IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMUTATION PADLOCKS.
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nestor Alcinous Young, of the City and County of San
Francisco, State of California, United States of America, Machinist, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMUTATION PADLOCKS.'
"
Sealed the 19th December 1879, and dated the 15th October 1879.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Nestor Alcinous Young at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th October 1879.
NESTOR ALCINOUS YOUNG, of the City and County of San Francisco, State of
California, United States of America, Machinist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMUTATION
PADLOCKS."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in that class of locks known as
"combination" or "keyless" locks, and it is especially adapted to be used upon
what are known as padlocks.
My Invention consists in a novel construction of an outer case having an internal
spindle or stem which is formed in one piece with the outer case, and serves as a
guide and center for all the tumblers but the outer one and driver, from which they
are independent. This latter is secured to the closing plate, which also forms the
dial disk, and the inner flange of this driver fits against and is steadied by the end
of the stem upon which the tumblers turn.
The closing plate is securely locked in place by means of a loose disk, which has
lugs upon its edge, so arranged as to be turned in corresponding slots on the inner
edge of the case, and when in place it is locked and prevented from removal by
means of the bolt or staple when it is in place.
In order to more fully explain my Invention, reference is made to the accom-
panying Drawings, in which—
Fig. 1 is an external view of my lock; Fig. 2 is a section, showing the interior;
Fig. 3 is a bottom view; Fig. 4 is a view of one of the tumblers; Fig. 5 is a view
of the locking bolt or staple; Fig. 6 is a view of the closing plate with its slotted
stem; Figs. 7 and 8 are detailed views of the locking plate and bottom of the
case.
A is the outer case of my lock, which is made cylindrical, having its base flat,
while its top has two raised portions surrounding the openings B upon each side,
into which the locking staple or curved bar C enters. From the center of the top

page_text: of this case, inside, a stem or spindle D pojects toward the base. This stem may be
hollow or solid, and serves as a center about which the tumblers E turn. As many
of these tumblers may be used as desired by employing rings F to fill the spaces.
These tumblers consist of a main disk or annulas having a slightly raised rim upon
each side arround the central opening. A pin G passes through each tumbler just
outside the rim, and these pins act upon each other to adjust each_tumbler to its
proper position, so as to allow locking or unlocking. Washers H between the
tumblers keep them apart in the usual manner.
The edges of these tumblers have a shallow groove I upon one side, and a semi-
circular notch or groove is made in the opposite side, so that when these grooves
and notches are in line upon their respective sides, the two legs of the bar C may
be introduced or removed, these legs having a convex side and a projection respec-
tively on the inside to correspond with the grooves and notches in the tumblers.
These legs are cut transversely, as shewn at K, so that when in place the tumblers
may be turned, and their edges will pass into these cuts or notches, and thus
prevent the bar C from being withdrawn. The construction of the bar C with
unequal sides, and the tumblers with unequal grooves or notches increases the safety
of the lock.
The closing and dial disk L has the exterior of its periphery fitted to a shallow
depression around the base of the case A so that it will be flush therewith when in
place. A short stem M projects inwardly from this disc, and the outer tuinbler N,
which is also a driver for the others, is secured to this stem. In order to securo this
driver rigidly to the stem M I split the stem into sections as shewn, and a screw O
with a tapering or conical head is fitted into the stem, so that when turned in it will
expand the section, and thus hold the driver securely at any point.
By this construction I am enabled to change the combination as much or as often
as may be necessary or desirable. It will be manifest that the stem M. can be made
many sided, and the changes in combination accomplished in this manner, and I
shall employ this method in some cases.
In order to secure the disk L so that it may not be removed, while it is allowed
to rotate freely, a loose disk P is fitted to turn upon the stem M, or rather when in
placo the stem turns within the disk. This disk is provided with unequally sized
projections upon opposite edges, and similarly shaped slots R allow these projec-
tions to enter the case when the parts are put together. Connecting with these
slots are two grooves R¹, which extend a short distance around the interior of the case,
and when the disk P is turned the projections Q will enter the grooves, and thus
lock the disk L and driver in place, so that while rotating freely they cannot be
removed.
In order to turn the disk P a small hole S is made through the dial or closing
disk L, and a pin may be introduced through it into a similar hole in the disk P.
By turning the knob T the disk P will be rotated to fasten or loosen it. In order
to secure this disk so that it cannot be turned when the bar C is in place and the
device locked, one of the legs of the bar projects so as to enter a corresponding
hole U in the plate P.
By this construction I am enabled to provide a lock which is easily opened by
one possessed of the combination, but cannot be easily picked. It is so entirely
closed that no access can be had to it, and is strong and compact, being peculiarly
fitted for locking mail pouches, cars, &c.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure
by Letters Patent is,—
1st. The case A, with its open bottom, and having the openings B at the top to
receive the locking bolt, said case having the spindle D formed with it, and pro-
jecting inwardly from the top to receive and guide the tumblers E independently
of the closing and dial disk and driver, substantially as herein described.
2nd., The case A, with its inwardly projecting spindle D, upon which the.
tumblers E turn independently of the closing disk, in combination with the curved.

page_text: locking-bar C with its unequally shaped slotted legs, substantially as and for the
purpose herein described.
3rd. The dial and closing disk L with its stem M, split as shown, and provided
with the conical or tapering screw, in combination with the independent tumblers
and driver N, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
4th. The closing disk L, with its stem M and outer tumbler or driver N secured
and adjusted as shown, together with the loose disk P, having the projection Q in
combination with the frame A with its slots R and grooves, whereby the dial is
locked in place, substantially as herein described.
5th. A permutation padlock consisting of the outer case A. with the locking
staple C and the closing dial disk L, said dial disk having the driver N and the
locking disk P mounted upon it, while the tumblers E are supported independently
upon the spindle D within the case A, whereby the dial may act upon the tumblers
when in place, and be removed without the tumblers, substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nestor Alcinous Young, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
(Witnesses,
S. H. NOURSE.
FRANK A. BROOKS.
NESTOR ALCINOUS YOUNG. (L.S.)