This process is certainly a very common and everyday occurrence – no question about it. But perhaps you’ve also wondered how it’s even possible for a front door key to open a door. How does the lock know which key can and is allowed to unlock it?
If this is the case, you’ve come to the right place in the blog of Locksmith Munich – Herbert Pichelmaier. Here we want to address all sorts of questions about locks, locking cylinders, door opening, and the like. And our topic today is: How does a classic door lock, or the locking cylinder in a lock, work?
The locking cylinder is commonly referred to as a cylinder lock. In the following, the term “locking cylinder” is used as a synonym for “cylinder lock.”
How is the locking cylinder attached to the door?
The locking cylinder is attached to the side of the front door’s lock with a long screw. If this screw is loosened, the cylinder can be pulled out of the door.
What is the basic structure of a locking cylinder?
The cylinder consists of a multitude of individual parts. These include:
- Hollow cylinder housing with a recess for the nose and holes for the cylinder’s pointed and flat pins
- Nose that fits perfectly into the recess of the cylinder housing
- Small parts for securing the nose in the recess
- Core piece
- Tube (small tube)
- Springs
- Flat pins in various lengths
- Pointed pins in various lengths
- Lever (or change)
- Latch that moves through the nose and the lever/change operated by it will
- Key with prongs
So how does the cylinder work with all these small parts?
In short: When the key turns, the locking lug, which is mounted in the recess in the center of the cylinder, also turns. This lug then activates the change, which in turn moves a bolt. The movement of the bolt locks or unlocks a door.
Of course, the key only turns if the cylinder core, tubes, pins, and springs in the cylinder housing are in such harmony with the key that the rotational movement is not blocked. A door with a cylinder lock can only be opened if the key has the correct points.
Here again in the long version:The cylinder housing is hollow and has bores/holes. In the center of the housing is the recess where the nose is attached. The key is inserted into the cylinder core. This core fits perfectly into the cylinder housing.
The core also has bores/holes, just like the cylinder housing itself.
When manufacturing a cylinder, it is important that the pointed pins are adapted to the points of the key so that when the pins are placed with their points into the points of the key, a straight line is created at the bottom. Or to put it another way: The pins must be perfectly aligned with the core at the bottom. If this isn’t the case, the core (or core) cannot be turned by the key.
The flat pins, or those without a point, are inserted into the holes of a special tube along with the small springs. This tube is also pushed into the cylinder.
The pointed and flat pins in the cylinder must fit together so that they form a line when the key unlocks the lock. This is the only way the core can rotate during the unlocking process.
When the key is removed from the cylinder, the springs ensure that the pins block the core.
The key essentially pushes the pins down so that they no longer block the rotation.
We hope that our blog post has helped you better understand how a cylinder lock or cylinder works. If a small or individual part in the cylinder or door lock is broken, or the key is worn, you may no longer be able to open your door and need an experienced, fair locksmith in Munich who offers a fixed, binding price.
A worn key refers to the teeth of the key being so worn that the pins in the core and in the cylinder lock no longer form a uniform line, thus blocking the turning movement.
The Munich Locksmith Service – Herbert Pichelmaier has been on the road for over 40 years and provides active assistance when a lock or door can no longer be opened. We can usually be with you in just 30 to 45 minutes to open your front or apartment door using the best specialist tools.
When we quote a fixed price over the phone, our customers can be absolutely certain that this fixed price will actually be adhered to.
So far, we have been able to open every front or apartment door. In the vast majority of cases, this is completely non-destructive. This is because our locksmiths are skilled craftsmen and are extremely familiar with all locks and their individual parts. Furthermore, we only use the best professional equipment, which not all locksmiths have, especially since it is also very expensive.