JPS6115228B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a lock which can be operated by a key having a magnetic field.

This type of lock is known to have multiple channels and
a plurality of magnetic elements arranged in each channel to obtain movement along the channel, the magnetic elements preventing operation of the lock when a key is not present, but when the correct key is inserted into the lock; , the magnetic field of the key causes it to move along the channel to a predetermined unlocked position, so that it does not interfere with the operation of the lock.

Here, the term "magnetic element" refers to an element that receives a considerable force when placed in a magnetic field. This magnetic element may be a permanent magnet or may be made of a ferromagnetic material that is not permanently magnetized.

An example of a lock using magnetism as described above is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 41-2393. Since the magnetic element which is the rolling element in the above-mentioned document is a sphere, there are the following problems.

(1) Since a sphere essentially makes point contact, the contact area is extremely small, and if an attempt is made to operate it using an incompatible key, the operating pressure from the sphere against other parts will be extremely large, causing the lock to fail. Permanent deformation is likely to occur in the components. It is well known that locks are manufactured from relatively soft metal materials, and permanent deformation can impair proper key operation.

(2) Since the sphere has a self-aligning function, if an attempt is made to unlock the lock by bringing the sphere close to the unlocking position, the sphere may easily move to the unlocking position, allowing unauthorized unlocking. be.

An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic lock and key that solve the above problems.

In FIG. 1, the body 10 of the lock is normally attached to the housing of the device to be controlled by the lock. A driving member 1 protruding from one end of the main body (referred to as the inner end)
1 can be rotated about the longitudinal axis 13 of the lock to actuate the release device when the correct key 12 is inserted into the lock. As shown in FIG. 1, the driven member 14 of the device is supported on the drive member 11, keyed thereto, and retained by a circlip 15.

The accessory device may be a vault or latch for a door or drawer, in which case the drive member 14 may be in the form of a crank for moving the vault or latch. The area is also
If the lock is incorporated into a vehicle anti-theft device, driven member 14 may be a cam for moving the vault of the device in a known manner.

The drive member 11, in the form of a barrel 16, is integral with or rigidly connected to the key receiving member of the lock. The barrel is rotatable about its axis during lock activation, but is always restrained against axial movement relative to the body 10.
The outer end surface of the tube faces and is engageable with the radially inwardly projecting flange 17 of the body. The flange has an opening 18 in the body for receiving the key 12.
is formed. A ring 19 abutting the axially inward shoulder of the tube is in sliding contact with an annular lid member 20 . The lid member is threadedly secured to the inner end of the body 10 and prevents the ring 19 from moving axially inward. The ring is keyed to the barrel. The drive member 11 projects from the central opening of the lid member 20 and is freely rotatable therein.

Also provided within the body 10 is a blocking member 21 which prevents rotation of the barrel 16 when the correct key is not present in the barrel 16. The blocking member is in the form of a sleeve, which, for convenience of manufacture and assembly, is made of three parts 22, 23, 24, each of which is also a sleeve. Sleeve 22 forms the axially inner end of the blocking member, sleeve 24 forms the axially outer end of the blocking member, and sleeve 23 forms the central portion of the blocking member.

Central sleeve 23 has a smaller diameter portion that fits within the larger diameter portion of sleeve 22 and a larger diameter portion that overlaps the smaller diameter portion of sleeve 24 . Cylinder 16
A longitudinal spline 25 formed on one side of the
The sleeves 22, 23, 24 are fitted in axially aligned grooves formed on the radially inner surfaces thereof. Therefore,
The spline constrains the blocking member to rotate with the barrel, but allows the blocking member to move axially relative to the barrel.

The cam-shaped portion 26 extends from the axially outer end of the sleeve 24.
stands out. When the key is removed from the lock and the blocking member is in the outward position shown in FIG. While the cam-shaped portion is in this recess, rotation of the sleeve 24 and thus of the other sleeves and of the tube 16 is prevented. The blocking member 21 is urged outwardly axially by the spring 28 so that the cam 26 remains in the recess 27 when the sleeve 24 assumes a rotational position such that the cam 26 coincides with the recess 27. It is worshiped.
The cam-shaped portion 26 is shaped such that it can be moved out of the recess 17 by rotation of the sleeve 24 when the sleeve 24 is movable axially relative to the body 10 and thus the barrel 16. Since the spring 28 abuts the ring 19 and the ring rotates with the tube, the friction between the spring and the ring has no effect.

