EP4148212A1 - Key, locking system, locking cylinder and method for producing same - Google Patents

Abstract

The flat key (1) has a key bow (11) and a key shank (12) extending along a key axis (10) from the key bow (11) to a front key tip (23) with two parallel flat sides (21) and two opposite narrow sides (22). An edge (25) parallel to the key axis (10) runs between the flat sides and the narrow sides. A row of coding bores (31) parallel to the key axis is formed on at least one of the flat sides. In addition, the key has at least one coding recess (35) in at least one of the edges (25). This coding recess forms a flank (43) which extends from the flat side to the narrow side and which has a monotonic gradient.

Description

The invention relates to a locking system with a locking cylinder and a key, as well as a corresponding locking cylinder and a key.

Lock cylinders have a stator non-rotatably attachable to a lock (sometime called "cylinder housing") and a rotor (sometime called "cylinder core") rotatable about the axis of the lock cylinder upon insertion of a matching key. The turning of the rotor moves output means, which are used to actuate a bolt or other means related to the desired function of the lock cylinder.

Many mechanical locking cylinders for reversible flat keys or for other flat keys have tumbler-counter-tumbler pairs that interrogate the mechanical coding of the key. The mechanical codes are designed as holes with different depths depending on the code on the flat side of the key. The number of possible guard locking lengths, together with the number of bores, determines the number of possible permutations, which should be as large as possible.

So-called profile pins or locking pins are also known. Such profile pins are slidably mounted in pin bores, which open radially on the inside into the key channel and extend radially on the outside up to the surface of the rotor. In addition, the stator has a radially inner-side recess for each pin bore, which in the basic state is aligned with the pin bore. Overall, the profile pin is longer than the pin hole. A rotation of the rotor in the stator is therefore only possible if the profile pin can be pressed so far into a corresponding coding groove or other coding hole in the key that it no longer protrudes radially from the outside of the pin hole. For this purpose, the profile pin has a corresponding, for example, rounded shape at the radially outer end.

A further development of the profile pins are the profile wobble pins or pendulum pins. These are also movably mounted in a pin bore. However, they are in two parts with a radially inner part and a radially outer part, with a spring between the radially inner part and the radially outer part pushes the two parts apart and against an inner or outer stop, so that they completely occupy the length available to them. Depending on the overall length of the profile wobble pin (i.e. depending on how far the two parts are pushed apart), the radially outer part is guided relative to the radially inner part because corresponding parts of the two parts engage in one another or not. When the rotor turns away in the stator, the profile wobble pin can only be pressed radially inwards as a whole if the parts are guided relative to one another. If this is not the case, the outer part tilts away when you turn it off, can no longer enter the pin hole and thus blocks the rotor.

Another possible security feature of locking systems is profiling: the key shank has a cross-section perpendicular to the key axis that deviates from a rectangular cross-section, for example due to the presence of axially running grooves or ribs. The key channel of the lock cylinder then has a corresponding profile, at least in sections, so that unsuitable keys cannot be inserted at all.

Firstly, all these codings of mechanical locking systems have in common that the available space on the key limits the number of possible codings through permutations - i.e. for secure and also variable locking systems (e.g. for "master key systems" (MKS) - it is favorable if one has as many coding positions available.Secondly, these codings have in common that copying by mechanical devices, which scan an existing suitable key, for example to drill or mill coding holes or grooves in a blank, is relatively easy Refined measures on the key, e.g. moving parts, or an additional electronic coding is possible, but also very complex.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking system, a corresponding cylinder and a corresponding key which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and which in particular combines good protection against unauthorized key copying with rational manufacturability.

This object is solved by the invention as defined in the claims.

The invention relates to a flat key with a bow and a key shank extending along a key axis from the bow to a key tip on the front, with two parallel flat sides and two opposite narrow sides, with an edge parallel to the key axis running between the flat sides and the narrow sides. As is known per se, a row of coding bores parallel to the key axis is formed on at least one of the flat sides. In addition, there is at least one coding recess in at least one of the edges. The Coding recess forms a flank that extends from the flat side to the narrow side and which has a monotonic gradient.

In this text, "coding hole" refers to a recess in the key, the dimension of which is selected based on a desired coding. Coding holes can be created by drilling; however, corresponding indentations produced using other methods are also referred to here as "coding bores".

