Locking Cylinder Key Wavy Profile Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lock cylinder keys experience malfunctions and failures due to wear and tear on the flat or rounded back profile, leading to selective contact with the inner peripheral surface of the lock cylinder, which can result in jamming and unreliable operation.
Innovation Solution
A lock cylinder key with a wavy profile on the back side of the key shank, providing multiple defined support points for stabilization and reducing wear, ensuring reliable long-term operation by distributing contact over several points rather than a single surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat or rounded back profile is used on the key shank, then the key can be easily manufactured, but selective contact between the back of the key and the inner peripheral surface of the core bore occurs, leading to wear and tear and potential malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The back profile of the key shank is designed with a wavy shape instead of a flat or simple rounded profile. This wavy curvature creates multiple defined support points (line contacts or surface contacts) between the key back and the inner peripheral surface of the core bore, distributing contact pressure and reducing selective wear while maintaining manufacturability through standard forming processes.
2Device complexity
If a flat back profile is used on the key shank, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the key experiences selective wear and housing pins can get into the parting plane, causing malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The wavy profile on the back of the key shank creates multiple contact points with the core bore surface, distributing mechanical stress and reducing selective wear. This extends the service life of both the key and lock cylinder without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity, as the wavy profile can be formed using standard metal forming techniques.
3Device complexity
If a flat back profile is used on the key shank, then the key structure is simple, but the risk of jamming increases due to selective contact and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The wavy profile design creates multiple defined support points that stabilize the key shank in the key channel during operation. This reduces the risk of jamming and ensures smooth key insertion and removal, improving ease of operation while maintaining relatively simple key structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cylinder key (10) with a key bow (12) and a key shaft (16) extending from the key bow (12) along an axial direction (14) is designed and further developed to enable permanently reliable operation in cylinders such that the key shaft (16) has a wave-shaped profile (28) on its back side (22), which faces away from the narrow side (20) of the key shaft (16) which is provided with cutouts. A locking system (100) with such a cylinder key (10) and a corresponding cylinder (102) is specified.