US1499554A - Permutation lock - Google Patents

Description

Jimmy n, 19%. 1,499,554

W. C. RQLE PERMUTATION LOCK 0% Filed Feb. 19. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M 1, mm,

2 Shank-Sheet, B

7 Filed Feb. 19. 1923 Patented duly ll, l d.

WILLIAM CHARLES RULE, OF

G-OIDEJTONE, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 CHARLES EID'W'ARD ATLEE, OF LONDON, ENG-LAND.

PERMU'TATION LOCK.

Application filed February 19, 1923. Serial No. 620,032.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, VVILIJAM CHARLES RULE, a subject of the King of England, residing at Godstone, Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to permutation locks of the type wherein a plurality of rotatable indicating members are employed, each carried coir centrically on a toothed wheel mounted free 011 a bolt or spindle having keys which register with key-ways in the wheels so as to ,enable the bolt to be withdrawn. These locks are sometimes provided with means which permit of the disengagement of the toothed wheels from the indicating-memhers so as to allow the said members to be rotated and thereby enable the code of the lock to be changed.

This invention has for its main object to provide an improved construction of lock of the kind referred to which shall be simple in construction and reliable in operation.

According to one feature of this inveir tion there is provided a lock of the type referred to, which is characterized by the toothed wheels having separate spacing bushes between them and the bolt having keys so arranged as to engage ways in the bushes only, when the bolt is in the locking position, but to engage ways in the bushes and the wheels when the bolt is in the un locking position.

Further, according to another feature of this invention, the lock hereinbefore referred to may have each. of the indicating-members separated from its neighbour by a washer non-rotatably secured to the bush, for examble by flat sides on the bush engaging with a correspondingly shaped orifice in the washer.

Again, according to a further feature of this invention, the lock hereinbefore referred to may be provided with a movable member which, in one position prevents the endwise movement of the bush and the wheels and in another position permits of such endwise movement, which member may be the shackle of the lock or a member which is so arranged that it is released by the shackle when the latter is unlocked or has to be displaced to permit of the unlocking of the shackle.

The lock hereinbefore referred to may have the toothed wheels so arranged that when they are moved out from engagement with the indicating-members, they are previously engaged with keys on the bolt and are thereby prevented from rotating.

Again, according to still another feature of this invention, one limb of the shackle may be arranged to extend past the end of the row of bushes and has in it a recess which can be brought opposite the row of bushes when the shackle is unlocked, (for example by turning the shackle through 180) to allow the bushes to be moved endwise for resetting.

The invention is more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 shows a sectional elevation of the lock according to this invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation on the line AA of Figure 1;

Figure 8 illustrates the method employed for locking the washers on to the bushes;

Figure 4: shows a part elevation of the lock with the bolt in the unlocking position;

Figure 5 shows a part elevation of the lock wherein the shackle has been turned through 180 in order to enable the code of the lock to be changed.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lock, and

Figure 7 shows one form of key which maybe used for moving the bushes and toothed wheels in an endwise direction.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the body or frame of the lock which is recessed to receive the two limbs ,2 and 3 of a U- shaped shackle, the shorter limb 2 of which constitutes the releasing side of the shackle. Extending transversely? through the lock and under the shorter limb 2 of the shackle there is a bolt 4 which is provided with a series of keys 5 which are adapted to engage with a series of collinear key-ways to be turned through 180.

body of the lock.

provided in the bushes 6. The bushes G are assembled so as to act as distance pieces for toothed wheels 7 hen the limbs 01 the shackle are in their locked position and the bolt 4 occupies the locking position illustrated in Figure 1 the said toothed wheels are capable of being rotated on the bolt 4 in spaces provided between the keys 5. The toothed wheels 7 normally engage with two teeth 15 cut on the inner surface of the indicating-members 8 and are also provided with key-ways 16 which enable the bolt 4 to be withdrawn from the shackle when the keys 5 and the key-ways 16 are in alignment. The indicating-members 8 are separated from one another by washers 9 which are secured to the bushes 6 in the manner illustrated in Figure 8, the bushes 6 being provided with flat sides with which the flat sides on the orifice of the washer 9 are caused to engage. The indicatingmembers 8 are prevented from moving laterally due to the fact that each extreme member abuts against the body of the lock.

Atthat end of the bolt 4 which is remote from the long limb 3 of the shackle there is provided a longitudinal slot 11 in the bolt 4 which engages with a pin 10 fitted in the body of the lock. The recess in the body 1 o1 the lock which receives the pin 10 forms an extension of the recess which receives the short limb 2 of the shackle.- The pin 10 when the lock is assembled extends through a slot in that outside bush which is remote from the long limb 3 of the shackle into the slot 11 in the bolt 4-, thereby holding both the bushes 6 and the bolt 4 against relative rotational movementbut at the same time permitting the longitudinal movement of the bolt, bushes and wheels.