Firstly, the procedure according to the invention has the advantage that the positioning on the edge results in an additional position for the coding compared to conventional flat keys.

Secondly, there is the following advantage: in contrast to a coding hole in a row of coding holes, the coding recess is less well defined and less easy to copy for the unauthorized key copier. With a coding hole arranged in a row, the position of the row of holes on the flat side (y-position) is precisely defined. Only a drilling tool of approximately the right diameter is required for copying, and the copying machine scans the hole depth as a function of position along the key axis (x-position). This is standard practice and easy for the unauthorized key copier. In contrast to this, with a flank/ramp falling towards the narrow side, neither the y-position nor a hole depth can be easily read out. A key copier must either find a method that accurately captures and copies the 3D shape in the area of the coding recess, or he must know information about the manufacturing process, namely the tool and its position and path.

In particular, the coding recess can extend over a certain axial length, i.e. have an extent in the axial direction that is greater than that of an average coding bore. This can be expressed in the fact that a first transition between the coding recess and the flat side (i.e. a transition that is arranged between the coding recess and the flat side; such a transition can in particular be an edge that forms this transition) has a (first) section which extends essentially parallel to the key axis.. Additionally or alternatively, a second transition between the coding recess and the narrow side (i.e. a transition that is arranged between the coding recess and the flat side; in particular an edge that forms this transition) can have a Have (first) portion which extends substantially parallel to the key axis. The latter property can be expressed in the fact that the area in which the coding recess has the greatest depth (expansion perpendicular to the flat side) is extended in the axial direction, ie forms an area of constant depth.

The aforementioned first section of the first transition, which is essentially parallel to the key axis, and the first section of the second transition, which is essentially parallel to the key axis, can be essentially the same length, i.e. they can be at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95% %, e.g. even match at least 98% in their length.

Additionally or alternatively, the mentioned first section of the first transition, which is essentially parallel to the key axis, and the first section of the second transition, which is essentially parallel to the key axis, can be located essentially at the same axial distance from the tip of the key, ie their axial positions can essentially to match.

The first transition may blend into the edge in a smooth curve or at a shallow angle - where the smooth curve or shallow angle is on the flat (i.e. the first transition is in particular in a line in the plane defined by the flat and merges into the edge in this plane).

Additionally or alternatively, the second transition, i.e. the transition between the coding recess and the narrow side, can merge into the edge at a shallow angle or in a continuous curve, with the shallow angle or the continuous curve being on the narrow side (i.e. the second In particular, the transition runs in a line in the plane defined by the narrow side and merges into the edge in this plane).

According to a first group of embodiments, the flank can form a sloping, step-free surface from the flat side to the narrow side, i.e. the gradient can be strictly monotonic in the mathematical sense. This group of embodiments has the particular advantage that an unauthorized copier has no stop at his disposal that would enable him to scan the dimensioning of the coding bore.

According to a second group of embodiments, the coding recess has a (e.g. small) flat section (“bottom”) towards the narrow side, i.e. approximately parallel to the flat side or at least sloping less than the rest of the flank (“bottom”)—then the gradient does not have to be strictly monotonous be. In the embodiments of the second group, however, as in other embodiments, there is no undercut either in the direction perpendicular to the key axis and parallel to the flat side (y-direction) or in the direction perpendicular to the key axis and perpendicular to the flat side (z-direction).

In particular, the at least one coding recess can be formed by milling the edge.

For example, the coding recess can be produced by a removing tool (drilling and/or milling tool) which rotates about a tool axis perpendicular to the flat side. This results in a substantial advantage with regard to the manufacturing process: the coding recess can be produced in the same work step and possibly with the same tool as the coding bores on the flat side. The wrench does not have to be re-clamped between creating the coding bores and creating the coding recess(es).

