Lock Cylinder Probe Arm for Lateral Key Feature Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional locking cylinders are limited in their ability to detect key features beyond thickness and notch depth, restricting key scanning versatility.
Innovation Solution
The locking cylinder design incorporates a probe arm in the same cross-sectional plane as the core pin, allowing it to scan key features such as thickness, recess depth, profile rib height, and flank or groove contours, without requiring separate spring elements or housing pins, and enables versatile scanning with minimal structural effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional locking cylinders use separate spring elements and housing pins for scanning locking notches, then the scanning function is achieved, but the structural complexity and manufacturing effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the probe arm (core pin) and housing pin into a single integrated component. The probe arm is designed with a bearing that allows it to pivot and scan key features directly, eliminating the need for separate spring elements and housing pins that were traditionally used in pin tumblers. This merging reduces both structural complexity and manufacturing effort while maintaining the scanning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe arm serves multiple functions: it acts as a core pin for scanning locking notches, provides the scanning motion through its pivoting capability, and eliminates the need for separate spring elements. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components required in the locking cylinder mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the probe arm pivots vertically into the locking channel, then the key thickness and recess depth can be detected, but the scanning versatility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pivoting direction of the probe arm from vertical to lateral (perpendicular to the vertical). The free end of the probe arm describes a circular arc in the locking channel with the tangent pointing transversely to the vertical. This dimensional change allows the probe arm to scan additional key features such as profile rib flanks, grooves, and undercuts that cannot be detected by vertical pivoting alone, thereby enhancing scanning versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe arm is designed to pivot dynamically in response to different key contours. The bearing allows the probe arm to adapt its position laterally as it encounters different key features, enabling it to scan various dimensions including thickness, recess depth, profile rib height, and flank contours through a single dynamic component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple locking mechanisms are present at the same level of the keyway to scan different key contours, then scanning versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single probe arm is designed to perform multiple scanning functions that would traditionally require separate locking mechanisms. By pivoting laterally, it can scan profile rib flanks, grooves, undercuts, and other key features at different positions, replacing what would otherwise require multiple separate tumblers or locking elements at the same keyway level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple potential locking mechanisms into a single probe arm component. Instead of having separate mechanisms for scanning different key contours, the probe arm integrates all scanning capabilities in one pivoting element, reducing device complexity while maintaining comprehensive scanning versatility.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A locking cylinder (1) with a core (4) movable within a housing (3) has a tumbler (7) with a probe arm (18) that engages laterally in a locking channel (5). The probe arm (18) is mounted within the core (4) so that the movement of its free end describes a circular arc within the locking channel (5), the tangent (V) of which points perpendicular to the vertical axis of the locking channel (5). This design scans a lateral flank (19) of a profile rib (11) of the key (2). The locking cylinder (1) thus exhibits a particularly versatile scanning capability for features of the key (2).