IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LOCKING MECHANISM FOR SAFES VAULTS AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND MEANS FOR SECURING AND PRO- " TECTING THE SAME
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& C° Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO LOCKING MECHANISM FOR SAFES
VAULTS AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND MEANS FOR SECURING AND PRO-
"
TECTING THE SAME Communicated to him from abroad by Heory Fitch
Newbury, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd August 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltino, Lake, and Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
TO LOCKING MECHANISM FOR SAFES, VAULTS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND MEANS
FOR SECURING AND PROTECTING THE SAME"- [A communication to him from
abroad by Henry Fitch Newbury, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of
America.]
The object of this Invention is to furnish more efficient means than are now in
use for protecting safes, vaults, and other structures against the operations of
burglars.
A charge of dynamite or similar explosive, placed against the door or wall of a
safe or vault, opposite that part where the lock is located, can be made to unseat or
break the lock, so that the door will no longer be secured thereby. This is
particularly the case with "time locks" in which the force of an explosion of.
dynamite against the exterior of the safe, in proximity to the lock, can readily be
caused to break the more delicate parts of the clock-work of the lock and thus let
the main spring run down at a greatly accelerated speed. This running down of
the main spring, which, under these circumstances, may take place in a few seconds
of time, will immediately destroy the control of the lock over the door-bolts by
causing the retraction of the lock-bolt.
In carrying this Invention into practice in the first place the locks are attached

page_text: to the door or some portion of the interior wall of the safe or structure, in such a
manner, that they cannot be dislodged or removed from their operative position
relatively to the door bolts, by any explosion exterior to the structure, of less force
than what would be requisite to set the door bolts. In the second place, the works
of the lock, if a time-lock, are protected so that they shall not be broken by the
force of such an explosion; and in the third place means are also provided whereby,
if any portion of the lock should be broken, or if the lock itself should be unsented,
the door bolts would remain dogged or locked.
In order to prevent the lock from being torn off the inner face of the door by an
explosion directed against the exterior, the lock is also attached to the door by
means of flexible and yielding supports, which may consist of spiral springs
interposed between the lock and the door, or the lock may be mounted upon a
sheet of india-rubber or the like, and that, in turn, secured to the door in such
a manner as to leave a wide space between the lock and the door; or if the said
lock be attached directly to the door by bolts in the ordinary manner, supple-
mentary supports may be arranged so as to receive and sustain the weight of the
lock in case the main or primary bolts should be broken. In some instances, instend
of mounting the entire lock upon flexible supports, only the time mechanism of the
lock is mounted in this manner.
As above indicated, the primary object in using flexible or supplementary
supports, is to prevent the lock from being stripped off from the door by a sudden
and heavy shock, and thus thrown out of operative relation with the door-bolts.
If the flexible supports are made sufficiently extended, that is, if they hold the lock
at a sufficient distance from the inner face of the door, this inode of mounting will
also protect the more delicate parts of the time mechanism of the lock, if it be a
time lock, from injury by the force of the explosion; but if the flexible supports
are not made sufficiently extended to accomplish this additional result, means aro
also provided which will prevent the unlocking of the door of the safe or vault
even though the clock-work be broken or otherwise injured by the shock. One
means of accomplishing this is to arrange a supplementary guard or checking device
as a part of, or in proximity to, the lock, in such a manner that it will remain
inactive under ordinary circumstances but will be brought into operation by the
force of an explosion or other shock, directed against the exterior of the safe or
vault and sufficient to break the time movement. This supplementary check may
be so arranged as to act directly upon the train of the clock, so as to prevent the
running down of the main spring, or so as to act upon the lock bolt, which would
prevent the retraction of such bolt even if the main-spring were to run down, or it
may be made to act directly upon the door-bolts; in which case it would hold
these Intter locked even though the lock-bolt were to be retracted immediately
upon the occurrence of the shock.
Another mode of accomplishing the same result would be to arrange one of the
parts between the main spring of the clock and the bolt of the lock in such manner
that upon the occurrence of a shock calculated to break the time-movement, such
part will be moved out of its normal position sufficiently to interrupt the operative
connection between the main spring and the lock-bolt. This will leave the lock-
bolt in the locking position even though the main-spring should be caused to run
down instantly.
Another mode of accomplishing the same result is to provide the shafts of the
time-movement (which are the parts most likely to be injured by the shock of an
explosion) with supplementary bearings, so that if the shafts should be broken at
their journals they will still be held in position relatively to each other, and thus
prevent the main spring from running down at an accelerated speed.
Another method I propose for accomplishing substantially the same result, is to
attach a centrifugally acting device to one of the wheels, or other revolving parts of
the clock, which device will be thrown out of its normal position by centrifugal
action, in case the part to which it is attached takes on unusual speed, and, by
engaging with a stop or other device, be made to arrest the motion of the clock-work,

page_text: or to trip a supplementary check, which will in turn, dog the bolt of the lock or
the bolts of the safe door.
Instead of placing one of the parts between the 'main spring and the bolt of the
lock movable under the force of an explosion so as to interrupt the operative con-
nection between these parts, the connection between the door bolts and the spindle
by means of which these bolts are retracted, may be constructed on the same principle
so that the same shock which is directed against the exterior of the safe, for the
purpose of breaking the lock, will produce a disconnection between the door-spindle
and the door-bolts, and thus leave the latter in the locking position even though
the lock be destroyed.
Where a supplementary check or locking device is employed, it may not always
be necessary, in order to secure protection against injury, that the lock be mounted
upon a flexible support, if the supplementary check be so connected with the lock
that it will be brought into the locking position each time the main lock is itself
locked; and if the connection between the main lock and the supplementary check
be such that the former may be unseated without disturbing the latter (which can
easily be effected by a pin and slot connection) it is obvious that the main lock
may be attached to the door by any of the usual methods, or even by means of
bolts or supports more fragile than any now used. If under such circumstances,
the lock should be forced off the door, by the force of an explosion directed against
the exterior the supplementary check would remain in the locking position and
would thus constitute an efficient lock to prevent the retraction of the door-bolts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd February 1883. ◄
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
"
LOCKING MECHANISM FOR SAFES, VAULTS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES, AND MEANS
FOR SECURING AND PROTECTING THE SAME" A Communication to me from
abroad by Henry Fitch Newbury of Brooklyn, New York, United States of
America
This invention relates to the construction and mounting of locking mechanisın
used to secure the doors of safes, vaults, and other strong treasure rooms, the
object being to afford protection against a serious danger which the said Henry
Fitch Newbury has discovered to be connected with the use of existing locks as
ordinarily mounted.
A chronometric or "time lock," as the term is understood in the art of safe and
vault protection, is a lock whose bolt or checking device (sometimes technically
called "dog") is, for the purpose of unlocking at least, under the control of a time
movement capable of withdrawing it automatically or of automatically permitting
it to be withdrawn from the locking position upon the arrival of the hour for
which the mechanism has previously been set. By placing such locks upon the
interior of the structures to be protected and without mechanical connection with
the exterior thereof, it has been supposed that an efficient security is provided
against what are known as " masked burglaries," and that thus locks of this class
afford a completo protection against the operations of a burglar except when ho
resorts to violence calculated to force the walls of the safe or vault.
The Communicator of this invention however has discovered that the security thus
afforded is not so great as it appears to be and that any of the time locks now in
uso, when mounted in the ordinary manner can be tampered with by the burglar
without difficulty and without resort to force to break or penetrate tho walls of
the structure in which the lock is used. The insecurity of locks of this class as
heretofore mounted arises in part from the frangible character of certain parts of
the time movement, which in all fine work are made so slight and delicate as to
be broken roadily by a sudden shock such as might be cominunicated by tho
explosion of a small charge of dynamite, nitro-glycerine, or other quick explosive
outside the walls of the structure, but in proximity to that part of the said walls
against which the lock is secured.
The parts of a time movement which are the farthest removed from the main
wheel are the most delicate and therefore the most easily broken, this being
especially the case with the shaft of the third wheel and with the pallet and
escapement wheel shafts. The journals of these shafts as ordinarily constructed
are made exceedingly small for the purpose of reducing the surfaces of contact and
thus the friction to a minimum, and the finer the workmanship of the lock, the
slighter and more frangible are these parts likely to he; any material increase in
the extent of the bearings, whereby the strength of the parts would be augmented,
would correspondingly increase the friction and impair the time-keeping properties
of the movement, Time locks with jewelled movements also are specially exposed
to injury in the inauner indicated, since the jewels by reason of their brittleness
might easily be broken by the force of an explosion of great intensity, in close
proximity to them. The destruction of any of the parts between the balance
wheel and the main wheel, at ouce releases the main wheel from the control of the

