Lock Cylinder Rotor Shield for Drill-Resistant Keyway Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lock cylinders are susceptible to tampering, particularly through the use of acid and/or tampering devices such as drills, and existing protective devices fail to adequately protect the key insertion channel, leaving it vulnerable to tampering devices such as drills, and existing protective devices fail to adequately protect the key insertion channel, leaving the key insertion channel exposed.

Innovation Solution

A protection device comprising a stator body and a rotor body with a mechanical locking mechanism that can be switched between locking and unlocking configurations, preventing tampering by allowing the rotor body to rotate between closed and open positions, and a mechanical locking device with pins and counter-pins to prevent unauthorized access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a traditional defender is applied to protect the lock cylinder, then the cylinder body is protected against drilling, but the key insertion channel remains exposed and vulnerable to tampering

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against drillingVSAvoidprotection of key insertion channel
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor body is nested within the stator body, creating a protective structure where the rotor can rotate between open and closed positions. When closed, the rotor occludes the key insertion channel inlet section, providing protection while maintaining access capability when opened.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotor body is positioned in a closed state during installation, preemptively blocking the key insertion channel inlet section before any tampering attempt occurs. The mechanical locking device is pre-configured to maintain this protective closed position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the rotor body is made rotatable to allow key insertion, then access to the lock is enabled, but the key insertion channel becomes exposed to tampering devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvekey insertion accessVSAvoidvulnerability to tampering
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor body is designed to be dynamically rotatable between two positions: open (allowing key insertion) and closed (protecting the channel). The mechanical locking device enables controlled transition between these states, providing both accessibility and protection as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a mechanical locking device with pins and counter-pins is implemented, then unauthorized rotation is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of unauthorized accessVSAvoidlocking mechanism structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism is segmented into multiple independent pin sets, each with corresponding counter-pins. This segmentation allows for modular implementation and provides multiple locking points around the rotor body, enhancing security while allowing for standardized manufacturing of individual components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4461907B1Protection device for a lock cylinder
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 SECUREMME
  • EP4461907B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4461907B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4461907B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3D

AI summary

Protection device (1) of a lock cylinder (C) comprising a stator body (2) and a rotor body (3) inserted into the stator body (2) and rotatable about an axis of rotation (A) of the rotor body (3). The rotor body (3) is selectively rotatable, in use, between a closed position, wherein a locking wall (3a) of the rotor body (3) completely occludes an inlet section of an insertion slot "F" of the cylinder (C), and an open position, wherein an access window (3b) of the rotor body (3) is coaxially arranged to the inlet section of the insertion slot (F). The rotor body (3) further comprises a mechanical locking device (4) which may be switched between an unlocking configuration, wherein the rotor body (3) is rotatable between the closed position and open position and vice versa, and a locking configuration, wherein the rotor body (3) is locked at least in the closed position. The device (1) further comprises an actuating key (5) of the rotor body (3), which may be inserted into an access portion (6) of the mechanical locking device (4) opposite, in use, to the locking wall (3a), configured to switch the mechanical locking device (4) from the locking configuration to the unlocking configuration and vice versa.