IP Library Granted Patent US 8,291,783
Granted Patent B2
US 8,291,783 · App. 12/446,089 · Granted Oct 23, 2012

Helical locking mechanism for doors

Assignee: Nanjing Kangni Mechanical & Electrical Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,291,783
App. No.
12/446,089
Granted
Oct 23, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A powerless helical locking mechanism for a door includes a screw with a variable lead angle connected with a power source, and a self-adaptive nut connected to the door. The helical slot of the screw is divided into a working segment with the helical lead angle greater than the friction angle, a closing segment with the helical lead angle smaller than the friction angle, and a transition segment between the closing and working segments. The power source actuates the screw to rotate bidirectionally.

Claims (81)

1. A helical locking mechanism for a door, comprising:

exactly one power source ( 11 );

exactly one screw ( 1 ) having an axis and a helical slot ( 20 ), the slot ( 20 ) divided into i) a working section (C) with a lead angle more than a friction angle, ii) a locking section (A) with a lead angle less than a friction angle, and iii) a transition section (B) located between the working section (C) and the locking section (A), a lead angle of the transaction section varying; and

a self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) assembled with the screw ( 1 ), wherein, in use, the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) is connected with the door ( 10 ),

the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) comprising a spindle sleeve ( 7 ) connected to a pin shaft ( 5 ), the pin shaft ( 5 ) located in the screw slot ( 20 ) and in linear contact with the screw slot ( 20 ),

the pin shaft ( 5 ) and screw slot ( 20 ) realizing a matched screw kinematic pair to transfer power and motion from the power source ( 11 ), via the bidirectionally rotation of the screw ( 1 ), to the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ),

wherein the screw ( 1 ) is connected to the power source ( 11 ), the power source ( 11 ) driving the screw ( 1 ) to rotate bidirectionally, the power source ( 11 ) further driving the self-adaptive nut and the door to move synchronously in parallel with the axis of the screw, with the self-adaptive nut entering and exiting the locking section (A) to realize the locking and self-unlocking of door.

2. The helical locking mechanism of claim 1 , wherein,

when the power source closes the door, the screw ( 1 ) makes a clockwise (CW) rotation and drives the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) to move from the working section (C) to the locking section (A), the self-adaptive nut entering the locking section (A) the closing the door and automatically locking of the door,

when the power source opens the door, the screw ( 1 ) makes a counter-clockwise (CCW) rotation and drives the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) to move from the locking section (A) to the working section (C), the self-adaptive nut withdrawing from the locking section (A) automatically unlocking the door and then opening the door,

when closing the door manually, the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) driving the screw ( 1 ) to rotate and have self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) enter the locking section (A) to realize the automatic locking of the door and the closing of the door, and

when opening the door manually, the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) withdrawing from the locking section (A) realizing unlocking of the door.

3. A helical locking mechanism for a door, comprising:

a screw ( 1 ) having an axis and a slot with a variable lead angle, the slot ( 20 ) divided into i) a working section (C) with a lead angle more than a friction angle, ii) a locking section (A) with a lead angle less than a friction angle, and iii) a transition section (B) located between the working section (C) and the locking section (A), a lead angle of the transaction section varying;

a self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) connected to the door; and

a power source ( 11 ), the screw ( 1 ) being connected with the power source ( 11 ) so that the power source ( 11 ) drives the screw ( 1 ) to rotate bidirectionally,

the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) comprising a spindle sleeve ( 7 ), a pin shaft ( 5 ), a nut sleeve ( 9 ), a nut ( 2 ), a rolling bearing ( 6 ) with a bearing cap ( 8 ), a retainer ring ( 3 ), and a first torsion spring ( 4 ),

the nut ( 2 ) and the nut sleeve ( 9 ) having i) a circumference rotary connection and ii) a rigid connection through the retainer ring ( 3 ) in the axis of the screw ( 1 );

a first end of the first torsion spring ( 4 ) connected with the nut sleeve ( 9 ) and an opposite, second end of the first torsion spring ( 4 ) connected with the nut ( 2 ),

the pin shaft ( 5 ) connected with the spindle sleeve ( 7 ) wherein the screw ( 1 ) is connected to the power source ( 11 ),

wherein the power source ( 11 ) driving the screw ( 1 ) to rotate bidirectionally, the power source ( 11 ) further drives the self-adaptive nut and the door to move synchronously in parallel with the axis of the screw, with the self-adaptive nut entering and exiting the locking section (A) to realize the locking and self-unlocking of door.

4. The helical locking mechanism of claim 3 , wherein,

the power source ( 11 ), in closing the door, drives the screw ( 1 ) to make a clockwise (CW) rotation to drive the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) to move from the working section (C) to the locking section (A) until the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) enters the locking section (A) and the door is locked,

the power source ( 11 ), in opening the door, drives the screw ( 1 ) to make a counter-clockwise (CCW) rotation to drive the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) to leave the locking section (A) and move reversely to open the door,

when manually closing the door, the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) is moved to drive the screw ( 1 ) to make the clockwise (CW) rotation, letting the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) enter the locking section (A) to manually close the door and lock the door.

