EP0262059B1 - Key and lock - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to lock keys and locking devices used to control the movement of at least one bolt or bit provided to immobilize or release a movable panel relative to a fixed frame.

The technical field concerned is that of locking devices of the barrel type rotating inside a cylindrical body with respect to which it can be immobilized by means of locking members of the pump or glitter type.

The cylindrical body of such devices has a front entry allowing the insertion of a key comprising means capable of controlling locking members accessible from a follower formed in the barrel coaxially at the entry of the cylindrical body.

The insertion of the key makes it possible either to retract the movable locking members, or to place them in a predetermined position in which the barrel is free to rotate relative to the cylindrical body.

The effective and safe locking which can be provided by such devices is, essentially, attached to the complementary physical characteristics between the control key and the movable locking members. The physical characteristics can depend on the position, the shape and the relative height of aligned teeth, in particular in the case of flakes or, again, on the shape, the orientation and the length of radial ribs controlling pumps. additional length.

In all cases, the insertion position, making it possible to obtain the concordance of the complementary elements with a view to erasing the movable locking members or to moving them into the predetermined unlocking position, is defined by bringing them into abutment of the key inserted inside the barrel follower.

This predetermined stop position does not correspond to a particularly satisfactory safety factor, since an attempt at picking can be exerted from this reference position accessible through the front entry: of the lock.

Also known is patent application FR-A 2 318 294 in which is described a locking device comprising a control key and a lock carrying locking members.

The key consists of a bit of solid section bit forming an insertion barrel and an annular sleeve threaded and mounted to slide on the bit rod. A series of pins is fixed coaxially to the rod on the sleeve which slides, moreover, between two abutment positions relative to the rod. The lock comprises a locking assembly consisting of a stator and a rotor delimiting a follower and movable locking members extending in the stator and the rotor.

This type of arrangement has the same drawbacks as the devices mentioned above and offers, in particular, limited coding possibilities.

Although satisfactory, in terms of combinations which can be conferred in a complementary manner to the lock and the key, it should be noted, moreover, that the mechanisms of the above type are limited in terms of coding possibility, due to the necessarily limited number of movable locking members that can be implemented in the two construction cases mentioned above and also due to the limitation of the different dimensional characteristics that can be conferred on each of them.

In total therefore, locking devices of the above type need to be improved to satisfy a need for efficient and secure closing and locking using technical means offering a large possibility of multiple coding to statistically decrease a possibility of picking.

It is an object of the invention to meet this double objective by proposing a new key for a lock as well as a locking device constituted by a lock comprising means complementary to those carried by the new key according to the invention.

The improvements according to the present invention are aimed at locking mechanisms of the cylindrical body and rotating barrel type, whatever the conformation of the locking members that can be interposed between them.

In other words, the subject of the invention relates to locking mechanisms of the barrel type, the movable locking members of which are, indifferently, constituted by pumps, by pumps and counter-pumps, or, alternatively, by Glitter.

To achieve the above objectives, the invention provides a new key for a lock of the type comprising a tubular cylindrical body having a front opening or entry for the insertion of a key and containing a rotating barrel capable of controlling at least one locking bolt and defining a key insertion nut, coaxial with the front opening in which a stopper is provided and in which protruding partially movable locking members resiliently interposed and interposed between the barrel and the body, key comprising an operating head and an insertion barrel comprising projections intended to be introduced into the body through the front opening to unlock the movable locking members, key characterized in that it includes a tubular insertion barrel open at its insertion end and containing a movable piston urged by a moving spring co ntre an extension stop presented by the barrel, and intended to cooperate with, on the one hand, a retraction stop carried by the barrel and, on the other hand, with the stop stop.

the invention also relates to a locking device comprising, on the one hand, a lock of the type comprising a tubular cylindrical body having a front opening or entry for the insertion of a key and containing a rotating barrel capable of controlling at least a locking bolt and defining a key insertion nut, coaxial with the front opening in which a stop is provided and in which protrude in part movable locking members elastically controlled and interposed between the barrel and the body and, on the other hand, a key comprising a head operating mechanism and an insertion barrel comprising projections intended to be introduced into the body through the front opening to unlock the movable locking members, characterized in that the key comprises a tubular insertion barrel open to its insertion end and containing a movable piston urged by a moving spring against an extension stop presented by the barrel, and intended to cooperate with, on the one hand, a retraction abutment carried pale blade and, on the other hand part, with the stopper when said barrel is inserted into the follower through the front entrance.

