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Trap pins
The real protection against
picking comes from the six
trap pins. These tiny pins are
neatly mounted on two sides
of the housing (at ten and two
o’clock).
When the correct key is
inserted it will keep the inner
pins at sheerline and there is
no room for the trap pins in
the plug. The plug can freely
rotate and pass the trap pins.
When a lock is picked the
pins will fall back into the plug
as there is no key to keep them
at the correct height. The trap
pins will block the plug from
rotating when they are fired
into the open spaces.
The first image above shows a
cutaway view of the pins in the
plug. The center image shows
a rotating key when both pins
are aligned by the correct key.
The image on the right shows
the outer pin correctly aligned
but the inner pin is too low,
preventing the plug to turn.
Magnetic element in key
The magnet in the key is
one of ABS’ anti picking and
key-control features. Pin-inpin technology alone is not
enough to prevent the lock
to be picked. Traditionally
springs push pins into the plug
but in this case the steel pin is
pushed outward. The magnet
in the key pulls the steel pin
into the plug, allowing it to
turn.
Anti-Snap
The cam of the lock is the
part that actually moves
the bolt of the mortise lock
that is mounted inside the
door. On the image above
you can see how the cam
throws the bolt inside. The
last image already shows
you the unique feature of the
ABS lock.
ABS anti-snap protection is
done in multiple steps.
To read more, visit www.locksmithjournal.co.uk
Instead of trying to prevent
the lock from being snapped,
the lock is designed to not
resist snapping at all.
The outside of the lock is
weakened by a deep cut in
the housing and the plug.
This cut will make sure only
the first section of the lock
will break off. When this
happens the lock can still be
operated with the key as four
out of five pins will still be
protecting it.
The remaining part of the
lock is now less accessible
as its not sticking out of the
shield of the door.
A determined burglar will
find a way to apply force at the
remaining part of the lock and
try to snap it. ABS contains
a second weak spot that was
added by design. The bar that
holds the two sides of the body
together is weakened near the
center and the lock will snap
there.
This does not achieve the
desired effect as the unique
feature of the ABS lock now
kicks in. As you can see on
this image the relocking pin is
already close to be fired.
As soon at the outer body
is slightly pulled away from
the cam, the trap pin is fired.
This blocks the cam and will
prevent access to the boltwork.
The cam is made from sintered
molybdenum steel and is very
hard to get through with a drill
or mill.
In this state the lock can only
be opened with the correct key