US615207A

US615207A - babcock

Info

Publication number: US615207A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1898-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1915-11-29

Description

N0. -6|5,207. Patented Nov. 29,1898.'

' .|.-J. BABCICK.v

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(Application led Jan. 8, 1898.)

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|. J. BABcocK.

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(Application led Jan. 8, 1898.)

Patented Nov. 29, |898.

(No Model.) .3 Shsets-Sheet 2.

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA J. BABOOOK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,207, dated November 29, 1898. Application led January 8,1S98. Serial No. 666,017. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, IRA J. BABCOCK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in locks, and it is particularly useful in connection with, but not necessarily in all respects limited to, key combination-locks of the type known as locking-bar locks-such locks, for example, as are described in my application for Letters Patent filed in the United States Patent Office on the 29th day of December, 1897, Serial No. 664,174.

The present invention aims, irst, to provide such a construction and arrangement of a rotatable cylinder that when applied to a padlock the cylinder shall itself constitute the bolt engaging the shackle directly and without any intermediate mechanism and in such manner that the rotation of the cylinder to one position locks the shackle on .the cylinder and the rotation of the cylinder to another position frees the shackle, and, second, to provide mechanism wherebya lock can be locked in two directions and such that the lock is always left with some combination of tumblers set in the locked position. This construction is of great utility in key combination-locks, which can be locked with a number of keys, because it prevents a malicious person from inserting in an unlocked lock some other key than that possessed by the owner of the lock and locking the tumbers in some new combination, so that the owner cannot open his own lock. The invention in this respect overcomes this danger, because, since whenever the owners key is removed from the lock a combination of tumblers is always set, which only the owners key or its exact duplicate will open, and no other person can bring the tumblers to the neutral position, in order to change the combination, with any other than such key or its exact duplicate.

The invention also provides simple and effective means for preventing withdrawal of the key until the proper combination of tumblers has been set in the locked combination, together with means not readily accessible to a person attempting to tamper with the lock,

for freeing the key and changing the combination when desired. These last named means are of such character as to require 5 5 time to operate and also such that the attempt to operate them will excite suspicion and direct inquiry into the actions of the person, making the change. Practically the change is impossible to any except the right- 6o ful owner.

The invention has a wide range of applications, and I therefore hereinafter show certain features applied both to key combination-locks of the locking-bar type and to pintumbler locks.

Referring to the' drawings which accompany the specification to aid the description, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the invention applied to a key 7o combination-padlock of the locking-bar type. The shackle is shown locked. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig.

