Claims
- 1. A locking, checking, and actuating device operated by a ferromagnetic lock and comprising a magnetic key having a stem and a barrel including a rotor, a stator, and locking, checking, or actuating means disposed at the rear of said barrel and positioned relative to said stator;
- said rotor comprising a hollow cylindrical sleeve having a longitudinal sleeve axis, said sleeve having an inside wall and an outside wall, said outside wall having at least one elongate tumbler placed therein, said tumbler having a transverse axis substantially at the middle thereof and being mounted for pivotable movement about said transverse axis between a first position in which said tumbler spans the interface between said rotor and said stator and prevents displacement of said rotor relative to said stator and a second position in which said tumbler clears the interface and allows the free rotation of said rotor inside said stator, said tumbler having a magnet at one end thereof and being devoid of a magnet at the other end thereof, and said rotor including means for fastening said key thereto and means for unfastening said key therefrom and a cylindrical ferrous core in the center of said rotor extending longitudinally along said sleeve axis throughout the length of said sleeve and spaced from said inside wall of said sleeve a distance slightly greater than the thickness of said stem of said key, said central ferrous core exerting a permanent force of attraction on said magnet in said tumbler; said stem of said key comprising a hollow cylindrical tube having at least one magnet embedded in the periphery thereof corresponding to said at least one tumbler, said magnet in said stem cooperating by repulsion with said magnet in said corresponding tumbler, whereby when said key is fastened, said magnet in said stem cooperates with said magnet in said corresponding tumbler, moving said tumbler from said first position to said second position, thereby allowing free rotation of said rotor in said stator, said rotation operating said locking, checking, or actuating means; and
- said stator surrounding said rotor and being provided with at least one opening corresponding to said at least one tumbler, said opening being positioned and configured to receive said end of said tumbler which is devoid of a magnet as long as said magnet of said key does not act on said magnet of said tumbler by repulsion to the extent of overcoming the permanent force of attraction that said central ferrous core exerts on said magnet in said tumbler.
- 2. The device of claim 1, at least one said tumbler being longitudinal and having a parallel-sided shape including an upper face and a lower face and being disposed in a cavity in said outside wall of said sleeve, said cavity having two opposed longitudinal edges, and said tumbler being pivotably mounted about a pin extending in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal sleeve axis and parallel to the bottom of said cavity, between said longitudinal edges thereof, said lower face at said end of said tumbler including said magnet being bevelled in the longitudinal direction from the middle of said tumbler to said end.
- 3. The device of claim 1, at least one said tumbler being transverse and having the shape of a sector of a cylinder including an upper face and a lower face and being disposed in a cavity in said outside wall of said sleeve, said tumbler being pivotably mounted about a pin extending in a direction parallel to said longitudinal sleeve axis, said lower face at said end of said tumbler including said magnet being bevelled from the middle of said tumbler to said end.
- 4. The device of claim 2, at least one said tumbler being transverse and having the shape of a sector of a cylinder including an upper face and a lower face and being disposed in a cavity in said outside wall of said sleeve, said tumbler being pivotably mounted about a pin extending in a direction parallel to said longitudinal sleeve axis, said lower face at said end of said tumbler including said magnet being bevelled from the middle of said tumbler to said end.
- 5. The device of claim 1, the outer front end of said sleeve having a cavity therein, said means for fastening said key to said rotor comprising mechanical means, said stem of said key having an ear having a base, said stem having a tooth close to said base of said ear extending radially outwardly, and said tooth being cooperable with said cavity.
- 6. The device of claim 1, said tumbler having an upper face and a lower face and being disposed in a cavity in an outside wall of said sleeve, said inside wall of said sleeve and said central ferrous core defining an annular chamber, said means for fastening said key to said rotor comprising magnetic means, said stem of said key being provided with at least one transverse blind orifice and at least one said tumbler being provided with a radial pin extending from said lower face thereof towards said central ferrous core in said end of said tumbler devoid of a magnet, said pin extending through the entire thickness of said sleeve from the bottom of said cavity and projecting into said annular chamber, whereby said pin engages said orifice and drives said rotor whenever said key is shifted.
- 7. The device of claim 1, the front part of said central ferrous core extending beyond the front end of said sleeve and being flush with the outer face of said stator.
- 8. The device of claim 1, said key further including a protective stainless steel sheath covering the part of said stem of said key in which said magnet is embedded, said sheath being fixed in position at the end of said key.
