WO2004042175A1

WO2004042175A1 - Safety cylinder lock with encoded key

Info

Publication number: WO2004042175A1
Application number: PCT/YU2003/000031
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zdravko Rajacic
Original assignee: Zdravko Rajacic
Priority date: 2002-11-05
Filing date: 2003-11-04
Publication date: 2004-05-21
Also published as: AU2003301887A1

Abstract

The invention relates to the universal cylinder lock with a coded key by which the problem of breaking is solved, having the unlimited number of possible 'encoding' combinations. The cylinder (1, 1’) of the lock consists of covering (3) and housing (5) within which there is a rotary positioned cylinder core (6) with axially made opening (15) in the axis of which the pin (16) is put. In the housing (5) there are radially made holes (9, 9’), while coaxially with them the holes (13) are made in the core (6). Within the hole (9) springs (10), plates (11) and sealing plugs (12, 12’) are put, while in the holes (13) the wedges (14), balls (14’) or their combination is put to slide. On the left end of the core (6) the element (7) for locking is fastened. The pin (16) is, by its left end (17), fastened in the screw attachment (26) for unlocking placed in the core (6). The core (6), the screw attachment (26) and the pin (16) are interconnected by the screw bolt (19). According to a variation in the making, in the housing (4) fastened on the column (50) of the steering wheel of the vehicle, a cylinder (1”) with the cam (31) and the coded key (2), the carrier (34) with the cam (33) and the pin (35) and contactor are placed.

Description

SAFETY CYLINDER LOCK WITH ENCODED KEY

This invention relates to the new mechanical cylinder lock with encoded key intended for various locking purposes, and in particular, when placed in the appropriate housing, it relates to the ignition lock for blocking the steering wheel of a vehicle to protect that vehicle from theft.

The purpose of this invention is to provide the new design of the lock cylinder which is universal and can be, if built into the appropriate mechanical structure, used for various purposes where higher safety is needed, especially for the locks on cars, cash registers, strongboxes, various house doors, and alike.

There are numerous lock solutions presented in patent and non-patent literature. The term lock should denote, apart from the usual door locks of various kinds, the lock for car steering wheels, as well as all kinds of special locks such as padlocks and other. Theoretically, there are several groups of locks that are different from each other by way of locking/unlocking. There are also locks with rotary keys which move the lamellar arresters perpendicularly to the key, the locks the arresters of which adjust by putting in the key, the lock cylinder in which the slide valve is moved by means other than the key, locks with permutations, locks with display devices or time counters, locks for special purposes etc. The commonest are the cylinder locks with arresters in the shape of pins or small balls and cylinder locks whit lamellar arresters.

One known solution of the lock is in the Yugoslav patent application No. P-731/92 in which the cylinder lock made up of a cylinder and a key is presented. The cylinder is profiled as a semicylinder and contains a cylinder housing that at its upper, essentially round cylinder part, contains longitudinal opening of the core for the installation of the cylinder core. The cylinder core bears the element for locking on its inwardly located end. The rotation of the cylinder core is in that manner conveyed to lock elements. The lock element remains axially immovable in the slit of cylinder housing. The flange part of the cylinder housing extends radially to the round cylinder part. The housing holes arranged in the succession, which also extend radially to the core of the cylinder, are to be put in the flange part. Their ends, far from the cylinder core, are sealed with the help of keys. These housing holes serve to hold the springs of keys as well as the keys themselves. The core holes are oriented radially in reference to the cylinder core to hold the linchpins which are straightened with the housing holes. The housing keys and the core keys form a limiter, which prevents the rotating of the cylinder core and thus the lock elements, too, as the key is not put in. The core wedges move only by putting in the appropriate key in the channel in the cylinder core, so that the special link between the core wedges and the housing wedges is located on the level of the sliding link of the cylinder core.

Another known solution has been presented in the patent document YU PS 45139 entitled "Cylinder Lock with Double Locking of Cylinder". This solution refers to a cylinder lock with double locking of cylinder in which the locking of cylinder is achieved from two sides, by different systems of linchpins and lifter by using a profiled key, so that from the lower part of the cylinder the standard system of shutting linchpins and lifters is used, under the influence of springs, and from the above the system of sealing linchpins and lifters placed in the upper part of the vertical plane, which passes through the cylinder axis, and is movable under the influence of the gravitation force. Apart from that, in the middle of the cylinder grooves are made into which the plates are put, what serves for the purpose of preventing the unlocking of the upper system by various objects.

Other known solutions are presented in YU patent applications P-500/98 in which the programmed cylinder lock with main keys is shown, P-803/78 which presents the lock consisting of a housing, hitching shear pin, pins and plate key, and P-1812/80 in which the profiled cylinder lock is presented.

When locks for blocking the steering wheel of a vehicle are in question, one known solution is presented in the YU patent No. 33 094 entitled "The Device for Blocking the Steering Wheel for the protection of Motor Vehicles from theft". The device consists of the lock with a latch and cylinder and off the electric switch activated by the key which is put in one of the four positions: stop, garage, engine activated, and start. This device has a protective metal covering for the bolt that is put longitudinally regarding the cylindrical covering and tightened with rivets. The casing has a radial groove into which the switch assembly is inserted. The switch^'consists of a base onto which the medial body bearing the lid is fastened. On the switch assembly there are elastically fastened contactors to which contacts are connected. In the groove on the lid an elastic-limiting pin pushed by the spring is inserted. The contactors consist of the rectangular metal plates, while the contactor is an itegral part of the disc-shaped plate. On the lock cylinder the drum with the outlet is tightened, around which the torsion spring is put.

