CN112709497A

CN112709497A - Lock core

Info

Publication number: CN112709497A
Application number: CN202011096714.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 不公告发明人
Original assignee: ABUS August Bremicker Soehne KG
Current assignee: ABUS August Bremicker Soehne KG
Priority date: 2019-10-25
Filing date: 2020-10-14
Publication date: 2021-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-14
Also published as: EP3812537B1; MX2020011187A; DE102019128884A1; TWI865633B; CN112709497B; EP3812537C0; EP3812537A1; TW202126888A; ES2963888T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock cylinder, which comprises a lock cylinder shell and a lock cylinder core part, the lock cylinder core part is rotatably supported in the lock cylinder shell around the lock cylinder axis, and is fixed by a spring-shaped retaining ring to prevent Axial movement relative to the lock cylinder housing, wherein the lock cylinder has a key slot for the introduction of the associated key, wherein the lock cylinder can be rotated between a locked position and an open position by the introduced key, and wherein the lock cylinder There are multiple tumblers that can be actuated by associated keys. In the lock cylinder according to the present invention, it is provided that the snap ring is formed together with the lock cylinder shell to limit the rotation angle of the lock cylinder portion within a predetermined rotation angle range.

Description

Lock core

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a lock cylinder comprising a cylinder housing and a cylinder core which is rotatably supported in the cylinder housing about a cylinder axis and is secured against axial movement relative to the cylinder housing by means of a snap ring, wherein the cylinder core has a key slot for introducing an associated key, wherein the cylinder core can be rotated between a locking position and an open position by means of the introduced key, and wherein the cylinder has a plurality of tumbler pins which can be actuated by means of the associated key.

Background

Such lock cylinders are generally known and are used in many different designs of locks, for example in door locks, padlocks or two-wheeled vehicles, to name a few examples of applications. There are different designs such as profile cylinders, round cylinders, oval cylinders, semi-round cylinders, double cylinders or knob cylinders.

Depending on the type of lock, the locking position of the lock cylinder can also be designated as the zero position, while the opening position is designated as the actuating position. Thus, for example, in the case of a door lock with a latch bar preloaded by a spring, the latch bar can be in its rest position defined by the preload, in the locked position or zero position of the lock cylinder, and said latch bar can be retracted into the lock housing against the preload in the open position or actuated position of the lock cylinder. Padlocks and two-wheeled vehicle locks are generally provided with substantially similar modes of operation. Here, the bolt is moved to a release or open position to open the lock via the lock cylinder, such that a closure collar or pusher previously locked by the bolt is released for removal from the lock body of the lock. After opening has occurred, the lock cylinder must be rotated back to the locked position or zero position in order to be able to remove the key from the keyway. With some locks of this type, the bolt can be preloaded by spring force in the direction of the locking position. In particular, a so-called automatic function may be provided, wherein repeated closing of the lock without key actuation is performed by inserting a closure collar or pusher into the lock body, thereby latching the closure collar or pusher onto the bolt. With such a lock it can also be provided, in general connection with the invention, that the key can be removed from the cylinder core only in its locking or zero position, or only in its locking or zero position and in a position in which the cylinder core is rotated 180 deg. relative to the cylinder core.

Conventional lock cylinders have the property that the cylinder core can be rotated freely, i.e. at any desired (full) number of rotations, when the key is introduced. The limitation of the angle of rotation of the cylinder core is only achieved by the closing mechanism of the lock arranged downstream and in which the cylinder is arranged. In particular, the limitation of the rotation angle is achieved by rotationally operatively coupling the cylinder core to a closing mechanism arranged downstream, for example by coupling the lock head to the bolt and the latch in a door lock of the type described above, or by coupling the driving extension of the cylinder core to the collar of the padlock. Depending on the production tolerances of the components involved, which lead to play in the closure mechanism arranged downstream of the cylinder core or between the cylinder core and the closure mechanism arranged downstream, it may happen that the set angle of rotation of the cylinder core cannot be maintained accurately.

