US1962550A - Locking device for locks - Google Patents

Description

June 12,1934. J E 1,962,550

LOCKING DEVICE FOR LOCKS Filed April 21, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 3 /MAM%4 ATTORNEYS June 12, 1934. J; M ML 1,962,550

LOCKING DEVICE FOR LOCKS Filed April 21", 1933 4'S heets-Sheet 2 @7 m; T16 JT Ti ATTORNEYS LOCKINQDEVICE FOR nocxs Filed April 21, 195.3 4 's heets sheet 3 ATTORNEY June 12, 1934. 1,962,550

J. A. CAMPAN'ILE LOCKING DEVICE FOR LOCKS Filed April 21. 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES FFFCE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a new locking device comprising a checking element and applicable to locks, padlocks and the like for doors, ballot-boxes and so forth, and is of the type incorporating a card which is torn when the looking device is opened.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a locking device with which two movements may be effected, one of which consists in the opening of the locking device and of the receptacle for the check card, or in the examination of the card only, and the other of which consists solely in checking the card without being able to change it, which movements are effected by means of two different keys fitting in the same key-hole and by the operation of concealed or secret devices.

In this way, certain persons may be authorized to open the locking device and to change the card or merely examine it, and others may be authorized only to examine the card, and the person possessing the unlocking key but not aware of the secret may also be prevented from opening the locking device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking device of the type described which shall be absolutely secure and inviolable, of simple and solid construction and of small size.

The invention consists essentially in providing in the same locking device two mechanisms one of which operates the wards and the other a detent for the cover of the control card. There is only one key-hole which admits two separate keys one of which causes either one or both of the mechanisms to operate and the other of which operates the detent mechanism only, the action of the first-named key being complemented by operating a concealed trip without which the locking device cannot be opened but the attempt to open by means of that key is recorded without the operation of the trip.

For the better understanding of the invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, a preferred embodiment has been illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a padlock provided with the locking device which is the subject of this invention, and having the inspection cover raised.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the independent block containing the locking mechanism which may be employed as it is or with slight variations to make it applicable not only to a padlock but also to mortice looks or the like.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the padlock in its locked position with the long key inserted.

Fig. 4: is a transverse section on the line 44= of Fig. 3 showing in dotted lines the various positions of the frame and inspection cover.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 77 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a part elevation of the upper portion of the padlock cut away so as to show the latch in the open position.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal partial section showing the function of the short key, and

Fig. 10 is a partial side View of a detail of the concealed detent.

The padlock consists of three principal parts,

the casing A, the block B of the locking mechanism and the receptacle C for the control card.

In the present case. the block B is enclosed between the casing A and the receptacle C which at the same time forms the cover of the casing A, but said block may be applied as it is or with slight modifications to any type of lock other than a padlock.

The casing A comprises a bottom 1 and four sides 2. The upper side has, at one end, a circular opening in which the stem 3 of the hasp 4c of the padlock passes, and at its other end, a square opening 5 into which the squared end 6 of the hasp may enter. The hasp has two movements, an up-and-down motion and a rotational motion, so that said end 6 may enter or be withdrawn from the casing and the hasp may be turned so that it may be freed from the staples of the door. The downward movement of the hasp is limited by the shoulder between the hasp properly so called and the stem 3 and the end 6, while the upward movement is limited by a pin 8 secured to the stem 3, when said pin makes contact with a projection of block B as will be seen later.

Said pin 8 also serves to transmit to the hasp the thrust of a spring 9. The stem 3 and the end 6 each have a lateral notch 10 in which corresponding parts of the locking bar 11 which forms a part of the mechanism of the block B, engage.

Said member B is a plane and has, when seen from the front a shape like that of a double T.

At its middle portion it encloses the key mechanism and at each corner it has projections 12 which assist in positioning the block laterally in the casing A. Two of these projections, in this case, those on the right, are perforated and act as guides and supports for the stem 3 which passes through them. The spring 9 surrounding the stem 3 bears on the lower projection. The middle portion of the block has a perforation in which the cylinder 13 or any other similar lockpart fits closely and turns. The lock illustrated is of the type known as Yale cylinder lock which has pin tumblers each of which consists of two small cylinders 14 and 15, which slide in passages drilled in the block and in the cylinder and are normally biassed towards the latter by springs 16 anchored by the screws 17. The tumblers 14 are of different lengths and, as is well known, when a key 18 having a certain profile is introduced into the longitudinal slot in the cylinder said tumblers are brought exactly fiush with the surface of the cylinder and allow it to turn.

