Electronic cam assembly

• US 6,209,367 B1
• Filed: 06/05/1998
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Douglas E. Trent, Richard G. Hyatt Jr
• Original Assignee: Douglas E. Trent, Richard G. Hyatt Jr
• Inventors: Trent, Douglas E., Hyatt, Richard G. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/092,080
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 70/379 R, 70/380, 70/278.1, 70/278.2, 70/278.3, 70/278.6, 70/408, 70/277, 70/256, 70/279.1, 70/283, 70/283.1, 70/413, 70/169, 70/58 , 70/168, 70/167, 70/166, 70/165, 70/164, 70/163
• US Class Current: 70/278.2
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0093 including means for preventing manipulation by external shocks, blows or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0002 with electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0004 said core being linearly movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0005 said core being rotary movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/026 the bolt moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0603 the detent moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/063 with a rectilinearly moveable blocking element
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/461 for cash drawers
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 9/042 with pins engaging slots
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00706 with conductive components, e.g. pins, wires, metallic strips
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/06 Coin boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/1607 Armatures entering the winding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7073 Including use of a key
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7706 Operating connections

Abstract

A cam assembly may be constructed with lock cylinder perforated by a centrally positioned keyway, and having an exposed circumferential surface surrounding the keyway rotatably fitted within a centrally positioned keyhole of a housing, and rotated within the centrally positioned keyhole in response to rotational force applied by a key conformingly corresponding to the lock cylinder through an arc. A cam is positioned within the housing to rotate with the lock cylinder as the key conformingly corresponding to the lock manually applies a rotational force to the lock cylinder rotates through the arc, while a member attached to the cam and eccentrically positioned relative to the keyway, drives the bolt between extended and retracted positions as the lock cylinder rotates through the arc. An electronic circuit containing a memory and a microprocessor, is mounted upon and supported by the cam to rotate with the cam through the arc. The electronic circuit operationally responds to digital data carried by the key that is in electronic conformance to data stored within the memory, by electrically energizing a release mechanism that is spaced-apart from the axis of rotation of the cylinder plug, to move between a deployed position preventing rotation of the cam relative to the housing, and a released position accommodating the rotation of the cam relative to the housing.

Claims

1. A lock, comprising:

a housing bearing a hole;

a bolt supported by and travelling when a plane belayed a first position protruding beyond said housing and a second position retracted within said housing, said bolt being perforated by a guide aperture and a drive aperture;

a cylinder plug perforated by a keyway having an axis transversely oriented relative to said plane, said cylinder plug having an exposed circuimferential surface surrounding said keyway, and a key retainer positioned within said cylinder plug to retain a shank of a key inserted within said cylinder plug;

a cam positioned along said axis between said cylinder plug and said bolt, to rotate with said cylinder plus and force said bolt to travel between said first position and said second position as a key conformingly corresponding to said cylinder plug manually applies a rotational force to said cylinder plug through an arc centered upon said axis;

a shear pin exhibiting a shear force, said shear pin extending between said cylinder plug and said cam, to transmit said rotational force between said cylinder plug and said cam until said rotational force exceeds said shear force;

a spacer extending along said axis from said cam and into said guide aperture;

a guide centered along said axis extending from said spacer, conforming to and received within said hole borne by said housing;

a second pin spaced radially apart from said axis, extending from said cam and into said drive aperture;

an electronic circuit containing a memory, said electronic circuit being mounted within said housing and borne by said cam to rotate with said cam through said arc, said electronic circuit operationally responding to digital data carried by the key conformingly corresponding to said lock; and

a release mounted upon and borne by said cam, and operationally activated by said electronic circuit to move between a deployed position preventing rotation of said cam relative to said housing, and a released position accommodating said rotation of said cam relative to said housing.

2. The lock of claim 1, further comprising:

a first electrical conductor mounted on said cam and extending from said electronic circuit and into said keyway to electrically engage a corresponding portion of any key inserted into said keyway; and

a second electrical conductor forming an electrical path between said circuit board and said exposed circumferential surface.

3. The lock of claim 1, with said release comprising:

first and second pulleys mounted in a spaced-apart configuration upon said cam; and

a mass positioned to move between said deployed position engaging both said cam and said housing, and said released position accommodating said rotation of said cam relative to said housing.

