Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 19th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 24th May, 1887.
I, CHARLES JAMES REYNOLDS of 77 Downs Park Road, Clapton, in the County of.
Middlesex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements have reference to all locks, latches or fastenings, which contain a
latch or bolt, or both, actuated by a spring, or weight, or not, and moved by a "follower,"
and in this specification the word lock is to be taken to mean a lock, latch, or fastening.
At present a serious defect in the working of such latches or bolts, is the tendency,
through wear at the points of contact, between the "follower" and the latch, or bolt,
for the handle to become loose or slack in the direction of its rotation, owing to the
play between the working parts, thus causing an objectionable oscillation of the handle.
Another radical fault in most of such locks or fastenings actuated by a spring or
weight is, that when the lock or fastening is closed, the pressure of the spring (or
weight), actuating the lock, and also the blow caused by the shooting of the bolt or
latch, is borne by the arbors of the "follower" causing excessive wear where the said
arbor works in the " case "of the lock or latch. This again increases this oscillation
or slack motion of the handle.
My improvements are designed to remove these defects by preventing slackness
between the arm of the "follower" and the latch or bolt, and by removing the
pressure of the spring (or weight), from the arbor of the "follower," when the lock is
closed.
As lock "followers" are of two kinds, single-handed and double-handed, I will first
describe the application of my invention to a single-handed "follower.".
In single-handed followers, I proceed by inserting a movable surface, which is held
firmly against the arm or horn of the "follower," by the pressure of the main spring
or in special cases by a small supplementary spring, acting through the medium of a
steel plug or bolt, one end of which bears against the movable surface, and the other is
acted upon by the spring either directly, or through the intervention of a cantilever, as
may be most convenient.
The opposing surface to the "follower," instead of being separate from the plug or
bolt, may be made in one with it, or if preferred, the end of the plug or bolt may be
used as such surface

page_text: The force of the spring being thus brought to bear against the arm of the
"follower," it is driven back against the part of the latch bolt on its opposite side, and
the impulsion of the spring is passed on to the latch or bolt, which in its turn is shot
or moved out to its fullest extent untill it bears by a stop against the front of the lock
case.
It is obvious that so long as the movable projecting surface remains in action, no
slackness can arise between it and the "follower" on the one side, & between the
follower & the bolt on the other, and moreover there is no pressure on the arbor of
the "follower," and no matter in what position the bolt or latch may be, the handle
will always be held firmly & free from oscillation.
In applying my invention to a double-handed "follower," I employ two movable
surfaces, one being placed in front of each arm of the "follower."
Supposing these surfaces to form the ends of two plugs or bolts actuated as above
described for a single "follower," but prevented from passing right through by a
stop or shoulder on their outer ends, these outer ends would bear against a rocking
lever, having a rolling fulcrum in its centre, bearing upon the tail of the latch or
bolt.
The pressure of the spring or weight, falls on this rocking lever holding it in
equilibrium when at rest, and keeping it tight against the two plugs.
"
On the handle being turned, one arm of the "follower presses back the plug
in contact with it, untill all slackness being taken up, it bears against the opposing
surface of the latch or bolt, the other plug is pressed forward and follows the
alternate arm of the "follower" as it recedes, and the latch or bolt is moved as
required for opening or closing the lock.
Whichever way the handle is turned the result is the same, viz., the latch is thrust
back, one of the plugs is driven back with it, and the other advances until the forward
arm of the "follower" reaches the bolt or latch, when it moves the same in the usual
way.
1

