A pin tumbler lock system with easy code changing

Abstract

The application provides a pin tumbler lock system with convenient code changing, comprising a lock cylinder, a lock shell and at least two rows of pin assemblies, the pin assembly comprising a spring, a hollow pin and a common pin, wherein a universal pin is further arranged on one row of pin assemblies and located between the hollow pin and the common pin; the system further comprises a code changing key, the side wall of which is provided with a notch, when the code changing key is inserted into the lock cylinder and rotated to open the lock, the common pin rotates with the lock cylinder, and the spring, the hollow pin and the universal pin are retained in the pin hole of the lock shell, when the notch is rotated to be aligned with the pin hole, the universal pin is pushed into the notch under the action of the spring and taken out with the key, and the code changing is realized. The universal pins are taken away one by one through the multi-stage code changing key, the universal key of the corresponding level is disabled, and the multi-stage key management requirement is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a pin tumbler lock system that is easy to modify. Background Technology

[0002] Pin tumbler locks, as one of the most commonly used security devices in daily life, are widely used in door locks, box locks, and various occasions requiring identity verification. Traditional pin tumbler lock systems typically employ a single key-to-single-lock working mode, with the pin combinations inside the lock fixed at the factory, forming a unique unlocking code. This one-to-one key-to-lock correspondence basically met people's basic security needs in the past. However, with the continuous development of modern management requirements and the increasing complexity of application scenarios, this traditional model has gradually revealed significant limitations. When a user loses a key or the original key needs to become invalid due to personnel changes, the traditional pin tumbler lock system often cannot achieve flexible management and control, and can only solve the problem by replacing the entire lock, which not only increases maintenance costs but also brings operational inconvenience. Especially in scenarios requiring hierarchical key management and tiered cancellation of unlocking permissions, the fixed password structure of the traditional pin tumbler lock system is difficult to meet practical needs. Furthermore, the security risks after a key is lost have always been a problem that traditional pin tumbler lock systems have struggled to effectively address; once the key falls into the hands of unauthorized personnel, the security of the lock cannot be guaranteed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention discloses a convenient key-changing pin tumbler lock system, aiming to solve the aforementioned problems. It improves the design of the pin tumbler lock by incorporating multiple rows of pins and adding a universal pin to one row, with a corresponding universal key, employing multi-level management of the universal key. Simultaneously, it adds multi-level combination key switching; removing the universal pin one by one disables the corresponding universal key. Ultimately, only the highest-level universal key remains active. This design addresses the possibility of the lock supporting multi-level key management and the potential for key-changing to disable the management key's unlocking function, achieving multi-level key control. It also overcomes the limitation of existing market keys and locks only being able to open in a one-to-one relationship.

[0004] The present invention adopts the following solution:

[0005] A convenient tumbler lock system includes a lock cylinder, a lock shell, and at least two rows of tumbler assemblies. The lock cylinder is rotatably disposed within the lock shell. Both the lock cylinder and the lock shell have multiple tumbler holes. The tumbler assemblies are configured to move within the tumbler holes. Each tumbler assembly includes a cooperating spring, a hollow tumbler, and a regular tumbler. One row of tumbler assemblies also includes a universal tumbler, which is positioned between the hollow tumbler and the regular tumbler. A combination key is also included. A notch is provided on one side wall of the key; when the combination key is inserted into the lock cylinder and rotates relative to the lock case to unlock, the ordinary pins rotate with the lock cylinder, and the spring, hollow pins, and universal pins can remain in the pin holes of the lock case. When the notch is aligned with the pin holes of the lock case as the combination key rotates, the universal pins are pushed into the notch under the action of the spring, so that the universal pins pushed into the notch can be pulled out from the lock cylinder together with the combination key, thereby realizing the change of the pin tumbler lock combination.

[0006] In this embodiment of the invention, the depth of the notch is the same as the length of the universal pin axis. When the universal pin is placed in the notch, the hollow pin does not extend into the notch but remains in the pin hole of the lock shell, so that the lock cylinder can rotate relative to the lock shell.

