BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key, the cylinder shaft
of which facilitates the placement of the wafers and springs and, furthermore, enables
the fabrication of a narrow width, corrugated contour keyway; at the same time, the
key has a serrated blade, the fabricated cut surfaces of which result in a corrugated
contour key.
2) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Conventional wafer-type tumblers, as shown in FIG. 14, are typically comprised of
a sleeve 1a, a cylinder 2a, and a plurality of wafers 3a and their springs 4a. The
sleeve 1 a consists of a sleeve body 10 having a bore 11 extending through it lengthwise,
a minimum of one lengthwise slot 12 disposed along the inside of the bore 11, and
a bearing edge 13 at the leading end of the bore 11. As shown in FIG. 15, the cylinder
2a has a keyway 21 through the center and, furthermore, a flange 22 and a drive section
23 at the front and rear ends, with a shaft 20 movably installed in the bore 11 of
the sleeve la; the shaft 20 has disposed one or more diametrically oriented, rectangular
through-holes 24 and, furthermore, at the two sides of each rectangular through-hole
24 is a C-shaped recess 25 and a horizontally oriented U-shaped recess 26 (as shown
in FIG. 16 and 17), for the installation of one or more wafer 3a and spring 4a sets.
The cylinder 2a, after the installation of the wafers 3a and their springs 4a, is
first fitted into the bore 11 of the sleeve 1a and, furthermore, such that the one
end of each wafer 3a is subjected to the elastic force of its spring 4a, and then
postured against and inserted into the slot 12 inside the bore 11, thereby obstructing
the clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of the cylinder 2a situated in the bore
11; at the same time, the flange 22 at the front end of the cylinder 2a is seated
on the bearing edge 13 at the leading end of the bore 11 in order to inset securely
the bore 11; additionally, the drive section 23 at the rear end of the cylinder 2a
is mounted with a lock tool or electric driver so as to check whether the tumbler
is locked or electrified.
[0003] Because each wafer 3a of the conventional wafer-type tumbler, in addition to a window
31 in the middle thereof, has an opposing spring tab 32 and a locating tab 34; when
the wafer 3a is inserted into each rectangular through-hole 24 on the shaft 20 of
the cylinder 2a, it is first necessary to install a spring 4a into the C-shaped recess
25 at one side of the rectangular through-hole 24, following which the wafer 3a is
then inserted into the rectangular through-hole 24; but during the installation, since
the wafer body 30 of the wafer 3a has the spring tab 32, its insertion occurs without
any resistance along the C-shaped recess 25; however, the locating tab 34, disposed
in the other side of the wafer body 30, must similarly undergo insertion through the
C-shaped recess 25 along the rectangular through-hole 24, and, as a result, friction
occurs along the interior wall of the rectangular through-hole 24 at the lateral extent
of the C-shaped recess 25, and only after this does the wafer body 30 reach into the
horizontally oriented U-shaped recess 26, where it becomes nested onto the bottom
of the horizontally oriented U-shaped recess 26 (as shown in FIG. 16 and 17), and
also only then is the cylinder 2a installed in the bore 11 of the sleeve 1a, which
completes the assembly of one wafer-type tumbler mechanism. As such, during the insertion
of each wafer 3a into the rectangular through-hole 24 on the shaft 20, the operation
is difficult and adversely affects the production process. After each wafer 3a has
been inserted into the rectangular through-hole 24, the locating tab 34 on the wafer
body 30 is nested onto the bottom of the horizontally oriented U-shaped recesses 26;
however, the height of the locating tab 34 is quite limited and, furthermore, the
locating tab 34 is subjected to the outwardly exerted elastic force of the spring
4a, the wafer 3a is often ejected out of the rectangular through-hole 24. Such situation
results in a troublesome and inconvenient assembly operation as the cylinder 2a is
inserted into the bore 11 of the sleeve 1a, which likewise adversely affects the production
process.
