Electromechanical cylinder lock with rotary release

A rotatable lock barrel for insertion into a lock cylinder having a bore formed therein, the barrel comprising:

• an elongated, generally cylindrically shaped barrel member having an exterior configured for receipt in a bore of a lock cylinder and an interior containing a plurality of electromechanical locking members, the barrel member having a recess formed therein;
• wherein the locking members are disposed in the recess of the barrel member and are substantially entirely contained within the barrel member, each of the locking members including a groove and the locking members being movable to a position in which the grooves of the locking members are aligned;
• the recess in said barrel member being configured to receive at least a portion of a movable side bar of a lock cylinder to permit the side bar to move into and out of engagement with the grooves of the locking members for selectively permitting and blocking rotation of the barrel member with respect to a lock cylinder when positioned therein;
• an electronically powered drive mechanism located within the barrel member for moving the electro-mechanical locking members to a position in which the grooves of the locking members are aligned.

A process of retrofitting a mechanical cylinder lock to form an electromechanical cylinder lock, the process comprising steps of:

• a) providing a mechanical cylinder lock including an outer shell with a bore, a first rotatable barrel located in the bore, and a side bar for preventing and permitting rotation of the barrel within the bore in the shell;
• b) removing the first barrel from the shell;
• c) providing an electronically powered rotatable barrel having an exterior adapted to substantially correspond to the bore in the shell, and including:
• at least one electromechanical locking member disposed in the barrel, the electromechanical locking member being positionable to permit the side bar to engage the locking member in a non-barrel blocking position which permits the barrel to rotate with respect to the shell, and the electromechanical locking member also being positionable in a barrel blocking position which blocks rotation of the barrel with respect to the shell;
• and
• an electronically powered drive mechanism cooperating with the electromechanical locking member to selectively move the locking member from the barrel blocking position to the non-barrel blocking position in which the side bar engages the locking member to rotate the barrel and operate the lock;
• and
• d) securing the electronically powered rotatable barrel in the bore in the shell to form an electromechanical cylinder lock, the lock including control means carried by at least one of the barrel and bore for energizing the electronically powered drive mechanism in response to an authorized attempt to open the lock.