Improvements in Locking Mechanism for Padlocks and Locks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
Improvements in Locking Mechanism for Padlocks and Locks.
We, RUDOLPH JENTZEN and CARL HOGE, both of 14, Waterloo Strasse, Altona on
the Elbe, Germany, Manufacturers, 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 present invention relates to a safety mechanism which is applicable to pad-
locks and to door locks, and which can be closed indifferently by a whole series of
warded keys, but which can only be opened by the key which served to lock it.
In the accompanying drawings which are given by way of example:-
Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a padlock provided with the device above
referred to.
Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a section through the same on the line x-x of Figure 4.
Figure 4 is an inside view of the mechanism in the position of rest, one of the
heads or side plates of the padlock being slidden to one side.
Figure 5 shows the same mechanism operated by a key to allow of the insertion of
a warded pin.
Figure 6 shows the mechanism of a door lock arranged in accordance with the
principles of this invention.
In these drawings; 1 is a cup forming the casing of the padlock and having two
heads or side plates 2, 3, rivetted on the cylindrical part of the cup. 8, 8 are lugs
belonging to the sides 2, 3. These lugs are each pierced with a hole through which
pass two trunnions 4, 4, formed in one with an eye 5 that carries a ring 7 in which is
inserted the first link of a chain 9. The other end of the said chain is provided with
a pin 10 formed with wards as hereinafter described. The side plate 3 is formed with
a circular aperture 11, and with an aperture 12 for the passage of the key.
At the centre of the side plate 2, in the interior of the padlock, there is fixed a
shaft 13. Upon this shaft there are slipped, one over the other, the extensions 15 of
sectors 14, 14, 142, 143, 144 (Figures 3 and 4) bearing one upon another and free
to rock independently of one another on the shaft 13. The extension 15 of each of
the sectors is toothed. Each of the sectors is pierced with four holes 21, 211, 212, 21³,
which, in the position of rest shown in Figure 4, are situated one over the other. The
holes indicated at 21 are situated opposite the hole 11 which is pierced in the side
plate 3, and opposite a depression 21 formed in the side plate 2. All the holes 21. . . . 21³
are of the same diameter, with the exception of the hole 21 in the sector 144, which
rests and is capable of sliding on the internal face of the side plate 2; this hole 21
is of smaller diameter than the others.
Each of the toothed extensions 15 of the sectors 14 engages with a corresponding
sector 16. These sectors 16 are equal in number to the sectors 14 and are threaded
one upon another (Figures 3 and 4) on a fixed shaft 17 on which they are adapted to
rock. Between each pair of adjacent sectors 16 there is inserted a disc 19. Each of
the sectors 16 is formed with a groove 40 in which there engages the end of a
spring 20 attached to a rod 22 and coiled in a spiral around the rod 22¹, these two
FP 077

page_text: rods being fixed to the side plate 2 of the padlock. 45 is an abutment rod; 18 is a
spindle over which fits the pipe or barrel 43 of the key.
The wards of the spindle 10 are seven in number. When it is inserted into the
padlock through the hole 11, its first ward corresponds with the thickness of the
side plate 3 of the padlock, and each of the five following wards correspond with
the five sectors 14
144 which are situated upon one another, and the bead
or rim on the edge of the spindle corresponds with the depth of the depression 2¹ on
which the spindle will rest in the locking position.
The apparatus operates as follows:-For the purpose of making sure of the
fastening of a door, an article of furniture etc., the chain 9 is to be inserted into
studs or eyes fixed to the door to be secured and to the door-fraine, and then the
warded spindle 10 is inserted in the hole 11 of the padlock. When the latter is in
the position of rest as shown in Figure 4, the spindle cannot penetrate as far as the
back of the depression 2¹, because it is stopped by the plate 144, the hole 21 in
which is too small to allow the spindle to pass.
Before inserting the said spindle in the hole 11, there is placed upon the spindle 18
a warded key the bits 44 of which are of any suitable respective lengths but of a
width corresponding to the thickness of the sectors 14
. 144. On turning
the key, the bits of the same, being of sufficient length to reach the side 41 of the
sectors 16, will push the latter in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in
Figure 5, and each of these bits will cause the corresponding sector 16 to execute an
angular movement whose amplitude will be proportionate to the exact length of
said bit. The gear teeth which are provided on the sectors 16-16+, gear with the
teeth of the extensions 15 of the sectors 14-14', and will impart to each of these
latter sectors an angular movement having an amplitude which is proportionate to
that of the movement of the corresponding sector 16. At a determined moment the
apertures of the sectors 14 coincide with one another, from the first sector to the
last, and a passage will be free to the back or bottom of the depression 2 for
the insertion of the spindle 10, as shown by way of example in Figure 5.
