US3385086A - Key operated switch mechanism - Google Patents

Description

y 8, 1968 e. P. PATRIQUIN 3,385,086

KEY OPERATED SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 17, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet f3 INVENTOR. GEORGE F. PATRIQUIN BY 5M ATTORNEY May 28, 1968 G. P PATRIQUIN KEY OPERATED SWITCH MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 17, 1966 INVENTOR. GEO RGE I? PATR IQUIN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,385,086 KEY OPERATED SWITCH MECHANISM George P. Patriquin, Gardner, Mass., assignor to Independent Lock Company, Fitchburg, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Feb. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 528,166 8 Claims. (Cl. 70-364) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch operating device comprising a housing, a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted in the housing, the plug having a keyway, and a plurality of switch operator cams rotatably mounted on the plug in a space defined between the plug and the housing, lock pins movably mounted in cross bores extending through the housing, the cams and into the plug, the combination including key means inser-table into a keyway formed in the plug for aligning the lock pins in a selected manner whereby when the junction of the lock pins in a cross bore is disposed at the junction of the plug and cam, the cam will remain stationary when the plug is rotated, and when the pin junction is disposed at the shear line between the cam and the housing, the cam will rotate with the plug.

This invention relates to a lock device, and more particularly to a key operated lock device of the type in which a plurality of keys may operate the lock.

Still further, this invention relates to a recording type key operated lock device wherein a series of keys may be utilized to operate a lock, the lock having switching means which records or identifies the particular key utilized to operate the lock device.

Devices of the class described are often used to monitor the dispensing of supplies, such as fuel oil. It is necessary, for instance in a fuel oil depot, to identify the driver or drivers who have refilled their trucks. In most cases, this function is executed by an operator who refuels or refills a truck and records the identity of the truck, or of the driver or truckman. More recently, attempts have been made to automate fuel dispensing stations, providing anthorized truckers with means for starting and stopping the oil flow, the identifying function being carried out by a complex punch card system.

Other read-out or identifying lock systems have, in the past, been proposed. However, all of these systems have been cumbersome, exceedingly complex in their operation, readily susceptible to breakdown and particularly limited in the number of different identifications which they are able to perform.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple, eflicient and high security lock device which closes a predetermined series of switches in accordance with the key utilized to operate the look.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lock having means to identify the key used to operate the lock, such identifying means, in addition to its idenifying function augmenting the security of the lock device.

Still a further object of the inventionis the provision of a lock which has, in lieu of or in addition to the usual rotatable plug, a series of individually actuatable switch operating cams, certain of the cams being rotatable with the plug and other of the cams remaining stationary with the lock casing, depending upon the key employed.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a high security lock having a series of selectively actuatable switch operating cams, certain of which will move when the plug is rotated and others of which will remain stationary when the plug is rotated, the identity of the 3,385,085 Patented May 28, 1968 moving and stationary cams depending upon the key which is employed to operate the device.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of a locking device in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a magnified vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on the line 3--3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing the parts after rotation of the lock plug;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 taken after partial rotation of the lock plug;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the lock components of the device;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a view of the embodiment of FIGURE 8 showing the position of the parts after rotation of the plug.

In accordance with the invention, there is shown a lock assembly 10 including a front plate 11, the lock being shown mounted on a panel 12. The panel is provided with a central aperture 13, through which the body of the lock may pass, and a pair of spaced apertures 14, 15 within which the rotation resisting lugs 16, 17 of the front plate 11 are received.

The front plate 11 includes a threaded inner bore 18, which is threaded over the front portion 19 of the lock housing 20. A threaded bezel 21 is tightened against the inner face of the panel 12, thus firmly and non-rotatively locking the housing 20 and the front plate 11 to the panel.

The housing 20 comprises a cylindrical front portion 22 and an upper, generally semi-cylindrical rear portion 23. The housing is provided with an axial bore 24, the forwardmost end of which is recessed as at 25 to receive the enlarged end portion 26 of the lock plug 27. The plug is cylindrical and extends substantially the entire length of the housing.

The housing 20 is provided with a series of locking bores 28 extending radially from the housing into the plug and intersecting the keyway 29 which is formed axially within the plug. Into each of the bores 28 there are charged driver and follower pins 29', 30, respectively, in accordance with standard practice, the pins being pressed radially toward the keyway by driver springs 31.

One end of each of the driver springs 31 is biased against a follower pin 30, the opposite ends of the springs being biased against a slide member 32 carried within an undercut groove 33 formed in the housing.

It will thus be seen that to the point described, the forward bores, tumbler pins and springs (six being shown in the illustrated embodiment) act in the conventional manner to lock the plug against rotation. A properly bitted key will raise these pins to the shear line defined between the casing and the plug and, in this position, will not interfere with rotary movement of the plug.

