IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMUTATION PADLOCKS
Year: 1885

page_text: I AMÉDÉE VACHELTE of the Firm of Vachelte Frères lock manufacturers 51 Rue
de Charone in the city of Paris in the Republic of France do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PERMUTATION PADLOCKS and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement that is to say:—
The improvements herein referred to, relate to safety padlocks of the letter
keyed or numerical locking description, the object being to render the collars
bearing the letters or numbers independent of the internal rings when it is desired
to alter the word or number that opens the lock, without the necessity of taking
the parts of which it is formed to pieces, all that is required being a slight longi-
tudinal displacement of the internal rings in block which displacement cannot be
effected until some special parts of the mechanism have been first set in motion,
these also serve when placed in their normal position to insure absolute preservation
of the word or number newly formed.
The improvements also relate to the collars and the several parts forming the
padlock which combine to render them free from deterioration Fig. 1 of the
accompanying drawings represents a padlock of the description mentioned with
improved collars, seen externally and locked. Fig. 2 is a section taken through the
centre and in a similar position. Fig. 3 is a section following the line 1. 2. of
Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section following the line 3. 4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 represents the same padlock seen externally and open. Fig. 6 is a section
passing through the centre in a similar position. Fig. 7 is a section following the
line 5. 6 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a section following the line 7. 8 of Fig. 6. Figs. 9
and 10 represent the same padlock seen in section and in the position it occupies
when the word adopted is about to be changed for opening the lock.
a, and 6 are two cheeks forming the sides of the padlock, they receive the locking
ring c, which is hinged to the cheek a, the clasp head c¹, of which when locked
lodges in a notch made in the inner face of the cheek b.
d, d, are parallel shafts fixed to the cheek a, these shafts kept at a convenient
distance from each other receive five small plates e, which are pierced at their ends
so as to pass them over the shafts. These plates whose outward appearance is of
the same form as the cheeks a and b, are each furnished with a central aperture
and serve as cushions to the four collars f, which latter are provided externally
with letters or figures, each plate forming a division separating these collars f,

page_text: which prevents them turning one another whilst allowing them to turn
individually.
Another plate.g similar in its form outside to those e, is placed against the end
of the shafts d. d, and fixed by means of screws threaded in the end of these
shafts. Between this plate g, and one of the plates e, is a collar h, without letters
or figures, which is only used when it is desired to alter the word or figure adopted
to open the padlock.
f, are four similar collars furnished with letters or figures. Each collar f, one of
which is shown separately in section Fig. 11 is internally provided with teeth i,
which only occupy a part of its breadth, so as to leave a circular space inside the
collar in rear of the teeth, which form a projection on one of the sides of this
collar. These projecting teeth penetrate the circular aperture in the plate e and
turn in it.
A small spring j, is also placed in this opening and occupies the thickness of the
plate e, its end pressing on the outer surface of the teeth i, by turns, and
Buccessively enters them, when each of the collars f, is turned and kept in place
when the letters which form the word are brought into proper position.
Amongst the teeth i, the number of which is equal to that of the letters
outside each collar f, is a larger one than the rest, on which the spring j, rests
naturally, a longer time when the collars f, are turned one after the other, which
forms a point of departure or mark for each collar, which is felt in the hand and
admits of forming the word for opening the lock in the dark.
In the train of this tooth (which is broader than the rest) outside the collars f,
is an open space equivalent to what a letter would occupy, shown in the drawing
by a star.
The collar h, without letters or figures already mentioned is shown separately in
section by Fig. 12 is not provided with teeth, the circular projection h¹, which
replaces the teeth, and which is at one of the sides of the collar, enters and turns
circularly in the central aperture of the plate e, which it occupies. This projection
is interrupted by a slit which is continued in a groove inside and throughout
the breadth of the collar, the end of a spring j penetrates this groove to act as
detent to the collar h.
, is a cylindrical shaft provided with four tenons l, and is fixed to the cheek b.
This shaft, bears five rings, this number being the same as the external collars of
the padlock; that is one for each collar. Four of these rings m, which occupy
the inside of the collars f, bearing the letters, are furnished with a shoulder at one
end to fit one in the other a little, so that whilst turning circularly they are secure.
The ring n, without the shoulder also mounted on the shaft k, occupies the
interior of the collar h. The rings m, each have an internal groover, which
comes opposite a tenon when the selected word is formed by the collars f, to
allow the tenon to enter the groove when the lock is opened. The ring n inside
the collar h, is provided with a slide o, which is straight, connected to a circular
slide o¹, which occupies about a quarter of the circumference of the ring, these
slides are displaced sometimes one and sometimes the other on the tenon 1 of the
shaft k.
Each of the rings m, is provided externally with a spur p, outside only, shown
in Figs. 2. 3 and 7, which is constantly engaged between the teeth i, of the collar f,
with which it corresponds, either when the padlock is opened or closed, but when
it is desired to change the word that opens the padlock then it is freed from the
teeth by the shaft k, which is displaced longitudinally and draws the rings m
with it, when it is liberated by displacing the collar without letters accompanied.
with the ring n; furnished with a spur pl, engaged in the slit or groove h". At
this moment the collars with letters, can turn without drawing the rings m, so as
to form a fresh word, by which the padlock can be opened.
This freedom of the collars f, is due to the longitudinal displacement of the
rings m, bearing the spurs p, which are led to the circular spaces z, of the collars f
in rear of the teeth, of which they are then free.

