CLUTCH MECHANISM

Technical field:

The present invention relates to a coupling mechanism primarily for use in locks, preferably electronic locks according to the ingress of claim 1.

Prior art and problem:

A coupling mechanism according to the invention is intended to primarily be used at code operated lock openings of doors according to what has been described in our earlier application WO-A-8900966. Said application relates generally to an electrically activeable lock mechanism and a cover therefor, which device primarily is intended to offer a code operated lock mechanism at a reasonable price and in a simple way be re ountable, which mechanism even in its locking position also makes it possible to turn one (inner) handle so that a door for example always can be opened from inside. However, it has turned out that the lock coupling mechanism described herein is a construction which has given rise to manufacturing technical difficulties.

Solution and advantages:

The present invention is accordingly primarily a further development of a coupling mechanism for such an arrangement and aims consequently primarily to solve the problems mentioned in said application, which means in a safe and effective way prevent an unauthorized to open the locking mechanism from the outside of a door at the same time as the locking mechanism always can be opened from the inside, i.e. without activating of a code or the like.

A first object of the invention has ^' accordingly been to bring about a coupling mechanism, which solves the above said problems in a better way than the above mentioned initially

constructed arrangement. However, the present invention shall not be limited to the above identified field of use.

A general problem which also has been touched in the above application at production of products which are to be made in large series, is to try to minimize the number of variations to in such a way obtain an increase of the size of the series, which in its turn lowers the costs. In connection with doors it is therefore strived at mechanisms, which can be used both for left and right hinged doors respectively. Today known mechanisms of said kind has the disadvantage that there must be made some adaptions of details to make the mechanism proper for either right or left hinged doors. This is a time consuming measure and accordingly not desirable.

A first general object of the invention has accordingly been to bring about a coupling mechanism, which can be used as a locking mechanism for a lock, which is adapted to be used both at right and left hinged doors and which mechanism requires a minimal amount of time to have the mechanism changed to suit both a right and left hinged door (see for example SE-B-442 420) .

A further object of the invention is to obtain such a mechanism that has high reliability and which otherwise fulfils high demands.

Due to the above said reasons, but also for other reasons such as costs it is also desirable to minimize the number of details included. Thus the invention moreover has as an overall object to bring about a coupling mechanism preferably for use in a locking mechanism, which comprises an optimal minimum number of details included.

Further the invention has as an object to fulfil above said objects at the same time as the space needed for the mechanism is optimized to be as small as possible, whereby for example the journalling of the turnable coupling elements in the

mechanism has been specially regarded. By means of the invention an optimal solution of the above said problems have accordingly been strived at which in first hand is intended to appear from what has been stated in the characterising part of claim 1. A number of locking mechanisms of the coupling variant are earlier known. These known mechanisms have, however, a number of disadvantages some of which will be dealt with below. The locking mechanisms exemplified in DE-A-37 11745 and DE-A-35 37 785 have both axially movable elements which are directly actuated at coupling or de-coupling of the mechanism. This increases not only the space required for such a mechanism, but also results in a great number of varieties. US-A-4592453.and EP-A-219694 show both locking mechanisms of the coupling variant which comprises a moment-sensing mechanism, which de-couples if a certain limit is exceeded. Thus, the mechanism has i.a. the disadvantage to be strongly influenced by wearing.

Figure description:

The invention^ will now be described more in detail in connection with the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a coupling mechanism according to the invention in axial section, Fig. 2 shows the mechanism in a radial section along the line AA in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows the mechanism positioned in its unactivated position. Fig. 4 shows the position of the mechanism when it has been activated to open a left hinged door at which it is mounted, Fig. 5 shows the position of the mechanism when it has been activated to open a right hinged door at which it has been mounted, Fig. 6 shows a view of the first turning transferring element seen from the side where it has a recess, Fig. 7 shows a power activated organ seen in profile.

. shows a power activated organ seen from the front, shows a partial section through a turning transferring element along the line BB, and, shows a par section through a turning transferring element along the line A-A