In addition to the mechanism previously described, the plug, which is preferably elongated as contrasted with usual plugs, carries a series of switch operating cams 34 and a master cam 35. The switch operating cams, as may be best seen from FIGURES 3 through 6, comprise fiat, preferably metallic elements, and include a switch operating end 36. The cams include a generally annular shoulder portion 37 having a central bore 38, the bore being sized to be rotatably seated on the cylindrical plug.

The switch operating cams are stacked in side-by-side position on the plug and are maintained against axial movement with respect to the plug by an end plate 39 which is provided with a central aperture 40 sleeved over the plug, the plate being fixed to the casing by a machine screw 41 passing through the plate and threaded into a tapped aperture in the casing.

A second series of cross bores 42 extends radially through the casing, the annular portions 37 of the switch cams, and thence into the portions of the plug which extend rearwardly of the portion 22 of the housing. It will be seen that these cross bores comprise, collectively, bore portions 43 in the casing, apertures 44 in the annular portions 37 of the cams, and bore portions 45 in the plug, the bore portions 45 intersecting the keyway of the plug.

Master cam 35 is affixed to the inner end 47 of the plug, as by machine screws 48.

Each of the bores of the second series is provided with at least two pin tumblers, namely driver tumblers 50 and follower tumblers 51. The tumblers in the bores of the second series are pressed inwardly toward the plug by driver springs 52, the outer ends of the driver springs bearing against the previously described slide plate 32.

Switch means are provided in the path of movement of the switch cams 36 and optionally, but preferably, also in the path of movement of the master cam 35. Such switch means may be of any conventional form but in the present embodiment comprises an insulated casing carrying resilient contact 61 normally spaced from moving contact 62. The contact 62 may include a rotatable follower surface 63 which cooperates with cam surfaces 64, 64 of the cam means 36 to shift the movable follower into contact with the resilient follower, the latter follower optionally but preferably also being permitted a range of inward movement. It will thus be evident that when one or more of the cams 36 is rotated through a sufiicient angle, the switch or switches disposed in the path of the moved contact or contacts will be closed.

Returning now to FIGURES 3 to 6 particularly, the lock plug may be rotated only if the junction between the pins in the first series of cross bores 28 is aligned with the shear line defined by the outer periphery of the plug.

It will be further observed that despite the proper alignment of the pins in the cross bores of first series, the plug may not be rotated unless the junction between the driver and follower pins of the second series is located either at the inner circumference of the casing, i.e., the inner radial end of the bores 43, or at the periphery of the plug 27. Thus, it will be seen that the pins in the second series of cross bores 42 serve a security function.

In FIGURES 3 and 4, the junction between the driver and follower pins in a cross bore 42 is shown to be aligned at the inner circumference of the casing. It is understood that this alignment results from the use of a key K which is properly bitted to achieve the desired alignment of all of the pins in the first series of cross bores 28 and the selected alignment of the pins in the second series.

In FIGURE 3 it will be evident that if all of the other pins are aligned to permit rotation of the plug, the plug 27, when rotated, will carry with it the switch cam 36. This is due to the fact that driver pin 50 in this particular cross bore lies within the plug and also within the aperture 44 in the annular portion of the cam. Thus, in elfect, this driver pin keys the cam to the plug.

In contrast, the driver pin 50 in the illustration of FIG- URE 5 has been aligned by the key K so that the outermost end of the driver pin is aligned with the periphery of the plug 27. In this position the follower pin 51 includes portions which lie within the casing and other portions which lie within the aperture 44 of the cam 36.

In the illustration of FIGURE 5, the follower pin 51 keys the cam 36 to the casing. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 6, when the plug is rotated, the cam 36 will remain in its initial position notwithstanding the rotation of the plug.

From the foregoing it will be evident that no rotation will be possible unless the following situation exists:

(a) The junction of all of the pins in the bores of the first series are aligned at the shear line defined between the casing and the plug; and

(b) The junctions of all of the pins in the bores of the second series are aligned either at the periphery of the plug or at the inner periphery of the casing.

It will be readily recognized that by proper key design, any one or more of the switching cams may be selectively made to remain stationary during rotation of the plug or to rotate during rotation of the plug, by varying the depth of cut of the key aligned with the selected switch cam to locate the junction of the tumbler pins which cooperate with the particular cam. A large number of permutations and combinations of movable and stationary cams permitted by this arrangement provides a high degree of flexibility, whereby a large number of separately identifiable keys may be used to operate a single lock.

The embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9, wherein like parts have been given like reference numerals, employs a modified switch operator cam 34a, which gives still further flexibility to the system.

In this embodiment, one or more of the cams 34a includes an offset shoulder portion 34b which, in the locked position, lies adjacent a fixed shoulder 20a of the housing 20. When a key is inserted which shifts the driver and follower pins 50, 51 to the position shown in FIG- URE 8, it will be evident that the cam 34:: is keyed by pin 50 to rotate with the plug 27.

