Soviet mortise locks. Types of door locks. Abloy Oy, Finland

As soon as our ancestors realized that property could be both common and personal, the need arose to protect one’s own from that of others, and with it the first methods of locking a home.

Locks have evolved significantly, simple latches and latches, preserved to our times through much experimentation and invention, have turned into high-tech security systems, both mechanical and electronic. The design of a door lock is largely determined by its main function - locking the door and protecting the house.

According to the method of fastening to the front door, locks can be divided into two types. Mortise ones are mounted into the door leaf. When installing such a lock, the place of the door where the mechanism cuts in is significantly weakened. But, nevertheless, it is the most common, is well designed and, if installed correctly, will last for many years.

Overlays are attached to the inside of the front door using screws and screws. They are easily installed and do not reduce the strength of the door structure.

The structure and composition of the product is determined by the presence of such functional parts as the lock secret and the producing mechanism.

The design of the lock depends on the secret system, which comes in several types:

1. Level (safe) - the key has several teeth that determine the number of levers in the mechanism.
2. Cylinder - consists of a cylinder with pins that prevent easy hacking.
3. Electronic – works on the principle of a drive built into the lock section.
4. Coded - opens by entering a specific PIN code.

The producing mechanism of locks is:

1. Mechanical - closure occurs using a metal rod (key) that fits into a special groove in the door lock.
2. Electromagnetic - a magnet acts as a locking mechanism.
3. Electromechanical - the presence of a deadbolt with an electric drive.

Structural lock systems

The design of a door lock (diagram), as well as the operating principle of each type of product, is strictly individual. It can be simple with standard locking systems, or it can have a complex and intelligent design to increase burglary and fire resistance.

The device diagram and mounting method are also not unique to all types. The most commonly used locks are lever and cylinder locks for the front door, so you should understand how each of them works.

How does the lever lock mechanism work?

The design of the lever lock has a fairly high level of reliability.

Let's study the design of a lever lock using the Kale Kilit 257L model as an example.

The picture shows a sectional diagram of the device, illustrating all the design details:

• 1 key;
• 2 – body;
• 3 – front frame;
• 4 – cover;
• 5 – deadbolt;
• 6 – bolt shank;
• 7 – shank stand;
• 8 – set of levers;
• 9 – lever springs;
• 10 – armor plate;
• 11 – spacer washers.

Sectional diagram of a lever lock.

Functional purpose of the main parts

The internal door lock system consists of several high-priority parts that ensure the flawless operation of the mechanism.

The bolt shank post is the main element of door lock systems. It is responsible for protection against manipulation and forceful methods of breaking into the front door.

The gap between the shank stand and the code groove of the device is a fairly important indicator. The protection function directly depends on its value. The ideal size studied and established is 0.3-0.7 mm. Reducing the value leads to wear and jamming of the key, and exceeding it, worse, leads to the possibility of easy tampering.

The number of levers determines the degree of reliability and the required time for breaking. The larger the lever, the more time it will take to open the door lock; this does not apply to the increase in complexity. The most applicable and effective number of levers in the device is six.

The design of the front door mechanism is impossible without such equally important elements as:

• The design of the springs ensures proper operation, otherwise the lever will not be able to return to its original position, and if it lingers in the gap, the lock will stop functioning.
• The bolt consists of three bolts. They must be attached to a strip that is attached to the shank. In cheap systems, the bolts are attached directly to the shank, which in the future can lead to loosening or breaking of the bolts from the front door lock.
• Armor plates cover the most vulnerable spots in the mechanism, preventing penetration from the outside.
• Spacer washers create tolerances between the levers for smoother movement. Thanks to the precise clearances, the protruding parts on the key will not catch several levers at once, and the mechanism will operate without interruption.
• The front frame secures the mechanism inside the door and leaves no possibility of forced entry. It is an indispensable element of the castle design.
• The body and cover of the product are coated with an anti-corrosion agent. They are firmly and rigidly connected to each other using a large number of screws.