The long limb 3 of the shackle constitutes a controlling member and is provided with a recess '12 which engages with a pin 13 and is constructed of such a length as to allow, when the bolt is in the position illustrated in Figure 4, the shackle to be withdrawn such a distance as to enable the short limb 2 to be withdrawn from the The recess 12 communicates at its lower end with an annular groove 14 which extends around the long limb'of the shackle such that, when the short limb 2 of the shackle has been with drawn from the lock, the pin 13 engages with the groove 14 and allows the shackle On the lower end of the long limb of the shackle 3 there is provided a hole or slot 17 which, when the short limb 2 is in the position illustrated in Figure 1, lies concentric with the longitudinal axis of the bolt. The hole or slot 17 has substantially the same diameter as the bolt and thereby enables that end of the bolt which is adjacent to the long limb 3 of the shackle to be inserted therein thus locking the shackle. When the bolt l and the shackle are in the position illustrated in Figure 5 there is presented to the end of the bolt a flat surface 18 at the bottom of a recess in the shackle which is in line with the longitudinal axis of the bolt but is of such a depth as to allow the bolt, bushes and wheels to be pressed endwise the distance permitted by the depth of the said recess.

Thus assuming that the code number of the lock is 3126, and the bolt 1 is in the position shown in Figure 1, if the indicating-members are moved so as to bring these four numbers into line with the zero marks on the lock the keys 5 on the bolt 4:, and the key-ways in the bushes 6 and toothed wheels 7 are brought into alignment with one another and allow the bolt 1- to be pulled in a direction away from the longer limb 3 of the shackle into the position illustrated in Figure 41. Under these circumstances the bolt unlocks the shackle and enables the shorter limb 2 to be released from the body of the lock.

Should it be desired when the shackle is in this position to alter the code number of the lock the shackle is turned through 180 so as to present the fiat 18 to the end of the bolt and thus enables both the extreme bush 6 adjacent to the long limb 3 ot the shackle and the bolt 4 to be pushed into the said flat, by means of the key 7, as explained hereinafter. \Vhen this is done all the bushes 6 and the toothed wheels 7 are moved to the left as shown in Figure 5 and the wheels 7 are caused to disengage with the internal teeth 15 on the indicating-members 8. These indicating-niembers may now be moved so as to bring any four desired figures opposite the zero marks of the lock whereupon the bushes are slid back returned to their normal position and thereby bring the toothed wheels 7 into re-engagement with the internal teeth 15 on to the indicating-members 8.

This is effected by swinging the shackle back through 180 thereby causing the edge of the flat 18 to push the bushes into the position shown in Figure 1 and in consequence thereof the wheels 7 are brought into re-engagement with the indicating-members 8. The short end 2 of the shackle is then caused to engage with the body of the lock and the bolt 4: is moved endwise so as to enter into the hole 17, whereupon the indicating-members 8 may be rotated to jumble them and to bring the key-ways 16 in the toothed. wheels 7 out of line with the keys 5 on the bolt 4 and so retain the bolt in the locked position.

That end bush 6 which is remote from the long limb 3 of the shackle is retained in position between the face of the toothed wheel 7 which lies next to it and the pin 10 by means of a circular ring 20 fitted into an annular groove cut in the outer surface of the said bush, so that the ring abuts against the pin 10 when the said bush is in its normal position.

In Figure 7 there is illustrated an operating key which is used for moving the bushes 6 and the toothed wheels 7 in an endwise direction. The said key is in the form of a ring or bush of such internal diameter as to allow it to be placed over the end of the bolt 4- against the face of the end bush 6 for the purpose of thrusting the row of bushes back and in sodoing the operating key presses against the end key on the bolt which is then flush with the end face of the lock and so moves the bolt back with the bushes.

To hold the end bushes friction-tight so that they do not slip endwise when not required to move they are made, in the construction shown in the drawings, of such diameter that they have to be sprung in to the body of the lock.

Spring-pressed balls mounted in the body of the 100; may be used to locate the indicating-members at different indicating po-' sitions, and spring-pressed balls may also be employed to locate the bushes at the two limits of their endwise movement,

It will be appreciated that owing to the described construction and arrangement of parts of the improved lock, the code of the lock can be readily changed without having to dismember the lock.

Obviously, various modifications may be made in detail in a lock according to this invention without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as defined in the claims, and the construction described above is given only by way of example.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a permutation lock, the combination with a spindle having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof, toothed wheels threaded on said spindle and having each a key-way to receive one of said keys, and rotatable indicating-members mounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, of a separate spacing bush threaded on said spindle between each pair of said wheels and having a keyway to receive one of said keys, which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bush and the axial thickness of said wheels that in one axial position of the spindle in relation to the bush and wheels the bush is engaged by a key but the wheels are free to rotate on the spindle, and in another axial position the keys engage ways in the bush and the wheels, substantially as described.

