CYLINDER LOCK

Abstract: A cylinder lock comprising a lock case, a cylinder barrel (2), a cylinder (3) placed in the cylinder barrel and a key barrel (7) whereto there is fitted the key whereby the lock can be opened. In connection with the cylinder barrel (2), there are arranged a number of pins (6; 61, 62,...68). The outer circumference (13) of the cylinder (3) is provided with a crest (10) which is arranged to encircle the cylinder (3) so that its location in the direction of the cylinder axis (A-A) varies. According to the shape of the front base (4) of the cylinder, the location and characteristics of the pins (6) and the location and characteristics of the notches and/or lugs of the frontal part (8a) of the key (8), the location and reciprocal movements of the cylinder (3) and the locking cam (11) resting against its outer circumference (13) can be regulated and controlled so that when opening the lock with a suitable key (8), the locking cam (11) remains on the crest (10) for the duration of a given angle ( alpha ) of turning, whereafter it opens the latch bolt proper, and so that when opening of the lock is attempted with another kind of key, the locking cam (11) drops down from the crest (10) and meets the obstacle (12), which prevents the opening of the lock.

Description: CYLINDER LOCK The present invention relates to a cylinder lock comprising a lock case, a cylinder barrel, a cylinder which is fitted in the cylinder barrel and a key barrel whereto the key is inserted so that the lock can be opened with the key. In the prior art there are known several different cylinder locks where for instance the locking of the cylinder placed in the cylinder barrel is released, when the key has been turned to a certain degree, which again results in the opening of the bolt. In a pin lever cylinder, the locking of the cylinder is released without turning the key, whereafter the bolt is opened for example by turning the key to a certain degree. The purpose of the present invention is to achieve a new cylinder lock, which is simple in structure and which can be easily manufactured and varied. In order to realize this, the cylinder lock of the invention is mainly characterized in that the front base of the cylinder has a predetermined shape; that the cylinder barrel is provided with a number of pins or equivalent levers, which are movable in the direction of the cylinder barrel and the cylinder axis (A-A), and are directed towards the front base or equivalent circular plane of the cylinder, and that the said pins extend from the • cylinder barrel into the key barrel; that the front piece of the key is provided with a number of notches and/or lugs which are arranged according to the location of the pins; that the outer surface of the cylinder is provided with a crest which is arranged to encircle the cylinder so that its location with respect to the cylinder axis (A-A) varies; that there are obstacles located on the outer surface of the cylinder; that the locking cam is arranged in connection with the cylinder barrel or equivalent and rests against the outer surface of the cylinder; that the cylinder and the cylinder barrel or equivalent, whereto the locking cam is connected, are arranged to move in relation to each other in the direction of the axis (A-A); and that according to the shape of the front base of the cylinder, the location and characteristics of the pins and the location and characteristics of the notches and/or lugs of the key, the location and movements of the cylinder and of the locking cam which rests against the outer surface of the cylinder, can be regulated and guided in relation to each other so that when opening the lock with a suitable key, the locking cam remains on the crest for the duration of a given angle of turning, whereafter it opens the latch bolt proper, and so that when the opening of the lock is tried with an unsuitable key, the locking cam drops from the top of the crest and is met with an obstacle which prevents the opening of the lock. In addition to this, the invention is characterized by the specific features enlisted in the patent claims 2-9. Among the advantages of the present invention, let us mention that it forms a uniform entity and that the keys can be manufactured of plastic or other relatively cheap material. The opening combinations of the lock are easily varied for instance by suitably changing or modifying the front base of the cylinder. Moreover, the lock is easily installed in place. . In the following the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, where Figure 1 is an illustration of the cylinder lock of the invention, seen in partial cross-section; Figure 2 is an illustration of the cylinder; Figure 3 illustrates the key, both in side-view (3A) and in front-view (3B); Figure 4 is a front-view illustration of the cylinder lock of figure 1; Figure 5 is an illustration of the cylinder lock of figure 1, seen in partial cross-section; Figure 6 is a front-view illustration of another cylinder lock according to the invention; Figure 7 illustrates the key for the lock o£ figure 6 in