US Patent 7322219 Keying system and method

A keying system includes a cylinder body. A plug assembly disposed in the cylinder body includes a plug body and a carrier sub-assembly disposed adjacent the plug body. The carrier sub-assembly is moveable parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder body between a first position and a second position. The plug assembly includes a plurality of pins and a plurality of racks for selectively engaging the plurality of pins. Each rack of the plurality of racks has a first locking bar-receiving groove along a neutral axis and at least a second locking bar-receiving groove spaced from the neutral axis, wherein a spacing of the second locking bar-receiving groove from the neutral axis of a first rack of the plurality of racks is different from a spacing of the second locking bar-receiving groove from the neutral axis of at least one other of the plurality of racks.