EP0594985B1 - Tumbler lock with rotatable tumblers - Google Patents

Abstract

A tumbler lock with pivoting tumblers (3) and with a bitted key (4) has, for a plurality of bit steps, respective corresponding engagement points on the individual tumblers (3) in that, on each particular tumbler, especially near the entrance to an indentation (11), an actuating boss projects and/or that flank (13) of the key bit (6) loading the engagement point is rounded in a crowned or convex manner and thus, when the key is turned, rolls on this corresponding engagement point, irrespective of how long the individual bit step still extends in the radial direction from this common contact point. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a tumbler lock with a plurality of swivel tumblers mounted on a common tumbler rotation axis and with a beard key which attacks with different beard levels on an approximately arcuate bulge of a swivel tumbler, the bulges being congruent in particular and one adjacent to the entry of the beard step into the bulge Point of attack for the respective, differently long beard level of the key beard is arranged.

Such a tumbler lock is known from DE-PS 16 78 021 or DE-PS 19 04 486 for a double-bit key with a corresponding all-round closed recess with two bulges on the swivel tumblers. Due to the pivoting of the swivel tumblers, existing tour channels are arranged on the individual tumblers at different locations on their end faces so that a tour pin or stud of the bolt belonging to the lock can enter these tour channels when it is opened.

Depending on the length of the individual beard step, its edge engages at a different distance from the entry into the bulge on an adjacent attack surface and, when the key is turned further, glides along this surface until the key step reaches the bulge. The individual tumblers are simultaneously pivoted differently depending on the length of the individual beard steps.

It has been shown that in the course of time these repeated sliding movements of the key bit over the area of attack adjacent to the bulge show these corresponding signs of actuation. With the help of an appropriately small endoscope, such traces of use can be determined through the keyhole. The security of such a lock, which is particularly high against being scanned to generate a duplicate key, if the cutouts and bulges of the tumblers are congruent, i.e. do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the gradations of the key bit, diminish over time, because it can now be seen from each tumbler what length the beard step attacking the individual tumblers has.

Another danger is that such traces of wear can be created artificially by an unauthorized person wetting the attack surfaces, for example with a spray paint or the like, so that this unauthorized person after a relatively short time, which can be expected to actuate several locks, then similar Can detect traces with an endoscope, because this wetting or color is scraped off on the attack surfaces by the individual beard levels.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a tumbler lock of the type mentioned, in which the points of attack for the beard steps on the Tumblers do not allow conclusions to be drawn about the length of the beard, not even after a long period of actuation.

The solution to this problem is that a cam-like projection is provided as the actuating cam as the point of attack on the respective tumbler at the area immediately adjacent to the entry into the bulge, and that the part of the tumbler adjoining it on the side of the actuating cam facing away from the inlet is also recessed and / or that the key bit on its flank facing the point of attack at least the longer step or steps has such a rounding, recess, bevel or similar deformation that the point of attack of the key bit is shifted from the actually extreme beard length to the center of the key axis.

The actuating cams on the recessed tumblers can be practically achieved by removing the previous contact surface except for the actuating cams or by forming a recess. There then remains practically only one such actuating cam for the attack of the key bit, on which then beard steps of different lengths attack each in approximately the same way and thus also in the same place, so that no conclusions can be drawn about the respective length of the beard steps taking effect on the individual tumblers are more possible, even if longer wear occurs or appropriate coloring is carried out.

Due to the curves, recesses, bevels or deformations at the point of attack of the key bit, it can be achieved that, for example, two beard levels each have a corresponding point of attack, namely if a longer beard step is provided with such a curve, but the next shorter one is not, etc. At least two beard levels then cause corresponding signs of use at the points of attack of the tumblers, even if they are not designed as actuating cams, which in turn do not allow any precise conclusions to be drawn on the level of beard required for the corresponding tumbler.

In addition, a bevel on the actuating flank of the key bit facilitates interaction with the actuating cam, thus improving the operability of the tumbler lock, which is safer due to an actuating cam on the tumblers.

This invention is particularly advantageous when the tumblers have congruent cutouts, be it for simple beard keys or, above all, for double beard keys. The unauthorized user can then neither draw conclusions about the beard gradation of the key by sensing the recesses nor by traces of use, for example, on colored tumblers.

It is particularly expedient if the actuating cam is rounded at its most projecting point and in particular also at the transition and entry into the bulge of the tumbler. As a result, the key bit stages of different lengths, by means of which different degrees of pivoting of the individual tumblers and their actuating cams are caused, can each roll on this cam and thereby largely prevent wear.

