Lock

Abstract

A mechanical lock comprises a cylindrical stator, a main rotor constituting the lock cylinder and being mounted for rotation in the stator and an auxiliary rotor mounted in the main rotor. A key carrying information can be inserted into the keyhole of the main rotor and turned to rotate the same between angular positions corresponding to an open and closed lock position through an intermediate latched position. A differential drive couples the auxiliary rotor to the main rotor for effecting relative rotational movement thereof. Key information sensing elements sense the key information during the relative rotational movement of the auxiliary rotor and are repositioned thereby, and these elements are taken along by the main rotor rotation at the end stage of the relative movement to remove them from contact with the key and return them to a rest position. Lock information elements are associated with the key information sensing elements, and the relative movements between these elements constitute a lock information stored in the lock. Pawls couple the key information sensing elements to the associated lock information elements to reposition the lock information elements according to the sensed key information. Controllable movable test elements are moved into sensing engagement with the repositioned lock information elements to determine whether the sensed key information conforms with the stored lock information. The test elements move bolts in the main rotor between an effective and ineffective position depending on whether the sensed key information conforms with the stored lock information or not.