Locking device

• US 5,826,450 A
• Filed: 05/08/1996
• Issued: 10/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Codatex Id-Systeme GmbH
• Original Assignee: Codatex Id-Systeme Gessellschaft mbH
• Inventors: Hainzlmaier, Hermann, Lerchner, Leonhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUU, TUYET PHUONG PHAM
• Application Number:
  US08/646,472
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 70/278, 70/277, 70/279, 70/283
• US Class Current: 70/278.3
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0064 by solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/14 with keys of which different parts operate separate mechanisms E05B35/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 43/005 Timer devices controlling electrically operated locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/063 with a rectilinearly moveable blocking element
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00777 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/713 Dogging manual operator

Abstract

A locking device with at least one key and a locking cylinder having at least one cylinder core with a key channel. The core is mounted rotatably in a cylinder housing, mechanical tumblers for blocking and releasing the cylinder. An actuator is disposed in the cylinder housing for shifting a blocking element blocking and releasing the cylinder core. An electronic code transmitter is provided in the key and an electronic code evaluator in the cylinder housing for controlling the actuator. The electronic code transmitter is formed by a transponder (26) and the electronic code evaluator by a transponder reading device (16, 17). A power supply device (24) is disposed in the cylinder housing (1). The blocking element (23) engages in at least one recess (42, 43) disposed on the periphery of the cylinder core (4) spaced from the key channel (10, 11) in the axial area of the cylinder core (4) which is provided with the mechanical tumblers (49, 50, 51).

Claims

1. A locking device including:

a key, said key including a data carrier containing identification data, a transmission member connected to said data carrier for broadcasting signals representative of the identification data and a shaft formed with depressions;

a cylinder housing;

a cylinder core rotatably mounted in said cylinder housing, said cylinder core having a key channel for receiving said shaft of said key and being formed with two recesses along an outer circumferential surface of said cylinder core, said recesses being located on opposed sides of said key channel;

a tumbler assembly disposed in said cylinder housing and said cylinder core for preventing rotation of said cylinder core, said tumbler assembly having a plurality of pins that are positioned to extend into said key channel wherein, when said pins are properly seated in said depressions of said shaft of said key, said tumbler assembly allows said cylinder core to rotate;

a blocking element disposed in said cylinder housing that is formed as a stirrup having two legs and a spring positioned to engage said blocking element so as to urge said legs into said recesses of said cylinder core so that when said blocking element is so engaged, said cylinder core is blocked from rotation, said blocking element and said spring being configured so that rotation of said cylinder core causes disengagement of said legs from said recesses;

an eccentric in said cylinder housing having a release position wherein said eccentric is spaced from said blocking element so as to allow said legs to disengage from said recesses of said cylinder core and a blocking position wherein said eccentric is positioned to abut said blocking element to prevent disengagement of said legs from said recesses of said cylinder core and the rotation of said cylinder core;

an actuator disposed in said cylinder housing and connected to said eccentric for moving said eccentric between said release position and said blocking position;

a transponder reading device in said cylinder housing for receiving the signals broadcast by said key and for controlling said actuator in response to the received signals, wherein if the received signals contain predefined identification data, said transponder reading device causes said actuator to move said eccentric from said blocking position to said release position; and

a power supply device in said cylinder housing for energizing said actuator and said transponder reading device.

2. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said actuator is an electric motor.

3. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said transponder reading device has at least one ferrite antenna with a free end that extends from an outer end wall of said cylinder housing.

4. The locking device of claim 1, wherein said transponder reading device has a standby mode for energy-saving operation in the absence of said key being in said key channel and an activated operating mode for receiving the signals broadcast by said key when said key is inserted in said key channel and a wake-up circuit is provided for switching said transponder reading device from the standby mode to the activated operating mode and back to the standby mode.

5. The locking device of claim 1, further including a roll body rotatably attached to each leg of said stirrup, said roll bodies being positioned to engage said recesses of said cylinder core.

