EP2686510B1 - Flat key for a locking cylinder and locking cylinder - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a flat key for a lock cylinder, in particular of locking systems, with substantially flat and approximately parallel key flat sides, a key back and this opposite, toothed on the front side key bit for positioning split into core and housing pins tumbler pins in corresponding key channels of cylinder cores are spring-loaded against the front side of the key bit toward the key back, being provided in the flat sides of the flat key grooves as variation profile elements and as a guide profile elements, wherein at least two grooves of a side of the flat key overlap, the Einstechrichtung is different, so that through the Intersection of the two grooves results in an edge which can be scanned in the direction normal to the longitudinal center plane of the flat key, wherein further overlapped by the two Both grooves are undercut under both ends, and in opposite directions, and wherein the center of the groove bottom - seen in the direction normal to the longitudinal center plane of the key - is covered by these undercuts in at least one groove. The invention further relates to a lock cylinder for such a flat key.

State of the art

The protection of life, privacy and property are paramount. Therefore, a lock and a key are of particular importance. In locking systems, access areas are defined and implemented by assigning each asset key to one or more locks. This assignment or the exclusion of key and lock with respect to the lock function is achieved in locking systems based on lock cylinders with flat keys, inter alia, by the cross-sectional profile of the key and the cross section of the keyway. Only if the contour of a Key channel cross-section corresponds to a flat key cross-section or wraps this, fits the key in the lock. As soon as the contour of the flat key cross section intersects that of the key channel cross section, the key has no blocking authorization with regard to the abovementioned lock cylinder.

Of course, this association between key and lock cylinder on the profile - ie the cross section of key, especially flat key, and key channel of the lock cylinder - also applies to the single cylinder and the single key, which is not directly part of a locking system.

The security requirement is the same if a key can not be easily copied. A replacement key can be procured from the authorized person by means of security notes and strict identity checks. If key blanks are commercially available, a key service with a copy milling device can easily make a spare key by making teeth on the key-breast. If a Kopierfräseinrichtung is also able to scan a cross-sectional profile on the flat sides of an original key and appropriate milling tools are available, a spare key can also be machined from a metal plate machined. So far, if by restricting the free accessibility in the market, the production of spare keys for locked key profiles for lack of a corresponding blank was not possible, so today the technical possibilities for key services already exist to make copies of a key both in terms of the teeth and in terms of profile , The scanning of a key profile is done mechanically or visually from the side. The result of this lateral scan is followed by the insertion or feed of one or more cutters for the production of U-shaped, V-shaped or rectangular grooves. By tilting the key blank grooves can also be made obliquely to the center line of the profile cross-section, eg as undercut grooves.

The problem with this is that the locksmiths normally make the cross-section of the key somewhat "smaller", i. Make all grooves slightly wider and deeper so that the key can be safely inserted into the keyway. As a result, it often happens that a key can also be inserted into locks for which it is not intended (so-called cross locks). This often invalidates a whole locking system.

In the EP 1362153 B was a profile system for cross-sectional training of flat keys with substantially flat and approximately parallel flat sides and of corresponding key channels proposed in lock cylinders, which was not working out the profile in one operation with a key profile milling device then, as they could be used in key services. This was achieved in Flachschlüssein with substantially flat and approximately parallel flat sides and corresponding key channels, characterized in that at least one groove, in particular the guide profile, at least one further groove went out as a branching and that the Einstechrichtungen of groove and Abzweigut were different and, for example, by 60 ° diverged. Due to the lateral scanning of the profile grooves of an original key during copying, the branching groove was not or only partially recorded. It would have had to be made by rewinding the blank and rescanning the original. The reclamping for a deviating to the original Einstechrichtung a profile angle of the center line of the profile groove inevitably leads to lateral displacements, so that a branching or a laterally outgoing from a groove further groove neither dimensionally and functionally was still inexpensive to produce.

A cost-effective and accurate production was in practice only in the lock factory possible, which had Profilräummaschinen and large milling centers, Umspannfehler did not occur, since error-causing separate operations with a new measurement of a starting position were not required.

Nevertheless, it is possible in principle (albeit at great expense) to copy such keys, provided that only the grooves are made significantly larger (wider and deeper). According to the EP 1362153 B Although it is envisaged that other grooves are provided in the immediate vicinity, so that by excessively wegfräsen the key loses its stability; that is, the copying service can not simply mill such a large groove that this groove of the copied key envelops the groove and the branching groove of the original key. However, the copy service can install the groove and the branch groove - slightly larger - without the key losing its stability or blocking capability.

