IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAFES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Chatwood, of Bolton, in the County of
Lancaster, Safe and Lock Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAFES"
Sealed the 25th September 1868, and dated the 30th April 1868:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Chatwood at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 30th April 1868.
I, SAMUEL CHATWOOD,. of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Safe and
Lock Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAFES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
safes. In constructing safes I weld the plates together at the corners
by heating the plates at their edges whilst they are held together as they
are required to be welded; a jet of flame is directed against the edges of
the plates which are exposed for the short distance over which the heat

page_text: is desired to extend, and on either side the plates are protected by a
shield of refractory material. The weld may then be made by means of
hand hammers. The edges of of the plates should be bevilled. As respects
some of the angles I sometimes bend the plate to form them, and for
this purpose I heat it in a similar manner along the line where the bend
is required. In safes as ordinarily constructed between the door frame
and the sides of the safe are long straight through joints made with
screws or rivets, which can be wrenched asunder by long and keen
wedges. To prevent this I cast or form the frame with an exterior flange
covering this joint, or where there are two or more thicknesses in the
sides I cover the long through joints around the door with a T iron, the
stem of which is shut in between the side plates; or I make the joint
between the two or more parallel plates or pieces of which the side is
built up by welding them together at their edges all round. In this way
wedges are effectually prevented from being driven in between the
parallel plates; this method is also applicable to safe doors built up of
two or more thicknesses. In safes having double doors, in order to defeat
any attempt to wedge the doors open I fix a T iron on the edge of one
of 'the doors, 'so that its head overlaps the edge of this door; and also
when the doors are closed it overlaps the edge of the other door, and the
bolts of the lock shoot through the stem of the T iron.
.
In constructing safes such as are known as well safes I form the well
of a massive metal casting of a quality which will not admit of its being
broken by violence. The inner safe works up and down in this, and is
lifted by admitting water or other fluid under it. The top of the inner
safe may form a cover to the well, or a separate cover may be used; the
cover shuts down upon the edge of the well with a curved joint, which
will not admit of the introduction of wedges, and bolts shoot out from
under the cover into recesses in the sides of the well. The well may be
built up in wrought metal, but this is less advantageous.
I also according to my Invention combine with a fireproof safe
suitable for books, and of comparatively small power of resisting
violence, a smaller safe consisting of a stout casting of malleable iron
or steel, or of iron which cannot be broken up by violence.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samucl Chatwood in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 30th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAM
CHATWOOD, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Safe and L
Engineer, send greeting.
E
ake,
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria,
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of April, in the year
our Lord One thousand-ent hundred and sixty-eight, in the thir
first year of Her eign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said, Samuel Chatwood, Her special
licence that I, the said Samuel Chatwood, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel Chatwood,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time acc
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times therea
during the term therein expressed, should and, lawfully might
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of forcat Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAFES," "upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Samuel Chatwood, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
4
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Chatwood, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of
safes. In constructing safes I weld the plates together at the corners
by heating the plates at their edges whilst they are held together as
they are required to be welded; a jet of flame is directed against the
edges of the plates which are exposed for the short distance over which
the heat is desired to extend, and on either side the plates are protected