Fig. 1 shows a coupling mechanism according to the invention seen from above and in section. The active part of the mechanism 2, 3, -4, 5, 6 is here applied between two fixed plates 91, 92. In the preferred embodiment (compare PCT/EP89/00966) one of the plates 91 makes the rear plate of a surrounding cover which is intended for after mounting at a door having a lock mechanism. The outer plate 92 makes a within the cover fixed attaching plate 92. Outside this and surrounding this, there is in the preferred embodiment a front facade of the cover (not shown) with a keyboard, recess for a magnetic card or the like. The outer handle (not shown) for the mechanism is then moved from its position on the square axle (not shown) on the door to a four-edge shaft 90 mounted together with the arrangement according to the invention. The four-edge shaft 90 cooperates at its inner end with a first turnable element 1. This first turnable element 1 is shaped cylindrically and has an inner cavity with an inwardly directed envelope surface 12, which is journalled at the outer envelope surface 22 of the second turnable element 2 (see Fig. 2) . The second turnable element 2, is, when the cover as a whole has been mounted at said door, in engagement with the four-edge shaft from which the outer handle has been moved. The four-edge shaft (not shown) cooperates then with its corners in the recesses 24 located in the inner cavity 23 of the second element. This second element 2 has a cylindrical shoulder 25 being the journalling surface and cooperates with the rear plate 91.

Cooperating with the two turnable elements 1, 2 is displaceably arranged a power transmitting element 3, which will be described hereinafter more in detail. The first turnable

element 1 has two peripheral surrounding recesses 13, which are intended to house the resilient legs of a retainer (not shown) which retains and defines the movement space for said power transmitting organ 3 in all three directions so that it receives a substantially fixed axial or transversal position, but has the possibility for radial movement. Further the first turnable element 1 has an axial shoulder 14 which is the journalling surface for a first power influenced organ 6. The middle outwardly directed hole 15 of said first element 1 shows a recess according to what has been shown for the element 2 in Fig. 2, to be able to be mounted in a non-turnable way at the outer axle 90.

Besides said first element 1 there is in a non-turnable way at the shaft 90 a carrier 8, which is located between two power influenced organs 6, 6' . These power influenced organs have central circular holes and are rotatably mounted at each circular shoulder 14, 51.

Further between the two plates 91, 92 one element 5 has been arranged which is fixed at the shaft 90. This element 5 has a first cylindrical journalling surface 51 for one of the power influenced organs 6' and a second cylindrical journalling surface 52 by which it is turnably arranged at the outer plate 92. This element 5 contacts by means of its outwardly directed axial end surface 53 a washer 58, which is mounted at the outside of the plate 92. Outside the washer 58 is a clips (or the like) 59 fixed in a groove in the shaft 90. This groove makes also a kerf for the shaft.

Fig. 1 also shows that two protruding pins 93, 93' have been fixed at the outer plate 92, to define a neutral position and delimit the swinging space for the coupling mechanism according with what will be described hereinafter;

Fig. 2 shows the mechanism in section along the plane A-A shown in Fig. 1. It appears here with clarity that the outer

element 1 surrounds the inner element 2. An activating organ 4 is here shown with its upper part. This consists of a cutter slide 40 which has a plate 41 arranged at the over side. This cutter slide 40 is under influence of a solenoid and can be retained without any current in its protruded position of for example a mechanical bar means or a permanent magnet. Further Fig. 2 shows that the power transferring organ 3 has a circular section with a circle shaped envelope surface 30. This power transferring organ 3 is arranged at the outer element 1 by means of a retainer 39 (see Fig. 3) . The position of the power transferring organ 3 is decided mainly by the recess 10 which is arranged in the outer element 1. Further the figure shows that also the inner element 2 is provided with a recess 20. These two recesses 10, 20 are in a neutral position of the mechanism centred in relation to each other. The edge parts of the recess 10 which is in the outer element 1 has an angle in against the inner recess 20. In the same way this inner recess 20 is provided with flank sides having an angle against the outer recess 10. The reason therefore is that the power transferring organ 3 in a safe way shall be locked between the two organs when a turning is transmitted between them, according to what will be described below. Besides that the outer element 1 is provided with a recess 14, which makes it possible to displace the plate 41 in against the centre of the mechanism, so that the power transferring organ 3 can be moved in that direction. Such a completed movement is shown in Fig. 2 by means of the dashed lines.

When the outer element has been influenced by a turning (via the outer handle and the shaft 90) no transmittance of these turning moments will occur when the power transferring organ 3 is in its lower most position (the unbroken line) . If the organ 3 is moved upwardly (in accordance with the dashed lines), the organ 3 will reside partly in the upper recess 20, partly in the lower recess 10. If now a turning moment is put on the outer element 1, this will move until one side surface of the recess 10 contacts the envelope surface 30 of the power transferring organ 3, whereby the power transferring organ 3 by

means of the normal force which is formed by the oblique flank sides is locked in this position, presumed that the inner element 2 gives rise to a counter-acting force. As already has been mentioned it is in this case intended that the arrangement is applied at an existing locking mechanism. An existing locking mechanism is always equipped with some kind of means that returns the handle to its starting position, normally this means consists of a spring (not shown) . Thus, the power transferring organ 3 will be locked in this power transferring position until the moment which is applied via the outer handle ceases to act. A very great advantage with the mechanism according to the invention is that the above described functional principles are independent of turning direction due to the inter-active construction to both directions of the power transferring organ 3, and the two recesses 10, 20. This means i. a. that no changes of the mechanism is necessary if it shall be used at a right or left hinged door.

