the unlocked position unlocks the housing.
In an embodiment of the tool storage unit, the first pawl is coupled to a first pawl spring and the second pawl is coupled to a second pawl spring, and wherein the first and second pawls are configured to disengage with the shaft when the rotatable screw is stationary by way of the first and second pawl springs.
In an embodiment of the tool storage unit, when the first pawl is actuated by the first cam surface, the first pawl spring is compressed.
In an embodiment of the tool storage unit, when the second pawl is actuated by the second cam surface, the second pawl spring is compressed.
Other embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detailed description, with reference where appropriate to the accompanying drawings.
Example embodiments are described herein with reference to the drawings.
The drawings are schematic and not necessarily to scale. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise.
This description describes several example embodiments, at least some which relate to locking devices. In example embodiments, the locking device includes a dual directional clutch, such that a motor-driven assembly can selectively decouple from the locking device when the key-driven actuator is actuated.
In examples of the present disclosure, a locking device with a key-driven actuator and a motor-driven assembly are disclosed. More particularly, the locking device includes a lock rod and locking arm both movable from a locked position and an unlocked position by way of either the key-driven actuator or the motor-driven assembly. Components of the motor-driven assembly selectively engage and disengage with the locking arm. Accordingly, the motor-driven assembly can engage with the locking arm when the motor-driven assembly is actuated. And the motor-driven assembly can disengage with the locking arm when the key-driven actuator is actuated (and the motor-driven assembly is not actuated). Accordingly, when a user uses a standard key to lock or unlock the locking device by way of the key-driven actuator, the user does not engage and displace components of the motor-driven assembly. This is desirable, as displacing components of the motor-driven assembly requires a much greater application of force by the user when locking and unlocking the locking device. Further, this is desirable in scenarios where the motor-driven assembly is not operational. In these scenarios, the user can use the key-driven actuator without engaging or displacing components of the motor-driven assembly.
Now referring to the Figures,
An example locking device 100 includes a key-driven actuator 106 and a motor-driven assembly 108 both coupled to a lock rod 110 by way of lock rod fingers 102 and 114. The lock rod fingers 102, 114 are each configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position, which are shown in
As shown in
The key-driven actuator 106 can include a center-neutral key position that rotates 90 degrees in either direction from center to lock and unlock the locking device 100, which allows the key to operate the locking device 100.
The motor-driven assembly 108 is coupled to the lock rod 110 by way of a shaft 128 engageable with the locking arm 104. The locking arm 104 is coupled to the lock rod finger 102 which is coupled to the lock rod 110. The motor-driven assembly 108 is configured to rotate the shaft 128 in a first locking direction and a second unlocking direction. Rotating the shaft 128 in a first locking direction 111 retracts the locking arm 104 towards the motor-driven assembly 108, moving the locking arm 104 to a locked position (shown in
The motor-driven assembly 108 is coupled to a motor 116. The motor 116 can be coupled to a power supply, such as a DC voltage. In examples, the motor 116 is electrically coupled to power supply circuitry. In examples, this power supply circuitry can include polarity reversing circuitry configured to provide a voltage having a first polarity for driving the motor 116 in a first direction and to provide voltage having a second polarity for driving the motor 116 a second direction, opposite the first direction. In an embodiment, the power supply circuitry may be configured for wireless power transmission of power to the motor 116.
Further, the motor-driven assembly 108 and/or the motor 116 can include an electrical component having a transceiver that communicates with a remote control apparatus to remotely operate the motor 116 to lock and unlock the locking device 100 to allow for keyless access to the component 212. Multiple manners of communicating with the motor-driven assembly 108 and/or the motor 116 can be implemented, including infrared, radio frequency identification (RFID), cellular, WIFI, Bluetooth, or any other wireless signal, or a wired connection that communicates the desired information to the motor-driven assembly 108 and/or the motor 116. The motor-driven assembly 108 and/or the motor 116 can rotate the shaft 128, and thereby the locking arm 104, lock rod finger 102, and lock rod 110, to carry out the command from the remote controller. Further, the remote controller need not be remote at all, and instead can be a local controller or interface coupled to the locking device 100, tool storage unit 200, or to any other item, such as, for example, a biometric sensor.
In examples, the rotatable screw 120 includes threads 132 and is coupled to the motor 116. The rotatable screw 120 is configured to rotate in a first direction 162 and a second direction 164, opposite the first direction 162, by way of the motor 116. In example implementations, the first direction 162 corresponds to locking the locking device 100 and the second direction 164 corresponds to the unlocking the locking device 100.
