Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6370928
-
Patent Number
6,370,928
-
Date Filed
Thursday, March 30, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 16, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
- Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 070 215
- 070 2782
- 070 2783
- 070 2787
- 070 2831
- 070 308
- 070 356
- 070 357
- 070 406
- 070 283
- 070 2791
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A mechano-electronically operated cylinder-key unit for locking including a cylinder unit and key. The cylinder unit having a cylinder portion, a pawl for operating a bar for locking/unlocking, an electrical energy generator for powering an electronic circuit provide in the cylinder unit, whereby a triggering member activates the electrical energy generator when a predetermined extent of insertion of the key into the cylinder is exceeded. The key is also provided with an electronic circuit whereby both electronic circuits are provide with a control logic for recognizing and allowing operation of the pawl.
Description
This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP98/05653 which has an International filing date of Sep. 7, 1998, which designated the United States of America.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a mechano-electronically operated cylinder-key unit for locks.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Mechanically operated cylinder-key units for locks are known. The cylinder comprises a metal body with a cylindrical portion and an appendix extending radially from this latter. Within the cylindrical portion there is provided a cylindrical seat housing a rotary plug provided with a plurality of radial recesses, which when in a predetermined angular position extend into recesses provided in the appendix. These recesses house axially movable pins divided into two portions, the separation surface of which, for a predetermined axial position of each pin in its respective recess, corresponds with the separation surface between the plug and its seat. This axial position, which is different for each pin, is determined by the pattern notches of a key inserted into a corresponding slot in the plug, and following this insertion enables the plug to be rotated, with consequent operation of the lock bolt via a pawl rigid with said plug.
This type of mechanically operated unit has been and is still widely used, but also has a series of drawbacks such as:
a limited degree of security because of the substantially limited number of possible key patterns;
the possibility of recognizing the key pattern “on sight”;
key wear deriving both from use, because of the continuous rubbing between the cylinder and the teeth defining the key notches, and from key duplication, as a result of contact between the feeler and the patterned key to be duplicated;
cylinder sensitivity to atmospheric conditions.
To increase the degree of security of these known units it has been sought to make the key-cylinder interfacing mechanism increasingly more complicated so as to increase the number of possible patterns obtainable, but with this increase in pattern number there is a correspondingly lower reliability and strength of the unit.
For this reason, lock operating systems have been already proposed using electrical or electronic circuits able to electronically control a code memorized in the cylinder using a code memorized in the key or vice versa.
The need to use electrical power is a considerable inconvenience:
if the electronical power derives from the mains, difficulties arise in installing the lock and moreover the system can be used only if a mains supply is present, it becoming unusable if the supply fails; if however the electricity derives from a self-contained source, the state of its charge must be systematically checked.
To avoid these drawbacks it has been proposed to provide mixed units, ie mechanically operated but with an electronic control system powered by electrical energy generated by inserting the key into the lock cylinder or by rotating the key already inserted into it.
For example FR-A-2500520 (THOMSON-CSF) describes a unit of this type in which the electrical energy required for effecting key-cylinder recognition and for powering the electromechanical bolt release member on positive recognition is obtained by a piezoelectric effect by virtue of the action exerted on piezocrystals when the key is inserted, withdrawn or rotated, these being arranged along the lock channel.
A drawback of this arrangement is the very small amount of electricity produced, this generally being insufficient to satisfy the required electrical loads, which are themselves modest; a further drawback is the pulse nature of the electrical energy produced, incompatible with the particular type of electrical loads employed; a further drawback is the nature of the memorized code resident in the key and the method of transmitting the relative data to the reading, recognition and enabling circuits resident in the lock mechanism In this respect, if this code is of mechanical type and operates by pressure against appropriate feelers in the lock, it is easily decoded on sight; if it is of magnetic type it can be easily cancelled or altered; if it is of optical type it is very complicated and requires considerable energy for its operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,452 (DAWSON) describes a unit comprising a cylinder into which a key comprising a memorized code can be inserted and rotated. The rotation of the inserted key generates sufficient electrical energy to power the electrical circuit by which the lock recognizes the key code and, on positive recognition, to effect engagement between gearwheels enabling the lock bolt to be operated by the key.
