A New or Improved Combined Key and Permutation Lock.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1897-Accepted, 4th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Combined Key and Permutation Lock.
We, CHARLES WICHERT, Gentleman, of No. 67, Bridge Street, Brooklyn, New
York, and DAVID EBERLE, Saddler, of No. 484, Canal Street, New York City, New
York, 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:—
This invention relates to an improvement in locks and the object of the invention
is to provide an ordinary lock and a combination lock so that the ordinary or
combination lock may be used at will depending upon which of a pair of push
pins guided in the front of the lock casing is pushed in.
With this end in view our invention consists of a lock comprising two push
pins guided in the lock-casing one of said pins forming a stop and the other
forming an actuator for said stop-pin a rotary barrel provided with a striker
adapted to engage the tumbler and throw the bolt, also to come in contact with
said stop-pin when the latter is pushed in a traveller guided in said rotary barrel
said traveller being provided with a laterally-projecting pin and two spring-
actuated segments which are made in the form of jaws within which the said barrel
rotates. The said segments are provided on their concave inner faces with tracks
or grooves cam-surfaces or inclines and traps all formed by a peculiar grooving
and recessing of the said inner faces of the spring-actuated segments and which
are so arranged that when the stop-pin is pushed in the lock serves as an ordinary
lock inasmuch as the striker on
in
the barrel comes
contact with.
said stop-pin while when said stop pin is in its outermost position the striker is
permitted to pass so that the lock is immediately converted into a combination-
lock requiring a number of certain reverse movements of the key in order to
accomplish the throwing of the bolt.
When the lock is to serve as an ordinary bolt lock the aforesaid stop pin is
pushed in so that the striker will come in contact with it and the turning movement
of the rotary barrel be thereby limited.
In this case the bolt is thrown and retracted in the manner usual with locks
of said class that is to say the striker on the barrel shifts the tumbler so that
said striker can operate the bolt the aforesaid traveller being inactive because
when the barrel is partially rotated and the striker moved thereby in the arc
of a circle the length of which is defined by the bolt in its thrown or protracted
position and the said stop-pin the pin on the traveller is not trapped and does
not escape from the track or groove in which it runs during such partial rotation.
If however the stop pin be withdrawn from the path of movement of the striker
so that the latter can pass it the pin on the traveller is immediately trapped by
moving into another guide-groove whereby the device is converted into a com-
bination-lock requiring that the operator turn the barrel by means of the key
according to the secret combination, said operator determining the proper move-
ments by observing the indicating dial.
When the operator knows the combination and turns the key in accordance

page_text: with the guide furnished by the indicating dial the bolt can be retracted as the
segments are so grooved and recessed as that when the movements of the key are
reversed at the proper points the pin on the traveller will follow the proper grooves
and incline of said segments.
The same key serves for operating the bolt whether the lock is set for use as
an ordinary bolt lock or as a combination-lock.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing our improved lock applied to a portion of
a door.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of our improved lock with the face plate removed in
order to show the interior mechanism.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail side view of the spring-actuated segments enclosing
the rotary barrel which is rotated by the key-operated spindle.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 Fig. 4.
Figs. 6 and are inner face views of the respective spring-actuated segments
showing the channels tracks and cam surfaces.
Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 Fig. 6, and
Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the traveller which is guided
in the rotary barrel.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
Referring to the drawings-A indicates a portion of a door in which our
improved lock is mortised, B the knobs, and 13 the catch which is operated by
the knob-mechanism not necessary to be herein particularly described as the
same is of well-known construction and has nothing to do with the present
invention.
The key is inserted through a correspondingly-shaped slot in a rotary dial-
plate C the circumference of which overlaps the escutcheon Co which surrounds
the key-spindle guide plate C₁; C³ being the key-spindle which is arranged to
turn in the guide plate C and is provided with a hole C corresponding in cross-
section to that of the key so that when the key is inserted and turned the dial-
plate C and also the key-spindle C will be rotated. The inner end of the key-
spindle Centers into an axial hole or slot d in the rotary barrel D said barrel
turning in certain parts to be hereinafter described. Projecting radially from the
rotary barrel D is a striker d' which is recessed at its outer end in the usual manner
so as to properly engage by its recessed portion the tumbler e so that the bolt E
may be thrown or retracted by means of the elongated portion of said striker.
The bolt, the tumbler, and the springs arranged for actuating the same, is as in
the ordinary locks.
F is a reciprocating stop pin which is guided in a suitable orifice in the front
of the lock-casing and which is operated by means of a fulcrumed link F con-
nected therewith and a reciprocating actuator pin F which is guided in an
opening in the lock-casing adjacent to the stop-pin F.