4. A lock, comprising:

a housing bearing a hole centered upon an axis;

a bolt supported by said housing and moving transversely relative to said axis to protrude beyond said housing to an extending position and to retract within said housing to a retracted position, said bolt having an aperture;

a cylinder plug perforated by a keyway, having an exposed circumferential surface surrounding said keyway, said cylinder plug being rotatably fitted within said aperture, and rotating within said aperture in response to rotational force applied by a key conformingly corresponding to said cylinder plug through an arc centered upon said axis;

a cam positioned to rotate with said cylinder plug as the key conformingly corresponding to said cylinder plug manually applies a rotational force to said cylinder plug and rotates through said arc;

a member eccentrically positioned relative to said axis, extending between said cam and said bolt to drive said bolt between said extended position and said retracted position as said cylinder plug rotates through said arc;

an electronic circuit containing a memory and a microprocessor operationally coupled to read and write information on said memory, mounted upon and borne by said cam to rotate with said cam through said arc, said electronic circuit operationally responding to digital data carried by the key conformingly corresponding to said cylinder plug when said microprocessor determines that said digital data conformingly corresponds to resident data stored within said memory;

a release spaced-apart from said cylinder plug and eccentrically positioned away from said axis, said release being functionally activated by said electronic circuit to move between a deployed position preventing rotation of said cam relative to said housing, and a released position accommodating said rotation of said cam relative to said housing.

5. The lock of claim 4, further comprising:

a first electrical conductor mounted on said cam and extending from said electronic circuit and being accessible through said keyway to electrically engage a corresponding portion of a key inserted into said keyway; and

a second electrical conductor forming an electrical path between said electronic circuit and said exposed circumferential surface.

6. The lock of claim 4, with said release comprising:

first and second pulleys mounted in a spaced-apart configuration upon said cam;

a mass positioned to move between said deployed position engaging both said cam and said housing, and said released position accommodating said rotation of said cam relative to said housing.

7. The lock of claim 4, further comprising:

a shear pin deforming in shape in response to application of a shearing force, said shear pin extending between said cylinder pus and said cam, to transmit said rotational force between said cylinder plus and said cam until said rotational force exceeds said shear force.

8. The lock of claim 4, further comprising a coupling having a unitary structure deforming in shape in response to application of a shearing force, said coupling extending between said cylinder plug and said cam housing, to transmit said rotational force between said cylinder plug and said cam housing until said rotational force exceeds said shear force.

9. A lock, comprising:

a housing;

a bolt supported by and traveling between a first position protruding beyond said housing and a second position retracted within said housing, said bolt being perforated by a guide aperture and a drive aperture;

a plug having an axis transversely oriented relative to said bolt, perforated by a keyway accommodating insertion of a shank of a key exhibiting a first orientation relative to said housing and conformingly corresponding to physical characteristics of said keyway;

a key retainer positioned within said lock to retain the shank of the key inserted within said keyway while the shank exhibits an orientation other than said first orientation;

a cam positioned along said axis coaxially with said plug, to rotate with said plug and force said bolt to travel between said first position and said second position as the key conformingly corresponding to said physical characteristics of said keyway manually applies a rotational force to said plug through an arc centered upon said axis;

said plug and said cam providing a plurality of mating surfaces transmitting said rotational force between said plug and said cam;

a member eccentrically positioned relative to said axis, extending between said cam and said bolt to drive said bolt between said first position and said second position as said plug rotates through said arc;

an electronic circuit containing a memory, said electronic circuit operationally responding to digital data carried by the key that functionally corresponds to information stored within said memory; and

a release exhibiting operational activation under control of said electronic circuit in response to occurrence to functional correspondence between said digital data and information stored within said memory, to move between a first state and a second state, with one of said first state and said second state preventing rotation of said cam relative to said housing, and another of said first state and said second state accommodating said rotation of said cam relative to said housing.

10. The lock of claim 9, further comprised of said release being mounted on, borne by, and rotating with said cam.

11. The lock of claim 9, further comprised of a source of electrical power providing energy to said electronic circuit and to enable operational activation of said release, disposed to rotate with said cam.

12. The lock of claim 11, further comprised of said source of electrical power being mounted on and borne by said cam.

13. The lock of claim 11, further comprised of said source of electrical power being mounted on and borne by the key.

14. The lock of claim 10, further comprised of a source of electrical power providing energy to said electronic circuit and to enable operational activation of said release, disposed to rotate with said cam.