- 9. The device of claim 1, said stem having at least one radially oriented cup therein corresponding to said at least one magnet in said stem, said magnet in said stem being placed in said corresponding cup.
- 10. The device of claim 1, the front end of said central ferrous core having a transverse groove and said stem of said key having an ear having a base, said barrel further comprising a sealing O-ring received in said transverse groove of said central ferrous core for urging back any dirt which soils the inner surface of said stem.
- 11. The device of claim 1, said inside wall of said sleeve and said central ferrous core defining an annular chamber, said barrel having connected thereto a rubber diaphragm closing the front part of said annular chamber and gripping round said central ferrous core whereby said lock is rendered fluidtight, said diaphragm being capable of retracting upon the passage of said key.
- 12. The device of claim 1, said stem of said key having an ear having a base and said key having a single reference position of abutment by said base of said ear.
- 13. The device of claim 1, said barrel further comprising a return spring disposed behind said rotor against the inner end of said sleeve, and said stem of said key having an ear having a base and said key having a double reference position of abutment, said double reference position comprising an ordinary position by the inner end of said cylindrical tube of said key which bears against the front of said central ferrous core and a confidential position by and rearwardly offset relative to said base of said ear, the passage from said ordinary position to said confidential position being achieved by exerting greater force when inserting said key in said lock so as to urge back said rotor in opposition to said return spring and cause said rotor to assume a second reference position which can only be decoded by means of said key having a double reference position.
- 14. The device of claim 1, said rotor having a plurality of tumblers, said stator being provided with a plurality of openings cooperable with at least one of said tumblers, said openings defining n positions of selection in respect of rotation of said rotor which are equally spaced apart on the periphery of said stator and in which said rotor is locked relative to said stator while allowing the unlocking of said key.
- 15. The device of claim 13, said rotor having a plurality of tumblers, said stator being provided with a plurality of openings cooperable with at least one of said tumblers, said openings defining n positions of selection in respect of rotation of said rotor which are equally spaced apart on the periphery of said stator and in which said rotor is locked relative to said stator while allowing the unlocking of said key.
- 16. The device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the front face of said sleeve, the front face of said central ferrous core, and the front face of said stator is provided with visual means for locating the selected position of said rotor relative to said stator in respect of rotation of said rotor and thereby the position in which said key must be inserted in said lock.
- 17. The device of claim 15, said rotor having a plurality of tumblers, said stator being provided with a plurality of openings cooperable with at least one of said tumblers, and said openings defining n positions of selection, at least two of said positions being at simultaneously different extents of penetration and extents of rotation.
- 18. The device of claim 1, said rotor comprising at least one shoe for selecting between a forward direction and a reverse direction of rotation of said rotor in said stator, said shoe comprising a parallel-sided tumbler having opposed front and rear parts and opposed upper and lower faces, said rear part having a magnet disposed therein, said upper face of said front part having a facet inclined forwardly and from the periphery toward the center of said rotor, said facet extending substantially over the left side of said upper face of said front part, and said key being of the type permitting a selection in respect of rotation, said key including magnets in the required number and position for producing the repulsion of all said tumblers and said shoes of said rotor.
- 19. The device of claim 1, said rotor comprising at least one shoe for selecting between a forward direction and a reverse direction of rotation of said rotor in said stator, said shoe comprising a parallel-sided tumbler having opposed front and rear parts and opposed upper and lower faces, said rear part having a magnet disposed therein, said upper face of said front part having a facet inclined forwardly and from the periphery toward the center of said rotor, said facet extending substantially over the right side of said upper face of said front part, and said key being of the type permitting a selection in respect of rotation, said key including magnets in the required number and position for producing the repulsion of all said tumblers and said shoes of said rotor.
- 20. The device of claim 1, said rotor comprising at least one shoe for selecting between a forward direction and a reverse direction of rotation of said rotor in said stator, said shoe comprising a parallel-sided tumbler having opposed front and rear parts and opposed upper and lower faces, said rear part having a magnet disposed therein, said upper face of said front part having a facet inclined forwardly and from the periphery toward the center of said rotor, said facet extending substantially over the left side of said upper face of said front part, and said key being of the type permitting a single one of two rotations of said rotor, said key being devoid of a magnet in the region of said magnet of said shoe.