Another solution is known from the YU patent number 33 323 entitled "The Lock of the Steering Wheel with a Cylinder, Primarily for Motor Vehicles". In this lock the column of the steering wheel is blocked from rotation by slide valve pressed by the spring aiming to put it in the position for blocking the steering wheel, at the same time the slide valve being prevented from getting into the said position, if the locking element in the shape of a stiff lever does not set it free, the lever by a tooth blocking the slide valve in the open position. The locking element in the shape of a lever is built into the cylinder casing and sets the slide valve free only when the key is totally pulled out of the bearing. The locking element is rotable around the pin immovably fastened in the casing of the steering wheel lock and pressed by the spring by its front end to the back of the key. On one part of the element there is a tooth leaning to slide on the steering surface and the outlet of the pawl cut rotably arranged around the pin in the cut of the slide valve body beam in the shape of a frame flexibly connected to the head of the slide valve. The spring pressed onto the pawl that is rotably born around the pin is fastened in the slide valve body. Another solution is known from the YU patent number 36 645 entitled "The Improvement of the Security Lock of Steering Wheel Column". This solution is made with the electric reverser and with the tubular housing into which the insertion is put, the insertion containing the security lock of the steering wheel column with the cylinder of the lock which is moved by a flat key. The cylinder of the lock is put in the insert within the bush and contains, from the front the outlet, and from the back the spiral spring and the inner extension connected tightly with the cam part the beam of which is connected tightly to the rotor. The stator with electric contacts is fastened on the insert. In the extended bearing of the insert there is a latch with a groove' and with a beam provided with a hook and loaded with a spiral spring, while on the beam of the latch there is a recess for he engagement of the hook on the beam of the double-beamed lever loaded with a spring.

There is also an improved solution to the previous design by the same author, which is a YU patent number 36 646 entitled "The Improvement of the Lock for the Steering Wheel and the Belonging Electric Switch for Motor Vehicles".

Another solution is known from YU patent number 37 285 entitled "The Cylinder Lock for Motor Vehicles". This cylinder lock is based upon a classic cylinder lock with the modification of transfer of rotary motion of cylinder made as the cam mechanism and supplemented by a submechanism for preventing the unwanted locking as long as the key is in the lock. The lever is flexibly fastened to the tongue by the pin put transversally regarding the linear axis of the tongue, while between the lever bracket and the linear outlet on the^' lock body a pressure spring is put. The lever shoulder is engaged with the cam helical profile, while the radial outlet is in touch with the shoulder, and the catch is engaged with the edge of the groove on the lock body, In the groove below the catch there is a trigger with a pressure spring overstrained in direction towards the cylinder lock.

In YU patent number 44332 another solution entitled "Steering Wheel Lock with Double Locking and the Ignition Switch for Motor Vehicles" is presented. The solution regards the lock for the steering wheel with double locking and the ignition switch for motor vehicles comprising the lock rotor in which, in cross direction, the disc for locking the bolt of the lock is put. The bolt of the lock is made with a cone opening and loaded with a pressure spring, while the bolt of the lock leans on the steering ring overstrained by the reversible spring.

Another solution known from the YU patent application number P-1487/87 entitled "Safety Blocking Lock for Motor Vehicles" consists of the housing in which the cylinder lock having its own stator and a rotary cylinder is put, the cylinder being axially movable from the front to back position as the key is inserted. The rotor is, by its tooth, tightly connected to the ratable cylinder because of the immediate and reverse-acting elastic means, directed for the purpose of bridging the distance between the first active position for blocking the turning of the leading mechanism of the vehicle and the reverse position of being still.

Yet another known solution is presented in the YU patent application number P- 678/92 entitled "The Steering Wheel Lock". The solution regards the steering wheel lock in which the axle of the steering wheel is lock with a seal changeable within the seat in metal block. The seal is, by the spring, pushed into the seat on the axle and is activated every time by the key moved by the cam through the lock. In case of breaking of the hollow body of the lock, the seal is locked by the elastic element which is normally locked by one cam profile, through the pin, even when the key is pulled out. Main drawbacks of known locks, and some of them are listed above, are also the complexity of structure, great possibility of breaking, especially the housing itself, small number of coding combinations and limitation in use, for example, they are used only for door locks or the steering wheel of a motor vehicle.

This invention relates to a cylinder lock with a coded key consisting of a cylinder and a coded key, the cylinder consisting of the protective covering within which there is a radially fastened partitioning wall. What represents the novelty of the solution is that under the very covering a housing is put within which, and coaxially with it, there is a cylinder core rotably placed, in which there is an axially made central opening. In the axis of the said opening there is a pin for the key guiding. In the body of the housing there are radially made holes, while coaxially with them in the core the holes are made. Within the hole of the housing springs, plates and sealing plugs are put, while in the holes of the core the arresters are put to slide. On the left end of the core, which in its part passes through the opening in the wall and is arranged in the smaller space within the covering as a bracket, there is the firmly- placed unlocking element. The novelty of the solution is also represented by the pin, which by its free end stretches until the very entrance to the cylinder, and which is by its other (left) end fastened in the screw attachment for unlocking put in the core. The core, screw attachment and the pin are interconnected with a screwed bolt that is screwed radially in the racket part of the core. The safety plate shuts the front side of the cylinder, i.e. the side of the entrance of the key. The key consists of the handle and the body with openings for the entrance of the peaks of the arrester, while the peak of the key body is made with a profiled slope matching the profile of the attachment. The so-called "encoding" of the lock can at the same time be done by various distribution of certain number of holes in the cylinder, both radially and axially over the housing periphery, by certain number of wedges, i.e. balls, and their combinations; by changing the depth of the penetration of wedges, i.e. balls into the openings of key body, as well as by changing the length of the bush with a profiled peak. The characteristics of the lock design and the numbered possibilities of achieving the "encoding" make possible an unbelievably large number of combinations and the "decoding" absolutely impossible. The construction characteristics of the lock which comprise a narrow channel between the opening of the core and the pin, the place of the bush at the bottom of the lock and its inaccessibility, top quality material used for parts, especially the safety plate-ring, the precision of making, and the large number of combinations which make the breaking impossible, make the lock practically and absolutely break-proof.

According to a different embodiment, the invention relates to the cylinder lock of the invention with housing for blocking the steering wheel of the vehicle and the protection of a motor vehicle from theft. The novelty of the invention is represented by the right part of the housing comprising a new construction solution of the cylinder lock with arresters, according to the basic and variant embodiment, with a cam and the coded key and the carrier with a cam and a pin. The construction solution of the lock and the elements is the same as in the basic solution, so there is no need to describe it.

