GB2049788A - Cylinder Lock - Google Patents

Abstract

A cylinder lock has a stator possessing a circular shaped head 3 elongated into a side tail 4, and in the stator circular head, there is a symmetrically centred rotor cylinder 2 which is provided with a circular cross section key hole 5 whose longitudinal axis is offset 27 with respect to the stator and rotor longitudinal axes, the stator and rotor, being fitted with a row of main tumblers whose ends protrude into the inside of the shape of the key, and with auxiliary tumblers placed at an angle to the axis of the main tumbler, and radially with respect to the stator and the rotor, where the prolongations of the axes from said angularly positioned tumblers intersect with the central axis of the stator and the rotor, and are therefore offset with respect to the circular hole wherein the key is inserted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A New High Security Lock Barrel and its Key In accordance with this invention, the barrel covered hereby is intended to be used in a high security lock, where this term is understood to refer to those locks where a large number of different combinations can be obtained, where the key can be inserted either way round and is very difficult to make a copy of, and where an important consideration is to be taken into account is the ability of the lock to have a master key to operate it.

Likewise, the main purpose of these barrels is their application to the so called European shaped stator, which is that having a 1 7 mm. diameter circular head that is prolonged into a 10 mm.

wide tail, terminating in a 5 mm. radius round end, and where the overall length along its section is 33.3 mm.

In pursuit of a security lock, barrels known up to the present time in chronological order, have been as follows: 1. Protruding Teeth A) Yale Type. Featured through its having a row of five centre spigots in the'tail, and teeth cut along one edge of the key.

Disadvantages: 1. Limited number of combinations possible, being of the order of 100,000.

2. Single and difficult position for insertion and withdrawal of the key.

3. The key can be easily copied.

B) Reversible Yale Type. In pursuit of reversibility, this type is featured through its having a row of five centre spigots in the tail and teeth cut on both sides of the key.

Disadvantages: The number of possible combinations is still limited and it is easy to copy, while moreover, the cutting of the teeth on both sides of the key weakens its body, and hence this type of barrel is hardly used except in locks having a low degree of responsibility.

C) The Yale multiple or security type. Here, within the scope of security, and in pursuit of an increase in the number of combinations, two rows of spigots are arranged in the tail, and the key shank is an "H" section with teeth on its edges.

Disadvantages: The key is still easily copied, and furthermore, since there are two rows of spigots, they are offset with respect to the barrel axis, and for this reason, the surface between the stator piston and the rotor piston in each spigot is not symmetrical, which means that its perimeter and that of the recess wherein the spigots are housed are of such a shape as to prevent their rotation, thus causing extreme difficulties in the manufacture.

2) Flat Security Key. In the search for a lock that is more difficult to open, and where the key could not be copied so easily, flat keys were introduced, where the teeth are precision cut and located on the flat face thereof instread of on the edge. In this way, a larger number of combinations is achieved, but the limiting factor is the thickness of the key, which is of the order of 2.5 mm. Within these two types, where they are used for the European shaped housing, the following are known: A) The Kebo flat key type. In this type, three radial rows of five spigots are used, being located on the head of the housing, while the flat key is centred so that in its two positions, it will coincide with the three rows of spigots. The teeth on the key are located on its edges and on the flat surface thereof.

Disadvantages: Bearing in mind that each spigot is made up from three parts (the stator piston, the rotor piston, and the spring), there is only a limited amount of space available between the side of the key and the housing (some 4 mm.) and for this reason, the number of different heights which each spigots on these sides may have, cannot be greater than three (at intervals of 0.4 mm.), and although the number of different combinations that can be made is of the order of 1 4,000,000, it is for that reason very difficult for any mastering to be achieved, because this of necessity involves the inclusion of a further master key piston, for which there is not sufficient space available.

B) The DOM flat key type. Here, two rows of five spigots are employed, these being located in the tail of the housing, and to provide for reversibility of the key, this is moved sideways.

Disadvantages: Some 9,000,000 combinations can be achieved with it alone, and although the problem of mastering can be successfully overcome due to the spigots being able to be located at up to five different heights, the teeth on the key have to be cut twice (reversible), causing a weakening in its section, and moreover, due to the spigots being offset, they require to have a special shape along with their guide holes so as not to cause them to revolve, and this makes the manufacture of the locks and keys considerably more complicated and costly.

