US1515680A - Coding and decoding machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov.1s,1924. A 1,515,680

` A. HENKELs CODING AND DECODING MACHINE Original Filed July 19, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 `In Ven for: V

AMM

Nav; 18,1924.'

A. HENKl-:Ls

CODING AND DECODING MACHINE t sh t s original Filed Julyle, 1921 4 snee s "e Nov. 18, 1924 A. HENKELs comme AND DEcoDmG MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Fi'led' July 19, 1921 Patented Nov. 18, 1924.v

unirsi) STATE-s .PATENT GFFICE.

ALBERT HENKELS, OF LANGERFELD, NEAR BARMEN, GERMANY.

c :onmannn DncoDINe MACHINE. i AOriginal appllication filed/July .19, 1921, Serial No. 485,989. Divided and this application nled July 18,

To all' whom t may concermf Be it known that I, ALBERT' HENKELS, a. citizen of Germany, residing at Langerfeld,

. have filed applications in Germany October 30, 191.7, and September 26, 1919), of which the following is a specification.

VThis invention has reference to improvements in coding and decoding machines, and

it is particularly intended to provide a practically inlinite'number of possible combinations in secret `language with but one key Word, and to reproduce entire words and sentences in a very easy and easily readable 'mannen the characters constituting the secret message being obtained in continuous rows, after the key word has been set, and being decoded and reconverted into open language in the-same eas and simple manner. Among other additional objects my invention which is a division of my cepending application for U'. S. patent Serial No. 485,989 filed July 19, 1921, provides improved means o causing the engagement and disengagement of the several members of the operating means and, of the carriers for the characters constituting the message o r the key word, and of locking them in position, means being also provided to guard against ,the unauthorized decoding of the message.' I also provide improved means of setting the several character bearing discs and it is also an object of my invention to soconstruct and arrange the engaging and disengaging and operating means t be operated by crank movement or similar means and with their operating parts confined within the interior of the machine casing. A further object of m invention is to provide means to still furt er increase the security and number of combinations to be obtained by so arranging and constructing thefcharacter bearing and operating members that each of the character bearing mem# bers which are arranged in coaxial series may be turned through different angles and I also provide means to guard against mistakes in the transcribin of the messageby preventing any uninten ed actuation of the character discs and of the gear wheels `or other instrumentalities operably connected thereto. Further objects and advantages several type discs, one

at they may l4, A5, 6 and 24 an' 4one .The

1922. Serial No. 575,884.

of my invention will appear from the draw# ings and as the specification proceeds.

For the better understanding of my inf vention I have illustrated the same on the accompanying' drawings as embodied in a coding and decoding or ciphering machine lhaving several series of coaxially arranged 'carriers for the type characters, but without restricting the invention to this particular form' and arrangement.

. In the drawings an arrangement preferably adapted for practical use is shown in Figures land 2 in longitudinal section,

Fig.` l showing the gear wheels inmesh with each other, whereas- Fig. v2 represents the same gear wheels disengaged. Fig. 3 is a plan view, V

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4: of Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is a similan'section on the line 5-5 of 'Figure' 1. Figs. 6 and 7 disclose the cutting-in and -out devices' respectively, of the gear mechanism in two different positions, whereas-.--

- Figs. 8 to 11 show the gear mechanism 'of' sideelevation and top view, in two dilerent angular positions of the wheels, respectively. Figs. 12 and 13 are alongitudinal section through part of the machine, as also a plan view from above, respectively, .with the operating mechanism diseng behind the other, lin l Fi'g.^14 represents the progressive connecion (or. adjustment, of the type carriers or lscs.

