Specification

The inventions provide a driving device, in particular for controlling a lock equipped with a cylinder insert, a rotary housing of a driving device, and a toothed ring of a driving device, in particular for controlling a lock equipped with a cylinder insert, enabling access to protected areas. A driving device is mounted from the interior of a room, which is from the protected side. In particular, the solution concerns so called “smart locks” which may be opened or closed without direct contact of the authorised person with the lock.

In construction of driving devices for locks, so called smart devices of a smart lock type, advantageous features are sought for that in the prior art may be achieved to some extent. Such advantageous features include a possibility of cooperation of a driving device with locks provided with conventional commonly used cylinder inserts with a normalized cross-sectional profile, openable at both sides with a key, without necessity to modify such cylinder inserts in order to provide the lock with a driving device.

Solutions known from the prior art that enable the use of a driving device for a conventional cylinder insert with the use of the original key are directed to solutions of driving devices mounted to a door leaf via a special attachment which is first mounted to the door leaf or the cylinder insert and then to the attachment the driving device is mounted. Such a solution is known for example from the patent specification DE 102004021704 B3 where the driving device has a form of an immovable housing with a rotary knob provided on the housing for manual control of the lock.

Of course, for transferring of driving force from the driving device onto the cylinder insert only a portion of a key (most often a key from which so called head has been cut off to reduce the dimensions of the key protruding from the cylinder insert) may be also used but this solution is less preferable since it requires the user to cut the key to the proper length and this is troublesome, and additionally one of the keys, the one that has been cut, is not suitable for normal operation.

Nevertheless, cutting the head of the key off enables obtaining another preferable feature - reduction of the dimensions of the driving device for a lock and this is desirable for the users. A driving device with a smaller size looks more aesthetically, does not alter the appearance of the door end enables use of the driving device for a door that opens to the outside of the protected room, and small dimensions of the device reduce the risk of the body of the device touching the door frame while opening the door. Small dimensions of the device may also cause reduction of its manufacturing costs, and thus its price.

Another desired advantage of driving devices for locks is a possibility to open and close the lock manually from the side of the driving device, with omission of the driving arrangement. This is attained in the prior art by positioning on the body of a driving device of a knob for manual control of the lock.

Another way known in the prior art aimed at reduction of the dimensions of the driving device, and the same time convenient manual control of the lock is the use of a driving device in a form of a rotary housing and affixing it to a dedicated cylinder insert rotary control element formed as a shaft. Such solution is known from the Polish patent application P.421767. Nevertheless, this solution has a disadvantage that it requires replacement of the existing cylinder insert in the lock with one that has a conventional outer profile fitting conventional locks but is a special cylinder lock equipped with a suitable shaft fitting a specific kind of driving device.

From the specification of the Polish patent application P.434970 a driving device is known intended in particular for opening and closing, e.g., a lock that has a cylinder insert, enabling access to protected areas. The driving device comprises a driving assembly arranged within a rotary housing and comprising at least a driving motor and a toothed wheel transmission with its terminal toothed wheel that interacts with a toothed ring attached rotatably and coaxially with the housing. The driving device is intended to be seated on a special rotary control element arranged in the body of the cylinder insert. The toothed ring, on its face side, outside with regard to the housing of the driving device to which it is attached, has at least two protrusions that upon attachment of the device on the cylinder insert control element it is positioned relative to the non-circular body of the cylinder insert such that the line joining the two protrusions crosses the area of the cylinder insert body in a cross-section. In this solution it is not possible to use for operation of the driving device a conventional cylinder insert and the original key inserted into the lock cylinder insert from the outside. It is necessary to use a special cylinder insert with a specifically shaped shaft.

In attempts to reduce dimensions of the driving devices for locks the manufacturers have been also seeking for the best solutions in construction and position within the driving device of the main subassemblies that mainly determine the final size of the driving device. Such main subassemblies include an electric energy source and a gear transmission.

A large and high-capacity electric energy source (for example composed of several primary or secondary cells) ensures long-time operation of the driving device between the successive battery exchange or battery recharging (and this is advantageous) but the use of a large electric energy source increases the dimensions of the driving device. Such solution is disclosed in the European application EP 2762661 Al where four cylindrical electric cells are used in an immovable housing of a driving device, outside the region of rotary element that transfers driving force to the cylinder insert.

Another advantageous feature of driving devices for locks is obtaining a suitably large torque that enables controlling locks of a greater number of locking points and thus greater operational resistance. Obtaining of a suitably large torque requires use of a suitably effective, and thus big, electric motor and this involves disadvantageous enlarging of the dimensions of the driving device.

This is why in construction of the solution of the smart lock type, regardless of the technology for manufacturing cells, it is desirable to develop constructive solutions for a driving device that while maintaining simple construction of the driving device allow for obtaining an advantageous proportion between the volume of the electric energy source and the volume of the entire driving device, and at the same rime although a suitably large electric motor is used, enable maintaining small dimensions of the device .

In the prior art the solutions of the Polish patent application P.421765 and of the Polish patent application P.421766 are known where the use of a special cell with a recess or opening is proposed, in which recess or opening an electric motor of the driving device is arranged. This solution is very effective and enables considerable reduction of the dimension of the driving device whole maintaining proportionally big volume and thus high electric capacity of the source of electric current. Nevertheless, this solution has a disadvantage that it requires the use of a non-conventional cell of a special construction and this is not economically effective. Much more economically effective is the use of typical cylindrical primary or secondary electric cells that are a conventionally manufactured kind of cells. Also economically preferable is the use of the conventionally manufactured secondary cells with a shape similar to a rectangular prism, so called “pouch” type cells.