page_text: escapement and the movement immediately begins to "run down," a movement
which would otherwise continue to run for several days without rewinding, now
running down in a few seconds. As the dial or other device arranged to act upon
the lock bolt or dog to withdraw it or permit it to move from the locking position
is actuated from the same spring that drives the main wheel, its speed will be
correspondingly accelerated, so that the dog, instead of being withdrawn from
engagement with the bolt work of the door at the hour for which the lock has
been set, will be withdrawn immediately upon the explosion or other shock, leaving
the safe or vault so far as the time lock is concerned entirely under the control of
the burglar. If there are other locks on the door (either combination or key locks),
the burglar probably will have effected the unlocking of them in advance of his
attack upon the time lock, either by picking or forcing thein or by threats com-
pelling the cooperation of the custodian of the key or combination. In whatever
way this may be done the subsequent unlocking of the bolt of the time-lock in the
manner indicated (and repeated experiments show that this can readily be done
with a charge of dynamite so small as to make but little noise and not even indent
or otherwise appreciably affect the walls of the safe) removes all obstruction to
free access to the valuables placed under the protection of such lock.
My foreign Correspondent has also discovered that not only time-locks but also
all other classes of locks (particularly the ordinary combination locks) and various
of the auxiliary parts of the locking mechanism (such as the heavy angle levers or
jaws that are often used in forming the connection between the lock bolt and the
door bolts) when mounted in the ordinary manner can be unseated by the shock
produced by the explosion of a small charge of dynamite or other quick explosive,
against the exterior of that part of the door or wall of the safe or vault to which
the lock is attached; the consequent displacement of the lock destroys its control
over the door bolts of the structure guarded.
The ordinary method of mounting locks and the auxiliary parts of the locking
mechanism, is to secure them rigidly to the inner face of the door or wall (usually
the door) of the structure to be protected by means of bolts, no provision being
made for permitting a movement of the door or wall relatively to the lock. The
momentum that can be transmitted through the door of a safe or vault to a lock
thus mounted, by the use of a quick explosive against the exterior of the structure,
is found to be sufficient to strip the lock from its fastenings even though no breach
be made in the door and the door be not sufficiently distorted to set the door bolts.
The present invention provides a remedy for the above mentioned insecurities
connected with the use of locks; and it consists partly in providing means wheroby
the unseating of the lock or the auxiliary parts between it and the door bolts
under the force of a sudden and heavy shock may be prevented.
This may be effected either by the use of flexible and yielding devices to protect
the fastening bolts of the lock and other parts, or by the use of supplemental
supports, in connection with the main or primary supports or fastenings, such
supplemental supports being used to sustain the lock or other part in operative
relation to the door bolts in case the main fastenings are destroyed as more fully
hereinafter described.
The said invention also consists in certain combinations of devices whereby the
door bolts of the safe, vault, or other structure guarded will be held in the locking
position even if the lock itself be moved by the force of a sudden and heavy shock
out of its normal position, this result, being effected as hereinafter more fully
described either by causing the same shock which dislodges or otherwise disturbs
the lock, to bring into operation a secondary or supplemental locking device to
guard the door bolts, or by causing such shock to disconnect the door bolts from
the door spindle by means of which they are retracted.
The invention in its special application to time locks, also consists in various
devices designed either to protect the time movement of the lock from injury under
the concussion arising from the near explosion of dynamite, or from any other
sudden-and-heavy shock, or, in case the clock-work becomes broken by such shock

page_text: and the main spring is released from the control of the escapement, to prevent the
dogging-bolt of the lock from being thereby withdrawn from its locking position.
The various devices designed to accomplish this result are explained in detail
hereinafter.
As above indicated one method of protecting a lock against being unseated when
subjected to a sudden and heavy shock transmitted to it through the adjacent door
or wall of the structure in which it is placed, is by the use of flexible and yielding
supports. This method is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Figures 1,
2, 6 and 7 on Sheet I, Figures 44, 45 and 46 on Sheet VI, Figures 52, 53 and 54 on
Sheet VII, and Figures 59, 60 and 61 on Sheet VIII.
Figure 1 is a view of the inner face of the door of a safe or vault, showing in
elevation the ordinary multiple bolt work and parts of the well-known Holmes
time-lock; and
Figure 2 is a plan of the same the upper door-bolt being broken away and a
part of the lock case being removed for the purpose of showing more distinctly the
arrangement of the supporting bolts and their spiral springs.
Referring to these figures more in detail, A represents the time lock, B the time
movements of the same, C the lock bolt, D the dial, E the door of the safe or
vault, F the frame or jamb of the door, G G the door bolts, H the carrying or tie
bar, II' the bolt bars, J the abutment for the end of the lock bolt C to bear
against, K a pivoted angle or bell-crank lever, and L the link which connects such
lever with the carrying bar. When the dog or end of the bolt C is interposed
between the abutment J and the head of the angle lever K, the door-bolts are
locked, when the lock bolt is retracted the door bolts G G can be thrown back and
the door opened. This last may happen at the predetermined hour, under the
regular action of the time mechanism, or, as above explained, it may be effected at
exceptional hours by the breaking of some part or parts of the clock work by a
sudden and heavy shock. So also if the fastening bolts of the lock should be
destroyed, allowing the lock to drop out of position, it is manifest that the lock-
bolt could no longer offer any impediment to the door-bolts, which then could
readily be retracted by power applied to the outwardly projecting handle of the
door-spindle.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the destruction of the fastening bolts of the lock
by a sudden and heavy shock (less than what would be required to break down the
door or to set the door-bolts) is prevented, by making the fastening bolts M long
and providing them with stiff spiral springs interposed between the heads of the
bolts and the lock-case, and between the lock-case and the face of the door; the
lock-case n.ay be recessed to receive the springs. These springs protect the fastening
bolts by acting as a cushion and thereby gradually absorbing the force of the shock
which otherwise might strip the threads of the bolts and draw them from their
scats.
The mounting shown in Figures 6 and 7 (Sheet I) involves the game principle.
Here instead of securing the lock directly to the door by long screw-bolts passing
through the lock-case and cushioning the parts with spiral springs, the lock is
attached to a thin elastic metal bar N spanning the space between the bolt bars I I¹
or other suitable supports. As this supporting bar is fixed and the pin which
connects the link L to the tie-bar H passes through it, there must be a slot in this
bar for the pin to work in, to permit the requisite backward and forward
movement of the door-bolts. Such slot is indicated in dotted lines behind the
link L in Figure 6.
In Figures 44, 45 and 46 (Sheet VI) as also in Figures 52, 53 and 54
(Sheet VII), there is illustrated another mode of mounting which involves the
same principle. In this case the lock A is attached to a sheet of india-rubber M,
which in turn is secured to the door of the safe by means of bolts passing through
the ribs or flanges m m. These ribs or flanges serve to raise the body of the sheet
to which the lock is immediately attached away from the face of the door. The

