Locking Cylinder Bolt Retention for Tool-Free Cabinet Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional locking systems require tools and disassembly of handles or doors for installing locking cylinders, which is time-consuming, especially in pre-installed environments like control cabinets.
Innovation Solution
A locking system utilizing a locking bolt that engages with the bore of the locking cylinder, allowing tool-free installation and securement without disassembling handles or doors, with features like tapered sections, compression springs, and release mechanisms for easy engagement and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a faceplate screw is used to secure the locking cylinder, then the locking cylinder can be firmly fixed, but the installation requires tools and disassembly of handles or doors
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fastening function from the handle assembly by using a separate locking bolt that engages with the locking cylinder independently. This allows the locking cylinder to be secured without disassembling the handle or requiring tool-based screw fastening, as the locking bolt provides a tool-free extraction-style removal mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of securing the locking cylinder by screwing into the handle from the outside (conventional method), the invention inverts the approach by having the locking bolt engage from the inside of the handle, allowing the locking cylinder to be pushed in and secured in one motion without external tool intervention.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the locking cylinder is integrated into a handle, then the locking function is combined with the handle, but the handle must be removed for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The locking bolt is pre-positioned within the handle assembly during manufacturing, so that when the locking cylinder is installed, the bolt is already in place to engage with it. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need to remove the handle for installation, as the fastening mechanism is already prepared to receive the locking cylinder.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the locking bolt mechanism with the handle assembly, creating an integrated fastening system. This combination allows the locking cylinder to be secured to the handle without separating them, maintaining the integrated design while enabling tool-free installation by pushing the cylinder in and having the pre-positioned bolt engage automatically.
3Ease of operation
If the locking bolt automatically engages in the bore, then installation is simplified, but the locking cylinder can be easily removed
Solution Approach 1:
The locking bolt features asymmetric engagement where it can be pushed in easily from one direction (installation side) but requires significant force or a tool to remove from the other direction. This asymmetric design allows automatic engagement during installation while preventing easy unauthorized removal, as the bolt engages smoothly during installation but resists extraction without proper tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking bolt is designed with preliminary anti-action by positioning itself to automatically engage with the locking cylinder bore during installation, preventing removal before authorized access. The bolt's engagement creates a pre-established barrier that requires intentional action (using a tool or applying significant force) to overcome, thus preventing unauthorized removal while maintaining easy installation.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a locking system (100) for securing a locking cylinder (10) in a locking element, for example in a control cabinet door, wherein the locking cylinder (10) has a bore (11). The locking system (100) has a locking bolt (101, 120, 121) which is designed to secure the locking cylinder (10) in a position inserted into the locking element by engaging in the bore (11). The invention further relates to a locking element, for example a control cabinet door, comprising a locking system (100) according to the invention, and to a method for mounting a locking cylinder (10) in a locking system (100) or in a locking element according to the invention.