partial side-view cross-section (7A) and in front-view (7B); Figure 8 is an illustration of a cylinder with the cylinder. The frontal part 8a of the key 8 is provided with a number of notches and/or lugs 9, which are arranged according to the location of the pins 6. On the outer surface 13 of the cylinder 3, there is provided a crest 10, which crest is arranged to encircle the cylinder for the range of a predetermined angle of turning α. This angle is advantageously 180°, but it can also be for instance 90° or more than 180°. The location of the crest 10 varies in the direction of the axis A-A. On the sides of the crest 10, on the circumference 13 of the cylinder 3, there are arranged obstacles 12, which are in a position distinctly deviant from the encircling direction of the crest 10, the difference in orientation being 90° or at least >45°. In connection with the cylinder barrel 2, there is provided the locking cam 11. It rests, pressed by the spring 16, against the outer surface 13 of the cylinder 3 (figure 5). The cylinder 3 and the cylinder barrel 2 or equivalent, whereto the locking cam 11 is connected, are arranged to move in relation to each other in the direction of the axis A-A. In the preferred embodiment of figure 1, the cylinder 3 is turnably attached, by aid of its axis 17, to the cylinder barrel 2, onto the axis A-A, in between the intermediate wall 14 and the rear plate 18 of the cylinder lock. In between the cylinder 3 and the rear plate 18 there is located the spring 19, which is attached both to the rear plate 18 and the cylinder 3. According to the basic principle of the invention, the position and movements of the cylinder 3 and of the locking cam 11 resting against its circumference 13 in relation to each other can be regulated and controlled - in accordance with the shape of the front base 4 of the cylinder 3, the location and characteristics (such as length, width, cross-sectional surface area etc.) of the pins 6, and the location and characteristics (such as length, width, cross-sectional surface area etc.) of the notches and/or lugs 9 of the key nested sleeves which are provided with specially shaped front surfaces, as well as the pins conforming to the front surfaces of the sleeves, and the key; Figure 9 is an illustration of the cylinder and of the sleeves fitted therein; Figure 10 is an illustration of a third type of a cylinder lock according to the invention, seen in partial cross-section, and Figure 11 illustrates the key suitable for the cylinder lock of figure 10; Figure 12 is a front-view illustration of the cylinder lock of figure 10, and Figure 13 is a broken-up illustration of the cylinder lock of figure 10. According to figure 1, the cylinder lock of the invention comprises the lock case 1, the cylinder barrel 2 and the cylinder 3, which is fitted in the cylinder barrel 2. The key barrel 7, whereinto the key 8 (figure 3) can be fitted, is, separated by the intermediate wall 14, located in front of the cylinder barrel 2, in the frontal part of the lock case 1, on the same axis A-A with th.e cylinder 3. The front base 4 of the cylinder 3 has a specific shape different from the planar surface transversal to the axis A-A. The front base or equivalent circular plane of the cylinder 3 can be a uniform, stationary part of the cylinder, or it can be a separate part detachable from the cylinder 3. It can be composed of several separate elements, which can be changed and/or turned/rotated with respect to each other. In connection with the cylinder barrel 2, there are arranged a number of pins 6 or other such elongate members. They are parallel to the axis A-A of the cylinder 3, and they pass through the apertures 15 arranged in the wall 14. The pins 6 are movable in the direction of the axis A-A, and they are directed towards the front base 4 of the cylinder 3. They extend from the cylinder barrel 2 into the key barrel 7. In this case the pins 6 are located in linear fashion on the diameter of 8 - so that when opening the lock with a suitable key 8, the locking cam 11 remains on the top of the crest 10 for the duration of a given angle of turning α, whereafter the cylinder or a member connected thereto opens the latch bolt proper, and so that if the opening of the lock is attempted with some other kind of key, the locking cam 11 drops down from the crest 10 and meets the obstacle 12, which prevents the opening of the lock. In the embodiment of figures 1-5, the axis 17 of the cylinder 3 extends as far as the key barrel 7. In this case the key 8 is provided with a chisel-like member 21 or an equivalent matching member, which can be fitted to the end 17a of the cylinder axis 17. The key is composed of two elements, and the first element 22 is provided with a number of notches and/or lugs 9, which are located in respective positions as the pins 6, and the second element 23 is the turning element, which is connected to the axis 17 of the cylinder 3 by intermediation of the chisel-like member 21 and the axis 20. Thereby the cylinder 3 is made to revolve with respect to the cylinder barrel 2 and the locking cam 