Abstract:
A lock assembly structure includes a lock base, an actuating component, a locking component and a lock sheet. By using the actuating component to drive the locking component to be moved with respect to the lock base and the lock sheet movable with respect to the lock base, the lock sheet may be ensured to be maintained in the closed position or be out of the closed position. Wherein, the actuating component is a hydraulic or pneumatic actuating component, thereby the sparks that may be generated by the motor actuator during operation may be avoided. The lock assembly structure further includes a blocker sheet, which is movable with respect to the lock base. When the actuating component is functioned improperly, the lock sheet may also be ensured to be maintained in the closed position or be out of the closed position by changing the position of the blocker sheet.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a lock assembly structure, and particularly to a lock assembly structure used for a valve manifold box or a gas cabinet. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    For the articles valued by people or some security considerations, various lock assembly structures are proposed to achieve specific protection effects. Moreover, based on modern management, the traditional lock assembly must be added with functions of electrical sensing and recording, so as to control the unlocking and locking of the lock assembly and record the related use conditions of the lock assembly. 
         [0005]    At present, many lock assemblies are activated through elements such as the electrical motor actuator, sensor, and controller, etc. However, for the lock assembly of the valve manifold box used to manage pipes of special gases such as combustible, flammable or combustion-supporting gases, or for the electronic lock assembly that may be exposed to an environment containing those special gases, the lock assembly that employs a motor actuator may generate sparks more easily during operation, so that the risks of causing a gas explosion or a fire may be increased. In addition, a portion of the existing devices have protection designs to avoid the leakage of the sparks generated by the motor actuator. However, the protection designs have a problem of occupying a larger volume, and also have a problem of a higher cost due to the strict demands of the scale specification of the related protection designs. Moreover, when these electronic lock assemblies have malfunctions, it is tended to cause the lock assemblies fail wholly, and the lock assemblies could not be unlocked or locked. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In order to improve the drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention proposes a lock assembly structure, which achieves the effect of an electronic lock assembly with a hydraulic or pneumatic actuating component, thereby the sparks that may be generated by the motor actuator during operation may be avoided, and the problems of safety, a larger volume and a higher cost of the motor actuator in use may be solved. 
         [0007]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, a lock assembly structure comprises a lock base, an actuating component, a locking component and a lock sheet. The actuating component is hydraulically or pneumatically driven and has a fixing piece and a moving piece. The fixing piece is secured to the lock base, and the moving piece is movably connected to the fixing piece, such that the moving piece may be moved with respect to the lock base and has a first moving position and a second moving position. The locking component is movably connected to the lock base, and when the moving piece is moved between the first moving position and the second moving position, the locking component is movably connected to the moving piece. The lock sheet is movably connected to the lock base and has a blocker sheet. The lock sheet may be moved to a closed position and an open position with respect to the lock base. In addition, when the lock sheet is in the closed position and the moving piece is in the first moving position with respect to the lock base, the locking component is interfered with the blocker sheet if the lock sheet is intended to be moved away from the closed position with respect to the lock base, thereby a motion of the lock sheet with respect to the lock base is constrained. In addition, when the lock sheet is in the closed position and the moving piece is in the second moving position with respect to the lock base, the blocker sheet is detachable from the locking component if the lock sheet is intended to be moved away from the closed position with respect to the lock base, such that the lock sheet may be moved to the open position. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the fixing piece and the moving piece of the actuating component are a cylinder and a piston rod respectively, and the moving piece is slidably connected to the fixing piece. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the lock sheet comprises a blocker sheet. The blocker sheet is movably connected to the lock sheet and may be moved to a preset position and an unlocked position with respect to the lock sheet. In addition, when the lock sheet and the blocker sheet are in the closed position and the preset position respectively and the moving piece is in the first moving position with respect to the lock base, the tongue piece locking portion is interfered with the blocker sheet if the lock sheet is intended to be moved away from the closed position with respect to the lock base, thereby a motion of the lock sheet with respect to the lock base is constrained. In addition, when the blocker sheet is in the unlocked position, the lock sheet may be out of the closed position. With the above-mentioned configurations, the blocker sheet may be operated to the unlocked position, so that the lock sheet may be out of the closed condition at any time, regardless the actuating component is functioned properly or not. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the blocker sheet may be further moved to a locked position with respect to the lock sheet. The preset position is positioned between the locked position and the unlocked position. In addition, when the lock sheet and the blocker sheet are in the closed position and the locked position respectively and the moving piece is in the second moving position with respect to the lock base, the tongue piece locking portion is interfered with the blocker sheet if the lock sheet is intended to be moved away from the closed position with respect to the lock base, thereby a motion of the lock sheet with respect to the lock base is constrained. With the above-mentioned configurations, the blocker sheet may be operated to the locked position, so that the lock sheet may be ensured to be in the closed condition, regardless the actuating component is functioned properly or not. 