. In the drawing, A1 indicates the casing of themachine, in which the shaft 2 and live spindles 3, 4, 5,4` 6 and 24:l are arra in parallel relationship, one'behind the other. The shaft 2 serves as thedriving shaft; at its one end protruding from the" casing through the slot 60, it carriesthe handcrank 7 ,L whereas on each of the spindles 3,

equal number of type carriers or discs 8 have been arra ed in such a mapner as to turn loosely on t e spindles, but immovable laterally. Each disc is rigidly connected to two'gear wheels 25, 26 one of whichv (25) is provided with a full toothed spur-rim whereas the other one, 26, has an interrupted toothed spur rim, i. e. provided with irregular groups of teeth.

full and the interrupted gear wheels ixed'to the discs 8 placed one behind the other, are alternately arranged relatively toeach other' on their respective'axles or splndles, so that for instance, on .spindle` 3 the full spur gears'25 are' placed to the right, and the interrupted .gear wheels 26 to the left of the discs 8. On the spindle 4, however, the interrupted gear wheels are placed to the right and the full gear Wheels to the left of the discs 8, and so on. i In this way, one full gear wheel will always be oppositel an interrupted one.- Thegear wheels are not in direct mesh with each other but are coupled by means of pinions or ratchet wheels 32 mounted rotatably on the intermediate spindles 27, 28, 29, 30,31 but in such terrupted gear wheels on spindle 4, however, to the full gear -wheels on spindle 5,.

and so on. Gear wheels 33 mounted on the driving shaft 2 mesh with the full gear wheels on the spindle 3. When the crank shaft 2 is turned, the gear wheels 33 drivev the full gear wheels 25 of the discs 8 on the spindle 3 which, in turn, by means of their interrupted gear wheels 26, drive the full gear wheels of the discs 8 on the spindle/l, and so on. In this manner, not only each of the discs 8 placed on a common spindle side by side is turned through a different angle,

but also all discs arranged one behind the other, will be subject to a different angular motion. As only the discs on the slpindles 4, 5,'6 and 24 serve for transcribing e message, while thel discs on spindle 3 are'used in f setting the pass-word, i. e. to change the initial 'position of the interrupted gear wheels of these discs, the latter discs may also be turned in common through the same angular distance. Therefore, there is no absolute necessity of providing the gear wheel 33 with interruptions in order to produce the initial setting of the train of gearing, but the wheel 33 may be fitted with full spur rims as represented in Figs. 1 and 2, but it is obvious that my invention will also include those instrumentalities in which a mutilated or interrupted gear as a driving means is mounted on the axle 2.

During the turning of the discs with the object of transcribing the sequence of letters or signs set on the machine, into secret cypher or vice versa, 'the pinions 32 are to serve at the same time for vlocking the driven full gear wheels 25 and therewith also the discs 8 in their respective positions,

Y whenever the pinions 32 by virtue of the interruptions in the toothed rims of the driving gear wheels 26 are out of mesh with the 1,515,eso

latter, i. e. when the drivin gear" wheels.are-v runnlng `idle. To this e ect A'one lhalf of the face of the .pinions 32 is provided/.g with a full number of teeth, Whereas 0n the other half of the face, each second toothhas been removed.. (Figs. 8-l1) This means that these pinions are provided, so to say, with.'

tworows of 'teeth corresponding with one another as regards'the position of the teeth,

one of whichpossesses only half vas many teeth -as the other. At the places where the toothed .rims of the driving gear wheels 26l are interrupted, segments 34 have been provided, connecting the .groups of teeth, and vforming a continuation of the addendum circle. Thesev segments extend over the part of the face of the tooth opposite that ialf of the pinion v32 which possesses only half the number of teeth; As long. as one groupof teeth of the driving wheels is in voperation (Figs.'8 and 9) both toothed rims .its respective discs, while the driving wheel is running idle, whereby mistakes in the transcriptlon of a sequence of letters or signs due to an unintentional movement of one of the discs, are effectively. vguarded against. Moreover,l the locking ofthe pinions assures at all timesl the correct -re-engagement of the gear teeth of the interrupted wheels, both during the forward movement of the latter as also during the reverse rotation.

