US1182586A - Automobile-lock. - Google Patents

Description

E; & E. W. ROGERS. AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1915.

1,182,586, 1 Patented May-9,1916.

E. & E. w. ROGERS.

AUTOMOB !LE LOCK. I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4,1915.

Patented May 9,1916.

3 sums-swan 2.

El & E. w. ROGERb.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, I915.

Patented May 9,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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nnwnv ROGERS AND EDWIN WILLIAM ROGER-S, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

. application filed February i, nus. Serial No. 6,001.

provements in Automobile-Locks, of which the following is a specification. I

Our invention relates to means for preventing theft of automobiles and has particular reference to novel means adapted to prevent the unauthorized operation of an automobile under its own motive power.

As is well known, automobiles are frequently stolen, the cars being driven away under their own power, due to the lack of a locking device which shall surely prevent the operat on of the motor by unauthorized persons. This is a source of enormous loss in the aggregate, it being diflicult to recognise machines of the same manufacture after once having been stolen. Many of the machines at present on the market provide akey which controls the ignition system but inasmuch as these keys are frequently duplicated on cars of the same make, a possessor of a key for that type of car has nodillicult in appropriating the car. Furthermore, it is not uncommon even though the ignition system is locked to provide a few dry batteries which are connected at the proper point, thus furnishing the necessary current for operation, at least to an extent to permit the removal of the car to a point where the lock to the ignition system may be broken or picked at leisure. Furthermore, locks have been providcd which serve to disconnect the engine from the source of gasoleno supply. These likewise are ineffective for the reason that to the carburetor always contains a quantity of gasolene which will serve to operate the engine for a considerable distance, at least a distance suilicient to permit the thief to disconnect the look from the gasolene supply or at furnish an additional supply of gasolene to the carburetor.

An object in the present invention is to provide a lock which shall positively lock the, engine against the remotest possibility of opso [oration by an unauthorized person. This means includes a combination lock and an individual key each of which is inoperative without the other, the locking means being applied to the intake manifold of the engine above the carbureter.

A further object is to provide such a mechanism which shall automatically lock the parts and reset the combination upon the mere removal of the key, the presence of the key within the lock being mit operation at any time.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a view somewhat diagrammatic necessary to per in form, illustrating our lock which is applied to the-dash, the parts being connected by a flexible shaft to a shutter in the intake manifold; Fig. 2 is a side view of the lock contemplated; Fig. 3 is a face view thereof; Fig. l is an enlarged transverse section through the key and combination lock; Fig. 5 is a view from the frontof the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, the dial being removed; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken'on the line (3 6, Fig. 4i; Fig. '7 is a vertical section through the shutter which is applied to the manifold; Fig. 8 isa section on the line 8-S of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a view of a key which may be employed; Fig. 10 .is an enlarged dctail of the shaft locking means in the valve mechanism; Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail showing the me: '18 for interlocking the keyway shafts and the means for causing the disarranging of: the combination disks, and, 1 1g. 121's asnnilar view of themeans employed for locking the key-way shaft in place.

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be seen that our device may consist in a locking element and a shutter applied to the intake manifold, these parts be-' ing connected by a flexible shaft. The looking element'is suitably secured to the dash 10 of the car and is contained within a casing 11, the roar of which is closed and the bbttoin of which is provided with a nipple 12, through which the flexible shaft extends. The front of the casing may be closedv by a wall 13, secured to the casing by screws 14.. Mounted exteriorly of the wall 13 is a disk or plate 15 ofglass held in place by a flanged shaft 17 is mounted within the plate 19, the shaft at its forward end carrying a gear member 22, having on one face a miter gear 23. The miter gear engages a similar gear 25, mounted in a bracket 26, integral with they plate 19. The shaft 27, of the gear 25, engagesin a suitable manner the internal shaft in the flexible connecting member 28, which projects downwardly through the nipple 12. It will be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 17, that the gears are operated and the fiexi initially inserted. This key willbe of a form slmilarto that shown in Fig. 9. This key-way or shaft 30, fitswithin the flared end 32, of the shaft 17. This shaft 17, isv

normally interlocked against rotative movement, with the spider 20, by the cooperation of a lug and notch 17*, 17", respectively on the spiderand. shaft. The shaft is urged into interlocked position by means of a coiled Spring 17, located in thebearing for the shaft in the plate 19. The reason for thus interlocking the shaft 17, will be hereinafter explained. As a reason for interlocking the key-way shaft 30, with the spider 20, we provide, as best shown in Fig. 12, a lug 32, on he periphery of the shaft 30, and near the inner end thereof, this lug registering in a certain position of the shaft with a notchor recess 20 cut in the spider 20. It will be seen that with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 12, the shaft 30, cannot be removed endwise this being the position assumed by the shaft when the parts are in locked position.

