EP0633375A1 - Magnetically controlled locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a magnetically controlled locking apparatus, consisting of a key and of a cylinder (barrel), the said cylinder having a longitudinal axis and including a stator and a rotor defining between them an interface. The rotor can be made to rotate by the key about the said longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The apparatus comprises magnets provided in the region of the key which interact with other magnets which can move within the cylinder. According to the invention, the magnets of the key and of the cylinder are gripped within sheaths made of ferromagnetic metal. What is more, the magnets of the cylinder are designed to slide in the region of the interface, in holes formed in the stator and/or in holes formed in the rotor, so as to lock the rotation of the said rotor. The magnets of the cylinder and those of the key are located with the same geometric distribution and are magnetically identical in pairs. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a magnetic control locking device; more precisely, it relates to a barrel and key locking device in which magnets provided at the level of the key cooperate with other movable magnets in the barrel.

It is known that a conventional barrel locking device is generally installed in the amount of the door to be locked, that the barrel consists of a fixed stator and a rotor which can be rotated by a key around the axis of the barrel, that the different positions of the rotor with respect to the stator - controlled by the key - correspond to the locked or unlocked states of the device, and that the rotor is equipped with a mechanical member actuating the locking or unlocking system proper Door.

We also know that the "combination" characteristic of the key can be mechanical: this is the most frequent case where the "code" is obtained by more or less complex cuts; but this code can also be magnetic. Such devices are already known, for example by the description of French patent N ° 2,541,345: in this patent, the barrel rotor is pierced with radial openings through which parts tilting can overlap the rotor-stator interface for block or unblock the device; the tilting of these parts is obtained by the mutual actions of small magnets arranged transversely on the key and on said parts.

However, the construction and assembly of these systems is often complicated, and therefore fragile and of high cost.

On the other hand, the risks of magnetic interaction force the magnets to be moved away from one another and therefore reduce the number and therefore the number of possible combinations for the same size of key and barrel.

The object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic control locking device which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks by reducing the influence of mutual magnetic interactions between magnets.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic control locking device which makes it possible to increase the precision of the coding in order to avoid any risk of infringement.

In addition, the device according to the invention provides numerous advantages: it allows blocking and unblocking on both sides of the door, that is to say both from the inside and from the outside; on the other hand, the machining and assembly of these various elements are simple - and therefore can be expensive - because it makes it possible to perform all the operations, in particular, parallel to the axis of the barrel; the number of codes, that is to say of possible combinations of the magnets and of their implementation, is considerable (several hundreds of millions); finally, the device is waterproof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear during the description which follows which is given only for information and which is not intended to limit it.

According to the present invention, the magnetic control locking device, consisting of a key and a barrel, said barrel having a longitudinal axis and comprising a stator and a rotor defining between them an interface, said rotor being able to be rotated by the key around said longitudinal axis of the barrel, said device comprising magnets provided at the level of the key cooperating with other movable magnets in the barrel, is characterized in that on the one hand said magnets of the key and said magnets of the barrel are enclosed in ferromagnetic metal sockets and, on the other hand, said barrel magnets are provided sliding at the interface, in holes made in the stator and / or in holes made in the rotor, so as to lock the rotation of said rotor, said barrel magnets and those of the key being arranged with the same geometric distribution and being magnetically identical two by two.

The invention will be better understood if reference is made to the following description and to the accompanying drawings which form an integral part thereof.

Figure 1 is a sectional view in a plane perpendicular to that of the door, showing a particular embodiment of the locking device.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view according to FIG. 1 in a plane parallel to that of the door according to FIG. 1.

Figures 3a and 3b are diagrams illustrating the role of the sockets.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the key.

FIG. 5 is a partial section view of the barrel according to the particular embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Figures 6 to 10 are simplified front views of the particular embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, which more particularly illustrate the relative position of the stator and the rotor in different cases.

Figure 11 shows, in a radial section a second particular embodiment of the locking device.

Figure 12 shows, in a side section, details of an embodiment of a part of the locking device shown in Figure 11 above.