The inner end of the cylinder 13 bears a toothed sector 19 concentric with the axis of said cylinder and extending over more or less a quarter of a turn. This sector engages with a rack 20 forming part of a runner 21 which moves laterally in a guiding channel 22 formed in the block B. This runner is normally held out of engagement w'th the toothed sector owing to the action of a spring 23 seated between shoulders on the block and on the runner. In this position the toothed sector may rotate freely to the left for three-quarters of a turn.

In the upper part of the block B the lockingbar 11 moves laterally, guided by grooves 24 in said block. Said locking-bar comprises two plane ends 11 joined by a rod 25. The lefthand end may engage in the slot in the end 6 of the hasp and. the righthand end has a hole 26 through which the stem 3 of the hasp passes and forms a a bridge 2'7 which may engage in the slot in said stem. Adjacent its lefthand end the lockingbar is provided with a projection 28 which moves in slot 29 of the part separating it from the guide for the runner and engages in a groove 30 in said runner. A spring 25' surrounding the rod 25 and compressed between a shoulder of the block B and the projection 28 tends to hold the lockingbar in the locked position. The groove 39 has a certain length to allow of a certain amount of play of the runner before operating the lockingbar; once the end of the groove is in contact with the projection 28, said locking-bar is caused to move. This is due to the fact that the runner has a longer travel than the locking-bar.

The runner also carries, at its head, a projecting prong 31 adapted to tear the control card 32 located in the receptacle C.

The cylinder 13 of the lock is cut into two portions 13' and 13 so that there are two independent cylinders each corresponding to a pair of pin-tumblers. In this manner, the forward cylinder 13 may be operated alone or both cylinders may be operated together according to whether a short key extending only for the length of the cylinder 13', as seen in Fig. 9, or a long key extending the length of the two cylinders, as seen in Fig. 3, is used. That is to say, both keys operate the forward cylinder 13. In accordance with the invention the operation of the forward cylinder is used to open the inspection cover. This may be brought about in different ways, but in the case illustrated is effected by means of a pressure exercised by the key on the detent 33 after having made a half turn to the left. This detent is located in the thickness of the block B to the right of the cylinder and is formed by a plate which runs longitudinally in grooves 34, formed between the block 3 and a cover-plate 35 screwed thereon. Said plate has a rectangular hole provided with a tooth 36 and is prolonged by a rod 3'? extending into a hole in the block in the bottom of ion is a spring 38 which tends to hold the detent level with the forward edge of the block. The hook 39 of the inspection cover passes into the hole in the detent and is normally held therein by the tooth 36 thus locking the inspection cover. The pressure on the detent 33 is applied by the usual stop of the key whose ordinary function is to limit the entry of the key into the lock when said step abuts against the forward end thereof, which, in the present case, consists of a, collar 41 screwed to the front of the block B and fitting in an annular groove 42 of the cylinder 13" for the purpose of preventing the block from coming out. This cylinder has an external circular flange 43 which normally conceals the detent 33 (the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3). In the part adjacent said detent the block 3 has a recess 44 into which the stop of the key may enter, when the latter, after having arrived opposite the detent, is pushed home, (position of Fig. 9). In order to permit of this movement of the key, it is necessary that the bitts 45 thereof adapted to raise the pin tumblers 14 should be longer than the width of these pin tumblers so as to be able to move across their faces without altering their position. In Fig. 9 the dotted lines show the position of the key before it is pushed against the detent 33.

Th block B is fixed in the casing A, in the present instance, by means of two pins 46 which project from the base of said casing and into holes 47 in the block. Into the end of these pins the screws 48 are screwed and these secure the lower plate 49 of the receptacle C, which in this way firmly fixes the block. The external flange 43 of the cylinder 13 extends into a circular aperture in the lower side-wall of the casing A.

The receptacle C for the check card, which at the same time forms the cover for the casing A, comprises three parts hinged together, that is to say, the plate 49 already referred to, the frame 50 and the inspection cover 51.