In examples, the gear 122 includes a set of gear teeth 124 on the outer perimeter of the gear 122. The gear teeth 124 are engageable with the threads of the rotatable screw 120. As such, when the rotatable screw 120 rotates in a first direction 162, the gear 122 also rotates in a first direction. And when the rotatable screw 120 rotates in a second direction, the gear 122 also rotates in a second direction. In example implementations, the first direction corresponds to locking the locking device 100 and the second direction corresponds to the unlocking the locking device 100. Further, in example implementations, the gear 122 is a worm gear and the rotatable screw 120 is a worm gear screw.
In example embodiments, the cover 118 is coupled to the motor-driven assembly 108 by way of fasteners 130. In the examples shown in
As shown in
Similarly, movement of the lock rod 110 and lock rod finger 102 to the locked position, for example, by way of the key-driven actuator 106, retracts the locking arm 104 towards the motor-driven assembly 108 to the locked position which rotates the ratchet teeth 148, as well as the shaft 128, in a first direction. And movement of the lock rod 110 and lock rod finger 102 to the unlocked position, for example, by way of the key-driven actuator 106, extends the locking arm 104 away from the motor-driven assembly 108 to the unlocked position which rotates the ratchet teeth 148, as well as the shaft 128 in second direction.
When assembled and during operation, the set of gear teeth 124 on the shaft 128 are positioned inside the clutch 126 and are engageable with the clutch 126 and gear 122. Namely, as shown in
As shown in
In some examples, the clutch 126 further includes a wave spring set 156. The wave spring set 156 applies friction to the components of the clutch 126 (e.g., pawls 138a, 138b, 140a, and 140b and pawl springs 144a, 144b, 146a, and 146b) to hold the components in place during operation.
The first pawl 138a is engaged or actuated by the first cam surface 134a when the gear 122 rotates in the first direction 166. And the second pawl 140a is actuated by the second cam surface 136a when the gear 122 is rotated in the second direction 168. Similarly, the first set of pawls 138a and 138b are actuated by the first cam surfaces 134a and 134b when the gear 122 rotates in the first direction 166. And the second set of pawls 140a and 140b is actuated by the second set of cam surfaces 136a and 136b when the gear 122 is rotated in a second direction 168. The first direction corresponds to locking the locking device 100 and the second direction corresponds to unlocking the locking device 100.
When the first set of pawls 138a, 138b are engaged by the first set of cam surfaces 134a, 134b, the first set of pawls 138a, 138b are pressed towards the center of the clutch 126 to engage the gear teeth 142 of the shaft 128. Namely, the corresponding pawl springs 144a, 144b are compressed to move the first set of pawls 138a, 138b from a disengaged position to an engaged position. Accordingly, when the gear 122 rotates in the first direction 166, the clutch 126 will also rotate in a first direction 170. As described above, rotation of the clutch 126 in the first direction 170 retracts the locking arm 104 towards the motor-driven assembly 108 into the locked position by way of the ratchet teeth 148 and rack gear 152.
Similarly, when the second set of pawls 140a, 140b are engaged by the second set of cam surfaces 136a, 136b, the second set of pawls 140a, 140b are pressed towards the center of the clutch 126 to engage the gear teeth 142 of the of the shaft 128. Namely, the corresponding pawl springs 146a, 146b are compressed to move the second set of pawls 138a, 138b from a disengaged position to an engaged position. Accordingly, when the gear 122 rotates in the second direction 168, the clutch 126 will also rotate in a second direction 172. As described above, rotation of the clutch 126 in the second direction 172 extends the locking arm 104 away from the motor-driven assembly 108 into the unlocked position by way of the ratchet teeth 148 and rack gear 146.
As described above, rotation of the rotatable screw 120, by way of the motor 116 causes the gear 122 to rotate by way of the rotatable screw threads 132 and gear teeth 124. Accordingly, in the manners described above, rotation of the rotatable screw 120 in a first direction 162, by way of the motor 116, causes the gear 122 to rotate in the first direction 166 and shaft 128 to rotate in the first direction 111, moving the locking arm 104, lock rod finger 102, and lock rod 110 to the locked position. And rotation of the rotatable screw 120 in a second direction 164, by way of the motor 116, causes the gear 122 to rotate in the second direction 168 and the shaft 128 to rotate in the second direction 112, moving the locking arm 104, lock rod finger 102, and lock rod 110 to the unlocked position.
In example embodiments, the pawls 138a, 138b, 140a, and 140b are biased in a disengaged positioned by way of the corresponding pawl springs 144a, 144b, 146a, and 146b. As such, when the rotatable screw 120 and gear 122 are stationary, the shaft 128 can rotate freely, without engaging the pawls 138a, 138b, 140a, and 140b, clutch 126, gear 122, or rotatable screw 120.