2. In a permutation lock, the combination with a spindle having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof, toothed wheels threaded on said spindle and having each a key-way to receive one of said keys, and rotatable indieating-members mounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, of separate spacing bushes threaded alternately with said wheels on said spindle and having each a key-way to receive one of said keys, which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bushes and the axial thickness of said wheels that in one axial position of the spindle in relation to the bushes and wheels the keys engage key-Ways in the bushes only, and in another axial position thereof the keys engage key-ways in the bushes and in the wheels, and a washer non-rotatably carried by each bush situated between two adjacent wheels, which washer extends between two adjacent indicating 'members, substantially as described.

3. In a permutation lock, the combination with a frame, a spindle carried thereby having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the same, toothed wheels threaded on said spindle and having each a keyway to receive one of said keys and rotatable indicating members mounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, of a separate spacing bush threaded on said spindle between said wheels and having a keyway to receive one of said keys, which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bush and the axial thickness of said wheels, that in one axial position of the spindle in relation to the bush and wheels the bush is engaged by a key but the wheels are free to rotate about the spindle, and in another axial position the keys engage key-ways in the bush and the wheels, and a controlling member movable in said frame into two positions in relation to said wheels and bush, in one of which positions it is arranged to lock said wheels and bush against endwise move ment, and in the other of which it is arranged to permit of such endwise movement, substantially as described.

4. In a permutation lock, the combination with a frame, a spindle carried thereby having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the same, toothed wheels threaded on said spindle and having each a keyway to receive one of said keys, and rotatable indicating-members mounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, of a separate spacing bush threaded on said spindle between each pair of said wheels and having a key-way to receive one of said keys, which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bush and the axial thickness of said wheels, that in one axial position of the spindle in relation to the bush and wheels the bush is engaged by a key but the wheels are free to rotate about the spindle, and in another axial position the keys engage key-ways in the bush and the wheels,

- and a controlling-member rotatable in said threaded on said spindle and having each a keyway to receive one of said keys, and rotatable indicating members mounted concentrically each on one of said toothed Wheels, of a separate spacing bush threaded on said spindle between said wheels and having a key-way to receive one of said keys, which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bush and the axial thickness of said wheels, that in one axial position of the spindl in relation to the bush and wheels the bush is engaged by a key but the wheels are free to rotate about the spindle, and in another axial position the keys engage keyways in the bush and the wheels, and a controlling member rotatable and slidable endwise in said fram into two positions in relation to said wheels and said bush, in one of which positions the controlling member is arranged to lock said wheels and bush in the frame against endwise movement, and in the other of which it is arranged to permit of such endwise movement, substantially as described.

6. In a permutation lock, the combination of a frame, a spindle carried thereby and having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof, toothed wheels and bushes separate from the latter threaded alternately on said spindle and having each a key-way to receive one of said keys, rotatable indicating-members mounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels,

which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bushes and the axial thickness of said Wheels that in one axial position of the spindle in relation to the bushes and wheels the keys engag key-ways in the bushes, and in another axial position thereof the keys engage key-ways in the bushes and in the wheels, and a shackle movable in said frame into two positions, in one of which it is locked against rotational movement and itself locks said wheels and bushes against endwise'movement in the frame, and in the other of which it is rotatable and is arranged to permit of said Wheels and bushes to move endwise in the frame, substantially as described.

T. In a permutation lock, the combination of a spindle having keys spaced apart in th longitudinal direction thereof, toothed wheels threaded on said spindle and having each a key-way to receive one of said keys, rotatable indicating-n'iembers mounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels and arranged to engage the same in an axial direction, a separate spacing bush threaded on said spindle between each pair of said wheels and having a key-way to re ceive one of said keys, which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bush and the axial thickness of said wheels that in one axial position of the spindle in relation to the bush and wheels the bush is engaged by a key but the wheels are free to rotate about the spindle, and in another axial position, in which the wheels are brought out of driving engagement with the said indicating-members, the keys engage key-ways in the bush and in the wheels, which engagement of the wheels with the keys is effected prior to the disengagement of the indicating-niembers from the wheels, substantially as described.