The disengagement of the members of the train of gear wheel mechanism may be effected by any suitable means, preferably by changing the position of these members relatively to each other. AS one form of embodiment of this part of my invention I have here shown this disengagement and engagement to be effected transversely with relation to the spindles 3, 4, 5, 6, 24-in a novel manner allowing the various series of gears and type to be moved consecutively. and independently of each other. -To this effect the spindles 3, 4, 5, 6, 24 are each supported, not in the walls-'of the. casing, but in carriages comprising pairs of laterlally disposed cheeks 36 which are guided in While iw v each one of the spindles 3, 4, 5, 6, l24 is attached to one pair of cheeks, together with the. spindles 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 loca-ted behind the former. Except for the cheeks carrying the spindles 5 and 29 which are held in a. fixed position on the walls of the casing each pair of cheeks is connected rigidly together by means of the spindles, as also by a number of transverse tie- rods 54, 55, 58, 58, thus forming a sliding frame or carriage which may be moved in longitudinal direction of the casing in such a way 'as to allo-w the sets of gears to be brought out of engagement by shifting the pairs of cheeks in opposite directions. This shifting ofthe pairs of cheeks is effected by the aid of two slide rods 37, guided in grooves or slotsin one of the longitudinal walls ofthe casing (Figs. 4,5, 6 and 7). The innermost ends of these slide rods carry rollers 38 which engage in radial slots of a crank or eccentric disc 40 supported a-long the wall of the casing. This disc A40-may be turned 1 by means 'of a hand crank 4l. connected thereto. The slide rods are provided with holes 42 and with longitudinal slots 43 which engage with studs44 (Fig. 12) pro` vided on the sliding cheeks. The studs of the cheeks carryingv the spidles4 and 6 engage the slots43; the studs of the cheeks carrying lthe spindles 3 and 24, however, engage the holes 42. It the disc 40 is turned in couuter-cloclnvisev direction (F ig. 7), the two pairs of cheekscontaiuing the spindles 3-27 and 24-31 are carried along first,

and after the latter have moved through a certain dist-ance, the pairs of cheeks Jcon ltaining the spindles 4-28 and 6-30 arc carried along, i. e. the pairs of spindles 1oeated in front and behind the fixed spindles 5-29 are moved away-from this latter pair of spindles as also from each other in opposite directions. In this manner all pinions 32 have been brought out of engagement with the full gear wheels `25 placed behind,

thus uncoupling the discs 8 located one behind the other. (Fig. 6.) The coupling-up of the system of gears is 4effected byrotation ofthe disc 40 in the opposite direction, whereby the spindles are moved in the opposite manner to what had been done before, until all gear wheels are again in mesh. The driving shaft 2 may likewise be supported i'n a carria e or a pair of cheeks which may slide in I vinside the casing 1. However, it may also be supported in the pair of cheeks carrying the spindles 3 and 27, as represented on the drawing, the unclutching ofIi'ts gear wheels `from the gears 25 of the spindles 3 beingin this case effected by a movement of the driv-` lng shaft 2 in axial direction.

For preventing an unintentional turning ofthe type discs 'whilst the gear wheels are unelutched, the discs 8 arelocked by means ongitudinal direct-ion of springs 45, pressing against them from below. (Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 12.)` The springs 45 are preferably fastened to shafts46V resting in the respective pair of cheeks 36 and carrying each one control lever 47, one end of which isaeted upon by a push-rod 48, C

the other end being attached to the casing 1. The arrangement of the push rods 48 in this case isI such that during the movement of the pairs of cheeks with theobject of uncoupling -the system of gears, the springs 45 are pressed agail'ist thetypediscs Sby turning the shafts 46 (Figs. 4and 5). During the opposite movement of the cheeks with the object of re-engaging the system of gears, however, these springs are moved away from the discs 8, i. e. put out of action/ L i The windows 22 are provided in the rails 49 connecting the pairs of cheeks 3G on top',

these rails taking partin the movement of the spindles. Owing tothe arrangement of I the-intermediate gear wheels 32 1t is possible to makethe type-discs Sas large as; l

or even l: rge'r than thegear wheels 25, 264 in order that the types maybe placed closev below the windows, 'so that' the type or letter which happens to be on top directly below the window. For closing the spaces remaining between the` rails 49 covering strips 5() extending over the edges 'ofthe rails 49, havebeen provided which are fastened to the walls of the Acasing 1 in such a way as not to. impede the movement of the rails 49 during the connection and disengagement of the system of gears.

