Combination lock with motor-driven tumblers
AssigneeTheodor Kromer GmbH & Co. KG Spezialfabrik Fur Sicherheitsschlosser
InventorRudolf Schittenhelm
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Abstract
A combination lock wherein the tumblers can be moved to predetermined positions, preparatory to retraction of the locking bolt from extended position, by an electric motor which is controlled by a microprocessor. The microprocessor receives signals from a keyboard or from a disc and can start the motor for the purpose of aligning the normally scrambled tumblers only in response to reception of a predetermined sequence of signals. A manually operated knob can be coupled to a driver for the tumblers in order to change the positions of the tumblers and/or to move the locking bolt between extended and retracted positions independently of the motor. The microprocessor is programmed to start the motor only in response to reception of a predetermined sequence of signals in accordance with a selected combination.
Claims33
A combination lock comprising a plurality of tumblers movable with reference to each other to and from predetermined positions;
- a locking bolt movable between extended and retracted positions in the predetermined positions of said tumblers;
- a motor forming part of the combination lock, connected with said tumblers and operable to move said tumblers to said predetermined positions;
- and programmable means for operating said motor, said programmable means comprising a processor having at least one signal-transmitting output connected with said motor and at least one data-receiving input, and means for supplying to said input a plurality of sets of data including a predetermined set of non-storable data known to the operator of the combination lock and serving to initiate the transmission of at least one signal by way of said at least one output to operate said motor and to thereby move said tumblers to said predetermined positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.