15. The lock of claim 14, further comprised of said source of electrical power being mounted on and borne by said cam.

16. The lock of claim 14, further comprised of said source of electrical power being mounted on and borne by the key.

17. The lock of claim 9, further comprised of said member exhibiting a shear force, transmitting said rotational force between said plug and said cam until said rotational force exceeds said shear force.

18. The lock of claim 9, with said plug and said cam comprised of discrete and separate elements.

19. The lock of claim 9, with said release further comprised of:

a nose biased to rest in said first state while simultaneously engaging said cam and said housing and preventing said rotation; and

opposing elements biased to rest in said first state while restricting movement of said nose relative to said housing, and responding to said activation by releasing said nose to travel to said second state and accommodate said rotation.

20. The lock of claim 9, with said release further comprised of:

a nose biased to rest in said first state while simultaneously engaging said cam and said housing and preventing said rotation; and

a pair of elements disposed to travel in opposing directions and biased to rest in said first state while restricting movement of said nose relative to said housing, and responding to said activation by releasing said nose to travel to said second state and accommodate said rotation.

21. The lock of claim 9, further comprised of said plug and said cam comprising discrete and separable components.

22. The lock of claim 9, with said key retainer comprising an element biased to protrude into said keyway and to move transversely to said keyway when displaced by passage of the shank within said keyway, obstructing said rotation absent the key conformingly corresponding to said physical characteristics, and accommodating said rotation with the key conformingly corresponding to said physical characteristics.

23. A lock, comprising:

a housing;

a bolt supported by and traveling between a first position protruding beyond said housing and a second position retracted within said housing, said bolt being perforated by a guide aperture and a drive aperture;

a cam positioned along an axis transversely oriented relative to said bolt, perforated by a keyway accommodating insertion of a shank of a key exhibiting a first orientation relative to said housing and conformingly corresponding to physical characteristics of said keyway, to rotate with the key and force said bolt to travel between said first position and said second position as the key conformingly corresponding to said physical characteristics of said keyway manually applies a rotational force to said cam through an arc centered upon said axis;

a key retainer positioned within said lock to retain the shank of the key inserted within said keyway while the shank exhibits an orientation other than said first orientation;

a member eccentrically positioned relative to said axis, extending between said cam and said bolt to drive said bolt between said first position and said second position as said cam rotates through said arc;

an electronic circuit containing a memory, said electronic circuit operationally responding to digital data carried by the key that exhibits a functional correspondence to information stored within said memory; and

a release exhibiting operational activation under control of said electronic circuit in response to occurrence of said functional correspondence, to move between a first state and a second state, with one of said first state and said second state preventing rotation of said cam relative to said housing, and another of said first state and said second state accommodating said rotation of said cam relative to said housing.

24. The lock of claim 23, further comprised of said release being mounted on, borne by, and rotating with said cam.

25. The lock of claim 23, further comprised of a source of electrical power providing energy to said electronic circuit and to enable operational activation of said release, disposed to rotate with said cam.

26. The lock of claim 25, further comprised of said source of electrical power being mounted on and borne by said cam.

27. The lock of claim 25, further comprised of said source of electrical power being mounted on and borne by the key.

28. The lock of claim 24, further comprised of a source of electrical power providing energy to said electronic circuit and to enable operational activation of said release, disposed to rotate with said cam.

29. The lock of claim 28, further comprised of said source of electrical power being mounted on and borne by said cam.

30. The lock of claim 28, further comprised of said source of electrical power being mounted on and borne by the key.

31. The lock of claim 23, further comprised of said member exhibiting a shear force, transmitting said rotational force between the key and said cam until said rotational force exceeds said shear force.

32. The lock of claim 23, with said bolt and said cam comprised of discrete and separate elements.

33. The lock of claim 23, with said release farther comprised of:

a nose biased to rest in said first state while simultaneously engaging said cam and said housing and preventing said rotation; and

opposing elements biased to rest in said first state while restricting movement of said nose relative to said housing, and responding to said activation by releasing said nose to travel to said second state and accommodate said rotation.

34. The lock of claim 23, with said release further comprised of:

a nose biased to rest in said first state while simultaneously engaging said cam and said housing and preventing said rotation; and

a pair of elements disposed to travel in opposing directions and biased to rest in said first state while restricting movement of said nose relative to said housing, and responding to said activation by releasing said nose to travel to said second state and accommodate said rotation.

