IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1884

page_text: COME LEIE
DIECIFICATION
I JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOCKS" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relating to improvements in locks consists in the employment of
certain devices hereinafter described for retaining the parts in the locked position
until released by the action of the proper key as hereinafter described.
The safety devices hereinafter referred to as the cylinders of the lock are con-
trolled by means of either a limited or practically unlimited number of combinations
and the same remark applies to the key which brings the said cylinders into the
position for unlocking and at the same time operates the bolt or latch. The barrel
or key hole of the lock is also of special construction and the rods or stems of the
cylinders of the safety apparatus obstruct the orifice for the key in such a manner
that the improved lock is absolutely unpickable. The combinations of the safety
device may be varied at will and the key when made adjustable or arranged for
combinations as hereinafter described may be used for opening any lock of the
same category as hereinafter described.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A safety lock constructed according to this Invention is provided with a spring
latch (Figure 19) and a bolt (Figure 14) whose action is controlled by a safety
apparatus working with perinanent or variable combinations and interposed
between the parts and consisting of devices which when caused to coincide by
means of the key present a groove for the passage of projections provided upon
the latch and bolt. The said safety apparatus consists in the arrangement illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing of three cylinders a a¹ a" (Figures 1, 9 and 10)
contained in the compartments of a stationary box B (Figure 8) and provided with

page_text: projections b b presenting notches e which may be formed at any desired point in
the length of the said projections being in a different position with regard to each
projection. A spring at the bottom of the compartments tends to hold these
cylinders constantly in contact with a fixed stop and maintain them in the closed
or locked position. In order to bring the notches e into line and cause them to
coincide and present the groove hereinbefore referred to it is necessary to shift
each of the cylinders a a¹ a¹¹ to a different distance. This is accomplished by the
aid of a key (Figure 7) the pipe or tube of which is bored out in such a manner
as to present a series of internal shoulders or steps capable of acting upon devices
in the centre of a barrel C which operate the cylinders a a' all and place the latter
in the proper positions to admit of the passage of the projections on the bolt and
on the latch. These projections are recessed at intervals so as to allow the
cylinders to move in or out of the unlocked position.
The key acts upon the cylinders by the intervention of the following devices
namely a pin t connected to the central cylinder and two tubes t¹ (Figures 11
and 12) connected to the lateral cylinders (Figure 10) the whole being so fitted and
adjusted as to enable each cylinder to move independently of the others. The
security of this lock results from the facility afforded for forming the notches e at
any desired point in the length of the cylinders and it will be understood that with
a set of twenty cylinders differently notched the number of combinations of three
cylinders that may be obtained therewith will be eight thousand. Eight thousand
locks may thus be manufactured each requiring a special key and this number may
be doubled trebled and multiplied indefinitely by changing the position of the
shoulders or acting surfaces and diameters of the pins t and tubes t'. The opening
of the guide or barrel C is blocked by the pint and tubes t¹ as indicated in Figure 2
so that the introduction of picks or instruments for picking the lock is rendered
impossible thus rendering the lock absolutely unpickable.
In order to enable the door to be unlocked from the outside the barrel of the
lock is made in two parts consisting of the barrel proper C (Figure 4) fixed to a
plate or cover F (Figure 2) and a moveable socket D (Figure 5) retained by a
collar (Figure 6). The socket D is free to turn upon its centre but is retained
in the proper position for ensuring the correspondence of notches m and n and
facilitating the introduction of the key by means of a small spring catch c (Figures 2
and 4) embedded in the thickness of the barrel C.
When the key is inserted and bears against the bottom of the barrel at i the
cylinders of the safety apparatus are caused to coincide and the rotary motion can
then take place. A bitt u engages with the recess n and causes the socket D to
turn and a projection S on the said socket acts upon surfaces G (Figures 1 and 13)
on the bolt and shifts the latter in either direction after disengaging a spring R
(Figures 1 and 15) provided with an antifriction roller (Figure 16). The bolt may
be shot with one or two turns of the key as required. In rotating the projection S
also acts upon the tail of a lever E (Figures 1 and 17) pivotted at o upon the bolt
and the opposite extremity of this lever thereupon operates a tube T (Figures 1
and 18) through which is passed the stem or shaft of the latch and shifts it in
the direction of the arrow y (Figure 1). The tube T acts upon the latch through
a pin d also serving as the point of support for a spring R¹ which tends to
maintain the latch in the shot or locked position. When at rest the tube T being
retained between the pin d and a stud f screwed to the case presents a fixed
centre at o' upon which the lever E turns when the bolt is being shot or retracted.
In order to complete the lock and cause it to comply with modern requirements
it is necessary to so arrange it as to enable the door to be unlocked from the
interior as well as from the exterior. This result is obtained both as regards the
latch and the bolt by means of the arrangement next hereinafter described.
The latch being independent of the tube T which carries the projections may be
moved in the direction of the arrow y (Figure 1) without disturbing the said tube.
It is consequently sufficient to provide the latch with an ordinary handle H
(Figures 1, 3 and 20 projecting from the case in order to enable the latch to be