page_text: elastic india-rubber also cushions the bolts, and thus largely relieves them from
shock and consequent injury.
Although the locks shown in the various figures above named are time-locks, it is
obvious that this use of flexible and elastic supports to prevent the unseating of the
lock, by the destruction of its fastening bolts under the force of a sudden and heavy
shock is equally applicable to the various kinds of ordinary combination or dial
locks. It is equally important that locks of this class be so mounted that they
cannot be displaced from their operative relation to the bolts of the doors which
they guard
When the lock to be protected by the use of elastic and flexible supports is an
ordinary combination or dial lock, it is only requisite that the supports should have
sufficient flexibility and elasticity to protect the fastening bolts of the lock from
injury It is not necessary that the relative play of the lock and the door or other
part to which it is attached be such as to prevent one from striking against the
other under tho force of an explosion intended to unseat the lock. The interior
works of a combination lock are generally so strong that there is little danger of
their being broken or displaced by this means, and therefore the main thing to be
guarded against with this class of locks is their being displaced bodily, and this as
above explained, can be prevented by the use of flexible and elastic supports to
cushion the fastening bolts, and thus absorb the breaking force of a shock
transmitted through the walls or door of the safe.
When on the other hand, the lock to be protected is a time-lock, it is not
sufficient simply to protect the fastening bolts and thus hold the lock in place
The lock itself must be protected against a heavy blow from the adjacent door or
wall of the safe, such as might be caused by the sudden driving inward of such
door or wall under the force of an explosion of dynamite against its outer face.
As herein before explained, such a shock communicated to a time lock is calculated
to shatter the clock-work parts of which necessarily are made delicate and fragile.
The present Invention provides various means for preventing the unlocking of the
door of the safe or vault even if the clock of a time-lock mounted upon flexible and
elastic supports to prevent it from being unseated, be broken so as to release the
main spring from the control of the escapement
One means of accomplishing this is to arrange a supplemental guard or checking
device as a part of or in proximity to the lock in such a manner, that it will remain
inactive under ordinary circumstances but will be brought into operation by the
force of an explosion or other shock directed against the exterior of the safe or
vault, if sufficient to break the time movement. This supplemental check may be
so arranged as to act directly upon the train of the clock thereby preventing the
running. down of the main-spring; or so as to act upon the lock-bolt which
would prevent the retraction of such bolt even if the main-spring were to run
down; or it may be made to act directly upon the door-bolts in which case it
would hold these latter locked even though the lock-bolt were to be retracted
immediately upon the occurrence of the shock.
Another mode of accomplishing the same result is to arrange some one of the parts
between the main spring of the clock and the bolt of the lock in such a manner
that upon the occurrence of a shock calculated to break the time movement such
part will be moved out of its normal position sufficiently to interrupt the operative
connection between the main spring and the lock-bolt. This will leave the lock-
bolt in the locking position even though the main-spring should be caused to run
down instantly
I sometimes accomplish the same result by providing the shaft of the time
movement (which parts are the most likely to be injured by the shock of an
explosion) with supplemental bearings, so that if the shaft should be broken at their
journals they will still be held in their normal position relatively to each other
and thus prevent the main-spring from running down at an accelerated speed
Another method of accomplishing the desired result is to attach a centrifugally
acting device to one of the wheels or other revolving part of the clock which device

page_text: ·
will be thrown out of its normal position by centrifugal action in case the part to
which it is attached-attains an unusual speed, and by engaging with a stop or other
device be made to arrest the motion of the clock work or to trip a supplemental
check which will in turn dog the bolt of the lock or the bolts of the safe door.
The use of an auxiliary or supplemental checking device, to prevent the running
down of the main spring of the time movement of a chronometric lock, when the
clock is broken under the circumstances above referred to, is illustrated in Figures 8,
9 and 10 of sheet II of the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 8 is a front elevation of a time lock the door of the case having been
removed
Figure 9 is a plan of a part of the clock-work; and
Figure 10 is an end elevation of certain parts shown in Figure 9
In these figures a is the main wheel of the time mechanism and b is a pinion on
the main arbor which drives the dial D. J is a supplemental locking device, and
is made in the form of a heavy sleeve with a hooked arm, and is mounted loosely
on a pin extending between the two plates d d' which form the frame of the time
movement. The sleeve portion of the block J is shorter than the pin on which it
is mounted, as seen in Figures 9 and 10; and in the normal position of the parts the
spiral spring T presses the block J against the back plate d, which keeps the hook
part of the block J in a vertical plane behind the plane of the main wheel a.
While in this position also the hooked arm of the block J rides on a pin rest e
being held in contact therewith by the spring f A heavy shock directed against
the back of the lock will throw the block J forward compressing the spring T and
carrying the hooked arm of the said block away from its detaining pin e, when it
will at once be drawn towards the main wheel by the spring and caused to
engage with the teeth thereof. This will arrest the revolution of the main wheel
even though all the delicate shaft of the movement be broken, the revolution of
the dial will therefore cease and the lock bolt will remain in its locking position.
Although the lock shown is provided with two time movements the supplemental
locking mechanism is shown as applied to one of them only In practice however,
both of the movements should have the attachment.
The supplemental or auxiliary locking mechanism is illustrated in Figures 11.
12 and 13 on Sheet II and operates on substantially the same principle as that just
described. the secondary checking device in this instance taking into the main
lock bolt instead of into the train between the main spring and such bolt; the
effect however in both cases is to prevent the retraction of the lock-bolt even
though the shafts of the time movement be so injured, as to release the main spring
from the control of the escapement wheel.
Figure 11 is an elevation of the Holmes time lock showing this last named
arrangement of the supplemental guard or check
Figure 12 is a plan of the supplemental check and
Figure 13 shows the same in end elevation.
The supplemental check J as here shown is mounted on a flat pivotted spring T and
in its normal position it rests on a ledge in the back wall of the lock case as shown
in Figure 13. When dislodged from the ledge, it falls into the recess in the lock-
bolt C, and thus effectually prevents the retraction of the latter by the action of the
time mechanism and the dial D. The spring Z serves to hasten the descent of the
block J, and also to hold it securely in engagement with the lock bolt. It will be
seen that the supplemental check J is made in the form of a weight placed at the
end of a spring of considerable length; this makes it sensitive so that it will act
promptly under the required conditions
When a supplemental check is adopted as the form of safety mechanism to
prevent the retraction of the lock bolt in the event of the clock being injured by a
shock it is manifest from what precedes, that, such check may be made and
arranged in various ways. Whatever its precise construction however it should be
arranged in proximity to the lock if not incorporated with it as a part thereof.
If otherwise arranged it might fail to respond to the force of an explosion directed

page_text: against the lock, since the action of dynamite and the other so called quick
explosives as is well known, is intensely local
Another mode of preventing the retraction of the lock bolt when the clock-work..
of a time-lock is injured by a heavy-shock is as hereinbefore indicated in general
terms, to arrange some one of the parts between the main spring and the lock-bolt
in such a manner that the same shock which deranges the clock will interrupt the
continuity of the connection between the said main spring and the lock-bolt. This
is illustrated in one form in Figures 3 to 5 on sheet in which Figure 3 is a plan
of the mechanism involved in a double-clock time lock Figure 4 a transverse
vertical section of the same through the dial arbor and
Figure 5 is a partial front view
In this construction the dial D is the part which is made movable. The main
springs are contained in the drums T T, and the connections between each of these
springs and the dial D which is revolved thereby is by means of the pinions U on
the arbors of the main springs, the spur wheels V the pinions W on the same
shafts as the wheels V, and the intermediate dial-wheel X secured to the same
hub as the dial and turning with it. The pin d projecting from the back of the
dial is the pin which operates the bolt-withdrawing lever Y Figures 3. 4 and 6.
A hollow nut X' secured on the end of the dial arbor, conceals a spiral spring
which serves under ordinary circumstances to hold the dial wheel X in engagement
with the wheels W, but under the influence of a sudden shock the dial will bo
thrown forward, the spring yielding sufficiently to permit the wheels X and W to.
disengage, when the pivotted detent Z which previously had ridden on the periphery
of the wheel X now drops behind it and prevents its return. The dial thereupon
comes to a stand notwithstanding the clock may have been broken and have
thus caused the main spring to attain an unusual speed. The dotted lines in
Figures 3 and 4 indicate the position of the dial D and the dial wheel X when the
latter has been disengaged from the wheels which connect it with the main spring
or springs. U' is the winding post and D' the dial index.
Instead of making the dial and dial wheel movable on their shaft, as above
described any other part between the main spring and the lock bolt may be made
movable in a similar manner and for a similar purpose as illustrated in Figures 14-19
on Sheet III; or the unlocking lever, by means of which in some forms of lock the
dial acts on the lock bolt may be so constructed, as to swing away from the dial
when affected by a sudden shock, as illustrated in Figures 20-22 on sheet III .
Referring to these figures more in detail
Figure 14 represents in plan that part of a Holmes Lock which consists of the
connections between the main spring and the unlocking lever; and
Figure 15 is a side elevation of the same mechanism.
In these Figures J represents the drum which contains the main spring of the
movement. The dial D carries a pin d, which at the proper hour is brought by
the revolution of the dial into contact with the unlocking lever L that controls
the lock bolt. The revolution of the dial is produced by the gear connections
between the main spring arbor M and the spur wheel N on the dial shaft, these
connections, being in this instance the pinion O, the spur wheel P engaging there-
with, and the spur wheel Q engaging with the wheel N. The shaft R which
connects the wheels PQ is made capable of forward longitudinal movement on
its bearings in the plates S S', its normal position being as shown in the drawing,
that is with the wheel Qin engagement with the wheel N and the wheel P with
the pinion O. The shaft R is held in this position against displacement by any
slight force, by means of a spring T bearing against a collar on the said shaft but
any considerable shock directed against the lock from behind will overcome the
resistance of this spring, and send the shaft forward sufficiently to throw the
wheel Qout of engagement with the wheel N, or the wheel P out of engagement
with the pinion O. In either case the dial will be released from the control of the
main spring, and will come to rest even though the same shock should break or
displace some part of the time movement and thereby permit the main spring to

