HK1215291B - Disc tumbler cylinder lock and key combination - Google Patents

Description

Rotary disc cylinder lock and key combination

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a disc tumbler cylinder lock and key combination, wherein the tumbler of the cylinder lock can be rotated by a key.

Background

In a disc tumbler cylinder lock, a rotatable disc is used to interpret a key-specific code and unlock the lock. Insertion of the key into the disc tumbler cylinder lock still does not cause resolution of the code, but rather rotation of the key causes the disc to rotate in accordance with the groove of the key and thus causes resolution of the key code.

It has been observed that if the key is not fully inserted into the disc tumbler cylinder lock for some reason, the turning of the key may in this case cause a very slight turning of the tumblers away from their ordinary starting position. The start position means that the key can be inserted into the cylinder lock. In the starting position, the lock (cylinder lock) is also in the locking position. If some of the tumblers are rotated slightly from the starting position, in this case the insertion of the key into the lock does not proceed smoothly, which would instead be a difficult or impossible experience. The key will have to be turned several times from side to side in order to get the key fully into the cylinder lock. To prevent this, the disc tumbler cylinder lock is usually provided with a rotation limiter.

The rotation limiter is a mechanism that prevents the key from rotating in the disc tumbler cylinder lock if the key is not fully inserted into the cylinder. The rotation limiter allows the key to rotate in the cylinder lock when the key is fully inserted into the cylinder. Patent publication FI81429 proposes a known rotation limiter for a disc tumbler cylinder lock. The rotation limiter comprises an annular frame and two limiter portions. Both the frame and the limiter portion are disc-shaped. The frame is attached to the inner cylinder of the disc tumbler cylinder lock such that it cannot rotate. An annular frame surrounds the limiter portion. The key has grooves on both sides of the key, at the location of the rotation limiter. If the key is not fully inserted into the cylinder lock, the surface of its shaft holds the limiter portion against the notch of the inner edge of the annular frame if an attempt is made to turn the key, wherein the key cannot rotate. When it is fully inserted into the cylinder lock and it is rotated, the limiter portion can move toward the key. The limiter portion then moves partially into the groove of the key and is released from the annular frame as the key rotates. Thus, the key can be turned so that the dial can be moved to the correct position for unlocking the lock. The inner cylinder can then be rotated as the key is further rotated. Patent publication FI931349 proposes a second rotation limiter with a disc structure. In addition, there are rotation limiters having more complicated structures such as balls and springs. The rotation limiter also prevents the key from being removed from the lock cylinder except in the start position. The rotation limiter makes the disc tumbler cylinder lock more functionally reliable.

A guide element is also usually provided into the key channel (the channel into which the key is inserted) of the disc tumbler cylinder lock, which guide element is constituted by two rails which rest against the sides of the key inserted into the cylinder lock. In addition, the guide element prevents mixing of the disc pack and wear of the key when it guides the key into the key channel in the desired position. The guide element is typically connected to a rotation limiter.

Although known rotation limiters are suitable for widespread use in disc tumbler cylinder locks, they are not used in all types of cylinders. Current rotation limiters fit a given type of cylinder on a case by case basis, for example, to a dial lock cylinder where the inner cylinder forms a uniform ring except for the clearance for the locking bar, or to a dial lock cylinder where the inner cylinder is segmented from a given sector. Furthermore, constraints are perceived in the production of cylinder locks without rotation limiters or provided with rotation limiters.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to reduce/eliminate the problems of the known art. This object is achieved in the manner described in the independent claims. The dependent claims describe various embodiments of the invention. In the solution according to the invention, the rotation limiting means is arranged to be rotated by a key, wherein the rotation limiter part has no piece non-rotatably attached to the inner cylinder. The disc tumbler cylinder lock of the disc tumbler cylinder lock-key combination according to the present invention comprises a limiter disc device 10, which is constituted by a frame member 10B and a limiter device 10A. Frame member 10B is a circular disk having an opening 53 in the center of the disk. The opening extends up to the border 52 of the disc, widening towards the border, and a limiting means 10A (fig. 2 and 3) is provided to a portion on one side of said border 52, and the other side 214B of the opening 53 forms a sliding surface along which the limiting means can slide when the key 11 is rotated from the locking position of the lock.

