Improvements in or connected with the Bolts of Safe or Strong-room Doors.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th May, 1891-Accepted, 13th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Bolts of Safe or Strong-room
Doors.
We, HARRY WITHERS CHUBB A.M.I.C.E., Lock & Safe Engineer and
Manufacturer, WILLIAM HENRY CHALK Engineer and HAROLD STEAD BALL
Draughtsman all of 128 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows:-
Heretofore, it has been customary to connect the handle and spindle, by which
the bolts of a safe or strong-room door are actuated, with the said bolts, in such
manner that when the latter are shot and locked in position, the said actuating
handle and spindle still remain connected therewith, so that force exerted to turn
the handle in an effort to move the bolts, after they have been shot and locked,
may result, if the force exerted is sufficient, in breaking-off the handle, or in
twisting the spindle. The object of one part of our invention is to provide means
whereby the breaking-off of the handle, or twisting of the spindle, by any effort to
turn such handle or spindle, after the bolts have been shot and locked, is rendered
impossible, and for this purpose we employ mechanism whereby the bolt-actuating
spindle and its handle are connected with the bolts when the latter are unlocked,
so that the bolts may be shot out, or withdrawn, thereby at pleasure; but when
the bolts are shot and locked, the spindle and its handle are disconnected from the
bolts so that the said spindle and handle are free to turn without offering any
material resistance, or exerting any pressure whatever on the bolts to force them
in either direction.
Various arrangements of mechanism may be employed for effecting the above
object but those we have so far found most suitable and efficient are the
following:
Instead of the bolt-actuating spindle being connected directly, as heretofore, to
the devices (such as cranks, cams, and so forth) by which the bolts are moved out
and in, we so arrange the said spindle, in relation to the said bolt-actuating devices,
that it may be connected therewith, or disconnected therefrom, by the act of
locking or unlocking the bolts, and we effect this connection and disconnection by
means of a stud, pin, key, or other suitable part connected with and actuated by
the bolt of the lock. This stud, pin, key, or other connecting part, is moved
by the lock-bolt when the same is withdrawn or unlocked, so as to effect the
connection of the bolt-actuating spindle with the bolt-actuating devices in such
manner that when the said spindle is turned, the bolts can be moved thereby, and
the said stud, pin, key, or other connecting part, is moved by the lock-bolt when
the same is locked, so as to effect the disconnection of the bolt-actuating spindle
from the bolt-actuating devices in such manner that when the said spindle is
turned, it has no action on the bolts but is simply free to turn round.
Another part of our invention relates to means for actuating the bolts of safe or
strong-room doors. These means consist of one or more eccentrics mounted in
different planes on the bolt-actuating spindle and each adapted to take into a slot
formed in a sliding strap or tail-piece connected with one or more of the bolts. On
turning the bolt-actuating spindle the eccentrics mounted thereon rotate with it and
act on the sides of the slots in the aforesaid straps or tail-pieces and move the bolts
connected therewith inwards or outwards as may be required.
This method of actuating the bolts may be adapted, with the means hereinbefore
described, for disconnecting the bolt-actuating spindle from the bolt-actuating
devices, by mounting the aforesaid eccentrics loosely on the said spindle, or on a

page_text: sleeve secured thereon, and adapting the stud, pin, key, or other device connected
with the bolt of the lock as above described, to make a connection between the
spindle or sleeve and the eccentrics when the lock-bolt is withdrawn, and to break
such connection when the lock-bolt is thrown out.
Dated this 11th day of August 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Bolts of Safe or Strong-room
Doors.
We, HARRY WITHERS CHUBB, A.M.1.C.E., Lock and Safe Engineer and
Manufacturer, WILLIAM HENRY CHALK, Engineer, and HAROLD STEAD BALL,
Draughtsman, all of 128 Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying three sheets of drawings and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Heretofore it has been customary to connect the handle and spindle, by which
the bolts of a safe or strong-room door are actuated, with the said bolts in such
manner that when the latter are shot and locked in position, the said actuating
handle and spindle still remain connected therewith, so that force exerted to turn
the handle in an effort to move the bolts after they have been shot and locked may
result, if the force exerted is sufficient, in breaking off the handle, or in twisting
the spindle. The object of one part of our invention is to provide means whereby
the breaking off of the handle, or twisting of the spindle, by any effort to turn such
handle or spindle after the bolts have been shot and locked, is rendered impossible;
and for this purpose we employ mechanism whereby the bolt-actuating spindle and
its handle are connected with the bolts when the latter are unlocked, so that the
said bolts may be shot out or withdrawn thereby at pleasure; but when the bolts
are shot and locked, the spindle and its handle are disconnected from the bolts so
that the said spindle and handle are free to turn without offering any material
resistance, or exerting any pressure whatever on the bolts to force them in either
direction.
