GB1563883A

GB1563883A - Lock cylinder

Info

Publication number: GB1563883A
Application number: GB1366077A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ymos Metallwerke Wolf and Becker GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Ymos Metallwerke Wolf and Becker GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1976-03-31
Filing date: 1977-03-31
Publication date: 1980-04-02
Also published as: FR2346529A1; FR2346529B1

Description

(54) LOCK CYLINDER (71) We, YMOS-METALLWERKE WOLF & BICKUR G. m. b. H. & Co., of Feldstrasse 12 D-6055 Hausen, Federal Republic of Germany, a German Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement :- The invention relates to a lock cylinder with radially movable tumblers and an associated key.

Such lock cylinders have been known for a long time and are manufactured and used in very many forms. They are intended to fulfil security and control functions, but despite continuous efforts and improvements in this field they do not yet salisfactorily meet this objective.

According to the invention, there is provided a lock cylinder having radially mov able tumblers and controllable locking mag- nets and an associated key, wherein a radially movable locking strip which projects beyond the periphery of the lock cylinder in the locked position and which has a pro jection which lies in the key groove of the cylinder in the unlocked position is operably connected to the locking magnets and is guided by a carrier in the lock cylinder on which the locking magnets are rotatahty mounted.

The invention \vill be describetl in mt e detail hereinafter in embodiments which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which :--- Figure i is a longitudina ! section through a lock cylinder according to the invention, along the line I-T in Figure 2; Figure 2 is a sectional view a) ong the line IT-TI in Figure) and 5, with the locking parts in the unlocked position ; Figure 3 is a sectional view as in Figure 2, with the locking parts in the locked position ; Figure 4 is a longitudina ! section along the line IV-IV in Figure 5; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section along the line V-V in Figure 9; Figure 6 is an elevation of the lock cylinder; Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line VII-VII in Figure I and in Figure 5 with the locking parts in the unlocked position; Figure 8 is a view as in Figure 7, with the locking parts in the locked position; Figure 9 is a sectional view along the line JX- ! X in Figures and 5, with the locking parts in the unlocked position ; Figures 10 to 14 are sections and views or another embodiment corresponding to Figures I to 5; Figure 15 is a section as in Figures 4 and ils, through a third embodiment ; Figure 16 is a side view of an associated key according to the invention ; Figure 17 is a pian view ; and Figures 18 to 23 are sections through modified keys, along the line XVIII-XVTTI in Figure 16.

A ! ock cylinder I according to the invention and in accordance with Figures 1-9 has radially movabie tumblers 2 and3 and also locking magnets 4 and 5 which can he moved or turned into an unlocked position in each case with the aid oF notches 6 and centre) magnets 7 and 8 respectively in the key 9. The tumblers 2 and 3 move in (umbkr channels ! 0 and 11 and are sub jected to the force of a compression spring 12. Locking and h--Dass grooves 14 and I 5 arc provided m a known manner, for the tumblers 2 and 3, in the housing receiv ip the lock cylinder or in a lock cylinder Niccve 13. The width of these grooves 14 and 15 is the same for all tumblers 2 and 3.

The locking magnets 4 and 5 are freely rotatably mounted in the lock cylinder 1 on a carrier 16, which is inserted in one end face in the lock cylinder 1, in a longitudinal groove 17, and is safely retained therein by means of two clamps 18 and 19. In addition, the lock cylinder I clasps the carrier 16 to some extent with edge parts 20 and 21.

In the carrier 16 there are circular recesses 22 and 23 into which bearing journals 24 and 25 for freely rotatably mounted locking members 26 and 27 project radially towards the lock cylinder axis. The locking magnets 4 and 5 are secured to the locking mem- bers 26 and 27, and rotate the latter with them in their rotary movements about the axis of the bearing journals 24 and 25.

