US805021A - Spindle-bearing for combination-locks. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

R. O. LEWIS. SPINDLE BEARING FOR COMBINATION LOCKS.

APPLICATION FILED APRJB, 1905.

INVENTOR mu 8 f S'ES WW tome UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

ROLLIN C. LEWIS, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE YALE & TOWNE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF STAMFORD,

CONNECTICUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed April 15, 1905. Serial No. 255,809.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, RoLLIN C. LEWIS, of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spindle-Bearings for Combination-Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in combination-locks more particularly designed for use in connection with a time-lock.

Where two combination-locks are used in connection with a time-lock and cooperating to make one complete locking mechanism for a safe, the three locks are secured to a plate and the latter is secured to the safe-door. It will be readily understood that as each of the combination-locks has to have a separate s pindle through the door to operate it it is an exceedingly diificult matter to so locate these holes that the spindles will come in exactly the right positions to operate the combination-locks without binding and also set up the combinations accurately each time. In practice it has been found practically impossible to drill the spindle-holes with sufficient accuracy to accomplish the above results. Hence it is generally necessary to redrill or enlarge these holes, thus resulting in a fit not as accurate as it should be or the troublesome and expensive expedient of readjusting the locks on the plates has to be resorted to.

The object of the present invention is to obviate this difficulty by providing the combination-locks with adjustable bearings for the spindles, thus permitting the bearings to be adjusted to accommodate themselves to the holes made for them in the doors.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a combination-lock casing, showing the spindle-gear and tumblergear, the other parts of the lock being removed. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the gearing removed. Fig. 3 is a view of the op posite face of the lock; and Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken through the spindle-gear, its bearing, and case.

While I have stated at the outstart that the combination-locks containing the improvements are intended to be used in pairs in connection with a time-lock, I would have it understood that the improvement is in the combination-lock whether used alone or in combination with other locks.

1 represents the lock-case provided with the tumbler-carrier pinion 2, mounted on the bearing 3 and meshing with the spindle-gear 4:. This gear leis provided with an elongated hub 5, projecting from both sides of the gear, and it and its elongated hub are provided with an angular opening or bore for the reception of the actuating-spindle. Heretofore the hub 5 of the gear 4 has been mounted in a bearing formed in the lock-case. With the case 1 fixed to the door or on part carried by the door and the spindle-bearing integral it has, as heretofore explained, been an exceedingly difficult operation to bore the spindlehole so that it will exactly aline with the spindle-bearing in the lock-case.

The present invention consists in making the spindle-bearing in the lock-case in an independent piece adjustably secured to the lock case, so that it can be moved sidewise or ra-.

dially with reference to the center of the spindle in any direction. The bearing 6 is in the form of a thimble to receive the projecting end of the hub 5 of the spindle-gear 4 and is provided with a series of radially-projecting arms 7 each of which is provided with screw-threaded opening to receive a screw 8, passed through the casing from the outside. The hole in the casing l to receive the thimble-bearing6 is slightly larger than the latter, so as to permit the bearing to be shifted to a limited distance in any direction, and the holes through the case for the passage of the screws are somewhat larger than the screws for the same purpose. The alinement between the spindle-opening in the spindle-gear and the spindle-opening in the door must be exact. As before stated, it is a diiiticult task to bore the hole in the door to exactly aline with the spindle-bearing; but when proper care is exercised it is not difiicult to get the spindle-hole in the door within several hundredths of aninch of its correct position. The enlargement of the spindle-opening in the door to correct this error in alinement results not only in considerable lost time and its attendant expense, but in an inaccurate fitting of the parts. With the spindle-bearing 6 adjustable within reasonable limits it will be readily seen that the latter can be adjusted to aline with the spindle-opening in the door, but cannot be moved sufliciently to carry the spindle-gear out of mesh With the tumblergear.

With this arrangement the spindle-hole can be drilled and the lock-case secured to the door and all differences in alinement between the spindle-opening in the lock-case and the spindle-opening in the door compensated for by the adjustable spindle-bearing in the lockcase.

It is evident that many slight changes might be resorted to in the relative arrangementof parts shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I would have it understood that I do not wish to confine myself to the exact construction shown and described; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a combination-lock, the combination with a lock-casing, of a spindle-bearing detachably secured to the casing and carrying the gear which actuates the tumblers.

2. In a combination-lock with a case having an opening therein, of a bearing adjustably secured in said opening and carrying the spindle-gear wheel.

3. In a combination-lock, the combination with a lock-casing having an opening therein, of a thimble-bearing smaller than said opening and adjustable in all directions therein and screws for locking the thimble-bearing to the case.

,4. In a combination-lock the combination with a case having a spindle-opening therein, of a thimble-bearing for said spindle of less diameter than the opening in the case and provided With projections having threaded openings, and screws adjustably connecting said pearing to the case.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROLLIN' o LEWIS.

Witnesses:

SGHUYLER MERRITT, F. T. TOWNE.

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