IMPROVEMENTS IN Locks
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN Locks."-A communication from
abroad by Frank Grant Johnson, Edwin Devoe, and Jay Jarvis Jones,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton.
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th June 1865...
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKs," to be as follows:-
T. T
This Invention consists in arranging within a frame, and either upon guiding
centre studs or pins, or in guiding tubes or sockets, a series of cylindrical
tumblers, slotted or grooved upon and around their peripheries, but at varying
distances from their ends or heads. In combination with these tumblers is a
lock or guard plate or ring scollopped or cut out at its inner edge so as to fit

page_text: the cylindrical tumblers. This plate is secured in the outer casing of the
lock and about half way down, so that the tumbler frame cannot be turned or
revolved within the plate except when each and all of the grooves in the tum-
blers have been brought to one and the same plane, or that corresponding
to the lock plate. When this is done the grooves cut out round the
tumblers will allow of the latter passing over the plate, and the bolt may then
be unlocked. In order to bring the tumblers into the proper position a key
provided with a series of pins corresponding to the tumblers is used; by
inserting this into the lock the tumblers will be depressed and the grooves
brought into the same plane, so as to admit of the locking arrangement being
rotated to free the bolt.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the. County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting,
0
"Ju,,30
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth-day, of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of. Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton, Her special licence. that I, the said William Edward:
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, "shoüld- and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention fof." Im-
PROVEMENTS IN. LOCKS," being a communication to me from abroad, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner, the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said.
Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The objects of the present Invention are to produce a lock that cannot be
easily picked, and that will be applicable to the various purposes for which'
locks are used, while at the same time it will be convenient to operate and as
cheap to manufacture as any of the ordinary good and safe lock's.
The Invention consists in inserting or placing within a cylindrical frame, open
at its sides, a series of similar shaped cylindrical tumblers which will freely'
turn therein, each tumbler having cut, turned, or otherwise properly formed
in and extending entirely around its periphery, but at different and varying
distances from its ends, a square shaped groove or slot. This frame with its
tumblers is placed within a suitable outer casing or shell, having upon and
partially around its interior, midway or nearly so between its side plates, but
outside of the tumbler, a fixed guard or locking plate or ring, made of such a
form upon and along its inner edge, and arranged in such a manner with
regard to the cylindrical tumbler frame that the frame and its tumblers can
by moved or turned within the outer shell only when each and all of the
tumblers have been depressed to the requisite degree to bring their slots in
one and the same plane, and corresponding to that of the guard plate; around
and upon the inner edge of which they then bear and move. The tumbler
frame turns upon a fixed centre post of the lock, and has attached to it a bolt"
or catch of suitable shape to engage with and securely hold the latch end of
the swinging link of padlocks when inserted in them, or any of the ordinary
substitutes therefor in other locks. The outer casing or shell containing the
tumbler frame can be either provided with apertures at the proper points for
communicating with and depressing the tumblers by means of a proper shaped
key the requisite distance to bring their slots to a common plane, or cut away
sufficiently to expose the upper plate of the tumbler frame, which in that case
should be similarly provided with apertures, as above described, for the shell;
spiral or other suitable springs are used for retracting or throwing the tumblers
back to their original positions, after the key has been withdrawn from the
lock, and their common frame is sufficiently turned either by means of the
key or a spring to relieve their slots from the guard or lock plate, so that they
will be in readiness for the next operation of the lock, and prevent its being
anlocked or moved except with the proper shaped key therefor.
::
In the accompanying Drawings the present Invention is shewn as adapted'

page_text: to two locks having their tumblers arranged in a different, but operating in
substantially the same manner. The guard or locking plate in one is fastened.
to the side of the outer casing or shell, and in the other to and upon one of
the end or head plates of the same, as will be presently particularly described.
Fig. 1 is a side view of the outer casing or shell of a padlock; Fig. 2 is
a similar view of the same with one of its end plates removed, shewing one
end of the tumbler frame; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the padlock, but,
having, in addition to one of its end plates detached, the tumbler frame removed
from the lock; Fig. 4 is a central transverse section of the lock taken in
the plane of the crooked. line x, x, Fig. 2; Figures 5 and 6 are detail views
of the proper shaped key for the lock represented in the preceding Figures;.
Fig. 7 is a side view of another lock shewing a modification of the mode of
securing the lock or guard plate to the shell; Fig. 8 is a central transverse
section through the lock shewn at Fig. 7, and in the direction of its length;
Figures 9 and 10 detail views of the proper shaped key for the lock shewn at
Figures 7 and 8..
:
In the following detail description the peculiar construction and arrange-
ment of the parts composing the lock represented in the Figures of the
accompanying Plate of Drawings from (1) to (4) inclusive will be first ex-
plained, after which the modifications thereof illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.
A, A, represent the outer casing or shell of a padlock so called, made of a
cylindrical shape or nearly so, and of brass or any other suitable metal or
material. This shell consists of two end or head plates a and b, fastened to a
common side or body plate c by means of rivets, or in any other proper manner;
B is the link bolt hung at one end on a pivot c, so that its hooked shaped end d
can be swung in and out of the shell through the slot or aperture ƒ in the side
or body plate c, as in ordinary padlocks. The interior of the shell c (and for
nearly the whole length of its periphery but for one half or nearly so of its
entire width) is made of a little less diameter than that of the other half, thus
forming a small shoulder 9 partially around it, upon which is secured by
rivetting, soldering, or any other proper manner a guard or lock plate or
ring h, parallel to and equidistant or nearly so from the head plates on ends of
the shell. This guard ring or plate upon its inner circumference or edge is
made of an escalloped form with a series of similar semicircular scallops I, I, I, I,
Fig. 3, at equal distances apart and in regular order. They are of a little
greater radius than the cylindrical tumblers used, as will be presently described,
but of a corresponding number to the same, so that when the proper sized
frame containing the tumblers is inserted within the casing or shell its tumblers
shall be around and about the escalloped edge, one in each scallop thereof, as

