Title: CYLINDER FOR DRIVING MECHANISMS

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a cylinder, in particular an electronic cylinder, for driving mechanism.

State of the art

There are known cylinders, typically of standardized dimensions, which are coupled to driving mechanisms, typically frame locks or other mechanisms such as switches for the control of automatic devices (e.g. motors for opening/closing gates or doors).

A cylinder for driving mechanisms can typically comprise a main body (also called stator) on which there is rotatably fixed a cam (commonly named tongue) having a protruding portion. The cam, which typically serves to drive the driving mechanism to which the cylinder is applied, is mechanically couplable to a rotating body (commonly known as plug), housed in the main body, for being able to drive the driving mechanism after a rotation of the rotating body.

There are known cylinders for driving mechanisms called electric or electronic, i.e. cylinders containing, in addition to or in substitution of mechanical blocking mechanisms mechanically driveable by conventional keys or the like, at least one blocking mechanism, typically comprising at least one electric power supplier and one actuator (e.g. an electromagnet or an electric motor), which is usually operated on the basis of the result of an electronic identification. Typically, the electronic identification involves the reading, by an access control system, of digital data relating to access rights contained in an electronic key (such as an electronic card, a smartphone or other wireless device, or a device physically connectable to the access control system through a suitable entrance).

EP2706172 and EP2706173 describe known electronic cylinder for driving mechanisms.

Summary of the invention

The Applicant has found that the known electronic cylinders for driving mechanisms have some drawbacks and/or can be improved in some aspects.

First of all, the Applicant has noted that the known electronic cylinders for driving mechanisms are excessively complex in their structure, with consequent increase of production costs. The Applicant has furthermore noted that the assembly and/or the installation of these cylinders, as well as the maintenance thereof, entail considerable difficulties, complex and/or long procedures, which may also involve the use of specific tools specially dedicated. For example, the simple replacement of the exhausted batteries can require complicated disassembly and reassembly operations of the cylinder knob.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide an electronic cylinder for driving mechanisms which does not require complicated operations and/or procedures for the assembly and/or the installation and/or the maintenance, such as the replacement of the electric batteries

Further object is to contain the construction and/or assembly and/or installation costs of the cylinder.

According to the Applicant the problem of achieving one or more of these objects is solved by a cylinder for driving mechanisms according to the attached claims and/or having one or more of the following features.

According to an aspect the invention relates to a cylinder for driving mechanisms comprising a main body having a cavity, a rotating body rotatably housed in said cavity and having an axis of rotation along a longitudinal development direction of said cylinder, and a cam, rotatably fixed to said main body and selectively couplable to said rotating body to rotate about said axis of rotation rigidly with said rotating body.

Said cylinder comprises a coupling element structured to alternatively assume a coupling position in which it couples said cam with said rotating body and a decoupling position in which it does not couple said cam with said rotating body.

Said cylinder comprises an actuator structured to move said coupling element from said decoupling position to said coupling position, and/or vice versa.

Said cylinder comprises an electric power supplier electrically connected to said actuator.

Preferably said cylinder comprises a handling body rotatably fixed to said main body and structured to rotate said cam about said axis of rotation at least when said coupling element is in said coupling position.

In one aspect said electric power supplier is (preferably entirely) housed inside said handling body and said handling body comprises an access opening to said electric power supplier configured to allow reversible extraction/insertion of said electric power supplier through said access opening and realized on a face of said handling body facing away from, and distal from, said cam or on a surface of said handling body with (substantially) longitudinal development.

According to the Applicant, the combination of the aforesaid features, in particular the presence of the electric power supplier (entirely) housed inside the handling body and the presence of the access opening to the supplier realized on a face of the handling body facing away from the cam and distal from the latter and/or on a surface of the handling body having (substantially) longitudinal development, i.e. the lateral surface of the handling body, realizes an electronic cylinder for driving mechanisms which does not require complex maintenance operations and/or procedures, since the aforementioned access to the electric power supplier allows to replace the supplier itself (if exhausted and/or in general no longer functioning) without requiring the disassembly and the reassembly of the handling body from the rest of the cylinder and without the need for specifically dedicated tools (such as for example in the aforementioned EP2706172 and EP2706173).

