Lock Mechanisms & Hardware Flashcards

What is the primary function of a cam in a pin tumbler lock cylinder?

Answer: To actuate the locking bolt or latch when the plug rotates

The cam is attached to the rear of the plug and directly actuates the locking mechanism (bolt or latch) as the plug rotates.

In a high-security lock, what is the purpose of a sidebar?

Answer: To provide an additional locking mechanism that must align before the plug can rotate

A sidebar is a secondary blocking mechanism that requires its own set of cuts or rotations to align before the plug is free to turn, defeating common picking techniques.

What differentiates a 'dead latch' from a standard spring latch?

Answer: A dead latch has a plunger that deadlocks the latch bolt to prevent it from being pushed back

A dead latch has a small auxiliary plunger that, when depressed by the strike plate, prevents the latch bolt from being pushed back by a credit card or similar tool.

Which warding type in a lock cylinder is designed specifically to prevent the insertion of incorrect keys?

Answer: Paracentric warding

Paracentric warding features complex keyway profiles with curves extending past the center line, making it difficult to insert non-brand keys and increasing picking resistance.

A locksmith is examining a Medeco lock. What is the unique feature that distinguishes Medeco's security over standard pin tumbler locks?

Answer: Its key cuts have angular bitting that rotates the pins to align a sidebar

Medeco cylinders require key cuts to both lift pins to the shear line AND rotate them to specific angles so sidebar slots align, combining height and rotation for dual authentication.

What is a 'false gate' in the context of combination lock design?

Answer: A shallow notch on a wheel that momentarily mimics the true gate to defeat manipulation

False gates are shallow notches machined into combination lock wheels that cause the fence to partially drop, creating misleading feedback to someone attempting to manipulate the lock.

When installing a cylindrical lockset, what is the correct relationship between the latch backset and the edge bore?

Answer: The edge bore center must be located at the same distance from the door edge as the specified backset

The backset is the distance from the door edge to the center of the cross bore, and the edge bore must be centered at that exact distance to ensure proper latch alignment with the strike.