GB588930A - Improvements in and relating to combination padlocks - Google Patents

Abstract

588,930. Combination padlocks. YALE & TOWNE MANUFACTURING CO. No. 23, 1944, No. 23333. Convention date, Nov. 27, 1943. [Class 44] A padlock of the combination tumbler type comprising a rotatable bolt, a series of rotatable tumblers having gatings, a fence adapted to enter the gatings, and means whereby the fence, when in the gatings, is locked for rotation with the bolt, the fence when out of the gatings being free of the bolt which is then rotatable independently of the fence. The invention is shown applied to a padlock of the kind in which the locking mechanism may be actuated under the control of a key or through the combination tumblers. The bolt 17, Fig. 2, comprises a circular plate having a peripheral flange 40, adapted to engage locking slots in a shackle 11, and a central post 16 carrying a clutch member 14 and engaging one end of a spring 44 which normally holds the bolt in the locked position. A dial 22 carrying a tumbler operator 20 may be rotated freely on the bolt for operation of the bolt through the tumblers and the fence, or may be coupled to the clutch member, by key operation of a plug 13 mounted within the dial, for direct rotation of the bolt. Tumblers 23, having gatings 22, are rotatably mounted on a member 25 carried on the post 16 and prevented from rotating by an arm 26 engaging the lock casing. The fence 60, which is adapted to rotate with and to slide radially on the bolt, is provided with a pin 65, a dispenser lug 66 and a post 68. A fixed back plate 32 is provided with a control lug 33 and carries a pivoted, spring-loaded disperser 34. The circular plate portion of the bolt located within the fence and back plate is provided with slots 55, 57, Fig. 5, for receiving the members 33, 34, 65 and 66. In the locked position the lug 33 abuts the pin 65 and the disperser 34 abuts the disperser lug 66, thus preventing rotation of the fence in either direction. When the dial is operated to align the gatings 22, a gating 24 in the tumbler operator 20 and the post 68, the post is moved radially by a spring 69, Fig. 4, acting on the post. The post then slides into the gatings and the members 65 and 66 are disengaged from the members 33 and 34 respectively.The fence is now freed from the back plate and locked to the bolt. The dial may now be rotated to move the bolt against the action of the spring 44 until the notches 46 and 47 in the peripheral flange of the bolt becomes aligned with the shackle, which-is then ejected from the casing by a spring-loaded plunger 48. If the shackle is re-inserted in the casing the spring returns the bolt to the locked position and during the movement the tail of the disperser, acting on the disperser lug, slides the fence out of engagement with the tumblers. U.S.A. Specification 2,154,660 is referred to.