With the term "reversibly" referred to a process/operation it is meant a process/operation which does not destroy or damage a device (or parts thereof) on which the process/operation is performed, i.e. that the process/operation can be performed not destructively on the device so that it can be repeated at will and such that its effect can be cancelled without consequences for the device itself.

The present invention in one or more of the aforesaid aspects can have one or more of the following preferred features.

Preferably said electric power supplier comprises one or more accumulators, for example electric batteries or capacitors.

Preferably the handling body comprises a removable cover for closing said opening and protecting the electric power supplier.

Preferably said electric power supplier is housed in an end portion of said handling body distal from said cam. In this way the insertion and/or the extraction of the electric power supplier is facilitated.

Preferably said cylinder comprises a command and control unit mainly, more preferably entirely, housed inside said handling body and electrically connected to said electric power supplier. In this way the electric contacts of the command unit remain confined inside the handling body

Preferably said electric power supplier occupies a position (longitudinally) farther from said cam with respect to said command and control unit.

Preferably said command and control unit is programmed and configured to receive as an input a signal (preferably a wireless signal) identifying an access right and for actuating said actuator on the basis of a verification of said signal identifying an access right. In this way the driving of the electronic cylinder only happens in presence of a correct access authorization.

In one embodiment said actuator comprises (or consists of) an electromagnet, typically comprising a solenoid to which a thrust element of ferromagnetic material is associated which is moved by a magnetic field generated by a current in the solenoid. This type of actuator is widespread and cheap.

In one preferred embodiment, said actuator comprises a motor, more preferably an electric motor, electrically connected to said electric power supplier and to said command and control unit. With respect to the electromagnet, which typically continues to consume current for as long as the thrust element is driven (with a consequent reduction in the life of the accumulator/s), the electric motor can provide for the driving of the electronic cylinder with a lower overall consumption of electric power.

In one aspect of the present invention (even independently from the aforesaid aspect) said actuator (preferably said motor or said solenoid) is at least partially (more preferably mainly) housed in said handling body. In this way the structure of the cylinder is simplified since it does not need for electric contacts between the handling body and the rest of the cylinder for connecting the motor/solenoid to the electric power supplier and/or to the command and control unit (such as for example in EP2706172 and EP2706173). Moreover, compared to the solutions wherein the motor is completely housed in a rotating body (such as in EP2706172 and EP2706173), the present feature allows to free space inside the rotating body, thus loosening the design constraints.

With the expression“mainly housed” referred to a first element inside of a second element it is meant that more than 50% (preferably more than 60% or 70%) of the overall volume of the first element is enclosed in the second element.

Preferably said actuator is a linear actuator, more preferably acting along said longitudinal direction. In this way it is possible to adapt the electric driving of the cylinder to the logic and to the components of a purely mechanical driving cylinder (as described below).

Preferably said actuator comprises a thrust element (e.g. a rod) having a main development direction along said longitudinal direction (preferably along said axis of rotation), wherein said actuator is structured to rectilinearly displace said thrust element from an at-rest position distal from the cam to a thrust position proximal to the cam. In this way the typical mechanics and logic of a mechanical cylinder can be maintained, wherein the thrust driving commonly given by the manually operated key is supplied in this case by the thrust element, which, actuated by the electronic components of the cylinder, simulates the entry of the key itself. At the same time, it can be achieved a greater use of the typical components of a mechanical cylinder which are typically placed, within the logical driving sequence of the cylinder, downstream of the driving given by the key (for example it is possible to keep the contact bodies, the butterfly bodies as well as the coupling logic of the latter with the rotating body and the cam), thus reducing the production and the costs of specific components, unlike the known electronic cylinders (such as for example in EP2706172 and EP2706173) which are not compatible with the typical components of a traditional mechanical cylinder and therefore require the manufacture and the use of specific components, with consequent increase in costs.

