Patent GB-673756-A (GB)
Title: Adjustable lock
IPC: F16B1/04
Filed: 1949-05-25
Abstract: 673,756. Locking levers and rods. TRIGGS, W. W. (Deal Slide-Lock Devices, Inc.). May 25, 1949, No. 13947/49. Class 80 (iii). In an adjustable locking device for retaining a control member in position, comprising a guideway 1, Fig. 1, a number of holding members 2, 3, arranged end to end in the guideway adjacent members having complementary inclined surfaces 10, at least partially overlapping and facing toward each other, each has a projection 11 extending towards the inclined surface of the other member to form a pocket to contain spreader means 13 adapted to engage each of the inclined surfaces for forcing the holding members apart and into engagement with opposite walls of the guideway and means are provided for moving the lock along the guideway including co-operating lateral projections 25 and projection-contacting surfaces. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the part to be controlled is connected to an extension 20 of the member 2. If the extension tends to move to the right, the inclined surface 10 on member 2 coacts with the roller 13 to urge both members 2, 3 into frictional engagement with the upstanding walls 8, 9, of the channel 1 in which they move. Release is effected by longitudinal movement of an extension 24 of a saddle 22 whereupon an edge of one of two elongated apertures 23 therein coacts with one of a pair of pins 25 secured to the members 2, 3, to separate the latter. The members 2, 3, are normally pressed into locking position by springs 14, housed in recesses 16 in the holding members, their ends abutting the downturned portions 19 of a link 17. In a modification in which no springs are employed, the spreader member is retained by a flat cover member the side edges of which project outwardly beneath the inwardly extending flanges of the guideway. The device may be pulled in either direction along the guideway and is locked by pushing on one of the holding members. In a further modification, Fig. 10 (not shown), the inclined surfaces are such that the holding members may be pushed along the guideway but are locked upon pulling either of them. Springs may be used to retain the members normally in locking position. In another embodiment, Fig. 4, an extension 49 of the controlled member is connected to a cover 50 having a projection 52 entering a recess 53 in a central holding member 31. Two outer holding members 30, 32, are normally pressed towards member 31, to prevent motion thereof in either direction, by springs 41 housed in recesses 43, 44, and abutting upstanding portions 45, 46, of a control member 47. On moving member 47 by means of a rod 55, one of a pair of pins 56 coacts with an edge of elongated recesses 57, 58, with which they are engaged to move member 30, or member 32, outwardly. The spreader members 36 thereupon move down the inclines 34, 35 and 37, 38, respectively to permit sliding the device to a new setting. In a modification of this embodiment a plurality of spreader members are longitudinally positioned between each pair of inclined surfaces. As applied to controlling rotary devices the shaft 71, Fig. 7, to be controlled passes through a plate 70 and is secured by a set-screw to a concentric rotatable plate connected to a central holding member 66 by means of a screw 76, A spring 84 normally presses holding members 65, 67, which are slidable in a groove 68 in plate 70 into locking position. A new setting of shaft 71 is obtained by rotating a concentric knob which has pins 80, 81, attached thereto and passing through elongated apertures 82, 83, in the members 65, 67, so that the latter members and hence member 66 are repositioned. In a modification, Fig. 9 (not shown), a pair of devices each comprising three holding members and two balls as spreader means are provided in a curved groove, a linkage system being used to rotate pins whose cam surfaces separate the members.