IMPROVEMENTS IN BURGLAR-PROOF SAFES, AND MEANS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Corliss, of the City and County of
Providence, State of Rhode Island, in the United States of America,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BURGLAR-PROOF SAFES, AND MEANS
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Corliss at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 18th November 1871, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CURLISS, of the City and County of Providence, State of Rhode Island,
in the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BURGLAR-PROOF SAFES, AND MEANS OF MANUFACTURING AND OPERATING THE
SAME," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and

page_text: [have made solemn Declaration that I am the first and true inventor
thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Corliss, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in 5
what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:
The Invention relates to safes of a form which is nearly spherical or
a compound of the spherical with a cylindrical form. I divide the
Invention into three parts, some of which, as the locking and operating 1
details in the first part, may be used with either of the other parts.
Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying Drawings belong to the first part
of the Invention and aid to set forth what I consider the best means of
carrying out this part of the Invention; Figure 1 is a central vertical
section representing the safe in its closed condition; Figure 2 is a 1
horizontal section showing the parts in the same condition; Figure 3 is
a cross section through the body of the safe, the revolving part which
performs the functions of a door being removed. The section is on the
line A, B, in Figure 2; Figures 4 and 5 represent the door alone or
detached from the main body of the safe; Figure 4 is a side view, and
Figure 5 is a rear view. Similar letters of reference indicate like parts
in all the foregoing Figures.
.
C is the main shell or body in a single piece of thick, strong, and
practically burglar-proof material, it may be of cast iron, franklinite, or
analogous fusible materials made hard and tough by interweaving
wrought iron with highly crystalline material, or it may be malleable
· metal variously compounded of cast steal and iron, or other softer matter,
or it may be formed of any of the ordinary or suitable materials to
turn and break drills or offer a direct resistance by its hardness and
other qualities to any of the operations by cutting, drilling, or other
means for obtaining an opening through it. It is adapted as represented
to receive and partially enclose a revolving door with its attachments
having a general spherical outline, the larger diameter and axis of
which is always within the shell. The shell is here shown as somewhat
deeper than is necessary for the mere rotation of the door, and within the
back space is placed a crescent shaped piece of iron or other suitable
material as indicated by C¹ which I term a backing piece, this backing
piece is made to fit with slight clearance all around its semicircle to the

page_text: bail attached to the door and may be made with two members corres-
shown in the Drawings with the
backing piece is attached an ap-
"
ponding to the cross bail, but is
horizontal member only. To this
paratus for holding the door when closed and for forcing it forward
when required, as will be fully explained further on. The main body
of the door D is a hollow mass of similar burglar-proof material of a
slightly flattened hemispherical form. It is adapted to revolve or swing
in the mouth of the main body or shell C, and to form. alternately an
easy or tight junction therewith according as the door is allowed to
settle backward a little within the main body or is forced strongly
forward. The door D opens by turning around on the vertical shaft or
pintal d. A stout cross bail D¹ is fitted to the back of the door D and
revolves therewith; the main receptacle for the books, moneys, jewelry,
and other valuables deposited in the safe is within the spherical interior
of the revolving part D, D¹, which I shall in future designate collectively
by the single word "door or by the single letter D, a large portion
however of the space within the main body or shell O in the rear of
the revolving door may be made available for papers and other valuables
which do not require frequent handling. It is a little more difficult to
obtain access to them than to those articles which are in the revolving
door. The interior of the latter is shelved and may be divided into
pigeon holes or other ordinary or suitable subdivisions. The space in
the interior of the shell C not required for the rotation of the door D
may be also provided with shelves, pigeon holes, and the like. Access
may be obtained to it by setting the door half open and reaching past
the door and the shelves which are attached thereto. To obtain more
convenient access to the space in the rear of the door, a portion of the
shelves and the like on the spherical door may be removable. Either part
may contain strong boxes with intricate locks etc., as a guard against the
intermeddling of parties who may in large establishments properly be
allowed access to the main interior of the safe. Such additions are
common in all safes and need not be further alluded to; so also of
the mode of decorating or furnishing the exterior or interior. I propose
to employ any ordinary or suitable means of imparting elegance and
convenience to the structure.

