EP1681411B1 - Lock cylinder for key having a key bit which cross section is non-circular - Google Patents

Abstract

The cylinder has a sealing washer (20) with entry and exit slits. The washer has a secondary slit (22) with a central part (24) via which a rod of a key is held. The washer is moved between opening and closing positions. The washer has an outer circular peripheral edge (30) and a stop (32) with bearing surface (33), to block in rotation a drive shaft (36) of a cotter pin (34), when the washer is in opening position. An independent claim is also included for a lock equipped with a lock cylinder.

Description

The present invention relates to a lock cylinder for allowing the passage of a key to then allow to operate said lock by driving the key in rotation.

This type of cylinder well known, also called filter, has an inlet face and an outlet face, an inlet slot being formed in said inlet face and an outlet slot being formed in said outlet face. Such a cylinder corresponding to the preamble of claim 1 is for example known from the document EP 376 867 A . The cylinder usually has three keys for closing the exit slot. A first key directly covers the exit slot so as to close, two other keys, a second smaller and a third, larger, come block the first key.

Each of the keys has a rotating drive shaft and each of the drive shafts has a lever which extends inside the cylinder. The latter has an axial passage path between the two slots, and a bit of said key can be inserted into the cylinder and be rotated to cooperate with the levers and rotate the keys sequentially so as to allow the passage of the bit through the exit slot.

However, the break-ins of this type of locking cylinder by hooking occur, because indeed it is possible to introduce in the lock cylinder hooks that are controlled by looking through the entrance slot. In order to alleviate this, it has been imagined to reduce the dimensions of the entrance slit by bringing a sealing washer facing the entry face with a smaller secondary slot, and to make keys whose stem was no longer circular but cross section, so narrower. In addition, the key rod engages with said sealing washer and at least partially closes the entrance slot as soon as the rotation of the key is started, since the two slots are angularly offset.

Nevertheless, when the two entrance slots coincide, without any key being introduced, despite the narrowness of the slot secondary, it is always possible to try to reach directly the exit slot to rotate forcibly the first key with the help of a tool having taken care, moreover, to crochet the other key.

A problem which then arises and which the present invention aims to solve, is to provide a lock cylinder which makes it possible not only to make it difficult to introduce a tool inside but also to limit the possibility of pivoting. the keys.

For this purpose, and according to a first object, the present invention provides a lock cylinder for allowing the passage of a key having a non-circular section rod and a bit, said lock cylinder having an inlet slot and a exit slot, said cylinder comprising at least one key for holding said exit slot closed, said key having a rotating drive shaft adapted to be driven by said blade to cause the release of said output slot, said cylinder comprising in addition, a closure washer rotatably mounted opposite said inlet slot, said closure washer having a secondary slot, said secondary slot having a central portion through which said stem is intended to engage, said washer shutter being movable between an open position in which said secondary slot coincides with said slot input to allow the input of said bit in said cylinder and a closed position in which said input and secondary slots are angularly offset relative to each other and wherein said washer at least partially closes said slot entering after said key has been rotated; and according to the invention, said sealing washer has locking means for locking in rotation said drive shaft when said sealing washer is in said open position, so as to prohibit the release of said exit slot .

Thus, a feature of the invention lies in the mode of cooperation of the sealing washer and the key through its drive shaft, which allows to block the pivoting of the key as the washer of shutter was not rotated thanks to the key whose stem engages through the sealing washer. In this way, as the shutter washer has not been rotated it is impossible to rotate the key by means of a tool, the exit slot thus remains closed, and as soon as the sealing washer has been driven in rotation, which allows to allow the pivoting of the key, the sealing washer then closes the entrance slit. It is no longer possible to introduce any tool.

