US605278A - Seal-lock - Google Patents

Description

W, K. EDGAR. SEAL LOCK.

No. 885,278. Patented June 7, 1888.

llivrrn STATES `VILLIAM K. EDGAR, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

`sean-LOCK.

srnorFIoa'rIoN forming par; of Letters Patent No. eo 5,278, dated 'June 7, ieee.

Y Application led June 9, 1897. Serial No. 640,013. (llo model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM K. EDGAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colorado Springs, in the countyof El Paso and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Seal-Lock, of which the following is a specification. y

Theinvention relates to seal-locks, and particularly to seals for use in connection with lock constructions such asfor similar to those shown in the patent granted-to myself and lV. L. Sebring, No. 563,916, on July 14,1896,

and the patent granted tome, No. 584,544, on J une 15, 1897, wliereinthe sealis engaged and held in place by means of a locking-pin disposed to operate perpendicular to the plane ofthe seal and performing the additional function of securing the locking-bolt in its extended or operative position, said locking-pin engaging the seal from the rear and preferably projecting through an opening in the seal to lie at its front end in or contiguous to the plane of the front surface of the seal and hence visible to the official whose duty it is to inspect the locks to indicate whether or not the seal is properly secured in place.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient construction of frangible seal adapted to be engaged by a locking-pin approaching the same from its rear side and having an opening through which the front end ofthe locking-pin is adapted to project. y

A further object of the invention is to provide a seal wherein the opening forthe' reception of the front end ofthe locking-pin is of larger diameter than the locking-pin to prevent the dishonest substitution for the lockin g-pin of a false locking-pin end orplug constructed to resemble the front end of a locking-pin and arranged in the seal to mislead those officials whose duty it is to inspect and inquire into the correct locking of cars or similar receptacles with which the locks are equipped. If the opening in the seal through which the extremity of alocking-pin projects from therear is of equal or approximately equal size with the locking-pin, it is possible by inserting a false locking-pin end or plug into the opening of the seal to introduce the seal into its proper place or seal-seat in the lock, while the locking-pin proper remains in its repressed or inoperative position, said seal being temporarily fastened in place by readily-detachable meansknown to accomplices of those Who have wilfnlly inserted the plugged seal. With this arrangement the only operation necessary to gain access to the car or receptacle provided with the lool; is to remove the means employed for temporarily securing the seal in its place, dislnount the seal intact, and operate the lock; but by employing an opening in the seal which is of larger diameter than the extremity of the locking pin the introduction of a plug of suitable size to iill the opening would be too large to be mistaken for the end of the locking-pin, and,` furthermore, any plugging of the opening in the seal which would prevent a view of the contiguous interiorof the seallock Would be apparent to inspectors inquiring into the correctness of the operation of locking. a f

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appearin the, following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in` Fthe appended claims. L I

In the drawings, Figurelis aperspective view of a seal-flock, showing in operative position a seal constructed 'inaccordance with the invention.A Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail View ofthe seal detached. Figj4 is a vertical sectionof a portion of the lock, showing a modiiied construction of seal wherein the opening is of a size to snugly it the end of the locl ing-pin. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the `opening in a sealplug in front of the repressed locking-pin and secured in place by means other'than .those provided for use in the legitimate operation of the device, as when car-door locks are manipulated through collusion between or with railroad employees.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The lock in connection with which thepseal 1 is employed includes a seal-seat 2, provided atits top and sides with ovcrhangingflanges 3 and being accessible for the introduction IOO of the seal at one side only-namely, in the constructionillustrated at its lower side-and a bolt 4, which is longitudinally slotted, as at 5, to receive the reduced portion or neck 6 of a locking-pin 7, mounted for movement perpendicular to the plane of the seal-seat and also perpendicular to the bolt, said bolt being adapted to engage a staple 9, and thereby secure a hasp 10. The locking devices for the locking-pin are concealed in a rearward extension or mortised portion 11 of the lockcasing, whereby said locking devices are inaccessible from the front of the lock to prevent tampering; but as said locking devices are similar to those shown particularly in said former patent, N o. 584,544, granted June 15, 1897, any specific description thereof is unnecessary, except in so far as it is desirable to state that they include a releasing-pin 12, which projects forward parallel with the locking-pin and terminates in a cavity 13 in rear of the plane of the seal-seat, where it is fitted with a pivotal handle or ring 14, adapted to lie in rear of the plane of the seal and at one point between the locking-pin and that side of the seal-seat which is opposite to its open side or opposite to that side through which the seal' is introduced.

It will be seen that in so far as the construction of the lock is concerned the locking-pin secures both the bolt and the seal in their normal or operative positions and is itself secured by locking devices connected with a re leasing pin or trip which projects forward to a point contiguous to the plane of the rear side of the seal and is protected or guarded against tampering by the seal.