6. A locking device including:

a key, said key including a data carrier containing identification data, a transmission member connected to said data carrier for broadcasting signals representative of the identification data and a shaft formed with depressions;

a cylinder housing;

a cylinder core rotatably mounted in said cylinder housing, said cylinder core having a key channel for receiving said shaft of said key and being formed with a recess along an outer circumferential surface thereof;

a tumbler assembly disposed in said cylinder housing and said cylinder core for preventing rotation of said cylinder core, said tumbler assembly having a plurality of pins that are positioned to extend into said key channel wherein, when said pins are properly seated in said depressions of said shaft of said key, said tumbler assembly allows said cylinder core to rotate;

a blocking element disposed in said cylinder housing that is positioned to engage in said recess formed in said cylinder core and a spring positioned to engage said blocking element so as to urge said blocking element into said recess so that when said blocking element is so engaged, said cylinder core is blocked from rotation, said blocking element and said spring being configured so that rotation of said cylinder core causes disengagement of said blocking element from said recess;

an eccentric in said cylinder housing having a release position wherein said eccentric is spaced from said blocking element so as to allow said blocking element to disengage from said recess of said cylinder core and a blocking position wherein said eccentric is positioned to abut said blocking element to prevent disengagement of said blocking element from said recess of said cylinder core and the rotation of said cylinder core;

an actuator disposed in said cylinder housing and connected to said eccentric for moving said eccentric between said release position and said blocking position;

a transponder reading device in said cylinder housing for receiving the signals broadcast by said key and for controlling said actuator in response to the received signals, said transponder having a ferrite antenna through which the signals broadcast by said key are received wherein, if the received signals contain predefined identification data, said transponder reading device causes said actuator to move said eccentric from said blocking position to said release position, and data is stored within said transponder reading device and is removed from said transponder reading device by means of a field exposed to said antenna; and

a power supply device in said cylinder housing for energizing said actuator and said transponder reading device.

7. The locking device of claim 6, wherein a separate key is provided for storing or removing the data to and from said transponder reading device.

8. The locking device of claim 6, wherein said blocking element has a rigid member and a roll body that is rotatably attached to said rigid member for engaging in said recess of said cylinder core.

9. The locking device of claim 6, wherein:

said cylinder core is formed to have two recesses in said circumferential surface located on opposed sides of said key channel; and

said blocking element is formed as a stirrup having two opposed legs, each leg engaging a separate one of said recesses in said cylinder core.

10. A locking device including:

a key, said key including a data carrier containing identification data, a transmission member connected to said data carrier for broadcasting signals representative of the identification data and a shaft formed with depressions;

a cylinder housing;

a cylinder core rotatably mounted in said cylinder housing, said cylinder core having a key channel for receiving said shaft of said key and being formed with a recess along an outer circumferential surface thereof;

a tumbler assembly disposed in said cylinder housing and said cylinder core for preventing rotation of said cylinder core, said tumbler assembly having a plurality of pins that are positioned to extend into said key channel wherein, when said pins are properly seated in said depressions of said shaft of said key, said tumbler assembly allows said cylinder core to rotate;

a blocking element disposed in said cylinder housing, said blocking element having a rigid member and a roll body that is rotatably attached to said rigid member and that is positioned to engage said recess formed in said cylinder core and a spring positioned to engage said blocking element so as to urge said roll body into said recess so that when said blocking element is so engaged, said cylinder core is blocked from rotation, said blocking element and said spring being configured so that rotation of said cylinder core causes disengagement of said roll body from said recess;

an eccentric in said cylinder housing having a release position wherein said eccentric is spaced from said blocking element so as to allow said roll body of blocking element to disengage from said recess of said cylinder core and a blocking position wherein said eccentric is positioned to abut said blocking element to prevent disengagement of said roll body from said recess of said cylinder core and the rotation of said cylinder core;

an actuator disposed in said cylinder housing and connected to said eccentric for moving said eccentric between said release position and said blocking position;

a transponder reading device in said cylinder housing for receiving the signals broadcast by said key and for controlling said actuator in response to the received signals wherein, if the received signals contain predefined identification data, said transponder reading device causes said actuator to move said eccentric from said blocking position to said release position; and

a power supply device in said cylinder housing for energizing said actuator and said transponder reading device.

11. The locking device of claim 10, wherein said transponder reading device has at least one ferrite antenna with a free end that extends from an outer end wall of said cylinder housing.

12. The locking device of claim 10, wherein said actuator is configured to not operate upon rotation of said cylinder core from a locked state.

13. The locking device of claim 10, wherein said actuator is an electric motor.

14. The locking device of claim 10, wherein said transponder reading device has a standby mode for energy-saving operation in the absence of said key being in said key channel and an activated operating mode for receiving the signals broadcast by said key when said key is inserted in said key channel and a wake-up circuit is provided for switching said transponder reading device from the standby mode to the activated operating mode and back to the standby mode.

