Improvements in Locks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 14th Nov., .1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HUGO STEINKE, of 112, Gneisenaustrasse, Berlin,
Germany, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Locks.
I, HUGH DONALD FITZPATRICK, of 70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Lanark-
shire, Registered Patent Agent, 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:-
The improvements in locks, constituting the present invention, relate mainly to
those locks which are without spring levers, and it has mainly for its object; to
prevent the locking plates or tumblers of such locks being lifted up simultaneously,
as heretofore, when the lock is quickly closed.
This object is effected in an efficient manner, by so making the tumblers or lock-
plates, that, when put in motion by the inside edges of the cuts in the key-bit, they
are not moved, as hitherto, at the same time, but one after the other, with different
velocity and eventually also in a different direction, and the possibility of throwing
over the lock-bolt before the tumblers have been actuated is prevented by making
the stump on the lock-bolt project through cuts or gatings, of which one at least
is sloping, communicating with the vertical guide slots of the tumblers or lock-
plates.
On the annexed drawing, Figs. 1 to 6 give, by way of example, a two-turn lock,
furnished with my improvements.
Figs. 1 to 3 show the relative positions of the lock-plates, during the operation
of locking the lock.
Fig. 4 is a section in the line - of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a section in the line y-y of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 shows the lock without lock-plates.
Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 show the four lock-plates as they are made for this lock.
Figs. 11 and 12 show a one-turn lock for a cupboard.
The lock-plates I, II, III, IV, which are held between the square guide pins a, a,
are made on the under side, with cut out parts A for the reception of the key-bit.
The shape of these cut out parts A is, as shown in Figs. 7 to 10, different in each
lock-plate, so as to effect, for the above named purpose, the necessary different
motions of the single lock-plates, when acted on by the key.
The lock-plates are also made with inclined gatings b, b, c, c. The gatings of
the lock-plates I and II are inclined in an opposite direction to those of the look-
plates III and IV. The gatings c, c, connect the vertical guide-slots, d, d and e, e.
The gatings b, bare in connection with the guide-slots d, d.
The bolt-shank f of the bolt B, has on it a stump g, which is made of the shape
of an "X" so as to correspond with the inclined gatings b, c in the four plates I,
II, III, IV. The front half is inclined in the same direction as the gatings b, c
of the plates I, II, whilst the back half is inclined in an opposite direction, so as
to correspond with the plates III, IV, (see Fig. 5). The stump may be pinned on
to the bolt B. The stump g is of such a width as to easily slide in the vertical
guide-slots d, e. Above the lock-plates, a stop-pin h is fitted.
With this arrangement, if the key C is turned in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1,
then, by means of the key-bits i, acting on the cut out parts A of the lock-plates,
the lock-plate I is first put into motion and very soon after it the lock-plate II,
then the lock-plate III and lastly the lock-plate IV. Now as soon as the bolt B
is moved, by the turning of the key, the stump 9 on the bolt, first enters the
inclined gating b, and as a consequence of the peculiar shape of the stump a
displacement of the lock-plates I, II, and III, IV, towards each other, takes place,

page_text: in such manner that, at the position shown in Fig. 2, the lock-plates I and II are
forced downwards, whilst III and IV are forced upwards. A similar displacement
of the plates takes place when the stump enters the gating c. Therefore, when the
lock is being shut, an entirely different motion is given to the lock plates, so
that a general upward motion of all the tumblers or lock-plates, as is the case
with the locks of this description hitherto made when quickly locked, is quite
impossible.
A sudden throwing over of the bolt is also prevented, as the "X" shaped stump
catches against the sloping gatings and prevents further movement of the bolt until
the lock-plates are moved in unison therewith.
In the cupboard door lock, shown in Figs. 11 and 12, similar lock-plates are
furnished, but a contrivance to prevent the throwing over of the bolt, is not
necessary, as it is prevented by a pin k.
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 :-
1. A lock having lock-plates or tumblers, so made, as described, that when the
key is turned a different motion is imparted to each lock-plate, substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
2. A bolt having an "X" shaped stump, which works in conjunction with an
inclined gating or gatings in the lock-plates or tumblers, substantially as herein-
before set forth.
Dated this 8th day of October 1891.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow.