CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS
Year: 1851

page_text: NEWELL'S SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
NEWELL, of the City of New York, in the United States of America, Lock
Manufacturer, send greeting:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fifteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, in the fourteenth year of
Iler reign, dill give and grant unto me, the said Robert Newell, my exors,
admors, and assigns, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority; that ; the said Robert Newell, my exors, admors and assigns, and
such others as I, the said Robert Newell, my exors, admors, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term of years herein mentioned, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, called England, the Dominion of
Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney,
Sark, and Man, my Invention of " CERTAIN NEW AND USEFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF LOCKS;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained
a proviso,, that if 1, the said Robert Newell shall not particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and cause
the same, to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery, within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part

page_text: recited Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent, and all the privileges
and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly cease, determine,
and become void, any thing therein-before contained to the contrary thereof
in anywise notwithstanding, as by the said Letters Patent, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I the said
Robert Newell, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, and the Drawings therein referred to (that
is to say):
My Invention has for its object the construction of locks, in which the
interior arrangement or the combination of the internal moveable parts may be
changed at pleasure, according to the form given to or change made in the
key, without arranging the moveable parts of the lock by hand, or removing
the lock or any part thereof from the door or lock. In locks, as heretofore
constructed, in which the interior arrangement or the combination of the
internal moveable parts depends on, or is altered by the form given or change
made in the key, the change in the lock consequent on, or rendered
necessary by the change in the key. could not take place without arranging
the moveable parts by hand, removing the lock or some part thereof from the
door or lock, for the purpose of adapting the internal parts of the lock to
such altered form of the key, such removal being attended in some cases
with a decreased degree of security, and being in all cases inconvenient;
but in the locks constructed according to my Invention, the key may be
altered at pleasure, and-the-arrangement-or-combination-of-the-internal-move-
able parts may be changed and adapted to the key as altered, without the
arranging the parts. by hand, or the removal of the lock or any part thereof.
The act of locking or throwing out the bolt of such lock produces the particular
arrangement or combination of internal moveable parts that corresponds to the
peculiar form of the key for the time being while the same is locked; this
form is retained until the lock is unlocked, or the bolt withdrawn, upon which
being done the internal moveable parts return to their original position with
reference to each other, but these paris cannot be made to assume or be
brought back into their original position except by a key of the precise form
and dimensions as the key by which they were made to assume such arrange-
-ment-and-combination-in-the act of locking_the_lock._In_locks_so_constructed,
the key is changeable at pleasure, and the lock receives a particular or special
form in the act of locking, according to the key employed, and retains that
form until in the act of unlocking by the same key (that is, by a key of the

page_text: precise form and dimensions employed to lock it,) the lock resumes its original
or unlocked state. Such a lock is again changeable at pleasure, simply by
altering the arrangement of the moveable bits of the key, and thus admits of
as many different forms as the key. Previous to locking the lock, the key
may be changed to any one of the forms within the number of permutations
of which the parts are susceptible, and the bolt having been thrown out by
this key, cannot be withdrawn except by the same precise key, and thus one
key and lock may be adapted so as to possess the security of an almost infinite
variety of keys and locks; such keys may differ as to some of the details of
their construction according to the degree of security sought to be attained,
but the changeable character of the lock is the same in all.
I will now proceed to describe, by reference to the accompanying Sheets of
Drawings, certain arrangements and apparatus for the purpose of attaining
the above-mentioned and other improvements in the construction of locks.
DESCRIPTION OF SHEET I.
C, C, C, represent the box or casing of the lock; D, D, D, the bolt passing
through the case of the lock at the front end, and sliding on the pin marked 1,
at the back end of the casing, as is common with all tumbler locks.
a, a, a,
are the slides sliding between the studs 2, 2, 2, 2, and resting on the stud 19,
and also on the upper end of the wall plate 21, each slide having a spring as
marked 3 to press it down to its proper place after having been raised by the
key; b, b, b, b, are a series of secondary slides fitted and sliding on the guide
stumps 4, 4, which guide stumps are affixed on the bolts. Each slide a, a, a, a,
as before described, has a tongue at its end (marked 5) which slides in between
the two jaws of the secondary slides b, b, the said jaws being marked 6, 6;.c, c,
is a cramp plate fitted over the secondary slides, the studs 4, 4, keeping it in
its proper position, having a shank pin 7 passing through it and through a
slot in the series of secondary slides then passing through a hole in the bolt,
all of which is fully shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 1. By referring to
Fig. 4, it will be perceived that the before-mentioned stud 7 passes through,
and is tapped into, a revolving nut 8, which nut has a tooth marked 9; when the
nut 8 revolves it operates on the "tusk" at the crooked end of the lever d, d, d,
which works at the back of the bolt on the fulcrum marked 10, the straight
arm of the lever having a small spring marked 11 to keep it in place, and a
notch to catch on the pin marked 1, which is previously described in the
several Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. The object of the before-mentioned nut
marked 8, is to hold the whole series of secondary slides b, b, in their places
by drawing the cramp plate against them, which nut is tightened by the

