US2263713A - Locking device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 25, 1941.

F. ADAM LOCKING DEVICE Original Filed March 25, 1959 Inve nTor':

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of which positions the door is locked.

Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES e LOCKING DEVICE Folger Adam,`Joliet, Ill. n

Original application March 25, 1939, Serial No.

Divided and this application January 2,1940, serial No. 312,085

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in locking devices, especially for locking swinging or sliding doors Aor the like. The locking devices herein disclosed are especially intended for the locking and control of the doors of cells or coniinement or treatment rooms of such institutions as jails, houses of correction, etc., and the constructions herein disclosed have been designed especially to meet the conditions of use and operation imposed by such installations and I shall describe certain of the operations of the locking devices in such use; but in so doing I wish it understood that I do not intend to thereby limit the scope of the invention, except as I may do so in the claims.

The locking devices herein disclosed are intended for installations wherein several locking and unlocking operations are possible. The arrangements are also such that the lock bolt may be moved into either of two positions, in either In the first of these two positions the bolt moves to a snap lock position, and in the other of these two positions the bolt moves to a position such that the door cannot be snapped shut, and such that the deadlocking operation may be performed. The bolt may be moved into these two positions, or withdrawn to unlock the door by key operations performed at the lock position.

Such key operations require the rotation" of the key and cylinder for one complete rotation in the locking direction (to bring' the bolt to the deadlocked position), or a quarter turn in the locking direction tounlock the bolt by key operation, and are therefore of an unusual nature.

One feature of the present invention relates to the provision of a key operated lock of such construction that the `bolt thereof normally stands in the snap locked position and may be movedby key rotation or movement into a further projected locking position; 'and which construction is such that the lock bolt may be withdrawn into unlocked position by a backwa'rd'turn of the key and cylinder. In connection with the foregoing features I have provided an improved Y form of pin tumblerarrangement for the cylinder, which pin tumbler construction serves to lock the cylinder against rotation until theproper or authorized key has been inserted into the key opening. Pin tumbler locks have been heretofore known, but they were of a construction in which the cylinder for the key was carried within an enclosing or encircling sleeve, so that the pins of the key cylinder could not slip or times conned by said sleeve. Due to the fact that I nd it necessary to make provision vfor making one complete rotation of the key cylinder in order to perform certainof the operations of the lock bolt, and lthe further-fact that certain bolt operations are controlled by the key cylinder by means of lever tumblers itis not feasible to use such sleeve construction of the prior art, and I have therefore found it desirable to make special provision for retaining the pins in the 4key cylinder when thelatter is rotated away from the position of the pin tumbler block'during the several key cylinder operations. y I

It is therefore an object ofl the invention to provide means for retainingthe pins in the key cylinder independently of any surrounding sleeve, and independently of the companion tumbler block, so that the cylinder pins are retainedY within the key cylinder at all times, and constitute a self-contained unit therewith. i In connection with the pin tumbler arrangement, wherein the cylinder pins co-operate with the tumbler pins of the pin tumbler block for unlocking purposes, it is a further feature. of the invention to provide an arrangement such that proper co-operation between these sets ofpins will be ensured at all times, and regardless of slight inaccuracies of manufacture or assembly. When they key is inserted into the key 'slotor opening the serrations or openings on thevback edge of the key serve to project the cylinder pins outwardly against ltheir respective tumbler pins carried in the pin tumbler block, so as toalign the tumbler pins and allow the key cylinder to be rotated. Heretofore it has been customary to provide contacting surfaces between the key cylinder and the companion face of the tumbler pin block, and to carry the pinrholes of the keycylinder and of the pin tumbler block to suchsur.- faces; and asa result of this arrangement it has been heretofore necessary to secure exact alignment of the holes of the key cylinder and of the pin tumbler block in order to secure proper functioning of the pins. In case of non-alignment of these 'pin holes the tumbler pins could not enter intoy the pin holes of the key cylindervvhen` the key was withdrawn, and consequently no pin locking action would occur.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide companion slots or enlarged portions on the companion surfaces-of the key cylinder and the pin tumbler block, so that even in case of misalignment of the key cylinder with respect to the pinV tumbler block, or vice versa,

drop out from the key cylinder, but were at all 55 or in case of slight inaccuracies of placement of arrows;

the key cylinder lengthwise with respect to the pin tumbler block, the pin tumblers may nevertheless be projected into the companion slot of the key cylinder and perform locking function to prevent rotation of the key cylinder until a proper key is inserted thereinto.