[0004] Moreover, based on the locking and unlocking structure of the conventional wafer-type
tumbler, it depends entirely on the installation of the shaft 20 on the cylinder 2a
with a plurality of wafers 3a; hence, as indicated in FIG. 15, the rectangular keyway
21 must be disposed through the center of the shaft 20 to facilitate insertion of
the serrated blade 51 on the key 5a (as shown in FIG. 19), which causes each wafer
3a extending into the end of the slot 12 in the bore 11 to fully react within the
outer diameter of the shaft 20, thereby achieving the objective of locking or unlocking.
Since the cylinder 2a of the conventional wafer-type tumbler is typically made of
aluminum-zinc alloy material in an integrated molding process, and the keyway 21 disposed
through the center of the shaft 20 also penetrates the internal section of the shaft
20; as a result, it is not possible to mold a corrugated keyway having a narrow width.
It's only possible to mold a keyway with a width of 1.5mm or more, and as indicated
in FIG. 14, the shape of the keyhole 211 only can be formed as reverse Z-shaped or
other similar contour, which has a triangular projecting element 212 at the two lateral
inner sides of the keyhole 211 respectively (one triangular projecting element is
concealed by the flange 22, so it's not viewable); the keyway 21 along the internal
section of the shaft 20 not only is formed as relatively wide rectangular shape, but
also has disposed at most one lengthwise triangular projecting element 212 at one
side of the keyway 21, as indicated in FIG. 15 and 18. As a result, the prior art
is easily broken by thieves and pried or unlocked by burglars.
[0005] Due to the shape of the keyway 21 and its keyhole 211 on the shaft 20 of the cylinder
2a in the conventional wafer-type tumbler, the design of which is formed as relatively
wide rectangular and reverse Z-shaped contour, and furthermore, the two triangular
projecting elements 212 are disposed in opposing position and at close distance along
the two lateral inner sides of the keyhole 211; therefore, the serrated blade 51 of
the key 5a must be fabricated of a thicker metal plate. Even though the whole key
5a may be formed by punching the metal plate, the serrated blade 51 (as indicated
in FIG. 19 and 20) must undergo milling or planing process to form as reverse Z-shaped
section by means of a miller or planer, and it also has to undergo cutting or milling
process to make a lengthwise V-shaped groove 511 at each of the lateral sides. Therefore,
in terms of production, the process is extremely inconvenient and, furthermore, both
time and labor consuming.
[0006] In view of the serrated blade 51 of the conventional wafer-type tumbler cylinder
and key, there are such inconveniences and shortcomings during the process of production
and assembly; such production cost is greater and not cost-effective and also the
theftproof capability of the prior art still remained deficient, so the inventor of
the invention herein conducted research which culminated in the improved wafer-type
tumbler cylinder and key of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The objective of the invention herein is to provide a cylinder that better facilitates
the installation of the wafers and their springs and, furthermore, facilitates the
production of a shaft having a corrugated contour keyway with a narrower width to
prevent from theft or using metal sheets and other equivalent tools to pry or unlock
the wafer-type tumbler cylinder.
[0008] Another objective of the invention herein is to provide a serrated blade of the key,
wherein a very thin metal plate is punched to directly produce its sectional shape
into a corrugated contour to prohibit theft by the replication of the wafer-type tumbler
cylinder and key.
[0009] To achieve the first objective of the invention herein, the shaft of the cylinder
consists of a first and a second semicircular columnar body that are insertionally
conjoined into an integration, and furthermore, respectively disposed at the front
and rear ends of the first semicircular columnar body are a flange and a drive section;
although, on the inner lateral surfaces of the first and second semicircular columnar
bodies, one or more diametrically oriented U-shaped slots are disposed; only disposed
in each U-shaped slot on the first semicircular columnar body are rectangular notches
having fitted with the dimensions of the wafers as well as the springs, thereby facilitating
the initial placement and positioning of each wafer and its respective spring into
each said U-shaped slot and rectangular notch on said first semicircular columnar
body, following which the second semicircular columnar body is then fitted thereon
for assembling into an integration; thereafter, the cylinder, with the wafers and
their springs installed already, is inserted into the shaft hole of said sleeve to
complete the assembly of the wafer-type tumbler of the present invention. The operation
for assemblage is easy, quick and convenient.