- 21. The device of claim 1, said rotor comprising at least one shoe for selecting between a forward direction and a reverse direction of rotation of said rotor in said stator, said shoe comprising a parallel-sided tumbler having opposed front and rear parts and opposed upper and lower faces, said rear part having a magnet disposed therein, said upper face of said front part having a facet inclined forwardly and from the periphery toward the center of said rotor, said facet extending substantially over the right side of said upper face of said front part, and said key being of the type permitting a single one of the two rotations of said rotor, said key being devoid of a magnet in the region of said magnet of said shoe.
- 22. The device of claim 13, at least one said key having at least ordinary and confidential positions of abutment, said rotor including at least one shoe comprising a parallel-sided tumbler having opposed front and rear parts and opposed upper and lower faces, said shoe having a magnet disposed in said rear part thereof, said upper face of said front part having left and right facets inclinded forwardly and from the periphery toward the center of said rotor, said left and right facets each extending substantially over the left and right sides, respectively, of said upper face of said front part of said shoe, said stator including an opening exclusively for receiving said front part of said shoe, said shoe being pivoted when said rotor is shifted toward the rear of said stator by exerting greater force when inserting said key in said lock, thereby leaving said ordinary position and assuming said confidential position, and said key having a double reference position of abutment and being devoid of a magnet in the region of said magnet of said shoe, whereby said magnet of said shoe is permanently naturally attracted by said central ferrous core and automatically places itself in a position for keying said rotor in said stator.
- 23. The device of claim 14, at least one said key having at least ordinary and confidential positions of abutment, said rotor including at least one shoe comprising a parallel-sided tumbler having opposed front and rear parts and opposed upper and lower faces, said shoe having a magnet disposed in said rear part thereof, said upper face of said front part having left and right facets inclined forwardly and from the periphery toward the center of said rotor, said left and right facets each extending substantially over the left and right sides, respectively, of said upper face of said front part of said shoe, said stator including an opening exclusively for receiving said front part of said shoe, said shoe being pivoted when said rotor is shifted toward the rear of said stator by exerting greater force when inserting said key in said lock, thereby leaving said ordinary position and assuming said confidential position, and said key having a double reference position of abutment and being devoid of a magnet in the region of said magnet of said shoe, whereby said magnet of said shoe is permanently naturally attracted by said central ferrous core and automatically places itself in a position for keying said rotor in said stator.
- 24. The device of claim 18, at least one said key having at least ordinary and confidential positions of abutment, said rotor including at least one shoe comprising a parallel-sided tumbler having opposed front and rear parts and opposed upper and lower faces, said shoe having a magnet disposed in said rear part thereof, said upper face of said front part having left and right facets inclined forwardly and from the periphery toward the center of said rotor, said left and right facets each extending substantially over the left and right sides, respectively, of said upper face of said front part of said shoe, said stator including an opening exclusively for receiving said front part of said shoe, said shoe being pivoted when said rotor is shifted toward the rear of said stator by exerting greater force when inserting said key in said lock, thereby leaving said ordinary position and assuming said confidential position, and said key having a double reference position of abutment and being devoid of a magnet in the region of said magnet of said shoe, whereby said magnet of said shoe is permanently naturally attracted by said central ferrous core and automatically places itself in a position for keying said rotor in said stator.
- 25. The device of claim 19, at least one said key having at least ordinary and confidential positions of abutment, said rotor including at least one shoe comprising a parallel-sided tumbler having opposed front and rear parts and opposed upper and lower faces, said shoe having a magnet disposed in said rear part thereof, said upper face of said front part having left and right facets inclined forwardly and from the periphery toward the center of said rotor, said left and right facets each extending substantially over the left and right sides, respectively, of said upper face of said front part of said shoe, said stator including an opening exclusively for receiving said front part of said shoe, said shoe being pivoted when said rotor is shifted toward the rear of said stator by exerting greater force when inserting said key in said lock, thereby leaving said ordinary position and assuming said confidential position, and said key having a double reference position of abutment and being devoid of a magnet in the region of said magnet of said shoe, whereby said magnet of said shoe is permanently naturally attracted by said central ferrous core and automatically places itself in a position for keying said rotor in said stator.
