US1308521A - Planoahapli co - Google Patents

Description

F. J. BUTTER. PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 12. i916.

Patented July 1, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPI! C0,. WASHINGTON, D. L.

F. 1. BUTTER. P ERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATKON FILED OCT-12.1916.

1,308,521. Patented July1,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.-

it 6 #6 l- 38 a l I i 4 I A i n i r )f M d/rim 6 Tm: COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH c0, WASHXNOT' UNITED srnrns ATENT onmon.

FRANCIS JOSEPH BUTTER, or woLvm-tnAMP'roN, ENGLAND, AssIeNon 'ro- GHUBB AND SONS LOCK AND SAFE coMrANY, LIMITED, or LONDON, ENG-LAND.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 12, 1916. Serial No. 125,144.

an external dial has to be brought into register with a fixed index before the bolt or looking mechanism can be liberated or operated.

The object of the present inventlon 1s to simplify the interior mechanism of such locks and consists in an improved mounting for the rotatable combination disks bysecuring the same to the external surface of rings or bosses, surrounding the operating spindle by the sprin grip formed in the disk ltself whereby t ey are made fast to sald rings by frictional contact therewith, said; rings or bosses being mounted in plates earned by the lock casing; in providing means whereby the longitudinal or horizontal movements may be definitely defined for the purposeof operating the rotatable combinatlon disks consecutively; in so mounting or construct ng the spindle and attendant devices as to 1mmmize the chance of damage to the lock mechanism on the same being improperly manipulated by an unauthorized person for example; in affording an improved means for altering or re-setting the deslred combination and while preserving the value of the great number of combinations capable of being employed for the purpose, due to the detalls of construction to employ a rotatory motion in one direction only, and by a considerably less number of revolutions of the handle bring the notches in the several disks into line or position for liberating the bolt or locking mechanism by the employment of a series of combined longitudinal and rotatory movements of the spindle attached to the handle, thus simplifying the manipulation of the lock mechanism, and incidentally affording. means of correcting error in manipulation without the necessity of repeating the several operations from the start in order to obtain the combination in such a manner as to be able to manipulate the lock.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, the improvements will be now bore 7. On the face of described with the aid of the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which i Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a permutation lock constructed in accordance with this invention as applied to a safe or strongroomdoor, taken on the center: line of the mechanism; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of Fig.1, also takenonthe center line, Fig. 3 is a sectional plan illustrating a convenient method of fixing the knob or handle to the operating spindle and devices to secure with precision the intermediate longitudinal Patented Jul 1, 1919. y

movement of the same; and Fig. 4: is atransverse section of "the same mechanism taken on line X'X of Figs. 1 and 3 viewed as indicated by the arrows; Figs. 5 and 6. are sectional elevations, also viewed from right to left, taken on-lines YY and Z-Z respectively of Figs. 1 and2. Fig. 7 illus trates in elevation a spring-catch or' device for retainingthe bolt in its shot position. Fig. 8 illustrates in elevation and Fig. 9 in plan a change-key employed for resetting the combination. a

Similar figures of reference relate to like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 6, the ermutation lock illustrated is fixed to a safe door 1 on the metal block 2 that is secured to the back or inside of the door 1 by screws 3 or otherwise as may be convenient, the case 1 being provided with a suitable flange or lugs 5, screws 6 retaining same in position. 1 1

The block2 is bored out at 7 to a suitable depth so as to provide for the full longitudinal travel necessary for the manipulation of the mechanism, and the spindle 8 is provided with a collar 9 which limits thelongitudinal movement thereof by coming in contact with thejface of the door 1 on its withdrawalyand'l on the other hand when pushed forward for the purpose of actuating the bolt-tail 10, the other side or. edge of the collar, 9 contacts with the bottom of the the door 1 is fixed the ordinary inclosing rim ll within which the external graduated dial 12 rotates.