An advantageous solution of particular importance with regard to the design of the key bit to conceal the attack of the different beard levels on the individual tumblers can consist in that the flanks of all beard levels of the key bit used to pivot the tumblers have a particularly matching one have a convex or spherical cross-sectional shape, a point of greatest cross-sectional thickness of the beard being provided at several, in particular at all beard levels, such that when the lock is opened it acts on the area adjacent to the entry into the bulges at a corresponding point of attack and when pivoting this point of attack rubbing and rolling away touched. By skilfully choosing the curvature of the cross section of the key bit, which serves to pivot the tumblers, it can be ensured that this key bit always attacks the same point of attack of the respective tumbler during this pivoting movement, regardless of the length of the beard step, so that corresponding traces do not draw any conclusions allow the respective length of the beard step attacking the individual tumbler.

An embodiment of the invention of particular importance can be applied to a tumbler lock of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the pivot tumblers each have approximately rectangular, closed recesses, on each of which bulges, in particular congruent bulges, are provided, which are provided by an envelope curve are formed according to DE patent 1,678,021. While a longitudinal axis of the "rectangle" with bulge and actuating cams serves to pivot the tumblers, in particular against gravity, the opposite recess with the beard part of the double-bit wrench acting on it serves to forcibly pivot and force control without the influence of gravity and without the risk of an unwanted pivoting of a tumbler To allow frictional forces against a neighboring tumbler. Such a lock could possibly even be used turned through 180 degrees. In the case of the envelope curve for producing the corresponding bulge or cutout, there is a point at which all the circles forming this envelope curve intersect or very much come close, this point also projects slightly towards the inside of the recess compared to the actual envelope curve. The key bit detects this point at an angle at which the tumblers are arranged in such a way that the touring pin can enter the touring channels, and at the same time the bolt is displaced from the key bit so that a first entry into these touring channels already begins or begins Has.

In order to avoid traces of this second key bit on such a second bulge of a recess of a swivel tumbler for double-bit keys or to render a coloring process ineffective, the above-mentioned special embodiment of the invention consists in that at least in the direction of movement of the key bit during the opening movement adjacent to the Interface of the circles forming the envelope curve, the bulge corresponding to the envelope curve is further recessed from the envelope curve, so that the beard steps in this area are at a distance from the bulge.

With this measure, the forced control of the recesses is maintained until the tour pin enters the touring channels of the tumblers, i.e. fixes them against further pivoting and then it is not necessary to determine the tumblers by the key itself in the further course. Shortly before and during the entry of the tour pin, the tumbler is forcibly defined by the respective key bit on the retained envelope curve as a cut-out limitation so that this entry can be made with certainty. Since this area is only very short, it does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the length of the beard step, even if it is worn or stained and the paint is scraped away.

It is particularly expedient if the envelope is recessed on both sides of this control point, so that the key bit is not in front of or behind this point in frictional contact with the corresponding recess and therefore no conclusions about the length of the beard are possible on the entry side of the recess.

The detection of traces of abrasion is also made more difficult, whether after prolonged use or after abrasion of a previously sprayed substance, in particular paint, when the individual tumblers are in contact with one another with friction. A first pivoted tumbler can then take the neighboring tumbler a little way, so that this also obscures an exact point of attack of the associated key bit and in particular such an attack on the actuating cam and on the tumbler bulge opposite the actuating cam.

Overall, there is a tumbler lock, in which the individual recesses of the tumblers can be congruent, but nevertheless traces of actuation of the key bit, whether due to wear or tear, due to the abrasion of previously sprayed substances or colors, no conclusions can be drawn as to the length of each Allow guardian-owned beard level. Even photographic recordings of the interior of the tumblers using an endoscope do not allow the creation of a duplicate key.

