GB656858A - A repetition impulse operator for locks or other purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

656,858. Permutation locks. HOLAN. A. Aug. 27, 1948, No. 22637. [Class 44] Operating means applicable to a permutation lock of the type comprising a number of elements some or all of which have to be actuated, comprises a smaller number of operational parts, such as pushbuttons, keys, or imaginary "fields" on a single element, adapted to be operated by repeated impulses given to one, or jointly to two or more of the operational parts each impulse causing the lock to shift one step relatively to the operating means and simultaneously causing the actuation of one of more elements of the lock, so that after a predetermined number of impulses given to the operational 'parts in the correct order and combination, the elements of the lock have been actuated to release the mechanism. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the lock body b, having pins c, certain of which have to be depressed, is mounted to rotate in a frame a, in the front part of which is mounted a shield e which is normally held against a rim of the frame a by a spring j housed in a sleeve i, externally threaded to engage an internal thread in a ring l. The sleeve is held against rotation by a pin and slot. and the ring l is free to rotate and framed on its periphery with ratchet teeth which engage a pawl d on the lock body. Depression of the shield by finger pressure at any point around its edge causes inward movement of the sleeve, rotation of the ring l and consequent rotation of the lock body through the angle subtended by one tooth of the ratchet. The shield is provided with two, three or four projections f, which when the shield is depressed at the point where the projections are located, actuate the pin or pins c of the lock which are then opposite the projections. In this way, by depressing the shield at various points successively, according to the prearranged coding of the lock, the pins thereof are correctly actuated. In an alternative form, shown in Fig. 2, two, three or four push buttons are used instead of a plain tiltable shield, each push-button having a flat spring f, one part of which engages angularly disposed teeth d on the lock body, while the other part g engages one or other of the pins c of the lock according to the position of the latter.