Lock cylinder positioning structure and pin tumbler lock
By setting a positioning component and positioning part between the lock cylinder and the lock cylinder sleeve, and using sound and vibration prompts, the problem of the key being difficult to return to center quickly in a pin tumbler lock is solved, thus improving efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NINGBO YISITESAI MASCH MFG CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-03
AI Technical Summary
In common automotive locks, pin tumbler locks often lack a positioning mechanism, making it difficult for the key to quickly return to the center position after being turned, thus reducing efficiency.
A positioning element and a positioning part are set between the lock cylinder and the lock cylinder sleeve. The user is prompted by sound and vibration that the key has been returned to the correct position, so as to ensure that the key can be pulled out quickly.
It enables quick key return to center, significantly improving the user experience, and is suitable for various pin tumbler locks, especially vehicle locks.
Smart Images
Figure CN224452450U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to a positioning structure for a lock cylinder, which is suitable for pin tumbler locks that unlock and lock by rotation, and is especially suitable for pin tumbler locks used in vehicle bodies. Background Technology
[0002] A typical pin tumbler lock usually consists of a lock body and a rotatable lock cylinder inside the lock body. The lock body contains several spring-loaded pins. When the key is inserted into the keyhole of the lock cylinder, some or all of the pins retract into the lock body, allowing the lock cylinder to rotate within the lock body, thus unlocking or locking. However, in simpler pin tumbler locks, after the lock cylinder rotates to unlock or lock under the key's action, the user often cannot quickly turn the key back to the correct position on the pins. Instead, the user needs to repeatedly try and fine-tune to turn the key to the correct position and remove it, thus reducing the user experience. This is especially true in automotive applications such as trunk locks, car safe locks, or internal and external storage compartment locks, where users typically need to open and lock quickly. The lack of a positioning mechanism in common pin tumbler locks leads to inefficient unlocking and locking. Utility Model Content
[0003] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a simple and reliable lock cylinder positioning structure that helps users quickly turn the key to the accurate position where it can be pulled out, thereby overcoming the above-mentioned defects in the prior art.
[0004] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: a lock cylinder positioning structure, applied to the lock cylinder of a pin tumbler lock, wherein the lock cylinder is rotatably connected to the lock cylinder sleeve, and the lock cylinder and the lock cylinder sleeve include a positioning member and a positioning part. After the lock cylinder is unlocked, it rotates relative to the lock cylinder sleeve, causing the positioning member and the positioning part to disengage. When the lock cylinder returns to the center position, the positioning member and the positioning part contact each other, generating a sound and / or vibration that can be perceived by the user to indicate that the lock cylinder is in the center position.
[0005] Furthermore, the lock cylinder includes the positioning part, and the positioning member is elastically connected to the lock cylinder sleeve. In the locked state, the positioning member always maintains a tendency to move towards the positioning part; the positioning member is always in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lock cylinder.
[0006] Furthermore, the lock cylinder sleeve includes a third channel, and the positioning member is elastically connected to the third channel by a second return spring, which is always in a compressed state.
[0007] Furthermore, the lock cylinder sleeve also includes a first channel, and the lock cylinder also includes a second channel. The first channel is coaxial with and connected to the second channel, and the tumbler moves elastically back and forth within the first channel and the second channel.
[0008] Furthermore, the third channel is parallel to the first channel.
[0009] Furthermore, the central axis of the third channel and the central axes of several of the first channels are all in the same plane.
[0010] Furthermore, the central axis of the third channel is out of plane from the central axis of the first channel.
[0011] Furthermore, the positioning element is a positioning bead, and the positioning part is a positioning recess located on the outer peripheral surface of the lock cylinder that cooperates with the positioning bead.
[0012] Furthermore, the lock cylinder includes the positioning member, and the lock cylinder sleeve includes the positioning part.