Preferably said thrust element is mechanically connected to said coupling element in such a way that a displacement of said thrust element from said at-rest position to said thrust position gives to said coupling element a thrust force in direction of said cam or of said rotating body. In this way the driving of the thrust element allows the coupling between the cam and the rotating body (if the rotating body is correctly angularly aligned with the cam).

Preferably said cylinder comprises a first elastic element (e.g. a spring) operatively interposed between said coupling element and said thrust element and structured to oppose an (increasing) elastic reaction to a (increasing) displacement of said thrust element from said at-rest position to said thrust position. In this way, with the thrust element in the thrust position, the first elastic element keeps in thrust the coupling element towards the cam (or towards the rotating body), allowing the coupling between the cam and the rotating body, if there is a correct angular alignment between the two aforesaid elements. If this correct angular alignment is instead absent, the first elastic element keeps in thrust the coupling element against an abutment wall of the cam (or of the rotating body) avoiding at the same time an effort by the motor (which instead would occur in an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the thrust element is rigidly connected to the coupling element). When, by a rotation of the rotating body, the aforesaid correct angular alignment is reached, the coupling element can assume the coupling position (in which, for example, suitable protuberances of the coupling element engage corresponding seats made in the cam and in the rotating body) and thus achieve the coupling between the cam and the rotating body. In addition, in absence of further external forces acting on the thrust element (e.g. an action of the motor acting on the thrust element), the first elastic element tends to bring the thrust element back to the at-rest position.

Preferably said cylinder is structured and programmed to maintain said thrust element in said thrust position for a time interval (preferably definable at will), more preferably without electric power consumption by the actuator. In this way the thrust on the coupling element is maintained, and therefore the possibility of driving the driving mechanism to which the cylinder is applied, for the time necessary and established at will by the user, preferably without power consumption and therefore without effects on the life of the power supplier.

Preferably said cylinder is structured and programmed so that, after said time interval, the motor/solenoid ceases to give to said thrust element any force (including bind reaction forces) having longitudinal direction directed towards said cam. In this way, terminated the time interval, the motor/solenoid stops acting on the thrust element, which is free to return to the at-rest position without further action by the motor/solenoid and therefore without further electric power consumption (as regards the motor, it consumes electric power only in the displacement of the thrust element from the at-rest position to the thrust position).

Preferably said cylinder comprises a second elastic element (e.g. a spring) operatively interposed between said main body and said coupling element and structured to oppose an (increasing) elastic reaction to a (increasing) displacement of said coupling element from said decoupling position to said coupling position. In this way, in absence of further external forces acting on the coupling element (e.g. the thrust force of the thrust element), the second elastic element tends to bring the coupling element back to the decoupling position, preventing the driving of the driving mechanism by rotation of the rotating body.

Preferably said first and/or second elastic element are compression springs, more preferably equal to each other, and arranged along said longitudinal direction at opposite sides of said coupling element. In this way the elastic reactions of the first and of the second elastic elements are suitably oriented.

Preferably said first and/or second elastic element have a respective degree of preloading in a closing configuration of the cylinder in which said thrust element is in the at-rest position (and said coupling element is in the decoupling position). In this way it is ensured that the elastic elements correctly act in all the configurations of the cylinder even in the face of manufacturing tolerances.

Preferably in said closing configuration a degree of preloading of said second elastic element is greater than a degree of preloading of said first elastic element. In this way it is reduced the risk that the coupling element mistakenly remains in the coupling position even in absence of further external forces acting on the coupling element.

Preferably said cylinder comprises a further rotating body rotatably housed in a further cavity of the main body realized at the opposite side of said cam with respect to said cavity, and having a respective axis of rotation coinciding with said axis of rotation of the rotating body. Preferably said further rotating body is firmly and rigidly coupled to said cam to rotate rigidly with said cam about said axis of rotation. In this way the rotation of the further rotating body always causes a driving of the driving mechanisms.

Preferably said rotating body and said further rotating body comprise a respective cavity having (substantially) longitudinal development.