8. In a permutation lock, the combination of a frame, a spindle carried thereby and having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof and having a longitudinal slot, toothed wheels and bushes separate from the latter threaded alternately on said spindle and having each a key-way to receive one of said keys, rotatable indicating members mounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bushes and the axial thickness of said wheels that in one axial position of the spindle in relation to the bushes and wheels the keys engage key-ways in the bushes only, and in another axial position thereof the keys engage key-ways in the bushes and in the wheels, one of which bushes has a longitudinal slot, and a pin extending from the frame through the slotted bush into said slot in said spindle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In a permutation link, the combination with a frame, a spindle carried thereby having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof, toothed wheels threaded on said spindle and having each a key-way to receiveone of said keys, and rotatable indicating-members mounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, of a separate spacing bush threaded on said spindle between each pair of said wheels and having a key-way to receive one of said keys, which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of said bush and the axial thickness of said wheels that in one axial position ot" the spindle in relation to the bush and wheels the bush is engaged by a key,. but the wheels are free to rotate about the spin dle, and in another axial position the keys engage ways in the bush and in the wheels, and a controlling member having two recesses movable in said frame into two positions in relation to said spindle, in one of which positions one end of the spindle can enter into one of the recesses and the controlling member locks said wheels and bush against endwise movement, and in the other position the said end of the spindle enters into the other of said recesses and the controlling member permits endwise movement to said wheels and bush in the frame, substantially as described.

10. In a permutation lock, the combination of a frame, a bolt carried thereby and having keys spaced apart in the longitudi nal direction thereof, toothed wheels and bushes separate from the latter threaded alternately on said bolt and having each a key-way to receive one of said keys, rotatable indicating-members mounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, which keys are of such a length and are spaced apart in. relation to the axial length of said bushes and the axial thickness of said wheels that in one axial position of the bolt in relation to the bushes and Wheels the keys engage key-ways in the bushes, and in another axial position thereof the keys eugage key-ways in the bushes and in the wheels, and a controlling member movable in said frame into two positions in. relation to said,bolt, in one of which positions the controlling member locks said wheels and bushes in their normal position against end- Wise movement in the frame, and in the sec 0nd of which positions the controlling memher is arranged to permit said wheels and bushes to move from their normal position into a re-setting position. which controlling member is so shaped and arranged in relation to said bushes that the latter are automatically returned to their normal position when the controlling member is moved from its said second position to its other position, substantially as described.

11. In a permutation lock, the combination of a frame, a spindle carried thereby and having keys spaced apart in the longitudinal direction thereof and having a longitudinal slot, toothed wheels and bushes separate from the latter threaded alternately on said spindle and having each a key-Way to receive one of said keys, rotatable indicating members mounted concentrically each on one of said toothed wheels, which keys are of such a length and are so spaced apart in relation to the axial length of said. bushes and the axial thickness of said wheels that in one axial position of the spindle in relation to the bushes and wheels the keys engage key-ways in the bushes and in another axial position thereof the keys engage keyqvays in the bushes and in the wheels, one of which bushes has a longitudina slot, a pin extending from the frame through the slotted bush into said slot in said spindle, said slotted bush having a groove extending round its slotted portion, and a ring in said groove extending across the slot in the bush tor co-acting with said pin and thereby limiting the endwise movement ot the slotted bush in one direction, substantially as described.

12. In a permutation lock, the combination with a body portion having two cavities at right-angles to one another, a bolt that is movable endwise in one of said cavities and has keys spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the bolt, permutation mechanism comprising toothed wheels alternating *ith bushes slidable endwise on said bolt, and a member that extends into and is movable in the other of said cavities, which member has two recesses each for receiving one end of said bolt in two different positions of the member, substantially as described.

18. In a permutationlock, the combination with a body portion having two cavities at right-angles to one another, a bolt having keys spaced apart in its longitudinal direction movable endwise in one of said cavities, permutation mechanism comprising toothed wheels alternating with bushes slidable endwise on said bolt, and a shackle having a limb that extends into and is rotatable in the other of said cavities, which limb has tvro recesses spaced. angularly apart each for receiving one end of said bolt in two different positions of the shackle.

let. in a permutation lock, the combination with a body portion having two cavities at right-angles to one another, a bolt, having keys spaced apart in its longitudinal direction, movable endwise in one of said cavities, permutation mechanism comprising toothed wheels alternating with bushes slidable endwise on said bolt, and a shackle having a limb that extends slidably axially into and is rotatable in the other of said cavities, which limb has two recesses each for receiving one end of said bolt in two different positions of the shackle, which recesses are spaced apart angular-1y and in the axial direction of the limb, substantially as described.

15. In a permutation lock, the combination with a body portion having two cavities at rightangles to one another, a bolt that extends into and is movable endwise in one of said cavities and has keys spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the bolt, permutation mechanism comprising toothed Wheels alternating with bushes slidable endwise in said body portion on said bolt, and a member that extends into and ceiving one end of said bolt in tWo different positions of the member, one end face of an .end bush being accessible through a hole in the body portion and adapted to be shifted endwise on the bolt by a key in the form of a ring threaded on the outer end of the bolt, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I :illix my signai ure.

VVILLIAH CHARLES RULE.

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