Improvements in Locks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
INOVIDIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks.
A communication to me from abroad by ERNEST BLÉROT, Engineer, of Brussels,
in the Kingdom of Belgium.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in locks by which the holder of
the key of such locks may vary as desired the combinations of the moveable parts
of the lock and of the key which operates upon them. It is based upon the use of
different interchangeable pieces fixed to the key, and the combination of which
forms the part of the latter which acts upon different moveable pieces in the lock,
arranged so as to suitably correspond with the length of the different pieces fixed
to the key.
These several pieces of different lengths are fitted into a groove in the end of the
key and are held by a screw screwed through them into the end of the latter.
These several moveable pieces may be kept in sets by the possessor of the key and
substituted for others, so as to form an almost infinite number of combinations, five
of them being carried by the key at once.
The lock consists of supporting plates held by distance pieces at proper distances
apart, two series of sector-shaped tumblers being arranged between them, each
series being equal in number to the pieces which are fixed to the key as described,
and of the same thickness as those pieces.
The inner or main sectors turn upon a common centre which is made of such
shape that when turned partly round by a special key made to fit it, the whole of
the sectors are moved endways for a short distance. All the sectors are provided
with two concentric slots through them connected together by a longitudinal radial
slot, and each has at its outer curved edge three small projecting angular teeth.
They only coincide with one another when they have all been lifted by the key.
When at rest they are acted upon at different heights by the different projecting
pieces upon the key and are moved up as the latter is turned round. The other
set of sectors fit round the outer curved edge of those first described, but being in
the form of concentric strips only, they are kept in position by guides fixed to the
plates of the lock and by curved slots through them in which a fixed guide fits.
They coincide together when at rest, and are provided on their inner are with a
number of teeth equal in number to the moveable pieces upon the key, plus the three
teeth upon the first described sectors which engage with them. They are provided
at their lower end with an annular projecting plate and their other upper ends are
made radial to their curve, their edges being grooved to receive the pointed ends
of suitable springs which constantly press them down to their lower position. The
inner sectors first described are actuated by their three teeth which are engaged
with the teeth of the outer sectors and they consequently move together with the
latter. Behind and against the two sets of sectors is arranged a pivotted bar or
latch which carries a pin acted upon by a spring which constantly forces it down,
and also upon the opposite face a projection which engages after each turn of the
key in notches in the guide of the locking bolt. A third plate is arranged between
the two outer plates of the lock, its lower edge guiding the main bolt whilst it also
carries the studs and pin by which the sectors are held and guided, the studs which
carry the springs, a stud or guide upon which the latch bolt slides when opened by
TD 071

page_text: a handle, and the eye or centre in which the excentric or other shaped centre turns,
upon which are carried the inner sets of sectors as already described, and a slot
which guides the main bolt of the lock. This main bolt is carried by a plate
having two angular teeth on its upper edge in contact with which comes a
projecting arm or cam upɔn a ring or wheel made to revolve by the key when the
latter is turned, the bolt being in this way moved. The bolt is provided (or
the plate carrying it) with a horizontal slot which slides upon a stud fixed to the
covering plate of the lock.
A stud upon the bolt plate fits and works in the grooves already described in the
inner pivotted sectors. The plate carrying the upper or latch bolt has a semi-
circular opening through it to receive the handle spindle, upon which the opening
levers are fixed which fit into the opening, the latter allowing sufficient movement
of the latch. Studs and slots are also provided to guide the latch bolt. The key
is introduced through a key hole and through the ring carrying the projection or
cam by which the main bolt is operated as already described.
The entire lock is enclosed between two covering plates having the necessary
keyholes for the main key and for the small special key by which the excentric
pin, upon which the inner sectors turn as described, is operated.
The
The operation of the improved lock is as follows:-The key being arranged for
the proper combination determined upon, when it is introduced into the lock and
turned, moves the outer sectors by means of the teeth on their inner edge, which
engage with the three teeth upon the outer edge of the inner sectors, and bring
them into a position when their radial grooves all coincide, allowing a free passage
for the stud upon the main bolt plate so that the bolt can move in or out.
ring carried round by the key lifts the pivotted latch which no longer holds
the bolt. The cam on the ring engaging in the notches between the teeth upon the
bolt plate operates them to open or close the bolts as may be desired. The latch
bolt operates by means of the key at the same time as the main bolt, at the second
turn of the key, since a projection upon the upper edge of the main bolt plate
presses back a corresponding one upon the lower edge of the latch bolt plate.
The latter may however be operated independently by the handle so long as the
key is not in.
The lock is provided with an ordinary key and a master key, the one opening
only the latch bolt and the other both bolts. For the latter only the two last
pieces are fitted to the key the others being replaced by inoperative distance
pieces. The three first pivotted sectors are cut away so that the stud can pass
without their being raised.
In order to change the combination in the key in the lock, a double turn of the
key having been made a pin is temporarily inserted into the projecting main bolt.
The key is then turned round in the direction for opening the lock until it is
stopped. The grooves or slots of the inner pivotted sectors then coincide and the
lock is ready to open.
The small special key is then introduced through the key
hole and the stud upon which the sectors turn is turned round until the three teeth
upon their outer edge are disengaged from the teeth on the inner edge of the outer
sectors (a prolongation of the radial slots allowing this movement). The key is
then withdrawn and the arrangement of the pieces fixed to it is altered as desired.
It is then again inserted and turned in the same direction as before until stopped,
and the outer sectors arrange themselves into a new combination by coming in
contact with the newly arranged projections upon the key. The small special key
is then turned back so as to again engage the teeth upon the inner sectors with
those upon the outer ones, and the fresh arrangement is then completed. When
the key is withdrawn the outer sectors are all brought into the same position by
their springs, whilst by their engagement with the inner ones the latter are brought
into different positions depending upon the new shape of the teeth of the key.
It should be noticed that when at rest the outer sectors always coincide so that
their lower projecting edges against which the key works form a smooth surface
and prevent an impression being taken by the introduction of any soft substance