Various other characteristics will emerge from the description given below with reference to the appended drawings which show, by way of nonlimiting examples, embodiments of the subject of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, partially broken away, of a key for a lock and of a complementary lock according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the key and the lock in the cooperation position.

Figs. 3 and 4, on the one hand, and 5 and 6, on the other hand, are cross-sections showing elevations of embodiment in the same characteristic positions as FIGS. 1 and 2.

According to the invention, the key for lock, designated as a whole by the reference 1, is of the type intended to actuate a mechanical lock It comprising a cylindrical body 1 made of metal and intended to be placed in a housing provided in a panel 2 such as, in particular, a door. The housing has, for example, a constant diameter from the facade 3 and has, on the rear face 4, a flat area for fixing the body 1, for example by a screwed flange 5. A different fixing method could, of course, be reserved, depending on particular cases of applications without this intervening, in one way or another, on the subject of the invention.

The cylindrical body 1 delimits, internally, a bore 7 reserved for mounting a barrel 8 of the rotating type. In the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2, the barrel 8 is provided, on its rear face, with a polygonal driver 9 intended to drive a bolt or bit, not shown, of a sliding or rotating nature. The barrel 8 is immobilized in the bore 7, for example, by means of a rear plate 10 and a stop ring 11 cooperating with a groove formed in the cylindrical body 1.

The cylindrical body 1 has, in its facade 12, an inlet 13 of conformation complementary to that of the key 1. The inlet 13 is formed coaxially with a fouilot 14 presented by the barrel 8. In the example illustrated in the drawings, the fouilot 14 is limited by a bottom 15 and communicates with cylindrical housings 16 drilled at the periphery of the barrel 8 according to a determined number being angularly equidistant. By way of example, the barrel 8 can comprise five housings 16.

In the example of construction illustrated, the housings 16 contain pumps 17 each urged by a spring 18 to be held in abutment against the internal face of the facade 12. Each pump 17 comprises a lug 19 projecting into the follower 14, so to be able to be attacked by an organ complementary to key 1.

In the example illustrated, the pumps 17 are intended to cooperate with at least one lock 20 held in the bore 7 to surround the barrel 8. Each pump 17 has a groove, a groove or a transverse notch 21 whose passage section is equal, apart from play, to that of the protrusions of the shaft 20. The position of the notch 21 of each pump 17 is determined according to a coding law, so that the introduction of the key 1 makes it possible to push back , simultaneously, all the pumps 17 and at the same time bring the notches 21 in the plane of the shaft 20 to allow rotation in one direction or the other of the barrel 8 relative to the cylindrical body 1.

The key 1, complementary to the lock II described above, comprises an operating head and an insertion barrel 25 comprising, set back from its insertion end 26, moldings or ribs 27 having the same angular distribution as the pumps 17 which they are responsible for controlling. The law for coding the notches 21 of the pumps 17 is transferred, in addition, to the ribs or moldings 27 so that, through them, the simultaneous actuation, as described above, can occur when the barrel 25 is inserted into the follower 14 through entry 13.

It should be considered that the example described above is in no way limiting and that the object of the invention, as described below, can be implemented for locking devices of the rotating barrel type provided locking members constituted by pumps and counter-pumps or, again, by flakes.

According to the invention, the key is made so as to comprise a tubular insertion barrel 25 open from its insertion end 26. The tubular insertion barrel 25 delimits a cylindrical bore 28 in which is slidably mounted a piston 29 which is biased, by means of an elastic member 30, in radial displacement against an extension stop 31. In the example illustrated, the stop 31 is constituted by a ferrule added in the bore 28 to limit the section of the latter substantially in the plane of the end 26.

According to the invention, the piston 29 is designed so as to cooperate, during the insertion of the key 1 into the follower 14, with the bottom 15 of the follower, which constitutes a stop limiting the introduction or the insertion of the barrel 25. To cooperate with this stop, the piston 29 has, in one embodiment, a needle 32 projecting from the end 26 under the action of the elastic member 30. Furthermore , according to the invention, the piston 29, considered in its together, that is to say including the needle 32, has an axial length chosen so that, during insertion, it is brought to cooperate positively with a retraction stop 33 delimited, for example, by a shoulder of the cylindrical bore 28.

