Electronic lock system

• US 6,895,791 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Onity Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Onity Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Weiman, Andrew, Alexander, Arnon, Payne, Jonathan P., Metivier, Pascal Georges
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US10/434,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20040003633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 704/32, 70D/IG.59, 701/88, 701/89, 702/77, 702/83, 704/72, 701/49, 702/787, 704/67, 704/71, 704/73, 704/74, 704/77, 704/81, 704/82, 704/83, 702/22, 292/169.16, 292/169.22, 192/223.1
• US Class Current: 70/277
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0025 in the form of grooves
• 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 47/0669 with a pivotally moveable blocking element
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00563 using personal physical data of the operator, e.g. finger prints, retinal images, voicepatterns
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00658 operated by passive electrical keys
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/59 Lock with indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5438 Dog-controller rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5677 Shaft-carried clutch
• 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 70/7102 And details of blocking system [e.g., linkage, latch, pawl, spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/713 Dogging manual operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8027 Condition indicators

Abstract

A clutch assembly for coupling a first spindle to a second spindle. The clutch assembly has a first disc connectable to the first spindle. A first finger is operatively coupled to the first disc and pivotable between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position. The first finger opposes rotation of the first disc in a first direction when the first finger is in the first engaged position. A second disc is connectable to the second spindle. The second disc pivots the first finger from the first engaged position to the first disengaged position when the second disc is rotated in the first direction through a first range of angular positions and rotates the first disk in the first direction when the second disc is rotated beyond the first range of angular positions.

Claims

1. A clutch assembly for coupling a first spindle to a second spindle, the clutch assembly comprising:

a first disc connectable to the first spindle and rotatable about a first axis, the first disc having a first couple;

a first finger operatively coupled to the first disc and pivotable about a second axis between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position, the second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis, the first finger configured to oppose rotation of the first disc in a first direction when the first finger is in the first engaged position; and

a second disc connectable to the second spindle, the second disc having a first slot engaged by the first couple, the second disc configured to pivot the first finger from the first engaged position to the first disengaged position when the second disc is rotated in the first direction through a first range of angular positions and to rotate the first disc in the first direction when the second disc is rotated beyond the first range of angular positions,

wherein the first disc has a first contact, and the first finger has a first stop spaced a first radius from the second axis and configured to apply to the first contact a reactive force opposing rotation of the first disc in the first direction when the first finger is in the engaged position.

2. The clutch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reactive force is directed outwardly along the first radius.

3. A clutch assembly for coupling a first spindle to a second spindle, the clutch assembly comprising:

a first disc connectable to the first spindle and rotatable about a first axis, the first disc having a first couple;

a first finger operatively coupled to the first disc and pivotable about a second axis between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position, the second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis, the first finger configured to oppose rotation of the first disc in a first direction when the first finger is in the first engaged position; and

a second disc connectable to the second spindle, the second disc having a first slot engaged by the first couple, the second disc configured to pivot the first finger from the first engaged position to the first disengaged position when the second disc is rotated in the first direction through a first range of angular positions and to rotate the first disc in the first direction when the second disc is rotated beyond the first range of angular positions,

wherein the first finger has a first link and is driven by a drive assembly comprising a drive motor connected to the first link by a flexible link.

4. A clutch assembly for coupling a first spindle to a second spindle, the clutch assembly comprising:

a first disc connectable to the first spindle and rotatable about a first axis, the first disc having a first couple;

a first finger operatively coupled to the first disc and pivotable about a second axis between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position, the second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis, the first finger configured to oppose rotation of the first disc in a first direction when the first finger is in the first engaged position; and

a second disc connectable to the second spindle, the second disc having a first slot engaged by the first couple, the second disc configured to pivot the first finger from the first engaged position to the first disengaged position when the second disc is rotated in the first direction through a first range of angular positions and to rotate the first disc in the first direction when the second disc is rotated beyond the first range of angular positions,

wherein a first sensor is adjacent the first disc, the first sensor having a first sensor output when actuated by the first disc;

a second sensor is adjacent the second disc, the second sensor having a second output when actuated by the second disc; and

a third sensor is adjacent the first finger, the third sensor having a third sensor output when actuated by the first finger.

5. The clutch assembly according to claim 4, where the first sensor, the second sensor and the third sensor are in communication with a controller.

6. A clutch assembly for coupling a first spindle to a second spindle, the clutch assembly comprising:

a first disc connectable to the first spindle and rotatable about a first axis, the first disc having a first couple;

a first finger operatively coupled to the first disc and pivotable about a second axis between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position, the second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis, the first finger configured to oppose rotation of the first disc in a first direction when the first finger is in the first engaged position; and

a second disc connectable to the second spindle, the second disc having a first slot engaged by the first couple, the second disc configured to pivot the first finger from the first engaged position to the first disengaged position when the second disc is rotated in the first direction through a first range of angular positions and to rotate the first disc in the first direction when the second disc is rotated beyond the first range of angular positions,

wherein;

the first disc has a first contact, a second contact, and a second couple, the second contact spaced from the first contact;

the first finger has a first stop, a first link, and a first lobe, the first stop spaced a first radius from the second axis and configured to apply to the first contact a first reactive force opposing rotation of the first disc in the first direction when the first finger is in the engaged position, the first link connected to a drive assembly;

