Locking cylinder

Abstract

A locking cylinder (1) for a key (4) with a core (3) movable in a housing (2) has several parallel rows of recesses (10, 23, 24) for receiving locking elements (6, 11, 12, 17, 18, 31, 32, 39, 41). Some of the locking elements (6, 11, 12, 17, 18, 31, 32) are biased by spring elements (21, 22, 44, 45) towards a locking channel (5) and form active locking modes. Other locking elements (39, 41) are freely movable within the locking cylinder (1) for passive locking modes. The locking cylinder (1) allows for a particularly high number and variability of locking modes.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a locking cylinder for a key with a core movable in a housing, with a locking channel arranged in the core for receiving a key shaft, with locking elements movable by locking recesses of the key for selectively locking or releasing the movement of the core, with a first series of parallel recesses arranged in a central plane leading longitudinally through the locking channel for receiving at least a partial area of ​​the locking elements, wherein the locking elements are biased towards the locking channel for active query types or are held movable in the core without bias for passive query types, and wherein a second series of recesses is arranged next to the locking channel parallel to the first series of recesses arranged in the central plane.

[0002] Such locking cylinders are known in practice in a wide variety of designs. The locking elements can either directly block the movement of the core itself or scan the key and move another locking element into a position that blocks the movement of the core. For example, the locking elements can be designed as pin tumblers with a core pin and a housing pin, or they can consist solely of a core element.

[0003] From EP 0 237 172 A2, a locking device consisting of a locking cylinder and associated flat key with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known. However, the modular variety is limited.

[0004] EP 2 494 131 B1 also discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1. However, compared to the invention, it only allows for a limited modular diversity.

[0005] A cylinder lock with a cylinder housing and a cylinder core is also known, for example, from EP 0 115 568 A2. In this cylinder lock, several locking elements for active and passive query types are grouped around the locking channel. The locking elements of the active query types, which are pre-tensioned by spring elements, project vertically into the locking channel. Locking elements of the passive query types are arranged in the corner areas of the locking channel.

[0006] Furthermore, EP 0 792 984 A1 discloses a locking device in which additional recesses are arranged laterally next to the locking channel, parallel to the central plane of the locking channel. Each recess has core pins and housing pins pre-tensioned by spring elements. Locking elements for passive scanning methods are not provided.

[0007] A disadvantage of conventional locking cylinders is that changing the authentication methods requires significant structural modifications. However, combining different authentication methods offers a high level of security, particularly regarding copy protection for the key used to lock the cylinder.

[0008] The invention is based on the problem of further developing a locking cylinder of the type mentioned above in such a way that it has a particularly high degree of variability, a high number of query types and a high degree of modular diversity.

[0009] This problem is solved according to the invention by arranging a locking element projecting into the closing channel in the connection of two recesses leading to the outside of the core.

[0010] This design results in a high number of recesses in the cylinder, in which locking elements for active or passive interrogation types can be inserted. This high number of recesses also allows for a high number of possible locking mechanisms. Therefore, the cylinder offers a high level of security against unauthorized unlocking, as it is not visible from the outside at which point on the key an active or passive interrogation type is required. The modular versatility of the cylinder is further enhanced by the fact that a locking element projecting into the keyway is positioned at the junction of two recesses leading to the outside of the core. This allows for the optional provision of either active or passive interrogation types, which can be implemented by selecting the appropriate locking elements.

[0011] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, a particularly high number of query types can be easily arranged in the locking cylinder in a limited installation space if the recesses of the first row and the second row have the same distances to each other, wherein the second row is offset from the first row by half the distance of the recesses.

[0012] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking elements deflected by the key enable the control of a common locking element if the core has an elongated recess for a rib-like locking element and if the elongated recess is arranged perpendicular to the second row of parallel recesses.

[0013] The locking elements arranged in the second row could, like the locking elements arranged in the first row, be individually movable relative to a locking recess in the housing. However, according to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, a particularly large-area support of the core against the housing can be easily achieved if the locking elements arranged in the second row of recesses have lateral slots and if the slots have the same height as the strip-like locking element.

[0014] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, simplifying the assembly of the lock cylinder is achieved if the locking elements arranged in the second row are pre-tensioned by spring elements, if a common retaining rod supports the spring elements, and if the retaining rod is fixed in the core. Preferably, the retaining rod is pressed into the core.

[0015] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking cylinder has a particularly simple design if the rib-like locking element is biased towards the housing by a spring element and if the rib-like locking element and a locking recess in the housing are designed as ramps relative to each other. The ramped design of the rib-like locking element and the locking recess allows the rib-like locking element to be pushed back into the core when the core rotates, once the movement is released.