A key of the type mentioned is from the EP 1217151 A known, because if you are in Fig. 5 bottom right, the selection is made so that the bottom groove is not milled, but the overlying groove is milled in full depth, then this groove conceals the center of the groove bottom. The groove can nevertheless be scanned, because the groove bottom is flat, and one of the two transitions from the groove flanks to the groove base and the immediately adjacent region of the groove base can be scanned.

From the AT 500638 B It is known to provide a sensing pin in the lock, which detects at the undercut groove, whether it is actually undercut or whether it has simply been replaced by a correspondingly wider V-groove. A disadvantage of this scanning pin was that it only worked in one direction. In other words, if the lock was installed incorrectly, then it could be unlocked with an illegally copied key, but not locked afterwards. But even with correct installation, it was problematic if the illegally copied key was used by authorized persons; they could lock themselves up and no longer unlock the room or apartment.

Furthermore, the safety gain was low, because only the presence of the undercut was scanned, but not the exact execution of groove and Abzweignut.

Presentation of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flat key in which a copying is even more difficult than the keys according to the EP 1362153B or the AT 500638 B or the EP 1217151 A ,

According to the invention this is achieved in that at least one groove and the transition from the groove flank to the groove bottom through the undercut - seen in the direction normal to the longitudinal center plane of the key - is covered.

The idea behind this is as follows: If the groove bottom is obscured, it is particularly difficult to determine the exact data of the groove (depth, width, angle, position). The edge, which results from the intersection of the two grooves, can be scanned in the lock. But this edge can not be made directly from the locksmith, but results just by the intersection of the two grooves. If the data from at least one groove is not exactly detectable, this edge is not in the designated place and the key does not lock.

Because of this edge, which can be scanned, copier milling can not simply mount a trapezoidal groove that wraps both grooves of the original key. By scanning the edge in the lock, it is imperative that both grooves are made correctly so that the key locks.

It is particularly advantageous if the two undercut angles are different. In this case, namely a re-milling with a trapezoidal cutter also causes a different formation of at least one groove flank. In addition, this can not be closed from the angle of a groove on the angle of the other groove, which would facilitate the measurement of the original key.

With regard to a guarantee that the inventive design is always present, at least for locking systems for safety reasons (ie for all keys, even the subordinate key), it is expedient if the two grooves are provided as guide profile elements. The guide profile is included in a locking system trained each key, so thus the desired security is given in any case.

It is favorable if at least one of the two grooves overlaps with a guide profile groove on the opposite side of the flat key. This is known to complicate the introduction of Nachsperrvorrichtungen.

Finally, it is expedient if at least one Trognut is provided between the overlapping grooves and the key-chest, the groove flank of the Trognut encloses an angle α less than 90 °, preferably between 30 ° and 45 °, with the median plane of the flat key and the other side edge of the Trognut includes an angle β between 93 ° and 97 ° with the median plane of the flat key. By the from the AT 500638 B Known features avoid sharp edges on the key.

A lock cylinder for a flat key of the type described above is equipped with a cylinder housing and at least one rotatably disposed in a bore of the cylinder housing cylinder core having a profiled keyway, and divided into core and housing pins Zuhaltungsstiften in bores in the cylinder housing and the cylinder core are spring loaded against the front side of the key bit toward the key back. The design of the key channel has the same key: The profiling of the key channel has two, from a common root on a key channel edge outgoing, V-shaped diverging ribs each with acute outer angles to the keyway flank, which are complementary to the two overlapping grooves of the flat key. According to the invention, a sensing element is further provided in at least one cylinder core, which scans the edge, which results from the intersection of the two grooves of the flat key and which may also be formed as a flattening and blocked at too low lying edge or flattening the lock cylinder.

This locks a key neither too high nor too low-lying edge: If the edge is too high, the key does not fit into the Key channel, if it is too deep, the lock is blocked by the sensing element.

Preferably, a sensing element is further provided which scans the presence of the undercut of a groove and blocks the lock cylinder in the absence of the undercut. This prevents that an undercut groove is replaced by a correspondingly larger, V-shaped groove.

