Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B27/00—Cylinder locks or other locks with tumbler pins or balls that are set by pushing the key in
  • E05B27/005—Cylinder locks or other locks with tumbler pins or balls that are set by pushing the key in with changeable combinations
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
  • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
  • E05B35/00—Locks for use with special keys or a plurality of keys ; keys therefor
  • E05B35/08—Locks for use with special keys or a plurality of keys ; keys therefor operable by a plurality of keys
  • E05B35/083—Locks for use with special keys or a plurality of keys ; keys therefor operable by a plurality of keys with changeable combination

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to cylinder locks and then particularly to a re- settable cylinder lock that includes an improved function.
• Re-settable cylinder locks that work in accordance with the lost ball principle are known to the art.
• a ball is caused to move in a pin channel into a hole or recess in the cylinder plug, thereby changing the code height of the pin concerned and thus re-setting the lock.
• the diameter of the ball and the hole must be smaller than the diameter of the pin.
• the ball occupies a not inconsiderable part of the pin channel.
• an intermediate pin takes up a certain amount of space, typically corresponding to three code heights for instance, which has a space limiting effect even when a ball shall be accommodated in the pin channel. If the intermediate pin is made excessively low, there is a risk that the pin will be deflected in the pin channel, meaning that the lock will not function in the manner intended.
• U.S. Patent Document 3,563,071 (Barger) describes a re-settable cylinder lock. According to Barger, a ball is fastened with an adhesive to a narrow upper part of a bottom pin in a pin channel. A user key has a code height at which the dividing line between plug and cylinder housing is level with the interface or boundary surface between the bottom pin and the ball attached thereto, wherewith the ball is knocked down from the narrow upper part of the bottom pin and lands on one side thereof. This results in resetting of the lock.
• the solution proposed by Barger is encumbered with a number of drawbacks. Because the ball lands on one side of the narrow upper part, there is a tendency for the ball to tilt, which is liable to interfere with the function of the lock. Moreover, the step of securing the ball with glue or adhesive in the case of the
• Barger solution is an additional manufacturing step which contributes towards the total cost of the lock. Positioning of the ball on a narrow part also causes the risk of the ball being unintentionally knocked down, meaning that the lock will be reset much too early. Neither does the solution to Barger solve the problem concerning the restricted length of the pin channel, since the concave upper surface presented by the narrow upper part of the bottom pins merely serves to facilitate attachment of a ball thereto and is not intended to reduce the total pin height.
• One object of the present invention is to provide a re-settable cylinder lock with which the aforesaid drawbacks are eliminated or at least reduced.
• the invention is based on the realisation that a pin intended for use in a re-settable cylinder lock can be adapted so that the surface with which the pin abuts the ball to be lost forms a ball-pin combination that occupies smaller space than in the case of known locks.
• a cylinder lock that solves or at least reduces the problems associated with known technology.
• a re-settable cylinder lock is provided with which all pins can move stably in the pin channel.
• Fig. 1 is an overall view, partly in cross-section, of a re-settable lock cylinder
• Fig. 2 is a part view showing pins and a ball in the lock cylinder of Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an intermediate pin in accordance with the invention.
• Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the lock cylinder of Fig. 1 , and shows the pin channel, the resetting ball and a conventional user key inserted in the lock;
• Fig. 5a is a cross-sectional view of the lock cylinder in Fig. 1 and shows the pin channel and a resetting key inserted in the lock, although prior to turning the plug;
• Fig. 5b is a cross-sectional view of the lock cylinder in Fig. 1 , and shows the pin channel with a resetting key inserted in the lock, subsequent to having turned the plug;
• Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of two balls disposed between two pins.
• the lock includes a cylinder housing 10 that has an opening in which a cylinder plug 20 is inserted.
• the housing 10 includes a plurality of pin channels 12a-g in which top pins 14a-g, bottom pins 16a-g and, when applicable, intermediate pins 1 8a-g run.
• the pins are spring-biased from above, with the aid of springs (not shown).
• the plug 20 is able to rotate, when the dividing lines between the pins in the channels are level with the dividing line between the housing 10 and the plug 20. More dividing surfaces are found in the channels that accommodate an intermediate pin, which enables keys that have different code heights for the channel concerned to be used. This enables a so-called system disposition to be applied.