page_text: represented it as extending directly through the pintal d, the latter
being made in two parts, peculiarly matched together, and leaving a
space for the free passage of the shaft E. The shaft is fitted tight
and easy in a hole in the center of the front of the door, and may be
operated by a wrench or hand crank of suitable construction, the
means represented in the Drawing is simply a ring which will drop
down by its own weight when not in use, so as to fall within the sweep
of the door, the leverage afforded by the arrangement avoids the necessity
of applying much power to the shaft E, and I have aimed at offering
the smallest amount of projection to this shaft in order to avoid the
possibility of operating it by violence. The spherical form of the door
being a little flattened at the center of the front, the operating shaft E
and the lock knobs are allowed to project sufficiently for working
without interfering with the rotation of the door, assuming that the
lock is a more less compounded register lock. G is the knob by which
it is operated, and g is the bolt or one of the bolts which it controls.
The shaft E is provided with a strong wheel or lock plate e, recessed
at proper points to receive the one or more bolts g, and when the knob
or knobs are properly operated to withdraw the bolt or bolts g the shaft
is free to be turned from the outside. I employ by preference a con-
siderable number of stout bolts g, each passing through a tolerable
close fitting hole in an encircling ring D³, so that all the bolts must be
sheared off in order to turn the shaft E by violence applied through
the shaft without previously unlocking. The considerable leverage
afforded by the large lock plate e, and the number of bolts g, which it is
possible to throw into this plate from all sides, makes it easy to guard
with absolute certainty against a forcible opening of the safe by such
means. The shaft E may be coupled and engaged with the shaft M,
which is mounted in bearings in the backing piece C¹. In the Drawings
the shaft E is represented as having been drawn forward out of con-
nection with the shaft M to allow the door to revolve, as will be explained
further on, by turning the shaft E, and consequently the shaft M, when
connected, the small broad gear wheel M¹ is turned, and motion is com-
municated through two gear wheels N¹, N', to two stout screw shafts or
endless screws N, N. These are tapped in corresponding holes in the
backing piece C³, and are connected at their front ends by small screw
bolts n, n, as shown to a long broad bearing shoe O. This shoe is
plane on its back face and is hollowed on its front face to match to
the spherical adjusting surface of the bail. It is also fitted in the

page_text: d
backing piece C¹ in such manner as to prevent its turning, and recessed
to receive the heads of the sorew bolts n, n, all of which is fully shown
in the Drawings, when the shaft E operates the shaft M, and thus
through the gearing represented turns the strong screws N, N, the
shoe O is moved powerfully forward and bearing fairly against the
horizontal member of the bail D¹ forces it and the whole door strongly
forward. A zone around the door D where it fits within the front of
the shell O when closed is made of a little larger diameter than the
other portions of the door, and is carefully finished by grinding or
otherwise to form a perfectly tight fit within the correspondingly
finished and hardened concave inner surface of the front of the shell.
When the door is in condition for turning to open or close the surfaces
are a little distance apart, but after the door is closed this entire mass
is moved forcibly forward by the screws N, N, and the connection of
the pintal & being made intentionally a little loose to allow of such
motion the entire door is moved forward and brought to a tight and
very firm bearing within the front or mouth of the shell. In this
position the friction offered to turning of the door is very great, and as
the shaft E in the locked condition of the safe remains engaged with
the shaft M, and is only drawn forward into the position represented
after the lock bolts 9 are withdrawn, it follows that the door is very
efficiently held against turning both by the frictional resistance offered
by the closely fitting periphery and by the socketing of the squared end
of the shaft M into the correspondingly socketed end of the shaft E; it
is also held by the shearing contact of the exterior of the shaft E with
the surface around the central hole in the shoe O. These several
coinciding forces may be relied on as perfectly and absolutely proof
against any force possible to turn the door D within its partially
enclosing case C. The junction of the bail D¹ with the main part D
of the door may be lapped much farther than is represented, but I do
not esteem it necessary, and the holes through the door for the pintal
shaft may be made to allow for still more clearance. The pintal shaft
is made passing from the bottom to the top with means for adjusting at
the top, but it could be made without passing through the center
of the door as by separate short pintals fastened to the shell and made
adjustable by appropriate screws. I think it much better however to
let the pintal pass entirely through the interior space as shown because
by so doing I am able to hang the door at the top thereby securing
other important advantages. To lessen the friction, I propose to use