This known solution, which inter alia is described in terms of general principles without any mention of the manner of energizing the electronic circuit provided in the key, or the reading and control arrangements provided external to the key, has the drawback of considerable constructional complexity and the practical impossibility of totally housing it within a traditional interchangeable European lock cylinder, hence limiting its application only to locks expressly constructed for this purpose.
EP-B1-0771381 (SILCA) describes an electromechanically operated cylinder-key unit for locks, using control and recognition logic housed partly in the key and partly in the lock, and mutually interacting via a connection without wires when the key is inserted into the lock, and further using, for the electrical energy required to power said logic, a generator which is operated on inserting the key into the cylinder and/or on rotating the cylinder by the key inserted into it.
This known solution has practically eliminated the previously recognized drawbacks, but at the same time has proved susceptible to improvement, in that:
the electrical energy is not generated uniformly, but is instead related to the mechanical torque applied to the key to rotate the generator, and to the angular velocity imposed by the key by virtue of its rotation or to the velocity with which the key is inserted into the cylinder plug,
the electrical energy generation system, and in particular the combination of the energy transformers of the entire chain, is of very low efficiency,
consequently the energy available for effecting the mechanical connection between the key and the operating pawl of the lock bar is low and is often not able to adequately power the electromagnet which determines this connection.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other drawback are eliminated according to the invention through a mechano-electronically operated cylinder-key unit for locks a mechano-electronically operated cylinder-key unit for locks, comprising a cylinder having a pawl which operates a bar and housing an electrical energy generator for powering an electronic circuit provided in said cylinder and for powering, by way of an inductive coupling when said key is inserted into said cylinder, an electronic circuit provided within said key, both said electronic circuits being provided with control logic for their recognition and for allowing, on positive recognition, said operation of said pawl by said key wherein said cylinder comprises:
means for mechanically locking the pawl when said key is withdrawn or is not recognized,
an electrical generator activated by a triggering member when a predetermined extent of insertion of said key into said cylinder is exceeded, and
means for transforming, on positive recognition, the kinetic energy of said triggered generator, in a deactivation movement of said mechanical locking means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, on which:
FIG. 1
is a partly sectional general perspective view of a European cylinder of the unit of the invention in the locked state without the key,
FIG. 2
is a longitudinal section therethrough on the line II—II of
FIG. 3
,
FIG. 3
is a longitudinal section therethrough on the line III—III of
FIG. 2
,
FIG. 4
is the same view thereof as
FIG. 2
but with the key inserted, and shown at the moment immediately preceding the triggering of the generator,
FIG. 5
is the same view thereof as
FIG. 4
, shown after the triggering of the generator, with the key recognized and the system released, and
FIG. 6
is the same perspective view thereof as
FIG. 1
, but shown in the condition of FIG.
5
.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As can be seen from the figures, the unit of the invention comprises a cylinder of “European” type indicated overall by
2
, and a key indicated overall by
4
and provided for engagement with said cylinder
2
.
In the representation the cylinder
2
in reality consists of a half-cylinder, and hence allows insertion of the key
4
from only one end. However in the case of a complete cylinder, that described hereinafter in duplicated on the other of the pawl
6
which operates the bar (not shown).
The cylinder
2
of the unit according to the invention has the traditional external configuration of European cylinders, with a cylindrical portion into which the key
4
can be inserted, and an appendix extending radially from said cylindrical portion. The dimensions of the cylinder
2
are also traditional, this making the cylinder of the unit according to the invention interchangeable with traditional mechanical cylinders, within the seat provided in the body of the lock.
For constructional and assembly reasons the body of the cylinder
2
, which as will be seen hereinafter contains the entire mechanical, electrical and electronic part, is constructed in two parts joined together preferable by laser welding.
