US1934272A - Heat resisting upwardly opening safe - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 7, 1933. w. C. MlLLER 1,934,272

HEAT RESISTING UPWARDLY OPENING SAFE Filed May 16, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet l guus 1 YQ@ Milli/ffl TMI/W C'l'kenunfa,

Nov. 7, 1933. w` c. MILLER \HEAT RESISTING UPWARDLY OPENING SAFE Filed May 16, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 7, 1933. w c. MILLER HEAT RESISTING UPWARDLY OPENING SAFE Filed May 16, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 hwf) gvwwoz William IMI/1' Nov. 7, 1933. w. c. MILLER HEAT RESISTINGv UPWARDLY OPENING SAFE 6 SheetS-Sheet 5 Filed May 16, 1950 memtq/o Wil/iam (f/171W Nov. 7, 1933. w. c. MILLER HEAT RESISTING UPWARDLY OPENING SAFE Filed May 16, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Figs Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED sTArss HEAT RESISTING UPWARDLY OPENING SAFE William C. Miller, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Diebold Safe & Lock Company, Canton, Ohio, a. corporation of Ohio Application May 16, 1930. Serial No. 453,0"77V 5 claims. (c1. 45-2) My invention relates to safes, and more particularly to safes made of sheet metal and heat resisting material, and adapted for the protection of valuables, documents, records, and the 5 like, against the usual hazards, and particularly against the hazards of res, explosions, and of combined fires and explosions.

In the case of such a safe for use in a bank and the like for the night storage of customers l ledger cards or other records in constant daily use, it has been the usual practice to use for the safe a side opening door hung on hinges for swinging about a vertical axis, in order to safely and easily carry the mass of the door, which is l necessarily of considerable magnitude in order to provide resistance against heat for the desired length of time which may be two hours and sometimes four or more hours.

For convenient use in conjunction with adding 2O machines, the customers ledger cards are usually contained in trays, and it has been necessary to bodily lift the trays, from a safe with a side opening door, to a suitable table, or to provide carriages for the trays which may be moved in and out of the safe or vault.

This necessity for moving and handling the trays of ledger cards at the beginning and end of each business day consumes considerable time that might other be spent by the bookkeepers for productive purposes.

For some time the desirability has been recognized of a heat resisting safe having an upwardly opening door, so that the ledger cards and the like may be stored directly therein, and an adding machine positioned near the safe, whereby the bookkeeper may use the ledger cards during business hours without removing the trays or cards from the safe, and whereby all that is necessary in order to make the cards available 40 for use is to open the safe door, and all that is necessary to protect the cards from the aforesaid hazards is to close the safe door.

0n the other hand, due to the magnitude of the mass of a safe and its door having resistance against the foregoing hazards forthe proper length of time, it has not heretofore'been considered feasible or possible to make an upwardl opening heat resisting safe. Y

The objects cf the present improvements include the provision of a safe adapted for protect'- ing the contents thereof particularly from the hazard of heat, and including walls forming a protective compartment entrance to which is effected through an upwardly opening doorway having an upwardly opening door therefor.

Other objects of the improvements include the provision, in such a heat resisting-upwardly opening safe, of novel means for counterbalancing the door.

Other objects of the improvements include the provision of novel means automatically raising and lowering a supporting frame Within the safe compartment when the door is raised and lowered.

These and ancillary objects are attained by the structures, apparatus,` parts, improvements, and combinations, which comprise the present invention, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.' 70` In general 'terms the improved safe includes heat resisting walls forming a protective compartment, one of the walls facing upwardly and having an upwardly opening doorway formed therein, a door frame preferably tting in the doorway, a door preferably hinge mounted at one side upon the frame and swinging upwards and downwards from and to closing position in the door frame, a counterbalance for the door operatively mounted preferably on each end wall of the safe and gear 80Y and lever connected with the door, a supporting frame within the compartment, a mechanism preferably removably carried within the compartment for raising and lowering the supporting frame, andthe raising and lowering mechanism 85 preferably including a plurality of successively operating motor means which may be in the form of 'a plurality of successively energized and deenergizing springs, and means operated by raising and lowering of the door for actuating and rais- 490 ing and lowering mechanism to raise and lower the frame.