[0010] When the flange and the drive section are respectively disposed at the front and
rear ends of the first semicircular columnar body, an inverted U-shaped indentation
is left at the inner lateral surface between said flange and drive section of the
first semicircular columnar body; as the inner lateral surface of the first and second
semicircular columnar body is molded, two corrugated half-keyways are respectively
molded along the center, and furthermore, one or more posts and holes are molded at
the front and rear ends. As such, the second semicircular columnar body, via the insertion
of said posts through said holes, is installed with the first semicircular columnar
body into an integration; thus, the keyway along the common center of the first and
the second columnar bodies is formed as corrugated contour with a narrower width (approximately
0.5mm), which effectively makes it impossible for thieves to pry or unlock by inserting
metal sheets or other equivalent tools.
[0011] Since the keyway disposed in the center of the shaft on the cylinder is extremely
narrow in width (approximately 0.5mm) and the sectional shape of the keyway is formed
as corrugated contour, the serrated blade of the key is produced by directly punching
a metal plate (approximately 0.5mm in width), and also has a thicker plastic grip
coated at the opposite end thereof to thereby facilitate the user holding the key
for locking and unlocking the wafer-type tumbler. The production is extremely simple
and convenient, but it's difficult to replicate by thieves.
[0012] The shaft of the cylinder consists of a first and a second semicircular columnar
bodies with identical shape and dimension, which are combined into an integration;
furthermore, a semicircular tenon respectively disposed at the front and rear ends
of each said semicircular columnar body enables, following the installation with a
plurality of wafers and their springs, the respective fitting of a sleeve ring and
a drive section onto the front and rear ends to thereby assemble one shaft. As such,
it's convenient to produce and assemble different numbers of wafers into different
length of shafts, and as the sleeve ring and the drive section are fitted thereon,
it is quite convenient to manufacture longer or shorter shafts so as to assemble the
wafer-type tumblers with different length or specifications.
[0013] The shaft of the cylinder, between every two diametrically oriented U-shaped slots
at the inner lateral side of the two semicircular columnar bodies, includes a relatively
wider rectangular notch; at the same time, each of the wafers is a wafer body having
a horizontal L-shaped tab; when each wafer is positioned between every two diametrically
oriented U-shaped slots, only one spring is disposed in the relatively wider rectangular
notch to serve as a common-use spring for every two wafers. Therefore, the component
cost of the spring is reduced by half and it's able to prevent from prying effectively.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014]
Figure 1 is an exploded drawing of the wafer-type tumbler of the invention.
Figure 2 is an exploded drawing of the wafer-type tumbler cylinder of the invention.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the invention herein when the wafer-type tumbler
is not installed with wafers and when the serrated blade of the key is inserted.
Figure 4 is cross-sectional view of the invention herein when the wafer-type tumbler
is interlocked.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view as the wafer-type tumbler is installed with one
wafer and its spring.
Figure 5-1 is a cross-sectional drawing, as viewed from a perspective in FIG. 5, to
show the adjacent wafer and its spring of the invention herein.
Figure 6 is an orthographic drawing of the wafer-type tumbler key of the invention.
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional drawing of the serrated blade of the wafer-type tumbler
key.
Figure 8 is an isometric drawing of the preferred embodiment of the cylinder in the
present invention.
Figure 9 is an exploded drawing of the preferred embodiment of the cylinder in the
present invention.
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein, as viewed from the
perspective of line 10~10' in FIG. 8.
Figure 11 is an exploded drawing of another preferred embodiment of the cylinder with
wafers and a spring.
Figure 12 is a vertically sectional view of the cylinder as viewed from the perspective
in FIG. 11.
