Improvements in Locking Mechanism for Safes and Strong Room Doors.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locking Mechanism for Safes and Strong Room
Doors.
We,
STEPHEN Cox and STEPHEN Cox Junior, trading together in copartner-
ship as Stephen Cox and Son, of Dudley Road Safe Works, Sedgley in the County
of Stafford, Safe Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :-
This invention has for its object improved means for preventing a safe or strong
room being broken into by wedging outwards from the edges of the door the parts
into which the bolts are shot in fastening the door.
This is accomplished, according to this invention, by means of bolts formed
T-headed or otherwise having parts projecting transversely at their outer ends to
form elongated heads, which, when the door is to be fastened, are first shot out from
the edges of the door and the heads thus passed through correspondingly shaped
holes in the angle iron or other framing, and are then turned axially to turn the
projections of the heads behind such angle iron or framing. The heads thus securely
hold the parts into which the bolts are shot against any attempt to wedge them
out. The invention may be applied to bolts shot out from one side or from the top
or bottom edge of the door only, or from both side edges, or from both the top and
bottom edges, or from both the side edges and also the top and bottom edges.
In describing a convenient method of carrying out the invention, I will do so
first, for the sake of simplicity, as applied to the case of bolts shot out from one
edge of the door only. The shank of each bolt is formed round, and the head
round-ended of a length to project equally above and below the shank, previously
to the bolt being turned axially as above described, and of the width of the shank.
The shank passes through a round hole in the edge of the door, and through a
round hole in a carrier bar which is within the door, and is a turning fit within such
holes;
and a recess is formed in the edge of the door to receive the head flush
therewith when the bolt is drawn in. A collar is fixed on the shauk at the inner
face of the carrier bar, and an arm is fixed on a square part of the shank immedi-
ately at the back of the carrier bar. One carrier bar is employed for all the bolts
along the same edge of the door. The carrier bar is fixed to a bar at right angles
thereto which is gated to be operated by a follower turned by a central handle.
As, therefore, the gated bar is moved in one direction by the follower all the bolts
are shot out, and as such bar is moved in the opposite direction all the bolts are
drawn back again. A secondary bar, parallel with the carrier bar, is connected
with the arms of the bolt shanks through the medium of pins engaging in slots, or
through the medium of a rod connected with all the arms and itself connected with
the secondary bar by means of a piu engaging with a slot, or in other convenient
manner; and this bar has a gating within which the follower engages immediately
it passes out of contact with the other gated bar. The follower thus first moves the
first mentioned gated bar and shoots out the bolts, and as it is further turned in
the same direction it moves the secondary bar endways and thus turns axially all the
bolts and brings the projecting heads behind the angle iron or other framing through
holes in which the bolts bave been shot out. These holes are, of course, shaped
similarly to the bolt heads. For greater security, a stump carried by the secondary
bar enters, when such bar is moved to turn the bolts, into a corresponding notch in
the gated bar which is fixed to the carrier bar. The whole mechanism is finally
securely locked by a bolt shot out by means of a key into a notch in the secondary
bar. The unlocking is, of course, effected by the reverse movements to those above
desoxibed

page_text: The apparatus above described may be duplicated for simultaneously throwing
out and turning bolts on the opposite edge of the door, except that in such case a
single key-lock will suffice, and the follower may be formed double-armed.
If it is desired to similarly operate bolts at the two remaining edges of the door
also, the carrier and secondary bars therefor may be operated by means of cranks 5
from the corresponding bars which are used for operating the bolts of the other
edges.
Dated this 11th day of February 1809
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locking Mechanism for Safes and Strong Room
Doors.
We, STEPHEN Cox and STEPHEN Cox, Junior, trading together in copartner-
ship as Stephen Cox and Son, of Dudley Road Safe Works, Sedgley in the County
of Stafford, Safe Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :—
This invention has for its object improved means for preventing a safe or strong
room being broken into by wedging outwards from the edges of the door the parts
into which the bolts are shot in fastening the door.
This is accomplished, according to this invention, by means of bolts formed
T-headed, or otherwise having parts projecting transversely at their outer ends to
form elongated heads, which, when the door is to be fastened, are first shot out from
the edges of the door and the heads thus passed through correspondingly-shaped
holes in the angle iron or other framing, and are then turned axially to turn the pro-
jections of the heads behind such angle iron or framing. The heads thus securely
hold the parts into which the bolts are shot against any attempt to wedge them out.