Limiting device 10A includes a first protrusion 212, a second protrusion 26, and a third protrusion 29. The third projection is directed towards the bottom 53A of the opening 53 of the frame member, the second projection 26 is in the opposite direction to the third projection 29, and the first projection 212 is laterally distanced from the third projection 29 and the second projection 26. The boundary surface 27 of the second projection 26 is wider than the width of the gap 21 of the inner cylinder. The respective edge sides of the end portion 29E of the third projection 29 are beveled 29A,29B, 29D.

The recess 211 for the second track 8A of the guiding element is additionally on the bottom 53A of the opening 53 of the frame piece and the recess 28 for the second track 8B of the guiding element is between the third projection and the first projection of the limiting means.

The recess 25 is on the inner surface 62 of the inner cylinder 1 at the location of the limiter plate means 10 for the second protrusion 26 of the limiter means 10A. The key 11 has at least one inclined edge cavity 12 for the end 29E of the third projection. The gradient of the inclined edge 12A of the cavity corresponds to the gradient of the inclined edge sides 29A,29B,29D of the third protrusion 29. The limiting means 10A and the frame member 10B are able to rotate with respect to the inner cylinder 1 when the key is rotated, wherein the end 29E of the limiting means slides into the cavity of the key and the second projection 26 of the limiting means moves away from the recess 25 of the inner cylinder.

Drawings

In the following, the invention is described in more detail with the aid of the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows an example of a combination of a key and a cylinder lock according to the invention, where parts of the cylinder are separated,

fig. 2 shows a section of the example of fig. 1, wherein the key is in the start position at the location of the rotation-limiting means,

fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the example of fig. 1, wherein the key is rotated at the location of the rotation limiting means,

figure 4 shows an example of a limiting means of a rotation limiter means according to the invention,

figure 5 shows an example of a frame member of a rotation limiter device according to the invention,

FIG. 6 shows an example of an inner cylinder according to the invention, an

Fig. 7 shows an example of a key according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an example of a combination of a tumbler lock cylinder key according to the invention. In the drawings, parts of the cylinder are broken away to show the mutual placement of the parts with respect to each other. The combined disc tumbler cylinder lock comprises an outer cylinder 2 and an inner cylinder 1 to be rotated inside thereof. The inner cylinder comprises a housing part 1A and a rear part 61. The rear part can for example be incorporated into a bolt means of the lock body. The outer cylinder may be incorporated, for example, into the door or other part depending on the installation site. The structure of the outer cylinder also varies greatly depending on the installation site.

The inner cylinder has a disc stack 3A, which disc stack 3A comprises a rotating disc 3 provided with a central opening 3C and a peripheral cavity 3B, and a separation disc 4. The separation discs separate the turntables from each other. The central openings 3A of the turn disc and the separation disc form a uniform passage, i.e. the part of the key passage has guide elements 8. The guide element comprises two rails 8A, 8B. In this embodiment, the rails are connected to each other from the ends, on one side of the bottom of the inner cylinder. The inner cylinder 1 also has a rotation limiter disc means 10 connected with the guide element 8, and a locking bar 5 partly in a groove 2A in the outer cylinder 2 and partly in a gap 21 in the inner cylinder 1 when the lock is in the locked position. The grooves of the outer cylinder are shown in fig. 2 and 3. The tumbler 3 can be rotated into position by the combined key 11, wherein the peripheral cavity 3B forms a uniform groove at the location of the gap 21 of the inner cylinder, into which the locking bar 5 can be moved by rotation of the key.

