Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1887
Complete Left, 23rd Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 23rd May, 1888
I, GEORGE RANDALL BOYCE of Orange in the County of Essex State of New Jersey
United States of America Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide an improved combination lock which can
be quickly set to any combination desired, is easily locked and unlocked, and is very
simple in construction.
In the lock casing the usual bolt, in the present case a double bolt, is mounted to
slide between guides, is normally held projected by means of a spring and is retracted
when released by means of a key which may or may not be removable. The double
bolt is attached to a transverse bar carrying prongs in number corresponding to that
of the setting wheels (which in the present instance is three) these setting wheels
heing mounted immediately in rear of the respective prongs of the bolt. The bolt is
locked when projected, by its prongs abutting against the peripheries of the setting
wheels and when retracted said prongs enter deep radial slots in the wheels brought
into proper position therefor. The peripheries of the setting wheels are normally
presented to the prongs to lock the bolt, by means of coiled springs which tend to
turn the wheels, the position of the releasing slots with respect to the bolt prongs,
being determined by lugs projecting from the peripheries of the wheels striking
against stop pins or projections. The setting wheels maintained in this locking
position by the tension of the coiled springs are turned forward against such tension
to present their releasing slots to the bolt prongs by means of attached spindles
projecting through necks in the front of the lock casing and having turning heads or
knobs. The setting wheels are formed with peripheral ratchet-teeth which are
engaged by spring-pawls pivoted to the front plate of the casing by which the wheels
on being rotated, as above stated, are prevented from being turned back by the
tension of the coiled springs. The amount which each setting wheel must be turned to
bring it from its original position of rest into position to release the corresponding
bolt-prong, can thus be determined by the audible click of its spring-pawl, but an
ordinary index and numbered dial may be employed, if desired.

page_text: In order to again lock the bolt after being released and return the setting wheels to
their original locking position, I arrange the ratchets on said wheels movably with respect
to their respective pawls, by mounting the turning spindles to slide lengthwise in their
guide-necks, whereby the setting wheels can be pushed forward to disengage their
ratchets when they will be immediately returned to their original position by the
tension of the coiled springs. On then releasing the operating spindles, the springs
also serve to press back the ratchet-teeth on the said wheels into engagement with
their pawls. The outer part of each neck is formed with a recess to receive a
corresponding enlargement on the spindle, and limit and guide the movement of the
same.
In order to vary the positions of the stop-pins or projections and thus change the
position of rest of each wheel and the degree of rotation necessary to present the
releasing slot to the bolt-prong, I attach each stop-pin or projection to a pivoted arm
which can be variously adjusted by a crank arm attached to the pivotal pin of the
arm outside the rear casing-plate. For holding the arm in such adjustment, it is
provided with an end stud or pin which is sprung into engagement with one of a
circular series of apertures in the casing-plate. These apertures may be numbered, if
desired, to indicate the combination to which the lock has been set. In addition to
this adjustment of the stop-pin, I generally prefer to provide for the independent
adjustment of the stop-lug on each setting wheel. This I accomplish by forming
it on a collar loosely surrounding the spindle, and pressed upon the wheel by the
coiled spring. The lug is locked in its various adjustments by engaging it with
notches formed in the crown of the wheel. In this way, the true meaning of the
figures indicating the combination, may be altered for the purpose of deception.
Each coiled spring is connected to the corresponding setting wheel by being attached
o the stop-lug adjustable thereon and is connected to the casing by being attached
directly to the swinging arm carrying the stop-pin so that whatever adjustment is made
of the stop-pin or stop-lug, the normal tension of the spring will remain the same. To
further increase the difficulty in solving the combination, I connect the operating
spindle of each setting wheel adjustably to the same by mounting it loosely therein
and providing it with a clutch collar which is normally held in engagement with a
corresponding clutch collar on the wheel by a coiled spring interposed between a
collar on the inner projecting end of the spindle and the wheel. By drawing the
operating spindle out slightly, it is disconnected from the wheel and may be variously
adjusted relatively thereto, so as to prevent the motion of the setting wheel being
noted, by marks on the turning head or knob.
G. R. BOYCE.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Combination Locks.
I, GEORGE RANDALL BOYCE, (Electrician) of Orange, in the County of Essex, and
State of New Jersey, United States of America, 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 :-
My Invention has for its object to provide an improved combination lock, which
can be quickly set to any combination desired, is easily locked and unlocked, and is
very simple in construction.
The Invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts,
as hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specifi-
cation, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, in all the
figures.
Figure 1 is a front sectional view of my improved combination lock, on the line
xfigure 2. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same, on the line y-y,
figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line - Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the lock, on a reduced scale.
Figure 5 is a rear view of the same.
In the lock-casing A, the usual bolt B, in the present case a double bolt, is mounted
to slide between guides C, is normally held projected by means of a spring D, and
is retracted when released by means of a key E, which may be removable, or a
permanent key with spindle E¹ and head E', as shown.
The double bolt is attached to a transverse bar D¹, carrying prongs D³, in number
corresponding to that of the setting wheels F, as shown, three.
The bolt is locked when projected, by its prongs D² abutting against the peripheries
of the setting wheels F; and when retracted, said prongs enter deep radial slots F¹
in the wheels F, brought into proper position therefor.
The peripheries of the setting wheels are normally presented to the prongs D³ to
lock the bolt, by means of coiled springs, G, which tend to turn the wheels in the
direction indicated by the arrows, the position of the releasing slots F¹ with respect to
the bolt prongs, being determined by lugs H, projecting from the peripheries of the
wheels, striking against stop-pins or projections I.
The setting wheels, maintained in this locking position by the tension of the coiled
springs G, are turned forward against such tension to present their releasing slots to
the bolt-prongs, by means of attached spindles K, projecting through necks A¹ in the
front of the lock-casing, and having turning heads or knobs K¹.
The forward parts of the setting wheels are formed with peripheral ratchet-teeth F',
which are engaged by spring-pawls L pivoted to the front plate of the casing, by
which the wheels, on being rotated as above stated, are prevented from being turned
back by the tension of the springs G.

