Locking cylinder

• US 6,412,321 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Talleres De Escoriaza, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Talleres De Escoriaza, S.A.
• Inventors: Bea, Jose Alcelay, Aramburu, Luis Angel Ruano
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, John B.
• Application Number:
  US09/574,629
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 703/86, 702/782, 702/783, 704/08, 702/83, 702/831, 702/787
• US Class Current: 70/278.3
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0024 Cams
• 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: Y10T 70/7079 Key rotated [e.g., Eurocylinder]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7136 Key initiated actuation of device

Abstract

Locking cylinder, particularly an electronic locking cylinder and with electromechanical rotational blocking in which the electronic key (64) has facing electrical terminals (66) on blade (65), and the rotating core (2 or 3) of the cylinder has an external annular track (6) that is electrically conducting and with its internal face communicates with an electrical contact (5) supported on terminal (66); whereas the external annular track (6) is supported in the electrical brushes (7) of external (2) and internal (3) rotors; there is a first modular box (8) on the inside of a cast hollow part (1a) of external rotor (2) which box contains electrical brush (7), processing unit (31) and an electromechanical locking device, which incorporates a ball (19) and a vertical tumbler (16); as well as a second modular box (9) containing electrical brush (7) and the autonomous electrical source; the two modules are connected by the electrical conductor (10).

Claims

1. A locking cylinder, particularly an electronic locking cylinder and with electromechanical rotational blocking, said locking cylinder comprising:

a static double-body frame (1), of European profile in the form of a pear, for activation of said cylinder from the external and internal sides of the lock;

each body having external (2) and internal (3) rotational cores or rotors each having a radial housing, which rotate in a recess of said two bodies of the static frame (1) and each of which has a key channel (2a, 3a) for introduction of the blade (65) of a corresponding electronic key (64) provided with an interactive electronic circuit that can be coded electronically;

an electrical contact (5) positioned in said radial housing of each one of said external (2) and internal (3) rotors, which is in communication with its respective said key channel (2a, 3a) so as to contact either one of two electrical terminals (66) found opposite one another on said blade (65) of said electronic key (64) when said key is inserted operatively in said key channel (2a, 3a);

an electrically conducting annular track (6) having an internal face and an external face, said track encircling each one of said external (2) and internal (3) rotors and having said internal face electrically communicating with each said electrical contact (5) of said rotors (2, 3);

an electrical brush (7) which, in each one of said rotors (2, 3), communicates electrically with said external face of said annular track (6) and is loaded elastically against a second compression spring (7a);

an electronic processing unit (31) which is in electrical communication with said electrical brushes (7) of said external (2) and internal (3) rotors;

a retractile vertical tumbler (16) which is mounted against a helical compression spring (17) radial to said external rotor (2) and which belongs to an electromechanical device for rotational blocking of said external rotor (7) which is connected electrically to said electronic processing unit (31);

a first eccentric cam (4) installed between said external (2) and internal (3) rotors;

an external socket (32) enclosed axially between said first eccentric cam (4) and said external rotor (2);

an internal socket (35) enclosed axially between said first eccentric cam (4) and said internal rotor (3);

an external shoe (41) which is installed with axial clearance between said first eccentric cam (4) and said external rotor (2), which external shoe (41) has a sliding fit with respect to the inside of said external socket (32) and with respect to a first diametric planar lug (47) of said external rotor (2), which is located in the recess of said external shoe (41);

an internal shoe (44) which is installed with axial clearance between said first eccentric cam (4) and said internal rotor (3), which internal shoe (44) has a sliding fit with respect to the inside of said internal socket (35) and with respect to a second diametric planar lug (48) which is located in the recess of said internal shoe (44);

a first modular box (8) which has dimensions adapted to the inside of a first cast hollow part (1a) attached to said external rotor (2) which is made in said static double-body frame (1), said first modular box containing said electrical brush (7) of said external rotor (2), said electronic processing unit (31) and said electromechanical device for rotational locking of said external rotor (2);

a second modular box (9) which has dimensions adapted to the inside of a second cast hollow part (1b) attached to said internal rotor (3), which is made in said static double-body frame (1), said second modular box (9) containing an autonomous electrical supply source and said electrical brush (7) corresponding to said internal rotor (3); and

an electrical conductor (10) connected between said first (8) and second (9) modular boxes.

2. A locking cylinder according to claim 1, wherein said first eccentric cam (4) has several first (38) and second (39) front teeth and several radial teeth (40);

said first front teeth (38) are housed in several matching first front recesses (34) of said external socket (32) located axially between said first eccentric cam (4) itself and said external rotor (2);

said second front teeth (39) are housed in several matching second front recesses (37) of said internal socket (35) enclosed axially between said first eccentric cam (4) itself and said internal rotor (3), and said radial teeth (40) are two that are diametrically opposed and that are aligned in the axial direction simultaneously with first front grooves (42) of said external shoe (41) and second front grooves (45) of said internal shoe (44), respectively.