For rotating anyindividual type disc 8 of these keys may be guided in vertical holes provided in flat ears or bars 51, connecting Vthe cheeks 36, 36 of each pair of cheeks,

whereas they are guided on top, on the spindles 27, 28, 29, 30, 31` by means of 1ongitudinal slots 52. In order to` permit of turning the type discs 8.bae kward as well as forward, the keys 17 may 'beprevided with two pawls 19 and 19E*` arranged in opposite directions-relatively to one another, one of which (19) engages the full gear wheels 25 from the top, the other one from below. The. keys 17 may be pressed down or raised by means of thebuttons 18. As a rule they are kept midway between the top and bottom positionby'means of a twolegged spring 53 attached to a rod 54 consprings 57, 5 7a are to belocked in the intermediate position of the key 17 by means of transverse rods 58, 58a so that in this Avposition they cannot engage the teeth of the gears 25. If,however, the key is raised, pawl 19 will be kept 4out of engagement with theteeth 'of gear 25 by the rod 58,v

W-hile pawl 19T-Will slide over thev rod 58v into engagement with the teeth of gear 25, which .will be moved clockwise by an amount limited by theslot 52 engaging the rod 27, the slot Ibeing of such a'length as tov allow the pawl to move the Wheel by one space of'the row of type around the circumference of the`Wheel. If, now, the keyl'? be depressed, the pawl 19 will slide under the rod 58 into engagement with gear Wheel manner already described, the discs 8 on the.

spindle 3 arev first adjusted for the password selected, whereupon on the spindles 4,5, 6,l 24 the plain-language message tobe transcribed, is set. After the system of gears has been brought back into mutual engagement, the crank 7 is given a pr'e-ar- Y ranged number of turns, thuseffecting the conversion of the plain language message' into secret code. The deciphering or decoding by the receiver of the message is effected by means of asimilar machine, the operatorA ,first disengaging the system of `gear wheels in the same manner as the sender of the message, then setting his wheel 3 to the pref.

arranged key-.Word 'and turning the other type discs y8 so as to obtainv the code'mess'age received by him. He then operates the crank 7 a prearranged number of times in the reverse direction-whereupon the message in open language will appear on the disc corresponding to the spindles 4, 5, 6,l 24. As

the crank shaft-,2 carries full gear wheels,- a

distinct initial position of the crank shaft 1s not required; lonly the number of turns of the crank and the pass-Word need previouslybe arranged for. The greatest possible ydegree of security against unauthorized'deciphering of the message is obtained in this machine, inasmuch as by the adjustment of another pass-word on theY discs 8 of the spindle 3 the initial position of the driving gear Wheels'26 on this spindle mayl be changed in any desired manner, whereby, in vcombination with the selectie;` ofv a different number of turns of the crank, an infinite number of variations is rendered possible. The arrangement'of the types or let ter signs may be the'same on all the dlscs, inasmuch as the discs located one behind the other on the same shaft may also be turned each through a different angle.

It is obvious that this' invention is not confined to the arrangements illustrated by Way' of example. There are many other vcombinations possiblev in which this invention may be4 carried into eii'ect Without de-v parting from the spirit of my invention. More especially, the machine may be provided-With a printing device in order to permit of printing the message directly in plain language, may be desired.

wish it to be understood that I .am not restricted to the particular arrangement of the spindles 2 and 3 with their respective gears as starting members but mayv arrange these and equivalent motion imparting means in other sections andportions of the machine and connect them with any ot' the type-carriers and motion imparting members and I may provide other modifications and change in accordance with the exigencies as also in `cipher-code, as

of the particular manner ot' utilization ot the invention and to suit the `convenience of the user.

