An Improved Lock.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 21st Apr., 1900
An Improved Lock.
I, KARL KUNZELMANN, of Schulhausstrasse 4, Gäckingen, Baden, Germany,
Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
:
This invention relates to a safety lock designed especially for safes, strong
rooms and similar purposes and has the advantage that the receptacle or room
is locked by a bolt operated by a key and by a bolt operated by a door handle,
the key having pressing pins operating safety devices. The key hole situated
in the wall of the door and in the casing of the lock is closed and can only
be set free by the door handle, after the safety devices of the latter have been
arranged according to a chosen word or combination of letters.
In order that this invention may be the better understood I now proceed to
describe the same eference being had to the accompanying drawings and to
the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure shows a lock taken from the door, with the casing protecting the
key hole in section.
Figure 2 shows a section through the lock on the line a-a, Figure 1, with
the handle and safety devices of the latter.
Figure 3 shows the interior of the lock when the covering plate has been
removed, the bolt being in locking position, and the safety devices of the latter
removed.
Figure 4 shows the interior of the lock when the covering plate has been
removed, the bolt drawn back and the safety devices of the latter in position.
Figure 5 shows the safety mechanism of the handle, situated on the outside
of the door, partly in section.
Figure 6 shows the key hole in the cover of lock casing closed, the devices
being partly shown in section.
Figure 7 shows a sectional view on the line b, b, Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a part sectional view on the line c, c, Figure 2, of the bolt
mechanism operated by the handle and seen from below.
Figure 9 shows a part sectional view of the locked safety device of both main
bolts as operated by a pressing pin of the key.
Figure 10 is a similar view of these devices unlocked.
Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line d-d Figure 10.
Figure 12 shows a longitudinal section of the key and
Figure 13 shows a modification of the arrangement for closing the key hole.
On the inner side of the door 1 of the safe or strong room is arranged a lock
casing 2 of known construction in such a manner that a handle 3, adapted to
turn, and situated outside the door, may engage and be secured therein. Out-
side the door 1 is arranged a safety mechanism as used in permutation locks,
consisting of plates adapted to be adjusted according to a chosen word or com-
bination of letters, so that when the mechanism has been arranged in accordance
therewith, the handle 3 may be turned and the key hole in the door 1 set free.

page_text: The safety device consists of a sleeve 4, screwed to the outside of the door and
provided with a flange 5, which serves as guide and bearing to the shaft of the
handle. Rings are slid over the sleeve 4 and rest on the flange 5. The inner
edges of the rings 6 have recesses 7, of which one, 8, is deeper than the others.
A pin 9 is arranged on the outside of each of these rings, and engages in recesses
of dises 11 surrounding the rings 6. The outer edges of the rings 11 have
recesses and letters marked on the material around the whole periphery, so that
by suitable adjustment of the rings to a chosen word or combination, the large
recesses of the rings 8 can be placed in line. In the sleeve 4 and the flange 5
thereof, a bolt 12 is adapted to move, which carries, at a right angle to its longi-
tudinal axis a flat bar 13, adapted to engage in the large recess S of the rings 6,
when such are placed in line, in order to allow of the free movement of the
handle for opening the key holes; otherwise the bar 13 engages in a longitudinal
groove 14 of the shaft 16 of the handle 3, thus preventing the turning of the
latter. A disc 15 covers and holds these rings or discs 6 and 11. The inter-
mediate space formed by the disc 15 and the ring 6, (because the discs 11 which
are close to each other and engage with each other by pieces 16 are of increased
thickness) is filled by a disc 17. The rotary handle 3 is held in the lock by a
bolt 19, adapted to move in the flange 5 of the sleeve 4 and engaging in the
circular groove 18 of the shaft 16 of the rotary handle. The bolt. 19 is secured in
its position to a certain extent. by a spring or other device. The end of the
shaft 16 of the rotary handle 3 has semi-circular recesses 20 in its longitudinal
direction, which are designed for engaging with a device for operating the bolt.