page_text: small discs of hardened steel or other suitable material located at the
foot of the pintal on which the shaft will revolve. The weight of
the door and its attachments is carried by the pintal shaft d and rests
on the end of the shaft as a step, its weight being received on the
shaft near the top through the medium of the collar d and adjustable a
nut d. By means of the adjustable nut d' the door and its attachments
are raised and lowered with ease and delicacy. It is intended to make
it a tolerable close fit at all times, but the weight of the door causes
it to fall back at the bottom against the pintal, thereby causing the
spheroidal surface of the close fitting zone to fall away from the
corresponding surface of the mouth of the shell, thus affording a
clearance to the door in its rotation.
My manner of construction avoids joints and fastenings. Neither
of the parts C or D are ferforated for any purpose, except for locking
and neither present angles to afford a starting point for any violent
operations of compressing or other forces while the construction affords
by its mode of opening all the conveniences of the most simple ordinary
safe.
The mode of construction with means for closing the joint at the
junction of the parts C and D surmounts one of the greatest practical
difficulties in making burglar-proof safes by absolutely precluding the
entrance of wedges. By the use of means for forcing the door forward
I make the joint between the door and shell an absolutely tight fit,
metal to metal, leaving no seam for the entrance of even the thinnest
wedge. This is also of importance in defending against water when
in case of fire the water is poured from engines on the safe. The small
size of the front end of the shaft Ę would cause it to be twisted off
before any considerable amount of shearing force could be exerted on
the lock bolts. The wheel e may be forged in one with the shaft E, or
it may be welded solidly thereon, or cast therewith.
Another mode of construction which is preferable for convenience and
almost equally efficient is to continue the small portion of the front end
of the shaft E a little ways inward from the seat of the wheel e and form
the latter with a correspondingly small hole, so that it will fit tightly
upon the reduced portion of the shaft E and next against a square
shoulder where it joins the thicker portion of the said shaft. Either
of these constructions prevent the possibility of pulling outward the
shaft E until the lock bolts are properly withdrawn.

page_text: It will be understood that the shaft E should be made at the front
end of such a combination of materials as would resist drilling or
cutting and that it should project so little as to give a very slight hold
through which to apply any twisting force. If it is all bored away the
burglar is still as far as ever from opening the safe. The door being
thus safe against violence, and the locks being assumed to be by their
character and number ample security against any fraudulent operation
thereof it is evident that as the bodies of the parts C and D cannot be
perforated or fractured, the contents are absolutely inaccessible through
any violence.
To open the safe properly, the owner has simply to operate the lock
through the knobs or other means, to withdraw the bolts, then to apply
the force of the hand, either by means of the ring E¹ or other suitable
handle, to turn the shaft E, the shaft M and through its connected
3 gearing the screws N which operate to draw back the shoe O, so soon
as the shoe has been sufficiently withdrawn, the door D relaxes its
tight fit against the corresponding spherical parts of the shell C, the
gravity of. the parts contributing to this result; and now the shaft E
has simply to be drawn forward by a pull upon the ring E³ or equivalent
connection and the door is now freely turned around on its pivot or
pintal d and the safe is opened.
The second part of the Invention relates to the manufacture of the
main shell C and door D. Both these part of the safe are made of
wrought iron or steel or analogous workable material, preferably steel or
3 other very hard metal, laminated, interwoven, or otherwise streaked,
spotted, and mixed with soft iron.
The peculiar difficulty involved in the manufacture relates to the
enclosing of the door within a shell formed in one piece having an
aperture or mouth narrower than the door.
My Invention provides for successfully overcoming all the difficulties.
I will proceed to describe what I consider the best means of carrying
out this second part of the Invention.
The Drawings, Figures 6 to 9, belong to this part of the Inven-
tion, and indicate the several stages of the manufacture of the safe
5 according to this part of my Invention with outlines of the machinery
employed.
Figure 6 is a hammer and anvil, the material lying between is a thick
flat plate; Figure 7 shows the same anvil used as a former to. hold.the

