IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS OR FASTENINGS FOR SAFES OR STRONG BOXES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Whitfield, of the Firm of Samuel Whitfield
and Sons, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS OR FASTENINGS FOR SAFES OR
STRONG BOXES."
Sealed the 25th July 1865, and dated the 23rd February 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Whitfield at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
February 1865.
I, SAMUEL WHITFIELD, of the Firm of Samuel Whitfield and Sons, of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturers, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS OR FASTENINGS
FOR SAFES OR STRONG BOXES," to be as follows:-
In the locks or fastenings for safes or strong boxes as ordinarily constructed
plain bolts are shot by a rectilinear motion from the door into staples or
recesses in the sides of the safes or boxes.
My Invention consists in employing screw bolts in place of or in addition to
plain bolts for fastening safes or strong boxes, the said screw bolts being made
to advance and retire by a screwing motion into and from screw nuts or screw
boxes fixed in the sides of the safes or boxes.
In the case of safes or boxes having double doors, the screw bolt is
propelled from one door into the screw box fixed in the other door; or the
screw bolts may in the case both of single and double door safes and boxes be

page_text: propelled into holes having no screw threads upon them. In this case there
is less resistance to be overcome in shooting or withdrawing the bolts. By
making the bolts advance and retire by a screw-like motion the said bolts
cannot be withdrawn by any amount of pressure applied on their ends. The
necessary rotary motion may be given to the screw bolts in a variety of ways.
In locks in which the mechanism is capable of performing a rotation by the
action of the key the screw bolts may be propelled by means of a worm, to
which rotation is given by the key, the said worm engaging in a worm wheel
on the end of one of the screw bolts, the other screw bolts being geared
thereto by toothed gearing; or a crown wheel may be made to rotate by the
key, the said crown wheel engaging in pinions on the ends of the screw bolts;
or other equivalent mechanical arrangements may be employed for giving
rotary motion to the screw bolts.
The screw bolts described may be employed in addition to the plain or
ordinary bolts, and be propelled by a separate key.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Whitfield in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd August 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
WHITFIELD, of the Firm of Samuel Whitfield and Sons, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Samuel Whitfield, Her special licence that I, the said Samuel Whitfield,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel
Whitfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use; exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS OR
FASTENINGS FOR SAFES OR STRONG BOXES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Samuel Whitfield, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their bands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention and

page_text: in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and.
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Whitfield, do hereby declare the.
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-.
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
In the locks or fastenings for safes or strong boxes as ordinarily constructed
plain bolts are shot by a rectilinear motion from the door into staples or
recesses in the sides of the safes or boxes.
My Invention consists in employing screw bolts in place of or in addition
to plain bolts for fastening safes or strong boxes, the said screw bolts being
made to advance and retire by a screwing motion into and from screw nuts or
screw boxes fixed in the sides of the safes or boxes.
In the case of safes or boxes having double doors, the screw bolt is
propelled from one door into the screw box fixed in the other door; or the
screw bolts may in the case both of single and double door safes or boxes be
propelled into holes having no screw threads within them. In this case there
is less resistance to be overcome in shooting or withdrawing the bolts. By.
making the bolts advance and retire by a screw-like motion the said bolts
cannot be withdrawn by any amount of pressure applied on their ends. The
necessary rotary motion may be given to the screw bolts in a variety of ways.
In locks in which the mechanism is capable of performing a rotation by the
action of the key the screw bolts may be propelled by means of a worm, to
which rotation is given by the key, the said worm engaging in a worm wheel
on the end of one of the screw bolts, the other screw bolts being geared
thereto by toothed gearing; or a crown wheel may be made to rotate by the
key, the said crown wheel engaging in pinions on the ends of the screw bolts ;.
or other equivalent mechanical arrangements may be employed for giving.
rotary motion to the screw bolts.
The screw bolts described may be employed in addition to the plain or
ordinary bolts, and be propelled by a separate key.
Having explained the nature of my Invention, I will proceed to describe,!
with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the manner in which the same
is to be performed.
:
:
Figure 1 represents the inner side of the door of an iron safe or strong box,
to which a lock or fastening constructed according to my Invention is applied,
the said Figure 1 representing a screw bolt in combination with plain recti-
linear bolts for fastening the door. a is the screw bolt working in and being:

