IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS."-A communication from abroad by James
Sargent, of Rochester, New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 26th October 1869, and dated the 27th April 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 27th April 1869.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN Locks," a communication, to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to a lock provided with a set of circular plates
or tumblers, which by their position in relation to each other and to

page_text: certain parts of the mechanism prevent or permit the actuation of the
lock by a handle or knob outside the door wherein the said lock is
placed, which handle furnishes the only means of communication with
the interior of the lock from the outside of the door, the lock having
no keyhole or other aperture through which such communication could
be effected. The said handle is connected to the tumblers by a spindle,
and is furnished with a graduated scale the position of whose numbers
in relation to a fixed point or points on the lock case form the only
means for ascertaining in what manner the lock must be manipulated
to allow the door to be opened. The case of the lock may be of any
desired form.. On a stud fixed inside this case is fitted a wheel or
segment of a wheel which takes the place of the ordinary sliding bolt
used in common locks. It is usual in fire and burglar proof safes and
in other receptacles for valuables to furnish the same with an arrange-
ment of strong boltwork which is operated by a separate handle, the
bolt of the lock being arranged in combination with this boltwork
in such a manner that the bolts when forced into their sockets are
securely held by the lock bolt or released thereby as desired. The
periphery of this wheel, which projects through the case of the lock,
has a socket or opening of sufficient size and depth to receive the stem
of the boltwork when the same is retracted. By turning the wheel
the socket is brought within the case, and the solid part of the said
wheel is presented to the boltwork, which is thereby locked. The
interior of the wheel or segment is provided with a series of pins or
teeth which gear into a sliding rack bar; this bar is kept in position
as it slides to and fro by suitable guides. The sliding of the rack
bar gives motion to the turning bolt and adjusts it to permit or
prevent the action of the boltwork, as above described. To the inner
end of the rack bar is pivotted a lever which works up and down freely
over the set of circular tumblers. This lever carries at its long end
an armature of soft iron in the form of a flat plate; it also has a laterally
projecting dog or arm which rests over the top of the circular tumblers.
The said lever furthermore has a projecting catch which rides upon
the periphery of a cam on the outside tumbler. When the tumblers
are all adjusted to bring their notches in line or coincidence with each
other the dog will drop therein, and the catch will then be in such
a position as, to engage with a projection or nose on the said cam, by
the action of which the locking wheel is operated to release the bolt-
work. The motion of the bolt for securing the said boltwork is given

page_text: to it by turning the cam in the opposite direction, the projection striking
the end of the rack bar and forcing it forward, and by the same move-
ment of the cam the lever is raised and the tumblers released. Above
the said lever a magnet, preferably of the horse-shoe form, is pivotted in
such a position that the weight of the long end will cause it to fall. Its
movements are controlled by two stops, the lower one of which arrests
the end of the magnet a slight distance above the armature when the
lever is raised. In this position the attraction of the magnet for the
armature will elevate the lever and withdraw its dog from the tumblers.
The object of this arrangement is to keep the dog from contact with
the periphery of the tumblers. When the dog lies in contact with the
tumblers as in other combination locks the touch serves as an indication
to the burglar or lock-picker of the relative position of the tumblers
and a skilful operator will soon open the lock. By keeping the lever
cut of contact with the tumblers all possibility of ascertaining the
position thereof by any known means is entirely obviated. The magnet
is raised to break connection with the armature and allow the dog
to fall into the notches by a cam roller which passes under a curved
head extending down from the under side of the magnet. As soon
as the connection is broken the dog will fall into the notches and
remain therein till the lever is thrown up again, as before described,
when the connection of the magnet and armature will be again esta-
blished. In order to preserve the inductive power of the magnet the
two arms are connected by a cross bar. The inner end of the spindle
is provided with a screw thread on which the cam is screwed, and this
part of the spindle is notched or flattened on one side, and a clamp
picce or wedge fitted in a recess in the face of the cam is screwed therein
with its edge against the flat or notched surface of the spindle, thus
preventing the turning of the cam upon the spindle.
The object of this arrangement is to adapt the parts to doors of
greater or less thickness, which is done by adjusting the cam upon the
screwed part of the spindle and then clamping it, as described. The
cam is provided with a stud or projection which when the same is turned
in either direction comes in contact with a stud on the outer tumbler
and turns the same. The tumblers are constructed in two parts, one
turning or adjusting within the other to change the combination. The
outer part is provided with the notch or recess, and the inner part
carries a stud or pin whereby the motion is communicated from one

