USRE7947E - Improvement in combined time-lock, combination-lock, and bolt-work for safes - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. SARGENT. Combined Time-Looks, Combination Locks, and Bolt- Works for Safes.

No.7,947. q eissued uov.13,1877.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES SARGENT, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK IMPROVEMENT INCOMBINED TIME -LOCK, COMBItiAT ION-LOCK, AND BOLT-WORK FOR SAFES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,539, dated September 25, 1877; Reissue No-.7,947, dated November 13, 1877; application filed October 8, 1877.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it'known that I, JAIME SABGENT, of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Combined Time-Locks, Combination -Locks, and Bolt- Work for Safe and Vault Doors; and I 'do hereby declare that the' following is a full, clear, and exact description of-the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a safe or vault door having thereon a time-lock and a combination-lock, both of said locksbeing represented in a locked condition, with the boltwork projected and locked. Fig. 2 illustrates one form of lock-bolt or obstruction for use in a time-lock. Fig. 3 illustrates an inside view of said lock-bolt'or obstruction. Fig. 4 represents detached views of the; pallet and escapewheel, and a portion of one of the revolving dials. Fig. 5 illustrates another form of lockbolt or obstruction for use in connection with the time-lock'for admitting of locking or unlocking of the bolt-work.

My invention consists, first, in the combination with a time-lock and a combination or key lock, both constructed to be applied on a safe, vault, or other door, so as to rest against or connect with the bolt-work on said door, and provided with a device whereby the boltwork may be retained in the unlocked position for shutting the door, and be automatically locked by the lock-bolt or obstruction of the timelock, and mechanically by the combination or key lock, the whole so arranged that the boltwork cannot be withdrawn when locked till 7' both locks have been unlocked;

second, in the combination of a time-lock and iii-combination or key lock, both constructed to be applied on a safe, vault, or other door,

so as to rest against the bolt-work, each of saidlock's being provided with a lock-bolt or obstruction, that of the combination-lock or keylock being of the usual construction, while that of the time-lock has an opening or offset, which is automatically brought into and out of coincidence with the tongue of the boltwork, whereby the bolt-work may be retained in the unlocked position for shutting the door,

and prevented fromfibeing retracted when locked, until both locks have been unlocked;

third, 1n the combination, with the bolt-work.

of a safe or vault door, of a combination-lock, controllable mechanically from the exterior of said door with a time-lock, controllable automaticallyfor unlocking by the operation of its time mechanism, both of said locks arranged to control the locking and unlocking of the bolt-work, so that said safe or vau1t,door cannot be opened when locked until both of said locks have been unlocked or released their dogging action to enable the door to be opened. substantially as hereinafterdescribed.

The construction and arrangement of the time-lock 'will be more fully hereinafter described; but it is evident that any form or construction of a time-lock may be used asa part constituting one element of the combine or vault doors for the purpose of opening-the I door at a predetermined honr, thus placing it beyondthe power of any'person, until the arrival of the appointed time, to open the door; but as far as I am aware such clock locks have either been used singly on a safe-door, so that, when said lock released the bolt-work or other fastening of the said door, it-was unlocked,'and the door could be opened by any onefor, in another in stance, when a time-movement'had been combined with a combinationlock in such a'manner that the two really constituted but 'a single lock, the time mechanism constructed and provided with a lever to engage with the fence or dog of the combinationlock,so that the entire mechanism of the timemovement and combination-lock really constitute but a single look, as aforesaid, the result being that, if violence be applied to such a lock through the dial -=spindle or otherwise,

the efficiency of the time -movement will be destroyed.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates a combination or key lock, and B the time-lock. These locks are illustrated as bei ng upon a portion of a safe or vault door,