The foregoing feature is of further importance in connection with the construction herein disclosed wherein the key cylinder is carried at one end in the lock case, and at its other end in the removable cover plate of the lock case, and wherein the pin tumbler block is carried by the cover plate. In such construction it follows that during manufacture and assembly of the parts slight inaccuracies will have to be provided for and compensated for, and the arrangement or feature above referred to makes provision for such compensation.

A further feature of the invention relates to the forms of the contacting ends of the pins in the key cylinder and in the pin tumbler block. Heretofore it has been customary to form these contacting ends of a rounded form, rounded around the pin axis, so that theoretically each key cylinder pin and the companion tumbler pin could make only a single point of contact together. As a result the pin ends have been found to wear rapidly, and such wear would in time result in improper functioning'since the cylinder pin must be projected exactly the proper distance to cause unlocking of the tumbler pin when the key is inserted into the cylinder. My improvement inl respect to this feature consists in the provision of pins having ends which are formed on flattened or straight line surfaces so that contact of each pin of the key cylinder with the companion pin of the pin tumbler block may occur anywhere across the entire width of the pin, and on a surface of contact as distinguished from a point of contact, as heretofore. I also provide cylindrical end surfaces on the inner ends ofthe key pins, said surfaces extending across the direction of movement of the key during insertion or withdrawal of the key from its slot, thus improving the action, and also providing a line of contact between each pin and the key instead of a single point of contact as heretofore. Y

In order to prevent the pins from turning on their axes I make use of the retaining pins which engage the pins of the key cylinder and likewise the retaining pins which engage the pin tumbler block (when used), to not only retain the cylinder pins and the tumbler pins in place within the cylinder and the pin tumbler block, respectively, but also to retain said pins against rotation, so

. that the cylindrical contacting ends of the key pins will be retained in proper positions at all times with respect to the direction of key insertion or withdrawal.

lwhich consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through a locking device embodying the features of my present invention, being a section on the line I l of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the -Figure 2 shows a section on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the relationship between the key cylinder, the cylinder pins and the tumbler pins, and the tumbler levers;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail section through the cylinder and the adjacent tumbler block, showing the relationship between the key, the key pins, the pin tumblers, and the retaining pins; taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 shows a section on the line 4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrow, and on still further enlarged scale; and it shows the manner in which the retaining pins co-operate with the key pins;

Figure 5 shows a cross-section on the line 5 5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 6 shows a side face view of one of the key pins removed from the cylinder block, and it shows the chisel-like end edge which is engaged by the serrations of the inserted key.

rihis application is a division of my co-pending application for Improvements in locking devices, Serial No. 264,087, led March 25, 1939.

The lock of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 24. It includes the case or housing 25. 'Ihe lock bolt 26 is slidingly mounted in this case, and has a beveled end portion for snap engagement with the co-operating socket (not shown), in the usual manner. Normally the bolt is projected to the position shown by the line 21, for snap locking purposes, and in such projected position its beveled end portion can slide against the co-operating socket so as to allow the door to be snapped shut. The bolt may be projected to a further or deadlocked position shown by the line 28. A suitable spring serves to urge the bolt to its extended position, either 21 or 28 as the case may be.

A key cylinder 35 extends across the lock case, and nds bearing in the floor of the case and in the case cover 3l (see Figure 1) This key cylinder has a wing (not shown) which engages in a suitable recess in the bolt in the usual manner, and the bolt has notches in which such engagement occurs. With the bolt in the normal pro- `iected position (to the line 21), rotation of the key cylinder and its wing counterclockwise substantially one quarter turn will withdraw the bolt to the unlocked position against the spring, and allow the door to be opened. On the contrary, rotation of the key cylinder and its wing in the clockwise direction one turn will permit the bolt to be projected to the position of the line 28 (assuming that the gates of the tumblers have been placed in proper alignment) The case or cover also carries the pin 35 on which the lever tumblers such as 36 are pivoted, each such lever tumbler having a spring 31 which normally urges it to the raised position shown in Figure 2. The bolt carries the lug 38 which can ride back and forth through the gates 39 of the lever tumblers, when said tumblers are properly aligned for that purpose. The cover also carries a pin tumbler block which co-operates with key pins of the key cylinder in the manner to be presently explained.