• Fig.1 eine Teilansicht des Inneren eines Zuhaltungsschlosses mit einem Teil des Riegels, dem daran vorstehenden Tourstift und einer in Schließstellung befindlichen Zuhaltung, an welcher ein Doppelbartschlüssel angreift, wobei gleichzeitig die Verschwenkstellung durch das Drehen des Schlüssels dadurch angedeutet ist, daß der Schlüssel selbst in strichpunktierter Lage um dem entsprechenden Verschwenkwinkel versetzt angedeutet ist,
• Fig.2 eine der Fig.1 entsprechende Darstellung eines abgewandelten Ausführungsbeispieles, bei welchem die Schwenkzuhaltung eine stirnseitige Verzahnung hat, die mit einer übereinstimmenden Verzahnung an einer Drehscheibe kämmt, wobei diese Drehscheibe den Tourkanal zum Zusammenwirken mit dem Tourstift aufweist, wobei widerum sowohl die Schließstellung als auch der Eintritt des Schlüsselbartes in die Ausbuchtung dargestellt sind,
• Fig.3 das in Fig.2 dargestellte Ausführungsbeispiel, wobei der Schlüssel so weit verdreht ist, daß der Riegel mit dem Tourstift in die entsprechende Aussparung der Drehscheibe zurückgezogen und die Zuhaltungen entsprechend verschwenkt sind,
• Fig.4 eine Teilansicht eines abgewandelten Ausführungsbeispieles gemäß der Darstellung in Fig.1, wobei die Abwandlung darin besteht, daß die die Zuhaltung zum Verschwenken in Offenstellung beaufschlagende Flanke des Schlüsselbartes einen ballig gekrümmten Querschnitt hat, sowie
• Fig.5 die der Fig.4 entsprechende Anordnung, nachdem die Zuhaltungen durch Verdrehen des Schlüssels in Offenstellung verschwenkt sind und der Riegel mit seinem Riegelstollen oder Tourstift zurückgezogen ist.

Two exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows in a schematic representation:

• 1 shows a partial view of the interior of a tumbler lock with part of the bolt, the tour pin projecting thereon and one in the closed position Tumbler on which a double-bit key engages, the pivoting position being indicated by the turning of the key at the same time that the key is indicated offset in the dash-dot position by the corresponding pivoting angle,
• 2 shows a representation corresponding to FIG. 1 of a modified exemplary embodiment, in which the swivel tumbler has an end-face toothing which meshes with a matching toothing on a turntable, this turntable having the tour channel for cooperation with the tour pin, with both the closed position the entry of the key bit into the bulge is shown,
• 3 the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the key being turned so far that the bolt with the tour pin is pulled back into the corresponding recess in the turntable and the tumblers are pivoted accordingly,
• 4 shows a partial view of a modified exemplary embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the modification being that the flank of the key bit which acts on the tumbler for pivoting in the open position has a convex cross section, and
• 5 shows the arrangement corresponding to FIG. 4 after the tumblers have been pivoted into the open position by turning the key and the bolt with its bolt stud or touring pin has been withdrawn.

In the different exemplary embodiments described below, matching or functionally identical but somewhat differently designed parts each receive matching reference numbers.

From a tumbler lock, as is known for example from DE-PS 16 78 021, only part of the bolt 1, the bolt studs or tour pin 2 arranged thereon and a swivel tumbler, hereinafter referred to as tumbler 3, are shown in FIG. The key 4 can also be seen, its shaft 5 being arranged on the end face, from which the differently graded two beard steps 6 and 7 project radially and opposite one another.

According to the number of stages 8, several tumblers 3 are arranged one above the other in a known manner and can be pivoted about the same tumbler rotation axis 9.

Approximately in the middle of the tumblers 3 there is a recess 10 in which the double-bit key 4 engages. The basic shape of this recess 10 is a rectangle delimited approximately by lines 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106. Lines 101, 106 and 103, 104 form the long sides and lines 102 and 105 the narrow sides of this rectangle.

Approximately in the middle region of the long sides there are arcuate bulges 11 and 12, which are congruent for all tumblers and are formed by an envelope curve according to patent 1 678 021, although a deviation to be described is provided on bulge 12.

To open the lock, the key is inserted into the keyhole in the position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 2, although it is already pivoted by a small angle with respect to the actual insertion position, as a result of which the flank 13 used to pivot the tumblers the key bit 6 and its transition 14 to the top 15 of the inside of the line 101, that is, the actuation point on the tumbler 3 approaches.

So that the differently long beard steps on the individual tumblers do not leave different traces of abrasion according to their respective length - be it after a very frequent actuation, be it after spraying the corresponding actuation points with paint or the like, in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG 2 and 3, as a point of attack on the respective tumbler 3, a cam-like projection is provided as an actuating cam 16 in the area immediately adjacent to the entry into the recess or bulge 11. It can clearly be seen that the part of the tumbler 3 adjoining these cams 16 on the side facing away from the entry into the bulge 11 is also recessed, that is to say the flank 13 of the beard 6 cannot contact the recess 10 there obtain, but the only contact between the beard flank 13 and the inside of the recess 10 takes place on this actuating cam 16 regardless of whether a shorter beard step 8 or a longer such step 8 interacts with the respective tumbler 3. Thus, no differently long traces of abrasion on the inside of the recess 10 can arise due to different lengths of beard steps.