What represents the special novelty of the lock in this second variation of the embodiment is that in the housing, parallel to the axis of the lock and by the very core, there is an axially made two-stage blind hole, inside of which there is a safety pin axially set to slide. The left part of the pin is made with two axially set cone grooves, while the right bracket part of the pin is put into the hole and comprised in the spring. Radially within the core, and normally regarding the axis of the hole, an opening is made in which a cylindrical arrester of the safety pin is placed, while the arrester is within the space made by the pin and the housing of the lock by its upper peak, and by its lower peak it is in the pin groove. On the outer surface of the core and over its entire periphery, and in the plane of the said arrester, there is a radial conic rim. The front side of the cylinder, from the side of the penetration of the key, is closed with the safety cap ring. On the housing, on its left front side, there is a fastened immovable cam through which the extension passes axially, while this extension is fastened on the front side of the free end of the core and, as a bracket, sticks out of the housing and the immovable cam. On the extension a carrier of the movable cam and the pin is fastened. Along the edge, on the free end of the carrier, a tooth is made which is in engagement with the locker of the column leaning from the lower part onto the pressure ring. Around the carrier a spring is put that from one side leans onto the movable cam, and from the other onto the housing. A protective lid is put axially in the extension of the carrier and in the housing, while axially , as the extension to the pin, a contactor is placed.

The housing for blocking of the steering wheel in which there is a lock according to this invention is by the lower part of the clamping ring and the upper free part of the annular clamping ring with_^two screws with a breakable head, fastened on the column lining of the motor vehicle steering wheel. A contactor is placed in the left part axially inside the cylinder hollow space.

The purpose of this invention is to present a universal cylinder lock in variations with arresters as wedges, balls or the combination of the two, especially as the lock with housing for blocking the steering wheel of the vehicle and protection from theft, while the lock would be of simple construction, suitable to be built into even the serially-produced vehicles, which would be easy, safe and fast to unlock and lock, be absolutely break-proof, have the unlimited number of possible "encoding" combinations, and would lock only by pulling out of the key.

The invention - cylinder lock with a coded key, specially the lock with a housing for blocking the steering wheel of a vehicle and the protection of a motor vehicle from being stolen - according to this patent application, has numerous advantages, the main ones being as follows:

• by choosing the top quality materials and the construction there is practically and absolutely no possibility of revealing the "code", or breaking; functionally exceptionally practical, safe and reliable to lock and unlock; simple construction; unlimited number of "encoding" combinations; easy to install and maintain; is of practically unlimited duration; made according to the International Standards on Safety and Reliability of Locks; can be serially produced and built into the vehicles; and geometrically and ergometrically ideal in shape and of small in size.

In order to understand the invention better, as well as demonstrate how it can be materialised in practice, the Applicant refers to the attached drawing in which:

• Figure 1 represents the cylinder lock with the encoded key, according to the basic invention, in axono etric perspective and dismantled - taken-to-pieces state;

• Figure 2 represents the lock of Figure 1 assembled and in partial section with two radial planes;

• Figure 3 represents the lock of Figure 2, locked and in vertical projection and cut; Figure 4 represents the lock of Figure 3 unlocked;

Figure 5 represents the lock of this invention from the back, i.e. the image of the locking element;

Figure 6 represents the cylinder lock with the encoded key of Figure 1 as a variation, in axonometric perspective and dismantled - taken-to- pieces state;

Figure 7 represents the lock of Figure 6 in vertical cut, locked, and with a partly inserted key;

Figure 8 represents the lock of Figure 7 unlocked;

Figure 9 represents the assembly of the cylinder lock of Figure 6 in the second variation, with a carrier and a contactor put within the housing for blocking the steering wheel of the vehicle and the protection of the motor vehicle from theft, in axonometric perspective and the partial cut;

• Figure 10 represents the assembly of the cylinder lock of Figure 9 in the locked position and in the vertical projection and section;

• Figure 11 represents the assembly of the cylinder lock of Figure 10 unlocked;

• Figure 12 represents the cylinder lock of Figures 9 and 10 with a cam and the extension, in partial vertical cut,

• Figure 13 represents the cylinder lock of Figures 9 and 12 with a carrier and cams, in axonometric perspective and the partial vertical cut;

• Figure 14 represents the housing of the cylinder lock of Figure 9 in axonometric perspective.

What is necessary to mention before the very detailed description of cylinder lock, is that the solution according to the invention is presented only as one in a sequence of possible combinations of making and should be deemed only one of the examples. In this example the making of locks is observed and described as a lock in a locked state and as a lock possessing six arresters. These arresters, for the purpose of easier observation and simplification of lock design and its function, are put in two lines, each containing three arresters, their axes being placed in the same axial plane. As the lock according to this invention has an unlimited number of combinations (encoding combinations), both in the number of arresters and their axial and radial arrangement on the cylinder periphery, then it is clear that this is merely a simplified example of making.

Also, it is necessary to emphasise that because of the simple construction and the manner of presentation identical elements are marked with the same marks in all variations!

The cylinder lock with the encoded key, according to the basic invention and Figures 1 and 3, consists of the cylinder 1 and the encoded key 2.

Cylinder 1, Figures 1, 2 and 3, consists of the protective covering 3 in which suitable substructures and cylinder elements are placed - "packed". Within the covering 3 and radially on it a partitioning wall 4 is fastened that divides the inner space of the cylinder 1 into two, one smaller and one bigger space. The partitioning wall 4 is made in the shape of a flat ring and can be fastened most favourably, by welding. In the bigger part of the cylinder 1, and under the very covering 3, the housing 5 is firmly placed, while within the housing 5 the cylinder core 6 is placed coaxially and turned to it.