with the bolt-work projected and locked, the lock-bolts or obstructions being in a locked position. The lock-bolts" or obstructions 0 D are, in the present example, shown as being constructed each with a notch or recess, so that, when said notches or recesses are brought in line with the tongue-pieces or studs 0. c, arranged upon the carrying-bar E of the boltwork, they (the said tongue-pieces or studs) can, by'a movement of the bolt-work, be made to enter said notches or recesses, and thus the bolt-work can be retracted and the safe or vault door thrown open. When the bolt-work is projected or cast so as to lock the safe or vault door, the lock-bolts. or obstructions can be brought into -a locked position, the lock. bolt or obstruction of the combination-lock being placedin a locked position by mechanically operating the dial-spindle, which controls the movements of the tumblers and other portions of the look, while the lock-bolt or obstruction of the time-lock will automatically bring itself .into a locked position after the door is closed,

whereby the door of the safe or vault will be locked and guarded by two locks, one of which is operated-from the exterior mechanically, while the other operates on the interior automatically, there being no hole through the door whereby it might be operated upon by any mechanical means. 1

The combination-lock and the time-lock are separate from each'other in performing their office or function with respect to the bolt-work on the safe or vault door, and each of said locks should be complete in itself, and so constructed that they may be placed at any position on a safe or vault door.

The combination or key lock should be located in line with the dial-spindle or key which operates it, but the time-lock may be located anywhere on the safe or vault door 'where sufficient space is present for it, and

the tongue-pieces or studs on the carryingbar of the belt-work may be of any required length, bent or otherwise arranged, so as toconnect with or rest against the lock-bolts or obstructions, when the latter is moved to the proper position for obstructing or dogging the bolt-work, and prevent its retraction or unlocking, thus retaining the door in alocked position until both locks have been unlocked. When it is desired to lock or fasten the bolt- ;work of the safe or vault door by means of a "combination-lock and a time-lock, some mechanical arrangement or device should be employedto enable the lock-bolt or. obstruction of the time-lockto be set or. adjusted while the safe-door is open and the boltwork in a retracted or unlocked position, so that the door can be closed to admit of the bolt-work being-projected or cast. The lock-bolt or obstruction will, as hereinafter set forth, present its lock-bolt or obstruction automatically, thus securing the door in a locked position until the arrival of the time determined by the time mechanism or register, at which time the lock-bolt or obstruction will be automatically moved and brought into a position for admitting of the releasing and unlocking of the bolt-work, so that said door can be opened To accomplish such -mechanical arrangement or device in the time-lock, a lock-bolt or obstruction is employed in the time-lock itself, or; by means of an adjustable tonguepiece or stud comiected with'the carrying-barv of the bolt-work-such, for instance, as those illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 of the accompanying sheets of drawings.

The lock-bolt or obstruction D, illustrated in Fi s. 1, 2, and 3, is one of the devices that shoul be employed to enable the time-lock to be set while the boltwork remains in a retreated or unlocked position, so that the bolt work will remain in such retracted position without interfering with the time-lock the combination-lock, of course, during suc interval, being in an unlocked position, and through such mediums the bolt-work when projected for closing thefdoor will be held in a locked position by the automatic movement of .the loelt' bolt or obstruction of the timelock, and by the lock-bolt of the combinationloc-k,'.which is brought into a locked position by the mechanical operation of the dialapindle. I v

The lock-bolt or obstruction of the timelock is constructed in two parts, DD, adapted to turn independently of the other on the same bearing .0. The inner part, D, has a notch or recess, d, into which the tonguepiece or stud on the carrying-bar enters when the bolt-work is retracted, so as. to open the safe or vault door ifthe combination-lock be imlocked. The said inner part D is connected to the outer part ,1) by a spring, f,

resting in a cavity or recess in the side of the 1 outer part. The outer part D is also con-- nected by a spring, 9, with the bearing 0.

