GB2072737A - Rotary disc-tumbler cylinder lock - Google Patents

Abstract

A rotary disk tumbler lock comprises a cylinder 30 rotatable in a casing 31 when a locking bar 51 moves out of a casing slot 36. Tumblers 61a, b are aligned by a key to provide a reception recess for the locking bar. Members 71, 73 are provided to prevent the removal of the cylinder from the casing and member 71 is located on an extension 52 of bar 51 to be moved to a release position as the bar moves inwards. Normally as shown in fig. 21 the member 73 remains in place but a pin can be inserted in openings 83, 89 to allow member 81 to act between the members 71, 73 so that member 73 is released with member 71 to allow cylinder removal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder This invention pertains to a cylindrical lock cylin der with a rotary plug or core operated by a key or other device. The cylinder incorporates rotary disctumblers placed transversely thereof, a removable core capability, a tumbler centering spring, a torque tumbler, a core shell having a torque contact exten sion and an indexing protrusion, and other operating elements, parts and adjuncts.

Atype of rotary disc-tumbler cylinder such as manufactured under the trade name Abloy by AB Wartsila OY of Helsinki, Finland has a history of greatly improved security especially from surreptitious entry methods. These cylinders, however, due to their generally unidirectional operation using a single key, lack a facility for ready interchangeability into locksets and other lock boltwork commonly used in much of the world.

The cylinder in 3,789,638, Roberts et al, discloses a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder with a bi-directional operating capability using a single key while maintaining a high degree of security against surreptitious entry means. This invention also dislcosed one method of incorporating a removable core mechanism in a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder. Patent 3,905,213, Roberts, disclosed another method of achieving a removable core feature in a lock cylinder. In 2,690,070, Spain, a generally flat wire formed centering spring is disclosed.

The subject invention incorporates improvements in some of the elements of these references and discloses other improvements in the drawings and specifications hereof.

In general there is provided herein improvements in a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder to increase security against surreptitious entry methods, to sim pliny the manufacture and service of the cylinder, to reduce the cost thereof, to increase the operational life thereof, and to simplify the operation thereof including: A cylinder body construction adapted to receive and position a front sidebar retainer.

A front sidebar retainer to maintain the sidebar in assembly with a removable core and to maintain a key inserted in the core assembly when out of the cylinder body.

Acore shell torquing element with contacting surfaces for clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the core assembly in the cylinder body.

A torque tumbler to properly time and efficiently transmit key rotation torque to the core shell.

A core shell indexing protrusion to simplify the insertion and removal of the coreshell and to preserve timing in a lock-set by polarizing the core in relation to the cylinder body.

A centering spring construction to facilitate man ufacture and to provide increased biasing force.

Tumbler gate incrementation arrangements to increase combinating possibilities and to vary combinating systems as between cylinders.

Tumbler width variations to vary spacings of combinating positions to increase combinating possibilities and to vary combinating systems as between cylinders.

Spacerwidth variations to vary spacings of combinating position to increase combinating possibilities and to vary combinating systems as between cylinders.

An inter-connection of a sidebar and removable core differential mechanism engaging link wherein a sidebar in conjunction with a body locking groove cams the engaging link out of engagement with the body during normal rotational unlocking of the core assembly, to permit the outward bias of the engaging link to outwardly bias the sidebar, and to retain the sidebar in assembly with the core assembly.

Beveled or rounded edges on the rear leading edge of engaging links to cam them inwardly during insertion of the core assembly into the cylinder body.

The transmission of outward linear bias to the engaging links of a removable core differential mechanism by the application of torsional bias to the cooperating link retractor.

The foregoing and other areas and objects of the invention will become more readily evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. lisa cross section on a vertical axis plane through a lock cylinder according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sideview of a sidebar locking element.

FIG. 3 through FIG. 7 are end views of sidebar locking elements each with a differing cross section.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 8, 8 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a front sidebar retainer.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a front sidebar retainer of an alternate construction.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a core assembly removed from the cylinder body.

FIG. 12 is an end view taken along lines 12, 12 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a centering spring.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a rotary disc-tumbler having uniform gating increments.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a rotary disc-tumbler having uniform gating increments.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a rotary disc-tumbler having non-uniform gating increments.

FIG. 17 is a cross section of a rotary disc-tumbler of a given thickness.