3, Sheet 1, is a view from below of the bottom of the case. The dotted lines represent the locking-bar and tumblers in the unlocked or neutral position. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a longitudinal sectional elevation with the shackle open. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a cross-section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an elevation 8o of the tumbler-case. Fig. 7 is a plan of the tumbler-case in the same position as in Figs. 4 and 5 and showing the shackle in section. Fig. 8 is a view of the head 30 of the tumblercase as seen from below. Fig. 9 is an en- 8 5 larged detail of a tumbler. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail of a washer. Fig. 11 is a broken cross-section showing the device for holding cap 40 in its several positions for preventing and for permitting changing the combination 9o of the locking-tumblers. Fig. 12 is a view of a key and indicating one position of head 30 and cap 40. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a pin-tumbler padlock provided with a cylinder which is equipped with a bolt locking directly on the shackle. Fig. 14 is a section on the line 14 14 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a section on the line 15 1,5 of Fig. 14. Referring to Figs. 1 to 11, A is a lock-case; B, a shackle preferably hinged thereon at b; roo C, a rotatable cylinder or tumbler-case; D D, tumblers having a true working fit in case O, and E a locking-bar coacting with the tumblers, as hereinafter described. Said tumbler-case C is slotted at one side, as at c', for to permit of the oscillation of the bits of the the passage of locking-bar E and is provided with a bolt which is formed integral with or fixed on and so as to form one with said ease C and adapted to engage directly with shackle B without the intervention of any intermediary part. In Figs. 1 and G said bolt consists of a head c on the end of case C and provided with overhan gin g flanges d, which when said case C is in the locked position engage over hooks f g of shackle l and lock said shackle at both ends, so that even if hinge pin Z) is knocked out the shackle cannot be opened. A diametrical `groove c is cut down through said bolt c, so that when case C is in the unlocked position, Figs. +L and 7, the shackle can be turned up through said groove to the open position of Fig. 4; but when the shackle is in such open position the end of hook f, which constitutes a cam, turns up into said groove c and prevents rotating the case C back to the locked position. To lock, therefore, the shackle must be first turned down, so that the shoulder d can rotate through the notch f. Surfaces (Z2 serve to stop the case C at its extreme positions. Said tumblers D, of any desired number, are each shaped substantially as a segment of a circle to t nicely in case C and are provided with two projections 1 2, which each serve to turn the locking-bar E and also assist in limiting the motion of the tumblers in certain circumstances, and with surfaces 3 4, which are also, in effect, projections and adapted to limit the motions of the tumblers by engaging on said locking-bar E. Said projections 1 2 3 i coact with said locking-bar E in the manner hereinafter described. Said projections 3 i and the surfaces 5 6 of projections 2 are shaped so as to permit of turning of locking-bar E in the several positions of the tumblers. Said projections l 2 3 i are spaced apart a distance equal to the angular movement of the tumblers between the unlocked and either ot the locked positions. Each of said tumblers is centrally perforated, as shown, a number of recesses, as 9 10 11 12 13 1i 15 1G, being spaced equally around the perforation and at angular distances apart equal to the angular movement of the tumblers from the unlocked to either of the locked positions. Recess 9 is the true key-recess, and the purpose of the other recesses is to conceal the position of any tumbler, since whether any tumbler be locked or unlocked there will always be the same number of straight lines of recesses accessible from the keyhole and no indication will be given of what tumblers are unlocked or locked.

Between each pair of tumblers is a washer XV, preferably of thin sheet metal, shaped as shown and provided with points a; Q9, which fit into slots .2' at the sides of locking-bar E, so as to hold said washers stationary. Through the center of each washer is a perforation for the shank 7,; of key K, and connecting with this perforation is a iiarin g orifice lV, shaped key. Said locking-bar E, pivoted axially in the tuinbler-case C, as shown, is long enough to reach across the edges of all the assembled tumblers, Fig. 1, and is shaped in cross-section, as seen in Fig. 2-that is, with three longitudinal arms or ribs 25 26 27, separated by grooves 2S 29. Said arm 2G is the lockingarm and is hammer-shaped on each side, as shown. Said projections 1 of said tumblers D are adapted to work in said groove 2S as the tumblers rotate. Assuming the lockingbar and tu mblcrs to be in the neutral position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 and that the locking-bar is to be locked in the position of Fig. 5, then the projections 1 of such tumblers as are turned by the key moving in said slot 28 engage the adjacent side of arm 26 of locking-bar E and turn the lockingbar to the position ot' Fig. 5. If, however, the intention is to lock the locking-bar E in the position of Fig. 2, the key will be turned in the direction the reverse of before, and the projections 2 of such tumblers as were turned by the key will move across the slot 29 and e11- gage the other side of said arm 20 and turn said locking-bar from the neutral position to that of Fig. 2. If the key were now turned backward, said projections 2, engaging arm 27 of the locking-bar, would return the locking-bar to the neutral position, and if the key continued turning projections 1 would then turn the locking-bar again to the position of Fig. 5. Now, again reversing the movement of the key, said projections 1 will engage arm 25 of the locking-bar and turn the locking-bar to the neutral position, and then projections 2 will continue turning said locking-bar until it reaches the position of Fig. 2. In the position of Fig. 2, as will be seen, one side of arm 2G stands adjacent to the ends of said projections 2, and in the position of Fig. 5 the other side of said arm 2G stands adjacent to the ends of projections 1, and in each position the locking-bar can be turned to the neutral position only as the locked tumblers turn to that position. The projections 3 and 4, respectively, limit the extreme movements of the tumblers by bringing up on the periphery of the locking-bar E. The sides 20 21 of said locking-bar are preferably shaped on the arcs of a circle struck from the axis of rotation of said locking-bar as a center and are adapted to respectively enter recesses c and a/ in case A, according as the tumblers and locking-bar are locked in one or the other position. The back 22 of said locking-bar is flattened sufficiently to pass freely by the wall of case A when the locking-bar is in the unlocked position.