• ein Abschluss der Codierungsausnehmung nach vorne und nach hinten hin wird je durch eine mindestens bereichsweise gekrümmte Fläche gebildet. Diese kann bspw. konkav sein, oder auch im Horizontalschnitt (Schnitt in einer Ebene parallel zur Schlüsselachse) s-förmig. Im zweiten Fall kann die Codierungsausnehmung von einem ersten, zentralen mittleren Abschnitt aus nach vorne und nach hinten je über einen kegelstumpfartigen konkaven Flächenabschnitt über einen flacheren Flächenabschnitt und einen konvexen gekrümmten Abschluss auslaufen.
• Ein sich parallel zur Schlüsselachse erstreckender Bereich weist eine konstante Tiefe (Ausdehnung senkrecht zur Flachseite) auf.
• Eine Normale auf mindestens einen Bereich der Flanke ist in einer Ebene, die zur Schlüsselachse senkrecht ist.
• Die Codierungsausnehmung ist spiegelsymmetrisch bezüglich einer auf die Schlüsselachse senkrechten Ebene.
• Die Stelle der Codierungsausnehmung mit der grössten Tiefe (Ausdehnung senkrecht zur Flachseite; z-Ausdehnung) befindet sich in y-Richtung beim Übergang zur Schmalseite.
• Insbesondere an der Stelle der Codierungsausnehmung mit der grössten Tiefe (Ausdehnung senkrecht zur Flachseite) kann die Codierungsausnehmung einen im Wesentlichen ebenen ersten Flächenabschnitt aufweisen, der insbesondere von parallelen Geraden begrenzt sein kann. Der im Wesentlichen ebene erste Flächenabschnitt kann eben sein, indem er durch ein parallel zur Schlüsselachse bewegtes abtragendes Werkzeug hergestellt ist, oder er kann die Form eines Abschnitts eines Kegelstumpfs haben, wobei die Ausdehnung entlang der Schlüsselachse im Vergleich zum Durchmesser des Kegelstumpfs derart gering ist, dass er im Wesentlichen eben wirkt. In diesem zweiten Fall kann die Herstellung durch ein abtragendes Werkzeug erfolgen, dessen Position entlang der Schlüsselachse (nachfolgend: x-Position) während der Herstellung des ersten Abschnitts konstant ist.

One or more of the following features can be realized through this design of the coding recess as a tool that acts on the flat side or in general:

• a termination of the coding recess to the front and to the rear is formed by a surface that is curved at least in certain areas. This can be concave, for example, or s-shaped in a horizontal section (section in a plane parallel to the key axis). In the second case, the coding recess can taper off from a first, central middle section forwards and backwards via a truncated concave surface section, via a flatter surface section and a convex, curved termination.
• A region extending parallel to the key axis has a constant depth (expansion perpendicular to the flat side).
• A normal to at least a portion of the flank is in a plane perpendicular to the key axis.
• The coding recess is mirror-symmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular to the key axis.
• The point of the coding recess with the greatest depth (expansion perpendicular to the flat side; z-expansion) is in the y-direction at the transition to the narrow side.
• In particular, at the point of the coding cutout with the greatest depth (expansion perpendicular to the flat side), the coding cutout can have an essentially flat first surface section, which can in particular be delimited by parallel straight lines. The substantially planar first surface portion may be planar, being produced by a reaming tool moved parallel to the wrench axis, or it may be in the form of a section of a truncated cone, the extent along the wrench axis being so small compared to the diameter of the truncated cone that it is essentially flat. In this second case, production can be carried out using a material-removing tool, the position of which along the key axis (hereinafter: x-position) is constant during the production of the first section.

The present invention also relates to a locking system with a flat key of the type described and a locking cylinder. In a manner known per se, such a rotor has a stator and a rotor with a keyway. The rotor can be rotated in the stator when the shank of a suitable key is inserted into the keyway. The lock cylinder has a pin, the position of which is such that its radially inner end engages in the coding recess when the flat key is inserted (or hits the key where the coding recess would be if it were present, if the key is coded in such a way that it does not have the coding recess). The pen thus scans the coding recess. Depending on the coding he gives a rotation of the rotor in the stator depending on the presence and dimensioning of the coding recess freely or not.

The pin can be, for example, a profile pin, a tumbler of a spring-loaded tumbler-counter-tumbler pair or a profile wobble pin.

In particular, as is known per se, the pin is mounted in the rotor such that it can be displaced along a pin axis. The pin (or its pin axis) can be at an angle to the key which differs from a perpendicular to the flat side and, for example, also from a normal to the flank. In this way it can be ensured that the pin does not hit the surface of the key scanned by it (the edge formed by the coding recess) centrically, but rather acentrically. The shape of the radially inner end of the pin, in addition to the coding recess and its dimension, also affects the position of the pin. This complicates the task for the unauthorized key copier, since it is not enough if he accepts a parameter (the depth of the bore) correctly, as with coding holes - he must rather copy the exact shape of the coding recess to be sure that the copied key will penetrate the lock cylinder can unlock. In general, this cannot be done with the standard tools of the key copier.

