Rekeyable lock cylinder, rekeyable padlock and method of rekeying

摘要

A rekeyable lock cylinder and a padlock with a rekeyable lock cylinder includes a cylindrical core formed to receive a key and an outer casing formed around the core. The cylinder core may be provided with one or more reconfiguration channels. Pins and springs mounted in openings formed in a spring holder connected to the casing can be removed through the one or more reconfiguration channels when the reconfiguration channels in the core align with assembly openings in the casing and the pin openings in the spring holder, thereby allowing the adaptation of the number of pins mounted in the lock cylinder to the number of cuts provided in the key.

主权项

1. A rekeyable lock cylinder, the lock cylinder comprising:
a rotatable cylindrical core having a cylindrical outer surface and a front end face, the cylindrical core defining a key profile sized for receiving a key, the key profile extending from the front end face axially into the cylindrical core, the cylindrical core comprising a plurality of key pin openings that extend radially through the cylindrical core between the cylindrical outer surface and the key profile; a casing including a cylindrical portion and a spring-holding portion, the cylindrical portion having a casing wall defining a cylindrical inner chamber which supports the cylindrical core, the cylindrical portion comprising at least one keying opening extending through the casing wall, wherein the spring-holding portion comprises a plurality of driver pin openings exposed to the inner chamber of the cylindrical portion, the driver pin openings extending in a radial direction relative to the cylindrical core and comprising a rear-most driver pin opening located farthest from the front end face of the cylindrical core; a plurality of key pins associated with the key pin openings; and a plurality of driver pins associated with the driver pin openings, each driver pin being biased toward the cylindrical core by a spring; wherein the cylindrical core is rotatable within the cylindrical inner chamber at least between a locked position in which the key pin openings align with the driver pin openings and a first rekeyable position in which the key pin openings align with the at least one keying opening such that the key pins can be replaced by other key pins through the at least one keying opening; wherein the casing comprises an access opening which provides access to the rear-most driver pin opening, such that the driver pin associated with the rear-most driver pin opening can be removed from or inserted into the rear-most driver pin opening through the access opening without removing the cylindrical core; and wherein the access opening is formed in the cylindrical portion of the casing and is in alignment with the rear-most driver pin opening of the spring-holding portion, wherein the cylindrical core comprises a reconfiguration channel that extends radially through the cylindrical core between opposite sides of the cylindrical outer surface; the cylindrical core being further rotatable to a second rekeyable position in which the reconfiguration channel aligns with the access opening and the rear-most driver pin opening.