USRE1167E - Improvement in locks - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

L. F. MUNGER, OF ROCHESTER, NEWT YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOCKS.

Specification forming part of `Letters PatentNo. 17,804, datcdJuly 14, 1857; Reissue No. 1,167, dated v April 2, 1861.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, L. F. MUNGER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Locksyand l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings which makea part of this specification, and in which drawings similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The nature of this invention consists in cerlfain improved means for eil'ectin g those changes in a permutation-lock, which changes are necessary either to allow or prevent the bolt being operated or thrown, and these means will be fully understood by those skilled inthe art from the following description of the several parts and their mode of action.

In reference to the drawings, there will be seen-B the bolt of the lock k, the bit of the stationary key, which throws said bolt back and forth; and S, Figure 5, thetumble, which prevents the movement ofthe boltB by means of the projections x fr, which interlock with similar indentations, g/ y, on the bolt. This tumbler is guided vertically by the projections s `.s s, and is constantly forced down by a spring, b, acting through a lever, j'. This lever turns upon a pin at its center of motion, whiih passes through the bolt B, as seen in Fig. 3. The action ofthe key is such,however, as to-raise this tumbler S (if nothing prevents) before acting on the bolt, thus leaving the bolt free to lniove back and forth; but thev tumbler S has aixed to it a tongue, q, which fits into the slot t of wheels V, of which there are three in the sample shown in the drawings. If, then, the slots in the three wheels V should all coincide and lie vertically over the tongue q attached to the tumbler S, it is 'evident that said tumbler might be raised by the action of the bit k of the key; but if these slots should not all coincide with the line of q, then the tumbler could not be raised, and consequently the lock could not be opened.

Thus far the construction ol this lock is similar to that of others of its class; and it is in the peculiar means used for bringing the slots t into and out of line with the tongue q of the tumbler, and with each other, that my invention consists.

Working into each of the wheels V is another set, W, as will be sten from Fig. 3 and the top view on Sheet 2, and the two sets may be thrown into and out of gear with each other by means of the eccentric arbor i", constructed as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. This arbor has a square end, (opposite to that seen in Figs. 3 and 6,) by which it may be turned by a key tting thereon, and when turned the 'whole is held in position by means ofthe pawl d catching into the notches in the disk O, Fig. l. Two of the wheels W are tted loosely on the arbor K, but are prevented from moving freely by means of the pawl i, a projection on which drops into the tooth-spaces of said wheels whenever they are in proper position to allow it. The third wheel is attached to the frictionclutch c a b, Fig. which attaches it to the arbor K with sufcient force to move all the other wheels, while, atthe same time, if any ofthe wheels should get caught-as, for instance, bythe ton gue q-the arbor might be turned round without any danger of breaking the teeth of the wheels. Each of these wheels W has a pin projecting from its side, (see n, Figs. 2, 3, and Sheet 2,) and so placed as to interlock with similar pins in the wheel neXt to it, the middle wheel having thus, of course, a pin lon each side. By means of these pins all the wheels may be caused to revolve, while at the same time, on reversing the motion, each wheel (beginning withthe one attached to the clutch) may in succession be caused to make one revolution (less the thickness of the pin) without affecting the one next beyond it.

Such being the general construction and arrangement of the parts just described, the mode of operation is as follows: First, if we have the slots t in'properposition, but desire to change the relative positions of the wheels W in relation to the wheels V, to themselves,

`and to the index, Fig. 4, so as to prevent any person but one who knows these positions from opening the lock, having first thrown the wheels V out of gear by means of the eccentric arbor r, we turn the arbor K round until, by means of the projecting pins n on the several wheels W, all these wheels are caused to revolve. We then bring the index or pointer on this arbor opposite any point on the gradf uated ring within which it moves, and note its position. 'I hen, reversing the direction of the motion of the arbor K, carry it around one complete revolution, and as much more as may be desired, and then note the ligure opposite to which theindeX on the arbor stands. Again, reverse the motion of the arbor, (beware, however, that it be not carried round a full revo y any time be brought into their original position by repeating the pro cess above described. For as each individual wheel is thus brought into position, of course the whole must be, and thus the lock may be opened.

The second condition in which it may be desired to form a new combination', as it is termed, lis when a combination has been formed (either by accident or design) of the nature of which we are ignorant, a circumstance which can arise only when the door is open and the lock exposed. To meet this, however, the following process has been devised: The slots t, having been brought into proper position to receive lthe tongue q, a hole is bored through the innerplate ot' thelock and through all the wheels V; it then the combination be at any time lost, all that is necessary is to insert a pin (m, Sheet 2,) through the hole in the inner plate ofthe lock, and press it against the wheel V, while this is slowly revolved.

The pin will of course drop into the hole in the first wheel. Reverse the motion, and it may be inserted into the second; and by again reversing the motion the third wheel may be caught. It is obvious that the bolt may nowr loe thrown and a new combination produced, as previously explained.

I do not confine myself to the application ot' the revolving arbor on which the wheels W are placed, for a rotating arbor may be dispensed with and a stationary one used, the wheels being allowed to rotate on the latter.

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

l. A series of wheels, W, revolving on a common center, and provided with teeth or in` ldentations at their peripheries for changing their position relatively with other wheels V, or their equivalents, when each of the wheels W aforesaid has a pin projecting from its side or sides,so placed as-to interlock with similar pins in the wheel or whees next adjoining it,

to operate substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination of the wheels W with the wheels V, or their equivalents, when the latter are arranged or placed on an adjustable axis or shaft, specifically as herein shown, for the purpose of connecting and disconnecting the wheels W and the wheels V, or their equivalents, as herein specified.

L. F. MUNGER.

Witnesses:

GEO. P. DRAPER, DE LANCEY CRITTENDEN.

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