Key Or Key Blank For A Disk Cylinder And Associated Disk Cylinder

Abstract

A key or a key blank for a disk cylinder having a plurality of rotatably supported disk tumblers has a key shaft having a shaft cross-section that comprises a first end section, a second end section and a connection section along a longitudinal axis, said connection section connecting the first end section and the second end section to one another. The connection section is narrower than the two end sections and has two longitudinal edges that are aligned in parallel with one another and that extend obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft cross-section between the two end sections.

Claims

1. A key (24) or a key blank (24) for a disk cylinder (10) having a plurality of rotatably supported disk tumblers (16), wherein the key (24) or the key blank (24) has a key shaft (25) having a shaft cross-section (50) that has a first end section (51), a second end section (52), and a connection section (60) along a longitudinal axis (L), said connection section connecting the first end section (51) and the second end section (52) to one another, with the first end section (51) and the second end section (52) having a respective encoding region (54) for driving an associated disk tumbler (16); wherein the connection section (60) of the shaft cross-section (50) is narrower than the two end sections (51, 52) and has two longitudinal edges (62) that are aligned in parallel with one another and that extend between the two end sections (51, 52) obliquely to the longitudinal axis (L) of the shaft cross-section (50); and wherein the connection section (60) of the shaft cross-section (50) comprises a central region that has a square shape (70), with the square shape (70): having two exposed edges (71) which are disposed opposite one another and of which each forms a part of one of the two longitudinal edges (62) of the connection section (60); having two corners (73) which are disposed diametrically opposite one another and of which each corresponds to a transition (64) of the connection section (60) to the respective end section of the shaft cross-section (50); and having two further edges (72) which are disposed opposite one another, which pass through the connection section (60), and of which each extends from one of said two corners (73) up to the longitudinal edge (62) of the connection section (60) disposed opposite the respective corner.

2. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the two end sections (51, 52) of the shaft cross-section (50) has a first side edge (57), a second side edge (58) that is disposed opposite the first side edge (57), an outer edge (55), and an inner edge (59) that is disposed opposite the outer edge (55) and that extends, starting from the first side edge (57), to one of said two corners (73) of the square shape (70) of the connection section (60); wherein one end of each of the two longitudinal edges (62) of the connection section (60) leads to an end of the inner edge (59) of a respective one of the two end sections (51, 52) of the shaft cross-section (50) to form said respective corner (73) of the square shape (70); and wherein another end of each of the two longitudinal edges (62) of the connection section (60) leads to the second side edge (58) of the respective other end section (50 or 51) of the shaft cross-section (50).

3. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first side edge (57) and the second side edge (58) of each of the two end sections (51, 52) of the shaft cross-section (50) are aligned at least substantially in parallel with one another and/or are rectilinear.

4. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the outer edge (55) of each of the two end sections (51, 52) of the shaft cross-section (50) has the shape of a circular section.

5. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the inner edges (59) of the two end sections (51, 52) of the shaft cross-section (50) are at least substantially aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L) of the shaft cross-section (50) and/or are rectilinear.

6. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the shaft cross-section (50) has a respective cut-out (76) at the level of the connection section (60) said cut-out at least substantially having a triangular shape, with a first limb of the respective triangular shape forming the inner edge (59) of one of the two end sections (51, 52) of the shaft cross-section (50), and with a second limb of the respective triangular shape forming one of the two longitudinal edges (62) of the connection section (60).

7. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the longitudinal edges (62) of the connection section (60) are rectilinear.

8. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transitions (64) of the connection section (60) to the respective end section of the shaft cross-section (50) which correspond to said two corners (73) of the square shape (70) are rounded.

9. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the square shape (70) of the connection section (60) is rotated relative to the longitudinal axis (L) of the shaft cross-section (50) by an angle that has a value in the range from 22 to 32.

10. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 1, wherein said respective transition (64) of the connection section (60) to the respective end section of the shaft cross-section (50) is set back by a value of approximately 40% of the width of the shaft cross-section (50).

11. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 1, wherein a mutual spacing of the two longitudinal edges (62) of the connection section (60) of the shaft cross-section (50) amounts to a value in the range from 37% to 47% of the width of the shaft cross-section (50).

12. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first end section, the connection section (60) and the second end section of the shaft cross-section (50) each extend along approximately a third of the length of the shaft cross-section (50) with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the shaft cross-section (50).

13. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shaft cross-section (50) is point symmetric.

14. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the respective encoding region (54) of the two end sections (51, 52) of the shaft cross-section (50) is provided at a respective end face of the shaft cross-section (50) in extension of the obliquely extending connection section (60).

15. A key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the key shaft (25) has at least one incision (26) at the respective encoding region (54) of the two end sections (51, 52) of the shaft cross-section (50), said incision extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis (L) that has a value in the range from 0 to 90.

16. A disk cylinder (10) having a key (24) or a key blank (24) in accordance with claim 1, and having a cylinder housing (12); a disk housing (14) rotatably supported about a cylinder axis in the cylinder housing (12); at least one blocking pin (22) which is provided at the outer periphery of the disk housing (14), which is aligned in parallel with the cylinder axis (Z) and is displaceable radially to the cylinder axis (Z), which blocks the disk housing (14) against a rotational movement in a radially outer blocking position, and which releases the disk housing (14) for a rotational movement in a radially inner release position; and a plurality of disk tumblers (16) arranged along the cylinder axis (Z) in the disk housing (14) and rotatably supported between a locked position and an unlocked position, with each disk tumbler (16) having a key reception opening (18) and, at the outer periphery, at least one blocking cut-out (20) in which the blocking pin (22) is at least partly receivable in the release position, with the blocking pin (22) only being displaceable into the release position when all the disk tumblers (16) are in their unlocked positions in which the blocking cut-out (20) of the respective disk tumbler (16) is aligned radially to the blocking pin (22).

17. A disk cylinder (10) in accordance with claim 16, wherein the key reception openings (18) of the disk tumblers (16) form a keyway (28) extending along the cylinder axis (Z), with the disk cylinder (10) having at least one securing disk (15) at an insertion opening of the keyway (28), said securing disk having a key insertion opening (19) having a cross-section that is formed at least substantially in a complementary manner to the shaft cross-section (50) of the key (24) or of the key blank (24).

18. A disk cylinder (10) in accordance with claim 16, wherein at least one of the plurality of disk tumblers (16) has a key reception opening (18) having a cross-section that is formed at least substantially in a complementary manner to the shaft cross-section (50) of the key (24) or of the key blank (24).

Description

[0051] The invention will be described in the following by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which the same or similar elements are characterized by the same reference numerals.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a disk cylinder with a key;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of parts of the disk cylinder with a key in accordance with FIG. 1;

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a shaft cross-section of a key with an encoding 6 or of a key blank;

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a shaft cross-section of a key with an encoding 3;

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a shaft cross-section of a key with an encoding 1; and

[0057] FIG. 6 shows a securing disk of a disk cylinder.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section 50 of the key shaft 25 of a key 24 for a disk cylinder 10 in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2 and a cross-section 50 of a key blank 24 that serves for the manufacture of a key 24, wherein the shaft cross-section 50 in accordance with FIG. 3 differs from the shaft cross-section of a key 24 in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, as will be explained in the following. The view in accordance with FIG. 3 is selected such that the key 24 is rotated clockwise for an opening actuation of the associated disk cylinder.

[0059] The shaft cross-section 50 in the embodiment shown here is point-symmetric and has a first end section 51, a second end section 52, and a connection section 60 along a longitudinal axis L (extending within the shown section plane), said connection section connecting the first end section 51 and the second section 52 to one another. The first end section 51, the second end section 52 and the connection section 60 extend in each case along approximately a third of the length of the shaft cross-section 50 with respect to the longitudinal axis L in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

[0060] The first end section 51 and the second end section 52 form, in extension of the obliquely extending connection section 60, a respective encoding region 54 for driving an associated disk tumbler 16 (FIGS. 1 and 2), with a respective outer edge 55 of the end section 51, 52 partly bounding the respective encoding region 54 and being able to be set back, however, partly or completely by an incision 26 (FIGS. 1 and 2), as is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The shaft cross-section 50 in accordance with FIG. 3, however, has no incision and thus corresponds to an encoding 6 or to a key blank without incisions.

[0061] The connection section 60 of the shaft cross-section 50 is narrower than the two end sections 51, 52 and has two rectilinear longitudinal edges 62 that are in parallel with one another and that extend between the two end sections 51, 52 along a direction of extent V at an able of, for example, approximately 27 or approximately 31 obliquely to the longitudinal axis L of the shaft cross-section 50. The mutual spacing of the two longitudinal edges 62 of the connection section 60 amounts in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 to approximately 40% of the width (measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L) of the shaft cross-section 50.