[0013] This utility model also provides a pin tumbler lock, including any of the above-mentioned lock cylinder positioning structures, wherein the number of the lock cylinder positioning structures is one or more.
[0014] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this utility model are that, without changing the common structure of pin tumbler locks, only a positioning component and a positioning part are added to achieve the effect of quick key return and extraction, thereby significantly improving the user experience; the positioning structure is simple and reliable, and is applicable to any pin tumbler lock that can be unlocked and locked by rotating the lock cylinder, with high versatility. Attached Figure Description
[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the lock cylinder positioning structure of this utility model;
[0016] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The top view of the orthographic projection;
[0017] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A sectional view along A-A';
[0018] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A sectional view along B-B';
[0019] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the lock cylinder structure of this utility model;
[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the lock cylinder sleeve of this utility model.
[0021] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0022] 100-Lock cylinder sleeve, 110-First channel, 120-Third channel, 130-Rotation space, 150-First rotation mounting position, 160-Second rotation mounting position, 101-Plug, 102-First return spring, 103-Second return spring, 104-Pellet, 105-Positioning bead; 200-Lock cylinder, 210-Second channel, 220-Positioning recess, 230-Second connecting part, 231-Contact plane, 240-Wear-resistant pad, 201-Lock hole, 202-Dotted line; 300-Locking component, 310-Lock tongue, 320-First connecting part. Detailed Implementation
[0023] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0024] Reference Figure 1-6 The lock cylinder positioning structure of this utility model is applied to a pin tumbler lock, including a lock cylinder sleeve 100 and a lock cylinder 200 rotatably mounted inside the lock cylinder sleeve 100. One end of the lock cylinder 200 has a keyhole 201 for key insertion, and the lock cylinder sleeve 100 has a first rotatable mounting position 150, with the lock cylinder 200 rotatably connected inside the first rotatable mounting position 150. In one embodiment, such as... Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the lock cylinder sleeve 100 has a rotation space 130. At the end of the lock cylinder 200 away from the lock hole 201, a locking member 300 is sleeved. The locking member 300 includes a lock tongue 310 and a first connecting part 320 connected to the lock tongue 310. The first connecting part 320 rotates in the rotation space 130 under the drive of the lock cylinder 200. The lock tongue 310 rotates around an axis to realize the unlocking or locking of the entire lock body.
[0025] In one embodiment, the first connecting portion 320 is sleeved on the second connecting portion 230 of the lock cylinder 200, preventing the lock cylinder 200 from axially disengaging from the lock cylinder sleeve 100. At the end away from the lock hole 201, the lock cylinder sleeve 100 has a second rotating mounting position 160. The outer diameter of the first connecting portion 320 is larger than the maximum inner diameter of the second rotating mounting position 160, and the first connecting portion 320 prevents the lock cylinder 200 from disengaging from the lock cylinder sleeve 100 from the second rotating mounting position 160. The first connecting portion 320 does not rotate relative to the lock cylinder 200. In one embodiment, a portion of the inner surface of the first connecting portion 320 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the second connecting portion 230 in planar contact, such as... Figure 5 The contact plane 231 is shown.
[0026] In one embodiment, to reduce direct friction between the lock cylinder sleeve 100 and the first connecting part 320, a wear-resistant gasket 240 is provided between the lock cylinder sleeve 100 and the first connecting part 320, and the wear-resistant gasket 240 is sleeved between the second connecting part 230 and the first rotating mounting position 150.