page_text: guided by the screw box b, fixed to the safe door c. The plain stem or
shank a of the said screw bolt a passes through an eye or opening d in the
connecting bar e' of the plain bolts e, e, the end of the said stem having a
bearing at f. On the plain shank of the bolt a, and on opposite sides of the
bar e, are two collars h and i, one or other of which collars, when the screw
bolt a is rotated, acts upon one or other side of the bar e², and thereby advances
the plain bolts e, e, into or withdraws them from their staples in the side of
the safe. The motion of the screw bolt a, and consequently the plain bolts e, e,
is effected in the following manner :-I prefer to use with my Invention a
lock in which the mechanism is capable of performing a rotation by the action
of the key. A lock of this kind is represented at k. On the axis of the
said lock is a worm wheel m, which gears with a worm n on the end of the
shank of the screw bolt a. After the mechanism of the lock has been brought
by the action of the key into such a position that the key can rotate, a
rotatory motion is given to the axis and through the worm wheel m and
worm n to the screw bolt a, and the said screw bolt propelled through the
edge of the door, and made to enter a screw box in the side of the safe. The
two plain bolts e, e, are at the same time also made to enter their staples by
the action of the collar i against the bar e. The door of the safe is thus
effectually secured, and the screw bolt a and plain bolts e, e, cannot be with-
drawn by pressure applied on their ends. By turning the axis of the lock k
in a direction contrary to that described the screw bolt a is withdrawn from its
screw box, and the plain bolts are also withdrawn from their staples in the
side of the safe by the action of the collar h. Instead of employing a screw
box or screwed hole in the side of the safe into which the screw bolt a enters,
a hole having no screw threads within it may be used, in which case there is
less resistance to be overcome in shooting or withdrawing the bolt.
Figure 2 represents an elevation of a safe, the door of which is fastened by
a series of screw bolts only entering the safe on opposite sides. 0, 0, are the
screw bolts, situated on opposite sides of the door p, the said screw bolts
working through screw boxes q, and entering screwed or plain holes in the
sides of the safe. The said screw bolts are simultaneously shot and with-
drawn in the following manner :-The axis of the locks carries a toothed
wheel t, which gears with racks u, v, made on the edges of the rack bars w, x.
On the faces of the said rack bars other racks y are made, which gear with
long pinions 2 on the ends of each of the screw bolts o, o. By turning the
axis of the lock in the direction indicated by the arrow the rack bar
raised, and the rack bar w is made to descend, the racks y on the faces of the
said bars are thereby made to give rotation to the pinions 2, and simultaneously
is