In the part of the housing 5, Figures 3 and 4, the openings, i.e. holes 9 are made, the axes of which are oriented radially. In this case the holes 9 are in reference to the axial axis put radially and in sequence. As already mentioned, for the purpose of easier observation and simplification of lock construction and its function, the holes 9 are arranged in two lines, each containing three holes, their axes being in the same axial plane. Holes 9, which are of a bigger diameter and bigger radial depth, immediately before the core 6 get into the holes 9'of shorter diameter and smaller radial depth. Within the hole 9 there are springs 10 which lean on the plates 11 from the outside, and on the inside they lean on the sealing plugs 12. The plates 11 on the opposite side of springs 10 lean on the covering 3. The sealing plugs 12 by their lower part of the body - wedges, pass through the hole 9', and get out of the housing 5 and into the holes 13 made in the core 6. During this action the plugs 12 lean coaxially on linchpins, i.e. the wedges 14 arranged to slide in the core 6.

The wedges 14 are put in the holes 13 made in the core 6, so it is obvious that the holes 9' and 13 are put coaxially. The wedges 14 are of different lengths by which the possibility of additional "encoding" is achieved. The core 6 by its one (left) part of the body, which is somewhat shorter in diameter, passes through the opening in the wall 4 and by its point of support 6' leans onto the wall 4. In that manner the core 6 is partially, as a bracket, put in the smaller space within the covering 3 and on it the element 7 for locking with a coupling 7' is fastened. In the core axis 6 there is a central opening 15.

The free peaks of the arrester 14, which penetrate the holes 13 and get out into the opening 15, Figure 3, lean freely on the pin 16 which is put in the central axis within the opening 15 of the core. As the contact lines of the plugs 12 and the wedges 14 are moved in relation to the contact line of the housing 5 and core 6, the lock is being locked in that manner. The pin 16 by one, free, end stretches until the very entrance into the cylinder 1 and serves both for guiding the body 22 of the key 2, and for blocking the entrance so that the "breaker" cannot be inserted into the lock in an attempt of breaking it.

The pin (16) is, with its other (left) end 17, fastened in the screw attachment 26 for unlocking, while the attachment 26 is fastened in the core 6. The element 7 for locking is radially put at the end of the core 6 and is fastened to the core by the axially positioned linchpin 8. The core 6, screw attachment 26 and pin 16 are linked to the screw bolt 19 which is radially screwed in the bracket part of the core 6, while the screw bolt 19 passes through the screw attachment 26 and by its point enters the keyway 18 made in the pin 16. In this way the screw bolt 19 fixes the pin 16 in that position.

The front side of the cylinder 1, i.e. the side of the penetration of the key 2, is shut by the plate 20 which is most conveniently welded onto the covering 3. In this manner the "pulling out" of the cylinder mechanism from the covering is prevented, so that the plate 20 also presents the element of security from breaking.

The key 2 for the cylinder lock according to this invention is of special construction, Figure 1. The key consists of a handle 21, in which, for example, an encoded plate for unlocking can be placed, and of the body 22. The body is cylindrical with a thin wall in which there are openings 23 for the penetration of the peaks of the wedges 14. As it has already been pointed out because the examples of making, it is obvious that the openings 23 are made so that they are axially put in a sequence and that three openings are put interpersonally diametrically on the opposite sides. In this manner the axes of the opening 23 on the key coincide with the arrangement and axes of the arrester 14 in cylinder 1. The top 24 of the body 22 of the key 2 is made with the profiled slope 25 which is adjusted for the firm grip with a slant of the same profile made on the screw attachment 26.

According to a variation of the embodiment of the cylinder lock of Figure 1, the cylinder 1', Figures 6, 7, and 8, consists of the protective covering 3 in which the appropriate subassemblies and the cylinder elements are placed. Inside the covering 3 and radially onto it the partitioning wall 4 is attached, which is made in the shape of a flat ring and it can be fastened onto the covering 3 most favourably by welding. Under the very casing 3 the housing 5 is fastened, while inside the housing 5, coaxially with it and turned to it, the cylinder core 6 is put.

In the body of the housing 5, Figures 6 and 7, six openings are made, i.e. holes 9, the axes of which are put radially. In this case the axes of all holes 9 are, regarding the axial axis, put on it normally and in a sequence along the housing 5. The holes 9 in the housing 5, which are of longer diameter and greater radial depth, immediately before the core 6 transfer into the holes 9' of a shorter diameter and lesser radial depth, so that in the lower part of the hole 9 a ring-shaped point of support is achieved. Inside the hole 9 springs 10 are put, which, from the outside, lean on the plates 11, and on the inside they lean on the outer surface of the upper part of the body of the sealing plugs 12, 12'. The sealing plugs 12, 12' are in cross section made as the letter T. The plates 11 are on the opposite side of the springs 10 leaning on the covering 3. The plugs 12, 12' are, by the upper part of the body of longer diameter, radially put to slide in the hole 9, while by the lower part of the body of the shorter diameter they are placed in the hole 9'. By their lower part of the body - wedges, the sealing plugs 12, 12' pass through the hole 9', get out of the housing 5 and into the holes 13 made in the core 6, while the holes 13 and holes 9' are of equal diameter. The plugs 12, 12', by their surfaces on the lower part of the body and coaxially, lean on the arresters which are made in the shape of the wedge 14, or as pairs of balls 14'. The wedges 14, 14' are all placed to slide within the holes 13 made in the core 6. As the arresters as a wedge 14, i.e. balls 14', are placed in the holes 13 made in the core 6, it is obvious that the holes 9' and 13 are interpositioned coaxially. The wedges 14 are/can be of different lengths, by what the possibility of additional "encoding" of the lock is achieved.

As it has already been said, apart from the possibility that the distribution of holes 9, over the cylinder 1' periphery in the axial and radial directions, as well as their total number, be widely changed, so the distribution and the number of holes 9 with wedges 14, i.e. balls 14', can vary, or be combined. In this manner a greater number of encoding combinations is achieved, the lock function is facilitated, and additionally any unauthorised opening prevented, by what the cylinder lock is practically achieved and absolutely protected from breaking.