page_text: into the lock, a defect which exists in even the most complicated ordinary locks
and renders their security doubtful.
Dated this 11th day of June 1891.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS of the firm of Edwards & Co. of 35, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane London W.C. Patent Agent do hereby declare the
nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Ernest Blérot of
Belgium) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in locks and has for its object to enable
the owner of the key of my improved lock to vary at will the combinations of
cyphers and their application to all kinds of locks.
For this purpose I use a number of different movable and interchangeable wards
which are fixed to the key forming together the key bit. The latter acts upon
movable sectors of the lock which is provided with variable wards corresponding
with those of the said key.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing the arrangement of the parts of the lock.
Fig. 2. is a front view of the lock disclosed, that is to say with the first cover
plate removed, thus showing the parts which are uppermost.
Fig. 3. is a front view showing the parts next in order.
Fig. 4. is also a front view showing the lowermost parts that is to say the bolts
the locking bar and the collar.
Fig. 5 shows the key partly in section and illustrates the arrangement and manner
of fixing the movable wards forming the key bit according to the combination
selected.
Fig. 6. shows the small key used to free the sectors of the lock when the
combination is to be changed.
Fig. 7 is a movable lever provided with a projection and moved excentrically
under the action of the small key above mentioned for the purpose of disconnecting
the movable sectors and thereby altering the combination.
Fig. 8 is a detail showing the excentric motion of the movable lever aforesaid
which acts on the sectors.
Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are details showing the construction of the movable or main
bolt which is similar to the dormant bolt.
Figs. 12 and 13 are details of the sectors E and D.
Fig. 14 shows the various wards of different size.
Fig. 15 is a detail.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures.
The key is furnished at its extremity with a groove in which are inserted the
wards c, Fig. 5, the number of which may vary. The said wards have perforated
heads through which pass the screw F. which screws them, the screw locking into
the barrel of the key.
The wards c are made in series each series containing any suitable number of
these wards. In the lock shown in the drawings there are 10 series each of which
contains 5 wards the whole being enclosed in a box in possession of the owner of
the key who may thus form any desired combinations of cyphers, figures or
numbers.
"
Two keys are supplied with the lock, the one or "service key opens the
movable or main bolt only, and the other or master key opens the two bolts.
The "service" key is only provided with two wards corresponding to the last two

page_text: wards of the master key. In lieu of other wards the service key is formed blank
so as to be capable of opening the movable or main bolt with the two wards afore-
said. To allow of this the first three sectors D as seen in Fig. 13 are unprovided
"with the shoulder das seen in Fig. 12, sec also Fig. 2, and thus the pin.Z is
allowed to pass although its passage through the groove is impeded. The
number of the key wards is 5 so that according to the algebraic formula for the
calculation of repeated arrangements 105- 100000 different arrangements can be
made.
=
The wards vary in size from one series to the other but are equal in the same
series respectively.
On the uppermost plane Fig. 2 i.e. below the cover plate the block consists of
the two series of sectors D and E arranged cheek by jowl and equal in number to
that of the key wards, while having the same thickness as the latter. The sectors D
are centrally secured by the eccentric lever and are furnished inwardly with two
concentric grooves d d connected to a radial groove and with three teeth
projecting from their outer periphery. These sectors coincide in position when
they are raised by the key bit, but when they are at rest they gear at different
heights corresponding to the different projections of the key bit; they are further
turned in a circular direction by the outer edge of the said bit. The hooked
sectors E are held in the same centre as those above mentioned by the pillars a b
and the pin e fixed to the plate P below as shown in Fig. 3.
They coincide
constantly together and are furnished with a concentric groove e' into which the
guiding pine is located; they are moreover furnished on their inner periphery
with a number of teeth, which number equals the number of moveable wards c in
the series plus the three teeth of the sectors D. The sectors E are provided on
their under sides with small copper knobs e², shewn in dotted lines and an interval
is formed between their hooks Ei preventing the key wards from raising an adjacent
sector. The said sectors E are always urged towards their position of rest by the
springs m.
The sectors D are actuated by the three teeth gearing with those of the sector E
and are thus moved at the same time as the latter.
The
Behind the sectors D. E Fig. 3 is placed a small latch L pivoted at / moving
in an angular direction and carrying on its upper surface a pin which serves as a
rest for the spring n having a tendency to push it towards the position of rest.
latch carries inoreover a pin on its under surface which engages at each period
of rest with the notches 3 and 4 of the groove of the dormant bolt (Fig. 4). The
plate Pis rivetted perpendicularly to the edge plate P¹ and its lower edge guides
the dormant bolt V above, this plate carrying at the same time the pillars a and b,
the pin or post e which serves as a guide for the sectors E and D and the bearing
pins for the springs m np.
3
The said plate is further furnished with a slot s¹ serving as a guide for the pin
of the acting bolt S, with an opening for the passage of the key M to the
eccentric lever and with a slot H holding and guiding the pin z of the dormant
bolt V.
Against the plate P are placed the bolts S and V.
notched so as to form teeth whereby it is actuated
The dormant bolt V is
by the cam of the
tubular piece R when the latter is turned round by the key. Said tubular piece R
is shewn separately in Fig. 15.
The said bolt is provided with a slot whereby it slides upon the pin located
therein and rivetted to the bottom plate G¹. The bolt V carries the pin z which
engages in the slots of the sectors D.
2
The bolt S has a semi-circular notch wherein the follower Q is located and has
sufficient play to execute a circular motion imparted thereto by the key stem; this
bolt carries moreover the pin s which is guided in the slot s¹ of the plate P.
The device R carries the bush furnished with an opening in which enters the
key bit for the purpose of turning the same round. All the above parts or pieces
are enclosed between the cover and the bottom plates G¹ G, Fig. 1, the first of