page_text: partially manufactured shell thereon in the form of a cap and carry it
up thereon between a circular series of rollers forming a circular die;
Figure 8 is a plan view of this peculiar circular die; and Figure 9
shows the shell completely formed except the finishing. It is mounted
on another former having the door placed thereon so as to hold it on
the back of the shell. This Figure also shows two of a series of peculiar
rolls which act on the blank to contract it around the mouth.
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in these Figures.
Similar
O is the main shell or the material therefor. It is in Figure 6 shown
in the form of a flat plate. In Figure 7 the same is shown partly
struck into shape, and in Figure 9 it is shown completely formed with
the exception of trimming and finishing, which may be done by
lathes and analogous tools which I have not deemed it necessary to
refer to; D is the hemispherical door which may be formed of the
same material as the shell or different at will. It may be formed by
the same means as I have advised for the manufacture of the main
shell, but its construction will offer less difficulty and need not be par-
ticularly described. I will assume that the door has been already
previously manufactured and nicely turned and finished. It is difficult
to perform any elaborate work on it after its enclosure in the main
shell.
I provide by the means employed in producing armour plating for
ships or otherwise a sufficiently large mass of proper forgeable material
to form the outer shell, and to allow of some waste to be trimmed off
ultimately around the edge of the hole or open side. This is heated
thoroughly in a proper furnace, and is laid on a peculiar former A having
a rounded top and nearly cylindrical body. It is adapted below to
be supported firmly in the hammer bed, and also to be changed
conveniently by the aid of a crane or analogous device not repre-
sented so as to be transferred to other pieces of powerful mechanism
as will appear further on. A massive hammer B, having a nearly corre-
sponding concavity in its face, is operated above by the direct action
of steam or otherwise, and is accurately guided so as to strike truly
and centrally in the line of the former A. This hammer is brought
down upon the plate by a succession of blows increasing in force, and
the material C is thereby partially shaped as indicated in Figure 7. At
this stage the hammer is raised and the former A with the partially
formed blank C thereon is lifted and transferred to the moveable head

page_text: of a press, which is adapted to be raised strongly and with considerable
rapidity by the action of water, or by the direct action of steam on a
large piston working in a cylinder below. So soon as the former A
with its load is transferred to this press it is raised and caused to pass
between a series of rollers P mounted above; these rollers are ranged
in a circle with hollowed peripheries as represented, so that their joint
effect is to form the blank down nicely to a nearly perfect cylinder.
There is mechanism not represented for drawing the rollers P together
and moving them apart within considerable limits. I propose to raise
and lower the former A and its partially formed blank several times,
partially turning it at each operation and drawing the rollers P together
a little each time. The result is a nicely formed cylindrical exterior
on the blank O without any considerable ridges.
Now the hot blank is lifted off from its closely fitting former A,
which operation may be effected by bringing up a strong ring loosely
surrounding the latter, and which has before laid idle, or by other
convenient means, and the hot blank is thrust down upon a different
former K which is made in sections adapted to be afterwards taken
apart and collapsed in the manner analogous to the well-known hatters
block. This stands ready prepared with the parts firmly applied
together and with the previously formed door D laid on its upper
surface; all these parts are cold; immediately on the reception of the hot
blank thereon it is rotated slowly and subjected to the action of three
strong rolls H, H, H, which are gradually brought together and are
of such form as to draw the lower edge of the blank gradually and
smoothly together. This operation may be continued, turning the
blank slowly around between the rolls H, with a gradually increasing
pressure so as to leave the surface very truly and smoothly finished.
Now before the hot blank C has materially contracted by cooling the
rolls H are separated and so much of the former K is removed as
will allow it to contract. After the mass has thoroughly cooled in this
condition the several remaining sections of the former K may be
removed. If preferred in any case a portion of the superfluous material
around the mouth may be removed by cutting by machinery or other-
wise while the blank is hot. In either event a subsequent finishing
may be done by lathe work after the whole is cooled and before it is
hardened.
All the drilling, turning, etc. required for finishing the safe is now to