The limiter disc device 10 is constituted by a frame member 10B and a limiter device 10A. Figures 4 and 5 show the frame member and the limiting device. The frame member 10B is a circular disk having an opening 53 in the center of the disk. The opening extends up to the border 52 of the disc, widening towards the border. The limiting means 10A is arranged on one side of said border 52 to the wider part of the opening and a notch 211 for the first track 8A of the guiding element is additionally arranged at the bottom 53A of the opening 53. The first side 214B of the opening 53 forms a sliding surface along which the restricting means can slide when the key 11 is rotated from the locking position of the lock (i.e. from the start position).

Limiting device 10A includes a first protrusion 212, a second protrusion 26, and a third protrusion 29. The third projection faces the bottom 53A of the opening 53 of the frame member. The second projection 26 is in the opposite direction to the third projection 29. The first projection 212 is laterally remote from the third projection 29 and the second projection 26. The recess 28 for the second track 8B of the guide element is between the third projection and the first projection. The boundary surface 27 of the second projection 26 is wider than the width of the gap 21 of the inner cylinder. As shown in fig. 4, the respective edge sides of the end portion 29E of the third projection 29 are inclined 29A,29B, 29D.

The recess 25 is on the inner surface 62 of the inner cylinder 1 at the location of the limiter plate means 10 for the second protrusion 26 of the limiter means 10A. When the lock is in the locked position (fig. 2), the second projection of the limiting means is in the recess 25. The key 11 has at least one inclined edge cavity 12 for the end 29E of the third projection 29. The gradient of the inclined edge 12A of the cavity corresponds to the gradient of the inclined side edges 29A,29B,29D of the third protuberance 29. The restricting device 10A and the frame member 10B are rotatable with respect to the inner cylinder 1 when the key is rotated. When the key is rotated, the limiting means slide towards the key, so that the end 29E of the third projection enters the cavity 12 of the key and the second projection 26 moves away from the notch 25 of the inner cylinder. Due to all this, the rotation of the key may continue, wherein the limiting means and the frame member also rotate together with the key (fig. 3). Since the boundary surface 27 of the second projection 26 is wider than the width of the gap 21 of the inner cylinder, the second projection does not move into the gap 21 but can instead move over the gap.

Also seen in fig. 1 is a groove (milling)11B of the shaft 11A of the key, which forms the code of the key with which the disc can be arranged to open the lock. The key is rotated from the blade 11C of the key. Furthermore, the lock cylinder may have a separate drive disc 6 and spring disc 7 which help to hold the disc stack 3A together when required. The shape of the spring disc of fig. 1 corresponds to the shape of the separation disc 4, but in addition it is slightly curved to create the spring feature. Furthermore, the inner cylinder may comprise a profile disc 9, the key opening profile of which corresponds to the profile of the key 11. At the same time, the profile disc may also be a so-called raised zero dial for moving the locking bar partly into the groove 21 of the outer cylinder when the key is turned towards the starting position for locking the lock (lock cylinder).

In the embodiment of the example of fig. 1, the outer shell 1A of the inner cylinder 1 comprises a section 22 on a given sector and the turntable 3 is provided with a peripheral projection 3D. The peripheral projection 3D is located within the section, limiting rotation of the turntable 3 with respect to the inner cylinder 1. Thus, the starting position of the lock cylinder and the key is clearly observed, since the key cannot be turned in this position to another "wrong" direction. The sector formed by the border 52 of the frame member 10B of the disc rotation limiting device 10 of the embodiment in fig. 1 is larger than the sector formed by the section 22 of the inner cylinder. Due to this, the frame member remains in the inner cylinder regardless of the position of the key 11. Fig. 6 shows the inner cylinder 1, and the sections of its housing, more clearly. The ends 23,24 of the segments limit the rotation of the turntable with respect to the inner cylinder. The bottom 25A of the recess is planar and corresponds to the shape of the boundary of the second protrusion 26 of the limiting means. The direction of the axis of the cylinder is marked by the letter a.

In the type of inner cylinder without sections of the housing, so-called return bars are typically used to limit the rotation of the turntable with respect to the inner cylinder. The disc rotation limiting device according to the invention can also be used in inner cylinder types, as also in other inner cylinder types having a uniform outer shell (without sections).