The key hole in the door is closed by a closing device 21, having a shaft 22,
the section of which corresponds to the shape of the key hole, and which engages
in a tube or sleeve 23 of the plate 24 which closes the key hole. The closing
device 21 has a spiral spring 25 arranged in the shaft 22, such spring finding a
resistance on the closing plate 24, which is adapted to cause the closing device 21
to pass automatically through the key guide orifice, after the disengagement of
the bolt 26 the operative end of which enters into the recess 27 of the shaft 22.
The bolt 26 is operated by a lever 29 which pivots at o and is under the influence
of a cam 30 fixed to a sleeve 31 arranged on the shaft 16 of the rotary handle.
This sleeve receives the free end of the shaft 16 of the rotary handle and is
guided in a casing 32 which holds the devices for moving the bolt operated by
The rotary handle.
In a similar manner in which the closing device 21, Figure 2, can be actuated
through the handle, after closing the key hole, a conically ground closing device 21
shaped according to the key hole can be operated by a separately arranged rotary
handle 31, Figure 13. For this purpose a piece 26 is provided on the inner end of
the handle axle, the free end of such piece 26 engaging in a recess 27 of the
closing piece 21. Therefore, when the free end of the arm 26 is turned out
of the recess 27 of the device 21, the latter will also automatically leave the
key hole.
When the orifice of the key guide has thus been set free in the door hole,
the key can be inserted into the casing 23 for operating the closing plate 24
and opening the lock casing 2. The casing 23 is screwed to the covering plate 28
of the lock casing and is provided in its interior with a rotary piece 33, to
receive the bit of the key, and to which is pivotted the bolt 26.
In order that the latter shall leave automatically the recess 27, of the shaft 22
when the lever 29 has been withdrawn, a spring 34 is attached to the rotary
piece 33, which operates the bolt 26 in the direction of the arrow 35. The key
hole orifice of the rotary piece 33 corresponds with that of the casing 23 and
this operation is rendered precise by a pin 37, carried by a spring 36 fixed to
the rotary piece 33, engages in a recess 38 of the casing 32. The round shape
of the pressure pin 37 and of the recess 38 permit of easy disengagement. When
now the key is inserted into the casing 23, or its rotary piece 33 respectively,
the latter can be easily turned, the bit of the key being within the rotary piece 33.

page_text: The casing plate 24 may then be operated by the pressure pin A of the key.
The plate 24 covering the key hole 39 of the lock casing 2 is guided in the
casing 23 and slides on the covering plate 28 of the lock casing 2. It has also
an orifice 40 for the passage of the bit of the key, which must be adjusted by
the key, for the latter to enter the casing, so that such orifice corresponds with
the orifice 39 of the lock casing. For this purpose it is necessary after the
insertion of the key, to depress a spring 41, fixed to the plate 28 Figure 6, by
means of the pin A, Figure 12 protruding from the bit of the key, a projection 42
of such spring 41 engaging in an orifice of the plate 24. When, by depressing
the spring 41, the projection 42 has been removed from the orifice of the plate 24,
the plate 24 may be moved in the direction of the arrow 44 by the rotation of
the key and engagement of the pressure pin A of the key in the orifice 43 of the
plate 24. During this operation a pin 45 of the plate 24 which engages in
the lock casing 2, slides along a flat piece 47 which forms an oblique plane and
is fixed to a spring 46 arranged in the casing. When the plate 24 has arrived
in its final position and the key hole 40 thereof is over the orifice 39 of the
casing 2, the pressure pin 45, sliding with its free end on the upper side of the
flat piece 47, has arrived at the end of the latter and therefore trips over the
piece 47, under the action of the spring 46, so that the plate 24 cannot back.
