EP0262059A1 - Key and lock - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Key for a lock of the type comprising a tubular cylindrical body (1) having a front opening or key-way (13) for the insertion of a key (I) and containing a turning cylinder (8) adapted to actuate at least one lock bolt and defining a follower (14) for the insertion of a key, coaxial with the front opening, in which there is provided a stop (15) and into which resiliently controlled movable locking members (17) interposed between the cylinder (8) and the body (1) partially project, said key comprising an actuating head and an insertion shank (25) provided with projections (27) adapted to be inserted into the body (1) through the front opening in order to release the movable locking members, said key characterised in that it comprises a tubular insertion shank (25) open at its insertion end (26) and containing a moving piston (29) urged by a spring (30) against an extension stop (31) on the shank, and adapted to cooperate, on the one hand, with a retraction stop (33) carried by the shank and, on the other hand, with the stop (15).

Description

The present invention relates to lock keys and locking devices used to control the movement of at least one bolt or bit provided to immobilize or release a movable panel relative to a fixed frame.

The technical field concerned is that of locking devices of the barrel type rotating inside a cylindrical body with respect to which it can be immobilized by means of locking members of the pump or glitter type.

The cylindrical body of such devices has a front entry allowing the insertion of a key comprising means capable of controlling locking members accessible from a follower formed in the barrel coaxially at the entry of the cylindrical body.

The insertion of the key makes it possible either to retract the movable locking members, or to place them in a predetermined position in which the barrel is free to rotate relative to the cylindrical body.

The effective and safe locking which can be provided by such devices is, essentially, attached to the complementary physical characteristics between the control key and the movable locking members. The physical characteristics can depend on the position, the shape and the relative height of aligned teeth, in particular in the case of flakes or, again, on the shape, the orientation and the length of radial ribs controlling pumps. additional length.

In all cases, the insertion position, making it possible to obtain the concordance of the complementary elements with a view to erasing the movable locking members or to moving them into the predetermined unlocking position, is defined by bringing them into abutment of the key inserted inside the barrel follower.

This predetermined stop position does not correspond to a particularly satisfactory safety factor, since an attempt at picking can be exerted from this reference position accessible through the front entrance of the lock. Although satisfactory, in terms of combinations which can be imparted in a complementary manner to the lock and the key, it should be noted, moreover, that the mechanisms of the above type are limited in possibility of codification, due to the necessarily limited number of movable locking members that can be implemented in the two construction cases mentioned above and also due to the limitation of the different dimensional characteristics that can be conferred on each of them. In total therefore, locking devices of the above type need to be improved to satisfy a need for efficient and secure closing and locking using technical means offering a large possibility of multiple coding to statistically decrease a possibility of picking.

It is an object of the invention to meet this double objective by proposing a new key for a lock as well as a locking device constituted by a lock comprising means complementary to those carried by the new key according to the invention.

The improvements according to the present invention are aimed at locking mechanisms of the cylindrical body and rotating barrel type. whatever the conformation of the locking members that can be interposed between them.

In other words, the subject of the invention relates to locking mechanisms of the barrel type, the movable locking members of which are, indifferently, constituted by pumps, by pumps and counter-pumps, or, alternatively, by Glitter.

To achieve the above objectives, the invention provides a new key for a lock of the type comprising a tubular cylindrical body having a front opening or entry for the insertion of a key and containing a rotating barrel capable of controlling at least one locking bolt and defining a key insertion nut, coaxial with the front opening and in which protrude in part movable locking members, elastically controlled and interposed between the barrel and the body, key comprising a head operating and an insertion barrel forming projections intended to be introduced into the follower through the front opening to unlock the movable locking members, key characterized in that it comprises a tubular insertion barrel, open at its insertion end and containing a movable piston urged by a moving spring against an extension stop presented by the barrel and intended to cooperate with c, on the one hand, a retraction stop carried by the barrel and, on the other hand, a stop stop provided in the follower of the barrel.

• - la serrure est munie d'une butée d'arrêt prévue à l'intérieur du fouillot du barillet,
• - et la clé comporte un fût d'insertion tubulaire, ouvert à son extrémité d'insertion et contenant un piston mobile sollicité par un ressort en déplacement contre une butée d'extension présentée par le fût et destinée à coopérer avec, d'une part, une butée de rétraction portée par le fût et, d'autre part, avec la butée d'arrêt lorsque ledit fût est inséré dans le fouillot à travers l'entrée de façade.