From the specification of the Polish patent application P.434970 a driving device is known intended in particular for opening and closing, e.g., a lock that has a cylinder insert, enabling access to protected areas. The driving device comprises a driving assembly arranged within a rotary housing and comprising at least a driving motor and a toothed wheel transmission with its terminal toothed wheel that interacts with a toothed ring attached rotatably and coaxially with the housing. The driving device is intended to be seated on a special rotary control element arranged in the body of the cylinder insert. The toothed ring, on its face side, outside with regard to the housing of the driving device to which it is attached, has at least two protrusions that upon attachment of the device on the cylinder insert control element it is positioned relative to the non-circular body of the cylinder insert such that the line joining the two protrusions crosses the area of the cylinder insert body in a cross-section. In this solution it is not possible to use for operation of the driving device a conventional cylinder insert and the original key inserted into the lock cylinder insert from the outside. It is necessary to use a special cylinder insert with a specifically shaped shaft.

It is the object of this inventions to eliminate the above indicated disadvantages of the existing solutions and to provide a new solution for a driving device to enable mounting thereof on existing conventional cylinder inserts without necessity for modification thereof, and the device will be capable to interact with a complete key from the side at which the device is mounted to the cylinder insert without necessity to cut it, while obtaining small size of the driving device, in a rotary housing in a form that is convenient for manual control. At the same time, the applied manner of positioning of main subassemblies that have the most relevant impact onto the final size of a driving device, such as an electric energy source, an electric motor and a gear transmission, provides minimized dimensions thereof while maintaining the advantageous ratio between the volume of electric cells to the volume of the entire driving device, although commonly available cylindrical or cuboid cells are used. At the same time also the solution according to the invention enables use of effective, and thus relatively big electric motors while maintaining small size of a driving device. As a result, the driving device of the invention has a simple and compact construction and is advantageous over the prior art devices in the desired features.

According to the first invention, a driving device, in particular for controlling a lock equipped with a cylinder insert, enabling access to protected areas, comprises a driving assembly arranged within a rotary housing. The driving assembly comprises an electric energy source, a driving motor and a toothed wheel transmission with a terminal toothed wheel, cooperating with a toothed ring.

The driving device is intended for interaction with a rotary control element arranged in the body of the cylinder insert and the cylinder insert is provided with a key that has a head, shoulder and blade. The key is positioned in the insert control element. The head and the shoulder of the key protrude over the control element of the cylinder insert. The key head has a thickness defined as the distance between its flat sides, and a width defined as the distance between the outermost points of the key head in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the control element, between its outer end and the key shoulder.

When the driving device is mounted to the cylinder insert, the toothed ring from the side opposite to the rotary housing encloses at least partially the terminal part of the cylinder insert body to provide suitable positioning of the driving device relative to the cylinder insert and comprises means to secure the toothed ring immovably relative to the cylinder lock body. The toothed ring has a central opening through which the rotation axis of the cylinder insert control element extends and the dimension of the central axis enables rotation of the key shoulder in the central hole.

The rotary housing is seated in a bearing rotationally and axially non-slidably on the toothed ring. The rotary housing comprises means for transferring driving force onto the control element of the cylinder insert.

The rotary housing of the driving device is provided with a key pocket in a form of a recess, open at the side of the toothed ring and symmetrical with regard to the rotation axis of the housing. The key pocket, in the cross-section perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary housing, has a form of a second elongated slot the longitudinal axis of which extends through the rotation axis of the rotary housing. This means that in this crosssection the slot has a length greater than its width. The length of the slot is not smaller that the width of the key head to the cylinder insert. At the same time, the length of the slot is not smaller that the thickness of the head of the key to the cylinder insert.

A plane that comprises the rotation axis of the rotary housing and the longitudinal axis of the slot perpendicular thereto divides the housing into two portions, and in one portion of the rotary housing a driving motor and a gear transmission with a terminal toothed wheel are housed, while in the other part of the rotary housing at least one electric cell is arranged constituting an electric energy source.

In the driving motor, at one side of the key pocket and in the electric cell at the other side of the key pocket there are points such that a line segment that connects a point in the driving motor to a point in the electric cell crosses the key pocket.

Preferably, the electric energy source comprises at least one electric energy source comprising at least one electric cell with a cylindrical shape.

Also preferably, the electric energy source comprises at least one electric cell with a shape similar to a cube. Further also preferably, the key pocket formed in the rotary housing along with a key positioned within the cylinder insert and the key head positioned within the key pocket constitute means for transferring the driving force onto the cylinder insert control element.

Also preferably, the rotary housing is provided with a removable outer casing in a form of a sleeve with a bottom, arranged slidably on the rotary housing and attached to the rotary housing via a radial catch, and after the outer casing is removed access to the electric cells is enabled.

More preferably, the outer casing is provided with a bottom in a form of an elastic membrane, the compliance of which enables controlling elements on the face of the rotary housing beneath the bottom.

Preferably, in the rotary housing in its longitudinal axis, above the key head, a pressure pad is positioned, pressed against the key by a spring that on the other side abuts an inner element of the rotary housing.