The spring 9 being connected with the outer 'part 1), and with its'bcaring 0, causes the outer partD to be moved .or turned on its axis, so that the notch, recess, or ofi'sct'd of theinner part D is brought into a position to allow the tongue or stud a. of the carrying-- bar to enter it, and thus the bolt-work can be retracted, and when so retracted the outer part D is turned or moved, and made to connect and engage, with the portion of a yoke, while the inner part D remains stationary, being prevented from moving or turning on its axis by the tongue-piece or stud on the carrying-bar resting in the notch or rceess'of the part 1) of the lock-bolt-or obstruction.

The parts constituting the lock-bolt or obstruction, and forming a part of the time-lock,

being thus constructed, a1ranged,-and adjusted, the time mechanism having been previously wound, and the dials set for a certain predetermined time, the bolt-work is projected or cast, when the lock-bolt or obstruction of said time-lock will automatically be brought into a locked position, and the door of the safe or vault securely guarded by a combination-lock, if it be locked, and a time-lock, and the bolt-work be prevented from being retraeted, or the safe or vault door opened until both locks have been unlocked.

The parts D D composing the lock-bolt or obstruction are supplied with-suitable stops, by which their motion or throw is limited, so as to bring the notch, recess, or oflfset of the part 1) in proper position in its. rotation to coincide with the tongue-piece or stud on the carrying-bar of the bolt-work.

In lieu of forming the lock-bolt or obstruetion in two parts, as above described, it has been found eminently practical and successful to employ a lock-bolt or obstruction made in a single piece, or as an integral. Such a lock-bolt or obstruction-is shown in Fig. 5 of the draw in g, and, as it will be perceived, it is constructed with a notch, recess, or oifset, to admit of a tongue-piece or stud entering it when the bolt-work is retracted for unlocking the safe or vault door, and said lock-bolt or obstruction is'likewise provided with an arm, 9, having a pin or stud for connecting or'engaging with a yoke in such a manner that when said arm and yoke are in connection the lockbolt or obstruction will be placed so as to pre vent the retraction of the bolt-work, and when said arm and yoke are disconneetedthrough the medium of revolving dials, to'be hereinafter mentioned, the lock-bolt or obstruction will be automatically brought to a position for allowing the bolt-work to be retracted, and such automatic movement of the lock-bolt or obstruction is due to the action of the arm y" acting as a counterweight.

. When a lock-bolt or obstruction of the character last described is employed, some provision-must be made for adjusting and setting the time-lock or the lock that measures time, prior to closing the safe or vault door, and this must be accomplished while the bolt-work is in a retracted position; therefore, to enable such to be done, there is arranged on the'car rying-bar of the bolt-work a socket or bearing, which is provided with a movable ton gue-piece and aspring-bolt, constructed and arranged in such aniauner that when the spring-bolt is moved out of contact with the socket or hearing of the movable tongue-piece or stud of the.

.and when the bolt-work is projected or cast into the jainb of the door, the socket or bearing moves along the tongue-piece until the spring-l oltengages withit, when it-the socket or bearingwill be automatically locked in will securely fasten the safeor vau1tdoor,upon which the combination-lock is placed, together with the time-lock.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the lock-bolt or obstruction shown in several figures are each stationary except during the brief intervals of time when locking or 'un locking is being effected, and that each is adapted to be tiu'ncd on its pivot or bearing for obstructing or dogging the bolt-work for preventing its retraction or for releasing the bolt-work at the time appointed, so that it can be retracted and it should be noticed that the lock-bolt or obstruction of the time-lock is so located in the time-lock that if pressure be exerted upon the lock-bolt or obstruction by force applied to the bolt;work, such pressure will not be transmitted to the delicate workmanship forming part of the time-lock, for the lock-bolt,.or obstruction, so to speak, is isolated from the time mechanism, in order to bring and retain the lock'bolt or obstruction in a position to have the same obstruct and prevent the retraction of the bolt-Work, or to move it to release the bolt-work, whereby the same may be retracted.

yoke, G, which is capable of beingoscillated or turned on its axis or pivot, said yoke being acted on by two rotating dials, H H, in such a manner that said yoke will be operated by either or both of said dials at the predetermined time for which said revolving dials have beenset.