         [0011]    The objectives, subject matters and properties of the present invention and the effects achieved by the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing that a lock sheet of a lock assembly is in a closed position with respect to a lock base according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing that the lock sheet of the lock assembly is in an open position with respect to the lock base according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows an explosive, perspective view of various elements of the lock assembly according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  shows a moving piece of an actuating component of the lock assembly in a first moving position and a position relation between a locking component and the actuating component according to  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  shows the moving piece of the actuating component of the lock assembly in a second moving position and the position relation between the locking component and the actuating component according to  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows one example that the locking component is locked with a blocker sheet of the lock sheet and the locking component is not moved with the lock sheet according to  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  show one example that a motion of the lock sheet is constrained by the locking component and the locking component is moved with the lock sheet according to  FIG. 4A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7A  is one example according to  FIG. 4B  and continued with  FIG. 5 , showing a corresponding position relation between the locking component and the blocker sheet of the lock sheet after a change of the position of the locking component; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7B  shows that the lock sheet may be moved to an open position with respect to the lock base according to  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 8D  are examples according to  FIG. 4B  and continued with  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , showing an act view that the lock sheet is moved from the closed position to the open position when the moving piece is in the second moving position, wherein the locking component may be pushed by the lock sheet, such that the blocker sheet is detached from the locking component; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9A  to  FIG. 9C  show that the blocker sheet may be moved to an unlocked position, a preset position and a locked position with respect to the lock sheet respectively; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  shows that the lock sheet may be out of the closed position when the blocker sheet is in the unlocked position according to  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 9A ; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  shows that when the blocker sheet is in the locked position, even if the moving piece is in the second moving position, the lock sheet may be ensured to be maintained in the closed position according to  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 9C . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the use states of a lock assembly  1  of one embodiment of the present invention are shown respectively. The lock assembly  1  has a lock base  10  and a lock sheet  20 , and the lock sheet  20  is movably connected to the lock base  10 , such that the lock sheet  20  may be moved to a closed position and an open position, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  respectively, with respect to the lock base  10 . In more detail, the lock sheet  20  is constrained in the closed position or moved into the open position through the aid of the connection relation of an actuating component  30  and a locking component  40  contained in a cover plate  100  (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). It should be noted that, in this example, the lock sheet  20  is connected to the lock base  10  through a rotary joint, but other connection manner that does not use a rotary joint is not limited. Also, it should be noted that the cover plate  100  has the effect of protecting the actuating component  30  and the locking component  40 , and is detachably secured to the lock base  10 . Thus, when the cover plate  100  is secured to the lock base  10 , the cover plate  100  may be regarded as a portion of the lock base  10 , i.e., integrated with the lock base  10 . However, in another feasible embodiment, the lock base  10  may not have the cover plate  100 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , an explosive, perspective view of the lock assembly  1  according to one embodiment in  FIG. 1  is shown. The lock base  10  may be composed of more than one element, and the lock sheet  20  has a blocker sheet  22 . The actuating component  30  comprises a fixing piece  32  and a moving piece  34 . The fixing piece  32  is secured to the lock base  10 , and the moving piece  34  is movably connected to the fixing piece  32 , such that the moving piece  34  may be moved with respect to the lock base  10  and has a first moving position (as shown in  FIG. 4A ) and a second moving position (as shown in  FIG. 4B ). Additionally, the moving piece  34  is hydraulically or pneumatically driven by the actuating component  30  to be moved with respect to the fixing piece  32 . In more detail, the actuating component  30  further comprises a fluid pipe  36  and a pipe joint  38 , and the pipe joint  38  is connected between the fixing piece  32  and the fluid pipe  36 . In addition, the actuating component  30  further comprises a valve element (not shown) that may be controlled to be opened or closed and be connected to the fluid pipe  36 . By controlling the opening or closing of the valve element, the moving piece  34  may be actuated to be moved with respect to the fixing piece  32 . Preferably, the valve element is disposed at one end of the fluid pipe  36 , e.g., at the source of the fluid pipe  36 . Preferably, the opening and closing of the valve element are controlled through the sensing control of an electronic identification device (for example, a RFID sensor) and a virtual key (for example, a RFID TAG), and the related controlling means is not limited to the above example. Preferably, the valve element is disposed at one side of the lock assembly  1 . It should be noted that, the figures of the present invention only illustratively show that the moving piece  34  is a piston rod, the fixing piece  32  is a cylinder, and the moving piece  34  is slidably connected to the fixing piece  32 , but the movable connecting manner between the moving piece  34  and the fixing piece  32  is not limited to this. 
