US1433245A - Combination lock - Google Patents

Description

J. SPADAFORA.

COMBINATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 1921.

433345,, 7 Patented Oct; 24, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Invemor. Joseph Spadufom byWkW A W IIys.

J. SPA'DAFORA. COMBINATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEB. I92].

. s w 2. m m tn 1 .1 M 0 J n 1 m F 5 2, 3 Am Patented Uet. at, was.

JOSEPH SPADAFORA, F CAIVIBEIDGE, IVIASElAGHUSETT-S, ASSIGNOB TO COMBO MANU- FACTUBING CDIVII-ANY, A CORPORATION 015 MASSACHUSETTS.

communion Loon.

Application filed June a, 1921. Serial No. 476,079.

TooZZ whom it may concern.

. Be. it known that I, Josnrii SPADAFORA, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of 1i1nbridge, county of hiiddlesex. State of :sachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Combination Locks. of which the following description, in connection with the accompz-inying drawing, is a specification, likecharacters on the drawing representing like parts.

This: invention relates to combination locks and has for one of its objects to provide a combination lock which is-admpted to-r a variety of purposes but isspecially applicable. for use an automobile lock in looking and unlocking the steering wheel of an automobile.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved i-xombination lock whichis constructed so that the combination can be readily changed.

Other objects of the invention are to im prove generally locks of this type all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

My improved lock comp-rises a. shiftable member to be looked, a plurality of tumbler elements tor looking said members from in tbut which when linedup release the member, a single setting member for i 'ng up the tumblers and manuallyscontrolled means to limitpositivelythesetting movement of the. setting member.

The lock is adapted for a variety of purposes but as stated above it is specially adgeous when used as an automobile steer i reel lock and in order to give anun iding otthe invention it have chosen -itin the drawings as it would w employed i f onnectionwith the steering el oi an automobile. i

ithe ilrawings, Fig; lie a sectional view h. a steering wheel having my improve llock. i r 1.

Q is a plan vieavot the steering-wheel a hub with the combination partot the lock reino L I m 5 a plannviewofthe camrforoperat-ing the dockinggpin.

4i is a sectional view through the hub 6 showing the collar 3. a

Fig; 5 a sectional View through the cam on the line 5+5", Fig. 3.

(Sis a top plan View otthe steering wheel head showing the dial which forms the guide tor.manipulating the lock.

Fig. i is asectionthrough the hub of the steering wheel and thelooktaken on the angular: line 7-7, Fig. 2 and showing the steen ing :whoel: locked'iniits wild condition.

Fig. 8 is a similar view showingthe steering wheel connected tothe steering shaft.

Figoflis-an enlarged top plan view of the casing supporting notched rings, said rings being shown in relative position'they occupy when the lockis set. i

Fig. 10 is a similar View showing rings linediilp to release the lock.

Figillis a bottom plan view ofthe setting member.

Fig. 12 is a: perspective view of the actuating cam.

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of thelockmg pin.

14 is a perspective View of one of the notched rings.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the setting member operates the rings.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which the setting member actuates the notched rings.

In the drawings 1 indicates a steering wheel of an. automobile and2 isthe steering shaft which extends down through the steering post and-to which the usual steering arm is connected. In my improved lock the steering wheel is-normally free from the steering shaft 2, in which case the steering wheel is inoperative so "far as steering the automobile. is coneerned, but the steering wheel can he operatively connected to the steering shaft 2 in which case the steering wheel is operative as usual for steering the auto-- mobile. This connecting oi the steering wheel to and disconnecting it -from the steeringshai t 2 is accomplished by means of a collar 8 whichis fast on thc shaft 2 and is provided with a plurality o1"- recesses 4., and aconnecting pin 5 whiohis carried by the hub 6 ofthe. steering wheel andiis adapted to be ordered in one of therecesses i or withdrawn there-from. This. connecting pin 5 is shown as extending through the hub .6 and as being acted upon by a spring 8 which tends to raise the connecting pin and thus Withdraw it from the recess 4, said pin having a head 7 against which the spring acts.

