Description
Title of the invention: FLAT KEY FOR A LOCKING CYLINDER AND
LOCKING ER
Technical field
The present invention relates to a flat key for a
locking cylinder, in particular of locking installations,
having substantially planar and approximately parallel flat
key sides, a key back and a key bit which is opposite the
back and which is toothed on the end face for positioning
retention pins which are divided into core and housing pins
and which are resiliently loaded in corresponding key
channels of cylinder cores against the end face of the key
bit in the direction towards the key back, grooves which
are cut in the flat sides of the flat key being provided as
variation profile elements and as guiding profile elements,
at least two grooves of a side of the flat key pping,
the insertion direction of which is ent so that the
intersection of the two s produces an edge which can
be scanned in the direction perpendicular with respect to
the longitudinal centre plane of the flat key. The
invention further relates to a locking cylinder for such a
flat key.
Prior Art
The protection of life, the private domain and
property are of primary ance. ore, a lock and
key assume particular significance. Access regions are
d in locking installations and produced by the
association of each installation key with one or more
locks. This association or the exclusion of the key and
lock with regard to the locking function is ed in
locking installations on the basis of locking cylinders
having flat keys, inter alia, by the cross-section profile
of the keys and the cross-section of the key l. Only
when the contour of a key channel cross-section corresponds
to a flat key cross-section or surrounds it does the key
fit the lock. As soon as the r of the flat key crosssection
ects with that of the key channel crosssection
, the key has no locking authorisation with t
to the above-mentioned locking cylinder.
sly, this association between the key and
locking cylinder via the e - that is to say, the
cross-section of the key, in particular flat keys, and key
channel of the locking cylinder - also applies to the
individual er and the individual key, which is not
directly part of a locking installation.
Safety requirements are complied with when a key
cannot be readily copied. Using security documents and
stringent identity checks, a replacement key can be
obtained from the original manufacturer by an authorised
person. As long as key blanks are commercially available, a
key service using a copying milling device can produce a
replacement key without any problems by producing a tooth
arrangement on the key bit. As long as a copying milling
device is further capable of also scanning a cross-section
profile on the flat sides of an original key and
appropriate milling tools are available, a replacement key
can also be produced from a metal plate by means of
cutting. If, owing to the limitation of free commercial
accessibility, it was thus usly not possible to
produce replacement keys for blocked key profiles owing to
the lack of an appropriate blank, the technical
possibilities are nowadays available for key services to
e copies of a key both with regard to the tooth
arrangement and with regard to the profile. The ng of
a key profile is carried out mechanically or optically from
the side. The result of this lateral scanning is followed
by the cutting in or the feeding of one or more milling
cutters in order to produce U-shaped, V-shaped or
rectangular grooves. Using oblique positioning of the key
blank, grooves may also be produced in an oblique manner
with t to the centre line of the profile crosssection
, for example, as undercut grooves.
It is problematic in this instance that the key
services normally make the cross-section of the key
slightly "smaller", that is to say, construct all the
grooves to be slightly wider and deeper so that the key can
be inserted certainly into the key channel. It is thereby
repeatedly the case that a key can also be inserted into
locks for which it is not provided at all (so-called
transverse gs). An entire locking installation is
y often invalidated.
EP 1362153 B proposed a profile system for crosssection
formation of flat keys with substantially planar
and approximately parallel flat sides and corresponding key
channels in locking ers, which made impossible a
processing of the profile in one operating step with a
former key profile g device which could be used by
key services. This was achieved with flat keys having
substantially planar and approximately parallel flat sides
and ponding key channels in that, from at least one
groove, in particular of the guiding profile, at least one
other groove extends as a branching groove and in that the
insertion ions of the groove and branching groove
were different and diverged, for e, by 60º. Owing to
the lateral scanning of the profile grooves of an original
key during copying, the branching groove was not detected
or only detected incompletely. It would have had to be
produced by means of re-clamping the blank and repeated
ng of the original. The re-clamping for an angular
position of the centre line of the profile groove, which
position deviates from the original insertion direction of
a profile groove, inevitably leads to lateral displacements
so that a branching groove or another groove which extends
laterally from a groove could not be produced either in a
dimensionally and ionally accurate manner or in a
cost-effective manner.
