Electronic lock with mechanical clutch

• US 6,334,347 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2000
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electronic Key Systems SARL
• Original Assignee: Electronic Key Systems SARL
• Inventors: Iscla, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRETT, SUZANNE LALE DINO
• Application Number:
  US09/701,044
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 702/76--781, 702/783, 702/79--83, 703/79.R, 703/80, 703/37, 703/40, 702/21--24, 704/67--72
• US Class Current: 70/278.3
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/002 Geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0031 of the elastic type
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0642 axially, i.e. with an axially disengaging coupling element
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/068 axially, i.e. with an axially disengaging coupling element
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 9/042 Stators consisting of multiple parts being assembled together E05B9/045 takes precedence
• 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 70/7136 Key initiated actuation of device

Abstract

Electronic barrel comprising a barrel body and a rotary-lock key bit, the barrel body comprising at least one rotor having a common axis with the body and the rotary-lock key bit and freely rotating in said body, a clutch part coupled in rotation with the rotor and comprising meshing means co-operation with additional means matching the key bit so as to drive in rotation said key bit by the rotor under the action of a rotating torque of the key, and locking means for preventing the clutch part from being translated when there is no recognition of an identification code transmitted between the key and the barrel, characterised in that said locking means are further mounted integral in the rotary-lock key bit and the rotor is mobile in translation for thrusting the clutch part towards the key bit when said identification code is recognised.

Claims

1. Electronic barrel comprising a barrel body (12, 14) and a rotary-lock key bit (10), the barrel body comprising at least one rotor (32, 34) having a common axis with the body and the rotary-lock key bit and freely rotating in said body, a clutch part (40,42) coupled in rotation with the rotor and comprising meshing means (82, 84) co-operating with additional means (86,88) matching the key bit so as to drive in rotation said key bit by the rotor under the action of a rotating torque of the key (8), and locking means (50, 60) for preventing the clutch part (40, 42) from being translated when there is no recognition of an identification code transmitted between the key and the barrel, characterised in that said locking means are further mounted integral in the rotary-lock key bit and the rotor is mobile in translation for thrusting the clutch part towards the key bit when said identification code is recognised.

2. Electronic barrel according to claim 1, wherein said locking means comprise at least one stop (54, 56) freed by motor means (50, 58, 60) when said identification code is recognised.

3. Electronic barrel according to claim 2, wherein at least one stop is constituted by a protection flap pivoting around an axis (52) parallel to the axis of at least one rotor between an initial position and a final freeing position.

4. Electronic barrel according to claim 2, wherein said motor means comprise an electric microactuator (50) with an axis parallel to the axis of at least one rotor, the at least one stop being freed by means of a drive pinion (60) borne by a final drive shaft of the electric microactuator and gearing on a sector gear (58) integral with the stop.

5. Electronic barrel according to claim 3, wherein the protection flap acts against the action of a return spring (62) intended to automatically bring the protection flap back into the initial position when the key is removed.

6. Electronic barrel according to claim 1, wherein said clutch part is formed of a cylindrical ring fitted with a central disk (102, 104) and comprising on both sides of this central disk meshing means (74, 76;

82, 84) in the shape of grooves so as to ensure coupling in rotation with firstly the key bit and secondly with the rotor.

7. Electronic barrel according to claim 6 and claim 2, wherein said central disk of the clutch part comprises a central heel (78, 80) for co-operating with the stop (54, 56) for freeing the clutch part.

8. Electronic barrel according to claim 1, further comprising at least one compression (90, 92) inserted between the rotor (32, 34) and the clutch part (40, 42).

9. Electronic barrel according to claim 1, further comprising at least a return clamp (44, 46) integral with the rotor (32, 34) and intended to co-operate with the clutch part (40, 42) to enable the clutch part to be freed from the key bit (10) when the key is removed.

10. Electronic barrel according to claim 9, wherein said return clamp comprises an annular disk (94, 96) fitted with at least one foot (98, 100) traversing the clutch part and fixed to the rotor, the disk co-operating with a surface of the clutch part perpendicular to the axis, of at lease one rotor.

11. Electronic barrel according to claim 1, further comprising at least one circlip (18, 20) integral with the body of the barrel and intended to limit the translation of at least one rotor (32, 34) in the direction of the key bit.

12. Electronic barrel according to claim 1, further comprising at least one disengaging finger formed of two independent portions (124a, 124b;

126a, 126b) spaced by a single compression spring (128, 130) and intended to ensure locking of the key (8) in the rotor to enable the clutch part (40, 42) to be freed from the rotary-lock key bit (10) when the key is removed.

13. Electronic barrel according to claim 12, wherein said disengaging finger is mounted perpendicular to the axis of at least one rotor in an opening (136, 138) partly traversing the rotor, a first extremity of this disengaging finger being flush in the key duct (36, 38) so as to come into contact with an orifice (140) of the key (8) and a second extremity going past the external wall of the rotor so as to come into contact with a longitudinal groove (142, 144) of the internal wall of the body of the barrel.

14. Electronic barrel according to claim 13, wherein said groove of the internal wall of the barrel body comprises at least one slanted portion so as to facilitate compression of the sole spring (128, 130) when the rotor is moved after the key is introduce.

15. Electronic barrel according to claim 2, wherein said key bit comprises an annular conductive track (110) for co-operating with a sole fixed electric contact (112) of the body of the barrel as to permit energy feeding from motor means.

16. Electronic barrel according to claim 1, wherein the barrel body comprises at least one perforation (114, 116) perpendicular to the axis of at least one rotor for receiving an electric contact, preferably of the ball type (118, 120), for co-operating with a corresponding conductive element (122) of the key (8).

17. Electronic barrel according to claim 15 and claim 16, further comprising electronic circuits (30) placed in a cavity of the body of the barrel and connected firstly to at least the electric ball contact (118, 120) and secondly to the sole fixed electric contact (112) so that feeding the key bit from the motor means (50) can be effected directly from the key through the electronic circuits.

18. Electronic barrel according to claim 1, comprising:

a first rotor or internal rotor and a second rotor or external rotor, characterized in that the width of the protection flap of the external rotor is larger than that of the protection flap of the internal rotor so that the introduction of an unrecognized key in the external key duct does not allow driving of the key bit when a key is present in the internal key duct.

19. Electronic barrel according to claim 18, further comprising at least one linking barrel (66, 68) having a length larger than the width of the key bit and placed at the level of this key bit (10) between the return clamps (44, 46) and intended to co-operate with the latter to prevent the simultaneous engaging of the internal and external rotors (32, 24) when two keys are introduced into the two key ducts (36, 38).

20. Lock with one or two rotors fitted with an electronic barrel according to one of claims 1 to 19.

21. Electronic barrel according to claim 2, wherein said central disk of the clutch part comprises a central heel for cooperating with the stop for freeing this part.

22. Electronic barrel according to claim 16, furthers comprising electronic circuits placed in a cavity of the body of the barrel and connected firstly to at least the electric ball contact and secondly to the sole fixed electric contact so that feeding the key bit from the motor means can be effected directly from the key through the electronic circuits.