When the pint? is depressed into the positionshown in Fig. 8 the. lower end thereof enters one of the recesses 4 and thus the steering wheel 1 becomes rigidly connected to the shaft 2 through the collar 3, and so long as the connecting pin 5 retains this position the steering wheel is operative for steering the automobile in the usual manner. If, however, the connecting pin 1S raised into the position shown in Fig. 7 and thus withdrawn from the recess 1, the steering wheel will be disconnected from the steering shaft and can rotate freely thereabout without giving rotation to the steering shaft. In this condition the steering wheel is wild as it is termed and is inoperative for steering the automobile.

- The steering wheel hub is shown as having a depending flange 9 which encircles the collar 3, said collar thus forming a bearing for the steering wheel. The steering wheel hub is prevented from being withdrawn from the collar by means of a screw 10 which passes through the flange 9 and is screw- .threaded into a nut 11 that is received in a peripheral groove 12 formed in the collar 3.

in order to make it impossible for anyone to remove the screw 10 when the steering wheel is in its free or wild condition, I have made the groove 12 of suificient depth to intersect the recesses 1 and I have made the nut 11 with the flat portion 13 on its inner end, said flat portion occupying the part 01 the groove 12 which intersects the recesses 1. When the connecting pin 5 is in its operative depressed position shown in Fig. 8 the lower end of the pin will en- ;i a-ge the flat portion 13 of the nut 11 and thus prevent said nut fron'i turi'iing, and so long as the nut is thus held from turning the screw '10 may be unscrewed and removed. ll hen, however, the connecting pin '5 is in its'raised position shown in Fig. 7 then the nut 11 is free to rotate and it will turn with the screw 10 thus making it impossible to remove the screw.

The connecting pin 5 is moved from its lowered position shown in 7 to its raised position shown in Fig. 8 by means of the spring 8. It is given its reverse movement by means of an actuating cant 14: which is mounted for rotation about the axis of the steering wheel. This cam 1 is shown as carriel by a ring 15 ans it may be either integral with the ring or separate part inserted. into the ring. This ring is shown having a flange 16 which sets within a curb 1'? formed onthe steering wheel and hub, said hub centerii the ring and holding it in g'jroper position.

e conne ting pin 5 is shown in dotted l. s th. ition relative to the cam corresponding; '4', when the ring 15 is l turned clockwise, Fig. the cam 1e will act on the pin 5 and depress the latter into looking engagcn'ient with the collar 3.

The operation or connecting the steering wheel to or disconnecting it from the shaft 2 therefore involves the partial rotation oi the ring 15 and cam 14.

A combination lock device is employed for locking the ring 15 either in the relative posit-ion shown in Fig. T or that shown in Fig. 8, so that when the am ring is locked in either position it can only be unlocked by one knowing the combination.

Such combination lock device comprises in its construction a locking member 18 in the form of apin situated axially of the shaft 2 and movable axially in a sleeve 19 that is rigidly connected to the hub 6 by ieans of a screw ..0 screwed into the lower end of the sleeve and having a head 21 overlying the under side of the hub U. and by means further of a projection 22 carried by the hub and entering a slot 23 formed in the sleeve.

The locking member 18 is acted on by a spring 2 1 which normally moves it dowir wardly and said member is provided with a laterally extending locking arm 25 which rides on the upper face of the cam member 1 1. This upper face is formed with the two notches and 27 between which is the raised portion 28. When the arm 25 occupies either notch 26 or 2? and held from vertical movement, the cam 11- will be locked from turning movement. These notches 2G and 9,? are so disposed relative to each other that the lockinc; arm 25 will occupy one notch when the ring 15 is in tho relative positionshown in Fig. 7, and will occupy the other notch when said ring is in the relative position shown in Fig. 8.

Therefore as long as the locking arm is held in either notch 26 or 27 the locking cam will be locked "from rotation and the steering wheel will either be lor-lrcd to the shaft or will be locked in its \vild" condition.

