US371284A - Thomas s - Google Patents

Description

(MOdeL) T. S. SPIVEY.

PERMUTATION LOOK.

No. 371,284. Patented Oct. 11, 1887.

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UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS S. SPlVEY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE VICTOR AND LOCK COMPANY, OF SAMEPLACE.

PERMUTATlON-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,28 dated October 8 Applioation filed July 21, 1887. Serial No. 244,863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. SPIVEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinPermutation-Locks,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The first part of my invention comprises a novel arrangement of devices for changing the combinations of a set of tumblers used with ordinary permutation-locks, the details ofsaid devices and the method of operating them being hereinafter more fully described.

The second part of my invention consists in attaching a plate, hub, or disk to a lockspindle, which disk is provided with teeth or other retaining devices adapted to temporarily engage a pointer that is journaled upon said spindle in such a manner as to be swung around When this pointer is engaged with the proper tooth or other retainer of the aforesaid plate or hub, the correct combination is effected in a few moments; but by simply applying said pointer to some other tooth a person is misled in regard to the position of the lock tumblers, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is afront elevation of a lock-case embodying my improvements, the central part of said case being broken away to expose a portion of the gear-wheels. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of saidcase, taken in the plane of the spindles. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the shiftable pointer, the spindle upon which it is hung be ing sectioned. Fig. at is an enlarged horizontal section of said pointer and its accessories. Fig. 5 is 'an enlarged transverse section show' ing said pointer engaged with the crown or contrate teeth of the spindle-hub.

A represents a portion of a permutationlock case, and B is a supplementary case se-- cured to the exterior of the former, these cases being traversed by the main spindle C, which latter may be provided with any desired arrangement of driving disk and revolving tumblers, as indicated by the dotted lines 0.

Located within the outer case B, and firmly attached to main spindle C, is a gear-wheel, D, that engages with another wheel, E, secured (ModeL) to the secondary spindle F, the latter being journaled in the shiftable dial-plate G. This plate has a graduated circle, the divisions of which may be either lettered or numbered, as indicated at 2, 4, 6, and 8. Furthermore, the dial-plate is provided with two diametricallyopposite lugs, H and I, wherewith said plate G is attached to the case B by means of the screws h t, which screwt' passes through a horizontal slot, 1'', of lug I, as seen in Fig. 2.

Adapted to sweep around in front of the dial is a pointer, J, whose inner end is screwthreaded at j to engage with either one of a series of peripheral screw-threaded sockets, 7c,- of a hub, K, which hub is either attached to or constitutes an integral part of the secondary spindle F.

L is a horizontal slot in the case B to permit the proper lateral shifting of the dial.

The operation of these devices is as follows: When all the parts are in their normal positions,the screws 71. z prevent lateral shifting of the dial G, and cause the gear-wheels D E to engage with each other in order that the proper turning of either of the spindles C or F will operate the tumblers o, in the usual manner, for the purpose of obtaining the correct combination, preparatory to which the detachable pointer J is screwed into the appropriate socket is of the hub K. These sockets may be either lettered or numbered, and the custodian of the lock must remember the letter or number of the socket to be used, and also the peculiar combination of letters or numbers on the dial. Therefore, when the pointer is properly applied to the hub and the spindle operated to restore the combination, the look isat once opened in the ordinary way. To change the combination the screw t is loosened and the other screw, h, is completely disengaged, so as to permit such a shifting of the dial to the left as will throw the wheel E out of gear with the wheel D. \Vheel E is then turned in either direction and dial G is shifted to the right, thereby bringing a new set of teeth in gear with the other wheel,D, and changing the combination accordingly, after which act said dial is held immovably in place by the screws h 11.

From the above description it is evident that a change is effected every time a new tooth of wheel E is engaged with wheel D, and after ICO all the teeth of wheel E have-been used the wheel D may be shifted one tooth at a time, thus affording an almost unlimited number of combinations. As the detachable pointer J is liable to be lost or misplaced, and as it is not desirable to have this device permanently applied to the secondary spindle, I sometimes adopt the expedient shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, wherein said spindle is shown provided with a circumferential groove, f, around which freely turns: the coupling m of a pointer, M, the latter being somewhat flexible at the part m. The inner face of this pointer has a detent, N, adapted to engage with either one of the crown or contrate teeth of a hub-plate or disk, 0, secured to the spindle F. The interdental spaces between these teeth are either lettered or numbered, as shown at 2 4 6 in Fig. 3. To use this device the custodian of the lock turns the pointer M around until it reaches what he knows to be the proper tooth,

- 0, and the detent N is'then allowed to engage therewith. The spindle is then turned in the usual manner, the pointer M traveling around the face of the dial and thus enabling the combinations to be restored in a few minutes; but when the safe or other receptacleis closed and locked the custodian springs the pointer suffieiently to disengage its detentNfrom the tooth of the hub, and said pointer is then turned around at random in either direction, and its detent is allowed to snap into any tooth that may be convenient. It is evident, however, that this isnot the proper tooth that enables the combinations to be set up; hence it is apparent that the device M now acts as a false pointer,which efi'eotually misleads any person who attempts a clandestine opening ofthe look.

In the drawings the wheels D E are shown as being of the same diameter; but for some kinds of looks it may be desirable to make them of different diameters; in which event either one of the wheels would serve'as a mas ter-wheel and the other wheel as a pinion. Finally, the knob or handle may be omitted from either of the spindles, as it is a matter of no consequence which wheel serves as the driver; but a pair of knobs is preferred, because it adds to the complicated appearance of the lock, and leads an uninitiated person to suppose that both of them must be operated to restore the combinations of the tumblers.

I claim as my invention 1. A permutation-lock provided with a main spindle, O, the tumblers, and a gear-wheel, D, carried by said spindle, in combination with the shiftable dial G,secondary spindle F, carried thereby, a pointer upon said spindle F, and a gear-wheel, E, also secured upon the latter spindle and engaging with the wheel D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A permutation lock provided with a spindle having a plate or disk attached thereto, which plate is furnished with a series of retainers,in combination witha swinging pointer journaled upon said spindles and engaging with one of said retainers, for the purpose described.

3. The combination, in a permutation-lock, of grooved spindle F f, pointer M m, journaled thereon, detentN upon said pointer, and

a contratewheel, O 0, adapted to engage the pointer, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature in presence of two witnesses,

THOMAS S. SPIVEY.

Witnesses: v

JAMES H. LAYMAN, SAML. S. CARPENTER.

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