The respective sensing elements are approximately radially displaceable or rotatable within the cylinder core and lie against the shoulder of the undercut of the keyway or to the edge or flattening between the v-shaped diverging grooves in the key. When the right key is then a portion of the sensing element so that it fills the recess in the cylinder core on the lateral surface and a housing pin on the filled recess during the blocking process can slide over it. A wrong key fits either not at all in the keyway or the housing pin in the plane in which the sensing element is, snaps into the then open recess in the cylinder core, so that this not further rotated (but probably turned back) can be.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the subject invention are illustrated in the drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 a key from the side; Fig. 2 the contour of a section along the line II-II in Fig. 1 with a first profile according to the invention; Fig. 3 the contour of a cut analogous to Fig. 2 with another profile according to the invention; Fig. 4 a cylinder core with inserted key according to the Fig. 1 and 2 and the Fig. 5 and 6 show sections along the planes V and VI in Fig. 4 ,

Way (s) for carrying out the invention

A key 1 (flat key) of a locking system has a profile in cross-section, in particular a guide profile with grooves 2, 3. A guide profile fulfills the task of positioning the key in the keyway. The two grooves 2, 3 overlap (cover) each other. The piercing direction X for producing the groove 2 and the piercing direction X ₁ for producing the groove 3 are different. Thus one can not close from one piercing direction to the other piercing direction, which would facilitate measuring the key.

It is essential that the grooves 2, 3 are undercut, in opposite directions. (That is, if one draws the angle X and X ₁ between the piercing direction and the longitudinal center plane of the key so that they are smaller than 90 °, then the angle X is measured in the direction of the key back, while the angle X ₁ measured toward the key bit As a result, the center 4 of the groove 2 (and thus its depth) is not determined by scanning normal to the longitudinal center plane 6 of the key, which makes determining the exact data of the groove 2 (ie width, depth, position and angle X) essential difficult. Not even the transition region 4 'from the flank to the groove bottom is detectable.

Due to the resulting inaccuracy in a subsequent measurement, it is almost impossible for a copy of the key, the edge 5, which results from the intersection of the two grooves 2, 3 and can not be milled directly, the correct distance d of the flank 7 of the key 1 has.

In Fig. 2 Further Trognuten 40 and 41 between the overlapping grooves 2, 3 and the toothed key breast (the key bit) are shown in dashed lines. These are part of a variation profile that results from the existence or omission of individual grooves in the system or represented raster of all these possibly also overlapping trough grooves 40 and 41, respectively. Due to the aforementioned angular formation of the flutes, a surface structure can be achieved without disturbing sharp edges. Fig. 2 also shows the Führungsprofilnut 42 whose groove bottom overlaps with the groove bottom of the groove 2, so that the keyway prevents the insertion of a wafer for scanning purposes in complementary complementary training. This overlapping here means exceeding a plane parallel to the longitudinal center plane 6 tangential plane at a groove 2 by another opposing groove 42nd

Fig. 3 shows a key 1 ', which in addition to the grooves 2 and 3 also grooves 2' and 3 ', which have analogous geometric properties as the grooves 2 and 3. The edge is flattened within the grooves 2 'and 3' to a support surface 5 '.

In Fig. 4 is the corresponding cylinder core 9 with a key 1 according to the Fig. 1 and 2 or 3 shown. Essential are the two sensing elements 11 and 12, in the Fig. 5 and 6 can be seen more clearly.

The two sensing elements 11 and 12 are guided in a corresponding recess of the cylinder core 9 so that they move normal to the longitudinal center plane of the key 1, but can not tilt significantly. In both sensing elements 11 and 12, one end is free (the lower end, as in FIGS Fig. 5 and 6 seen), the other end is applied to the key 1, namely the sensing element 11 at the edge 5 (bearing surface 5 ') and the sensing element 12 at the undercut 8. In the region of these sensing elements 11 and 12 are outside of the cylinder core depressions 21, 22nd , 31, 32, which slowly become deeper from the outer sides of the scanning elements 11, 12 and terminate in the central region of the scanning elements 11, 12 in a step 21 ', 22', 31 ', 32'. These depressions lie in parallel cross-sectional planes in which pin tumblers are provided in the cylinder housing.