[0007] In this embodiment of the invention, one side wall of the key for changing the combination is also provided with a groove that communicates with the notch, the direction of which is the same as the direction in which the key for changing the combination is inserted into the lock cylinder; the axial length of the hollow pin is greater than the depth of the notch; it also includes an emergency probe that can move within the groove. If the key for changing the combination is mistakenly inserted into the lock cylinder, such that the hollow pin is simultaneously placed in the notch and the pin hole of the lock shell under the action of the spring, the emergency probe is configured to be able to be inserted into the lock cylinder from the groove and lift the hollow pin out of the notch, so that the lock cylinder can rotate relative to the lock shell and the key for changing the combination can be pulled out from the lock cylinder.

[0008] In this embodiment of the invention, the depth of the groove is greater than the depth of the notch, and the height of the emergency probe is the same as the depth of the groove; the emergency probe extends into one end of the lock cylinder and is equipped with a ramp for lifting, the ramp cooperates with the hollow pin, and can push the hollow pin back into the pin hole of the lock case.

[0009] In this embodiment of the invention, the key with a universal pin placed in the notch can be inserted into the lock cylinder, and the emergency probe can push the universal pin at the notch into the pin hole of the lock shell to change the pin lock combination.

[0010] In this embodiment of the invention, a straight surface is provided on one side wall of the front end of the lock cylinder where the key is inserted, and this straight surface is located at the front end of the slide groove; when the key is mistakenly inserted into the lock cylinder in the reverse direction, the ordinary pins located in the lock cylinder can abut against the straight surface to prevent the key from being inserted into the lock cylinder further.

[0011] In this embodiment of the invention, a housing and a lock head are also included. The lock head is equipped with a rotatable baffle, and a stop block is disposed inside the housing. When the baffle and the stop block are misaligned, the lock head can be inserted into and installed inside the housing. When the baffle is rotated to coincide with the stop block, the lock head is fixed inside the housing.

[0012] In this embodiment of the invention, the baffle is provided with a connecting hole for inserting the lock cylinder, and the connecting hole is provided with a slot; it also includes a lock-changing key, which is provided with a snap-fit ​​piece. When the lock-changing key is inserted into the lock cylinder, the snap-fit ​​piece can be inserted into the slot, allowing the lock-changing key to drive the baffle to rotate relative to the outer shell, so that the baffle and the stop block are misaligned, and the lock cylinder can be removed from the outer shell; the combination key cannot drive the baffle to rotate relative to the outer shell.

[0013] In this embodiment of the invention, the lock cylinder includes a lock cylinder, a lock shell, and a sleeve. A through hole is disposed on the inner side of the lock shell, penetrating its sidewall. The sleeve is fitted around the outer periphery of the lock shell, covering the through hole and the outer periphery of the pinhole. One end of a spring abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the sleeve. A small spring and a positioning steel ball are disposed on the through hole. A stop groove is annularly arranged on the outer peripheral wall of the stop plate. One end of the small spring abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the sleeve, and the positioning steel ball can be positioned within the stop groove under the action of the small spring. An annular groove is disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the lock cylinder, and an open retaining ring is disposed within the annular groove. The stop plate is configured to be connected to the lock cylinder via the open retaining ring.

[0014] In this embodiment of the invention, both the lock cylinder and the lock shell are provided with ring-shaped pin holes. Each row of pin assemblies includes at least two pin assemblies and at least two levels of combination keys. The level of the combination key can be adapted to the number of pin assemblies with universal pins on each row of pin assemblies. The notch positions configured on the combination keys of different levels are different so as to remove the universal pins on different pin assemblies.

[0015] This invention provides a convenient tumbler lock system with the following advantages: 1. By adding a universal pin to the pin tumbler assembly and using a multi-level combination key design, the combination of pin tumbler locks can be flexibly changed. The universal key at a specific level can be disabled without replacing the entire lock, effectively reducing the maintenance cost of the lock. 2. By removing the universal pins from different positions step by step, a hierarchical management function for the universal key is achieved, meeting the actual needs of places such as offices that require hierarchical authorization management; the lock can still be used normally after the universal key fails, only the universal key of the original level fails, ensuring high confidentiality and security, and meeting the hierarchical management while ensuring the continuous availability of the lock. 3. Through the combined design of emergency probe and slide rail, the problem of lock jamming caused by accidental operation when changing the password key is solved, avoiding the need for disassembly and repair of the lock due to accidental operation, and at the same time, the original password can be restored; 4. The design of the key head with a straight surface effectively prevents the lock from malfunctioning due to the key being inserted in the wrong direction when changing the combination, thus improving the security of the product. 5. Thanks to its quick-change lock cylinder design, when the lock cylinder needs to be replaced, simply use a dedicated lock cylinder changing key to turn the retaining plate to remove the lock cylinder from the housing, without disassembling the entire lock system, significantly improving the convenience of maintenance operations. Attached Figure Description To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the pin tumbler lock in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the lock head in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the cooperation between the five-level universal key and the lock cylinder in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the four-level password-changing key in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a case where a key without a direct password changer is mistakenly inserted in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a direct-access key being mistakenly inserted in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the lock head being fixed inside the outer casing in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the baffle and the block being misaligned in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the password change state in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 .

