Drive mechanism for electronic deadbolt

A method of actuating an electronic lock, the method comprising:

• in response to receiving a valid user credential input, actuating a motor via a control circuit to rotate an actuating spindle around a first axis, the actuating spindle comprising a driving pin that engages a transmission spring to move the transmission spring along the first axis from a neutral position to a biasing position, wherein:
• movement of the transmission spring to the biasing position biases a movable actuator from a first position to a second position;
• biasing the movable actuator to the second position pushes a pin toward an engaged position, and
• in the engaged position, the pin rotationally joins a coupling of a torque blade to a driver of a manual turn piece on an exterior assembly of the electronic lock along a second axis, wherein the pin is coupled to the coupling and when in the engaged position, the pin rotates within a flange extending along the second axis and defining an opening of a guide plate at least partially surrounding the coupling and fixed relative thereto, the movable actuator slidably mounted to the guide plate, and wherein the flange has an inner surface such that the pin rotates within the flange of the guide plate with the inner surface of the flange preventing the pin from moving towards a disengaged position, wherein the pin is biased toward the disengaged position by a pin spring, and wherein when the pin is in the engaged position, the second axis extends through both the pin and the pin spring.

An electronic lock for use on a door separating an exterior space from a secured space, the electronic lock comprising:

• a deadbolt assembly including:
• a deadbolt movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• and
• a torque blade drivably coupled to the deadbolt;
• an interior assembly comprising an interior manual turn piece operatively connected to the torque blade;
• and
• an exterior assembly comprising:
• a motor;
• an actuating spindle actuatable by the motor and positioned to rotate around a first axis in response to actuation of the motor, the actuating spindle comprising a driving pin that engages a transmission spring such that, upon rotation of the actuating spindle, a position of the transmission spring changes relative to the driving pin along the first axis between a neutral position and a biasing position;
• a drive mechanism including a coupling and a driver, the coupling coupled to the torque blade, wherein the coupling and the driver are axially aligned along, and rotatable around, a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis;
• an exterior manual turn piece affixed to the driver and rotatable with the driver;
• a pin coupled to the coupling and movable between an engaged position, in which the pin is coupled to the driver, and a disengaged position, in which the pin is disengaged from the driver, the pin being biased toward the disengaged position by a pin spring, wherein when the pin is in the engaged position, the second axis extends through both the pin and the pin spring;
• and
• a guide plate having a flange extending along the second axis defining an opening at least partially surrounding the drive mechanism and fixed relative thereto, wherein the flange has an inner surface;
• an actuator slidably mounted on the guide plate and at least partially surrounding the drive mechanism, the actuator being engageable by the transmission spring at least when the transmission spring is in the biasing position, the actuator being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein:
• the actuator remains in the first position when the transmission spring is in the neutral position;
• the actuator is biased toward the second position when the transmission spring is in the biasing position;
• and
• biasing the actuator toward the second position compresses the pin spring, and pushes the pin toward the engaged position;
• and
• wherein, when the pin is in the engaged position, manual rotation of the exterior manual turn piece rotates the torque blade and drives movement of the deadbolt between the locked position and the unlocked position and the pin rotates within the flange of the guide plate with the inner surface of the flange preventing the pin from moving towards the disengaged position.