According to the second invention a driving device, in particular for controlling a lock equipped with a cylinder insert, enabling access to protected areas, comprises a driving assembly arranged within a rotary housing. The driving assembly includes an electric energy source, a driving motor and a gear transmission with a terminal toothed wheel cooperating with a toothed ring.

The driving device is intended to cooperate with a rotary control element arranged within the body of a cylinder insert, said body having a cylindrical part, and the cylinder insert is provided with a key that has a head, a shoulder and a blade. The key is positioned within the control element of the cylinder insert. The shoulder and the blade of the key extend beyond the cylinder insert. The key head has a thickness defined as the distance between the flat sides thereof and a width (dimension A) defined as the distance between the furthermost points of the key head in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the control element, between its outer end and the shoulder of the key.

When the driving device is mounted to a cylinder insert, the toothed ring from the side opposite to the rotary housing encloses at least partially the terminal part of the cylinder insert body to provide proper positioning of the driving device with regard to the cylinder insert, and comprises means for mounting the toothed ring immovably with regard to the cylinder insert body. The toothed ring has a central opening through which the rotation axis of the cylinder insert control eminent extends, and the size of the central opening enables rotation of the key shoulder within the central opening. The rotary housing is rotationally seated in a bearing and axially immovably on the toothed ring. The rotary housing comprises means for transmission of the driving force onto the cylinder insert control element.

Through the central opening in the toothed ring a first slot extends that in its crosssection transverse with regard to the rotary housing rotation axis has an elongated shape and this means that in this cross-section the slot has a length that is greater than its width.

The rotary housing of the driving device is equipped with a key pocket opened from the side of the toothed ring and having a form of a cavity symmetrical with regard to the rotary housing rotation axis. The key pocket, in its cross-section transverse to the rotary housing rotation axis, has a form of an elongated second slot the longitudinal axis of which extends through the rotary housing rotation axis . This means that in this crosssection the second slot has a length greater than its width. The length of the first slot and the length of the second slot are not smaller than the width A of the key head for the cylinder insert, and the length of the first slot and the length of the second slot are greater than the diameter of a circle inscribed in the central opening of the toothed ring. At the same time the width of the first slot and the width of the second slot are not smaller than the thickness of the key head, and are smaller than the diameter of a circle inscribed in the central opening of the toothed ring.

Preferably, the central opening in the toothed ring has an round shape, and the length of the first slot is greater than the diameter of the central opening, and the width of the first slot, at least close to the central opening, is smaller than the diameter of the central opening.

Further also preferably, a plane comprising the rotary housing rotation axis and the longitudinal axis of the slot perpendicular thereto divides the rotary housing into two portions, wherein in one portion of the rotary housing two cylindrically shaped electric cells are arranged, and in the other portion of the rotary housing a driving motor, a gear transmission with a terminal toothed wheel, and one cylindrically shaped electric cell are arranged, where the three cylindrical electric cells constitute the source of electric energy. The diameter of the driving motor of a substantially cylindrical shape and the diameters of the cylindrical electric cells are approximately equal and moreover the axis of the driving motor and the axes of the cylindrical electric cells are positioned parallel with regard to the rotary housing rotation axis at approximately equal distances from the axis and at approximately equal distances from the key pocket. Also preferably, the rotary housing rotation axis defined in the rotary housing along with the key inserted into the cylinder insert and with the key head positioned within the key pocket constitute means for transferring the driving force onto the control element of the cylinder insert.

Preferably furthermore, in the rotary housing in its longitudinal axis above the key head a pressure pad is positioned that is slidable along the longitudinal axis of the rotary housing and being pressed against the key by a spring that on the other side abuts an inner element of the rotary housing.

Preferably, the driving device is secured via the toothed ring solely to the body of the lock cylinder insert.

Also preferably, the housing is seated in a bearing rotationally and axially immovably solely on the toothed ring.

Also preferably, the rotary housing is seated in a bearing on the toothed ring so that when the driving device is mounted to the cylinder insert the rotary housing rotation axis coincides the rotation axis of the control element of the cylinder insert.

Also preferably, when the driving device is mounted to the cylinder insert the longitudinal axis of the first slot is perpendicular to the axis of the cross -section of the cylinder insert.

Further preferably, the driving device is provided with a removable outer casing in a form of a sleeve with a bottom, arranged slidably on the rotary housing and attached to the rotary housing via a radial catch, wherein after the outer casing is removed access to the electric cells is enabled.

Preferably, when the outer casing is provided with a bottom in a form of an elastic membrane, the compliance of which enables controlling elements arranged on the face of the rotary housing beneath the bottom, such as for example a microswitch.

According to the third invention, a rotary housing of a driving device, in particular for controlling a lock equipped with a cylinder insert, enabling access to protected areas, comprises a driving assembly accommodated within the rotary housing. The driving assembly encompasses an electric energy source, a driving motor and a gear transmission with a terminal toothed wheel cooperating with a toothed ring.

The rotary housing is intended to cooperate with a rotary control element arranged within the cylinder insert. The cylinder insert is provided with a key inserted into the control element. The key has a head, a shoulder and a blade. The head and the shoulder of the key protrude beyond the control element of the cylinder insert. The key head has a thickness defined as the distance between its flat sides and a width (dimension A) defined as the distance between the furthermost points of the key head between its outer end and the key shoulder.