[0025] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the password change state in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0026] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the password change state in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 .

[0027] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the solution to reverse insertion in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the password reversion in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] 1. Lock cylinder; 2. Lock shell; 21. Tumbler hole; 22. Through hole; 3. Sleeve; 4. Tumbler assembly; 401. Spring; 402. Hollow tumbler; 403. Ordinary tumbler; 404. Universal tumbler; 5. Change key; 501. Notch; 502. Slide groove; 503. Straight surface; 6. Emergency probe; 601. Bevel; 7. Outer shell; 701. Stop block; 8. Lock head; 801. Stop plate; 8011. Connecting hole; 8012. Slot; 8013. Positioning slot; 9. Change key; 901. Snap-fit ​​piece; 10. Small spring; 11. Positioning ball; 12. Open retaining ring; 13. Annular groove; 14. Universal key. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments.

[0031] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the convenient tumbler lock system of this invention generally includes the original tumbler lock structure, a combination key 5, an emergency probe 6, and a lock cylinder key 9, among other main components. The following illustration uses a three-row tumbler assembly, with four tumbler assemblies per row, as an example: The lock cylinder 1 is rotatably configured within the lock housing 2. Both the lock cylinder 1 and the lock housing 2 are equipped with multiple rows of annularly distributed tumbler holes 21. The number of tumbler holes 21 in each row corresponds to the number of tumbler assemblies in each row. The tumbler assembly 4 is configured to move within the tumbler holes. The tumbler assembly 4 includes a cooperating spring 401, a hollow tumbler 402, and a regular tumbler 403. One row of tumbler assemblies also has a universal tumbler 404, which is positioned between the hollow tumbler 402 and the regular tumbler 403 and is a crucial component for changing the combination. It also includes a combination key 5, which is square in structure and has keyholes on three sides for insertion into the lock cylinder, similar to those for ordinary pin tumblers. The combination key 5, which does not have keyholes, has a notch 501 on one side wall. When the combination key 5 is inserted into the lock cylinder 1 and rotates relative to the lock housing 2 to unlock, the ordinary pin 403 rotates with the lock cylinder 1. The spring 401, hollow pin 402, and universal pin 404 remain in the pin holes of the lock housing 2. In the pin assembly without a universal pin, the spring and hollow pin remain in the pin holes. When the notch 501 rotates with the combination key 5 to align with the pin holes of the lock housing 2, the universal pin 404 is pushed into the notch 501 by the spring 401. This allows the universal pin 404 pushed into the notch 501 to be pulled out of the lock cylinder 1 along with the combination key 5, thus removing the universal pin from the original pin assembly and changing the pin tumbler lock combination.

[0032] Refer to the attached diagram. Figure 2 The lock cylinder 1 is rotatably mounted inside the lock housing 2, while the lock housing 2 remains stationary. The lock cylinder 1 can rotate around its axis within the lock housing 2. Multiple rows of pin holes are formed on the circumference of both the lock cylinder 1 and the lock housing 2, and each row of pin holes contains a pin assembly 4. One end of the spring 401 abuts against the inner circumferential wall of the sleeve 3, and the other end of the spring 401 abuts against one end of the hollow pin 402. The other end of the hollow pin 402 abuts against one end of the universal pin 404, and the other end of the universal pin 404 abuts against one end of the ordinary pin 403.

