US1495608A - Automobile lock - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1924.

C. H. NEIMYER ET AL AUTOMOBILE LOCK Filed July 26. 1923 2 gm INVENTORSI- BY WW4, 93%

A TTORNEY.

Patented May 27, 1924.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE H. NEIMYEB AND VAUGHN S. GETTS, OF ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

Application filed July 26,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, CLARENCE H. NEI- MYER and VAUGHN S. Gnrrs, citizens of the United States of America, residing both at' St. Petersburg, county of Pinellas, State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention'relates to improvements in combination locks. More particularly it relates to a lock for use in connection with motor vehicles for the purpose of opening or closing the electric circuit which con trols the ignition of the vaporous change.

An object of the invention is to provide a combination lock which will prevent an unauthorized person from starting the car.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide an electric make and break device which cannot be operated unless the combination is set or arranged at a definite position which position is known only to the author ized person.

Broadly my invention comprises a series of discs which are designed to be rotated or operated by the knob of the lock and when the discs are located in a definite position the switch may then be operated to either open or close the electric circuit which may be either the ignition or primary circuit.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of the present specification.

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view'ot the graduated or dial end of the 100;.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2'2 of Fig. 1 showing the interior construction and with the retaining roller in one position. i

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2 showing the retaining roller and the spring for actuating the same.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the spring actuated slidable roller retaining device.

Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 1 substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but.

taken on a plane that is at right angles to that shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 7,8 and 9 are detail views of the discs which make up the combination of the lock.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the graduated fixed member of the lock.

Fig. 11 is an end view of the same and Figs. 12 and 13 are detail views of the 1923. Serial No. 653,881.

contact elements which are operated by the knob.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

1 designates the enclosing casing to which thefixed index dial 2 is attached by the screws 3. 1 is a cup-shaped casing which is releasably connected to the casing 1 by means of the threaded bolts 5. The casings 1 and 4; have their meeting inner ends covered with the flange 6 which is soldered or brazed to thecasing 4:. 7 is a threaded stud for attaching the whole to a suitable support of the motor vehicle. 8 designates aknob or operating handle, which is provided with an inwardly extending tubular member 9 that is formed with a thread 10 on its inner end to receive the disk retaining nut 11. The tubular member 9 is keyed to the rotatable graduated dial 12, which when it is turned by the knob 8 registers with the zero line 18 on the fixed index dial 2 (see Fig. 1). Attached to the knob 8 is the shaft 14 by means of the threads 15. This shaft is formed with a spline 14: to receive the stud, or pin 16, on the inside of tubular member 9 whereby when the knob is rotated the shaft 14 will turn the tubular member 9 and this, in turn, will rotate the graduated dial 12 into the desired position.

Located on the tubular member 9 is a i sleeve 17 which is formed with a flange 18, by means-of which this sleeve is attached to the end 1 of the casing 1 by means of the screws 19. This sleeve is therefore, retained in a fixed position. This sleeve is provided with the two threaded shouldered portions 20 and '21, while 22 and 23 designates unthreaded portions of the sleeve 17. 24 designates an unthreaded shouldered portion of the tubular member 9. Rotat-ably and loosely mounted on the two unthreaded portions 22 and 23 are the discs 25 and 26. They are spaced from each other by means of the internally threaded washer-like parts 27 and 28, which are threaded onto the threads 20 and 21. The disc 29 is formed with teeth 30 which are designed to receive the spur 31 on the tubular member 9. By means of these teeth and the spur, it will be seen that the disc 29 may be attached to the rotatable tubular member in any one of the different angular positions represented by the number of recesses between the teeth 30. The combination can therefore be readily changed as desired;

onto the sleeve; then the disk 29 is placed on the sleeve 17 in any desired position by having the spur 31 enter any one of the re- L cesses between the teeth 30. Thenut .11 is nowthreaded onto the sleeve. This completes the assembly of the combination part 7 of the lock.