The rotary housing is seated in a bearing rotationally and axially immovably on the toothed ring. After the rotary housing of the driving device is mounted to the cylinder insert the toothed ring, from the side opposite to the rotary housing, encloses at least partially the terminal part of the body of the cylinder insert. The toothed ring comprises means for securing the toothed ring immovably with regard to the body of the cylinder insert. The toothed ring also has a central opening through which the rotation axis of the control element of the cylinder insert extends, and the size of the central opening enables rotation of the key shoulder within the central opening. The rotary housing comprises means for transferring the driving force onto the control element of the cylinder insert.

The rotary housing, from the side of the toothed ring, is provided with a key pocket in a form of a recess, symmetrical with regard to the rotary housing rotation axis. The key pocket, in its cross-section transverse to the rotary housing rotation axis, has a form of an elongated second slot, the longitudinal axis of which extends through rotary housing rotation axis. This means that in this cross-section the second slot has a length greater than its width. The length of the second slot is not smaller than the width A of the head of the key for the cylinder insert, and the width of the second slot is not smaller than the thickness of the head of the key for the cylinder insert.

A plane comprising rotary housing rotation axis and the longitudinal axis of the second slot perpendicular thereto divides the rotary housing into two portions. In one portion of the rotary housing two cylindrically shaped electric cells are arranged, and in the other portion of the rotary housing a driving motor, a gear transmission with a terminal toothed wheel, and one cylindrically shaped electric cell are positioned, and the three cylindrically shaped electric cells constitute the source of electric energy. The axis of the driving motor and the axes of the cylindrical electric cells are positioned parallel with regard to the rotary housing rotation axis at approximately equal distances from the axis and at approximately equal distances from the key pocket.

Preferably, the diameter of the driving motor being of a substantially cylindrical shape and the diameters of the cylindrical electric cells are approximately equal. Also preferably, the key pocket defined in the rotary housing along with the key inserted into the cylinder insert and the key head positioned within the key pocket constitute means for transferring the driving force onto the control element of the cylinder insert.

Further also preferably, the rotary housing is provided with a removable outer casing in a form of a sleeve with a bottom, arranged slidably on the rotary housing and attached to the rotary housing via a radial catch, wherein after the outer casing is removed access to the electric cells is enabled.

Also preferably, when the outer casing is provided with a bottom in a form of an elastic membrane, the compliance of which enables controlling elements on the face of the rotary housing beneath the bottom.

According to the fourth invention, a toothed ring of a driving device with a rotary housing, in particular for controlling a lock, enabling access to protected areas, is intended to cooperate with the cylinder insert having a body with a cylindrical part. The cylinder insert cooperates with a key having a head, a shoulder and a blade, where the head is at least twice as wide as the shoulder. The key head has a thickness defined as the distance between its flat sides and a width (dimension A) defined as the distance between the furthermost points of the key head between its outer end and the shoulder of the key.

After the key is inserted into the cylinder insert the head and the holder of the key protrude beyond the control element of the cylinder insert. The toothed ring, at the side opposite to the rotary housing, comprises means for securing the toothed ring immovably with regard to the body of the cylinder insert. The toothed ring has a central opening through which the rotation axis of the control element of the cylinder insert extends, and the size of the central opening enables rotation of the key shoulder within the central opening. The rotary housing is seated in a bearing rotationally and axially immovably on the toothed ring and it comprises means for transferring the driving force onto the control element of the cylinder insert.

Through the central opening in the toothed ring a first slot extends that has an elongated shape in its cross-section transverse to the rotary housing rotation axis, and thus to the longitudinal axis of the toothed ring. This means that in this cross -section the first slot has a length greater than its width. The longitudinal axis of the first slot extends through the rotary housing rotation axis and is perpendicular thereto. The length of the first slot is smaller than the width A of the head of the key for the cylinder insert. At the same time, the width of the first slot is not smaller than the thickness of the key head. The diameter of a circle inscribed in the central opening of the toothed ring is greater than the width of the key shoulder and is smaller than the length of the first slot as well as greater than the width of the first slot.

Preferably, the central opening in the toothed ring has a round shape which at least partially reflects the shape of the cylindrical part of the body of the cylinder insert, and the length of the first slot is greater than the diameter of the central opening and the width of the first slot, at the point of the first slot crossing the central opening, is smaller than the diameter of the central opening.

Also preferably, on the toothed ring a rotary housing is seated in a bearing rotationally and axially immovably.

The objects of the inventions are shown in embodiments in the drawings where : fig. 1 shows a driving device for closing and opening a lock, in an exploded perspective view at the side of the cylinder insert of the lock, with a broken out portion showing a control element of the cylinder insert; fig. 2 shows a driving device for closing an opening a lock, mounted on an insert, in a longitudinal section along the longitudinal axis; fig. 3 shows a rotary housing with an outer casing removed, in a perspective view, with a section of the rotary housing; fig. 4 shows a rotary housing in another view with an outer casing removed and a partial section of the rotary housing; fig. 5 shows a rotary housing in a cross-section along the line B-B of fig. 2; fig. 6 shows a rotary housing with a removable outer casing, in a perspective view, with a section of the rotary housing; fig. 7 shows a rotary housing in another view with an outer casing partially removed, and a partial section of the rotary housing; a fig. 8 shows a rotary housing in a cross-section along the line B-B of fig. 2; fig. 9 shows a driving device for closing and opening a lock in another embodiment in a cross-section along the line B-B of fig. 2; fig. 10 shows a driving device for closing and opening a lock without a casing of the rotary housing, in a side perspective view; fig. 11 shows a driving device for closing and opening a lock in a side perspective view partially in cross-section with one cell removed to illustrate the gear transmission; fig. 12 shows a driving device for closing and opening a lock in a perspective view from the side of the toothed ring; fig. 13 shows the toothed ring in a perspective view at the side of the cylinder insert; fig. 14 shows the toothed ring in a perspective view at the side of the rotary housing; fig. 15 shows the toothed ring in a schematic view to illustrate openings and mounting screws; fig. 16 shows the toothed ring in a cross-section through a mounting hole; fig. 17 shows the toothed ring with a two-part construction, in a cross-section through a mounting hole; and fig. 18 shows a conventional key for a cylinder insert, All the reference marks in the drawings refer to each of the three inventions disclosed in the specification.

