GB2091799A - Cylinder lock - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to shorten the length of a cylinder lock compared with conventional locks in which the tumblers are all moved by a single control track running along the length of the key, the control surfaces of the tumblers (4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) are arranged in tracks which are in side-by-side relationship for engagement by a key having control surfaces (27 - 30) running along the length of the key in a corresponding side-by- side arrangement across the width of the key so that several control tracks operate simultaneously on the tumblers as the key is inserted. Both half-plate tumblers (4, 5, 11, 12, Figure 7, not shown), and frame tumblers 9, 10, 13, 14, Figure 6, also not shown), are employed. Special tumblers which are spring biassed and which project further towards the cylinder axis than the other tumblers are placed near the entry end of the key passage to exclude dust and resist picking. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cylinder lock The invention relates to a cylinder lock which is particularly intended for motor vehicles, comprising a housing and a rotatably mounted cylinder core, in which radially displaceable tumblers are arranged.

A very wide range of contructions of cylinder locks of the above-indicated kind is known, and such locks fulfil the requirements made in respect thereof, in a more or less satisfactory manner. A common characteristic of all known cylinder locks is that they are of comparatively long structural length, in dependence on the tumblers in the lock.

The invention is based on the problem of providing a cylinder lock which is very short, in spite of having an equal number of tumblers.

The basic problem of the present invention is solved in that the control surfaces of the tumblers are arranged on different juxtaposed tracks.

The control surfaces of the various tumblers are not disposed in a row, one behind the other, as in the known locks, but on a plurality of tracks or paths which are disposed one beside the other. According ly, the key also has a plurality of rows of control surfaces. The result of this is that the tumblers or at least some of the tumblers can be arranged directly one beside the other in one and the same tumbler opening in the cylinder core. This makes it possible considerably to reduce the overall length of the cylinder core.

In addition, in a cylinder lock according to the invention, the mechanical loading on the control surfaces on the tumblers and on the key is substantially lower than in known locks because the tumblers are distributed to the various control tracks. By virtue of th is arrangement, the tumblers disposed in the vicinity of the entry opening for the key are no longer lifted out by each step on the key, but only by the control surfaces on the key which are intended for those tumblers.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the description and the claims in conjunction with the drawing.

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter by means of an embodiment which is illustrated in the drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a view in section through a cylinder lock according to the invention, on an enlarged scale, Figure 2 shows a view in section taken along line Il-Il in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a view of a key on an enlarged scale, Figure 4 shows a view of a plane of a key and the associated tumblers, on an enlarged scale (section along line IV-IV in Figure 3), Figure 5 shows a corresponding view to Figure 4, but illustrating other planes of the key and other tumblers (section on line V-V in Figure 3), Figure 6 shows a view in section taken along line VI-VI in Figure 2, Figure 7shows a view in section taken along line VII-VII in Figure 2, Figure 8 shows a view in section taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 1, Figure 9 shows a view in section taken along line IX-IX in Figure 1, Figure 10 shows a view in section taken along line X-X in Figure 1, Figure 11 shows a sectional view like that of Figure 9, through a modified key, Figure 12 shows a view in section through a further key, and Figure 13 shows a side view of the key shown in Figure 12.

As shown in Figure 1, a cylinder lock 1 which is intended in particularfor motor vehicles includes a housing 2 having a rotatably mounted cylinder core 3 in which radially displaceable tumblers are arranged. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, viewing from left to right, the tumblers are a first half-plate tumbler 4 and a second half-plate tumbler 5 which are in one and the same radial plane 6, but on different sides of the cylinder axis 7 or the vertical cylinder plane Y shown in Figure 7. Two frame tumblers 9 and 10 then follow the two tumblers 4 and 5, in one and the same tumbler opening 8; the tumblers 9 and 10 are then followed by a third and a fourth half-plate tumbler 11 and 12 in a common plane but on different sides of the cylinder plane Y.

These are then in turn followed by two frame tumblers 13 and 14 in a common tumbler opening 15.

Finally, provided directly in the region of the key entry opening 16 are also two tumblers 17 and 18 which are displaceable radially towards each other and which at the same time also serve as a dust exclusion means. The tumblers 17 and 18 which are engaged by springs 19 and 20 have projections 21 and 22 respectively which engage further into the key passage 23 than the other tumblers and which completely close offthe key entry opening 16 when the key 24 is withdrawn.

The springs 19 and 20 bear radially outwardly against a cover cap 25 which is arranged rotatably in the housing 2, with an interposed seal 26.

Thetumblers 17 and 18arranged atthe keyentry side of the lock preferably comprise a particularly hard or surface-hardened material so that they put up a high level of resistance to a burglary tool.

As the two projections 21 and 22 engage to a very great distance into the key passage 23 in the open position of the projections, as shown in Figure 1, and only a relatively narrow inside distance remains between the free ends of the two projections 21 and 22, the key 24 can only be of a correspondingly small thickness d in that region. The same also applies to a possible burglary tool which could not be thicker than the distanced.

