Patent Description:
A known driving device for unlocking and locking a lock enabling access to protected areas has a driving assembly to drive the lock, arranged within a housing which is in the form of a bush. The bush is secured from the outside from one side with a cover and from the other side with a base to which assembly components are fixed to or seated. The driving assembly comprises a current generator, electric motor and gear assembly.

The current generator are four cylindrical primary cells (batteries) positioned next to the motor and parallel to the motor's axis.

The drive from the electric motor is transmitted via the gear assembly, consisting of toothed wheels, to a component used to control the lock.

The base has an opening through which passes a control element of the lock, with the second end of this element connected with the lock mechanism.

The bush, being the housing of the driving device, has teeth from the inside, the teeth cooperating with one of the toothed wheels of the gear assembly of the driving assembly. The driving device is fitted with an electronic control unit which controls the driving assembly. The electronic control unit is positioned between the cover and the motor. The electronic control unit is powered from the batteries placed in the housing. The electronic control unit may be controlled wirelessly by means of computer software, preferably a mobile device application, via a wireless connection. The device does not require external power supply and can be controlled by means of a smartphone application.

The driving device is installed from the inside of an apartment, in all door types with a profile insert. The so-designed driving device for unlocking a lock is quite large in size because of the size of the power batteries and the size of the other components of the driving mechanism, which must be held within the housing of the device.

From <CIT> a driving device for a lock is known. The driving device, fixed on the door as a plate fitting, for the motor-driven and manual actuation of a locking cylinder, has a drive shaft for transmitting rotation to the locking cylinder, a turning knob for manually turning the drive shaft and a gear motor, arranged in the turning knob, for the motor-driven rotation of the drive shaft. A driving toothed wheel is seated on the drive shaft in a non-rotating manner and is connected with the turning knob such that it transmits torque. The gear motor is coupled to the plate fitting in a non-rotating manner and it becomes coupled to the driving toothed wheel by means of a coupling when current is applied.

From German patent application <CIT>a device for unlocking and locking entrances to access-protected areas is known. The device has a cylindrical housing. The housing holds a base plate, a miniature motor, preferably a direct current motor, an electric battery, a blocking assembly and a control unit. The blocking element of the blocking assembly is a rod with a ring, moved by the electric motor via a torsion spring arranged to transmit motion from the motor to the rod. The electric battery is to provide power supply to the control system irrespective of power supply for the device via an external power supply line. The control unit is controlled via a wireless connection.

The objective of the invention is to develop a new driving device for unlocking and locking a lock, the driving device being of simple design and with low overall dimensions, and to provide a new solution type.

According to the invention the driving device for unlocking and locking a lock enabling access to protected areas, within its housing comprises: a gear assembly, at least one electric energy source in a protective housing and an electric driving motor for transmitting drive to a rotary control element of the lock mechanism by means of the gear assembly. The lock has a body, in which the control element is seated roratably. The device is characterised in that an individual electric energy source is so shaped that with its shape, in the cross-section through the driving motor and the electric energy source, it at least partially surrounds the driving motor, which means that in the area of the cross-section through the electric energy source there are at least two points such that a line segment joining these points passes through the area of the cross-section of the driving motor.

Such shaped electric energy source so arranged around the driving motor makes it possible to considerably reduce the overall dimensions of the device by significant elimination of cavities within the housing.

It is preferred that the driving device is fitted with a base, fixed with respect to the lock, with the gear assembly, the at least one electric energy source and the driving motor being seated fixedly with respect to the base.

It is additionally preferred that the control element for the lock mechanism is seated on a toothed wheel, the toothed wheel being one of the wheels of the gear assembly, and the housing is in a form of a bush seated in a bearing in the base and it has, from the inner side, teeth engaging with the toothed wheel of the gear assembly, on which the control element for the lock mechanism is seated.

It is further preferred that the housing is seated in a bearing rotatably with respect to the body of the lock and is connected fixedly with the rotary control element for the lock, and the gear assembly, the at least one electric energy source and the driving motor are seated fixedly with respect to the housing and they rotate together with the housing, with the driving device being fitted with a ring with teeth, the ring cooperating with the toothed wheel, the toothed wheel being one of the wheels of the gear assembly and seated in a bearing in the housing, with the ring being positioned coaxially with the rotary housing and fixedly with respect to the body of the lock.