In addition to the locking magnets 4, 5 and their locking members 26, 27, a locking strip 28 is also mounted and guided in the carrier 16, and its shape can best be seen from Figure 4. The locking strip 28 has lugs 29,30, which engage in recesses 31, 2 in the locking members 26, 27 when the latter are brought, by the locking magnets 4, 5 connected therewith, into a position in register with said lugs 29, 30. If the recesses 31, 32 do not lie in register with the lugs 29,30, the locking strip 28 projects with an edge part 33 beyond the periphery of the lock cylinder 1, and thereby engages in a locking strip groove 34. The locking strip groove 34 is displaced by 90 around the c ; linder sleeve relative to the locking and by-pass grooves 14 and 15.

To guide the locking strip 28, the carrier 16 has a longitudinal groove 35, one boundary wall of which can clearly be seen in Figure 4. In addition, recesses 36 and 37 are provided in the carrier 16, which extend from its end surfaces into the circular recesses 22 and 23.

The recesses 36 and 37 serve for the passage of projections 38,39 at the ends of the locking strip 28. A passage opening 40 in the carrier 16 permits the radially directed passage of a projection 41 on the locking strip 28.

Both projections 38 and J9 can engage via their free ends 42, 43, of wedge-shaped cross-section, as far as the tumbler groove 10, such as can be seen for example from Figure 2. The locking strip ^8 also has recesses 44 and 45 in the region of the projections 38, 39, which serve to receive compression springs 46, 47, which are supported on the clamps 18, 19.

The locking strip 28 is always urged by the compression springs 46,47 in the direction of the lock cylinder axis, the free ends 42, 43 pressing against two of the tumblers 2, which are preferably frame tumblers.

Each such frame tumbler 2 has a recess 48 adapted to the shape of the free end 42,43 of the projections 38, 39 which recess 48 is able to accept the free end 42,43 if the frame tumbler 2 is in the unlocked position according to Figure 2.

If the frame tumbler 2 is moved into the ! ocked position according to Figure 3, the free ends 42,43 meet the projections 38, 39 directly on the outer face 49 of the frame tumbler 2 facing them, and accordingly adopt a radially outwardly displaced position. This also means that the edge part 33 of the ocking strip 28 ties in the locking strip groove 34.

Only when both frame tumblers 2 are displaced into their unlocked position by using the correct key 9 (according to Figure 2) can the locking strip 28 together with its edge part 33 leave the locking strip groove 34, since the free ends 41-, 43 on the projections 38, 39 of the locking strip 2S can on) y then engage in the recesses 18 of the frame tumbler 2.

The approximately centrally arranged projection 41 on the locking strip 28 engages with its free, roughly conically shaped, end 50 not only in the tumbler groove of one of the tumblers 3, which prc ferably has the shape of a half-plate tumbler, but also as far as the key groove 51, as may clearly be seen on comparing Figures 4,7 and 8.

The key according to Figure t has, on its side facing the locking strip 28, at least one slot 53 extending from the key tip 52 over a part of the length of the key, and a recess 54 at a distance from said slot 53, in which the projection 41 on the locking strip 28 may engage with its free end 50 when the key 9 is fully inserted into the lock cylinder 1.

The free end 50 on the projection 41 of the locking strip 28 also projects, according to Figure 8, into the key-roove 51 if the locking strip 28 is in the locked position and the key is withdrawn. When the key is inserted into the lock cylinder 1, the free end 50 on the projection 41 first engages in the slot 53 on the key tip. The slot 53 gradually runs at its end facing the tip 52 into the side face 55 of the key 9, whereupon the free end 50 is forced out of the key groove 51. In this connection, the locking strip groove 34 has sufficient space so that the locking strip 28 can still be displaced radially outwards when the key is inserted in the locked position.

The radially outwardly directed movement of the locking strip 28 means that on further insertion of the key in the lock cylinder 1, the cams 29 and 30 on the locking strip 28 leave the recesses 31 and 32 of the locking members 26, 27 connecte to the locking magnets 4,5 and said locking magnets 4,5 can then rotate absolutely freely. The locking strip 28 remains in its maximum radially outwardly displaced position as long as the free end 50 on the projection 41 slides in the recess 54 of the key. The key is now in the locked position, and not only have e all the tumblers 2 and 3 been displaced into the unlocked position, but also the control magnets 7,8 in the key lie opposite the control magnets 4,5 of the lock cylinder and have rotated the latter magnets into their unlocked position.