11. When the key 8 is inserted to the key barrel 7 of the lock, figure 4, and turned, the first element 22 remains in place, whereas the turning element 23 and the axis 20 turn to the right, and simultaneously the cylinder turns by intermediation of its axis 17. The crest 10 located on the circumference 13 of the cylinder 3 conforms to the same pattern as the pattern 24 on the front base of the cylinder, as is illustrated in figure 2. When the key 8 is inserted to the key barrel 7 or to the sleeve, the pins 6 are plunged into the cylinder barrel so that they are pressed agaist the front base of the cylinder. When the cylinder is turned, the pins 6 push the cylinder backwards against the spring 19, according to the combination of the notches and/or lugs in the key 8, and the cylinder 3 is turned and shifted on the axis A-A along a desired path. When the cylinder is thus turned and shifted, the locking cam 11 follows the crest 10 and its pattern located on the circumference 13 of the cylinder, if the combination of the notches and/or lugs in the key is correct. It this is not the case, the locking cam 11 drops down from the top of the crest 10, so that the obstacles 12 stop the locking cam 11 and the cylinder 3 from turning. Now the spring 5 returns the cylinder back to the initial position, whereto the cylinder is stopped by means of the latch pin 25 of the initial spot (cf. figure 5), which latch pin is most advantageously operated by aid of the spring 26. In the preferred embodiment explained above, the pins 6 can be directly connected to the key 8, i.e. to the first key element 22 illustrated in figure 3. In that case the pins are of different lengths, and they control the axial movement of the cylinder directly via the cylinder axis 17, while the key 8 is turned. Figure 6 illustrates in front-view another embodiment of the cylinder lock of the invention, wherein the pins 6 are placed, instead of the cylinder diameter, on the peripheries 7a of concentric circles which form the key barrel. In figure 7 there is illustrated the sleeve-like key 8- suited to the cylinder lock of figure 6, which in principle is operated in similar fashion as the key of figure 3. The first element 22 of the key is inserted to the key barrel 7a, which instead of a narrow slot-like key ' barrel comprises circle-shaped collars 27 provided with notches or grooves 28. The front element 22 of the key 8a is provided with notches and/or lugs 9a, which are pressed against the pins 6. The chisel-like member 21 and the axis 20 are attached to the turning member 23. When opening the lock, the front element 22 remains in place, whereas the turning element 23 and the axis turn to the right . As was already mentioned above, the front base 4 of the cylinder 3 is formed in a desired shape. The front base 4 can be composed of a number of concentric ring-like areas of equal or different widths. These areas are advantageously formed of sleeves 5; 51, 52, 53..., which can be rotated with respect to each other and locked into place, as is illustrated in figure 8. The front surfaces of the said sleeves are formed in the direction of the axis A-A and the pins 6, and there is a corresponding sleeve for each pair of pins. When the angle of turning is 180°, each pin 6 is positioned against its own half- sleeve. The operation of the cylinder lock of the invention is illustrated by aid of figure 8. Here the cooperation of the crest 10 encircling the outer surface, i.e. the circumference 13 of the cylinder 3, the cylinder front base 4, the pins 6 and the key 8 is clearly visible. For each notch or lug 9; 91, 92, 93... of the key 8, there is a corresponding pin 6; 61, 62, 63... extending from the key barrel 7 to the cylinder barrel 2 (figure 1), and the idea is to press each pin 6 with the corresponding notch or lug 9 towards the front base 4 of the cylinder 3. Each pin 6; 61, 62, 63 is positioned at the distance of the average radius of the sleeve 5; 51, 52, 53... from the cylinder axis A-A. In the most advantageous case the pins 6 are equally long, but they may also differ in length. The pins 6 are now in the initial position, i.e. in the same position as for instance when the door is locked. When the key 8 is inserted to the key barrel, the pins 6; 61, 62, 63...68 are pressed, according to the notches and lugs 9; 91, 92, 93...98 of the key 8, against the corresponding sleeves 5; 51, 52, 53, 54, 54, 53, 52, 51 of the front base 4 of the cylinder 3, and push the cylinder 3 against the spring 19, towards the direction of the rear plate 18. When the key 9 is turned to the right, which is the general practice, each pin 6; 61, 62,... presses in turn and in a different order the front surfaces of the sleeves 5, 51, 52...52, 51, depending on the variations in their depth in the direction of the axis A-A and the depths and/or heights of the notches and/or lugs 9; 91, 92 of the key 8. In principle this is carried out so that when the key 8 is turned to the degree of the angle a, the pin 63 presses the sleeve 53, and the rest of the pins and sleeves are located at certain intervals from each other, in