The invention also relates to a locking device comprising, on the one hand, a cylinder type lock and, on the other hand, a key comprising an operating head and an insertion barrel forming projections intended to be introduced into the barrel follower, characterized in that:

• - the lock is provided with a stopper provided inside the barrel follower,
• - And the key comprises a tubular insertion barrel, open at its insertion end and containing a movable piston urged by a moving spring against an extension stop presented by the barrel and intended to cooperate with, on the one hand , a retraction stop carried by the barrel and, on the other hand, with the stop stop when said barrel is inserted into the follower through the front entrance.

• La fig. 1 est une coupe-élévation, en partie arrachée, d'une clé pour serrure et d'une serrure complémentaire conforme à l'invention.
• La fig. 2 est une coupe-élévation, analogue à la fig. 1, mais illustrant la clé et la serrure en position de coopération.
• Les fig. 3 et 4, d'une part, et 5 et 6, d'autre part, sont des coupes-élévations montrant des v"riantes de réalisation dans les mêmes positions caractéristiques que les fig. 1 et 2.

Various other characteristics will emerge from the description given below with reference to the attached sins which show, by way of nonlimiting examples, embodiments of the subject of the invention.

• Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, partially broken away, of a key for a lock and of a complementary lock according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the key and the lock in the cooperation position.
• Figs. 3 and 4, on the one hand, and 5 and 6, on the other hand, are cross-sections showing elevations of embodiment in the same characteristic positions as FIGS. 1 and 2.

According to the invention, the key for lock, designated as a whole by the reference 1, is of the type intended to actuate a mechanical lock It comprising a cylindrical body 1 made of metal and intended to be placed in a housing provided in a panel 2 such as, in particular, a door. The housing has, for example, a constant diameter from the facade 3 and has, on the rear face 4, a flat area for fixing the body 1, for example by a screwed flange 5. A different fixing method could, of course, be reserved, depending on particular cases of applications without this intervening, in one way or another, on the subject of the invention.

The cylindrical body 1 delimits, internally, a bore 7 reserved for mounting a barrel 8 of the rotating type. In the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the barrel 8 is provided, on its rear face, with a polygonal driver 9 intended to drive a bolt or bit, not shown, of a sliding or rotating nature. The barrel 8 is immobilized in the bore 7, for example, by means of a rear plate 10 and a stop ring 11 cooperating with a groove formed in the cylindrical body 1.

The cylindrical body 1 has, in its facade 12, an inlet 13 of conformation complementary to that of the key 1. The inlet 13 is formed coaxially with a fouilot 14 presented by the barrel 8. In the example illustrated in the drawings, the fouilot 14 is limited by a bottom 15 and communicates with cylindrical housings 16 drilled at the periphery of the barrel 8 according to a determined number being angularly equidistant. By way of example, the barrel 8 can comprise five housings 16.

In the example of construction illustrated, the housings 16 contain pumps 17 each urged by a spring 18 to be held in abutment against the internal face of the facade 12. Each pump 17 comprises a lug 19 projecting into the follower 14, so to be able to be attacked by an organ complementary to key 1.

In the example illustrated, the pumps 17 are intended to cooperate with at least one lock 20 held in the bore 7 to surround the barrel 8. Each pump 17 has a groove, a groove or a transverse notch 21 whose passage section is equal, apart from play, to that of the protrusions of the shaft 20. The position of the notch 21 of each pump 17 is determined according to a coding law, so that the introduction of the key 1 makes it possible to push back , simultaneously, all the pumps 17 and at the same time bring the notches 21 in the plane of the shaft 20 to allow rotation in one direction or the other of the barrel 8 relative to the cylindrical body 1.

The key I, complementary to the lock II described above, comprises an operating head and an insertion barrel 25 comprising, set back from its insertion end 26, moldings or ribs 27 having the same angular distribution as the pumps 17 which they are responsible for controlling. The law for coding the notches 21 of the pumps 17 is transferred, in addition, to the ribs or moldings 27 so that, through them, the simultaneous actuation, as described above, can occur when the barrel 25 is inserted into the follower 14 through entry 13.

It should be considered that the example described above is in no way limiting and that the object of the invention, as described below, can be implemented for locking devices of the rotating barrel type provided locking members constituted by pumps and counter-pumps or, again, by flakes.

According to the invention, the key 1 is produced so as to comprise a tubular insertion barrel 25 open from its insertion end 26. The tubular insertion barrel 25 delimits a cylindrical bore 28 in which is slidably mounted a piston 29 which is biased, by means of an elastic member 30, in radial displacement against an extension stop 31. In the example illustrated, the stop 31 is constituted by a ferrule added in the bore 28 to limit the section of the latter substantially in the plane of the end 26.