Preferably said cylinder comprises a further handling body at longitudinally opposite side with respect to said handling body and structured to rotate said cam about said axis of rotation at least when said coupling element is in said coupling position. In this way it is possible to drive the driving mechanisms even at opposite side with respect to the handling body.

In a first embodiment said handling body is (firmly) fixed to said rotating body to rotate rigidly with said rotating body about said axis of rotation. Preferably said further handling body is (firmly) fixed to said further rotating body to rotate rigidly with said further rotating body about said axis of rotation.

In a second embodiment said handling body is (firmly) fixed to said further rotating body to rotate rigidly with said further rotating body about said axis of rotation.

Preferably said further handling body is (firmly) fixed to said rotating body to rotate rigidly with said rotating body about said axis of rotation.

The cylinder according to the last two embodiments can be advantageously mounted so that the handling body can be gripped respectively from the outside (in the first embodiment) or from the inside (in the second embodiment) of an environment whose access is controlled by a frame (or in general another access barrier device) on which a driving mechanism comprising the cylinder is mounted.

In the following paragraphs the expressions in brackets refer preferably to the aforesaid second embodiment while the text outside parenthesis refers preferably to the aforesaid first embodiment.

Preferably said cavity of said rotating body (or of said further rotating body) comprises a first mouth placed at one end of said rotating body (or of said further rotating body) distal from said cam, said first mouth being facing towards (and preferably engaged by) said actuator. Preferably said cavity of said rotating body (or of said further rotating body) comprises a second mouth placed at one end of said rotating body (or of said further rotating body) proximal to said cam, said second mouth being facing towards, and engaged by, said coupling element. In this way, a connection channel between the actuator and the coupling element is made inside the rotating body (or the further rotating body).

Preferably said thrust element in said thrust position develops at least partially inside said cavity of said rotating body (or of said further rotating body). Preferably said first elastic element is housed in said cavity of said rotating body (or of said further rotating body) and comprises a first end in contact with said coupling element and a second end structured to receive a thrust force from said thrust element. In this way it is possible to transfer to the coupling element the thrust force imparted by the thrust element, adapting at the same time the cylinder to the typical operating logic of a purely mechanical driving cylinder, since there are maintained the coupling element and its logic of coupling the rotating body to the cam.

Preferably said cavity of said further rotating body (or of said rotating body) comprises a mouth placed at one end of said further rotating body (or of said rotating body) proximal to said cam, said mouth being facing towards, and engaged by, said coupling element (at least when in the coupling position). Preferably said second elastic element is housed in said cavity of said further rotating body (or of said rotating body). In this way the second elastic element is suitably placed to impart an elastic reaction to said coupling element to bring the coupling element from the coupling position to the decoupling position, once all the further external forces acting on the coupling element (e.g. the thrust force of the thrust element) have been cancelled.

Preferably said cylinder comprises a contact body interposed between said thrust element and said first elastic element.

Brief description of the drawings

The features and advantages of the present invention will be further clarified by the following detailed description of some embodiments, presented by way of non limiting example of the present invention, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of an electronic cylinder for driving mechanisms according to the present invention;

figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the cylinder of figure 1 in a closing configuration;

figure 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the cylinder of figure 1 in an opening configuration;

figure 4 shows an exploded view of the cylinder of figure 1 ;

figure 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of an electronic cylinder for driving mechanisms according to the present invention in a closing configuration;

figure 6 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the cylinder of figure 5 in an opening configuration.

Detailed description of some embodiments of the invention

The present invention includes any type of electronic cylinder for driving mechanisms, for example electronic whole cylinder with a single actuator (wherein the cylinder comprises on one side an electronic driving and on the other a manual driving, as shown below in the first embodiment), electronic whole cylinder with a double actuator (not shown, wherein the cylinder comprises an electronic driving on both sides), electronic half cylinder (not shown, wherein the cylinder comprises an electronic driving on one side and no driving on the other side), or hybrid cylinder (wherein the cylinder comprises on one side an electronic driving and on the other a mechanical key driving, as shown in the second embodiment), and of any shape, such as for example the European cylinder shape exemplarily shown below, or, not shown, oval, round, etc.