35. The lock of claim 23, with said key retainer comprising an element biased to protrude into said keyway and to move transversely to said keyway when displaced by passage of the shank within said keyway, obstructing said rotation absent the key conformingly corresponding to said physical characteristics, and accommodating said rotation with the key conformingly corresponding to said physical characteristics.

36. The lock of claim 23, further comprising:

an extension protruding from said housing; and

said release comprising;

an actuator mounted upon said cam and engaging said extension and limiting said rotation of said cam while in a first orientation relative to said extension, and accommodating passage of said extension relative to said actuator during said rotation of said cam while in a second orientation relative to said extension; and

a motor having a shaft mounting said actuator, rotating said actuator between said first orientation and said second orientation in dependence upon said occurrence of said functional correspondence.

37. A lock, comprising:

a housing;

a bolt;

a cylinder plug;

a cam positioned within said housing to rotate with said cylinder plug, said cam bearing a drive member spaced radially apart from said cylinder plug and engaging and forcing said bolt to move as said cylinder plug, applies a rotational force to said cam; and

an electrical operator borne by said cam, in a first state preventing rotation of said cam and when in a second state allowing rotation of said cam.

38. The lock of claim 37, further comprising:

said cylinder plug being rotated by a keyway;

a first electrical conductor mounted on said cam and extending from said electrical operator and into said keyway to electrically engage a corresponding portion of a key inserted into said keyway; and

a second electrical conductor forming an electrical path between said electrical operator and a circumferential surface of said cylinder plug surrounding keyway and ex posed by said housing.

39. The lock of claim 37, further comprising:

said cylinder plug being perforated by a keyway;

a cover perforated by an opening exposing said keyway and a surrounding face of said cylinder plug while said cover mates with said housing and encases said cam;

a release operationally controlled by said electrical operator to exhibit a first position accommodating rotation of said cam with rotation of said cylinder plug and to exhibit a deployed position hinder said rotation; and

a glide wall positioned by said cover to partially surround said cam, and retentively engage said release when said release is in said deployed position.

40. A lock, comprising:

a housing;

a bolt supported by said housing while moving within a longitudinal plane between a first position protruding beyond said housing and a second position retracted within said housing, said bolt bearing a first drive member;

a cylinder plug perforated by a keyway, said cylinder plug being positionable within said housing with an axis transversely oriented relative to said longitudinal plane, said cylinder plug having a circumferential surface surrounding said keyway exposed through said housing;

a cam positioned within said housing along said axis between said cylinder plug and said bolt, to rotate with said cylinder plug, said cam bearing a second drive member spaced radially apart from said axis and engaging said first drive member and forcing said bolt to move within said longitudinal plane as a key conformingly corresponding to said cylinder plug applies a rotational force to said cylinder plug through an arc centered upon said axis;

an electronic circuit containing a memory, said electronic circuit being mounted within said housing and borne be said cam to rotate with said cam through sad arc, said electronic circuit operationally responding to digital data carried by the key conformingly corresponding to said cylinder plug; and

a release mounted upon and borne by said cam and operationally activated by said electronic circuit to move between a deployed position preventing rotation of said cam relative to said housing, and a released position accommodating said rotation of said cam relative to said housing.

41. The lock of claim 40, further comprising:

a first electrical conductor mounted on said cam and extending from said electronic circuit and into said keyway to electrically engage a corresponding portion of a key inserted into said keyway; and

a second electrical conductor forming an electrical path between said electronic circuit and said exposed circumferential surface.

42. The lock of claim 40, further comprising:

a cover perforated by opening exposing said keyway and a surrounding face of said lock cylinder while said cover mates with said housing and encases said cam; and

a glide wall positioned by said cover to partially surround said cam, and retentively engage said release when said release is in said deployed position.

43. The lock of claim 40, further comprising:

an extension protruding from said housing; and

said release comprising;

an actuator mounted upon said cam and engaging said extension and limiting said rotation of said cam while in a first orientation relative to said extension, and accommodating passage of said extension relative to said actuator during said rotation of said cam while in a second orientation relative to said extension; and

a motor having a shaft mounting said actuator, rotating said actuator between said first orientation and said second orientation in dependence upon said occurrence of said functional correspondence.