In the embodiment of the first invention shown in fig. 1 and in fig. 2 a lock comprises a conventional profiled cylinder insert 2 mounted for example in a mortise lock in a door leaf, and a cylinder insert 2 of the lock enabling access to protected areas has a body 6 in which a control element 8 is attached rotationally (as seen in fig. 1 and fig. 2) to the cylinder insert 2 of the lock. The control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2 of the lock may rotate within the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2 of the lock, but cannot move with regard thereto along the longitudinal axis of the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2 of the lock. As shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2, the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2 has a cylindrical part 61 in which the control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2 of the lock is accommodated. Within the body 6 and the control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2 there are also arranged coding elements of the insert to cooperate with a key 15 inserted into the cylinder insert 2 of the lock. The key 15 is provided with a head 151 intended to be grasped when rotating the key 15 within the insert 2 of the lock when it is being opened. The head 151 of the key 15 has a thickness defined as the distance between its flat sides and a width defined as the distance between the furthermost points of the head 151 of the key 15 between its outer end and the shoulder 152 of the key 15, as shown in fig. 2 (dimension A).

As shown in fig. 1, fig. 2, fig. 3, fig. 4, fig. 5, fig. 6, fig. 7, and fig. 8, in embodiments of the first invention, a driving device 1, in particular for closing and opening of a cylinder insert 2 of a lock, comprises a rotary housing 3 in which a driving assembly is arranged.

The driving assembly comprises, in the first embodiment of the first invention shown in fig. 3, fig. 4, and fig. 5, two electric cells 34 having a cylindrical shape, a driving motor 32 and a gear transmission 33 with a terminal toothed wheel 4 (seen in fig. 1), wherein the toothed wheel 4, being the terminal element of the gear transmission 33 of the driving assembly, cooperates with a toothed ring 5 (seen in fig. 1 and fig. 2), having an internal toothing 9 (as shown in fig. 2) so that during rotation when operating the driving motor 32, the terminal toothed wheel 4 rolls upon the internal toothing 9 of the toothed ring 5. The electric energy source, as shown in fig. 3 and fig. 5, is constituted by two cylindrical electric cells, and these may be both primary and secondary cells.

In a second embodiment of the first invention shown in fig. 6, fig. 7 and fig. 8, a driving assembly comprises one electric cell 34 having a shape similar to a rectangular prism (for example, so called prismatic cell or a pouch-type cell). A toothed ring 5 is seated immovably with regard to the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2, as shown in fig. 2, and the rotary housing 3 is seated in a bearing rotationally and axially immovably solely on the toothed ring 5, wherein the rotary housing 3 comprises means for transferring the driving force onto the control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2. Of course, other manners for securing the toothed ring immovably with regard to of the cylinder insert 2 are possible.

As shown in the embodiment of the first invention in fig. 2, the rotary housing 3 is seated in a bearing on the toothed ring 5 so that when the driving device 1 is mounted to the cylinder insert 2 the rotation axis of the rotary housing 3 coincides the rotation axis of the control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2.

As shown in the embodiments of the first invention in fig. 1, fig. 2, fig. 3, fig. 4, fig. 5, fig. 6, fig. 7, and fig. 8, the rotary housing 3, at the side of the toothed ring 5, is provided with a key pocket 11 which is constituted by an opened, at the side of the toothed ring 5, recess in the rotary housing 3, symmetrical with regard to the rotation axis of the rotary housing 3, and having in its cross-section a form of a second elongated slot 12 (shown in fig. 5 and fig. 8), having substantially a shape of an elongated rectangle the longitudinal axis of which extends through rotation axis of the rotary housing 3. At the same time the length of the second slot 12 in the rotary housing 3 is not smaller than the width A of the head 151 of the key 15 for the cylinder insert 2, and the width of the second slot 12 in the rotary housing 2 is not smaller than the thickness of the head 151 of the key 15 for the cylinder insert 2. Such length and width of the second width 12 determine the possibility of inserting the head 151 of the key 15 into the key pocket 11. The depth of the key pocket 11, obviously, is greater than the length of the head 151 along with the shoulder 152 of the key 15 protruding from the cylinder insert 2.

To ensure silent operation of the driving device 1, preferably, the width of the second slot 12 is solely slightly greater than the thickness of the head 151 of the key 15, to limit the idle angular movement of the housing 3 relative to the head 151 of the key 15 when operation of the driving device 1 is initiated.

As shown in the first embodiment of the first invention in fig. 3, fig. 4, and fig. 5, a plane comprising rotation axis of the rotary housing 3 and the longitudinal axis of the second slot perpendicular thereto 12 divides the rotary housing 3 into two portions, wherein in one portion of the rotary housing 3, positioned at one side of the plane that divides the housing into two portions, a driving motor 32 is positioned and a gear transmission 33 (shown in fig. 4 and fig. 5). In the other portion of the rotary housing 3, positioned at the other side of the plane that divides the rotary housing into two portions, in the view shown in fig. 3 and fig. 5 two electric cells 34 of a cylindrical shape are arranged.