The rim 11 is provided with a sleeve 18 which surrounds the spindle 8 and forms a bearingor support for therotatable sleeve 14 of the graduated dial 12. The knob or handle 15, by which the spindle 8 and the dial 12 are synchronously rotated, is fixed at its outer end by thescrew 16 totheendof the spindle 8 and supportedat its inner end by the collar 17 formed on the sleeve 14. This collar 17 incidentally forms a closure to the hollow interior of the knob or handle 15.

In order to provide for the longitudinalmovement of the spindle 8 by the knob or handle 15, a feather or key 18 is secured to the interior of the knob as shown, and passes through a slot in the collar 17 This feather or key 18 is provided with notches 19 and 20 tosecure with precision the intermediate positions of the longitudinal travel of: the spindle 8.

Just outside the collar 17. and sleeve 14' is mounted a spring ring 21 the ends 22 of which automatically slip into one or the other of the notches when the knob orhandle'1'5 is pushedin or pulled out, thus indieating to the user by the click so made one or the other of the intermediate positions ofthe spindle. This spring ring is retained in its position by means of the horseshoeshaped. washer 23 that slips into the groove 24 provided at or near the end of the sleeve 13. The spindle 8 may be grooved or weakened as at 25 so that in the event of malusage to the spindle it would break at this point, and it will be obvious that as only a limited amount of travel can take place in a longitudinal direction by reason of the collar 9, a certain .portion of the spindle in the event of breakage must necessarily remain within the thickness of the door 1.

I About or surrounding the opposite end of the spindle 8 immediately adjacent to the block 2 are mounted the combination disks of the lock mechanism, which will be hereinafter more fully described. To the end of the spindle 8 is fixed a sleeve or carrier 26 carrying a starwheel 27 which by its ro'-- tation when pressed forward comes into engagement with the pin 28 on the bolt-tail 10. The sleeve or carrier 26 is provided with a fin or key 29' which engages with pins or projections 30 on the interior surface of the rings or bosses 31 that constitute bearings for the combination disks 32, 33 and 34.

It will be observed that the rings or bosses 31 are provided with a smaller diametrical surface on either side of the center portion which in the aggregate formbearings' 35 that rotate in the fixed plates 36, which plates themselves prevent frictional contact between the disks 32, 33 and 34' and between the rings or bosses 31, so that each of the said disks can only be operated by the actual contact of its pin 30 with the fin or key 29.

The plates 36 may be conveniently .retained in position by means of the studs 37 and: prevented from turning by their engagement with these studs, the whole being assembled as shown and retained in close formation by the pillars or projections 38 formed in the: case 4, between the ends of which and the outermost plate 36 may be interposed springs 38 so as to press the several plates 36 and the rings or bosses 31 toward the block 2.

The disks 32, 33 and 34 are mounted on their respective rings or bosses 31, and retained in the desired position thereon by reason of the spring grip and frictional contact produced by boring same a trifle small in order that they may grip the surface 39 of the ring or boss 31. The inner surface or bore of the disk as also the outer surface 39'of the ring 31 may be scalloped or roughened to increase the gripping effect if and when desired. Each disk is provided with a slot or gate 40 that fulfils a two-fold function, firstly allowing the stump 41 of the bolt 42 to enter when the several slots or gates 40 arebrought into line, and secondly for the insertion of the change-key 43 through the hole 45 in the back 46 of the lock-case 4.- This change-key 43 is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 in elevation and plan wherein it will be observed that it is reduced in diameter at its end 44, which portion when in use affords support for that end of the same by resting in the hole or bearing 47 in the block 2. The key is provided with a flattened elliptical or ovalv portion 48 that will easily pass into and through the slots or gates 40 when placed in the vertical position relative thereto and on being turned a quarter of a turn by reason of its larger diameter will slightly open or separate the edges of the said slots or gates, whereby their spring grip on the rings or bosses 31 is released and the latter are free to be rotated while the disks 32, 33 and 34 are held stationary.