According to a particular embodiment of the advantageous invention, said shaft has an eccentric free end which extends to the right of said sealing washer, said eccentric free end being adapted to pivot towards said sealing washer when said shaft is rotated. Thus, it suffices to maintain in a fixed position or to limit the movement of this free eccentric end to lock in rotation the drive shaft and hence the pivoting of the key. Preferably, said free eccentric end is formed by making a notch at the end of said drive shaft, said notch substantially forming a flat. In this way, the eccentric peripheral edge of said flat is a fulcrum away from the axis of rotation of the drive shaft and which makes it possible to lock it in rotation.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said closure washer having a circular outer peripheral edge, said circular outer peripheral edge comprises an abutment tooth forming said locking means. The stop tooth is then adapted to be carried facing said free eccentric end, when the inlet slot and the secondary slot coincide with each other, so that said free eccentric end can abut against the stop tooth if however, the key was pivoted by means of a tool.

Advantageously, said tooth has a bearing surface intended to come into a close position, or even in contact and facing said flat, said bearing surface and said flat being substantially parallel. In this way, the stop tooth completely blocks the end free eccentric and the drive shaft is completely locked in rotation, in one direction or the other.

In addition, the lock cylinder comprises two disks held at a distance from each other, an input disk in which is formed said inlet slot and an output disk in which is formed said output slot, said discs having two facing peripheral notches adapted to receive said rotary drive shaft. Thus, there is no need to provide additional means for rotating the drive shaft, and simply by providing peripheral notches in the discs is carried out rudimentary bearings but sufficient.

Moreover, said inlet and outlet slots are angularly offset substantially by 90 ° and thus, after introduction of the bit in the cylinder, it is necessary to rotate said key 90 ° to proceed with the release of the slot by pivoting the keys and then pushing the key further towards the lock itself.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said key is adapted to cover said exit slot to prevent the passage of said blade. Of course, it is also possible to lock in rotation the drive shaft of another key, for example that of the second key, to avoid releasing the exit slot. Furthermore, and advantageously, the lock cylinder according to the invention comprises two locking keys.

According to another object, the present invention proposes a lock equipped with a lock cylinder according to one of the aforementioned characteristics.

• la Figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective de trois-quarts avant gauche d'un cylindre de serrure selon un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention ;
• la Figure 2 est une vue schématique en perspective de trois quarts arrière gauche du cylindre de serrure illustré à la Figure 1 ;
• la Figure 3 est une vue schématique en perspective du cylindre de serrure illustré à la Figure 1 dans lequel un élément complémentaire, dans une première position, a permis d'activer ledit cylindre ;
• la Figure 4 est une vue schématique en perspective de trois quarts arrière gauche du cylindre de serrure illustré à la Figure 3 ; et,
• la Figure 5 est une vue schématique en perspective de trois quarts arrière gauche du cylindre de serrure illustré à la Figure 4, dans laquelle ledit élément complémentaire a été porté dans une autre position.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of indication but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of three-quarter front left of a lock cylinder according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
• the Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of three quarter left rear of the lock cylinder shown in the Figure 1 ;
• the Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the lock cylinder illustrated in FIG. Figure 1 wherein a complementary element in a first position has enabled said cylinder;
• the Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of three quarter left rear of the lock cylinder shown in the Figure 3 ; and,
• the Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of three quarter left rear of the lock cylinder shown in the Figure 4 wherein said complementary element has been brought to another position.

The Figure 1 illustrates a lock cylinder according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it comprises two facing disks, an input disk 10 and an output disk 12 forming flanges, the disks 10, 12 being held together by rods of link 14, so as to form a central passageway of longitudinal axis X. The input disk 10 has an inlet slot 16 which extends transversely along a diameter of the input disk 10, while the disk outlet 12 has an exit slot 18 oriented perpendicular to the inlet slit 16. Furthermore, the lock cylinder has a sealing washer 20 rotatably mounted facing the inlet disk 10, this washer shutter 20 also having a slot 22, said secondary slot, narrower than the entrance slot 16, but also long and on the present Figure 1 exactly coincides with this input slot 16.

Furthermore, the secondary slot 22 has a central portion 24 in which are formed two opposite grooves 26, 28 whose function will be explained hereinafter.