         [0027]    On the basis of  FIG. 3 , as further shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B , the moving piece  34  is moved to the first moving position and the second moving position respectively, and the connection and movement relation between the locking component  40  and the moving piece  34  is shown as well. Moreover, according to the examples shown in the figures of the present invention, the locking component  40  comprises an intermediate piece  42  and a tongue piece  44 . The intermediate piece  42  is movably connected to the lock base  10 , and has a first contacting portion  42   a  and a second contacting portion  42   b.  The tongue piece  44  is movably connected to the lock base  10 , and has a tongue piece contacting portion  44   a  and a tongue piece locking portion  44   b.  When the moving piece  34  is moved to the first moving position, the first contacting portion  42   a  and the moving piece  34  are movably connected, and with the structural and spatial configurations of the second contacting portion  42   b  and the tongue piece contacting portion  44   a,  the tongue piece  44  has a first tongue piece state. When the moving piece  34  is moved to the second moving position, the first contacting portion  42   a  and the moving piece  34  are movably connected, and with the structural and spatial configurations of the second contacting portion  42   b  and the tongue piece contacting portion  44   a,  the tongue piece  44  has a second tongue piece state. In one embodiment, as shown in the illustrative examples shown in the figures of the present invention, the slidable and rotatable connection between the moving piece  34  and the first contacting portion  42   a  of the intermediate piece  42  is achieved through a cam pair/joint. However, it should be noted that, based on the related knowledge background of the mechanism design, the movable connection between the moving piece  34  and the intermediate piece  42  is not limited to the means of the cam pair/joint. 
         [0028]    Also, it should be noted that, in one example (not shown), the locking component  40  only comprises a tongue piece  44 , and with the geometric configuration between the actuating component  30  and the tongue piece  44 , when the moving piece  34  is moved between the first moving position and the second moving position, the tongue piece  44  has the corresponding first tongue piece state and second tongue piece state. In addition, in this configuration, the composed members of the locking component  40  are minimized, so that the overall costs of production, installation or maintenance of the locking component  40  and the lock assembly  1  are reduced. It should be noted that, in another example (not shown), the locking component  40  comprises an intermediate piece  42  and a tongue piece  44 , and the intermediate piece  42  is composed of a plurality of parts (not shown). Preferably, the locking component  40  further comprises at least one first elastic element (not shown). The at least one first elastic element is connected between the locking component  40  and the lock base  10 , so that when the moving piece  34  is moved between the first moving position and the second moving position, the first elastic element has a first energy conversion between the potential energy and the kinetic energy, thereby the tongue piece  44  has a tendency, caused by the first elastic element, to be toward a specific motion orientation. In another feasible example, the first elastic element is connected between the intermediate piece  42  and the tongue piece  44 . 