page_text: Improvements in Locks, Latches, or Fastenings having "Followers."
I, CHARLES JAMES REYNOLDS of 77 Downs Park Road, Clapton in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, 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 improvements have reference to all locks latches or fastenings, which contain a
latch or bolt moved by a "follower." These locks latches or fastenings may be either
actuated by a spring or weight, or in any other way, and in this specification the word
lock is to be taken to mean a lock latch or fastening. At present a serious defect in
the working of the latches or bolts of locks is the tendency, through wear at the point
of contact, between the follower and the latch or bolt, for the handle to become loose
or slack in the direction of its rotation, owing to the play between the working parts,
thus causing an objectionable oscillation of the handle. Another radical fault in most
of such locks or fastenings actuated by a spring or weight is that when the lock or
fastening is closed, the pressure of the spring (or weight) actuating the lock, and also
the concussion caused by the shooting of the bolt or latch, is born by the arbor or
hollow axle of the "follower" causing excessive wear, where the said arbor works in
the " case "of the lock or latch. This again increases the oscillation or slack motion
of the handle.
My improvements are designed to remove these defects by preventing slackness
between the arm or horn of the "follower" and the latch or bolt, and also wherever
practicable by removing the pressure of the spring (or weight) from the arbor of the
follower," when the lock is closed. As lock "followers" are of two kinds, single-
handed and double-handed-I will first describe the application of my invention to a
single-handed "follower." In single handed followers I proceed by inserting a
moveable surface preferably in the form of an intermediate bar which is held firmly
against the arm or horn of the "follower," by the pressure of the main spring, or in
special cases, by a small supplementary spring, the said bar sometimes acting through
the medium of a steel plug or bolt one end of which bears against the intermediate
bar or the arm of the follower and the other is acted upon by the spring, either directly,
or through the intervention of a cantilever, as may be most convenient. The plug or
bolt bearing against the follower, instead of being separate from the intermediate bar
or the cantilever, may be made in one with it, or hinged to it if preferred, so that the
end of the plug or bolt forms the opposing surface. The force of the spring being
thus brought to bear against the arm of the "follower" it is driven back against the
part of the latch bolt on its opposite side, and the impulsion of the spring is passed on
to the latch or bolt, which in its turn is shot or moved out of its fullest extent until it
bears by a stop against the front of the lock case. To secure this impact a
modification of the latch commonly used will be necessary as the latch or bolt must be
It is
provided with a shoulder or stop to bear against the front of the lock case.
obvious that if the latch possess this stop, so long as the movable projecting surface

page_text: remains in action, no slackness can arise between it and the "follower" on the one
side, and between the follower and the bolt or latch on the other, and moreover there
is no pressure on the arbour of the "follower," and no matter in what position the bolt
or latch may be, the handle will always be held firmly and free from oscillation.
८८
In applying my invention to a double handed "follower," I employ two movable
surfaces, one being placed in front of each arm of the follower. Supposing these
surfaces to form the ends of two plugs or bolts, actuated as above described for a single
follower," but prevented when preferred, from passing right through the tail of the
bolt by a stop or shoulder on their outer ends, their other ends would bear against a
rocking lever, having a rolling fulcrum in its centre bearing upon the tail of the latch
or bolt.
The pressure of the spring or weight falls on this rocking lever holding it in
equilibrium when at rest, and keeping it tight against the two plugs.
On the handle being turned, one arm of the "follower" presses back the plug in
contact with it, until all slackness being taken up, it forces back the opposing surface of
the latch or bolt, the other plug is pressed forward and follows the alternate arm of the
follower as it recedes, and the latch or bolt is moved as required for opening or closing
the lock.
Whichever way the handle is turned the result is the same, viz., the latch is thrust
back, one of the plugs is driven back with it, and the other advances, until the
forward arm of the follower reaches the bolt or latch when it moves the latch bolt in
the usual way.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1. Shews a railway carriage latch with single "follower" fitted with my
improvements.
Figure 2. Shews the latch of an ordinary rim lock with double "follower" also
fitted with my improvements.
Figure 3. Shews my improvements as applied to a single "follower," separated
from the lock.
Figure 4. Shews the same as applied to a double "follower."
A is the "follower" of the lock.
B is the bolt of the lock.
C is the plug which presses against the "follower."
D is the intermediate bar.
E is the rocking lever.
F is a coiled spring which bears against the immediate bar.
G is an ordinary feather spring which bears against the rocking lever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I doclare that what I claim is;
دو
"
"
1. A method of preventing "slackness or oscillation in the working of the
handles of locks latches and fastenings having "followers" by means of pressure
applied through a moveable surface to the arm or arms of the "follower"
herein described and set forth.
as
2. A method of relieving the friction of the arbor of the "follower" in locks
latches and fastenings having followers, as herein explained and set forth.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C.,
Patent Agent.