A shown in the second embodiment of the first invention shown in fig. 6, fig. 7, and fig. 8, a plane comprising the rotation axis of the rotary housing 3 and the longitudinal axis of the second slot perpendicular thereto 12 divides the rotary housing 3 into two portions, wherein in one portion of the rotary housing 3, positioned at one side of the plane that divides the housing into two portions, a driving motor 32 is arranged and a toothed wheel 33 (shown in fig. 7 and fig. 8). In the other part of the rotary housing 3, positioned at the other side of the plane that divides the rotary housing into two portions, in the view shown in fig. 6, fig. 7, and fig. 8, one electric cell 34 having a shape similar to a rectangular prism is arranged.

Of course, it is possible to arrange the elements of the driving assembly differently, with the driving motor 32 and the gear transmission 33 and electric cells 34 at both sides of the key pocket 11 in the rotary housing 3, but it is important to provide points in the driving motor 32 at one side of the key pocket 11 (at which also the gear transmission is positioned) and in any electric cell 34 at the other side of the key pocket 11 such that a line section that connects the point on the driving motor 32 and the point on the electric cell 34 crosses the key pocket 11.

As shown in the first embodiment of the first invention in fig. 3, fig. 4, and fig. 5 and in the second embodiment of the first invention in fig. 6, fig. 7, and fig. 8, in each of these embodiments of the invention, both in any cylindrical electric cell 34 of the first embodiment of the first invention as well as in the electric cell 34 having a shape similar to a rectangular prism of the second embodiment of the first invention there exist several points such that their connection of numerous other points that can be isolated in the driving motor 32 form a line section (in the geometrical meaning) that crosses the key pocket 11 in the rotary housing, 3 and this means that these elements are positioned at the opposite sides of the key pocket 11 in the rotary housing 3.

It is also obvious that in order to fulfil this condition it is sufficient to arrange one electric cell 34 at the other side of the key pocket 11 with regard to the position of the driving motor 32 and the gear transmission 33.

The key pocket 11 defined in the rotary housing 3 along with the key 15 inserted into the cylinder lock 2 and the head 151 of the key 15 positioned within the key pocket 11 constitute means for transferring the driving force onto the control element 8. The width of the second slot 12, and thus the width of the key pocket 11 in the rotary housing 3 relative to the thickness of the head 151 of the key 15 causes during operation of the driving device 1 that the rotary housing 3 when rotating on the toothed ring 5 seated immovably with regard to the cylinder insert 2 of the lock, draws the head 151 of the key 15 along and rotates the key 15 seated in the control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2.

As shown in the embodiment of the first invention in fig. 1, fig. 2, fig. 4, fig. 5, fig. 7, and fig. 8, a driving device 1 is provided with a removable outer casing 301 in a form of a sleeve 302. The sleeve has a bottom 303 and is arranged slidably on the rotary housing 3 and attached to the rotary housing via a radial catch 304. When the outer casing 301 is removed access to the electric cells 34 is enabled for the purpose of replacement or recharging. The outer casing 301 is provided with a bottom 303 in a form of an elastic membrane the compliance of which enables pressing a microswitch 305 (shown in fig. 2) positioned on the face of the rotary housing 3 beneath the bottom 303 of the outer casing 301, on a board 40 constituting the electronic unit to control the driving device 1.

Of course, in other embodiments, the driving device may be provided with an outer casing 301 with a rigid bottom 303 in which a slidable button is arranged that enables pressing a microswitch, and a USB socket opening for charging secondary electric cells 34 that constitute the electric energy source.

As shown in fig. 2, in the rotary housing 3 in its longitudinal axis, over the head 151 of the key 15, a pressure pad 13 is positioned, pressed against the key 15 by a spring that on the other side abuts an inner element of the rotary housing 3. The pressure pad is capable to move along the longitudinal axis of the rotary housing 3, and the function of the pressure pad is to eliminate any possible play in the decoding arrangement of the cylinder insert 2.

In the embodiment of the second invention illustrated in fig. 1 and fig. 2, a lock comprises a conventional profiled cylinder insert 2 mounted for example in a mortise lock in a door leaf, wherein the cylinder lock 2 of the lock enabling access to protected areas has a body 6 in which a control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2 is rotationally seated. The control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2 may rotate within the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2, but it cannot move with regard thereto along the longitudinal axis of the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2. As shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2, the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2 has a cylindrical part 61 in which the control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2 is arranged. Within the body 6 and the control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2 also encoding elements of the cylinder insert 2 are arranged that cooperate with a key 15 inserted into the cylinder insert 2. The key 15 is provided with a head 151 used to be grasped during rotation of the key 15 within the cylinder lock 2 while opening the lock. As shown in fig. 18, the kay also has a blade 153 inserted into the control element of the cylinder insert 2 to decode the interlocking in the cylinder insert 2, and a shoulder 152 that connects the blade 153 and the head 151. The head 151 of the key 15 has a thickness defined as the distance between its flat sides and a width defined as the distance between the furthermost points of the head 151 of the key 15 between its outer end and the shoulder 152 of the key 15, as shown in fig. 18 (dimension A).