[0027] The lock cylinder sleeve 100 includes a first channel 110, and the lock cylinder 200 includes a second channel 210 corresponding to and communicating with the first channel 110. The pin 104 reciprocates within the first channel 110 and the second channel 210 under the combined action of the first return spring 102 and the key. When the outer edge of the moving end of the pin 104 is located between the first channel 110 and the second channel 210, i.e., at the contact boundary between the lock cylinder 200 and the lock cylinder sleeve 100, the lock cylinder 200 and the lock cylinder sleeve 100 are unlocked. The lock cylinder 200 rotates relative to the lock cylinder sleeve 100 under the drive of the key, and the bolt 310 rotates under the drive of the lock cylinder 200, thereby unlocking or locking the entire lock body. One end of the first return spring 102 is connected to the pin 104, and the other end is fixedly connected to the end of the first channel 110. In one embodiment, the other end of the first return spring 102 is fixedly connected to a plug 101 fixed to the end of the first channel 110. Figure 3 As shown. In other embodiments, the pin 104 may also be a segmented pin tumbler to suit pin tumbler locks with different security level requirements, as will be understood by those skilled in the art and will not be elaborated further.
[0028] The lock cylinder sleeve 100 also includes a third channel 120, and the lock cylinder 200 includes a positioning part corresponding to the outlet end of the third channel 120. A positioning element is provided inside the third channel 120, and the positioning element is connected to the positioning part in the locked state. When the positioning element is connected to the positioning part, the key is in a state where it can freely enter and exit the lock hole 201. In one embodiment, the positioning part is a positioning recess 220 located on the outer peripheral surface of the lock cylinder 200, and the positioning element is a positioning bead 105 elastically connected to the inside of the third channel 120. The positioning bead 105 is always in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lock cylinder 200. In one embodiment, the positioning bead 105 is elastically connected to the inside of the third channel 120 via a second return spring 103. In one embodiment, one end of the second return spring 103 is connected to the positioning bead 105, and the other end of the second return spring 103 is fixedly connected to a plug 101 fixed to the end of the third channel 120. When the key is inserted into the lock hole 201 and unlocks, causing the lock cylinder 200 to rotate, the positioning bead 105 leaves the positioning recess 220 and moves along... Figure 5 The dotted line 202 shown slides circumferentially along the outer periphery of the lock cylinder 200. When the user needs to remove the key, he turns the key and senses, through non-visual means (such as hearing the sound of the positioning bead 105 hitting the positioning recess 220, and feeling the vibration of the two hitting each other), that the positioning bead 105 has re-entered the positioning recess 220. This confirms that the key has been turned to the return position and can be removed immediately without repeatedly probing the key's position.
[0029] In one embodiment, the third channel 120 is arranged parallel to the first channel 110, and the central axis of the third channel 120 is in the same plane as the central axes of several first channels 110. In this case, the processing difficulty is relatively small, and the diameter, depth, and plug 101 of the third channel 120 can be the same as those of the first channel 110 to further reduce the processing and assembly difficulty. In another embodiment, although the third channel 120 is arranged parallel to the first channel 110, the central axis of the third channel 120 is not in the same plane as the central axes of several first channels 110. In yet another embodiment, the central axis of the third channel 120 is arranged opposite to the central axis of the first channel 110. In both of these embodiments, the central axis of the positioning recess 220 corresponding to the third channel 120 is also opposite to the central axis of the second channel 210, which may increase the processing difficulty, but the positioning effect can still be achieved.
[0030] In another embodiment, the positions of the positioning element and the positioning part can be interchanged. In other pin tumbler locks different from those shown in the accompanying drawings, the positioning element may be located on the lock cylinder 200 and the positioning part may be located on the lock cylinder sleeve 100. This will be understood and implemented by those skilled in the art, and will not be described in detail here.
[0031] In another embodiment, the third channel 120 does not necessarily have to be located on the side away from the key hole 201, but can be located on the side close to the key hole 201, or it can be any position that allows the positioning member to contact the positioning part when the lock cylinder 200 rotates. This also depends on the specific structure of the pin tumbler lock, but the principle is the same as that of this utility model.
[0032] In one embodiment, the positioning element and the positioning part can also be a magnetically coupled assembly. When the key drives the lock cylinder 200 to rotate, overcoming the magnetic force, the positioning element and the positioning part separate. When the lock cylinder returns to the centered position, the positioning element and the positioning part are positioned by magnetic force, providing the user with a non-visual prompt, thus allowing them to quickly remove the key. In the embodiment of the magnetically coupled positioning structure described above, the third channel 120, the second return spring 103, and the plug 101 can be omitted.