Then the key may be introduced into the real lock casing 2. As soon as the
key is drawn back from the casing and the spring 46 has been pressed down
by means of a pressure pin B situated in the tube of the key, the plate 24 springs
back into its former position under the action of a spring 48 bearing against the
pin 45 of the plate 24.
go
The mechanism is now in position for the locking or unlocking of the lock
itself, i.e. for the operation of the two main bolts. For this purpose the devices
which secure the bolts in their positions must of course be operated first. As
before mentioned the two bolts of the lock. must be operated separately. The
bolt 50 adapted to move in a horizontal line is operated first, by the key. The
other bolt 51, which moves vertically, is operated by the rotary handle. The
bolt 51 consists of two pieces sliding on each other, which when operated diverge
The bolt 50, consists of a
or converge relatively to their longitudinal axes.
flat piece of suitable shape, the edge thereof on which the bit of the key engages
has recesses so that contact faces 52 in 53 and 54 are formed, of which the latter
is a shaped piece 54 situated in the main bolt and adapted to turn. This shaped
piece 54 is rotated out of the reach of the bit of the key at the final position
for locking in the direction of the arrow 55, Figure 4, so that it occupies the
position shown in Figure 8. The piece 54 is held in this position by a projec-
tion 56, provided on a spring 57 attached to the bolt 50. To ensure the return
of the piece 54 into the position, Figure 4, automatically after pushing back the
spring 57 by means of of the pin A projected from the bit of the key, a spring 58,
also fixed to the bolt 50, is provided, the free end of which engages over the
piece 54 and holds the same on the plate 59 fixed to the bolt 50, after the
lug 56 has set free the piece 54. Five safety plates 49 are arranged on the
bolt 50 on a pin 60 fixed to the wall of the casing 2. These plates 49 are
adapted to rotate, and are lifted at the movement of the key so that a pin 61
fixed to the bolt 50 and situated in longitudinal slots of the plates, passes into
a side branch 62 of the longitudinal slot of the plates 49 after the operation of
the key. The plates 49 are operated for this purpose by springs 63 resting
against the wall of the casing 2. The securing device of the plates 49 has to
be disengaged before the bolt 50 can be moved. This securing device consists of
an angular lever 64, the bent part. 65 of which carries a projection 66 at its end,
which engages in a recess 67 of the plates 49. A spring 69 provided on a
pin 68 influences the lever 64, and a plate 70 serving as support for the lever G4
is provided with a spring 71 which secures the lever 64 in the different positions.
The plate 70 is screwed to the wall of the casing and carries by means of a
plate 72 screwed to it, a pin 78 for guiding the key which engages with a

page_text: plate 74 screwed into the plate 70. The edge of the plate 74 is bevelled, so
that it is held on the plate 70 by the plate 72. The pin 73 is hollow and carries
in the hollow a pin 75 actuated by the pin B situated in the hollow shaft of
the key, in order to press the spring 46 downwards in the casing of the lock.
With the pin 73 and the plate 74 respectively is connected a piece 76 which
when turned operates a latch-like safety device 85 screwed also on the plate 70.
The safety device 85 is returned automatically into locked position by a spring 86.
This safety device 85 is designed for the bolts 51 and engages into a recess 87
thereof. The plate 74 has an orifice 77 through which can pass the pin A
projected from the bit of the key, so as to move the levers 64 of the device 65-06
in the direction of the arrow 78, Figure 9, to disengage the device 65-66, until
the mechanism comes into the position shewn in Figure 10. Then the spring 71,
previously pressed back, comes forwards, so that the edge 79 of the lever G4 rests
against the edge of the spring 71. If the safety device is to be returned into
the position shown in Figure 9, it is only necessary to press on the spring 71,
by means of the pin A adapted to pass through the orifice 77 of the plate, so
that the edge 79 of the lever 64 is set free. The lever 64 then goes back in
the direction of the arrow 80, until the edge 81 of the arm 64 rests against the
recessed part 82 of the spring 71.