a second finger is operatively coupled to the first disc and pivotable about a third axis between a second engaged position and a second disengaged position, the third axis spaced from and parallel to the first and second axes, the second finger having a second stop and a second link, the second stop spaced a second radius from the third axis and configured to apply to the second contact a second reactive force opposing rotation of the first disc in a second direction when the second finger is in the second engaged position, the second link configured to engage the first lobe and to cause the second finger to pivot between the second engaged position and the second disengaged position when the first finger pivots between the first engaged position and the first disengaged position;

the second disc has a second slot engaged by the second couple, the second disc configured to pivot the second finger from the second engaged position to the second disengaged position when the second disc is rotated in a second direction through a second range of angular positions and to rotate the first disc in the second direction when the second disc is rotated beyond the second range of angular positions.

7. The clutch assembly according to claim 6, wherein

the first finger has a first release;

the second finger has a second release; and

the second disc has a first perimeter surface with a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion, the first portion configured to engage the first release, to pivot the first finger from the first engaged position to the first disengaged position when the second disc is rotated in the first direction through a first range of angular positions, and to rotate the first disc in the first direction when the second disc is rotated beyond the first range of angular positions, the second portion configured to engage the second release, to pivot the second finger from the second engaged position to the second disengaged position when the second disc is rotated in the second direction through a second range of angular positions, and to rotate the first disc in the second direction when the second disc is rotated beyond the second range of angular positions.

8. An electronic lock system for a door having an outside handle, an outside-facing surface, an inside handle, an inside-facing surface and a latch assembly, the electronic lock system comprising:

(a) an electronic lock assembly comprising;

(i) a lock assembly housing connectable to the inside-facing surface of the door;

the lock housing assembly comprising;

a base having a sidewall;

a first plate spaced from and supported by the base;

a second plate spaced from and supported by the first plate; and

a cover spaced from the second plate and removably supported by the sidewall;

(ii) a first spindle assembly between the base and the first plate, the first spindle assembly connectable to the outside handle and to the latch assembly;

(iii) a second spindle assembly between the second plate and the cover, the second spindle assembly connectable to the inside handle;

(iv) clutch assembly between the first plate and the second plate, the clutch assembly connecting the first spindle assembly to the second spindle assembly;

(v) a drive assembly connected to the clutch assembly; and

(vi) a sensor assembly adjacent the clutch assembly, the sensor assembly having an output when actuated by the clutch assembly; and

(b) an electronic control assembly comprising;

(i) a user interface; and

(ii) a controller in electrical communication with the user interface, the drive assembly, and the sensor assembly, the controller configured to determine a condition of the clutch assembly based on the output of the sensor assembly,

wherein;

the first spindle assembly comprises a first spindle extending through the first plate and the base, the first spindle having a first end and a second end, the first end connectable to the outside handle, the first spindle rotatable about a first axis from a first angular position; and

a first spindle return connected to the first spindle and configured to bias the first spindle in the first angular position;

the second spindle assembly comprises a second spindle extending through the second plate and the cover, the second spindle having a first end and a second end, the first end connectable to the inside handle, the second spindle rotatable about the first axis from a second angular position; and

a second spindle return connected to the second spindle and configured to bias the second spindle in the second angular position; and

the clutch assembly comprises;

a first disc connectable to the first spindle and rotatable about the first axis, the first disc having a first contact, a second contact spaced from the first contact, a first couple and a second couple spaced from the first couple;

a first finger operatively coupled to the first disc and pivotable about a second axis between a first engaged position and a first disengaged position, the second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis, the first finger having a first link, first stop, a first release, and a first lobe, the first link connected to the drive assembly, the first stop spaced a first radius from the second axis and configured to apply to the first contact a first reactive force opposing rotation of the first disc in the first direction when the first finger is in the engaged position;

a second finger operatively coupled to the first disc and pivotable about a third axis between a second engaged position and a second disengaged position, the third axis spaced from and parallel to the first and second axes, the second finger having a second link, a second stop, and a second release, the second link configured to engage the first lobe of the first finger and couple the pivoting of the first finger with the pivoting of the second finger, the second stop spaced a second radius from the third axis and configured to apply to the second contact a second reactive force opposing rotation of the first disc in a second direction when the second finger is in the second engaged position;

a second disc connectable to the second spindle, the second disc rotatable about the first axis, the second disc having a first slot engaged by the first couple, a second slot engaged by the second couple, and a first perimeter surface with a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion, the first portion configured to engage the first release, to pivot the first finger from the first engaged position to the first disengaged position when the second disc is rotated in the first direction through a first range of angular positions, and to rotate the first disc in the first direction when the second disc is rotated beyond the first range of angular positions, the second portion configured to engage the second release, to pivot the second finger from the second engaged position to the second disengaged position when the second disc is rotated in the second direction through a second range of angular positions, and to rotate the first disc in the second direction when the second disc is rotated beyond the second range of angular positions; and

the sensor assembly comprising;

a first sensor adjacent the first disc, the first sensor having a first sensor output when actuated by the first disc;

a second sensor adjacent the second disc, the second sensor having a second output when actuated by the second disc; and

a third sensor adjacent the first finger, the third sensor having a third sensor output when actuated by the first finger.