page_text: The amount which each setting wheel must be turned to bring it from its original
position of rest into position to release the corresponding bolt-prong, can thus be
determined by the audible click of the spring-pawl L, but an ordinary index and
numbered dial may be employed, if desired.
In order to again lock the bolt after being released and return the setting wheels
F to their original locking position, I arrange the ratchets on said wheels movably
with respect to their respective pawls, by mounting the turning spindles K to slide
lengthwise in their guide-necks A¹, whereby the setting wheels can be pushed forward
to disengage their ratchets, when they will be immediately returned to their
original position by the tension of the springs G.
On then releasing the operating spindles, the springs G also serve to press back
the wheels into engagement with their pawls L.
The outer part of each neck A', is formed with a recess to receive a corresponding
enlargment on the spindle K, and limit and guide the movement of the same.
In order to vary the positions of the stop-pins or projections I, and thus change
the position of rest of each wheel, and the degree of rotation necessary to present
the releasing slot to the bolt-prong, I attach each stop-pin or projection to a
pivoted arm M, which can be variously adjusted by a crank-arm M¹ attached to
the pivotal pin of the arm M outside the rear casing-plate.
For holding the arm M¹ in such adjustment, it is provided with an end stud
or pin M³, which is sprung into engagement with one of a circular series of
apertures A in the casing-plate. These apertures may be numbered if desired, to
indicate the combination to which the lock has been set.
In addition to this adjustment of the stop-pin, I generally prefer to provide for
the independent adjustment of the stop-lug H on each setting wheel. This I
accomplish by forming it on a collar N loosely surrounding the spindle K, and
pressed upon the wheel by the spring G. The lug His locked in its various
adjustments by engaging it with notches P formed in the crown of the wheel. In
this way, the true meaning of the figures, indicating the combination, may be
altered for the purpose of deception.
Each coiled spring G is connected to the corresponding setting wheel by being
attached to the stop-lug H, adjustable thereon, and is connected to the casing by
being attached directly to the swinging arm M carrying the stop-pin, so that whatever
adjustment is made of the stop-pin I or stop-lug H, the normal tension of the spring
will remain the same.
To further increase the difficulty in solving the combination, I connect the operating
spindle K of each setting wheel adjustably to the same by mounting it loosely
therein and providing it with a clutch-collar Q, which is normally held in engagement
with a corresponding clutch-collar R on the wheel by a coiled spring S, interposed
between a collar T on the inner projecting end of the spindle, and the wheel.
By drawing the operating spindle out slightly it disconnected from the wheel,
and may be variously adjusted relatively thereto, so as to prevent the motion of the
setting wheel being noted by marks on the turning head or knob.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination, in a lock, of the bolt, the setting wheel, means for dogging
and releasing the setting wheel, stop-projections on the casing and on the setting
wheel adjustable relatively to each other, and a coiled spring connected at either end
to said stop-projections, substantially as shown and described.
2. The combination, in a lock, of the bolt, the spring-actuated setting wheel,
dogging and releasing devices for the same, a stop-lug on the setting wheel, a
projection adapted to engage the stop-lug, a movable arm carrying said projection,
and a handle on the outside of the casing for adjusting said movable arm, substantially
as shown and described.
3. The combination, in a lock, of the bolt, the setting wheel, the spindle for
turning the same, a loose collar on the spindle, a stop-lug on the collar adapted to

page_text: rest in one of a series of notches in the wheel, and to engage a projection on the
casing, and a coiled spring connected with the stop-lug and bearing upon its collar,
substantially as shown and described.
4. The combination, in a lock, of the setting wheel adapted to be pressed inward
for releasing it from its dogging devices, an operating spindle passed loosely through
the setting wheel and having a collar or projection on its inner end, a spring inter-
posed between said collar or projection and the setting wheel, a clutch-collar on the
outer face of the setting wheel, and a clutch-collar on the outer part of the said
spindle projecting through the setting wheel, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1888.
G. R. BOYCE.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London.
Patent Agents.