IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BURGLAR PROOF SAFES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Sutcliffe, of Castle Mills, Idle, in the County of
York, Spinner, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BURGLAR
PROOF SAFES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Sutcliffe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd December 1880..
ROBERT SUTCLIFFE, of Castle Mills, Idle, in the County of York, Spinner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE AND BURGLAR PROOF SAFES."
This Invention relates to improvements in what are known as "fire and burglar
proof safes," and the Invention has for its object a construction of safe affording
greater security against the use of wedges, levers, and other such appliances used
for forcing "safes."
Safes constructed according to this my said Invention consist of two concentric
cylinders, the space between the cylinders being filled with the usual heat resisting
packing. Within the inner cylinder is the safe proper, consisting of a cylinder
provided, as are the outer cylinders, with a door. The ends of the cylinders are
made up or closed and the inner cylinder or "safe" is mounted upon a central pin
or "centre," on which it is free to revolve within its outer casing, so that after
locking the door of the inner cylinder or safe it may be partially turned part of a
revolution that its door may not be opposite the door of the outer casings and
there secured by a secret catch; the main security however arises from the safe
being free to revolve, affording no purchase for levers nor space for "working at"
the inner door.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Sutcliffe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st June
1881.
ROBERT SUTCLIFFE, of Castle Mills, Idle, in the County of York, Spinner.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFES."
This Invention relates to improvements in what are known as "fire and burglar
proof safes," and the Invention has for its object a construction of safe affording
greater security against the use of wedges, levers, and other such appliances used
for forcing "safes."
دو
Safes constructed according to this my said Invention consist of concentric
cylinders, the space between the cylinders being filled with usual heatresisting
packing. Within the inner cylinder is the safe proper consisting of a cylinder
provided same as the outer cylinders with a door. The inner cylinder or "safe"
is mounted upon central pins or." centres' on which it is free to revolve within its
outer casing, so that after locking the door of the inner cylinder or safe it may be
turned part of a revolution that its door may not be opposite the door of the outer
casings and there secured by a secret catch or lock; the main security however
arises from the safe being free to revolve, affording no purchase for levers nor space
for "working at " the inner door.
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention I will now proceed
to describe the same in detail, and in order that the same may be fully understood
I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference, in which,-
Fig. 1 is an external elevation of a safe constructed according to this my said
Invention; Fig. 2 is a view of the same with outer door open; Fig. 3, a vertical
section; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan; Fig. 5 is a view of the inside or safe proper; at
Fig. 6 is shewn a modification in which the outer door is made flat, reducing the
cost of manufacture; at Fig. 7 is an outline diagram in order to facilitate description
of method or order of building or putting together the parts.
At A is the outer cylinder having ordinary composition of fire resisting packing B
and shell C; at D is the internal cylinder or safe proper mounted upon centres or
pivots E, E; at F is the door of the inner cylinder; and G, the door of the outer
cylinder; J, K, L, are the locks.
Assuming the door F of the inner or safe proper to be open, on closing the safe
the door F will be shut and locked at K. The cylinder D will now be turned
upon its centre or pivot part of a revolution until the door F has disappeared
and the second lock L is, as shewn, opposite the centre of the open space, or to such
position as its bolts M and N may be shot by the lock L, so securing the cylinder
from revolving in an immovable position, whereupon the outer door G is closed and
locked, securing the whole. It will be seen that on the outer door G being forced
open there is no access to the safe, but a blank wall of metal confronts the
operator," and the lock L alone can be operated upon by "picking" or by cutting
through the plate of the inner cylinder D. Assuming the lock L picked, the
cylinder is now free to revolve; the lock K is the next obstacle, as the inner door F
cannot be wedged or pressed open because of the freedom of revolution or movement
of the inner cylinder" or safe" upon its centres or pivots and the inaccability of its
door; any attempt to wedge the cylinder so as to prevent rotation thereof would be
liable to force or dislodge the pivot from its cup or footstep, and so render revolution
of the inner safe impracticable.
"
The building of the parts are as follows, referring now to Fig. 7:-
First construct the cylinder 1, its end 2 is then welded or secured to 1; the inner
shell 3 follows, then its end 4 having footsteps 5 attached thereto; 6 is the inner

page_text: cylinder (D in general description) having pivot or centre 7 fixed to the bottom
of the plate 8; the upper end of cylinder 6 (D) is now closed by plate 9 provided
with pivot as at 7; the cylinder (D) is now placed in position within the inner
shell 3 of the outer cylinder 1; the top 10 having footstep 5 is next secured to
shell 3; the space 11 is next filled with ordinary fire resisting composition, and
the top 12 is welded or secured completing the construction.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this my said Invention,
together within the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, I would have it understood that what I claim as my
Invention is,—
Firstly. The construction of safe having internal receptacle capable of revolving
within an outer casing in the manner as described and illustrated.
Secondly. The combination of outer shell and inner revolving safe and bolts M, N,
as herein described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Sutcliffe, have hereunto annexed my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.