Fig. 2 shows a section of the example of fig. 1 at the location of the rotation limiter when the key is in the start position and the cylinder lock is in the locked position. The second projection 26 of the limiting means is in the recess 25 of the inner surface of the inner cylinder 1. Figure 3 shows a situation in which the key is rotated to such a position, in which rotation of the key moves the locking bar 5 away from the groove of the outer cylinder into a conforming groove formed by the turntable, the spacer disc and possibly other discs in the inner cylinder. In addition, the frame piece 10B of the rotation limiting device shown in fig. 3 comprises a locking bar notch 214A on the side of the border 52 of the frame piece, into which notch 214A the locking bar can be moved partially.

Fig. 4 and 5 show the frame member 10B and the limiting device 10A. The first projection 214 of the frame member is on the side of the first side 214B of the opening 53 of the frame member and the second projection 213 of the frame member is on the side of the other side 213B. The end 51 of the first projection 214 is higher than the locking bar notch 214A on the side of the border 52 of the frame member.

The side portion 41 on the side of the boundary of the third projection 29 of the limiting means 10A is an opposite sliding surface which abuts against the sliding surface formed by the first side 214B of the opening 53 of the frame member 10B. The side portion 212C on the boundary side of the first projection 212 of the limiting means 10A is a curved support surface against the inner surface 62 of the inner cylinder 1. The end 27A of the border of the second projection 26 may be shaped curved in the manner shown in the figures, wherein the second projection moves smoothly over the gap 21 of the inner cylinder when the key is rotated. Thus, the second protrusion then does not become trapped in the groove 21. The surface 42 of the first projection 212 on the side of the opening 53 of the frame member includes a channel surface toward the bottom 53A of the opening. As shown in fig. 3, this surface abuts one side of the key when the key is rotated. Further, the surface of the first projection 212 of the restricting means on the side of the opening 53 of the frame member may include an inclined surface 212A. If the corresponding inclined surface 213A is in the end of the second projection 213 of the frame member, it is actually arranged toward the inclined surface. If the frame member and the limiting means are of precise size, the inclined surface and the corresponding inclined surface contact each other when the key is rotated, wherein the corresponding surface forms an additional bearing surface for the limiting means. The side edges of the restriction device 10A may also be rounded, as shown in fig. 4.

The contour of the recesses 211,28 of the frame piece 10A and of the limiting means 10B corresponds to the contour of the rails 8A,8B of the guide elements. It can be seen from fig. 2 and 3 how the rails are received in and support the frame members and the recesses 211,28 of the limiting means. The profile of the track may be different. As can be observed from the example of fig. 1, the thickness of the frame members and of the limiting device discs 10B,10A may be greater than the thickness of the individual turntable 3. It is thus possible to achieve additional robustness, durability and functional reliability in the action of the rotation limiter means.

In particular in such embodiments, in which the rotation limiting device 10 used is thicker than the tumblers, the cavity of the key 11 is longer in the direction of the axis 11A of the key than in the transverse direction of the axis of the key.

The bottom 12C of the cavity of the key 11 and the surface 29C of the end of the third projection 29 may be planar. If the depth of the cavity of the key 11 is greater than the extent of the third projection 29 entering the cavity 12 of the key, the end 29E of the third projection does not contact the bottom of the cavity, but instead contacts on the inclined edge of the cavity. Space can thus be reserved to the bottom of the chamber in the manner shown in fig. 3, which also partly results in functional reliability, since dirt that can collect to the bottom of the chamber thus does not hinder the cooperative action of the key and the limiting means. For example, the gradient angle of the edge 12A of the cavity of the key 11 and the inclined side edges 29A,29B,29D of the third projection 29 is 45 degrees or about 45 degrees.