The free peaks of the wedges 14, i.e. the inner balls 14', which pass through the holes 13 and get out into the opening 15, Figure 7, lean freely onto the pin 16 which is placed in the medial axis within the opening 15 of the core 6. Since the contact lines of the sealing plugs 12 with wedges 14, i.e. the contact lines of sealing plugs 12' with balls 14', are radially moved regarding the touch line of the housing 15 and the core 6, the lock is in this case locked. The pin 16 with the right free end extends to the very entrance into the cylinder 1 ' and serves both for leading the body 22 of the key, and for blocking the entrance from inserting "the breaker" of the lock in the attempt of breaking it.

All other elements of the lock assembly are identical with the elements from the basic solution represented in Figure 1.

The key 2 for the cylinder 1 ' of Figure 6 is of the same construction and with the same elements as in the basic example of making of Figure 1, so it is not necessary to describe it in detail. It is sufficient to emphasise that the peaks of the wedges 14, i.e. the balls 14', get into the openings 23. The assembly of the cylinder lock according to the second variation of making, Figure 9, with a carrier and the contacor placed in the housing for blocking the steering wheel, consists of the housing 40 in the cylinder hole of which the contactor 43, cylinder 1" with an encoded key 2 and the carrier 34 of the cam 33 are placed axially.

On the lining of the column 50, Figure 9, of the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, the housing 40, Figure 14, is placed. The housing 40 is, by its lower part 45 of the ring-shaped clamping ring and the free part 47 of the ring-shaped clamping ring, via two screws 48 with a breakable head, fastened onto the lining of the column 50. In the upper part of the housing 40, and through the lower part of the annular clamping ring, the opening 44 for the passing of the locker 37 of the column 50 is made.

On the left-hand side of the housing 40 in the portion 42 the contactor 43 is placed, primarily to start the engine of the vehicle. In the axis of the hollow space of the longer portion 41 of the housing 40 the cylinder assembly l"₍is fastened with the encoded key 2 and the carrier 34 of the cam 33. From the outside on the housing 40 reinforcements are made in the shape of two ribs 46.

In this manner of making, Figure 10, the cylinder 1" is observed and described as the lock in the state of being locked with 6 holes and two types of arresters: wedges 14 and balls 14'.

Inside the cylinder 1", which is placed in the portion 41 of the housing 40, the appropriate subassemblies and elements consisting of the housing 5', the cylinder core 6', sealing plugs 12, 12', springs 10, and wedges 14, 14' are placed - "packed in". The core 6' is placed coaxially and rotably within the housing 5'. The cylinder core 6' is, within the housing 5', secured from axial moving by the safety screw 7a, as well as the arrester of the core, and at the same time also by the guide while its turning. The screw 7 is radially turned through the housing 5', and by its end penetrates the groove 8a made over the periphery of the core 6'.

In the body of the housing 5' six openings are made, i.e. holes 9, the axes of which are put radially. In this case the axes of all holes 9 are, regarding the axial axis, put on it normally and in a sequence along the housing 5'. As already said, for the purpose of easier observation and simplifying the lock construction and its function, the holes 9 are placed in two lines, each containing three holes, while their axes are in the same axial plane. The holes 9 in the housing 5', which are of longer diameter and greater radial depth, immediately before the core 6' transfer into the holes 9' of shorter diameter and lesser radial depth, so that in the lower part of the hole 9 a ring-shaped point of support is achieved. Inside the hole 9 springs 10 are put, which, from the outside, lean on the plates 11, and on the inside they lean on the outer surface of the upper part of the body of the sealing plugs 12, 12'. The sealing plugs 12, 12' are in cross section made as the letter T. The plates 11 on the opposite side of the springs 10 lean on the covering 3. The plugs 12, 12' are by the upper part of the body of longer diameter radially put to slide in the hole 9, while by the lower part of the body of the shorter diameter placed in the hole 9'. By their lower part of the body - wedges, the sealing plugs 12, 12' pass through the hole 9', get out of the housing 5' and into the holes 13 made in the core 6', while the holes 13 and holes 9' are of equal diameter. The plugs 12, 12', with their surfaces on the lower part of the body and coaxially, lean on the arresters, so the sealing plug 12 leans on the wedge 14, while the sealing plug 12' leans on the pair of balls 14', while all of them are put to slide within the holes 13 made in the core 6'. The wedges 14, i.e. the balls 14', are placed in the holes 13 made in the core 6, so it is obvious that the holes 9' and 13 are interpositioned coaxially. The wedges 14 are/can be of different lengths, by what the possibility of additional "encoding" of the lock is achieved.

In the axis of the core 6' the central opening 15 is made and the pin 16 is placed in it. The free peaks of the wedges 14, i.e. the inner balls 14', which pass through the holes 13 and exit into the opening 15, Figure 10, lean freely onto the pin 16 which is placed in the medial axis within the opening 15 of the core 6'. Since the contact lines of the sealing plugs 12 with wedges 14, i.e. the contact lines of the sealing plugs 12' with balls 14', are radially moved regarding the touch line of the housing 5' and the core 6', the lock is in the state of being locked. The pin 16, by its right free end, extends to the very entrance into the cylinder 1" and serves both to lead he body 22 of the key 2, and to block the entrance from beinge inserted "the breaker" of the lock in the attempt to break it.

The pin 16 is by its other (left) end 17 fastened into the bush 26 for unlocking, while the bush 26 is fastened inside the core 6'. The core 6', the bush 26 and the thorn 16 are interconnected tightly by the screw bolt 19 which is radially screwed into the bracket part of the core 6'. The screw 19 passes through the bush 26 and by its end penetrates the keyway 18 made over the periphery of the pin 16. In this manner the screw 19 fixes the pin 16 and the bush in the appropriate position.

The front side of the cylinder 1", i.e. the side on which the key 2 is inserted, is closed by the safety cap ring 20'. In this manner the "pulling out" of the cylinder mechanism from the covering is made impossible, so the ring 20' at the same time also represents the security element for he prevention of lock breaking

The key 2 for the cylinder 1" of Figure 9 is of the same construction and with the same elements as in the examples of making in Figures 3 and 8, so it is not necessary to describe it in detail.