A convenient method of carrying out this invention is illustrated by the drawings
herewith, which shew, for the sake of simplicity, the invention as applied in the case
of a door in which the bolts are shot out from the side edges only, and such an
arrangement will usually be found to be all that is required; but, as more fully
presently explained, the bolts may be shot out from the top and bottom edges of
the door also and be capable of being turned for interlocking with the frame.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings herewith are front elevations of a safe door
with the invention applied thereto, and with the front plate of the door removed to
expose the interior mechanism. Figure 1 shews the bolt heads to be drawn back
to allow of the door being opened out or closed in; Figure 2 shews the bolt heads
to be shot out from the edges of the door but not turned to interlock them with the
frame; Figure 3 shews the bolts to be both shot out and turned so as to interlock
with the frame;
Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on line xx of Figure 3, and shews the
frame also in section;
Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line y y of Figure 3; and
Figure 6 is an inside elevation of a portion of the frame shewing two of the holes
through which the bolt heads are shot out previously to being turned transversely
behind the frame.
The same letters of reference, wherever occurring throughout the several views,
. indicate the same parts.
Each bolt A is formed with a T head a, and a round shank a¹. The head a
projects, preferably, an equal distance on opposite sides of the shank, but is con-
veniently made of the width only of the shank. The shank a¹ passes through a

page_text: round hole in the edge of the door, and through a round hole also in a carrier
bar B which is inside the door. A carrier bar B is arranged on each side of the
interior of the door, as shewn, and each such bar receives the shanks of all the
bolts on the same side of the door. Each bolt is capable of turning both in
the edge of the door and in the carrier bar through which it passes. Recesses are
formed in the edges of the door, as indicated by broken lines, to receive the heads
of the bolts when the same are drawn in, so that the outer ends of the bolts may be
flush with the outer edges of the door. The bolts are shot outwards and drawn
inwards by means of the bars B, and for this purpose the portions of the shanks a¹
which pass through the bars are reduced in diameter, and the bars are formed in
halves so as to be placed around such reduced portions of the shanks and are
screwed together by means of screws b. Each carrier bar is fixed to a bar C at
right angles thereto, which is gated, as shewn, to be operated by a follower D
turned by the spindle of a central handle which projects from the face of the door.
The bars C are placed, respectively, above and below the centre of the spindle,
and the follower is provided with two arms as shewn and with studs c which
engage, respectively, with the gatings of the bars C. A stump d, carried by the
mount or fixed plate E projects into a slot d¹ of each bar C, and these stumps
and the holes through the edges of the door through which the bolt shanks a'
pass act as guides to the carrier bars B and bars C. On a square or corre-
spondingly-shaped part at the inner end of each shank a' is fixed an arm e. A
pair of secondary bars F are carried one on each side of the central axis of the
follower D to be capable of sliding vertically within the door, and these bars are
guided by means of stumps f, carrier by the mount E, projecting into slots f¹ in
the bars. The bars F carry studs g which_engage with slotted holes g', see
Figure 5, in the arms e, and thus as the bars F are moved endways the arms are
turned a portion of a revolution and consequently turn the bolts A. Each bar F
is formed with a slot h into which the studs c on the ends of the follower D enter
as they complete the outward movement of the bars C, and consequently the
shooting out of the bolts A; and as the follower is continued to be turned in the
same direction the bars F are moved endways, and the studs g operating within.
the slots g¹ of the arms e cause the arms to turn a quarter turn and to move the
heads of the bolts crosswise into the position shewn by Figures 3 and 4 so as to
lock behind the frame J. By the reverse movement of the follower the bars F are,
of course, moved in the reverse direction, and the bolt heads consequently turned
back into the position shewn by Figures 1 and 2; and as the follower is continued
to be turned in the same direction the studs c thereof pass out of the slots h and
engage with the gatings in the bars C and move such bars backwards or inwards,
and consequently draw in the bolt heads. The outer sides of the gating of each
bar C have a curved part i which allows the studs c of the follower to operate
within the slots of the bars F without moving the bars C.
