Improvements in Permutation-locks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1892-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Permutation-locks.
We, RICHARD BARRETT, LEOPOLD ERNIST SCHNEIDER, and AUGUST
WIERICH all of Galena, County of Jo Daviess, and State of Illinois, United
States of America, Gentlemen, 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide a permutation or combination lock
adapted for use especially upon house doors, the room-doors of hotels, &c.
With this object in view the invention consists in the lock having its parts
constructed and combined as hereinafter specified.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lock.
Fig. 2 is a plan view with one of the sides plates of the case and parts attached
thereto removed.
Fig. 3 is a section on the line a x of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line y y of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of some of the parts removed from the case, and
Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the bell or alarm-ringing-device.
The lock, as shown, is designed to be secured to the inner face of the door, and
its casing A may be of any suitable construction. At or near its vertical center is
the latch-bolt B, projected normally outward by a spring band having, as usual a
beveled face b' to enable it to be moved inward when forced against the usual
keeper. At its inner end said latch-bolt is expanded in width, where there is
provided a substantially rectangular slot or recess 62, one of whose end walls is
adapted to be engaged by either of two oppositely-extending arms c c on a knob-
spindle C, whereby the bolt may be moved against the stress of the spring 6 to
disengnge the bolt from the keeper. The knob-spindle C does not pass through the
lock at both sides, but projects on one side only into the room on whose door the
lock is placed and is designed to permit the operation of the lock from the inside.
The two arms c c are provided to enable the latch to be shifted whichever may be
the direction the knob may be turned, and preferably the wall engaged by said
arms is a convex surface. The latch-bolt may at all times be shifted from within
the compartment by simply turning the knob-spindle C. A second knob-spindle D
projects from within the lock outwardly and is designed for use on the outside.
This spindle D is in the same horizontal plane, but not in a line axially with the
inner spindle C, and adapted to be operated by it is the series of circular tumblers
or disks E, F, G, and H, four in number, and provided each with a radial slot.
The first-named E has a cylindrical hub e, upon which the others are placed, and is
actuated directly by the spindle D for this purpose, being at the end of the hub
away from the disk provided with an angular cavity e, with which a similar
angular formation d on the knob-spindle can engage. The disks F and G are
journaled loosely upon the hub e, so as to be capable of rotation thereon inde-
pendently of each other and so that there may be an independent rotation of the
disk E. The disk H, which is the outer one of the series, is fixed upon the disk-
hub e, so as to rotate only when the same is rotated by means of a short radial
pin e³, engaging a notch in the disk. The other disks E, F, and G are the lock
umblers proper while the disk H has a special function, which will be hereinafter
referred to.
In the face of the disk E adjacent to the disk F is an annular cavity e, in whose
bottom is an annular series of holes, in any one of which may be placed a pin or
crew e*, and a similar annular cavity f is provided in each face of the disk F, and

page_text: one in the face of the disk G, next the disk F. In each of these cavities are
provided pins or screws adapted to be placed in certain positions relative to the
radial slots in the tumblers to effect, by engagement with each other in the well-
known way, the placing of the slots in alignment with each other, and a reciprocable
piece or stump connected with the sliding bolt or latch, whereby the latter is enabled
to be actuated.
Journaled axially in line with the spindle D is a sleeve I, the journaling méans
being at one end of the lock-casing side or wall and at the other an annular cavity
in the end of the hube of the tumbler E, into which a reduced portion of said
sleeve extends. The opening (Fig. 6) in said sleeve is angular in cross-section,
conforming to the angular portion on the spindle D, and is designed to be
engaged by the latter, which for this purpose is susceptible of a longitudinal
movement.
The sleeve I is provided with two diametrically-extending arms, with which
the two arms k k of a sliding U-shaped piece K are adapted to engage, said arms
having inturned or hook-shaped portions for this purpose. The piece K is movable
by the rotation of the sleeve I when the knob spindle D is turned, and its movement
is imparted to the latch-bolt by means of an arm i³, attached thereto and extending
from it to the bolt in a line parallel with the knob-spindle. The free end of the
arm engages with one end of a slot 63 in the bolt B. and preferably the engaging
part is in the form of an under-cut notch ³ in the arm. The provision of the two
arms on the sleeve is to enable the latch-bolt to be thrown whether the door-knob
be turned one way or the other.
The tumblers or disks are confined in place by means of an arm or extension i
of a plate L, attached to a block or piece M, arranged near one side of the lock.
An opening in said arm journals one end of the disk-hub e, while a cylindrical
boss or projection on the disk has a bearing in the lock-casing wall. The block M
serves in part to journal or furnish bearing for the spindle C, which passes through
the same, and said block is recessed to accommodate the arms con said spindle and
the contiguous portion of the latch-bolt. The periphery of each tumbler E, F,
and G is formed into a series of teeth e, convex in shape, between which is a slight
space, and for each tumbler is provided a flat spring N, secured to one end of the
block M, which at its free end carries a tooth or lug n to engage said teeth. The
latter in passing over the lug n will cause a distinct sound or click and constitutes
the means for working the combination, which is done by counting the previously-
determined number of clicks upon turning the knob-spindle in the previously-
determined direction. The spring, insures that when the tumbler has reached its
proper position it will be securely held thereat against accidental movement likely.
from the friction of the adjacent moving parts.