I claim: .1.In a coding and decoding machine in combination, a plurality oft' supporting axles,

.series of coaxially spaced' type carriers,

loosely and rotatably mounted on said axles,

vdriving means on both sideseof said type carriers and adapted for operably connecting the adjacent series of carriers, means on the driving means of one side of alternating series of type carriers for intermittently interrupting the rotation of some of the carriers, and means of displacing the individual,series relatively to each other.

2. In a coding and decoding machine in combination, a plurality of supporting axles, substantially para-llelly spaced from each other, series of coaxially spaced type carrying discs, loosely and rotatably mounted on said axles, driving means on both sides of said discs, and connected thereto, intermediate driving means between the adjacent series of discs, and in operative engagement with the irstmentioned driving means, and motion interrupting portions on the driving means of one side of alternating series ot' type discs, and on the intermediate driving members, and means of displacing the indi-` vidual series of discs relatively to each other.

3. In a coding and decoding machine in combination, a plurality of supporting axles, series of coaxially spaced type carriers, loosely and rotatably mounted on said axles, driving means on both sides of said carriers, and connected thereto, and adapted for operably connecting the adjacent series of type carriers, means on the driving means of one titl side ot alternating series of type carriers for intermittently iliterrupting the rotation ot' some ol said carriers, sliding frames'for individually mounting' ysaid series of carriers, and ram motion actua-ted hars operably connected to said frames.

4. In acoding and decoding machine in combination, a plurality of supporting axles, series of r coaxially spaced typel carrying discs, loosely and rotatably mounted on said axles, driving means on both sides of said discs, and operably connected thereto, and adapted for operably connecting the adjacent series of type discs, means on the driving means of one side ot alternating series of type discs for intermittently interru pting the` rotation of some'ot the discs, oppositely displace-able push rod-s, sliding carriages for individually mounting said series ot' discs, and connected to said puth rods, and spring actua'ted'setting means operably engageable with the individual type carrying discs. 4

5. In a codingand decoding machine in combination, a plurality of supporting axles, series of co-axially spaced type carriers loosely and rotatably mounted on said axles,- driving; means on both sides of said carriers, and operably connected thereto and adapted for operably connecting the adjacent series ,of carriers. means on the driving means of one sideof alternating series of `type carriers for intermittently interrupting the rotation of some of the carriers, oppositely displaceable push rods, and means of mount-4 ing the series of carriers on said push rods, setting means adapted for operative cnugagement with said carriers', and spring-` actuated displaceahle lockingand controlling levers engageable with said carrier driving means. A

G. In a coding and decoding' machine in combination, a plurality hf supporting axles, substantially parallelly spaced, series ol coaxially 'spaced type* carriers rotatably mounted on said axles, drivingr means on both sides of `said carriers, and connected thereto, intermediate driving,` means between the adjacentseries of carriers and in operative engagement with the {irst n'ientioned driving means, and motion interrupting portions on the driving means offene side of alternating series of type carriers, and on the intermediate driving means, oppositely displaceable push rods, substantially lcam actuatingoperating means 'for' said push.

rods, sliding frames for individually mounting said series of' carriers, and connected to lsaid ush rods. sirin1V actuated settin(r 1 f3 means operably engageable with the indi"- rldual type carriers. and spring actuated locking and controlling levers, operatively `connected to said 'frames and engageable with said type carriers and adapted to lockV said type carriers in their relative positions.'

rim ot teeth on its circumference, normal wheels on one spindle facing interrupted wheels on the adjacent spindle, a pinion intermediate adjacent pairs of gear Wheels, a. double rim of teeth on said pinion, one being normal, the other one lacking every second tooth, plain segments of haltl breadth filling the gaps of the interrupted gear wheel rims and means for throwing the gear Wheels on saidv spindles in andv out of gear, respectively, with one another'and with said drivingl shaft wheels.'