The lower removable head 30 of tumblercase C is provided with a hole 3l for the shank of the key, connecting with three slots 32 33 3i, spaced equally apart an angular distance equal to the angular movement of the tumblers from the unlocked to either of thelocked positions, and the middle slot 33 corresponds IOG IIO

to the position of the bits of the key when the tumblers and locking-bar are in the neutral or unlocked position. A cap 40, capable in some circumstances of rotation, as will be hereinafter described, is positioned between said head 30 and ring 41, which is spun or otherwise firmly fixed in the lower end of case A. Said cap 40 is preferably counterbored, as shown, and 44 is a central hole for the shank of the key, 45 46 being diametrically opposite slots for the key-bits and connecting with said hole 44. Said cap 40 is normally held stationary by the screw 50 engaging a slot 51, Figs. 1 and 3, and in such position that slots 45 46 register, respectively, with

slots

32 and 34 in head 30; but by turning back screw 50 said cap 40 may be turned to register slot 46 with slot 33, screw 50 being again turned in to engage slot 52 in said cap 40.

The operation is as follows: Normally some combination of tumblers corresponding to a combination of bits on some key is set in the locked position, locking-bar E then engaging in recess ct of case A, provided shackle B is locked, or in recess d if said shackle is unlocked. Now suppose the shackle locked as in Fig. 1. Then the key K, which originally locked the lock or its exact duplicate, is inserted, its bits 60 passing through slot 46 in cap 40 and slot 34 in head 30. Turning said key in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, the

projections 2 of those tumblers corresponding to the bits 60 engaging arm 27 of lockingbar E, the tumblers and locking-bar first revolve to the neutral position, in which the locking-bar comes clear of recess a in case A. Then the tumbler-case C, with the tumblers and locking-bar, revolves a quarter-turn and until the locking-bar comes to recess d in said case A. Now continued pressure on the key turns the tumblers still farther and sets the same combination in the other direction, the other side 21 ofthe locking-bar meantime turning up into said recess d' and lockingsaid tumbler-case Cin its new position. The bits of the key are now in line with slot 32 of head 30 and slot 45 of cap 40, Fig. 127 and the key may be withdrawn, leaving a combination of tu mblers locked but the shackle free, because, as the tumbler-case C revolves, slot e turns to the plane of shackle B, freeing said hooks f g. The lock is therefore now open. To lock, shackle B must first be closed down, so as to bring the V-notch f in line with the fiange d of head c and allow the tumbler-case to turn. Next the same key as was used to unlock or the exact duplicate thereof is inserted, (the bits 60 now passing in through slots 45 and 32, Fig. 12,) and the key is turned inthe reverse direction, first turning the tumblers to the neutral position and withdrawing the locking-bar from recess a', then turning the works as a whole, and finally locking the tumblers and locking-bar again in the position they were originally in, wherein the side 20 of the locking-bar enters recess a, Fig. 2. As tumbler-case C turns its flanges CZ d pass over thezhooks f g of said shackle and lock same as before. The key maynow be withdrawn, leaving all locked.

Evidently when the tumblers are in the neutral position (wherein alone can the combination be changed) the bits of the key are under the solid part of cap 40 and the key cannot be withdrawn, nor another inserted to change the combination, and in this way the changing of the combination by a malicious person when the lock is left unlocked by its owner, so as to prevent the owner from opening his own lock, is prevented. 'Ihe combination may however be changed, if the owner desires, by inserting the key which last locked or the exact duplicate thereof and turning it until its bits stand between slots 45 and 46, when the plane of the handle of the key is in the line joining the marks 0 1, respectively, on cap 40 and ring 41, Fig. 3. Now thev tumblers and locking-bar will be in the neutral position. Screw 50 is next turned out and cap 40 revolved until its mark YO is in line with mark 2 on ring 41, in which position slot 46 in cap 40 will register with slot 33 in head 30 and the key may be withdrawn and a new one inserted. Now cap 40 is turned back to its original position and fastened by screw 50 and the new key turned to one of its locking positions and withdrawn, leaving some new combination of tumblers and the locking-bar locked.

