Magnetic tubular lock

[Rickthepick]

Basically a tubular setup with magnetic pins, pinned with differing poles forwards. Neutral pinstack consists of two half pins sprung inwards already on sheer line to prevent manipulation.

lock face would be sealed so no conventional picking possible.

magnets in the key would need to be powerful enough to overcome the lock springs holding it all closed.

possible flaws?
- maybe a massive magnet could change polarity of lock pins

[mh]

I think the single positions would give feedback, e.g. an audible click when the pins spring back after removal of a test magnet. So it could be decoded without too much difficulty.

Cheers
mh

[Rickthepick]

yes, thats true

The only way to prevent that would be to prevent easy access to the front face of the lock with probing tools/

I have an idea

[dls]

One major flaw would be iron filings, sprinkle some on the face of the lock and you will know which ones are magnetised or not or you could use a small bar magnet and test to see if its repeled or attracted to decode the lock.
There would be only three differs on the pins and if it has ten pins there would be only ten thousand possibilities and less if you exclude simpler bittings like all n or all s or all neutral

[Tyler J. Thomas]

One major flaw would be iron filings, sprinkle some on the face of the lock and you will know which ones are magnetised or not or you could use a small bar magnet and test to see if its repeled or attracted to decode the lock.
There would be only three differs on the pins and if it has ten pins there would be only ten thousand possibilities and less if you exclude simpler bittings like all n or all s or all neutral

I agree.

For example, MIWA includes a tool with a north position on one end and a south position on the other in their pinning kits which are useful for re-pinning MIWA magnetic locks. This hand held tool could easily be used to decode the positions IF it had enough access (I seem to remember the tool's end was about 1/8" in diameter).

[GeneT]

It seems to me that the most difficult part would be implementation. Getting a magnet to draw a tumbler a precise distance, and have that work time and time again is an engineering nightmare. The other option is to 'hard stop' (that is, a force is exerted or it isn't) and then there are only n! permutations possible. (n! = n*(n-1)*(n-2)...etc. for all n>1)

GsT

[Rickthepick]

Hmm i guess thats why these arent about then
seemed a good idea when id had a few beers

[dls]

All my good ideas come when ive had a few german pillsners and the better ones come after a few guinness the best ones come after a bit of both and some burger king

[Raymond]

Besides the MIWA and CoreKey, I have seen a couple of magnetic locks. I wish I could draw this but you will have to settle for a written description.

Most of them had the cone shaped magnets behind a stainless cover. The magnets were suspended in a non-ferrous holder that would allow them to swivel only. The corresponding magnets in the key were located off center. As the key came into contact with the cover, the key magnet would pull the cone magnet to a specific corned of the pattern. The sharp point of the cone would then be in line with a hole in the plate underneath the cones. Movement to open the lock would require the plate moving up and onto all of the cone magnet's points at the same time.

Location of the magnets meant nothing. You would have to use a magnet probe to move each magnet to its corrrect compass point at the same time. Moving the magnets was easy. Finding the holes underneath was not.

The fault to the system was probably the very low number of key changes.

[mh]

Besides the MIWA and CoreKey, I have seen a couple of magnetic locks. I wish I could draw this but you will have to settle for a written description.

You mean padlocks with magentic keys like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tecLjikxb4A

Cheers
mh

[Squelchtone]

I have a Miracle Magentic, which uses regular bitting, as well as 4 magnets embedded in the key blade. 3 of my keys work, and 1 does not, I believe they pressed one of the magnets in backwards.

datagram has a nice write up here: http://www.lockwiki.com/index.php/Miracle_Magnetic


Enjoy,
Squelchtone

[Tyler J. Thomas]

I have a Miracle Magentic, which uses regular bitting, as well as 4 magnets embedded in the key blade. 3 of my keys work, and 1 does not, I believe they pressed one of the magnets in backwards.

datagram has a nice write up here: http://www.lockwiki.com/index.php/Miracle_Magnetic


Enjoy,
Squelchtone

Wow, you learn something new everyday.

[lunchb0x]

A system like this is already used on ignition locks for cheap scooters. The lock is used to cover the barrel on the ignition.

[datagram]

There's a number of magnetic locks that already use this principle; CISM and MOSCODE are the best modern examples.

Some patents here:
http://www.google.com/patents?id=tj8wAAAAEBAJ
http://www.google.com/patents?id=qFQnAAAAEBAJ
http://www.google.com/patents?id=EzyiAAAAEBAJ

Perhaps there will be a paper in the future that talks all about magnetic lock designs

dg

[Rickthepick]

Thats a hint if ever iv heard one