The pin axis can in particular be at an angle of at least 5°, for example at least 10°, to the normal to the flank.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a flat key of the type described in this text. The coding bores are created on a key blank with the key bow and the key shank using a tool in a machining process. Before or after or in In the same work step, the at least one coding recess is also created with a removing tool. This is done in particular with a tool that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the flat side, ie the method is done from the flat side, with the manufacturing advantage discussed above.

In particular, the method is carried out in such a way that the coding recess is extended in the direction of the key axis, i.e. the tool is moved relative to the key shank during the (milling) method, for example, at least in the direction parallel to the key axis (x-direction), whereby the tool can be moved along a three-dimensional path in order to create a recess with parts tapering forwards and backwards. Alternatively, the tool can also be moved only in the direction perpendicular to the flat side (z-direction) during the process and for this purpose can be applied several times in succession in axial positions (x-positions) that are directly next to one another.

Provision can be made in each case for the tool to grip the key shank from the side, in the sense that the tool axis is always guided next to the key shank during the entire removal process, i.e. the (imagined extended) tool axis does not penetrate the key shank but is not towards any Time closer to the key axis than the narrow side.

In this text, the orientation designations "radial", "radial-internal", "axial" etc. generally, unless otherwise taught, refer to the key axis, which in the locking system also corresponds to the lock cylinder axis when the key is inserted. "Front" refers to the position towards the tip of the key, and "back" is a position towards the bow of the key.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Schlüssels;

Fig. 2

eine vergrösserte ausschnittweise Ansicht des Schlüssels gemäss Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht eines Schlüssels von vorne (von der Schlüsselspitze) her, mit schematisch eingezeichneten Werkzeugen für die Herstellung des Schlüssels;

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines weiteren Schlüssels;

Fig. 5

eine vergrösserte ausschnittweise Ansicht des Schlüssels gemäss Fig. 1;

Fig. 6

eine Ansicht eines Schliesszylinders mit eingestecktem Schlüssel von hinten (von der Schlüsselreide) her, mit einem Detail aus dem Innern des Schliesszylinders in Schnittdarstellung;

Fig. 7

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Schliesszylinders mit eingestecktem Schlüssel;

Fig. 8

ein Detail zu Fig. 2; und

Fig. 9

ein Detail zu Fig. 5.

The subject of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate the same or analogous elements. Show it:

1

a perspective view of a key;

2

an enlarged detail view of the key according to 1 ;

3

a view of a key from the front (of the key tip) ago, with schematically drawn tools for the production of the key;

4

a perspective view of another key;

figure 5

an enlarged detail view of the key according to 1 ;

6

a view of a lock cylinder with an inserted key from behind (from the key bow), with a detail from the inside of the lock cylinder in a sectional view;

7

a schematic sectional view of a lock cylinder with an inserted key;

8

a detail to 2 ; and

9

a detail to figure 5 .

figure 1 shows an example of a key 1 with a key bow 11 and a key shank 12. The key 1 is a flat key in which the key shank is essentially non-square in cross section perpendicular to a key axis 10, resulting in two parallel flat sides 21 and two narrow sides 22 with smaller area than the flat sides 21 are defined. An edge 25 is formed between the flat sides 21 and the narrow sides 22 .

figure 1 also shows the Cartesian coordinate system used in this text, with the x-direction running parallel to the key axis and the z-direction perpendicular to the flat sides 21.

On the key shank 12 there are rows of coding bores 31 (coding bores) running parallel to the key axis 10 .

In addition to the coding bores, the key in the illustrated embodiment also has a profile in the form of grooves 32 running parallel to the key axis. For example, basic profile grooves (which are always the same in the locking system and only exclude keys from other locking systems) and/or variation profile grooves (which form a code) can be present.

The key shown is a reversible key, i.e. the key shank is symmetrical with respect to a rotation of 180° about the key axis 10, and the codes on the front and rear flat side 21 are correspondingly identical.

In contrast to the illustrated embodiment, the key can also have a different number of rows of coding holes on the flat sides, e.g. 1, 3, 4, 5 or 6, instead of or in addition to the profiling, and/or it can also have coding holes on the narrow sides 22 have.