In addition, the sealing washer 20 has a circular outer peripheral edge 30 masked on the Figure 1 by a shoulder, and which has a stop tooth 32 backed to the shoulder. The stop tooth 32 has a bearing surface 33.

In addition, the cylinder comprises a key 34 comprising a drive shaft 36 of axis A, which drive shaft 36 comprises a perpendicular actuating lever 37 whose function will be explained in the following description, and an end 38. In said end 38 is formed a notch forming a flat portion 40, said flat being, on the Figure 1 extended to the bearing surface 33 of the stop tooth 32. For the sake of clarity, the surface of said flat 40 is substantially spaced from the bearing surface 33, however in reality these two surfaces are close together. from one another to allow proper operation.

The drive shaft 36 is mounted in two opposite notches, a first notch 42 formed in the output disk 12 and a second 44, formed in the input disk 10, these notches 42, 44 then forming bearings for allow the rotational guidance of the drive shaft 36.

The flat 40 has an eccentric free edge 46 with respect to the axis of rotation A of the drive shaft 36. In a position as shown in FIG. Figure 1 and in a real configuration in which this eccentric free edge 46 abuts the bearing surface 33 of the stop tooth 32, the drive shaft 36 can not be rotated because otherwise this eccentric free edge 46 abuts against the bearing surface 33.

We will now refer to the Figure 2 which illustrates in a rear view the cylinder shown in Figure 1 . It contains the input disk 10 and its transverse entrance slot 16 which unlike the central portion 24 of the secondary form 22 of the sealing washer 20 has an enlarged central portion 47 of circular symmetry. There is also found, the output disc 12 and the key 34, a portion 48 forming platinum, extends opposite an outlet face 49 by closing the exit slot 18, and the drive shaft 36 which extends, from one disc to the other through the two notches 42 and 44. The platinum portion 48 of the key 34 is substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft 36 and is adapted to pivot in the direction clockwise, here in rear view, substantially parallel to the output disk 12 facing the output face 49, when the drive shaft 36 is rotated in the same direction.

We also find on this Figure 2 , the sealing washer 20 and its circular outer circumferential edge 30 bordered by a shoulder and its secondary slot 22 which coincides with the inlet slot 16. In this way, the eccentric free edge 46 and the bearing surface 33 which are here masked by the input disk 10 are adapted to cooperate to lock the drive shaft 36 in rotation at least in the direction of clockwise and thus prohibit the pivoting of the portion 48 forming the plate of the key 34. Therefore, even if a tool would be introduced through the secondary slot 22 and the entry slot 16, in order to rotate the platinum portion 48 through the exit slot 18, it could not do so without resistance, since the drive shaft 36 secured to the portion 48, is blocked.

We will now refer to the Figure 3 illustrating in particular a lock cylinder as shown in the previous figures. Furthermore, a key 50 which has a rod 52 and a bit 54 has been introduced into the cylinder between the two discs 12, 10 and has been rotated in a clockwise direction, substantially 90 °.

The rod 52 has a non-circular cross section, in cross, said rod having two opposite longitudinal ribs 56, 58 which extend on either side of the rod 52. The key 50 is then adapted to be introduced through the secondary slot 22, the rod 52 in the central portion 24 so that the two opposite ribs 52, 58 penetrate into the respective ribs 28, 26. In this way, the rod 52 is connected in rotation with the sealing washer 20 while it is not with the input disk 10 since the slot 16 has a central portion 47 of circular symmetry which is masked on this Figure by the sealing washer 20. As a result, the rod 52 is free in rotation in the entrance slit 16.

Thus, after the bit 54 has been introduced into the lock cylinder, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 , the secondary slot 22 and the input slot 16 coinciding with each other, the rotational drive of the key clockwise around the axis of symmetry X has led consecutively the sealing washer 20 in a clockwise direction as well and to move the stop tooth 32 with respect to the flat part 40 of the end 38 of the drive shaft 36. In addition, the two slots 22 and 16 do not coincide. plus one with the other but being oriented in different directions, the inlet slot 16 is completely closed, since the rod 52 closes the central portion 47. Thus, no complementary tool can be introduced parallel to the interior of the cylinder through the entrance slit 16.