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein, as viewed from the
perspective of line 13~13' in FIG. 12.
Figure 14 is an exploded drawing of the conventional wafer-type tumbler.
Figure 15 is a cross-sectional drawing of the conventional wafer-type tumbler when
the wafers are not installed.
Figure 16 is a cross-sectional drawing of the conventional wafer-type tumbler wherein
a wafer and it spring are disposed.
Figure 17 is a cross-sectional drawing, as viewed from a perspective in FIG. 16, to
show the adjacent wafer and its spring.
Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional wafer-type tumbler when the
serrated blade of the key is inserted.
Figure 19 is an orthographic drawing of the conventional wafer-type tumbler key.
Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of the serrated blade of the key in the conventional
wafer-type tumbler.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, the wafer-type tumbler of the invention herein, in common with
the above-mentioned conventional wafer-type tumbler, is comprised of a sleeve 1, a
cylinder 2, a plurality of wafers 3 and their springs 4; the structure of the sleeve
1 and the method for installing with the cylinder 2 are the same as those of said
conventional wafer-type tumbler. There is no need to go into details. However, a shaft
20 of the cylinder 2, as shown in FIG. 2, consists of a first and a second semicircular
columnar body 20a and 20b that are integrated with each other; furthermore, respectively
disposed at the front and rear ends of the first semicircular columnar body 20a are
a flange 22 and a drive section 23; at the inner lateral surface between said flange
22 and drive section 23 is an inverted U-shaped indentation 201, the length of which
matches with the second semicircular columnar body 20b so as to complete the assembly
of the shaft 20 on the cylinder 2 (as indicated in FIG. 1.) On the inner lateral surfaces
of the first and the second semicircular columnar body 20a and 20b, one or more diametrically
oriented U-shaped slots 24a and 24b are disposed for the installation of said wafers
3; however, only in each of the U-shaped slots 24a on said first semicircular columnar
body 20a is disposed a rectangular notch 27 matching the dimension of the spring 4,
thereby facilitating the placement of each wafer 3 and its spring 4 into each said
U-shaped slot 24a and said rectangular notch 27 on said first semicircular columnar
body 20a, following which the second semicircular columnar body 20b is then fitted
thereon for an integral unity; after that, the shaft 20 of said cylinder 2 is inserted
into a shaft hole 11 in said sleeve 1 to assemble the wafer-type tumbler of the present
invention, as illustrated in FIG. 5 as well as FIG 5-1.
[0016] When said first and second semicircular columnar body 20a and 20b are molded into
shape, two half-keyways 21a and 21b are formed as corrugated contour in the center
of the inner lateral surfaces thereof; furthermore, one or more posts 28 (as shown
in FIG. 2) and holes 29 (which are concealed by the second semicircular columnar body
20b, so please refer to FIG. 4) are disposed at the front and rear ends of each said
inner lateral surface. As such, the second semicircular columnar body 20b, via the
insertion of said posts 28 through said holes 29, is correspondingly fixed with the
first semicircular columnar body 20a into a unity so as to complete the assemblage
of the cylinder 2, as indicated in FIG. 1, 3 and 4; at the same time, along the common
center of the first and second semicircular columnar body 20a and 20b, a keyway 21
(as shown in FIG. 4) is formed as corrugated contour, with a narrower width of 0.5mm,
thereby preventing theft by means of a metal sheet or other equivalent tool inserted
for burglarizing.