page_text: :
plainly represented in Fig. 2. m is the tumbler frame, made in the form of a
cylinder but open at its sides, with two parallel end or head plates n, n', secured
and held together by a common central tube o, open at its lower end 'p, by
which tube the frame when inserted in the lock shell turns upon a fixed centre
post of its back, plate b. In and between the two cylindrical head plates of
the frame m, and extending nearly-around them, are inserted or secured a
series of cylindrical tumblers r, r, of corresponding number to the scallops of
the fixed guard plate h, and at such, points thereof that when their common
frame is placed in the shell they will occupy the relative positions before
described with regard to the scallops of the guard plate thereof. Each tumbler
turns upon a separate centre stud or pin s, secured at. their ends in the head,
plates of the frame, on each of which studs, between them and the back plate
of their shell, is wound a spiral spring t, the tumblers being all made of the
same length or nearly so, and with a groove or slot u around their peripheries,
but in each one at different distances from their ends or heads, the slots being
of a little larger width than the thickness of the guard or lock plate h, over
and upon the escallopped edge of which they move as the lock is locked.or
unlocked, as will be herein-after explained. The central portion of the
front plate of the lock is cut out so as to expose the head plate, n¹ of the
tumbler casing, in which are a series of apertures y, y, y, corresponding in
number to that of the tumblers, and directly opposite to their ends, bearing:
against the plate, so that by inserting a key (such as shown in Figures 5 and 6),;
having projecting pins or studs in one of its ends of equal number and in the
same relative position with regard to each other as those of the tumblers, the
tumblers can be thus depressed upon their centre shafts or studs. The key,
pins are of varying lengths, in order that when the tumblers are depressed,
thereby their several slots shall be in one and the same plane, or that corre-
sponding to the guard plate of the lock, over the escalloped edge of which they
then move by simply turning the key to the right or left, as may be necessary to:
withdraw or relieve the hooked shaped arm a' of one side of the tumbler frame,
and either attached thereto or forming a part thereof from the hook end of
the padlock link when desired to unlock the same, the coiled spring 6', against
which it bears, then throwing it out of the shell. To relock the padlock first
swing its link into the shell, and having properly inserted the key pins in the,
apertures therefor at the front side of the lock, then turn the tumbler frame.
back to its original position, thus re-engaging its hook with the hooked end.
of the link, the spiral springs t, t, throwing the tumblers out toward and against
the
upper plate of their frame, when their slots are released from the edge of
the guard plate and the tumblers are in the scallops thereof, as is evident,

page_text: without further explanation. From the above it is manifest, from the peculiar
formation of the inner edge of the guard plate, and the arrangement of the
tumblers in connection therewith, that the tumbler frame cannot be revolved
in its outer shell without the grooves or slots of each and all of the tumblers
are brought into the same plane therewith by the employment of a key having
suitably arranged pins or studs for so depressing or operating the tumblers as
to cause their slots to assume the desired and requisite plane. The tumblers
in case they are not so operated will on' any attempt to turn their common
frame abut against the corners or points as of the circular scallops thereof,
whereby a safe and secure lock is produced, and one which cannot be readily
or easily picked. There may be any desired number of tumblers used, other
than that herein described and represented in the Drawings, and many varia-
tions can be made in the arrangement of their slots with regard to each other,
a corresponding shaped lock plate being used in connection therewith. The
improved locking devices described can also be applied to other locks as well
as to a padlock, as herein particularly explained, it being only necessary that
the tumbler frame catch should be of the proper form to engage with the
catch or bolt used.
-
In Figures 7 and 8 slight modifications" of "the present improvements in
locks are represented; the mode of operation, however, being the same. These
modifications are as follows: In lieu of securing the lock or guard plate to
the sides of the outer casing or shell it is fastened by a series of upright pins
63, 63, to and parallel with the back plate of the lock, and at a distance there-
from equal to one half or nearly so of the entire 'width or thickness of the
outer casing, as plainly seen in Fig. 8. In place of arranging the tumblers
upon guiding studs or pins, they may be as well inserted in suitable shaped
guiding tubes or sockets c³, cs, of their frame, the lock guard or plate extending
through the tubes, so as to be in proper position for the tumbler slots to inter-
lock with it, or prevent their frame from being turned, as previously described
for the lock represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, springs ; d, being used to
retract the tumblers, as before explained.
"I
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to me as
aforesaid, and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I'
claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid, the arrange-
ment within a suitable frame, and either upon guiding centre studs or pins or in
guiding tubes or sockets, of a series of cylindrical tumblers slotted or grooved
upon and around their peripheries, but at varying distances from their ends or
heads; I claim the combination with these tumblers of a lock or guard plate
or ring of such a form, and secured within the outer casing of the locking!

page_text: devices in such a manner that the tumbler frame cannot be turned or revolved
within the plate except when each and all of the tumbler slots have been
brought to one and the same plane, or that corresponding to the lock plate, as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.B.)