Improvements in Keyless Permutation Locks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Keyless Permutation Locks.
I, LEOPOLD KAPLAN, of 191 Hamburgerstrasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom of
Prussia and German Empire, Medical Student, 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:-
This invention relates to a keyless permutation lock which may be locked
by merely pressing upon a knob, and which is unlocked automatically. The
lock is controlled by one or more slides and permutation discs. The slides are
actuated by racks and pinions upon the spindles of which the permutation letter
discs are arranged.
I will describe my said invention with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through the lock, the bolt being secured
or locked.
Figures 2 and 4 are longitudinal vertical sections taken through the lock,
Figure 2 shewing the slides in such positions as they may occupy when the bolt is
locked, and Figure 4 their positions when it is to be unlocked.
Figure 3 is a similar section to that shewn by Figure 1, the bolt being
unlocked.
The bolt is locked by means of a pin or studs, which is capable of engaging
in a vertical slot a, in the bolt. This bolt may be shot and withdrawn by means of
a door knob and spindle in the same manner as are the catch bolts of ordinary door
locks.
If
The studs is fixed upon the front of the hinged flat cross plate K, its hinge, by
means of which it is secured to the back plate, being indicated at g. The plate K
has springs FF, pressing upon it in the direction tending to push it towards the
back plate P. The slides D', D³, and D³, are arranged to move between the
plate and the back plate P, and are guided to move in straight lines by suitable
means such as the fixed pins or blocks t, in the longitudinal slots u, formed in the
slides. Each of the slides, on its edge next to the plate K, has a recess or removed
part slightly longer than the width of the limb of the plate K, nearest to it.
then, all the slides be moved into such positions, behind the plate K, that the limbs
of that plate can be received into the recesses of the slides, as shewn by Figure 4,
the plate can be pressed back to a sufficient distance to withdraw the stud from
engagement with the bolt r, as seen in Figure 3, and the lock may be opened.
If on the contrary, any one or more of the slides occupies any other position,
it is evident that the plate K caunot be moved back, and that the lock cannot
be opened. Whenever all the slides are in the positions shewn by Figure 4, the
spring F comes into action and withdraws the stud from the bolt r.
The number of slides up to four is quite optional, the greater number giving,
of course, the larger number of combinations of the permutation discs hereinafter
described.
Each of the slides has teeth formed in one of its edges into which engage
respectively the teeth of the pinions R', R2, and R. These pinions are secured
upon spindles which project upon both sides of the lock, and which carry, outside
the lock, the permutation discs Z' and Z and the knobs or fixed discs y y, by
rotating which the pinions are rotated and the slides moved into the desired
positions. To bring the slides into the proper positions for opening the lock, it
will be necessary always to turn the handles y until a given letter or figure upon
the edge of each permutation disc occupies a certain position which may be
indicated by a finger or otherwise or be simply borne in mind. When it is desirable,
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page_text: for
any reason, to alter the permutation, this may be readily done in the following
manner. One of the permutation discs, on each spindle, say Z, is fixed upon its
spindle, the other is arranged so as to be capable of sliding thereon, whilst being
compelled to rotate therewith. This may be effected by making the local part of
the spindle square or non-circular in cross section and by forming a correspondingly
shaped hole in the movable disc. This disc Z, is slid along its spindle towards
the knob y, and the spindle is then pushed in the direction of Z', thus carrying
the pinion thereon, out of engagement with its slide rack. The knob is then
turned until the letter or character which it is desired to substitute for the
letter or character last used, is brought into the position previously occupied
by the last used one. The spindle and disc are then returned, bringing the pinion
again into engagement with its rack. Before thus substituting one letter for
another, it is best to bring the slide affected into the position shewn by Figure 4,
with its recess immediately behind the limb of the plate K.
3
To enable the studs to be engaged with the vertical slot a, in the bolt r, for the
purpose of locking that bolt, an arm of the plate K is connected at 4, with the
through spindle 3, which is provided at its outer ends with the knobs 1, 2. If
the stud be disengaged from the bolt, the spindle 3 is pushed or pulled by its knob
so as to occupy the position represented by Figure 1, whereupon the bolt is
locked, and the slides are then disarranged. As soon as the slides have been
brought into the positions indicated by Figure 4, for the purpose of unlocking,
the springs F as before described, force the plate K back, and release the
stud from the bolt, whereupon the spindle 3 and its knobs resume the position
shewn by Figure 3.
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 keyless permutation lock, constructed arranged and operated substantially
as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a keyless permutation lock, the combination with a slotted sliding bolt,
of a hinged plate having one or more limbs projecting laterally therefrom, and
having a stud projecting from its front so as to be capable of engaging with the
slot in the sliding bolt, of one or more slides having each a recess for the
reception of one of the limbs of the hinged plate and having also teeth formed
on one of its edges, of a pinion gearing with the teeth on each slide and having on
its spindle one fixed and one movable permutation disc and knobs for rotating
the pinion, of springs for forcing back the hinged plate at the proper moment, and
of a sliding spindle to which the hinged plate is connected, the various parts being
constructed arranged and co-operating substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of September A.D. 1892.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.