IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGLESS LOCKS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY CARRIAGE DOORS
Year: 1884

page_text: I CHARLES DOHRN DOUGLAS of 15 Queenhithe, Upper Thames Street in the
City of London, Lock Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGLESS LOCKS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY
CARRIAGE DOORS, to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to simplify the construction of springless locks and
more especially to render such locks suitable for use in railway carriage and other
doors where security, strength and an automatic closing action are desirable.
To this end the invention consists in an improvement upon the Patent for spring-
loss locks. granted to Horatio Kelson Bromhead dated 15 October 1880 No 4188.
In the specification of that patent a weight of simple slab like forin is described
and takes the place of a spring for the purpose of retaining the latch in the shot
position and by the simple massive form of this weight and the direct and advan-
tageous manner in which it is connected with the latch bolt, great strength and
security with but little friction are obtained.
In that invention the massive weight is supported or rests directly upon a two
armed follower operated by the spindle or the said weight is mounted upon the
spindle itself and in order to open or close the door it is necessary to turn the
spindle in one direction or the other and lift or rock the said weight.
Now the object of the present improvements is to construct a lock in which a
massive weight is used instead of a spring and in which the latch or bolt will be
self closing under the influence of the pressure obtained by pushing the door to
and without the necessity for turning the handle but which latch or bolt can also
be operated by means of the handle when desired in opening or shutting the door.
To this end the invention consists in a lock having a massive weight or block of
rectangular or other simple form which will give the greatest efficiency in a given
space, arranged to slide vertically (in the case of a railway door lock) within a long
and narrow rectangular case. This weight carries a fulcrum pin towards its upper
end and is recessed around this pin and thence radially towards one edge for the
reception of a latch or locking bolt of peculiar construction which is pivotted on
the said fulcrum pin and is free to move or vibrate within the radial recess through
an angle of some 15° or 20°.

page_text: The free end of this locking bolt or latch is bevelled off obliquely for a purpose
to be presently explained and protrudes through an obliquely cut recess in the front
wall of the lock case.
A follower is mounted on a spindle passing through the case below the weight
and by turning such follower by means of the handle the weight will be slidden or
lifted vertically within the case carrying with it the pivot pin and causing the
withdrawal of the locking bolt within the case so that its bevelled edge lies flush
tberewith.
In its normal or shot position the free end of the bolt protrudes from the case
obliquely in a downward direction which tends to additional security when the
door is shut.
The face of the locking plate is formed to correspond in shape and position with
the obliquely bevelled or rounded surface of the locking bolt and hence when the
two parts are forced together in closing the door the bolt will slide over the curved
or bevelled face of the locking plate and will be forced inwards and upwards
lifting the weight as it slides upon the oblique face of the bolt slot or hole and
withdrawing entirely within the case.
So soon however as the door is fully closed and the bolt is clear of the locking
plate there will be nothing to prevent the weight from falling and shooting the bolt
as it does so,
The bolt hole might be curved to allow of the free passage of a bolt of curved
form pivotted or otherwise connected to the weight and having free play to the
desired extent within a recess of suitable shape formed therein.
The weight might also be utilized to shoot another bolt when necessary near or
below the follower and both bolts might be made self closing under pressure as well
as controllable by the handle.
By this construction and arrangement of parts the utmost strength and solidity
are obtained and in a lock for railway carriages such as above described there need
only be three moving pieces each of simple and solid construction so combined as
to occupy a minimum of space within the case.
3004

page_text: ашрготешеци и оргingless Locks Especially Applicable to
Railway Carriage Doors.
I CHARLES DOHRN DOUGLAS of 15 Queenhithe, Upper Thames Street in the
City of London, Lock Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGLESS LOCKS, ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY
CARRIAGE DOORS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :–
This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction and arrange-
ment of springless locks, whereby they are rendered especially suitable for use in
railway carriage and other doors, where security, strength and an automatic closing
action are desirable.
The invention may be described as an improvement upon the Springless Lock
for which Letters Patent were granted to Horatio Kelson Bromhead, dated
15th October 1880 N° 4188. In the specification of that patent, a weight of simple
slab-like form is described, and takes the place of a spring for the purpose of
retaining the latch in the shot position; and by the simple massive form of this
weight and the direct and advantageous manner in which it is connected with the
latch bolt, great strength and security, with but little friction, are obtained.
In that invention the massive weight is pivotted to the case and rests directly
upon a two-armed follower operated by the spindle, or the said weight is mounted
on the spindle itself, and in order to open the door, it is only necessary to turn the
spindle in one direction or the other, and lift or rock the said weight on its fulcrum
pin or pivot.
Now the object of the present improvements is to adapt such springless locks to
the somewhat restricted space available in railway carriage and other doors,
without sacrifice of strength or simplicity of construction and to facilitate the
automatic closing and secure locking of the doors.
To this end the invention consists in a lock having a massive weight or block of
rectangular or other simple form which will give the greatest efficiency in a given
space, arranged to slide vertically (in the case of a railway door lock) within a
long and narrow box or case. This weight is unattached to the case and carries
or is fitted with a locking piece or latch bolt of peculiar construction, which is
preferably pivotted towards the upper end of the weight and is free to play or
vibrate through an angle of some 15° to 20° within a radial recess or slot cut or
cast in the said weight.
The free end of this locking bolt or latch is bevelled off obliquely or rounded for
a purpose to be presently explained, and protrudes when the weight is down
through an obliquely cut recess in the front wall of the lock case.
The combined weight and locking piece together constitute a direct acting
weighted latch bolt.
The weight may be operated by a follower mounted on a spindle passing through
the case below the weight; the turning of the handle in one direction causing the
weight to be slidden or lifted bodily within the case, carrying with it the locking