The seal, which is preferably made of clay or similar frangible material, is provided at a suitable point in alinement with the locking-pin with an opening 15, through which the front end of the locking-pin is adapted to extend when in its normal position, whereby after the extension of the locking-pin the seal may not be'removed from its seat except it be destroyed, even the breaking of the seal in half not allowing the removal of any portion thereof except that which is between the locking-pin and the open side of Ithe seat. The removal of said outer portion of the seal will not allow the inner portion, or that which is located between the locking-pin and that side of the seat which is opposite toits open side, to be displaced. l

In Fig. 4 I have ,shown aseal in which the opening is of a size approximately equal to that of the front end of the locking-pin; but while the object in allowing the front end of the locking-pin to project forward through the opening in the seal to the front face thereof is to enable an inspector to see that the locking-pin is properly in engagement with the seal I am aware that it is possible when the opening in the seal is of equal size with the locking -pin to tamper with the lock through collusion with railroad employees. For instance, a false locking-pin end or plug 16 (see Fig. 5) may be secured in the opening in the seal and the latter placed in its seat without advancing the locking-pin, and hence y locks.

without making use of the locking devices provided for securing said pin in its normal or operative position. The seal may be secured temporarily in its proper position by means of a small plug or wedge 17 introduced between the lower edge of the seal and the contiguous surface of the casing, as may be seen by reference to Fig. 5. With this arrangement when the proper time comes for opening the car by the accomplices of the person who has improperly sealed the cars all that is necessary is to withdraw the wedge 17, remove the seal, and open the lock, which obviously has not been properly locked, and

" which was only made to appear for the purposes of inspection to be properly locked. \Vhen it is desired to restore the parts to their proper positions after the car or receptacle has beenrifled, the seal may be returned and the locking-pin properly engaged therewith, the false plug having previously been removed from the opening of the seal.

In order to guard against tampering with the lock in the manner above indicated, the preferred form of seal is made with an opening which in size is in excess of that necessary 4for the reception of the locking-pin, whereby the contiguous portions of the sides of the locking-pin are exposed therethrough and whereby any attempt to plug 'the opening would be readily discernible, for the .reason that a plug of the size necessary to fill the enlarged opening would be too large to mislead any one inirusted with the inspection of the By reason of the locking devices for the locking-pin being located in the mortised ICO extension of the lock-casing, and hence a considerable distance in rear of the plane of the bolt and seal-seat, the enlargement of the opening in the seal does not operate to impair the efciency of the lock. The opening may be made of sufficient size, as vindicated in the drawings, to expose a portion of the ring or handle and the releasing pin or trip, and thereby show to the inspector that said parts are in their proper positions, without in any way affecting the security ofthe device, for

the reason that the releasing pin or trip cannot be advanced to 'disengage the locking devices without first releasing the handle by which it is held repressed, and said handle cannot be released except ,by removing every portion of the seal from its seat. If the seal is broken sufficiently to remove the entire .lower portion thereof, as indicated by the broken dotted line ce of Fig. 1, and thus Wholly expose the front end of the releasing pin or trip and more than half of the handle or ring, the parts are still securely locked and will remain so until the remaining portion of the seal, which is arranged between the locking-pin and that side of the seat which is opposite to its open side, has been removed, this removal being possible of accomplishment only by breaking and thus destroying said upper or inner portion of the seal.

I-Ience by making an enlarged opening in IIO IZO

the seal-and by enlarged is meant an appreciable increase of size whereby the opening tits loosely on the extremity of the locking-pin-the introduction of a false lockingpin end could be readily detected by its difference in size from the proper locking-pin, and therefore the contiguous portions of the lock in rear of the plane of' the seal are exposed through the opening when the parts are properly engaged.

An important advantage of the construction of lock and seal set forth in the foregoing specification is that the described relative arrangement of parts provides for a certain looseness of tit without in any way reducing the security of the fastening, and 'hence enables the metal parts of the device to be manufactured wholly of castings and enables the manufacturer to dispense with machine-work, thereby reducing the cost, and hence the use of a large opening in the seal has an important advantage in addition to those hereinbefore mentioned, this advantage consisting in the fact'that the area of the opening allows a certain latitude for irregularities in the manufacture of the lock and enables any seal having a large opening to be introduced and secured in place without requiring the operator to search for the opening. Thus the seal may be inserted and pushed to place by one hand-of the operator, and at the same time the locking-pin may be advanced by the same hand to secure the seal. No loss of time is sustained in setting the lock, and at the same time the opening in the seal may be comparatively roughly formed Without interfering with the described engagement.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing 'from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of this invention.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim is l. In a seal-lock, the combination with a seal-seat and a movable member arranged in rear thereof, for advancement in a direction intersecting the plane of the same, of a seal having an opening to receive, and expose for inspection, the front end of said movable member, the opening in the seal being of greater area than the cross-section of the engaging portion of the movable member, to fit loosely on the latter and prevent the temporary tting of a false plug, of the same crosssectional area as the movable member, in said opening, substantially as specified.

2. A frangible seal having an opening extending entirely therethrough, in combination with a lock-casing having a seat into which the seal may be slid, a locking-pin mounted in rear for advancement in a direction intersecting the plane of the seal, and adapted to engage land iit loosely at its front end in the opening of the seal to prevent the unseating thereof, and locking devices for the locking-pin, including actuating means arranged in rear of and held inoperative by the seal, and visible through said opening in the seal between the -sides of the opening and the engaging pin, substantially as speciiied.

3.. As a new article of manufacture, a frangible seal having an opening for engagement by the movable member of a lock, which opening is of greater area than the cross-section of the engaging portion of said member, to allow view through the opening, between its walls and the sides of the engaging member, and prevent fitting the opening with a false plug of the same, or approximately the same, cross-sectional area as said movable member, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NV. K. EDGAR.

Vitnesses:

JOHN H. Sleenns, ROBERT E. CRUMP.

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