15. A locking device including:

a key, said key including a data carrier containing identification data, a transmission member connected to said data carrier for broadcasting signals representative of the identification data and a shaft formed with depressions;

a cylinder housing;

a cylinder core rotatably mounted in said cylinder housing, said cylinder core having a key channel for receiving said shaft of said key and being formed with a recess along an outer circumferential surface thereof;

a tumbler assembly disposed in said cylinder housing and said cylinder core for preventing rotation of said cylinder core, said tumbler assembly having a plurality of pins that are positioned to extend into said key channel wherein, when said pins are properly seated in said depressions of said shaft of said key, said tumbler assembly allows said cylinder core to rotate;

a blocking element disposed in said cylinder housing that is positioned to engage said recess formed in said cylinder core and a spring positioned to engage said blocking element so as to urge said blocking element into said recess so that when said blocking element is so engaged, said cylinder core is blocked from rotation, said blocking element and said spring being configured so that rotation of said cylinder core causes disengagement of said blocking element from said recess;

an eccentric in said cylinder housing, said eccentric having two opposed cams, said eccentric having a release position wherein said eccentric is spaced from said blocking element so as to allow said blocking element to disengage from said recess of said cylinder core and a blocking position wherein a first said cam abuts said blocking element and a second said cam abuts a portion of said cylinder housing to prevent disengagement of said blocking element from said recess of said cylinder core and the rotation of said cylinder core;

an actuator disposed in said cylinder housing and connected to said eccentric for moving said eccentric between said release position and said blocking position;

a transponder reading device in said cylinder housing for receiving the signals broadcast by said key and for controlling said actuator in response to the received signals wherein, if the received signals contain predefined identification data, said transponder reading device causes said actuator to move said eccentric from said blocking position to said release position; and

a power supply device in said cylinder housing for energizing said actuator and said transponder reading device.

16. The locking device of claim 15, wherein said blocking element has a rigid member and a roll body that is rotatably attached to said rigid member for engaging in said recess of said cylinder core.

17. The locking device of claims 15, wherein:

said cylinder core is formed to have two recesses in said circumferential surface located on opposed sides of said key channel; and

said blocking element is formed as a stirrup having two opposed legs, each leg engaging into a separate one of said recesses in said cylinder core.

18. The locking device of claim 15, wherein said transponder reading device has at least one ferrite antenna with a free end that extends from an outer end wall of said cylinder housing.

19. A locking device including:

a key, said key including a data carrier containing identification data, a transmission member connected to said data carrier for broadcasting signals representative of the identification data and a shaft formed with depressions;

a cylinder housing;

a cylinder core rotatably mounted in said cylinder housing, said cylinder core having a key channel for receiving said shaft of said key and being formed with a recess along an outer circumferential surface thereof;

a tumbler assembly disposed in said cylinder housing and said cylinder core for preventing rotation of said cylinder core, said tumbler assembly having a plurality of pins that are positioned to extend into said key channel wherein, when said pins are properly seated in said depressions of said shaft of said key, said tumbler assembly allows said cylinder core to rotate;

a blocking element disposed in said cylinder housing that is positioned to engage said recess formed in said cylinder core and a spring positioned to engage said blocking element so as to urge said blocking element into said recess so that when said blocking element is so engaged, said cylinder core is blocked from rotation, said blocking element and said spring being configured so that rotation of said cylinder core causes disengagement of said blocking element from said recess;

an eccentric in said cylinder housing having a release position wherein said eccentric is spaced from said blocking element so as to allow said blocking element to disengage from said recess of said cylinder core and a blocking position wherein said eccentric is positioned to abut said blocking element to prevent disengagement of said blocking element from said recess of said cylinder core and the rotation of said cylinder core;

an actuator disposed in said cylinder housing and connected to said eccentric for moving said eccentric between said release position and said blocking position;

a transponder reading device in said cylinder housing for receiving the signals broadcast by said key and for controlling said actuator in response to the received signals wherein, if the received signals contain predefined identification data, said transponder reading device causes said actuator to move said eccentric from said blocking position to said release position; and

a power supply device in said cylinder housing for energizing said actuator and said transponder reading device,

wherein said transponder reading device is further configured to monitor the charge level of said power supply device and, when said transponder reading device determines that said power supply device has a low charge level, said transponder reading device executes specific process steps to cause a message to be generated indicting the low charge level of said power supply device.