Preferred embodiments of the improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which A 95 Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation with portions in section of one embodiment of the improved heat resisting safe hereof, the upwardly opening door being illustrated in the closed posi- Fig. 5, a top plan view thereof with the door in the closed position;

Fig. 6, a horizontal sectional view thereof as on line 6 6, Figs. 2 and 4, with the frame and supported trays removed;

Fig. 7, a transverse sectional view thereof, illustrating the novel counterbalancing mechanism, as on line 7 7, Figs. 1 and 5;

Fig. 8, a transverse sectional view thereof illustrating the novel ccunterbalancing mechanism, as on line 8 8, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9, an isometric View of a modied embodiment of the improved safe hereof, illustrated in the open position.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the several views.

The improved safe indicated generally at 10, includes panels forming a five-walled upwardly opening inner compartment indicated generally at l1, a five-walled monolithic heat and fire resisting shell indicated generally at 12, the shell being provided with tension reinforcing means indicated generally at 13, and thecompartment similar parts and shell being enclosed in an external five-walledV interlocking case indicated generally at 14. All ofv the five-walled members preferably comprise five sides of six sided preferably rectangular polyhedrons, the sixth upper sides of which are open.

A door frame indicated generally at V15 connects the opening of the inner compartment 11 with the opening of the outer case 14, and forms a closure for the outer end of the monolithic shell 12.v

A door indicated generally at 16 is mounted at one side by hinges 17 and 17 upon the outer case, and provides an upwardly and downwardly swinging closure fitting in the open upper sixth sides of the case and compartment.

The door 16 preferably includes an outer shell 18 of formed metal sheets, the interior of which is filled with heat resisting material 19 and tension reinforcing 20.

The upper side of thesafe is preferably hori- -zontal and is preferably located at what is known asV counter-height, and the safe is preferably supported in this position as by means of corner angle posts 21.

One novel counterbalancing mechanism for the door, indicated generally at 22, is operatively mounted at one en d of the safe, preferably within an enclosure indicated generally at 23.

Similarly, another novel counterbalancing mechanism for the door, indicated generally at 22', is operatively mounted at the other end of the safe, preferably within an enclosure indicated generally at 23. d

Within the compartment 11 is operatively mounted a supporting frame indicated generally at 24 preferably including a top in the form of a load carrying tray 25.

A novel raising and lowering mechanism indicated generally at 26 is preferably removably mounted within the compartment in novel cooperative association with the frame 24 for raising and lowering the frame and the load supported withinrthe frame tray 25.

Links indicated at 27 and 27 areeach pivotally connected at one end with the door and slot and pivotally connected at the other end with the frame 24 supported on the upper end of the raising and lowering mechanism 26, whereby when the door is raised and lowered the raising and lowering mechanism 26 will` raise and lower the frame 24 and the load supported thereon in a novel manner, as is hereinafter set forth in detail.

The ccunterbalancing mechanism 22 is preferably combined with the hinge 17 and includes a hinge shaft bearing block 28a secured at the rear side of the fra-me 15, and a hinge shaft bearing block 28E) secured at the rear side of the door 16. The bearing block 28h preferably includes a lever arm 285-1 extending across and secured to the top plate of the door shell 18 for transmitting the raising and lowering torques to the door.

Thev bearing blocks 28a and 28h have formed therein aligned bores through which extends one end of a hinge and counterbalancing shaft 29, which is journalled in the bore of the bearing block 28a, and is secured to the bearing block 28h for transmitting torque therethrough and to the door 16.

The outer end of the shaft 29 extends through a suitable opening into the enclosure 23 and preferably through a journal bore formed in a bearing bar 30 secured within and upon the enclosure 23.

end of the shaft 29 within the enclosure 23 and is meshed with-a segmental gear member 32 which is journalled on a stub shaft 33 carried upon the bearing bar 30.

A vcounterbalancing mass supporting lever 34 is secured at its inner end to one side of the segmental gear member 32 and extends outwardly therefrom and a counterbalancing mass 35 is carried at the outer end of the lever 34 as by means of a pivot pin 36.

The counterbalancing mechanism 21' is similarly combined with the'hinge 17 and includes parts similarly arranged within the enclosure 23 at the other end of the safe.

As aforesaid the supporting frame 24 preferably includes a top in the form of a load carrying tray 25, and parallel rails 37 and 37 depend from the bottom of the tray 25 and extend longitudinally within the compartment 11.

The rail 37 rides in grooves 38a and 385 formed, respectively, in external peripheries of rollers 39a and 395, which are operative parts of the raising and lowering mechanism 26, and the rail 37 rides in grooves 38a and 38b formed, re-

, outer ends thereof.