page_text: operated from the interior of the apartment. The bolt of the lock is operated from
the interior by either of two arrangements namely:-
First arrangement. In a socket i Figures 2 and 25) on the side of the case there
is permanently attached a handle or false key (Figure 26) provided with a spring
and when this key is pressed inwards its stem acts upon one extremity of a lever L
Figure 23 turning on a bracket (Figure 24). The other extremity of this lever
acts upon a plate Q (Figures 1, 2 and 21) connected to the case by a hinge.
(Figure 22). This plate is provided with a pin s which when the plate is operated
by means of the key (Figure 26) engages with a recess u in a line with the
notches e in the projections on the cylinders a a¹ all and sets free the bolt by
shifting the said cylinders into the unlocked position. In order to shoot or retract
the bolt the pressure upon the key must be maintained and the key caused to turn
in either direction whereupon its bitt g acts upon corresponding surfaces K,
Figure 14 provided upon the bolt so as to shift the latter into the locked or unlocked
position according to the direction in which the key is turned.
Second arrangement. According to this arrangement the bolt is enabled to be
released without pressing the false key inwards. With this object the cylinders a
a² all are automatically pushed up above the bolt which is thereby rendered free
to move under the direct action of the false key or of a knob or handle which
simply requires turning.
In consequence of this arrangement the bolt is not locked in position when at
rest but it will appear that the security of the lock is nevertheless preserved
because when an attempt is made to unlock the door with any key but the proper
key the cylinders are pushed back or inwards by the action of the steps or shoulders
and the bolt is thereby rendered immoveable but when the proper key is used the
cylinders are caused to coincide, and the bolt is free to move.
In order to prevent the introduction of an instrument or pick into the groove n
in the moveable socket for the purpose of causing the latter to rotate and thereby
operating the bolt as herein before described, there is provided upon each lateral
cylinder a small pin which when at rest engages at x with the moveable socket
and renders it completely immoveable until the safety devices have been operated
by the proper key. At this moment the said pins are liberated and the socket
rendered free to turn under the action of the bitt of the said key.
The keys employed in combination with these improved locks are of two classes
the internal shoulders thereof being made either permanent (Figure 7 Sheet 1) or
adjustable (Figures 4, 5 and 6 Sheet 2). When a key of the former description is
employed it can only be used for opening the lock for which it is constructed as
herein before explained but the latter class of key may be rendered capable of
opening any lock constructed according to this Invention by adjusting the shoulders.
as hereinafter described thereby obviating the necessity for keeping a large
assortment of keys corresponding to the different locks in an establishment. The
adjustment of the keys is effected by means of a number, a name or the like
corresponding with the combination of the cylinders in the lock, the proper
combination of figures or letters being known only to the proprietor of the lock.
The adjustable or combination keys are composed of a pipe or tube 1 Figure 5
into which is inserted a second tube 2 a third tube 3 and a central pin 4. Three
rings 5 (Figure 6) and three washers or plates 6 with alternating ratchet teeth
(Figure 6) are slipped over the outer tube and a cap provided with a ring 8
(Figure 4) is screwed on to the end of the latter so as to maintain all the rings in
position between the cap and a shoulder or flange 7 on the tube 1. The ring 8
serves as a handle whereby the key is turned.
In putting together the parts of the key care must be taken to cause projections s
on the tubes and on the pin to project through a longitudinal slot in the tube 1 and
engage with corresponding helical grooves in the rings 5. The washers 7 are also
provided with internal projections which likewise engage with the slot in the tube.
The effect of this arrangement is that when the rings 5 are caused to turn upon
the tube 1 the internal tubes 2 and 3 and pin 4 are caused to slide longitudinally
•