Parallel to the cylinder axis 1", by the very core 6', Figures 10 and 11, in the housing 5', is the two-stage blind hole 27, 27'. Within the hole 27, 27' there is an axially-put-to-slide safety pin 28 for blocking the cam 33. The left part of the pin 28 of the longer diameter is made with two axially interpositioned cone grooves 28', 28". The right bracket part of the pin 28of shorter diameter is placed within the hole 27' and is comprised by the ring 29. Radially in the core 6', and normally against the axis of the column 27, an opening is made in which the cylindrical arrester 30 of the safety pin 28 is placed. The arrester 30 is by its upper peak placed inside the space 15, i.e. it leans onto the body 22 of the key, and by its lower peak it is in the groove 28' of the pin 28. On the core 6' and over its entire periphery, and in the plane of the arrester 30, a radial rim 6" of triangular profile is made.

On the housing 5', on its front left hand side, there is the axially fastened cam 31, Figure 12. Through the cam 31 the extension 32 passes, which is fastened on the front of the free end of the core 6', and which, as a bracket, sticks out of the housing 5' and the cam 31.

On the extension 32 the carrier 34 of the cam 33 and the pin 35, Figures 9 and 13, is fastened. The carrier 34 is, with the cam 33 and the pin 35, made most favourably as one part Along the edge, on the free end of the carrier 34, a thorn 34a is made, which is engaged with the locker 37. Around the carrier 34 the spring 36 is placed, which from on side leans onto the cam 33, and from the other onto the housing 40. Axially, in the extension of the carrier 34, and in the housing 40, the protection lid 39 is placed. The lid protects the spring 36 and at the same time serves as support while pushing the cam 33. Between the front of the carrier 34 and the protective lid 39, and from the side of the pin 35, there is the locker 37, put to slide radially. By its upper end the locker 37 penetrates the column 50 of the steering mechanism of the vehicle for the purpose of its locking, while by its lower end it leans on the pressure spring 38, placed in the bush made in the housing 40. Axially, on the extension of the pin 35, and in the part 42 of the housing 40, a contactor 43 is placed.

The manner of functioning of cylinder lock, according to the basic solution and the variation of making presented in Figures 1 through 8, is simple and in the obvious manner comes from the previous description and figures so there is no need to describe it in detail. Namely, by inserting the body 22 of the key 2 into the opening 15 of the core 6 of the cylinder 1, 1', the key is led along the pin 16. Because of the small gap between the core 6 and the pin 16, the body 22 is centered and led to the bush 26. The thickness of the key wall is somewhat smaller than the gap, i.e. the channel forming the core 6 and the pin 16 in the opening 15 so that the body 22 of the key is "delicately" and smoothly led along the opening 15 and the pin 16. By entering the opening 15 the peak 24 of the key 2 meets the peak of the first wedge 14, i.e. ball 14', lifts them by freeing the way to the peak 24 towards the next wedge 14, i.e. the ball 14', and so forth in that manner. While the key slides along the pin 16, the peaks of the wedges 14, i.e. balls 14' slide over the outer surface of the body 22. Upon inserting, the key with a profiled slope 25 at the peak 24 leans on and engages with a profiled slope 25 made in the bush 26. In this position all wedges 14 by their peaks lean on the body 22 of the key. By further turning the key 2 in a relatively small radius the coinciding of the axes of each of the opening 23 on the body 22, occurs with the axes of the appropriate wedges 14, i.e. balls 14'. At that moment all wedges 14, i.e. balls 14', through the sealing plugs 12, 12', which are influenced by the springs 10, are simultaneously put into the openings 23 on the body 22 of the key. By the entering of the peaks of the wedges 14, i.e. balls 14', and their projecting into the appropriate openings 23 to a certain depth, there occurs the positioning of the contact lines-points of plugs 12, 12' with the wedges 14, 14' and the contact line of the housing 5 and the core 6 into the same plane so that the lock becomes unlocked. In this manner the core 6 becomes free and movable within the housing 5. By further turning of the key 2 and action of the peak 24 upon the attachment 26, the core 6 turns and with it the locker 7 turns with a link 7'. As through the locker 7 with a coupling 7' a desired link can be achieved, e.g. the link with a slide valve or a slide pawl, the unlocking of certain object occurs. The locking of the cylinder lock is done in reverse order.

The manner of functioning of the safety blocking contact lock 1 with a coded key 3 and the carrier 34 of the cam 33 placed in the steering device of a motor vehicle is simple and obviously comes from the previous description and drawing, so there is no need to describe it in detail. The cylinder lock 1 presented in Figure 2 is locked when all arresters, namely wedges 14, i.e. balls 14' in the lower position lean on the pin 16, and the safety pin 28 in the end right position. In order to unlock it, the body 22 of the key 2 is inserted - pulled into the opening 15 of the core 6, while the key is led along the pin 16, Figure 3. Because of the small gap between the core 6 and the pin 16, the body 22 of the key 2 is centered and led to the bush 26.