5. The helical locking mechanism of claim 4 , further comprising:

a right connecting plate ( 15 );

a right shift lever ( 14 ) connected with the nut ( 2 ) of the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) through the right connecting plate ( 15 );

a pull wire wheel ( 12 ) idly set on the screw ( 1 );

a left shift lever ( 13 ) connected with the pull wire wheel ( 12 );

a pull wire ( 16 ) connected with the pull wire wheel ( 12 );

a middle strut ( 18 );

a second torsion spring ( 17 ), a first end of the second torsion spring ( 17 ) connected with the pull wire ( 16 ) and an opposite, second end of the second torsion spring ( 17 ) connected with the middle strut ( 18 ), wherein,

in manually unlocking and opening the door, i) the pull wire ( 16 ) drives the pull wire wheel ( 12 ) and the left shift lever ( 13 ) to rotate and, through the right shift lever ( 14 ), the right connecting plate ( 15 ) drives the nut ( 2 ) to rotate to realize rotation of the screw ( 1 ) to a specific angle to manually unlock, and ii) counter-clockwise (CCW) rotation of the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) opens the door, and

after unlocking, under torsion of the second torsion spring ( 17 ), the pull wire wheel ( 12 ) and the pull wire ( 16 ) reset to be ready for a next manual unlocking.

6. The helical locking mechanism of claim 5 , wherein,

with the pin shaft ( 5 ) at the working section (C), the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) and the screw ( 1 ) form a screw kinematic pair with the pin shaft ( 5 ) in the screw slot ( 20 ) of the screw ( 1 ) and in linear contact with the screw slot ( 20 ), the pin shaft ( 5 ) and the screw slot ( 20 ) forming a matched screw pair for transferring power and motion to realize opening and closing of the door.

7. The helical locking mechanism of claim 6 , wherein,

with the pin shaft ( 5 ) at the locking section (A), the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) and the screw ( 1 ) are in a self-locking position caused by the lead angle of screw pair being less than the friction angle, the screw slot ( 20 ) locking the pin shaft ( 5 ) so that the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) is unable to move, thereby locking the door.

8. The helical locking mechanism of claim 4 , wherein,

with the pin shaft ( 5 ) at the working section (C), the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) and the screw ( 1 ) form a screw kinematic pair with the pin shaft ( 5 ) in the screw slot ( 20 ) of the screw ( 1 ) and in linear contact with the screw slot ( 20 ), the pin shaft ( 5 ) and the screw slot ( 20 ) forming a matched screw pair for transferring power and motion to realize opening and closing of the door.

9. The helical locking mechanism of claim 8 , wherein,

with the pin shaft ( 5 ) at the locking section (A), the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) and the screw ( 1 ) are in a self-locking position caused by the lead angle of screw pair being less than the friction angle, the screw slot ( 20 ) locking the pin shaft ( 5 ) so that the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) is unable to move, thereby locking the door.

10. The helical locking mechanism of claim 3 , wherein,

when the power source closes the door, the screw ( 1 ) makes a clockwise (CW) rotation and drives the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) to move from the working section (C) to the locking section (A), the self-adaptive nut entering the locking section (A) the closing the door and automatically locking of the door,

when the power source opens the door, the screw ( 1 ) makes a counter-clockwise (CCW) rotation and drives the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) to move from the locking section (A) to the working section (C), the self-adaptive nut withdrawing from the locking section (A) automatically unlocking the door and then opening the door,

when closing the door manually, the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) driving the screw ( 1 ) to rotate and have self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) enter the locking section (A) to realize the automatic locking of the door and the closing of the door, and

when opening the door manually, the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) withdrawing from the locking section (A) realizing unlocking of the door.

11. A helical locking mechanism for a door, comprising:

a screw ( 1 ) having an axis and a slot with a variable lead angle, the slot ( 20 ) divided into i) a working section (C) with a lead angle more than a friction angle, ii) a locking section (A) with a lead angle less than a friction angle, and iii) a transition section (B) located between the working section (C) and the locking section (A), a lead angle of the transaction section varying;

a self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) connected to the door; and

a power source ( 11 ),

wherein the screw ( 1 ) is connected to the power source ( 11 ), the power source ( 11 ) driving the screw ( 1 ) to rotate bidirectionally, the power source ( 11 ) further driving the self-adaptive nut and the door to move synchronously in parallel with the axis of the screw, with the self-adaptive nut entering and exiting the locking section (A) to realize the locking and self-unlocking of door.