When the device 65 is disengaged and it is desired to lock the bolt it is only
necessary to press on the pin 75 in the key guide pin, by means of the pin B
whereby the spring 46 is pressed downwards and disengages a pin 83, fixed to
the bolt 50, from the spring 46. The pin 83 engages in either final position into
holes 84 of the spring 46. The holt 50 may now be brought into locking position
shewn in Figure 3, by turning the key twice. For the withdrawal of the
bolt 50, the piece 54, turned back during the locking of the bolt 50,
is brought back into position ready for action, by pressure on the spring 57
exerted by the pin A. The pin 83 of the bolt is then disengaged by depressing
the spring, the bolt can then be drawn back by the key. To the bolt 50 is
further hinged a lever SS of suitable shape, the end 89 of which is operated
by the bit of the key and influences the catch piece 90. The end. 89 of the
lever 88 is situated in a recess on the edge of the bolt.
The bolt 51 consists of two pieces and moves vertically as before mentioned.
Its projecting end is guided in a casing 32, or its flange 92 respectively, secured
to the side of the casing 2. The casing 32 has recesses in which slide the
bolt 50 and the piece 90. The case 32 is provided with a sleeve 31, having
flanges 93 and 94 in which engages the shaft 16 of the handle 3. By pins in
the hollow of the sleeve and in recess 20 of the shaft 16 of the handle 3 the
sleeve 31 and flanges 93 and 94 are turned when the handle 3 is rotated.
The flange 93 forms a closing bottom of the sleeve 31 and it is provided
with two pins which when rotated engage in the recess 96 of the bolt 51. The
recesses on the parts of the bolt 51 which cover each other in this position, are
such, Figure S, that when the handle 3 and sleeve 31 are rotated, the pins 95
engage in the recesses 96 of the bolt 51. The recesses 96 fit over.
cach other in such a manner that the recesses 96 of one piece end
where the recesses of the other pieces commence, and that the recesses
of the ends are at the right and then at the left, SO that when
the sleeve 31 and pin 95 are turned, the parts of the bolt move in opposito
directions. Therefore when the pin 95 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 97:
the engagement of the left hand pin 95 with the lower part of the bolt 51 and
the engagement of the right hand pin 95 in the upper part of the bolt 51 will
move the parts of the holt in the direction of the arrow 98. The part of the
sleeve 31, situated between the flanges 93 and 94 is flattened at two places, in
order to allow of the passage of the piece 90 and parts belonging thereto.
Between this flattened place, but between the two collars is provided a pro-
jection 100 which, when the sleeve 31 is rotated, engages behind the movable
piece 99 (or its screw 105) of the catch piece 90 so that the latter can be with-

page_text: drawn by the rotation of the handle 3.
The piece 99 is operated by the key,
the bit of which rests against the end 89 of the lever 88 and turns the same
in the direction of the arrow 101, the pin 102 provided on the other end of
the lever 88, turns the piece 99; adapted to rotate in the piece 90; in the
direction of the arrow 103, so that the projection 100 withdraws the piece 90
in the direction of the arrow 104 when the sleeve 31 is turned. The piece 99
has a screw 105 at its free end which serves as a stop to the projection 100. A
spiral spring 107 provided on a pin 106 of the piece 90 and which bears against
the angle piece 108 forces the piece 90 to go back into locking position imme-
diately when the handle is set free. A pin 109 screwed into the piece 90
limits the throw of the piece 90 by striking against the casing 32.
The pins A and B provided respectively in the hollow shaft and bit of the
key are operated by collars C and D provided on the shaft and handle of the
key and subjected to spring pressure.
