EP0139026B1 - Combination lock for a safe with a plurality of dials - Google Patents

Abstract

The combination lock includes several encoding buttons, a latch plate is slidably movable between two terminal positions and has a plurality of locking pins; a plurality of lock disks each have on one side a radial groove for respectively engaging the locking pins or being disengaged therefrom, each disk further having on its outer side a diametrical groove in which respective slide locks are permitted to slide, an encoding release slide moves said slide locks; a plurality of gears are respectively connected to the encoding buttons and positioned for engagement with the slide locks, the gears are prevented from turning, thereby preventing the encoding buttons from being turned when the respective slide lock engages the gear and the locking pins are situated in the respective radial grooves, the gears are coupled to the lock disks when the locking pins are out of the respective radial grooves, the release slide when moving the slide locks decouples the lock disks from the gears and the encoding button; and resiliently biased tumblers are associated with the gears such that the gears are releasable only in the end positions of said latch plate.

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a combination lock with a plurality of coding buttons for heat containers with a movable bar between two end positions, the plate carries m locking pins that cooperate with m rotatable locking disks controlled by the coding buttons, each of these locking disks having a radial slot on which one the locking pin attached to the locking plate faces. A common changeover slide is provided, which causes a decoupling between the coding buttons and the locking disks.

State of the art

US Pat. No. 3,053,071, which forms the preamble of claim 1, discloses a locking and opening secret re-adjustment device for permutation locks with a plurality of shims, in which axially displaceable locking disks are assigned to the shims. Their intervention in the shims can be canceled to reset the opening secret. Each of the locking disks has a radial slot on the circumference, which, when the opening secret is set correctly, is opposite to a locking pin of a locking plate. This locking plate is actuated from the outside via a handle, the feeler or locking pins entering the slots in the locking disks. To reset the opening secret, an externally operable control plate is provided, which cancels the locking engagement between the locking disks and the adjusting disks via spherical pressure parts.

Patent specification DE 2918235 discloses a permutation lock further developed from the above-mentioned patent, which dispenses with a special control plate in the readjustment device. There, the locking plate is designed such that, in addition to the scanning function, it also exercises that of a locking part of the locking and opening secret reset device. The locking plate is punched out in such a way that, when gripped, crescent-shaped, raised blocking zones are formed which are as large as possible. The locking plate has three locking fingers that engage in the recesses of the three locking washers when set correctly. Since the axes of the locking disks lie on a straight line and the locking plate can be pivoted about an axle journal which is at a certain distance from this straight line, the turning circles of the locking fingers are of very different sizes. If the handle is lightly loaded and a latch disc is adjusted while the lock is locked, the locking finger slides on the locking disc. With a bit of tact, you can feel the position of the recesses. The lock secret can be felt by repeating the process with the next panes, so that it can be opened without any damage by unauthorized persons and locked again without leaving any traces.

Presentation of the invention

The invention has for its object to provide a combination lock for valuables, in particular hotel safes or bank lockers of the type mentioned, which meets high quality standards, is absolutely safe to scan and can be easily and reliably converted by the respective user.

• dass jede Sperrscheibe an ihrer der Riegelplatte abgewandten Seite eine diametrale Nut aufweist, die einen Sperrschieber trägt, der in dem Umstellschieber geführt ist und der in eine mit dem Kodierungsknopf verbundene Zahnscheibe eingreift,
• dass jeder Zahnscheibe eine federnd rastende Zuhaltung zugeordnet ist und
• dass diese Zuhaltungen nur in den Enstellungen des Riegels freigegeben sind.

This object is achieved in that the slots of the locking disks face the locking plate,

• that each locking disk on its side facing away from the locking plate has a diametrical groove which carries a locking slide which is guided in the change-over slide and which engages in a toothed disk connected to the coding button,
• that each toothed lock washer is assigned a spring catch and
• that these tumblers are only released in the settings of the bolt.

Advantageous developments of the invention are mentioned in the subclaims.