The thickness of the key wall is somewhat smaller than the gap, i.e. the channel forming the core 6 and the pin 16 in the opening 15 so that the body 22 of the key is "delicately" and smoothly led along the opening 15 and the pin 16. By entering the opening 15 the peak 24 of the key 2 meets the peak of the first wedge 14, i.e. ball 14', lifts them by overcoming the spring force 10, freeing the way to the peak 24 towards the next wedge 14, i.e. the ball 14', and so forth in that manner. While the key slides along the pin 16, the peaks of the wedges 14, i.e. balls 14', slide over the outer surface of the body 22. Upon inserting, the key 2 by the peak 24 leans onto the front inner side of the bush 26 and engages with the same profiled slope made in the bush 26. In this position all wedges 14, i.e. balls 14', lean on the body 22 of the key. By further turning the key 2 in a relatively small radius the coinciding of the axes of each of the openings 23, on the body 22, occurs with the axes of the appropriate wedges 14, i.e. balls 14'. At that moment all wedges 14, i.e. balls 14', pressed by the sealing plugs 12, 12', which are influenced by the springs 10, are simultaneously put into the openings 23 on the body 22 of the key. By the entering of the peaks of the wedges 14, i.e. balls 14', and their radial projecting onto the appropriate openings 23 to a certain depth, there occurs the positioning of the contact lines, i.e. the touch points of plugs 12, 12' and the wedges 14, 14' and the positioning of the contact line of the housing 5 and the core 6 into the same plane so that the lock becomes unlocked. Also, as the key penetrates the opening 15 and meets the arrester 30, it is completely pressed radially down and gets into the cone groove 28' of the pin 28. In this manner the core 6 becomes free and movable within the housing 5. By further turning of the key 2 and action of the peak 24 upon the attachment 26, the core 6 turns as it is radially led by the screw 7 along the groove 8. Together with the core 6, the extension 32 put on the front side of the core 6 turns, too. The extension 32, which is by the free end fastened in the carrier 34, turns the carrier 34 together with the pin 35. By rotating the carrier 34, the cam 33 rotates, too, and slides along the stationary cam 31, while they move apart for the height of the cam 33, 31, remaining "open". At the same time, the carrier 34 axially moves forward towards the contactor 43, overcoming the force of the spring 36.

By rotating the core 6, the cam 5' rotates with the arrester 30 until the recess made axially in the cam 5' and the safety pin 28 do not overlap one another. At that moment the pin 28 sets itself free, passes through the said recess and under the influence of a spring 29 moves axially within the hole 27 to the left. In this manner the pin 28 "jumps" over the cam 5' and positions itself with its cone groove 28" in the radial plane of the cam 5'. The pin 28 by "jumping" out to the left blocks the cam 33 in the utmost open position, what positions the pin 35 in the contactor 43.

Simultaneously, the carrier 34 by its tooth 34a, Figure 1, made alongside its free edge, pushes the locker 37 down, and keeping it in that lower position at the same time it also pushes the spring 38. In this manner the column of the steering mechanism unlocks. By further turning of the key 2, i.e. the core 6, the arrester 30 is placed into the cone groove 28' of the pin 28, while the pin 35, which has got into the contactor 43, makes contacts by pushing the micro switches and starts the en Όgi*ne.

The locking of the safety blocking contact lock 1 is achieved in the reverse order.

By turning the key 2 in the opposite direction the core 6 turns, too, by what the carrier 34 turns with the pin 35 inside the contactor 43. The contacts break and the engine stops. Until the key 2 is not back in the "O" position, the cam 5' is in the groove 28" and blocks the return of the cam 33 towards the cam 31, so that they are still in the open position, i.e. separated. By further turning of the core 6, the arrester 30 is positioned in the cone groove 28". The open position of cams 31, 33 lasts until the key is taken out and the arrester 30 set free. Namely, the arrester 30 of the safety pin 29 cannot be pulled in the "O" state until the key 2 is not taken out, because while setting free the space - gap in the opening 15, where the key used to be, the arrester 30 gets into that space. By radial motion of the arrester 30 towards the pin 16, under the influence of the spring 36 and the cam 33, it moves the pin 28 forward to the right, overcoming the force of the spring 29, what brings the cone groove 28' back to the cam 5'. At the same time, by pulling out of the key 2 and moving the cam 33 to the right, the tooth of the carrier 34 sets the locker 37 free, which, under the influence of the spring 38, is put into the locked position, i.e. it penetrates the column 50 what locks and secures the steering mechanism. This is a tremendous advantage of the lock because the blocking of the steering wheel cannot happen before the key is out.

As it has already been said that the presented solution is a very simple example of making, it is clear that the so-called "encoding" of the lock can be done at the same time by various distribution of certain number of holes 9, 9' in the cylinder 1, 1', 1", both radially and axially over the housing periphery 5, 5'; by certain number of wedges 14, i.e. balls 14', and their combinations; by changing the depth of the penetration of wedges 14, i.e. balls 14' into the openings 23 of key body 22, as well as by changing the length of the bush 26 with a profiled peak. The characteristics of the lock design and the numbered possibilities of achieving the "encoding" make possible an unbelievably large number of combinations and absolutely make the "decoding" impossible. The construction characteristics of the lock which comprise a narrow channel between the opening 15 and the pin 16, the place of the bush 26 at the bottom of the lock and its inaccessibility, top quality material used for parts, especially the plates 20, i.e. the ring 20', the precision of making, and the large number of combinations, make the lock practically and absolutely break-proof.

The materials which are used for the making of this lock are highly alloyed steels which possess special quality of mechanical hardness and resistance to any kind of breaking, so that when this lock is in question, it is clear that it is about the device for locking, especially of the steering wheel of a vehicle, of the highest degree of security.

Regarding the purpose, the lock is universal because neither materials nor dimensions are limited, so it can be used, for example, for strongboxes, doors, and alike.

The method of application obviously comes from the previous text, i.e. no special knowledge, directions for use or experience are necessary for the industrial use in order to apply the invention successfully. Only such knowledge in the field owned by an average artisan is necessary and sufficient to apply the invention successfully, based on the description. The inventor has checked all characteristics of design and function of the invention on the prototype.

Also, any technological improvements or changes in construction that would be in the scope of the said and for the purpose of its improvement are deemed covered by this invention.