page_text: secondary key (Fig. 9), which enters the keyhole at the back of the lock
marked g.
The operation of locking the above-mentioned arrangement is as
follows I enter my key, as shewn in Fig. 5, through the keyhole by the
operation of turning the key; each of the several moveable bits, as shewn in
Fig. 5. marked 15, lifts its corresponding slide in the series as marked a, a, a, a.
The tongues of each slide marked 5, carries with it its corresponding second-
ary slide in the series marked b, b, b, b. The key is turned around until the
stationary bit of the key head 13 comes in contact with the "talon" of the bolt
marked 17 in Figs. 3 and 4, the slides being placed by their several bits in their
relative positions, but the bolt D cannot be projected or thrown until the
notch in the lever d, d, is raised from the pin or stump 1, as shewn in Fig. 4.
The secondary key, Fig. 9, is now inserted at the back keyhole, g, in Fig. 2,
the pins in the end of the said key fitting into corresponding holes in the nut
8, by turning the key, the nut 8 which is on the pin, Fig. 7, operates and
tightens the cramp plate c, at the same time bringing the tooth 9 in contact
with the crooked end of the lever d, d, on the back of the bolt raising the
lever and releasing it from the pin 1; the secondary key is now withdrawn,
the door closed, and the bolt projected. The condition of the several parts, as
before described, will be as shewn in Fig. 1, where the bolt has carried for-
ward with it the secondary series of slides which are held in the position given
them by the several bits in the key by the cramp plate c, c, c, the slides
a, a, a, a, being pressed down to their original position by the spring 3; the
result is that the secondary series retains the form imparted to it, while the
first series is detached, and the tongue 5 withdrawn from the jaws b, b, b.
Should any attempt be made to withdraw the bolt, the jaws of the secondary
series will come in contact with the several tongues marked 5 on the first
series, so that nothing but the original form of key, that is, a key of the same
form and dimensions as that by which the bolt was locked out, will pass
the whole of the tongues in between the several jaws in the secondary series
of slides. The metallic wall marked 21, Fig. 1, is to prevent any communi-
cation from the keyhole to the secondary series of slides. The construction of
key employed is shewn in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. The changeable or moveable bits
shewn at Fig. 7 are secured and fitted to the stationary parts of the key.
Figure 5 represents the shank of the key, the keyhead 13, 13, the
stationary bits 15. Fig. 5 shew the several moveable bits in their places, and
Fig. 7 the same separated from the key; 16, in Fig. 5, shews the screw passing
through and holding the moveable bits in their places, and Fig. 8 shews an
outside view of the lock complete.

