US1736206A - Vault gas bomb - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l w\\\\\\\\\\\\\ n l Nov. 19, 1929. A. J. MACY VAULT GAS BOMB Filed Sept. 29, 1923 EEEEE Nov. 19, 1929. A. J. MACY l 1,736,206

VAULT GAS BvOMB Filed Sept. 29. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lll/1111111111111 f :511mm l@ lllllllll l IIIIILI Illl/lllllllllllllllllllll llllllrllllllllllll.

Macy

Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE ALFRED J'. MACY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 THE LAKE ERIE CHEMICAL COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO vAUL'r GAS noma Application led September 29, 1923. Serial No. 665,625.

This invention relates to protective devices for vault and safe doors and the like wherein an auxilary relooking mechanism is brought into vplay by an attempt at forceful entry, and the vault is lilled with a noxious gas at the same time, the gas containers being broken by mechanism released by the operation of the auxiliary lock.

This invention comprises improvements on the device disclosed in my application for automatic safe burglar lock, Serial No..

570,437, filed June 23, 1922.

It is an important object of this inven- -tion to provide a relooking device of the class described, provided with a plurality of releasing and operating mechanisms adapted to coact together to greatly reduce the possibility of failure to operate after long perlods of time.

Itis another important object 'of this invent-ion to provide a means for llmg a chamber with a noxious gas upon an .attemptto cut a passage through a door equipped with auxiliary llocking mechanism.

Other and further important ob] ects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanyin drawin s.

gIhe invegiition (in a preferred form) 1s illustrated in the drawings and heremafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a vault door and the locking mechanism therefor, with devices embodying features of this invention assembled in place thereon. o Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section of an emergency lock embodying a part of this invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2. v

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3. .v 4.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a wire cutting mechanism intended to be secured to the combination or time lock on the door.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of a 'singletree and the connections thereto as used in connection with the emergency lock.

to Figure 6.

`As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 refers to a plate j forming a vault door, a framework or casing 2 being secured thereto and carr ing slidf able bolts or lookin bars 3 secure together by a tie bar 4 to which a combination or time lock 5 is secured, as well as some form of manual bolt retracting mechanism (not shown), having an operating handle on the outside of the door. The construction and operation of the manual bolt operating mechanism and the regular combination or time lock is so well known as to require no further description thereof. It is usually customary to use a light metalv cover on the inside of the door concealing everything within the limits of the frame or casing 2, largely as a matter of pleasing appearance. Such a cover has decided advantages in concealing the position and in fact existence of such an auxiliary locking mechanism, as will be described here- -inafter.

The preferred form of the device of this invention comprises four intimately coacting major units; namely, an emergency locking mechanism and the means for securing it to the door and door mechanism, a mechanism actuated by the emergency locking mechanism to discharge noxious vapors or gases within the vault, means to cause actuation of the locking mechanism upon injury to the combination or time lock, and a plurality of members interconnected and disposed over the vulnerable portions of the door whereby the breaking, cutting or burning of a single member will cause actuation of the emergency or supplemental locking device. 'These units, for simplicity and clearness, will be l or a plurality of t-ubes with additional couplings, span across to the opposite frame or casing, an adjustable fitting 11, carrying set screws 8, similar in purpose to those in the bracket 7 having a threaded shank 13 loosely mounted in the end of the tube with a nut 14 thereon adapted to project the fitting into firm contact with the face of the frame, thus securely retaining the block 6 in place.`

The block 6 is horizontally 'apertured as at 15 for a sliding bar 16 attached to the tie bar 4 of the regular door locking mechanism, so that the bar 16 slides inwardly in the aperture 15 every time the door bolts are withdrawn or thrown. This sliding bar carries an inertia mechanism, designed to prevent sudden motion of the door bolts, comprising a weight 17 hung from a pivoted crank 18, the free end 19 of which serves to lift a pivoted dog 20 above the surface of the sliding bar 16 so that the end of this dog will strike the edge of the block 6 above the aperture 15 to prevent retraction of the door bolts. A stop 22 is providedabove the aperture 15 to prevent the dog 20 from being thrown too -high to securely hold the bolt operating mechanism in locked position. Normally, however, the dog 20 will lie even with or below the surface of the sliding bar.

A vertical bore 23 in the body 6 intersects the horizontal aperture 15 and a plunger or piston 24 slidable in the bore 23 is normally held above the aperture 15 by a trigger 25 -engaging in a peripheral groove 26 in the piston. A coil spring 27 above and within the piston serves to force it downwardly .across the aperture 15 upon release of the trigger, and a removable pin 28 serves to prevent the piston droppingentirely out of the bore, so that when the piston is released it" stops squarely across the aperture 15, preventing retraction of the sliding bar and thereby preventing the unlocking of the regular door locking mechanism.