Operating principle

Levers are a set of plates with figured cutouts. The scheme is simple: under the influence of the key, they line up in clearly defined positions in order to turn the key and open the system. But if at least one plate does not fit into its groove, the mechanism will not work.

The key plays a certain role as a code, and it is difficult to hack such a system by force. A high degree of reliability and durability is determined by the large dimensions of the mechanism.

If you follow all the rules for assembling the product, it will be difficult for even the most experienced burglar to hack it.

What is the secret of the cylinder lock?

Despite the fairly simple structure of the cylinder lock, it is extremely reliable.

All the main elements presented in the section have certain functions:

• The cylinder (cylinder) ensures the secrecy of the product by moving and fixing the lock bolt in the working position.
• The lever is used to control the latch when opening and closing the door with the key.
• The latch bolt and deadbolt hold the door closed by engaging the strike plate.
• Strike plate - an element with holes for inserting bolts when locking doors.
• The front frame is a part of a mortise lock with a hole for removing the bolts. Serves as a lock attachment to the end of the door.
• The key controls the security mechanism and provides entry and exit of the bolt.
• The case is the main part of the product, inside which the entire mechanism system is arranged.

Sectional diagram of a cylinder lock.

Operating principle

The whole job consists of “freezing” the cylinder inside the box using coding and locking pins. The codes work in combination with the key itself, and the locking pins stop the entire mechanism when the key is not inserted into the hole. The key, by placing its pins on a special dividing line, leads to the unlocking of the cylinder inside the box and the crossbars begin to move.

Cylinder locks are also called “English” locks, and their keys are most often of a flat configuration with cutouts or dents along the edges. This mechanism is resistant to hacking with master keys, which cannot be said about the force method - drilling or knocking out the cylinder.

Saving on door locks can backfire: not only does your home become vulnerable to intruders, but you will also have to spend money on frequent repairs or, worse, call a technician if it jams. Although no lock is immune from such problems, nevertheless, when choosing a mechanism from a reliable and reputable company, reliability and security increases. Which door lock manufacturers can you really trust today? Let's focus on the best of the best.

10 best global lock manufacturers

Cisa, Italy

Cisa company - world leader for the production of door locks. Founded in 1926 in Italy, factories were already opened in other countries in the 70s. Today the company includes 6 factories, products are supplied to 70 countries and there are about 30,000 items. Cisa locks stand for time-tested quality and innovation. Within the walls of this company there was developed electronic and smart lock, which are now widely used. The range includes locks with different locking mechanisms that are suitable for all types of doors. The company also produces armor plates, anti-panic handles, door closers and padlocks. The company's cylinder mechanisms are completely protected from hacking and opening.

Mul-T-Lock, Israel

The company was founded in 1973, developed rapidly and quickly became one of the world leaders in the production of locking systems. The manufacturer's representative offices and service centers successfully operate in more than 100 countries around the world. The company develops and produces high security locks, she holds hundreds of patents for locks, cylinders and lock-making machines. The company's cylinder mechanisms are highly burglar-resistant; keys and moving parts are made of cupronickel, which provides them with increased stability under negative environmental factors. The range of locks is wide. Recently, the manufacturer has been part of the ASSA Abloy group of companies, which unites world leaders in the field.

Mottura, Italy

The company with half a century of experience is considered one of the most famous European manufacturers of locks and fittings. Products are widely represented in many countries of the world, incl. and in Russia. The company conducts its own research and development, producing lever, cylinder, electronic locks and armor plates. All products are protected by patents, as they use technologies that other manufacturers have no analogues.

Kale Kilit, Türkiye

Turkish Kale locks have been produced since 1953. Today the company also produces safes, metal doors, and window fittings, but locks remain its main focus. The plant is equipped with modern equipment and uses innovative technologies, which allows it to produce high-quality mechanisms that meet international requirements. The company's product range includes overhead, mortise and padlock types with different opening mechanisms. Recently introduced cylinder lock with sound effect: alarm (80 dB) is triggered when the lock is broken into, pulled out, drilled out or the key is selected. The company's products are in demand in 80 countries around the world.