In itself, this embodiment would also be possible with a guard locking that only with a simple key is actuated, in which the lower part of the recess 10 is missing or could be open at the bottom.

In the exemplary embodiments, however, a closed recess 10, which is important for forced pivoting, is provided for interacting with a double bit. So that the second beard 7 does not leave any traces of wear on the bulge 12, this is recessed next to the point at which the key acc. the dash-dotted representation in Fig.1, 2 and 4 the tumblers 3 after a rotation by about 65 degrees has pivoted so far that the tour pin 2 straight into the tour channel 17 on the front side of the tumbler 3 (Fig.1) or on the turntable 18 (Fig. 2 and 3) can occur. This point at which all steps of the second beard 7 should have an exact contact with the bulge 12 or recess 10 is the point at which the circles forming the envelope curve of the congruent recess 10 intersect or come very close and which in the exemplary embodiment compared to the actual bulge 12, which is recessed somewhat more with respect to the envelope curve, than control cam 19 projecting inwards. Through a smooth transition 20 on this control cam, the respective step of the key bit 7 can position the tumbler 3 exactly when the key has to align the tour channel 17 precisely with the tour pin 2 after a rotation of about 65 degrees, so that this tour pin 2 in this pivoted position can enter the tour channel 17. Immediately before and afterwards, the beard 7 can have so much play with respect to the tumblers 3 that there is no longer any appreciable or trace friction.

Thus, even in the case of an all-round closed recess 10 with bulges 11 and 12 for a double-bit key, no conclusion can be drawn as to the length of the step of the beard 6 or 7 at any point.

It should also be mentioned that the actuating cam 16 is rounded at its most projecting point and also at the transition and entry into the recess or bulge 11 of the tumbler, so that the flank 13 of the key bit 6 largely rolls on this actuating cam 16 during the pivoting movement and can thereby largely prevent wear. At the same time it is achieved that the transition 14 and the upper side 15 can slide well into the bulge 11, as is indicated by the dash-dotted representation in FIG.

1 and 2 each contain two key positions. Therefore, the connecting line L from the pivot axis 9 to the tour pin 2 is shown twice, although it actually maintains its position. The angle between these two lines L actually corresponds to the pivoting of the tumbler 3 from its position shown in FIG. 1 into a correspondingly pivoted upward position. Instead of the better overview in FIG. 1, the pivot line of the key center is indicated as an arc K and the key shaft 5 is shown in an apparently pivoted downward position. Compared to this apparently pivoted position of the line L downwards and the key shaft 5, the reality is how far the tumbler 3 is pivoted upwards so that the tour channel 17 comes into alignment with the tour pin 2.

In FIG. 2, a counter toothing 22 of the rotatable disk 18 engages on an end toothing 21 of the tumblers 3, which then has the tour channel 17 for cooperation with the tour pin 2. The function and mode of operation as well as, above all, the design of the recess 10 on the tumbler 3 is completely the same as that shown in FIG. 1. Such locks according to Figure 2 allow, after a certain time to change the assignment of the gradation of a key to the lock by moving the teeth apart, then inserting the new key and pivoting the tumblers accordingly due to their congruent recesses and then bringing the teeth together again. If tour channel 17 is arranged opposite tour pin 2, only the new key now fits.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5, in which the tour channels 17 are in turn arranged on the end faces of swivel tumblers 3, but could also be provided on rotatable disks 18 analogously to FIGS. 2 and 3, it is provided that that for actuating the tumblers 3 serving flanks 13 of all beard levels 8 have a matching convex or spherical cross-sectional shape, which is curved and arranged in such a way that when the lock is opened, all tumblers 3 are acted upon at the same point, i.e. at the area adjacent to the entry into the bulges 11, at a matching point of attack . The point of greatest cross-sectional thickness of the beard 6 is provided at this point and coincides with the respectively corresponding point of attack, which corresponds approximately to the point at which the actuating cam 16 is arranged in the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3. In practice, the projecting shape of the cam 16 is replaced by an analogous projecting or curved shape of the key bit flank 13.

When pivoting the tumblers 3 by turning the key 4 and the resulting pivoting of the flank 13, this flank 13 rubs and rolls on the point of attack on the boundary surface 101 regardless of how long the respective individual beard step 8 is, because with a longer beard step the this area of the beard step adjacent to it only in the course of the key rotation approximated to the point of attack and finally in with it Is brought into contact. This arrangement can therefore also obscure the length of the respective beard step 8 engaging a tumbler 3. There will be roughly the same length of rub marks on all tumblers.

