US2430391A - Lock - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1947. J, UICK 2,430,391

LOCK Original Filed Feb. 8, 1943 Patented Nov. 4, 1947 LOCK Henry J. Dequick, Chicago, 111., assignor to Illi nois Lock Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application February 8, 1943, Serial No. 475,116, new Patent No. 2,374,669, dated May .1, 1945. Divided and this application February 19, 1945, Serial No. 578,588. Also substitute for 3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to looks of the type which employ a rotatable cylinder plug wherein are carried one or more key-operated tumblers adapted to be projected outwardly into engagement with a channel which is extended lengthwise of the surrounding shell or body wherein the plug is mounted. The present improvements are directed to a releasable spring lock whereby the plug may be secured rotatably, yet removably, within its mounting, the lock being in the form of a split ring which tends to expand outwardly so as to lie partly within certain arcuate or peripheral grooves in the confronting surfaces of the plug and mounting; and

more particularly to a projection of the spring ends into the tumbler channel when the spring is in its normal expanded locking position, the spring ends being then accessible, for manipulation, by a tool which is inserted into the tumbler channel from one end thereof, to contract the spring whereby to free the plug for release axially from its mounting. Such a feature is advantageous whenever disassembly of the lock plug is desired, as when adjustment or replacement of parts is to be made either in the factory or elsewhere.

A releasable spring ring lock of this character may also be incorporated, with perhaps special utility, in a lock of the padlock type as herein shown and described by way of example. A prior disclosure of the invention was made in my application filed February 8, 1943, Serial No. 475,116, now Patent No. 2,374,669 dated May 1, 1945, of which this case is a division. This application is also a substitute for my abandoned application, Serial Number 533,469, filed May 1, 1944.

In the accompanying drawings is set forth a suggestive embodiment of my invention, as applied to a padlock exemplification, in the manner following:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section and perspective of the padlock in its locked position;

F r 2 s a ran ve se s ction taken on ine 2T2 of Figure 1;

Figs. 3 and l are similar views, the former sho i he l ng a s retract d by k ya on of the lo to free. the shackle for lon itudinal m me t nto or o t oi the lock y. these same parts, in the latter view, being in the position which they occupy following release of torsion force by the key with the shackle fully advanced out of the lock' body;

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the cylin,

andoned application Serial No. 533,469, Mar

der plug-bolt-driving gear assembly, these parts being axially aligned but in slightly spaced relation; and

Figure 7 is a view inperspective of the gear block per se.

The padlock herein shown comprise a body A wherein is an elongated cylindrical chamber at opening onto the upper end of the body, a second cylindrical chamber b, in spaced parallel relation theret openin onto the same body end, and a third cylindrical chamber 0, parallel with .the others, opening onto the opposite body end, and in offset, but communicating, relation to the second chamber. Between the first and second chambers is a transverse passageway d in communication with each and with the third chamber which is made of relatively larger diameter. If this passageway continues .on to one or both edges of the body A, then a plug (or plugs) I 0 may be secured in place to provide an end closure (or closures) therefor.

Within the third chamber is mounted a cylinder plug 1B which may be of the usual sliding tumbler type. As by means of a suitable key (not shown) the plug may be operated to project its tumblers l I oppositely into positions within arcuate channels 12 and 13 extending lengthwise within the chamber whereby to secure the plug against rotary movement. At the inner end of the plug is a head I5 formed with a circumferential groove 16 wherein may be seated a split ring 0 whose two ends I 8 are outwardly turned to lie substantially parallel in spaced relation. In diametrically opposite regions, each about distant from its two ends, the ring is provided with two outwardly extended arcuate protrusions 19 adapted to lie within a pair of arcuate grooves 2.0 iormed interiorly of the chamber 0 in a plane transversely of its axis. When the cylindrical plug iS fitted in place, the spring ring will bc seated within the cylindrical groove it of the head and also within the arcuate grooves 20 as well, so as to secure the plug against removal, The two ring ends, however, will lie within the ch nnel 12 so as to be accessible for engagement by the V-slotted end 21 of an elongated tool or key 22 when advanced lengthwise into this channel from the upper end of the lock body, as will hereinafter be explained.