page_text: that in the hardening process the work warps sufficiently to throw the
previous finishing a little out of true, and in such case the work must
be afterwards finished with grinding mechanism adapted to treat hard
and obdurate materials.
My means of forming aet so uniformly on the material and leaves
the form so true that there is little liability to distortion in hardening.
The hardening of the structure in case steel is employed is a
matter requiring some skill. I provide a framing which holds the
door Dup in a position as widely separated as possible from the inner
surface of the shell C, and in this position heat the whole of the shell
C and the door D uniformly to the proper temperature and immerse
it in a tank providing means for circulating the water as actively as
possible through the interior as well as the exterior of the shell C.
Instead of commencing with a flat plate I can commence with the
material in the form of bars at a welding heat, and in such case provide
two or more sets of such bars of the same or of different sizes, as for
example one set of the softest Pennsylvania iron and another set of the
hardest tempering steel. There may be other bars containing con-
tinuous or intermittent lengths of franklinite iron or other undrillable
or practically difficult material to drill or cut, applying the bars from the
several sets in succession and welding them by pressure rolls, or by
successive blows over a former. The former may be the same here
marked A, and the bars may be of any convenient length wound
around by beginning at the bottom of the exposed part of the former
and gradually building up so as to be a minute or more if necessary
in applying and welding together all the bars around the former. At
the close the heat remaining will be sufficient probably to allow of the
shaping smoothly with the finishing rolls H, H, H, or if the operation
is conducted more slowly so as to be many minutes in completing the
formation of the shell taking care to retain the heat in the last ones
applied long enough to cause the last course to weld thoroughly to the
next, the work may still be successful. A blow pipe with oxygen and
hydrogen gases may be used as an auxilliary to maintain a high
temperature at the welding point or line. I can use a movable series
of such pipes to keep the entire upper edge of the partly formed work
hot, raising the series of blow pipes as the work proceeds. Instead of
using the former A in such case, and being put to the necessity of
reheating and contracting the mouth, I think it practicable to effect the
welding operation with proper precautions directly around the door. In

page_text: such a proceedure I would for example mount the door with its hollow
face downwards upon the former K. and cover it with a series say three
or more thicknesses of iron previously formed into thin hemispherical
shapes. These protect the door from the heat of the welding mass
and the hot metal outside from the cooling influence of the thick door,
the door thus serves efficiently as a part of the former.
The third part of the Invention is more especially adapted to safes
produced from franklinite, chilled iron, or other hard material, either
alone or in combination with wrought iron bars, chains, or the like,
introduced to give toughness when the form is imparted by moulding
in the manner of cast iron, but it may be applied with good effect to
safes made by forging from cast steel or other hard material either alone
or mingled with wrought iron or other like toughening and softer
material. It applies in short to all the materials and to all the mix-
tures or compounds of vulcanite or other imperviable material intended
to break or turn drills and other burglars' tools.
The following is a description of what I consider the best means of
carrying out this part of the Invention.
The Drawing Figure 10 belongs to this part of the Invention, and
the letters of reference in the following description of this third part of
the Invention will be understood as referring to said Figure 10.
I form the safe in two principal parts, an exterior shell C, and an
interior revolving part D. Both are made spherical. The part D I
term the door and mount it so that it revolves within the other.
The details of the locking and other parts necessary to the complete
operation of the finished safe may be as set forth in part first before
described.
When the door is turned into the closed position it is adapted to be
powerfully moved forward to a little extent, and this motion closes the
joint very tightly around the periphery and over a portion of the face of
the entire door. In order to realize these conditions the mouth of the
exterior part or shell must be contracted. The opening must be of
less diameter than the extreme diameter of the door. I make the part
C originally with a larger mouth than is finally required, and after
introducing the door D I insert and strongly secure around the interior
of the mouth of the shell C a thick ring or zone of properly composed
burglar-proof material and secure it in position there. This entire lining