page_text: "
in the tube 5 according to the direction of rotation of the rings and thereby alter
the internal configuration of the key by changing the relative positions of the steps
or shoulders therein.
The external surfaces of the rings present numerals, letters or signs which are
capable of being combined so as to form the number name or other indication
corresponding with the lock to be unlocked. A small spring catch Figure 6 let
into the thickness of the rings serves to ensure the placing of the latter in the
proper position by engaging with the ratchet teeth on the washers and also
facilitates finding the desired numeral or letter by the sense of feeling. The lock
arranged as hereinbefore described is worked by a fixed or unchangeable com-
bination being controlled by a key provided with either fixed or adjustable internal
steps or shoulders but the improved locks constructed according to this Invention
may also be arranged to work with either a limited number of combinations or
with
a comparatively unlimited number including all the eight thousand
combinations that are possible with the said improved lock.
In the lock illustrated in Sheet 1 the lateral cylinders a¹ a¹¹ are connected by a
small screw v to their tubes t¹ but as the screws act by pressure only a pin soldered
to the tubes may be employed in place of the screw without disadvantage the said
pin being caused to engage with a hole drilled in the centre of the cylinder. It is
thus rendered possible in order to obtain a certain number of combinations to
exchange the tubes of the respective cylinders without taking the lock to pieces
and thus invert or change the order of the steps so as to render it impossible to
unlock the lock with the key as originally arranged. It then becomes necessary
in order to unlock the lock to provide a second key specially constructed for the
purpose. All locks constructed with this arrangement will be provided with two
different keys so that in the event of one being lost the lateral cylinders may be
inverted so that the lock can only be opened by the remaining key and all danger
of the lock being unlocked by the other key is obviated.
In order to obtain a practically unlimited number of combinations including all
the combinations possible with this system the lock is arranged as indicated in
Sheet 2. According to this arrangement the cylinders a al all of the safety
apparatus are screwed and are traversed by a screw v' (Figure 8) connected to a
pinion p. Each cylinder is contained in a box B (Figures 2 and 3) forming part
of an indicator plate B¹ (Figure 10) connected to an external knob or handle B¹¹
(Figure 11) and against the end of which a counter spring (Figure 9) is caused
to bear in order to maintain the cylinders normally in the locked position. The
projection b protrudes through a slot in the side of the box B and when the parts
are in the position for unlocking the notch or recess e is presented to the projection b
on the bolt (Figure 3). The parts are caused to coincide for unlocking in the
same manner as in the lock with unchangeable combination herein before described.
The tubes 6' (Figure 7) act upon the lateral cylinders by the intervention of
levers J J¹ turning upon hinges N N¹ (Figure 2). In order to change the com-
bination it is simply necessary to vary the position of the notches e relatively to
the base of the cylinders or underside of the pinion d. This operation is performed
by the aid of the combination key which is first set at zero then caused to engage
with the lock in order to bring the cylinders to the end of their travel. The
pinions p then press at b¹ (Figure 10) against the indicators B¹ and the projections 8¹
on the latter engage with the teeth of the said pinions. If the external knobs B"
connected to the indicators B' are now caused to turn it is evident that the pinions p
will partake of the same motion and operate the screws v' thereby elevating or
depressing the projections b and notches e according to the direction in which the
indicator handle is turned and the desired result will be attained. The pointer i
on the knobs B" is placed over any one of the numerals letters or signs engraved
upon the stationary discs D¹ so as to form a number word or other combination
which requires to be reproduced upon the key when used to operate the lock.
When the new combination has been produced and the key withdrawn the cylinders
a a¹ a¹¹ return under the action of their springs and the pinions p are disengaged

page_text: from the projection 81 thus enabling the knobs B" to be turned without affecting
the combination. Flanges r¹ (Figures 3 and 10) are provided on the indicators B₁
and present as many teeth as there are signs on the discs D¹. so that the catch d¹
which engages therewith ensures the correct placing of the knobs B and at the
same time indicates the number of fractions of a revolution which it has described.
These locks with changeable or unchangeable combinations may be employed
for room doors articles of furniture, safes, drawers and the like or by dispensing
with the latch the said locks may be employed simply as a safety bolt.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. The general construction and arrangement of the improved combination
safety locks substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Second. The employment of the said locks without the latching arrangement
substantially as herein before described.
Third. In the construction of locks the employment of a barrel C combined
with a moveable socket D substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 4 and 5 Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. In the construction of locks the employment of safety apparatus or
devices controlled by changeable or unchangeable combinations of the acting
surfaces combined and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. In the construction of locks the employment of keys presenting a series
of fixed or adjustable internal shoulders or steps acting in combination for
operating the mechanism of the lock substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.