In particular, this may occur when the cylinder core is rotated back to a locking position or zero position, where the key can be removed from the cylinder. In a lock cylinder with pin tumblers, this can result, for example, in the core of the lock cylinder no longer being precisely aligned with the housing bore in the cylinder housing, so that the pin tumblers, each of which is movably accommodated therein, are blocked from movement. In particular, the cylinder pins, i.e. the tumbler pins accommodated in the cylinder core, cannot be sunk into the shell bores and the key cannot be removed from the cylinder core or from the keyway.

The operating comfort is thus limited, since the key first has to be slightly rotated again in the direction of the zero position before it can be removed.

Considerable problems may arise with cylinder locks having differently configured pin tumblers, such as plate tumblers or disc tumblers.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lock cylinder that enables comfortable operation.

This object is achieved by a lock cylinder having the features of claim 1.

In the lock cylinder according to the present invention, it is provided that the snap ring forms a rotation abutting portion for restricting the rotation angle of the cylinder core to a predetermined rotation angle range together with the cylinder case. The rotational angle abutment can limit the rotational angle of the cylinder core relative to the cylinder housing, particularly at two abutment positions.

Indications of directions mentioned in relation to the present invention, such as "radial", "axial", "tangential" or "circumferential", generally relate to the lock cylinder spindle of the lock cylinder. The terms "tangential" and "circumferential" are used synonymously.

In addition, the present invention utilizes a snap ring which is arranged in a surprisingly simple manner for axially securing the cylinder core to the cylinder housing to form a rotational abutment for cooperating with the cylinder housing for limiting a predetermined rotational angle range of the lock cylinder. In terms of technical production, this can be achieved in a simple manner, in particular without additional components.

According to some embodiments, it is provided that the snap ring is held rotationally fixed on the cylinder core. Thus, the snap ring rotates together with the cylinder core.

According to a further embodiment, the spring collar has an abutment portion which projects radially and/or axially and engages into a free space provided at the cylinder housing, which free space is delimited tangentially. In particular, the abutment portion of the bullet-shaped collar can project into the associated free space of the cylinder housing in the radial direction, or in the axial direction, or in a combination of the radial and axial directions (relative to the cylinder axis of the cylinder).

According to an embodiment, starting from the base of the circlip which is substantially in the shape of a circle or a sector (e.g. substantially C-shaped), the abutment portion may axially project in the direction of the front side of the cylinder core or the cylinder housing, either directly or via a radially outwardly extending portion.

In this embodiment, the head is in the embodiment mentioned below, the bullet-shaped collar and the abutment portion of the bullet-shaped collar are preferably formed as an initial one-piece part, i.e. the abutment portion of the bullet-shaped collar is integrally formed at the rest of the bullet-shaped collar in a bonded manner.

In this respect, the abutment portion may be angled, in particular at an angle of about 90 °, relative to the rest of the snap ring, which angled portion is preferably formed by a curvature, rather than, for example, by an edge. In particular, the connecting region of the (in particular axially oriented) abutment portion with the rest of the (in particular radially oriented) spring collar may have a partially circular or partially elliptical profile, however, other curvatures are also possible. Due to this curvature, the stability with respect to torsion forces is increased, in particular compared to a 90 ° bend.

The abutment portion may extend in the axial direction over at least part of the thickness of the bullet-shaped collar. In some embodiments, the length of the abutting portion in the axial direction is preferably larger than the thickness of the bullet-shaped retainer ring, and 1.5 to 4 times the thickness of the bullet-shaped retainer ring in total. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the length of the abutment portion in the axial direction may be greater than the gap of the circumferential groove portion of the cylinder core accommodating the snap ring, and between 1.5 and 2 times the axial gap of the circumferential groove portion of the cylinder core.

According to an embodiment, the snap ring with the abutment portion can be manufactured by a stamping and bending process, in which the snap ring with the abutment portion is first stamped and then the abutment portion is bent (so that the abutment portion is oriented axially with respect to the cylinder axis in the rear mounting position). However, the spring collar with the abutment portion may also be manufactured in a casting process (metal casting or plastic injection molding), or may be bent from a metal wire.