The two frame tumblers ? at the begin ning and end of the lock cylinder f contribute, together with the projections 38, 39 adjacent thereto as well as the key 9 and the projection 41 adjacent thereto, to ensuring that the locking magnets 4, 5 are mechanically unengaged until immediately before the locked position is reached by lifting the locking strip. The free ends 42,43 and 50 of the projections 38, 39 and 41 have a wedge or conical cross-section so that the force required on lifting the locking strip 28, i. e. in order to displace it outwardly against the force exerted by both compression springs 46 and 47 is as small as possible.

If a lock with a lock cylinder according to the invention is to be opened using a key whose notches 6 do not fully mate with the tumblers 2,3, this means that not only do the tumblers in question remain together with their free ends in the locking grooves, but the locking strip 28 accordingly also does not leave its locking strip groove 34.

If the magnets in the key and in the lock cylinder do not coincide with one another, the locking members 26 and 27 are not rotated so as to he in register with the lu-s 29,30, with the result that the locking strip 28 together with its edge part 33 remains in the locking strip groove 34.

In the lock cylinder I shown in Figures 10 to 14, the same parts are shown with the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment. Different parts are basically provided with additional letters.

The lock cylinder I has control members 2a in the form of frame tumblers preferably at the sites of the first and/or last possible tumbler, as well as conventional, radially movable tumblers 3, in the shape of halfplate tumblers. In addition, there are rotatably mounted locking magnets 4 and 5 in the lock cylinder 1, which are controlled by means of control magnets 7 and 8, in the key 9. The control members 2a are arranged in the lock cylinder I in radially disposed grooves 10 and are freely movable, as are the tumblers 3. Compression springs 12 act on the control members 2a and tumblers 3.

Locking and by-pass grooves 14 and 15 for the tumblers 3 are provided in the hous- ing receiving the lock cylinder 1 or in a lock cylinder sleeve 13. The locking groove 15 has, in the region of the two control members 2a, a part 15a with boundary faces ] 5b and 15c diverging from the lock cylinder 1. In a corresponding manner, the control members 2a have laterally arranged, outwardly converging boundary faces 2b and 2c, with the result that the free end 2d of the control member 2a may positively engage in the locked position in the part 15a of the locking groove 15. By means of the boundary faces 2b, 2c and 15b, 15c inclined to the periphery of the lock cylinder 1, thc control member 2a is displaced, on rotation of the lock cylinder 1, from the locked position according to Figure 12 and against the force of the spring 12, into the interior of the lock cylinder 1. The latcral boundary or control surface 2c on the control mem her 2a nms, on rotation of the lock cylinder I to the right, on the boundary face 15c of the part 15a of the locking groove 15, and thus displaces the control member 2a radially inwardly. In order to enable this movement to take place, the key passage opening 2e in the control member 2a is furthermore larger than the cross-section of the key 9, so as reliably to prevent any displacement of the control member 2a by the key.

The length of the control member 2a is exactly the same as the diameter of the lock cylinder 1, in order to obtain the greatest possible guidance and support.

In the lock cylinder I there is in addition a movable carrier ; 6, which is reliably secured by means of two clamps 18 and 19.

The carrier 16 has bearing journals 24 and 25 for freely rotatable locking members 26 and 27, to which, in addition, the locking magnets 4 and 5 are secured.

The carrier furthermore guides and carries a locking strip 28 with lugs 29,30, which engage in the locked position in recesses 31, 32 in the locking members 26,27.

