Lock Re-pinning Assembly with Follower Bar
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Re-pinning lock cylinders can be difficult for inexperienced individuals, leading to unintended ejection of pins and a 'blown' condition, which complicates the reassembly process and often results in locks being returned as damaged products.
Innovation Solution
A lock re-pinning assembly comprising multiple housings and a mounting block with follower bars that maintain contact between the lock plug and follower bar, preventing pin ejection during the re-pinning process, allowing for smooth alignment and replacement of pins without causing a 'blown' condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional re-pinning process is used without specialized equipment, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of preventing unintended pin ejection is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The follower bar acts as an intermediary component between the plug and the pin chambers. It maintains continuous contact with the plug during removal, preventing the sudden ejection of pins while allowing controlled disassembly. This mediator component resolves the contradiction by providing reliable pin retention without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The follower bar is positioned in advance within the assembly to be ready when the plug is removed. This preliminary positioning ensures that as soon as the plug begins to move, the follower bar is already in place to prevent pin ejection, eliminating the need for reactive control mechanisms and maintaining simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the follower bar diameter is made exactly equal to the plug diameter for precise alignment, then the manufacturing precision is high, but the ease of operation is reduced due to tight tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The design specifies that the follower bar diameter is substantially equal to the plug diameter, allowing for minor variations within acceptable tolerances. This parameter approach balances precision alignment with practical assembly considerations, enabling proper function without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances that would complicate assembly operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A lock re-pinning assembly including two or more housings and a mounting block. Each housing is configured for use with a corresponding one of a plurality of lock cylinder shells. Each of the housings includes a cylindrical chamber and a channel. The chamber is configured to receive the body of the corresponding shell, and the channel is configured to receive the tower of the corresponding shell. The mounting block includes a mounting block having two or more sections. Each section is configured for use with a corresponding one of a plurality of lock cylinder plugs. Each section includes a cavity configured to receive an end of at least one of the housings, and a cylindrical follower bar having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the corresponding plug. Each of the housings is releasably engageable with the mounting block at each of the plurality of sections.