In particular, the free space of the cylinder housing may form a circumferential path delimited in the tangential direction, wherein the free space or the circumferential path of the cylinder housing extends over a predetermined circumferential angle and, together with the range of tangential angles of the adjoining portions, defines a possible range of rotational angles of the cylinder core. In some embodiments, in particular, the free space or circumferential path may correspond to a sector of the hollow lock cylinder.

The free space or circumferential path of the cylinder shell may have at each tangential end a respective counter abutment portion or counter abutment cooperating with an abutment portion of the snap ring in a respective end position, in particular in the locking position or zero position on the one hand and in the open position or actuating position of the cylinder core on the other hand. Thus, depending on the direction of rotation, the abutment portion of the snap ring abuts one or the other of the opposing abutments of the cylinder housing along the tangential free space.

Thus, in some embodiments, the free space of the cylinder housing extends between two opposing abutments of the cylinder housing that are spaced from each other in the tangential direction. These opposing abutments can be integrally formed with the end face of the cylinder housing. In some embodiments, the opposing abutments may form an elevated portion relative to a generally extending plane of the end face of the cylinder housing.

According to another embodiment, the free space of the cylinder housing is formed as a recess with respect to the substantially plane extension of the end face, which recess is provided at the end face of the cylinder housing and extends in the axial direction and in the tangential direction. For example, the free space may be formed by a cut-out introduced into the cylinder housing. The part of the cylinder housing having the recess or the cut-out may be, for example, a wall of the cylinder housing, wherein in particular the recess may extend over the entire radial extent of the wall.

Alternatively, the free space or circumferential path may be defined by one or two axially and/or radially projecting opposing abutment portions of the cylinder housing.

As an alternative to the integral design at the spring collar, the abutment portion can also be designed as a movable element, in particular as a resilient or movable element, at the spring collar. Thus, in some embodiments, an intermediate latch may also be provided during the rotational movement in the direction of the counter abutment, wherein a corresponding latching element, for example a recess, may be provided.

In other embodiments, the cylinder housing has an abutment portion which projects in the radial direction and/or in the axial direction and engages into a free space provided at the spring collar, which free space is delimited in the tangential direction. In particular, the abutment portion of the cylinder housing may project into the associated free space of the snap ring, in particular in a radial direction, or in an axial direction, or in a combination of radial and axial directions.

In particular, the free space delimited in the tangential direction can be formed by a relief portion of the spring collar extending over a portion of the circumference. The free space or relief portion of the snap ring extends over a predetermined circumferential angle and defines, together with the tangential angular extent of the adjoining portion of the cylinder housing, the possible angle of rotation of the cylinder core. The free space or release portion of the bullet-shaped collar can have at each end a respective opposite abutment portion which cooperates with an abutment portion of the cylinder shell in the respective end position of the cylinder core, i.e. in the locking or null position or in the open or actuating position. The free space or relief portion of the snap ring can for example be formed by a lateral opening, i.e. a groove-like opening, which is provided in the circumferential region of the snap ring and at the same time makes it possible to plug the snap ring in the radial direction on the cylinder core. In any case, such a slot-like opening in the bullet-shaped collar can optionally be slightly widened in the circumferential region of the bullet-shaped collar, so that a sufficiently large rotational angle range can be defined.

In some embodiments, the snap ring has a cut-away portion that contacts a flat portion of the drive extension of the cylinder core to retain the snap ring at the cylinder core in a rotationally fixed manner. Thus, a positive fit between the cylinder core and the circlip is ensured, so that even larger forces or torques which are generated in the respective abutment positions by a rotational actuation of the cylinder core can be reliably guided from the cylinder core to the cylinder housing, and a play-free fit is also ensured.