If the recesses 31, 32 do not lie in register with the lugs 29,30, the locking strip 28 together with and edge part 33 projects beyond the periphery of the lock cylinder I and thereby engages in a locking strip groove 34, which is somewhat wider, i. e. by several degrees of angle, than the locking strip 28 or its edge part 33 engaging in the locking strip groove 34. The width of the locking strip groove 34 between its radially directed boundary walls 34a and 34b is chosen so that the lock cylinder can be rotated with the inserted key by several degrees, even if the edge part 33 of the locking strip 28 is still in the locked position. This case can arise if a user wishes to rotate the lock cylinder I directly after inserting the key 9, but the locking magnets 4 and 5 have not become aligned sufi- ciently rapidly, with the result that the lugs 29 and 30 have not yet been able to engage in the recesses 31 and 32 of the locking members 26 and 27. In this case, the locking strip groove 34 widened in the rotation direction already allows a rotation of the lock cylinder during which the locking magnets are still able to rotate.

As can also be seen from Figures 10-14, there are recesses 36, 37 in the carrier 16 for the passage of projections 38, 39 at the ends of the locking strip 28, as well as a passage opening 40 for a further projection 41, which co-operates with the key 9.

The free ends 42 and 43 of both projections 38 and 39 on the locking strip 28 can be moved by means of compression springs 46, 47 as far as the grooves l0 receiving the control members 2a, and always press against said control members 2a. Each oF the control members 2a has a recess 48 adapted to the shape of the frce end 42, 43 of the projections 38,39, which recess 48 can receive the free end 42,43 if the control member 2a is in its radially inwardly displaced position according to Figure 2.

The recess 48 in the control member 2a has a rectangular boundary face 48a, L'+8b inclined to its direction of movement. The inclined boundary face 48b is opposite the free edge 2d of the control member 2a. The free end 42,43 of the projections 38,39 is positively adapted as regards its cross section to the contour of the recess 48, and thus has an inclined face 42a. By means of the boundary face 48a, the control mem- ber 2a is maintained against the force of the compression spring 12 from the projection 42,43 in its radially inwardly displaced position according to Figure 2, if the locking strip is in its likewise radia, ly inwardlv displaced position in the lock cylinder 1.

Only when the locking strip is forced radially outwardly from the key 9 over the projection 41, against the compression force of the springs 46 and 47, do the projections 42 and 43 leave the recesses 48 in both control members 2a, with the resu ! t that these also can be moved into their radially out- wardly disp) aced position according to Figure 12 The projection 4), which ties with its free end 50 in a wedge-shaped or conica!shaped depression in the key 9, serves to lift the focking strip 28 after the outward movement. If the key is withdrawn the free end 50 or the projection 41 slides out from the depression 49 in the key 9, and at the same time the edge part 33 of the locking strip 28 engages in the locking strip groove 34 and the control members 2a move radially outwardly.

The embodiment shown in Figure) 3 differs from the last-described embodiment onlv by the fact that peg-shaped tumblers 3d instead of half-plate tumblers 3 are arranged in the lock cylinder lb, and co-operate with spring-urged peg or s ! eeves 3c in the housing or lock cylinder sleeve 13b re ceiving the lock cvlinder lb. Because of the peg tumb! ers, the locking and by-pass grooves 14 and 15 in the first described embodiment are not necessary, and accord- ingly corresponding recesses for both control members 2b are provided in place of the part 15a in the locking groove 15.

There are no further differences between the two lock cylinders I and lb. The key 9b is also suitably adapted for use with peg tumblers 3b, and has the same control magnets 7 and 8 as the key 9.

A key 101 in accordance with the inven- tion, and according to Figure 16, has a key bit 102, which likewise has stepped notches 103 as evell as control magnets 104. In at least one flat side 105, at least one recess 108 or 109 is arranged in the region of the key tip 106. starting from the free end 107 of the key bit 102. These recesses 108 and ! 09 extend over a certain length up to the key head 110 and then emerge, via inclined faces 111 and 112, into the flat side 105 of the key bit 102.

There is a corresponding number of further recesses 113 and 114 in the key bit, at a distance from the recesses 108 and 109 and displaced relative to the key head 110, the recess 113 being in alignment with the recess 108, and the recess 114 being in alignment with the recess 109. The two recesses 108 and 109, and 113 and 114, as well as, if desired, corresponding recesses in the other flat side of the key 101, are necessary if the locking strip in the lock cvlinder has more than one projection 141, for example two projections, and the key 101 is furthermore intended to be used as a reversib ! e key.