page_text: When the padlock is closed the letters being jumbled together, the cheeks a
and b, are kept in position by the contact of the tenons with the shoulders inside
the rings m, as well as by the ring n, which rests against a tenon 8, fixed on the
inner face of the plate g. The clasp head c¹, of the locking ring c, is lodged in a
notch made on the inner face of the cheek b, it is made square to form a heel
between this cheek and the plate g, so as to prevent all possibility of freeing the
locking ring c when the padlock is closed or locked.
To open the padlock the word must be reformed, by turning the collars f, in the
direction shown by the arrows t, Figs. 3 and 7 to lead the letters comprising the
word in one line with the notches u. u, formed on the cheeks a. b. As seen by
Fig. 5 the word LION has been selected; as soon as the word is formed it suffices
to draw on the cheek b so that the clasp head c¹ is released, the tenons before
which the grooves r of the rings m, are presented as the word is formed have
entered these grooves and are displaced by the shaft k, equivalent to the distance -
comprised between the bolt v-screwed on to the end of this shaft, and the shoulder
inside the collar m, at the end of the shaft k, the end of which occupies a sunken
part inside the cheek a, and in which it freely turns either when the padlock is
open or closed.
In locking it, it is sufficient to bring down the locking ring c on the end of the
plate g, to bring the cheek b up to it, and turn the collars f, at hazard in the
direction of the arrow t. When it is desired to change the opening word that is
to replace it.by a new one, the padlock is first opened, the collars f, then cannot
turn, but the collar h, without letters, which could not turn whilst the padlock was
closed can now do so. The longitudinal movement of the shaft k, has displaced the
tenon in the slide o of the ring n, and it is opposite the circular slide o¹, the
collar h, is turned turn in the direction of the arrow x, which is engraved outside
this collar, as a guide to the operator. The collar h which is engaged with the
ring n, draws the latter and causes it to turn till the end of the slide o¹, touches
the tenon, at this juncture the straight slide o is opposite the tenon 8, which can
there enter, it then suffices to then again draw on the cheek b, to displace the
shaft k, another distance as shown by Figs. 9 and 10.
This time the shaft, draws with it the rings m and n and thus determines their
displacement in a longitudinal direction, the one n, is against the plate g, and that
m, which occupies the shaft k, leaves the place it occupied in the sunken part
of the cheek a. In this position the spurs p, of the rings m, are liberated from
the teeth i, of the collars f, and enter the circular space z, of these collars in rear
of the teeth i.
The collars f, are turned to bring the letters forming the even word in line, in
front of the notches u. u¹, during this time the rings m, are fixed. The cheeks b
and plate g, are drawn near which produces a fresh displacement longitudinally of
the rings m and n, which brings them to their normal position and compels the
spur p, of each ring m, to enter the space between two of the teeth i, which are
presented before it, when the fresh word is formed, at the same time the ring m,
which occupies the end of the shaft k, has resumed its place in the sunken part of
the check a, and the ring n. has left the tenon 8. The collar h is turned of a turn'
in the direction opposed to the arrow x, to replace this collar as well as the ring n in
their normal position, which insures the preservation of the new word if the pad-
lock is left open, and allows the cheek band plate g to be brought together again
so as to touch after having lowered the locking ring on this plate if it is desired to
close the lock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st The method of constructing the padlock so as to render the collars bearing
the letters or figures independent of the internal rings when it is desired to change
the word or number for opening the padlock, without having to take any of the

page_text: •
parts to pieces, which is effected by a slight longitudinal displacement of the
rings 'm in block which occupy the interior of the collars f, each ring m drawing
its spur p, and conducting it to the circular opening in the collar f so as to
liberate this collar and allow it to turn without taking the internal ring.
2nd The method of constructing the collar h, without letters or figures in com-
bination with the internal ring n, whose action in one direction allows of the
displacement above mentioned and whose return in the opposite direction after the
rings m have regained their position, prevents the displacement of these rings and
thus insures the preservation intact of the word or number newly formed.
3rd The method of constructing a circular space inside each of the collars f,
in rear of the teeth i for the reception of the spur p, of the internal rings m, when
it is freed from these teeth and the projection formed by them on one of the sides
of the collars f.
4th The mode of construction and employment of the plates e, and g, forming
divisions, connected by the shafts d. d which shafts are fixed on one of the cheeks
of the padlock, each plate e serving to separate the collars and also acting as
cushions to them as well as for receiving a small spring j, occupying the thickness
of the plates e, in their central apertures, so as to act on the projection of the
teeth i of the collars f, and on the projection h¹ (which is circular) on the collar h
without letters.
Reserving the right to construct the padlocks and parts connected therewith of
any metal, and any dimensions as well as varying the number of the collars
bearing the characters.