The sections shown in figures 2 and 3, for the first embodiment, and 5 and 6, for the second embodiment, are taken on a longitudinal median plane 200 (shown, for the first embodiment, in figure 1 ) of a cylinder 1 according to the present invention. The longitudinal plane 200 is preferably a plane of substantial geometrical symmetry for the cylinder 1 (e.g. except for minor asymmetries present in the second embodiment, such as, for example, the seat 51 , the blocking mechanism associated with the additional rotating body 50, and the helical plane coupling system of the thrust body 52, better described below).

In the figures with the number 1 it is indicated a cylinder for driving mechanisms comprising a main body 2 having a cavity 3, a rotating body 4 rotatably housed in the cavity 3 and having an axis of rotation 100 along a longitudinal development direction of the cylinder 1 , and a cam 5, rotatably fixed to the main body 2 (in a suitable notch thereof) and selectively couplable to the rotating body 4 to rotate about the axis of rotation 100 rigidly with the rotating body 4.

Exemplarily the cylinder 1 comprises a coupling element 6 (in the shown examples consisting of a butterfly body with two diametrically opposed radial prominences) structured to alternatively assume a coupling position in which it couples the cam 5 with the rotating body 4 (e.g. shown in figures 3 and 6) and a decoupling position (e.g. shown in figures 2 and 5) in which it does not couple the cam 5 with the rotating body 4.

Preferably the cylinder 1 comprises an actuator 7 structured to move the coupling element 6 from the decoupling position to the coupling position.

Preferably the cylinder 1 comprises an electric power supplier 8, for example consisting of one or more batteries as shown, electrically connected to the actuator 7. Preferably the cylinder 1 comprises a handling body 9 rotatably fixed to the main body 2 and structured to rotate the cam 5 about the axis of rotation 100 at least in the opening configuration of the cylinder 1 in which the coupling element is in the coupling position. For example, for the first embodiment the handling body rotates the cam 5 (only) when the cylinder is in the opening configuration (shown in fig. 3). In the second embodiment (fig. 5 and 6) the handling body 9 rotates the cam 5 in any configuration of the cylinder 1 , the gripping body being integral with the cam 5 (through the further rotating body described below).

Exemplarily the electric power supplier 8 is entirely housed inside the handling body 9, in a seat placed in a terminal end portion 33 of the handling body 9 distal from the cam 5. Preferably the handling body 9 comprises an access opening 10 to the electric power supplier 8 configured to allow reversible extraction/insertion of the electric power supplier 8 through the opening itself. In the embodiments shown, the opening 10 is realized on a face 11 of the handling body 9 facing away from, and distal from, the cam 5. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the opening 10 can be realized on a surface 12 of the handling body 9 having a substantially longitudinal development. The handling body preferably comprises a removable cover 40 for closing the opening 10 and protecting the electric power supplier 8 (when positioned in the seat).

Exemplarily the cylinder 1 comprises a command and control unit 13 (shown in the figures in purely schematic way) entirely housed inside the handling body 9 and electrically connected to the electric power supplier 8. Preferably the electric power supplier 8 occupies a position longitudinally farther from the cam 5 with respect to the command and control unit 13. Exemplarily the unit 13 is longitudinally interposed between the electric power supplier 8 and the actuator 7 or (not shown) it can be placed longitudinally adjacent to the actuator 7, in a dedicated notch obtained on the handling body.

Exemplarily the command and control unit 13 is programmed and configured to receive as an input a signal identifying an access right (preferably a wireless signal for example RFID, Bluetooth, infrared or Wifi) emitted by an identification device (not shown, for example a smartphone, an electronic card, a remote control, etc., suitably programmed) and for actuating the actuator 7 on the basis of a verification of the signal identifying the access right.