page_text: cam.
tumbler to the other. When the lock is used these two parts must
be secured together, but to allow of the desired adjustment they must
be capable of temporary disconnection. For the fastening of the inner
or central part to the outer I employ two levers of a flat curved form,
so as to lie conveniently within the rim of the outer part of the tumbler
to which they are pivotted. The short ends of such levers bear upon a
spring surrounding the boss or centre of the inner part of the tumbler,
while the long ends extend around to the opposite side of the tumbler
into contact with a double-acting cam, through whose centre extends
a square socket wherein is inserted the shank of a key for turning the
By adjusting this cam in such a manner as to force the levers
apart the same are caused to bind tightly upon the spring and thus
secure the two parts of the tumbler together, and by turning the said
cam a quarter of a revolution the parts are disconnected. This key
is inserted through all of the tumblers at once, which are thus all
tightened or released at the same time by the turning of the key a
quarter of a revolution. In order to prevent the turning of the cam
by the key too far around I provide the latter with a flat feather or fin
and place stops in the back plate of the lock. By this means all the
levers are adjusted at once, and the combination may then be changed
by simply holding the outer parts of the tumblers stationary by the
key, while the inner parts are moved to the desired position by the
spindle, the numbers on the handle which then coincide with the fixed
point or index indicating the position to which the tumblers must be
adjusted to allow the door to be opened. After setting the lock the
handle may be turned in either direction, but will have no effect upon
the lock unless the correct numbers are brought in the correct order
opposite to the index point. The spindle or shaft of the knob or handle
passes through a boss or tube which forms the bearing for the tumblers
and is coupled with the spindle inside the plating of the safe door by
a small screw on one part which fits a socket on the other part, the
said screw being held by a small pin passing through the same, and
the socket. If an attempt is made to pull out the spindle by the
application of force to the knob these parts of the spindle will separate,
and when thus separated no force can be applied to the head of the
spindle, which is imbedded in the plating. On the other hand to prevent
the driving in of the spindle it is made conical with a series of off-sets
or shoulders, which before the spindle could be forced inward must
cut their way into the metal; thus great resistance is offered to such

page_text: driving action, and at the same time the shoulders prevent the rebound
which would occur if the sum of the off-sets were aggregated in one
square shoulder. This conical spindle provided with the off-sets may
be applied to operate the boltwork, in which case it may be used with
the locking mechanism herein-before described or with other locking
mechanism.
Instead of employing a magnet as above described, I may connect
with the dog which falls into the notches of the tumblers the following
arrangement of parts for elevating and retaining the said dog out of
contact with the tumblers in all positions of the same except when the
notches thereof are in line with each other, as above described. In the
said arrangement a pawl is pivotted at one end to the case, and provided
with a hook that works under a stud on the dog. The said pawl is
actuated and held by means of an arm provided at one end with a pin
or bearing which rests in a slot at the free end of the pawl, the said
arm being pivotted at its opposite end to the lock case. This arm has
also a curved bearing upon which the cam roller acts when the cam
is turned, as before described, and thus raises the arm and withdraws
the pawl gradually from under the stud, allowing the dog to drop into
the notches when the tumblers are properly set.
In some cases where great security is not required and where a more
simple lock will answer the desired purpose, I may construct my
improved lock without either the magnet or the automatic arrangement,
and instead of using the conical spindle I may use an ordinary parallel
spindle with a square shoulder. The rack bar may also be dispensed
with, the connections between the cam and locking wheel being made.
through a lever pivotted to the said wheel.
0
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 27th October 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her
special licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Robert Lake, 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 of "IMPROVEMENTS IN Locks," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors or ad-
ministrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly 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 immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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 following statement, reference being bad to the accompanying
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
My Invention relates to a lock provided with a set of circular plates
or tumblers, which by their position in relation to each other and to
certain parts of the mechanism prevent or permit the actuation of the
lock by a handle or knob outside the door wherein the said lock is
placed, which handle furnishes the only means of communication with
the interior of the lock from the outside of the door, the lock having
no keyhole or other aperture through which such communication could
be effected. The said handle is connected to the tumblers by a spindle,
and is furnished with a graduated scale the position of whose numbers
in relation to a fixed point or points on the lock case form the only
means for ascertaining in what manner the lock must be manipulated
to allow the door to be opened.