During insertion, as illustrated in fig. 2, the barrel 25 is engaged through the inlet 13 to enter the follower 14 until the piston 29, considered as a whole, cooperates with the stopper 15. In this position, the movement d insertion imposed on the key is continued so as to push the piston 29 against the action of the elastic member 30 and bring this piston against the retraction stop 33.

In this position, the insertion barrel 25 occupies a determined position inside the follower 14, position in which the moldings or ribs 27 have pushed the pumps 17 into the position of alignment of the notches 21 with the plane of the plug 20.

Thus, by the play of the axial dimensions between the stopper 15, the piston 29 and the retraction stop 33, it becomes possible to precisely determine the actual position of cooperation of the key for actuating the pumps 17, without it it is necessary to achieve for this the bringing into positive abutment of the insertion end 26 with the stopper 15.

By stacking the axial dimensions, it thus becomes possible to determine an immaterial actuation position making it much more difficult to attempt fraudulent opening by means of current means.

In addition to this safety characteristic, it should be considered that the wide variety of axial dimensions which can be interposed between the stop stop 15 and the retraction stop 33, by means of the piston 29 considered as a whole, makes it possible to increase very high, the possibilities of coding from the ranges offered by the different dimensional characteristics which can be conferred, on the one hand, on pumps 17 or the like and, on the other hand, on ribs or moldings 27.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment in which the piston 29 and the insertion barrel 25 are made so that the piston is entirely disposed inside the bore 28 in its stable rest position against the stopper. extension 31 under the action of the elastic member 30. In such a case, the extension stop 31 is formed by an internal shoulder of the bore 28 which is then formed from the rear end of the barrel 25 for allow the piston 29 to be mounted. In such a case, the retraction stop 33 is constituted by a plug 34 closing the bore 28.

In such an exemplary embodiment, it is then advantageous to produce the stopper 15 in the form of a projection 35 delimiting a blind bore 36 intended to cooperate with the needle 32 of the piston 29.

As previously, the stacking of the axial dimensions makes it possible to determine an immaterial actuation position and to increase the possibilities of codification.

An alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 according to which the piston 29 has, instead of the needle 32 and from its corresponding transverse face, a conical type seat 37 intended to cooperate with a complementary bearing surface 38 which is formed by the projection 35. In addition the advantages above, this conformation makes it almost impossible to determine the reference plane of the stop 35 and to deduce therefrom, by any possible approximation, the reference immaterial position for the simultaneous actuation of the pumps 17.

In this exemplary embodiment, the insertion barrel 25, as well as the bore 28, offer a conformation substantially identical to that of FIG. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 show, in addition, another possible embodiment consisting in causing the piston 29 to have a heel 39 of radial direction, engaged in smooth sliding inside an axial slot 40 presented by the insertion barrel 25 from its insertion end 26. The heel 39 is intended to cause the retraction of a secondary locking member constituted by a stud 41 slidably mounted in a radial direction in the barrel 8 and cooperating with a counter stud 42 mounted, in the thickness of the cylindrical body 1, in a coaxial bore closed by a plug 43 retaining an elastic member 44. Under the action of the elastic member 44, the counter-stud 42 is engaged through the interface between the bore 7 and the barrel 8 and contributes to angularly immobilizing the latter.

The heel 39 is designed so that when the barrel 25 occupies the immaterial actuation position defined by the stacking of the dimensions between the stop stop 15, the piston 29 and the retraction stop 33, it pushes back the stud 41, in such a way that the joint plane between the latter and the counter-stud 42 is placed in coincidence with the interface between the bore 7 and the barrel 8.

This provision makes it possible to further increase the possibilities of codification and to increase the security factor of the conviction established.

The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown, since various modifications can be made thereto without departing from its scope, as defined by the claims. In particular, it can be envisaged to constitute the projection 35 in the form of a pin movable axially between two reference positions.

