Lock Cylinder Dividable Pin Shearing Recoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recodable pin cylinders face issues with accidental recoding, obstruction of moving parts, and complex, costly production due to separate components and gluing operations, which can lead to malfunctions and wear and tear.
Innovation Solution
A lock cylinder with a dividable pin configured in one piece, featuring a material cutout that allows for pure shearing separation when a key is turned, minimizing accidental recoding and ensuring smooth fracture surfaces, thus reducing the risk of obstruction and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate pin segments are glued together to enable recoding, then the risk of accidental recoding is reduced, but production complexity and cost increase due to precision gluing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple pin segments into a single monolithic pin made of brittle material. Instead of assembling separate segments through gluing, the entire pin is manufactured as one piece with a built-in weakness plane that allows controlled fracture for recoding. This eliminates the gluing operation and reduces production complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from ductile to brittle, enabling the pin to fracture cleanly along a predetermined plane when subjected to recoding forces. This material selection allows the pin to be both secure during normal operation and easily recodable through controlled fracture, without requiring complex assembly processes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pin segments are glued together for recoding functionality, then recoding is enabled, but glue fragments may obstruct moving parts causing malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the recoding functionality from a multi-component assembly and embeds it directly into the monolithic pin structure through a built-in weakness plane. The recoding process fractures the pin along this plane rather than separating glued segments, eliminating the source of harmful glue fragments that could obstruct moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of fragment generation into a benefit by designing a controlled fracture plane that produces clean, predictable breakage. The fracture creates smooth surfaces that are less likely to cause obstructions, and the predetermined breakage path ensures fragments are contained and do not scatter into surrounding mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a separate ball is used for recoding, then recoding is achieved by lifting the ball into the pin channel, but the ball may leave its intended position causing accidental recoding or blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the recoding mechanism with the pin itself by incorporating a weakness plane directly into the pin structure. Instead of using a separate movable component like a ball that can drift or misposition, the recoding capability is intrinsic to the pin's geometry, eliminating position stability issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the pin into two portions along a predetermined weakness plane, creating a controlled fracture path. This segmentation is built into the monolithic structure during manufacturing, providing reliable and repeatable recoding behavior without the need for separate components that could malfunction.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the upper pin portion is broken off by bending, then recoding is achieved, but uneven fracture surfaces may prevent proper transport and reception of the broken-off portion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fracture mechanism from bending-induced breaking to controlled fracture along a predetermined plane. The weakness plane is designed during manufacturing to ensure clean, even fracture surfaces when the pin is recoded, eliminating the uneven surfaces that result from bending and ensuring proper transport and reception of the broken-off portion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a secure, reliable, and cost-effective recoding mechanism with minimized risk of accidental recoding, ensuring high functional security and simple production by using a single machined workpiece without precision gluing, resulting in smooth and flat fracture surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
By turning of the core, a pure shearing force acts on the dividable pin on the material cutout, whereupon the upper portion is separated from the lower portion by pure shearing
Data Source
Figure 1~2c
Figure 3a~6
Figure 7a
AI summary
Lock cylinder comprising a cylinder housing (1), having a first cylindrical pin channel (4a), and a core (2), rotatable in the cylinder housing and having a second cylindrical pin channel (6a) corresponding to the first pin channel. The first and second pin channels have substantially the same cross-sectional geometry. The lock cylinder also comprises at least one pin (8, 8', 8''), which is dividable by turning of a key inserted in the core and is accommodated in the second pin channel, to allow recoding of the lock cylinder. The dividable pin is configured in one piece and comprises a first axial portion (21) and a second axial portion (22), which axial portions are separated by a material cutout and have substantially the same cross -sectional geometry as the first and second pin channels.