page_text: Figure 1. A, A, A, A, is the box or case of the lock. B, B, B, B, the
bolt passing through the case of the lock as before described in Sheet I.
a, a, a, is a series of slides having two rectangular arms projecting therefrom,
as marked a³ and a. reaching and working over the upper part of the metallic
wall marked 10, 11, and 12. On the outer end of the rectangular arm there
is a tongue or tenon marked 18; the lever marked a working on the pin 16,
and operated upon by the spring 17, presses the slide a back to its place; b' is
the secondary slide, having at its upper end a notch or recess as marked 30, (see
detached views, Fig. 10°,) which fits on the end of the slide 18. A little below
this recess, there are a series of notches marked 31, which correspond in their
distances with the difference of the length of the moveable bits on the key. 29
is a rectangular tongue, fitting in between the jaws 24 of the third or inter-
mediate series of slides marked a', as shewn in Fig. 1, and in detail in Figs. 8.
Between each of these slides forming the third series are followers, as marked
a in Fig. 1, and shewn detached at Figs. 7, which on lifting the slides are
raised by the levers a°, pressing against the tip or projection 23, as shewn in
Figs. 1 and 7. 2 is a rectangular lever radiating on the common centre or
pin 32; a little below this centre there is a tooth 33, which is intended to
catch into the series of notches on the secondary series of slides b'. On the
back end of this lever there is a small projection 36 as shewn by dots in
Fig. 12, which as the bolt B is passed forward and backwards, is operated
upon by the set-off 34, and pin 35, in the stationary stud b3. Figs. 1, 12, and
13, a. (Figs. 1 and 6,) is what I term a dog radiating on a pin or stump 19
on the case of the lock, as shewn in Figs. 1 and 6, which catches into the
notch 6 when the bolt is unlocked, and into the notch 7 when locked; 21 is
a pin on the dog overlaying or projecting and resting on the top edges of the
series of slides as shewn in Fig. 1. bis another dog radiating on the stump
pin 41, and catching into the notches 43 and 44. on the lower edge of the
back end of the bolt, the pin 45 on the lower end of the dog reaches through
the cap of the lock. On the lower part of the lock there is another dog b
working or radiating on the pin 37, which is also fastened to the case of the
lock, the dog being pressed to its work by the spring 38. The arm or stump
of the dog be falls into the notch 39 on the lower end of the bolt B, when the
bolt is in a certain position, causing the teeth marked 40 to catch into a series
of notches on the followers; as, a7, are a series of strips which separates and
keep in their place the slides a, a, a, and are held in the places by the pins
2, 2, and studs 14, 14. Figs. 10, marked a³, is another form of strip which

page_text: separates the secondary and intermediate series of slides b' and a', and are held
in their places by the plate and stumps on the bolt as marked b, and 28, 28,
which stumps and plate form guides for the secondary series of slides b', the
stumps marked 27, and wall 11 and 12, answers as guides for the third series
of slides and followers.
In Fig. 5 there is represented a circular curtain or revolving chamber c'.
which is excentric to the drill pin 57, and also excentric to the motion of the
key, this works into a. circular grooves 58 in the back of the lock, and a cor-
responding groove 59 in the cap C. Fig. 2. Around the revolving curtain
there is a cam piece c to operate on the auxiliary slide c; this curtain is
shewn detached at Figs. 5. The piece marked 62 filling the space below the
revolving curtain or cylinder, perfects the chamber of the key.
The part
marked 64 is a safety plug inserted into the back of the lock; 57 represents
the drill pin on which the key turns. c is what I term my auxiliary slide,
overlaying the first series of slides a, a, a, and with the arm the second and
third series b' and a'. Affixed near the centre of this arm, there is a pin 48
passing over the tops of the upper jaw of the intermediate series; it has also
a pin marked 49 reaching over the tops of the first series of slides a, a, a, a,
and another pin 47 reaching through the cap of the lock. 53 is a stump on
the bolt passing through the cap of the lock C, as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4:
D, D, in Figs. 3 and 4 represent what I term the cap or detector tumbler,
which radiates on the pin 50, affixed to the cap of the lock, and is depressed
or carried to its place by the spring 51. The portion of the tumbler marked
C-has-an-elongated-slot-in-it-to-receive-the-pin-47-of-the-auxiliary-slide-c.
The radial slot and gating 54 is to receive the stump 53. On the bolt 52 is a
radial portion of the tumbler which the stump 53 must pass before the
tumbler can return to its place. The lower projection or arm marked c
reaches out and operates against the dog pin 45. The slot marked 55 is to
pass the shank of the key. Figure 14 represents a section of the position of
the first series of slides, and also a section of the changeable bits in the key 57,
the drill pin 10, the lower side of the wall plate c', the upper section of the
revolving curtain c5, the flange operating on the auxiliary slide c. 67 is the
bolt bit of the key; 68 the series of moveable or permutating bits of the key;
56 is a groove turned on the shank of the key in which the detector tumbler D
_fits_and.slides; 59 is a groove on the cap. of the lock C, corresponding with
the groove 58, on the back of the lock for the revolving curtain to work into;
d, d, the shank of the key: A the case or back of the lock; B a section of
the bolt; and 64 a section of the safety plug; 10 a section of the dividing
wall; 62 a section of the filling piece which perfects the chamber of the key.

