Abstract: A cable lock with a bare wire cable, the cable lock including a lock unit for securely grasping the free end of the cable. The cable lock also includes a cable testing mechanism comprising a first cable contact that engages the cable, and a second cable contact that engages the cable. The cable lock also includes an electrical current generating and measuring mechanism powered by a battery, the mechanism being in electric communication with one of the cable contacts for putting current into the cable, and in electric communication with the other of the cable contacts for reading current passing through the cable.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to an access control system having a planar interlocking mechanism including two reflectively symmetric rotating moon gears mechanically coupled by a linear slide configured to respond to rotation of the moon gears. In an illustrative example, the moon gears are mechanically coupled by the linear slide via respective actuating cams. The moon gears may be provided, for example, with locking cams configured to releasably secure the linear slide via a corresponding follower on the linear slide. Rotation of one moon gear into a first mode may, for example, place the other moon gear in a second mode, and vice versa. Each moon gear may be configured, for example, to be operated by a removable peg. Various embodiments may advantageously be configured such that release of a removable peg from one moon gear captures a peg in a corresponding moon gear.

Abstract: Key interlock systems and methods are described for safely carrying out a closed-transition procedure in an electric power distribution system in which two load busses that can be separately powered by the same power source or by two different power sources can be connected together via one or more bus tie breakers and in which a static transfer switch is used to selectively deliver power from one of the two different power sources to at least one of the load busses. Embodiments described herein prohibit access to a key that is required to close a bus tie breaker that connects the two load busses until at least a determination is made that a particular bypass breaker of the static transfer switch has been closed, thereby ensuring that both load busses are connected to the same power source.

Abstract: A key with one or more movable elements that slide within the blade of a substantially flat key for operating a lock includes a blade configured to be inserted into a keyway of a lock and including contour features formed on an outer surface of the blade that mate with corresponding contour features of the keyway. The key includes at least one movable element disposed within a recess formed in the blade and including a contour surface exposed to the exterior of the key blade. The contour surface may include external contour features that correspond in shape to at least a portion of the contour features of the keyway. The movable element may be movable within the recess, when it engages a blocking member within the keyway, and after such movement, the element will engage a locking element within the lock.

Abstract: A device is provided for early registering of the closing state of a closure element for a compartment opening includes, but is not limited to an inductive proximity sensor, a measuring plate and a movement path guide. By means of the movement path guide the measuring plate is guided parallel to the proximity sensor from a predetermined degree of closing to complete closure of the closure element. In this manner a precise early statement relating to the imminent closure of the closure element can be made, for example in order to activate a locking mechanism.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for locking and/or unlocking a door lock, especially in an electric appliance that is provided with a door for closing or opening a work area. Said circuit arrangement comprises an electrically actuated door lock actuator which acts upon a locking member when a current flows through the actuator, said locking member locking or unlocking the door lock. A series connection that is composed of two switching devices is arranged in the triggering circuit of the door lock actuator, said two switching devices being controllable by the control device which emits output signals to actuate the two switching devices once specific triggering signals have been fed to the control device.

Abstract: A safety system for a locking device of a motor vehicle includes a unit control device which has at least one power switch for controlling an electromechanical unit in a blocking state, a central control device including signal links to the unit control device and further unit control devices of the motor vehicle, at least the electromechanical unit being controllable through the central control device via the signal links, and an electrical lead connection which is independent of the signal links. The unit control device is connected to the central control device through the independent electrical lead connection. A potential of a control connection of the power switch or a power connection of the unit control device is controllable by the central control device via the independent electrical lead connection.

Abstract: A closing mechanism with a lock which contains both a rotatably supported latch and a pivotably supported pawl, which is spring-loaded toward the latch. The latch is in an open position when the door is open, and, when the door is being closed, it moves first into a prelatching position, in which the pawl engages with a prelatching notch on the latch. A closing aid moves the latch from its prelatching position into a main latching position, in which the pawl is supported on the main latching notch of the latch. When the door is opened, before the release or during the release, the closing aid be activated again not in the same direction as the preceding closing movement but rather in the opposite direction. As a result, the same component, namely, the closing aid, is used to move the latch gradually and gently back into its open position.

Abstract: A door lock control device prevents deterioration in anti-theft property of a vehicle by restricting unjust cancellation of a locked state of a door of the vehicle. In-vehicle operation detecting means detects a predetermined operation performed in a compartment of the vehicle. Locked state canceling means cancels the locked state of the door when the predetermined operation is detected by the in-vehicle operation detecting means. Unjust act detecting means detects an unjust act applied to the vehicle. Locked state cancellation prohibiting means prohibits cancellation of the locked state by the locked state canceling means after the unjust act is detected by the unjust act detecting means.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a system for sequentially unlocking a series of locked compartments, the system including: apparatus to unlock a first one of the locked compartments so that the first one of the locked compartments can be opened and then closed; and apparatus to sense closing of the first one of the locked compartments and to automatically unlock a second one of the locked compartments in response to the closing of the first one of the locked compartments.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a door unlocking device adapted unlock a door by transmitting a signal in the air through a signal transmitter, which can unlock the door even when the power source of the signal transmitter, namely, the battery has consumed up. With a door unlocking device, upon insertion of an ignition key into the rotor of a key cylinder, a shutter is opened to operate a shutter switch. Under this condition, the rotor is turned in opposite directions from the neutral position according to a predetermined rotor turning pattern. The rotor turning pattern is discriminated by a rotor-turning-pattern discriminating circuit. Ensuring that the rotor turning pattern is the one predetermined for unlocking the door, the rotor-turning-pattern discriminating circuit activates an electric operating mechanism to cause a lock mechanism to unlock the door.

Abstract: A lock system which prevents the mixing of different kinds of oil at a gasoline tank comprises: locks for different kinds of oils provided on each of couplings constituting oil filler ports of underground tanks of the gasoline stand and each of tank base valves of a tank truck, and keys separately provided for unlocking the locks for the different kinds of oil, wherein only the lock on the couplings of the oil filler ports which accepts a selected key which unlocks the corresponding tank base valve of the tank truck can be unlocked. When one of the tank base valves is opened and an oil filler hose is connected to the oil filler port of one of the underground tanks, only the oil filler port of the underground tank containing the same kind of oil as that in the corresponding tank of the tank truck can be opened, thereby ensuring that the same kind of oil is reliably poured into the underground tank from the tank truck.

Abstract: A container locking system for vending machines, buildings, vehicles, or other containers comprising a door latch, a primary door lock assembly locking and controlling the latch, and a radio lock assembly comprising a radio transmitter, a radio receiver inside of the container, a solenoid operated when the receiver receives a signal from the transmitter, and a dead-bolt operated by the solenoid and preventing unlatching of the door latch except at times when the solenoid is operated by the transmitter whereby a thief who has a way of opening the door lock without force cannot open the door without noticeable forcible entry.