Evva, Austria

The company was founded in 1919, today its factories are located not only in Austria, but also in the Czech Republic, as well as Germany. Manufacturer specializes in the production of cylinder locks, which are equipped with unique security systems that make hacking and copying the key almost impossible. The company is known for numerous innovations both in the field of lock production and in the field of software. The manufacturer was one of the first in the industry to receive the ISO 9001 standard, which indicates a high production culture and excellent product quality.

Abus, Germany

Today Abus is a group of companies that produce a wide range of security products. The history of the company began in 1924, and initially padlocks were produced here. By the way, everyone knows The U-lock was invented here. Today the company offers a large selection of mortise locks for entrance and interior doors. The company's cylinder mechanisms boast the highest quality, durability and burglary resistance. Manufacturer representative offices operate all over the world, incl. and in Russia.

Abloy Oy, Finland

The company was founded in 1907, and in 1994 became part of the Swedish group of companies ASSA Abloy. Specializes in production cylinder locks, which receive protection from any type of hacking. The assortment includes locks of varying degrees of security. The company also produces padlocks and electromechanical locks, door fittings, armor plates and an anti-panic system.

Tesa, Spain

The manufacturer has been operating since 1941 and at first produced locks for suitcases, but in 1947 it mastered the production of door locks, and in the 80s they already produced electronic access control systems. In 2001, the company became part of the ASSA Abloy group. On the manufacturer's account a lot of our own unique developments, incl. Autonomous access control and access control system. Today the company is a well-known manufacturer of cylinder locks, fire door locks, handles and other accessories for various types of doors. In addition, the plant is one of the leaders in the production of anti-panic systems.

Dom Group, Germany

The company has been operating since 1936 and was initially involved in metal processing. Today the manufacturer is considered world leader in the production of access control systems and produces a range of products to ensure maximum security for residential and commercial premises. As for door locks, they produce high-quality and reliable cylinder mechanisms, which are protected against hacking, drilling and knocking out, and the keys are equipped with protection against unauthorized copying.

Titan, Slovenia

This is one of the oldest European enterprises specializing in the production of locks. In 1896, metal elements began to be produced here, including locks. In 1919, the production of mortise locks began. Today it is a powerful enterprise engaged in the production of cylinder locks. The plant is certified according to ISO 9001. In 2015, the company was renamed DOM-Titan.

5 best Russian lock manufacturers

Mettam

This is one of the largest domestic manufacturers of locks. It was founded in 1992 and at first produced analogues of imported lever locks, but after a while they appeared here own developments, and the range of products was constantly expanding. At the moment, the company produces mortise, inset and overhead locks of cylinder and lever type, and also produces combination locks. The products are intended for installation on the doors of apartments, offices, garages, and can be used to equip fire doors. All products meet the requirements of relevant standards.

A large domestic company has been producing locks and fittings since 1994. Since then, the manufacturer has received many patents for unique developments. The company focuses on continuous development, improvement of products and expansion of its range. One of the biggest achievements is our own Patented K-System. This is a special system of interaction between the grooves of the key and the levers, which allows you to maintain the functionality of the lock in case of various breakdowns. Currently the company produces mortise and rim locks of lever and cylinder types.

Border is one of the largest enterprises in the sector in Russia. The plant operates on the basis of the Ryazan plant of computing and analytical machines. Today, the product range includes more than 300 modifications of locks; they are supplied to all regions of the country and to neighboring countries. The plant has a large design bureau, which, when developing new mechanisms, takes into account domestic features of the operation of locks. All locks are made from high-quality materials using anti-corrosion zinc coating, have a beautiful appearance and excellent protective characteristics, so they can be used not only for entrance doors, but also for safes.