The upward movement of the locking member 18 is controlled by a plurality oi tumblers herein shown in the form of notched or slotted rings which are arranged so that when they are set with their notches or slots out of alignment the locking arm 25 is held depressed but when they are set so that their notches or slots are in align-- ment the locking arm may be raised through the aligned notches or slots thus permitting the cam 15 to beturned.

In the present embodiment of my invention there are three of these notched or slotted rings indicated at 29, 30 and 3 respectively. These rin 's are concentric with each other and witi the axis of the steering wheel and are mounted for indcpendent rotation in a head 32 which is superposed on the ring 15, said head having a hub 33 which eXtcnds down through the cam ring and by which the head is properly centered. Said head is provided with anresents nular grooves 34 to reeeivethe rings 29, 30

the other'not- ches 26 or 27. When, however and 31. Each ring is provided with a notch or space 35' of a width to receive the locking arm 25. These rings are situated abovethe locking arm when the latter is depressed and so long as the rings are arranged with their notches or slots out of alignment as shown in Figs. 7; and 9- they will hold the locking arm 25 depressed into one or the rings are adjusted relative to each other to bring their notches or slots into alignment as shown in Fig. 10 and in a positlon over the locking arm 25, then said arm is free to be raised thereby permitting "the cam ring 15 to be turned; 3

Situated above the head 32 is a setting member 36 which is rotatable about the sleeve 19 a ndby which the notched'rings may be positioned. ljlach notched or slotted ring is provided with a projection 37 rising therefrom and the setting member is provided with projections 38 depending therefrom which are situated to enga 'ethe projections 37of'the notchedorislo-tte ringsThese projections 37 and 38are so disposed relative to each otherthat a turning of the setting member 36 in one direction or the other and through the proper angles will line up the rings into the position shown in Fig. 10. The degree and direction of the turning movement of the setting member to bring each ring into the lined up position de pends, of course, uponthe relative position of the projections 37 and 38. a To assist the operatorin setting the combination the head 32 is provided with stop pins '39 which are radially arranged andwhich project beyond said head, each stop pin being acted upon by. a spring 40 which yieldingly holds it in its outward position. Each stop pin 39 is provided with; a projection 41 which normally liesagainst the inner wall of thecurb 420E the head. The setting member 36'is provided witha flange 4:3 concentricwith but spaced from the-curb 4-2 and which is provided with a. stop projection 44. This projection l i is situated inside of the projections 41 whentheyare against the curb 42 so that when the stop pins 39 are in "theirnormal position the setting memberis free to be turned; If,

7 however, any stop pin 39 is pressed inwardlythe projection 41 thereon will be carried into the path. of 'movement of the projection 714 thus limiting the turning moveinent of the setting member. By manipulating the stop pins 39 in a predetermined order andturning thesetting member 36 1n one directlon or the other-afterpressing ineach stop pin until the projection 44- is brought up against a projection 41, the notched or slotted rings 29, 30 and 31 will be positioned wlth their notches or slots in line with each other and mldlli in line with the locking member 25. When this condition exists then the cam ring 15 can be turned thereby either locking the steering wheel to the steering shaft 2 or freeing it therefrom After the cam ring has been turned then the lock can be upset by simply turning the setting member 36 in one direction or thecthler thereby placing the notched or slotted rings with their notches or slots out of alignment.

The sleeve 19 is herein shown as closed at its upper end at 4:5 and said upper end may loe provided with numbers 46 as shown in Fig. 6, there being one number for each of the pins 39. This graduation or numbering itiprovides a gulde to assist the op erator in manipulating the proper pins 39 i to eiiect a release of the lock.

The projections 37 and 38 may be arranged so. that in order to release the lock certain preedetermined pins 39 must be manipulated in certain predetermined order.

1 have provided a construction'herein by which it is easy to change the combination and l accomplish this by making the pro jections 38 adjustable in the setting menr ber 36. These projections are shown in the form of screws .wihich are Lscrewed into: screw-threaded apertures 47 formed in the setting member and thisconstruction makes it easy to-shift the position of the projectionsthereby changing the combination.