FIG. 18 is a cross section of a rotary disc-tumbler with a thickness differing from the tumbler in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a cross section of a rotary disc-tumbler of a thickness differing from the tumblers in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 20, 20 of FIG. 1 showing a removable core differential mechanism with the cylinder in a locked condi tion.

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 21,21 of FIG. 1 showing a removable core differential mechanism in an unlocked cylinder with a portion of the mechanism engaged to prevent removal of the core.

FIG. 22 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 22,22 of FIG. 1 showing a removable core differential mechanism in an unlocked cylinder and the mechanism disengaged to permit removal of the core assembly.

FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view taken on a vertical axial plane through the rear portion of the lock cylinder with portions of the cylinder being broken away to reduce the size of the drawing.

FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 24, 24 of FIG. 23.

Referring to FIG. 1, a lock cylinder 30 of the type, for example, used in key-in-knob locksets, mortise locksets and others, having a body 31 with a generally circular cylindrical opening 32 therethrough, counterbore 34 and ramped transitions 34a, 34b at the front and rear respectively of counterbore 34, recess 33 in the face of body 31, locking groove 36 extending longitudinally along the interior of body 31, and body rear wall 37. A core assembly 45 within body 31 comprising a core shell 38, sidebar locking element 51, sidebar front retainer 53, a centering spring 55, rotary disc-tumblers 61,61 a, 61 b, spacer elements 59, torque tumbler 66, removable core differential mechanism cage 86, spinner 88, top link 71, bottom link 73, link retractor 81, driver disc 91, driver bar 92, and retaining ring 93.

The exterior configuration of body 31 may vary to satisfy the requirements of some applications.

Recess 33 may be omitted in some applications.

Driver disc 91, driver bar 92, and retaining rin 93 may also be omitted in some applications. Engaging links 71, 73 may engage body 31 in an annular groove formed internally of body 31 as an alternate to engaging body rear wall 37 as shown in FIG. 1.

Front sidebar retainer 53 being radially inwardly biased when encircling core assembly 45 is slidably positionably along core assembly 45 when it is out of body 31. FIG. 11 shows core assembly 45 out of body 31 with retainer 53 holding sidebar 51 in an unlocked position flush with the surface of core assembly 45 after an unlocking combination has been achieved by rotation of a correspondingly coded key 96 and sidebar 51 having been depressed. In this condition key 96 is trapped in core assembly 45 thereby providing a convenient co-storage method.

Body counterbore 34 provides a space for front sidebar retainer 53 with core assembly 45 fully inserted into body 31. Transitions 34a, 34b cam links 71,73 chordally inwardly during insertion of core assembly 45 into body 31. Transition 34b engages and slides front sidebar retainer 53 forward during insertion of core assembly 45 into body 31 when front sidebar retainer is in a position as in FIG. 11.

FIG. 9 shows one type of front sidebar retainer 53 while FIG. 10 shows an alternate type of front sidebar retainer 53a. Front sidebar retainer 53a may be formed, as for example, with slot 54 or, as shown in phantom, slot 54a.

Core shell 38 is formed with a front face or flange 39 having a centrally located keyhole 41 therethrough, a torquing extension 42, an indexing protrusion 46 located nearthe end of core shell 38 opposite flange 39, open longitudinal slots 48 or internal longitudinal grooves 49 as best seen in FIG. 12 serv- ing to retain spacer elements 59 and other parts in fuzed rotational alignment with core shell 38, and retaining ring groove 47 optionally provided inter nallynearthe open end of core shell 38.

Referring to FIG. 8, core shell torquing extension 42 has contact surfaces 43, 44. Torque tumbler 66 being formed with a centrally located keyhole 4f, a centering spring recess 58, gatings 62 shown angularly disposed from sidebar 51 in the normally locked condition of cylinder 30, blocking portion 69 serving to block the radially inward movement of sidebar 51 in the normally locked condition, and drive surfaces 67,68. Torque tumbler 66 being selectively rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction by rotation of key 96 in keyhole 41 rotates either drive surfaces 67 or 68 into confronting relationship with either contact surface 43 or44 respectively with continued key rotation rotating core shell 38 and associated core assembly 45 in the selected direction.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 11, indexing protrusion 46 is formed so as to pass through body 31 by extending into locking groove 36 during insertion and removal of core assembly 45. Indexing protrusion 46 is positioned longitudinally on core shell 38 in line with sidebar 51 and to be to the rear of body rear wall 37 with core assembly fully inserted into body 31 or alternately, indexing protrusion 46 is aligned with an annular groove formed in the interior of body opening 32 when body rear wall 37 extends beyond indexing protrusion 46 with core assembly 45 fully inserted into body 31.