Exemplarily the actuator 7 comprises an electric motor 14, electrically connected to the electric power supplier 8 and to the command and control unit 13 and mainly housed in the handling body 9. For example, the motor 14 is an electric motor PPML20C24 marketed by PrimoPal™

Exemplarily the actuator 7 is a linear actuator acting along the longitudinal direction, comprising a thrust element 15 (exemplarily a rod) having a main development direction along the axis of rotation 100, wherein the motor 14 is structured to rectilinearly displace the thrust element 15 from an at-rest position (figures 2 and 5) distal from the cam 5 to a thrust position proximal to the cam (figures 3 and 6). In alternative embodiments (not shown) the actuator 7 can comprise a piezoelectric motor, in which a thrust element linearly extends due to thermal expansion caused by a current passage inside the thrust element itself, or an electromagnet.

Exemplarily the cylinder 1 comprises a first elastic element 16 (exemplarily a spring) operatively interposed between the coupling element 6 and the thrust element 15. Exemplarily the cylinder 1 comprises a second elastic element 18 (exemplarily a spring) operatively interposed between the main body 2 and the coupling element 6. Exemplarily the first 16 and the second elastic element 18 are compression springs equal to each other and arranged along the longitudinal direction at opposite sides of the coupling element 6.

Preferably the cylinder 1 comprises a further rotating body 19 rotatably housed in a further cavity 20 of the main body 2 realized at the opposite side of the cam 5 with respect to the cavity 3, and having a respective axis of rotation coinciding with the axis of rotation 100 of the rotating body 4. Exemplarily the further rotating body 19 is firmly and rigidly coupled to the cam 5 to rotate rigidly with the cam 5 about the axis of rotation 100. The coupling of the further rotatable body 19 with the cam 5 is realized through a lap joint consisting of (as shown in figure 4) two flat faces realized at one end of the further rotating body (which supports the cam in cooperation with one end of the rotating body 4) and shaped to match with an internal profile of the cam itself.

Exemplarily the rotating body 4 and the further rotating body 19 comprise a respective cavity 21 , 22 having a longitudinal development.

Exemplarily the cylinder 1 comprises a further handling body 23 rotatably fixed to the main body 2 at longitudinally opposite side with respect to said handling body 9 and structured to rotate the cam 5 about the axis of rotation 100 at least in an opening configuration of the cylinder 1. In the first embodiment shown in the figures 1 , 2, 3 and 4, the handling body 9 is firmly fixed to the rotating body 4 to rotate rigidly with the rotating body 4 about the axis of rotation 100 and the further handling body 23 is firmly fixed to the further rotating body 19 to rotate rigidly with the further rotating body 19 about the axis of rotation 100. Therefore, the rotation of the further handling body 23 triggers the rotation of the cam 5 for any configuration of the cylinder.

In the second embodiment shown in figures 5 and 6, the handling body 9 is firmly fixed to the further rotating body 19 to rotate rigidly with the further rotating body 19 about the axis of rotation 100 and the further handling body 23 is firmly fixed to the rotating body 4 to rotate rigidly with the rotating body 4 about the axis of rotation 100. Therefore, the rotation of the further handling body 23 triggers the rotation of the cam 5 only in the two opening configurations of the cylinder in which a respective one of the two coupling elements 6 and 6' is in the coupling position.

Exemplarily, in the first embodiment, the cavity 21 of the rotating body 4 comprises a first mouth 24 placed at one end 25 of the rotating body 4 distal from the cam 5, the first mouth 24 being facing towards, and engaged by, the actuator 7 and a second mouth 26 placed at one end 27 of the rotating body 4 proximal to the cam 5, the second mouth 26 being facing towards, and engaged by, the coupling element 6. Exemplarily, in the second embodiment, the cavity 22 of the further rotating body 19 comprises a first mouth 24 placed at one end 25 of the further rotating body 19 distal from the cam 5, the first mouth 24 being facing towards, and engaged by, the actuator 7 and a second mouth 26 placed at one end 27 of the further rotating body 19 proximal to the cam 5, the second mouth 26 being facing towards, and engaged by, the coupling element 6.