In the construction shown the body of the steering wheel v1 is pivoted to the hub 6 into a. vertical position. This pivotal connectionis shown at 51 and to lock the steeri so that said steering. wheel may be swung up .ing wheelz in its operative position the latter isprovided with. a recess 53 adapted to receive a spring-pressed locking pin 52 carried by the boss 54: formed on the steering wheelwlhis locking pin is actedFOn by. the spring53 whichnormally holds itin operativeposition. The locking pin can readily be withdrawn to permit the steering wheel to be swung into its vertical position. The claims-in thisapplication are directed to the con'ibination lock regardless of the use to which it is put. In my cofpending'applition to bring the slots thereof in alignment,

and depressible stop pins adapted when depressed to limit the shifting movement of the setting member.

iltltl in allock, the combination with a head, of a member to. be locked. having a laterallypr'ojecting arm, a plurality oi concentric slotted rings carriedby head and cooperating with said to lock the member from movement, a setting member turnable on said head about the axis of said rings and arranged to set the latter to bring the slots thereof into alignment, and a plurality of vradially-arranged depressible stop pins carried by the head for limiting the turning movement of the setting member.

33. In a lock, the combination with a member to be actuated, of a cam element for actuating said member, a locking member for locking, the cam element from movement, said locking member having a laterally-extending arm, a plurality of concentric slotted rings co-operating with said arm to lock the locking member from movement, a rotatable setting member to shift the slotted rings thereby to bring their slots into alignment with'the arm thereby unlocking the locking member, and'a plurality of depressible stop pins to limit the turning movement of the setting member.

4. In a lockythe combination with a head, of a member to be actuated, a rotatable cam for actuating said member, a locking member having-a laterally-extending" arm cooperating with said cam to" lock it from movement, a plurality of concentric slotted rings cooperating With said arm to hold the locking member-in locking position, a setting mem--- ber rotatable about the axis of said ring for shittingthe latter into position to bring their notches into alignment with said arm thereby releasing the locking member from locking engagement with the. cam, and manuallycontrolled means to limit the turning movement bf the-setting member.

' 5. In a lock, the combination with a head,

of a member to be actuated, a rotatable cam for actuating said member a locking member having a: laterally-extending arm co-operatmg with said cam to lock it from movement,

a'plurality of concentric slotted rings cooperating with said arm to holdL the locking member in locking position, a setting member rotatableabout the axis of said ring for shifting the latter into position to bring their notches into alignment with said arm thereby releasing the locking member from looking engagement with the cam, and a plurality of depressible stop-pins limiting the turning movement of the setting member.

6. In a lock, the combination With a head, of a member to be actuated, a rotatable cam for actuating said member, a locking member having a laterally-extending arm cooperatingnrith said to lock it from depressed to limit the turning movement of the setting member.

"4''. In a lock, the combinatnm. with a shi ltable member to be locked, ot a plurality of concentric slotted rings for locking said. member from InOVGHIOHl a setting member independent from the shiltable member and turnable about the axis of said rings for shifting the latter into a position to release the member to be locked, and manually controlled means to limit the shifting movement of the. setting member. 7

- 8. In a lock, the combination with a head, of a plurality of concentric slotted rings carried by said head, a member to be locked situated axially oi the head, and adapted to be locked by. said. rings, a setting member co-axial with the rings for setting the latter to line themnp, and a plurality of radially arranged stop pins carried by said head for limiting the turning movement ot the setting -member.

9. In a lock, the combination with a shil'table member to be locked, ot a plurality ot concentric slotted rings for locking said member from movement. a setting membe turnable about the axis of said rings for shifting the latter into a position. to release the member to be locked, and manually-controlled means to limit positively the shifting movement of the settin member.

10. In a look, the combination with a shiitable member to be locked, o2": a plurality of tumbler elements for locking said member from movement but which when lined up release said member, a single setting member for lining up the tumblers, and manuallycontrolled means to limit positively the setting movement of the setting member.

11. In a lock, the combination with a shiftable member to be locked, of a plurality of tumbler elements for locking said member from movement but which when lined up release said member, a single setting member for lining up the tumblers, and a plurali y of depressible stop pins for limiting positively the movement of the setting member. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH SPADAFORA.

Images