[0033] In one preferred embodiment, each row of pin assemblies 4 includes at least two pin assemblies 4, and the figure shows four pin assemblies. The system is configured with at least two levels of key-changing keys 5 corresponding to different positions of universal pins 404. The number of levels of key-changing keys 5 is adapted to the number of pin assemblies 4 with universal pins 404 in each row of pin assemblies 4. The notches 501 configured on key-changing keys 5 of different levels are in different positions, so that universal pins 404 on different pin assemblies 4 can be removed respectively. For example, when there are four universal pins 404 in a row of pin assemblies 4, the system is configured with four levels of key-changing keys, referring to the figure. Figure 4 Notches 501 are provided at the locations of the four universal pins 404. The notch 501 for the first-level combination key corresponds to the position of the first universal pin 404, the notch 501 for the second-level combination key corresponds to the position of the second universal pin 404, and so on. It also includes a five-level universal key 14 for unlocking. (See attached diagram.) Figure 3 (The images show master keys of levels one to five from top to bottom.) The level one master key can open the initial lock (level two to five master keys can also open it). When the combination is changed using the level one key, the level one master key becomes invalid, and only the level two master key can open it (level three to five master keys can also open it), and so on. Similarly, after the level one master key becomes invalid, the level one key can be used to push the original master pins back into the corresponding pin holes, and the level one master key can be used again.

[0034] Refer to the attached diagram. Figure 2 When the system leaves the factory, all universal pins 404 are installed in the same row of pin assemblies. At this time, all levels of master keys can unlock normally. This is because, in the factory state, all ordinary pins 403, hollow pins 402, and universal pins 404 in all pin assemblies 4 are in the correct mating positions, allowing master keys of different depths to smoothly turn the lock cylinder 1 to unlock. Refer to the attached diagram. Figures 9-11When it is necessary to change the password and disable the master key of a specific level, the operator uses the corresponding level key changer 5 to perform the following steps: First, insert the key changer 5 into the lock cylinder 1 along the keyhole direction. At this time, the notch 501 on the side wall of the key changer 5 is offset from all the pin holes. After the key changer 5 is inserted into the lock cylinder 1, the ordinary pin 403 is pushed upward by the guide of the keyhole of the lock cylinder 1. The master pin 404 and the hollow pin 402 are held in a relatively fixed position in the pin hole of the lock case 2 under the action of the spring 401, and the ordinary pin remains in the pin hole of the lock cylinder. Then, rotate the key changer 5 so that the side with the notch rotates 90° to the position of the master pin. At this time, the lock cylinder 1 rotates with the key changer 5. The ordinary pin 403 rotates with the lock cylinder 1. The spring 401 remains compressed and continues to push the hollow pin 402. Push the universal pin 404 towards the lock cylinder; as the rotation angle of the key 5 increases, when the notch 501 rotates to the position aligned with the pin hole of the lock housing 2, the universal pin 404 enters the notch 501 under the continuous pushing force of the spring 401 and is accommodated therein. At this time, since the depth of the notch 501 is the same as the axial length of the universal pin 404, the universal pin 404 can be completely embedded in the notch 501 without exceeding the outline of the key 5. The lower end of the hollow pin is blocked in the pin hole of the lock housing 2 and cannot enter the notch 501, thus ensuring that the lock cylinder 1 is not interfered with by the hollow pin 402 during rotation; after continuing to rotate the key 5 to the unlock position, pull the key 5 out of the lock cylinder 1. Since the notch 501 has accommodated the universal pin 404, the universal pin 404 is pulled out of the lock cylinder 1 along with the key 5, thus removing the universal pin 404 from the lock. After removing the universal pin 404, only the spring 401, hollow pin 402, and ordinary pin 403 remain in the corresponding pin assembly 4. The original level of universal key can no longer properly engage with the keyhole of the lock cylinder 1 due to the change in pin combination, thus losing its unlocking function. However, the higher-level universal key, whose pin combination has not been completely altered, can still unlock normally. By using different levels of combination keys 5 to remove the universal pins 404 at different positions, the unlocking privileges of lower-level universal keys can be gradually cancelled, ultimately retaining only the unlocking function of the ultimate universal key.

[0035] In practical applications, this invention is particularly suitable for situations requiring tiered key authorization management, such as hotels, apartments, and office spaces. For example, hotel managers hold a supreme master key that can open all room locks, while floor managers hold master keys of different levels. When a manager leaves or loses their key, the hotel only needs to use the corresponding level's key changer 5 to remove the corresponding universal pin 404 to disable that manager's key, without affecting the unlocking permissions of other managers and hotel management personnel. This eliminates the need to replace the entire lock system, significantly reducing maintenance costs and management complexity.

