Emitter and power drive system for an electronic lock

• US 6,076,383 A
• Filed: 12/05/1997
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mas-Hamilton Group (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Mas-Hamilton Group (dormakaba Holding AG)
• Inventors: Clark, Thomas R., Dawson, Gerald L., Redden, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US08/985,308
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 70/329, 70/333 R, 70/188, 70/189, 70/386, 70/277, 70/278.1, 70/278.4, 70/278.5, 70/278.6, 70/280-282, 192/48.92, 192/48.3, 192/48.4, 192/48.9, 340/825.31, 340/825.32
• US Class Current: 70/189
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0062 by generator
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00698 actuated in function of displayed informations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5677 Shaft-carried clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7085 Using a dial having indicia or pointer and indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7401 Spindles

Abstract

A self powered lock is powered by a manually driven generator. The data input to the lock is entered by rotating the dial and stopping and waiting a predetermined amount of time when a desired number is displayed on the lock display. The drive of the power generator, a stepper motor, is through a unidirectional clutch such that the generator is only driven when the dial is rotated in a selected direction and remains stationary when the dial is rotated in the opposite direction. The data input, including entry of the combination, to the lock is provided by a stepper motor which generates a train of electrical pulses. The electrical pulses are used by the electronic controls of the lock to control the electronic controls including entering the combination. The data input pulses are generated by a stepper motor driven to act as a generator. The data input generator is similarly driven through a unidirectional clutch and is driven only when the dial is being rotated in a direction opposite the direction in which the power generator is driven. Accordingly, only the power generator or the data input generator is driven at any one time, depending upon the direction of rotation of the dial. A third unidirectional clutch is used to grasp the shaft of the data input stepper motor, preventing the reverse rotation of the rotor when the dial of the lock is rotated to generate operating power.

Claims

1. A self-powered electronic lock comprising:

a bolt having an extended locking position and a retracted unlocking position;

an electronic control responsive to electrical pulses for controlling movement of said bolt between said positions;

a shaft for rotation in a first direction and rotation in a second direction;

a first unidirectional drive engageable with said shaft and engageable to drive a power generator responsive to rotation of said shaft in said first direction;

a second unidirectional drive engageable with said shaft and engageable to drive a data pulse generator responsive to rotation of said shaft in said second direction;

whereby, energy to power said lock is generated only in response to shaft rotation in said first direction and said pulse generator provides output only in response to said rotation of said shaft in said second direction.

2. The lock of claim 1 wherein said first unidirectional drive comprises a spider clutch.

3. The lock of claim 1 wherein said fist unidirectional drive comprises a spring clutch.

4. The lock of claim 1 wherein said second unidirectional drive comprises a spring clutch.

5. The lock of claim 2 wherein said second unidirectional drive comprises a spring clutch.

6. The lock of claim 3 wherein said second unidirectional drive comprises a spring clutch.