page_text: ring marked C³ is practically a fixed portion, and forms a unit with the
main body of the shell C. Its inner surface is finished to match
accurately to the spherical exterior of the door D. It will be observed
that the mouth of the shell C, although sufficiently large to permit
the door D to be inserted and removed in the absence of the lining
ring C is considerably smaller than the space within. The important
part C³ is made in several pieces nicely finished to match tightly together
and form close joints. It is in effect a solid ring when put together
within the mouth of the shell C, and is then a fixture within and forms
in substance a part of the shell C. The parts may be secured together by
bolting or any approved means, care being taken to make the bolts
of such material and so to arrange them that they shall not furnish
means for drilling or otherwise obtaining access to the interior of the
safe. The whole or any portion of these bolts may be inserted from
the interior face of the several segments of the lining ring C³ and tapped
a little ways into the main material C. The contracted form of the
mouth of the shell C forms a most effectual bar against the movement of
the lining ring C² outward by any violence. I have provided very
efficient means to guard against any violence applied from the outside
forcing the ring C³ inward. This is effected by the part or parts R which
I designate a ring key and let partially into a groove turned or otherwise
formed in the interior of the part C just opposite to the inner edge of
the lining ring C³. I take care to make the ring key R fit very tightly
in this groove. It is introduced in pieces from the interior, and driven
home by pressure or by blows, so as to force the lining ring C³ strongly
outward and cause it to fit tightly to its seat, and then to stand as a
most effectual backing to prevent the ring C³ or any part of it being
forced inward into the safe by a hydraulic press or any other appliance.
This construction gives the safe as a whole, and to this shell C and to
its adjunct C³ especially, an immense strength to resist force in all
directions. Its ability to resist force pressing inward from any and all
directions is almost immeasurable, while the resistance of a force pressing
outward is measured by the tensile strength of the thick mass of strong
material which is presented at every point. In case of the introduction
of gunpowder, fulminates, or other explosive material, which I seek to
make impossible, the strength of the exterior shell C and certainly that
of the door is sufficient to withstand such an amount of explosive
energy that when it is exerted the entire building will be demolished.
The interior of the zone may be finished after the work is applied

page_text: together. It is preferable then to give the last and final finish to the
surface, the hemispherical door being for this purpose both turned
around so that its hollow side is presented in front and also turned
partially around so that all parts of the surface of the interior ring C³
will be exposed successively. It will be understood that the pintal on
which the door is mounted and revolved is not in place in the door
during the operation, but is introduced afterwards. The mode of
construction allows the the parts to be made of immense stiffness and
strength, and yet allows the door D to be introduced with facility.
The mouth of the shell C alone is larger than the diameter of the door
so as to allow the door to be introduced, but the mouth of the shell
C, C³, considering the ring C³ as a unit therewith is smaller than the
door and locks it in.
Some of the advantages due to certain features of this Invention
may be separately enumerated as follows:-
:-
First. By reason of the fact that my revolving door is hemispherical
in form and fitted within a spherical case O as shown, I am able to
protect the contents of the safe within an enclosure which presents
everywhere a rounded surface without angles or other projections, and
adapted to open and expose the contents on the shelves or equivalent
devices with great convenience and facility for classification and the
like, and also to provide for adjustment of the door upward and down-
ward, and the tightening and loosening of the joints altogether by the
movement of the door forward and backward.
Second. By reason of the fact that the shell C partially encloses the
door and that the opening or mouth of the shell is smaller than the
diameter of the door and that both parts are made of great strength
and that the door opens only by moving inwards, it follows that the
door cannot be forced out by the explosion of powder or other fulminates
within the safe, or otherwise by any force less than would be sufficient
to destroy the building in which the safe might stand.
Third. By reason of the fact that the pintal d is made in sections and
adapted to be applied separately and thrust upward and downward
into their places as shown, and that the door D is mounted on such
pintal by means of the loose collar or washer and the adjusting
means ď, I am able to make and apply the work together with very
accurately formed and closely fitting joints to adjust the position of
the door upward and downward with great delicacy, so as to turn with