The ring is slidable relative to the lid member 20.

When the correct key is not inserted, each sleeve 22, 23, 24 has a respective magnetic locking element 29,
30 and 31, it is restrained from moving in the axial direction with respect to the cylinder 16. The rest of the lock is made of non-magnetic material. Therefore, elements 29, 30, 3
1 can be controlled with a suitably magnetized key. When the correct key is inserted into the keyhole of the cylinder 16, the elements 29,
30 and 31 are moved to the unlocked position, and the sleeve 2
2, 23, and 24 can move in the axial direction relative to the cylinder.

Three circumferentially extending grooves 32 are formed on the radially outer surface of the cylinder 16. These grooves are axis 1
It is not a complete circle around 3, but approximately
It spans an angle of 300°. An arcuate recess 33 is formed in the radial inner surface of each sleeve, and the position of this recess in the direction of the axis 13 is determined by the corresponding groove 33 when each part is in the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
It is the same as that of 2. The axial width of each recess 33 is the same as that of each groove 32. Each recess 33 is
Together with a portion of its corresponding groove 32, it forms a channel for accommodating one locking element 29, 30, 31 in each case. The locking elements are adapted to roll along their respective channels and are preferably in the form of cylindrical rollers. The axial length of each locking element is only slightly shorter than that of the corresponding groove 32, so that the locking element is free to move along its respective channel, but not axially with respect to the barrel 16. They are restrained so that they do not.

The axially outermost side of the recess 33 of each sleeve 22 , 23 , 24 is partitioned by a wall 34 having at least one notch 35 . This notch has sufficient dimensions to accommodate the portion of the cross section of the locking element that protrudes from the groove 32. Thus, once each locking element is axially aligned with its corresponding sleeve notch 35, the sleeve can move axially inwardly relative to the barrel and the locking element axially aligns with its corresponding sleeve notch 35. Go inside. If one locking element is not perfectly aligned with its notch, its associated sleeve, and thus the entire blocking member, cannot move axially.

The locking elements 29, 30, 31 are connected to the sleeve 22,
23, 24 so as to engage the walls 34 and groove 3.
Preferably, it presents a flat end face for engagement with the wall of 2. In that way, even if the degree of overlap between the end face of the locking element and the wall of the sleeve is small, axial movement of the blocking member is prevented. Furthermore, the locking element does not easily deform the sleeve even under high axial pressure.

When the key is removed from the lock, each locking element 29,
30 and 31 occupy the locked position. Usually this position is the lowest position that the locking element can reach by movement along its channel. In the locking position, each locking element engages the barrel 16 and the sleeve 2 so as to prevent axial movement of the sleeve from the position shown in FIG.
2, 23, and 24. When the lock is withdrawn, the locking element moves to its locked position due to gravity.

The key 12 is arranged in such a way that, when the key is applied to the lock, each of the locking elements is moved from its locked position and held in an unlocked position in line with the corresponding notch 35. It controls the element. The keys are approximately annular permanent magnets 36, 37, 38
It has three magnetic regions. The magnet is mounted on a stem 39 that passes through the central opening of the lock. Each magnet has a pair of pole faces that are oriented in opposite directions along the key such that the dissimilar poles are spaced longitudinally of the key and axis 13. Close to each magnetic pole is a magnetic conductor 40, which is also approximately annular and has a mandrel 3.
9 is installed on top.

It is the shape of each of the conductors 40 that determines the position in which the locking elements 29, 30, 31 are brought in by the key. In the example shown in FIG. 1, there is one magnetic conductor 40 for each pole face of each magnet, and adjacent magnetic conductors belonging to different magnets are separated by a shielding element 41. These shielding elements have a low magnetic permeability and shield the conductor belonging to one magnet from the magnetic field belonging to the neighboring magnet. When the key is fully inserted into the barrel 16, the conductor 40 belonging to the magnet 36 faces both ends of the locking element 29. The conductors belonging to the magnets 37, 38 have a similar relationship to the locking elements 30, 31, respectively.

