Lock Key Shank with Embedded Elongated Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing key designs are prone to damage, costly to produce, and easily replicable due to protruding elements, which compromise stability and security.
Innovation Solution
The key features an elongated element completely within the shank's enveloping profile, protruding immovably into multiple grooves, providing stability and difficulty in copying, with optional features like angled orientation and symmetric arrangement to enhance security and production simplicity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the elongated element protrudes beyond the enveloping profile of the shank, then the attachment of the elongate element is secure, but the key becomes sensitive to damage and easy to copy
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated element transitions from protruding outward (radial dimension) to extending longitudinally within the shank (longitudinal dimension). This dimensional change allows the element to be embedded within the shank's enveloping profile, eliminating external protrusions that cause damage sensitivity and copying issues, while maintaining secure attachment through longitudinal engagement with profile grooves
2Strength
If the elongated element protrudes beyond the enveloping profile, then the attachment is secure, but the freedom of arrangement of profile grooves is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By orienting the elongated element longitudinally within the shank rather than radially outward, the design enables flexible arrangement of profile grooves at various positions and orientations along the shank's length. The element can engage with grooves in multiple locations without compromising attachment strength, significantly increasing design versatility
3Shape
If elements are arranged on small plates fastened in the shank, then the key structure is defined, but the production costs become very high
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts and eliminates the separate small plate component from the key structure. Instead of fastening elements to individual plates, the elongated element is directly embedded in the shank material, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing production costs while maintaining the required structural configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The shank and elongated element are merged into a single integrated structure. The elongated element is pressed directly into the shank material, combining what were previously separate components (plate and element) into one unified key body, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs
4Ease of operation
If the shank requires sufficient material thickness to guide the movable element, then the element can be guided, but the arrangement of profile grooves is greatly restricted
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the shank thick to guide a movable element, the design inverts the approach by using a thin-walled shank with an elongated element that is pressed immovably into profile grooves. The guidance function is achieved through the grooves themselves rather than through thick wall constraints, freeing up design freedom
Data Source
Figure 1~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The key has a cladding profile (6) formed in a side surface of a shaft (1) and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the shaft. Profile grooves (3) interrupt the cladding profile, and locking recesses are formed in the shaft. An elongated stretched element (5) i.e. pin, is fixed in the shaft. The elongated stretched element is completely arranged within the cladding profile of the shaft and immovably projects into the profile grooves. A symmetry axis of the elongated stretched element is bent relative to a surface of the shaft around an angle.