It will thus be seen that, when the door is to be fastened, the follower D.is
turned in the direction indicated by the arrow Figure 1, and during the first
portion of its movement operates, through the bars C and carrier bars B, to shoot
out the bolts A and thus move the heads through the holes H in the frame, and
that during the remainder of its movement in the same direction it operates,
through the medium of the bars F, studs g, and arms e, to turn the bolts a quarter
turn and move the heads into position behind the frame; and that when it is
desired to unfasten a door the follower D is turned in the opposite direction, and
during the first portion of its movement operates, through the medium of the
bars F, studs 9, and arms e, to turn the bolts back again a quarter turn so that the
heads may coincide with the holes in the frame, and during the remainder of its
movement in the same direction operates, through the medium of the bars C and
carrier bars B, to draw. back the bolts and allow of the door being opened. The
mechanism by which the bolts are thrown out from the edges of the door, and the
bolt heads turned to lock behind the frame, may be securely locked in position by
means of a suitable lever or other lock G, indicated by broken lines Figure 3, of

page_text: which the bolt k may be locked out over an angle-plate or other projection / fixed
to one of the bars F. So long as such bar cannot be moved endways in a
direction to turn the bolts into position for their heads to coincide with the
holes in the frame the bolts cannot of course be drawn back; but, as a security
against the bolts being drawn back in case they should be turned, by any
possibility, independently of the bars F, such bars may each (or either of them)
carry a stump m (shewn by broken lines) which, when the bolts have been shot out
and turned, engages with a notch formed in the bar C which is used to operate the
same set of holts, as shewn by Figure 3, and thereby prevents the bar C from
being moved back.
As it is somewhat inconvenient, owing to the inner side of the framing of the
door being frequently made somewhat slanting, to arrange that the carrier bars B
shall come against the inner side of such framing when the bolts are shot out,
washers are fixed around the shanks of the bolts so as to come against the inside
of the framing of the door when the bolts are shot out, and thus take the
strain in case any attempt is made to wedge the framing into which the door
closes away from the edges of the door, as otherwise such strain would be thrown
upon the stumps d.
A plate E' shewn only in Figures 3 and 4, in the former of which it is indicated by
broken lines only so as not to hide the portions of the mechanism bebind it, is fixed
to come just in front of the bars F, as shewn by Figure 4, and this plate serves to
keep the mechanism in place between itself and the mount E. The projection / of
course passes through a slot formed therefor in the plate E¹.
a
Instead of connecting a bar F on each side with the arms e on the same side by
means of studs g, the arms e on the same side may be all joined together by i
connecting bar or rod pivoted to them, and such bar or rod may be connected with
the corresponding bar F by means of a stump fixed to itself and engaging with a
slot in the bar F, or fixed to the bar F and engaging with a slot in itself.
If it is desired to similarly operate bolts at the two remaining edges of the door
also, the carrier bars B, and secondary bars F, therefor, may be operated by means
of cranks from the bars B and F, which have been described as used for operating
the bolts at the side edges of the door. The method of operating the top and
bottom bars by means of cranks will be well understood by persons having a
knowledge of safe door mechanism.
The mechanism may be applied also, of course, for the purpose of shooting out
and turning a set of bolts at one edge of a door only, if such an arrangement should
be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In locking mechanism for a safe or strong room door, the employment of
bolts with T or corresponding heads which may be shot out from an edge or edges
of the door into holes in the framing into which the door closes, and then turned to
bring the heads behind such framing, substantially as described.
2. In locking mechanism for a safe or strong room door, the employment of
bolts with Tor corresponding heads which may be shot out from an edge or edges
of the door into holes in the framing into which the door closes, and then turned to
bring the heads behind such framing, said operations being caused and controlled
by a single handle, substantially as described.
3. In locking mechanism for a safe or strong room door, the employment of bolts
with Tor corresponding heads having shanks which pass through an edge or edges
of the door and are capable of turning therein, and which are swivelled in a carrier
bar or bars by means of which the bolts are shot out and drawn back, substantially
as described. for the purpose set forth.
4. In locking mechanism for a safe or strong room door fitted with bolts
having or corresponding heads and having shanks, passing through an edge or

page_text: edges of the door and capable of turning therein, the combination of arms on
the shanks with a sliding bar or bars connected with the arms so as to impart
an endway movement given to it or them by means of a suitable handle, to the
arms, and thereby cause and control the turning of the bolts, substantially as
described.
5. In locking mechanism for a safe or strong room door, in which bolts are
employed which may be shot out from an edge or edges of the door and then
turned, the combination of a gated bar or bars C, with a bar or bars F having
a slot or slots h, and a follower D, substantially as described and shewn, for the
purpose set forth.
6. The combination of mechanism for use in locking safe and strong room.
doors, substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
DL: 10th of Nasamber 1800
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.