Locking Cylinder With Modular Active and Passive Locking Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional locking cylinders lack modular diversity and variability, requiring significant structural modifications to change authentication methods, limiting their security and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A locking cylinder design with multiple rows of recesses and locking elements, including active and passive interrogation types, allowing for high variability and modular diversity, with elements projecting into the keyway and utilizing spring-loaded mechanisms for enhanced security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional locking cylinder designs are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the modular diversity and variability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The locking cylinder is divided into multiple independent rows of recesses (first row, second row, third row) that can be selectively configured. Each row contains multiple recesses that can independently receive different locking elements, allowing modular assembly and disassembly. This segmentation enables high variability in authentication methods without requiring complete structural redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing and core are designed with universal recess structures that can accommodate multiple types of locking elements (active query types with spring elements, passive query types without spring elements). The same recess geometry can serve different authentication functions, allowing a single cylinder design to support multiple authentication methods through selective configuration of locking elements.
2Reliability
If the number of recesses and locking elements is increased to enhance security, then the security level improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple rows of recesses are nested within the housing structure, with each row containing multiple recesses that can be selectively activated. The locking elements are nested within the recesses, and spring elements are nested within the locking elements. This nested arrangement allows a high number of locking mechanisms to be packed into a compact space without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a single row of locking elements to multiple rows (first row, second row, third row) arranged in different dimensions within the housing. This dimensional expansion allows security to be enhanced by adding rows rather than simply increasing the number of elements in a single line, distributing complexity across multiple spatial dimensions.
3Reliability
If different authentication methods are combined to increase security, then the security level improves, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing and core are pre-configured with multiple rows of recesses during manufacturing, but the specific locking elements for each recess are selected and installed based on the desired authentication method combination. This preliminary preparation of the recess structure allows for easy reconfiguration of authentication methods by simply changing which locking elements are installed, without requiring complex manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows changing the authentication method combination by varying parameters such as which recesses are activated, what type of locking elements are installed in each recess, and whether spring elements are used. These parameter changes enable different security configurations without requiring fundamental manufacturing process changes, maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving high security.
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 design provides high security against unauthorized unlocking and modular versatility, enabling a high number of possible locking mechanisms and easy assembly, while maintaining a compact form factor.
Implementation Method 1
The locking elements are biased towards the locking channel for active query types or are held movable in the core without bias for passive query types
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A locking cylinder (1) for a key (4) with a core (3) movable in a housing (2) has several parallel rows of recesses (10, 23, 24) for receiving locking elements (6, 11, 12, 17, 18, 31, 32, 39, 41). Some of the locking elements (6, 11, 12, 17, 18, 31, 32) are biased by spring elements (21, 22, 44, 45) towards a locking channel (5) and form active locking modes. Other locking elements (39, 41) are freely movable within the locking cylinder (1) for passive locking modes. The locking cylinder (1) allows for a particularly high number and variability of locking modes.