A cost-effective and precise production was in
practice only possible in the lock y, which had
profile broaching machines and large milling centres,
wherein re-clamping errors did not occur since separate
operations which cause errors were not necessary with
repeated measurement of a starting position.
However, it is possible in principle (even if
ted with a high level of complexity) to copy such
keys as long as only the grooves are constructed to be
erably larger (wider and deeper). According to
EP 1362153 B there is provision for other grooves to be
provided in the ate vicinity so that, in case of to
an excessively generous ion for milling removal, the
key loses its stability, that is to say, the copying
service cannot simply mill such a large groove that this
groove of the copied key surrounds the groove and branch
groove of the original key. However, the copying service
can arrange the groove and branch groove in a slightly
enlarged manner without the key losing its stability or its
locking y.
From AT 500638 B, it is known to provide in the lock
a ng pin which determines in the case of the undercut
groove whether it is actually undercut or whether it has
simply been replaced by a correspondingly wider V-like
. In this scanning pin, it was disadvantageous that
it operated in only one direction. That is to say, if the
lock was incorrectly installed, then it would be possible
to open it with an illegally copied key, but not to lock it
again afterwards. Even in the case of correct assembly,
r, it was problematic if the illegally copied key was
used by authorised persons; they could lock themselves in
and were unable to open the room or dwelling again
ards.
Furthermore, the gain in terms of ty was also
low since only the presence of the undercut was scanned,
but not the precise construction of the groove and
branching groove.
Statement of invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a
flat key with which copying is even more difficult than
with the keys according to EP 1362153 B or AT 500638 B, or
at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
According to the invention, this is achieved in that
both of the two overlapping grooves are undercut in
opposing directions, and in that, in at least one groove,
the centre of the groove base - when viewed in the
direction perpendicular relative to the longitudinal centre
plane of the key - is covered by these undercut portions
and in that, in at least one groove, the transition from
the groove flank to the groove base - when viewed in the
ion perpendicular relative to the longitudinal centre
plane of the key - is also d by the undercut n.
The notion behind this is as s: if the groove
base is at least partially covered, it is ularly
difficult to establish the precise data of the groove
(depth, width, angle, position). The edge which is produced
by the intersection of the two grooves can be scanned in
the lock. However, this edge cannot be produced directly by
the key service, but instead is produced by the
intersection of the two grooves. When the data of at least
one groove cannot be determined in a precise manner, this
edge is not located at the provided location and the key
does not lock.
Owing to this edge which can be scanned, it is not
possible to simply arrange a trapezoidal groove which
surrounds both grooves of the original key during a copying
milling operation. Owing to the scanning of the edge in the
lock, it is absolutely necessary for both grooves to be
constructed tly so that the key locks.
It is particularly advantageous for the two undercut
angles to be different. In this instance, a subsequent
milling operation with a trapezoidal milling cutter also
brings about another construction of at least one groove
flank. Furthermore, from the angle of one groove, it is not
thereby possible to draw conclusions relating to the angle
of the other groove, which would facilitate the measurement
of the original key.
With regard to a guarantee that the embodiment
ing to the invention is in any case, even in locking
installations, always t for security reasons (that is
to say, with all keys, even with the most minor keys), it
is advantageous for the two grooves to be provided as
guiding e elements. The guiding profile is
constructed within a locking installation for each key so
that the desired security is consequently provided in any
case.