It is also preferred that the teeth of the ring are inner or outer teeth.

It is further preferred that the ring is arranged between the gear assembly and the lock.

It is preferred that the housing is connected with the control element by means of a shaped releasable connection.

It is additionally preferred that the housing is fitted with an electric socket, preferably a micro USB type socket, intended to charge the electric energy source.

It is also preferred that the protective housing of the electric energy source has a through hole, in which the driving motor is arranged.

It is at the same time preferred that the protective housing of the electric energy source is cross-sectionally wheel-shaped, with the hole positioned coaxially.

It is preferred that the protective housing of the electric energy source is cross-sectionally wheel-shaped, with the opening positioned eccentrically.

It is additionally preferred that the protective housing of the electric energy source has a cavity, in which the driving motor is arranged.

It is further preferred that the shape of the cavity in cross-section is a segment of a wheel.

It is also preferred that the protective housing of the electric energy source is a segment of a ring, the axis of which is parallel to the axis of the driving motor.

It is at the same time preferred that the electric energy source is either a primary electric cell or a secondary electric cell.

It is additionally preferred that the electric energy source is fitted with an anode, cathode and separator, all spirally wound in the form of a band around the through hole.

It is also preferred that the electric energy is fitted with an anode, cathode and separator, all arranged in layers, the plane of which is perpendicular to the axis of the driving motor.

It is also preferred that the electric energy source is fitted with an anode, cathode and separator, all arranged in layers being sectors of cylindrical surfaces of an axis parallel to the axis of the driving motor.

It is at the same time preferred that the gear assembly comprises a coupling.

It is preferred that the driving device is fitted with an electronic control unit to control the driving motor and preferably fitted with a first sensor cooperating with a manual control button, arranged on the frontal part of the driving device.

It is additionally preferred that the electronic control unit is fitted with a second sensor which determines the angular position of the rotary control element for the lock mechanism, the second sensor preferably being an accelerometer (gravitational field sensor).

It is also preferred that the electronic control unit is controlled wirelessly, preferably by means of computer software, preferably a mobile device application, via a wireless connection.

The subject matter of the invention is shown by means of embodiments in the drawing, wherein <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of a driving device for unlocking and locking a lock, having a housing in the form of a bush, in which a ring with teeth is seated, <FIG> shows the driving device for unlocking and locking a lock, having the housing in the form of a bush having teeth from the inner side, <FIG> shows an exploded perspective view of the driving device of <FIG>, <FIG> shows an A-A cross section of <FIG>, <FIG> shows a preferred construction of the electric cell being the electric energy source, <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of a driving device for unlocking and locking a lock, in a third embodiment of the invention, <FIG> shows an A-A cross section of <FIG>, <FIG> shows an exploded perspective view of the driving device of <FIG>, <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of a driving device in a fourth embodiment of the invention, <FIG> shows a B-B cross section of <FIG>, <FIG> shows an exploded perspective view of the driving device of <FIG>, <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of the driving device in a fifth embodiment of the invention, <FIG> shows a C-C cross-section of <FIG>, <FIG> shows an exploded perspective view of the driving device of <FIG>, <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of the driving device in a sixth embodiment of the invention, <FIG> shows a driving device where the electric energy source is in a shape of a cylinder with a centrally-positioned opening, as viewed from the front after removing the cover from the housing, <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of two layered flat electric energy sources in a shape of rings surrounding the motor, <FIG> shows a layered flat electric energy source in a shape of a cylinder with the eccentrically positioned opening, in which the motor is held, in a front view, <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of two layered flat electric energy sources in a shape of a cylinder and with the eccentrically positioned opening, the electric energy sources surrounding the motor, <FIG> shows a layered flat electric energy source having a cavity, in which the motor is placed, in a front view, <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of two layered flat electric energy sources having a cavity, in which the motor is placed, <FIG> shows two layered electric energy sources of a shape similar to that of a half-ring, surrounding the driving motor, with layers in a form of sectors of cylindrical surfaces, in a front view, <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of two layered electric energy sources of a shape similar to that of a half-ring, surrounding the driving motor, with layers in a form of sectors of cylindrical surfaces, <FIG> shows a layered, wound electric energy source in a shape of an open ring, surrounding the driving motor, in a front view, <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of a layered, wound electric energy source in a shape of an open ring, surrounding the driving motor, <FIG> shows a transversal cross section of a layered, wound electric energy source in a shape of an open ring, with a method for winding layers being shown, <FIG> shows two layered wound electric energy sources of a shape similar to that of a half-ring, surrounding the driving motor, in a front view, <FIG> shows a longitudinal cross section of two layered wound electric energy sources of a shape similar to that of a half-ring, surrounding a driving motor, <FIG> shows a cross-section of two layered wound electric energy sources of a shape similar to that of a half-ring, with a method for winding layers being shown, <FIG> shows a driving device when ab electric energy source is in a shape of a cylinder with a centrally-positioned opening, in a front view after removing the frontal part from the housing, <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of an electric energy source in a form of a ring, whose layers are wound spirally in the form of a web around the central opening where the driving motor is placed, <FIG> shows two layered electric energy sources in a shape of an open ring, surrounding a motor, whose layers are in a form of sectors of cylindrical surfaces, in a front view, <FIG> shows a longitudinal section of two layered electric energy sources in a shape of an open ring, surrounding a motor, with layers in a form of sectors of cylindrical surfaces, <FIG> shows four layered electric energy sources in a shape of a ring segment, surrounding a driving motor, with layers in a form of sectors of cylindrical surfaces, in a front view, <FIG> shows a longitudinal cross section of four layered electric energy sources in a shape of a ring segment, surrounding a driving motor, with layers in a form of sectors of cylindrical surfaces.