The plate 49 has the same contour as the interior of the casing A and is secured thereto by means of the screws 48 and serves as a support for the assembly of the receptacle, guide plate for the runner 21 and the locking-bar of the locking mechanism already described. This plate has slot 52 to allow of the passage of the prong 31 of the runner and an opening 53 for the passage of the hook 39 of the inspection cover as well as an aperture 65 for the passage of the finger of the secret or concealed trip which will be described later. Said plate connected thereto, at its lower side a frame 59 by means of a hinge 54, and by this arrangement, said inspection cover may be opened by turning it through a right-angle to permit the card 32 to be placed in position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. The contour of this frame is also the same as that of the inside of the casing-A, that is to say it fits therein and has a window formed by a border which holds a pane of glass JO against the front face of the card 32 and has also an aperture for the finger of the trip mechanism. The upper edge of said frame has a flange 5"! bent at right-angles and adapted to extend across the whole of the width of the upper side 2 of the casing A for the purpose of being engaged by the hasp 4 whenthe padlock is locked, thus preventing the card from being interfered with. For this purpose, the flange 5 7 has atone end an opening 58 through which the end 6 of the hasp passes, and at the other end a semicircular recess 59 in which the stem :3 of the hasp fits. This recess prevents opening of the frame even in the open position of the padlock, until the hasp has been given a halfturn (the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8) when the slot 10 of the stem 3 comes opposite the flange 5'7 and allows the frame to be opened. In order that the upper portion of the padlock opposite the hasp, may appear continuous, the upper side 2 of the casing A carries in-that part a projection which forms a continuation of the plane corresponding to the flange 57 from the end thereof to the corner of the casing A next to the stem 3. In the lower part of the frame 50 there is also provided an aperture '61 for the passage of the hook 39.

The inspection plate 51 is hinged by means of the hinges 62 to the upper portion of the frame 50, that is on the side opposite the hinge 54, so

i that the plate 51 may be opened at right-angles,

as shown in dotted lines in Fig. '4. The contour of this inspection plate corresponds to the inner contour of the casing A so as to fit accurately in the latter. A spring 63 surrounding the pin 64 of the hinge tends to keep the inspection cover open, which is, however, as explained above, held closed by means of the hook '39 adapted to engage with the detent 33.

The concealed or secret trip, without operating which the padlock cannot be opened, comprises a stop 66 mounted on a pin 6'7 screwed in the side of the block 13 so that said stop may describe an arc of a circle in a plane perpendicular to the runner 21, in order that it may approach and recede from the latter. The stop 66 has an operating finger 68 which passes through the apertures of the plate 49 and frame 50. The runner has, on its face adjacent the trip, a slot 69 in which the stop 66 may enter. The length of the slot is such that the runner may be moved over a short distance by means of the key before being stopped by the stop 66 so that the card intended to register the attempt to open the lock may be torn, but said movement is insufficient to open the lock.

The operation of the padlock is as follows. Starting from the completely open position thereof, the card 32 is placed on the plate 49 so that .the prong 31 passes through 'a perforation made for this purpose in the card. The frame 50 is then closed and the hasp 4 isg'iven a short turn so that the slot 10 does not allow the recess 59 to pass and finally the inspection plate 51 is closed and pressed home when it is automatically held in position through the medium of the detent 33 and the hook 39.

The hasp is also automatically locked once it has been pushed into the body of the padlock, since, when the bridge 27 of the locking-bar comes opposite the slot 10 in the stem 3 it allows the locking-bar to enter the two slots 10 owing to the pressure of the spring 25. These operations, should of course, be done when the cylinder 13 has no key inserted or is in its position of rest.

Upon locking the padlock, the hasp thereof is firmly held by both its ends which opposes a strong resistance to and gives great security under an attempt made on the hasp to force the lock.

In accordance with the principal characteristic of the invention, it is possible to allow certain persons to open only the inspection plate and to permit others to open at will, either the padlock or the inspection plate only, by using two difierent keys. In the first case, the short key of Fig. 9 is employed, which acts only on the forward half 13 of the cylinder .13. When a half-turn to the left has been given, its stop 40 comes opposite the detent 33 in such wise that, by giving a slight push, the detent is caused to recede thus bringing about the opening of the inspection plate 51 which opens automatically under the action of the spring 63. In this way, the card may be examined but it cannot be changed, since for this purpose it is necessary to open the padlock, which requires the longer key.

As far as attempts to open the look by means of a skeleton key or screwdriver are concerned, in the manner in which the standard types of cylinder locks are forced no result will be obtained since the cylinder 13 is cut into two parts, which makes it necessary to introduce a thin blade as far as cylinder 13",but such a blade would not have sufiicient strength to give a twist capable of overcoming the resistance of the pin tumblers l4, 15.

