The present invention relates to locking device assemblies that may be used in bored, cylindrical, or tubular locks.
Current bored, cylindrical or tubular locks may have electrified lock assemblies that utilize solenoids or motors to move the locking element between unlocked and locked positions. These assemblies may be of fail-safe or fail-secure designs. These designs may be complex, prone to failure, expensive, and/or have high energy usage.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrified lock assembly for bored, cylindrical, or tubular locks that is less complex, more reliable, has lower energy usage, and/or is less expensive.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrified locking mechanism and method of assembling such locking assembly which permits the locking assembly to be inserted as a single unit to simplify and improve manufacturing of bored, cylindrical, or tubular locks.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of replacing a solenoid or motor in existing bored, cylindrical, or tubular locks with an electrified lock assembly that is less complex, more reliable, has lower energy usage, and/or is less expensive.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to the electrified lock assembly, electrified locking mechanism, method of assembly of bored, cylindrical, or tubular locks, and method of replacing an existing assembly, for bored, cylindrical, or tubular locks as described in the specification and claims below.
The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the detailed description which follows taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
In describing the embodiment(s) of the present invention, reference will be made herein to
The present invention is directed to an improved electrified lock assembly, and method of replacing an existing assembly, for bored, cylindrical, or tubular locks. Unless otherwise distinguished, these will be collectively referred to as bored locks. The present invention provides a motorized locking mechanism to control the lock and unlock of such bored locks. The mechanism includes a locking assembly, a motor and printed circuit board (hereinafter “PCB”) assembly, and a capacitor unit. These three units may be packaged tightly into the limited space of an otherwise conventional bored lock assembly. The locking assembly and main motor may be interfaced and integrated through a guideway providing linear sliding motion. The motor rotation translates into linear motion through the configuration and interaction of an auger or worm gear and spring that moves the locking assembly into the locked or unlocked position. The locking assembly provides blocking to either prevent the outer spindle and lever from rotation to place the lock into the locked state, or move a clutching to permit the outer spindle and lever to freewheel and rotate to place the lock in the locked state. The motor circuitry controls the two locked/unlocked actuation positions. This circuity employs energy storage in the capacitor unit that provides either “Fail-safe” or “Fail-secure” function when the lock is power off. The capacitor unit is removable from the main motor PCB assembly via the end of the inside spindle.
As shown in the figures, a bored lock 20 has an otherwise conventional lock chassis 21 with inner and outer housing portions 21a, 21b, respectively, with a pair of spindles extending therefrom along a lock axis 28. One spindle 22 extends from housing 21a in a direction of the inside of the lock and receives on its end inner door handle 23, and the other spindle 24, also referred to as a rollback, extends from housing 21b in a direction of the outside of the lock and receives on its end outer door handle 25. Each spindle rotates about lock axis 28 within a cylindrical hub extending from its housing portion to retract the lock latch by conventional means. A locking element 30 has a peripheral groove 32 around the side or end extending toward the lock chassis, and a projection 36 extending inwardly parallel to the lock axis. Locking element 30 has an outer end sliding received within the inner end of the outer spindle 24, toward the chassis, and is slideable along the lock axis 28. An arm 34 extends axially outwardly from the locking element.
In one bored lock embodiment shown in
In another type of bored lock, shown in
As shown in
An alternate embodiment of the guideway linking and integrating the motor housing 48 and locking element 30 is shown in
A coil lock spring 60 is disposed between locking element 30 and motor 40, as shown in
As shown in
In operation to place lock 20 in an unlocked state electric motor 40 may drive auger 50 in a first rotational direction to move first portion 62 of spring 60 toward the motor, so that the first spring portion 62 is more fully wound between the threads of auger 50, up to a position fully covering the auger, or beyond. This moves the second spring portion 66 to a more relaxed, uncompressed position and reduces spring force on locking element 30. The locking element may then move toward the inside lock 20, to an unlocked position. The lengths of the lock assembly flange 36 and guideway 44 and the location of stop 46 on guideway 44 sets the desired limit of travel or stroke motion of the lock assembly 30 by coil lock spring 60.
To place lock 20 in a locked state motor 40 may drive the auger in a second, opposite rotational direction to move spring first portion 62 away from motor 40. As first spring portion 62 unwinds from auger 50, this effects compression of both spring portions 62 and 66, and increases spring force on locking element 30. Because of the difference in spring constants, when the electric motor drives the auger in the second rotational direction to increase spring force on the locking element, spring second portion 66 compresses to a greater degree than spring first portion 62. This spring force then slides locking element within spindle 24 toward the outside of the lock to a locked position.
The present invention may be used to assemble or even replace an existing solenoid or motor locking mechanism in a cylindrical, bored or tubular lock. If replacing, the existing solenoid or motor is first removed from the lock. The locking mechanism of the present invention may be inserted with the reversible electric motor and locking element assembled as one unit interlocked by the locking element projection and tab in the motor housing guideway and slot. The motor housing end of the locking mechanism unit is inserted into the inside spindle with the auger extending toward the outside of the lock, and the coil lock spring between the locking element and the motor. The lock spring first portion of the spring is at least partially wound around the auger root between the auger thread crests, and the lock spring second portion bears against the locking element. The locking element end of the locking mechanism is inserted into the outer spindle. The electric motor may then alternately drive the auger in first and second rotational directions as described above to move the locking element between locked and unlocked positions.
The ease of assembly of the locking mechanism into the bored lock is due to the construction and operation of the present invention. During assembly the projection tab is sized to pass through the guideway slot open end and during operation the projection tab slides over the guideway slot closed end as the locking element moves between locked and unlocked positions. The interlocking of the locking element projection and tab with the motor housing guideway and slot maintains the locking element, spring, auger and motor shaft in perfect alignment, to enable the entire locking mechanism to be assembled into the bored lock chassis without misaligning or coming apart. This is particularly important when subsequent lock assembly, such as crimping of the lock chassis components, may exert forces on the other lock components.
Thus, the present invention provides an electrified locking mechanism and lock assembly, and methods of assembling and/or replacing a solenoid or motor, for bored, cylindrical or tubular locks that is less complex, more reliable, has lower energy usage and/or is less expensive.
While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
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