These pins are common in locks and the object of the same is that when one is
pushed in the other will be thrown out but the purpose of these pins is here
different than before as will be hereinafter stated. When the pin F is pushed
in the pin is pushed out said pin F being then in the position indicated by
the dotted lines in Fig. 3 so that when the key is inserted in the hole in the key-
spindle C and the rotary barrel turned the striker d' on said barrel will either
cause the bolt to be thrown or retracted but when the bolt is thrown it is impos-
sible for the rotary barrel to be turned except for a certain distance this distanco
being limited by the contact of the striker with the inner end of the stop pin F.
The object of this stop pin F is to prevent the finger or leader pin j hereinafter
described from entering the combination grooves and thus prevent the conversion
of the ordinary lock into a combination lock.
The rotary barrel D turns within two spring-actuated and curved segments G H
the same being pivotted to the casing at opposite sides of said barrel and being

page_text: q
provided with springs g h for giving them a spring action their tendency being
towards the barrel. These segments G H are so fitted within the casing and
around the barrel D as that they will always assume a correct position with
relation to each other as it is of the utmost importance that they move within fixed
limits. The movements of said segments G and H are confined by means of a
lug projecting radially from the barrel D) and by means of the striker d¹ one
or the other of which always slides upon and in confining contact with the seg-
ments G and H. The segments G and H may be furthermore cushioned by means
of rubber buffers I.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 8 in particular it will be seen that on the concave
inner face of the segment G starting from near its pivotted end is a channel
groove 1 which is slightly upwardly inclined and extends to about the mid-length
of said inner face where it is connected with an upper channel groove 4 or
with a lower channel groove 4 or with a middle groove 2 the bottom of which
is raised higher at one part than at the other forming as it were a sort of cam
surface see dotted lines Fig. 4.
At the outer end of the cam surface of the groove 2 is formed an inclined
shoulder or rise 3 which leads up through a trap opening 3 that is formed in the
top wall of the groove 2 and into the top groove 4. The top groove 4 matches
with the top groove 5 formed in the concave inner face of the other segment H
see Fig. 7 a portion of the bottom of which groove 5 is higher at one end than
the other so as to provide a cam surface see dotted lines Fig. 4. A downwardly
inclined shoulder 5" is formed at the higher end of the cam surface in the groove 5
and leads through a trap opening 5 into the intermediate or middle channel
groove 6 in said segment H. The groove 6 is closed below the trap opening 5b
but is provided with a trap opening 6" at one side thereof and the bottom of said
groove 6 beyond the trap opening 5 is formed with a cam surface see dotted lines
Fig. 4, at the higher end of which is a downwardly inclined shoulder Gb which
leads to a trap opening 6° that is formed in the lower wall bounding the groove 6
and into the bottom channel groove 7. The groove 7 which communicates at
two points 6 and 6 with the intermediate groove 6 is formed between these two
points with a stop shoulder 7° said shoulder being squared off at one end and
inclined at the other end. The channel groove 7 in the lower part of the seg-
ment leads to the starting point 1 in the other segment G. It will be seen
that channel groove 4 enters channel groove 5; channel groove 2 enters
channel groove 6 and channel groove 4ª enters channel groove 7 while channel
groove communicates with channel groove 1 which communicates with the
three channel grooves 2, 4 and 4ª as before stated.
This
In certain of the described channel grooves there is adapted to travel a pin j
which is swivelled in and projects radially from the body of a traveller J arranged
within an undercut recess in the barrel D said traveller having a guide post J¹
which extends into a hole in the barrel that communicates with said recess.
traveller is guided in said recess and by its post or stem in said hole in the barrel D
and to ease its movements and overcome unnecessary friction such traveller is
provided with trunnions on which are journalled anti-friction rollers j' that ride
upon the walls of said recess. It will be seen that when the barrel D is rotated
the leader pin projecting from the traveller J will ride along the grooved face
of each of the segments but by reason of the peculiar formation of the grooves
or tracks said pin will only move along certain portions of said grooves or tracks
when the barrel is properly rotated.
In the present form of the invention (it is to be understood that we do not limit
ourselves to the exact shape form and construction of the sinuous grooves or tracks
in said segments) the leader pin j on the traveller J should be moved first along
the upwardly inclined channel groove 1 in the direction of the arrow and inasmuch
as the bottom of the same is slightly depressed below the bottom of the channel
grooves and on to the rise or cam-surface at the bottom of the groove 2.
In passing along the cam surface at the bottom of the middle groove 2 the

page_text: •
.
leader pin jacts upon said cam surface so as to press the segment G outwardly
and when the pin passes said cam surface the segment G will, spring back to its
original position thus permitting the rotary barrel. to be moved in the opposite
direction see the arrow along the incline and through the trap opening into
the top groove 4 the bottom of which is slightly depressed below the bottom wall
of the trap-opening so that as the pin passes into the groove 4 the segment G is
given a further slight inward movement whereupon when, the rotary barrel is
turned in the opposite direction the pin is moved in the direction of the arrow
along the top channel groove 4.
