High-Security Lock Cylinder With Automatic Rotor Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing euro-profile lock cylinders are vulnerable to lock snapping, leading to potential unauthorized access, and existing solutions either increase lock size, making them incompatible with existing mechanisms, or introduce complex and costly clutch and security mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A cylinder lock design featuring a clutch mechanism with a rotor and a security mechanism that includes a locking portion capable of rotating between conditions, a frangible connection, and a biasing mechanism to prevent further actuation upon snapping, ensuring the lock maintains its locking function and can be operated from the inside.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the strength of the whole lock cylinder is increased to prevent snapping, then security against lock snapping is improved, but the lock size increases making it incompatible with existing door locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The lock cylinder is divided into two separate parts: a frangible portion that can snap off and a cam portion that remains in the door. The frangible portion contains the locking mechanism and can be removed, while the cam portion with the cam mechanism remains secured in the door housing, maintaining compatibility with existing door locks while providing anti-snapping security.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism is extracted from the lock cylinder body and placed in a separate cam housing that remains in the door. This allows the lock cylinder to be designed as a removable frangible portion while the critical cam component that controls locking/unlocking remains in place, preventing complete lock failure even if the cylinder is snapped.
2Strength
If a frangible portion is provided between the central cam and external surface to enable preferential snapping, then security against complete lock removal is improved, but complex clutch and security mechanisms are required which increase cost and potential for failure
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch mechanism and security features are merged into the cam housing rather than being separate components in the lock cylinder. The cam housing contains the cam, the clutch mechanism for internal operation, and security features work together as an integrated unit that remains in the door, simplifying the overall design while maintaining security functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible portion is designed to automatically snap off at a predetermined weak point when subjected to excessive force, without requiring any additional sensors, actuators, or control systems. The mechanical design itself provides the security response, eliminating the need for complex electronic or mechanical control systems.
3Reliability
If the locking portion is configured to block rotor rotation after snapping, then security against external actuation is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex mechanism to actively lock the rotor after snapping, the design uses a passive approach where the frangible portion's removal or damage automatically prevents rotor rotation. The locking security is achieved by the absence of the frangible portion rather than by an active locking mechanism, simplifying the overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam housing is pre-configured with features that automatically engage or lock when the frangible portion is removed or damaged. The security mechanism is prepared in advance so that upon snapping, the rotor becomes automatically blocked without requiring additional activation steps or complex control systems.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a~6
AI summary
A cylinder lock (1) having a lock barrel, a cam (5), and a clutch mechanism for connecting the lock barrel (6) and the cam upon insertion of a key into the lock barrel. The clutch mechanism has a rotor (41, 141) for transferring a rotation from the lock barrel to the cam. The lock has a security mechanism comprising a locking portion (9) configured such that the locking portion is rotatable between: a first condition wherein the rotor is rotatable, and a second condition wherein the locking portion blocks the rotor from rotating. The cylinder lock is designed to automatically secure the cam if the lock is snapped by an attacker.