In the example shown in the time-lock in Fig. 1 the yoke engages under a stop, I, preferably a roller, arranged 011 the lock-bolt or obstruction, and when the latter is brought into a position for obstructing .the b01t-work, to prevent its retraction until the arrival of the predetermined time, while in the example shown in Fig. 5 said yoke connects or engages with the lock-bolt or obstruction.

In both'exaniples the yoke retains the lockbolt or obstruction in a position for obstructing and preventing the retraction of the boltwork until the arrival of the predetermined time for which the revolving dials carrying pins have been set.

The arms or members m m of the aforesaid yoke extend over a portion of the revolving dials, fromwhieh project pins, and when either of'said pins comes in contact with the arms or members of' said yoke, which will occur at the arrival of ti 1e time previously determined upon when setting 'the'remlving dials, it (the said yoke) will be operated or turned on its axis or pivot, and release the lock-bolt or obstruction,

.and leave the same to be brought into a post tion to permit the bolt-work to be retracted, which is accomplished by turning the knob or handle connected with the mtrrying-bar, said. knob or handle being on the outside of the safe or vault door.

It is preferred to use two independent time mechanisms, each connected'with and operating one of the revolving dials, so that if one of the time mechanisms should accidentally stop the other would be sure to operate the yoke, and by its movement release the lockbolt --or obstruction, which would automatically assume such a position as to present an unobstructed pathway for the tongue-piece or stud to move in, and thus the bolt-work could.

be released and be left free to be withdrawn or retracted. 1 The revolving dials are cogged-that is, provided with teeth, which engage with the arher 0 of the mainspring-barrel, either directly.

' any other number corresponding with the longest interval the time-lock is to present its lock-bolt or obstruction to obstruct the boltwork at one time-say, from Saturday night to Monday morning. This scale is used in conjunction with a pointer or index, 0, arranged in the time-lock above the revolving dials.

In setting the time-lock the revolving dials are turned or moved backward from zero '(0) to any number in, the scale that will indicate the number of hours the safe orva'ult door is i to remain closed or locked, and the pins n of the revolving dials must be so adjusted with reference to the yoke as to come in contact with the arms or members mm of .the yoke, so that either or both of the said arms or mem bers will act upon the yoke, causing it to move so asto release the lock-bolt or obstruction of the time-lock when the zero (0) mark arrives at the index or pointer.

The winding up of the time mechanism and the setting of therevolving dials is performed simultaneously by imparting proper motion to the arbor o of the mainspring-barrel.

The revolving dials are provided with a pin, 1", as shown in Fig. 4, the same'serving as a stop.

0n the pallet s, which engages with the escape-wheel t, is a pin, u,which projects out through a slot, '0, of the stationary time-mechanism frame, the whole arranged in such a manner that as soon as the revolving dial has acted upon the yoke for causing it to release the lock-bolt or obstruction, the pin 1" of the said revolving dial will strike the pin a of the pallet, and lock the latter in the escape-wheel, thereby stopping the time mechanism, so that there will be no loss of power, as it is intended that the timelock should be wound up when first finished, prior to adjusting in place the revolving dials; and, further, by stopping the time mechanism, as above described, the revolving dials cannot get out of posit-ion with respect to the index or pointer.

By my invention the time-lock cannot be reset without winding, for the pins of the revolving dials, resting incontact with the arms or members of the yoke, prevent it from being brought into action with the'lock-bolt or obstruction until the revolving dials have been moved back the number of hours for which it is, designed to obstruct the bolt-work. Thus the resetting of the time-lock requires rewinding of the time mechanism as a necessity, and hence no danger of it being unlocked accidentally during the period of hours for which it is set.

The dial-wheel is turned back to set the {lime-lock by a key applied at the winding-ar- By the means above described I obviate a great objection .to common clock-locks, which run on until they run down, thus subjecting the lock to the danger of a lock-out, caused by neglect of windin g.