The head 151 of the key 15 used for grabbing the key 15 has a considerably greater width A than the shoulder 152 of the key 15. It is required for applying a suitable torque that has to be transferred by the person opening the lock onto the elements of the lock during opening the lock with a key 15. Keys for cylinder locks are constructed such that the shoulder 152 of the key 15 is narrower than the diameter of the cylindrical part 61 of the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2 to prevent the shoulder 152 of the key 15 from interfering with the opening for the cylinder insert 2 in the shielding of the cylinder insert 2. Therefore the width of the head 151 of the key 15 is also much greater than the diameter of the cylindrical part 61 f the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2 of the lock.

As shown in fig. 1, fig. 2, in the embodiments of the second invention, a driving device 1, in particular for closing and opening of the cylinder insert 2 of the lock, comprises a rotary housing 3 in which a driving assembly is positioned. The driving assembly comprises, in the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 9, fig. 10, and fig. 11, electric cells 34 having a cylindrical shape, a driving motor 32 and a gear transmission 33 with a terminal toothed wheel 4 (shown in fig. 1), wherein the toothed wheel 4 being the terminal element of the gear transmission of the driving assembly cooperates with the toothed ring 5 having an internal toothing 9 (as shown in fig. 2 fig. 14, fig. 15, fig. 16, and fig. 17) so that when rotating during operation of the driving motor 32, the terminal toothed wheel 4 rolls over the internal toothing 9 of the toothed ring 5. The electric energy source, as shown in fig. 9, fig. 10, and fig. 11, is constituted by cylindrical electric cells, and these may be both primary and secondary cells.

The toothed ring 5 is secured immovably with regard to the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2, as shown in fig. 2, and the rotary housing 3 is seated in a bearing rotationally and axially immovably solely on the toothed ring 5, wherein the rotary housing 3 comprises means for transferring the driving force onto the control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2.

As it is shown in the embodiment of the second invention in fig. 2, the rotary housing 3 is seated in a bearing on the toothed ring 5 so that when the driving device 1 is being mounted to the cylinder insert 2, the rotation axis of the rotary housing 3 coincides the rotation axis of the control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2. In the embodiment of the second and fourth inventions shown in fig. 1, fig. 12, fig. 13, fig. 14, fig. 15, fig. 16, and fig. 17, the toothed ring 5 is provided with a central opening 7 through which the rotation axis of the control element 8 extends, and the size of the central opening 7 enables free rotation of the shoulder 152 of the key 15 relative to the toothed ring 5 during operation of the device. In the embodiments of the invention shown herein the central opening has a round shape, it will be obvious hat in other embodiments if may have another shape, e.g. a hexagonal shape.

Additionally, through the central opening 7 in the toothed ring 5 a first slot 10 extends having an elongated shape in its cross-section transverse to the rotation axis of the rotary housing 3. This means that in this cross-section the first slot 10 has a length greater than its width. At the same time, the length of the first slot 10 in the toothed ring 5 is not smaller than the width A of the head 151 of the key 15 for the cylinder insert 2, and the width of the first slot 10 is not smaller than the thickness of the head 151 of the key 15. This length and width of the first slot 10 determine the possibility of introduction, through the toothed ring 5, of the head 151 of the key 15 into the key pocket 11. In the embodiments of the second and fourth inventions shown in fig. 1, fig. 12, fig. 13, fig. 14, and fig. 15, the first slot 10 has a form of a rectangle with rounded comers, but it is clear that in other embodiments of the inventions it may have another shape - for example the long sides may have a form of a wavy line. It is important for the outer dimensions of the first slot 10 to enable introduction, through the toothed ring 5, of the head 151 of the key 15.

In the embodiments of the second and fourth inventions shown in fig. 1, fig. 12, fig. 13, fig. 14, fig. 15, fig. 16, and fig. 17, the central opening 7 of the toothed ring 5 has also a function of fixing of the position of the toothed ring 5 with regard to the cylindrical part 61 of the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2 of the lock so that when the toothed ring 5 is mounted to the cylinder insert 2, the rotation axis of the rotary housing 3 coincides the rotation axis of the control element 8. In order to position the toothed ring 5 with regard to the cylindrical part 61 of the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2, the first slot 10 so shaped so that the width of the first slot 10 at the point where it passes through the central opening 7 is smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical part 61 of the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2.

In the embodiments of the second and fourth inventions shown in fig. 1, fig. 12 fig. 13, fig. 14, fig. 15, fig. 16, and fig. 17, the central opening 7 in the toothed ring 5 has a round shape, and the length of the first slot 10 is greater than the diameter of the central opening 7 and the width of the first slot 10 is smaller than the diameter of the central opening 7. At the same time the central opening 7 is so dimensioned that the shoulder 152 of the key 15 may move freely relative to the toothed ring 5 within the central opening 7 when the rotary housing 3 with the toothed wheel 7 is mounted to the cylinder insert 2 of the lock.

The toothed ring 5 at the side of the cylinder insert 2 is provided with a recess having walls and a bottom, and its walls, when the toothed ring 5 is mounted relative to the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2 at least partially encircle the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2 so that the inner surface of the walls of the recess reflects at least partially a part of the outer surface of the terminal portion of the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2 and in the bottom of the recess a central opening 7 is defined so that the axis of a rotary control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2 passes through the area of the central opening 7.

