Patent ID: 6058751
Filing Date: 2000-05-09
Classification: C23C,E05B,H01J,Y10T

Abstract:
A lock assembly for controlling a latching mechanism, the lock assembly comprising:a case;a sleeve mounted within the case for axial movement relative to the case;a cylinder mounted within the sleeve for substantially rotational movement relative to the case and the sleeve, the cylinder having a keyway and at least one tumbler located to be operated to a release position in response to insertion of a key into the keyway;a driver mounted within the case for rotational movement relative to the case;a locking mechanism disposed between the case and the driver for locking the driver to the case to prevent relative rotational movement between the driver and the case for a key-out condition for the lock assembly,the sleeve being adapted for movement substantially axial relative to the cylinder to allow the locking mechanism to be released and allow rotational movement of the driver only when a proper key is in the keyway; anda translation mechanism for driving the sleeve axially in a first direction when the cylinder is rotated away from a first position and for driving the sleeve axially in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction when the cylinder is returned to said first position, anda clutch mechanism for coupling the driver to the cylinder, the clutch mechanism including a generally V-shaped surface in the driver, a detent ball located within the generally V-shaped surface of the driver, and a bias structure for biasing the detent ball into engagement with the V-shaped surface, the bias structure being selected to produce a force that exceeds a break torque required to decouple the driver from the cylinder, allowing the detent ball to be cammed out when the break torque is exceeded.