The outer end of the shaft 30, has rotatably mounted thereon a thumb-nut 33, 'the end of the shaft being flanged or riveted in such manner that the nut is securely held thereon against lengthwise movement. On the face of the hand nut we provide a thin plate 33, having a circular hole 33", therein in line with the key-way 31, in certain positions of the'parts. The hole 33*, is enlarged as at 33, to permit the insertion of a key 47, such as shown in Fig. 9, having a lug 47 thereon, the lug entering the notch 33. and rotating with the key in the space 33 be tween the plate and the end of the shaft 30. This is necessary for the reason'that the shaft"1 7,-cannot be rotated by the key until the spring 17, has been compressed and the lug and notch 17', 17, disengaged. The

spring 17 would tend to force the key out I of the-slot were it not for thd plate 33*. Also by "meansof'th-is expedient it will be seen that the key cannot be removed until the shaft hash-eon turned to the point of coincidence of the key-wa 31, and the notch 33 The hand nut 33, is provided with a shank 35, to which is" secured a pointer'34, located behind the glass 15, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Secured to the shaft 30, near the end of theshank 35, is a ring 30 This ring,

together with the flanged end of the shaft 30, serves to positively prevent movement of the thumb nut in either direction on the shaft but permits free rotation thereof. Secured to the shank 35, is a gear 36, which meshes with a similar gear 37, mounted on a stub-shaft 38, secured in the plate 13,by means of a counter-sunk screw, 39. Rigid with the gear 37-, is a further gear 40, and a disk 41. Other disks 42, 43, are loosely mounted on a shaft 44, which finds a hearing at one end in the stub-shaft 38, and at the other endin the spider 20. Each of the disks 41, 42, 43, are provided with lugs as is common to combination disks of this type and on their peripheries are notched as at 45, these notches registering with the key.- way 31, in the shaft 30, and with each other when the combination is properly set. The disks rotate within a notch ,46, cut in the shaft 30. and projectinto the plane of rotation of the shaft.

As a means for disarranging the combination automatically upon the removal of the key from the mechanism, we provide a rack bar 48. sliding in suitable bearings and normally held in retracted position by means of a coiled spring 50. The upper edge of the rack bar is provided with teeth 49, which mesh with a gear 24, loosely mounted on the shaft 17 but permitted only limited movement thereon because of the mechanism best shown in Figs. 4 and 6. It will be seen that we have provided pins 24, rigid with the gear 22, which pins operate in the arcuate slots 24, in the gear 24. Near the lower edge of the, rack bar 48, are other teeth adapted to engagewith a pinion mounted on a shaft 53, and provided with a pawl or clutch mechanism 54, by means of which the pinion may move freely on the shaft 53. in one direction but be positively connected to the shaft in the opposite direction. The shaft projects underneath the combination disks'and carries a gear 55, which meshes with the gear 40, heretofore "described. The arrangement is such that upon turning the key to the left as viewed in the figures, the rack 48, is moved to the right. as viewed in Fig. 6, because of the cooperation of the pins 24", with the ends of the arcuate slots 24, in the gear 24. Dining such movement to the right the pinion 52. is rotated but no motion is imparted to the shaft 53, this being necessarily avoided because of the fact that the combination is set up on the disks and with the key in the notches 45.

thereof such disks cannot rotate. However,

l 20, in Figs. 3, 7, 8 and 10, we provide a flexible shaft mounted in a suitable casing 28, the

flexible shaft terminating in a shaft 57, to

has

I tively and within which a slide valve 62 is mounted. The upper surface of the slide is greater than the width of the pinion 58, and

as the key is turned it closes the valve hereafter referred to and no motion is imparted to the rack l9, because of the locking thereof by the disks and the pawls 54, in the pinion 52. However, as the key removed from the key-way 31, the disks are relieved and the spring 50, retracts the rack 48, and spins the disks thus dis-arranging the combination theretofore set up. I

As. heretofore indicated, the locking-element is applied to the intake manifold of the engine between the carbureter and the 7 cylinders. When this conduit is thus closed it is, of course, impossible for any normal action of the engine to take place, in contradistinction to locking devices which are appliedto the gasoleue line which though locked would permit the operation of the engine for some distance because of the fluid contained in the carbureter. As best shown which a pinion 58, is rigidly secured. The shaft 57, is mounted in a casing :39, hav ng top and bottom cover plates 60, 61,v respecprovided with a rack composed of teeth 63, which are of a width not substantially teeth 64, which are considerably wider than the pinion, the latter teeth being so located as to register with the pinion only when'thc valveis in the closed position shown in the drawings. In this position it will be seen that the pinion may slide on the face of the valve. The reason for this mechanism is as follows: Assuming ,that a thief wished to operate the motor for the purpose of stealing a car, he might with a hack-saw sever the flexible shaft and its casing and by i I grasping the fiexibleshaft rotate the same sutiiciently to open the valve. In the present instance this is obviated by providing, within the casing 59, a coiled spring 65, located on the shaft 57, and bearing against, the pinion 58, thus tending to force the pinion to the right as viewed in Fig. 8, this being .covering 'the l severed and the shaft pulled back to the" resisted by the shaft 57, which cannot be extended except upon severing the shaft at some point in its length. Assuming that the shaft has been severed withthe valve in the closed position the spring will force the pinion 58, and the severed end of the shaft to the right as viewed in Fig. 8,'-which will be permitted by the longer teeth 64,

