Pintumblerlås

Pintumblerlås, or pin-tumbler lock, is a common type of cylindrical mechanical lock used in doors, safes, and padlocks. In its basic form it consists of a cylindrical plug inside a housing, with a set of pins and springs between the two. The pins are arranged in pairs: key pins sit above springs, and driver pins sit below. When no key is inserted, the pins span the boundary between the plug and the housing, preventing rotation.

In operation, a correctly cut key lifts each key pin so that the boundary between the key pin and the driver pin lies exactly on the shear line where the plug meets the housing. With all pin boundaries on the shear line, the plug can rotate, which in turn retracts the locking mechanism. If any boundary is below or above the shear line, the pins bind and rotation is blocked.

Variants and security features include the use of security pins, such as spool or mushroom pins, which create a false set or binding that complicates picking. Some pintumblerlås also employ hardened materials, threaded cores, or additional anti-drill features to deter tampering. Despite these measures, pin-tumbler systems are among the most widely attacked by lock-picking techniques, bump keys, and impressioning, and high-security versions are designed to mitigate these methods.

History and usage: the modern pin-tumbler concept was developed in the 19th century and became widely adopted by manufacturers such as Yale. Today, pintumblerlås are standard in residential door hardware and many commercial locking systems.

See also: lock picking, cylinder lock, tumbler lock.