Description of the drawings

• Fig. 1 zeigt in auseinandergezogener Darstellung mit den Teilfiguren a-h alle wesentlichen Komponenten des gesamten Schlosses.
• Fig. 2 stellt den Schlosskasten dar,
• Fig. 3 die Riegelplatte,
• Fig. 4 drei Sperrscheiben,
• Fig. 5 einen Umstellschieber,
• Fig. 6 drei Zuhaltungen,
• Fig. 7 drei Zahnscheiben,
• Fig. 8 den Schlossdeckel,
• Fig. 9 die Kodierungsknöpfe,
• Fig. 10 zeigt eine Draufsicht auf den Schlosskasten mit ausgefahrener Riegelplatte und weiteren Einzelteilen,
• Fig.11 ist eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht der Anordnung nach Fig. 10,
• Fig. 12 und 13 stellen jeweils eine Teilansicht mit eingeschobener Riegelplatte dar. Beide Abbildungen unterscheiden sich durch die Stellung des Umstellschiebers,
• Fig. 14 und 15 zeigen die möglichen Stellungen eines vom Umstellschlüssel gesteuerten Steuerschiebers, wie er in Fig. 12 und 13 teilweise verdeckt zu sehen ist,
• Fig. 16 stellt die Seitenansicht dieses Steuerschiebers dar,
• Fig. 17 zeigt eine Schlossvariante mit Baskülestangen,
• Fig. 18 eine Ausführungsform mit Mikroschalter.

An embodiment of the invention for m = 3 coding buttons is explained with reference to Fig. 1-18 of the drawings.

• Fig. 1 shows an exploded view with the partial figures ah all the essential components of the entire castle.
• 2 shows the lock case,
• 3 the locking plate,
• 4 three locking disks,
• 5 shows a change-over slide,
• 6 three tumblers,
• 7 three tooth lock washers,
• 8 the lock cover,
• 9 the coding buttons,
• 10 shows a top view of the lock case with the locking plate extended and further individual parts,
• 11 is a partially sectioned side view of the arrangement of FIG. 10,
• 12 and 13 each represent a partial view with the locking plate inserted. Both figures differ in the position of the change-over slide,
• 14 and 15 show the possible positions of a control slide controlled by the changeover key, as can be seen partially hidden in FIGS. 12 and 13,
• 16 shows the side view of this control slide,
• 17 shows a lock variant with base bars,
• Fig. 18 shows an embodiment with a microswitch.

Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

• Fig. 1 zeigt den Schlosskasten 10,
• Fig. 1 b die Riegelplatte 20,
• Fig. 1c drei Sperrscheiben 30, 31, 32 mit den Sperrschiebern 33, 34, 35,
• Fig. 1d einen Umstellschieber 40,
• Fig. 1e drei Zuhaltungen 50, 51, 52,
• Fig. 1f drei Zahnscheiben 60,61,62,
• Fig. 1g den Schlossdeckel 70,
• Fig. 1 h drei Kodierungsknöpfe 80, 81,82.

1 comprises eight sub-areas:

• 1 shows the lock case 10,
• 1 b, the locking plate 20,
• 1c three locking disks 30, 31, 32 with the locking slides 33, 34, 35,
• 1d a diverter slide 40,
• 1e three tumblers 50, 51, 52,
• 1f three toothed disks 60,61,62,
• 1g the lock cover 70,
• 1 h three coding buttons 80, 81, 82.

2 shows the lock case 10, which is preferably produced by the die-casting process and which, in a symmetrical arrangement, has pairs of guide bolts 11-13 which are provided with a threaded hole. Further stud bolts 14, 15, 16, 17 lying in the lock axis A-B serve as guide pins for the bolt actuation handle and the coding buttons. With 18 a guide mandrel for the change key is designated, with 19a and 19b a molded pair of cuboids with a threaded hole. Fastening holes are arranged in the four corners of the lock case 10, of which the holes 10a and 10b are visible.

The locking plate 20 according to FIG. 3, like the lock case, can be made from a castable alloy. The actual latch 20a is formed on the left end. The plate has a series of elongated holes which precisely guide the locking plate via the bolts 11-13. With 21, 22, 23 block-shaped locking pins lying in the lock axis A-B are designated, which engage in radial slots 30a, 31a, 32a of the locking disks 30, 31, 32 (FIG. 4). Further cuboid locking pins 24, 25, 26 engage in the tumblers 50, 51, 52 according to FIG. 6.

On the locking plate 20 there is an eccentric disc 27 which is mounted on the mandrel 14 and which takes the locking plate with it via the pin 20b. The eccentric disc 27 is driven via the pin 27a by a bolt actuating handle, not shown.

