weird yale cylinder - ID

[jeffmoss26]

I can get better pics if needed - this is a screenshot from a YouTube video I did, but this Yale mortise cylinder came in a lot off ebay. I've never seen a movable tailpiece like this before. The longer piece swings around over to where the pin is protruding.
Anyone have an idea what this would be used for?

[Squelchtone]

I can get better pics if needed - this is a screenshot from a YouTube video I did, but this Yale mortise cylinder came in a lot off ebay. I've never seen a movable tailpiece like this before. The longer piece swings around over to where the pin is protruding.
Anyone have an idea what this would be used for?

You should show this to Sgt Howard Payne on Twitter, the HOPE/DEFCON Elevator hacking talk guy, it seems to me like some sort of switch panel lock or a safety lock out..

Interesting cam for sure.

Squelchtone

[jeffmoss26]

Good call, I tweeted it out just now!

[Squelchtone]

Good call, I tweeted it out just now!

Even though it is 2 parts, is the protruding piece at 5 oclock able to swing freely or is it sandwiched/screwed to the round piece with the 2 screws and only moves when the plug turns?

Thanks,
Sqelchtone

[Squelchtone]

You know.. if you think about it and how that little dowel driven into the back of the lock body will limit stop the cylinder, you can only remove the key with that cam pressing on something like a switch, leaving it in an on position, inserting the key and turning clockwise gets you as far as that limit stop dowel.

It seems like putting the key in and turning it would have the purpose of releasing a switch that is constantly pressed be it a normally on or normally off switch, I bet this interacted somehow with an electronic circuit.

anyone else have any wild ideas?

Squelchtone

[jeffmoss26]

The lock is at home and I'm at work, I will look at it tonight and answer your question about the tailpiece.

[jeffmoss26]

Squelch, the 'piece at 5 o'clock' moves freely, but the two pins limit its rotation.

[Evan]

You know.. if you think about it and how that little dowel driven into the back of the lock body will limit stop the cylinder, you can only remove the key with that cam pressing on something like a switch, leaving it in an on position, inserting the key and turning clockwise gets you as far as that limit stop dowel.

It seems like putting the key in and turning it would have the purpose of releasing a switch that is constantly pressed be it a normally on or normally off switch, I bet this interacted somehow with an electronic circuit.

anyone else have any wild ideas?

Squelchtone

Looking at the cylinder and considering that the OP stated the longer piece which rotates is freely able to move at all times, I would speculate that the actual cam screwed to the cylinder (which has a little notch on it to pick up the bump protruding from the moveable piece) is that this cylinder interacts with a momentary contact type circuit where it depresses a button or spring loaded switch and contact is only maintained while the user is holding the key in the correct position, release or rotate the key and the momentary contact is broken... Sort of like a dead man switch...

I have seen this sort of set up in elevators located inside older mental health facilities where in order for the car to operate it required a user key where the operator had to hold the key in the turned position for the elevator to move...

~~ Evan

[jeffmoss26]

Thanks for all the help guys. I showed the picture to one of the 2 locksmiths who came to our monthly locksport meeting, and he basically said what Evan said, that it's likely part of an electrical switch.
I am going to take it to my locksmith downtown just to see what he says!

[VancouverSpecial71]

Interesting tailpiece - thanks for the info guys.
Sean