which case the locking cam 11 moves along the crest and remains on top of it. When the key is then further turned to the degree of the angle b, the pin 62 presses the corresponding sleeve 52, the pin 63 is released from pressing the sleeve 53, and the locking cam 11 continues moving along the crest 10. When the key is further turned to the degree of the angle c, the pin 66 presses the sleeve 53, but the other half of the said sleeve, and the previous pin 62 are released from pressing the first half of the sleeve 53. Thus the pins 6 work in turns according to the instructions or code given by the notches and/or lugs of the key 8. The shape of the crest 10 corresponds piecewise to the shape of the front surfaces of the sleeves 5; 51, 52: during the angle a, it corresponds to the shape of the respective part in the sleeve 53, during the angle b it corresponds to the shape of the respective part in the sleeve 52, during the angle c the shape of the respective part in the sleeve 53, and so on. The key 8 is turned to a given angle of turning such as 180°, whereafter the cam or lever, attached to the cylinder and advantageously to its periphery, releases the arresting stop or latch bolt proper, and the door can be opened. If the code, i.e. the notches 9 or the like, of the key- 8, does not create the kind of cooperation between the pins 6 and the sleeves 5 as is described above, the locking cam 11 does not follow the crest 10 but drops down onto the circumference 13 of the cylinder 3 and is jammed against one of the obstacles 12 located on the circumference 13 when the key is turned. The turning of the cylinder 3 and of the key is prevented, and consequently the lock cannot be opened. According to figure 10, the sleeves can be realized so that they can be easily manufactured. The front surfaces of the sleeves 5 form a straight, slanted surface in relation to their own central axis and the cylinder axis A-A. The cylinder lock of the invention can also be realized so that the pins 6 are attached to the in housing 30 and the locking cam 11 is attached to a separate locking unit 31, which are both fitted into the cylinder barrel 2. Now the key barrel 7, the pin housing 30 complete with pins 6, and the locking unit 31 with its locking cam 11, are arranged to be rotatable with respect to the cylinder 3, which remains immobile. This embodiment is illustrated in figures 9, 10, 11 and 12. Compared to the previous embodiments, the same reference numbers are used in corresponding parts. In figures 9 and 12, the cylinder barrel 2 forms a uniform, straight cylinder space inside the lock case 1. The lock case 1 is installed in place, in a door 34 or equivalent, by aid of a front shoulder 32 and an assembly ring 33. The front shoulder 32 is provided with fastening spikes 35 or corresponding studs, which bite into the door and prevent the lock case 1 from moving in the turning direction. Inside the cylinder barrel 2, there is placed the cylindrical case 36 of the key barrel 7. It is locked in place by aid of a suitable locking member such as a spring 37 and a ball 38 or a similar arrangement. By means of the said locking member, also the key 8 - figure 10 - is fastened into the key barrel 7 when it is turned in the lock. The pins 6 are located in a detachable cylindrical pin housing 30, which is advantageously connected to the cylindrical case 36 of the key barrel (figure 12), which is kept in place within the cylinder barrel 2 by aid of a suitable locking member such as a spring 39 and a ball 40. This locking member releases the pin housing 30 from the locking unit 31, if the key 8 is violently forced to turn in the lock. The locking unit 31 is a sleeve-like member which is located in connection with the pin housing 30 and is provided with a locking cam 11 and a spring pressing the cam in the same fashion as in the previous examples. The cylinder 3 is placed on the axis 41 of the pin housing 30. In between the cylinder 3 and the rear plate 18, on the axis 41 there is arranged the spring 42, which is attached to both of these. The cylinder 3 is free to move only against the spring in the direction of the axis A-A. To the rear plate 18 there is fastened, by aid of the pin 43 and the lock ring 44, the lock release knob 45, which is provided with a pin 46 extending as far as the locking unit 31 and connected thereto. By turning the release knob 45, the door can be opened from the inside without using a key; by aid of the pin 46, also the locking unit 31 is rotated along with the release knob 45. The structure of the cylinder 3, figures 9 and 12, is different from the previous explanations. On the circumference 13 of the cylinder, there are arranged at given intervals lateral brackets 47 which serve as obstacles, and in between the brackets 47 there are arranged bridges 48 on the same circular plane. The brackets 47 and the bridges together form the crest 10 (figure 9). The bridges 48 are advantageously detachable and their places on the circumference of the cylinder are interchangeable in the direction of the axis A-A. Thus the cylinder 3 can in a way be decoded when necessary.