The trigger is normally held in a position to retain the piston 24 in inoperative position by means of a wire 29 adjustably secured on a spool 30 clamped in the split end 31 of the trigger. This triggerI serves to lsepara-te a pair of fingers 32 which while separated retain a firing plunger 33 within a tube 34 against the action of a spring 35 tending to pull the fingers through a suitable aperture 36 in the block 6 when the trigger 25 moves upwardly sfufiiciently to release the fingers and allow them to close together, and

thereby slide through` the aperture 36, releasing the firing plunger 33. This plunger carries a firing pin 37 adapted to contact a plurality of cartridges 38 in a cartridge holder 39 secured to the bottom of the tube 34. The use of .22 caliber rim fire cartridges is contemplated for the sake of simplicity in` using one firing pin to contact the rims of two or more cartridges. A plurality of cartridges are provided to minimize the risk of misfire. after the cartridges have been in place on a vault door for some time before the device of this invention is called upon to function. Of course, it is to be understood that center fire cartridges may be used by an obvious change in the location and duplication of the firing pin 37.

Suspended below and in line with the cartridge are a plurality of sealed vessels or bombs 40 intended to contain a volatile or compressed gas adapted to generate or emit dense fumes of a character affecting either or both the eyes and lungs of human beings upon breakage of the bombs. These vessels 40 are secured in straps 41, fastened to the cartridge holder 39, in such a manner that the discharge of the cartridges 38 will send the' bullets through each vessel in turn, thus shattering them and releasing the liquid or vapor contents.

The wire 29, previously mentioned, passes through a tube 42 having upper and lower flanges 43 and 44 respectively secured thereto. Thistube passes through an aperture 45 in the block 6 and a spring 46 engages between the block and the upper flange 43 to force the tube andfianges upwardly. The tube is restrained from such movement by a strap 47 engaging the lower .flange 44 and connected to a series of wires disposed over the surface of the vault door.

A flexible metal tube 48 forms a continuation of the tube 42, leading to a wire cutting mechanism and containing the wire 29. The wire cutting mechanism comprises a fixture plate 49 adapted to be clamped to one side of the combination or time lock by means of the bar 50 and screws and nuts 51, together with a plate 52 extending across the face of the combination box from the fixture plate to the bar with a slot 53 therein to allow for various widths of boxes on different doors. Mounted on the fixture plate is a stationary wire cutting knife 54 and an inertia block 55, both the knife body and the block being .at the knife edge, the ends of the severed tube being secured in the knife and inertia block. The tube 48 and wire 29 are carried from the block over tlfe most vulnerable part of the door locking mechanism, namely the master lug which connects the lock 5 with the tie bar 4, and the end of the wire is either soldered in the end of the tube or arranged withy a temperature compensating spring tensioning device 57 on the end thereof.

The interconnected members referred to hereinbefore comprise a sin le-tree 58 suspended from the strap 47 y means of a single-tree fastener 59, best shown in Figure 6. Suspended from either end of the singletree are wire fasteners 60 to which are attached wires 61 leading to other singletrees, wires, and fasteners 62 secured to the door in such a way that the wires are disposed over the most vvulnerable parts of the door. In this series of wires one or more fuse links 63 are arranged, and a turnbuckle 64 is provided for proper initial tensioning thereof. It will be noted that several of the wires 61 are either secured to or arranged closely adjacent the combination lock on the door, as almost without exception this is the first point of attack by a person attempting a forceful entry.

In assembling this device on a vault door, the emergency locln'ng mechanism is secured between the door casings by means of the set screws 8 and adjustable fitting 11, the set screws on the right hand side permitting adjustment for varying widths of bars 4 and the adjustable fitting compensating for varying widths of the door and door casing. The gas bombs and cartridge holder are applied at a later stage of the proceedings to avoid accidents. With the locking mechanism in place, the wire cutting mechanism is secured about the combination lock and the flexible tube 48 with the wire 29 therein assembled in place. The free up er end of the wire is wound on the spool 30 inthe trigger yoke 31 and can be tightened by rotating the spool and the adjustment retained by clamping the yoke about the spool. With the trigger 25 suitably adjusted to hold the piston or plunger 24 in proper position the singletrees 58 and wires 61 are connected up as most expedient in each particular installation, consideration being given to protecting the most vulnerable or easily attacked partsv of the door. With the whole device set up in operative position and preferably tested out, the cartridge holder 39 and bomb straps 41 may be attached to the firing plunger tube 34 and sealed vessels 40 containing a volatile liquid or gas of the class described, such as the well-known so-called tear gas, are then clamped in position an'd the whole device preferably covered with the usual sheet metal inner cover fastened over the door casing, both'to protect the whole device from tamperingby'anyone having access to the vault., and to conceal the existence of such' a supplemental locking mechanism. y

Only a few outstanding features of this device .require a detailed description as to the operation thereof, as the inertia mechanism and the relocking mechanism proper, as well as the wire cutting mechanism, have been heretofore disclosed by me in a previous application, reference to which has been made hereinbefore.