Moreover, all flat keys have the disadvantage whereby they may break or simply twist due to the weakening of their section, which would in any case render the key useless, because its teeth are high precision cut.

The problem therefore arises of finding a barrel system whose incorporation into the European shape of housing is feasible, that provides a high degree of security (by having several million combinations), whose key is not easy to copy, where the key is easily inserted into the cylinder, where the master key feature can be incorporated, and where the manufacturing process is simply performed, using suitable machinery.

It is in order to fulfill all these requirements that the present invention is forthcoming, where the object comprises a new high security lock barrel that is peculiar wherewith inside the circular stator head there is a symmetrical centred rotor which possesses a hole for accommodating the circular key whose axis is offset with respect to the centre of the stator and the rotor, and where in addition said stator and rotor, besides being provided with the row of centre spigots in the tail which protrude into the middle of the key hole, is provided too with further rows of spigots at the top where they are arranged in an angular radial position with respect to the stator and the rotor, with their axes intersecting at the centre of the stator and the rotor, and hence in an offset position with respect to the circular hole where the key is inserted.

However perfect a lock or a closing system may be, and however complicated and sophisticated may be the components fitted into it in order to render it tamper-proof, littie purpose will be achieved unless a proper solution is found for the most basic security aspect, which is to make the keys wherewith said system is to be operated, difficult to reproduce, this being a consideration where almost ali systems known up to now fail, because the key with which they are operated can be easily copied, even with rudimentary machinery within the scope of the primitive technology.The object of the present invention provides for the creation of a new key for the purpose of operating a high precision locking system that is complemented by same, and which in itself is such as to accommodate an almost unlimited number of different combinations, to be reversible, and to be so difficult to copy as to ensure that any reproduction thereof is practically impossible, unless performed by the lock manufacturer himself using exceedingly high precision machinery; such as to place it beyond the reach of any technology that is not highly sophisticated.

In order to provide a fuller understanding of the nature of the invention, drawings are attached that show a preferred construction thereof (this being purely illustrative and by no means limitative), and to which reference will be made in the description which ensues.

Figure 1 is a side view of the construction covered by the invention, as viewed from the outside and where it incorporates the European shaped stator, the key not being inserted in its position here.

Figure 2 is a section across the above side view showing the arrangement of the spigots, and where the key is illustrated as being inserted in its position.

Figures 3 and 4 are a sectioned elevational view and a plan view of a lock barrel constructed in accordance with this invention, and where the key is shown as being inserted in one of the operating sides, but not in the other.

Figure 5 is a view on section 23-23 in Figure 3.

Figures 6 and 7 are an elevational and a plan view of a key as used in the lock barrel covered by the present invention.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are views on sections 24-24, 25-25 and 26-26 respectively as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 11 depicts an elevational view of a high security lock with the key inserted.

Figure 12 is a view upon section 23-23 as shown in Figure 11.

Figures 13 and 14 are elevational and plan views respectively depicting the key as constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figures 1 5 and 1 6 are enlarged sectional views upon 24-24 and 25-25 respectively in Figure 13.

Figure 17 is a similar view to that depicted in Figure 1 2, but shows another construction of the invention.

Figure 18 is a view which is similar to that shown in Figures 1 5 and 16, depicting alternative features that can be embodied in the invention in accordance with Figure 17.

Notations as follows are used in the above Figures to denote the parts illustrated therein.

1. Cylinder or housing stator.

2. Barrel rotor, or revolving cylindrical drum.

3. Stator head.

4. Stator tail.

5. Key hole or housing.

6. Tail spigots.

7. Head spigots.

8. Stator piston.

9. Rotor piston.

10. Spigot spring.

11. Key shank.

1 2. Teeth on key.

13. Teeth on key.

14. Side protrusion.

1 5. Stator longitudinal centre axis.

1 6. Rotor longitudinal centre axis.

1 7. Key hole longitudinal centre axis.

1 8. Tail spigot axis.