12. The helical locking mechanism of claim 11 , wherein,

the power source ( 11 ), in closing the door, drives the screw ( 1 ) to make a clockwise (CW) rotation to drive the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) to move from the working section (C) to the locking section (A) until the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) enters the locking section (A) and the door is locked,

the power source ( 11 ), in opening the door, drives the screw ( 1 ) to make a counter-clockwise (CCW) rotation to drive the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) to leave the locking section (A) and move reversely to open the door,

when manually closing the door, the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) is moved to drive the screw ( 1 ) to make the clockwise (CW) rotation, letting the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) enter the locking section (A) to manually close the door and lock the door.

13. The helical locking mechanism of claim 12 ,

wherein the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) comprises a spindle sleeve ( 7 ), a pin shaft ( 5 ), a nut sleeve ( 9 ), a nut ( 2 ), a rolling bearing ( 6 ) with a bearing cap ( 8 ), a retainer ring ( 3 ), and a first torsion spring ( 4 ),

the nut ( 2 ) and the nut sleeve ( 9 ) having i) a circumference rotary connection and ii) a rigid connection through the retainer ring ( 3 ) in the axis of the screw ( 1 );

a first end of the first torsion spring ( 4 ) connected with the nut sleeve ( 9 ) and an opposite, second end of the first torsion spring ( 4 ) connected with the nut ( 2 ),

the pin shaft ( 5 ) connected with the spindle sleeve ( 7 ),

and further comprising:

a right connecting plate ( 15 );

a right shift lever ( 14 ) connected with the nut ( 2 ) of the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) through the right connecting plate ( 15 );

a pull wire wheel ( 12 ) idly set on the screw ( 1 );

a left shift lever ( 13 ) connected with the pull wire wheel ( 12 );

a pull wire ( 16 ) connected with the pull wire wheel ( 12 );

a middle strut ( 18 );

a second torsion spring ( 17 ), a first end of the second torsion spring ( 17 ) connected with the pull wire ( 16 ) and an opposite, second end of the second torsion spring ( 17 ) connected with the middle strut ( 18 ), wherein,

in manually unlocking and opening the door, i) the pull wire ( 16 ) drives the pull wire wheel ( 12 ) and the left shift lever ( 13 ) to rotate and, through the right shift lever ( 14 ), the right connecting plate ( 15 ) drives the nut ( 2 ) to rotate to realize rotation of the screw ( 1 ) to a specific angle to manually unlock, and ii) counter-clockwise (CCW) rotation of the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) opens the door, and

after unlocking, under torsion of the second torsion spring ( 17 ), the pull wire wheel ( 12 ) and the pull wire ( 16 ) reset to be ready for a next manual unlocking.

14. The helical locking mechanism of claim 13 , wherein,

with the pin shaft ( 5 ) at the working section (C), the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) and the screw ( 1 ) form a screw kinematic pair with the pin shaft ( 5 ) in the screw slot ( 20 ) of the screw ( 1 ) and in linear contact with the screw slot ( 20 ), the pin shaft ( 5 ) and the screw slot ( 20 ) forming a matched screw pair for transferring power and motion to realize opening and closing of the door.

15. The helical locking mechanism of claim 14 , wherein,

with the pin shaft ( 5 ) at the locking section (A), the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) and the screw ( 1 ) are in a self-locking position caused by the lead angle of screw pair being less than the friction angle, the screw slot ( 20 ) locking the pin shaft ( 5 ) so that the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) is unable to move, thereby locking the door.

16. The helical locking mechanism of claim 11 , wherein,

when the power source closes the door, the screw ( 1 ) makes a clockwise (CW) rotation and drives the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) to move from the working section (C) to the locking section (A), the self-adaptive nut entering the locking section (A) the closing the door and automatically locking of the door,

when the power source opens the door, the screw ( 1 ) makes a counter-clockwise (CCW) rotation and drives the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) to move from the locking section (A) to the working section (C), the self-adaptive nut withdrawing from the locking section (A) automatically unlocking the door and then opening the door,

when closing the door manually, the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) driving the screw ( 1 ) to rotate and have self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) enter the locking section (A) to realize the automatic locking of the door and the closing of the door, and

when opening the door manually, the self-adaptive nut ( 19 ) withdrawing from the locking section (A) realizing unlocking of the door.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 21, 2011
From: NANJING KANGNI NEW TECHNOLOGY OF MECHANTRONIC CO., LTD.
To: NANJING KANGNI MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027425/0191 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2009
From: SHI, XIANG; GU, YU; LIU, WENPING; XU, GUANNAN; CHEN, BAOGANG; NI, BANGRONG
To: NANJING KANGNI NEW TECHNOLOGY OF MECHANTRONIC CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 022730/0738 →
Priority Claims (1)
CN 2006 1 0096818 · Oct 18, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100319259A1 · Dec 23, 2010