page_text: almost inappreciable resistance from friction. The method of hanging
the door also causes it by its own gravity to settle back upon the pintal
shaft as soon as the forward pressure is relaxed, thus affording a slight
clearance of the door from the shell in its rotation.
Fourth. By reason of the fact that the pintal d stands within larger
holes or slots in the door D and of the provisions for moving the door
powerfully forward after it is in the closed position, I am able to allow
of the forward motion in securing, and of the backward motion in
opening, while at the same time I turn the door with facility and
without resistance.
Fifth. By reason of the fact that the door D is provided with a stout
bail D¹ which completes its spherical contour while having the back
mainly open, and that the cavity in the back of the shell C is provided
with a strong backing piece C¹ having an outline adapted to match
thereto, I am able to guard the door very efficiently against being
forced inward by hydraulic pressure or otherwise, without interfering
with the capacity of the door for revolving, or gently encumbering
the available space with books and valuables.
Sixth. By reason of the flattened form of the front of the door as
shown I am able to allow the end of the shaft E to project, and to
remain projecting sufficiently to allow the works of the safe to be
operated from the outside without striking the edge of the shell, or in
any manner interfering with the motion of the door. It also allows
the projection of as many small knobs as may be required to operate
one or a number of dial locks or analogous locking means.
What I claim as my Invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent
is as follows:-The first ten clauses appertaining to the first part, the
eleventh to the second part, and the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth
to the third part of the Invention.
I claim,―
1st. The hemispherical rotating door D mounted within the
spheroidal shell C and adapted to protect the contents of the safe within
surfaces which are everywhere spherical, and to expose them for con-
venient access by simply turning the door and its attachments, as herein
set forth.
Second. A spherical safe having a door opening by moving inward,
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

page_text: Third. The pintal d made in sections and fitted within the hemi-
spherical door D, as shown, with the adjusting means d for supporting
the door therein, as herein specified.
Fourth. The reciprocating movement of the safe door forward and
backward in connection with a rotating or swinging motion thereof
when the door in opening moves within the main body or shell of the
safe, substantially as specified.
Fifth. The backing piece C¹ in
serve relatively to the bail D¹ on
herein set forth.
the shell C arranged and adapted to
the door D, as and for the purposes
Sixth. The flattened or recessed form of the door when mounted and
operated as shown, and serving to allow the knobs or other projections
to be seized and worked while within the sweep of the motion, as
shown.
Seventh. The screws N operated through the medium of the shaft E
and its connections to force forward the door D and release it again by
the turning of the shaft E in the reverse direction, as specified.
Eighth. The shoe O arranged as represented relatively to the bail D'
at the back of the revolving door D adapted to serve as a bearing
surface to transmit the force of the screws N. In pushing forward the
door as a resisting surface to prevent a movement of the door too far
inward by any force and as a hold for the shaft E which serves there-
with as a locking bolt, substantially as herein specified.
.
Ninth. The recessed wheel e, e¹, carried on the operating shaft E
and arranged to receive the bolts of one or more locks to prevent the
necessary movement for the opening of the safe until the locks are
withdrawn, as specified.
Tenth. In connection with the last above I claim the stout collar D²
encompassing the wheel e and adapted to guide and sustain the lock
bolts immediately adjacent to their matching into the recesses e¹ in the
wheel e, as specified.
Eleventh. I claim as a new article of manufacture a safe of forged
material in a spheroidal shape formed with the door enclosed, all sub-
stantially in the manner herein set forth.
Twelfth. The burglar-proof safe herein described composed of the two
parts C and D arranged as represented, with a lining ring C intro-
duced and firmly fixed in the interior of the mouth of the shell C so

page_text: as to form a unit therewith and match tightly to the exterior of the
door D, as specified.
Thirteenth. The ring key R serving as represented relatively to the
lining ring C³, the shell C, and the spherical door D, as specified.
Fourteenth. A safe formed by casting from fusible materials and 5
having a hollow hemispherical door D secured and revolving within the
contracted mouth C* of the shell C when the parts are arranged and
adapted to operate together, substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Corliss, have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal, this Twenty-sixth day of 1
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-one.
Witness,
THOMAS D. STETSON,
Patent Solicitor,
New York.
WILLIAM CORLISS. (L.s.)