In order to prevent the movement of the bolt 42 after it has been shot except by the action of the star-wheel 27, there is provided a spring-catch 49 (Fig. 7) which is fixed to the back 46 of the case 4, the head 50 of which being L-shaped when the bolt is shot engages with a correspondingly enlarged portion 51 of a slot 52 provided in the bolttail 10 and so retains the bolt in its locked position. When all is in order for the Withdrawal of the bolt 42, the spindle 8 is pushed inward and the inner diameter or surface of the starwheel 27 comes into contact with the projecting'extension 53 of the catch and depresses the same so that the bolt may be withdrawn, the extension 53 remaining 1 in the slot 52 during the operation. When the bolt 42 is withdrawn and pressure on the knob or handle 15 is relieved, the inside of the L-shaped head bears against the back surface of the bolt-tail 10 and acts as a brake checking its tendency to move by gravity. When the bolt is partly or wholly withdrawn the upper part of the guards 54, which are mounted upon and move with the bolt-tail 1 0,- slide in front of the starwheel 27 and prevent the pulling out of the knob 15 until the bolt has been shot. Guides maintain the true vertical movement of the bolt-tail 10. An extension 58 of the bolt 42 may be provided if required for the purpose of locking the follower that throws or operates the main safe bolts. The coverplate 56 makes a neat finish to the application of this class of lock to a safe door, and may be secured by screws 57 to the back 46 of the lock-case 4.

In the lock above described the bolt is shown shooting downward whereby a direct stop to the horizontal strap from the safe bolt or bolts is provided, but it will be obvious that the locking mechanism may be equally well applied to bolts which are shot in other directions without departing from the nature of this invention. Similarly the mechanism may be employed as the sole lock or fastening of a door, the bolt in connection therewith engaging with the usual fitting applied to the door frame.

The operation of the lock mechanism above described may be briefly set out as follows :Presuming that a combination of three figures has been established, that the bolt has been shot and it is desired to open the door. The knob or handle 15 with the spindle 8 and sleeve or carrier 26 is pulled out and a complete clockwise revolution of the graduated dial 12 made, thus insuring that the several pins or projections 30 in the rings or bosses 31 are in engagement with the fin or key 29. Bya continued clockwise rotation of the knob or handle 15, rotating all three disks, the first number is brought to register with the pointer on the fixed rim 11, which operation puts disk 32 in its correct position. The knob or handle 15 is now pushed 19 whereby a further clockwise rotation of the spindle will operate on disks 33 and 34: and the second number is brought to register with the pointer on the fixed rim 11, the fin or key 29 being during this operation out of engagement with the pin 30 in the ring or boss carrying disk 32, consequently that remains still. movement is now made to notch 20 which permits of the continued clockwise rotary (topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the in to the notch A further longitudinal motion being imparted to disk 34 only because the fin is out of engagement with disks 32 and 33 and the third figure is brought into register whereby the several slots or gates 40 are brought into line to receive the stump 41 of the bolt 42 when it is raised. The next longitudinal movement of the spindle 8 depresses the spring-catch 49 and by the engagement of the star-wheel 27 with the pin 28 a further clockwise rotary movement withdraws the bolt.

laims:

1. In a permutation lock in combination, a plurality of rotatable permutation disks, rings surrounding the operating spindle, said disks being resiliently secured to the external surfaces of said rings, plates carried by the lock casing in which said rings are mounted, means for rotating said rings, means on said spindle for limiting the eX- treme extent of its longitudinal movement, means for defining the intermediate positions of said longitudinal movements, means for rotating said s1 indle, and means mounted on said spindle an engaging with a pin 011 the bolt-tail for the purpose of operating the bolt. 1

2. In a permutation lock in combination, a plurality of rotatable permutation disks, rings surrounding the operating spindle, disks being resiliently secured to the external surfaces of said rings, plates carried by the lock casing in which said rings are mounted, means for rotating said rings, means on said spindle for limiting the extreme extent of its longitudinal movement, means for defining the intermediate positions of said longitudinal movements, means for rotating said spindle, means mounted on said spindle and engaging with a pin on the bolt-tail for the purpose of operating the bolt, and means for retaining the bolt in its locked position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this spec1ficat1on ill the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS JOSEPH BUTTER.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

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