Towards the tip of the key 23, the key has an entry ramp 24 that slopes downwards at an angle, which enables the lock cylinder to have pins (e.g. tumblers) scanning the coding bores, which protrude further into the key channel than up to the central plane, so that the coding bores are potentially can have a greater depth than half the thickness of the key. This has a positive effect on the number of possible permutations.

In addition to coding bores in the flat side, the prior art also knows those in the narrow side and even bores which were made from an oblique angle (ie neither perpendicular nor parallel to the flat sides). In contrast to keys according to the prior art, the key according to 1 In addition to the coding bores, there are also coding recesses 35, one of which is in figure 8 is shown enlarged. These are formed by removing material along the edge 25, so that there is a flank 43 that falls monotonically from the flat side 21 to the narrow side 22, and neither seen from the narrow side nor seen from the flat side results in an undercut.

The transition 41 between the coding recess and the flat side 21 and the transition 42 between the coding recess and the narrow side 22 each have in the middle a substantially straight section 201 or 202 which extends parallel to the key axis, i.e. the coding recess 35 is in relation to the x elongated direction. The coding recess runs out to the front and to the rear.

In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the coding recess is symmetrical with respect to a central plane perpendicular to the key axis 10 .

In the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 8th the flank 43 is essentially flat in the area between the straight sections 201 and 202, respectively, which extend parallel to the wrench axis. In addition, as in 2 and 8th Particularly clearly visible, such a planar first section 206 has an extension in the x-direction that is essentially constant along the depth, ie it can be delimited by two approximately parallel straight lines 203, 204. These straight lines can adjoin the first transition 41 at right angles at the ends of the first section 201 of the first transition 41 , in particular in a projection onto the flat side 21 . The flat section 206 transitions in the axial directions into a second and third section 207, 208, which can be approximately in the form of a truncated cone section (in the example shown with a truncated cone tip towards the narrow side 22). The second and the third section merge into a curved end 211, 212 of the coding recess 35 via a flatter surface section 209, 210 each.

A property of coding recesses 35 of the type described here is that they can be produced by a removing (in particular cutting) process from a flat side (or possibly narrow side) using a rotating tool (drill, milling cutter). It is therefore possible to produce the coding recesses 35 in the same work step and, for example, with the same tool as the coding bores 31, although they are on the edge 25 and therefore neither on the flat side nor on the narrow side figure 3 illustrated, which represents the key 1 clamped between two clamping jaws 51 shown symbolically. A drilling and/or milling tool 52, which rotates about a tool axis 53 perpendicular to the flat sides, can produce the coding recesses by removing them. The key therefore does not have to be changed over between attaching the coding bores 31 and attaching the coding recess(es). In particular, it is also possible to use the same drilling and/or milling tool that is also used for the coding bores.

When creating the coding recess(es), the tool axis 53 can be used as in 3 shown lying laterally next to the key shank, ie it is offset outwards in the y-direction in relation to the corresponding narrow side 22, in the direction away from the key axis. The coding recess is thus virtually milled, which has the advantages described in this text.

Creating an encoding exception as in Figures 1 and 2 is brought about by the drilling and/or milling tool rotating about its tool axis being moved towards the key from above and/or from the side until an initial recess of sufficient depth has been created, and then relative to the key shank in the x-direction or -x -Direction and, for example, also in the y-direction is moved until the coding recess has its final size.

Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative key 1, different from that of Figures 1 and 2 by the shape of the coding recesses 35 differs. In contrast to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 the coding recesses 35 each point towards the narrow side 22 towards a small flat section 45 (“bottom”; see also figure 9 , which shows one of the coding recesses enlarged). In addition, the coding recesses 35 are in contrast to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 concave forwards and backwards, ie the second and third sections 207, 208 in the form of a truncated cone section each extend to the front and rear ends of the recess. The intermediate first portion 206 is in contrast to the embodiment of Figures 1,2 and 8th not quite flat, but only approximately flat. Correspondingly, the middle section 201 of the first transition 41 is only approximately parallel to the key axis. Strictly speaking, the middle section 206, like the second and the third section 207, 208, is in the form of a section of a truncated cone, but can be considered to be approximately planar due to its only small extent in the x-direction.