The cylinder
2
of the unit of the invention comprises in its cylindrical portion an outer protection ring nut
8
, provided with an aperture
10
for insertion of the key
4
.
Immediately inwards of said ring nut
8
there is provided an annular winding
12
, forming the antenna of the cylinder
2
. In a position concentrically on the inside of the antenna
12
and facing the protection ring nut
8
there is provided an operating bush
14
, which is free to move axially within the cylindrical portion of the cylinder
2
, guided by a guide ring
16
, and has an axial cavity housing a body
18
, forming the seat for the key
4
.
The operating bush
14
is also provided in its lower part with an appendix
17
, the function of which is described in detail hereinafter.
The body
18
, which forms the seat for the key
4
, comprises two axial cavities, namely a cavity
20
facing the protection ring
8
and of substantially rectangular cross-section to receive the end of the key
4
and rotationally couple it, and another cavity
22
facing in the opposite direction and housing a spring
24
which returns said bush
14
to its rest configuration.
Besides being movable rotationally relative to the bush
14
, the body
18
is also movable axially thereto and is consequently telescopically movable relative to a central pin
26
also movable rotationally to the cylinder
2
and to which the pawl
6
is applied.
For this purpose the central pin
26
is provided with an axial cavity
28
housing the body
18
.
In the outer surface of that portion of the central pin
26
corresponding to the axial cavity
28
there are provided a plurality of longitudinal grooves
30
for guiding and engaging an anti-rotation ring
32
axially movable along said central pin
26
and comprising frontal toothing
34
arranged to engage in corresponding fixed counter-toothing
36
, rigid with the body of the cylinder
2
.
In the outside of the anti-rotation ring
32
there is provided a circumferential groove
38
for engaging and operating an arm
40
of a three-arm lever
42
, which is mounted on a pin
44
fixed to the cylinder
2
and is associated with a spring
46
, which in the absence of external forces maintain the arm
40
in a condition in which it axially urges the anti-rotation ring
32
to cause the toothing
34
to engage the counter-toothing
36
.
The cylindrical portion of the cylinder
2
also houses a substantially cylindrical release ring
48
, which is axially movable within its seat and is provided lowerly with a fin
50
opposing the second arm
52
of the three-arm lever
42
.
The third arm
54
of the three-arm lever
42
faces downwards and, when in its rest state, opposes the arm
56
of a slide
58
movable perpendicularly to the axis of the central pin
26
.
More specifically the slide
58
, which is slidable along a wall of the radial appendix of the cylinder
2
in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the central pin
26
, comprises a portion provided with a permanent magnet
60
, and another portion
61
hinged to the preceding and provided with a winding
62
.
Between the two portions of the slide
58
there is interposed a spring
64
, which when other forces are absent acts in the sense of maintaining the two portions close together, so that the winding
62
coaxially embraces the magnet
60
.
The portion
61
of the slide
58
is also provided with a tooth
66
arranged to engage the toothed peripheral portion
68
of a flywheel-magnet
70
when the two slide portions are at their greatest distance apart.
The flywheel-magnet
70
forms the external rotor of a generator with an inner stator
72
. The flywheel-rotor
70
is also provided on a front wall with a plurality of teeth
74
engagable by corresponding arms
76
formed in a thin plate which is rigid with a pinion
78
and forms a kind of free wheel, in the sense that for rotation of the pinion
78
in one direction of rotation it couples it to the flywheel-rotor
70
, whereas for the other direction of rotation it maintains it uncoupled therefrom.
The pinion
78
engages a toothed sector
80
rotatable between two end positions by virtue of its pivoting about a pin
82
rigid with the cylinder
2
and also acting as a support for a spring
84
which maintains said sector in one of its two end positions.