Claims

1. Cylinder lock with a coded key, especially the lock with a housing for blocking the steering wheel and the protection of a motor vehicle from being stolen, characterised in that it consists of the cylinder (1) and the coded key (2), the cylinder (1) comprising the covering (3) within which the partitioning wall (4) is radially fastened, made in the shape of plate ring, so that in the larger space of the cylinder (1), and under the very covering (3), the housing (5) is fastened, while within the housing (5), coaxially with it, is a rotably placed cylinder core (6) in which the central opening (15) is made axially, that in the axis of the opening (15) the pin (16) is put, that in the body of the housing (5) holes (9, 9') are radially made, while coaxially with them in the core (6) the holes (13) are made, that within the holes (9, 9') springs (10), plates (11) and sealing plugs (12) are put, while in the holes (13) of the core (6) the wedges (14) are put to slide, that on the left end of the core (6), which in its part passes through the opening on the wall (4) and is put in the smaller space within the covering (3) as a bracket, the element (7) is fastened for the purpose of locking, that the pin (16), which by its free end extends to the very entrance in the cylinder (1), by its other (left) end (17) is tightened in the screw attachment (26) for unlocking, which is put in the core (6), that the core(6), the screw attachment (26) and the pin (16) are interconnected by the screw bolt (19) which is radially screwed into the bracket part of the core (6), that the front part of the cylinder (1), i.e. the side of the penetration of the key (2), sis hut by the plate (20), that the key (2) consists of a handle (21) and the body (22) for the penetration of the peaks of the arrester (14) and that the peak (24) of the body (22) of the key (2) is made with the profiled slope (25).

2. Cylinder lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the holes (9), which are of a longer diameter and greater radial depth, immediately before the core (6) transfer into the holes (9') of a shorter diameter and lesser radial depth, that within the holes (9), springs (10) which, from the outside, lean on the plates (11) are put, and on the inside they lean on the sealing plugs (12), while the plates (11) on the opposite side from the springs (10) lean on the covering (3) and that the sealing plugs (12) by their peaks lean on the wedges (14), the wedges (14) being of different lengths.

3. Cylinder lock according to claims 1 and 4, characterised in that the free peaks of the wedges (14), which pass through the holes (13) and exit into the opening (15), lean on the pin (16) which is placed in the central axis within the opening (15) of the core (6).

4. Cylinder lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the element (7) for locking with the link (7') is put radially on the free end of the core (6) and is fastened to the core (6) by the axially placed linchpin (8).

5. Cylinder lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the screw (19) passes through the screw attachment (26) and its top enters the keyway (18) made in the pin (16).

6. Cylinder lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the end of the screw attachment (26) is made with a profiled slope which matches the profiled slope (25) of the peak (24) of the body (22) of the key (2).

7. Cylinder lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the body (22) of the key (2) is cylindrical with a thin wall in which the openings (23) are made for the entrance of the peaks of the wedges (14).

8. Cylinder lock according to claim 1, characterised in that in the holder (21) of the key (2) there is a coded plate for unlocking.

9. Cylinder lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the lock "encoding" is done simultaneously by a number of wedges (14), by distribution of the wedges (14) on the cylinder (1), both radially and axially over the periphery of the housing (5), by changing the depth of the penetration of the wedges (14) into the openings (23) of the body (22) and by changing the length of the attachment (26).

10. Cylinder lock according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that within the holes (9), made in the housing (5) of the cylinder (l¹), springs (10), plates (11) and sealing plugs (12, 12') are placed, while in the holes (13) of the core (6) the wedges (14), i.e. the balls (14') are put to slide, that the sealing plugs (12, 12'), which by the lower part of the body pass through the holes (9¹) and partly lean on the pins (14), i.e. balls (14').

11. Cylinder lock according to claim 10 and the second variation of making which is placed in the housing for blocking the steering wheel of a vehicle and the protection of the motor vehicle from theft, where the housing 40, by the lower portion 45 and the free portion 47 of the annular clamping ring with two screws 48 with a breakable head, fastened on the lining of the column 50 of the steering wheel of a vehicle, characterised in that in the portion (42), axially within the cylinder hollow space of the housing (40) a contactor (43) is placed, while in the portion (41) of the housing (40) the cylinder (1") with a cam (31) and the coded key (2) and the carrier (34) with the cam (33) and the pin (35) are placed, that the cylinder (1") consists of the housing (5') and the core (6'), while the core (&) is placed coaxially and rotably within the housing (5'), that through the housing (5') the screw (7a) is radially turned , said screw by its peak entering the groove (8 a) which is achieved over the periphery of the core (6'), that the bush (26) with a profiled peak and the pin (16), which are placed in the core (&), are interconnected by a screw (19), that in the housing (5'), parallel with the axis, the cylinder (1"), also by the very core (&), there is the axially made two-stage blind hole (27, 27'), that inside the hole (27, 27') the safety pin (28) is axially placed to slide, that the left part of the pin (28) is made with two axially interpositioned cone grooves (28', 28"), while the right bracket portion of the pin (28) is placed within the holes (27') and comprised in the spring (29), that radially inside the core (6'), and normally onto the axis of the hole (27), an opening is made in which the cylindrical arrester (30) of the safety pin (28) is placed, while the arrester (30) is, by its upper peak, in the space (15), and by its lower peak in the groove (28') of the pin (28), that on the outer surface of the core (6') and over its whole periphery, and in the plane of the arrester (30), the radial rim (6") is made, that the front side of the cylinder (1") from the side of the penetration of the key (2), is shut by the safety ring (20'), that on the housing (5'), on its left front side, the cam (31) is fastened, through which the extension (32) passes axially, while the extension (32) is fastened on the front side of the free end of the core (6') and sticks out of the housing (5') and the cam (31) as a bracket, that on the extension (32) the carrier (34) of the cam (33) and the pin (35) is fastened, that along the edge on the free end of the carrier (34) the tooth (34a) is made, which is engaged with the locker (37) leaning on the pressure spring (38), that around the carrier (34) the spring is put, which from one side leans onto the cam (33), and from the other onto the housing (40), that axially in the extension of the carrier (34) and inside the housing (40) a protection lid (39) is placed, and that axially, as the extension to the pin (35), and in the portion (42) of the housing (40), the contactor (43) is placed.

12. Cylinder lock according to claim 11, characterised in that the carrier (34) with the cam (33) and the pin (35) is most favourably made as a single part.

13. Cylinder lock according to claim 11, characterised in that between the front of the carrier (34) and the protection lid (39), and from the side of the pin (35), the locker (37) the upper part of which is placed in the column (50) is. placed to slide radially, while the lower part leans onto the pressure spring (38) placed in the bush made in the housing (40).