Such a form as in 4.5 and 9 shown, the coding recess is obtained when the spacing of the drilling and/or milling tool when creating the coding recess has a fixed y-position in relation to the key shank and repeatedly makes a drilling movement (from above) at slightly different x-positions or after a Approaching from above is shifted in the x-direction, with a fixed y-position. In the example shown according to Figures 4, 5 and 9 the creation takes place by approaching a drilling and/or milling tool three times at correspondingly different x-positions with an identical y-position to create the second section 207, the first section (middle section) 206 and the third section 208. It would also be possible to create the approximately flat middle section of several subsections lying next to each other, each with a different x-position of the drilling and/or milling tool, so that it would also be approximately flat if compared to Figures 4, 5 and 9 would be extended in the x-direction.

Also in the embodiments of Figures 4.5 and 9 The same applies to the coding recesses that taper off gently to the front and rear Figures 1 and 2 and, however, as is generally the case with a group of embodiments of the invention: also at both transitions from the coding recess to the edge 25, in the area in figure 5 is drawn circled in one of the coding recesses, the recess is open outwards in relation to the key axis and not inwards, i.e. a tangential plane on the surface delimiting the coding recess at these points points radially outwards in relation to the key axis or is at most parallel to the key axis, but it does not point radially-inward. Correspondingly, a tangent 221 ( 9 ) at the transition 41 in the flat side plane at the point of contact with the edge at an angle δ of at least 90° to the edge 25. Therefore, in contrast to a coding hole, the coding recess is not limited to the outside, which is why it is not possible for the unauthorized key copier to determine, at least not without great effort, at which y-position the tool axis was, i.e. the coding recess was created.

This feature, after which the coding recess is open to the outside, can - and is in the embodiments Figures 1,2 and 8th or 4, 5 and 9 - are also expressed by the fact that the first transition 41 is at a flat angle ( 4.5 and 9 ; the angle δ of the tangent in the plane of the flat side at the point of contact with the edge 25 is at least the same, in particular greater than 90°) or in a continuous curve ( Figures 1, 2 and 8th ; the curve runs in an S-shape and therefore includes an inflection point 222) which merges into the edge 25.

The same applies in the exemplary embodiments shown for the second transition 42. This also goes - in the plane of the narrow side 22 - at a shallow angle γ ( Figures 4, 5 and 9 , please refer 9 ) or in a continuous curve with turning point 223 ( Figures 1, 2 and 8th ) into edge 25 over.

In figure 5 the depth t of the recess (expansion in the z-direction, ie perpendicular to the flat side) is also shown, which is approximately constant over a region b extending in the x-direction, as is the depth in 2 the case is.

Figures 6 and 7 10 also show a lock cylinder 101 in addition to the key. The lock cylinder 101 has, in a manner known per se, a stator 103 and a rotor 104 mounted therein. A key channel for inserting a flat key, for example a reversible key, is formed on the rotor 104 . If the key is appropriately coded, the rotor 104 can be rotated relative to the stator 103 (about a lock cylinder axis parallel to the key axis). The output unit, which is not essential to the invention here and with which a bolt or another element is driven by the rotational movement of the rotor, is in 6 only partially shown.

As in Figures 6 and 7 illustrated, a lock cylinder 100 with the key 1 in 1/2 or 4/5 illustrated type have at least one in the rotor 103 of the lock cylinder radially displaceably mounted pin 111, which scans the coding recess. In the illustrated embodiment, the pin 111 is a profile pin (locking pin) which blocks rotation of the rotor 103 of the lock cylinder relative to its stator 104 if the coding recess is not available or not in the right place or is not big enough or wide enough. However, as mentioned, the principle of the invention can also be applied to other pins, e.g a keying hole is present where no such keying hole should be present).

A special feature of the locking system can be that the pin 111 is at an angle to the key 1 which is different from a perpendicular to the flat side 21 and different from a normal to the flank 43 . In the embodiment shown, the angle α between the pin axis 121 and the flat side 21 is approximately 25°, while the normal to the flank 43 is at an angle of approximately 45° thereto. The effect of this is that the pin 111 does not strike the surface of the key 1 scanned by it centrically, but rather acentrically. The shape of the radially inner end of the pin 111 therefore has the same effect on the radial (in relation to the key axis=lock cylinder axis) position of the pin 111 in its scanning position as the shape of the coding recess itself.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiments of a key, two coding recesses of the same axial length are drawn. The invention is suitable for coding by suitably choosing the number of coding recesses and from their dimensions. In addition to varying the number of coding cutouts from key to key, the length (extent in the x-direction) and/or the depth (extent in the y- and z-direction) can be varied—also between coding cutouts of one and the same key Circumstances when using different tools, the flank angle - even if it is preferred in many embodiments that the flank angle is always the same.

