Loop Lock Offset Cylinder Axle Compact Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing loop locks with a bulky design due to enlarged cylinder housings for secure fastening of the loop end are difficult to manufacture and maintain a compact form while ensuring security.
Innovation Solution
The axis of rotation of the cylinder core is offset parallel to the lock body's longitudinal axis, away from the loop's fastening point, allowing for a slimmer design without additional moldings, using an axial extension as a bolt receptacle and an inner sleeve with locking element receptacles and escape openings for a compact locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cylinder housing is enlarged or formed with additional moldings in the area of the fastening point for the first end of the loop, then a sufficient volume of material is provided for secure fastening, but the lock body becomes bulky and more difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The cylinder core is positioned asymmetrically with its rotation axis offset from the longitudinal axis of the lock body. This asymmetric arrangement allows the cylinder housing to have varying wall thickness, providing sufficient material volume at the fastening point while keeping other areas slim and compact, thus avoiding the need for additional moldings or projections
Solution Approach 2:
The cylinder housing is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, having greater thickness specifically in the area of the attachment point for the first end of the loop. This local quality enhancement provides the necessary material volume for secure fastening only where required, rather than uniformly throughout the entire housing, reducing overall complexity
2Device complexity
If the cylinder housing is made slimmer without additional moldings, then the lock body becomes more compact and easier to manufacture, but the secure attachment of the first end of the loop may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The offset positioning of the cylinder core creates an asymmetric cylinder housing with strategically thicker walls at critical locations (the fastening point) while maintaining slim dimensions elsewhere. This asymmetric design achieves both compactness and secure attachment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a uniform cylindrical design to a dimensionally varied cylinder housing where wall thickness changes in the radial dimension at specific angular positions. This dimensional variation provides localized material strength without increasing overall housing volume or complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
The loop lock has a lock body (10) surrounding a cylinder housing (12) of a lock cylinder. An end (18) of a loop (14) is releasably fastened to longitudinal end (28) of the lock body and aligned coaxially to a longitudinal axis (S) of the lock body. A cylinder core (20) of the lock cylinder is rotatably supported about an axis of rotation (Z) in the cylinder housing. The axis of rotation of the cylinder core is offset away from a fastening point of another end (16) of the loop with respect to the longitudinal axis of the lock body.