[0017] Since the keyway 21 disposed at the center of the cylinder 2 is approximately 0.5mm
in width and is fabricated as corrugated passage, a serrated blade 51 of a key 5 (as
depicted in FIG. 6 and 7) is produced by directly punching an approximately 0.5mm
or thinner metal plate, and a plastic grip 52 is coated onto the opposite end thereof,
thereby facilitating the user holding the key for locking and unlocking the wafer-type
tumbler; it is not necessary to mill and plane any lengthwise grooves nor other milling
and planing processes. To facilitate the insertion of said very thin serrated blade
51 into the keyway 21 in the shaft 20 of the cylinder 2, it is then necessary, in
the center of the flange 22 at the front end of said shaft 20, to dispose a rectangular,
flared keyhole 211 that is in line with said keyway 21. As for the drive section 23
at the rear end of said shaft 20, in addition to the depiction shown in FIG. 1 and
FIG. 2 wherein the drive section 23 is shaped as square or rectangular rod body 230,
said drive section 23 may be shaped as threaded, circular, oblate, tubular or other
shaped rod body (not shown in the drawings) to make the design of said drive section
23 match with a lock tool or electric driver, thereby enabling said drive section
23 to fasten with said lock tool or electric driver by means of screws or rivets.
[0018] Furthermore, since the wafers 3 of the wafer-type tumbler of the invention herein
do not require mounting in rectangular through-holes 24 (as depicted in FIG. 14 of
the prior art), said wafers 3 can be fixed on said shaft 20 securely, as shown in
FIG 1, by a window 31 in the center of each wafer body 30 of the wafer 3 along with
a spring tab 32 at one side thereof, and there is no need to dispose any locating
tab 34 thereon.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 8 and 9, these two figures are isometric and exploded drawings
of the preferred embodiment of a cylinder 2' of the present invention. A shaft 20'
on the cylinder 2' consists of a first and a second semicircular columnar body 20'a
and 20'b (both of identical shape and dimension) that are conjoined into an integral
unity; furthermore, respectively disposed at the front and rear ends of each semicircular
columnar body 20'a and 20'b is a semicircular tenon 202 and 203 which is respectively
fitted onto a sleeve ring 22a and a drive section 23 to constitute a cylinder 2',
as indicated in FIG. 8. The said semicircular tenons 202 at the front ends of said
semicircular columnar body 20'a and 20'b are correspondingly coupled to form a circular
tenon, and the said semicircular tenons 203 at the rear ends thereof are correspondingly
coupled to form a circular tenon. To enable the precise placement of the sleeve ring
22a and the drive section 23 onto the front and rear ends of the integrated semicircular
columnar bodies 20'a and 20'b, as well as to prevent dislodging and comparative rotation,
the sleeve ring 22a has an inner hole 221 in a ring body 220a, which is a D-shaped
hole with a minimum of one secant planar edge 222 along one lateral wall, and furthermore,
an opening 223 through one side of the ring body 220a, wherein the center of said
opening 223 is aligned and parallel with said secant planar edge 222; a facet 204
is disposed correspondingly along the outer extent of the semicircular tenon 202 of
the semicircular columnar body 20'b. As such, the circular tenon that is coupled by
means of said semicircular tenons 202 at the front ends of said semicircular columnar
body 20'a and 20'b is installed with the sleeve ring 22a, and then a drill is used,
through the opening 223, to pierce into the front semicircular tenon 202 having said
facet 204 thereof, thereby enabling the insertion of a pin 6 for securing and fixing,
as depicted in FIG. 10.
[0020] Additionally, the drive section 23, along the inner end of its square or rectangular
rod body 230, has an extended sleeve 231 so as to enable the conjoinment with the
circular tenon coupled by means of the semicircular tenons 203 at the rear ends of
said semicircular columnar body 20'a and 20'b.
[0021] The extended sleeve 231 has disposed a D-shaped cavity 234 having a minimum of one
secant planar edge 232 along the inner wall at one side thereof such that an aperture
233 is formed at one side of the extended sleeve 231, of which the center is aligned
and parallel with said secant planar edge 232; similarly a facet 204 is correspondingly
disposed along the outer extent of the semicircular tenon 203 at the rear end of said
semicircular columnar 20'b. As such, the semicircular tenons 203 are assembled into
a circular tenon, which is installed with said extended sleeve 231, and in common
with the depiction shown in FIG. 10 as well as previous arrangement, a pin 6a illustrated
in FIG 9 is fixed with said extended sleeve.