From the groove 4 the leader pin j. passes into the communicating "channel
groove 5 in the other segment H and rides along said groove in contact with its
cam-shaped bottom and bearing upon the cam surface thereof forces the segment H
outwardly against the action of its spring until it passes the downwardly inclined
shoulder 5. The barrel D is now given a slight reverse turn in the direction
of the arrow so that the pin riding along the incline of the shoulder 5* passes
through the trap-opening 5b into the intermediate channel groove 6 and the
leader pin then falls upon the bottom wall of the groove 6.
Instead of continuing the forward movement and endangering the falling of
the pin through the trap-opening 6 the rotary barrel is moved in the opposite
direction and the leader pin j moved along said groove 6 in the direction of the
arrow acting in its passage upon the cam-shaped bottom of said groove so that
the segment H is again forced outwardly against the action of its spring until
the leader pin passes the shoulder 6b whereupon the segment springs back and
assumes its original position. A short turn in a reverse direction is now imparted
to the barrel so that the pin travels along the inclined shoulder Gb in the direction
of the arrow through the trap-opening 6° and falls into the bottom groove 7.
Shoukl the movement of the barrel in the same direction be continued the leader
pin would pass over the ridge or shoulder. 7 and passing over said shoulder could
not be returned in the opposite direction. Instead however of continuing the
rotation of the barrel in the same direction it is moved in opposite direction
along the bottom of groove 7 and into the communicating starting channel
groove of of segment G. When the described movements have taken place the stop
pin F which must have first been drawn out before starting the movements by
pushing in the actuating pin F1 permits the striker d' on the barrel to actuate
the tumbler and retract the bolt. In the example shown seven movements are
necessary in order to accomplish the unlocking of a door and the several move-
ments are shown by means of the indications on the dial plate which plate is
provided with an indefinite number of characters marks or letters preferably letters
and for the purpose of more clearly understanding the invention the words "New
York" are chosen as a key to the seven movements.
In accomplishing the seven movements described it will be seen by referring
to Fig. 1 that it will be necessary to impart to the dial plate a long rotation
from N to E a short rotation in the reverse direction from E to W another long
rotation in the opposite direction from W to Y and another but shorter rotation
from Y to O another short rotation in a reverse direction from 0 to R and another
short rotation in reverse direction from R to K, when by moving the dial plate
in the opposite direction the striker on the barrel actuates the tumbler and
retracts the bolt. When therefore the push pin F is pushed in the striker d'
by engaging therewith prevents the throwing of the combination so that the lock
is used as an ordinary lock; but whenever the actuating pin F is pushed in
and the push pin F drawn back the striker can pass said push pin and the
combination is thrown and requires the movements described in order to unlock
the door. In this way a lock for ordinary purposes as well as a lock which is
proof against burglars and all those that are not acquainted with the combination
is provided.
The path of the pin ; during the retraction of the bolt by turning the barrel
by a key would be assuming that the pin started in the groove 1 along said groove

page_text: into the middle groove 2 and past the shoulder 3 in said groove into the com-
municating middle groove of the segment H where it will fall through the trap
opening 6 into the bottom groove of the segment H and along which it passes
until it is brought to a stop by the shoulder 7. This movement of the pin
permits the barrel to have only a half rotation.
The initial position of the pin j when the bolt is to be retracted by the com-
bination movements is in the groove 1, this position being indicated by dotted
lines at the left of Figure 4. During the retraction of the bolt by the engagement
of the striker d therewith the pin will pass from the groove 7 in the segment H
into the groove 1 in the segment G.
To enable the unlocking or locking of a door or other similar part from the inside
an additional key is used which fits in a key hole in the hub of a bell-crank M
journalled in the casing one arm of said bell-crank having contact with a trigger
or nose e on the tumbler and the other being provided with a projection which
works in a hole in the bolt so that when the bell-crank is rocked to open the door
the tumbler will be raised and the bolt retracted. The throwing of the bolt by
the inside key can always be done in our lock whether one or the other of the
push pins is in or out.
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 a lock the combination with the bolt mechanism and push pins guided
in the casing of the lock of a rotary barrel provided with means adapted to engage
one of said push pins and to operate the bolt mechanism and means in connection
with the barrel for converting the lock from an ordinary lock into a combination
lock when said engageable pin is pushed out substantially as set forth.
2. In a lock the combination with the bolt mechanism and push pins guided
in the casing of a rotary barrel provided with a striker adapted to engage one of
said push pins and operate the bolt mechanism spring-actuated segments enclosing
the barrel and provided on their inner faces with grooves or channels and a trap
and a traveller arranged in the barrel and provided with means for engaging in said
grooves or channels and passing through said traps substantially as set forth.
3. In a lock the combination with the bolt mechanism and push pins guided
in the casing of a rotary barrel provided with a striker spring-actuated segments
enclosing the barrel and provided in their inner faces with grooves or channels
and a trap and a traveller guided in a recess in the barrel and provided with.
anti-friction rollers and with a projecting pin extending into said grooves or
channels substantially as set forth.
Dated this 4th day or may 1031.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.