         [0029]    Further referring to  FIG. 5 , an example that a motion of the lock sheet  20  is constrained by the locking component  40  and the locking component  40  will not be moved with the lock sheet  20  is shown according to  FIG. 4A . At this point, the lock sheet  20  is in the closed position (referring to  FIG. 1 ), and the moving piece  34  is in the first moving position with respect to the lock base  10  (as shown in  FIG. 4A ). The locking component  40  is interfered with the blocker sheet  22  if the lock sheet  20  is intended to be moved away from the closed position with respect to the lock base  10 , thereby a motion of the lock sheet  20  with respect to the lock base  10  is constrained. In more detail, as shown in the illustrative example shown in the figure of the present invention, at this point, the tongue piece locking portion  44   b  of the tongue piece  44  of the locking component  40  is contacted and locked with the blocker sheet  22 , thereby a motion of the lock sheet  20  is constrained. Furthermore, in this configuration, the first tongue piece state means that the tongue piece  44  is fixed in a specific position, is interfered with the blocker sheet  22 , and constrains the lock sheet  20  from leaving the closed position. Furthermore, in one example, the moving position of the tongue piece  44  follows the moving piece  22 , such that the tongue piece locking portion  44   b  is fixed in a position to be contacted and locked with the blocker sheet  22 . In another example, the at least one first elastic element is connected between the tongue piece  44  and the lock base  10 , such that the tongue piece locking portion  44   b  is fixed in a position to be contacted and locked with the blocker sheet  22 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  shows an example that a motion of the lock sheet  20  is constrained by the locking component  40  and the locking component  40  will be moved with the lock sheet  20  according to  FIG. 4A , which is different from the motion relation between the locking component  40  and the lock sheet  20  in  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 6A , the lock sheet  20  is in the closed position, and the tongue piece locking portion  44   b  of the tongue piece  44  is contacted with the blocker sheet  22 . When the lock sheet  20  is moved away from the closed position with respect to the lock base  10 , i.e., from the position in  FIG. 7A  toward the position in  FIG. 6B , the tongue piece locking portion  44   b  is pushed by the blocker sheet  22 , such that the tongue piece  44  is moved. When the lock sheet  20  is moved to the position in  FIG. 6B , the tongue piece  44  can not be pushed by the blocker sheet  22  and fixed in a specific position, such that the tongue piece locking portion  44   b  of the tongue piece  44  is interfered with the blocker sheet  22 , thereby the lock sheet  20  is constrained from continuing to be moved in the direction away from the closed position with respect to the lock base  10 . In addition, in this configuration, the first tongue piece state means that the tongue piece  44  is moved with the lock sheet  20  and has a first following range. In an extreme position of the first following range (as shown in  FIG. 6B ), the tongue piece  44  is interfered with the blocker sheet  22 , and the lock sheet  20  is constrained from leaving the closed position. 
         [0031]    Further referring to  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B , the example that the locking component  40  is not moved with the lock sheet  20  in  FIG. 5  is continued, and a motion of the lock sheet  20  that is substantially not constrained by the locking component  40  is shown according to  FIG. 4B . As shown in  FIG. 7A , the lock sheet  20  is in the closed position (referring to  FIG. 1 ), and the moving piece  34  is in the second moving position with respect to the lock base  10  (as shown in  FIG. 4B ). The lock sheet  20  is movable to an open position (as shown in  FIG. 7B ) if the lock sheet  20  is intended to be moved away from the closed position with respect to the lock base  10 . That is, the lock sheet  20  may be out of the closed position. Preferably, the tongue piece  44  of the locking component  40  will not be interfered with the blocker sheet  22  if the lock sheet  20  is intended to be moved away from the closed position with respect to the lock base  10 . In addition, in this configuration, the second tongue piece state means that the tongue piece  44  is fixed in a specific position and not interfered with the blocker sheet  22 , and the lock sheet  20  may leave the closed position, i.e., the blocker sheet  22  is detached from the locking component  40 . 
         [0032]    In another example, as shown in  FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 8D ,  FIG. 8A  to  FIG. 8D  are continued with the example that the locking component  40  is moved with the lock sheet  20  in  FIG. 6A  and 
         [0033]      FIG. 6B , and a motion of the lock sheet  20  that is detachable from the locking component  40  is shown according to  FIG. 4B . As shown in  FIG. 8A , the lock sheet  20  is in the closed position (referring to  FIG. 1 ), and the moving piece  34  is in the second moving position with respect to the lock base  10  (as shown in  FIG. 4B ). When the lock sheet  20  is intended to be moved away from the closed position with respect to the lock base  10 , the tongue piece locking portion  44   b  is pushed by the blocker sheet  22 , such that the tongue piece  44  is moved (as shown in  FIG. 8B  and  FIG. 8C ). When the lock sheet  20  is moved to the position in  FIG. 8C , the tongue piece  44  is not pushed by the blocker sheet  22  any more and not interfered with the blocker sheet  22 , thereby the lock sheet  20  may leave the closed position (as shown in  FIG. 8D ). In addition, in this configuration, the second tongue piece state means that the tongue piece  44  is moved with the lock sheet  20  and has a second following range. In an extreme position of the second following range (as shown in  FIG. 8C ), the tongue piece  44  will not be interfered with the blocker sheet  22 , and the lock sheet  20  may leave the closed position, i.e., the blocker sheet  22  is detached from the locking component  40 . 
