IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SAFES, Locks FOR THE SAME, WHICH LOCKS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Chatwood, of the "Liver Safe Works,"
Bolton and Liverpool, and 22, South John St., and 27, South Castle
St., Liverpool, also of 16, Hoghton St., Southport, all in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SAFES,
Locks FOR THE SAME, WHICH LOCKS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 23rd November 1860, and dated the 28th May 1860.
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Chatwood at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th May 1860.
I, SAMUEL CHATWOOD, of the "Liver Safe Works," Bolton and Liverpool,
and 22, South John St., and 27, South Castle St., Liverpool, also of 16,
Hoghton St., Southport, all in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN IRON SAFES, AND IN
LOCKS FOR THE SAME, WHICH LOCKS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to
be as follows, & consists of three branches,-1st, of a means of making the
body or outer case of the safe proof against being drilled or cut so as to be
opend; 2ndly, making the doors of the safes in such a way as not to be injured
by gunpowder being put into the cavity of the lock, & then exploded; &
3rdly, by a novel method in the construction of the lock, so as to prevent its
being opened without its own key..
In forming the body of safes I procure iron plates of a suitable strength

page_text: for the outside or parts of the outside, having its inner surface roll'd or cut
into groves either in one direction only, or crossways, or with cavities or
indentations of a conical shape or other configuration. These plates are
fastened at proper distances from plates of suitable strength forming the inner
part of the case by studs, rivets, screws, or other means. The case being
thus formed with a cavitiy between the outer & inner skin, I then fill the
cavity between the plates with fluid metal, which, on its contact with the cold
plates, acquires such a degree of hardness as to resist the action of any cutting
instrument. The indented or uneven surface which the hard metal will have
acquired will break or destroy any kind of cutting instrument which may be
applied to it after the outer plate is cut through; in certain cases I use plain
surface plates for both outside & inside, with hard plates between cast either
plain or both sides, or the outer side with ribs, cones, or any other uneven
surface which will destroy the edge of a cutting instrument.
methods may be adopted to the whole or any part of the safe.
The second branch of my Invention, of making the doors gunpowder proof,
consists in attaching or fixing the lock chamber to the door by a suitably
strong spring or springs so as to permit the front edge of the door being
separated from the lock chamber to a slight extent, or as far as is permitted
by by catches. On gunpowder being put into the lock & exploded, the force of
the expansion within the lock chamber will separate it from the door so as to
allow a portion of the compressed gases to escape, immediately after which
the lock chamber & door will resume their proper & secure position.
Either of these
My third improvement consists of a novel way of preventing pressure being
applied to the levers of the lock. Instead of riveting the stump of the lock
to the bolt I fasten it to a separate tumbler, & fasten the tumbler to the bolt
by a centre pin or pivot, on which it moves up & down on the application of
pressure, & lays hold of a second stump, which is riveted to the back part of
the lock. This part of my Invention is also applicable to all other locks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Chatwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on
28th November 1860.
the
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I SAMUEL
CHATWOOD, of the Liver Safe Works, Bolton, and of 16, Hoghton Street,
Southport, both in the County of Lancaster, Iron Safe Manufacturer, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Samuel Chatwood, Her special license that I, the said
Samuel Chatwood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Samuel Chatwood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN IRON SAFES. AND IN LOCKS FOR THE SAME. WHICH LOCKS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the conditions (amongst others) that I,
the said Samuel Chatwood, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Chatwood, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement and accompanying Drawings thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists, firstly, of an improved method of rendering iron safes
proof against the operation of drills or other cutting instruments, and may be
thus described. In constructing the bodies of safes, I procure iron plates
A, A, Figures 1, 2 3, and 4 of a suitable strength for the outside or parts of
the outside, having their inner surfaces rolled or cut into grooves, or with
cavities or indentations B, B, Figure 1 and 4 of a conical shape, or other
configuration. These plates are secured at proper distances by means of studs,
rivets, screws, or other means from plates C, C, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, of a
suitable strength, which form the inner part either of the body or door of the
safe. The cavity thus formed I fill with fluid metal, which will become chilled
by its contact with the cold plates A, A, and C, C, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4,
and also partake of the configuration given to the surface of the outer plate
A, A, Figures 1 and 4. In some cases I place hard metal castings D, D,
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, previously prepared between the inner and outer plates
A, A, and C, C, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4. In either of these cases the metal used
may be ordinary chilled cast iron, hematyte cast iron unannealed, or hard

page_text: steel. In some other cases I prefer using a number of hard metal studs D, D,
Figures 4 and 5, with hexagonal or other shaped heads, which will properly
intersect the shanks or cones of which fit into corresponding holes in the outer
plates A, A, Figures 1 and 4 of the safe. The indented or uneven surface of
hard metal thus produced and imbedded in the wrought-iron plates will
destroy and render ineffectual any cutting instrument, which can be brought
to bear against it. This part of my Invention may be applied to the whole
or any part of the bodies or doors of iron safes.
The second part of my Invention consists of an improved method of making
safes proof against the injurious effects of gunpowder and is effected by
attaching or fixing the large lock A, A, Figures 6 and 7, to the door of the
safe by one or more springs, C, C, Figures 6 and 7, sufficiently strong, and so
placed as to permit the front edge of the door being separated from the large
lock (or lock chamber) to a slight extent, or so far as is permitted by suitable
catches fixed for the purpose, or by the ordinary lock screwes D. D, Figures
6 and 7. On gunpowder being put into the lock chamber and exploded,
the force of the expansion will separate the lock chamber and door so as to
allow a portion of the compressed gases to escape into the atmosphere, imme-
diately after which the door resumes its proper and secure position.
In some cases I carry out this part of my Invention by using helical or
other springs upon or in connection with the ordinary lock screws D, D,
Figures 6 and 7, which are screwed either into the door plate as usual, or
into the same number of hardened plates or discs inserted into the door of
the safe, so that the explosion of the gunpowder shall cause them to act as
valves for its escape. This arrangement may also be applied to any other
part of the safe.
The third part of my Invention consists of a novel means of preventing
pressure being applied to the stump or levers of the lock, and may be thus
described. Instead of riveting the stump W of the lock, Figure 8, to the bolt
I fasten it to a separate tumbler X, and attach the tumbler to the bolt by a
centre pin or pivot Y, on which it moves whenever pressure is applied to the
bolt otherwise than by its own true and proper key, causing the back or tail
end of it to rest against the stud Z, and thus prevent the picking of the lock.
This part of my Invention is also applicable to other kinds of locks.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details or arrangements herein described, as the same
may be varied without departing from the nature of my said Invention; but I
claim the used and application of the several metals in the manner herein-

page_text: before described, and the use of hematyte iron (commonly known as mealliable
iron in its unannealed state) however it may be applied for the purpose
of rendering iron safes secure against the action of drilling or cutting
instruments.
Secondly, the use and application of either springs or valves of any kind,
for the purpose of allowing exploded gunpowder to escape from the lock
chamber, or any other part of safes.
And, thirdly, the peculiar arrangement of parts for the purpose of rendering
lever locks secure against picking.
In witness whereof, J, the said Samuel Chatwood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
WILLIAM DAWES.
SAMUEL CHATWOOD. (L.S.)