Parts of a Door Lock

There are so many different types of locks when it comes to securing a door. It can be confusing to know which door lock you should choose for your home or office. One element which is crucial in helping you to understand the different types of door locks is to know the names and functions of each part of a door lock. Familiarizing yourself with the terminology used in locksmithing will make it much easier to differentiate different types of locks so you can make a more informed decision on the security of your property.

Traditional locks, also known as mechanical locks, are the most common types of door locks used on the external doors of residential and commercial properties for security. These are the types of lock parts that probably come to mind when you think of a door lock, and they are operated with a key and a door knob or door handle. Electronic locks are becoming more popular as this technology becomes more affordable and accessible to the masses, but these still make up a small minority of door locks.

In this guide, we will cover all of the main parts of a door lock, including Door handle,Door Escutcheon,Door strike Plate,Door Latch Bolt, Door Lock Cylinder,Door Lock Body,Door Lock Accessories,Door Lock Pivot. We also include 2 great custom diagrams about cylinder lock and padlock.

Parts of a Cylinder Lock

Cylinder

The cylinder of a lock is the part that contains the locking mechanism. It is the main body of the lock and is therefore sometimes referred to as the ‘lock body. Cylinders are spring-loaded with a series of pins that will not turn unless they are pushed in the right direction and pattern by the correct key. When you insert a key into a keyhole, it will be going inside the cylinder, and the ridges on the key will come into contact with the spring-loaded pins.

When the pins have all moved into their correct alignment, the cylinder will open and allow the bolt to move, resulting in the door being able to open. Cylinder locks are the most common types of exterior door locks, as they are considered to be very secure.

Latch Bolt

Bolts protrude from the door and engage with the doorframe when the cylinder is in a locked position and recede when the cylinder is unlocked. This is what prevents or allows a door to be opened. There are various types of bolts used for door locks. The most common types of bolts include.

Deadbolt

A deadbolt, or dead bolt, does not use a spring system and can only be locked or unlocked with the use of the key from either side of the door. Deadbolts tend to be considered more secure than spring bolts because the bolt cannot be forced back inside the lock without the correct key, which makes them more reliable against intruders.

Hinge Bolt

These bolts are fitted on the side of the door where the hinges are as an additional means of security. They help to prevent doors from being forced off their hinges in the event of an intrusion. This type of lock can be used on any wooden door and consists of a hardened steel bolt that protrudes from the door frame and locks into a hole in the door when it is in the closed position.

Strike Plate

This is a metal plate that is fixed to the door frame at the same level as the lock. It contains an opening hole into which the bolt will become engaged when the door is locked. A strike plate sometimes has a lip to help guide the bolt in the right direction.