It will now be seen that by counterclockwise rotation of the key cylinder the bolt may be withdrawn to the unlocked position (assuming that the bolt was in the normal or snap locked position defined by the line 21) and without the need of the lug 38 passing through the gates; but when it is desired to throw the bolt out to the deadlocked position dened by the line 28, or to withdraw the bolt from said deadlocked position,

it is necessaryto throw the lever tumblers down to align their gates with the lug 38 so that said lug mayA pass through the gates, and lie to the opposite side of the lingers of the lever tumblers. Then when said lever tumblers are allowed to rise said fingers will stand at the interfering position withrespect to the bolt lug 38 and thereby prevent bolt movement in the interfering direction. That is to say, if the bolt were to be inthe deadlocked position (shown by the line 28) it could fnot be moved inwardly to unlock Without proper pre-alignment of the gates with the lug 38, or outwardly tothe deadlocked position without pre-alignment of the gates.

The key cylinder 30 has the specially shaped key slot 68 with suitable ridges and grooves, and

the key is similarly formed to slideinto such key slot. Within the lock case 24 the key cylinder has an enlargement 69, and at one side the key slot reaches-into this enlargement as shown in Figures 2 and 3, for example. The lever tumblers ride against this enlargement (or slots or grooves therein), so that as the key is rotated the lever tumblers are at the proper times moved to position the gates into alignment with the lug 38 of the lock bolt, thereby allowing said lug to pass through the gates as `the bolt is projected or drawn back. It may be here noted that the tumblers are ,placed above the bolt (that is, close to the cover plate), and are accommodated within a grooved or recessed thickness portion of the bolt as shown vat 19. It is also noted that the front edge of the key is formed with suitable notches 1l lto engage the lever tumblers in such manner as to properly align the several tumblers for the gate operation, and at the proper time.

Within the enlarged portion 69 of the key cylinder and communicating with the back edge portion of the key slot, are the outwardly extending 15, carried by the cover plate 3l of the lock case,

which cover plate is for that purpose provided with a suitable recess dened by the walls 11. This pin tumbler block is provided with the pin tumblers 18 and 19 corresponding to the key cylinder pins 12 and 13, respectively, and light springs 80 are provided to urge the pin tumblers outwardly. It is here noted that when the key cylinder stands in the normal or key out position, the pins 12 and 13 are intended to substantially align with the corresponding pin tumblers 18 and 19, as will presently appear.

There is a cross-wise extending retaining pin 8l in the enlargement 68 and extending between the key cylinder pins 12 and 13, as wel] shown in Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6; and each of the pins 12-13 and 18-19 is provided with a flattened notch portion 82 which receives the retaining pin as well shown in Figures 4 and 5. With this arrangement the retaining pins perform two functions, they prevent the pins 12-13, and 18-19 from dropping out of their holes, and they also prevent the pins 12-13 and 18--19 from rotating on their axes, Both functions are important in the present case.

It may be here noted that the number of key cylinder pins (and the number of pin tumbler pins corresponding thereto) may be as great or as small as desired, or there may be but a single one of each, since the multiplication of these -tion of the key cylinder.

pins merely serves'to multiply the difiiculty of unauthorizedly operating the lock.

Now it is to be noted that when the key cylinder stands in the normal orY locked position with the key out, the pin tumblers 18 and 19 engage the enlargement l69 and prevent the key cylinder from being unauthorizedly turned, as by application of a pair of pliers to the projecting end por- Heretofore such engagement has been secured by the entering of the pin tumblers 18 and 19 into the holes of the keyjcylinder pins 12 and 13, and such engagement has of necessity implied the exact alignment of said pins and holes with each other. Any misalignment of these parts might be due either to longitudinal shifting or misplacing of the key cylinder and the pin tumbler block, or to nonparallelism of these parts. It is seen that when the pin tumbler block is carried by the cover plate of the casing as in the present structure, with the key cylinder journalled both in the body of the casing and in the cover plate, there is possibility of such misalignment occurring, so that the pins wouldV not properly function,` and consequently the desired locking of the key cylinder against rotation would not be ensured when the key was withdrawn from its slot.- In order to provide against this contingency I have pro- `vided the arrangements which I shall now describe:`

Instead of bringing the complete faces of the enlargement 69 and the pin tumbler block 15 together,as in the past, I prefer to provide these parts with companion axially extending slots 83 and 84 respectively, as well shown in Figure 4, so that axial misalignment of the parts will not prevent entrance of the pin tumblers 18 and 18 into engagement, with the enlargement`69 of the key cylinder, but said pin tumblers may engage said slot 83 of the key -cylinder anywhere and still prevent rotation of the key cylinder until the `pin tumblers have been forced back into disengaging position by the key pins 12 and 13 upon insertion of the key into its slot. Any amount of such misalignment up to the diameter of a pin will not prevent such proper functioning. Furthermore, the proper engagement of the key pins with their respective pin tumblers will also still occur. These slots 83 and 84 may be made of slightly greater width than the diameters of the pins so that proper functioning will occur even if the parts are not in exact axial alignment.