20. The locking device of claim 19, wherein when said transponder reading device determines that said power supply device has a low charge level, said transponder reading device delays actuation of said actuator after insertion of said key or requires said key to be inserted in said key channel a plurality of times in order to effect actuation of said actuator.

21. The locking device of claim 19, wherein said blocking element has a rigid member and a roll body that is rotatably attached to said rigid member for engaging into said recess of said cylinder core.

22. The locking device of claim 19, wherein:

said cylinder core is formed to have two recesses in said circumferential surface located on opposed sides of said key channel; and

said blocking element is formed as a stirrup having two opposed legs, each leg engaging into a separate one of said recesses in said cylinder core.

23. The locking device of claim 19, wherein said transponder reading device has at least one ferrite antenna with a free end that extends from an outer end wall of said cylinder housing.

24. The locking device of claim 19, wherein said actuator is configured to not operate upon rotation of said cylinder core from a locked state.

25. A locking device including:

a key, said key including a data carrier containing identification data, a transmission member connected to said data carrier for broadcasting signals representative of the identification data and a shaft formed with depressions;

a cylinder housing;

a cylinder core rotatably mounted in said cylinder housing, said cylinder core having a key channel for receiving said shaft of said key and being formed with a recess along an outer circumferential surface thereof;

a key-state sensor for indicating if said key is inserted in said key channel;

a tumbler assembly disposed in said cylinder housing and said cylinder core for preventing rotation of said cylinder core, said tumbler assembly having a plurality of pins that are positioned to extend into said key channel wherein, when said pins are properly seated in said depressions of said shaft of said key, said tumbler assembly allows said cylinder core to rotate;

a blocking element disposed in said cylinder housing that is positioned to engage said recess formed in said cylinder core and a spring positioned to engage said blocking element so as to urge said blocking element into said recess so that when said blocking element is so engaged, said cylinder core is blocked from rotation, said blocking element and said spring being configured so that rotation of said cylinder core causes disengagement of said blocking element from said recess;

an eccentric in said cylinder housing having a release position wherein said eccentric is spaced from said blocking element so as to allow said blocking element to disengage from said recess of said cylinder core and a blocking position wherein said eccentric is positioned to abut said blocking element to prevent disengagement of said blocking element from said recess of said cylinder core and the rotation of said cylinder core;

an actuator disposed in said cylinder housing and connected to said eccentric for moving said eccentric between said release position and said blocking position;

a transponder reading device in said cylinder housing for receiving the signals broadcast by said key and for controlling said actuator in response to the received signals and that is connected to said key-state sensor for receiving a signal indicative of said key being inserted in said key channel, wherein said transponder reading device is configured to;

delay receiving signals from said key for a select delay period of time after receiving the signal from said key-state sensor that said key is inserted in said key channel;

if the received signals from said key contain predefined identification data, cause said actuator to move said eccentric from said blocking position to said release position;

maintain a count of the number of said keys inserted in said key channel that do not broadcast signals containing the predefined identification data; and

, if a select number of said keys are inserted in said key channel that do not broadcast the predefined identification data, to increase the time of the delay period between when a key is inserted into said key channel and when the signals broadcast by said key are received; and

a power supply device in said cylinder housing for energizing said actuator and said transponder reading device.

26. The locking device of claim 25, wherein said blocking element has a rigid member and a roll body that is rotatably attached to said rigid member for engaging into said recess of said cylinder core.

27. The locking device of claim 26, wherein said transponder reading device has at least one ferrite antenna with a free end that extends from an outer end wall of said cylinder housing.

28. The locking device of claim 26, wherein said transponder reading device has a standby mode for energy-saving operation in the absence of said key being in said key channel and an activated operating mode for receiving the signals broadcast by said key when said key is inserted in said key channel and a wake-up circuit is provided for switching said transponder reading device from the standby mode to the activated operating mode and back to the standby mode.

29. The locking device of claim 26, wherein said actuator is configured to not operate upon rotation of said cylinder core from a locked state.

30. The locking device of claim 25, wherein:

said cylinder core is formed to have two recesses in said circumferential surface located on opposed sides of said key channel; and

said blocking element is formed as a stirrup having two opposed legs, each leg engaging into a separate one of said recesses in said cylinder core.