According to the invention, the piston 29 is designed so as to cooperate, during the insertion of the key 1 into the follower 14, with the bottom 15 of the follower, which constitutes a stop limiting the introduction or the insertion of the barrel 25. To cooperate with this stop, the piston 29 has, in one embodiment, a needle 32 protruding from the end 26 under the action of the elastic member 30. Furthermore, according to the invention, the piston 29, considered as a whole, that is to say including the needle 32, has an axial length chosen so that, during insertion, it is brought to cooperate positively with a retraction stop 33 delimited, for example, by a shoulder of the cylindrical bore 28.

During insertion, as illustrated in fig. 2, the barrel 25 is engaged through the inlet 13 to enter the follower 14 until the piston 29, considered as a whole, cooperates with the stopper 15. In this position, the movement d insertion imposed on the key is continued so as to push the piston 29 against the action of the elastic member 30 and bring this piston against the retraction stop 33.

In this position, the insertion barrel 25 occupies a determined position inside the follower 14, position in which the moldings or ribs 27 have pushed the pumps 17 into the position of alignment of the notches 21 with the plane of the plug 20.

Thus, by the play of the axial dimensions between the stop stop 15, the piston 29 and the retraction stop 33, it becomes possible to precisely determine the actual position of cooperation of the key 1 for actuating the pumps 17, without it being necessary to carry out the positive stop of the insertion end 26 with the stop stop 15. By stacking the axial dimensions, it thus becomes possible to determine a non-material actuation position making it much more difficult to attempt fraudulent opening by the 'through current means.

In addition to this safety characteristic, it should be considered that the wide variety of axial dimensions which can be interposed between the stop stop 15 and the retraction stop 33, by means of the piston 29 considered as a whole, makes it possible to increase very high, the possibilities of coding from the ranges offered by the different dimensional characteristics which can be conferred, on the one hand, on pumps 17 or the like and, on the other hand, on ribs or moldings 27.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment in which the piston 29 and the insertion barrel 25 are produced so that the piston is entirely disposed inside the bore 28 in its position of stable rest against the stop of extension 31 under the action of the elastic member 30. In such a case, the extension stop 31 is formed by an internal shoulder of the bore 28 which is then formed from the rear end of the barrel 25 for allow the piston 29 to be mounted. In such a case, the retraction stop 33 is constituted by a plug 34 closing the bore 28.

In such an exemplary embodiment, it is then advantageous to produce the stopper 15 in the form of a projection 35 delimiting a blind bore 36 intended to cooperate with the needle 32 of the piston 29. As previously, the stacking of axial dimensions makes it possible to determine an immaterial actuation position and to increase the possibilities of codification.

An alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 according to which the piston 29 has, instead of the needle 32 and from its corresponding transverse face, a conical type seat 37 intended to cooperate with a complementary bearing surface 38 which is formed by the projection 35. Besides the advantages above, this configuration makes it almost impossible to determine the reference plane of the stop 35 and to deduce therefrom, by any possible approximation, the reference immaterial position for the simultaneous actuation of the pumps 17.

In this exemplary embodiment, the insertion barrel 25, as well as the bore 28, offer a conformation substantially identical to that of FIG. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 show, in addition, another possible embodiment consisting in causing the piston 29 to have a heel 39 of radial direction, engaged in smooth sliding inside an axial slot 40 presented by the insertion barrel 25 from its insertion end 26. The heel 39 is intended to cause the retraction of a secondary locking member constituted by a stud 41 slidably mounted in a radial direction in the barrel 8 and cooperating with a counter stud 42 mounted, in the thickness of the cylindrical body 1, in a coaxial bore closed by a plug 43 retaining an elastic member 44. Under the action of the elastic member 44, the counter-stud 42 is engaged through the interface between the bore 7 and the cylinder 8 and contributes to angularly immobilizing the latter.

The heel 39 is designed so that when the barrel 25 occupies the immaterial actuation position defined by the stacking of the dimensions between the stop stop 15, the piston 29 and the retraction stop 33, it pushes back the stud 41, in such a way that the joint plane between the latter and the counter-stud 42 is placed in coincidence with the interface between the bore 7 and the barrel 8.

This provision makes it possible to further increase the possibilities of codification and to increase the security factor of the conviction established.