As seen in Figures 1 and 11, the magnetic control locking device according to the invention consists of a key 14,114 and a barrel 1,101. This barrel has a longitudinal axis 40,140 and comprises a stator 11,111 and a rotor 12,112 which define between them an interface 41,141.

The rotor 12,112 can be rotated by the key 14,114 around the longitudinal axis 40,140 of the barrel. By turning, the locked rotor unlocks the opening and closing device of the element in which the device according to the invention is installed.

On the other hand, the latter also includes magnets 16,116 provided at the key 14,114 which cooperate with other magnets 21,121 movable in the barrel 1,101.

According to the invention, the magnets 16,116 of the key and the magnets 21,121 of the barrel are enclosed in sockets 22,122 made of ferro-magnetic metal whose role is developed below. They are in particular capable of concentrating the magnetic flux lines.

On the other hand, to allow the rotation of the rotor 12,112 to be locked, the magnets 21,121 of the barrel are slidably provided at the interface 41,141. They are movable in holes 20,120 made in the stator 11,111 and / or in holes 26,126 made in the rotor 12,112.

Thus, when these mobile elements overlap the interface 41, 141, they prevent any rotational movement around the axis of the barrel and thus lock the device. On the other hand, when they are placed on one side or the other of said interface, the rotation is free and the device is unlocked.

Still according to the invention, the magnets 21, 121 and 16, 116 of the barrel and of the key are arranged with the same geometric distribution and are magnetically identical two by two. Thus, the geometrical dimensions, the magnetic characteristics and the relative arrangements of said magnets of the barrel and of the key are strictly identical.

According to a first case, the north-south magnetic orientations of the magnets 21,121 and those of the magnets 16,116 can be identical, and in this case, they attract when they are face to face. In a second case, their north-south magnetic orientations can also be reversed, and then they repel each other when they are face to face; it is this latter arrangement which will generally be preferred since it produces more effective forces for the displacement of the mobile elements.

In addition, the hole diameters 20,120, 26,126 stator and rotor are also strictly identical and said holes are arranged in the same geometric distribution.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the key 14,114, it consists of a body of non-magnetic material, such as aluminum for example. The magnets 16,116 are placed inside this body in holes 15,115 whose diameter and geometric distribution are identical to those of the barrel 1,101. They are, for example perpendicular to the front face 10,110 of the key; the magnets 16,116 being, for example of small size and of elongated shape.

According to Figures 3a and 3b, the sockets 22,122 made of ferro-magnetic metal consist of a non-magnetic sleeve 42,142 and a cylinder head 43,143 made of ferro-magnetic material. They are thus able to concentrate the magnetic flux released by the magnets 16,116 and 21,121 in a given direction to increase the accuracy of the coding.

The two magnets are enclosed in their socket, where they are fixed for example by araldite. They are placed exactly face to face, the poles of the same name facing each other. Thanks to the 43,143 ferro-magnetic yokes, the field lines are very concentrated and rigorously symmetrical.

Thus, in the case of FIG. 3a, they produce a maximum mutual repelling force. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 3b, the two magnets are slightly offset and the effect is completely reversed: the two magnets attract each other.

This amounts to saying that the definition of the magnetic code is considerably increased by this arrangement of the present invention.

Indeed, thanks to the combination of the non-magnetic sleeve 42,142 and the ferromagnetic socket 43,143, the pole of the magnet located at the bottom of the cylinder head is brought back to the front face. We therefore go from a magnet with a single polarity to a magnet with multiple polarity, hence an increase in the requirement of identity between the magnets. 21.121 from the barrel and magnets 16.116 from the key.

This identity requirement also relates to the respective diameter, for each of the magnets of the barrel and of the key, of the cylinder head, of the sleeve and of the magnets.

On the other hand, one can also play, to increase on the precision of the coding, on the intensity of the power of magnetization of the various magnets.

Another advantage of ferromagnetic sockets 22,122 is to reduce interactions, thanks to the concentration of the flux lines, and thus make it possible to increase the number of magnets and to reach an almost unlimited number of different codes.