[0016] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the locking cylinder has a particularly high level of security against unauthorized unlocking if one of the locking elements pre-tensioned in the locking channel has an undercut and extends to just before a locking recess in the housing, and if a locking element pre-tensioned transversely to it engages in the undercut with a portion of a deflection ramp. Preferably, the undercut is created by a circumferential constriction of the locking element. The locking element can have a cylindrical or spherical shape for this purpose.

[0017] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, increasing the number of possible query types is achieved by arranging a further locking element in each of the recesses leading to the outside of the core, in addition to the locking element projecting into the locking channel. This allows the position of the locking element projecting into the locking channel to be simultaneously scanned by two further locking elements.

[0018] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, a third row of recesses is arranged next to the locking channel to further increase the modular versatility of the locking cylinder, and the first row of recesses is arranged between the second and third rows of recesses. Preferably, locking elements arranged in the third row of recesses also control a bar-like locking element, so that, apart from certain passive scanning methods, the locking cylinder is essentially symmetrical in design.

[0019] The invention allows for numerous embodiments. To further illustrate its basic principle, one of these is shown in the drawing and described below. This shows in Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section along a central plane through a lock cylinder with a key authorized to lock it; Fig. 2 shows a sectional view through the lock cylinder made of Figure 1 along line II - II, Fig. 3 enlarged a sectional view through a part of the lock cylinder from Figure 2 along line III - III, Fig. 4 enlarged a cross-sectional view through a partial area of ​​the lock cylinder. Figure 2 along line IV - IV, Fig. 5 enlarged a cross-sectional view through a partial area of ​​the lock cylinder. Figure 2 along the line V - V, Fig.6 the arrangement of locking elements of the locking cylinder in an enlarged perspective view.

[0020] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a locking cylinder 1 with a core 3 rotatable in a housing 2 and with a key 4 authorized to operate the cylinder, in a sectional view along a central plane. The locking cylinder 1 has a keyway 5 and a first row of locking elements 6 for selectively blocking or releasing the movement of the core 3. The locking elements 6 are biased into the keyway 5 by spring elements 7 and thus into locking recesses 8 in the key 4. The locking recesses 8 for the first row of locking elements 6 are arranged in a key face 9 of the key 4. The locking elements 6 are therefore part of active query modes of the locking cylinder 1. The housing 2 and the core 3 have a series of recesses 10 for receiving and guiding the locking elements 6.

[0021] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the lock cylinder 1. Figure 1along line II - II. It can be seen that the locking cylinder 1 has a second row of locking elements 11 and a third row of locking elements 12, which are arranged next to the locking channel 5 and thus next to the central plane of the locking cylinder 1. These locking elements 11, 12 penetrate the locking channel 5 from the side and engage locking recesses 15, 16 arranged in the broad sides 13, 14 of the key 4.

[0022] A comparison of Figures 1 and 2 shows that the locking elements 6 of the first row and the locking elements 11, 12 of the second and third rows have the same distances to each other, with the second row being offset from the first row by half the distance of the locking elements 6, 11, 12.

[0023] Figure 3 shows in a cross-sectional view through the lock cylinder Figure 2 along line III -III, that locking elements 11', 12 arranged in the section plane of the second and third rows are opposite further locking elements 17, 18 with a deflection ramp 19, 20. The further locking elements 17, 18 with a deflection ramp 19, 20 are pre-tensioned by spring elements 21, 22 and slidably guided in recesses 23, 241 parallel to the second and third rows of recesses 23, 241 arranged in the median plane. The spring elements 21, 22 are supported on a retaining rod 25, 26 pressed into the core 3. The locking elements 11', 12, which are pre-tensioned in the locking channel 5, are arranged in a connection between two recesses 23, 24, 27, 28 extending to the outside of the core 3.

[0024] One of the locking elements 11' pre-tensioned in the locking channel 5 has an undercut 29 and is guided in the housing 2 up to just before a locking recess 30. This undercut 29 is scanned by the locking element 11' which has the deflection ramp 19.

[0025] The locking elements 17, 18, which have the deflection ramp 19, have lateral slots 37, 38 for strip-like locking elements 31, 32. The strip-like locking elements 31, 32 are slidably guided in recesses 33, 34 arranged perpendicular to the recesses 33, 34 parallel to the central plane and are each preloaded into a locking recess 35, 33 in the housing 2. The strip-like locking elements 31, 32 and the associated locking recesses 35, 36 are designed as ramps relative to each other, so that they can be pushed back into the core 3 when the core 3 rotates relative to the housing 2, as soon as the lateral slots 37, 38 of the locking elements 17, 18, which have the deflection ramp 19, 20, are moved at the height of the strip-like locking elements 31, 32.