By this means the time-lock cannot be set without winding, for the pins n a, resting in 7 contact with the arms of the yoke, it (the yoke) I cannot be engaged with the lock-bolt or obstruction until the dial wheels have been moved back to set the lock, as before described.

By combining an independent time-lock of the character described, and a combination or key look, I produce an efl'ect or result which cannot be produced by a time-lock alone, or by two or more combination-locks together.

The timedock serves. as a safeguard by night, in connection with. the combinationlock, for holding the bolt-work in a locked condition; but when the'time-lock releases the bolt-work at the appointed hour, the bolt-work will remain locked, and the safe or vault door closed, until the combination-lock is unlocked by the holder of the combination on which said lock is set, when the bolt-work can be retracted and the door opened, thus leaving the time-lock free from performing any locking action, which leaves the combination-lock free for use during the day for looking or unlocking the safe or vault door-an important desideratum present in my invention.

If the time-lock present on the safe or vault door is set for holding the bolt-work from the time thebank closes in the afternoon to release the bolt-work at a certain hour the next morning, it will admirably and. with certainty perform its ofiice', leaving the combination-lock "to be opened before the bolt-work can be retracted; and should the officer of the bank holding the combination be seized during the night, carried to the bank, and forced'to open the combination-lock, the time-lock will remain intact, and cannot be opened by the burglars or the officer in charge of the combination. Such results cannot be accomplished by a timelock alone, because when it releases its boltwork the safe or vault door is absolutely unlocked, and no lock present for use during the day; nor by two or more combination-locks together, because the holders of the combinationsmay be taken to the bank and forced to open the locks. Neither can tampering with the combination-lock-aflect the time-lock.

'The combination-lock maybe punched from its position by burglars; but then the timelock, being separate and independent from it,

cannot be affected or disturbed, because there is no opening through the door by which it can be reached. It is therefore superior to a lock which has the time-movement, combined directly with the combination-lock, both forming one lock, in which case any violence to the lock-work disarranges the time-movement. 1 Another advantage of my invention is the capability of the separate locks being applied on difl'erent parts of the-safe or vault door, with respectto the bolt-work, indifierently.

The bolt-work on diflerent safe or vault doors is frequently such that the time-lock and the combination or key lock cannot be applied together; but in such case the time-lock may be-attached at the most convenient location, as no opening through the door is requisite.

The time-lock can be applied with ease and vfacility to the doors of old safes or vaults having the combination or key lock already there- 'on, thus securing the advantage of atime-lock and a combination or key lock without the necessity of removing the old lock.

1 do not claim, broadly, a time-lock of any peculiar construction; nor do I claim two or more combination locks combined with the bolt-work of a safe or vault door, as such are old and well known.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the bolt-work of a safe or vault door, of atime-lock anda combination or key-lock, both applied independently on a safe, vault, or other door, so as to rest against or connect with the bolt-work on said door, and provided with a device whereby the boltwork may be retained in the unlocked position for. shutting the door, and be automatically locked by the time-lock and mechanically by .the combination or key look when the bolting or oflset, which is automatically brought into and out of coincidence with the tongue of the bolt-work, whereby the bolt-work may be retained in the unlocked position for shutting the door, and prevented from being retracted when locked until both locks have been unlocked.

'3; The combination, with the bolt'work of a safe or vault door, of a combination or key lock controllable mechanically from the exterior of said-door, with a time-lock having a lock-bolt or obstruction for locking and unlocking controllable fro'm the interior of the door, both of said locks being arranged so as to rest against or connect with the bolt-work, the time-lock being automatically unlocked by the operation of the time-movement, both of said locks being independent of each other,

and airanged to control the locking and unlocking of the bolt-work, so that said safe or vault door cannot be opened when locked until both of said locks have been unlocked or have released their dogging action to enable thedoor to be opened, substantially as de- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

I JAMES SARGENT.

Witnesses:

Jnms L. Nonms, J ms M. Wmenr, Jr.

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