According to an embodiment, the rotation abutment is configured such that one of the two abutment positions of the cylinder core limiting the rotation angle coincides with the locking position of the cylinder core. The key can be removed from the keyway in this locking or zero position, in particular only in this locking or zero position. By means of this design, it is ensured that the tumbler pins, in particular the tumbler pins, can be lowered into the respective housing bores or housing recesses, so that the key can be removed. Thus, a defined end position is provided for the cylinder core, so that an excessive rotation of the initially mentioned cylinder core can be reliably prevented.

The predetermined range of rotation angles of the cylinder core can advantageously amount to more than 180 °, or equal to 180 °, or less than 180 °, in particular equal to 120 °. An angular range of less than 180 ° is sufficient for many applications. If a rotation angle range of 180 ° or more is provided, the lock cylinder can be configured as a so-called recodeable lock cylinder. With such a lock cylinder, it is also possible to adapt the lock cylinder to keys having different locking profiles by exchanging the tumbler pins after initial assembly with the tumbler pins. In particular, it may be provided that the pin tumbler pins or core pins initially provided in the core of the lock core are replaced by pin tumbler pins or core pins of different lengths. This process is also referred to as rekeying. Recodeable locks are described, for example, in document US6425274B 1. In such a recodeable lock cylinder, the cylinder housing has a groove-shaped recess or a plurality of separate bores at the upper side, i.e. at the side located opposite the housing bore, enabling the core pin to be removed from the cylinder core when the cylinder core is in a position rotated 180 ° with respect to the locking position or zero position. If the predetermined rotational angle range of the cylinder core amounts exactly to 180 ° and, in particular, the rotational angle position coincides with one of the abutment positions limiting the rotational angle, the recoding process or the rekeying process is greatly simplified since the cylinder core can be rotated exactly into the removal position for the core pin.

In some embodiments, the pin tumbler is configured as a pin tumbler, a plate tumbler, or a disc tumbler.

The spring collar can advantageously be made as a stamped bent part and/or from spring steel. However, as already mentioned, the spring collar may also be configured at least partially as a cast part, cast from plastic, or bent from a metal wire.

In some embodiments, it may be provided that the snap ring is arranged at an end of the cylinder core remote from the key introduction opening of the key slot, in particular at a rear side of the cylinder core.

In some embodiments, it may be provided that the snap ring is provided at a driving extension of the cylinder core axially protruding from the cylinder housing.

In some embodiments it may be provided that the cylinder core has at least one circumferential groove portion in which a snap ring engages to secure the cylinder core against axial movement relative to the cylinder.

In some embodiments, it can be provided that the spring collar is arranged outside the cylinder housing in the axial direction.

In some embodiments it may also be provided that the snap ring has a radial groove along which the snap ring can be elastically expanded for placing the snap ring on the cylinder core in a radial direction.

In some embodiments, it can be provided that the spring collar has a broad side, by means of which the spring collar contacts an axial end face of the cylinder housing.

Further embodiments of the invention result from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. In this respect, those features which are not explicitly described in combination can also be advantageously combined with one another.

Drawings

The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a lock cylinder according to one embodiment in a locked position;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the lock cylinder in an open position;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the lock cylinder;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the lock cylinder; and

fig. 5 shows a plan view of the upper side of the lock cylinder.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 5 show a lock cylinder 10 according to an embodiment of the invention in different views. The lock cylinder 10 includes a cylinder housing 12 having a hollow cylindrical portion 20 and a transverse attachment portion 18 integrally adjoining the hollow cylindrical portion 20.

A plurality of shell apertures 14 are provided in the attachment portion 18 and extend into the interior of the cylindrical portion 20 (fig. 3).

The hollow cylindrical portion 20 has a plurality of inlet openings 16 in the form of radial passage openings, which are introduced into the wall of the hollow cylindrical portion 20 opposite the shell opening 14.

The cylinder core 30 is accommodated in the hollow cylindrical portion 20 and is thus rotatably supported in the cylinder housing 12 about the cylinder axis. In the assembled position, the cylinder core 30 is axially fixed by a circumferential collar portion 37 on the front side and a flat snap ring 40 on the rear side. A snap ring 40 is accommodated in the circumferentially introduced groove portion 36 of the cylinder core 30. The cylinder core 30 also has a key slot 32 extending along the cylinder axis for receiving a key (not shown).