Finally, a combination of the above-described measures would also be conceivable, that is to say the use of a key with a spherical beard flank 13 and an actuating cam 16 on the tumblers 3. Under certain circumstances, this could in particular reduce the frictional force between the flank 13 and the tumbler 3, because part of the relative movement between the key bit and the actuating cam 16 then takes place via a roller that also results in less wear.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4 and 5, as in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 3, a control cam 19 is also provided on the opposite bulge 12. In the manner already described, this prevents conclusions about the length of the beard steps of the opposite key bit 7 in the region of the bulge 12.

In summary, it follows that a spherical or projecting shape in the area of the point of attack on the tumbler 3 between this and the flank 13 of the key 4 relocates the contact point between the key bit 6 and tumbler 3 to an approximately matching location regardless of how long the individual Beard step 8 of the beard 6 is, so that traces of wear of the key bit in the area of its attack on the tumbler 3 does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the respective radial step dimension.

The recesses 10 of the tumblers can also be used when using a spherical actuating key bit be congruent and therefore also exclude conclusions about the beard levels.

The tumbler lock with swivel tumblers 3 and a beard key 4 has matching points of attack for several beard levels on the individual tumblers 3 in that an actuating cam projects on the respective tumbler, particularly near the entrance to a bulge 11, and / or the flank 13 of the key bit that acts on the point of attack 6 is rounded or convexly rounded and thus rolls off at this corresponding point of attack when the key is turned, regardless of how long the individual beard step extends from this common point of contact in the radial direction.

Claims (8)

1. A tumbler lock including a plurality of rotatable tumblers (3) mounted on a common pivot (9) and further including a ward-lock key (4) having various steps (8) each engaging a generally arcuate convexity (11) of a rotatable tumbler (3), wherein the convexities (11) are in particular congruent and wherein adjacent to the entry of the step (8) into the convexity (11) there is arranged a point of application for the respective step (8) of different length of the key bit (6), characterized in that the point of application on the respective tumbler (3) at the zone directly adjacent to the entry into the convexity (11) is provided in the form of a cam-like projection as an operating cam (16) and that the adjoining portion of the tumbler (3) on that side of said operating cam (16) which faces away from the entry is likewise recessed and/or that the key bit (6) has on its flank (13) which forms part of at least the longer step(s) (8) and faces the point of application a curvature, recess, slant or similar shape such that the point of application of the key bit (6) is thereby moved from the outermost bit length towards the centre axis of the key.
2. A tumbler lock as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tumblers have congruent recesses (10) with conforming convexities (11).
3. A tumbler lock as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the operating cam (16) is rounded at its furthest projecting point and particularly also at the transition and entry into the convexity (11) of the respective tumbler (3).
4. A tumbler lock as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the flanks (13) of all the steps (8) of the key bit (6) which serves to rotate the tumblers (3) have in particular a conforming, convex or spherical cross-sectional shape, wherein a point of maximum cross-sectional thickness of the bit (6) is provided on several, particularly on all the steps (8) in such a way as to act upon the zone adjacent to the entry into the convexities (11) at a generally conforming point of application and, during rotation, to frictionally and rollingly contact the latter as the lock is opened.
5. A tumbler lock as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rotatable tumblers in each case have generally rectangular, closed recesses provided with convexities (11, 12) at the mutually opposed sides, particularly congruent recesses (10) and convexities (11, 12), characterized in that in the direction of movement of the key bit (7) acting upon the second convexity (12), adjacent to a point of intersection of the circles composing the envelope curve for the convexity (12), said second convexity is recessed radially outwardly relative to said envelope curve so that in this zone the steps (7) are in spaced relationship to the convexity (12).
6. A tumbler lock as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the convexity (12) is recessed relative to the envelope curve forming the same and on either side of a control point formed by the intersecting points of the circles forming the envelope curve, so that said control point projects inwardly as a controlling cam (19) relative to the convexity (12) set back relative to an envelope curve.
7. A tumbler lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a smooth transition (20) is provided from the course of the convexity (12) to the controlling cam (19) and the controlling cam (19) may be convexly rounded at its furthest projecting zone.
8. A tumbler lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tumblers (3) have operating cams (16) and the key has on its bit (6) serving to rotate the tumblers (3) a spherically rounded flank (13).

Images