Various arrangements of mechanism may be employed for effecting the above
object, but those we have so far found most suitable and efficient are the
following:
Instead of the bolt-actuating spindle being connected directly, as heretofore, to
the devices such as toothed wheels, cranks, followers and so forth, by which the
main bolts are moved out and in, we so arrange the said spindle in relation to the
said bolt-actuating devices that it may be connected therewith, or disconnected
therefrom, by the act of locking or unlocking the main bolts; and we effect this
connection and disconnection by means of a stud, pin, key or other suitable part,
connected with and actuated by the bolt of the lock. This stud or other connecting
part is moved by the lock-bolt when the same is withdrawn or unlocked, so as to
effect the connection of the bolt-actuating spindle with the bolt-actuating devices
in such manner that when the said spindle is turned, the bolts are moved thereby,
and the said stud or other connecting part is moved by the lock-bolt, when the
same is locked, so as to effect the disconnection of the bolt-actuating spindle from
the bolt-actuating devices in such manner that when the said spindle is turned it
has no action on the bolts, but is simply free to turn round on its own axis.

page_text: In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show an arrangement of this kind applied to
the toothed wheel forming one of the ordinary bolt-actuating devices of a safe or
strong-room door, Figure 1 being an elevation and Figure 2 a section on line X X
of Figure 1.
A is the toothed wheel into the teeth of which take toothed racks not shown in
the drawing, one on each side, which racks are connected to and operate the main
bolts of the safe door in the manner well understood by persons conversant with the
art of safe and strong-room construction. C is the notch in the edge of the
wheel A into which the bolt D of the lock takes when the main bolts are shot and
locked. F is the spindle connected to the handle outside the door by which the
wheel A is turned when it is desired to withdraw, or to shoot, the main bolts. In
the usual construction, the square end of this spindle F takes into a recess of
corresponding shape in the centre of the wheel A, so that whether the main bolts
are locked or unlocked, the spindle F is always connected to the wheel A, and
when the main bolts are shot and locked, an effort to turn the spindle F is resisted
by the wheel A, and if sufficient force is exerted, either the handle, the spindle, or
the teeth of the wheel are broken or twisted. But in the arrangement shown in
the drawings, the square end of the spindle F takes into a corresponding recess in
a disc G which is let into a circular recess in the wheel A and is free to rotate
therein. H is a recess or notch formed in the periphery of the disc G, and I is a
recess or notch formed in the circumference of the recess in the wheel A. J is a
sliding bar provided with a stud, pin, or key K adapted to take into the recess or
notch I, and to be wholly contained therein when the bar J is moved to its extreme
position in the direction of the arrow; but when the notch H in the disc G is
brought so as to coincide with the recess or notch in the wheel, the stud K can be
moved forward so that its front end enters the recess H, and the disc G and
wheel A are then so connected that they both turn together. The end of the
bar J, opposite to that at which the stud K is situated, slides in guides L on the
wheel A. The bar J has a stud M so placed that when the said bar is moved so as
to engage the end of the stud K in the recess or notch H, thereby connecting the
disc to the wheel A, the said stud coincides with the centre of the said disc and
wheel. N is a tail-piece connected at one end to the lock-bolt D and taking over
the stud M at the other end.
It will now be understood that when the main bolts are shot, and the lock-bolt
enters the notch C in the wheel A, the tailpiece N slides the bar J in the direction
of the arrow, disengaging the stud K from the notch H in the disc G and with-
drawing it wholly into the recess or notch I in the wheel A; the disc G is thereby
disengaged from the wheel A, and is free to turn with the spindle F, when the
latter is turned by the external handle, without offering any material resistance.
When the lock-bolt D has been withdrawn from the notch C in the wheel A, the
tailpiece N slides the bar in the opposite direction and the stud K is drawn
partly out of the recess or notch I into the recess or notch H and the disc G and
wheel A are thereby locked together. The same movement of the bar J brings
the stud M in line with the centre of the disc G and wheel A and these, together
with the sliding bar Jare then free to turn and to actuate the main bolts. On
again shooting the main bolts and thereby bringing the notch C in the wheel A
opposite the lock-bolt D the latter may be again shot so as to lock the main bolts,
and the stud K will be again withdrawn from the notch H, liberating the disc Gas
before. Whenever it is desired to withdraw the lock-bolt D, it is necessary to turn
the disc until its notch H coincides with the notch I in the wheel, and to afford
means of knowing when this has been done, a sliding bolt P is let into a radial
recess in the edge of the disc G; this bolt is urged outwards by a spring Q, and its
outer somewhat rounded end takes into a notch or recess R in the cylindrical recess
in which the disc G revolves, when the recess H coincides with the recess I and the
comparatively slight additional resistance to the rotation of the disc thereby
afforded indicates that the parts are in the proper position to be locked. The
rounded form of the end of the sliding bolt P enables it to be easily forced past

page_text: the recess R so, as not to interfere with the rotation of the disc G in its recess in
the wheel A when the said disc and wheel. are disconnected.