page_text: to show the mechanism thereof; Figure 2 is a section on the line x, x,
Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the mechanism of the said lock
detached and with shape of parts slightly modified; Figure 4 is a top
view of the same.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, illustrate detached portions of my Invention.
Figure 10 is a back view of a lock with the plate or cover removed
illustrating a modification of my Invention; Figure 11 is a top view
of parts of the said lock.
Figure 12 is a back interior view of another modification of the said
lock; Figure 13 shows the handle and spindle of the same. Like letters
indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
I will first describe the arrangement of parts illustrated in Figures
1, 2, 3, 4. The case a of the lock may be of any desired form. On a
stud 6 fixed inside this case is fitted a wheel c, which takes the place
of the ordinary sliding bolt used in common locks. It is usual in fire
and burglar proof safes, and in other receptacles for valuables, to furnish
the same with an arrangement of strong boltwork, which is operated by
a separate landle, the bolt of the lock being arranged in combination
with this boltwork in such a manner that the bolts when forced into
their sockets are securely held by the lock bolt or released thereby as
desired. I have shown in Figure 1 the stem A of such boltwork, and
the periphery of the wheel c, which projects through the case of the
lock, has a socket or opening c¹ of sufficient size to receive the said stem
when the boltwork is retracted. By turning the wheel c the socket c'
is brought within the case a, and the solid part of the said wheel is
presented to the boltwork, which is thereby locked. The interior of the
wheel c is provided with a series of pins or teeth d, which gear into a
sliding rack bar e; this bar is kept in position as it slides to and fro by
suitable guides f. The sliding of the rack bar e gives motion to the
turning bolt c, and adjusts it to permit or prevent the action of the bolt-
work, as above described. To the inner end of the rack bar e is pivotted
a lever
which works up and down freely over the set of circular
tumblers ; this lever carries at its long end an armature g¹ of soft iron
in the form of a flat plate. It also has a laterally projecting dog or
دلا