page_text: by a shield of refractory material. The weld may then be made by
means of hand hammers. The edges of the plates should be bevilled.
As respects some of the angles I sometinies bend the plate to form them,
and for this purpose I heat it in a similar manner along the line where
the bend is required.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawing shews. a transverse section of two
es a, a, which are being heated at the edges preparatory to welding
m together. b,b, are two supports of fire-brick or similar material
ween which a jet of fame is pojected; they serve also to profit...
m the heat the portions of the places at a distance from the edges
s desired to weld. The plates a, a, are hevilled at their edges and
are clamped together at the angles at which it is desired to make the
weld; they are suspended from a crane and are lowered until the edges
to be heated enter the space between the supports b, b. The jet of
flame may be produced by burning gas mixed with air, as is well
understood, or the supports b, b, may form portions of the roof of a
ff
ace. When the edges are sufficiently heated the plates are lifted
he supports, and by means of small hand hammers the weld is made.
Figure 2 shews another arrangement in which the supports b, b, are
o formed that the heat may be applied from the interior in place of the
xterior of the angle formed by the plates. In this case I prefer to
orm the opening between the supports 6 of a few inches only in lengtlı,
and when so much of the plates are heated they are slidden along on
he supports b, b, so as to bring the heated portions over an anvil where
the weld is effected, whilst another length is being heated.
Figure 3 shews another arrangement where one of the supports or
shields 6 is placed horizontally and the other vertically, and when the
edges of the plates a, a, are not bevilled the plates, which are clamped
ogether are, when sufficiently heated, lifted and welded, as already
described in respect to Figure 1.
2
g
Figure 4 shews in transverse section the method I adopt for heating
plate in order to bend it to produce the angle or corner of a safe.
a is
the plate, and b, b, supports or shields on which it rests in the narrow
space between them; a jet of flame is propelled against the plate which
is thus heated along a straight line from side to side; when heated it is 3
removed and is bent over a suitable form, or it may be bent between two
angular dies brought together by hydraulic or other
pressure.

page_text: In safes as ordinarily constructed between the door frame and the
sides of the safe are long straight through joints made with screws or
rivets which can be wrenched asunder by long and keen wedges; to
prevent this I cast or form the frame with an exterior flange covering
this joint.
Figure 5 is a section of a portion of a safe thus constructed. a is the
door frame which I usually construct of malleable cast iron or cast
steel, but it may be of wrought iron; b is an iron plate forming a
portion of the skin of the safe and rivetted to the frame a; c is a portion
of the door. As will be seen the frame a has a flange a¹ upon it
covering the joint between the frame and the skin plate so as to prevent
the insertion of wedges..
Figure 6 shows a modification of the arrangement where the side
of the safe is made of two thicknesses, a slab of hard metal & being
placed inside the skin plate b. This slab-d I prefer to make of cast iron
of the sort known as spiegel eisen, which is so hard as to be drill proof.
Figure 7 represents another form which may be given to the parts.
Figure 8. shows a form in which the sides of the safe are made in three
thicknesses: The outer and inner skins b. and e are fixed to the frame a
with the rib a² on the frame separating them, and then the whole being
heated to a. red. heat molten spiegel eisen is run in between them at d.
In place of making the covering flange on the door frame a it may be
made on the skin plate b, as is shown at Figure 9. Where there are
two or more thicknesses in the sides I cover the long through joints
around the door with a T iron, the stem of which is shut in between the
side plates. This arrangement is shewn in section at Figure 10. a is
the door frame;. & is the skin plate as before, and f is a T iron, shut.
in between the two and by its flanges covering the joints. In this
safe behind the door frame the safe is made only one plate-thick:
Figure 11 shows another arrangement when the sides. of the safe are
of three thicknesses. a is a door frame; b. and e, skin plates; andi, a
T iron, the stem of which is shut in, between, the skin plates, and which
by its. flanges covers the joints;, d represents. hard, cast iron, run. in. by
preference when the parts are heated.
In some cases I make the joint between the two or more parallel
plates or pieces of which the side is. built up by welding them together
at their edges all round;, in this way. wedges are effectually prevented