page_text: piece or bolt and causing the withdrawal of the said locking bolt within the case,
so that its edge lies flush therewith.
I preferably combine with the weight and the follower or its equivalent, a
second bolt or latch for the purpose of more securely locking the door, and I prefer
also to make use of an accelerating lever or its equivalent for the purpose of
obtaining the necessary lift of the weight with a comparatively small rocking or
axial movement of the follower, or follower and second latch bolt combined.
The face of the locking plate is formed and fitted to correspond with the
protruding ends or surfaces of the locking bolts or bolt, and hence when the two
parts are forced together in closing the door, the latter will slide smoothly into
engagement with the locking plate lifting the weight as they do so; the direct
acting weighted latch or locking bolt receding entirely within the case until the
door is fully closed, when both the bolts, if 2 are used, will be shot and will bo
prevented from rising and disengaging from the striking plate by the weight.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a railway carriage springless lock and striking
plate constructed and fitted according to my invention, one side of the lock being
removed.
Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of another arrangement of my improved
springless door lock showing the relative position of the parts in their unlocked
and locking positions respectively.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a carriage door lock in which the vertically sliding
weight is retained in its raised position, and the two latch bolts controlled by it,
remain withdrawn within the case until released by the complete closing of the
door, and,
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate another arrangement of lock in which, when the door
open the upper latch is withdrawn and only a part of the lower latch protrudes
from the lock case.
is
The same letters of reference are used to indicate like or corresponding parts in
all the Figures.
A is the weight sliding vertically in the case B and recessed or slotted as at a
for the reception of the bolt C which is pivotted to the said weight at the point c.
D is the follower which in most of the examples represented is combined or formed
in one with the second latch or bolt D¹ and is pierced at d for the reception of the
spindle of the door handle.-The inner arm or end of the follower D is connected
by a slot and pin with an accelerating lever E so that by a comparatively slight
movement of the follower or second latch D³, a considerable movement will be
imparted to the long end of the lever E which is pivotted to the case at e and is
furnished with a bowle or roller which bears against the weight A thus lifting or
pushing up the said weight with but little friction.
The lower latch bolt D¹ may be fitted with a bowle as shown in Fig. 1 so that
when the door is pushed to, it will more easily ride up the incline fon the striking
plate F and lift the weight A through the lever E, in the manner above described.
As the weight A rises in the case B, it carries with it the hanging or pivotted
bolt C, which as it is lifted will fall into place within the recess a, and withdraw
entirely within the case until the door is fully closed, when the latch bolt D' will
drop into place at f¹ in the striking plate F, and allow the weight to fall, the
bolt C being thereupon protruded from the case B, and caused to enter and engage
with the striking plate F at ƒª.
In the arrangement represented in Figs. 2 and 3 the second latch D' is combined
with an accelerating lever E of somewhat different shape from that shown in Fig. 1
and the parts are so arranged and connected that when the weight is raised to
open the door by turning the handle, it will be held in that position by the lever E
acting as a strut.
When the weight is thus raised the hanging bolt C pivotted thereto will be
withdrawn within the case B, (as in the lock shown in Fig. 1) and the second latch
bolt D¹ will be held in a raised position as shown in Fig. 2.