Heretofore it has been customary to provide the ends of the key pins and the pin tumblers with rounded faces formed about the axes of these pins, but it is noted that this arrangement presents the objection that there is only a single point of contact of each key pin with its pin tumbler. This has caused excessive wear and consequent short life of these parts whereupon they have ceased to function properly. In the present case I prefer to form the end of each of the pin tumblers and key pins with a flat face, and to form the key end of each of the key pins with a chisel face or a face rounded in the form of a part of a cylinder extending transversely of the axis of the key cylinder, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, in particular. By this means I provide a line of contact between each key pin and the edge of the key when inserted into the key slot, so that wear will be greatly reduced, and life prolonged.

Now it will be noted that when the key pins have once forced back the pin tumblers by insertion of the key into its slot, the key cylinder may be turned, and such turning may be continued indefinitely for one or more turns, Without reengagement of the pin tumblers with the key cylinder, as long as the key is retained within its slot. Thus the present form of lock cylinder is well adapted for use in connection with the herein described form of locking device in which it must be possible to completely rotate the key cylinder for certain of the Vintended operations. This is accomplished without the need of using an encircling sleeve around the key cylinder as in previous arrangements. In this connection it is also noted that such an encircling sleeve could not be used in the present form of device in which I make use of both pin tumblers and lever tumblers for various operations.

It is also noted thatV I have placed the tumblers of both forms at the top side of the lock bolt. This presents advantages in connection with certain uses of the present arrangement of locking device.

While I have herein shown and described only a single embodiment of the features of my present invention, still I do not intend to limit myself thereto, except as I may do so in the claims to follow.

I claim:

1. In a lock having a projectable lock bolt, a key cylinder, said key cylinder having a key receiving slot, means to lock the cylinder against unauthorized turning when no key is present in the key slot, comprising a pin tumbler slidably mounted adjacent to the key cylinder, spring means urging the pin tumbler towards the cylinder, and a key pin in the cylinder in position to engage the pin tumbler, there being an opening in the cylinder to receive the projecting end portion of the pin tumbler for locking purposes, together with means to retain the key pin in place within the cylinder comprising a flattened portion of the key pin of length as great as the necessary lengthwise movement of said pin, and a cross-wise extending pin in the key cylinder engaging said attened portion, substantially as described.

2. In a lock having a projectable lock bolt, a key cylinder, said key cylinder having a key receiving slot, means to lock the cylinder against unauthorized turning when no key is present in the slot, comprising a pin tumbler slidably mounted adjacent to the cylinder, spring means urging the pin tumbler towards the cylinder, and a key pin in the cylinder in position to engage the pin tumbler, there being an opening in the cylinder to receive the projecting end portion of the pin tumbler for locking purposes, the key engaging end of the key pin being rounded in a cylindrical form transverse to the axis of the key cylinder, together with means to retain the key pin against removal from the key cylinder and to prevent rotation of said key pin on its own axis, comprising a flattened portion of the key pin of length as great as the necessary endwise movement of said pin, and a cross-wise extending retaining pin in the key cylinder contacting said attened portion, substantially as described.

3. In a lock having a projectable lock bolt, a key cylinder, said key cylinder having a key receiving slot, means to lock the cylinder against unauthorized turning when no key is present in the slot, comprising a pin tumbler slidably mounted adjacent to the cylinder, spring means urging the pin tumbler towards the cylinder, and a key pin in the cylinder in position to engage the pin tumbler, there being an opening in the cylinder to receive the projecting end portion of the pin tumbler for locking purposes, the key cylinder being adapted for rotation for a substantial angular amount away from the pin locking position with consequent exposure of the key pin, together with means to retain the key pin within the key cylinder during such rotation of the key cylinder, comprising means contained within the confines of the key cylinder, substantially as described.

FOLGER ADAM.

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