19. Head spigot axis.

20. Locking tongue.

21. Front slot.

22. Anchoring hole.

23. Cross section notation.

24. Cross section notation.

25. Cross section notation.

26. Cross section notation.

27. Offsetting.

28. Key side slot.

29. Key handle.

30. Turning angle.

31. Perpendicular plane to centre line.

The lock barrel disclosed herein has a stator of the so-called European shape, since its cylinder or housing (1) possesses a stator head (3) of circular section and prolonged into a stator tail (4) at the side. The stator head (3) is fitted with a barrel rotor (2) or revolving cylindrical drum whose circular shape is centred upon and symmetrical to the stator head (3).

Barrel rotor (2) is provided with a key hole (5) or housing of circular section, and whose longitudinal axis is offset with respect to the stator head and the rotor, where such offsetting is depicted in Figure 1 under notation (27).

The stator (1) and the rotor (2) are provided with several rows of spigots, where each one of said spigots is comprised of a stator piston (8) and a rotor piston (9) with its corresponding spring (10), and the positioning of these springs and that of their corresponding pistons depends upon whether the barrel is in the locked position (without the proper key being inserted), or whether it is in the position where it is able to revolve (with the proper key being inserted), in which case the separation surface between each stator piston (8) and rotor piston (9) is in coincidence with the line that limits the stator (1) with respect to the rotor (2).

In either case, the tip of each one of these spigots (which correspond to the end or tip of the rotor piston (9), protrudes towards the inside of the key hole (5).

In accordance with the present invention, the revolving cylindrical drum is provided with a row of centre spigots (6) in the tail, and further rows of spigots (7) in the head arranged at an angle to the axes (19) thereof, and radially with respect to the stator (1) and to the rotor (2), in such a way that the prolongations from said axes (19) intercept one another at the common centre line (15 and 16) of the stator (3) and the rotor (2).

Such interception is offset with respect to axis (1 7) belonging to the circular sectioned key hole.

It is here that one of the essential features of this invention is embodied, because upon using a key having a circular section, it becomes possible to achieve further advantages as will be enumerated hereunder, while immediately, by means of offsetting the key hole or housing with respect to the rotor centre line and to the operational tail spigots (6), the possibility emerges whereby other spigots (7) can be used in the head and located in radial arrangement, that is to say, centred with respect to the stator and the rotor, but offset with respect to the key hole or housing, and in consequence with respect to the key shank. Such arrangement allows fuller use to be made of space available, while each spigot can moreover be provided with a greater range of combinations, and mastering too becomes feasible.Manufacture is extremely simple because the stator pistons and the rotor pistons which make up each spigot do not require to be given any particularly special shape, nor do the housings in which they are accommodated, because their operation is at all times symmetrical, and the fact that they can revolve in their housings does not affect the operation of the lock barrel.

By means of using a circular section key hole (5), designed to accommodate a key whose shank (11) section is likewise circular, it becomes possible for the teeth that are cut thereon to be very much higher or deeper than those on a flat key, where the depth to which teeth can be cut is dependent upon the height of the key shank, and if such key was to be of the reversible type, such depth to which said teeth could be cut would be reduced by one half, while in the case of the key being disclosed here, it is due to the offset position between the teeth and the head spigots, that same can be cut to a depth that is even greater than the largest dimension (the radius) of the key shank, since said teeth are cut along a line that follows the secant of the shank (11) circular section, instead of being cut radially thereto.

As may be noted from the accompanying drawings, the key hole (5) is offset through distance (27) with respect to the stator and rotor common axis (15-16) in the direction that brings it towards and upon the key hole longitudinal centre axis (17) and more remote from the stator tail (4) than is said stator and rotor common axis (15-16). This is as may clearly be seen from Figure 2, where it can plainly be deduced that there is a greater allowance for the depth of the head spigots (7), since the distance available with respect to the tooth cut which the tail spigots (6) may require, is great.