page_text: shoot the screw bolts o, o, into their screw boxes or plain holes in the sides r
of the safe, and thus securely fasten the safe door p. By the arrangement
represented of the racks all the screw bolts o are made to screw in the same
direction, the length of the pinions 2 permitting them to slide upon the racks y
on the advance of the said screw bolts. By turning the axis of the lock s in
a direction contrary to that indicated by the arrow the screw bolts o are
simultaneously withdrawn from their screw boxes or plain holes in the sides
of the safe, and the door p may be opened.
Figure 3 represents in vertical section, and Figure 4 in horizontal section,
a safe in which the door is fastened by a combination of screw bolts and plain
bolts engaging in the sides and top and bottom of the safe. Figures 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, and 10 represent portions of the same, as herein-after explained. The
same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
The screw
3 is the safe door; 4, 4, are the screw bolts entering screw boxes 5, dove-
tailed into the sides 6 of the safe, as represented. The ends of the stems 4*
work in holes in the cylindrical block 4b. Each of the stems 4 of the screw
bolts 4 carries two plain bolts 7, 7, motion to which plain bolts is given in
the manner herein-before described with reference to Figure 1.
boxes on the safe door 3, in which the screw bolts 4 work, and by which they
are guided to the screw boxes 5 in the sides of the safe, are made in this
arrangement of a case 8, in which the screw box 10 is capable of sliding, the
said screw box 10 being pressed up to the face of the screw box 5 by a coiled
spring 11. By this means the threads of the screw bolts 4 are made readily
to bite or engage with the threads of the screw boxes 5, when the said screw
bolts 4 are rotated to fasten the door. This engagement of the threads of the
screw bolts with the screw boxes 5 is also facilitated by allowing the said
screw boxes a slight play in the dovetail grooves in which they are situated.
The screw bolts are shot forward and withdrawn by the following arrange-
ment of parts-On the axis 12 of the lock is a pinion or toothed wheel 13,
which gears with the toothed wheel 14. On each of the stems 4" of the screw
belts 4 a bevil pinion 15 is situated, which gears with the bevil teeth 16 (see
Figure 4), made on the side of the toothed wheel 14. The bevil pinions 15
are not fixed, rigidly upon the stems, 4º, the said stems being capable of sliding
within the pinions 15, a key on the said pinions working in a slot 17 in the
said stems (see Figures 5 and 10). This motion of the stems 4° in the bevil
pinions 15 is necessary to permit of the advancing and retiring of the screw
bolts 4. By the rotation of the axis 12 of the lock rotation is given to the
screw bolts 4 through the toothed wheels 13, 14, bevil wheel 16, and bevil
pinions 15, and the said screw bolts and the plain bolts 7, 7, carried by them

page_text: are simultaneously shot into their respective screw boxes and staples in the
sides and top and bottom of the safe. By the reverse motion of the axis 12 of
the lock the screw bolts 4 and plain bolts 7, 7, are simultaneously withdrawn.
In order to present a solid bearing to the ends of the screw bolts 4 when
they have been advanced into their screw boxes 5, and prevent their with-
drawal excepting by the action of the key, I arrange the parts in the manner
which will be best understood by reference to Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10,
which represent on a larger scale the toothed wheel 14, 16, and cylindrical
block 4b, and parts connected with them. Figure 5 represents an elevation
of the said parts; Figure 6, a section; Figure 7, a plan of the cylindrical
block 4b; Figure 8, a plan and section of the wheel 14, 16; Figure 9, a
portion of the cylindrical block; and Figure 10, a portion of one of the stems.
The ends of the stems 4 of the screw bolts 4 slide in holes 18 in the cylindrical,
block 4 situated behind the toothed wheel 14, 16. The cylindrical block 4
works loosely on the axis 20 of the wheel 14, 16, and is capable of a partial
rotation only on the said axis, the rotation of the said block being limited by
a pin 21 on the door 3 working in the curved slot 22 in the back of the
block 4b. The face of the said block 4b has a circular groove 22 made in it,.
which opens into a slot 23 at the circumference of the said face. That part
of the circular groove 22 near the slot 23 is partly covered by the upper end
of a plate 24 (shewn separately in Figure 9), which acts as a stop or fixed
cam, the said plate being secured on the fixed axis 20 by holes in the said
plate dropping on to pins on a shoulder on the said fixed axis. On the inner.
face of the toothed wheel 14, 16, is a small arm 25, capable of turning freely
on the centre 26. The pin 27 of the said arm 25 works in the circular
groove 22 in the cylindrical block 4. When the screw bolts 4 have been
advanced into their screw boxes 5 to the full extent of their motion in the
manner herein-before explained, the ends of the stems 4 of the said screw
bolts 4 are brought without the holes 18 in the cylindrical block 4b, and the
key of each of the bevil pinions 15 is brought to the end of its slot 17, and
opposite the transverse slot 19 in the ends of the stems.
slot 19 does not extend all round the stem, the said slot 19 opening at one
side only into the longitudinal slot 17. The screw bolts 4 having taken the
positions described, the pin 27 of the arm 25 has, by the rotation of the
wheel 14, 16, traversed the groove 22, and has arrived opposite the slot 23.
By the continued motion of the wheel 14, 16, the bevilled pinions 15 make a
partial rotation on the ends of the stems 4 by the engagement of the keys of
the said pinions in the transverse slots 19, but without imparting rotatory
motion to the said stems. While this is taking place, the pin 27, being
The said transverse