It is ageous for at least one of the two
grooves to overlap with a guiding profile groove at the
opposing side of the flat key. This is known to make the
introduction of lock picking tools more difficult.
y, it is advantageous when at least one
trough-like groove is provided between the overlapping
grooves and the key bit, the groove flank of the troughlike
groove defining an angle α less than 90º, preferably
between 30º and 45º, with the centre plane of the flat key
and the other lateral flank of the trough-like groove
defining an angle ß n 93º and 97º with the centre
plane of the flat key. Owing to the features known from
AT 500638 B, sharp edges are prevented on the key.
A locking cylinder for a flat key of the type
described above is provided with a cylinder g and at
least one er core which is rotatably arranged in a
hole of the cylinder housing and which has a profiled key
channel, and with retention pins which are divided into
core and housing pins and which are resiliently loaded in
holes of the cylinder housing and the cylinder core against
the end face of the key bit in the direction towards the
back of the key. The construction of the key channel is
inverted to the key: the profiling of the key l has
two ribs which diverge in a ed manner and which
extend from a common root at a key channel flank and each
have acute external angles with t to the key channel
flank and which complement the two overlapping grooves of
the flat key. According to the invention, there is further
provided in at least one cylinder core a scanning element
which scans the edge which is ed by the intersection
of the two grooves of the flat key and which may also be
constructed as a flattened portion and which blocks the
locking cylinder when the edge or flattened portion is
excessively low.
Consequently, a key locks neither when the edge is
excessively high, nor when the edge is excessively low; if
the edge is too high, the key does not fit into the key
channel; if it is too low, the lock is blocked by the
scanning element.
There is preferably further provided a scanning
element which scans for the presence of the undercut
portion of a groove and, when the ut portion is
missing, blocks the locking cylinder. Consequently, an
undercut groove is prevented from being replaced by a
correspondingly larger, V-shaped groove.
The respective ng elements can be displaced in
a substantially radial manner within the cylinder core or
can also be rotated and abut the shoulder of the undercut
portion of the key groove or the edge or flattened portion
between the s which diverge in a V-shaped manner in
the key. When the key is correct, a region of the scanning
element is located in such a on that it fills the
recess in the cylinder core at the covering face and a
housing pin can slide thereover via the filled recess
during the locking operation. An incorrect key either does
not fit at all in the key channel or the housing pin, in
the plane in which the scanning element is located, snapfits
into the recess in the cylinder core that is then open
so that it cannot be rotated further (but can certainly be
rotated back).
Brief description of the drawings
Embodiments relating to the subject-matter of the
invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which: Figure
1 shows a key from the side; Figure 2 shows the contour of
a section along the line II-II in Figure 1 with a first
profile ing to the ion; Figure 3 shows the
contour of a n similar to Figure 2 having another
profile according to the invention; Figure 4 shows a
cylinder core having an inserted key according to Figures 1
and 2; and Figures 5 and 6 show sections along the planes V
and VI in Figure 4, respectively.
Embodiment(s) of the invention
A key 1 (flat key) of a locking installation has in
cross-section a profile, in particular a guiding profile,
having grooves 2, 3. A guiding profile performs the
function of positioning the key in the key channel. The two
grooves 2, 3 overlap (cover) each other. The insertion
direction X for producing the groove 2 and the insertion
direction X1 for producing the groove 3 are different.
Consequently, it is not possible to draw from one insertion
direction a sion regarding the other insertion
direction, which would facilitate a measurement of the key.
It is icant in this instance that the grooves
2, 3 are undercut, in opposing directions. (That is to say,
when the angles X and X1 between the insertion direction
and the longitudinal centre plane of the key are drawn in
such a manner that they are less than 90º, the angle X is
then measured in the direction towards the key back,
whereas the angle X1 is measured in the direction towards
the key bit.) The centre 4 of the groove 2 (and
consequently the depth thereof) cannot thereby be
determined by means of scanning in a direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal centre plane 6 of the
key, which makes it significantly more ult to
determine the precise data of the groove 2 (that is to say,
width, depth, position and angle X). Not even the
tion region 4' from the flank to the groove base can
be detected.