[0033] Positioning elements and positioning parts form a set of positioning structures, and at least one set is used in a pin tumbler lock. In some embodiments, the number of positioning structures can be two or more, especially when some pin tumbler locks may need to have structures to prevent technical unlocking, or need to have structures to strengthen locking, or need dual or multiple positioning. Those skilled in the art can set the position and number of the corresponding positioning structures as needed.
[0034] Because the position and direction of movement of the bolt 310 differ, the rotation direction of the lock cylinder 200 will also differ. For example, in some embodiments, the bolt 310 only needs to rotate within a range of 90 degrees or 180 degrees. Figure 4As shown, the initial position of the latch 310 is at the 6 o'clock position. When the key drives the lock cylinder 200 to rotate 90 degrees or 180 degrees clockwise, the latch 310 will also rotate clockwise to the 9 o'clock or 12 o'clock position, and the same applies to counterclockwise rotation. In some embodiments, the latch 310 may need to rotate at a larger angle, such as from the 1 o'clock position to the 11 o'clock position, or the user may need to rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise. In such cases, without a positioning structure, it would be more difficult for the user to try to return the key to the correct position. Therefore, the positioning structure should have good universality, that is, regardless of the rotation direction and angle of the lock cylinder 200, and regardless of the initial position of the latch 310, the positioning structure should not be affected by the above factors. In extreme cases, even when the rotation angle of the lock cylinder 200 exceeds 360 degrees, this should still be the case. The positioning structure of this utility model can fully achieve the above technical effects.
Claims
1. A lock core positioning structure applied to a lock core of a pin tumbler lock, the lock core being rotatably connected with a lock core sleeve, characterized in that: The lock cylinder and the lock cylinder sleeve include a positioning member and a positioning part. After the lock cylinder is unlocked, it rotates relative to the lock cylinder sleeve, causing the positioning member and the positioning part to disengage. When the lock cylinder returns to the center position, the positioning member and the positioning part come into contact with each other, generating a sound and / or vibration that can be perceived by the user to indicate that the lock cylinder is in the center position.
2. The cylinder positioning structure according to claim 1, characterized by: The lock cylinder includes the positioning part, and the positioning member is elastically connected to the lock cylinder sleeve. In the locked state, the positioning member always maintains a tendency to move towards the positioning part; the positioning member is always in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lock cylinder.
3. The cylinder positioning structure according to claim 2, characterized by: The lock cylinder sleeve includes a third channel, and the positioning member is elastically connected to the third channel by a second return spring, which is always in a compressed state.
4. The cylinder positioning structure according to claim 3, characterized by: The lock cylinder sleeve also includes a first channel, and the lock cylinder also includes a second channel. The first channel is coaxial with and connected to the second channel, and the pins reciprocate elastically within the first channel and the second channel.
5. The cylinder positioning structure according to claim 4, characterized by: The third channel is parallel to the first channel.
6. The cylinder positioning structure according to claim 5, characterized by: The central axis of the third channel is in the same plane as the central axes of several of the first channels.
7. The cylinder positioning structure according to claim 4, characterized by: The central axis of the third channel is out of plane from the central axis of the first channel.
8. The cylinder positioning structure according to claim 2, characterized by: The positioning element is a positioning bead, and the positioning part is a positioning recess located on the outer peripheral surface of the lock cylinder that cooperates with the positioning bead.
9. The cylinder positioning structure according to claim 1, characterized by: The lock cylinder includes the positioning element, and the lock cylinder sleeve includes the positioning part.
10. A pin-tumbler lock, characterized by: The lock cylinder positioning structure includes any one of claims 1-9, wherein the number of the lock cylinder positioning structures is one or more.