Exemplarily, in the first embodiment, the thrust element 15 in the thrust position (fig. 3) develops at least partially inside the cavity 21 of the rotating body 4 and the first elastic element 16 is housed in the cavity 21 of the rotating body 4 and comprises a first end 34 in contact with the coupling element 6 and a second end 35 which receives a thrust force from the thrust element 15 by interposition of a contact element 30.

Exemplarily, in the second embodiment, the thrust element 15 in the thrust position (fig. 6) develops at least partially inside the cavity 22 of the further rotating body 19 and the first elastic element 16 is housed in the cavity 22 of the further rotating body 19 and comprises a first end 34 in contact with the coupling element 6 and a second end 35 which receives a thrust force from the thrust element 15 by a contact element. Exemplarily, in the first embodiment, the cavity 22 of the further rotating body 19 comprises a mouth 28 placed at one end 29 of the further rotating body 19 proximal to the cam 5, the mouth 28 being facing towards, and engaged by, the coupling element 6. Exemplarily, in the first embodiment, the second elastic element 18 is housed in the cavity 22 of the further rotating body 19.

Exemplarily, in the second embodiment, the cavity 21 of the rotating body 4 comprises a mouth 28 placed at one end 29 of the rotating body 4 proximal to the cam 5, the mouth 28 facing towards the coupling element 6. Exemplarily, in the second embodiment, the second elastic element 18 is housed in the cavity 21 of the rotating body 4.

In the second embodiment exemplarily shown, preferably the further handling body houses inside itself an additional rotating body 50, having a seat 51 shaped for the insertion of a mechanical key (not shown), and a blocking mechanism with mechanical coding structured to prevent (in absence of a key having a correct coding) a rotation of the additional rotating body 50 with respect to the further handling body. On the other hand, the blocking mechanism allows the rotation of the additional rotating body if a key having the correct coding is inserted. The rotation of the additional rotating body 50 causes the advancement of a thrust body 52 (by a coupling with a helical plane formed in the thrust body) which imparts a thrust force to a further coupling element 6', which, in case of correct angular alignment with the cam, moves to a respective coupling position (not shown) to couple the rotating body 4 to the cam 5, so that a rotation of the further handling body 23 determines a rotation of the cam 5 (further opening configuration).

Exemplarily the cylinder 1 comprises a respective elastic open ring 31 (e.g. of the "Seeger" type) for the rotating body 4 and for the further rotating body 19. These elements and their functionalities are not described herein since they are commonly known.

In an embodiment not shown, the actuator consists of an electromagnet, comprising a solenoid to which it is associated a respective thrust element of ferromagnetic material which is moved by a magnetic field generated by a passage of electric current in the solenoid. The respective thrust element inserted in the solenoid is analogous to the thrust element 15 of the actuator 7, while the solenoid deputises (and takes the position of) for the motor 14. The following description about the operation of an electronic cylinder according to the present invention can also be applied to an electronic cylinder in which the actuator 7 comprises (or consists of) an electromagnet.

In an example of use, the cylinder 1 can be mounted in a lock for a frame placed to control the access to a specific circumscribed environment.

The cylinder of the first embodiment can be advantageously used in frames that control the access to interiors in an environment/building (such as for example doors of offices, warehouses, departments within the same building, for example a factory or an hospital). In this case the handling body 9 can be advantageously placed externally to the specific circumscribed interior and it allows the access to this interior only to users in possession of the access authorization. The further handling body 23 is placed on the opposite side, i.e. on the internal side, and it allows, for any configuration of the cylinder, through a rotation thereof, the opening of the lock, allowing the exit from the circumscribed interior.

The cylinder of the second embodiment can advantageously be used in frames that divide interior spaces from the outside (such as for example the entrance door of a house or building). In this case the handling body 9 can advantageously be placed inside the interior space, where it is safer from break-in and/or tampering attempts, and it allows with its rotation, for any configuration of the cylinder, the opening of the lock. The opening of the lock from the outside can instead be carried out by rotating the additional handling body 23 when the cylinder is in one of the two opening configurations (one of which shown in fig. 6).