The various half-plate tumblers 4 and 5, and 11 and 12 respectively, and the frame tumblers 9 and 10, and 13 and 14 respectively, have control surfaces in different cylinder lock longitudinal planes A and B, and C and D respectively. In a corresponding manner, as shown in Figure 3, the key has four different control paths or tracks 27 and 28, and 29, and 30 respectively, extending in the longitudinal direction of the key. In the embodiment illustrated, the control tracks 27 and 29 are on the left of a central plane E of the key, while the other two control tracks 28 and 30 are to the right of that plane, as shown in Figure 3.

The two control tracks 27 and 28 which are on the outside of the key preferably serve to control the tumblers 4 and 5, while the two middle control tracks 29 and 30 serve to control the tumblers 9, 10, 13 and 14.

For this purpose, in one central longitudinal plane D of the cylinder lock, the frame tumbler 9 has a projection 33 with a control surface 34 which bears against the control track 29 of the reversible key 24 so that the tumbler 9 is only lifted out by that control track 29.

As shown in Figure 9, the other frame tumbler 10 has a projection 35 which is disposed in the longitudinal plane C of the cylinder lock, which in turn coincides with the position of the control track 30, so that the tumbler 10 is displaced only by the control track 30 of the turn key 24.

In principle, the same considerations apply in respect of the othertumblers, without their being discussed in detail. The important consideration is that the control surfaces of all tumblers, including the tumblers 17 and 18, are distributed as uniformly as possible to all control tracks 27 to 30 or cylinder lock longitudinal planes Ato D respectively, so that the tumblers are moved by the minimum amounts when the key 24 is inserted and removed.

However, reliable and safe control of the tumblers, with radial movement or actuation of the tumblers taking place as rarely as possible at the same time, is achieved not only by using a plurality of control tracks 27 to 30 but in particular also by virtue of the fact that each control track has only the same number of control surfaces as tumblers that are controlled thereby. Therefore, in the longutidinal direction of the key, the control surfaces can be very flat, as can be seen from Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 4 shows the tumblers 5,11 and 17, 18 which are controlled by two oppositely disposed control tracks 27 and 28 of the key 24. The key 24 is a turn or reversible key so that control tracks 27 to 30 are provided not just on one side 36 thereof, but correspondingly also on the side thereof that cannot be seen in Figure 3. Therefore, disposed opposite the control track 27 is a control track 28, as can be seen from Figure 4. Desirably, one half-plate tumbler 5 is lifted by the control track 28 while the other control track 28 serves to control the other half-plate tumbler 12. The two tumblers 17 and 18 also engage on the control tracks 27 and 28 respectively.

Figure 5 is also a side view of the key 24 with the control tracks 27 and 28 and the control tracks 29 and 30. In addition, Figure 5 shows the frame tumblers 9, 10 and 13, 14 respectively. In the embodiment illustrated, the frame tumbler 9 engages the control track 29 of the key 24 while the frame tumbler 10 is actuated by the control track 30.

Figures 4 and 5 show that the control tracks 27 to 30 do not have any steeply rising portions but instead have gradual smooth transitions, and, besides the two leading-end inclined surfaces 37 and 38, they only have a small number of preferably arcuate control surfaces 39 and 42 on the control track 27,43 to 46 on the control track 28,47 to 50 on the control track 29 and 51 to 54 on the control track 30. The control surfaces 42 and 50, and 46 and 54 respectively, are each disposed in a respective plane, or coincide, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The low number of raised portions on the respective control tracks 27 to 30 of the reversible key 24 means that the tumblers are only subjected to a low level of mechanical loading when the key 24 is inserted and withdrawn, so that in particular the tumblers which are disposed close to the key entry opening 16 are only exposed to a low degree of wear.

The control surfaces of the tumblers, which bear against the key 24, are thus distributed to different juxtaposed control tracks 27 to 30 of the key 24, or longitudinal planes A to D of the cylinder lock, while in addition the control surfaces 31 and 34 of adjacent tumblers 4 and 9 respectively are preferably disposed on different control tracks 27 and 29 respectively of the key 24.

Simultaneously using half-plate tumblers 4, 5, 11 and 12 and frame tumblers 10 and 13,14, wherein each two frame tumblers 9, 10 and 13, 14 respectively are also arranged in one and the same tumbler opening 8 and 15 respectively, means that the cylinder lock 1 is extremely short in design.

A very low level of mechanical loading on the control tracks on the key and accordingly the control surfaces on the tumblers is also achieved by virtue of the fact that the control surfaces 31 and 32 of two tumblers 4 and 5 which are arranged in one plane 6 are also controlled from different control tracks, or also control tracks of different configuration, on the key 24.