3. A locking cylinder according to claim 1, wherein said external (41) and internal (44) shoes each have first (43) and second (46) diametric recesses, in which are respectively housed by way of a sliding fit said first diametric planar lug (47) of said external rotor (2) and said second diametric planar lug (48) of said internal rotor (3).

4. A locking cylinder according to claim 2, wherein the axial length included by said external (32) and internal (35) sockets fitted between said first eccentric cam (4) and said external (2) and internal (3) rotors, is greater by an axial clearance (68) than the axial length included by said external (41) and internal (44) shoes, which axial clearance (68) is equal to the axial length of said radial teeth (40) and their matching first (42) and second (45) front grooves of said external (41) and internal (44) shoes, respectively, which axial play (68) is equal to a measurement in excess of that of inserted blade (65) of said electronic key (64) with respect to either of key channels (2a, 3a) of said external (2) and internal (3) rotors, and which axial play (68) is smaller than the equal axial measurements between said first (43) and second (46) diametric recesses of said external (41) and internal (44) shoes, and of said first (47) and second (48) diametric planar lugs of said external (2) and internal (3) rotors.

5. A locking cylinder according to one of the following claims 1-4, wherein said external (32) and internal (35) sockets each have peripheral chamfers (33) that are horizontal and oriented downward with respect to the initial position of the rotational operation for opening said locking cylinder.

10. A locking cylinder according to claims 1 or 6, further characterized in that said electromechanical device for rotational locking of said external rotor (2) comprises an armature (11), an autonomous electrical micromotor (12) that has a horizontal rotational output axis (13) and is located in a housing (14) of said armature (11), a vertical plate cam disk (15), a retractile vertical tumbler (16) located in said housing (14) of said armature (11) and protruding through the upper plane of said armature (11), a helical compression spring (17) mounted vertically between first (27) and second (28) horizontal walls of said armature (11) and retractile tumbler (16), respectively, a base (18) anchored on the bottom to said armature (11) in vertical alignment with said retractile tumbler (16) and a ball (19) arranged freely in a variable space bounded between said plate cam disk (15), retractile tumbler (16) and base (18);

said plate cam disk (15) having a vertical front of cam disk (20) horizontally facing said ball (19) and projecting in continuous form;

said retractile tumbler (16) having an upper planar face (21) in permanent contact with the periphery of said external socket (32) with peripheral chamfer (33), and opposite said upper planar face (21);

said retractile tumbler (16) having on the bottom an inclined plane (22) of concave transverse profile circumscribed by an arc of greater radius than said ball (19) and facing said ball (19);

said base (18) having on top a horizontal plane (23) with concave transverse profile circumscribed by an arc of greater radius than said ball (19) and that is in permanent contact with said ball (19) and vertically faces said inclined plane (22) of said retractile tumbler (16);

said ball (19) having a diameter that is sufficient for simultaneous contact with said front of said cam disk (20), said concave inclined plane (22) of said retractile tumbler (16) and said concave horizontal plane (23) of base (18), and wherein longitudinally to said concave horizontal plane (23), between said ball (19) and its contact point with said concave inclined plane (22), there is a maximum distance that is equal to the horizontal variation of projection of the sections that project to varying degrees of said front of said cam disk (20).

11. A locking cylinder according to claim 10, wherein said plate cam disk (15) has a dorsal face (24) in which there is a projection (25) localized at the most projecting zone of the front of cam disk (20) toward ball (19);

wherein said projection (25) projects by a measurement less than a nominal clearance (26) of said dorsal face (24) with respect to said armature (11).

12. A locking cylinder according to claim 1 or 6, wherein in said internal (3) and external (2) rotors there is at least one cog (62) that has a point that matches with a concavity (67) shaped in a central longitudinal border of blade (65) of said electronic key (64), which cog (62) has a corresponding counter-cog (63) mounted as a counter-spring in said static frame (1).

13. A locking cylinder according to claim 1 or 6, wherein said electrically conducting annular track (6) is a ring opened by one of its generatrices.

14. A locking cylinder according to claim 1 or 6, wherein said electrical terminals (66) are in the major faces of a said blade (65) of electronic key (64) that is planar.

15. A locking cylinder according to claim 1 or 6, wherein said electrical terminals (66) are in the minor faces of a said blade (65) of electronic key (64) that is planar.

16. A locking cylinder according to claim 1 or 6, further comprising an external electrical conductor (10a) that is connected to said first modular box (8) and to a supply source external to said locking cylinder.

17. A locking cylinder according to claim 1 or 6, wherein said electrical contact (5) of said external (2) and internal (3) rotors is mounted against said first compression spring (5a).

18. A locking cylinder according to claim 1 or 6, wherein said electrical contact (5) is axially immobile in said external (2) and internal (3) rotors.