[0062] The connection section 60 of the shaft cross-section 50 comprises a central region having the shape 70 of a square that is rotated relative to the longitudinal axis L in accordance with the oblique extent of the connection section 60. The square shape 70 comprises two exposed first edges 71 which are disposed opposite one another and of which each forms a part of one of the two longitudinal edges 62 of the connection section 60 and two second edges 72 disposed opposite one another and passing through the connection section 60. The two second edges 72 have the same length as the two first edges 71 and are aligned orthogonally thereto.

[0063] The square shape 70 furthermore comprises two first corners 73 which are disposed diametrically opposite one another and of which each corresponds to a transition 64 of the connection section 60 to the respective end section 51 and 52 respectively of the shaft cross-section 50, with the respective transition 64 being rounded so that the first corners 73 of the (imaginary) square shape 70 do not exactly coincide with the actual (i.e. physical) negative corners that are formed by the respective transition 64. The two first corners 73 of the square shape 70 are thus located approximately at one end of a respective one of the two longitudinal edges 62 of the connection section 60 of the shaft cross-section 50.

[0064] The square shape 70 furthermore comprises two second corners 74 that are disposed diametrically opposite one another and that are approximately arranged in a central region of a respective one of the two longitudinal edges 62 of the connection section 60. Each of the two first edges 71 thus extends from one of the two first corners 73 along an associated longitudinal edge 62 up to one of the two second corners 74. Each of the two second edges 72 extends from one of the two first corners 73 transversely to the connection section 60 and in particular orthogonally to the direction of extent V up to one of the two second corners 74.

[0065] Each of the two end sections 51, 52 of the shaft cross-section 50 comprises a first side edge 57 and a second side edge 58 that is disposed opposite the first side edge 57 with respect to the (central) longitudinal axis L, with the first side edge 57 and the second side edge 58, in the embodiment shown here, being aligned in parallel with one another and being rectilinear. The two side edges 57, 58 are of different length. Each of the two end sections 51, 52 of the shaft cross-section 50 furthermore comprises the already named outer edge 55 that has the shape of a circular section in the embodiment shown here and an inner edge 59 that is disposed opposite the outer edge 55 and that extends, starting from the first side edge 57, in the direction of the (central) longitudinal axis L to one of the two first corners 73 of the square shape 70 of the connection section 60. The respective inner edge 59 can in particular extend, as shown in FIG. 3, orthogonally to the longitudinal axis L of the shaft cross-section 50. This is, however, not absolutely necessary; for example, the respective inner edge 59 could be inclined with respect to such an orthogonal alignment, in particular in a similar manner to or corresponding to the alignment of the second edges 72 of the square shape 70.

[0066] Corresponding to the explained oblique position of the connection section 60 and to the square shape 70, the two longitudinal edges 62 of the connection section 60 merge into the respective end section 51, 52 of the shaft cross-section 50 at different heights (with respect to the longitudinal axis L). One end of each of the two longitudinal edges 62 leads to an end of the inner edge 59 of the respective end section 51, 52 to form the respective transition 64. The respective transition 64 of the connection section 60 to the respective end section 51, 52 of the shaft cross-section 50 is set back in the embodiment shown here by a value of approximately 40% of the width (measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L) of the shaft cross-section 50. The other end of each of the two longitudinal edges 62 furthermore leads to the second side edge 58 of the respective other end section 52 or 51 respectively of the shaft cross-section 50.

[0067] To form, starting from an at least substantially rectangular base shape, the shaft cross-section 50 with an obliquely extending connection section 60 in accordance with FIG. 3, the shaft cross-section 50 has a respective cut-out 76 that at least substantially has a triangular shape at the height of the connection section 60 at both longitudinal sides, with a first limb of the respective triangular shape forming the inner edge 62 of one of the two end sections 51, 52 of the shaft cross-section 50, and with a second limb of the respective triangular shape forming one of the two longitudinal edges 62 of the connection section 60.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows a shaft cross-section 50 of a key 24 corresponding to FIG. 3, but at a point along the key axis S at which an incision 26 is provided that represents the encoding 3 in accordance with the initially explained encoding system. The incision 26 introduced at the outer edge 55, at the second side edge 58, and partly at the longitudinal edge 62 of the connection section 60 adjacent thereto is accordingly inclined by an angle of approximately 36 with respect to the longitudinal axis L (FIG. 3).