The company is considered one of the oldest in its field. Despite the high level of popularity achieved, the company is constantly improving and improving the burglar-resistant qualities of its locks. A distinctive feature of the manufacturer’s products is a pleasant price-quality ratio. The range includes mortise and lever locks designed for metal and wooden doors.

The company has been operating since 1991 and produces locks under the Barrier brand. All products are easy and reliable to use, have a high level of safety and durability. When developing locks, the experience of criminologists and specialists in opening locks is used, which allows the company to produce products that are maximally protected from various types of influences. Prices are low.

The consumer is confident that when purchasing a metal entrance door, he will be reliably protected. But he usually forgets about selecting quality locks. But 85% of the protection against a thief entering the owner’s apartment depends on them.

According to their stability, locking mechanisms, like the doors themselves, according to GOST 5089-97, are divided into several classes. During testing with dynamic and static loads, breaking with a master key, as well as thermal and electrical tools, the stability class of the lock is determined.

The tests of locks and the design itself determine the burglary resistance classes of doors, but you should also distinguish between the types of locks in order to understand what belongs to what. All types of locks differ: by type of installation, purpose and type of mechanisms. We hope this helps you make the right choice.

According to the type of installation on the door, locks are divided into:

Padlocks - this type is most suitable for closing external doors: garage doors, utility rooms, sheds. Such locks are easy to open and are not used for home entrance doors.

Overhead locks have a look known to everyone since ancient times. They are used in wooden door panels due to their ease of installation and the ability to maintain structural strength. They are locked from the outside with a key, and from the inside using a turntable. A safety chain may be provided.

Mortise locks - the door leaf in which the mortise locks are located acts not only as a fastening for this type of locking mechanism, but also serves as additional protection for them. Mortise locks are ideal for steel entrance doors; they do not interfere with the appearance and are practically invisible.

According to their purpose, locks are divided into groups:

Locking - there is no locking tongue on this type of lock, which plays the role of an additional locking mechanism.

Locking-fixing - the design of the lock includes not only a locking device, but also a fixing one. The latch secures the door and retracts when the handle is pressed. Its second name is “halve latch”.

Difference by type of mechanisms:

Lever locks are by far the best solution for metal entrance doors in residential buildings. The operation of a lever lock consists of the interaction of the key bits with the lever plates in the lock. The number of cuts on the key equals the number of levers the lock contains. If there is the slightest discrepancy, the lock will not open. It is not recommended to use locks with less than 6 levers, otherwise the protection will be weak. This type of lock may include protection against clogging the bolts or a “lock recoding” function, with which, if you lose the key, you can recode the lock yourself.

Cylinder locks - work on the principle of setting a combination of small cylinders at a certain height. The discrepancy between at least one of the heights dissolves all hopes of opening the lock. The secrecy of a cylinder lock directly depends on the number of cylindrical elements and their location. It is possible to combine cylinder locks with lever locks, and at the customer’s request, additional protection of the door with armor plates and armor plates can be provided. Whatever door you choose, the choice of lock should be conscious.

Rack locks - used for garage doors, hangars, sheds, technical gates. Due to their low protective characteristics, rack locks are not allowed to be installed in apartment steel entrance doors.

Electronic locks - this name could previously be associated with a car, but today they are increasingly being used to protect the home. They are opened by dialing a certain combination, or using a key fob.

Combination locks are locks, usually of the old type. Most often used for entrance doors. Using this type of lock for home doors is only possible with the latest versions.

The door lock device must be reliable to protect against burglary and unauthorized entry into the premises. The level of security depends on the type of lock and the secret mechanism that provides security.

Types of door locks

Depending on the design, the lock can be:

The body of the mortise lock is completely built into the door leaf. Such a device has a sufficient level of home protection against burglary and penetration. The invoice is attached to the door leaf from above or can be partially recessed into it. The hinged locking mechanism comes in a variety of sizes and designs. It consists of a cylindrical arch and a body with a secret and comes in:

• small;
• average;
• big.

