Improvements in Locks.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Locks.
I, JAMES CHARLES RALLS, of 22, Old Church Road, Clevedon, Somersetshire,
Watchmaker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in locks, and has for its object to com-
bine absolute safety with simplicity of construction, and to provide locks that will
be free from the friction and noise that are inseparable from locks that are actuated
by the usual tumblers, levers, springs, and the like.
My invention consists in constructing locks with one or a series of superposed
plates, held friction tight by surface or edge pressure, or both combined, and each
plate having a square or rectangular aperture, the width of which is regulated by
the length of the nib on the key which actuates that particular plate; and the
plates may be made to slide either in a longitudinal or circular direction; the
action of the key may be simply to place the whole of the sliding plates in locking
position, leaving the catch or bolt to be withdrawn by other means, or, after
having put the plates in position, may pass on and remove the catch or bolt: a
method of holding the plates together which will give an increased and self
contained side friction, is to cut a narrow strip partially off the sides of each plate
and bend it over on the edge of the adjoining one, this will hold all the plates
together and enable them to slide with accuracy when actuated by the key: the
slides are operated solely by the key, without the intervention of springs or
tumblers of any kind whatever.
In carrying this invention into effect, one or any number of plates, fitting and
sliding one on the other, according to the nibs or spaces formed on the key, are
made to work or slide in a longitudinal or circular direction, backward and
forward by the action of the nibs on the key, each slide has a rectangular opening
through which the key passes to its position, one side of each opening is made
to coincide with the corresponding side of all the others when they are in onè
position; the width of each opening is varied to correspond with the length of
the nibs, this varying distance affording additional difficulty in picking the lock,
so that each nib will carry its own plate to its full distance outwards, and bring
it back again, when required, to its original position; in each plate there is an
opening or slot, which when in position, coincides with all the other slots: the
plates are all put in locking position by the action of the various nibs on the key;
if the plates have to travel in a circular direction, they are pivotted in a con-
venient position near the stem which receives the key, and the sides of the
rectangular openings are made convex to ensure accuracy in their action; and
if the key has to withdraw the bolt or catch, the length of the opening is con-
siderably increased, to permit the key being turned completely round.
According to this invention, the plates being made of thin metal, one or any
number of them may be used in constructing a lock, and as the number, length,
and position of the nibs on the key are varied, a practically unlimited number of
complications may be introduced, and the plates being held together by the side

page_text: friction strips as described, as well as by surface friction, a lock is provided which
will be absolutely safe and unpickable.
J. G. WESTLAKE,
Applicant's Agent, 2, John Street, Bristol.
Improvements in Locks.
I, JAMES CHARLES RALLS, of 22, Old Church Road, Clevedon, Somerset, Watch-
maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement: -
My invention relates to improvements in locks and has for its object to combine
absolute safety with simplicity of construction, and so to provide locks that will
be free from the friction and noise that are inseparable from locks that are
actuated by the usual tumblers, levers, springs, and the like.
My invention consists in constructing locks with superposed plates, to act either
in pairs or sets, and held friction tight by surface or edge pressure, or both com-
bined, these plates are arranged to slide either in a longitudinal or circular
direction, or a combination may be arranged for the horizontal slides to actuate
the circular ones or vice versa, the plates are so arranged that each one is moved in
an opposite direction from the one above or below it, (except in special cases as
herein described) the frictional attraction permitting the alternate motion to be
made with the greatest accuracy, the locking appliance consists of a tongue or
nib fixed on the bolt plate entering a number of slots in the plates when the
slots have all been made coincident; the keys to operate the plates are preferably
made with their nibs on each side, forming a double key, but when a single key
is preferred, operating the plates in one direction only at the same time, it is
necessary to insert a thin washer between each plate to avoid the frictional
attraction.
This invention is an improvement on the one described in my Complete Specifi-
cation No. 27133 of 1896, and shows a variety of means by which the sliding
plates may be employed in the construction of locks, from a simple box or drawer
lock to the most elaborate safe, and these improvements will be shown in con-
nection with the accompanying drawings.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 show the construction of a simple desk lock, made of two
plates A stamped or cut in the shape shown, with hooks B formed at the top,
inserted between the front and back plates, the direction of these hooks being
inverted, they are made to pass through the slots in the catch, as in Fig. 1, and
then by the action of the key thrown in opposite directions, and hold the catch
firmly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the front plate is made with projections C to
pass through the top plate, these may be of the same height as the hooks, or
lower, as shown, they prevent the insertion of a knife or the like for the purpose
of opening the desk or box, they also serve to keep the cover steady.
Fig. 4 shows a common box lock with an outside catch, the staple of which is
inserted through a longitudinal slot, and held by the bolt, any suitable number
of plates A are inserted in the frame to be actuated by the key, similar to that
shown in Fig. 13, the plates have slots a cut in them to be distributed by the key,
as shown, or made coincident, in which case, the nib d on the bolt plate D is
turned by the key and the hook liberated from the staple and the lock opened.
**Figs. and 6 show the inside and outside of a trunk or portmanteau lock, with