On another pin
86
, separate from the pin
82
, there is applied to the toothed sector
80
a connecting rod
88
, which is maintained in its rest position by a spring
92
. That end of the connecting rod
88
not hinged to the toothed sector
80
is hinged to a second connecting rod
93
pivoted on a pin fixed to the cylinder
2
. The second connecting rod
93
is provided with a slide roller
90
maintained in contact with the appendix
17
of the operating bush
14
by a spring
114
.
The radial appendix of the cylinder
2
also internally houses the cylinder control logic, comprising a microprocessor
96
mounted, together with a capacitor, on an electronic circuit
98
, to which there are connected a cable originating from the antenna
12
, a cable originating from the stator
72
of the generator, and a cable connected to the winding
62
of the slide
58
.
The key
4
comprises a head
100
and a shank
102
. The head houses a small electronic circuit
104
with microprocessor
106
and a winding
108
which embraces a ferrite core
1107
which extends into the shank
102
to link with the winding
12
of the cylinder
2
when the key
4
is completely inserted in it.
The end of the shank
102
of the key
4
is complementary in shape to the cavity
20
provided in the body
18
.
The cylinder-key of the invention operates in the following manner. When in the rest condition shown in FIGS.
1
-
3
:
the spring
24
urges the body
18
to maintain the operating bush
14
as close as possible to the protection ring
8
,
under the effect of the spring
46
, the three-arm lever
42
maintains by means of its arm
40
the anti-rotation ring
32
engaged via its the frontal toothing
34
with the fixed counter-toothing
36
, to hence block its rotation, correspondingly also blocking the rotation of the central pin
26
and the pawl
6
, by virtue of the constraint provided by the longitudinal grooves
30
,
the spring
84
maintains the toothed sector
80
in the angular end-of-travel position shown in said
FIGS. 1-3
,
the roller
90
is maintained adhering to the appendix
17
of the operating bush
14
by the direct effect of spring
114
which acts on the second connecting rod
93
, by the indirect effect of the spring
92
which acts on the connecting rod
88
, and by the indirect effect of the spring
84
which acts on the connecting rod
88
via the toothed sector
80
,
the spring
64
maintains the portion
61
of the slide
58
disengaged from the tooth
68
of the flywheel
70
.
Under these conditions, in which rotation of the pawl
6
is blocked, inserting the end of a key
4
into the cavity
20
of the body
18
causes the body and the bush
14
to move axially, consequently loading the spring
24
and a pair of springs
25
As the body
18
advances within the bush
14
, its appendix
17
pushes the roller
90
of the second connecting rod
93
, which acts on the connecting rod
88
to cause the toothed sector
80
to rotate clockwise (observing FIG.
2
).
During this movement the springs
114
,
92
and
84
are loaded, and at the same time the pinion
78
is rotated, which however does not rotate the flywheel
70
because of its free-wheel coupling therewith.
Because of the particular form of the connecting rods
88
,
93
, as the direction of advancement of the roller
90
imposed by the effect of the connecting rods
88
,
93
is at an angle to the direction of advancement of the bush
14
, at a certain moment the reaction between the connecting rod
88
and the connecting rod
93
is lacking, this corresponding to a condition of virtually total insertion of the key
4
(see FIG.
4
). At the moment in which this action lacks, the elastic reaction of the spring
84
acts on the toothed sector
80
, which tends to return suddenly into its rest position, causing rotation of the pinion
78
, which in this direction drags the flywheel-rotor
70
into rotation.
The rapid rotation of the flywheel-rotor
70
generates an electric current which charges the capacitor This powers the microprocessor
96
of the cylinder
2
and also powers the microprocessor
106
of the key
4
by induction via the coupling between the winding
12
, the ferrite core
110
and the winding
108
.
By means of the inductive coupling, the microprocessor
96
transmits to the microprocessor
106
its own code and a command to transmit the identifying code contained in it. The microprocessor
106
, upon positive recognition of the code of the microprocessor
96
answers, transmitting his own code. On receiving this code, the microprocessor
96
of the cylinder
2
compares it with those memorized in it and in the case of positive recognition causes the mechanical connection procedure between the key
4
and pawl
6
to commence.