As shown in the embodiments of the invention in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, a driving device <NUM> for unlocking and locking a lock <NUM>' enabling access to protected areas has a cylindrical housing <NUM>. The housing is made in a form of a bush covered at the front with a cover <NUM>. The driving device <NUM> comprises a single electric energy source <NUM>, having a form of a cylinder with a coaxially positioned opening <NUM>. The electric energy source <NUM> is fitted with an anode, cathode and separator, all spirally wound in the form of a web around the through hole <NUM>. The outer surface of the electric energy source <NUM> is the protective housing <NUM>. In the opening <NUM> a driving motor <NUM> is arranged for transmitting drive to a rotary control element <NUM> for the lock <NUM>' mechanism by means of a gear assembly <NUM>. The lock <NUM>' has a body <NUM>, in which the control element <NUM> is seated rotatably. In the area of the cross-section through the single electric energy source <NUM> there are at least two points such that a line segment joining these points passes through the area of the cross-section of the driving motor <NUM>, which is evident, inter alia, in <FIG>. A preferred construction of the electric energy source, where anode, cathode and separator are all spirally wound around the through hole is shown in <FIG>.

As shown in the embodiments of the invention in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the driving device <NUM> is fitted with a base <NUM> fixed with respect to the lock <NUM>', with the gear assembly <NUM>, electric energy source <NUM> and driving motor <NUM> being seated fixedly with respect to the base.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the driving device <NUM> is fitted with a support plate <NUM> that divides the space inside the housing <NUM> into a first chamber <NUM>, where the driving motor <NUM> and the electric energy source <NUM> are held, and a second chamber <NUM>, where the gear assembly <NUM> is held.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in <FIG>, the control element <NUM> for the lock <NUM>' mechanism is seated on a toothed wheel <NUM> being one of the wheels of the gear assembly <NUM>, and the housing <NUM> is in a form of a rotary bush seated in a bearing in the base <NUM> and the housing, from the inner side, has teeth <NUM> engaging with the toothed wheel <NUM> of the gear assembly <NUM>, on which the control element <NUM> for the lock <NUM>' mechanism is seated.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in <FIG>, the control element <NUM> for the lock <NUM>' mechanism is seated on the toothed wheel <NUM> being one of the wheels of the gear assembly <NUM>, and the housing <NUM> is in a form of a rotary bush, in which a ring <NUM> with teeth <NUM> is seated, the teeth engaging with the toothed wheel <NUM> of the gear assembly <NUM>, on which the control element <NUM> for the lock <NUM>' mechanism is seated.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the gear assembly <NUM> of the driving device <NUM> comprises a coupling <NUM>, which makes it possible to uncouple the gear <NUM> connecting the control element <NUM> to the driving motor <NUM>, with the driving motor <NUM> being an electric motor. The coupling <NUM> makes it possible to manually control the lock more easily by rotation of the housing <NUM>, with no resistance from the driving motor <NUM>. The driving device <NUM> is fitted with an electronic control unit <NUM>, which controls the driving motor <NUM>. The electronic control unit <NUM> is controlled wirelessly by means of computer software, preferably a mobile device application, via a wireless connection. The electronic control unit <NUM> may also be controlled wirelessly via a Bluetooth wireless connection.