The shaft 42a is preferably parallel to the shaft 40o, and the outer ends of the shaft 42a are journalled, respectively, adjacent one end of the com- A segmental gear 31 is secured upon the outer partment, in spaced longitudinally extending base` members 43 and 43 of the raising and lowering mechanism 26.

Similarly the rollers 39h and 395 .are'preferably mounted adjacent opposite ends of a shaft 4Gb which is preferably horizontal and extends from front to rear of the safe'cornpartment, and

which is journalled at its outer ends, respective- K ly, in suitable bearing bores formed in the upper ends of arms 41h and 41'5, and the lower ends of the arms 41h and 415 are secured to a shaft 425 adjacent the. outer ends thereof.

1,934,272 The shaft 4225 is preferably parallel to theshaft 4Gb and the outer ends of the shaft 42h are journalled, respectively, adjacent the other end of the compartment, in the spaced longitudinally extending base members 43 and 43.

Accordingly the rollers 39a and 39a may be raised and lowered by rotation of the arms 41a and 41a with the shaft 42a;

Similarly the rollers 39h and 39'b may be raised and lowered by rotation of the arms 412)' and 41b with the shaft 42h.

The base members 43 and 43 comprise parts of an elevator frame indicated generally at 44 in which the moving members of the raising and lowering or elevator mechanism 26l are operatively mounted, and the elevator frame 44 is vbodily removable from the compartment l1 for facilitating production and maintenance of the safe.

When the set of arms 41a. and 41a and the set of arms 41o and 41b are in their lowermost positions as illustrated in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3, the set of rollers 39a and 39a is positioned closest they adjacent end wall of the compartment, and the opposite set of rollers 39h and 39b is positioned closest the other end wall of the compartment, adjacent thereto.

Controlling means indicated generally at 45 and 45 are provided for causing the set of arms 41a and 4l'a and the opposite set of arms 41h and 41b to rotate up and down, respectively, about the axes of the shafts 42a and 42h, simultaneously and with uniform velocity, for maintaining the upper surfaces of the set of rollers 39a and 39'a in the same horizontal plane with the upper surfaces of the rollers 39h and 39'b, in the grooves of-which, as aforesaid, the rails 37 and 37 ride, and whereby the frame 24 is raised and lowered and maintained in a horizontal position by rolling of the rollers longitudinally on the rails. 5

The controlling means 45 may include a bracket 46 located midway between the ends of the elevator frame 44 and secured to the base member 43.

At the upper end of the bracket 46 a shaft bolt 47 is mounted, and an arm 48 is pivotally mounted at its mid point on the shaft bolt 47, and one end of the arm 48 is pivotally connected to one end of a control link 49a, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the outer end of a control crank 50a secured to the shaft 42a.

The opposite end of the arm 48 is pivotally connected to one end of a control link 49D, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the outer end of a control crank 50h secured to the shaft 4217.

Similarly the control means 45 may include a bracketl 46 located midway between the ends of the elevator frame 44 and secured to the base member 43.

At the upper end of the bracket 46 a shaft bolt 47 is mounted, and an arm 48 is pivotally mounted at its mid point on the shaft bolt 47', and one end of the arm 48 is pivotally connected to one end of a control link 49a, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the outer end of a control crank 50a secured to the shaft 42a.

The opposite end of the arm 48 is pivotally connected to one end of a control link 49b, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the outer end of a control crank 50b secured to the shaft 42h.

The lengths and positions of the relative members of the control means 45 and 45', are equal and similar, and accordingly the set of arms 41a and 41'a, and the set of arms 41h and 41'?) will raise and-'lower simultaneously with' eachother andl will maintain the uppersurfaces of-rollers" carried thereon inthe same horizontal plane.

The raising and lowering or elevator mechanism 26 isfpreferabl'y provided with a'plurality 80 of successively operating motor means for ro-` tating the sets of` arms 41a and 41a, and'v 411)-y and 41b, andsuch motor means are preferably inthe form of a plurality of sets of one or more successively energized and deenergizing springs.

One set of the motor springs `includes the helical tension springs 51 each connected, respectively, at one end to a horizontal bar 52a extending from front to rear of the compartment l1, andl the ends of the bar 52a are preferably adjustably mountedin one set of a plurality of sets of Y oppositely positioned apertures 53- formedfin plates 53a and 53'a secured, respectively, 'adjacent the ends of the shaft 42a.