page_text: vertical staples to engage in the locking bolts, this is shown unlocked, the slots a
in the plate A having been made to coincide and the nib on the bolt plate D
turned by the key into them, the hook. E is liberated from the staple, the other
hook F is attached to the hook on the bolt plate by a pivot, and they therefore
simultaneously engage in the catch G.
Fig. 7 is a padlock, 'shown locked, with the slots a on the plates distributed, so
that the nib d'on the plate cannot be thrown into the slots; the' hook 'E' on the
end of the bolt plate engaging in the staple of the bow H.
Fig. 8 is a spring padlock with the plates A (and slots a) inserted, but instead
of a horizontal bolt plate, a vertical spring plate D with a hook at the upper end
is employed; this is pressed down by the stud E when the plates A have been put
in position, with the slots a coincident to receive the nib when pressed down;
a hook at the end of the bow H is held down by the bolt hook, and can only be
released by pressing the nib into the slots in the plates. The lock may be used
as a spring lock only, the plates being left with the slots coincident.
Fig. 9 is a small circular padlock with a bolt plate placed either below or
between the sliding plates A, these rotate on separate pins as shown, and by this
action the nib d is brought within the slots a before the bolt can be withdrawn
from the staple. In this lock as the motion of the plates is not in a directly
opposite course, it may be desirable to place thin washers between them to obtain
an independent action for each plate.
Fig. 10 is a drawer lock with the plates arranged to slide all on one side at the
same time, and to be actuated by a key with the nibs on one side only, as shown
in Fig. 12 in this case washers J are inserted between the plates, to overcome any
unequal frictional attraction; the plates are all thrown on one side for locking,
and on the other for unlocking.
Fig. 11 shows a lock in which the action of the plates is assisted by springs K,
and an additional pin 2 inserted at the end of the key hole to prevent their being
overthrown.
Figs. 12 and 13 represent single and double keys respectively; the number of
nibs on the keys and their length depending on the number of plates used in the
lock and the width of their openings, the lower nib may be made to throw the
bolt, or a separate key or any outside means may be employed for throwing it
after the other nibs have put all the plates with their slots coincident.
Fig. 14 is a combination of longitudinally sliding and circular plates, by this
ineans the slots may be distributed to a much greater extent; this is specially
adapted for a lock with a considerable number of plates, say 6, 8, or 9, the plates A
are made to slide longitudinally, two pins holding them in position, recesses at
the lower end engage with ball joints at the end of any conveniently shaped
circular plates, pivotted at /, the bolt D with its nib d being withdrawn when the
slots coincide.
Fig. 15 is a double action lock, suitable for safes, the plates A engage with the
ball joints of a set of circular plates which are pivotted in the centre, so that as
the plates A are turned, the circular plates are rotated to a considerable extent,
slots are made at each side of the plates, and are brought together by the key
until they coincide opposite the two nibs d, which are fixed on the usual bolting
apparatus of safes; the action of this lock is to turn the plates in the position
shown, when the bolts of the safe have been turned by the outer handle, then the
position of the slots on the plates will render it impossible for the bolts to be shot
back until the slots have been made to coincide; to prevent picking, a number of
false nicks are made on the sides of the plates, which will serve to baffle the skill
of the burglar.
Any of the other locks shown may be made to operate at both ends, by several
well known methods of parallel motion, by which the sides being connected by
pivots, buttons or the like, one will be thrown to the right and the other to the
left, this is a useful combination when a lock is required to fasten a drawer at the
bottom as well as the top.

page_text: Fig. 16 and 17 show a door lock with key hole right through for using the key
either side, the plates A are made L shape and pivotted, a crank lever M to throw
the bolt, one figure shows the lock with the bolt thrown, and the other open; the
.bottom ends of the plates are recessed to be held by a catch to prevent their being
overthrown.
'
Fig. 18 is an ordinary spring night latch, which may be opened on the inside
in the usual manner, but is opened on the outside by a key on plates in a similar
way to that described in connection with Figs. 16 and 17, the spring at the back
of the bolt keeps it in position and when the bolt is thrown, always sets the plates
ready for the insertion of the key, and locks the mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
The construction of locks with sliding plates and slots in them, to be placed by
the keys in position, for the reception of studs or nibs on the bolts or locking
plates within the slots before the bolts can be withdrawn, and the combination of
the several appliances for the effective operation of them, all substantially as and
for the purposes described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of October 1897
J. G. WESTLAKE,
Applicant's Agent, 2, John Street, Bristol.