The locking plate 20 has a rectangular recess in the central area 20c, which receives the locking disks 30, 31, 32 according to FIG. Each of these locking disks is provided on the underside with a radial groove 30a, 31a, 32a, into which the locking pins 21-23 engage when the lock is open. A diametrical groove 30b, 31b, 32b is provided on the upper side, which receives the locking slides 33, 34, 35. These sliders have ratchet teeth 33a, 34a, 35a at their right end.

5 shows a change-over slide 40 which has three circular cutouts 40a, 40b, 40c. The circle diameter corresponds to the diameter of the parts 30-35. However, the slide lies over the locking disks in such a way that it only takes the locking slides 33-35 with it in the direction of the lock axis A-B. The change-over slide 40 is guided with the help of the elongated holes 41-46. It is adjusted with the aid of a pin 91 or a change key 90 which engages in the bar recess 47.

Fig. 6 shows the tumblers 50, 51, 52, which are guided over pairs of elongated holes 50a, 50b, 51a, 51b, 52a, 52b and the bolts 11-13 such that they can be moved transversely to the lock axis A-B. Each tumbler has a slightly oval recess 50c, 51c, 52c, which at the upper end merges into a locking tooth 50d, 51d, 52d.

7, toothed disks 60, 61, 62 are indicated, which are connected to the coding buttons 80, 81, 82 according to FIG. 9 via hollow shafts, not shown, through the lock cover 70 shown in FIG. 8. The hollow shafts include the guide pins 15, 16, 17. The height of the parts is matched to one another in such a way that the toothing of the disks 60, 61, 62 both in the locking teeth 33a, 34a, 35a and in the locking teeth 50d, 51d, 52d intervenes. The tumblers 50-52 are held in engagement with the toothed disks 60, 61, 62 by coil springs 53, 54, 55.

10 shows a top view of the partially assembled lock. The bolt 20a assumes the closed position. Under the bolt is a locking slide 83 movable transversely to the lock axis A-B, which via a coil spring 84, a pin 85 and a control curve of the locking plate 20 causes the bolt to assume one of two stable end positions.

A control slide 86 (see FIGS. 14-16) is actuated by the beard 90a of a changeover key 90. This slide carries a cuboid locking pin 88, which is held by a coil spring 89 in the normal position shown. In this position, both the changeover slide 40 and the control slide 86 are blocked because the pin 88 abuts the locking plate 20.

Fig. 11 shows the position of the assembled parts according to Fig. 10. You can see the slider 83 and 86 between the bottom of the box 10 and the locking plate 20. The change key is designated 90. In the closed position shown, the locking pins 21-23 are outside the locking disks 30-32. Furthermore, the locking pin 24 lies outside the slot 50e of the tumbler 50. In the closed position, the coding buttons 80-82 can therefore be changed over as desired in order to reject the combination. When trying to push the latch back, the locking pins 21-23 hit the locking washers 30-32. When the combination is selected again, the locking slides 33-35 again assume the position according to FIG. 4 in which the bolt can be pushed back.

The combination once set can only be changed in the open position according to FIGS. 12 and 13. In this position, the locking pin 88 can engage in a recess 20d of the locking plate, so that the locking bar is blocked during the changeover process. Furthermore, in the open position, the locking disks 30-32 are blocked by the pins 21-23 and the toothed disks and thus the coding buttons are blocked by the locking teeth 33a-35a. The coding buttons therefore show the old combination, e.g. ABC. The ratchet teeth can deviate from the drawing 33a-35a can be replaced by mechanically more stable locking segments.

The code can be changed by the authorized user of the safe after he has unlocked the lock. For the changeover, the control slide 86 must first be pushed down until the locking pin 88 connected to it releases the changeover slide 40. The changeover slide is then pulled into the right end position with the aid of the coil spring 93.

The tumblers 50-52 cause a "digitization" of the movement of the coding buttons via the teeth 50d-52d. Each tumbler is moved up and down when the associated coding button is adjusted and engages in the toothing so that the control channel, e.g. 50e, the pin 24 can pass during the bolt movement. However, if a tumbler should nevertheless get stuck on one tooth tip, i.e. between two coding positions, the locking movement is blocked via the control slot. Conversely, the coding buttons cannot be adjusted if the latch is caught in an intermediate position.

All of the mutual interlocks described make the lock foolproof insofar as it cannot be brought into a position by incorrect handling, in which only remedial action is possible by drilling.