page_text: run down; the connection between the dial and main spring being interrupted,
the running down of the spring will have no effect upon the lock bolt, which will
continue to dog or guard the bolt work of the door. To prevent the possibility of
the shaft R returning to its normal position, and thus restoring the connection
between the main spring and the dial before the spring has entirely run down, a
latch U may be provided, so arranged as to fall in behind a shoulder on the
shaft R immediately with the forward movement of this shaft. Although in the
drawing. (Figures 14 and 15) the disconnecting devices are shown in connection
with only one of the movements, yet in practice the same or some equivalent safety
mechanism should be applied to the other movement. As the trains of wheels of
the time movements proper form no part of this portion of the said invention they
have not been shown in these figures except that with one of the movements the
main wheel has been represented at K'
Figure 16 shows a similar disconnecting device applied to the pinion of one of
the main-spring arbors of another form of time lock (the door of the lock case being
removed).
Figure 17 is a side elevation of the pinion and the parts immediately connected
with it.
Figure 18 is a detached view of the pinion; and
Figure 19 shows the spring which holds the pinion in its normal position.
In these figures M represents the arbor of one of the time movements of the
lock, and the pinion O which fits upon the squared end of this arbor is capable of
sliding lengthwise thereon When in the position shown in Figure 17 it engages
with the teeth of the dial D. This is its normal position, and in which it is held
by the spring T pressing against the collar t on the sleeve which projects from the
side of the pinion. V is a weight attached to the pinion to give it increased
momentum when once put in motion on the line of the arbor M. When now, a
sudden shock is directed against the lock from behind, such as would be calculated
to break or displace parts of the time movement, it will also cause the pinion O
to move forward until it becomes disengaged from the dial D. The revolution of
the dial thereupon ceases and the lock bolt C remains unaffected even though the
main spring runs down instantly. The latch U acted on by a spring u drops in
behind the collar of the pinion as the latter is thrown forward, and thus locks it
against a return. The dial D' in Figure 16 indicates the second time movement
of the lock. In practice this also should have an efficient safety mechanism
connected with it but it has not been considered necessary to show this in the
drawings. The mechanism shown with the dial D might be duplicated for
dial D¹.
Figures 20, 21 and 22 show the same principle (the utilization of the force of a
shock to break the operative connection between the main spring of a time lock
and the lock bolt) applied to the unlocking lever of a Holmes lock.
In this form of lock (see Figures 1 and 11) the dial operates to withdraw the
lock bolt from the locking position by means of a bell crank lever. This lever
when modified as shown in Figures 20-22 is to be mounted so that its lower arm
will come in front of the dial (as shown in Figure 11) instead of behind it as shown
in Figures 1 and 14, the pin à will in this case project from the face of the dial
rather than from its back. In Figure 20 this lever as modified is shown in elevation
while Figures 21 and 22 are two plan views showing the lever in the two positions
which it assumes respectively before and after it is affected by the force of a heavy
shock. As here shown the lower arm of the lever is jointed at W leaving the
part marked L' free to turn upon the hinge except as restrained by the
spring x. y is a latch the end of which in the normal position of the parts rests
upon the top of the part L'; but whenever the part L' is thrown forward this latch
will drop down behind it and rest upon the part L and thus lock it out of the
path of the pin d on the dial. In such case, again, the lock bolt would not be
withdrawn even though the shock should have deranged the time movement to the

page_text: extent of letting the main spring run down entirely. The end of the part L' is
enlarged to enable it to attain sufficient momentum to ensure certainty of action.
It is obvious that the same principle of construction might be applied to the
unlocking pin & of the dial. By mounting this pin loosely in the dial it would be
projected forward by a heavy shock and thus carried out of range of the unlocking
lever which would permit the dial to revolve freely without affecting this lever.
It would be possible also with some forms of existing locks to make the lock bolt
thus movable, so as to detach it from the unlocking lever that ordinarily controls
it, without disturbing its relation to the bolt work; or the body of the lock might
be so mounted as to be capable of being moved away from its connection with the
lock bolt. In all these constructions as well as in those illustrated in the drawings
the essential thing is to so adjust some one or more of the elements that make up
the connections between the main spring and the lock bolt or dog that such
element will yield sufficiently under the force of a shock that would damage the
time movement, to break the continuity of such connections.
11 will readily be understood that the part or parts which are required by this
branch of the invention to have a yielding connection with the lock or door or
other part of the safe may be secured to their supports by such slight means as to
be thrown by the shock entirely off from the lock or door. In such case the
continuity of the connection between the lock bolt and the main spring will be as
effectually interrupted as in any of the constructions shown in the drawings.
Another form of safety mechanism for preventing the premature retraction of
the lock bolt when the clockwork of the lock has been broken by a shock is
illustrated in Figures 24-28 on Sheets III and IV and it consists in providing
the shafts of the clock with secondary bearings or supports so arranged that if the
shafts are broken (which will most likely occur at the shoulders close to the
primary bearings) they will be caught by the auxiliary bearings and thus
prevented from falling out of place. It follows that if the clock is not otherwise
injured the continuity of the train will not be interrupted and therefore the main
spring cannot run down prematurely. Referring in detail to the last named
Figures.
Figure 24 is a front elevation of a portion of a time lock and shows the
arrangement of the train of one of the time movements the front plate of the
clock frame being broken away for the better exhibition of the parts.
Figure 25 is an end elevation of the same (the dial being omitted).
Figure 26 is a vertical section on the line x-x of Figure 24 looking from the
direction of the dial.
Figures 27 and 28 are detailed views showing modifications.
In these Figures N represents the main wheel of the train, N' the first wheel,
N2 the second wheel; and N³ the third wheel of the train, while O represents the
escape wheel, P the pallet, and Q the balance wheel. In order to prevent the dis-
placement of the shaft of the first, the second, or the third wheel, or that of the
escapement wheel; or the pallet, in case their slender and fragile ends should become
broken, each of these shafts, as shown on an enlarged scule in Figure 26, is provided
with secondary or supplemental bearings T T. One of these bearings (on the shaft
of the third wheel N³ in Figure 26) is shown in section. As here shown this
supplemental bearing is in the forin of a flat ring T attached to the inner face of
the frame in which the shaft has its primary bearing, and is arranged concentric
with such primary bearing. The aperture in the ring, into which the end of the
thick part of the shaft enters, is slightly larger than such portion of the shaft, so
that the said shaft as long as it remains unbroken can turn freely therein without
contact and so without friction. If however the small end of the shaft should be
broken and the shaft thereby be released from its main bearing, it will at once
be caught by the secondary bearing without a disengagement of the train taking
place As shown in the drawings, the secondary bearing is not used with the
balance-wheel shaft. It is not necessary thus to protect this part of the movement,
for if this shaft should be broken, it would not cause the movement to run down