According to FIGS. 1 and 11, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the magnets 16,116 of the key 14,114 and the magnets 21,121 of the barrel 1,101 have magnetic axes 44,144 whose directions are parallel to the axis 40,140 of the barrel during the operations of the device.

This arrangement makes it possible to carry out all the operations parallel to the axis of the barrel, which simplifies its operation and thus facilitates the machining and the assembly of its various elements.

The holes 20,120 of the stator are, for example, provided with compression springs 24,124, capable of pushing the magnets 21,121 of the barrel 1,101 into the locked position. The holes 16,116 of the rotor 12,112 are, for example, closed on the side facing the key, either by constituting blind holes, or by means of a plate attached to the external facade of the rotor.

Still according to FIGS. 1 and 11, the ferromagnetic metal sockets 22, 122 in which the magnets are clamped, are, in particular, open on the side of the front face of the key for the magnets 16, 116 of the key, and, in particular, of the side of the bottom of the rotor for the magnets 21,121 of the barrel. Their axis is, for example, parallel to the axis of the barrel 1,101.

On the other hand, mechanical coupling means, of any known type, are provided in the external face of the bottom of the rotor 12,112 and on the front face of the key 14,114.

It can be, for example, two pins, such as 19,119 whose role is on the one hand to ensure the correct positioning of the key relative to the barrel, and on the other hand, to drive the rotor 12,112 in rotation after its release. It also makes it possible to limit the torque imposed on the device. To control and facilitate this rotation, the key 14,114 is provided, for example, with a gripping element of any known type, such as, in particular, a bar 18,118.

The operation of the device, object of the invention is as follows: when the key is presented correctly facing the barrel, that is to say the lugs 19,119 engaged in holes 27,127 formed in the external face of the bottom of the rotor, the magnets 16,116 of the key push the magnets 21,121 of the barrel against the action of the springs 24,124; these small displacements release the interface 41,141 and thus release the rotation of the rotor 12,112 which is obtained by turning the key.

In this regard, it is noted that the magnetic repulsion force must correspond to the stiffness of the springs 24,124 without which the small displacements of the magnets 21,121 are either too large or too limited and the interface 41,141 remains blocked. This feature further enhances the security of the device.

In addition, given their material and their number, the sockets 22 have a shear strength such that it is impossible to rotate the rotor with a tool capable of engaging in the key housing and in the case where the 'we would use a key having the same arrangement of the lugs but a different magnetic code, so without being able to repel the magnets 21,121, if we wanted to force the rotation of the rotor, the lugs would be sheared but not the sockets 22,122.

Finally, according to the invention, it is always possible to reduce the depth of the key housing in the device to make it impossible even to attempt to break in.

In the following paragraphs, the first embodiment is developed more particularly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The entire device is installed in the upright 2 of the door to be locked. In known manner, a handle 3 passing through the upright 2, is provided with a comb 4 which can penetrate into a keeper 5 fixed in the frame 6 of the door. The rotation of the handle around its axis, which allows the door to be opened or closed, can be locked by the barrel device in various ways: in the system shown, a slide 7 actuated by an eccentric 8 of the rotor of the barrel cooperates with a milling 9 in the handle 3.

The rotor 12 has the shape of a cylindrical cup which surrounds the stator 11. The magnets 21 of the barrel 1 are slidably mounted in said stator 11.

The sockets 22 comprise an axial appendage, such as 23, around which is mounted the compression spring 24 which bears on the rear of the stator 11. The appendages are fixed to a plate 25 parallel to the door which allows control of the device inside.

Indeed, it suffices to pull it back to make all the magnets 21 move back and thus unlock the rotor to neutralize the present device. Conversely for the commissioning of the device from the inside, it suffices to push back the plate 25 and to block it in this position by any means known to those skilled in the art.

According to the second embodiment detailed in FIG. 11, it is noted that the magnets 121 of the barrel 101 are slidably mounted in the rotor 112.