[0036] Refer to the attached diagram. Figure 12 Under normal circumstances, the key 5 can only be used once because the universal pin 404 in the corresponding position has been removed after the combination is changed. If the operator mistakenly inserts the same key 5 into the lock cylinder 1 again or rotates it in the wrong direction when changing the combination, the spring 401 directly pushes the hollow pin 402 upward because the universal pin 404 has been removed. Since the axial length of the hollow pin 402 is greater than the depth of the notch 501, part of the hollow pin 402 enters the notch 501, while the other part remains stuck in the pin hole of the lock housing 2, creating a jammed state where the hollow pin 402 is simultaneously stuck in both the notch 501 and the pin hole of the lock housing 2. At this time, the hollow pin 402 is stuck at the junction of the notch 501 and the pin hole of the lock housing 2, preventing the lock cylinder 1 from continuing to rotate, and the key 5 cannot be pulled out, causing the lock to malfunction.

[0037] Refer to the attached diagram. Figure 12To address the lock jamming problem caused by the aforementioned misoperation, this embodiment of the invention adds a groove 502 to one side wall of the key-changing device 5. This groove 502 is connected to a notch 501, and its extension direction is the same as the direction in which the key-changing device 5 is inserted into the lock cylinder 1. The depth of the groove 502 is greater than the depth of the notch 501. The system is equipped with an emergency probe 6, which can move within the groove 502. The height of the emergency probe 6 is adapted to the depth of the groove 502, and the end of the emergency probe 6 that extends into the lock cylinder 1 has a bevel 601. When the above-mentioned misoperation causes the hollow pin 402 to become stuck, the operator inserts the emergency probe 6 into the lock cylinder 1 from the entrance of the slide groove 502 along the length of the slide groove 502. The emergency probe 6 moves forward in the slide groove 502, and the inclined surface 601 at its end gradually contacts the hollow pin 402 stuck at the junction of the notch 501 and the pin hole of the lock housing 2. Since the inclined surface 601 has an inclination angle, as the emergency probe 6 continues to advance forward, the inclined surface 601 applies an upward and outward pushing force to the hollow pin 402, gradually lifting the hollow pin 402 from the notch 501 and pushing it back into the pin hole of the lock housing 2. When the hollow pin 402 completely disengages from the notch 501 and falls back into the pin hole of the lock housing 2, the jamming state is released. At this time, the lock cylinder 1 regains its ability to rotate freely. The operator can turn the combination key 5 clockwise to the unlock position and then pull the combination key 5 out of the lock cylinder 1, and the lock returns to normal operation.

[0038] Furthermore, the emergency probe 6 also has the function of reinstalling the universal pin 404 into the lock to restore the combination. (See attached diagram.) Figure 13 The operator can pre-place the universal pin 404 in the notch 501 of the key changer 5, then insert the key changer 5 with the universal pin 404 pre-placed in the notch 501 into the lock cylinder 1 and rotate it to the unlock position. Subsequently, the emergency probe 6 is inserted into the lock cylinder 1 from the groove 502. The inclined surface 601 at the end of the emergency probe 6 pushes the universal pin 404 in the notch 501 upwards, pushing it from the notch 501 into the pin hole of the lock housing 2, thus reinstalling the universal pin 404 into the corresponding pin assembly 4 of the lock. After completing the above operations, the key changer 5 and the emergency probe 6 are removed. The universal pin 404 is now back in its original position, and the pin assembly 4 returns to its original complete combination state. The previously invalidated universal key of the corresponding level becomes effective again and can unlock normally. This design gives the embodiment of the invention a two-way adjustable function where the password can be changed and restored, meeting the user's need to flexibly control the key's unlocking permissions according to actual needs.

