:Padlock-Key working Principle:
Introduction: Subscribe 😎
- The internal mechanisms of locks are generally made of brass or die-cast zinc.The cam,which is extend beyond for lock to secure it,is usually made of steel or stainless steel. The outer casing of a lock may be made of brass, chrome, steel, nickel or any other durable metal or alloy.
Types:
- There are many types of locks are available in market,but mostly commonly used are padlocks,dead bolts,cam lock,lever,knob lock etc.
Description:
- When you open a lock with a key, do you ever think what's going on inside?Only the correct key will open the lock.Why is that?Each key has its own unique shape. The ridges/teeth on the key have to exactly match with with the lock for it to work.
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| Image source: Wikipedia |
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| Padlock Key |
- There are many types of lock. But the most common one is known as the Pin Tumbler Lock.The pin tumbler lock is a lock mechanism that incorporates pins varying in different lengths to precent the lock from being cracked. Pin tumbler locks are the most commonly used in cylinder locks, but can also be found in a tubular pin tumbler lock.Let me explain how this works.
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| Figure 1 |
- Refer figure 1,the outside part of the lock is called the case. The inside part of the lock is called the plug. This is the part that turns when the correct key is put in.The opening of the lock is called the key-way.
- Inside there are few more parts.There are several vertical shafts that go through the case and the plug.Each shaft has a spring,driver pin and a key pin.
- The springs press all the pins down so they all rest on a ledge inside the lock. The pins meet at a different level for each shaft.For the plug to turn, the pins must line up with the sheer line.
- Now if we enter the wrong key,the pins do not line up and the plug do not rotate.When we insert the correct key, everything lines up and the plug turns.So we have covered the case of one key and one lock.
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| Correct vs. Incorrect key |
- Lets take another example.With reference to figure 2 assume that there is a building and there are different keys for different doors. But there is one extra key which can open all doors of the building.That key is known as the Master key.
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| Figure 2 |
- With reference to figure 3 mentioned below,that master key to work,there must be an extra pin attached with the vertical shaft or driver pin inside the lock is called extra driver pin or master pin.Figure elaborate the same.Now the plug will turn if there is a key that raises the pin.
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| Figure -3-Difference between master key and normal key |
- So if one uses the normal key and the Master key,in both cases,the lock will open. Some master key have more than one extra driver pin or master pin installed in shaft. So in this way pin tumbler lock works.
- OK,lot to discuss regarding this,however many more journals,video,books are available in market,you can go through it for detail study. I hope I could explain to you in better-way.