Fig. 7 shows the key 11 of the disc tumbler cylinder lock-key combination from a viewing angle from which the cavity 12 and its beveled edge 12A are clearly visible. In the example of the figures, the cavity is oblong in the direction of the axis of the key, forming an ellipse. As can be observed from fig. 3, the inclined edge transmits the force that rotates the key to the inclined side edge of the end of the third projection 29 of the limiting means. When the gradient angles of the beveled edge and the beveled lateral edge are identical or at least close to each other, the wear of the cavity of the key and the third projection of the restriction means may be reduced. Wear occurs not only with respect to the rotation of the key but also when the key is pulled out of the lock cylinder, wherein the inclined edge of the cavity 12 of the key pushes the restriction means towards the inner cylinder 1, so that the second projection 26 of the restriction means moves into the recess 25 of the inner surface of the inner cylinder. In the known disc rotation limiter, the side edges of the limiter part and the edges of the cavity are relatively worn.

For example, if the limiting means 10A is able to move slightly due to external vibrations, wear of the end of the shaft of the key and the limiting means may also occur upon key insertion. When the wear is smaller, the co-operation of the limiting means and the key remains more reliable for a longer period of time. If the depth of the cavity 12 is such that the end 29E of the third projection of the limiting means comes into contact with the bottom 12C of the cavity, it and the end of the projection also participate in transmitting forces between the key and the limiting means. One cavity 12 is sufficient if the key is not produced symmetrically (i.e. the key cannot yet be inserted into the lock cylinder upside down (thus changing its position by 180 degrees)). In a symmetrical solution, as in the example of the figures, there are two cavities.

As described above, the two-part disc rotation limiter is also applicable to inner cylinders that do not have sections for the outer housing of the turntable. The two-part disc rotation limiter is also excellently suited for producing different lock cylinder forms. If the rotation limiter is not required due to the requirements of the place of use, it does not have to be placed in the inner cylinder, but instead it can be replaced by, for example, a turntable and a spacer disc. The thickness of the limiting means and the frame member is thus in practice selected such that it corresponds to the total thickness of a given number of turntable and spacer discs, for example the thickness of two turntable and two spacer discs. Thus, it is possible to conveniently produce a disc tumbler cylinder lock with or without a disc rotation limiter. Furthermore, producing a two-part disc rotation limiter is less expensive, since fewer parts are required than in known solutions. As already stated earlier, in the known solutions the annular frame is connected into the inner cylinder such that it cannot rotate with respect to the inner cylinder.

In view of the examples presented above, it is apparent that embodiments according to the present invention can be provided by many different solutions. The shape of the frame member and the limiting means may differ from the shape present in the connection in the figures, as the implementation of the cylinder may influence the shape of the parts. It is obvious that the invention is not limited solely to the examples mentioned in the present context, but that it can be implemented in many different embodiments within the scope of the independent claims.

Claims (14)

1. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination, the combined disc tumbler cylinder lock comprising an outer cylinder (2) and, rotating inside thereof, an inner cylinder (1) with a disc stack (3A) and a separation disc (4), the disc stack (3A) comprising a disc (3) provided with a central opening (3C) and a peripheral cavity (3B), the separation disc separating the discs from each other and the central opening (3C) forming a uniform channel with a guide element (8), the guide element (8) comprising two tracks (8A,8B), the inner cylinder (1) further having a rotation limiter disc means (10) connected with the guide element (8), and a locking bar (5) partly located in a groove (2A) in the outer cylinder (2) and partly located in a gap (21) in the inner cylinder (1) when the lock is in the locked position, the turning disc (3) being rotatable into position by the combined key (11), wherein the peripheral cavity (3B) is at the location of the gap (21) of the inner cylinder, forming a uniform groove into which the locking bar (5) can be moved by rotation of the key, characterized in that the limiter disc means (10) is constituted by a frame member (10B) and a limiting means (10A), the frame member (10B) being an annular disc with an opening (53) in the middle of the disc, the opening (53) extending up to the border (52) of the disc, widening towards the border (52), and the limiting means (10A) being provided on one side of the border (52) to the wider part of the opening (53), and the notch (211) of the first track (8A) for the guiding element (8) being further provided on the bottom (53A) of the opening (53), and a first side (214B) of the opening (53) forms a sliding surface along which the limiting means (10A) can slide when the key (11) is rotated from the locking position of the lock,