The rear end of the cylinder core 30 is configured to drive the extension 34, the driving extension 34 enabling the cylinder 10 to be coupled to a closing mechanism of a lock arranged downstream. In the assembled position, the drive extension 34 protrudes from the cylinder case 12, i.e., the drive extension 34 protrudes on an axial rear end face of the cylinder case 12.

The snap ring 40 has a wide radial groove 44, which radial groove 44 enables the radial insertion of the snap ring 40 onto the cylinder core 30. After the cylinder core 30 is inserted into the hollow cylindrical portion 20, the snap ring 40 can be radially introduced into the groove portion 36, and the snap ring 40 can be latched in the groove portion 36. Thus, the cylinder core 30 is fixed against axial movement relative to the cylinder housing 12 in the direction of its front side.

In the region of the radial groove 44, a tangential section 48 is formed at the snap ring 40, which tangential section 48 comes into contact with the flat section 38 formed at the drive extension 34, so that the snap ring 40 is coupled rotationally fixedly to the cylinder core 30.

The groove portion 36 of the cylinder core 30 does not have to be exactly circular, but may have a radially inward recess into which a radially inward raised portion of the snap ring 40 engages to secure the snap ring 40 against unintentional radial removal from the cylinder core 30.

A tangentially extending free space 24 formed by a radial recess of the cylinder housing 12 is provided on an axial end face of the cylinder housing 12 which faces a drive extension 34 in the region of the hollow cylindrical portion 20.

The abutting portion 42 is integrally formed at the snap ring 40 and slightly extends in the radial direction, and then is away from the other portion of the snap ring 40 mainly in the axial direction. The connecting region of the adjoining section or the transition from the radial direction of extension to the axial direction of extension preferably has a partially circular or quarter-elliptical contour. Thus, the outer side of the formed curve may be rounded without forming sharp edges.

Therefore, the abutting portion 42 axially projects from the other portion of the snap ring 40 and is engaged into the free space 24 of the cylinder case 12. The abutment portion 42 moves within the free space 24 of the cylinder housing 12 upon rotation of the cylinder core 30, wherein the two opposing

abutments

26a, 26b delimiting the free space 24 in the circumferential direction form together with the abutment portion 42 of the snap ring 40 a rotational abutment and thus limit the possible rotational angle range of the cylinder core 30 rotationally fixedly coupled to the snap ring 40.

The two abutment positions defined by the abutment portion 42 of the snap ring 40 and the opposing

abutments

26a, 26b of the cylinder housing 12 are selected such that when the abutment portion 42 abuts one of the opposing abutments 26a, the cylinder core 30 is in the locked or zero position. In this locking or zero position of the cylinder core 30, the key can be removed from the key slot 32. In addition, the two abutment positions are selected such that the cylinder core 30 is in the open or actuated position when the abutment portion 42 of the snap ring 40 abuts the other opposing abutment 26b of the cylinder housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the range of rotational angles is limited to about 120 °.

If the circlip 40 is released from the cylinder core 30 or the abutment portion 42 of the circlip 40 is pushed back (by a sufficiently elastic arrangement) from the free space 24 of the cylinder shell 12, the cylinder core 30 can be rotated beyond the rotational angle range defined by the rotational abutment and in particular the cylinder core 30 can be brought into a position rotated by 180 ° relative to the locking position or the zero position, so that, according to one embodiment, the pin tumbler or core tumbler pin (not shown) accommodated in the cylinder core 30 for recoding purposes can be removed through the access aperture 16 and can be replaced by a pin tumbler or core pin of a different length.

According to another embodiment, the above-mentioned position for recoding the lock cylinder 10 can also be accessed without removing the snap ring 40 if the angular extent of extension of the free space 24 is extended accordingly (to 180 ° or more). In this variant, however, it should be ensured by the closing mechanism of the associated lock arranged downstream that this recoding position is not inadvertently approached, otherwise (depending on the installation position of the lock cylinder 10) accidental dropping of the tumbler pins cannot be ruled out.