page_text: but would simply cause it to stop. Small collars may be used on the shafts of the
time movement, as shown at U U in Figure 26. These collars will serve to protect
against a longitudinal displacement of the shaft such as might be specially liable
to occur under a heavy shock, if the primary bearings of the shafts were in jewels
as at V. Instead of using collars for this purpose other forms of stops, such as pins
variously arranged, might be used. So also the body of the shaft might be
enlarged sufficiently to perinit a shoulder to be forined on it close to, but not
touching the ring T; or a small plate or other stop might be arranged on the
outside of the frame and opposite the end of the shaft. Instead of making the
secondary bearing by means of a flat ring or perforated plate affixed to the inner
face of the frame of the time movement, as shown in Figuro 26 this frame may be
recessed on its inner face as shown at W in Figure 27 such recess being made of
slightly larger diameter than that of the thick part of the shaft entering it.
Instead of using a flat ring affixed to the frame as the secondary bearing, it may
be made in the form of a broad collar affixed to the shaft in close proximity to the
face of the frame, as shown at X in Figure 28. With this construction, if the
.small end of the shaft becomes broken, the tendency of the said shaft to fall will
at once bring the collar X to a bearing against the frame, and thus arrest the
movement before its parts can become disengaged. Such collar also would act to
prevent longitudinal displacement of the shaft in the manner above explained.
Still another form of safety mechanism well adapted to prevent the premature
retraction of the lock bolt when the clock work has been injured by an explosion
or other heavy shock is shown in Figures 24, 25 and 29 to 32 on Sheet IV, and it
consists in the use of a centrifugally acting device, pivoted or otherwise movably
secured to one of the revolving parts of the clock, in such a manner, that if such
revolving part acquires an abnormal speed, the centrifugal device will be thrown
out against a stop and thus arrest the movement of the clock, or trip a detent and
thereby bring into action some supplemental check which in turn will act upon
the clockwork or engage with the lock bolt. As shown in Figures 24 and 25 this
centrifugal device is in the form of a pawl Sadapted to engage with a fixed ratchet
wheel T secured to the inner face of the clock frame. A spring & pressing upon
this pawl keeps it out of engagement with the ratchet under all normal rates of
speed. As liere shown the pawl is pivoted upon a disc R which is mounted upon
the shaft of the third wheel. The further the device is removed from the main wheel
the more sensitive will be its action. In Figures 29 and 30 (which are respectively a
front elevation and a side view) the centrifugal device S', which for greater certainty
of action is duplicated, is made in the form of a hook pivoted to the revolving disc R,
the said hook being adapted when thrown outward by the centrifugal force gene-
rated by any undue speed, to engage with a fixed stop T' attached to the inner face
of the clock frame B. A partial concentric guide or guard V arranged beneath the
disc R prevents the hooks from dropping by the force of gravity, outside the periphery
of the disc. As shown in Figures 31 and 32, the centrifugal device (here also
duplicated for greater security) is in the form of a pin S arranged radially in a
recess of the disc R. A guard V may be used in connection with these pins, as in
Figure 29 in connection with the hooks S'. When the disc R (Figure 31) attains
an abnormal speed one at least of the pins will be projected from its socket and
strike tho fixed stop T and thus arrest the clock. The spiral spring in the socket
keeps the pin from being thrown entirely out.
Instead of the centrifugal device being made to act upon a fixed stop, it may be
made to trip a detent and thus bring into action some supplemental mechanism for
dogging the main bolt of the lock. Such an arrangement of mechanisin is shown
in Figures 33 and 34 on Sheet IV, which are respectively front and side views of
the mechanisın. In this case the construction is such that any unusual acceleration
of the clock work, such as would result from breaking the shaft of the pallet or of
the escapement wheel, will trip a detent, and thus release a secondary bolt or dog,
which will then be thrown by the force of a spring into a recess in the main lock
bolt, and lock it against the possibility of its being withdrawn by the running

page_text: down of the clock. W represents such supplemental bolt or check moving in
suitable ways or guides on the lock frame and pivoted to the drum: X, within which
is placed a strong spring, so arranged that when unrestrained it will revolve the
drum, and throw the bolt W up into the recess in the underside of the lock bolt C.
By turning the drum X by hand until the lug a rests on the upper end of the
pivoted lever Y the bolt W will be brought into the position shown in Figure 33,
the spring in the drum X being at the same time brought under tension. The
lower end of the lever Y when the lever and drum are thus set, is brought within
the grasp of the hook S¹ whenever, by the undue acceleration of the part to which
it is attached, this hook is thrown out beyond the periphery of such part. When
now this hook does engage with the lower end of the detent lever Y, the drum X
is tripped and immediately the dog W is forced into engagement with the lock-
bolt. The revolving piece R here shown is to be mounted on the shaft of one of
the wheels of the clock train, as before fully explained. It is obvious that by the
same means the door-bolts of the safe can be dogged directly by a supplemental
bolt operated on the principle above explained, or the supplemental bolt might be
projected into the path of the main wheel and thus arrest its movement, or into
Bone part of the gear connections between the main wheel and the dial. So also
the supplemental bolt, instead of being moved by some supplemental force, might
be moved into any one of the positions above indicated by the direct action of the
time movement operating through the centrifugal device. In whatever form the
centrifugal device be constructed or howsoever it be caused to act, the shafts of the
time movement between the main wheel and the centrifugal device, should be
provided with supplemental bearings, in the manner herein before described in
order to keep the train of wheels in engagement so that the part carrying the
centrifugal device may attain sufficient spoed to cause such device to operate.
By providing the lock with one or more of the above forms of safety mechanisın,
thereby preventing the retraction of the lock bolt when a shock occurs which breaks
the more frangible parts of the lock, the door bolts will still be dogged, provided
the fastenings of the lock itself have not given way, or, in case these have been
destroyed, if, as hereinafter provided for, the lock be still held by supplemental
supports in operative relation to the door bolts. When flexible and clastic supports
are used for the lock, the connections between the lock and the carrying-bar should'
be made somewhat loose and flexible to compensate for the to and fro movement
of the lock It is for this purpose that the pin which connects the link L with the
carrying-bar H is slightly elongated as seen in Figures 2 and 7. The amount of
play thus required will be small, however, as compared with that required when
flexible supports alone are relied upon (as hereinafter explained in connection with
Figures 52-58 on sheets VII and VIII) to protect the lock from injury by the use
of quick explosives. In the present case the spiral springs of Figure 2, or the
flexible bar of Figures 6 and 7, may be made very stiff comparatively and still
possess all the required utility of, keeping the lock from being torn off by the force
of a shock acting against the outside of the door.
When a time lock is mounted upon flexible and elastic supports the above
described forms of safety mechanism for preventing the premature retraction of the
lock bolt may be dispensed with, provided a sufficient space be left between the
lock and the adjacent portions of the safe or vault, to prevent concussion between
them under the force of an explosion or other shock directed against the exterior
of the structure for the purpose of damaging the lock and thus destroying its
control over the bolt work.
Such construction is illustrated in Figures 52 to 58 on Sheets VII and.VIII, in
which.
Figure 52 is a front view of the inner face of a safe door showing the ordinary
bolt work and a Holmes time lock in elevation.
Figure 53 is a plan of the parts shown in Figure 52, the upper door bolt for
greater distinctuess being broken away.

page_text: Figure 54 is an end elevation of the lock and the india rubber support the door
being in section; and.
-
Figuro 55 is a side clevation of the connections between the lock bolt and the
door bolts the link L being shown in section only.
Referring to these figures more in detail A represents the time lock, B the time
movement (not necessary here to be shown in detail) C the lock bolt D the dial,
E the door of the safe G G the door bolts H the carrying or tie-bar, and I I' the
bolt bars. J is a stud projecting from the face of the door and serving as an
abutment for the end of the lock-bolt C. K is an angle or bell-crank-lever pivoted
to the safe door at k and L is the link that connects the lower end of this lever to
the carrying bar H. When the dog or end of the lock bolt C is interposed between
the abutment J and the head of the angle lever K, the door bolts GG are
locked; when the lock bolt is retracted or otherwise removed from between the
stud and the angle lever, the door bolts can be thrown back and the door
opened.
The lock as shown in Figures 52 to 58 is secured to the door as follows:-that is
to say It is first bolted to a sheet of indiarubber M and this sheet of india
rubber is then bolted directly to the door; for this purpose it is provided on its
back with two flanges or ribs m m which serve the double purpose of strengthening
the india-rubber where the screw-bolts pass through it, and of raising the body of
the sheet and thus lifting the lock away from the door. With a time lock mounted
in this manner, if sufficient space be left between the lock and the door or other
adjacent portion of the safe, a very heavy and sudden shock may be brought against
the exterior of the structure in the locality of the lock without producing any
Diaterial injury to the time movement. By reason of the yielding or flexible
connection between the lock and the door the vibration imparted to the solid mass
of the door by such shock is not transmitted to the lock except in a slight degree,
and not enough to break or displace any of the parts of the lock which would
immediately happen were the lock so near the door that it would be brought into
contact therewith by the force of the explosion or other shock.
The travel which a lock mounted as above described will have relatively to the
safe door, or rather which the door will have relatively to the lock, in case of a
heavy shock communicating vibration to the door renders it necessary, when the
construction of the lock is such that the lock bolt partakes of the vibration of the
lock case to provide some kind of compensating mechanism to preserve the
continuity of the connection between the lock bolt and the bolt work of the safe.
One construction adapted to this end consists of an extension or elongation of tho
bearings between the lock bolt and the tongue-piece, jaw or other device that
constitutes the connection between such bolt and the door bolts. Such construction
will prevent the lock bolt being moved by the force of the shock out of alignment
with the tongue-piece or other connecting device, which if permitted would at once
release the door bolts from the control of the dog. Such extension of the bearing
surfaces is shewn in Figures. 53 and 55 in which the stud J and the head of the
angle lever K between which the end of the lock bolt C rests when in the locking
position, are made much longer than the thickness of the bolt C. This allows
these parts to play freely to and fro within the required limits without the
lever K being carried away from contact with the bolt Ċ and thereby permitting
the door bolts to be retracted. It is manifest that the same result could be obtained
by widening the dog or end of the lock bolt itself leaving the adjacent parts of
their normal dimensions.
In order to prevent the stud J and the angle lover K from being torn away from
their fastenings by the force of a shock brought against the exterior of the safe
they may be provided with spiral springs interposed between then and the heads
of the bolts that secure them in place. These spiral springs will hold the parts in
their proper place under ordinary circumstances and yet will serve as cushions to
break the force of a sudden shock that otherwise would break the fastening bolts