This procedure comprises firstly feeding a command to the winding
62
, which in this manner generates a magnetic field of opposite polarity to that of the permanent magnet
60
, so as to overcome the elastic reaction of the spring
64
and cause the movable part
61
to withdraw from the fixed part of the slide
58
. In this manner the tooth
66
present on said movable part
61
interferes with the peripheral toothing
68
of the flywheel-rotor
70
, which is still moving and drags the entire slide
58
upwards. Following this sliding movement the arm
56
of the slide
58
acts on the arm
54
of the three-arm lever
42
to rotate it clockwise, ie in a direction such as to cause the anti-rotation ring
32
to slide axially towards the right along the central pin
26
.
As a result of this axial movement the frontal toothing
34
provided on the ring
32
disengages from the fixed counter-toothing
36
(see
FIGS. 5 and 6
) to enable pin
26
, and with this the pawl
6
, to rotate under the command given by the key
4
. It should be noted that the rotation of the three-arm lever
42
brings its arm
52
downwards into a position such that the fin
50
of the release ring
48
, urged leftwards by the spring
25
, prevents return of the three-arm lever
42
to its rest state, hence ensuring that the anti-rotation ring
32
remains in a deactivated condition for the entire time for which the key
4
is inserted.
After the lock has been activated and the electrical energy used to control the winding
62
is exhausted, the spring
64
causes the movable part
61
to adhere to the fixed part of the slide
58
so that the tooth
66
can no longer interfere with the tooth
68
of the flywheel-rotor
70
. The slide
58
can return to its rest condition freely by gravity. When the key
4
is removed, the springs
24
and
25
urge the bush
14
and the body
18
into their rest position. By means of the two pins
116
, the bush
14
returns the release ring
48
to its rest condition, so removing reaction between the fin
50
and the arm
46
of the three-arm lever
42
. The spring
46
causes the three-arm lever
42
to rotate into its rest position, this causing the anti-rotation ring
32
to return to its rest position, the arm
54
becoming repositioned in contact with the arm
56
of the slide
58
, and the springs
92
,
114
returning the connecting rods
88
,
93
to their initial position as the roller
90
of
93
is no longer urged by the appendix
17
of the bush
14
.
It will be clearly apparent that by virtue of the cylinder
2
—key
4
unit of the invention, besides the advantages already obtainable with the unit of EP-B1-0771381 other significant advantages are obtained, and in particular absolutely constant electrical energy generated and accumulated by the capacitor, as this does not depend on the velocity of insertion and/or rotation of the key.
In this respect, this electrical energy is related only to the elastic reaction of the spring
84
, after the key
4
during its insertion has passed beyond the release position of the toothed sector
80
. Moreover the unit of the invention requires a smaller quantity of electrical energy to release the pawl, as the release action is essentially recovered by the rotation of the flywheel-rotor
70
, and is hence essentially due to the elastic reaction of the spring
84
.
Claims
- 1. A mechano-electronically operated cylinder-key unit for locking, comprising:a cylinder unit including: a cylinder portion; a pawl which operates a bar for locking/unlocking; an electrical energy generator for powering an electronic circuit provided in said cylinder unit, said electrical energy generator being activated by a triggering member; and means for transforming said triggering member into kinetic energy so a deactivation movement of said pawl is achieved; and a key inserted into said cylinder unit, said key is provided with an electronic circuit whereby both said electronic circuits being provided with a control logic for recognizing and allowing operation of said pawl.
- 2. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 1, further comprising means for mechanically locking said pawl when said key is withdrawn or is not recognized.
- 3. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 1, wherein said key further comprises an identification code memorized in said key.
- 4. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 1, wherein said cylinder unit further comprises an identification code memorized in said cylinder unit, said identification code in said cylinder unit is in mutual recognition with an identification code in said key.
- 5. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 1, wherein said key and said pawl provides a mechanical connection, said mechanical connection is of direct type.