Another of the problems that gave rise to serious difficulties in methods known up to now for constructing lock barrels was the concerning the reversibility of the key, or in other words, that feature avoiding the user's having perhaps to attempt first one way and then the other when inserting the key in the key hole. In accordance with the present invention, this problem is ingeniously overcome, because the key employed is circular, and it is envisaged that inside the key hole (5) bottom there is to be provided at least one side protrusion (14) capable of being accommodated within a side slot (28) on the key shank when same is inserted. This allows the circular key to be inserted into the key hole (5) with no need for trial and error, while the correct angular position of same is easily ascertained by means of making the slot (28) engage about protrusion (14).In this manner it has proven possible to provide the key with all those advantages that were pursued with reversible keys, without the need of the teeth being cut thereon more than a single time instead of twice.

Details of the protrusion may be noted in Figure 1 on the accompanying drawings. However, the inventive solution to key reversibility as described herein does more than merely simplify the cutting of the teeth whereby they require to be cut only once, because further advantages are moreover forthcoming wherewith it is upon the angle between the slot (28) of the protrusion (17) to the same effect, and the position of the rows of spigots (7 and 6), that the kind or variation in the number of combinations depends, because it is only at any single angular position in particular, that the rows of spigots will mesh with the corresponding teeth as cut on the key shank, and consequently this feature provides additional possibilities of obtaining a greater number of combinations.

It may be added that the cutting and the height or depth of protrusion (14) and slot (28) will also determine the design of key that will fit.

Finally, the length of slot (28) will determine the point of frontal abutment whereat each spigot is in line with its corresponding tooth upon the key shank. All the aforegoing increases the number of possible combinations considerably.

The teeth cut on the key shank, as may be seen in Figures 6,7,8,9 and 10, are extremely difficult to reproduce, above all those denoted (13), which are the ones that engage the tips of the head spigots (7), due to their being in a sloping position, thus making it almost impossible for them to be copied, and in this way increasing the security features inherent to a key of this kind. On the other hand, for the purposes of manufacture, the cutting of these teeth on the centre of the key, including those having a sloping axis, is a simple process when using the suitable precision machinery which the manufacturer should possess, and is in any case very much simpler than those complicated methods of precision milling in a plurality of different stages, which are required for the fulfillment of other methods known up to now.

As regards the number of possible combinations, when taking into account only those allowed by the five tail spigots (6) and two sets of head spigots (7) each comprising five spigots as that depicted in the construction illustrated on the drawings, and where the calculation errs very much on the low side, some 18,000,000 different ones can be obtained, which is very much in excess of those it is possible to obtain by any of the methods known up to now as applicable to a European shaped stator. However, when taking into account the possibility of altering the angular position of the rows of head spigots (7), and the relationship between the position of these spigots and that of the protrusion (17), then the number of possible combinations is practically unlimited.

In the construction that is shown on the drawings, two rows of tail spigots (6) are fitted, but obviously the barrel could be made either with a single row of tail spigots, or with more than two rows of them, although it is not advisable to construct it with more than two, because there would then be limits as to the depth to which the teeth could be cut on the key shank. However, no problem at all arises if the angle is varied between the tail spigot axis (18) and the head spigot axis (1 9), provided always that the prolongations from both said axes intersect at the stator and rotor centre, and constructions are not made where due to the excessive proximity of the axes, there is operational interference between the teeth on the shank of the key.

Whilst in certain Figures on the drawings, the head spigots (7) and the tail spigots (6) have been drawn in for the sake of clarity, in the preferred construction of the invention and in order for better use to be made of the space available, it is intended that the head spigots (7) and the tail spigots (6) do not lie on the same perpendicular plane to axis (15, 16 and 17), but are instead located on either side thereof, so that the teeth (12 and 13) on the key will likewise be placed on either side of these axes, as is shown in Figure 6.

It is to be noted that upon having suceeded with the present invention in maintaining the radial arrangement of the axis of each spigot, it is still a feature that the separation surface between the stator piston (8) and the rotor piston (9) as possessed by each spigot both in the row located in the tail (4), as well as in those in the head (3), is symmetrical, and does not therefore require any cutting or guides to prevent it from revolving in its housing, and this a simplification in the process which cannot be achieved in any of the means known where an offsetting of the key is used.