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, it is also advantageous for the control surfaces 34 ofthetumblers 9, 10 and 13,14 respectively to be on different control tracks 29,30 from the control surfaces 31,32 of the tumblers 4, 5.

In addition, for structural reasons, it is desirable for the frame tumblers 9, to be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder core 3 between half-plate tumblers 4, 5 and 11, 12 respectively, as in the embodiment.

Arranged on the cylinder core 3, at the end 60 thereof remote from the key entry opening 16, is an entrainment means 62 which is always urged in the direction of the neutral or zero position by a return spring 61, and the cam 92 of which moves an actuating ring 63 which is provided for example with an eye, for opening and closing. Because of the particularly short design of the cylinder lock 1,the actuating ring 63 is set back over the cylinder lock housing 2 and is therefore disposed for example as shown in Figure 2 in the same radial plane as the two half-plate tumblers 9 and 10.

The lock-actuating portion 64 of the key 24 may comprise a solid material, as shown in Figure 6, or, as in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 11, may have a metal core 65 and a plastics sheathing 66 with the key contour 67. The key 68 with metal core 65 and plastic sheathing 66 is manufactured either by the plastics material being injected around the metal core 65 and the key contour 67 then being produced by cutting the plastics material to shape, or a plastics sheathing 66 with the key contour 67 is applied directly to the metal core 65.

Cutting machining of the key 68 is effected for example by means of milling cutters. It will be appreciated that the filling cutters cannot be moved transversely to the longitudinal axis of the portion 64, but only in the longitudinal direction thereof because, as can be seen for example from Figure 11, control surfaces 47 and 43 associated with the middle control tracks 29 and 30 respectively are disposed lowerthan control surfaces 39 and 43 of control tracks 27 and 28 which are disposed at outside positions on the key.

Finally, the cylinder lock 1 also has conventional tumbler passages 69,70 and 71,72 in the housing (see Figure 6), with ribs 73 and 74 extending between the respective pairs of tumbler passages.

Further guide ribs 75 and 76 extend to directly at the key, the contour of which is also adapted to the outside contour of the guide ribs 75 and 76. The guide ribs 75 and 76 are disposed in the cylinder plane Y, as can also be seen from Figure 7.

Finally, all tumblers are actuated in the usual manner by springs which press them into the locking position.

The key 24a shown in Figures 12 and 13 differs from the keys shown in the other drawings in that elongate recesses or grooves 91 are arranged in the head of the key. The grooves 91 are intended to act as preferential-fracture points, in the event of overloading, so that in an accident the key breaks at those points, if for example the body of an occupant of a vehicle impacts against the key.

Claims (18)

1. A cylinder lock comprising a housing and a rotatably mounted cylinder core in which radially displaceable tumblers are arranged, wherein the control surfaces of the tumblers respectively are arranged on different juxtaposed control tracks.

2. A cylinder lock according to claim 1, wherein the control surfaces of adjacent tumblers lie on different control tracks of the key.

3. A cylinder lock according to claim 1 wherein both half-plate tumblers and frame tumblers are employed.

4. A cylinder lock according to claim 1 wherein two frame tumblers respectively are arranged in one and the same tumbler opening.

5. A cylinder lock according to claim 1 wherein four control tracks are arranged on each control side of the key.

6. A cylinder lock according to claim 1 wherein the control surfaces of two half-plate tumblers which are arranged in a radial plane are movable by different control tracks or control tracks of different configuration.

7. A cylinder lock according to claim 3 wherein the control surfaces of the frame tumblers are on different control tracks from the control surfaces of the half-plate tumblers.

8. A cylinder lock according to claim 3 wherein frame tumblers are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder core between half-plate tumblers.

9. A cylinder lock according to claim 1 wherein two spring-loaded, oppositely disposed, radially outwardly displaceable tumblers are arranged at the key entry opening which tumblers engage by means of projections into the key passage further than the other tumblers and completely close off the entry opening of the key passage when the key is withdrawn.

10. A cylinder lock according to claim 1 wherein an actuating ring which is set back over the housing is arranged on the cylinder core.

11. A key for a cylinder lock according to claim 1 which has four control tracks on each control side.

12. A key according to claim 11 which has a metal core and a plastics material sheathing with the key contour.

13. A method of producing a key according to claim 11 or 12 wherein plastics material is injected around the metal core and the key contour is then produced by cutting it out of the plastics material.

14. A method of producing a key according to claim 11 or 12 wherein a plastics sheathing having the key contour is applied directly to the metal core.

15. A key according to claim 11 which has control surfaces on outwardly disposed control tracks, the spacing of which from the axis of the key is greater than the spacing of control surfaces on inwardly disposed control tracks from the axis of the key in the same radial plane of the key.

16. A cylinder lock constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 1,2 and 6-10.

17. A key for a cylinder lock constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 3-5, or 11, or 12-13 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A method of producing a key for a cylinder lock substantially as hereinbefore described.