The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown, since various modifications can be made thereto without departing from its scope. In particular, it can be envisaged to constitute the projection 35 in the form of a pin movable axially between two reference positions.

Claims (10)

1 - Key for a lock of the type comprising a tubular cylindrical body (1) having a front opening or entry (13) for the insertion of a key (1) and containing a rotating barrel (8) capable of controlling at least one locking bolt and defining a nut (14) for inserting a key, coaxial with the front opening and in which protrude in part movable locking members (17) elastically controlled and interposed between the barrel and the body , key comprising an operating head and an insertion barrel (25) forming projections (27) intended to be introduced into the follower through the front opening to unlock the movable locking members, key
characterized in that it comprises a tubular insertion barrel (25) open at its insertion end (26) and containing a movable piston (29) biased by a spring (30) moving against an extension stop ( 31) presented by the barrel, and intended to cooperate with, on the one hand, a retraction stop (33) carried by the barrel and, on the other hand, a stop stop (15) provided in the follower (14 ) of the barrel. 2 - key for lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the piston (29) has a length less than that of the insertion barrel and is located entirely inside the barrel in a stable position of rest against the stop d 'extension. 3 - key for lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the piston (29) has a radial heel (39) engaged and guided permanently in an axial slot (40) presented by the barrel (25) from its insertion end (26), said heel being intended to actuate a secondary locking stud (41) slidably mounted radially between the barrel and the cylinder and biased by a spring (44) to partially project into the follower (14). 4 - Key for lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movable piston (29) comprises, from its transverse face oriented towards the insertion end of the barrel, a coaxial needle ( 32) intended to cooperate with a blind bore (36) of the stop (35) of the follower (14). 5 - key for lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movable piston (29) has, in its transverse face oriented towards the insertion end of the barrel, a seat (37) of general shape conical, intended to cooperate with a complementary bearing (38) presented by the stopper (35) of the follower. 6 - Locking device comprising, on the one hand, a lock of the type comprising a tubular cylindrical body having a front opening or entry (13) for the insertion of a key (I) and containing a rotating barrel (8) suitable for controlling at least one locking bolt and defining a nut (14) for inserting a key, coaxial with the front opening and in which protrude in part mobile locking members (17) elastically controlled and interposed between the barrel and the body and, on the other hand, a key comprising an operating head and an insertion barrel (25) forming projections (27) intended to be introduced into the follower through the front opening for control the movable locking members when unlocking, characterized in that: - the lock (II) is provided with a stop (15) provided inside the follower (14) of the barrel (8), - And the key (I) comprises a tubular insertion barrel (25), open at its insertion end (26) and containing a movable piston (29) biased by a spring (30) moving against a stopper extension (31) presented by the barrel, and intended to cooperate with, on the one hand, a retraction stop (33) carried by the barrel and, on the other hand, with the stopper (15) when said barrel is inserted into the follower through the front entrance. 7 - Locking device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a lock (II) and a key (I) comprising a piston (29) having a length less than that of the insertion barrel (25) and finding it entirely disposed inside the barrel in a stable position of rest against the extension stop (31), when the barrel is not inserted in the follower of the lock barrel. 8 - Locking device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises: - A lock (II) comprising, between the barrel (8) and the cylinder (1), a secondary locking device constituted by a pin (41) sliding radially in the barrel in the follower from which it projects and by a counter pin (42) elastically controlled and sliding radially in the cylinder coaxially with the finger, - And a key (I) whose movable piston (29) of the insertion barrel has a radial heel (39) engaged and guided permanently in an axial slot (40) presented by the barrel (25) from its end insertion (26), said heel being intended to actuate the sliding nipple in retraction of unlocking in position of insertion in the follower. 9 - Locking device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it comprises: - a lock (II) comprising a barrel (8) delimiting a nut (14) for insertion from the bottom (15) of which an axial stopper (35) is formed having a blind axial bore (36), - And a key (I) whose movable piston (29) of the insertion barrel (25) comprises, from its transverse face oriented towards the insertion end of the barrel, an axial needle (32) intended to cooperate with the blind bore of the stopper. 10 - Locking device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that it comprises: - a lock (II) comprising a barrel (8) delimiting an insertion follower (14) from the bottom (15) of which an axial stopper (35) is formed having a conical bearing (38), - And a key (I) whose movable piston (29) of the insertion barrel (25) comprises, in its face facing the insertion end of the barrel, a seat (37) complementary to the scope. 11- locking device according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a lock whose stop stop is constituted by a pin movable axially between two stop positions.

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