Under normal conditions, i.e. in the closing configuration (fig. 2 and 5), the coupling element 6 (and the possible further element 6') is in the decoupling position and the thrust element 15 (and the possible thrust body 52) is in the at-rest position. Exemplarily the first 16 and the second elastic element 18 have a respective degree of preloading wherein the degree of preloading of the second elastic element 18 is greater than the degree of preloading of the first elastic element 16. Exemplarily the greater degree of preloading of the second elastic element 18 is achieved housing the second elastic element 18 in a cavity (which corresponds to the cavity 22 for the first embodiment and to the cavity 21 for the second embodiment) having a longitudinal dimension about 0.05 mm smaller than a longitudinal dimension of the cavity (which corresponds to the cavity 21 for the first embodiment and to the cavity 22 for the second embodiment) wherein the first elastic element 16 is housed.

In the closing configuration a rotation of the handling body 9 (first embodiment) or of the further handling body 23 (second embodiment) is free, i.e. without a corresponding rotation of the cam 5, since the rotating body 4, integral with respectively the handling body 9 or the further handling body 23 is decoupled from the cam 5.

In presence of a signal identifying an access right, this signal is received and processed by the command and control unit 13 in order to verify a correct access authorization. In case of positive result, the command and control unit 13 commands the actuator 7, for example the motor 14 (or the solenoid), so that the thrust element 15 is moved from the at-rest position to the thrust position. The thrust element 15, through the contact element 30 and the first elastic element 16, generates a thrust force on the coupling element 6 in direction of the cam 5. Each of the cam 5 and the rotating body 4 has a pair of seats with longitudinal development, diametrically opposed with respect to the axis of rotation 100 and shaped to be engaged by the radial prominences of the coupling element 6. It is thus necessary a correct angular alignment between the cam 5 and the rotating body 4 in which it is achieved the alignment between the two pairs of seats, in order to allow the displacement of the coupling element 6 from the decoupling position to the coupling position, in which it simultaneously engages both the pairs of seats obtained in the two aforesaid elements.

In case this correct angular alignment is instead absent, the first elastic element 16 keeps the coupling element 6 in thrust against an abutment wall 17 of the cam 5 (first embodiment), or an abutment wall 32 of the rotating body 4 (second embodiment), at the same time avoiding an effort by the motor 14 (which would instead occur in case of a rigid connection between the thrust element 15 and the coupling element 6). When, by a rotation of the rotating body 4, the aforementioned correct angular alignment between the rotating body 4 and the cam 5 is reached, the coupling element 6 is free to reach the coupling position (e.g. it moves towards the cam in the first embodiment or towards the rotating body in the second embodiment) thus achieving the coupling between the cam 5 and the rotating body 4 (opening configuration shown in figures 3 and 6). In the opening configuration a rotation of the handling body 9, in the first embodiment, or of the further handling body 23 in the second embodiment, determines a rotation of the cam 5 and therefore an opening of the lock.

Preferably the cylinder 1 (more preferably the actuator when comprising the motor 14) is structured and programmed to keep the thrust element 15 in the thrust position for a time interval definable at will (for example from few seconds to several hours) and without electric power consumption. In this condition, when the cylinder is in the opening configuration the actuator overcomes the elastic reaction force of the second elastic element 18, which remains compressed.

The cylinder 1 is preferably structured and programmed so that, terminated the time interval, the motor 14 (or the solenoid) ceases to impart to the thrust element 15 any force (including bind reaction forces) having longitudinal direction directed towards the cam 5. In this case the first 16 and the second elastic element 18, structured to oppose a respective increasing elastic reaction to an increasing displacement respectively of the thrust element 15 from the at-rest position to the thrust position and of the coupling element 6 from the uncoupling position to the coupling position, mutually cooperate to bring the thrust element 15 and the coupling element 6 respectively back to the at-rest and to the decoupling positions, bring the cylinder back to the closing configuration.