In relation to the path that the locking elements 29, 30, 31 move between their locked and unlocked positions, the shape of the magnetic conductor 40 is such that the shape of the magnetic conductor 40 moves between each locking element as it moves along its channel. The distance between the associated conductors varies and is shaped to be minimum in the unlocked position. In the illustrated example, each locking element can move freely along an arcuate path centered on the axis 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, the conductor 40 has a non-circular cross section when viewed from the direction along the key. A portion of the periphery of each conductor (corresponding to the unlocked position of the associated locking element) is at least as far from the axis 13 as all other portions of the periphery and further from the axis 13 than a large portion of the periphery. far. In the example shown in FIG.
The two portions of the rim are angularly separated by 180° with respect to 3 and are farther from the axis than all other portions of the rim. In this way, when the key is inserted into the barrel 16 in either of two angular positions differing by 180 DEG around the axis 13, the locking element can be set in the unlocked position.

Because the cross section of the mandrel 39 is non-circular and the central hole of each conductor 40 has the same shape, the conductors cannot rotate relative to the mandrel. For convenience of illustration, in the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the locking elements 29, 30, 31 are arranged in line with each other in their unlocked position. All magnetic conductors 40 are therefore identical. By changing the unlocking position of the locking element, different lock samples can be obtained. In this case, the angular relationship between the position of the notch 35 and the position of the groove in each sleeve that receives the key 25 is changed, and the conductor 4 is changed accordingly.
What is necessary is to change the angular relationship between the cross-sectional shape of 0 and its center hole.

If the locking elements are fairly short, two magnetic conductors 40 may be used for each locking element 29, 30, 31, as shown in FIG. Using two conductors in this manner provides better control of the locking element in maintaining the parallel relationship between the axis of the locking element and axis 13 than would be the case with a single conductor for a short locking element. It is possible.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the examples shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the notch 35 of each sleeve 22, 23, 24 is located in the middle of the recess 33. As shown in FIG. For samples of different locks, it is necessary to shift the notch from inside the recess 33 so that locks with the same position of the recess 33 will not work with the same lock, and the key will correspond to the position of the notch 35. You can make it so that there is. The lock may be provided with more than three locking elements. In this case, the number of sleeves of the blocking member may be increased accordingly.

To transmit torque from the lock 12 to the barrel 16, the lock is provided with a pair of radial projections 42. It protrudes from the part between the key stem 39 and the handle part (not shown). When the key is inserted into the lock, these projections pass through diametrically opposed notches in the flange 17 and engage the recesses 44 in the barrel 16.
Since the outer ends of these recesses are open but the inner ends are closed, axially inward forces can also be transmitted from the key to the barrel 16 by the projections 42.

When the key is inserted into the lock, each locking element 2, 30, 3
1 is moved to its unlocked position, this causes
The blocking member 21 becomes movable in the axial direction relative to the tube 16. When the key is then turned, the barrel and blocking member rotate about axis 13. At the beginning of this rotation, the cam-shaped portion 26 drives the blocking member 21 axially inward until it is completely out of the recess 27. Further rotations can then be made without any axial movement. The key remains in the lock until it is returned to its initial position by reverse rotation.
This is because the projection 42 is located axially inside the flange 17, so that if the key is to be pulled out, it will engage with this flange.

If desired, each sleeve 22, 23, 24 may be provided with more than one cutout 35. The lock would then be operable with at least two different keys, one of which could be the master lock for operating a group of locks.

If, while the key is removed from the lock, an attempt is made to move the barrel 16 by inserting some other instrument into the lock, a torque will be applied to the barrel which will cause the blocking member 21 to move due to the action of the cam-shaped portion 26. An axially inward force is applied to the
For this purpose, the locking elements 29, 30, 31 and the walls 34 of the corresponding sleeves 22, 23, 24 and the tube 1
A pressure contact occurs between 6 and 6. The friction created by this pressure contact prevents movement of the locking element into the unlocking device unless the application of torque to the barrel is stopped. Similarly, applying an axial force to the barrel 16 creates pressure contact with the locking element to prevent movement of the locking element to the unlocked position.

It is not necessary for the locking elements 29, 30, 31 to withstand all the forces applied to the barrel when torque is applied to the barrel 16 by means other than the correct key. Because of the friction between the cam profile 26 and the body 10, when axial movement of the blocking member 21 is prevented, most of the torque applied to the barrel will be resisted by the cooperation of the cam profile and the body. Ru. By making the protrusion of the cam sufficiently large, incorrect rotation of the cylinder 16 can be prevented. The sleeve 24, including the cam projections, can be made of a strong material, such as copper.