page_text: When, however, the door is pushed to, the incline fon the striking plate F will
force down the latch D¹, and thereby shift the position of the lever E on its
fulcrum e below the weight, which being no longer sustained thereby will fall and
in so doing shoot the bolts C and D₁ into engagement with the recesses or holes
formed for them in the said plate F.
To ensure the protrusion of the bolt C through the face plate of the case Bas
the weight falls, I preferably bevel the lower edge of the aperture therein, through
which the said bolt C passes.
From the foregoing it will be seen that I obtain within a narrow width a
springless lock of considerable power direct action and great security by reason of
the double locking bolts or latches. A door thus fitted can be closed and locked
by simply pushing to the door and there is thus no excuse for noise in shutting
the doors.
The several parts of the lock are of simple form and solid construction and are
not likely to get out of order a matter of considerable importance on railways.
Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the accelerating lever E
even when fully raised, as after opening the door, has still too much inclination to
enable it to act as a strut to support the weight A. (as in Figs. 2 and 3) and in
order to retain the latch bolts C and D¹ in their retracted positions within the
case, as indicated by the dotted lines, while the door remains open; and to ensure
their being shot so soon as the door is completely closed I arrange a pawl or spring
finger fabove the second latch D¹, and form a shoulder on the rounded surface of
the said latch by cutting away a portion thereof, as clearly shown in the Drawing.
When therefore the handle is turned through an angle of 45°, the rounded top of
the latch D¹ will cause the pawl or spring finger f to yield until the latter reaches
the reduced part of the latch, when the pawl will drop, and, engaging with the
shoulder formed thereon, lock the latch D in the raised position; the weight being
also retained in its raised position and the latch C which it carries being withdrawn
within the case.
The spindle of the door handle is fitted in such a way as to indicate at a glanco
the open or closed positions of the latch bolts. The spring pawl or finger d when
the door is fully closed is pressed in by the door jamb, or it may be by a stud fixed
thereto and releases the catch D', whereupon the weight A falls, shooting both bolts
into their respective sockets in the striking plate which is correspondingly shaped,
and which it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate.
In the lock represented in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 the follower D is separate from the
second latch bolt D' and the latter is arranged to be moved in and out, horizontally.
The inner end of the latch bolt D¹ is fitted with a bowle or roller which bears
against an oblique or curved portion of the weight and when the latch is forced
back compels the weight to rise, whereupon its locking piece or latch C, as in the
preceding examples, falls into its recess, or recedes within the case.
The spring pawl or catch f in this arrangement is pivotted within the second
latch bolt itself, and is formed with a shoulder which engages in certain positions
of the bolt, with the front of the caso B, so as to prevent the said latch bolt
protruding to its full extent, the upper latch bolt C being at that time wholly
within the case, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 6.
On the door being shut the lower latch bolt will yield to the pressure of the
striking plate, and will still further raise the weight A and its latch bolt C in so.
doing; but so soon as the lower latch bolt D¹ is fully home in its socket, a rib or
stud on the striking plate will engage with the spring pawl or catch f and trip it,
whereupon the weight will cause both bolts to be shot to their full extent.
The spring pawls or catches in the two last arrangements are the equivalent of
the bevelled or inclined face ƒ on the striking plate F in Figs. 2 and 3, and are
therefore similarly lettered. They might be replaced if necessary by weighted
pawls.
From the foregoing it will be seen that a feature of my invention consists of a
loose or unattached weight arranged to slide vertically or be moved bodily within

page_text: the case, and serving when it falls to shoot a bolt or bolts; the movement of the
said weight and the bolt or bolts being controlled by a follower, or by the lower
bolt in combination with, or acting as a follower.
The weight being loosely fitted in the case requires no pivotting or rivetting
thereto. It may be wholly contained within the case, or may be fitted to slide in
openings in the side walls of the case, its sides being flush or nearly so with the
outside of the said case.
In conclusion, I would remark that the several locks represented in the annexed
Drawings are merely given by way of example, and I do not limit myself to the
prcise combinations and arrangements of parts therein shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. A door lock in which is a loosely fitting or unattached weight provided with
or carrying a locking piece or latch bolt, so arranged that when the weight is raised
or slidden bodily upwards its said piece or bolt will recede within the lock case, and
when the weight falls its locking piece or bolt will protrude therefrom substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a door lock the combination with a loosely fitting or unattached weight
carrying or provided with a locking piece or latch bolt, and together constituting a
direct-acting weighted bolt, of a follower such as D, or it may be a second latch
bolt such as D¹ combined with or adapted to act as a follower, and an accelerating
lever such as E, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive
of the accompanying Drawings, and for the purposo set forth.
3. In a door lock the combination with a loosely fitting or unattached weight A
carrying a locking piece or latch bolt C and arranged to be shifted or slidden
bodily upward in an oblique or vertical direction within the case B, and a suitably
shaped striking plate F, of a second latch bolt D D¹ fast on the spindle of the door
handle and movable therewith, and an accelerating lever E pivotted in the lock
case and so connected with the said, second latch bolt that when the said bolt is
moved in one direction it will throw the lever E into a position to raise and
uphold the weight, and when moved in the contrary direction, either through the
handle or an incline on the striking plate, will forcibly trip the lever E and allow
the weight to fall thereby shooting the bolt C and holding both bolts in their
locking or locked position, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 2;
and 3 of the Drawings.
4. The several combinations and arrangements of parts constituting the several
locks represented in the accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification thereof,
in which a loosely fitting unattached weight carrying a locking piece or bolt, and
together constituting a direct acting weighted bolt, takes the place of a spring, and
is arranged to cause the protrusion or withdrawal of the said locking piece or bolt
as the weight falls or rises within the case, as set forth.