US3623345A

US3623345A - Intermediate disk of a cylinder lock

Info

Publication number: US3623345A
Application number: US809914A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kaarlo Henrik Solitanner
Original assignee: Wartsila Oy AB
Current assignee: Wartsila Oy AB
Priority date: 1968-03-25
Filing date: 1969-03-24
Publication date: 1971-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-30
Also published as: FR2004650A1; SE342484B; GB1256794A; DE1914776A1

Abstract

AN INTERMEDIATE DISK FOR A CYLINDER LOCK COMPRISING TURNABLE LOCKING DISKS ENCLOSED IN THE CYLINDER OF THE LOCK AND SEPERATED FROM EACH OTHER BY INTERMEDIATE DISKS. THE INTERMEDIATE DISKS HAVE A VENTRAL OPENING FOR THE KEY OF THE LOCK. THE CROSS-SECTION OF THE KEY AND ITS TURNING ANGLE ARE SO CHOSEN, THAT THE CROSS-SECTION OF THE KEY DURING THE OPERATION OF THE LOCK MOVES RELATIVE TO THE INTERMEDIATE DISKS WITHIN A SECTOR SMALLER THAN 360*. IN THE SECTOR OF THE INTERMEDIATE DISKS WHICH IS LEFT UNCOVERED BY THE CORSS-SECTION OF THE KEY THERE IS A RECESS IN THE RIM OF THE DISKS FOR RECEIVING A BAR SHAPED LOCKING MEMBER OF THE LOCK. IN THE SAME SECTOR THE CENTRAL OPENING OF THE INTERMEDIATE DISKS HAS A SMALLER

RADIAL EXTENSION THAN IN THE FIRST MENTIONED SECTOR IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE PORTION BETWEEN THE RECESS AND THE CENTRAL OPENING.

Description

1971 K. H. SOLITANNER 3,623,345

INTERMEDIATE DISK 01' A CYLINDER LOCK Filed March 24, 1969 United States Patent U.S. Cl. 70-366 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An intermediate disk for a cylinder lock comprising turnable locking disks enclosed in the cylinder of the lock and separated from each other by intermediate disks. The intermediate disks have a central opening for the key of the lock. The cross-section of the key and its turning angle are so chosen, that the cross-section of the key during the operation of the lock moves relative to the intermediate disks within a sector smaller than 360". In the sector of the intermediate disks which is left uncovered by the cross-section of the key there is a recess in the rim of the disks for receiving a bar shaped locking member of the lock. In the same sector the central opening of the intermediate disks has a smaller radial extension than in the first mentioned sector in order to strengthen the portion between the recess and the central opening.

The invention relates to a cylinder lock comprising a stationary cylinder housing and a rotatable cylinder enclosing a number of locking disks turnable by means of the key of the lock, and between the locking disks intermediate disks, the turning of which with respect to the cylinder is prevented, and a locking bar locking the cylinder with respect to the cylinder housing, situated between the outer rim of the locking disks and the stationary cylinder housing and being movable from its locking position into a cylinder releasing position in a channel formed by recesses in the rim of the locking disks when aligned in a certain position.

It is important for the reliable function of a lock of the above mentioned type that the set of locking disks is subject to a small axial load and is able to yield somewhat in the same direction. This is usually obtained by making the intermediate disks somewhat yielding in the axial direction. In the middle of the intermediate disk there is an opening for the key and the weakest portion of the intermediate disk is the narrow bridge between the recess made to receive the locking bar and the central opening. This narrow bridge causes difiiculties in the fabrication of the intermediate disk. The punching tool will be weak and this means that in continuous production the tool has to be renewed more often than usual, which in turn raises the production costs of the intermediate disk. If the lock is very small the said narrow bridge will be so narrow that it can easily break. The object of the invention is to strengthen this weak portion of the intermediate disk so that smaller locks than before can be made.

The invention is characterized in that the form of the key of the lock and its turning angle when moving the locking disks from their initial position to the cylinder releasing position, are in a way known per se so determined that the angle covered by the cross-section of the key is smaller than 360, preferably only 270, the position of the locking bar being so chosen that it is situated in the sector left uncovered by the cross-section of the key, and that in the intermediate disk its central key receiving opening is in the said sector smaller than a full circle. In this way the radial width of the ring shaped intermediate disk will be larger in the said weak portion, and the outer dimension of the lock can be made somewhat smaller. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the central opening of the intermediate disk has the form of a segment of a circle, the central angle of the segment being preferably about 270.

In the following an embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the attached drawing in which FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a lock according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an intermediate disk for a lock according to the invention.

In the drawing 1 indicates a stationary cylinder housing, 2 a turnable cylinder, 3 a locking bar, 4 a locking disk and 5 a key. On the locking disk 4 there is a small protrusion 6 which moves approximately in an opening 7 in the cylinder 2 when the key 5 is turned from the initial position shown in the drawing to the position releasing the cylinder 2. As the cross-section of the key has a semiciricular form, this cross-section will cover an angle of 270 during the said turning movement. Hence a right angle sector will remain uncovered and the locking bar 3 is situated in the middle of this sector. When the locking disks 4 have been turned into the cylinder releasing position, the recesses 8 in the locking disks are aligned and form a channel at the locking bar 3, and the locking bar can move from a groove 9 made in the cylinder housing 1 to the channel formed by the recesses 8 of the locking disks. When the turning movement of the key is continued, the entire set of locking disks including the intermediate disks turns, bringing with it the cylinder. The turning movement of the cylinder influences, for instance, the lock bolt of a door lock or any other member connected to the cylinder lock in question.

FIG. 2 shows an intermediate disk 10 having in its bottom part a protrusion 11 extending over a sector of about 90, which protrusion fits into the opening 7 of the cylinder and prevents the turning of the intermediate disks relative to the cylinder. The central opening 12 of the intermediate disk has the form of a segment of a circle and the central angle of the segment is about 270". In the intermediate disk there is a recess 13 which corresponds to the recesses 8 of the locking disks. As the central opening of the intermediate disk is smaller than a full ciricle just at the recess 13, the weak portion 14 will be broader than in intermediate disks previously known having a circular central opening.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but modifications of the invention are feasible within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cylinder lock comprising a stationary cylinder housing, a rotatable cylinder in said housing, a plurality of locking disks enclosed by said housing and turnable by means of a key for the operation of said lock, intermediate disks disposed between said locking disks in a non-turning relationship with respect to said cylinder, a locking bar located between the outer surface of said locking disks and said housing, said intermediate disks being each provided with a recess for receiving said lock ing bar during the operation of the lock, said intermediate disks having a central opening for said key, said key having a cross-section and turning through an angle during the operation of the lock so determined as to leave a sector of said intermediate disks untraversed by said References Cited cross-section of the key, said recess of each of the inter- T mediate disks being situated Within said untraversed sec- FOREIGN PATENTS tor, said central opening being non-circular and having 25,706 12/1952 i in said untraversed sector a smaller radial extent than in 5 22,581 6/1948 l other parts of said opening. 0 2/ 1952 Finland.

2. A lock according to claim 1, in which said central opening of the intermediate disks has the form of a seg- ROBERT WOLFE Primary Examiner ment of a ciricle.

3. A lock a ccording to claim 2, in which the central 10 angle of said segment is about 270.