Basically, the lock is delivered in one of two versions. Version 1 is used for farmer users in the banking and private sector, version 2 for frequently changing users in hotels.

In version 1, the control slide 86 is moved with the aid of a pin 92 shown in FIG. 16, which is fastened to the rear of the slide 86 and projects through the lock case into the security container. Another pin 91, which also protrudes from the rear of the lock case, is attached to the change-over slide 40.

The positions of the slides 40 and 86 are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

The angular shape of the recess 48 causes the control slide 86 to be blocked when the changeover slide 40 assumes the changeover position. The change-over slide 40 takes the locking slides 33, 34, 35 (FIG. 4) via its recesses 40a, 40b, 40c (FIG. 5), so that the toothed disks 60, 61, 62 (FIG. 7) are removed from the locking teeth 33a, 34a, 35a are uncoupled. As a result, the coding buttons 80, 81, 82 of the old combination, e.g. ABC, to a new one, e.g. XYZ. If you now retract the change-over slide with the pin 91, the spring 89 presses the control slide 86 upward, and the change-over slide 40 is locked again. Now you can close the container, insert the bolt and discard the combination, possibly after a test closing with the door open.

Version 2 will. mainly used in hotel rooms where special conditions prevail. On the one hand, the hotel guest should be able to set a certain combination independently of the hotel staff. On the other hand, it must be ensured that the container is unlocked when the guest leaves, because otherwise extensive research will be required and the container could be blocked for weeks. It is not infrequent that the guest can no longer be reached, or he has forgotten the combination, so that only the partial destruction of the castle remains as a way out.

In order to avoid all these problems, the lock is delivered in the so-called “hotel version” without the pins 91, 92 and instead with a change key 90, which is inserted and removed into the key hole 71 only when the lock is unlocked and in the change position of the slide 40 can be. So if the guest is asked to hand in the changeover key on departure, the guarantee is given that the lock can be re-encoded by the next guest and the safe can be used.

The key 90 engages both in a key bit cutout 87 in the slide 86 and in the key bit cutout 47 in the changeover slide 40. 14 shows the normal position and FIG. 15 shows the changeover position. Fig. 16 shows the slider from the side. Since the keyhole 71 is arranged perpendicular to the lock axis A-B, the key can only be removed in the changeover position according to FIG. 15. However, because in this position the bolt 20a is blocked, the container can only be opened and closed when the change key 90 is inserted and in the position shown in FIG. 14. The solution described has the great advantage that the hotel staff can check from the reception by accepting the changeover key that the safe is open in the room or vault.

Both lock versions have largely identical components in production. The stamped parts in particular are of the same design. To prevent tampering, it is recommended, however, that version 2 of the lock housing does not provide any elongated holes for the changeover pins. In this embodiment, no pins are riveted to the sliders 40 and 86.

In Fig. 17 a partial lock is drawn as a special design in partial representation. The side walls of the lock case 10 are provided with cutouts 10c, 10d, in which the base rods 94, 95 are guided. They are slanted through oblong holes, e.g. 94a, and a driving mandrel 20e seated on the locking plate 20 is moved. Since the locking plate 20 is adjusted using the guide pin 14 by means of a special handle, in contrast to single-button combination locks, it does not cause any problems to transmit the additional torque.

Another embodiment of the lock is shown in Fig. 18. It shows the right part of the lock case 10, on which the bolt abge a microswitch 96 is placed on the opposite end wall. The plunger 96a of this switch scans the rear edge of the changeover slide 40. In this embodiment, a contact is actuated when the slide is in the changeover position, that is, when the safe door is open. In the hotel version of the lock, for example, you can display the lock position in the reception to ensure that the safe door is open when the guest leaves.

The operating instructions for both versions are summarized as follows:

The lock is opened by adjusting the combination on the coding knobs and turning the bolt handle to the right.

To close the bolt actuation handle is turned to the left and the combination is discarded by adjusting all coding buttons.

In order to set a new combination of numbers, the control slide pin 92 is pushed down in version 1, so that the change-over slide jumps around and releases the coding buttons for readjustment. The changeover slide is then withdrawn with the aid of the pin 91.

In version 2 intended for the hotel sector, the changeover key 90 is turned to the left by approximately 90 °, the new combination is set and the key is turned to the right again. In the changeover position, the key can be withdrawn by the previous user and handed over to the new guest by the hotel staff.