As shown in the embodiments of the invention in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, a driving device <NUM> for unlocking and locking a lock <NUM>' enabling access to protected areas has a housing <NUM> in a form of a can covered at the front with the frontal part <NUM>. Inside the housing <NUM> there are two electric energy sources <NUM>, a driving motor <NUM> and a gear assembly <NUM>. The driving device <NUM> is fitted with a support plate <NUM> dividing the space inside the housing <NUM> into a first chamber <NUM>, where the driving motor <NUM> and two electric energy sources <NUM> are held, and a second chamber <NUM>, where the gear assembly <NUM> is held. The driving motor <NUM> is an electric motor. In the bottom of the housing <NUM> there is an opening, in which one of toothed wheels <NUM> of a gear assembly <NUM> is seated by means of a bearing <NUM>. The lock <NUM>' has the body <NUM>, in which a control element <NUM> is seated rotatably for moving a dog <NUM> of the lock <NUM>'. The driving motor <NUM> transmits drive to the control element <NUM> for the lock <NUM>' mechanism by means of the gear assembly <NUM> and a ring <NUM> with teeth <NUM>. Rotation of the driving motor causes rotation of the housing <NUM> and control element <NUM> by the toothed wheel <NUM> rolling along the ring <NUM> with the teeth <NUM>. The electric energy sources <NUM> are shaped such that they at least partially surround the driving motor <NUM>. The outer surface of the electric energy source <NUM> is the protective housing <NUM>. In the area of the cross-section through the single electric energy source <NUM> there are at least two points such that a line segment joining these points passes through the area of the cross-section of the driving motor <NUM>, which is evident, inter alia, in <FIG>.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, electric energy sources <NUM> of layered structure were used, where anode, cathode and separator are all arranged in layers, the plane of which is perpendicular to the axis of the driving motor <NUM>. In the embodiment of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the protective housing <NUM> of the electric energy source <NUM> has a through hole <NUM>, in which the driving motor <NUM> is arranged. In
cross-section, the protective housing <NUM> of the electric energy source <NUM> is wheel-shaped, and the opening <NUM> is positioned coaxially. In the embodiment of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the opening <NUM> is positioned eccentrically. In the embodiment of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, the protective housing <NUM> of the electric energy source <NUM> has a cavity <NUM>, in which the driving motor <NUM> is arranged. The shape of the cavity <NUM> is cross-sectionally a segment of a wheel.

As shown in the embodiments of the invention in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing <NUM> is seated in a bearing rotatably with respect to the body <NUM> of the lock <NUM>' and is connected fixedly with the control element <NUM> for the lock <NUM>'. The driving device <NUM> is fitted with the ring <NUM> with teeth <NUM> cooperating with the toothed wheel <NUM>, being one of the wheels of the gear assembly <NUM> and seated in a bearing in the housing <NUM>. The ring <NUM> is positioned coaxially with the rotary housing <NUM> and fixedly with respect to the body <NUM> of the lock <NUM>'. The ring <NUM> is arranged between the gear assembly <NUM> and the lock <NUM>'. In the embodiments of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the ring <NUM> is affixed to the lock <NUM>' by means of a screw <NUM>, but it is clear that in other embodiments of the invention the fixed connection of the ring <NUM> and the lock <NUM>' may be realised with the use of other known methods, for example by means of gluing, riveting or shaping.

