408,865. Permutation locks. HAGE, O. A., 8, Vasaplatsen, Gothenburg, Sweden. Sept. 4, 1933, No. 24479. [Class 44.] In a permutation lock, withdrawal of the lock bolt 86 depresses a cross-bar 91 pivoted thereto and movement of this bar is possible only when gates 75 in a series of locking discs 72 are in alignment with it. The discs are mounted to rotate on a fixed sleeve 67 surrounding an operating spindle 1 and are set by a radial arm 85 fixed to the spindle and moved axially step-by-step so as to co-operate in succession with radial surfaces 77 on the discs. The movements of the spindle to set the discs are controlled by a mechanism, Figs. 5 and 6, which is mounted on the other side of the door. Fixed and slidable comb-like blocks 37 and 42, respectively, co-operate with a notched disc 10 on the spindle to ensure that after each rotary movement, the spindle is moved axially by the amount necessary to align the arm 85 with the next locking disc 72 ; the fixed block 37 also co-operates with the disc 10 to hold the spindle from axial movement during its rotation to set a locking disc. The amount of rotation of the spindle in each axial position is determined by a sliding plate 12 which is moved laterally by an eccentric 9 until an arm 13 thereon contacts with a step 136 on a key or gauge 137, Fig. 11, inserted in a slot 5. The lock mechanism is shown with the spindle held against axial movement by a spring-pressed detent 31, Fig. 6, engaging with a groove 30, and against rotation in one direction by a projection 50, Fig. 5, on the disc 10 abutting the fixed block 37 and in the other direction by a spring-pressed pivoted catch 97, Fig. 2, engaging with a part 84 of the arm 85. To withdraw the bolt, the key is inserted and engages with a bevelled nose 35 to withdraw the detent 31 and the spindle is then pulled outwards to its fullest extent thereby clearing the arm 84 from the catch 97. The spindle is turned clockwise and a radial surface 55 on the disc 10 engages with an incline 49 on the sliding block 42 to press the latter inwards against a spring 47 until an opening 51 in the disc 10 is aligned with it, when it springs outwards again. The spindle is turned until the arm 13 contacts with a step 136 on the key, in which position, the gate 75 of the first disc 72 is aligned with the cross-bar 91. The spindle is then turned back until the edge of the opening 51 abuts against the sliding block 42 and the portion 54 of the disc 10 enters a notch 39 in the block 42, while the opening 51 is aligned with the teeth 38 on the fixed block 37. The spindle can then be pushed inwards until the sliding block 42 contacts with the back 2 of the casing, in which position the arm 85 is aligned with the next locking disc 72, whereupon clockwise rotation of the spindle aligns the opening 51 with the sliding block 42, which springs outwards to its normal position, and then sets the second disc 72 in its unlocking position. When all the locking discs have been set in this way and the spindle has been turned counterclockwise, it is pushed inwards to the position shown in Fig. 6. Clockwise rotation of the spindle causes the arm 84 to engage with a notch 88 in the bolt tail 87 to withdraw the bolt, while a pin on the bolt tail co-operates with a slot 94 to depress the lever 92 and cause its cross-bar 91 to enter the aligned gates 75 of the locking discs. To shoot the bolt, the spindle is turned counterclockwise, so that the arm 84 engages with the notch 88 and afterwards moves an arm 80 carried by a sleeve 79 loosely mounted on the sleeve 67, which arm 80 engages with radial surfaces 76 on the locking discs to scatter them ; the arm 84 finally snaps past the catch 97 and in this position of the spindle the projection 50 on the disc 10 abuts against the fixed block 37. To change the combination, the sleeve 67 together with the discs 72 and the scattering device 80 are removed from the casing and after removal of a spring ring 81, the discs may be suitably rearranged. To prevent the setting of one locking disc from disturbing another, the discs may be separated by washers 73 keyed to the spindle. The knob 21 may be coupled to the spindle by flexible means such as a spring strip 26. In a modification, Fig. 7, the gated locking discs 72 are replaced by pinions 108 co-operating with sliding racks 112 having gates 113 to receive the cross-bar 91. To change the combination, the frame 116 carrying the sliding racks is raised by rotation of a shaft 117 having eccentrics 118, 119 to disengage the racks from the pinions, the lock bolt being in its withdrawn position. The spindle is then turned to scatter the pinions and after replacement of the old key by the new one, the spindle is turned as for unlocking, thereby setting the pinions 108 according to the new key, after which the racks are re-engaged. The key may be formed bv a number of thin plates 131, Fig. 14, stepped at 134, slidable on a guide bar 128 and set by hand by means of projections 132 according to a scale marked on them. After use, the key may be placed in a case which fits it closely and engages with the projections 132 so as to automatically upset the setting of the key. The key may be replaced by several keys kept by different persons.