on the surface of-the slide. in this iosition it will be impossible to open the valve be cause of the lack of rack teeth "or coiiperation with the pinion. 'Howev r, 'the easing exible shaft/might again he point of engagement of the pinion with the teeth 63. We have provided against this by notching the shaft 57, as at 66, audioeating above the end of the shafta vertical,

slidable yoke or catch 67, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 10. This catch is guided by the pins 68, and a coiled spring 69, tends to force the catch downward. This, however, is resisted in the normal position of the parts by the fact that the opening 70, in the catch is smaller than the diameter of the shaft 57.- Howevenupon severing of the shaft 57, it is forced to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, until the notch 66, is beneath the catch 67, which is forced into the notch and effectually prevents the return of the shaft without taking the casing apart. these precautions might be ineffective also if it were possible to remove the valve casing bodily from its location in the intake conduit. We have provided against this by securing the casing in place by means of suitable bolts 71, which engage flanges on the respective parts, these bolts being "of specially hardened steel whicli'prevents their being cut all. Nuts 72,-are applied to the threaded ends of'the bolts and the nutis,

and. bolts are drilled, theaporture througi the bolt being tapped, After the nutis are applied a screw 73, is inserted in the regis- All of tering apertures'and after being properly located is filed or cut. oil. Thus the-only method of removing the valve mech anism from its location is to drill out the fastening screuywhich of course requires,some coiv siderabletime. ()bviouslv also the cii'sing which contains the flexible shaft might be 'pa rtiallv sawed through and the shaft rotated by means of the saw in order to open the valve unless precautions were taken :wainst sucltste )s. \Ve avoid this contingent-y by locking the; llexihle shaft against. movement in the mechanism heretofore demoved fron the casing together. How

over. it was previously cxptained that the shaft 'i-lflacould not be removed from engagement with the spider 20,.until the pin 32" was in register with the-notch 20, and these parts are in register only when the combination is properly set and the valve in open position. When, the valveris' in closed position the pin and notch are out of register, and the shaft 30, cannot be re-- moved. Thusit follows that the front of.

the locking mechanism cannot be taken off and the parts operated. until the combination is set and the proper key inserted.

As a matter of convenience we may proide an electric light 74, above the dial,; such l'ght being mounted in a reflector or hood "(5, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The operation is as follows: The parts may be assumed to be in the position as shown in the figures with the following exception; In Fig. 4, the disks are shown with their slots .45, in register. This is a position which would not be possible in.any normal operation of the machine inasmuch as upon the removal. of the key the disks are disarranged. With such understanding, the combination is set up which will bring the notches 45, into register with each other and with the key-way 31, whereupon the key 47, may be inserted and the shaft 17, shifted against the resistance of the spring 18. This will bring the lug 17, out of engagement with the notch 17*, and the key may be given aquarter turn to the left as viewed in Figs. 3 and-5. This servesto open the shutter or slide 62, and the engine may be operated as usual. The shaft 17, is

.- maintained in its inner position and the key cannot be removed because of the coiipcration of the lug 47*,011 the key with the plate 33. 'Wben it is desired to lock the engine, the key is givcnn quarter turn to the right, thus closing the valve whereupon the key is removed and upon its removal t he spring 50, causes a retraction of the rack 48, which spins the combination disks and disarranges the combination. The parts cannot again be operated until the steps just described have been repeated. It will be seen that the key cannot be removed without locking the engine and dis-arranging the combination.

It is believed the present construction obviates all possible theft of a ca' and is of such construction as to provide for ready ap )lication. to motor cars. The constructimifherein described is, of course. typical only of a multitudeof other forms which a casing, a two-part key shaft in said casing, means for interrupting the supply of combustible fluid to an engine, a flexible shaft connecting said last nanied means to one of the parts of said two-part key shaft, means for locking said last named part of said two-part key shaft to said casing, a removable key adapted to disengage said part of the key shaft from interlocking engagenent with said casing and to rotate said key shaft, and a combination lock controlling the key-way slot in said key shaft, substantially as described.

2. .ln a locking device for automobiles, the combination of a casing, a closure for an open side of said casing, a key-actuated shaft extended through said closure, and means preventing the removal of said closure when said shaft is in locked position, substantially as described.

In a locking device for automobiles, the combination of a casing, a yalve-actuat ing shaft which terminates in said casing, a key-actuated shaft, gearing connecting said shafts, a closure for an open side of said casing, and means associated with said key-actuated shaft for preventing the removal of said closure when said last named shaft is in locked position, substantially as described. c

4. In a locking dcvice .for automobiles,

the combination of a casing having one open side only, a. closure for said open side,

- and means for locking said closure in posicasing, means on said rotatable member adapted when in one position to engage a rigid stop within the casing, and a key for actuating said rotatable member, the arrangement being such that said closure may not bo removed from the casing until said rotatable member is actuated by said key to unlock said automobile locking element, substantially as described. I

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 1st day of February, 1915.

EDWIN ROGERS.

EDVVIN \YILLIAM ROGERS.

\Vitnesses: w

\Vinmmr J. \Voon.

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