The choice of a mortise, rim or padlock depends on which door it will be installed on.

All mechanical locks have the following components:

• a housing that hides the secret lock mechanism;
• bolt or bolt;
• core (cylinder mechanism) into which the key is inserted.

Inside the cylinder there is a secret lock mechanism, which differs depending on its type.

The locking mechanism of a plastic, metal or wooden entrance door can be cylindrical, lever-less or lever-type. In addition, there are also combination locks, screw locks, with ciphers and locking mechanisms on interior doors. Thus, there are a lot of devices to ensure safety and peace of mind. In order to have an idea about the features and design of each of them, we will consider all these types of locks in more detail.

Cylinder lock device

A cylinder lock is opened using a small key, which on one side has teeth of different shapes and sizes.

A cylinder lock can be mortise or padlock and have the following components:

• top and bottom pins;
• spiral springs that activate them and return them to their original state after removing the key from the cylinder.

The cylinder lock mechanism rotates, driving the bolt, only when the pins are flush with the surface of the cylinder. This is achieved if “your own” key is inserted into the key groove, which allows you to assemble them in the desired position. If you insert a “foreign” key into the cylinder mechanism, the pins inside will be positioned incorrectly, which will not allow you to turn it and open the lock.

The design of the cylinder door lock can be single or double. Single mechanisms are used for door locks that can only be opened from the outside with a key. Double ones are designed for those locks that are controlled by a key from both sides.

Lever lock mechanism

The lever lock is considered one of the most reliable among all locking devices for an entrance plastic, metal or wooden door. Its secret lies in a group of plates or levers that have cutouts of various shapes. Each of them corresponds to the protrusions and recesses on the key, which allow you to assemble the plates in the desired way and open the lock.

The reliability of a lever lock depends on the number of levers. Each individual option for placing level plates that differ along the contour is called a series. By increasing the number of levers with different locations of protrusions and depressions, you can increase the number of series. For a lock with three plates it is 6. For four-lever locks, a set of plates gives, respectively, 24 different series. In locks that have two rows of levers, the number of series reaches up to 150. Double-bit keys are used to open them.

The principle of operation of a lever lock is similar to a cylindrical one, only the role of pins in it is played by steel plates. To increase security, to make it more difficult to assemble the plates and make it difficult to open the lock with a random key, the cutouts of the levers are made of different sizes, and the plates themselves are of different thicknesses.

Bessuvaldny castle

The structure of a leverless lock is characterized by only one plate, so this lock is considered the most unreliable. Therefore, experts recommend installing it on internal doors.

The secrecy of lever-less locking devices is provided by the configuration of the shape of the key slot. In addition, on the base of the lock, opposite the key slot, there are barrier plates or annular projections. They are made in the form of concentric circles, to bypass which special slots are made along and across the grooves of the keys.

Code lock

The combination lock can be electronic or mechanical. For electronic devices, a prerequisite for operation is connection to an electrical network or an autonomous power source. Mechanical is easy to install and use. In addition, it is easy to reprogram if necessary.

The combination lock circuit is a bolt that is activated when the required combination of numbers is pressed in the case of a mechanical operating principle of the device. For electronic locks, you need to enter a secret combination or use a magnetic key.

Electronic devices are more reliable than mechanical ones and are widely used on entrance doors to offices, buildings and residential apartment buildings.

Locks on interior doors

The lock can be installed not only on the entrance door, but also on the interior door. However, it is difficult to call them full-fledged locking devices, because any lock must have a secret that provides at least minimal protection. But locks on interior doors do not have such a secret. They include the following components:

• handles and external decorative trims;
• crossbar driven by a handle;
• locking mechanism.

The lock cylinder on an interior door has no internal structure. Through it you can reach the internal latch and unlock the mechanism connected to the handle and preventing the door from opening freely.

Knowing what locks are made of and having an idea of ​​their operating principle, you can more confidently choose a locking device on which your safety and the safety of your personal property depend.