         [0034]    According to one embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 9A  to  FIG. 9C  show that the blocker sheet  22  may be moved to an unlocked position, a preset position and a locked position with respect to the lock sheet  20  respectively, and the preset position is positioned between the locked position and the unlocked position. The lock sheet  20  further comprises a transmission piece  24 , and the transmission piece  24  is movably connected between the lock sheet  20  and the blocker sheet  22 . In more detail, the transmission piece  24  has a driving portion  24   a,  and the blocker sheet  22  has a follower portion  22   a.  The driving portion  24   a  is movably connected to the follower portion  22   a,  such that a motion of the transmission piece  24  with respect to the lock sheet  20  may drive the follower portion  22   a  through the driving portion  24   a,  and thus the blocker sheet  22  may be driven to be moved to the unlocked position, the preset position or the locked position with respect to the lock sheet  20 . Moreover, it should be noted that the figures of the present invention only illustratively show that the transmission piece  24  is rotatably connected to the lock sheet  20 , the blocker sheet  22  is slidably connected to the lock sheet  20 , the driving portion  24   a  is an eccentric protrusive portion, the follower portion  22   a  is an indented portion having a particular shape, and the driving portion  24   a  and the follower portion  22   a  are connected through a cam pair/joint, such that the connection between the transmission piece  24  and the blocker sheet  22  has the above-mentioned motion relation. However, the connection manner between the transmission piece  24  and the blocker sheet  22  is not limited to this. In addition, when the blocker sheet  22  is in the preset position (as shown in  FIG. 9B ), the possible operating states of the lock assembly  1  are as mentioned above and as shown in  FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 8B . 
         [0035]    In addition, as shown in  FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 10 , when the blocker sheet  22  is in the unlocked position and the lock sheet  20  is in the closed position, even if the moving piece  34  is in the first moving position, with the retraction of the blocker sheet  22  toward the lock sheet  20  (compared to the position of the blocker sheet  22  in  FIG. 9B ), the lock sheet  20 , during moving, may not cause the blocker sheet  22  and the tongue piece  44  to be interfered with each other, such that the lock sheet  20  may leave the closed position. Thus, the problem that the lock sheet  20  may not leave the closed position when the actuating component  30  fails and the moving piece  34  is in the first moving position can be solved. That is, when the blocker sheet  22  is in the unlocked position, the lock sheet  20  may leave the closed position at any time and without any restriction. 
         [0036]    In addition, as shown in  FIG. 9C  and  FIG. 11 , when the blocker sheet  22  is in the locked position and the lock sheet  20  is in the closed position, even if the moving piece  34  is in the second moving position, with the stretch of the blocker sheet  22  away from the lock sheet  20  (compared to the position of the blocker sheet  22  in  FIG. 9B ), the lock sheet  20  that is intended to be moved away from the closed position with respect to the lock base  10  may be interfered with the tongue piece  44  and may not leave the closed position. Thus, the problem that the lock sheet  20  may not be constrained in the closed position when the actuating component  30  fails and the moving piece  34  is in the second moving position can be solved. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 9A  to  FIG. 9C  again, in one preferred embodiment, the transmission piece  24  is disposed in the lock sheet  20  in a lock core configuration. Furthermore, the transmission piece  24  has an operating portion  24   b,  and the operating portion  24   b  has a lock hole (not shown). With the insertion of a key (not shown) corresponding to the lock hole into the lock hole, the transmission piece  24  may be driven to be moved with respect to the lock sheet  20 , so that the blocker sheet  22  may be operated to be moved to the unlocked position, the preset position and the locked position with respect to the lock sheet  20 . Moreover, various feasible specific structures and configurations of the lock core, the lock hole and the key mentioned above may be implemented by those skilled in the art, and thus are omitted herein. It should be noted that it is only an illustrative example that the transmission piece  24  may be driven by the cooperation of the lock hole and the key as mentioned above, and other means by which the transmission piece  24  may be driven is not excluded. Preferably, a second elastic element  50  is connected between the lock sheet  20  and the blocker sheet  22 , so that when the blocker sheet  22  is moved with respect to the lock sheet  20 , the second elastic element  50  has a second energy conversion between the potential energy and the kinetic energy, thereby the blocker sheet  22  has a tendency, caused by the second elastic element  50 , to be toward a specific motion orientation.