The person who has the longer key of Fig. 3 may open the lock, change the card or may merely examine the latter. When the key is given a half-turn to the left, the sequence of events already described in connection with the short key takes place and this allows the inspection plate 51 to be opened. In this case the rearward cylinder 13 will rotate without producing any effect. If, however, the key be turned to the right, the toothed sector 19 will engage with the rack 20 and will move the runner 21 to the right, always provided that the stop 66 has first been withdrawn by moving the finger 68. The runner, in its turn, will carry with it the locking-bar 11 which withdraws itself from the slots 10 of the hasp and frees the latter, which rises under the action of the spring 9 until its end 6 is outside the casing A.

Thus, in order to open the lock it is not only necessary to be in possession of the longer key, but also to know the two secrets of the opening of the inspection plate 51 and of the stop 66.

The person who has the longer key but does not know these secrets, will involuntarily leave a mark of his attempt to open the lock because when the key begins to turn to the right, the slight initial movement of the runner which results will tear the card.

In order to change the card once the lock has been opened, the hasp 4 must be turned enough to clear the flange 57 so as to be able to open the receptacle for the card.

In order to obtain a record of the fact that a person unduly in possession of the longer key and of the two secrets has opened the lock, it is sufficient to mark the card in some special way as for example by a signature. As the opening of the lock tears the card, said opening is recorded either by the presence of the torn card or by the absence of the card since in the supposed case the person opening the lock will not be able to replace it with a fresh marked card.

Although the invention has been shown as applied to a padlock, it is clear that it may be applied to any kind of door-lock of either the mortice or exposed types. It will be understood that the locking-bar and even the runner 21 itself may operate as looking elements in any form suitable to the particular case. The block B may be utilized almost without any modification or it may be modified in such wise that the cylinder is located perpendicularly to the plane of the block, the rack of the runner being then located on the face corresponding to the new position of the toothed sector of the cylinder.

It is clear that various modifications in construction and detail may be introduced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is clearly ascertained in the following claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained this my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what I claim is:

1. A locking device for looks, padlocks and the like provided with a single keyhole comprising a locking mechanism, a receptacle for a card, the locking of which receptacle depends on said locking mechanism, means in said mechanism for tearing said card at the slightest opening movement, a cover for the inspection of the card, an independent locking mechanism for said cover, worked either by the key which works the looking mechanism or by a key which works only the independent locking mechanism for said cover, and trip means accessible only after said cover has been opened, and capable of preventing or permitting according to its position the operation of the mechanism of the lock, which means, on tripping said mechanism permits, nevertheless, a slight movement of same, suificient to tear the card.

2. A locking device according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the lock mechanism is arranged to be operated by one of the keys when turned in a certain direction and the locking arrangement for the inspection cover is arranged to be operated by the same key when turned in the opposite direction.

3. A locking device in accordance with claim 1, characterized by the fact that it is of the cylinder type, the cylinder thereof being out into two portions, namely a forward and a rearward portion, to each of which a certain number of pin tumblers corresponds and with which the two keys which are of diiferent lengths are adapted to be used one of which penetrates only to the end of the forward part while the other penetrates both parts, the arrangement being such that one key operates only one of said parts whereas with the other key both said parts are operated, thus permitting a single or a pair of operations to be performed selectively, one of which causes the opening of the lock and of the receptacle for the record card and the other the opening of the inspection cover which allows the card to be seen.

4. A locking device in accordance with claim 1, comprising a block enclosing a cylinder lock mechanism the key-cylinder of which is divided into two parts, pin tumblers therefor, a toothed sector mounted on the end of the rearward part of the cylinder, a runner provided with a rack adapted to engage with said sector, which runner, suitably guided in the block has a stop adapted to operate the locking-bar and a prong to tear the check card, a spring for biassing said runner in the closed position, a locking-bar suitably guided in the block and provided with a stop operated by the stop of the runner, a spring for biassing the locking-bar in the closed position, a detent suitably guided in the block and adapted to engage and retain a hook on the inspection cover concealing the check card, a spring for biassing said detent in the closed position, said detent being adapted to be operated by either of the keys or by the forward cylinder when moved in a direction opposed to that of th operation of the toothed sector, and the trip means being adapted to engage a slot in said runner the slot being sufiiciently long to permit a slight movement of the runner for the purpose of tearing the card.

5. A locking device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking arrangement for the inspection cover comprises a detent capable of moving parallel with the axis of the key, a hook on said inspection plate adapted to engage with said detent, a spring biassing said detent in its locking position, the keys employed being permitted an additional slight longitudinal movement after insertion, a recess being provided at a point in the flange or entrance for the key for permitting a slight additional longitudinal movement of the keys employed after insertion so that at said point a stop on the key may engage the detent and force it back thus liberating the inspection cover.

6. A locking device in accordance with claim 1,

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