In the device illustrated, action of the relocking mechanism, i. e. release of the piston 24 by the trigger 25, can be brought about either by the severing of the wire 29 by the wire cutting mechanism or by severing the tube 48 and wire by cutting or burning elsewhere, as when an attempt is made to burn 0E the master lug by means of an Oxy-acetylene torch, for example. The action will be apparent from an inspection of the figures, as release of the wire allows the trigger to fly up. Upward movement of the trigger not only releases the piston 24 to relock the door mechanism, but allows the fingers 32 to close or fold together so that they can slide through the aperture to permit the firing plunger 33 to descend, setting off' the cartridges an'd thereby breaking the bombs suspended below, thus filling the vault with' a noxious gas or vapor as a deterrent to work within or near the vault.

It will be apparent from the use of a number of interconnected single-trees 58 and wires 61 terminating with the connection strap 47 to the lower flange 44 on the tube 42, that the severing of any one of the wires 61 or of the fuse links 63 disposed therein, will release the tube 42 which will be projected upwardly by the spring 45, lifting the flexible tube 48, which is purposely arranged with sufiicient slackness, an'd carrying the trigger upwardly just as a severing of the wire 29 would have allowed the trigger to move. It will be evident that the single trees and wires are just as capable of releasing the relocking mechanism as the wire cutting mechanism and that each system stands prepared to either assist the other or to function upon failure of the other.

It will be evident that by providing independent but coacting. releasing mechanisms, the chances of failure of the whole mechanism are reduced in a ratio proportional to the square of .the number of mechanisms rather than as a simple sum of the number, thus greatly increasing the protection afforded by a device whose purpose makes evident the fact that it must lie inert for a long period of time yet must be prepared to function instantly and perfectly when finally called upon to perform.

I am aware that numerous details of conl struction may be varied through a wide range. j Vwithout departing from the principles of this releasingfsaid relocking mechanism upon injury of said door.

2. In a device of the class described, a relocking mechanism, means adapted to secure itin place on a door, a mechanism actuated by the relooking mechanism to discharge a noxious vapor, and a plurality of means for releasing said relocling mechanism upon injury of said door, one of said means being secured adjacent the regular locking means of said door.

3. In a device of the class described, an emergency locking mechanism comprising an auxiliary bolt sliding in unison with the regular `door bolts, means for preventing movement of said auxiliary bolt, a plurality of means adapted to independently actuate said irst-mentioned means, and a gas discharging mechanism adapted to be actuated by said.

last-mentioned means.

4. In a .device for attachment to vault doors, an emergency lock, spring operated means for preventing retraction of said lock, means for discharging a noxiousvapor when said tirstmentioned means is operated, and a plurality of interconnected members disposed over the vulnerable por-tions of the door whereby the severing of a single member will release said spring-operated means.

5. In a device for attachment to vault doors, an emergency lock, spring-operated means for preventing retraction of said lock, means for discharging a noxious vapor when said first-mentioned means is operated, a plurality of interconnected members disposedl over the vulnerable portions of the 'door whereby the severing of a single member will release said spring-'operated means, and a fusible link connected with said members.

6. In a device oithe class described, a rey locking mechanism, spring-operated means for said mechanism, means for normally r'etaining said means inoperative, a firing plunger releasable by said second-mentioned means simultaneously with the release of said springoperated means, a cartridge adapted to be set ofiI by said firing plunger, and a gas container adapted to be broken'by the bullet from said cartridge.

7. In a device of the class described, a re-r locking mechanism, spring-operated means for said mechanism, means for normally re-A taining said means inoperative, a firing plunger releasable by said second-mentioned means simultaneously with the release of Said spring-operated means, cartridges adapted to be set of by said firing plunger, and gas containers adapted to be broken by the bullets from said cartridges.

8. In a device of the class described, an emergency locking mechanism, a piston therein adapted to lock said mechanism when in one position, a trigger normally holding said piston in another position, a firing plunger releasable by said trigger, cartridges adapted In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub-` scribed my name.

ALFRED J. MACY.

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