On the other hand, the orifices 127 allowing the mechanical coupling of the rotor 112 and the key 114 consist of a small return spring 150 and a piston 151, movable under the action of the spring 150 and / or the key 114. In the absence of the key, the outer face of the bottom of the rotor thus remains watertight.

Still according to this second embodiment, the barrel is provided, on the side of the key, with a groove 152 opening towards the rotor on a groove 153, the groove 152 and the groove 153 cooperating with a key 173 placed on the key 114 in order to guide the introduction of the latter then to allow its rotation to be free after unlocking.

In this second embodiment, the rotor has an axis 154 opening, on the side opposite the key, through the barrel 101 where it cooperates with a plate 155 constituting a control actuator. The connection between the axis 154 of the rotor and the plate 155 of the control actuator can be made, for example, using a key.

The control actuator has a radial light 156. During the introduction of the key 114, the control actuator is driven in translation, as will be developed later, and the light 156 is able to cooperate with locking-unlocking means, such as a bolt, which could be driven during the rotation of the rotor 112.

As regards the locking in rotation of the rotor 12,112, this is achieved by means of pistons 174 arranged between the compression springs 24,124 and the magnets 21,121. This reduces the risk of damage to said magnets or their ferromagnetic yoke.

An orifice 157, for example threaded, may be provided inside the barrel 101 in order to allow the installation of the locking device according to the invention in, in particular, doors where it is to be used.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 5 and 12, the magnetic control locking device comprises a washer 28,128, thin metal, between the rotor 12,112 and the stator 11,111. This washer has openings 31,131 in exact correspondence with the holes 20,120 of the stator and / or the holes 26,126 of the rotor. It is capable of being subjected to an angular offset around the longitudinal axis of the barrel 1,101 so as to prevent the magnets 21,121 of the said barrel from falling back into one of the holes 20,120 or 26,126 during the rotation of the rotor 12,112.

In fact, it can be seen in FIG. 4, which is a simplified sectional view, that the rotation of the key and therefore of the rotor can cause different magnets to pass in front of the stator in the same relative positions, which would have the effect of disturbing the operation of the device which would not recognize the magnetic code thus presented. The present washer makes it possible to avoid this drawback and thus to further increase the already very high number of possible codes of the device by using, for each existing combination of magnets, different angular positions of the rotor thanks to this additional part.

According to a first embodiment, detailed in FIGS. 5 to 10, the angular offset of the washer 28 is ensured in the following manner.

The metal washer comprises a central pivot 29 journalling in an axial hole 30 of the stator 11, in the bottom of which it is placed; the openings 31 of the washer being in exact correspondence with the holes 20 of the stator 11. On the other hand, this washer has a radial projection 32 formed by two peripheral cutouts 33 and 34, this projection being able to cooperate with two lugs 35 and 36 respectively integral with the stator and the rotor; these pins are arranged at an angular distance less than that of two contiguous holes of the same orbit. Finally, the axial hole 30, closed by a base 37, contains a torsion spring 38 exerting its torque between the base 37 and the pivot 29 of the washer 28.

The operation of this washer 28 is detailed with reference to Figures 6 to 10. Figure 6 is a simplified front view of the stator 11: there are four holes, such as 20 containing magnets 21 (not shown), the hole axial 30, as well as the lug 35. In FIG. 7, we see the washer 28 placed in front of the invisible stator, four holes such as 31 corresponding to the holes 20 of the stator, the radial projection 32 between the two peripheral cutouts 33 and 34, and the lug 35. FIG. 8 represents the bottom 13 of the rotor 12 placed in front of the washer 28, the four holes such as 26 corresponding to the previous ones, the lug 35 of the stator, and the lug 36 fixed in the bottom of the rotor, inner side, as well as the eccentric 8 which controls the actual locking of the lock. Figures 6, 7 and 8 show the different bodies in the rest position, that is to say, blocked device.