[0039] In traditional pin tumbler lock key designs, the master key or other key head typically features a single, rounded surface. This design fails to provide effective protection when a combination key is mistakenly inserted in the wrong direction. (Refer to the attached diagram.) Figure 5When using the key change key 5, if the operator mistakenly inserts the key change key 5 into the lock cylinder 1 in the wrong direction, the curved head of the key will first contact the ordinary pin 403 at the entrance of the lock cylinder 1. Because the curved surface has a smooth curved structure, the ordinary pin 403 can slide along the curved surface without producing obvious obstruction. The key change key 5 can still be inserted inward until the notch 501 is aligned with the pin assembly 4 on the other side. At this time, the ordinary pin 403 inside the lock cylinder 1 will enter the notch 501. The ordinary pin 403 will be partially embedded in the notch 501 and partially stuck in the pin hole of the lock shell 2, causing the key change key 5 to be unable to be inserted or pulled out, resulting in lock failure.

[0040] To address the problem of lock failure caused by incorrect reverse insertion, this embodiment of the invention changes the head structure of the key 5 inserted into the front end of the lock cylinder 1 from a traditional integral arc surface to a hybrid structure combining a semi-arc surface and a semi-straight surface 503, as shown in the attached drawings. Figure 6 The straight surface 503 is located at the front end of the slide groove 502 and on the same side wall as the notch 501 of the key changer 5. When the key changer 5 is inserted into the lock cylinder 1 in the correct direction, the arc-shaped side first contacts the entrance of the lock cylinder 1, and the key changer 5 can smoothly slide into the lock cylinder 1 along the keyhole, with the notch 501 facing the direction of the pin assembly 4. When the key changer 5 is mistakenly inserted into the lock cylinder 1 in the opposite direction, the straight surface 503 first contacts the first ordinary pin 403 near the end of the lock cylinder 1 at the entrance of the lock cylinder 1. Since the straight surface 503 is a flat planar structure, when the end face of the ordinary pin 403 contacts the straight surface 503, a surface contact fit is formed. The ordinary pin 403 cannot slide along the straight surface 503 but directly abuts against the straight surface 503, creating a blocking effect. At this time, a hard contact is formed between the side of the ordinary pin 403 and the straight surface 503, preventing the key changer 5 from continuing to be inserted into the lock cylinder 1. When the operator feels that the key is blocked from being inserted, they will reverse the key 5 and reinsert it in the correct direction, thus effectively avoiding the problem of the lock failing due to incorrect reverse insertion.

[0041] Refer to the attached diagram. Figure 7 , Figure 8The quick-change lock cylinder structure includes a lock cylinder 8, a baffle 801, a housing 7, a stop block 701, a small spring 10, a positioning steel ball 11, an open retaining ring 12, and an annular groove 13. The lock cylinder 8 includes a lock cylinder 1, a lock shell 2, and a sleeve 3. The sleeve 3 is fitted around the outer periphery of the lock shell 2, covering the outer periphery of the through hole 22 and the pin hole 21. One end of the spring 401 abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the sleeve 3. The inner side of the lock shell 2 has a through hole penetrating its side wall, and the sleeve 3 covers the outer periphery of the through hole. The small spring 10 and the positioning steel ball 11 are disposed on the through hole. One end of the small spring 10 abuts against the inner peripheral wall of the sleeve 3. Under the action of the small spring 10, the positioning steel ball 11 can be inserted into or disengaged from the annular groove 8013 on the outer peripheral wall of the baffle 801. An annular groove 13 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the lock cylinder 1, and an open retaining ring 12 is provided in the annular groove 13. The baffle 801 is connected to the lock cylinder 1 through the open retaining ring 12, so that the baffle 801 and the lock cylinder 1 rotate synchronously under normal use.

[0042] The baffle plate 801 is provided with a connecting hole 8011 for inserting the lock cylinder 1, and a slot 8012 is provided on the connecting hole 8011. When the baffle plate 801 rotates to the position where it coincides with the stop block 701 inside the housing 7, the stop block 701 is engaged in the limiting space between the baffle plate 801 and the housing 7, locking the lock head 8 inside the housing 7 and preventing it from being pulled out; when the baffle plate 801 and the stop block 701 are misaligned, the lock head 8 can be inserted or pulled out along the axial direction of the housing 7. The cooperation between the positioning steel ball 11 and the stop groove 8013 realizes the self-locking function after the baffle plate 801 rotates. During normal unlocking, the positioning steel ball 11 is placed into the stop groove 8013 under the action of the small spring 10, fixing the baffle plate 801 in the current position, preventing the baffle plate 801 from rotating unexpectedly due to vibration or accidental contact during normal unlocking, thus affecting the normal use of the lock.