the limiting means (10A) comprising a first projection (212), a second projection (26) and a third projection (29), the third projection (29) being directed towards the bottom (53A) of the opening (53) of the frame piece, the second projection (26) being in the opposite direction to the third projection (29), and the first projection (212) being laterally distanced from the third projection (29) and the second projection (26), between which is a recess (28) for a second track (8B) of the guide element (8), the boundary surface (27) of the second projection (26) being wider than the width of the gap (21) of the inner cylinder, and the respective side edges of the end (29E) of the third projection (29) being bevelled (29A,29B,29D),

a recess (25) on the inner surface (62) of the inner cylinder (1), a second protrusion (26) for the limiting means (10A) at the location of the rotation limiter disc means (10), and the key (11) having at least one inclined edge cavity (12) for the end (29E) of the third protrusion, the gradient of the inclined edge (12A) corresponding to the gradient of the inclined side edge (29A,29B,29D) of the third protrusion (29), the limiting means (10A) and the frame member (10B) being rotatable with respect to the inner cylinder (1) upon rotation of the key (11).

2. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 1, characterized in that the tumbler disc (3) is provided with peripheral projections (3D) and the inner cylinder (1) has a section (22) on a given sector, in which section the peripheral projections (3D) are located, restricting rotation of the tumbler disc (3) in relation to the inner cylinder (1),

the sector formed by the border (52) of the frame element (10B) is larger than the sector formed by the section (22), so that the frame element remains in the inner cylinder regardless of the position of the key (11).

3. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the first projection (214) of the frame piece is on the side of the first side (214B) of the opening (53) and the second projection (213) of the frame piece is on the side of the other side (213B) of the opening (53), the locking bar notch (214A) on the side of the border (52) of the frame piece being in the end of the first projection (214).

4. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 3, characterized in that, in the third projection (29) of the limiter piece (10A), the side (41) on the side of the border is an opposite sliding surface, which abuts against the sliding surface formed by the first side (214B) of the opening (53) of the frame piece (10B), and the side (212C) of the first projection (212) of the limiter piece (10A) on the side of the border is a curved bearing surface, which abuts against the inner surface (62) of the inner cylinder (1).

5. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 4, characterized in that the end (27A) of the border of the second projection (26) is curved.

6. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 5, characterized in that the thickness of the frame members and limiting device discs (10B,10A) is greater than the thickness of the individual tumbler discs (3).

7. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 6, characterized in that the cavity of the key (11) is longer in the direction of the key's axis (11A) than in the transverse direction in relation to the key's axis.

8. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 7, characterized in that the surface (42) of the first projection on the side of the opening (53) of the frame member comprises a channel surface towards the bottom (52A) of the opening (53A).

9. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 8, characterized in that the surface of the first projection (212) of the limiting means on the side of the opening (53) of the frame member further comprises an inclined surface (212A), and the end of the second projection (213) of the frame member comprises a corresponding inclined surface (213A) so that it faces the inclined surface.

10. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 9, characterized in that the edges of the sides of the limiting means (10A) are rounded.

11. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 10, characterized in that the profiles of the frame piece (10B) and the notches (211,28) of the limiting means (10A) correspond to the profiles of the tracks (8A,8B) of the guide elements.

12. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bottom (12C) of the cavity of the key (11) and the surface (29C) of the end of the third projection (29) are plane.

13. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 12, characterized in that the depth of the cavity of the key (11) is greater than the extent to which the third projection (29) enters the cavity (12) of the key.

14. A disc tumbler cylinder lock-key-combination according to claim 13, characterized in that the gradient angle of the edge (12A) of the cavity of the key (11) and the sloping side edges (29A,29B,29D) of the third projections (29) is 45 degrees or about 45 degrees.