Description of reference numerals

10 lock core

12 lock cylinder shell

14 shell hole

16 into the bore

18 attachment portion

22 cylindrical portion

24 free space

26a, 26b opposed abutment

30 lock cylinder core

32 key slot

34 drive extension

36 groove part

37 collar portion

38 flat part

40 spring-shaped retainer ring

42 abutting portion

44 radial groove

48 tangent part

Claims

1. Lock cylinder (10) comprising a cylinder housing (12) and a cylinder core (30), the cylinder core (30) being rotatably supported in the cylinder housing (12) about a cylinder axis and the cylinder core (30) being secured against axial movement relative to the cylinder housing (12) by means of a snap ring (40), wherein the cylinder core (30) has a keyway (32) for introducing an associated key, wherein the cylinder core (30) can be rotated between a locking position and an open position by means of the introduced key, and wherein the lock cylinder (10) has a plurality of tumbler pins which can be actuated by means of the associated key,

characterized in that the snap ring (40) and the cylinder housing (12) together form a rotational abutment for limiting the rotational angle of the cylinder core (30) within a predetermined rotational angle range.

2. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1, wherein the snap ring (40) is rotatably fixedly retained on the cylinder core (30).

3. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the snap ring (40) has an abutment portion (42), the abutment portion (42) projecting in the radial direction and/or in the axial direction and engaging into a free space (24) provided at the cylinder housing (12), the free space (24) being delimited in the tangential direction.

4. The lock cylinder (10) of claim 3, wherein the abutment portion (42) extends in the axial direction over at least part of the thickness of the snap ring (40).

5. The lock cylinder (10) of claim 3, wherein the length of the abutment portion (42) in the axial direction is greater than the thickness of the snap ring (40).

6. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 3, wherein the cylinder core (30) has at least one circumferential groove portion (36), the snap ring (40) engaging into the circumferential groove portion (36) to secure the cylinder core (30) against axial movement relative to the cylinder housing (12), wherein the length of the abutment portion (42) in the axial direction is larger than the clearance of the circumferential groove portion (36).

7. The lock cylinder (10) of claim 3, wherein the free space (24) of the cylinder housing (12) extends between two opposing abutments of the cylinder housing (12) that are spaced from each other in the tangential direction.

8. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 3, wherein the free space (24) of the cylinder housing (12) is formed as a recess relative to an end face of the cylinder housing (12), the recess being provided at the end face of the cylinder housing (12) and extending in the axial direction and the tangential direction.

9. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cylinder housing (12) has an abutment portion (12), the abutment portion (12) projecting in the radial direction and/or in the axial direction and engaging into a free space (24) provided at the snap ring (40) and delimited in the tangential direction.

10. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the snap ring (40) has a secant portion (48) which is in contact with the flat portion (38) of the drive extension (34) of the cylinder core (30) to hold the snap ring (40) at the cylinder core (30) in a rotationally fixed manner.

11. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotational abutment is configured such that one of the two abutment positions limiting the angle of rotation coincides with the locking position of the cylinder core (30).

12. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined rotational angle range of the cylinder core (30) amounts to less than 180 °.

13. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tumbler pins are configured as pin tumbler pins, plate tumbler pins or disc tumbler pins.

14. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the snap ring (40) is formed as a stamped bent piece.

15. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the snap ring (40) is arranged at the end of the cylinder core (30) remote from the key introduction opening of the key slot (32).

16. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the snap ring (40) is provided at a drive extension (34) of the cylinder core (30), the drive extension (34) axially protruding from the cylinder housing (12).

17. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the snap ring (40) is arranged outside the cylinder housing (12).

18. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the snap ring (40) has a radial groove (44), the snap ring (40) being elastically expandable along the radial groove (44) to place the snap ring (40) on the cylinder core (30) in a radial direction.

19. The lock cylinder (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the snap ring (40) has a broad side, by means of which the snap ring (40) is in contact with an axial end face of the cylinder housing (12).