Furthermore, the flat 40 is then sufficiently distant from the circular outer circumferential edge 30 to allow the eccentric free edge 46 to pivot towards this peripheral edge 30 and consequently the rotation of the drive shaft 36.

On the Figure 3 , the rod 52 and the blade 54 have been driven in a clockwise direction by 90 ° with respect to their insertion position in the entry slot 16, a portion of the bit 54 having driven the lever 37 secured to of the drive shaft 36, pivoted so that the drive shaft 36 could be rotated about its axis A in the opposite direction of clockwise. The eccentric free edge 46 has been brought closer to the circular outer circumferential edge 30 since no stop tooth 32 allowed to oppose it.

We then represented on the Figure 4 in a rear view the cylinder as shown in Figure 3 with its constituent elements mentioned above. However, note the part 48 forming platinum of the key 34 which has been pivoted in this Figure in the direction of clockwise and thanks to the rotational drive of the drive shaft 36 by the bit 54, to release the exit slot 18.

In this way, and as illustrated by Figure 5 , the key 50 can then be driven in translation, so as to drive the bit 54 through the exit slot 18 and thus go to join the lock mechanism, which is likely to be actuated him also by the rotation of the bit 54.

Claims (10)

1. Lock cylinder intended to allow the passage of a key (50) having a stem (52) of a noncircular section and a web (54), said lock cylinder having an entry slit (16) and an exit slit (18), said cylinder comprising at least one cotter (34) allowing to maintain said exit slit (18) closed, said cotter having a rotational driving shaft (36) adapted to be pulled by said web (54) to cause the freeing of said exit slit (18), said cylinder further comprising a closing washer (20) rotationally mounted facing to said entry slit (16), said closing washer having a secondary slit (22), said secondary slit having a central part (24) through which said stem (52) is to be engaged, said closing washer (20) being movable, between an opening position into which said secondary slit (22) coincides with said entry slit (16) to allow the entry of said web (54) into said cylinder and a closing position into which said entry and secondary slits (16, 22) are angularly shifted the one to the other and where said closing washer (20) closes at least partially said entry slit (16) after said key (50) was rotated ;
   characterised in that said closing washer (20) is provided with locking means (30, 32, 33) to rotationally lock said driving shaft (36) when said closing washer (20) is into said opening position, in order to prohibit the release of said exit slit (18).
2. Lock cylinder according to claim 1, characterised in that said driving shaft (36) has an offset free end (46) which extends perpendicularly to said closing washer (20), said offset free end (46) being adapted to swivel towards said closing washer (20) when said driving shaft (36) is rotated.
3. Lock cylinder according to claim 2, characterised in that said offset free end (46) is formed by carrying out a notch at the end (38) of said driving shaft (36), said notch substantially constituting a flat part (40).
4. Lock cylinder according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said closing washer (20) having a circular outer peripheral edge (30), said circular outer peripheral edge comprises a stop tooth (32) constituting said locking means.
5. Lock cylinder according to claims 3 and 4, characterised in that said stop tooth (32) is provided with a bearing surface (33) intended to come in a closest position, facing to said flat part (40), said bearing surface (33) and said flat part (40) being substantially parallel.
6. Lock cylinder according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it comprises two discs (10,12) maintained remotely the one to the other, an entry disc (10) into which is provided said entry slit (16) and an exit disc (12) into which is provided said exit slit (18), said discs having two facing peripheral notches (42, 44) adapted to receive rotatably said driving shaft (36).
7. Lock cylinder according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said entry (16) and exit (18) slits are angularly shifted of substantially 90°.
8. Lock cylinder according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said cotter (34) is adapted to cover said exit slit (18) in order to prohibit the passage of said web (54).
9. Lock cylinder according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that it comprises two locking cotters.
10. Lock equipped with a lock cylinder according to any of claims 1 to 9.

Images