As shown in the embodiments of the invention in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the teeth <NUM> of the ring <NUM> are inner teeth, whereas in the embodiment of the invention shown in <FIG>, the teeth <NUM> of the ring <NUM> are outer teeth.

As shown in the embodiments of the invention in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the driving device <NUM> is fitted with an electronic control unit <NUM> which controls the driving motor <NUM>. The electronic control unit <NUM> is held between the driving motor <NUM> and the frontal part <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The electronic control unit <NUM> is fitted with a first sensor <NUM> cooperating with a manual control button <NUM> arranged on the frontal part <NUM> of the driving device <NUM>. The electronic control unit <NUM> is fitted with a second sensor <NUM> which establishes angular position of the rotary housing <NUM>. The second sensor <NUM> is an accelerometer (a sensor establishing angular position of the rotary housing <NUM> with respect to the gravity field of the Earth). The electronic control unit <NUM> is controlled wirelessly by means of computer software, preferably a mobile device application, via a wireless connection.

The electronic control unit <NUM> may also be controlled wirelessly via a Bluetooth wireless connection.

As shown in the embodiments of the invention in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing <NUM> is connected to the control element <NUM> by means of a shaped releasable connection <NUM>. The housing <NUM> is fitted with an electric socket <NUM> accessible after disconnection of the shaped releasable connection <NUM> and invisible in the connected position. The electric socket <NUM> is a micro USB type socket intended to deliver supply voltage, charge the electric energy source <NUM> and transfer data. The shaped releasable connection of the housing <NUM> and the control element <NUM> may of course be realised by other known methods.

In all embodiments of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, the electric energy source <NUM> is so shaped that it at least partially surrounds the driving motor <NUM>, and in the area of cross-section through an individual electric energy source <NUM> there are at least two points such that a line segment joining these points passes through the area of cross-section of the driving motor <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, the electric energy source <NUM> is in the shape of a cylinder with a wheel-shaped opening <NUM>, positioned coaxially, and in the embodiment of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG>, the opening <NUM> is positioned eccentrically. Inside the opening <NUM> there is the driving motor <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, the electric energy source <NUM> has a cavity <NUM>, in which the driving motor <NUM> is arranged. The shape of the cavity <NUM> in cross-section is a segment of a wheel. In the embodiments of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the protective housing <NUM> of the electric energy source <NUM> is a segment of a ring, the axis of whose is parallel to the axis of the driving motor <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, there are two electric energy sources <NUM> in a shape being a segment of a ring, and in the embodiment shown in <FIG>, there are four such electric energy sources <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the electric energy source <NUM> is fitted with an anode 9a, cathode 9c and separator 9b, all spirally wound in a form of a web around the through hole <NUM>.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, the electric energy source <NUM> is fitted with the anode 9a, cathode 9c and separator 9b, all arranged in layers being sectors of cylindrical surfaces of an axis parallel to the axis of the driving motor <NUM>. And in the embodiments of the invention shown in <FIG>, the electric energy source <NUM> is fitted with an anode, cathode and separator all spirally wound and shaped in the form of an open ring, as in <FIG> or ring segments, as in <FIG>,.

It is clear that the electric energy source <NUM> may also have other forms not shown in the picture, the forms fulfilling the requirements that the electric energy source <NUM> is so shaped that it at least partially surrounds the driving motor <NUM>. The energy source <NUM> being so shaped and arranged with respect to the driving motor <NUM> enables essential reduction of the overall dimensions of the driving device <NUM>.

The electric energy source <NUM> is a primary or secondary electric cell.

Claim 1:
Driving device (<NUM>) for unlocking and locking a lock enabling access to protected areas, within its housing (<NUM>) comprising: a gear assembly (<NUM>), at least one electric energy source (<NUM>) in a protective housing (<NUM>) and an electric driving motor (<NUM>), for transmitting drive to a rotary control element of the lock mechanism by means of the gear assembly (<NUM>), characterized in that an individual electric energy source (<NUM>) is so shaped that with its shape, in cross-section through the driving motor (<NUM>) and the electric energy source (<NUM>), it at least partially surrounds the driving motor (<NUM>), which means that in the area of cross-section through the electric energy source (<NUM>) there are at least two points such that a line segment joining these points passes through the area of cross-section of the driving motor (<NUM>).