Fig. 3 shows the two power influenced organs 6, 6' more in detail. It is shown that they comprise protruding legs 61 having recesses 62 in which, recesses a spring element 7 is arranged. This spring 7 is clamped therebetween and influences each leg 61 to abut against each of the stop-pins 93, 93 ' . Further at each organ 6, 6' a pin 63, 63' is arranged against the organ 8 therebetween. These pins 63, 63' cooperate with radial end surfaces 54, 55, which are arranged in the carrier 8. Further Fig. 3 shows the lower part 39 ofthe retainer element which retains the power transferring organ 3 (dashed lines) .

Fig. 4 shows the mechanism in an actuated position when it is used at a left hinged door (seen from t e outside) . The outer handle has been pushed downwards so that the shaft 90 has been turned and the organ lying between has then followed the turning movement which results in that the radial end surface 55 influences one the pins 63 so that one of the power transferring organs 6 has been turned with. A spring 7 is pressed. When the outer handle then is released the spring 7

will remove one of the power activated elements 6 to its starting position, its legs contacting the stopping organ 93, so that the starting position is resumed.

The section marked circles show where the penetrating screws for fastening the outer cover are positioned.

Fig. 5 corresponds to Fig. 4, however, it relates to a right hinged door. Turning occurs accordingly in the opposite direction. Fig. 5 shows that the details in the mechanism are not moved in relation to each other. The mechanism is accordingly ready to be used both for left and right hinged doors without any changes. The difference is that the screws for fastening the locking mechanism and the cover are diametrically positioned in relation to Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows the surrounding turnable element 1 seen from below. It appears here clearly that the recess is longitudinal and that the power transferring organ 3 accordingly is intended to be a cylindrical roll. This is advantageous as the contact surface then will be elongated and one receives in such a way a mechanism which is less sensible for wearing than if a spherical contact surface is used in this connection as the total contact due to this will increase and accordingly the surface pressure decreases therethrough.

Fig. 7 and 8 show a preferred embodiment of a power influenced organ 6. To avoid oblique forces which can influence the organ to "pinch" the legs 61 have been arranged in a plane which deviates from the journalling part. When the two power influenced organs 6, 6' are arranged mirrorturned, the legs will be substantially in the same plane, so that the above mentioned oblique forces are avoided. Further it is shown that the pin 63 for cooperation with the carrier 8 suitably has been riveted.

Fig. 9 and 10 show two different partial sections of the first turning transferring element 1. Fig. 9 shows clearly the

earlier mentioned recess 13 for the retainer 39. Fig. 10 clarifies the embodiment of the part surfaces 14, which at turning influence the plate 41 of the activating organ 4 for restoring thereof.

It is evident for the man skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the above given embodiment example, but can be varied within the scope of the following claims. Thus, the object of the invention is not limited to the use in connection with after mounting of a cover comprising a coupling mechanism according to the invention but it is also well suited to be used as a prime locking mechanism in the door itself. Such a mechanism mounted in the door itself must then naturally be arranged with a restoring means ilso at the element which is connected to the shaft for the inner handle. Further the invention is not limited to be used in connection with electronically influenceable locking mechanism, but it is also possible that the activating organ 4, which influences the power transferring organ 3 is manually influenceable, for example by tu ning of a key.

The power transferring organ 3 is not limited to a roller but a plurality of modifications are possible, such as using a ball, a longitudinal corrugated element, etc. Moreover, it is possible to arrange the power transferring organ 3 in the shape of a radially extending pin, which is movably arranged in radial holes in the turnable element. These holes are then suitably arranged, having friction increasing surfaces so that the pin is clamped therein when a turning moment is applied via the shaft. The mechanism is neither locked to have through going hole in the outer turnable element, but this can also be placed at the inner element, and hence also the retainer arrangement for the power transferring organ then also together with the activating organ. For more reasons this last mentioned is not a preferred embodiment as the space for the shaft then will be limited. It should also be mentioned that it can be suitable to have the two elements with through going holes especially when a pin according to the above is used.