page_text: I
arm g, which rests over the top of the circular tumblers h. The said
lever furthermore has a projecting catch g³, which rides upon the
periphery of a cam i on the outside tumbler. When the tumblers h
are all adjusted to bring their notches in line or coincidence with
each other, as shewn in Figure 4, the dog g will drop therein and the
catch g³ will then lie in such a position as to engage with a projection
or nose ¹ on the said cam, by the action of which the locking wheel or
bolt c is operated to release the boltwork. The motion of the wheel or
bolt c for securing the said boltwork is given to it by turning the cam i
in the opposite direction, the projection striking the end of the rack
bar e and forcing it forward, and by the same movement of the cam i
the lever g is raised and the tumblers / released. Above the said lever
a magnet j, preferably of the horse-shoe form, as shown in Figure 6,
is pivotted at j* in such a position that the weight of the long end will
cause it to fall. Its movements are controlled by two stops k, the lower
one of which arrests the end of the magnet j a slight distance above the
armature g¹ when the lever g is raised. In this position the attraction
of the magnet for the armature g¹ will elevate the lever g and withdraw
its dog from the tumblers 7, as shewn in Figure 1. The object of this
arrangement is to keep the dog g² from contact with the periphery of
the said tumblers. When the dog lies in contact with the tumblers, as
in other combination locks, the touch serves as an indication to the
burglar or lock picker of the relative position of the tumblers, and a
skilful operator will soon open the lock. By keeping the lever out of
contact with the tumblers all possibility of ascertaining the position
thereof by any known means is entirely prevented. The magnet jis
raised to break connection with the armature g¹ and allow the dog y² to
fall into the notches, as shewn in Figure 3, by a cam roller which
passes under a curved head extending down from the under side of
the magnet j. As soon as the connection is broken the dog g², if the
notches have been brought in line by forming the right combination,
will fall into the notches h', and remain therein till the lever g is thrown
up again as before described, when the connection of the magnet and
armature will be again established. In order to preserve the inductive
power of the magnet the two arms are connected by a cross bar . The
inner end of the spindle m is provided with a screw thread on which
the cam i is screwed, and this part of the spindle is notched or flattened
on one side, and a clamp piece or wedge m* fitted in a recess in the
face of the cam i is secured therein with its edge against the flat or

page_text: notched surface of the spindle, thus preventing the turning of the cam
upon the spindle.
The object of this arrangement is to adapt the parts to doors of greater
or less thickness, which is done by adjusting the cam i upon the screwed
part of the spindle m, and then clamping it as described. The cam i
is provided with a stud or projection, which when the same is turned
in either direction comes in contact with a stud on the outer tumbler
and turns the same. The tumblers are constructed in two parts h³, h³,
one turning or adjusting within the other to change the combination.
The outer part is provided with the notch or recess h', and the inner
part carries a stud or pin whereby the motion is communicated
from one tumbler to the other. When the lock is used these two parts
must be secured together, but to allow of the desired adjustment they
must be capable of temporary disconnection.
For the fastening of the inner or central part to the outer part I
employ two levers n of a flat curved form, see Figure 5, so as to lie con-
veniently within the rim of the outer part 2 of the tumber to which
they are pivotted at n. The short ends of these levers n bear upon a
spring o surrounding the boss or centre of the inner part of the
tumbler, while the long ends extend around to the opposite side of
the, tumbler into contact with a double-acting cam p, through whose
centre extends a square socket p', wherein is inserted the shank of a
key B for turning the cam. By adjusting this cam p in such a manner
as to force the levers n apart the same are caused to bind tightly upon
the spring o, and thus secure the two parts 2, 3, of the tumbler
together, and by turning the said cam a quarter of a revolution the said
parts are disconnected. This key is inserted through the keyhole o' and
through all of the tumblers h at once, which are thus all tightened or
released at the same time by the turning of the key a quarter of a revo-
lution. In order to prevent the turning of the cam p by the key B
too far around I provide the latter with a flat feather or fin B', and
place stops a* on the cover or back plate a', in which the keyhole o' is
formed, see Figure 8. By this means all the levers n are adjusted at
once, and the combination may then be changed by simply holding the
outer parts of the tumblers stationary by the key while the inner parts
are moved to the desired position by the spindle. As each tumbler is
thus changed the number on the handle q, see Figure 7, which then
coincides with the fixed point or index on the rim q', must be noted, as