In spite of the key being offset, its handling is simple, since the effort to move it is applied to the handle (29) thereof (which is inserted inside the front slot (21) that is like a slight protrusion from the rotor body. This particularly may easily be understood by looking at Figures 3 and 4 on the drawings.

This invention cduld clearly be constructed without embodying the key hole offsetting feature, because the mere fact that the head pins (7) are arranged with their axes in a sloping position with respect to the key, would in itself provide it with sufficient advantages, although the construction wherein the key hole is centred with respect to the stator and the rotor would not provide all the advantages that can be derived from the invention, and should be considered as no more than a rudimentary construction thereof.

Likewise, and in pursuit of the same purpose, the invention could be constructed having key holes that were not circular in section, but only partly so, although this too would entail a rudimentary construction of the invention.

The new key proposed to operate a high precision lock possesses high precision features too, and these make it practically impossible to copy. The key shank (11) is circular in cross section and is fitted on at least one of its generatrix, with a row of teeth (12) in the form of a body in revolution, where the axis (18) of each tooth is radially arranged with respect to the key shank (11) cross section, and where on at least one other of its generatrix, it is fitted with a further row of teeth (13), likewise in the form of a body in revolution, where the axis (19) of each tooth is not radially but secantly arranged instead, with respect to said key shank cross section, and where the planes upon which the axes of the respective teeth lie must of necessity form a dihedral angle between them; that is to say, the plane that contains axes (18) of teeth (12) in radial arrangement, must be at a dihedral angle with respect to axes (19) of teeth (13) in nonradial or secant arrangement.

The cutting of such revolution teeth on the key circular shank (11) does clearly in itself entail considerabte difficulties as regards copying, but if to this is added the fact that there are other teeth (13) too, whose axis of revolution is not radial with respect to the circular cross section of the key shank, it will be appreciated that the cutting of same as regards the slope of their axis (19) and the depth thereof, is not feasible by the use of ordinary technology, and can only be performed by the manufacture possessing highly specialized machinery, since any kind of inaccuracy concerning the angle or depth of these teeth (13) will mean that the key will fail to operate the precision lock for which it is designed, and hence any copying of keys of this kind is virtually impossible to achieve.

The use of a circular cross section body, and the offsetting of the teeth (13) thereon, enable the effective depth of same to be considerable without there being any interference between teeth in one and another positions, and the key shank to be sturdy, and thus prevent any bending thereof, which would affect its accuracy in operation.

In order to achieve fuller use of the effective depth of the teeth, and to mitigate the danger of different teeth interfering with one another, teeth (12) on radial axis (18) with respect to key shank (11) are placed upon different perpendicular planes (31) to the generatrix that accommodates the teeth (13) whose axis (19) is in the non-radial direction; that is to say, the teeth are located in staggered formation, as is shown in Figures 13 and 14 on the drawings.

The key shank (11) is provided with a side slot (28), whose angular position is in relation to the angular position of teeth (12 and 13), so that, in this simple manner, the solution is found enabling that great problem of the key reversibility to be overcome, and which, in systems as known up to now, has entailed the teeth having to be cut twice over, whilst in the case being dealt with here, once the key has been inserted with ease into the key hole (5), it is the engagement of said slot (28) upon the respective protrusion as located at a certain angular position inside the key hole (5), which ensures that respective teeth (12 and 13) engage in the right position with the spigots (6 and 7) inside the lock.And moreover, the combination of the key depends upon the angular position, the shape, and the depth of this slot (28), which is thus a further factor wherewith the combination may be varied, and another difficulty that favours the prevention of unauthorized reproduction of the keys.

In a preferred construction of the key, the number of teeth (12) placed in the radial direction is one, and the number of teeth in the non-radial direction (19) is two, such as is shown on the accompanying drawing.

Likewise, in a preferred construction, the number of teeth in each row is five.

The outline of the teeth in the shape of a body in revolution is preferably that of a truncated cone, since such outline will ensure that the spigot (6 and 7) tips are smoothly operated by the key, and also ensure that they are accurately positioned, although it is also envisaged that said teeth may have other shapes such as a spherical dome.