As described above, movement of the locking arm 104 between the locked and unlocked positions by way of the key-driven actuator 106 rotates the shaft 128 in the first direction 111 and second direction 112, respectively. Because the pawls 138a, 138b, 140a, and 140b are biased in the disengaged position, movement of the locking arm 104 between the locked and unlocked position, by way of the key-driven actuator 106, allows rotation of the shaft 128 without displacing and/or rotation of the clutch 126, gear 122, or rotatable screw 120. Accordingly, when a user locks or unlocks the locking device 100 using a standard key in the key-driven actuator 106, the user will not be actuating and displacing the components of the motor-driven assembly 108 (e.g., the clutch 126, the gear 122, and the rotatable screw 120). Further, when the motor-driven assembly 108 is not operational the user will not be actuating and displacing the components of the motor-driven assembly 108 (e.g., the clutch 126, the gear 122, and the rotatable screw 120). This is desirable, as actuating and displacing the components of the motor-driven assembly 108 requires a greater application of force by the user when locking and unlocking the locking device 100, than just displacing components of the key-driven actuator 106.
Further, in this example embodiment, the second pawl 140a is in the disengaged position. Namely, the corresponding second pawl spring 146a holds the second pawl 140a away from the gear teeth 142 of the shaft 128, as rotation of the gear 122 in the first direction does not cause the second cam surface 136a to engage the second pawl 140a. Accordingly, while the gear 122 rotates in the first direction, the second pawl 140a remains disengaged from the gear teeth 144 of the shaft 128.
While the gear 122 rotates in the second direction, the second cam surface 136a engages the second pawl 140a compressing the second pawl spring 146a and moving the second pawl 140a to engage the gear teeth 142 of the shaft 128. Thus, rotation of the gear 122 in the second direction rotates the shaft 128 in the second direction. And, while the gear rotates in the second direction, the first pawl 138a is in the disengaged position by way of the first pawl spring 144a. Accordingly, while the gear 122 rotates in the second direction, the first pawl 138a remains disengaged from the gear teeth 142 of the shaft 128.
As described above, the pawls 138a, 138b, 140a, and 140b are biased in a disengaged positioned by way of the corresponding pawl springs 144a, 144b, 146a, and 146b. Thus, when the gear 122 is not rotating, the pawls 138a, 138b, 140a, and 140b remain disengaged from the gear teeth 144 of the shaft 128. Accordingly, when the shaft 128 rotates either direction by operation of the key-driven actuator 106, the shaft 128 is free to rotate without engaging components of the motor-driven assembly (e.g., the clutch 126, gear 122, and rotatable screw 120).
Accordingly, moving the locking arm between the locked position and the unlocked position, as described in any manner herein, unlocks the tool storage unit 200 and/or the housing 202 of the tool storage unit 200. And moving the locking arm between the unlocked position and the locked position, as described in any manner herein, locks the tool storage unit 200 and/or the housing 202 of the tool storage unit 200.
It should be understood that the arrangements described herein and/or shown in the drawings are for purposes of example only and are not intended to be limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other arrangements and elements (e.g., machines, interfaces, functions, orders, and/or groupings of functions) can be used instead, and some elements can be omitted altogether.
While various aspects and embodiments are described herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope being indicated by the claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein for the purpose of describing embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.
In this description, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are used to introduce elements and/or functions of the example embodiments. The intent of using those articles is that there is one or more of the introduced elements and/or functions.
In this description, the intent of using the term “and/or” within a list of at least two elements or functions and the intent of using the terms “at least one of,” “at least one of the following,” “one or more of,” “one or more from among,” and “one or more of the following” immediately preceding a list of at least two components or functions is to cover each embodiment including a listed component or function independently and each embodiment including a combination of the listed components or functions. For example, an embodiment described as including A, B, and/or C, or at least one of A, B, and C, or at least one of: A, B, and C, or at least one of A, B, or C, or at least one of: A, B, or C, or one or more of A, B, and C, or one or more of: A, B, and C, or one or more of A, B, or C, or one or more of: A, B, or C is intended to cover each of the following possible embodiments: (i) an embodiment including A, but not B and not C, (ii) an embodiment including B, but not A and not C, (iii) an embodiment including C, but not A and not B, (iv) an embodiment including A and B, but not C, (v) an embodiment including A and C, but not B, (v) an embodiment including B and C, but not A, and/or (vi) an embodiment including A, B, and C. For the embodiments including component or function A, the embodiments can include one A or multiple A. For the embodiments including component or function B, the embodiments can include one B or multiple B. For the embodiments including component or function C, the embodiments can include one C or multiple C. In accordance with the aforementioned example and at least some of the example embodiments, “A” can represent a component, “B” can represent a system, and “C” can represent a device.
The use of ordinal numbers such as “first,” “second,” “third” and so on is to distinguish respective elements rather than to denote an order of those elements unless the context of using those terms explicitly indicates otherwise. Further, the description of a “first” element, such as a first plate, does not necessitate the presence of a second or any other element, such as a second plate.