8. ln a device of the kind described in combination, a drivingI shaft, a plurality of type carrier spindles, type carriers loosely disposed on said spindles in line with one another, twogear wheels, one on each side. fixed to each type carrier, one of the gear wheels of each pair having an interrupted rim of teeth on its circumference, normal wheels on one spindle facing interrupted wheels on the adjacent spindle', a pinion intermediate adjacent pairs of gear wheels, a double rim of teeth on said pinion, one lieing normal, the other one lacking every second tooth, plain segments of halt' breadth filling the gaps of the interrupted gear wheel rims and slides displaceable transversely to and forming bearings `for said spindles.

9. In a device of the kind described in combination, a driving shaft, a'plurality of type carrier spindles, type carriers loosely disposed on said spindles in line with one another, two gear wheels, one on each' side, fixed to each type carrier, one of the gear wheels of each pair having an interrupted rim of teeth on its circumference, normal wheels -on one, spindle facing interrupted wheels on the adjacent spindle, a pinion intermediate adjacent pairs of gearwheels. a double rim of teeth on Isaid pinion, one heim: normal, the other one lacking every second tooth, plain segments of half breadth filling the gaps of the interrupted gear wheel rims, slides displaceable transversely to and forming hearings for said spindles and a crank disc operativelyconnectedwith said slides.

10. In a device of the kind described in combination, a driving shaft, av plurality of type carrier spindles, type carriers loosely disposed on said spindles in linewitli one another, tvvo'gear- Wheels, one on cach side, fixed to each type carrier, one of the gear wheels of each pair having' an interruptet rim ofv teeth on its circumference, normal. wheels onone spindle facing interrupted wheels on the adjacent spindle, a pinion intermediateadjacent pairs of gear wheels, a

lOt

1,515,6eo y,

disc and connecting rods connecting said crank disc with said slides.

' ll. ln a device of the kind described in combination, a driving shaft, a plurality of type carrier spindles, type carriers loosely disposed on said spindles in line with one another, two gear Wheels, one on each side.

lixed to each type carrier, one of the gear wheels of each pair having an interrupted rirn of teeth on its circumference, normal wheels on one spindle^facing interrupted wheels on the adjacent spindle, a pinion intermediate adjacent pairs of gear wheels.` a doubleJ riin of 4teeth on said pinion, one being normal, the other one lacking every second tooth, plain segments of half breadth `filling the gaps of the interrupted gear wheel rims, slides displaceable transversely to and forming bearingsfor said spindles and windows associatedd with said slides so as to participate in their displacement and adapted to register with said type carriers.

l2. In a device of the kind described in combination, adriving shaft, a plurality o lf type carrier spindles, type carriers looselydisposed on said spindles in line with one another, gear wheels ixed to said .type carriers and gear wheels fixed to said driving shaft, some of said gear wheels having an interrupted rim of teeth. on their circumferences, means for throwing the gear wheels on said spindles in and out of gear, respectively, with one another and with-said driving shaft Wheels, a bar adjacent to and adapted to be displaced transversely to the spindle of each type carrier and two pawls on each bar adaptedA` to ,turn said type earrier in different directions.

13. ln a device of the kind described in combination, a driving shaft, a plurality ol type carrier spindles, type' carriers loosely disposed on said spindles in line with one another, gear wheels fixed to said type can riers and gear Wheels fixed to said driving shaft, some of said gear wheels having an interrupted rim of teeth on their cireun1- fer-ences, means for throwing the gear Wheels on said spindles in and out of gear, respectively, with one another and with said driving shaft wheels, a' brake spring for each type carrier, a leverA connected with each spring and a shaft connecting the levers of each row of type carriersfsaid shaft being operatively connected with said throwing out means.

In testimony whereof alix myl signature.

ALBERT HENKELS.

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