Another part of our invention relates to means for actuating the main bolts of
safe or strong-room doors. These means consist of the arrangements shown in
Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, in which Figure 3 is an elevation of part of the
bolt mechanism of a safe or strong-room door, and Figure 4 a
longitudinal section
on line YY of Figure 3.
SS are two eccentrics or cams formed on different planes but preferably in one
piece of metal mounted on the bolt-actuating spindle F and adapted respectively to
take into slots T T' in sliding straps or tail-pieces U U connected with the main
bolts. On turning the spindle F the eccentrics S S¹ mounted thereon rotate with
it and act on the sides of the slots T T in the aforesaid straps or tail-pieces U U¹
and move the main bolts connected therewith inwards or outwards as may be
required. The eccentrics or cams are shown of circular form but it is obvious that
they may be made of any other suitable form.
The locking of the main bolts when in their shot position is effected by the
bolt D of the lock E taking into slots CC in the edges of the straps U U in the
usual manner and in order to hold the eccentrics or cams S S' more or less stendy
when the main bolts are shot and locked, the lock-bolt D is provided with an
extension D' the end of which comes behind a projection or dog D formed on one
of the eccentrics or cams.
This method of actuating the main bolts may be adapted with the means herein-
before described for disconnecting the bolt-actuating spindle from the bolt-actuating
devices by mounting the aforesaid eccentrics or cams loosely on the said spindle, or
on a sleeve placed or secured thereon and adapting the stud, pin, key, or other
device connected with the bolt of the lock as above described to make connection
between the spindle or sleeve, as the case may be, and the eccentrics or cams when
the lock-bolt is withdrawn, and to break such connection when the lock-bolt is
thrown out.
An arrangement of this kind is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings in
which Figure 5 is an elevation somewhat similar to that shown in Figure 3, and
Figure 6 a transverse section on the line ZZ of Figure 5.
SS are the main bolt actuating eccentrics or cams, U U₁ the sliding straps or
tail-pieces connected with the main bolts, T T slots in the said sliding straps or
tail pieces respectively in which the eccentrics S S' work. F the actuating
spindle, Ga sleeve mounted on and turning with the spindle F and having
mounted on it and turning loosely thereon the eccentrics S S. This sleeve has a
recess or notch H formed in it similar to that shown in the disc G of Figures 1
and 2. I is a recess or notch formed in the eccentrics S S C are the usual
notches in the straps or tail-pieces U U₁ to receive the bolt D of the lock E. J is
a sliding bar having a stud K adapted to take into the recesses H. and I as
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, and M. is a stud on the bar J placed
as in those figures, so that when the stud K is engaged in the recess or notch H of
the sleeve G the said stud M coincides with the centre of the spindle F. N is a
tail-piece connecting the lock bolt D with the sliding har J through the stud M.
The action is quite similar to that described in reference to Figures 1 and 2, that is
to say when the main bolts are shot, and locked by the lock-bolt D the stud K. is
contained wholly in the recess or notch I of the eccentrics and is disengaged from
the notch H in the sleeve G, leaving the latter free to be turned by the spindle F
without acting on anything and without offering material resistance to turning.
When the lock-bolt D is withdrawn and the main bolts thereby unlocked, the stud K
is partly withdrawn from the recess or notch I and engages in the recess or notch H,
thereby connecting the sleeve G with the eccentrics so that when the spindle F and
sleeve G are rotated the eccentrics are rotated also, and the main bolts moved
inwards or outwards as desired.
Instead of the part G being made separate from the spindle F, it may in some
cases be formed solid therewith.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
First In connection with the bolt mechanism of a safe or strong room door the
use of connecting and disconnecting mechanism actuated by the lock-bolt for the
purpose of connecting the bolt-actuating handle and spindle with the main bolts
when the same are unlocked and of disconnecting the bolt-actuating handle and
spindle from the main bolts when the same are locked, substantially as hereinbefore
described, and illustrated in the drawings.
Second The mechanism for connecting the bolt actuating handle and spindle
with the bolt actuating devices, and for disconnecting the same therefrom, which
consists of a locking stud, pin, key or other similar instrument engaging in a recess
or notch in the said spindle or in a sleeve or disc connected therewith, and in a
recess or notch in the toothed wheel, eccentrics, cams or other devices by which the
bolts are actuated, the said locking stud, pin, key or other similar instrument being
actuated to effect the said connection or disconnection by the lock-bolt, substantially
as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 of the drawings.
Third For the purpose of actuating the main bolts of a safe or strong-room
door the use of eccentrics or cams acting in slots in the said main bolt straps or
tailpieces substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figures 3, 4,
5 and 6 of the drawings.