page_text: and tear the parts away. Such springs might be contained in recesses formed in
the stud and the angle lever.
Instead of providing extended or elongated bearings between the parts which
are flexibly mounted and those which are rigidly attached to the door or wall of
the safe or vault, in the manner and for the purpose above set-forth, the same
result may be accomplished by providing a flexible or yielding connection between
the parts Such construction is illustrated in the drawings in which Figure 56
shows a section of a Holmes time lock thus mounted on the inner face of the door
of a safe Figure 57 a plan below the line of Figure 56 the upper door bolt
being broken away and Figure 58 is a detail view of the link Land its connection
with the carrying bar H and the angle lever K. In this construction it will be
seen that the abutment J instead of being attached directly to the safe door as in
Figures 52 to 55 is attached to an extension V of the back plate of the lock case,
so as to move with the lock; it will also be seen that this stud, as also the head of
the anglo-lever K is not thicker than the lock-bolt. C. The link L is slotted at its
two ends as shewn in Figure 58 and as shewn in Figure 57 is connected with the
angle lever K and the tie-bar H by the screw headed bolts l. 1. The slots in the
link give the connection all the necessary flexibility and the spiral springs arranged
upon the bolts l. I in front of and behind the link and the springs placed in recesses
in the ends of the slots of the link operate at all times to keep the link in proper
position relatively to the other parts. Instead of using a link with slots the link
inight be connected to the tie-bar and to the angle-lever by means of ball and
socket joints, or by any other convenient form of universal joint
From the foregoing it will be understood that the use of a raised india-rubber
sheet to support the time lock can be relied on as efficient to protect the clock
work of the lock, only when the space between the lock and the adjacent door or
wall of the safe or vault is such as to prevent concussion between them under the
forco of an explosion or other heavy shock directed against the exterior of the
structure. In other words practically this mode of mounting isolates the lock from
the inner walls of the safe; and it is manifest that a similar result can be attained
in other ways than by the use of the flexible india-rubber sheet. For instance
when the lock is secured to the door by means of bolts passing through the lock
case and directly into the door, spiral springs may be interposed between the case
and the door, and between the case and the heads of the bolts the said bolts, being
sufficiently elongated to receive the springs and give the required space behind the
lock. So also the lock might be mounted upon a rigid standard rising from the
floor of the safe. or vault, and placed at an operative distance behind the door or
other part of the walls of the structure, or, where the structure has an inner door
the lock might be mounted on the face of such inner door. So also the lock might
be suspended at the proper distance behind the door or other portion of the wall
of the structure, by means of straps attached to the top or roof thereof. When the
lock is supported in any of the ways last mentioned if the lock bo of the type of
the Holmes lock as shown in Figures 52-54 the abutinent J and angle lever K
between which the lock bolt C acts, are to be attached to the door which the lock
is used to guard.
When the case of a time lock is secured in operative relation to the door bolts
of the safe or vault, by means of other than, flexible and elastic supports, (as by
the use of ordinary fastening bolts supplemented by secondary supports as herein-
after described) the clock work can be protected from injury of the character above
described, by mounting the time movement upon flexible supports, whereby it is
permitted to move to and fro relatively to the case under the force of a sudden
shock, without striking the case When so mounted the extended bearings, if
the construction be such as to require them, must be between the time movement
and the parts of the lock which are rigidly mounted. In like manner the lock bolt
might be arranged to move in ways or guides formed on or rigidly attached to
the door or wall of the sale, and all the other parts of the lock be flexibly mounted,

page_text: in which case the extended bearings, if required would be formed between the
lock bolt and such other parts
If when the time mechanism is mounted on a flexible or yielding support .or
supports, with a sufficient space left between the parts thus flexibly mounted and
the adjacent parts of the safe or vault, or the rigidly mounted parts of the lock to
prevent concussion and consequent injury to the clock work, under the force of an
explosion or other shock directed against the exterior of the structure for the
purpose of damaging the lock and thus destroying its control over the door bolts,
the lock bolt or dogging device normally is held in the locking position by means
outside the flexible support to which the time mechanism is attached, it may not
be necessary to enlarge the bearings between the time movement and the lock bolt.
Such construction is illustrated in Figures 59 60 and 61 on Sheet VIII of the
accompanying drawings in which
Figure 59 is a view of certain parts of a Holmes lock modified as herein
stated
Figure 60 is a plan view of the lock and its connections, the upper door bolt and
a part of the lock case being broken away; and
Figure 61 shows in elevation another modification of the lock involving the same
principle
In these figures A is the case of the lock, and B the time mechanism, this form
of lock usually having two clocks acting on a common dial D. The clock-work is
not fully shown, as its construction is too well understood to render this necessary.
C is the lock bolt or dog, E the safe door, F the door framo, G G the door bolts,
H the carrying or tie-bar, I I the bolt bars and O a stud serving as an abutment to
the bolt C. In this mechanism the time movements are mounted on long screw
bolts carrying spiral springs, in front of and behind the ears through which the
bolts pass In locking the door with the mechanism shown in Figures 59 and 60
the lower end of the bolt C comes in between the tongue picce N. attached to the
tie-bar and the fixed stud O upon the door, and it is held in this position by the
detent bar P a projection a on this bar taking in under a pin b on the bolt C. This
detent is withdrawn at the predetermined hour by the finger Q projecting from
the rim of the dial D whereupon the bolt C falls by the force of gravity and the
door is unlocked. The violent vibration of the flexibly and rigidly mounted parts
of this lock relatively to each other under the force of a sudden and heavy shock,
may temporarily carry the bar P past the vertical plane of the dial, but the recoil
will bring the parts back to substantially their normal relative position so that the
clocks being protected from injury by the flexible mounting will act upon the
detent bar P to withdraw it at the required hour.
It will be understood that with this construction the lock case must be effectively
secured in position, so as not to be thrown out of operative relation with the door
bolts. If otherwise its displacement would unlock the door. Making the case and
the bolt C and bar P as thin and light as may be consistent with the requisite
strength will contribute to the security of attachment, since the lighter the parts
are, the less the momentum that they will acquire under a given shock, and the
less liable to be torn away from their fastenings.
In Figure 61 again, the clock mechanism only is understood to be on flexible
supports, the locking bolt or dog C as in Figures 59 and 60 being mounted in the
lock case.
In this instance different from the lock in those figures, the bolt C
moves into the locking position by the force of gravity and is withdrawn by the
positive action upon it of the dial. Otherwise the construction and operation of
the mechanism is substantially the same as that shown in Figures 59 and 60. In
the construction here shown the lock bult C is held in the locking position by
means of the screws c c which secure it to the lock case, these screws being so
placed as to arrest the downward movement of the bolt before its dogging end has
passed the tongue piece N.
It will be observed that in this construction again, the temporary interruption of

