Electromechanical lock

• US 8,981,899 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iLOQ Oy
• Original Assignee: iLOQ Oy
• Inventors: Pukari, Mika, Jokinen, Hannu
• Primary Examiner(s): SMALL, NAOMI J
• Application Number:
  US12/669,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,435 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.73, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/1.1, 340/5.7, 702/71, 702/77, 702/781, 702/80, 702/82
• US Class Current: 340/5.73
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0031 of the elastic type
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0062 by generator
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 35/00 Locks for use with special keys or a plurality of keys ; keys therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/063 with a rectilinearly moveable blocking element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/70 Operating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7028 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7113 Projected and retracted electrically
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7124 Retracted electrically only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7559 Cylinder type

Abstract

An electromechanical lock and its operation method is disclosed. The method includes: reading data from an external source; matching the data against a predetermined criterion; providing a fulcrum provided that the data matches the predetermined criterion; holding the lock by a locking pin, when engaged, in a locked state, and, when disengaged, in a mechanically openable state; and if the fulcrum is provided, levering mechanical power with the fulcrum to the locking pin to mechanically disengage the locking pin.

Claims

1. An electromechanical lock, comprising:

an electronic circuit configured to read data from an external source, and match the data against a predetermined criterion;

a support configured to move by electric power to a fulcrum position provided that the data matches the predetermined criterion;

a locking pin configured to hold the lock, when engaged, in a locked state, and, when disengaged, in a mechanically openable state;

a lever coupled with the locking pin and having two distal ends, the lever being configured to receive mechanical power provided that the data matches the predetermined criterion such that the lever is supported by the support at the fulcrum position and one of the distal ends of the lever that is farther to the support is pushed down by the mechanical power, thereby mechanically disengaging the locking pin provided that the support is in the fulcrum position; and

an electric generator configured to generate the electric power from the mechanical power, wherein the electric generator is further configured to generate the electric power and feed the electric power to the electronic circuit such that the support is moved to the fulcrum position by the electric power.

2. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, wherein the support is coupled with a shaft of the electric generator.

3. The electromechanical lock of claim 2, wherein the shaft comprises a moving shaft.

4. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, wherein a coupling between the lever and the locking pin acts as a fulcrum, and the locking pin remains stationary in a locked position provided that the data does not match the predetermined criterion.

5. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, further comprising a driving pin coupled with the lever configured to input the mechanical power to the lever, wherein the locking pin is closer to the one of the distal ends of the lever, and the driving pin is closer to the other one of the distal ends of the lever.

6. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, wherein the lever is further configured to receive the mechanical power from insertion of a key.

7. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, wherein the lever comprises a third-class lever.

8. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, wherein the lock further comprises a lock cylinder, and the locking pin is further configured to implement the locked state so that, when engaged, the locking pin holds the lock cylinder stationary, and to implement the mechanically openable state so that, when disengaged, the locking pin releases the lock cylinder rotatable by mechanical power.

9. The electromechanical lock of claim 8, wherein the lock is further configured so that a key is removable from the lock only in a position where the key is insertable in the lock.

10. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, wherein the locking pin is further configured to be engaged with mechanical power when a key is removed from the lock.

11. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, wherein the support is further configured to be reset from the fulcrum position with mechanical power when a key is removed from the lock.

12. The electromechanical lock of claim 2, wherein a coupling between the lever and the locking pin acts as a fulcrum, and the locking pin remains stationary in a locked position provided that the data does not match the predetermined criterion.

13. The electromechanical lock of claim 3, wherein a coupling between the lever and the locking pin acts as a fulcrum, and the locking pin remains stationary in a locked position provided that the data does not match the predetermined criterion.

14. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, wherein a coupling between the lever and the locking pin acts as a fulcrum, and the locking pin remains stationary in a locked position provided that the data does not match the predetermined criterion.

15. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, wherein the support serves as a fulcrum of the lever at the fulcrum position when the lever levers the mechanical power to mechanically disengage the locking pin.

16. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, wherein when the lever is supported by the support at the fulcrum position, the one of the distal ends of the lever that is farther to the support is pushed down to be lower than the other one of the distal ends of the lever that is closer to the support.

17. The electromechanical lock of claim 1, wherein the support is spaced apart from the lever when the support is not at the fulcrum position.

18. A method for operating an electromechanical lock, the electromechanical lock having a lever coupled with a locking pin, and a support, the lever having two distal end, the method comprising:

reading data from an external source;

matching the data against a predetermined criterion;

moving the support by electric power to a fulcrum position provided that the data matches the predetermined criterion;

holding the lock by the locking pin, when engaged, in a locked state, and, when disengaged, in a mechanically openable state; and

receiving mechanical power by the lever provided that the data matches the predetermined criterion such that the lever is supported by the support at the fulcrum position and one of the distal ends of the lever that is farther to the support is pushed down by the mechanical power, thereby mechanically disengaging the locking pin.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein when the lever is supported by the support at the fulcrum position, the one of the distal ends of the lever that is farther to the support is pushed down to be lower than the other one of the distal ends of the lever that is closer to the support.

20. The electromechanical lock of claim 18, wherein the support is spaced apart from the lever when the support is not at the fulcrum position.

21. An electromechanical lock, comprising:

means for reading data from an external source;

means for matching the data against a predetermined criterion;

means for providing a fulcrum provided that the data matches the predetermined criterion;

holding means for holding the lock, when engaged, in a locked state, and, when disengaged, in a mechanically openable state;

means for receiving mechanical power provided that the data matches the predetermined criterion such that the receiving means is supported by the providing means at the fulcrum and one of two distal ends of the receiving means that is farther to the providing means is pushed down by the mechanical power, thereby mechanically disengaging the holding means;

an electric generator configured to generate electric power from the mechanical power, wherein the electric generator is further configured to generate the electric power such that the providing means is moved to the fulcrum by the electric power.

22. The electromechanical lock of claim 21, wherein the providing means is a support configured to move by the electric power to a fulcrum position provided that the data matches the predetermined criterion, and the receiving means is a lever coupled with the locking pin.

23. The electromechanical lock of claim 22, wherein when the lever is supported by the support at the fulcrum position, the one of the distal ends of the lever that is farther to the support is pushed down to be lower than the other one of the distal ends of the lever that is closer to the support.

24. The electromechanical lock of claim 22, wherein the support is spaced apart from the lever when the support is not at the fulcrum position.