The key can in particular--this applies to all embodiments--be a reversible key. In this case, the mechanical coding of each edge 25 corresponds to that of the diametrically opposite edge.

Claims (15)

Flat key (1), having a key bow (11) and a key shank (12) extending along a key axis (10) from the key bow (11) to a front key tip (23) with two parallel flat sides (21) and two one another opposite narrow sides (22), with an edge (25) parallel to the key axis (10) running between the flat sides and the narrow sides, with a row of coding bores (31) parallel to the key axis being formed on at least one of the flat sides, characterized by at least one Coding recess (35) in at least one of the edges (25), which forms a flank (43) which extends from the flat side to the narrow side and which has a monotonous gradient. Flat key according to claim 1, wherein a first transition (41) between the coding recess (35) and the flat side and/or a second transition (42) between the coding recess (35) and the narrow side has a section (201; 202) which substantially parallel to the key axis (10). Flat key according to Claim 1 or 2, in which at least one first and one second parallel straight line (203, 204) extend in the flank (43) of the coding recess (35), the first and second parallel straight lines (203, 204 ) at the ends of said section (201, 202), in particular in a projection onto the flat side (21) at right angles. Flat key according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding recess (35) comprises a first, flat or truncated cone-shaped surface section (206) up to the flat side (21). Flat key according to Claim 4 based on Claim 3, in which the first surface section (106) is delimited by the parallel straight lines (103, 104). Flat key according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding recess (35) comprises a first, flat or frustoconical section-like surface section (206) which merges forwards and backwards into a second and third surface section (207, 208), each of which is in the form of a frustoconical section . Flat key according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding recess (35) comprises at least one concave truncated cone-like surface section (207, 208) which, via a flatter surface section (209, 210), leads into a convexly curved end (211, 212) of the coding recess (35). transforms. Flat key according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a first transition (41) between the coding recess (35) and the flat side merges into the edge (25) at a shallow angle or in a continuous curve, and/or wherein a second transition (42) between the coding recess (35) and the flat side at a flat angle or in a continuous curve into the edge (25). Flat key according to one of the preceding claims, in which the coding recess can be produced by a removing tool (52) which rotates about a tool axis (53) perpendicular to the flat side (21). Flat key according to claim 9, wherein the tool axis leads past the key shank. Flat key according to one of the preceding claims, in which the coding recess is terminated at the front and rear by a surface which is curved at least in some areas, and/or there is a region which extends parallel to the key axis (10) and in which the coding recess has a has constant depth. Flat key according to one of the preceding claims, having an entry ramp (24) which slopes down towards the tip of the key and whose depth is greater than half the thickness of the key shank. Locking system, having a flat key (1) according to one of the preceding claims and a lock cylinder (100) with a lock cylinder stator (104) and a lock cylinder rotor (103) with a key channel into which the key shank (12) of the flat key can be inserted , the lock cylinder having a pin (111) which scans the coding recess (35) and enables or does not enable the rotation of the lock cylinder rotor depending on its presence or absence, the pin (111) being positioned, for example, at an angle to the Key (1) is different from both a perpendicular to the flat side (21) and different from a normal to the flank (43). Method for producing a flat key according to one of claims 1-12, wherein a key blank with the key bow (11) and the key shank (12) is provided and the coding bores (31) are produced with a tool in a machining process, and wherein the at least one coding recess (35) is also produced in a machining process, in particular by producing the coding recess (35) with a tool (52) which rotates about a tool axis (53) perpendicular to the flat side (21). Method according to claim 14, wherein the tool (52) is moved relative to the key shank at least in the direction (x) of the key axis (10) when producing the coding recess (35) while it removes material from the key shank, and/or wherein the tool (52 ) is applied at different axial positions relative to the key shank (12) in order to produce one and the same coding recess (35), and/or wherein the tool axis (53) is not removed at any time at which the material of the key shank is removed around the coding recess ( 35) is closer to the key axis (10) than the narrow side (22).

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