GB2118620A

GB2118620A - Method of manufacturing reversible keys

Info

Publication number: GB2118620A
Application number: GB08309160A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reinhardt Wolff
Original assignee: Tibbe KG
Current assignee: Tibbe KG
Priority date: 1982-04-07
Filing date: 1983-04-05
Publication date: 1983-11-02
Also published as: ES8602457A1; ES521294A0; DE3213103A1; GB2118620B

Abstract

The manufacture of reversible keys with two adjacent differently shaped tumbler-controlling surfaces (7a, 6b and 6a, 7b) on each of the two narrow edges, each made up of two identical key half portions (A, B) with each tumbler-controlling surface on one of the two narrow edges of the respective key half portions, is substantially simplified in that identical key half portions (A, B) are prepared and they are joined together in pairs to form two different reversible keys, in that the two key half portions (A, B) of each pair are brought together with either of two pairs of broad faces 3a, 3b or 2a, 2b) adjacent. In this way it is possible, with substantially the same outlay as before, to produce twice as many different configurations of reversible key. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of manufacturing reversible keys The invention relates to a method for manufacturing reversible keys having two adjacent differently shaped tumbler-controlling surfaces on each of the two narrow edges.

Such reversible keys, in which the two differently shaped tumbler-controlling surfaces on the one narrow edge are identical with those on the other narrow edge of the key and more particularly in which each tumbler-controlling surface on the one narrow edge is identical with the diagonally opposite controlling surface on the other narrow edge of the key, are for example employed for actuating lock barrels having tumblers in a barrel core mounted for rotation in a barrel housing with a longitudinally extending key entry passage. The tumblers of such lock barrels are each movable for the purpose of locking the core in the housing against rotation, and each projects out of the core into engagement with a locking recess formed in the bore of the barrel housing.The tumblers are arranged in two groups, such that the tumblers of the one group cooperate with the one tumbler-controlling surface of the key and the tumblers of the other group cooperate with the other, differently profiled, tumbler-controlling surface of the key.

In lock barrels in which the tumblers of both groups project out of the core in the same direction, they co-operate with the two adjacent tumbler-controlling surfaces on one and-the same narrow edge of the key, whilst in barrels in which the tumblers of the one group project out of the core in a direction opposite to that of the other group, the tumblers of the one group co-operate with the associated tumbler-controlling surface on the one narrow edge and the tumblers of the other group co-operate with the associated tumblercontrolling surface on the other narrow edge of the key.

It is known to manufacture such reversible keys in such a way that two identical key half portions are produced, each having one profiled tumblercontrolling surface on one narrower edge and a different such surface on the other narrow edge, these portions being subsequently brought together with their broader faces enyaging one another to form a reversible key, being secured together for example by welding.In such an arrangement the two key half portions are mutually offset about the longitudinal axis by 1 800 so that identical tumbler-controlling surfaces lie diagonally opposite one another on the key half portions, as is necessary to achieve reversibility, that is to say the possibility that the key can be inserted on the lock either way up and still operate it. (DE-OS 21 35 106 and 28 24 809.) The invention is based on solving the problem of simplifying the manufacture of reversible keys with two adjacent tumbler-controlling surfaces on each of the two narrow edges, and indeed to allow manufacture in the simplest possible manner of a large number of different reversible keys for a corresponding number of lock barrels having different characteristics.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing reversible keys having two adjacent differently shaped tumbler-controlling surfaces on each of the two narrow edges in which identical key halves are produced, each having one of the differing tumbler-controlling surfaces on each of its narrow edges, the identical key halves then being brought together in pairs, with their broad faces adjacent and connected to form reversible keys, two different reversible keys being formed by bringing together the pairs of key halves with different adjacent broad faces.

The invention is based on the idea that it is possible to manufacture, from pairs of identical key half portions, two different reversible keys of the kind in question for two lock barrels having different characteristics, each according to the broad faces that are brought into engagement. In this way, therefore, from four identical key half portions two different reversible keys can be produced for two lock barrels having different characteristics. With the same number of tools, therefore, twice as many different reversible keys can be produced. Conversely it is possible to manufacture the same number of different reversible keys with half as many tools.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figures I to 4 show the important steps of the method; and Figures 5 and 6 are respectively and to a larger scale, a section through a reversible key along the line V-V in Figure 4 and the corresponding section through another reversible key produced from the two identical key half portions.

For manufacturing a key half portion A the starting point is a blank 1 a having two broad faces 2a and 3a and two narrower edges 4a and 5a, as shown in Figure 1. The blank 1 a is, as shown in Figure 2, first shaped in its longitudinal direction along the lower narrow edge 4a in order to produce a first tumbler-controlling surface 6a.

Then, as shown in Figure 3, the blank 1 a is shaped in the longitudinal direction on its upper narrow edge 5a to produce a second tumbler-controlling surface 7a.

In the same manner three further identical key half portions B, C and D are produced, having respectively two broad faces 2b and 3b, 2c and 3c and 2d and 3d, and the first tumbler-controlling surfaces 6b, 6c and 6d on the one narrow edge 4b, 4c and 4d and a second tumbler-controlling surface 7b, 7c and 7d on the other narrow edge Sb, Sc and 5d.

To produce a first reversible key I the two key half portions A and B are brought together as shown in Figure 4 and then joined together, for example by riveting or welding. Thus the key half portions A and B are turned, relative to one another, through 1800 about the longitudinal axis, so that they lie with their broad faces 3a and 3b in contact, as shown in Figure 5.

To produce a second reversible key 11 the two key half portions C and D are joined together in a similar manner but in this case with the other broad faces 2c and 2d in engagement, as shown in Figure 6.

A comparison of Figure 5 with Figure 6 makes it clear that the reversible key I cannot be employed for actuating the lock barrel associated with the second reversible key II and having corresponding characteristics, and conversely the second key II cannot be used with the lock barrel having the characteristics designed for the first key I. At those points where in the first key I the first tumbler-controlling surfaces 6a and Sb are present, the second key Ilhas the second tumbler-controlling surfaces 7c and 7d, and at those points where the first key I has the second surfaces 7a and 7b, the second key II has the first surfaces Sc and 6d.

It is therefore evident that it is possible to make two different reversible keys I and II from four identical key half portions A to D. This significantly simplifies production since, with virtually the same outlay, twice as many different reversible keys can be produced, or conversely the same number of different keys can be produced with only half the outlay.

Keys I and II manufactured in this way can be used with lock barrels of the widest possible range of types of construction. The only important point is that they have in the barrel core, mounted in the barrel housing with a key entry passage extending longitudinally, two groups of tumblers spaced along the key entry passage, each movable for locking the core against rotation within the housing, moving into engagement with a locking recess formed in the bore of the housing.

Tumblers of the one group co-operate with the first tumbler-controlling surfaces 6a, 6b in the reversible key I and with the second tumblercontrolling surfaces 7c, 7d in the second reversible key II, and tumblers of the other group co-operate with the second tumbler-controlling surfaces 7a, 7b on the first reversible key I and with the first tumbler-surfaces 6c, 6d on the reversible key II.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing reversible keys having two adjacent differently shaped tumblercontrolling surfaces on each of the two narrow edges in which identical key halves are produced, each having one of the differing tumbler-.

controlling surfaces on each of its narrow edges, the identical key halves then being brought together in pairs, with their broad faces adjacent and connected to form reversible keys, two different reversible keys being formed by bringing together the pairs of key halves with different adjacent broad faces.

2. A reversible key manufactured by the method according to claim 1.

3. A method of manufacturing reversible keys substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

4. A reversible key substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.