• the barrel surface of the plug 20 includes two holes, of which one 22a is shown in Figure 1 and which are adapted to receive a ball 24 whose function will be explained in more detail hereinafter.
• the plug 20 also includes a key slot for receiving a key 30.
• FIG. 2 is an exploded view which shows the pin arrangement in greater detail.
• a top pin 14a, a bottom pin 16a and an intermediate pin 18a are received in the first pin channel 12a.
• Disposed between the intermediate pin and the top pin is the ball 24, which is intended to rest in a recess or hollow 18a on the intermediate pin 18a.
• Figure 3 is a sectional view of the intermediate pin 18a and shows the recess more clearly.
• the shape of the recess corresponds essentially to the radius of the ball 24, in other words the ball rests firmly in the recess.
• Figure illustrates the position of the ball with a dotted contour line, and it will be seen that the diameter d of the ball is smaller than the width w of the pin.
• the height h of the intermediate pin 18a corresponds to three code heights and the depth b of the recess corresponds to one code height, and the diameter d of the ball corresponds to three code heights. This means that the effective height e of the intermediate pin will correspond to two code heights when a ball rests in the recess, i.e. a saving of one code height is made.
• FIG. 4 shows the position of the pins with a standard user key inserted in the lock. It will be seen that the dividing line between the ball 24 and the top pin 14a is in line with the dividing surface between the housing 10 and the plug 20. The pins in the first channel do not prevent rotation of the plug 20, and the ball 24 will accompany rotation of the plug.
• Figure 5a shows the lock with a resetting key inserted therein, although prior to turning the plug.
• the resetting key is the key that shall be used together with the lock hereinafter.
• the two holes 22a, 22b are adapted to receive the ball 24.
• the dividing surface between housing 10 and plug 20 is level with the upper side of the intermediate pin 18a. If the plug is rotated in this position by means of the inserted key, the ball 24 will remain in the pin channel in the housing 10, i.e. it does not accompany plug rotation.
• the pin channel in the housing 10 will lie opposite the hole 22a in the core adapted to receive the ball 24.
• a ball-receiving hole in the intermediate pin 18a provides several advantages. In the absence of the hole, it would be necessary to use an intermediate pin 18a that has a height of two code heights instead of three. This would result in a pin that would readily tip over in the pin channel, resulting in associated problems. Moreover, the position of the ball 24 is more definite when seated in the hole, which is particularly important when more than one ball shall be used, as evident from the following.
• the intermediate pin 18a is the same as the intermediate pin of the first embodiment, whereas the top pin 14a' is provided with a recess in which the upper ball 24' rests.
• the other ball 24' is identical to the first ball 24. The configuration of the pins enables two balls to rest one upon the other.
• the intermediate pin may include two recesses, one on each side, and lies centrally between the two balls, or the recesses may be placed on other suitable end surfaces of the pin.
• the holes receiving the balls ma> be given a depth which provides room for two or more balls in one single hole.
• a round ball has been shown as a resetting device, it will be understood that any appropriate shape may be used, provided that the diameter is smaller than the diameter of the pins.
• the shape of the recess in the intermediate pin has been shown to correspond essentially to the shape of the ball. It will be understood, however, that the recess may have any suitable shape, provided that the resetting device is able to sink down into the recess. For instance, it may have a V-shaped section obtained when the recess is produced with the aid of a drill. However, the resetting device may not be allowed to sink down in the recess to a depth at which it cannot be raised out of the recess when resetting the lock.
• a recess having a depth b of one code height has been described. It will be understood, however, that the depth need not be a uniform code height, and that the important factor in this regard is that the pin height h and the total height d+e is a number corresponding to n code heights. A depth b of at least one-half code height is preferred for the sake of stability.

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• Preventing Unauthorised Actuation Of Valves (AREA)
• Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

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Publications (1)

Family

ID=20417290

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (4)

Citations (5)

• 1999
  • 1999-10-07 SE SE9903631A patent/SE9903631L/ not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2000
  • 2000-10-05 WO PCT/SE2000/001919 patent/WO2001025569A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2000-10-05 AU AU79786/00A patent/AU7978600A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (5)

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