The operation of the lock is as follows:
For locking the lock it is first necessary in order to introduce the key, to
remove the devices closing the orifices for the insertion of the key. The first
device 21, which closes the key hole in the wall of the door is removed by
turning the handle 3 and thus causing, by the eccentric 30 and lever 29, the
bolt 26 to be set free so that the device 21 leaves the recess 27 of the shaft 22
under the action of the spring 34. Before the handle 3 or its equivalent can
be operated, it is necessary to adjust the plates 11 to the word or combination
of letters, so that the flat bar of the bolt 12 can enter all large recesses 8 of
the discs and leave the longitudinal nut 14 of the shaft 16. The key is now
inserted into the casing 23 and turned into such a position that the pin A pro-
jected from the key bit enters the hole 43 of the closing plate 24 and presses
downwards the projection 42 of the spring 41. When the key is now further
rotated, the pin A being held in the same position, the plate 24 is moved in
the direction of the arrow 44 until the key hole 40 of the closing plate 24
corresponds with the key hole 39 of the closing plate 28 of the lock casing 2.
The closing plate is held in this position by a pin 45 entering the lock casing 2,
the end of the pin being placed behind the flat piece 47. Now when the key
has been turned once in the casing 23, it is pushed into the lock casing 2, the
hollow shaft of the key sliding over the pin 73, and the pin B in the key is
pressed against the pin 75 in the hollow pin 73, so that the spring 46 is pressed
against the wall 2 of the casing and the operation of the bolt 50 is not prevented
by the pin 83, the latter being disengaged by the before mentioned operation
from the holes 84 of the spring. The bolt 50 can now be brought into locking
position by turning the key twice, the plates 49 being lifted. When the bolt 50
has arrived in its locking position, Figure 3, the piece 54 is brought into the
position shown in Figure 3 by turning the key again. By turning the handle 3
in the direction of the arrow 110, Figure 2, the bolt 51 is also brought into
locking position and its safety device is placed in position by the pin A pro-
jected from the bit of the key. First the orifice 77 in the plate 74 is sought
by the pin A and the spring 71 is pressed, whereby the projection 66 of the
lever 64, 65 enters the recess 67 of the corresponding plates, under the action
of the spring 69. The pin A is now slightly released, so that only the disc 74
is rotated, the arm 76 causing the safety device 85 to enter the recess 87 of the
bolt 51. Thus the lock is locked and all safety devices secured in position, the
operation of the catch piece being also prevented.
When it is now desired to open the lock, the safety devices are disengaged,
pressing the pin A by rotating the plate 74 and the armi 76, turning the device 85
around its pivot and removing it from the recess 87 of the bolt 51, then turning
the key and depressing the pin A further so as to move the arm 64 and pro-
jection 66 in the direction of the arrow 78, until the edge 79 engages with the
corresponding edge of the spring 71 and retains the lever 64, 65 in this position.
Then the disc is turned to the other side, and by the pressure of the pin A on

page_text: the spring 57 the piece 54 of the main bolt 50 is disengaged and the piece 54
is again subjected to the action of its spring 58 by the return of the projection 56
through the depression of the spring 57. Now by the pressure of the pin B
and pin 75 in the hollow pin 73 on the spring 46 the main bolt may be with-
drawn by the rotation of the key. The withdrawal of the bolt 51 is rendered
possible at the same time, and it is only necessary to press with the bit of the
key on the end 89 of the lever 88 to cause (simultaneously with the movement
of the piece 99 of the latch 90 in the direction of the arrow 104) the pro-
jection 100 of the sleeve 31 situated on the shaft 16 of the handle 3 to engage
with the pin 105 and thus to withdraw the latch 90 in the direction of the
arrow 104 the handle 3 being rotated to the right. The door can then be opened.
When there the key is withdrawn, the closing plate 24 returns into its previous
position under the action of its spring 48 and preceding pressure on the spring 46,
it is then only necessary to place the device 21 into the hole of the door and to
press the bolt 26 into the recess 27 of the shaft of the device 21 by the move-
ment of the piece 30 and the lever 29 through the handle 3.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is: --
1st. A safety lock for safes, strongrooms and the like having several bolts
operating in different directions, and which are dependent on each other, só
that after the disengagement of various safety devices by the operation of an
organ provided on one of the bolts, the catch of the lock is engaged with the
operating organs of the other bolts, so that the catch can be drawn back by the
handle and other devices for operating the other bolts, substantially as described.
