Rotating Casing Lock Cylinder Shaft Mechanical Attack Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mechanical locking devices for motor vehicles are susceptible to mechanical attacks, allowing unauthorized access through forced rotation of the lock cylinder shaft, which can result in damage and undesirable entry.

Innovation Solution

A locking device with a rotatable casing element surrounding the lock cylinder shaft, a non-rotatable paddle for actuating the vehicle lock, and a positioning arrangement that encloses the lock cylinder shaft to prevent direct torque application, utilizing a slipping clutch mechanism to resist forced opening and ensure secure operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the lock cylinder shaft is directly accessible without protection, then ease of operation is improved, but susceptibility to mechanical attacks worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidsusceptibility to mechanical attacks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lock cylinder shaft is nested within a rotatable casing element that acts as a protective sleeve. The casing element surrounds the lock cylinder shaft, creating a nested structure where the inner component (lock cylinder shaft) is protected by the outer component (casing element). This nesting provides mechanical protection while maintaining operational functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotatable casing element serves as an intermediary between external forces and the lock cylinder shaft. When mechanical attacks or torque are applied, the casing element absorbs and dissipates these forces through its own rotation, preventing direct transmission to the lock cylinder shaft. This intermediary structure protects the critical locking mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a rotatable casing element is added to protect the lock cylinder shaft, then protection against mechanical attacks is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against mechanical attacksVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The casing element is designed to be rotatable rather than fixed, introducing a dynamic element that simplifies the protection mechanism. Instead of requiring complex locking or fixing mechanisms, the casing element simply rotates freely or with minimal resistance, allowing it to absorb attack forces through motion. This dynamic approach reduces structural complexity while maintaining protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The locking device is segmented into distinct functional components: the lock cylinder shaft for operational functions and the rotatable casing element for protective functions. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall structure by separating protection from operation, making the system easier to manufacture and maintain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the casing element is made non-rotatable to prevent attacks, then protection is improved, but normal operation is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprotectionVSAvoidnormal operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The casing element's rotatability is key to resolving this contradiction. During normal operation, the casing element rotates smoothly with the lock cylinder shaft, enabling full operational functionality. During mechanical attacks, the casing element's rotation absorbs harmful forces. The same dynamic property serves both operational and protective functions, eliminating the need for compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotatable casing element converts harmful attack forces into beneficial rotational motion. When torque is applied during an attack attempt, the casing element rotates, dissipating the energy of the attack without transmitting it to the lock cylinder shaft. The harmful force is thus transformed into a protective mechanism through controlled rotation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution effectively prevents the locking device from being opened or destroyed by force, maintaining security and integrity while allowing normal operation without adverse noise or movement issues.

Implementation Method 1

the compression spring or compression springs and the casing element are adapted to one another in such a way that a static friction force counteracting the rotation of the casing element is smaller than a tangential force required to intentionally break the lock cylinder shaft and/or the cylinder core

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

The positioning arrangement particularly preferably has at least one radially outward-pointing compression spring, particularly preferably several radially outward-pointing compression springs, which serve the purpose of exerting a radial force or at least one radial component pointing away from the lock cylinder shaft on the casing element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression spring force: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3974606B1Locking device, lock arrangement and motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 HUF HÜLSBECK & FÜRST GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3974606B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3974606B1 patent drawingFigure 5~12

AI summary

The invention relates to a locking device (1). The locking device (1) comprises: a carrier housing (2), a cylinder core, which is preferably resettable by means of a return spring (3), a locking cylinder shaft (4) with a paddle (5), wherein the locking cylinder shaft (4) is at least partially surrounded by a sleeve element (7) which is rotatable about the locking cylinder shaft (4). The positioning of the sleeve element (7) is effected by means of a positioning arrangement (8). The invention further relates to a lock assembly and a motor vehicle.