[0026] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view through the lock cylinder 1. Figure 2along line VI-VI, a further locking element 39 is arranged in a recess 28' leading to the outside of the core 3, behind a locking element 12' that scans the key. This locking element 39 is opposite a locking recess 40 in the housing 2 and is designed for passive scanning. If the key 4 has a sufficiently deep locking recess 16' into which the next locking element 12' can penetrate, the locking element 39 opposite the locking recess 40 can also engage in the core 3. The core 3 can then be rotated freely relative to the housing 2.

[0027] The designs of the individual locking elements 12, 12', 18, 39 of the Figures 3 and 4 can be combined in an embodiment not shown, such that the locking element 12, 12' scanning the key 4 simultaneously drives two further locking elements 18, 39.

[0028] Figure 5shows in a cross-sectional view through the lock cylinder 1. Figure 2 along the line V - V, a further locking element 41 is slidably arranged in a recess 42 in the core 3. This further locking element 41 scans a ridge 43 of the key 4 without preload and is thus part of a passive scanning method. Furthermore, it shows Figure 5 Spring elements 44 for pre-tensioning the strip-like locking elements 29, 30 in the direction of the locking recesses 33, 34 in the housing 2.

[0029] Figure 6 To illustrate, the locking elements and spring elements of the lock cylinder are shown from the Figures 1 to 5 in a perspective view. To simplify the drawing, only the locking elements 6, 11, 12, 17, 18, 31, 32, 39, 41 guided in the core 3 are shown. The retaining bars 25, 26 for the locking elements 17, 18 arranged laterally next to the central plane are guided over the entire respective row of locking elements 17, 18.

Claims

1. Locking cylinder (1) for a key (4), the locking cylinder comprising a core (3) which can be moved in a housing (2), comprising a locking channel (5) arranged in the core (3) for receiving a shank of a key (4), comprising blocking elements (6, 11, 12, 17, 18, 31, 32, 39, 41) which can be moved by locking recesses (8, 15, 16, 16') of the key (4) for selectively locking or releasing the movement of the core (3), comprising a first row of parallel recesses (10) arranged in a central plane leading longitudinally through the locking channel for receiving at least a portion of the blocking elements (6), the blocking elements (6) being preloaded in the direction of the locking channel (5) for active interrogation types or being held movably in the core (3) without preloading for passive interrogation types, and a second row of recesses (23) being arranged next to the locking channel (5) in parallel with the first row of recesses (10) arranged in the central plane,characterized in that a blocking element (11, 11', 12) projecting into the locking channel (5) is arranged in the connection between two recesses (23, 24, 27, 28) leading to the outside of the core (3).

2. Locking cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that the recesses (10, 23) of the first row and the second row have the same distances from one another, the second row being offset from the first row by half the distance between the recesses (10, 23).

3. Locking cylinder according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the core (3) has an elongate recess (33, 34) for a strip-like blocking element (31, 32) and in that the elongate recess (33, 34) is arranged perpendicularly to the second row of parallel recesses (23).

4. Locking cylinder according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the blocking elements (17) arranged in the second row of the recesses (23) have lateral slots (37) and in that the slots (37) have the height of the strip-like blocking element (31).

5. Locking cylinder according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the blocking elements (17) arranged in the second row are preloaded by spring elements (21), in that a common holding rod (25) supports the spring elements (21) and in that the holding rod (25) is fastened in the core (3).

6. Locking cylinder according to at least one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the strip-like blocking element (31) is preloaded by a spring element (44) in the direction of the housing (2) and in that the strip-like blocking element (31) and a blocking recess (35) in the housing (2) are designed in a ramp-like manner relative to one another.

7. Locking cylinder according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that one of the blocking elements (11') preloaded in the locking channel (5) has an undercut (29) and is guided in the housing (2) up to just before a blocking recess (30), and in that a blocking element (17) preloaded transversely thereto penetrates into the undercut (29) with a portion of a deflection ramp (19).

8. Locking cylinder according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a further blocking element (18, 39) is arranged in each of the recesses (24, 28, 28') leading to the outside of the core (3) the blocking element (12, 12') projecting into the locking channel (5).

9. Locking cylinder according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a third row of recesses (24) is arranged next to the locking channel (5) and in that the first row of recesses (10) is arranged between the second row of recesses (23) and the third row of recesses (24).

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