Key Cylinder Dividing Wall Strength via Axial Groove Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing key cylinder devices face challenges in enhancing the strength of the dividing wall without increasing the size of the cylinder lock, as increasing thickness or diameter leads to undesired size increments, and the dividing wall is prone to breaking under strong forces during illegal unlocking attempts.
Innovation Solution
A key cylinder device design featuring a cylindrical rotor case, a non-rotatable sleeve with a dividing wall that includes first and second dividing wall portions, where the second portion is engaged with a recessed groove on the rotor case, forming an illegal rotation preventing mechanism that enhances strength without increasing the overall size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the radial thickness of the outer cylinder is increased to enhance the strength of the dividing wall, then the strength is improved, but the outer diameter of the outer cylinder increases, resulting in an increase in the volume of the entire cylinder lock
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from increasing radial thickness to increasing axial thickness of the dividing wall. By extending the dividing wall along the axial direction and engaging it with recessed grooves on the rotor case, the strength is enhanced without increasing the radial dimensions, thereby maintaining the original outer diameter and volume of the cylinder lock.
2Strength
If the circumferential thickness of the dividing wall of the outer cylinder is increased to enhance strength, then the strength is improved, but the outer diameter of the outer cylinder increases, resulting in an undesired increase in size of the entire cylinder lock
Solution Approach 1:
The invention shifts the strengthening approach from circumferential direction to axial direction. The dividing wall is extended axially and engaged with recessed grooves, providing enhanced strength without increasing the circumferential thickness, thus maintaining the original outer diameter and overall shape of the cylinder lock.
3Strength
If the dividing wall is designed to withstand concentrated force from forced rotation, then the strength is improved, but the structural complexity increases due to additional reinforcement features
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed grooves on the rotor case serve as intermediary structures that engage with the dividing wall. This engagement mechanism distributes the concentrated force from forced rotation across the axial length of the dividing wall and transfers it to the rotor case, enhancing strength without requiring complex internal reinforcement features within the dividing wall itself.
Data Source
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AI summary
A key cylinder device includes a cylindrical rotor case, a rotor rotatably enclosed in the rotor case, a sleeve fixedly disposed between the rotor and the rotor case, and a tumbler moving in a radial direction inside the rotor by insertion and extraction of a mechanical key into and from the rotor. The sleeve includes a hole not engaged with the tumbler by the insertion of the mechanical key and engaged by the extraction of the mechanical key, and a dividing wall formed at a middle of the hole, the dividing wall receiving the tumbler. A part of the dividing wall is engaged with a recessed groove formed on an inner peripheral surface of the rotor case.