Claims (11)

1. Key for a lock of the type comprising a tubular cylindrical body (1) having a front opening or keyway (13) for the insertion of a key (I) and containing a turning cylinder (8) adapted to actuate at least one lock bolt and defining a follower (14) for the insertion of a key, coaxial with the front opening, in which there is provided a stop (15) and into which resiliently controlled movable locking members (17) interposed between the cylinder (8) and the body (1) partially project, said key comprising an actuating head and an insertion shank (25) provided with projections (27) adapted to be inserted into the body (1) through the front opening in order to release the movable locking members, said key characterised in that it comprises a tubular insertion shank (25) open at its insertion end (26) and containing a moving piston (29) urged by a spring (30) against an extension stop (31) on the shank, and adapted to cooperate, on the one hand, with a retraction stop (33) carried by the shank and, on the other hand, with the stop (15).

2. Key for a lock according to claim 1, characterised in that the piston (29) has a length inferior to that of the insertion shank and is disposed completely within the shank in a stable rest position against the extension stop.

3. Key for a lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the piston (29) comprises a radial collar (39) engaging and permanently guided within an axial slot (40) starting from the insertion end (26) of the shank (25), the said collar being adapted to actuate a secondary locking pin (41) radially slidably mounted between the cylinder and the cylindrical body and urged by a spring (44) so that it projects partially into the follower (14).

4. Key for a lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the moving piston (29) comprises, on its transverse face directed towards the insertion end of the shank, a coaxial pin (32) adapted to cooperate with a blind hole (36) of the stop (35) of the follower (14).

5. Key for a lock according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the moving piston (29) has, in its transverse face directed towards the insertion end of the shank, a substantially cone-shaped seating (37), adapted to cooperate with a complementary boss (38) on the stop (35) of the follower.

6. Locking system comprising, on the one hand, a lock (II) of the type comprising a tubular cylindrical body (1) having a front opening or keyway (13) for the insertion of a key (I) and containing a turning cylinder (8) adapted to actuate at least one lock bolt and defining a follower (14) for the insertion of a key, coaxial with the front opening, in which there is provided a stop (15) and into which resiliently controlled movable locking members (17) interposed between the cylinder and the body partially project, and, on the other hand, a key comprising an actuating head and an insertion shank (25) provided with projections (27) adapted to be inserted into the body (1) through the front opening (13) in order to release the movable locking members (17), characterised in that the key (I) comprises a tubular insertion shank (25) open at its insertion end (26) and containing a moving piston (29) urged by a spring (30) against an extension stop (31) on the shank, and adapted to cooperate, on the one hand, with a retraction stop (33) carried by the shank and, on the other hand, with the stop (15) when the said shank is inserted into the follower through the front keyhole.

7. Locking system according to claim 6, characterised in that it comprises a lock (II) and a key (I) comprising a piston (29) having a length inferior to that of the insertion shank (25) and disposed completely within the shank in a stable rest position against the extension stop (31) when the shank is not inserted in the follower of the cylinder of the lock.

8. Locking system according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that it comprises a lock (II) comprising between the cylinder (8) and the cylindrical body (1) a secondary locking device consisting of a pin (41) sliding radially in the cylinder in the follower into which it projects and by a resiliently controlled counter-pin (42) sliding radially in the cylindrical body coaxially with the finger, and a key (I), of which the moving piston (29) of the insertion shank comprises a radial collar (39) engaging and permanently guided within an axial slot (40) starting from the insertion end (26) of the shank (25), the said collar being adapted to retract the sliding pin in the insertion position in the follower.

9. Locking system according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that it comprises a lock (II) comprising a cylinder (8) defining an insertion follower (14), the base (15) of which forms an axial stop (35) having an axial blind hole (36), and a key (I), of- which the moving piston (29) of the insertion shank (25) comprises, on its transverse face directed towards the insertion end of the shank, an axial pin (32) adapted to cooperate with the blind hole of the stop.

10. Locking system according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that it comprises a lock (II) comprising a cylinder (8) defining an insertion follower (14), the base (15) of which forms an axial stop (35) having a conical boss (38), and a key (I), of which the moving piston (29) of the insertion shank (25) comprises, in its face directed towards the insertion end of the shank, a seating (37) complementary to the boss.

11. Locking system according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterised in that it comprises a lock, the stop of which consists of a pin movable axially between two stop positions.

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