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The pin tumbler lock is a lock mechanism that uses pins of varying lengths to prevent the lock from opening without the correct key. Locksmithing began as the science and art of making and defeating locks A pin is a device used for fastening objects or material together A key is a device which is used to open a lock. A typical key consist of two parts the blade, which slides into the Keyway of the lock and distinguishes Pin tumblers are most commonly employed in cylinder locks, but may also be found in tubular or radial locks. A cylinder lock is a lock in constructed with a cylinder that a Locksmith can easily unscrew to facilitate rekeying

Without a key in the lock, the driver pins (blue) are pushed downwards, preventing the plug (yellow) from rotating.
Without a key in the lock, the driver pins (blue) are pushed downwards, preventing the plug (yellow) from rotating.
When the correct key is inserted, the gaps between the key pins (red) and driver pins (blue) align with the edge of the plug (yellow).
When the correct key is inserted, the gaps between the key pins (red) and driver pins (blue) align with the edge of the plug (yellow).
With the gaps between the pins aligned with the shear line, the plug (yellow) can rotate freely.
With the gaps between the pins aligned with the shear line, the plug (yellow) can rotate freely.

Contents

History

The basic principles of the pin tumbler lock may date as far back as 2000 BC in Egypt; the lock consisted of a wooden post affixed to the door, and a horizontal bolt that slid into the post. The 20th century BC is a Century which lasted from the year 2000 BC to 1901 BC This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs The bolt had vertical openings into which fitted a set of pins. These could be lifted, using a key, to a sufficient height to allow the bolt to move and unlock the door.

Inventor Linus Yale, Sr. patented a cylindrical pin tumbler lock in 1848, a design which was further improved and patented by his son, Linus Yale, Jr., in 1861. See also Yale (company Linus Yale Sr ( 27 April 1797 — 8 August 1858) was an American inventor and manufacturer A patent is a set of Exclusive rights granted by a State to an inventor or his assignee for a fixed period of time in exchange for a disclosure of an Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Linus Yale Jr ( 4 April 1821 - 25 December 1868) was an American Mechanical engineer and manufacturer best known for Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Yale, Jr. 's design is very similar to pin tumbler locks manufactured today.

Design

The pin tumbler is commonly used in cylinder locks. A cylinder lock is a lock in constructed with a cylinder that a Locksmith can easily unscrew to facilitate rekeying In this type of lock, an outer casing has a cylindrical hole in which the plug is housed. To open the lock, the plug must rotate.

The plug has a straight-shaped slot known as the keyway at one end to allow the key to enter the plug; the other end may have a cam or lever which activates a mechanism to retract a locking bolt. The keyway often has protruding ledges which serve to prevent the key pins from falling into the plug, and to make the lock more resistant to picking. Lock picking is the act of unlocking a lock by analyzing and manipulating the components of the lock device without the original key A series of holes, typically five or six of them, are drilled vertically into the plug. These holes contain key pins of various lengths, which are rounded to permit the key to slide over them easily.

Above each key pin is a corresponding set of driver pins, which are spring-loaded. Simpler locks typically have only one driver pin for each key pin, but locks requiring multi-keyed entry, such as a group of locks having a master key, may have extra driver pins known as spacer pins. The outer casing has several vertical shafts, which hold the spring-loaded pins.

When the plug and outer casing are assembled, the pins are pushed down into the plug by the springs. The point where the plug and cylinder meet is called the shear point. With a key properly cut and inserted into the groove on the end of the plug, the pins will rise causing them to align exactly at the shear point. This allows the plug to rotate, thus opening the lock. When the key is not in the lock, the pins straddle the shear point, preventing the plug from rotating. Sets of locks with a master key will have one set of shear points that are identical to the others in the set and one set that is unique to that specific lock.

See also

Patent

External links

A cylinder lock is a lock in constructed with a cylinder that a Locksmith can easily unscrew to facilitate rekeying The Abloy Disklock or Disc tumbler lock is a lock composed of slotted rotating detainer discs Lock bumping is a Lock picking technique for opening a Pin tumbler lock using a specially-crafted bump key. Lock picking is the act of unlocking a lock by analyzing and manipulating the components of the lock device without the original key A magnetic-coded lock is a lock device that uses pins in combination with magnets to prevent entry by either non-matching keys by teething or magnetic polarity Padlocks are portable locks used to protect against Theft, Vandalism, Sabotage, Espionage, unauthorized use and harm A tubular pin tumbler lock, also known as Ace lock or "axial pin tumbler lock" or "radial lock" is a variety of Pin tumbler lock in which 6-8 pins Yale is a lock manufacturer owned by Assa Abloy. The company started in the mid 1800s
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