Improvements in Locks and Keys.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 7th July. 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locks and Keys.
I, ALPHONSE BECHT, of Saint-Mandé (Seine) in the Republic of France,
Locksmith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
Bame is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
The invention forming the subject of the present invention relates to a safety
lock provided with movable, variously cut pins, the sections of which correspond to
holes of different depth in the key, which when introduced drives back the pins,
until all their sections are in the same vertical plane, allowing the key to be turned
and consequently the lock to be opened.
In the annexed drawings
Figure 1 represents the lock, the cover-plate with the barrel being taken off.
Figure 2 is a cross section made at 1-2 of Fig. 1 and shows the mechanism of
the barrel.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the key with its plug.
Figures 4 and 5 are variations of Figure 2, Figure 6 shows the key to the latter
one and Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 are cross sections made at 3-4, 5-6, 7-8,
of Figure 4, and 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 of Figure 5.
Referring to Fig. 2 the case A is secured to the case A' and the latter contains
the sliding bolts KT of the lock.
Within the case A. a barrel B is fixed by screws 6 (Fig. 4) containing pins G H
of different lengths controlled by small spiral springs I movable lengthwise in the
barrel B and bearing on pins gh of different lengths also movable lengthwise in a
barrel C capable of being rotated; the points at which the ends of the pins G H
meet the ends of the pins gh are shown at g' (Figs. 2 and 4). The pins g h
have extremities reduced in diameter which pass through the end of the rotary
barrel C and a cover plate K controlled by a spring K', so that these extremities
may enter the holes m in the key M (Fig. 3). These holes m are of varying
depth such that when the key M is inserted, the ends of the pins gh striking the
bottoms of the holes m cause these pins and also the pins G H to move
longitudinally, against the action of the springs I, until the points g' h¹ coincide
with the line X, the plane of junction of the barrels B and C ; this does not
happen until the key is pushed fully home. Ordinarily the plate K is retained by
the spring K' in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, so that the ends of the pins gh
are flush with its extract surface, when the key is however pushed in this plate
yields until it is pressed on to the end of the barrel C, allowing the pins gh to
protrude and enter the holes m in the key M. If found convenient this plate K
may be omitted.
There is a slot in the barrel C into which the bit L of the key M exactly fits,
when the key is pushed right home, and by means of which the barrel C is rotated.
The movable barrel C has running longitudinally through it and fixed therein
by a screw-threaded connection a spindle D which terminates on the inside in a
disc kon which is a central pin or stud d and one or more crank pins (Figs. 12
and 4).
This spindle D and disc d therefore partake of all the movements
communicated to the barrel C, which latter, in addition to the rotary movement
described above, is arranged in certain modifications, as shown in Fig. 2, to have
a longitudinal movement through the space shown at X (Fig. 2). Pressure on the
key M therefore when inserted first pushes inwards the plate K then the several
pins 9 h, and lastly, when the end of the spindle D comes in contact with the
bottom of the hole n in the centre of the key M, the whole barrel C is pushed

page_text: inwards until it is in contact with the barrel B, when the key can be turned taking
with it the barrel C and spindle D. On the withdrawal of the key the springs I
not only cause the pins Ġg, Hh to return to their normal position, but also the
whole barrel C.
Within the casing A' are the bolts RT.
A latch T controlled by a spiral spring can be withdrawn by a handle W, or
by means of the key acting through the lever S, in a manner to be hereafter
described.
The main bolt R slides horizontally being guided by the pin V in the slot V1.
This bolt carries pivoted to it by the pin S', a lever having a long arm S, which
passes through a slot t, in the latch T and a short arm S' shaped as shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 1.