The sequence of opening or unlocking operations is as follows: the key 14 having been correctly inserted (the pins 19 in the holes 27), the magnets 16 of the key repel those 21 of the stator, thus releasing the rotation of the rotor 11 and the washer 28. The torsion spring 38 then rotates the washer 28 until it comes into abutment against the lug 35 of the stator; this position, shown in FIG. 9, is that of a slight angular offset between the stator and the washer which thus masks the holes 20 of the stator, preventing the magnets of the latter from returning to their initial positions, which would cause the blocking of any rotation.

From this position, the continued rotation of the key causes that of the rotor without causing that of the washer 28 which continues to mask the magnets of the stator; this key-rotor rotation stops in abutment when the unlocking is obtained, for example when the eccentric 8 has finished clearing the slide 7, by any known means. In this final state, the preceding elements have the positions shown in FIG. 10.

To close or re-lock the device, the key is turned in the opposite direction, which first causes the rotation of the rotor also in the opposite direction, until the lug 36 of the rotor comes to push the radial projection 32 of the washer 28 to return it to its initial position; then, the stator magnets pushed by the compression springs 24 pass through the holes 31 of the washer 28 and those 26 of the rotor, which has the effect of locking the latter.

With this first embodiment, it is possible to exploit a rotation of 0 to 250 degrees of the rotor, which allows to actuate several bolts.

A second embodiment, detailed in Figure 12, proposes a device according to the invention having the advantage of being provided with a rotor which can perform several turns.

To allow the angular offset, marked 171, of the washer 128, the stator 111 consists of a first fixed part 158 having a longitudinal rod 159. A second part 160 of the rotor 111 is movable in translation, marked 170, relative to the first fixed part 158.

The rod 159 is able to open out through the second movable part 160. It can thus cooperate with a stop 161, secured to the washer 128 to impart an angular offset to the latter. For this, the rod 159 and the stop 161 have, opposite, two rounded ends which slide against one another during the introduction of the key 114. The angular offset of the washer 128 is then provided just before the rotation of the rotor 112 and the magnets 121 therefore do not risk falling back into holes 120 which are not their housing.

To ensure correct guiding of the translation of the mobile part 160 of the stator relative to its fixed part 158, the mobile part 160 has guide pads 162 cooperating with orifices 163 formed in the fixed part 158.

The rod 159 opens out through the movable part 160 through a corresponding tubular orifice 164. As for the fixed part 158, it is provided with grooves 165 capable of receiving return means such as, in particular, springs 166, capable of spreading the movable part 160 of the fixed part 158 after removal of the key 114.

A tubular casing 167 allows cohesion of the entire barrel 101, namely the fixed part of the stator 158, the mobile part of the stator 160, the washer 128 and the rotor 112.

It is also noted, on the side of the barrel opposite the key, studs 167 cooperating with the control actuator 155 so as to reinforce the locking in rotation of the rotor 112.

Thus, to allow the light 156 to be released and then to be rotated, the key 114 must first be introduced and the movable part 160 of the stator moved in translation, under the action of the rotor 112 itself displaced in translation by the key 114. The control actuator is released from the studs 167 and can then be moved in rotation.

To return to the initial position, that is to say that where the openings 131 of the washer 128 and the holes 130 of the stator correspond exactly, the second part 160, movable in translation, of the stator 111 comprises a housing 168 in which is secured a return spring 169, able to return the thin washer 128 to its initial position.

As shown in Figure 12, when the rod 159 cooperates with the stop 161, the latter compresses the spring and is in a position shown in small dotted lines. After removal of the key, the return spring 169 pushes the stop 161 back into its initial position, represented by large dotted lines.

In conclusion, it can be seen that the advantages provided by the present invention are very numerous and very interesting. First, there are a considerable number of possibilities: with a 20 mm diameter cylindrical key having 14 slots for the magnets, one can obtain more than seven million combinations, with only 8 magnets; a computer program to manage all these combinations is also available.

The precision of reading the code is extremely fine thanks to the ferromagnetic sockets.

The mechanism is simple and effective allowing an easy and inexpensive industrial realization.