Similarly each-opposite endof the spring-51 is connected to a horizontal bar 5212 extending from front'to rear of the compartment l1, andV the ends of the bar 52h are preferably adjustablyv mounted in one set of a plurality of sets of oppositely positioned apertures 53 formed in plates 53h and 53'b secured, respectively, adjacentthe ends of the shaft 42h.

The distance between'the bars 52d-an`da52b is preferably adjusted'so that the set of springs 5l are operative to rotate the shafts 42d and 4217 10555 towards each other at all positions of the frame 24;

For applying an initial starting torque to the shafts 42a and 4227 Vgreater than that applied by the springs 51 and 51? a'helicaltension Vspring 55 vis connected at its ends Ato the-bars 52a and `110iy 52o, and the spring 55 is of such length that it` is energized and operativel only during arp'ortionl of the lowermost up and down movement of the frame24. Y

For limiting the upward and downward movement of the opposite sets of arms 41a'I and 41'a, and 41h and 4l'b, a stop bar 56 extends longitudinally in the compartment between the front and rear thereof, and at one end thereof a slot connection is made between the bar 56 and the shaft 40a as by means of a bent strap 57a having its central portion spaced below the bar 56 and having its end portions bent towards the bar 56 and secured thereto, and the shaft 40a extending between the central portion of the strap 57a and the bar 56, and being limited in its movement towards and from the adjacent end of the compartment by the end portions of the strap 57a.

Similarly at the other end of the bar 56 a slot connection is made between the bar 56 and the shaft 40h as by means of a bent strap 57b having its central portion spaced below the bar 56 and having its end portions bent towards the bar 56 and secured thereto, and the shaft 4Gb 135 Y extending between the central portion of the strap 57h and the bar 56, and being limitedin its movementV towards and from the adjacent end of the compartment by the end portions of the strap 57h.

Means are provided for vertically guiding the frame 24 during its movements up and down in the compartment 11, and the vertical guiding means preferably include a bracket 6l secured at each corner of the frame 24, and a roller 62 145- is journalled in each bracket for rotation about a horizontal axis, and for rolling against an end member of the elevator frame 44.

The load carrying tray 25 preferably has mounted therein a'plurality of boxes 63 of one 1507j size andboxes 64 of anotherv size, and customer ledger cards 65 or the like of one size areV cary. ried in the boxes 63, and cards 66or they like f ment 10 with the exception that the counterbalancing of the door 116 is attained by a separate counterbalancing mechanism indicated generally at 118 which is connected withthe door 116 independent of the hinges 117 and 117'.

In the embodiment 110 a removable roller table` 170a is also illustrated which is arranged for rolling on the upper ends of the compartment when the safe is open as illustrated in Fig. 9 for providing a convenient table upon which to lay the cards. l l

I claim: Y

VLllpparatus, for use as anv upwardly opening heat resisting safe and the like,V including heat resisting walls lforming a protective compartment, one of the walls'rfacing upwardly and having an upwardly opening doorway formed therein, a door, a shaft journalled on one of the compartment walls and secured to the door for hinge swinging the door upwards and downwards from and to closing position in the doorway, and counterbalancing means operatively connected with the shaft.

2. Apparatus, for use as an upwardly opening heat resisting-safe and the like, including heat resisting walls forming a protective compartment, one of the walls facing upwardly and having an upwardly opening doorway formed therein, a heat resisting door,v a shaft journalled on one of the compartment walls and secured to the door for hinge swinging the door upwards and downwards from and to closing position in the doorway, and counterbalancing means'operatively connected with the shaft. v

3. In a safe, a load carrying frame and elevator mechanism supporting said frame, said elevator mechanism including a plurality of successively energizing and cle-energizing springs arranged for being energized by lowering of the frame and for de-energizing to raise the frame.

4. An upwardly opening safe comprising heat resisting Walls forming a protective compartment, one of the walls facing upwardly and having an upwardly opening doorway formed therein, ardoor movable into and out of said door opening, counterbalancing means operatively connected with said door, and a load carrying frame disposed within the protective compartment and co-operating with said counterbalancing` means to counterbalancesaid door.

5. An upwardly opening safe comprising heat resisting walls forming a protective compartment,one of the walls facing upwardly and having an upwardly opening doorway formed therein, a door, ashaft journaled by one of said walls andY secured to the door for hinge swinging the door upwards and downwards from and to closing position in the doorway, counterbalancing means operatively connected with the shaft, and l a load carrying frame disposed within the protective compartment and co-operating withsaid counterbalancing means to counterbalance said door. v

WILLIAM C. MILLER.

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