A disc E a barrel disc F, in contact with opposite sides of the casing A and
therefore on opposite sides of the bolt R are connected by two pins e e
(Figs. 1, 2, and 9). These discs E and F pivot on one side of the casing about
the central stud d on the disc k, and on the other side of the casing, about the
barrel of the disc F F. Suitable holes are cut in the disc E in which the crank
pin or pins on the disc engage. This engagement occurs, in the case of the
lock shown in Fig. 2, when the spindle D and disc d are pushed in ie. when the
key is pushed right home. In the modification shown in Fig. 4 this engagement
between the pins f and the holes in the disc E occurs always, as the epindle D
with the disc d is not arranged to be pushed inwards. Suitable slots Y Y Y Y
are cut in the bolt R in which the pinsee engage when the disc E F are turned by
the key acting through the crank pin f in the disc E thus shooting or withdrawing
the bolt R.
A lever Q acted on by a spring 9 presses on a small flattened portion of the
barrel disc F, thereby preventing undue movement of the parts. If after the
bolt R is fully withdrawn, the key he still further turned, one of the pins e coming
in contact with the arm S' of the lever pivoted at S', causes the arm S to withdraw
the latch T. In order that the lock may be operated from the inside independently
of the key, a pin O may be fixed to the centre of the barrel disc F and a knob P
may be attached to the projecting end thereof, by turning which the bolt R may be
shot or withdrawn. If preferred this may be accomplished by the barrel Fl of the
disc F being arranged with a groove o so that the key M may be employed instead
of the pin and handle P. It is obvious that when the key M is so employed
the pin holes, wards, or complexities thereof are inoperative, the key acting as a
simple key in place of the handle P. It will be understood that these arrangements
for actuating the bolt from the inside, can only be used in modifications such as
shown in Fig. 2 where the disc k can be engaged with and disengaged from the
disc E.
The key M (Fig. 3) is fitted with a plug N which fits tightly in the centre hole n
and serves to exclude the dust from the in holes m.
It is obvious that the number of pins, such as Gg Hh, and the length of the
sections into which they are cut can be varied considerably.
Figure 5 shows a modification of the lock.
Figure 6 is the key therefor.
Figures 10, 11, and 12 are sections on the lines 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 respectively
of Figure 5.
The fixed barrel a of this lock has a shoulder a' in which a number of radial
grooves a³ are cut. In these grooves lie cases f³ which are continually pressed
towards the centre by small spiral springs i acting against the external ring 6'
which is secured to a¹.
Within the fixed barrel a is a rotary barrel d' which also has a shoulder d'
turning within the shoulder a¹. Through the barrel d' run longitudinal slots
within which lie sliding plates e¹¹ these slots run into radial grooves in the
shoulder d which correspond with the grooves a³ in a' and within which lie
sliding plates, which are in contact externally with the cases eƒ³ and are

page_text: normally kept pressed towards the central spindle D by the springs i. The ends.
of the sliding plates e¹ effwhich are in contact are cut on the slant. The
cases are kept in place by an annular plate c¹ secured to the shoulder a' by
screws passing into the holes (Fig. 11) while the sliding plates e fare kept.
in place by a disc k fastened to and capable of turning with the shoulder d of the
barrel d' by screws passing into the holes c³.
The disc k has a central hole through which passes the end of the spindle D.
terminating in the pin or stud d on which the disc E pivots; it also carries the
crank pins which engage with the holes in the disc E, as described above and
illustrated in Figures 2, 4, 5, and 9. The key U (Figure 6) has a central hole.
and a number of longitudinal ridges corresponding to the number of sliding
plates cut on the outside, one of which carries the bit L. All these ridges
are cut of different lengths corresponding to the different lengths of the sliding
plates and cases ef³.
On inserting the key the ridges u come in contact in order, according to their
length, with the sliding plates elf on pushing it further in these plates move-
longitudinally and by reason of their ends and the ends of the plates ef with
which they are in contact being cut on the slant, these latter plates move radially
outwards in their grooves, carrying with them the cases ef. When the key is.
pushed right home, which will be when the internal ends of the plates e fare in
contact with the disc k, the point of contact of the plates ef and the cases eƒ*-
will coincide with the line X, (shewn in plan in Figure 11 and in dotted lines in
Figure 5). Then by means of the bit L and ridges engaging with the slots of
grooves in the barrel d', the whole barrel d' the shoulder d and disck can be
rotated carrying with them the discs E and F and shooting or withdrawing the
bolt R according to the direction in which the key is turned.