Any attempted break-in destroys the rotor, thereby eliminating the only means of opening the device.

The key can have any shape, it can be surrounded by an anti-magnetic cover.

Of course, a number of variants can be made to the device as just described without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, for example, we can further increase the number of possible codes by modifying the shapes of elements such as magnets (cylindrical, tubular or other), sockets, or the magnetic field in the vicinity of these elements .

Claims (13)

Magnetically controlled locking device, consisting of a key (14,114) and a barrel (1,101), said barrel (1,101) having a longitudinal axis (40,140) and comprising a stator (11,111) and a rotor (12,112) defining between them an interface (41,141), said rotor (12,112) being able to be rotated by the key (14,114) around said longitudinal axis (40,140) of the barrel, said device comprising magnets (16,116) provided at the level of the key (14,114 ) cooperating with other magnets (21,121) movable in the barrel, characterized in that, on the one hand, said magnets (16,116) of the key (14,114) and said magnets (21,121) of the barrel (1,101) are contained in sockets (22,122) of ferro-magnetic metal and that, on the other hand, said magnets (21,121) of the barrel are provided sliding at the interface (41,141), in holes (20,120) formed in the stator (11,111) and / or in holes (26,126) formed in the rotor (12,112), of so as to lock the rotation of said rotor (12,112), said magnets (21,121) of the barrel and those of the key being arranged with the same geometric distribution and being magnetically identical two by two. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ferromagnetic metal sockets (22,122) consist of a non-magnetic sleeve (42,142) and a yoke (43,143) of ferromagnetic material, capable of concentrating the following magnetic flux a given direction to increase the accuracy of coding. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said magnets (16,116) of the key (14,114) and the said magnets (21,121) of the barrel (1,101) have magnetic axes (44,144) whose directions are parallel to the axis ( 40,140) of the barrel during the operations of the device. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the holes (20,120) of the stator are provided with compression springs (24,124) on the side opposite the key (14,114), capable of repelling the magnets (21,121) of the barrel (1,101) in the locked position, while the holes (26,126) of the rotor are closed on the side facing the key (14,114). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the ferromagnetic metal sockets (22,122) in which the magnets are clamped are open on the side of the front face of the key (14,114) for the magnets (16,116) of the key, and on the side of the bottom of the rotor (12,112) for the magnets (21,121) of the barrel (1,101). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that mechanical coupling means, of any known type, are provided in the external face of the bottom of the rotor (12,112) and on the front face of the key (14,114). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a washer (28,128), between the rotor (12,112) and the stator (11,111), having openings (31,131) in exact correspondence with the holes (20,120) of the stator and / or the holes (26,126) of the rotor, said washer (28,128) being able to be subjected to an angular offset around the longitudinal axis (40,140) of the barrel so as to prevent the magnets (21,121) of said barrel from falling back into one of said holes during rotation of the rotor (12,112). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the rotor (12) has the shape of a cylindrical cup which surrounds the stator (11) and that the magnets (21) of the barrel (1) are slidably mounted in said stator ( 11). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the magnets (121) of the barrel (101) are slidably mounted in the rotor (112). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the washer (28) is placed in the bottom of the stator (11) and has a radial projection (32) capable of cooperating with two lugs (35, 36) respectively secured to the stator (11 ) and the rotor (12) at an angular distance less than that of two holes (20) contiguous. Locking device according to claim 10, characterized in that the washer (28) can rotate around a pivot which pivots in an axial hole (30) of the stator under the action of a torsion spring (38) housed in said axial hole (30). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the stator (111) consists of a first fixed part (158), having a longtidudinal rod (159), and a second part (160) movable in translation relative to to said first fixed part (158), said rod being able to open out through said second movable part so as to cooperate with a stop (161), secured to the washer (128) to impart an angular offset to the latter. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the second part (160), movable in translation, of the stator (111) comprises a housing (168) in which is secured a return spring (169), capable of bringing the washer back (128) in the position where the openings (131) of said washer (128) and the holes (120) of said stator (111) correspond exactly.

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