2ndly. A safety lock for safes, strong rooms and the like, having a bolt 50
operated by a key and a bolt 51, operated by a rotary handle 3 which bolts are
connected to and dependent on each other so that when the safety device of the
rotary handle 3 has been disengaged in the manner of permutation locks, and
the key hole in the door 1 has been set free by the handle 3, and the key
after the setting free of the key hole of the casing 2, has effected the disengage-
ment of the safety devices of the tumblers and bolts 50-51 by the pins A B
the pressure of the bit of the key on a lever 88 hinged to the bolt 50, engages
a movable piece 99 of the catch 90 by mechanism operated by the rotary handle 3.
so that by turning the latter the withdrawal of the catch 90 can be effected
when the bolts 50, 51 have been unlocked, substantially as described.
3rd. A safety lock for safes, strong rooms and the like as claimed in Claim 1,
having a bolt 26, attached in the casing 23 on the rotary piece, and adapted to
be acted on by a cam 30 fixed to the shaft 16 of the rotary handle 3, in order
to engage in the recesses 27 of the shaft 22 of the device 21 to hold the latter
in the position for closing the keyhole, so that when the bolt 26 is disengaged
the spring 25 arranged on the shaft of the device 21, effects the removal of the
latter from the keyhole, substantially as described.
4th. A safety lock for safes strong rooms and the like, as claimed in Claim 1
having a plate 24 carried in the casing 23, and closing the keyhole 39 of the
lock casing, which plate 24 is operated, after a spring 41 has been disengaged
therefrom, in such a manner that the keyhole 40 therein is opposite to the
keyhole 39 in the lock casing to allow of the insertion of the key, a pin 45
in the plate 24 securing the mechanism in the final position, substantially as
described.
5th. A safety lock for safes strong rooms and the like as claimed in Claim 1,
having a sleeve 31, fixed to the shaft of the rotary handla and having at its
lower side two pins 95 arranged concentrically, which, engage in recesses of
the parts of the bolt 51, placed against each other, arranged oppositely to each
other the recesses 96 of one part commencing where the recesses. 96 of the lower
part end, so that when the rotary handle is rotated the parts of the bolt 51
diverge or converge substantially as described.

page_text: 6th. A safety lock for safes, strong rooms and the like, as claimed in Claim 1,
having a double lever 88 hinged to the bolt 50 and adapted to be acted on at
its end by the key, the other end turning a piece 99 movable in the catch 90
in such a manner that when the handle 3 and with it the sleeve 31 are turned,
a projection 100 provided between flanges 93, 94, bears against pin 105 of the
piece 99 to effect the withdrawal of the catch 90 substantially as described.
th. A safety lock for safes strong rooms and the like as claimed in Claim 1,
having a disc 74 with a bevelled edge, carrying the guiding pin 73 and arranged
in the plate 70 (on which are arranged the safety devices for the tumblers and
bolts 51), so that the pin B entering through the hole 75 of the plate 74 allows
a movement of the lever 64 and the safety device 66 of the tumblers 49 and
the operation of the safety devices 85 of the bolt, substantially as described.
Sth. A safety lock for safes, strong rooms and the like as claimed in Claims I
and 6, having an arm 70, fixed to the disc 74, which arm when rotated operates
a safety lever 85 subjected to spring pressure so that one end of the lever sets.
free the bolt 51, substantially as described.
9th. A safety lock for safes strong rooms and the like as claimed in Claim 1
having a safety device of the permutation class for the rotary handle of the
lock, in which discs are arranged on a sleeve 4 having a flange 5 and serving as
guide for the shaft 5 and supporting the rotary handle by the arrangement of
a bolt 19 guided in the flange 5 and engaging in a circular groove 18 of the
shaft, substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of December 1899.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.