- 6. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 1, wherein said cylinder portion further comprises a radial appendix extending from said cylinder portion.
- 7. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 1, wherein said pawl is rigid with a pin, whereby a longitudinal toothing on an outer surface of the pawl provides an anti-rotational ring moveable between a locking position and a release position for said rotation of said pin.
- 8. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 7, wherein said anti-rotational ring further comprises a frontal toothing cooperating with a counter-toothing fixed to said cylinder portion.
- 9. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 8, further comprising a release ring axially movable between a position in which said anti-rotational ring is released, and a position in which said anti-rotational ring is locked.
- 10. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 9, further comprising a lever with a first, second and third arm, rotating between two separate angular positions, said first arm being an arm which controls said axial movements of said anti-rotational ring, said second arm being an arm providing mutual counteraction between said rotational movements of said lever and said axial movements of said release, and said third arm being an arm which rotates said lever.
- 11. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 10, wherein said lever is associated with a spring acting with a sense of maintaining said lever in a condition in which said first arm maintains said anti-rotational ring with the frontal toothing that is engaged in said fixed counter-toothing.
- 12. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 11, wherein said third arm comprises a member for operating said lever, said member being operating by kinetic energy stored by a rotor on positive recognition by said key being inserted.
- 13. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 12, wherein said operating member for said lever comprises a slide movable perpendicular to an axis of said lever, and an element hinged to said slide and movable between a rest position and a position in which it interferes, on positive recognition of said key by said cylinder, with said rotor of said electrical generator.
- 14. A cylinder-key unit according to claim 13, wherein said slide of said operating member is provided with a tooth interfering with a toothed lateral surface of said rotor.
- 15. A cylinder-key unit according to claim 13, wherein said slide moves in relative to said operating member by providing an electromagnetic means.
- 16. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 7, wherein said anti-rotational ring further comprises an engagement seat externally for controlling axial movements.
- 17. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 1, wherein said cylinder portion is provided with an outer protection ring in which an aperture is provided for insertion of said key.
- 18. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 17, wherein said cylinder portion further comprises a seat for an operating bush slidable axially between a position in which said electrical generator is at rest and a position in which it is triggered; and a ring for guiding said axial movements of said operating bush.
- 19. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 18, wherein an interior of said operating bush is provided with an axially movable body in which there is provided a seat for said key, said axially movable body being provided with a cylindrical portion engaging in a corresponding cylindrical cavity provided in a central pin of said pawl and is movable axially but not rotationally within said cylindrical cavity.
- 20. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 19, wherein said cylindrical portion of said axially movable body houses a spring retained in its seat by a diametrical pin which rotationally constrains said axially movable body to said central of said pawl.
- 21. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 1, further comprising:a pinion rigid with a rotor of said electrical generator; a toothed wheel portion engaging with said pinion which is associated with a spring; and a system of connecting rods, which on inserting said key into said cylinder portion loads said spring to the extent that it releases said toothed wheel and consequently triggers an operation of said electrical generator.
- 22. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 21, further comprising a freewheel device, said freewheel device is provided between said pinion and a rotor.
- 23. The cylinder-key unit according to claim 1, further comprising:a capacitor in said electronic circuit which is charged by said electrical energy and said control logic; said electronic circuit in said key containing the control logic, whereby said cylinder portion and key being mutually coupled inductively via a winding provided in said key; a magnetic core provided in said key; and a winding providing in said cylinder portion which is linked with said core when said key is inserted into said cylinder portion.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
VE97A0043 |
Oct 1997 |
IT |
|
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/EP98/05653 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO99/18310 |
4/15/1999 |
WO |
A |
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Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4708004 |
Allen |
Nov 1987 |
A |
5277042 |
Tobias |
Jan 1994 |
A |
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
A19519789 |
Dec 1996 |
DE |
A1321583 |
Jun 1963 |
FR |
A9602721 |
Feb 1996 |
WO |