In order to cause the grooves 32, 35 and 37 in the discs, 25, 26 and 29 to register they are turned by means of the knob 8. The projections '36, 33, 34 and 31" permitting one disc to drive the other in the well known manner of combination locks; a certain number of degreesor spaces. As indicated by'the graduated dial 12 with reference to thezero'line 13, first, in one direction of rotation, and then in the other. As for example; to the right spaces; then to the left spaces and then to the right 36 spaces when all of the three grooves 32, and 37 are in alignment. The grooves are designed to receive the part 38 of the right angular shaped piece 39 shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This piece is slidably mounted in the channels or grooves 40 and 41 which are attached to the casing 4. The channel 40, it'will be observed, is longer than the channel 41. In the channel 40 is located the arm 38'. In the channel 41 is located the end 42 of the piece 39, see Fig. 5. Thispiece is retained in place by means of the two small blocks 43 and 44 which are provided with openings to receive cotter pins 45 and 46 which pass through openings in the side pieces of the channels 40 and41, see Fig. 3. The piece 39 is formed with an opening 47. In this opening is located a roller 48 by means of the pin 49. Also extending through this opening is the inner end of the shaft 14. This shaft is formed with a shoulder 14 against which rests the block 50 which is formed with an opening 51 therethrough to I receive the shaft 14. This blocli is com posed of a piece of metal 52 whichis formed with a sleeve part 53. 54 is a piece of insulation having a collar portion 55 which receives the metal contact piece 56. The piece 56 is therefore insulated from the shaft 14. The piece of metal 52 is formed with two recesses 52 and 52 .to receive the roller 48 for retaining the shaft 14 in two dififerent positions for opening or closing the circuit which will be ex laned.

For retaining the rol er seated in either one of these recesses andyet permit it to pass.

7 to the casing 1 by means of the cotter pin 45,

see Figs. 3 and 5.

When the three grooves in alignment as shown in Fig. 2 the part 38' can then be moved laterally or diametrically of the casing when" the roller 48 passes from 7 one recess to another over the projection 52 to open or close the electriccircuit as indi cated by the dotted line 'position 8 of the knob.

Referring now to the electrical connec- 32, 35, and 37 are tions, 58 and 59 designate two vbrushes which are attached to the casing 1 by means of the brackets 60 and 61 which are riveted thereto at 62. The bracketslare insulated from the casing and from the terminal blocks 63 by the strips of fiber or other material 64. The wire terminals 65are connected to the blocks 63 by the set screws 66, screws '67 serve to bind the brushes 58and 59, the brackets. 60 and 61; the strips of insulation 64 firmly together.

The two nuts 68 and 69 on the threaded end of the shaft 14 serve to retain the pieces 52, 54 and 56 thereon.

The brushes 58 and 59 see Fig. 6, are in contactwith the piece of insulation 54, or in other words the circuit between the terminals 65 is open. When the combination knob 8 is turned to fit the combination to align the grooves 32, 35, and 37 of the discs, see Fig. 2, then the knob 8 can be drawn outward into the dotted line position 8 to bring the metal piece 56 into contact with the two brushes 58 and 59, thus closing the circuit as readily understood. It is also clear that the shaft 14 which carries therecessed block 52 cannot be reciprocated to permit the roller 48 to pass over the projection 52 unless the grooves 32,35, and 37 are in alignment to permit the part 38 to enter them all. In 7 any other position the device is locked.

It will be observed that the tubular memher 9 is keyed to the graduated dial 12 at 12.

grooves, electric terminal brushes attached tothe casing, a contact part on the shaft for closing the circuit from one brush to the other, and spring controlled means for en terlng the aligned groovesto permit the shaft tov be moved in an axial direction as bring the contact part the bru h said means includinga movable member,;a

cesses and a projection between'the recesses, a partonthe movable member forengaging the projection to causethe block tomove-the movable member andthe part; which engages the projection to drop into one of the recesses for retaining the shaft in its axially adjusted position, contact brushes and a part on the shaft engaging the brushes when the shaft is axially moved.

3. In a combination lock switch device, a casing, channel members thereon, a member having its ends located in the channel members, and of a length to permit it to move laterally of the channels, an axially movable shaft, means thereon for engaging the memher for moving it laterally in the channels when the shaft is moved axially, a plurality of rotatable discs each having a groove in its edge, means for aligning the grooves when the shaft is rotated to permit a part of the member to enter the aligned grooves, whereby the same can move laterally, electric terminals and a contact block on the shaft for engaging the terminals.