page_text: The operation and movement of the above-mentioned parts of the lock to
lock and unlock is as follows:-Figure 3 shews the lock ready to insert the
key by passing the key on the drill pin 57, and turning it from left to right,
carrying with it the revolving curtain c*, Fig. 5. The cam pieces of the curtain
marked 60, 60, come into contact with the lower edges of the auxiliary slide c,
raising it up, the pin 47 on the upper part carrying with it the cap or detector
tumbler D, D, Fig. 3, it gives motion to and throws it radiating on the pin
50.
The portion c³, Fig. 4, covers the keyhole, at the same time the
portion marked c presses the dog pin 45, releasing the dog from its notch on
the bolt as marked 43 in Figs. 1 and 6, and bringing the grating 54 into such
a position as to allow the stump 53 on the bolt to pass out in the position as
shewn in Fig. 4, at the same time the slot in the stem of the key marked 56
in Fig. 14, allows the detector tumbler to pass, and hugging it close
against the face of the lock, thereby prevents anything from being inserted
with a key or any form of picking instrument, preventing also the possibility
of seeing or inspecting the internal arrangements of the lock.
We will now have reference to the operation of the key inside the front
plate C of the lock. By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the key in being
turned round, and in carrying it over each moveable bit 68 in the key, raises
a slide a, a, in the series to a height corresponding to the length of each bit
68; the slide a, a, carries with it its secondary slide b', b', by means of the
tongue on the rectangular projection marked 18. The secondary slide b¹
carries with it its intermediate or third series marked a by means of the
tongue of the second series marked 29 passing between the jaws 24, 24, on
the intermediate series, while the lever a° presses and carries up the follower
8, at the same time some one of the notches 31 on each of the secondary
slides b' is presented in front of the tooth 33 on the lever 62, at the same time
the slide a, which is operated on by the longest bit of the key, raises the dog a
by means of the pin 21, and releases it from its notch 6 in the bolt B, as
shewn in Fig. 6. The stationary bit of the key 67 in Fig. 14 now presses
against the locking "talon" 4 of the bolt B, Figs. 1 and 6, as the bolt passes
out, carrying with it the secondary series of slides by means of the two
stumps 28 and 28 on the bolt. The projection on the back of the lever 36 is
now brought into contact with the "set-off 34 on the stump or stationary
stud 3, thereby pressing the tooth 33 into the several notches 31 that are
presented to it on the secondary slides b¹, holding them at the several eleva-
tions given to them by the key through the medium of the first series of
slides a, a, the connection between the first and second series being broken by
the tongue 18 releasing itself from the notch 30, also at the same time with-