page_text: from being driven in between the parallel plates; this method is also
applicable to safe doors built up of two or more thicknesses.
Figure 12 shows a portion of a safe and safe door in which the parts
arc welded the one to the other. The door frame a is welded to the
plate 6 at the dotted line a*, and the door c is made of two plates welded
together round their edges; d is a slab of hard cast metal.
In Figure 13 a similar method of construction is resorted to. The
skin plates and e arc welded together with a filling piece between
them, and they are there placed at the edge to fit them to the frame a;
the door plates also are similarly welded together, and in each case
molten spiegel eisen is run into the space between the two.
In the above Figures the door frames are represented with dovetail
recesses in them to receive the bolts. The bolts which I prefer to uso
arc not shot, as is usual, but receive a vertical movement in locking and
unlocking the door. As the door is closed the bolt passes through the
projecting edge of the door frame by a notch formed for it, and then in
locking the door it receives its vertical movement, which brings its head
into the dovetail recess.
In safes having double doors, in order to defeat any attempt to wedge
the doors open I fix a T iron on the edge of one of the doors, so that its
head overlaps the edge of this door; and also when the doors are closed
it overlaps the edge of the other door, and the bolts of the lock shoot
through the stem of the T iron.
Figure 14 is a portion of a horizontal section of the two doors of a
double door safe, shut in together in this manner.. a and b are the two
doors made in the same way as the door of Figure 13, except that the
outer plate has conical holes drilled into it, into which the hard cast iron
enters; this may be done to prevent the outer plate being penetrated by
a drill. a and b are angle irons, fixed to the doors and forming
portions of the lock cases; c is a T iron fixed to the edge of the door b,
and by its flanges covering the joint between the doors, and also the
joint at which it is itself connected with the door b; dis the bolt of the
door 6; it shoots out and in through the parts a', b', and c, as is shown;
e is the bolt of the door a; it receives a vertical motion, and has a
dovetail head upon it, which takes into a corresponding recess in the
end of the bolt d.
In constructing safes such as are known as well safes I form the
well of a massive metal casting of a quality which will not admit of its

page_text: being broken by violence. The inner safe works up and down in this,
and is lifted by admitting water or other fluid under it. The top of the
inner safe may form a cover to the well, or a separate cover may be
used; the cover shuts down upon the edge of the well with a curved
joint, which will not admit of the introduction of wedges and bolts shoot
out from under the cover into recesses in the sides of the well.
Figure 15 is a vertical section, and Figure 16 a horizontal section of
a well safe thus constructed. a, a, is the well; it is here represented of
cylindrical form, and cast in one piece; b is a piston-like casting
capable of moving up and down within it and having the inner safe c,
which may be of any convenient construction, fixed upon it; the inner
safe is here represented as divided into four radial compartaments, cach
having a separate door; d is a massive slab of metal fixed to the top of
the inner safe and fitting as a lid or cover to the well; between the
slab d and the top of the safe are the locking bolts; they are worked by
a handle, which is inserted when the plug lock has been removed.
This lock is a hardened steel screw plug containing the works of a lock;
it is screwed home into the plug hole, and then by a key inserted at
the top of it bolts are caused to shoot out from it into recesses in the
sides of the plug hole. is a cup leather with which the piston 6 is
packed; a is a pipe, which on opening a cock admits water under a
moderate pressure sufficient to raise the inner safe in the well a. Strong
stops are provided to prevent the safe being raised too high. The
locking bolts shoot into bolt-holes in the sides of the well, as the
Drawing indicates. The well may conveniently be let into the ground;
so that its mouth stands level with the surface. Safes of this description
may be made rectangular, as is indicated by the horizontal section,
Figure 17.
In some cases where the supply of water is limited the arrangement may
be modified in the manner indicated in vertical section in Figure 18; here
the whole of the well a does not receive the water, but it has a cavity
or water chamber a* at its bottom, into which the ram carrying the
inner safe enters. The water which is admitted by the pipe a¹ will in
this arrangement require to be of higher pressure, but the expenditure
will be much reduced, in other respects the arrangement is as already
described, except that the locking bolts are here applied upon the well a;
they are worked by a rack and pinion, as is clearly seen in the horizontal
section, Figure 10. The pinion is turned by a handle introduced at a