[0022] As for the molding process of said first and second semicircular columnar bodies
20'a and 20'b with identical shape and dimension, the structural and installation
arrangement of the corresponding half-keyways 21a, 21b and the rectangular notches
27', the integration of more than one pair of posts 28 and holes 29, as well as the
arrangement of wafers 3 and their springs 4, are the same with the first and second
semicircular columnar body 20a, 20b of the cylinder 2 in the first embodiment of the
invention herein; therefore, it shall not be further elaborated. Furthermore, the
semicircular tenons 202 and 203 disposed on the two ends of the first and second semicircular
columnar bodies 20'a and 20'b, in addition to the shape of semicircle, they may also
be shaped as semi-square, semi-rectangular, semi-hexagonal or semi-polygonal tenons,
or even as semi-oval or semi-oblate tenons; moreover, the shape of the inner hole
221 in the ring body 220a of the sleeve ring 22a accords with that of the D-shaped
cavity 234 in the extended sleeve 231 on the drive section 23; at the same time, the
shape of the rod body 230 on said drive section 23 may also be disposed as threaded,
circular, oblate, tubular or other shaped rod body (not shown in the drawings.)
[0023] FIG. 11 is an exploded drawing of another preferred embodiment of the shaft 20 of
the cylinder 2' in the invention herein with wafers 3 and a spring 4. Said shaft 20
also consists of a first and second semicircular columnar body 20'a and 20'b with
identical shape and dimension, which are conjoined into an integral unity, and the
preferred embodiment of the semicircular columnar bodies 20'a and 20'b, between every
two diametrically oriented U-shaped slots 24a and 24b disposed in the inner lateral
surfaces thereof, is modified by disposing a relatively wider rectangular notch 27';
meanwhile, each wafer 3 is modified by disposing a horizontal L-shaped tab 33 at one
side of its wafer body 30. As such, between every (or every two) correspondingly U-shaped
slot 24a, 24b of each semicircular columnar body 20'a and 20'b is installed a wafer
3 respectively, and only one spring 4 is positioned in each relatively wider rectangular
notch 27', wherein said spring 4 is served as a shared spring for every two wafers
3a and 3b, as shown in FIG. 12 and 13. This embodiment of the shaft 20 on the cylinder
2' can similarly be utilized in the preceding embodiment of the shaft 20 on the cylinder
2.
1. A wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key comprising a sleeve, a cylinder, a plurality
of wafers, a plurality of springs and a key, further including:
a shaft of said cylinder having a first and a second semicircular columnar body conjoined
into an integral unity;
a flange and a drive section respectively disposed at the front and rear ends of said
first semicircular columnar body;
an inverted U-shaped indentation at the inner lateral surface between said flange
and said drive section on said first semicircular columnar body, the length of said
inverted U-shaped indentation matching with said second semicircular columnar body
for the assembly of said shaft on said cylinder 2;
one or more diametrically oriented, U-shaped slots on the inner lateral surfaces of
said first and said second semicircular columnar body respectively to constitute a
rectangular window for the installation of said wafers; and
a serrated blade disposed on the key that is produced by directly punching an approximately
0.5mm or thinner metal plate.
2. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 1, wherein said cylinder further
includes:
a first semicircular columnar body consisting of:
a rectangular notch corresponding to the dimension of said spring of said wafer disposed
in each said diametrically oriented U-shaped slot;
one or more pair of posts respectively disposed at the front and rear ends along the
inner lateral side of said first semicircular columnar body;
a half-keyway disposed along the center of the inner lateral side thereof;
a second semicircular columnar body consisting of:
one or more pair of holes disposed at the front and rear ends along the inner surface
of said second semicircular columnar body, corresponding to the positions of said
posts disposed on said first semicircular columnar body;
a half-keyway matching with said half-keyway in said first semicircular columnar body,
disposed along the center of the inner lateral side of said second semicircular columnar
body; and
each said wafer and said spring, first fixed in each said diametrically oriented U-shaped
slot and said rectangular notch on said first semicircular columnar body, then fitted
with said second semicircular columnar body, by means of inserting into said inverted
U-shaped indentation to integrate into said cylinder.
3. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 1, wherein the shaft of the cylinder,
coupled by said first and second semicircular columnar bodies with identical shape
and dimension, includes a semicircular tenon respectively disposed at the front and
rear ends of each said first and second semicircular columnar body in order to install
with a sleeve ring and a drive section respectively, thereby facilitating the assembly
of said shaft.
4. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 3, wherein said cylinder includes:
said sleeve ring having an inner hole, with a minimum of one secant planar edge along
one lateral wall to form a D-shaped hole, an opening at one side of said sleeve ring,
and the center of said opening aligned and parallel with said secant planar edge;
one semicircular tenon at the front end of said second semicircular columnar body
having a facet disposed along the outer extent thereof, and as such, a circular tenon
is combined by two semicircular tenons at the front ends of said first and second
semicircular columnar bodies, thereby conjoining with said sleeve ring and securely
fixing by means of a pin;
said drive section having an extended sleeve along the inner end of a square or rectangular
rod body thereof, wherein said extended sleeve comprises:
a D-shaped cavity with a minimum of one secant planar edge along the inner wall thereof;
an aperture of which the center is aligned and parallel with said secant planar edge;
one semicircular tenon at the rear end of said second semicircular columnar body having
a facet correspondingly disposed along the outer extent thereof, and as such, a circular
tenon is combined by two semicircular tenons at the rear ends of said first and second
semicircular columnar bodies, thereby fastening with said extended sleeve on said
drive section and securely fixing by another pin.
5. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 1 and 3, wherein said first and second
semicircular columnar bodies of the shaft on the cylinder have disposed a relatively
wider rectangular notch between the inner side of every two diametrically oriented
U-shaped slots, which are respectively installed with a wafer, and as such, only one
spring is positioned in said relatively wider rectangular notch, thereby serving as
a shared spring for every two wafers.
6. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 5, wherein each said wafer further
comprises a horizontal L-shaped tab at one side thereof.
7. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 3, wherein the semicircular tenon
may be in a form of semi-square, semi-rectangular, semi-hexagonal, semi-polygonal,
semi-oval, or semi-oblate shape and the sleeve ring is a ring body having an inner
hole which corresponds to the shape of a D-shaped cavity in an extended sleeve on
the drive section.
8. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 2, wherein the half-keyways constitute
a complete keyway, after said first and second semicircular columnar bodies of said
cylinder are integrated into a unity, such that the keyway is formed as corrugated
contour, with a narrower width of 0.5mm approximately.
9. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 1 and 3, wherein the drive section
may be disposed as square, rectangular, circular, oblate, threaded or tubular rod
body.
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.
1. A wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key comprising a sleeve (1), a cylinder (2), a
plurality of wafers (3), a plurality of springs (4) and a key (5), further including:
a shaft (20) of said cylinder (2) having a first (20a) and a second (20b) semicircular
columnar body conjoined into an integral unity;
a flange (22) and a drive section (23) respectively disposed at the front and rear
ends of said first semicircular columnar body;
an inverted U-shaped indentation (201) being left at the inner lateral surface between
said flange and said drive section of said first semicircular columnar body, the length
of said inverted U-shaped indentation matching with said second semicircular columnar
body for the assembly of said shaft of said cylinder (2);
one or more diametrically oriented, U-shaped slots (24a, b) on the inner lateral surfaces
of said first and said second semicircular columnar body respectively to constitute
a rectangular window for the installation of said wafers;
a half-keyway (21a) disposed along the center of the inner lateral side of the first
semicircular columnar body;
a half-keyway (21b) matching with said half-keyway in said first semicircular columnar
body, disposed along the center of the inner lateral side of said second semicircular
columnar body; wherein the half-keyways constitute a complete keyway, after said first
and second semicircular columnar bodies of said cylinder are integrated into a unity,
such that the keyway is formed as corrugated contour, with a narrower width of 0.5
mm approximately;
and
a serrated blade (51) disposed on the key that is produced by directly punching an
approximately 0.5 mm or thinner metal plate.
2. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 1, wherein said cylinder further
includes:
said first semicircular columnar body (20a) comprising:
a rectangular notch (27) corresponding to the dimension of said spring of said wafer
disposed in each said diametrically oriented U-shaped slot;
one or more pair of posts (28) respectively disposed at the front and rear ends along
the inner lateral side of said first semicircular columnar body;
and
said second semicircular columnar body (20b) comprising:
one or more pair of holes (29) disposed at the front and rear ends along the inner
surface of said second semicircular columnar body, corresponding to the positions
of said posts disposed on said first semicircular columnar body;
each said wafer (3) and said spring (4), first fixed in each said diametrically oriented
U-shaped slot and said rectangular notch on said first semicircular columnar body,
then fitted with said second semicircular columnar body, by means of inserting into
said inverted U-shaped indentation to integrate into said cylinder.
3. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 1, wherein the shaft of the cylinder
(2'), coupled by said first and second semicircular columnar bodies (20'a, b) with
identical shape and dimension, includes a semicircular tenon (202, 203) respectively
disposed at the front and rear ends of each said first and second semicircular columnar
body in order to install with a sleeve ring and a drive section respectively, thereby
facilitating the assembly of said shaft.
4. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 3, wherein said cylinder (2') includes:
said sleeve ring (22a) having an inner hole (221), with a minimum of one secant planar
edge (222) along one lateral wall to form a D-shaped hole, an opening (223) at one
side of said sleeve ring (22a), and the center of said opening (223) aligned and parallel
with said secant planar edge (222);
one semicircular tenon (202) at the front end of said second semicircular columnar
body (20'b) having a facet (204) disposed along the outer extent thereof, and as such,
a circular tenon is combined by two semicircular tenons (202) at the front ends of
said first and second semicircular columnar bodies, thereby conjoining with said sleeve
ring (22a) and securely fixing by means of a pin (6);
said drive section (23) having an extended sleeve (231) along the inner end of a square
or rectangular rod body thereof, wherein said extended sleeve (231) comprises:
a D-shaped cavity (234) with a minimum of one secant planar edge (232) along the inner
wall thereof;
an aperture (233) of which the center is aligned and parallel with said secant planar
edge (232);
one semicircular tenon (203) at the rear end of said second semicircular columnar
body (20'b) having a facet (204) correspondingly disposed along the outer extent thereof,
and as such, a circular tenon (203) is combined by two semicircular tenons (203) at
the rear ends of said first and second semicircular columnar bodies, thereby fastening
with said extended sleeve (231) on said drive section (23) and securely fixing by
another pin (6a).
5. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key as in Claim 1 or 3, wherein said first and
second semicircular columnar bodies (20a,b; 20'a,b) of the shaft (20) on the cylinder
(2, 2') have disposed a relatively wider rectangular notch (27') between the inner
side of every two diametrically oriented U-shaped slots (24a,b), which are respectively
installed with a wafer (3), and as such, only one spring (4) is positioned in said
relatively wider rectangular notch (27'), thereby serving as a shared spring for every
two wafers.
6. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 5, wherein each said wafer (3) further
comprises a horizontal L-shaped tab (33) at one side thereof.
7. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key of Claim 3, wherein the semicircular tenon
(202, 203) may be in a form of semi-square, semi-rectangular, semi-hexagonal, semi-polygonal,
semi-oval, or semi-oblate shape and the sleeve ring (22a) is a ring body (220a) having
an inner hole (221) which corresponds to the shape of a D-shaped cavity (234) in an
extended sleeve (231) on the drive section (23).
8. The wafer-type tumbler cylinder and key as in Claim 1 or 3, wherein the drive section
(23) may be disposed as square, rectangular, circular, oblate, threaded or tubular
rod body.