It is customary to provide 26 setting positions for the alphabet on the coding buttons. With three buttons you get 26 ³ = 17 576 combinations. With four units you can achieve 456976 combinations. If you add the digits 1-9 to the alphabet with 26 characters, you get 35 ³ = 42 875 combinations with three units.

Another way to increase the number of combinations is to install two locks in one door.

Best way to carry out the invention The best way to put the invention into practice is to see that the ^three- button version described is realized with 26 ³ combinations, at least the lock case, locking plate, locking washers, locking slide and coding buttons being made of die-cast. The particularly flat parts, such as diverter and tumblers, are punched out of sheet metal.

Commercial usability

The new combination lock is inexpensive to manufacture, extremely easy to use and safe to use. The combination can also be changed by inexperienced users, e.g. Hotel guests can be carried out in a few seconds. In contrast to uniaxial combination locks, it is excellently suitable e.g. to be used in hotel or bank lockers.

The key advantage of this lock is that it is touch-proof in every respect due to the special internal locks.

Claims (10)

1. A combination lock with several coding knobs (80,81,82) for containers of valuables, with a bolt (20a) movable between two end positions, the plate (20) of which bolt carries m locking pins (21, 22, 23) which co-operate with m rotatable locking discs (30, 31, 32) controlled by the coding knobs (81, 82, 83), wherein each of these locking discs has a radial slot (30a, 31a, 32a) opposite which is located a locking pin secured on the bolt plate, further with a common resetting slider (40) which effects a decoupling between the coding knobs and the locking discs, characterised in that the slots (30a, 31a, 32a) of the locking discs (30, 31, 32) face the bolt plate (20), in that each locking disc (30, 31, 32) has a diametral groove (30b, 31 b, 32b) on its side remote from the bolt plate (20) which groove carries a locking slider (33, 34, 35), which is guided in the resetting slider (40) and which engages in a toothed disc (60, 61, 62) connected to the coding knob (80, 81, 82), in that a resiliently locating tumbler (50,51,52) is associated with each toothed disc (60, 61, 62) and in that these tumblers (50,51,52) are released only in the end positions of the bolt (20a).

2. A combination lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the resetting slider (40) is movable in the direction of the lock's axis (A-B) and in that the tumblers (50, 51, 52) are displaceably mounted perpendicularly to the lock's axis (A-B).

3. A combination lock according to claim 1, characterised in that on the bolt plate (20) are arranged additional locking pins (24, 25, 26) which engage in control slots (50e, 51 e, 52e) of the tumblers (50, 51, 52) in such a way that the tumblers (50, 51, 52) and thus the coding knobs are blocked in the intermediate positions of the bolt.

4. A combination lock according to claims 1-3, characterised in that three coding knobs (80, 81, 82) are provided and in that the lock case (10) carries six guide bolts (11a, 11 b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b) in which are supported both the resetting slider (40) and the three tumblers (50, 51, 52) by means of elongate holes.

5. A combination lock according to claims 1-4, characterised in that a control slider (86) which is displaceable perpendicularly to the lock's axis (A-B), is provided, which carries a locking pin (88), which projects into an annular recess (48) of the resetting slider (40) and which blocks the bolt plate (20) in the resetting position.

6. A combination lock according to claims 1-5, characterised in that both the resetting slider (40) and the control slider (86) each have a pin (91, 92), which project through elongate holes in the lock case (10) and are thus actuable when the door is open.

7. A combination lock according to claim 1-5, characterised in that the resetting slider (40) and the control slider (86) are provided with key bit recesses (47, 94) and in that the lock cover (70) has a key hole (71) the angular position of which permits the introduction and withdrawal of the key (90) only in the resetting position of the resetting slider (40).

8. A combination lock according to claim 2, charaterised in that the resetting slider (40) is connected to a spring (93) which pulls it into the resetting position.

9. A combination lock according to claim 1, characterised in that there are guided into recesses (10c, 10d) of the lock case (10) two swivel bars (94, 95) for the drive of which serve obliquely positioned elongate holes (e.g. 94a) and a drive pin (20e) sitting on the dead bolt plate (20).

10. A combination lock according to claim 2, characterised in that a micro-switch (96), whose plunger (86a) makes contact with the rear edge of the resetting slider (40), is mounted on the front face remote from the dead bolt.

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