- 26. The device of claim 20, at least one said key having at least ordinary and confidential positions of abutment, said rotor including at least one shoe comprising a parallel-sided tumbler having opposed front and rear parts and opposed upper and lower faces, said shoe having a magnet disposed in said rear part thereof, said upper face of said front part having left and right facets inclined forwardly and from the periphery toward the center of said rotor, said left and right facets each extending substantially over the left and right sides, respectively, of said upper face of said front part of said shoe, said stator including an opening exclusively for receiving said front part of said shoe, said shoe being pivoted when said rotor is shifted toward the rear of said stator by exerting greater force when inserting said key in said lock, thereby leaving said ordinary position and assuming said confidential position, and said key having a double reference position of abutment and being devoid of a magnet in the region of said magnet of said shoe, whereby said magnet of said shoe is permanently naturally attracted by said central ferrous core and automatically places itself in a position for keying said rotor in said stator.
- 27. The device of claim 21, at least one said key having at least ordinary and confidential positions of abutment, said rotor including at least one shoe comprising a parallel-sided tumbler having opposed front and rear parts and opposed upper and lower faces, said shoe having a magnet disposed in said rear part thereof, said upper face of said front part having left and right facets inclined forwardly and from the periphery toward the center of said rotor, said left and right facets each extending substantially over the left and right sides, respectively, of said upper face of said front part of said shoe, said stator including an opening exclusively for receiving said front part of said shoe, said shoe being pivoted when said rotor is shifted toward the rear of said stator by exerting greater force when inserting said key in said lock, thereby leaving said ordinary position and assuming said confidential position, and said key having a double reference position of abutment and being devoid of a magnet in the region of said magnet of said shoe, whereby said magnet of said shoe is permanently naturally attracted by said central ferrous core and automatically places itself in a position for keying said rotor in said stator.
- 28. The device of claim 1, said means for unlocking said key comprising a ball extending through said stator and resiliently yieldable means for permanently biassing said ball toward said rotor beyond the interface of said rotor and said stator, the rear of said outside wall of said rotor being provided with at least one recess, and said ball being cooperative with said at least one recess.
- 29. The device of claim 1, said means for unlocking said key comprising a pin extending through said stator and resiliently yieldable means for permanently biassing said pin toward said rotor beyond the interface of said rotor and said stator, the rear of said outside wall of said rotor being provided with at least one recess, and said pin being cooperative with said at least one recess.
- 30. The device of claim 28, the rear and periphery of said sleeve of said rotor comprising a plurality of recesses arranged in a transverse ring and evenly spaced apart in accordance with said openings in said stator and said tumblers in said rotor, said recesses defining n positions of selection of said rotor in respect of rotation of said rotor.
- 31. The device of claim 29, the rear and periphery of said sleeve of said rotor comprising a plurality of recesses arranged in a transverse ring and evenly spaced apart in accordance with said openings in said stator and said tumblers in said rotor, said recesses defining n positions of selection of said rotor in respect of rotation of said rotor.
- 32. The device of claim 28, said key having ordinary and confidential reference positions of abutment, said rotor having a front face and including a plurality of recesses, and at least two of said recesses being at different distances from said front face of said rotor, whereby said at least two recesses act as an index for locking said rotor.
- 33. The device of claim 29, said key having ordinary and confidential reference positions of abutment, said rotor having a front face and including a plurality of recesses, and at least two of said recesses being at different distances from said front face of said rotor, whereby said at least two recesses act as an index for locking said rotor.
- 34. The device of claim 30, said key having ordinary and confidential reference positions of abutment, said rotor having a front face and including a plurality of recesses, and at least two of said recesses being at different distances from said front face of said rotor, whereby said at least two recesses act as an index for locking said rotor.
- 35. The device of claim 31, said key having ordinary and confidential reference positions of abutment, said rotor having a front face and including a pluarality of recesses, and at least two of said recesses being at different distances from said front face of said rotor, whereby said at least two recesses act as an index for locking said rotor.
- 36. The device of claim 1, said stem of said key comprising a cylindrical tube, said magnet being embedded therein.
- 37. The device of claim 15, wherein at least one of the front face of said sleeve, the front face of said central ferrous core, and the front face of said stator is provided with visual means for locating the selected position of said rotor relative to said stator in respect of rotation of said rotor and thereby the position in which said key must be inserted in said lock.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
83 02788 |
Feb 1983 |
FRX |
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Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 049,021 filed May 1, 1987, now abandoned, which was a continuation of Ser. No. 888,081 filed July 14, 1986, which was a continuation of Ser. No. 671,878 filed Oct. 22, 1984, both now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (8)
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Continuations (3)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
49021 |
May 1987 |
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Parent |
888081 |
Jul 1986 |
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Parent |
671878 |
Oct 1984 |
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