page_text: plug hole which is closed by a plug lock. The supply of water to raise.
the safe may be obtained from an accumulator, such as is shown at.
Figure 20; it consists of a massive ram working in an hydraulic
cylinder, from which the water is drawn for raising the safe.. The weight
is lifted from time to time by connecting it by means of cotters with two.
screw columns, on which are nuts with worm teeth on their peripheries ;,
with these worms gear, and these are formed on a shaft which is turned
by means of crank handles. When the ram has been raised to its.highest
position the cotters are withdrawn to allow the ram to descend, as. tho
water is drawn from under it to raise the inner safe.
•
Figure 21 is a vertical section, and Figure 22 is a plan showing a form,
which may be given to the well and the inner safe when there is not
sufficient for the water cavity a¹ to project at its bottom.
space
Figure 23 is a vertical section, and Figure 24 a horizontal section of
another similar but larger safe, which is raised and lowered by four water
cylinders which are contained within the well chamber a, as in Figure 21,
but as the inner safe is not recessed so as to drop-over them a space is.
left in the well when the safe is down, and this space I utilize for
storage, the, well being provided with a massive door at a²; this well may
be cast in one piece in situ.
Figure 25 is a vertical section, and Figure 26 a horizontal section of
a similar arrangement, except that the well is made of large size, whilst
the inner safe is comparatively small, so that a considerable portion of
the well space is available for use for the safe storage of valuable articles.
In some cases instead of casting. the well in one picce it may be built
up of massive slabs of wrought iron, or cast slabs may be similarly
cinployed.
Figure 27 is a vertical section, and Figure 28 a horizontal section of
a well safe in which the well is thus constructed. The slabs forming the
floor, roof, and sides are here represented to be held between the flanges
of H irons, and these may be braced together by tie bars within the well,
which however are not represented in the Drawing.
Figure 29 shews on a larger scale the way in which the door frame is
held in its place. a is one of the slabs; b, the door frame fixed to the
outer frame c, to which the angle irons c³, c', are rivetted, or if the well
be built before the door frame is fitted the inner angle iron c' is fixed by
incans of screws. Another way of fixing the door frame is shewn at
Figure 30, but this is inapplicable except the door frame be fitted as the

page_text: well is constructed. In some cases in place of holding the slabs in Hirons
I dovetail and groove them together, as is shewn at Figures 31, the vertical
joints being dovetailed, and the horizontal joints simply grooved and
tongued, or the joints may be made as is shewn at Figure 32, and the
slabs bolted the one to the other. Figures 33 shew methods of making
the corners.
I also according to my Invention combine with a fireproof safe
suitable for books, and of comparatively small power of resisting violence,
a smaller safe consisting of a stout casting of malleable iron or steel,.or
of iron, which cannot be broken up by violence.
Figure 34 is a perspective view of such a compound safe, a being the
inner safe cast in malleable cast iron or steel. I prefer in casting it to
make its sides double and to run spiegel eisen into the cavities so as
to render the small safe drill-proof, whilst the malleability of the main
casting renders it impossible to break it by means of sledge hammers.
The door of the small safe is of similar construction. The external safe
need not in this case be made very strong, and it is furnished with a
filling of fire-resisting material.
Figure 35 is a vertical section of this safe, and Figures: 36 and 37 are
horizontal sections taken respectively at the lines 1, 1, and 2, 2, in
Figure 35.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,
First. The forming the angles of safes by welding or bending the
plates in the manner described and illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4
of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
I also claim the forming the door frame of a safe (or it may be the
skin plates) with a flange covering the joint between the frame and
the skin plate.
I also claim the shutting-in T irons by means of the skin plates, so aš
to cover the joints between the skin plates or between them and the
door frame.
I also claim the welding together around their edges the plates of
which the side or door of a safe is built up, so as effectually to prevent
wedges being inserted between the plates.

page_text: I also claim in safes having double doors the fixing a T iron on the.
edge of one of the doors so as to prevent wedges being driven in between
the doors when they are closed.
I also claim the forming a well safe as a massive casting; and the
constructing the massive cover of the inner safe to shut down upon.
the edge of the well with a curved joint.
I also claim the building up well safes of massive wrought iron slabs,
or it may be of slabs of cast iron.
I also claim the combining with a fire-proof safe suitable for books, and
of comparatively small power of resisting violence, a smaller safe 1
consisting of a stout casting of malleable cast iron or steel...
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Chatwood, have hereunto set.
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.