Upon the inner face of the plug head is a lug 25 extending arcuately through about 90 and concentric with the axis thereof. This lug is adapted to engage alternately the opposite ends of a second lug 26, extending arcuately'about the same axis through or so, and carried upon 2. cy

coincident with the confronting walls of the chamber 0 whereby the latter is adapted to furnish an adequate bearing therefor; in addition;

the curved inner face of the arcuate lug is substantially coincident with the body of'the bolt D whereby to supplement the bearing aforesaid. The bolt is accordingly free to rotate coaxially with the plug, in one direction responsive to motion transmitted by the latter, and in the opposite direction in response to the tension exerted by a spring 28 which is coiled about the bolt with its two ends anchored respectively thereto (as in the slot 29) and the lock body (as in the channel l3). Due to tension of the spring the bolt is normally maintained in a fixed rotative position relative to the plug, so as to move therewith, but may, in response to a counter force, move independently thereof through a limited distance--90 being the limit therein indicated. Extending axially beyond the bolt head 21 is a cylindrical stem 30 terminating in a diametrical tongue 3!. It will be observed that the cylinder plug B is devoid of any connection with the bolt D, and the latter is unconnected with the body within whose chamber 0 it is accommodated, except for one end of the spring 28 which is free to Slide in and out of the channel I3 whenever the bolt is in process of insertion within or removal from the padlock body.

The passageway 01 is adapted to receive a block Q E in the general form of a plate having flanges depending from its opposite sides and posts 36 upstanding from its four corners, whereby to serve as spacers for engaging the bottom and top faces, respectively, of the passageway. The length of the block is substantially equal to the distance between the axes of the chambers a and b, so that, at opposite ends thereof, I have provided arcuate notches 3'! whereby to assure a registration of the curved faces thus formed with the adjacent walls of these two chambers. Through the block in one end region thereof is a circular hole 38 and in a corresponding position in the other end region is an upstanding circularboss 39. The axis of the hole 38 is substantially coincident with that of the chamber 0 so as to freely receive the stem 30 projecting from the bolt D and furnish a supporting bearing therefor.

The upper face of the block affords a mounting for a pair of meshing gears F and G, the former being provided with a flattened central opening 40 wherein the tongue 3| may be received to transmit a rotary force thereto whereby it may drive the second gear wherein is an axial hole through which is extended the boss 39 about which this gear is freely rotatable. One fullradius section of the periphery of the driving gear F is arcuate concentrically with its axis, an adjacent flat section 46 is disposed tangentially to a shorter radius, and a third section, extending between a pair of shoulders 41 and 48, is provided with teeth 49. The driven gear G is formed in one section, between shoulders 50 and 5|, with teeth 52 meshing with those on the companion driving gear F, with an adjacent flat section 53 tangential to a shorter radius, one end of the flattened section being provided with a projecting heel 54, and with a third section 55 Qt f ll-r d us extending from the heel arcuately concentrically with the axis of the gear to join the proximate end of the flattened section 53. Two meshing gears so formed will have capacity for rotary movement through approximately from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3 and vice versa, the limits being reached upon interengagement of the shoulders 48 and 50 (Fig. 2) of 41 and 5| (Fig. 3). In the position of Fig. 3, following operation of the cylinder plug, the two flats 46 and 53 occupy parallel furthest removed positions and the arcs 45 and 55 adjacent positions along one of the longer sides of the block; whereas in Fig. 2 the positions of the two flats and two arcs are substantially reversed,

To complete the padlock I employ a shackle H having long and short arms 60 and 6|, respectively, the former receivable within th chamber a and the latter within the chamber b. Each arm is by preference formed of cylindrical stock having a diameter very slightly smaller than that of the two chambers so as to be freely slidable longitudinally thereof. In the two shackle arms are facing transverse concave notches 62 and 63 each accommodating the full-radius arc section of the proximate gear when the parts are in the normal locking position of Fig. 2. Efiective restraint against longitudinal movement of the shackle is thereby provided for each of its two arms. In the other extreme position, however (Fig. 3), this means of restraint, i. e., the full-radius arcs, is withdrawn, the flats (tangential to shorter radii) then lying opposite, but exteriorly of, the two notches whereby the shackle is free for longitudinal movement. For a limited distance from the notch 63 the long arm is flattened, as at 64, along its inner face and then beveled inwardly at 65 to join a neck 66 of reduced diameter which adjoins a transverse shoulder 6'! beyond which full diameter of the shackle is again resumed. Such a construction permits the shackle, when fully advanced outwardly, to swing freely through 360 since (a) its short arm is then free of the padlock body, (b) the flat 53 of the gear G will prevent the shackle from advancing outwardly beyond the point of engagement of the shoulder 61 therewith, and (c) the neck 66 of relatively small diameter will be disposed opposite this gear which is then incapable of opposing swinging movement of the shackle about the axis of its longer leg.

In operation, the key-operated cylinder plug will, under influence of the spring 28, tend to return the parts to the normal locking position of Fig. 2. So long as the shackle remains in its out position this cannot take place, but only a very slight return movement (see Fig. 4) to the extent of whatever play is present between the operating parts. In this last position the heel 54 will be advanced against the neck 66 to act as a brake against too-free swinging movement of the shackle. To restore the shackle to locked condition, its short arm is first brought to position opposite the chamber 17, which thereupon places the long arm flat 64 and gear flat 53 opposite each other to clear the way for in movement of the shackle in response to a force sufficient (a) to overbalance counter tension of a spring '50 which is confined between the end of the shackle long arm and the end of the chamber a, and (b) to displace the heel 54 of the driven gear as the beveled face 65 is advanced therealong,

To remove the cylinder plug, the shackle short arm is first removed from the chamber b to expose the upper end of the channel 12; a thin tool or key 22 is then inserted into the channel to the point of engaging, within the V-slot 2| at its acting end, the outturned ends of the split ring which is thereupon contracted sufficiently to permit axial release of the cylinder plug from the chamber c. Withdrawal of the bolt D may readily follow, and with this part removed the blockE may be shifted endwise away from the long arm of the shackle a distance suflicient to free the shackle for separation from the padlock body.

The releasable spring lock herein disclosed is characterized by extension of its two outturned spaced ends into the tumbler channel whose innermost end may be exposed to receive an elongated tool having an acting end adapted, upon manipulation, to effect a contraction of the spring when engaged with the ends thereof. The spring is non-circular in shape, having opposed portions, located preferably about 90 from the spring ends, spaced apart a greater radial distance so as to lie substantially outside the cylinder described by the plug when interlocked with the surrounding chamber walls which provide a mounting therefor; and other opposed portions spaced apart a lesser radial distance so as to lie substantially within the confines of the cylinder plug. A ring of this character normally remains spaced from the plug at opposite points, and upon forcing its separated ends together the ring is then contracted with greatest inward movement taking place at points about 90 from its ends; here are located the outermost portions which move inwardly a distance sufficient to clear the surrounding walls, thereby freeing the cylinder plug for movement axially out of its mounting.

I claim:

1. In a look, a chambered mounting and therewithin a rotatable cylinder plug, a split spring ring in connection with the mounting and plug for releasably securing the plug within the mounting, the spring ends being outturned and there being a channel extending longitudinally of the mounting adjacent one side thereof for receiving in one longitudinal portion of the channel the ends of tumblers projected from the plug and also for accommodating in another longitudinal portion of the channel the outturned ends of the spring rin whereby to be accessible to a tool extended into the channel, irrespective of the positions of the tumblers in relation thereto, for engagement by such tool to exert thereon a force counter to the spring tension of the ring for contracting the same to a position of release relative to the mounting.

2. In a lock, a chambered mounting and therewithin a rotatable cylinder plug supporting a plurality of radially slidable locking tumblers, a split spring ring in connection with the mounting and plug for releasably securing the plug within the mounting, the spring ends being outturned and there being a channel extending longitudinally of the mounting adjacent one side thereof for receiving the ends of locking tumblers in one longitudinal portion of the channel and in another longitudinal portion of the channel the outturned ends of the spring ring whereby to be accessible to a tool extended into the channel, irrespective of the positions of the tumblers in relation thereto, for engagement by such tool to exert thereon a force counter to the spring tension of the ring for contracting the same to a position of release relative to the mounting.

3. In a lock, a chambered mounting and therewithin a rotatable cylindrical plug supporting a plurality of radially slidable locking tumblers, a split spring ring in connection with the mounting and plug for releasably securing the plug within the mounting, the spring ends being outturned and spaced from each other and there being a channel extending longitudinally of the mounting adjacent one side thereof for receiving the ends of locking tumblers in one longitudinal portion of the channel and in another longitudinal portion of the channel the outturned spaced ends of the spring ring, the ring diameter being greatest at a point substantially equidistant from its ends where it is extended outwardly beyond the cylinder described by the plug, the channel being open at one end and the spring ends therewithin being accessible to a tool extended into the channel from its open end, irrespective of the positions of the tumblers in relation thereto, for engagement by such tool to receive therefrom a force counter to the spring tension of the ring for contracting the ring to a maximum diameter no greater than that of the plug whereby to free the plug for axial release from its mounting.

H. J. DEQUICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,773,733 Jacobi Aug. 26, 1930 1,761,092 Shinn June 3, 1930 1,979,095 .Brauning Oct. 30, 1934 2,141,748 Hansen Dec. 27, 1938

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