Electronic clutch assembly for a lock system

An actuator assembly for a lockset including a latch movable between first and second positions, the actuator assembly comprising:

• a rotatable output member configured to displace the latch between the first and second latch positions;
• a rotatable input member configured for manual rotation;
• a clutch coupled with the output member and having a connective portion engageable with the input member, the clutch being linearly displaceable along a first axis between a first position in which the connective portion is nonengaged with the input member and a second position in which the connective portion is engaged with the input member;
• a biasing member operatively connected with the clutch and configured to displace the clutch from the second clutch position and toward the first clutch position;
• and
• a mechanism operatively connected with the clutch and configured to linearly displace the clutch along the first axis between the first and second clutch positions such that the clutch alternatively operatively couples the input member with the latch and uncouples the input member from the latch.

An electronic clutch assembly for a lock system, the lock system having a latch and first and second rotatable spindles, one of the two spindles being operatively connected with the latch to displace the latch between first and second latch positions, the clutch assembly comprising:

• a clutch coupled with the first spindle and having a connective portion engageable with the second spindle, the clutch being linearly displaceable along a first axis between a first position in which the connective portion is nonengaged with the second spindle and a second position in which the connective portion is engaged with the second spindle, the clutch including a conical body portion extending circumferentially and at least partially about the first axis, the conical portion having an angled contact surface extending between a first, most proximal position with respect to the first axis and a second, most distal position with respect to the first axis;
• a cam displaceable generally along a second axis, the second axis extending generally perpendicularly with respect to the first axis, and configured to linearly displace the clutch between the first and second clutch positions, the cam including a generally wedge-shaped body portion, the wedge-shaped portion having an camming surface contactable with the clutch contact surface such that when the cam displaces along the second axis in a first direction generally toward the first axis, the camming surface slides against the clutch contact surface so as to displace the clutch from the first clutch position to the second clutch position;
• and
• an electric actuator operatively connected with the cam and configured to linearly displace the cam along the second axis such that the clutch alternatively couples the second spindle with the first spindle and uncouples the second spindle from the first spindle.