22
It is obvious that the lengths of the plates ef and cases ef* and consequently
of the ridges on the key together with the total number of the plates are capable
of considerable variation.
On withdrawing the key the springs i cause the cases ef and plates efe¹ fl.
to return to their normal position.
The casings A A'a a¹ of the different modifications described may be of any
suitable form or shape which may be found suitable or convenient for keeping the
several parts of the lock together preferably however as shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I.
claim is ;-
1. In a lock the combination of a casing a stationary barrel such as B a rotary
barrel such as C one or more spring actuated pins such as Gg Hh running in them
a key for making the joints in the pins coincide with the joint between the barrels.
a groove in the rotary barrel to receive the bit of the key a rotary spindle or pin
such as D connected with the rotary barrel a locking bolt and device for connecting
it with the rotary spindle substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In a lock the combination of a casing stationary and rotary barrels spring
actuated pins key for acting on the pins and for turning the rotary barrel spindle.
connected with the rotary barrel disc on the end thereof carrying one or more.
crank pins disc such as E having one or more openings for the said crank pin or
pins and a central opening for the end d of the rotary spindle pins e connecting
disc E with barrel-disc F and engaging with the slots in the locking bolt sub
stantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a lock the combination of a casing stationary and rotary barrels such as B
and C spring actuated pins G g H h spindle D connected with the rotary barrel
and capable of longitudinal movement in the casing bolt and connection between
the bolt and the rotary spindle D the means of engaging and disengaging this

page_text: --
connection and turning the same when the rotary barrel and spindle are pressed
inwards by the key the spindle being normally disengaged from the connection
with the bolt substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. In a lock the combination of a casing stationary and rotary barrels such
as BC spring actuated pins Gg Hh therein spindle D carried by the rotary barrel
and movable therewith disc k on the spindle having one or more crank pins f disc E
and barrel-disc F connected by pins e bolt R moved longitudinally by the engage-
ment of the pins e with slots in the bolt the disc E being normally disengaged from
the crank pin or pins f on the disc k carried by the spindle but arranged to be
engaged with and operated by the spindle when the said spindle is moved
longitudinally and turned within the casing by the key substantially 'as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a lock the combination of a rotary spindle such as D adapted to be
operated from the outside by a key the spindle being movable longitudinally in
order to engage or disengage with or from the disc E which latter is connected to
the barrel-disc F by the pins e which engage with and move the bolt R a knob or
aperture for a key with groove o for the bit of this key situated on the inside of the
door for turning the discs E F and pins e connecting them thereby shooting or
withdrawing the bolt independently of the rotary spindle substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In a lock the combination of a stationary barrel such as a having an enlarged
shoulder a in which are radial grooves the blocks or cases e" lying in these grooves
and continually pressed towards the centre by springs i a rotary barrel d¹ with
longitudinal slots and enlarged shoulder d' thereof with radial grooves in them
sliding plates e¹ efflying in these slots and grooves having their meeting ends
cut on the slant a key with longitudinal ridges of various lengths such that pressure
with this key on the ends of the plates sliding longitudinally within the rotary
barrel causes centrifugal movement of the radial sliding plates and blocks enabling
the barrel to be turned and a central spindle with disc carrying one or more crank
pins for operating the bolt substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
7. A lock adapted to be opened from one side with a simple key having a bit
only and no wards or equivalent but requiring a complex or ward key to open it
from the other side substantially as described & illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
8. A lock provided with sliding pins of different lengths and a key having holes
of different depths whereby upon insertion of the key the ends of the pins are all
brought into alignment in the same plane and the turning of the key is rendered
possible substantially as described and illustrated.
9. The complete lock and key substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3.
10. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the lock substantially
as described and illustrated in Figures 4, 7, 8 and 9.
11. The complete lock and key substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 5, 6, 10, 11, and 12.
Dated this 4th day of October 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.