In view of this driving connection between plug and cam and the opposed disposition of the shoulders 34b of the cam and 20a of the housing, a clockwise rotation of the plug is positively prevented. Counter clockwise rota tion of the plug and cam (when viewed as shown in FIG- URE 8) is not prevented, the rotated plug and cam being depicted in FIGURE 9.

I claim:

1. A switch operating device comprising a housing, a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted in said housing, said plug having a keyway, a plurality of switch operator cams rotatably mounted on said plug, said cams having laterally extending switch operator portions, a plurality of parallel cross bores, each of said bores extending radially from said casing through a different one of said cams and entering said keyway, said cross bores being disposed in alignment with said operator portions, a plurality of end abutting tumblers in each of said cross bores, and key means insertable into said keyway for selectively aligning the abutting ends of the tumblers in at least one of said cross bores with the periphery of said plug, and in at least one other said cross bore with the periphery of said cam.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 and including a master cam member fixed to said plug.

3. A switch operating device comprising a housing having an axial bore, a generally cylindrical plug member mounted for rotation in said bore and including a keyway, outer peripheral portions of said plug member being spaced from the inner surface of said bore, said portions of said plug and bore defining a parti-annular space, a plurality of switch operator cams rotatably mounted on said plug, said cams including arcuate segments disposed in said parti-annular space and laterally extending switch operator portions, a series of cross bores each extending from said housing through a different one of said segments and into said plug in communication with said keyway, said bores being aligned with said operator portions, a pair of end abutting lock'tumblers in each of said cross bores, spring means in said cross bores urging said tumblers toward said plug, and key means .insertable into said keyway for shifting said tumblers radially, to align the abutting ends of a first pair of said tumblers with the periphery of said plug and the abutting ends of a second pair of said tumblers with said inner surface of said bore, whereby, upon rotation of said plug, the cam having said first pair of tumblers will remain stationary and the cam having said second pair of tumblers will rotate with said plug.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 and including auxiliary locking means for preventing relative rotation of said plug housing, said key means including means for releasing said auxiliary locking means.

5. A switch operating device comprising a cylindrical plug having an axial keyway, first and second switch operator cams rotatably mounted on said plug, first and second cross bores extending radially through said first and second cams, respectively, into said keyway of said plug, a pair of end abutting lock pins in said first and second cross bores, and key means insertable into said keyway for aligning the abutting ends of the pins in said first bore with the periphery of said plug, and the abutting ends of the pins in said second bore with an outer surface of said second cam, whereby when said plug is rotated by said key means said plug is free to rotate relative to said first switch operator cam and said second switch operator cam is fixed for rotation with said plug by said lock pins.

6. A key operated switch assembly comprising a casing having a bore, a plug rotatably mounted in said bore, a keyway in said plug, locking means for preventing rela tive rotation of said plug and easing, a plurality of sideby-side disposed switch operator cams, each including a parti-cylindrical base portion having an axial bore formed therein, said cams being rotatably mounted on said plug with said plug extending through said bores of said cams, a plurality of radially extending cross bores extending from said casing through said annular portions of said cams and into said plug in communication with said keyway, a plurality of pin tumblers disposed in each of said radial bores, spring means in said casing urging said tumblers inwardly toward said keyway, and key means for unlocking said locking means and for aligning the junctions of certain of the pins at the level of the periphery of said plug and at the junctions of others of said pins at the outer level of said annular portion of said cams.

7. A key operated switch assembly for selectively operating one of a plurality of circuits in accordance with the key employed, comprising a casing having a bore, a plug mounted for rotation in said bore, said plug having an axial keyway, locking means for preventing relative rotation of said plug and bore, a plurality of switch operator means mounted on said plug for rotation relative thereto, a plurality of cross bores aligned in parallelism with each other, said cross bores extending radially from said casing through a different one of said operator means and into said keyway of said plug, a pair of tumbler pins reciprocably mounted in each said cross bores in end-toend relation, spring means in said casing biasing said pairs toward said plug, and key means insertable into said keyway including portions for releasing said lock means and other portions for lifting said pairs of pins in said cross bores to align the junction of the pins of at least one of said pairs with the periphery of said plug and the junction of the pins of at least one of said pairs with the inner circumference of said casing.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said key means aligns the junctions of certain of said pins with the periphery of said plug and the junctions of all of the other said pins with the inner circumference of said casing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,216,752 2/1917 Voight -385 X 1,390,017 9/1921 Bryce 70-434 1,565,557 12/1925 Fremon 70-382 X 1,788,834 1/1931 Hurd 70-337 X 1,855,607 4/1932 Lyons 70-369 2,097,407 10/1937 Spinello 70-378 X 2,113,007 4/1938 Swanson 70-382 X MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

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