Inclined faces 116 and 117 lie between the bottom I of the recesses 113 and 114 and the flat side 105 of the key hit 102, and ensure that the projection 141 on the locking strip can feely move in the recesses I I and 114 on displacing key 101.

If the key 101 is to be used as a rever vible key, recesses ! 08 and 109, and 113 and 114, are necessary in both flat sides 105 and 118, as can be seen from the drawing in Figure 17. Recesses 119 and ! 20 are then provided in the flat side 118, as mirror images of the recesses 108 and 113. The samc applies to the recesses 109 and l 14 if the kev bit 102 has in its flat side 105 not only one recess but two recesses for two projections on the locking strip projecting into the key groove.

In the case of reversibie keys the recesses opposite flat sides 105 and 118 are"reflec ted"on the rotational axis 121 of the key bit 102, or are displaced by 180 with re- spect to one another.

The key bit 102, 122 according to Figures 18. 20 and 21 has a rectangular cross-section and has preferably centrally arranged ribs 125 and 126 on both its narrow sides 123 and 124. The stepped notches 103 are located in the ribs 125, 126, and in addition nilitua ! ly perpendicular guide surfaces for the kev bit 102, 1o2 are created by the ribs 125, 126.

As long as there are two rows with recesses 10S, 113 and 109, 114 in each flat side 105, 118 of the key bit, these recesses conveniently lie immediately adjacent to the ribs 125, 126 in the rectangular crosssection profile of the key bit, so that they are also open towards the ribs 125, 126.

Guide channels 129, 130 are arranged in both flat sides 127. 128 of the key bits 122, according to Figures 20 and 21. These guide channeis ! 29 and 130 extend over the length of the key bit 122 and lie displaced relative to the rotational axis 121, immediately adjacent to the recesses 108, 113, and 109, 114 The two embodiments according to Figures 20 and 21 differ only in that in the key bit 122 according to Figure 20, the guide channe) 129 is arranged at the top in the flat side 127, and the guide channel 130 is arranged at the bottom in the flat side 128, whereas the position is reversed in the key bit 122 according to Figure 21. The key bits 122 according to Figures 20 and 21 arc suitable for reversible keys since they have a mirror cross-section on the rotational axis 1 I, which is always the same on rotating by 180 around the rotational axis 121.

The key bit 131 according to Figure 19 is oblong in cross-section and has a bevel 134 and 135 on each of its narrow sides 132 and 133, and a recess 136 and 137 of rectangular cross-section.

The bevels and recesses may, as shown in Figure 19, be arranged on the same flat sides or on the same narrow sides. It is also possible to arrange bevels and recesses in a cross-wise manner so that the key bit 1. 1 can be used for a reversible key.

The key bit 138 according to Figure 22 is also rectangular in cross-section, and has a guide channel 140 in one of its flat sides 139, and rectangular recesses 142 and 143 along the longitudinal edges of the other flat side 141.

The key bit 144 according to Figure 23 differs from the key bit 138 according to Figure 22 only in that the guide channel 145 also lies in the right flat side 141.