To indicate the point at which it is necessary to begin to count the number of
clicks or sounds to work the combination there is provided an alarm mechanism
operated by the disk H hereinafter described. Said disk has upon its outer face a
projecting pin or stud adapted, when the disk is turned in the proper direction
the required degree, to engage with and trip an arm o, depending from a rock-
shaft O, that is journaled in a bracket P, which is secured to the side wall of the
lock-case and in an opening in the said wall, through which it extends a short
distance to the outside of the case. On such outer end the shaft carries a hammer Q
adapted, when the shaft is rocked by the disk H, to be struck against a bell S by a
coiled spring o¹ mounted on the shaft O, said spring being placed under tension by
the rocking of the shaft. If the disk H be turned reversely to its proper direction,
the pin will engage the face of the arm o, which is beveled, and move it and its
shaft to one side in the direction of the length of the shaft which, latter is made
longitudinally movable, and the bell therefore will not be rung. A lug p, depending
from the bracket P, serves to limit the movement of the trip-arm after engage-
ment by the pin on its return under the power of the spring to ring the bell.
The bell is supported from an arm that is suitably secured to and projects from the
lock-case.

page_text: To enable the lock to be used from the outside without the necessity of operating
the combination device, the inner end of the knob-spindle D is reduced in diameter
to form an annular flange d' which when the spindle is pushed to the inner limit of
its motion is adapted to be engaged and held by a vertically-movable bar or plate R,
held to the outer side of the lock-casing by two screws rr, which pass through
elongated slots in the plate. In the latter is an opening having an upper portion,
circular and of such a diameter as to permit the passage of the flange d' on the
spindle, and an elongated portion 2, narrower than the flange so that when said
plate is moved upward the flange will be engaged by its wall or edges and the spindle
locked against longitudinal movement. When the spindle is moved inward, as
above stated, its angular portion passes out of engagement with the angular cavity
in the disk-hube and into the angular opening in the sleeve. A suitable knob is
attached to the plate R, by which to move it and to hold it against accidental
displacement in its lowered position with its circular opening in line with the
spindle, and in its raised spindle-locking position it is provided on one of its edges
with two depressions adapted each to be engaged by a flat springs, attached to the
casing-plate.
We provide the device with a bolt or dead-lock T, arranged to slide in the case
just above and parallel with the latch, which is adapted to be thrown outward by a
thumb-piece t, arranged to connect with the bolt from the top of the lock case on
the outside thereof, by means of a long screw, whose inner end passes into the bolt.
On its rear end the latter has a downwardly-extended arm T' which when the bolt
is thrown outward to locking position is adapted to be engaged by the arm c con
the spindle C and moved inward simultaneously with the latch-bolt. The parts of
the two bolts engaged by the arms c c of course are disposed in different planes.
It may be remarked that the dead-lock or bolt T is operative only from within the
door and is not movable by the combination-spindle. When either in or out, said
bolt is locked yieldingly by a flat spring U, which engages either of two notches in
its face.
The operation of the lock is as follows: From within it is necessary simply to
turn the knob, as with locks of ordinary.construction, to shift the spring-actuated
latch-bolt, B, movement of the latter independent of and without affecting the
permutation mechanism being possible by the provision of the slot 62, when the
arm of said mechanism engages the bolt. To operate the bolt from the outside,
the permutation-spindle D is turned, say to the right until the alarm-bell is struck
through the trip device operated by the disk H, and then from this as a starting-
point the spindle is turned the pre-determined number of clicks or sounds and in
the proper direction until the several radial slots are in alignment with each other
and the arm 2 of the latch-bolt-movement device. When this is accomplished, the
spindle is slid inward, so that its angular portion is removed out of the angular
portion of the hub of the disk or tumbler E, thereby leaving the tumblers in such
position and moved into the angular opening in the sleeve. Then by turning the
spindle either to the right or left the latch-bolt will be drawn as the arm 2 of the
permutation mechanism will pass into the radial slots. To lock said bolt against
movement, it is necessary simply to draw the spindle D outward to its former
position and turn it sufficiently to destroy the coincidence of the radial slots of the
disks.
The combination can be varied as desired simply by shifting the positions of the
pins or screws in the tumblers, all of which, including the bell ringing disk being
alike capable of being differently located for this end.
The lock is entirely adapted for use on doors particularly in view of the use of
sound as an indicating means, instead of employing a dial, which necessitates light.
The door is never locked to one on the inside and it can very readily be arranged
so that resort need not be had to the combination to open froin the outside.