4. In a combination lock switch device, a casing, channel members therein, a member having its ends located in the channel members, and of a length to permit it to move laterally of the channels, an axially movable shaft, means thereon for engaging the member for moving it laterally in the channels when the shaft is moved axially, a plurality of rotatable discs each having a groove in its edge, means for aligning the grooves when the shaft is rotated to permit a part of the member to enter the aligned grooves, whereby the same can move laterally, electric terminals and a contact block on the shaft for engaging the terminals, and a spring device for retaining the laterally movable member normally drawn towards the shaft.

5. In a combination lock switch device, a casing, channel members thereon, a member having its ends located in the channel members, and of a length to permit it to move laterally of the channels, an axially movable shaft, means thereon for engaging the member'for moving it laterally in the channels when the shaft is moved axially, a plurality of rotatable discs each having a groove in its edge, means for aligning the grooves when the shaft is rotated to permit a part of the member to enter the aligned rooves, whereby the same can move lateral y, electric terminals and a contact block on the shaft for, engagingthe terminals, one of the discsihaving means thereon to permit it to be removablyv'a'ttached to the shaft in dif- .ferent angular positions for varying the .COInblIlfltlOILOf. the lock as described.

' 6.;In a combination lock and electric switch, a splinedshafha tubular member, a-pr o ect1on on the member entering the spline for turning the same, a sleeve having a: fixed position relative to the tubularmemberzandhaving a plurality of shouldered portions, "discs rotatable on the portions, spacing means for the discs, another disc "having means thereon forattachment to the tubular member in different angular positions, each disc having a groove in its edge the latter disc serving to operate the rotatable discs on the sleeve for aligning the grooves, a member for entering the grooves when aligned to permit the shaft to move axially, and cooperating parts on the shaft and member to move the member into the grooves when aligned but are inoperative when the grooves are not aligned.

7. In a combination lock and electric switch, an enclosing casing, electric terminals on the casing, contact members on the shaft, a splined shaft, a tubular member, a projection on the member entering the spline for turning the same, a. sleeve having a fixed position relative to the tubular member and having a plurality of shouldered portions, discs rotatable on the portions, spacing means for the discs, another disc having means thereon for attachment to the tubular member in different angular positions, each disc having a groove in its edge, the latter disc serving to operate the rotatable discs on the sleeve for aligning the grooves, a member for entering the grooves when aligned to permit the shaft to move axially and open or close the electric circuit, and cooperating parts on the shaft and member to move the member into the grooves when aligned but are inoperative when the grooves are not aligned, said partsincluding a roller on the member and r cessed portions on the shaft with a pro jection between the portion for engaging the roller to move the member into the grooves, and means for retaining the shaft in its adjusted position.

8. An electric combination lock comprising an enclosing casing, a rotatable and slidable shaft in said casing, electric terminals attached to the casing, a block on the shaft having a conducting and an insulating part for engaging the terminals for closing or opening the circuit, means for permitting the shaft to be moved axially for closing or opening the circuit, said means including a plurality of grooved discs, an angular shaped member having a part for entering the grooves when aligned by rotating the shaft, and another part engaging the block shaft having a conducting1 for moving the member into- .the grooves whereby the shaft may be moved axially for closing or opening the circuit.

9.' An electric combination lock comprising an enclosing casing, a rotatable and slidable shaft in said casing, electric terminals attached to the casing, a block'on the and an insulating part for engaging t e terminals-for closing or opening the circuit, means for permitting the shaft to be moved axially for closing or opening the circuit, said means including a plurality of grooved discs, an angular shaped member having a open position.

gaging the block for moving the member it into thegrooves whereby the shaft may be moved axially for closing or opening the circuit, the block having recesses and an elevatlon between the, same, and the member having a roller which engages the elevation for moving thepart of the member into the grooves and for seating in the recesses toretain the switch 'n its adjusted closed or CLARENCE H. NEIMYER.

VAUGHN s. GETTS.

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