The use of double locking tumblers and locking-bar is not restricted to cylinder-padlocks, but has a wide application in a variety of key combination-locks. two heads, as 30 40, to prevent in one position the withdrawal of a key except some combination of tu mblers is locked, and to permit, in another position, the withdrawal of the key when all the tumblers are in the unlocked position and the insertion of a new key to change the combination has a wide range of applications in key combinationlocks, and both these features are claimed generally as my invention. I also, as herein- The use also of IOO IIO

before stated, claim generally the combina- 13, 14, and 15, Sheet 3, such combination used with a pin-cylinder lock. Referring to said last-named figures, 70 is the outer case; 71, the shackle; 72, the cylinder or tumbler case 5 73, the bolt on the end thereof, now preferably shaped with wings 74 75, as shown, though it might be circular,provided the lockcase were circular, as in Fig. 1; 76, the pintumblers, each constructed of several pieces, guided in chambers incase 70 and normally pressed inward by springs 78 in the usual manner. In a wall of cylinder 72 are holes through which the said pins 76 enter in the locked position, so as to cross the joint between said cylinder '72 and outside case 70 and so lock the cylinder against turning. A

key K', provided with the well-known corrugated edge when inserted in the lock, lifts said pins, so that a joint between the sections of each pin registers with the joint between said cylinder 72 and case 70, so that the cylinder can turn. As it turns the wings 74 75 of bolt 73 disengage from hooks S2 S3 of shackle 7 l, so that said shackle can be raised. In locking,said shackle 7l is iirst closed. Then the key turns cylinder 72 back to its locked posit-ion, wings 7i 75 of bolt 7l again engaging over hooks S2 S3 of said shackle and locking it, and upon withdrawing` the key the pins 76 lock cylinder 72 against turning.

Now, having described my improvements, I claim as my inventionl. In a lock adapted for locking in two directions., the combination of a rotatable locking-bar and a series of independently-rotatable tumblers, each provided with a plurality of projections adapted to rotate said lockingbar and to engage on said locking-bar and limit the motion of said tumblers, substantially as described.

L. In a lock adapted for locking in two directions, the combination of a locking-bar having a plurality of arms, a series of independently-movable tumblers each provided with a plurality of projections, certain of which are adapted to engage arms of said locking-bar and shift same to one or the other of its locking positions, and certain otherof which are adapted to engage on said lockingbar and limit the extreme motion of said tumblcrs, substantially as described.

3. In a lock which is adapted to lock in two directions, a locking-bar provided in crosssection with a plurality of arms, the central one of which is adapted to be engaged to throw the locking-bar to its several locking positions, and the others of which are adapted to be engaged to return thelocking-bar to its unlocked position, substantially as described.

et. In a lock which is adapted to lock in two directions, a series of ind ependently-movable tumblers, each provided with projections l, 2, adapted to actuate a locking-bar in its several directions, and also each provided with projections 3, i adapted to engage said locking-bar and limit the extreme motion of the tuinblers, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a series of independently-movable tumblers, washers, each provided with an orifice to permit of the sweep of a key and with projections to hold the washer stationary, substantially as described.

G. The combination in a lock of a shackle, a rotatable tu mbler-case, and a bolt fixed on said tumbler-case adapted to engage said shackle directly as the tumbler-case rotates, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a lock-case, a rotatable tumbler-case therein, a locking-bar and tu mblers in said tumbler-case, a recess in said lock-case adapted to be engaged in certain positions by said locking-bar, a shackle, and a bolt fixed on said tumbler-case adapted to directly engage said shackle as the tumblercase rotates, substantially as described.

S. In a key combination-lock, the combination of a lock-case, a shiftable tumbler-case therein, a plurality of independently-movable tumblers in said tumbler-case, a head of said tumbler-case having a plurality of key-slots, and a shiftable cap of said lock-case provided with a key-slot arranged to normally register with a certain slot in the aforesaid head and to be shifted to register with another of the Vslots in said head when the combination is to ence of two witnesses, this 7th day of January, 1898.

IRA J. BABCOCK.

Witnesses:

GLENN FORD MoKINNnY, HENRY V. BROWN.