page_text: prevented from continuing its motion in the groove 22 in the block 4b by the
stop or plate 24, rises in the slot 23, and pressing against one side of the said
slot 23 gives a partial rotation to the cylindrical block 4b in the direction
indicated by the arrow in Figure 7, until it is arrested by the end of the
slot 22 at its back striking against the fixed pin 21 on the door of the safe.
By this partial rotation of the block 4b the holes 18 in the said block are
moved away from the ends of the stems 4ª, and a solid part of the said block
brought opposite the said ends of the stems. The screw bolts 4 are thus
prevented from being withdrawn from the screw boxes 5 by the rotation of
the said screw bolts until by the action of the key the holes 18 in the
block 4 are made to coincide with the stems of the said bolts. On with-
drawing the bolts 4 by the action of the key upon the axis 12 the reverse
motion of the toothed wheel 14, 16, causes the pin 27 to press upon the side
of the slot 23 opposite to that upon which it acted on its advance motion, and
thereby bring the cylindrical block 4b to its original position, and make the
holes 18 therein coincide with the ends of the stems 4". During this reverse
motion of the block 4b the keys of the pinions 15 are rotated from the
transverse slots 19 into the longitudinal slots 17 in the stems, and by the
continued motion of the wheel 14, 16, the said keys of the pinions traverse
the said slots 17, and again rotate the stems, which latter enter the holes 18
and effect the withdrawal of the screw bolts 4 from their screw boxes 5. As
soon as the block 4b has been brought to its original position it is arrested by
the end of the slot 22" coming against the stop 21, and the pin 27 of the
arm 25 by the motion of the wheel 14, 16, descends the slot 23 and enters
the groove 22, which it traverses during the rotation of the wheel 14, 16, and
the withdrawal of the screw bolts 4.
When I apply my Invention to safes or strong boxes having double doors
closing edge to edge, the screw bolt or bolts are propelled from the edge of
one door into screw boxes or plain holes situated in the edge of the other
door.
In order to give the requisite rotary motion to the mechanism of the locks
used with my Invention I prefer to employ a key having a square end, upon
which square end a moveable hollow bit provided with a winch fits. By
turning the said winch when the mechanism of the lock is to be rotated the
axis carried by the said mechanism is also rotated, and its motion transmitted
to the screw bolts in the several ways herein-before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing.
Although in the accompanying Drawing I have only represented the screw
bolts worked through an axis carried by the lock of the safe, yet the said

page_text: screw bolts may be worked by an independent axis unconnected with the
mechanism of the lock. In this case access to the end of the axis for the
rotation of the screw bolts is gained through an opening in the safe door,
which opening is closed after the bolts have been shot by the bolt of the lock
or by a slide carried by the bolt of the lock. The separate axis described may
be turned by a winch, or in any other convenient way. And although I have
described and represented the best arrangements with which I am acquainted
of transmitting the rotation of the axis of the lock or an independent axis to
the screw bolts, yet I do not limit myself to the said arrangements, as other
equivalent mechanical arrangements may be employed with the same, or
nearly the same effect.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from
the nature of my Invention.
But I claim as my Invention the improvements in locks or fastenings for
safes or strong boxes herein-before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawing, that is to say, locking or fastening safes or strong boxes by
means of screw bolts carried by the door of the safe or strong box, which said
screw bolts are made to advance into and retire from the sides of the safe or
box by a screwing motion, or, in the case of double doors, from the edge of
one door into the edge of the other door, the said screw bolts being used alone
or in combination with plain or ordinary bolts, whether the said screw bolts
have the requisite rotatory motion transmitted to them from an axis carried
by the mechanism of the lock or by an independent axis.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Whitfield, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
SAMUEL WHITFIELD. (L.S.)