page_text: drawing the " tongue piece 29 on the several series from between the jaws
24 and 24 on the intermediate or third series a³. The connection of the
several parts being now dissolved, and the bolt being fully projected, the-key
passes around, allowing the slides a, a, to fall, carrying down with them the
followers a³, allowing the intermediate series to fall with them into their original
position as before locking, also allowing the dog a to fall into the notch 7 at
the back of the bolt, the revolving excentric curtain or cylinder being brought
around again in its original position, as is shewn in Fig. 5, allows the auxiliary
slide c to fall also to its original position, carrying with it by the pin 48 any of
the intermediate slides that might otherwise stick fast by any dirt or other
obstruction, and also allows the cap or detector tumbler D to return to its
original position, releasing its hold on the dog pin 45, allowing the dog be to be
pressed into the notch 44 at the back of the bolt in Fig. 6. and placing the
radial portion of the tumbler 52 behind the stump 53 of the bolt. The lock
is now fully locked and everything in its proper place.
In order to unlock the lock it will be readily seen that each and every one
of the before-described pieces in detail must be brought back in precisely the
same position to relieve the dog b8, and bring the gating 45 to its proper height.
To allow the stump 53 to pass, the detector tumbler must be moved from right
to left and cover the key hole. To reach any of the slides a, a, a, in the lock,
the revolving curtain c' must be moved around. To release the dog a from
its hold in the bolt B. some one of the slides a, a, must be raised to its highest
position. To allow the tongue 29 on the secondary slides b' to pass between
the jaws 24, 24, on the third or intermediate series, each and every one of the
intermediate slides must be raised into the exact height or position given to it
in locking the lock, or the bolt B-cannot be withdrawn, thereby requiring
the exact key or its duplicate to unlock it.
I will now proceed to point out the peculiarities of the construction of my
lock, by means of which I guard against any known means of feeling: seeing
or in any way overcoming the obstruction to the withdrawing of the bolt which
constitutes its security.
Should that portion of the detector tumbler which covers the key hole be
cut or filed away through the key hole in the door, for the purpose of secing
the plates when the revolving curtain is turned around by the key, or to have
more room to work with the picking instruments, that part of the detector
tumbler marked c being secured by rivets to the part that covers the keyhole
-will-fall,-leaving no means of relieving the dog 68-from-its-notch-on-the-bolt
Should the revolving curtain be destroyed in any way, the effect would be
that the auxiliary tumbler c would not be raised to its proper position to move,

page_text: by means of the pin 47 (which is affixed to it), the detector tumbler to the
right position to allow the stump 53 to pass the gating 54. and the arm c to
relieve the dog b from the back of the bolt by the pin 45. Or, should an
attempt be made by an instrument to withdraw the bolt, by taking hold or
pressing against the unlocking "talon" 5 of the bolt B, it is held firmly in its
position by the dog a holding into the notch 7. as clearly shewn in Fig. 6.
But should the dogs a and b be relieved by placing the detector tumbler in
the right position, and raising some one of the slides a. a. to a sufficient
height, the bolt will then slightly recede, bringing in contact the tongues 29 of
the secondary slides b¹ with the jaws 24 of the third or intermediate series a³,
at the same time allowing the arm be of the dog b to fall into the notch 39 of
the bolt. the looth 40 being pressed by the spring into the notches on the
bottom of the followers a holding them, while the tongue 29 of the secondary
slides b, abutting against the jaw 24 of the intermediate or third series a.
holds them in such a position that the bolt cannot be withdrawn. It will be
readily seen that the pressure applied to the bolt is brought to bear against
the intermediate or third series, bringing the pressure of the tongue 29 against
the ends 24, the slides a. a. a. being detached from the followers are left
perfectly at liberty, thereby preventing the possibility of feeling the obstruc-
tions, while the metallic walls 10, 11, 12, and 13 (having an opening sufficient
only for the elbow a of the slides a, a. to work through) prevent, by any
further means the possibility of reaching that portion of the lock that contains
the intermediate and secondary series. The key of this lock being susceptible
of changes, corresponding in number equal to permutation of the number of
moveable bits in the key, and the form of the key being imparted to and
retained by the secondary slides, which are excluded from being reached
through the keyhole by the several provisions before stated, the possibility of
ascertaining the form of the secondary series of slides is prevented.
Having now described the means by which we prevent access to the slides,
and the means by which the bolt is secured from being withdrawn. I will
describe how I prevent the forcing the lock from the door. or injuring the
works by the explosion of gunpowder. The revolving cylinder c, together
with the filling piece 62 forms a perfect chamber, and prevents the possibility
of passing any gunpowder into the body of the lock, but should this chamber
be filled by gunpowder and exploded, the plug 64 on the back of the lock
yields to its force relieving the internal pressure, thereby preventing the possi-
bility of injuring the machinery of the lock. Or should the locking "talon" 4,
or the holt B, in Fig. 6, be cut away, so that the bolt would not be fully
projected by the key, thereby preventing the several parts from falling to their