[0069] FIG. 5 shows a corresponding shaft cross-section 50 of a key 24 at a point along the key axis S at which an incision 26 is provided that represents the encoding 1 in accordance with the initially explained encoding system. The incision 26 introduced at the outer edge 55, at the first side edge 57, at the second side edge 58, and partly at the longitudinal edge 62 of the connection section 60 adjacent thereto is accordingly inclined by an angle of approximately 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis L (FIG. 3).

[0070] The special geometry of the shaft cross-section 50 in accordance with FIGS. 3 to 5 allows a minimal opening width of the keyway 28 (FIG. 1) of the disk cylinder (10) that, on the one hand, makes the insertion and the subsequent use of a picking tool more difficult and that, on the other hand, still enables a sufficient driving torque for the proper opening actuation of the disk cylinder 10 for driving the coupling section 30 (FIG. 1). Due to the configuration of the connection section 60, that is narrow and extends obliquely such that a correspondingly obliquely standing square shape 70 is formed between the two end sections 51, 52 (required for the driving of the disk tumblers 16) of the shaft cross-section 50, the cross-sectional surface of the key shaft 25 is minimized, whereby the insertion and use of conventional picking tools is made substantially more difficult or is practically precluded (with respect to conventional picking tools having an elongate-rectangular cross-section).

[0071] A sufficiently high driving torque can nevertheless be applied to the disk tumblers 16 since the respective encoding region 54 of the end sections 51, 52 is provided in extension of the obliquely aligned connection section 60, whereby the reaction forces occurring at the key shaft 25 can be taken up and distributed along the direction of extent V of the connection section 60. This can be recognized particularly easily with reference to FIG. 4 (encoding 3). When, on a clockwise rotational movement of the key shaft 25, the incision 26 acts on a disk tumbler 16 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and drives the coupling section 30 via it, the reaction force of the square shape 70 (FIG. 3) of the connection section 60 is taken up and supported.

[0072] FIG. 6 shows a securing disk 15 that is provided at an insertion opening of the keyway 28 of a disk cylinder 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The securing disk 15 has a central key insertion opening 19 having a cross-section that is formed at least substantially in a complementary manner to the shaft cross-section 50 of the key 24 (encoding 6 in accordance with FIG. 3) or of the key blank 24. To facilitate the insertion of the key 24 into the keyway 28 of the disk cylinder 10, the cross-section of the key insertion opening 19 can be somewhat larger and much more rounded than the shaft cross-section 50. The opening width of the keyway 28 of the disk cylinder 10 is bounded by such a securing disk 15 to make the insertion of a picking tool more difficult, as explained.

[0073] Alternatively or additionally, one or more disk tumblers 16 or other disks of the disk cylinder 10 (e.g. release disk) can also have a reception opening 18 whose cross-section is formed at least substantially in a complementary manner to the shaft cross-section 50 of the key 24 or of the key blank 24.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0074] 10 disk cylinder [0075] 12 cylinder housing [0076] 14 disk housing [0077] 15 securing disk [0078] 16 disk tumbler [0079] 18 reception opening [0080] 19 key insertion opening [0081] 20 blocking cut-out [0082] 22 blocking pin [0083] 24 key [0084] 24 key blank [0085] 25 key shaft [0086] 26 insertion [0087] 28 keyway [0088] 30 coupling section [0089] 32 slit [0090] 34 blocking pin reception recess [0091] 36 intermediate disk [0092] 38, 38a peripheral cut-out [0093] 40 abutment section [0094] 42 projection [0095] 44 fixing cut-out [0096] 46 core pin [0097] 50 shaft cross-section [0098] 51 first end section [0099] 52 second end section [0100] 54 encoding region [0101] 55 outer edge [0102] 57 first side edge [0103] 58 second side edge [0104] 59 inner edge [0105] 60 connection section [0106] 62 longitudinal edge of the connection section [0107] 64 transition between the connection section and the end section [0108] 70 square shape [0109] 71 first edge of the square shape [0110] 72 second edge of the square shape [0111] 73 first corner of the square shape [0112] 74 second corner of the square shape [0113] 76 cut-out [0114] L longitudinal axis of the shaft cross-section [0115] S key axis [0116] V direction of extent of the connection section [0117] Z cylinder axis