page_text: which carries the pillars and the mortice h for the passage of the small key M
which disconnects the sectors E D, being moreover provided with a slot for the
follower Q and with an opening for the key.
The other plate which is similar to the first and is furnished with openings for
the passage of the screw entering the pillars i, for the follower Q for the
device K for the pillars a be and for the key.
The above described lock may be opened from inside as well as outside provided
that the key has a number the first and last figure of which and the 2nd and the
last but one correspond.
My improved lock operates as follows:
The key being set according to the combination selected and determined by a
number, it is inserted in the lock and turned to actuate the sectors E gearing with
the sectors D thus causing these sectors to be juxtaposed so that their radial slots
coincide and form one continuous slot which allows the pin z of the dormant bolt V
to pass and thus permits of this bolt being free to move. The piece R actuated
by the key bit raises the latch L which now ceases to impede the bolt V, the
cam engages within the notches of the latter bolt and pushes its teeth and l
in such a manner as to open or close it as the case may be.
The movable or main bolt S is actuated as well as the dormant bolt V by the
key at the second turn of the same its heels being pushed by the upper
projection of the dormant bolt. But it may be operated independently of the
latter by acting on the follower Q with the aid of a spindle so long as the key is
not left in the door in which case the latter could not be closed after having once
been opened, the key being held in its opening position owing to the sectors D being
held in theirs under the action of their springs, so that the two bolts remain inside
the lock.
Having now locked with a double turn, a stop pin is inserted in the opening t
formed in the head of the dormant bolt, and the key is turned in the direction of
the opening until no further practicable. At this juncture the grooves of the
sectors D coincide and the lock is ready to be opened, when the small key M is
inserted through the mortice h of the cover plate G₁ & passes through the corre-
sponding aperture of the plate P into the two openings of the piece K and
turned to the left hand side the projections of that piece coming to bear against
those of the part enclosing it thus causing the former to move excentrically and to
assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8; this operation disconnects the
sectors D while the pin 2 rests in the prolongation of the slot d¹¹ formed in each
sector D which remain thus in equilibrium. The key is now withdrawn and its
removable wards are altered according as desired whereupon the modified key is
re-inserted in the lock and turned until no further practicable; the sectors E are
then placed in accordance with the new combination in contact with the fresh
projections of the key bit and the small key M is turned in a reverse direction to
cause the sectors D to gear with the sectors E the combination being thus altered.
As the key is subsequently withdrawn the sectors E acted upon by their springs m
are made to coincide again, while the sectors D are shifted by the gearing and lose
their coincidence by coming one against the other according to the projections of
the key bit.
It is absolutely necessary to possess the combination in order to be able to alter
it, as the lock has to be closed as above explained otherwise the solid part of the
plate P would cover the mortice h in plate G¹ of the small key M so that the
piece K could not be acted upon in order to disconnect the sectors D and E which
is indispensable to place them in a position corresponding to the new combination
of the key bit.
It may be remarked that when at rest the sectors E always coincide and that
hence the surfaces c³ and c of. their hooked parts are smooth which prevents a cast
being taken of the combination by inserting in the lock a key having a bit formed
of a yieldy substance which is a defect existing in even the most complicated
locks and injuring their safety.

page_text: I may vary the form, dimensions and details of my improved lock and key as
well as the material of which it is made without departing from the nature of my
invention.
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. In locks, the combination of a key the bit of which is formed of a variable
number of movable wards with a corresponding number of sectors D and E and a
lever or piece serving to connect or disconnect the said sectors, substantially as
herein described and shown and for the purpose set forth.
2. The improved lock and key arranged constructed and operating substantially
as described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 11th day of March 1892.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.