In the example of the lock shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the locking elements 29, 30, 31 are made of magnetic material, but are not permanently magnetized. Therefore, these elements are
Regardless of the polarity of each magnetic region of the key, it is propelled along its path of motion to a position where the magnetic flux density produced by the key is at a maximum. Each locking element may be permanently magnetized if desired. In this case, only keys whose respective magnetic fields have the proper polarity will be able to operate the lock. It is advantageous to assemble the magnets 36, 37, 38 to the key in an unmagnetized state and then process the key so that the magnets are permanently magnetized with the desired polarity. Magnets 36, 37, 38
may be made of sintered ferrite. The magnetic conductor 40 is preferably made of magnetic steel with a high carbon content.

It is also possible to arrange a plurality of different locks so that they can be operated with one key. The key is provided with one or more magnetic conductors shaped so that there are multiple positions around the axis of the key and equidistant from the axis where the magnetic field strength is greater than at other positions. . The locks are configured to provide different movement paths for their locking elements. Each passage corresponds to a respective one of the maximum field strength positions of the lock.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cross section of each magnet of the key is non-circular. However, for convenience in manufacturing and assembling the lock, circular magnets may be used, and different keys may differ only in the shape of the magnetic conductor. 4 and 5 show a modification of the lock and key combination of FIG. 1, in which case the lock has a magnet of circular cross section. In Figure 4, parts corresponding to those already described in Figures 1 to 7 have the same reference numerals and suffix 1.
The above description applies except for the differences described below.

In the key 112 shown in FIG. 4, each magnetic conductor 140 deforms the magnetic fields of two magnets 150. In the key 112 shown in FIG.
These two magnets are on either side of the conductor and have like magnetic poles facing the conductor. There is only one key in Figure 4.
One conductor controls each one of the locking elements 129, 130, 131, and these locking elements are shorter than the locking elements shown in FIG.

Cam-shaped portion 126 of lock sleeve 124 of FIG.
is female and a matching male cam-shaped portion 127 is provided on the flange 117 of the body.

As shown in FIG. 5, each magnetic conductor 140 has a non-circular cross section. However, this conductor overlaps almost the entire magnetic pole face (end face) of each adjacent magnet 150. Two diametrically opposed locations 151, 15
2, the distance from the axis 13 to the periphery of the conductor is greater than the radius of the magnet 150. Depending on which side up the key is inserted, one of these positions will be adjacent to the movable path of the corresponding locking element 129, 130, 131. Since this particular part of the conductor's cross-sectional shape is closer to the passageway than other parts of the cross-section, the locking element is attached to parts 151 and 152 of the conductor.
It is drawn to a position on the diameter that passes through it. This is the unlocking device of the locking element, which in this position is aligned with the notch 135 in the sleeve. If different samples of locks are to be operated with different keys, the angular relationship between the cross-sectional shape of the conductor and the stem of the key can be varied according to the different unlocking positions of the locking element.

The tube 116 has one recess for receiving the key protrusion 142.
It has only one. This recess is formed between two axially projecting pegs 153 (one of which is shown) of the cylinder. If too much torque is applied to any of these pegs (for example, by attempting to force open the lock without using the correct key), the pegs will be severed from the barrel. A radial protrusion 154 provided on the cylinder at a position diametrically opposite to the recess 144
Main body 1 to control the relative rotation of the cylinder with respect to 0.
10 protrusions.

FIG. 6 shows another form of key that can be combined with the lock shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4. The key of FIG. 6 has a cylindrical magnetized body 60 whose central opening of non-circular cross section receives a shank 61 having a corresponding cross section. A handle portion 62 provided at one end of the shank can be grasped by the user. A pair of radial protrusions 63 provided on the shank between the body 60 and the handle portion 62 transmit torque to the barrel of the lock. The body 60 is covered with a jacket 64 made as a molding of plastic material. A pin 65 passes through a hole in the mantle and the free end of the shank 61 and holds the body 60 and mantle 64 on the shank.

The body 60 is made of a material that can be permanently magnetized.
Sintered ferrite, such as barium ferrite, is a suitable material for body 60. After the body is formed, it is magnetized to create spot magnetic poles on its circumferential surface. This spot pole can be produced in a known manner with an electromagnetic stylus, the position of which is determined according to the desired position of the spot pole of the key. Spot magnetic poles can thus be produced at various positions corresponding to the unlocking position of the magnetic element of the lock to be activated by the key.