[0043] When the lock cylinder 8 needs to be replaced, the operator uses the lock cylinder replacement key 9. The lock cylinder replacement key 9 is equipped with a locking tab 901. The effective length of the lock cylinder replacement key 9 is greater than that of the combination key 5, and the size of its front locking tab 901 matches the slot 8012 on the connecting hole 8011 of the stop plate 801. When the lock cylinder replacement key 9 is inserted into the lock cylinder 1, the locking tab 901 can be inserted into the slot 8012 and form a driving connection with the stop plate 801. At this time, when the lock cylinder replacement key 9 is rotated, the locking tab 901 drives the stop plate 801 to rotate relative to the outer casing 7. When the stop plate 801 rotates to a position completely offset from the stop block 701, refer to the attached diagram. Figure 7 The locking state of the lock cylinder 8 to the outer casing 7 is released, and the operator can pull the lock cylinder 8 out of the outer casing 7 axially. When reinstalling the new lock cylinder 8, insert the new lock cylinder 8 axially into the outer casing 7, and turn the lock cylinder key 9 to rotate the retaining plate 801 back to the position where it coincides with the stop block 701. The stop block 701 then re-engages in the limiting space between the lock cylinder 8 and the outer casing 7, locking the lock cylinder 8. (Refer to the attached diagram.) Figure 8 After the lock-changing key 9 is pulled out, the positioning steel ball 11, under the action of the small spring 10, is placed into the stop groove 8013 of the stop plate 801 to achieve self-locking. The entire lock replacement process can be completed simply by using the special lock-changing key 9 to turn the stop plate 801, without disassembling the entire lock system, making the operation convenient and quick.

[0044] It should be noted that the length and structural dimensions of the master key 14 and the combination key 5 cannot fit into the slot 8012 of the baffle 801. Therefore, the combination key 5 cannot drive the baffle 801 to rotate relative to the outer shell 7, thus ensuring the professionalism and security of the lock cylinder quick-change function and preventing unauthorized personnel from using the combination key 5 to change the lock cylinder.

[0045] In summary, the pin tumbler lock system of this invention, by adding a universal pin tumbler 404 to the pin tumbler assembly 4 and cooperating with a multi-level combination key 5, achieves flexible combination changing functionality. It disables the universal key at a specific level without replacing the entire lock, effectively reducing lock maintenance costs. By removing the universal pins 404 at different levels, it achieves hierarchical management of the universal key, meeting the practical needs of hotels, apartments, offices, and other locations requiring hierarchical authorization management. Even after the universal key becomes invalid, the lock can still be used normally; only the universal key at the original level becomes invalid, satisfying the requirements of hierarchical management. Meanwhile, it ensures the continuous availability of the lock; through the coordinated design of the emergency probe 6 and the slide 502, it solves the problem of lock jamming caused by misoperation of the key 5, and avoids the need for disassembly and repair of the lock due to misoperation; through the design of the key head facing the structure 503, it effectively prevents the lock from failing due to the reverse insertion of the key 5, and improves the safety of the product; through the design of the lock cylinder quick-change structure, when the lock cylinder 8 needs to be replaced, only the special lock cylinder replacement key 9 needs to be used to turn the baffle 801 to remove the lock cylinder 8 from the housing 7, without disassembling the entire lock system, which greatly improves the convenience of maintenance operations.

[0046] The foregoing description illustrates and describes preferred embodiments of the present invention. As previously stated, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. It can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and can be altered within the scope of the inventive concept described herein through the foregoing teachings or techniques or knowledge in related fields. Any modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pin tumbler lock system for easy code modification, comprising a lock cylinder, a lock housing, and at least two rows of pin tumbler assemblies, wherein the lock cylinder is rotatably disposed within the lock housing, and both the lock cylinder and the lock housing are provided with multiple pin holes, and the pin tumbler assemblies are configured to move within the pin holes; each pin tumbler assembly includes a cooperating spring, a hollow pin, and a regular pin; characterized in that, One row of pin assemblies is also equipped with universal pins, which are arranged between hollow pins and ordinary pins; The combination key has a notch on one side wall. When the combination key is inserted into the lock cylinder and rotates relative to the lock case to unlock, the ordinary pins rotate with the lock cylinder. The spring, hollow pins, and universal pins can remain in the pin holes of the lock case. When the notch is aligned with the pin holes of the lock case as the combination key rotates, the universal pin is pushed into the notch by the spring, so that the universal pin pushed into the notch can be pulled out of the lock cylinder along with the combination key, thereby changing the combination of the pin tumbler lock.