6. A locking cylinder, particularly an electronic locking cylinder and with electromechanical rotational blocking, said locking cylinder comprising:

a static double-body frame (1), of European profile in the form of a pear, having external and internal casings each having a recess, said static double-body frame (1) for activating said cylinder from the external and internal sides of the lock;

an external rotational core or rotor (2) which has a channel (2a) for introducing a blade (65) of a corresponding electronic key (64) provided with an interactive electronic circuit that can be coded electronically, said external rotor (2) having a radial housing and rotating in said recess of said external casing of said static double-body frame (1);

an internal rotational button (49) provided with an axis (49a) which rotates in the recess of said internal casing of said static double-body frame (1);

an electrical contact (5) located in said radial housing of said external rotor (2), which communicates with its said key channel (2a) so as to contact either of the electrical terminals (66) disposed opposite each other on blade (65) of said electronic key (64) when said key is inserted operatively into said key channel (2a);

an electrically conducting annular track (6) having an internal face and an external face, said track encircling said external rotor (2) and having said internal face in electrical communication with said electrical contact (5) of said external rotor (2);

an electrical brush (7) which is in electrical communication with said external face of said annular track (6) and is loaded elastically against a spring (7a);

an electronic processing unit (31) which is in electrical communication with said electrical brush (7) of said external rotor (2);

a retractile vertical tumbler (16) which is mounted against a helical compression spring (17) radial to said external rotor (2) and which belongs to an electromechanical device for rotational blocking of said external rotor (2) which is electrically connected to said electronic processing unit (31);

a second eccentric cam (51) installed between said external rotor (2) and an axis (49a) of said rotational button (49);

a radial vessel (50) inserted axially between said second eccentric cam (51) and said external rotor (2);

a coupling device or coupling (55) located in the recess of said external socket (32) and between said external rotor (2) and said second eccentric cam (51);

a first modular box (8) that has dimensions adapted to the inside of a first cast hollow part (1a) attached to external rotor (2) and that is made in said static double-body frame (1), said first modular box (8) containing said electrical brush (7) of said external rotor (2), said electronic processing unit (31) and said electromechanical device for rotational locking of said external rotor (2);

a second modular box (9) that has dimensions adapted to the inside of a second cast hollow part (1b) attached to said axis (49a) of said rotational button (49) and which is made in said static double-body frame (1), said second modular box (9) containing an autonomous source of electrical supply; and

an electrical conductor (10) connected between said first (8) and second (9) modular boxes.

7. A locking cylinder according to claim 6, wherein said second eccentric cam (51) has a rounded hollow core of an annular body in which is formed in the axial direction several slots (54) that are in communication with said hollow core, said axial slots (54) each having closed front pieces (52) belonging to said axis (49a) of said rotational button (49), whose front pieces (52) have an axial length that is half that of said axial slots (54) of eccentric cam (51).

8. A locking cylinder according to claim 6, wherein said axial vessel (50) has a peripheral chamfer (33), several front gaps (50a) and a polygonal axial opening (69);

said peripheral chamfer (33) is horizontal and oriented downward with respect to the initial position of the rotational operation for opening said locking cylinder;

wherein said front gaps (50a) communicate with the cast hollow core of said axial vessel (50) and, in the axial direction, have a length greater than that of said axial slots (54) of eccentric cam (51) that is not occupied by said front pieces (52) of said axis (49a) of said rotational button (49); and

said polygonal axial opening (69) encloses reciprocally said first diametric planar lug (47) of said external rotor (2).

9. A locking cylinder according to claim 6, wherein said coupling (55) comprises a body (56), an axial rod (57) having a sliding fit end, a first helical spring (59) and a second helical spring (60) weaker than said first helical spring (59);

said body (56) having the form of a cup with its inside oriented toward said external rotor (2) and being provided externally with several teeth (58) which extend in the axial direction and that, together with said body (56), comprise an outline that matches with sliding fit the space formed jointly by said cast hollow core of said axial vessel (50) and its front gaps (50a), the axial length of said teeth (58) of said body (56) being equal to that of said front gaps (50a) of said axial vessel (50), and wherein the inside of said body (56) in the form of a cup has an axial length that is greater than the excess measurement of said inserted blade (65) of said electronic key (64) with respect to said key channel (2a) of said external rotor (2);

said axial rod (57) having an enlarged front (61) supported at the final opening of said key channel (2a) of said external rotor (2), and said axial rod (57) being mounted with said sliding fit end through said body (56) and having its inserted point with said sliding fit end in a blind axial borehole (53) of said axis (50) of said rotational button (49), said blind axial borehole (53) having its bottom at a distance from the inside floor of said body (55) in the form of a cup that is greater than the length of said axial rod (57);

said first helical spring (59) comprising a compression spring that is installed around said axial rod (57) between its said enlarged front (61) and the inside floor of said body (56) in the shape of a cup;

said second helical spring comprising a compression spring that is installed around said axial rod (57) between the outside of said body (56) and the opening of said blind axial borehole (53) of said axis (50) of said rotational button (49).