Wafer-Type Tumbler Cylinder Shared Spring Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wafer-type tumblers face difficulties in assembly due to friction and ejection issues during wafer insertion, and their design is prone to being easily broken or unlocked, leading to increased production costs and inadequate theftproofing.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a shaft with semicircular columnar bodies and U-shaped slots, featuring a shared spring in a wider rectangular notch for every two wafers, reducing spring count and enhancing theftproofing, while allowing for easier assembly and production of various shapes and lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If each wafer has its own spring in conventional design, then each wafer can be independently positioned, but the assembly process becomes difficult and time-consuming due to friction and ejection issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate springs into a single shared spring that serves two adjacent wafers simultaneously. The spring is positioned in a rectangular notch on the cylinder shaft and contacts both wafers through its elastic deformation, eliminating the need for separate springs for each wafer and simplifying the assembly process
2Reliability
If conventional wafer design with locating tab is used, then wafer can be positioned, but the locating tab is easily ejected during assembly due to limited height and outward elastic force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the locating tab structure from the wafer design entirely. Instead of relying on a vulnerable locating tab that gets ejected during assembly, the system uses the shared spring's elastic force to maintain continuous contact and positioning of wafers against the cylinder shaft, eliminating the ejection problem
3Ease of manufacture
If shaft is made as single integrated piece, then manufacturing is simpler, but theftproofing capability is reduced due to wide rectangular keyway requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the shaft into two separate semicircular columnar bodies that are assembled together to form the complete cylindrical shaft. This segmentation allows the keyway to be formed as two narrow corrugated grooves (one in each semicircular body) instead of a single wide rectangular keyway, significantly improving theftproofing capability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular production
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
This configuration simplifies the assembly process, reduces production costs, and significantly improves theftproofing by using a shared spring mechanism that prevents prying, making the lock more secure and cost-effective to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
one spring is positioned in a relatively wider rectangular notch, thereby serving as a shared spring for every two wafers
Data Source
AI summary
A wafer-type tumbler cylinder comprises a sleeve, a cylinder, some wafers and some springs. A shaft of the cylinder includes a first and a second semicircular columnar body. The first semicircular columnar body includes a front flange, a rear drive section and a U-shaped indentation at the inner lateral surface that provides for insertion into the second semicircular columnar body. On the first and second semicircular columnar bodies, one or more slots are disposed to fasten with the wafers. A relatively wider rectangular notch is disposed between the inner sides of every two slots, which are respectively installed with a wafer; only one spring is positioned in the wider rectangular notch, thereby serving as a shared spring for every two wafers. The material cost of a spring is saved; besides, it's able to prevent from prying effectively because a burglar cannot pry two wafers supported by a shared spring.