The main body 60 is provided with a plurality of pairs of magnetic poles, each pair consisting of a north pole and a south pole, and the north and south poles of each pair are separated by a distance approximately corresponding to the length of the magnetic element of the lock to be activated by the key, and are oriented in the direction of the key. It is desirable to place At least one pair of magnetic poles is provided for each magnetic element, by providing two pairs of magnetic poles for each magnetic element and having these magnetic poles at diametrically opposed positions on the body 60. 180 degrees with respect to the axis of the lock
Preferably, it can be inserted into the lock in a selected one of two different alternative positions.

FIG. 7 schematically shows another example of the lock of the present invention. Some parts in FIG. 7 correspond to those described with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, and these corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals with the suffix 3. Other than the differences noted below, the foregoing description is believed to apply to the corresponding parts.

The driven member 314 of the lock shown in FIG.
It is not permanently keyed to the drive member 311, which is an integral part of 6. The driven member 314 is restrained by the main body 310 so that it cannot move along the axis 313. When the correct key is in barrel 316, the range of movement of the barrel along axis 313 is between the outer position shown in FIG. 7, where it can rotate relative to driven member 314, and the outer position shown in FIG. and an inward position such that it engages the recess 366 of the cylinder, causing the latter to rotate with the barrel.

When the key is not present, the tube 316 is blocked by the blocking member 3.
21 prevents movement along axis 313. Blocking member 321 is constructed as three separate sleeves 322, 323, 324 for manufacturing convenience. Magnetic elements 329, 330, 331
acts between the blocking member 321 and the tube 316 and does not permit relative axial movement between the two unless the magnetic element is first moved about the axis 313 to the unlocked position. The blocking member 321 is pressed axially inward against the cylinder 316 by a spring 328. The blocking member is rotated together with the barrel by a key portion 325 of the barrel.

When the correct key is inserted into the barrel 316, the magnetic elements 329, 330, 331 are moved along their respective channels to the unlocked position, in which the sleeve 3
It lines up with the notches 21, 322, and 323. The barrel can then be pushed axially inward to engage the drive member 311 into the recess 366. Next, the tube is turned using a key to rotate the driven member 314. When the key is removed, the spring 328 pushes the barrel axially outward relative to the blocking member 321. Since the magnetic elements 329, 330, 331 are in the grooves of the cylinder, they are attached to the sleeves 322, 323, 324.
is pulled out from the notch and can be moved into the locking position under the influence of gravity.

In all cases where the magnetic elements of the lock are in the form of rollers, the rollers may be solid, hollow or recessed at their ends, provided that each end surface cooperating with the tube and the blocking member respectively is It is a flat surface.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows the lock and its operating lock, with the lock shown in longitudinal section and the key in the key-receiving member of the lock. FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken along the line - in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a partial cross section taken along the line - in FIG. FIG. 4 schematically shows a modification of the lock and key of FIG. FIG. 5 shows a cross section taken along the line - in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 shows an alternative form of key that can be used in combination with the locks of FIGS. 1 and 4, with the parts of the key shown separated from each other. FIG. 7 schematically shows another example of the lock of the invention. In the figure, 10 is a main body, 11 is a driving member, 14 is a driven member, 16 is a cylinder, 20 is a lid member, 21 is a blocking member (sleeve), 22, 23 and 24 are each sleeve of the blocking member 21, and 25 is a spline. , 26 is a cam portion of the sleeve 24, 25 is a recessed portion, 28 is a spring, 29, 30, 31 are rollers, 33 is a groove in the sleeve, 35 is a notch, 36, 37, 38 are magnets, and 40 is a magnetic conductor. be. Note that the last two digits of the three-digit number correspond to the above.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A lock that can be operated only by a key having a magnetic field, the lock having a plurality of channels and a plurality of magnetic elements arranged in each of the channels and movable along the channels, prevents operation of the lock in the absence of the key, and when the correct key is placed in the lock, is moved by the magnetic field of the key to a predetermined unlocking device such that the magnetic element no longer prevents operation of the lock. each magnetic element is in the form of a rolling element arranged to roll along its channel into and away from its unlocked position; A lock, characterized in that the element has a flat end surface, which end surface is such that it can be brought into pressure contact with other parts of the lock if the lock is to be operated without the correct key.