The tip of the key is narrowed so as to ensure its ease of insertion, and also to ensure proper travel of spigot (6 and 7) tips.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention wherein the dihedral angle (30) between teeth (12) on the radial axis, and teeth (13) on the non-radial axis, is the same with respect to the different rows of teeth on the nonradial axis (19), such as may be appreciated from Figures 1 5 and 16, but where this is no more than an example, because the invention may likewise be constructed as is shown in Figures 1 7 and 18, where it is seen that the teeth (13) in two different rows on the non-radial axis, have been cut with different dihedral angles (30), this being a way in which the number of combinations may be varied, where the values of the dihedral angles (30) are varied too. In any case, it is seen that the shank body (11) is more than adequate to allow these teeth to be cut upon it without any operational interference being caused, and this may also be appreciated from the drawings, where section (25-25) is stepped, as has previously been noted.

Claims (14)

Claims

1. A new high security lock barrel and its key, embodied into the so-called European shape of stator possessing a circular shaped head elongated into a side tail, and peculiar insofar as in the stator circular head, there is a symmetrically centred circular rotor, where this latter is provided with a circular cross section key hole whose longitudinal axis is offset with respect to the stator and rotor longitudinal axes, and where said stator and rotor, in addition to being fitted with a row of centre spigots whose ends protrude into the inside of the shape of the key, is fitted with further spigots placed at an angle to the axis of the former, and radially with respect to the stator and the rotor, where the prolongations of the axes from said angularly positioned spigots intersect with the middle of the stator and the rotor, and are therefore offset with respect to the circular hole wherein the key is inserted.

2. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the preceding claim, and peculiar wherewith the offsetting of the key hole with respect to the stator and the rotor centre is made in the direction wherein the centre of the key hole is located further away from the stator tail than it is away from the centre of said stator and rotor.

3. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the preceding claims, and peculiar wherewith the end of the key hole is fitted with at least one side protrusion that engages in a side groove on the key shank when same is inserted, and where this engagement defines the angular intersection between the rows of spigots and the corresponding teeth upon the shank of the key.

4. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the preceding claim, and peculiar wherewith the engagement between the protrusion inside the key hole and the slot on the side of the key shank, defines the abutment for the inserted key at the position where each spigot is in line with the tooth provided for it on said key shank.

5. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the aforegoing claims and peculiar insofar that the spigots on the radial axis in the head are preferably arranged in two rows.

6. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the fifth claim above, and peculiar inasmuch that the two rows of spigots on the head are preferably placed in angular symmetry with respect to the spigots in the tail.

7. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the first and fourth claims above and peculiar insomuch that upon the key shank being round in cross section, it has a row of teeth in the shape of a revolving body upon at least one of its generatrixes, where the axis of each of said teeth is in the radial position with respect to the key shank cross section, while on at least one other of its generatrixes, there is a r'ow of teeth in the shape of a revolving body, where the axis of each of said teeth is in the non-radial or secant position with respect to said key shank cross section, and where the planes upon which the axes belonging to the respective rows of teeth must of necessity form a dihedral angle.

8. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the preceding claim, and peculiar inasmuch that the number of rows of teeth with their axes in the radial direction on the key is preferably one, and the number of rows of teeth having their axes in the non-radial direction is preferably two.

9. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the preceding claim, and peculiar wherewith the key shank is provided with at least one side slot, whose angular position is in relationship with the angular position of the teeth.

10. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the aforegoing claim, and peculiar inasmuch that the number of teeth in each row is preferably five.

11. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the preceding claim, and peculiar insofar that the teeth on the key having their axes in the radial direction with respect to the cross section of the shank, and the teeth having their teeth in the non-radial direction with respect thereto, preferably lie on different perpendicular planes to the generatrix, and are therefore arranged in staggered formation.

12. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the aforegoing claim, and peculiar wherewith the revolving body comprising the teeth is preferably a truncated cone.

13. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the preceding claim, and peculiar wherewith the revolving body comprising the teeth is a spherical dome.

14. A new high security lock barrel and its key, in full accordance with the aforegoing claims, and peculiar insofar that the tip of the key is provided with a length where its cross sectional area gradually increases.

1 5. "A New High Security Lock Barrel and its Key".