Rekeyable Cylinder Pin Valves for Versatile Recoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lock cylinders require complete replacement when a key is lost, stolen, or copied, leading to high replacement costs and limited versatility, as they cannot modify pin lengths to change key profiles.
Innovation Solution
A rekeyable cylinder design featuring pins composed of pairs of complementary valves with adjustable lengths, allowing for multiple encoding changes using a specific utensil and new keys, enabling indefinite recoding without the need for additional kits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional cylinders are used, then the locking mechanism is simple and reliable, but the cylinder must be completely replaced when a key is lost, leading to high costs and lack of versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is divided into two separate valves (first valve and second valve) that can move independently. The first valve performs translational movement while the second valve performs translational and rotational movement. This segmentation allows each valve to be controlled separately, enabling the pin length to be modified without replacing the entire cylinder mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin mechanism is made dynamic by allowing the second valve to perform rotational movement along a preset angular stroke in addition to translational movement. This dynamic capability enables the pin length to be adjusted between different positions, allowing the cylinder to be recoded multiple times by changing the angular position of the second valve relative to the first valve.
2Adaptability or versatility
If innovative cylinders with multiple key sets are provided, then the cylinder can be recoded once, but the cost is very high and only one change of coding pattern is allowed
Solution Approach 1:
The second valve is designed to perform rotational movement along a preset angular stroke, enabling multiple recoding operations. By rotating the second valve to different angular positions and securing it with the securing means, the pin length can be changed indefinitely, allowing the cylinder to be recoded multiple times without replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylinder includes a securing means that allows the user to secure the second valve in different angular positions independently. This self-service mechanism enables the user to perform recoding operations without requiring professional intervention or replacement of the entire cylinder, making the system both versatile and cost-effective.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pin structure is made adjustable to allow recoding, then the cylinder becomes versatile, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment means acts as an intermediary between the utensil and the second valve. The utensil engages with the abutment means to control the rotational movement of the second valve, providing a simple interface for the user to modify the pin length without dealing with the complexity of the internal valve mechanism directly.
Solution Approach 2:
The securing means serves as an intermediary to lock the second valve in the desired angular position. This simple securing mechanism allows the user to fix the pin length at different positions without requiring complex adjustment procedures, maintaining ease of operation while enabling versatility.
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
Enables cost-effective, easy, and practical recoding of the lock cylinder multiple times using new keys, reducing the need for frequent replacements and enhancing user flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
kept elastically in a position of interference between rotor and stator
Data Source
AI summary
A rekeyable cylinder (1) comprising a stator (2) provided with a substantially cylindrical receptacle (3) for a rotor (4). The rotor (4) and the stator (2) are affected by channels (5) for at least one respective pin, movable so that it can slide in them in contrast to respective elastic means. The simultaneous arrangement of the pins partly in the rotor (4) and partly in the stator (2) determines the locking of the rotor (4), and the alignment of a terminal edge of the pins with the interface surface between stator (2) and rotor (4), obtained through the insertion of an adapted key (7) with a contoured profile into an opening (6) of the rotor (4) that faces the channels (5), determines the free rotation of the rotor (4) with respect to the stator (2). At least one of the pins is constituted by a pair of substantially complementary valves (9, 11) which are provided, along at least one respective mutual coupling surface, with at least one respective profile (10), the first valve (9), and with at least one corresponding counter-profile (12), the second valve (11). The first valve (9) can perform a translational movement with respect to stator (2) and rotor (4), and the second valve (11) can perform a translational and rotational movement, along a preset angular stroke, with respect to stator (2) and rotor (4). The second valve (11) comprises abutment means for a specific utensil (13) pertaining thereto through an auxiliary duct (14) of the rotor (4) that faces the abutment means.