2. The convenient code-changing pin tumbler lock system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The depth of the notch is the same as the length of the universal pin axis. When the universal pin is placed in the notch, the hollow pin does not extend into the notch but remains in the pin hole of the lock case, so that the lock cylinder can rotate relative to the lock case.

3. The convenient code-changing pin tumbler lock system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The key for changing the combination is also provided with a groove on one side wall that can communicate with the notch. The direction of the groove is the same as the direction in which the key for changing the combination is inserted into the lock cylinder. The axial length of the hollow pin is greater than the depth of the notch. It also includes an emergency probe that can move within the groove. If the key for changing the combination is mistakenly inserted into the lock cylinder, such that the hollow pin is simultaneously placed in the notch and the pin hole of the lock shell under the action of the spring, the emergency probe is configured to be able to be inserted into the lock cylinder from the groove and lift the hollow pin out of the notch, so that the lock cylinder can rotate relative to the lock shell and the key for changing the combination can be pulled out from the lock cylinder.

4. The convenient code-changing pin tumbler lock system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The depth of the groove is greater than the depth of the notch, and the height of the emergency probe is the same as the depth of the groove; the emergency probe extends into one end of the lock cylinder and is equipped with a ramp for lifting, the ramp cooperates with the hollow pin to push the hollow pin back into the pin hole of the lock case.

5. A convenient tumbler lock system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The key with a universal pin inside the notch can be inserted into the lock cylinder. The emergency probe can push the universal pin at the notch into the pin hole of the lock shell to change the combination of the pin tumbler lock.

6. A convenient tumbler lock system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The lock cylinder has a straight surface on one side wall at the front end of the key that is inserted into the lock cylinder. This straight surface is located at the front end of the slide groove. When the key is mistakenly inserted into the lock cylinder in the reverse direction, the ordinary pins inside the lock cylinder can abut against the straight surface to prevent the key from being inserted into the lock cylinder.

7. A convenient tumbler lock system according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, It also includes a housing and a lock head, the lock head being equipped with a rotatable baffle, and a stop block being disposed inside the housing. When the baffle and the stop block are misaligned, the lock head can be inserted into and installed inside the housing. When the baffle is rotated to coincide with the stop block, the lock head is fixed inside the housing.

8. A convenient tumbler lock system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The baffle is provided with a connection hole for inserting the lock cylinder, and the connection hole is provided with a slot; it also includes a lock-changing key, which is provided with a snap-fit ​​piece. When the lock-changing key is inserted into the lock cylinder, the snap-fit ​​piece can be inserted into the slot, so that the lock-changing key can drive the baffle to rotate relative to the outer shell, so that the baffle and the stop block are misaligned and the lock cylinder can be removed from the outer shell; the combination key cannot drive the baffle to rotate relative to the outer shell.

9. A convenient tumbler lock system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The lock cylinder includes a lock cylinder, a lock shell, and a sleeve. The lock shell has a through hole penetrating its side wall on its inner side. The sleeve is fitted around the outer periphery of the lock shell so that it covers the outer periphery of the through hole and the pin hole. One end of the spring abuts against the inner periphery of the sleeve. A small spring and a positioning steel ball are arranged on the through hole. The outer periphery of the baffle is provided with a stop groove in annular shape. One end of the small spring abuts against the inner periphery of the sleeve. The positioning steel ball can be placed in the stop groove under the action of the small spring. The outer periphery of the lock cylinder is provided with an annular groove. An open retaining ring is arranged in the annular groove. The baffle is configured to be connected to the lock cylinder through the open retaining ring.

10. A convenient tumbler lock system according to any one of claims 1-6, 8, and 9, characterized in that, Both the lock cylinder and the lock shell are equipped with ring-shaped pin holes. Each row of pin assemblies includes at least two pin assemblies and at least two levels of combination keys. The level of the combination key can be adapted to the number of pin assemblies with universal pins on each row of pin assemblies. The notch positions on the combination keys of different levels are different so as to remove the universal pins on different pin assemblies.

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