Claims

NVISAT WE CLAIM IS :-- 1. A lock cylinder having radially movable tumblers and controllable locking mag- nets and an associated key, wherein a raclially movable locking strip which projects beyond the periphery of the lock cylinder in the locked position and which has a projection which lies in the key groove of the cylinder in the unlocked position is operably connected to the locking magnets and is guided by a carrier in the lock cylinder on which the locking magnets are rotatablv mounted.
2. A lock cylinder and key according to claim 1, wherein the locking strip has projections facing tumbler grooves.
3. A lock cylinder and key according to claim 2, wherein the said projections enter the tumbler grooves when the locking strip is inwardly displaced.
4. A lock cylinder and key according to claim 3, wherein tumblers are provided by means of which the locking strip is displaced radially outwardly when the tumblers are moved into a locked position.
5. A lock cylinder and key according to claim 4, wherein the tumblers are frame tumblers or plate tumblers.
6. A lock cylinder and key according to claim 5, wherein the locking magnets are arranged in the region of the plate tum biefs.
7. A lock cylinder and key according to any of claims 2-6, wherein frame tumblers are arranged in the first and last tumbler grooves of the lock cylinder, and have recesses corresponding to the projections facing the tumbler groove.
8. A lock cylinder and key according to c ! aim 7, wherein locking members are arranged opposite the locking strip on the locking magnets which positive) y engage the locking strip in the unlocked position.
9. A lock cylinder and key according to claim 8, wherein the key has, on its side opposite the locking strip, a slot extending from the key tip over part of the length of the key, and a recess at a distance from said siot.
10. A lock cylinder and key according to any of claims 1-9, wherein the locking strip has lugs, and recesses associated with the lugs are provided in locking members arranged on the locking magnets.
I I. A lock cylinder and key according to anv of claims 1-10, Nherein a locking strip groove in a housing or lock cylinder sleevc receiving the lock cylinder is wider by several degrees of angle than the edge part of the locking strip engagable in the locking strip groove.
12. A lock cylinder and key according lo any of claim% 1-12, wherein at least one control member subjected to the action of a compression spring is provided parallel to the tumblers, which control member is mov- able by rotating the lock cylinder to bring a recess therein into engagement with the locking strip.
13. A lock cylinder and key according to claim 12. wherein the control member has the shape of a frame tumbler.
14. A lock cylinder and key according to claim 13, wherein a key passage opening is provided in the control member, which is greater than the cross-section of the key.
i5. A lock cylinder and key according to claim 12, wherein the control member has an edge part with boundary faces out ward) y converging, and in the locked position engages with this edge part in the hous ing or lock cylinder slceve receiving the lock cylinder.
16. A lock cylinder and key according tu claim 12, wherein the locking strip groove has a part with boundary faces diverging with respect to the control member.
17. A lock cylinder and key according to c'aim 12, wherein the free end of the con- trol member engages, in the case of a lock having peg-shaped tumblers, in a recess in the housing or in the lock cylindcr sleeve.
18. A lock cylinder and key according to claim 12, wherein the recess in the controt member has a boundary face vertical to the direction of movement of the control member.
19. A lock cylinder and key according to claim 12, wherein the locking strip rests on the control member and the magnets are thus balanced until the recess is displaced below the locking strip by rotation, the cylinder.
20. A key with a key bit having a stepped notch arrangement and control magnets for a lock cylinder and key combination according to any of claims 1-19, which has at least one recess in at least one flat side extending from the key tip or its free end, and also has a further recess at a distance from the said first recess and spaced from the key head.
21. A key according to claim 20, wherein the key bit at its free end has two recesses on each of the two flat sides, and in addition a further two recesses at a distance from said first recesses.
22. A key according to claim 20, wherein the key bit has recesses on both flat sides, which are displaced by 180 or are in a mirror relationship with respect to the rota tional axis of the key bit.
23. A key according to claim 20, wherein the key bit is of rectangular cross-section and has centrally arranged ribs on both its narrow sides.
24. A key according to claim 20, wherein a guide channel is arranged in at least one flat side of the key bit, adjacent to the recesses.
25. A key according, to claim 20, wherein guide channels are arranged in both flat sides of the key bit and are in a mirror re lationship with respect to the rotational axis.
26. A key according to claim 20, wherein the key bit is of oblong cross-section and has bevels on each of its narrow sides and a recess of rectangular cross-section.
27. A key according to claim 20, wherein the key bit is rectangular in cross-section, and has a guide channel in one flat side and rectangular recesses running along the lon gitudinal edges of the other flat side.
28. A key according to claim 20, wherein the key bit is of rectangular cross-section and has a guide channel in one flat side, as well as rectangular recesses running along both longitudinal edges of said flat side.
29. A lock cylinder constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 1-9, 10-14 or 15 of the accompanying drawings.
30. A key for a lock cylinder construc- ted and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 16 and 17, or any of Figures 18-23 of the ac companying drawings.