page_text: the operative relation between the lock bolt and the clock-work does not
endanger the security of the safe or vault since the lock bolt is not only placed
outside the flexibly mounted parts of the lock but is held in locking position by
devices which also are placed outside such parts.
As above explained in relation to those cases where the time movements only are
mounted on flexible supports elongated bearings between the parts flexibly mounted
and those rigidly mounted may be dispensed with when the entire lock is flexibly
mounted, provided the lock bolt or dogging device be attached to the door or wall
of the safe and not to the lock, and provided the bolt be held in the locking position
by means outside the flexible support or supports of the lock.
Another mode of preventing a lock from being thrown out of operative relation
with the door bolts of the safe or other similar structure in which it is used by a
sudden and heavy shock directed against the exterior of the structure is as herein-
before briefly indicated by the use of a supplemental support or supports in addition
to the ordinary main fastenings. Such supplemental supports may be variously
constructed and arranged but however made they should be so arranged that if the
main fastenings give way the secondary supports will take the weight of the lock
and hold it in such position that its bolt will continue to dog or obstruct the bolt
work. If the lock be a time lock it should also be provided with some form of
safety mechanism (various forms have been hereinbefore described) whereby the
retraction of the lock bolt will be prevented, even though the clock-work of the
lock be broken.
One form of such supplemental supports is illustrated in perspective in
Figure 23 on Sheet III of the accompanying drawings. As here shown the lock iş
mounted on the outer door of the safe and the supplemental support is on the
nner door. This support consists in part of a shelf M bolted to the inner door at a
height slightly lower than the bottom of the lock, and extending forward under the
lock when the door is closed N N' are two end abutments to prevent lateral move-
ment of the lock and O is an upper abutment designed to prevent the lock from
being lifted upward. P. P. are stiff springs arranged to press against the face of
the lock, and press it against the door in opposition to its tendency to be thrown
inward away from the door by the force which breaks the fastening bolts. Theso
springs would be unnecessary if the space between the two doors were but a trifle
in excess of the thickness of the lock. The special function of the rear lateral
abutment N and of the top abutment O, is to prevent the lock from being forced
out of place by pressure brought against it from the outside through the medium
of the door spindle, after its fastening bolts may have been destroyed. A lock
constructed like the Holmes lock shown in Figure 23 would require both of these
abutments, but in using locks in which a back ward pressure on the carrying bar
would not tend to lift the lock, the top abutment would ordinarily not be
necessary. On small safes, however, the top abutment as well as the two lateral
ones should be used, as it will prevent the lock from being displaced by the
overturning of the safe.
Various other forms of supplemental or secondary supports may be used. Thus,
in addition to the ordinary fastening bolts now in use, a second set of longer bolts
with cushioning springs between the lock case and the heads of the bolts might be
used, so that if at any time the primary bolts should be shattered by a shock, the
springs would save the secondary bolts, which would then take the weight of the
lock and hold it in place for effective work
When a supplemental check or dog is arranged as a part of or in connection with
n time lock, in such way as to be brought into operation to prevent the unlocking
of the door, upon the occurrence of an explosion or other sudden and heavy shock
directed against the exterior of the structure protected, such supplemental check, a
herein before explained may be arranged to act directly upon the door bolts of the
safe, as well as, as previously described, upon either the clock train or the lock
bolt. During the normal operation of the parts, this supplemental check or guard
s held out of action, by any suitable latch or detaining device the details of which

page_text: may depend largely upon the constructor. Such detent may be so arranged, as to
be capable of yielding under the force of a sudden shock such as is calculated to
derange the time movement of the lock and of thereby permitting the supplemental
boit or checking device to be moved into the path of the door bolts or instead of
this the supplemental checking device may be simply placed upon a shelf or lerigo,
from which it can be thrown by the force of the explosion, and thence descend by
suitable ways or guides to the point where it is to act to prevent the retraction of
the door bolts. So also it may be held in its normal position by the force of a
magnet from which it is to be discharged by a sudden shock; or it may be sustained
in its normal position by any frangible support capable of being broken by a shock
that would also cripple the time movement.
In Figures 35 to 43 of the drawings there are shown several arrangements of
supplemental lucking mechanism adapted for use in connection with a time lock
for the purpose above indicated. Corresponding parts in the several figures are
designated by the same letters. A represents the time lock. B the time mechanism
of the same, C the lock bolt, and DD the revolving dials that are driven by the
main spring of the time movement, and act to withdraw or permit the withdrawal
of the lock bolt from the locking position. E is the safe door F the door frame,
GG the ordinary train bolts united by the carrying or tio bar H and moving in
the bolt bars I I. J is the supplemental bolt or dog to which the invention
particularly relates.
Referring to the drawings more in detail Figure 35 (Sheet V) shows the
supplemental bolt J as having the form of a solid block of soft iron or equivalent
metal, held in its normal position by a magnet K. A case L provided with
suitable ways or guides and affixed to the door of the anfe, guides this block in its
descent. When detached from the magnet by any sudden shock it falls in front of
the stud or tongue-piece M attached to the tie bar H and thus serves effectually
to block the bolt-work, even if, as above explained, the same shock should greatly
accelerate the movement of the dials D D and thereby withdraw the dog or lock
bolt C of the time lock from its position in front of the stud M' before the proper
time therefor arrives. N is a slotted pendulum attached to the case L and
designed to prevent the block J from returning to its former position if the safe
should be turned bottom side up; in such case the bob of the pendulum would
cause it to swing on its pivot and thus engage with a pin O projecting from the
face of the block. A similar pendulum detent may if desired be used in connection
with the various forms of supplement locking device shown in the other figures.
Figure 36 is a central vertical section of the supplemental locking mechanism
shown in Figure 35 and Figure 37 is a horizontal section of the case L of the
same, showing in plan the pendulum and the end of the stud M.
Figures 38 and 39 show in elevation and central vertical section respectively
another mode of operating the supplemental checking device J in direct connection
with a stud affixed to the bolt work. In this case the block J is held in its normal
position by means of a pin P affixed to a hinged and jointed arm Q the lower
member of which 9 extends down in front of the door of the time lock Any shock
brought to bear against the back of the lock, sufficiently strong to throw open the
door of the lock ense, will inevitably swing the arm Q on its hinge in opposition to
the resistance of the spring R and thus withdraw the pin P from beneath the
block J, permitting the latter to drop in its ways or guides into place in front of
the stud M. The return of the arm Q under the recoil of the spring R after the
escape of the lock door from under the lower end of the arm Q, will bring the
pin P into place above the block J and thus this pin will serve as a stop to
prevent the block from being removed from the stud M by overturning the safe.
By making the arm Q jointed, its lower member, whenever it is desired may be
turned up as shown in dotted lines in Figure 38 so as to permit the door of the
lock to be opened without interfering with the supplemental locking mechanism.
It is assumed that with this form of construction any shock sufficient to break the

page_text: parts of the time movement will also be sufficient to throw open the door of the
time lock To this end the door of the lock should be fastened but slightly.
Figures 40 and 42 show in elevation two other forins of construction in each of
which the supplemental lock operates directly upon the tongue-piece of the bolt-
work; Figure 41 being a horizontal section of the mechanism shown in Figure 40;
and Figure 43 being a plan of that shown in Figure 42
In Figure 40 the block J is shown as held up in its normal position by means of
two pins attached to a supplemental block V which is pressed against the case L
by the spiral spring T as shown in horizontal section in Figure 41 In this case a
heavy shock acting upon the mechanisin from behind will force the block V
inward compressing the spring and withdrawing the pins from beneath the block J,
this latter thereupon falls in front of the stud M, and thus locks the bolt work of
the door. The recoil of the spring will return the block V to its former position.
and this will force the pins back and above the block J and thus prevent the
latter from being removed from the stud M by overturning the safe The block V.
should be of some heavy material and is used to secure a momentum which
perhaps could not be acquired by the pins alone if they were attached directly to
the spring T.
In Figures 42 and 43 the block J is held up in its normal position by means
of a flat spring T which takes under a hook on the block J. To secure sufficient
momentum to ensure the requisite inward movement of this spring when subjected.
to the influence of a shock acting from behind, the end of the spring may be
weighted, as shown at W. The shock throws this heavy end forward which lets
the log J drop, while the recoil of the spring will bring the end W above the hook
on J, and thus prevent the block J from being removed from the stud M in case
the safe should be turned bottom up.
In the several forms of the invention above described, the supplemental locking
device J is shown as acting upon a stud attached directly to the bolt work of the
safe door instead of as shown in Figures 8-13 on Sheet II, taking into the clock
train or into the lock bolt. When the supplemental device is arranged to act
directly upon the door-bolts, it will be effective to prevent the unlocking of thes
door even though the main lock be entirely removed by the shock that brings the.
supplemental check into action. It is useful also when the lock is mounted upon
flexible supports since as before explained the clock work is liable even then to be.
broken; if it should become broken a supplemental check taking against the door
bolts would be if anything a more reliable secondary lock than such check-
arranged to take into the bolt of the main lock. Whatever may be the precise
construction chosen for the supplemental locking mechanism the bolt or dog of
the same or at any rate the spring detent or other equivalent part of such
mechanism should be placed in proximity to the time lock. The action of the
quick explosives which burglars would be likely to use to cripple a time lock,.
by transmitting a shock through the walls of the safe, is so intensely local, by
reason in large part of its suddenness that if both the dog and the dog detent:
of such supplemental nechanism were too far removed from the time lock the;
mechanism would fail to respond to an effective explosion directed againt the
lattor. It is also to be observed that the further the supplemental mechanisın.
is placed from the time lock the more delicate its adjustment must be made,..
and thus the greater will be the liability of its being brought into action
accidentally.
It will readily be understood that this use of a supplemental guard or check
does not depend upon the special construction of the time lock, and is as applicable:
to one form as to another. For this reason the details of the mechanism composing:
the main locks shown in figures 35-43 are not illustrated in full. Instead of
making one of the parts between the mainspring and the bolt of the lock, movable
under the force of an explosion so as to interrupt the operative connection between
these parts, the connection between the door bolts and the spindle by means of
which these bolts are retracted may be constructed on the same principle so that:

page_text: the same shock which is directed against the exterior of the safe for the purpose
of destroying the lock, will produce a disconnection between the door spindle
and the door bolts, and thus leave the latter in the locking position even though
the lock be destroyed. This mode of protection manifestly is serviceable in con-
nection with non-time locks as well as with time locks. It is illustrated in Figures
48 to 51 on Sheet VII of the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 48 is a front view of the inner face of the door of a safe furnished with
the ordinary multiple bolt work and a lock, the particular lock hero illustrated
being the well known Holmes time lock.
Figure 49 is a side sectional view of the same on the line x x of figure 48.
Figure 50 is a detached view of the carrying bar and
Figure 51 is a separate view of the detaching device shown in Figures 48
and 49.
Referring to these figures more in detail A represents the lock C the lock bolt
E the door of the safe F the door frame G G the door bolts H the carrying or
tie-bar I, I' the bolt bars.J a stud which serves as an abutment for the ends of the
lock bolt C, K a pivoted angle or bell-crank-lever and La link connecting this
angle lever to the tie-bar H. When the end of the lock bolt or dog is interposed
between the abutment J and the head of the angle lever K, the holt work is
locked; when the lock bolt is retracted the door bolts G G can be thrown back
and the door opened. This is effected by means of a handle (not shown in the
drawing) on the outer end of the spindle M which passes through the door. To
the inner end of this spindle there is secured a forked or slotted arm N which
engages with the pin O projecting inwardly towards the door from the tie-bar H,
and by this means the bolts can be thrown to the right or left according to the
direction in which the spindle is rotated. Instead of securing the connecting
pin O to the tie-bar H as has hitherto been the practice, it is secured to a heavy
block of metal P, the connecting pin passing through the tie bar towards the door.
This block P has another pin which also passes through the tie-bar and is
provided with a button on its end. A spring R placed between the tie-bar and
this button operates to hold the block against the face of the tie-bar under normal
conditions. When however the part of the door in the vicinity of this block is
subjected to a sudden and heavy shock as from the use of some quick explosive
against the outer face of the safe opposite the lock, the block will be thrown
violently forward, the spring R yielding sufficiently to permit the pin O to be
withdrawn from tbe fork or slot of the spindle arm N as indicated by the
dotted lines in Figure 49. A latch S dropping behind the block P will prevent
its return.
It is obvious that when the pin O has been withdrawn from the spindle arm,.
the door bolts are wholly disconnected from the spindle, so that the turning of
the latter will be ineffectual to withdraw the door bolts from the jamb of the
door notwithstanding that the explosion may have unseated the lock or broken
its time mechanism, if it be a time lock, and thereby destroyed its control over
the bolts.
The important function of the block P in this disconnecting mechanism is to
weight the pin O this weight should be sufficient to give the pin such momentum
when subjected to the force of a shock calculated to endanger the lock, as to ensure
the withdrawal of the pin from the spindle arm. It will readily be understood
that the mere form of the disconnecting mechanism may be widely changed
without. departing from the principle of this invention as also the form of the
Intch for preventing the return of the pin to its normal position. The essential
feature of this branch of the invention is that the operative connection between
the spindle and the door bolts whatever the special form or construction of the
devices may be is such that it will be interrupted by the force of a shock of
sufficient intensity to endanger the lock. To this end it is obvious that the
disconnecting devices should be placed in proximity to the lock, otherwise, if the
safe were attacked with any of the quick explosives it might happen by reason

page_text: of the intensely local action of these explosives that the lock would be destroyed
without affecting the disconnecting devices.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim the herein before described improvements in and relating to locking
mechanism for safes, vaults, and other structures and means for securing and
protecting the same that is to say :-
FirstThe herein before described method of mounting locks and the auxiliary
parts of locking mechanism, which method consists in combining springs or other
yielding and elastic connections with the fastening bolts that secure the locks and
associated devices to the safe, vault, or other structure in which they are used, to
relieve such bolts from the force of a sudden and heavy shock transmitted through
the adjacent wall of the structure.
Second-In combination with a time-lock, a flexible or a supplemental support
or supports therefor, to prevent it from being thrown out of operative relation to
the door-bolts of the safe, vault, or other structure in which it is used, by the force
of an explosion or other sudden and heavy shock directed against the exterior of
such structure, and devices operating substantially as described to prevent the
retraction of the lock-bolt in the event of the clock-work being broken.
Third-The combination of a time-lock and supplemental locking mechanism
consisting of a dog or check and means for holding the same out of action during
the normal operation of the time-lock, some portion of this supplemental locking
mechanism being arranged in proximity to, or as a part of, the main lock, so that the
supplemental dog or check may be brought into action to prevent the retraction of
the lock-bolt, or of the door-bolts, of the safe, vault, or other structure in which the
lock is used, on the occurrence of a shock capable of breaking or displacing the parts
of such lock.
Fourth-The combination, in a time-lock, of the lock-bolt or dog, the main
spring of the time-movement, and mechanism connecting the said main-spring with
the bolt, some part of this mechanism being so constructed or mounted as to be
capable of yielding under the force of a sudden and heavy shock, and thereby
interrupting the operative continuity of the parts, substantially as, and for the
purpose, described.
Fifth-In combination with the time-mechanism of a chronometric lock, a
device connected with one of the wheels or other revolving parts thereof and
arranged to be moved from its normal position by the centrifugal force generated
by the revolution of such part, whenever the speed of the time-mechanism is
abnormally accelerated, substantially as described.
Sixth The improved method of mounting time-locks, or the time-mechanism
of such locks, which method consists in the use of a support or supports, so
constructed and arranged that the lock, or the time-movement thereof, is held at
such distance from the adjacent door or wall of the safe, vault, or other structure
in which the lock is used, as thereby to be protected from concussion and
consequent injury, under the force of an explosion or other sudden and heavy
shock directed against the exterior of the structure, of a character to break the
clock-work of the lock if secured rigidly upon the door or wall of the structure to
be guarded.
Seventh-The above described method of mounting locks, which method
consists in the use of two sets of fastening devices or supports, the one set being
the primary or main fastenings and arranged to support the lock under normal
conditions, and the other being a suppleniental support or supports arranged to
receive the lock in case the main fastenings are broken, and hold it in operative
connection with the door-bolts of the safe, vault, or other structure in which the
lock is used.
Eighth The combination of a time-lock mounted upon a flexible or frangible
support or supports, whereby it is made capable of movement relatively to the door
or wall to which it is attached, and a detachable supplemental checking device

page_text: connected with the bolt or other moving part of the lock, substantially in the
manner herein before described, whereby such supplemental device is under the
control of the lock when the lattor is operating norimally, but is disconnected there-
from and left in engagement with the door-bolts of the structure to be guarded,
when one lock is subjected to a sudden and heavy shock, as from an explosion
directed against the exterior of such structure.
Ninth The combination of a lock, door-bolts guarded thereby, a spindle for
operating such door-bolts, and a movable or yielding connecting device arranged
between the said spindle and the bolts, and in proximity to the lock, wheroby the
spindle may be disconnected from the bolts on the occurrence of a heavy and
sudden shock directed against the lock.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Second day of January in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.