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. A cylinder lock comprising a lock case (1), a cylinder barrel (2), a cylinder (3) placed in the cylinder barrel, and a key barrel (7), whereto the key (8) is fitted and by means of which key the lock can be opened, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that - the front base (4) or equivalent circular plane of the cylinder (3) has a determined shape; - in connection to the cylinder barrel (2) there are arranged a number of pins (6) or the like, which are movable in the direction of the cylinder barrel (2) and the axis (A-A) of the cylinder (3), and are directed towards the front base (4) of the cylinder (3) and that the pins (6) extend from the cylinder barrel (2) into the key barrel (7); - the front part (8a) of the key (8) is provided with a number of notches and/or lugs (9), which are arranged according to the location of the pins (6); - on the outer circumference (13) of the cylinder (3) there is provided a crest (10) which is arranged to encircle the cylinder (3), so that the location of the said crest (10) in the direction of the cylinder axis (A-A) varies; - the outer circumference (13) of the cylinder (3) is provided with obstacles (12); - the locking cam (11) or equivalent is arranged in connection with the cylinder barrel (2) or the like and rests against the circumference (13) of the cylinder (3), and - the cylinder (3) and the cylinder barrel (2) or equivalent, whereto the locking cam (11) is connected, are arranged to be movable with respect to each other in the direction of the axis (A-A); wherein the location and movements of the cylinder (3) and the locking cam (11), resting against the circumference (13) of the cylinder, in relation to each other, can be regulated and controlled according to the shape of the front base (4) of the cylinder (3), the location and characteristics of the pins (6), as well as the location and characteristics of the notches and/or lugs (9) of the key (8), so that when opening the lock with a suitable key (8), the locking cam (11) remains on top of the crest (10) for the duration of a given angle of turning, whereafter it opens the latch bolt proper, but so that when the opening of the lock is attempted with another kind of key, the locking cam (11) drops down from the crest (10) and meets the obstacle (12) which prevents the opening of the lock. 2. The cylinder lock of claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the pins (6) are attached to the pin housing (30) and the locking cam (11) is attached to a separate locking unit (31), which are both fitted in the cylinder barrel (2), and the key barrel, the pin housing complete with pins and the locking unit with its locking cam are arranged to revolve with respect to the cylinder (3). 3. The cylinder lock of claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the axis (17) of the cylinder (3) extends to the key barrel (7), and that the key is provided with a chisel-like member or equivalent, which can be fitted to the cylinder axis, and that the key is formed of two elements, the first whereof is provided with a number notches and/or lugs corresponding to the pins, and the second element is a turning element which is connected, by intermediation of the chisel-like member, to the cylinder, so that by means of the said second element, the cylinder (3) is made to rotate with respect to the cylinder barrel (2) and the locking cam (11). 4. The cylinder lock of claim 3, c h a r a c - t e ' r i z e d in that the pins (6) are connected to the first element (22) of the key (8). 5. The cylinder lock of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the front base (4) of the cylinder is formed of a number of concentric circular areas which together form the circular front plane (4) of the cylinder (3) . 6. The cylinder lock of claim 5, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the circular areas are formed of a number of sleeves (5; 51, 52...) which can be rotated with respect to each other and locked into place. 7. The cylinder lock of claim 6, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the front surfaces of the sleeves (5) form a straight, inclined surface with respet to their own central axis and the cylinder axis (A-A) . 8. The cylinder lock of any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that on the outer circumference (13) of the cylinder (3) there are arranged at given intervals from each other lateral brackets (47) which serve as the obstacles (12), and in between the brackets (47), in the same circular plane, there are arranged bridges (48), which brackets (47) and bridges (48) together form the crest (10). 9. The cylinder lock of claim 8, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the bridges (48) are detachable, and that their location on the outer circumference (13) of the cylinder is variable in the direction of the cylinder axis (A-A) .

Inventors: JUNTUNEN KRISTER, JUNTUNEN, KRISTER
Applicants: JUNTUNEN KRISTER, JUNTUNEN, KRISTER
Application year: 1986
Main classification: E05B27
IPC codes: E05B27