Patent GB-282122-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to safes, strong-rooms, vaults and the like
IPC: E05G1/10
Filed: 1926-06-21
Abstract: 282,122. O'Brien, M. C. M. June 21, 1926. Safes and strong-rooms ; locks ; permutation ; fastenings co-operating with alarm apparatus.- A pressure operated system such as described in Specification 231,851 which operates locking bolts and functions as an alarm, is so arranged that the locking system has to be operated in predetermined sequence by primary pressure circuits which have no direct connection with secondary pressure circuits which actuate the bolts when the controls of the primary circuits have been correctly manipulated. Fig. 1 shows the general lay-out of the system. Pressure plant 25 supplies pressure to a cylinder 26 and to the locking mechanism through a pressure governor 27, pipe 28, grill door 29 and pipe 30, 31, pressure admitting bolts of the kind described in Specification 231,851 being fitted to the door 29. A series of pipes 31<a> branch off from pipe 31 and these are fitted with control valves 31b, suitably lettered or numbered and operated from outside the wall 32. The grill door has an outside bolt control 33 for completing the locking circuit from the outside of the door. Pipe 30 branches into pipes 30<a>, provided with control valves 30<b>, operable only from within the wall 32 and door 29. The pipes 31<a> and 30<a> are crossed and generally mixed up in crossing the wall 32 and vault wall 34 so that the control valves cannot be identified with any particular pipe by an unauthorised person. The pipes, on the inside of the vault wall, are provided with valves to provide that the exhaust pressure is disposed of inside the vault and to allow air through but to prevent explosive liquids from passing. The pipes 31<a>, 30<a> enter the charge mechanism 35 and are numbered or lettered at their points of attachment, these letters or numbers having no ostensible relation to those of the control valves. The pipes then pass to the control panel 36. The primary circuit pipes 30<a>, 37 end in the control panel, but the secondary circuit pipes 31a, 38 pass on to pipes 39 to operate the bolts 15 of the safe door 1. The change mechanism 35 is for coupling the pipes 30<a>, 37 and 31<a>, 38 in any arbitrary manner for changing the combination. One method is illustrated in Fig. 2. Flexible connections 40 between the pipes 30<a>, 31<a> and 37, 38 fit on a shank 50 passing through a clamping plate 48 through slots 49 in a block 44 into a chamber 46. By moving the shank 50 along the slots 49, any pipe 30<a>, 31a can be connected with any pipe 37, 38 respectively. The control panel 36 contains the locking mechanism and operates as follows. The pipes 37, Figs. 5 and 6, of the primary circuit are attached to cylinders 53 to apply pressure to either side of the pistons 54 which are fitted with rods 55 and controlled bv a swivel bar 58 in the manner described in Specification 257,509. Each pipe 38 enters the valve box 60 at 61, leaves it at 62, re-enters at 63 and finally leaves at 64, passing then as a pipe 39 to one side of the piston of the pressure operated bolts of the safe door. The valve box 60 is fitted with suitable valves 65 so that each pipe 38 is controlled by two such valves. These valves are connected in pairs by bars 66 to the notched end 57 of the rods 55 and the arrangement is such that one pair of valves do not function in connection with any one pipe. 38 and are so arranged that the maximum number of operations of the piston 54 must be performed before pressure is free to pass along any pipe 38 to the bolt 15. Slots 53b and pin 53<c>, Fig. 6, are arranged to ensure that valve 65 is not moved from its seat till the swivel bar 58 interacting with notched end 57 has been passed. The notched end 57 of the piston rod 55, Fig. 6, is provided with two notches 67, 67<a> co-operating with a reciprocating locking bar 71 operated by the piston rod 68 of the pressure cylinder 69. This bar only allows alternate rods 57 to move. A time lock 75 may be fitted to the bar 71. The bar 71 is also fitted with a lever 76 which actuates the valve 77 of the alarm or indicating pressure tube 78. Alternative circuits may be provided such that if one circuit is out of action another may be used. Fig. 8 shows a piston valve 101 ensuring the functioning of the locking circuit 97 by means of the alternate circuit 99 if the main circuit 96 is destroyed. Electrical pressure may be used instead of fluid. pressure.