page_text: proper position, the cap or detector tumbler would prevent the withdrawing of
the key.
The internal moveable parts, as represented in the accompanying Drawings,
which, according to their peculiar arrangement and combination, give the
special form to the lock, consist of pieces moving between guides in .right
lines, commonly called slides, as contradistinguished from tumblers as usually
employed in the construction of locks, which are pieces moving about.
centres; but it will be obvious to any mechanician that the properties
and peculiar characteristics, above described, may be constructed by means
of two series or by means of two series with an intermediate series of
tumblers moving about centres, but such tumblers are not so convenient as
the slides above described, in cases in which the third, or intermediate series
is employed.
Having now described. the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as the
Invention intended to be secured by the said Letters Patent,-
First, the constructing by means of a first and secondary series of slides or
tumblers a changeable lock, in which the particular form imparted by the key
to the first and secondary series of slides or tumblers is retained by a cramp
plate, as above described.
Secondly, I claim the constructing by means of a first and secondary series
of slides or tumblers a changeable lock, in which the form or arrangements of
parts of the lock, imparted by the key is retained by means of a tooth or teeth
and notches on the secondary series of slides or tumblers.
Thirdly, I claim in the construction of locks, the application of a third or
intermediate series of slides or tumblers for the purposes above described.
Fourthly, I claim the application of a dog, with a pin overlapping the slides
or tumblers, as shewn and described in Fig. 1, Sheet II., of the accompanying
Drawings, for the purpose of holding in the bolt when the lock is locked or
unlocked, as above described.
Fifthly, I claim the application of a dog be operated on by the cap or
detector tumbler holding the bolt, as above described and shewn in Fig. 4,
Sheet II., of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixthly, I claim the application of a dog b³ for the purpose of holding the
intermediate slides or tumblers, as above described and shewn in Figs. 1 and 5.
Sheet II., of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventhly, I claim the application to locks of curtains or rings turning and
working eccentrically to the motion of the key, as above described, for
preventing access to the interior parts of the lock,

page_text: Eighthly. I claim the application to locks of a safety plug or yielding plate
at the back of the chamber formed by such excentric revolving curtain.
Ninthly. I claim the application to locks of a strong metallic wall. for the
purpose of separating the safety and other parts of the lock from each other,
and preventing access to such parts by means of the keyhole.
Tenthly, I claim the application to locks of a cap or detector tumbler, as
above described for the purpose of closing the keyhole as the key is turned.
Eleventhly, I claim the constructing a key by a combination of bits or
moveable pieces with tongues fitted into a groove and held by a screw, as
above described.
Twelfthly, I also claim the constructing of a key having a groove in its
shank to receive the detector tumbler, as fully described.
In witness whereof I, the said Robert Newell, have hereunto set my hand.
and seal, this Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
ROBERT (L.S.) NEWELL.
Taken and acknowledged by Robert Newell, (party
hereto), at the City of New York, in the United
States of America, this Fourth day of September