Owing to the imprecision which is produced thereby,
during a uent measurement it is almost impossible
that with a copy of the key, the edge 5 which is ed
by the ection of the two grooves 2, 3 and cannot be
milled directly, has the correct g d from the flank 7
of the key 1.
In Figure 2, trough-like grooves 40 and 41 are
illustrated with broken lines between the overlapping
grooves 2, 3 and the d key bit. These grooves form
part of a variation e which is produced by leaving or
removing individual grooves in the system or illustrated
grid of all these trough-like grooves 40, 41 which can
overlap optionally. Owing to the angle formation of the
groove flanks y mentioned, a surface structure
without disruptive sharp edges can be achieved. Figure 2
further shows the g profile groove 42, whose groove
base overlaps with the groove base of the groove 2 so that
the key channel, with a conforming complementary
construction, prevents the ion of a plate for
scanning purposes. In this instance, this overlapping means
exceeding a tangential plane which is parallel with the
longitudinal centre plane 6 on a groove 2 with another
opposing groove 42.
Figure 3 shows a key 1' which in addition to the
grooves 2 and 3 also has grooves 2' and 3', which have
similar geometric properties to the s 2 and 3. The
edge is flattened within the grooves 2' and 3' to form an
abutment face 5'.
In Figure 4, the corresponding cylinder core 9 is
illustrated with a key 1 according to Figures 1 and 2 or 3,
resp. The significant aspects in this instance are the two
scanning elements 11 and 12 which can be seen more clearly
in Figures 5 and 6.
The two scanning elements 11 and 12 are guided in a
ponding recess of the cylinder core 9 in such a
manner that, gh they can be displaced perpendicularly
with respect to the longitudinal centre plane of the key 1,
they cannot tilt significantly. With both scanning elements
11 and 12, one end is free (the lower end, as seen in
Figures 5 and 6) and the other end is in abutment against
the key 1; the scanning element 11 abuts the edge 5
(support face 5') and the scanning element 12 abuts the
undercut portion 8. In the region of these scanning
elements 11 and 12, there are milled externally on the
cylinder core recesses 21, 22, 31, 32 which become slowly
deeper from the outer sides of the scanning elements 11, 12
and terminate in the central region of the scanning
ts 11, 12 in a step 21', 22', 31', 32'. These
recesses are located in parallel cross-sectional planes, in
which pin retention members are ed in the cylinder
housing.
If the cylinder core is rotated so far that the
housing pins reach the region of these recesses, then they
slide with the correct key on the scanning elements 11 or
12 beyond the tive step 21', 22', 31' and 32'. When
the key is not correct, that is to say, when the edge 5 or
the support face 5' is too deep or the undercut portion 8
is not present, the scanning elements 11, 12 release the
recesses. The s of the housing pins press the housing
pins into the respective recess 21, 22, 31 or 32 so that
the housing pins are in abutment with the respective step
21', 22', 31' or 32' and the cylinder core 9 can no longer
be rotated. However, since the recesses become shallower in
the opposite direction, the cylinder core 9 can be rotated
back and the key which does not fit can be removed. This
functions in both directions, that is to say, even with
dual locking cylinders which are installed in a transposed
manner.
A particular advantage of this type of scanning is
that the cylinder housing does not have to be d, all
the necessary features can be produced on the cylinder core
If the s 2, 3 in a key copy are constructed to
be excessively weak, that is to say, too narrow or not deep
enough, then the key cannot be introduced at all into the
key channel owing to collision with the corresponding ribs
in the key channel of the cylinder core 9.
It should be noted that it is not necessary in
practice to carry out the additional scanning with the
scanning elements 11 and 12 with all locks of a locking
installation since the key service cannot know whether
these are provided or not. A key service operator does not
copy keys when he does not know r the key locks or
not. A replacement key which is nonetheless ed could
perhaps lock one door or the other in installations, but
not main entrances, for e. Consequently, such a
"copy" is useless.
Patent