The bell may be used as a call-bell and will always give notice that the lock is
being manipulated.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :
1. The combination, in a permutation-lock, of a casing, a locking-bolt therein, a
spindle D, journaled in the casing and provided with a knob, a sleeve e, journaled
on the spindle and carrying rigidly a toothed tumbler-disk, one or more toothed
tumbler-disks journaled loosely thereon, all the disks being provided with shifting-
pins on their adjacent faces and radial slots, clicking springs engaging the teeth on
the disks, an arm engaging the sliding-locking-bolt and adapted to enter the radial
slots in the disks, and means for operating this arm to withdraw the bolt, as and
for the purpose described.
2. In a permutation door-lock, the combination of a casing, a sliding bolt therein,
a longitudinally-movable spindle journaled in the casing and having an angular
formation at a suitable point in its length, a sleeve journaled on the spindle and
carrying a series of tumblers, a sleeve surrounding the spindle and journaled axially
in line with the tumbler-carrying sleeve, the two sleeves having the openings in
their adjacent ends formed angular to receive the angular formation on the spindle
and means connecting the latter sleeve to the sliding bolt, as and for the purpose
described.
3. In a permutation door-lock, the combination of a casing, a sliding bolt therein,
a longitudinally-movable spindle journaled in the casing and having an angular
formation at a suitable point in its length, a sleeve journaled on the spindle and
carrying a series of tumblers, a sleeve surrounding the spindle and journaled axially
in line with the tumbler-carrying sleeve, the two sleeves having the openings in
their adjacent ends formed angular to receive the angular formation on the spindle,
the latter sleeve being provided with oppositely-projecting arms, a sliding U-shaped
part K, having its arms in engagement with said oppositely-projecting arms, and
provided with an arm 2, engaging a slot in the bolt, substantially as described.
4.. In a permutation-lock, the combination of a casing, a slotted sliding bolt B
therein a longitudinally-movable spindle having one end journaled in the casing and
its outer end provided with a knob, a sleeve on the spindle carrying a radially-
slotted tumbler-disk, an independent sleeve embracing the end of the spindle and
adapted to be rotated thereby, a sliding part adapted to be moved by the rotation
of this sleeve, this sliding part being provided with an arm engaging the bolt and
adapted to enter the radial slots in the disks, and an independent spindle C, having
one of its ends journaled in the casing and provided with a part engaging the
sliding bolt and its other or outer end carrying an operating knob, substantially as
described.
5. In a permutation-lock, the combination of a casing, a sliding bolt and means
for operating the same, a spindle journaled in the casing and carrying a series of
radially-slotted disks, the inner disk being provided with a pin h¹, a rock-shaft O,
journaled in the casing and provided with a trip-arm adapted to engage said pin h¹
and a bell-hammer and a gong or bell attached to the lock, substantially as
described.
6. In a permutation-lock, the combination of a casing, a sliding bolt and means
for operating it a spindle journaled in the casing and carrying a series of tumbler-
disks, one of said disks being provided with projection h' a longitudinally-movable
rock-shaft O, journaled in the casing and actuated by a spring, said rock-shaft
being provided at one end with a beveled arm, adapted to be engaged by the pin.h,
and at its other end with a bell-hammer, and a bell or gong, substantially, as
described.
7. In a permutation-lock, the combination of a casing, a sliding bolt therein, a
longitudinally-movable spindle having one of its ends journaled therein and provided
with a flange, permutation devices on the spindle a bolt-shifting device adapted, to
be operated by the spindle, an adjustable plate on the casing this plate being

page_text: slotted to engage the flange on the spindle and thereby lock the spindle in
engagement with the bolt shifting devices, substantially as described.
8. The combination of a casing, an independent outside spindle D, having its
inner end journaled therein and carrying a series of slotted tumbler-disks, means for
operating and controlling these disks, a sliding locking-bolt B, provided with
slots on opposite sides of the spindle, an arm 2, loosely engaging the slot 6³
means on the spindle for operating this arm in withdrawing the bolt B, an inde-
pendent inside spindle C, having its outer end journaled in the casing alongside the
spindle D, said inner end being provided with an arm c, working in and engaging
the slot 62 in the bolt B, whereby the latter may be withdrawn independently of
the permutation devices, and a sliding dead-lock bolt T in the casing, this bolt
being provided with an arm T', engaging the sliding bolt B, substantially as
described as and for the purpose specified.
9. In a permutation-lock, in combination a locking bolt, permutation devices, a
bolt shifting device, a spindle for operating the latter and the permutation devices,
and an independent device to hold said spindle out of engagement with the
permutation devices and lock it in engagement with the bolt-shifting device and
means for holding said device in its locked position substantially as described.
10. In a permutation-lock, in combination, a suitable bolt, permutation devices, a
bolt-shifting device, a longitudinally-movable spindle for operating both these, and
an independent sliding plate for engaging the spindle to lock it in engagement with
the bolt-shifting device.
11. In a lock, in combination, a locking-bolt a series of radially-slotted rotary
tumblers, the spindle for operating them, the armed sleeve journaled axially in line
with the spindle, the movable piece engaging the sleeve-arms, the arm extending
from said piece to co-operate with the slots of the tumblers and having a loose
connection with the locking-bolt, and the second spindle engaging the latter, sub-
stantially as described.
1
1000
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.