Referring to FIG. 2, sidebar 51 is formed on each end thereof with an inter-connecting extension 52.

Sidebars 51 a through 51 e of FIGS. 3 through 7 each have a different cross sectional configuration one from the other.

Referring to FIGS. 20, 21 and 22, top engaging link 71 is formed with inter-connecting notch 72 into which either one of inter-connecting sidebar extensions 52 is located in core assembly 45 thus retaining sidebar 51 in assembly with core assembly 45.

Referring to FIG. 21, links 71,73 are biased chordally outwardly of cage 86 and core shell 38 by yielding linear bias in the direction of arrow 78 acting on pins 77 attached to links 71,73. Sidebar interconnecting extension 52 being radially entrapped within inter-connecting notch 72, sidebar 51 is yieldingly biased outwardly by bias 78 of link 71. Sidebar 51, being cammed radially inwardly of core assembly 45 by locking groove 36 during unlocking rotation of core assembly 45 in body 31 cams link 71 inwardly by reason of the interconnection of extension 52 and notch 72. Links 71,73 are optionally formed on the outer rear circumference thereof with a bevel or rounded edge 74 serving to cam links 71, 73 inwardly during insertion of core assembly 45 into body 31.

Referring to FIG. 20, links 71,73 are each formed with tooth 76 and retractor 81 is formed with teeth 82 cooperating with teeth 76 of links 71,73 in assembly within cage 86. An alternate method of achieving outward yielding linear bias of links 71,73 is to apply yielding torsional bias such as by means of torsional spring 84a (Figs. 23, 24) in the direction of arrow 84 on retractor 81 which transmits torsional bias 84 through teeth 82 cooperating with teeth 76 into yielding outward linear bias of links 71,73. Cage 86 is in fixed rotational alignment with core shell 38 by reason of cage side portions 87 being engaged in core shell slots 48 or grooves 49.

Both links 71,73 of FIG. 20 are engaging body rear wall 37 with sidebar 51 in the locked position in lock ing groove 36. Top link 71 of FIG. 21 has been cammed out of engagement with body rearwall 37 by sidebar 51 having been cammed inwardly out of locking groove 36 during unlocked rotation of core assembly45 in body 31 with retractor hole 83 being moved out of alignment with hole 89 of spinner 88 while bottom link 73, by reason of its outward bias 78, remains engaged with body rear wall 37.Both links 71,73 of FIG. 22 are out of engagement with body rear wall 37 with top link 71 being cammed inwardly by sidebar 51 being cammed inwardly out of locking groove 36 during unlocking rotation of core assembly 45 in body 31 with bottom link being withdrawn inwardly by the lever action of cooperating retractor 81 with axle 97 having been inserted through hole 83 thus providing a fixed central pivot for retractor 81.

Referring to FIG. 13, centering spring 55 is formed as an elongate helically coiled spring wherein the outside diameter 56 of any bend is of a lesser dimension than the length of the elongate portion 57.

Rotary disc-tumbler 61 of FIG. has a centrally located keyhole 41, a centering spring recess 58, gatings 62 and gating position centerlines 63 each being a radius of tumbler 61. Gating centerlines 63 having angular increments 'a' therebetween, each increment'a' being of the same angularvalue.

Rotary disc-tumbler 61 of FIG. 15 has a centrally located keyhole 41, a centering spring recess 58, gatings 62 and gating position centerlines 63 each being a radius of tumbler 61. Gating centerlines 63 having angular increments 'b' therebetween, each increment 'b' being of the same angular value and of a different value than angular increments 'a' of tum bler 61 of FIG. 14.

Rotary disc-tumbler 61 of FIG. 16 has a centrally located keyhole 41, a centering spring recess 58, gatings 62 and gating position centerlines 63 each being a radius of tumbler 61. Gating centerlines 63 have angular increments 'a' or 'b' therebetween, increments 'a' being of a different angular value than increments 'b'.