As shown in the embodiment of the fourth invention shown in fig. 13, fig. 15, and fig. 16, the toothed ring 5 has, at the side opposite to the housing 3, a mounting part 51 comprising three radially extending threaded mounting holes 52 in which mounting screws 53 are arranged, where the mounting part 51 of the toothed ring 5 at least partially encircles the terminal part of the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2. It is also clear than in other embodiments of the invention the number of the mounting holes 52 and the mounting screws 53 in the toothed ring 5 may be different, and the maimer of securing the toothed ring 5 to the cylinder insert 2 of the lock or to the door leaf in which the lock is positioned may be also different.

As shown, in the embodiment of the fourth invention of fig. 17, the toothed ring 5 may be two-part, and one element comprises means for immovable securing with regard to the cylinder insert 2 of the lock, while the other element comprises a toothing 9. Both parts in this embodiment are joined with the use of the mounting screws 54.

The rotary housing 3 according to the second and third invention, from the side of the toothed ring, 5 is provided with a key pocket 11 which is constituted by a recess in the rotary housing 3, symmetrical with regard to the rotation axis of the rotary housing 3 and having in its cross-section a form of an elongated second slot 12 having substantially a shape of an elongated rectangle the longitudinal axis of which extends through rotation axis of the rotary housing 3. At the same time the length of the second slot 12 in the rotary housing 3 is not smaller than the width A of the head 151 of the key 15 for the cylinder insert 2, and the width of the second slot 12 in the rotary housing 3 is not smaller than the thickness of the head 151 of the key 15 for the cylinder insert 2. This length and width of the second slot 12 determine the possibility of introduction of the head 151 of the key 15 into the key pocket 11. At the same time, the length of the first slot 10 and the second slot 12 are greater than the diameter of the cylindrical part 61 of the body 6 of the cylinder insert 2, and thus the diameter of a circle inscribed in the central opening 7. Of course, the depth of the pocket 11 is greater than the length of the head 151 along with the shoulder 152 of the key 15 from its outer end of the blade 153.

The first slot 10 in the toothed ring 5 is used solely when the driving device 1 is being secured to the cylinder insert 2 of the lock. During such securing it is important for the first slot 10 in the toothed ring 5 to be set while rotating with regard to the second slot 12 that defines the key pocket 11 so that to make it possible to introduce the head 151 of the key 15 through the first slot 10 into the key pocket 11. The first slot 10 and the second slot 12 are then aligned.

After the head 151 of the key 15 is introduced through the toothed ring 5 and the driving device 1 is attached to the cylinder insert 2 of the lock, the key may rotate freely along with the rotary housing 3 with regard to the toothed ring 5 within the central opening 7, because the shoulder 152 of the key 15 has smaller dimensions than the diameter of the central opening 7, and the head 151 of the key 15 is outside the area of the toothed ring 5 within the key pocket 11. As a result the central opening 7 may have much smaller dimension than the required length of the first slot 10, and therefore this construction in practice does not weaken the toothed ring 5 while providing simple and intuitive way for mounting the driving device 1. The solution proposed in the application also enables positioning of the toothed ring 5 with regard to the cylindrical part 61 of the cylinder insert 2, because due to the use of the first slot 10 the size of the circle inscribed in the central opening 7 may correspond to the diameter of the cylindrical part 61 of the cylinder insert 2 and at the same time it can be considerably smaller than the size of the opening corresponding to the width A of the head 151 of the key 15, required for passing the head 151 of the key 15 to the other side of the toothed ring 5.

In order to ensure silent operation of the driving device 1, preferably, the width of the second slot 12 is only slightly greater than the thickness of the head 151 of the key 15 to limit idle angular movement of the rotary housing 3 with regard to the head 151 of the key 15 when operation of the driving device 1 is initiated.

As shown in the embodiment of the third invention in fig. 9 and fig. 11, a plane comprising the rotation axis of the rotary housing 3 and the longitudinal axis of the second slot perpendicular thereto 12 divides the rotary housing 3 into two portions, wherein in one portion of the rotary housing 3, positioned at one side of the plane that divides the rotary housing 3 into two portions, a driving motor 32 and a gear transmission 33 (shown in fig. 11) with a terminal toothed wheel 4 and one electric cell 34 having a cylindrical shape (shown in fig 9) are arranged. In the other portion of the housing 3, positioned at the other side of the plane that divides the rotary housing into two portions, two electric cells 34 having a cylindrical shape are arranged. These two electric cells 34 in one portion of the rotary housing 3 and one electric cell 34 in the other portion constitute electric energy source 31.

The axis of the driving motor 32 and the axes of the cylindrical electric cells 34, constituting the electric energy source 31 are arranged in parallel with regard to the rotation axis of the rotary housing 3 at approximately equal distances from the axis, and furthermore the diameter of the driving motor 32 having substantially a cylindrical shape and the diameters of the cylindrical electric cells 34 are approximately equal and this provides compactness of the driving device 1.

The key pocket 11 defined in the rotary housing 3 along with the key 15 inserted into the cylinder insert 2 and the head 151 of the key 15 positioned within the key pocket 11, constitute means for transferring the driving force onto the control element 8. The width of the second slot 12, and thus the width of the key pocket 11 in the rotary housing 3 with relation to the thickness of the head 151 of the key 15 causes that during operation of the driving device 1 the rotary housing 3 rotating on the toothed ring 5 seated immovably with regard to the cylinder insert 2 of the lock, draws along the head 151 of the key 15 and rotates the shoulder 152 and the blade 153 of the key 15 seated in the control element 8 of the cylinder insert 2.