page_text: these numbers indicate the position to which the tumblers must be
adjusted to allow the door to be opened. After setting the lock the
handle q may be turned in either direction, but will have no effect upon
the lock unless the correct numbers are brought in their correct order
opposite to the index point. It will be seen in Figure 7 that the
numbers do not extend entirely around the handle q. The object of
leaving a portion of the same blank is to increase the security of the
lock. This blank space is arranged to come opposite the index at the
time when the magnet is raised, and allows the projection g³ to rest on
the cam, and as the tumblers are never adjusted to open the lock in this
position no advantage can be taken of this slight contact of the parts.
The spindle or shaft m of the knob or handle q passes through a boss or
tube a, which forms the bearing for the tumblers, and the outer
part m of the said spindle is coupled with the part inside the plating of
the safe door by a small screw m² on one part which fits a socket on the
other part, the said screw being held by a small pin m³ passing through
the same and the socket. If an attempt is made to pull out the spindle
by the application of force to the knob q these weak parts of the spindle
will separate, and when thus separated no force can be applied to the
head of the spindle, which, as shewn in Figure 2, is embedded in the
plating C. On the other hand to prevent the driving in of the spindle
it is made conical with a series of off-sets or shoulders m', which before
the spindle could be forced inward must cut their way into the metal;
thus great resistance is offered to such driving action, and at the same
time the shoulders m' prevent the rebound which would occur if the
sum of the off-sets were aggregated in one square shoulder. This conical
spindle provided with the off-sets may be applied to operate the separate
boltwork of the safe, herein-before mentioned, in which case it may be
used with my improved locking mechanism or with other locking
mechanism.
Instead of employing a magnet, as above described, I may connect
with the dog which falls into the notches of the tumblers the arrange-
ment of parts illustrated in Figure 10 for clevating and retaining
the said dog out of contact with the tumblers h in all positions of the
same, except when the notches thereof are in line with each other, as
above described. In the said arrangement a pawl is pivotted at one
end to the case a, and provided with a hook that works under a
stud on the dog lever g. The said pawl is actuated and held by

page_text: means of an arms provided at one end with a pin or bearing & which
rests in a slot at the free end of the pawl r, the said arm being
pivotted at to the lock case a. This arm has also a curved bearing &³,
upon which the cam roller acts when the cam i is turned, as before
described, and thus raises the arm 8 and withdraws the pawl gradually
from under the stud g*, allowing the dog to drop into the notches /
when the tumblers h are properly set.
In some cases where great security is not required, and where a more
simple lock will answer the desired purpose, I may construct my
improved lock, as shewn in Figure 12, without either the magnet or the
automatic arrangement, and instead of using the conical spindle m I
may use an ordinary parallel spindle with a square shoulder t¹, see
Figure 13. The rack bar e may also be dispensed with, the connection
between the cam i and locking segment c being made through a lever u
which carries the dog g and is pivotted to the said wheel at u'. When
the tumblers have been properly adjusted the dog will fall into the
notches ', and the segment c (which in this case is used instead of the
wheel c shewn in Figures 1, 3, and 10) is turned back, as already
described.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,―
First. The turning bolt or wheel c separated and isolated in action
from the tumblers h, and so arranged that any strain brought to bear
upon
it by the stem of the boltwork of the safe will not disarrange the
said tumblers, substantially as set forth.
Second. The turning bolt or wheel c, rack bar e, and lever g, com-
bined and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose
specified.
Third. Adjusting the spindle m to doors of different thickness by
means of the notch at the end thereof and the clamp piece m*, sub-
stantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with the mechanism of a lock of a magnet
for keeping the dog from the tumblers, substantially as specified.
Fifth. The devices illustrated in Figure 10 combined and operating
together for elevating and retaining the dog out of contact with the
tumblers h, substantially as described.

page_text: Sixth. The brake levers n having short arms bearing upon the move-
able centre of the tumbler, and long arms expanded by the double-acting
cam p, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.
Seventh. The shoulders or stops a* when combined with the tumblers h
and key B, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The off-sets or cutting edges m' upon the surface of the conical
spindle arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for
the purpose specified.
Ninth. The conical spindle m with the off-sets m' in combination with
the ordinary boltwork of a safe, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The combination of parts illustrated in Figure 13, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.