Rotary disc-tumbler 61, shown in cross section in FIG. 17, is of a thickness 64. Rotary disc-tumbler 61 a, shown in cross section in FIG 18, is of a thickness 64a being of a greater dimension than thickness 64 in FIG.

17. Rotary disc-tumbler 61 b, shown in cross section in FIG. 19 is of a thickness 64b being of a greater dimension than thickness 64a in FIG. 18.

Forthose practiced in the art, it is evident that spacing variations in the coding of lock cylinder 30 is readily achievable by variations in the thicknesses of spacer elements 59 in the same manner rotary disctumblers 61, 61 a and 61 b vary in thickness as shown in FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 respectively.

It is understood, obviously, that the particular application for use of this rotary disc-tumbler cylinder is not believed part of the invention nor should it be considered limiting thereto since it is readily evident that the invention can be used in a wide range of applications.

Claims (21)

1. In a lock cylinder having a removable core mechanism including a body having an opening adapted to receive a removable core assembly therein, said core assembly containing a releasable locking means selectively operable by a key or other means to release said locking means for rotation of said core assembly relative to said body, a plurality of engaging means releasably retaining said core assembly within said body, one of said engaging means being interconnected with said locking means, said locking means serving to cam said inter-connected engaging means out of engagement with said body as said core assembly is rotated out of its rotationally locked position relative to said body, said locking means serving to prevent said interconnected engaging means from being withdrawn from latching engagement with said body when said locking means is in a position preventing rotation of said core assembly relative to said body.

2. In a lock cylinder according to claim 1 wherein, said inter-connected engaging means being yieldingly biased outwardly of said core assembly provides an outward yielding bias to said locking means.

3. In a lock cylinder according to claim 1 wherein, said inter-connecting engaging means being limited in its outward movement of said core assembly limits said locking means in its outward movement of said core assembly serving to retain said locking means in assembly with said core assembly.

4. In a lock cylinder according to claim 1, wherein said engaging means being partially disposed exterior to the outer circumference of said core assembly when fully extended are formed with a beveled edge along the rear top thereof, said beveled edges serving to displace said engaging means chordally inwardly during insertion of said core assembly in said body.

5. In a lock cylinder according to claim 1, a retractor means cooperating with each of said engaging means, said yielding bias of said engaging means being transmitted thereto through said retractor means, said retractor means being torsionally yieldingly biased.

6. In a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder according to claim 1, said core assembly having a plurality of rotary disc-tumblers therein, each of said tumblers being formed with one or more notches or gatings randomly disposed to extend radially into the periphery thereof, a centering spring serving to yieldingly bias said tumblers to scramble said gating in the locked condition of said cylinder, said centering spring being formed of wire having a round or other cross section taken transversely thereof, said wire being formed in one or more oblong shaped cylin drical helical coils, each of said helical coils taken transversely thereof having a greater length than width.

7. In a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder according to claim 6, each of said tumblers being formed with a centering spring recess disposed to extend radially into the periphery thereof arcuately equidistant from the vertical centering of said tumbler opposite the edge of said tumblers that are disposed under a locking sidebar element in the neutral or locked condition of said cylinder.

8. In a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder according to claim 7, each of said tumblers being formed with one or more notches or gatings disposed to extend radially into the periphery thereof, said gatings being formable in each of said tumblers in a plurality of positions, the centerlines of each of said positions being radii of said tumblers, said centerlines taken consecutively in each of said tumblers having a constant angular increment one to the other, said angular increments in at least one of said tumblers being of a different angle than said angular increments of other of said tumblers in the same said core assembly.

9. In a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder according to claim 7, each of said tumblers being formed with one or more notches of gatings disposed to extend radially into the periphery thereof, said gatings being formable in each of said tumblers in a plurality of positions, the centerlines of each of said positions being radii of said tumblers, the angular incrementation as between at least one pair of said centerlines taken consecutively in at least one of said tumblers differing from other angular incrementations as between other pairs of centerlines taken consecutively in the same said tumbler.