If the cylinder core is rotated so far that the housing pins reach the area of these recesses, then they slide with a correct key on the sensing elements 11 and 12 over the respective stage 21 ', 22', 31 'and 32' away. If the key is not correct, ie if the edge 5 or the support surface 5 'is too deep or the undercut 8 is not present, the scanning elements 11, 12 release the recesses. The springs of the housing pins press the housing pins into the respective recess 21, 22, 31 or 32 so that the housing pins rest against the respective step 21 ', 22', 31 'or 32' and the cylinder core 9 can no longer be rotated , However, since the depressions become shallower in the opposite direction, the cylinder core 9 can be turned back and not remove the appropriate keys. This works in both directions, even with double-locking cylinders built in the other way around.

Of particular advantage of this type of scanning is that the cylinder housing does not need to be changed, all necessary features can be realized on the cylinder core 9.

If the grooves 2, 3 are too weak in a key copy, i. too narrow or too shallow, then the key can not be introduced into the keyway because of collision with the corresponding ribs in the keyway of the cylinder core 9.

It should be noted that it is not necessary in practice to perform the additional scanning with the sensing elements 11 and 12 in all locks a locking system, since the locksmith yes can not know whether they are present or not. A locksmith does not copy keys if he does not know if the key locks or not. A spare key that was nevertheless produced could possibly block one or the other door in systems, but not, for example, main entrances. Thus, such a "copy" is meaningless.

Claims (8)

1. Flat key (1, 1') for a locking cylinder, in particular of locking installations, having substantially planar and approximately parallel flat key sides, a key back and a key bit which is opposite the back and which is toothed on the end face for positioning retention pins which are divided into core and housing pins and which are resiliently loaded in corresponding key channels of cylinder cores against the end face of the key bit in the direction towards the key back, grooves which are cut in the flat sides of the flat key being provided as variation profile elements and as guiding profile elements, at least two grooves (2, 3) of a side of the flat key overlapping, the insertion directions (X, X₁) of which being different so that the intersection of the two grooves (2, 3) produces an edge (5) which can be scanned in the direction perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal centre plane (6) of the flat key (1), both of the two overlapping grooves (2, 3) further being undercut in opposing directions, and in at least one groove (2), the centre (4) of the groove base - when viewed in the direction perpendicular relative to the longitudinal centre plane (6) of the key - being covered by these undercut portions (8), characterised in that, in at least one groove (2), the transition (4 ') from the groove flank to the groove base - when viewed in the direction perpendicular relative to the longitudinal centre plane of the key (1, 1') - is also covered by the undercut portion (8).
2. Flat key according to claim 1, characterised in that the two undercut angles (X, X₁) are of different sizes.
3. Flat key (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the two grooves (2, 3) are provided as guiding profile elements.
4. Flat key according to claim 3, characterised in that at least one of the two grooves (2, 3) overlaps with a guiding profile groove (42) at the opposing side of the flat key (1, 1').
5. Flat key according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that at least one trough-like groove (40, 41) is provided between the grooves (2, 3) and the key bit, the groove flank of the trough-like groove (40, 41) defining an angle α less than 90°, preferably between 30° and 45°, with the centre plane of the flat key (1) and the other lateral flank of the trough-like groove (40, 41) defining an angle β between 93° and 97° with the centre plane of the flat key (1).
6. Locking cylinder for a flat key according to any one of claims 1 to 5, having a cylinder housing and at least one cylinder core which is rotatably arranged in a hole of the cylinder housing and which has a profiled key channel, and having retention pins which are divided into core and housing pins and which are resiliently loaded in holes of the cylinder housing and the cylinder core against the end face of the key bit in the direction towards the back of the key, the profiling of the key channel having two ribs which diverge in a V-shaped manner and which extend from a common root at a key channel flank and each have acute external angles with respect to the key channel flank, characterised in that the two ribs which diverge in a V-shaped manner complement the two overlapping grooves (2, 3, 2', 3') of the flat key (1, 1').
7. Locking cylinder according to claim 6, characterised in that there is provided in at least one cylinder core a scanning element (11) which scans the edge (5) which is produced by the intersection of the two grooves (2, 3, 2', 3') of the flat key (1, 1') and which may also be constructed as a flattened portion (5') and, when the edge (5) or flattened portion (5') is excessively low, blocks the locking cylinder.
8. Locking cylinder according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterised in that that there is provided in at least one cylinder core a scanning element (12) which scans for the presence of the undercut portion (8) of a groove (2) and, when the undercut portion (8) is missing, blocks the locking cylinder.

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