IP Library Granted Patent US 11,933,074
Granted Patent B2
US 11,933,074 · App. 17/591,219 · Granted Mar 19, 2024

Electrical cam lock with manual override

Inventor: Matthew Schroll (Glendale Heights, IL)
Assignee: The Eastern Company
E05B47/0012E05B2047/0016E05B2047/0017E05B2047/0024E05B2047/003E05B2047/0036E05B2047/0067E05B2047/0072E05B2047/0084E05B83/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,933,074
App. No.
17/591,219
Granted
Mar 19, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure provides a lock with a radially extending cam that can be pivoted electrically or manually by a key. The lock resides in a housing for ease of manufacture and reduction of space, for use, as an example, as a replacement or retrofit for an existing manual cam lock. The cam extends transversely to a first axis and is manually rotatable by a key about the first axis. The cam is also rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis by an electrical signal to a motor or a linear actuator connected to a cam mechanism body.

Claims (18)

1. A pivoting electrical cam lock comprising,

a base with a cylindrical open bore having a first end and a second end and defining a first axis, a rotating mechanical lock in the bore having a keyway at one end proximate the bore first end and an actuator at the opposite end proximate the bore second end, the lock adapted so that when a proper key is inserted into the keyway and rotated, the lock and actuator rotate with the key in the base bore about the first axis,

a cap fixed to the actuator and adapted to rotate about the first axis with the actuator and mechanical lock, the cap having a bore defining a second axis parallel to the first axis,

a cam radially extending from the cap, the cam having a first side and a second side and a cylindrical aperture extending through the cam from the first side to the second side, with the aperture coaxial with the second axis,

an electric motor fixed to the cap and having a rotating drive shaft extending outwardly therefrom, the drive shaft having a longitudinal axis coaxial with the second axis and extending into the cap second bore, with the drive shaft adapted to rotate in response to an electrical signal to the motor,

a slip clutch connected to the drive shaft for rotation therewith, with one side of the slip clutch biased against the cam first side,

wherein the cam pivots about the second axis in response to the electrical signal to the motor, and the cam pivots about the first axis with the cap upon rotation of the proper key in the mechanical lock.

2. The pivoting electrical cam lock of claim 1 wherein the second axis is offset from the first axis.

3. The pivoting electrical cam lock of claim 2 wherein the cap bore has a cylindrical diameter of sufficient size to allow the drive shaft to rotate therein, and the cam aperture has a diameter of sufficient size to allow the drive shaft to rotate therein.

4. The pivoting electrical cam lock of claim 3 wherein the cam first side has a roughened portion adjacent the aperture, and the slip clutch comprises a cylindrical skipper disc having a first end wall and a second end wall, with the skipper disc coaxial with the drive shaft and the aperture, with the second end wall of the skipper disc having a roughened surface that cooperates with the roughened surface on the cam first side to rotate the cam when the skipper disc second end wall is biased against the cam first side.

5. The pivoting electrical cam lock of claim 4 wherein the drive shaft has a non-circular outer diameter and the slip clutch skipper disc has an aperture extending from the first end wall to the second end wall, the aperture being of complementary shape to the drive shaft so the skipper disc rotates with the drive shaft.

6. The pivoting electrical cam lock of claim 5 wherein the cap has a shelf extending radially from the cap, the shelf having a first top wall and the cam second side contacts the shelf first top wall.

7. The pivoting electrical cam lock of claim 1 wherein the first and second axes are coaxial.

8. The pivoting electrical cam lock of claim 1 wherein the electrical signal to the motor is active for a set period.

9. The pivoting electrical cam lock of claim 1 wherein the angular position of the cam is monitored by a sensor.

10. The pivoting electrical cam lock of claim 1 wherein the biasing means is a spring.

11. The pivoting electrical cam lock of claim 10 wherein the spring is helical and coaxial with the drive shaft and is located between the motor the slip clutch.

12. The pivoting electrical cam lock of claim 1 wherein the cap bore is blind.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2025
From: THE EASTERN COMPANY; VELVAC, INCORPORATED; BIG 3 PRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
To: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073461/0008 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2025
From: TD BANK, N.A.
To: THE EASTERN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 073437/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2023
From: THE EASTERN COMPANY; VELVAC, INCORPORATED; BIG 3 PRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
To: TD BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064083/0430 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: SCHROLL, MATTHEW
To: THE EASTERN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 058913/0406 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63145543 · Feb 4, 2021
Related Publication 20220243500A1 · Aug 4, 2022