10. In a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder according to claim 1, said core assembly having a core shell serving as the substantial enclosure thereof, said core shell being formed as a generally circulartubular cylinder with a front face on one end thereof, said front face having a centrally located keyhole therethrough, a core torquing element extending, lengthwise, rearwardly of the rear surface of said front face, said torquing element extending, heightwise, radially inwardly of the inner circumference of said tubular core shell to a depth as measured radially outwardly from the central axis thereof greater than the maximum radius of said keyhole, said torquing element having a width less than the diameter of said keyhole, said torquing element having two contact surfaces, one of said surfaces for torquing said core assembly in a clockwise rotating direction, the other of said surfaces for torquing said core assembly in a counter-clockwise rotating direction.

11. In a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder according to claim 1, said core assembly having a torque tumbler therein, said torque tumbler having a centrally located keyhole therethrough and one or more notches or gatings disposed to extend radially into the periphery thereof, said gating or gatings being disposed angularly from an unlocking position with said torque tumbler in the locked position, said tor que tumbler having two torquing drive surfaces dis posed to extend radially into the periphery thereof to a depth position as measured radially outwardly from the central axis thereof greater than the maximum radius of said keyhole, one of said drive surfaces serving to torque said core assembly in a clockwise rotating direction, the other of said drive surfaces serving to torque said core assembly in a counterclockwise rotating direction.

12. In a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder according to claim 1, said body having one or more elongate locking grooves formed longitudinally along the interiorthereof, said core having a front face on one end thereof and having an indexing protrusion opposite the end thereof being formed with said front face, said protrusion extending radially outwardly from the outer circumference of said core, said protrusion being in axial alignment with one of said locking grooves with said core assembly locked against relative rotation with said body, said protrusion extending at the rear of said body beyond confronting relationship with the core assembly axial retaining surface of said body with said core assembly fully inserted into said body, said protrusion being adapted to permit said core assemblyto be inserted into said body opening with said protrusion extending into one of said locking grooves, said protrusion being adapted to permit relative rotation of said core assembly with said body with said core assembly fully inserted into said body.

13. In a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder according to claim 1, an elongate sidebar locking element serving to releasably lock said core assembly against rotation relative to said body, a sidebar front retainer encircling the outer circumference of said core assembly, said retainer being yieldingly biased radially inwardly, said retainer serving to contain said sidebar in assembly with said core assembly.

14. In a rotary disc-tumber lock cylinder according to claim 13, said retainer being formed as a substantially circular tubular cylinder.

15. In a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder according to claim 13, said retainer being formed of helically coiled wire having a round or other shaped cross section as taken transversely thereof.

16. In a lock cylinder according to claim 1, said core assembly having a flange on one end thereof and being insertable into said body until the rear surface of said flange is in substantial confronting relationship with the face of said body, said body having a generally circular cylindrical counterbore the central axis thereof being coincidental with the central axis of said cylindrical opening, said counterbore being formed part way into said body, the diameter of said counterbore being greater than the diameter ofsaid cylindrical opening and less than the diameter of said flange, said counterbore being formed in said body to provide space for a front sidebar retainer with said core assembly fully inserted in said body.

17. Ina lock cylinder according to claim 16, further including a beveled transition between said counterbore and said cylindrical opening, said transition being formed in said body substantially circumferentially around the inside diameter of said body at the conjunction ofsaidcounterbore and said cylindrical opening.

18. In a lock cylinder according to claim 16, further including a beveled transition between said counterbore and said face confronted by said flange, said transition being formed in said body substantially circumferentially around the inside diameter of said body at the conjunction of said counter bore and said face confronted by said flange.

19. In a lock cylinder according to claim 16, further including a beveled transition between said counterbore and said cylindrical opening and a beveled transition between said counterbore and said face confronted by said flange, said transitions being formed in said body substantially circumferentially around the inside diameter of said body at the conjunction of said counterbore and said cylindrical opening and at the conjunction of said counterbore and said face confronted by said flange.

20. In a rotary disc-tumbler lock cylinder having a body and a generally circular cylindrical core assembly therein, said core assembly having a plurality of rotary disc-tumblers therein, each of said tumblers being formed with one or more notches or gratings randomly disposed to extended radially into the periphery thereof, a centering spring serving to yieldingly bias said tumblers to scramble said gatings in the locked condition of said cy!inder, said centering spring being formed of wire having a round or other cross section taken transversely thereof, said wire being formed in one or more oblong shaped cylindrical helical coils, each of said helical coils taken transversely thereof having a greater length than width.

21. A lock cylinder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.