After the insertion of the spindle 10 in the padlock, if the key be withdrawn, the
springs 20 pressing upon the sectors 16-16%, tend to move them back into their
original position. These sectors act on the sectors 14.
14. The edge of
each of the holes of the sectors 14 through which the spindle passes, enters the
corresponding ward in the spindle 10; the latter cannot now be withdrawn at all in
any way. The spindle will not be able to be withdrawn again from the padlock so
long as the coincidence of the above mentioned holes of each of the sectors 14-14
shall not have been reproduced by the aid of the same key. If any other key should
be employed, having bits or wards arranged differently to those of the key first
employed, the sectors will be pushed relatively to one another in a manner different
from that which produced the coincidence of the aforesaid holes for the insertion of
the spindle, and the latter will remain caught in the padlock. The spindle 46 limits
the travel of the sectors in the direction in which they are pushed by the springs 20.
45 is a stop for limiting the movement of the bits 44 of the key.
Figure 6 illustrates a lock constructed on the same principle, that is to say, based
on the actuation, by means of a key, of toothed sectors gearing with other toothed
sectors having apertures, the coincidence of which must be effected in all these last
sectors simultaneously in order to lock the lock and unlock it again.
23 is one of the side plates of the lock. 24 is the bolt pierced with a rectangular
✓ aperture 29 and provided with a pin or stud 28 perpendicular to its plane. 30 are
sectors, each provided with teeth 33 and adapted to rock on an axle 31.
These sectors
are constantly being drawn downwards by means of springs 34; they gear with toothed
parts 32 belonging to sectors 25 that are capable of rocking upon one another on an
axle 26. The sectors 25 are each cut with grooves 27, 271, 272 each ending in apertures
arranged along the same circular ring of which the axle 26 is the centre. 35 is the aper-
ture into which the key is to be inserted. This key may be a solid or non-tubular key,
with wards or with bits. This key acts on the sector 30 in a manner analogous to the
sector 16 of Figures 4 and 5; further, the extreme bit of
ction of the key on the

page_text: the key engages in a recess 46 formed in the bolt. Rocking pieces 36 which corre-
spond to the bits of the key are provided to prevent any impression being taken of
the lock mechanism, since they remove any mark which could be left on the bits or
wards of the key. These rocking pieces 36 are capable of rocking on an axle 50 and
are returned constantly forwards by means of springs 37 which abut against a stop 38
and when, by means of a key, the grooves 27 of the sectors 25 have been brought into
coincidence in front of the stud 28, the bolt being pushed by the extreme bit of the
key will move to the left of the figure, and will assume the position for closing the
door. All the sectors 25 will be maintained against the stud 28 which has moved
into the corresponding and coincident apertures of the sectors 25, and the latter (the
stud) will not be able to become disengaged with the bolt, except by restoring the
coincidence of the grooves above referred to. This cannot be effected except with the
key which has served to produce said coincidence.
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 :-
(1) In a safety mechanism for locks and padlocks, the arrangement in a padlock
casing, of sectors 14 to 144 arranged above one another and provided with exten-
sions 15 having a toothed periphery, of circular holes 21-213 formed in the sectors
which are all alike, said holes being all of the same diameter with the exception of
one of the holes 21 of the lower sector; of toothed sectors 16, of springs 20 each
bearing upon a smooth side of one of these sectors, of washers 19 interposed between
these last sectors, of a fixed spindle 18 upon which is inserted one of the pipe or barrel
keys that are employed to operate the mechanism, of an eyelet 8 fixed to the casing
of the padlock, of a chain fixed to said eyelet and ending in a spindle 10 having wards,
substantially as set forth.
(2) In a safety mechanism, claimed in Claim 1, the arrangement, in the casing of
a lock, of sectors 25 placed one upon another and provided with extensions 32 having
a toothed periphery, of radial grooves formed in the sectors aforesaid, and ending in
apertures arranged along a cominon circular ring, of toothed sectors 30 gearing
respectively with the toothed extensions of the sectors 25; of springs 34 applied to
the sectors 30 of a bolt 24 provided with a stud 28 at right angles to its plane, and a
groove 29 in which passes the fixed axle 26 for the rocking motion of the sectors 25, of
a notch 46 into which the end bit of the key employed for operating the mechanisın,
can pass, and of rocking pieces 36 maintained by means of springs 37.
Doted this i
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.