Improvements in Safes and Strong Rooms, and in Apparatus for Manufacturing the same, parts of which are also applicable to other purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
}
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safes and Strong Rooms, and in Apparatus for
Manufacturing the same, parts of which are also applicable to
other purposes.
4.
We, SAMUEL CHATWOOD, of 76, Newgate Street, in the City of London, Bankers'
Engineer, SAMUEL RAWSTHRONE CHATWOOD, of the Lancashire Safe and Lock Works,
Bolton, Lancashire, Manager, and ARTHUR BRUNEL CHATWOOD, of Prestwich,
Lancashire, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in safes and strong rooms and in
apparatus for manufacturing same, parts of which are also applicable to other
ригровев.
We make the sides of a safe of a ductile plate and along the front and back edges
of the plate or either of them we form flanges to project inwardly from the face of
the plate.
The flanging of the plates may be accomplished either heated or cold by placing
the edges required to be flanged between a pair of blocks of suitable form one of the
blocks being then pressed upon the other preferably by one or more hydraulic rams:
or, especially when flanges are to be formed on both edges of the plate by apparatus
of the following description. The bed of the machine forms a slab on which the
plate to be flanged is placed a platten (of the full width and form of the inside of the
plate after the danges shall have been formed) is then caused to descend (preferably
by hydraulic rams) and to hold the plate in this position. Rams working horizontally
at right angles with the bed are then caused to force wedge shaped bars between the
bed and the plate to be flanged so as to turn up the parts forming the flanges through
an angle of say 45°.. The horizontal rams are then drawn back the wedge shaped
pieces withdrawn and the rams again brought forward forcing against the plate
blocks whose faces are at right angles with the plane of the bed. Thus forming the
flange to a right angle with the plate.
We then (if the safe is intended to be rectangular) bend the plate transversely to
form the 4 corners and to facilitate the bending we cut pieces from the flanges where
the bend is to be formed. The ends of the plate we join in any ordinary manner or
by welding, the weld may be in one of the sides or at a corner, we also weld.the
flanges at the corner. Or sometimes in place of welding we join the ends with' a
butt strip on the inner side. We do not in this case bring the 2 ouds of the plate
close together but we form the butt plate with a dove-tail rib which projects between
the ends of the plate and these ends are bevelled to fit accurately to the sides of the
dove-tail.
For bending the plates so as to form the corners of the safe the following apparatus
may be employed-a rum (preferably hydraulic) working (preferably) horizontally
carries a female block of suitable form. The male block round which the plate is.to

page_text: be bent is firmly connected at its bottom end with the cylinder of the hydraulic ram
and at the top is connected with it by a movable link. The plate to be bent is placed
between the two blocks the female block forced forward by the hydraulic ram and the
corner thus bent. The same process is repeated with each of the corners and when
all have been bent the movable link connecting the top of the male block is removed
and the bent plate removed. A similar appliance may be used for bending the
corners of the door frame of the safe.
The plate which forms the back of the safe rests against the inner face of the back
flange and is secured to it by rivets. Where the side plates are flanged at front as
well as at back the door frame is formed from a bar which fundamentally is of L form
in section. The front face of the door frame abuts upon the inner side of the front
flange and the frame is fixed to the flange by rivets. Upon the inner face of the
door frame a rib is rolled and behind this rib the door bolt shoots. Sometimes we
provide two parallel ribs upon the frame and then the bolts enter between these ribs.
The space between the door frame and the sides we fill with a hard refractory
cement. Sometimes within the outer safe we construct a hard steel inner safe. The
inner safe may be a steel casting or it may be built up-this we prefer to do in the
following manner-the back plate of the inner safe we connect with the back plate of.
the outer safe by cone headed screws of hardened compound steel. Long nuts upon
the screws occupy space between the two back plates and the inner ends of the
screws which are left soft we rivet over against the front face of the inner back plate.
The inner sides we sometimes connect to the inner back by angle pieces rivetted-
to the rear face of the inner back and to the inner faces of the aide plates which overlap
the edges of the back plate.
Space between the inner and outer safes is filled with fire resisting material. Also
between the inner and outer safes we use blocking pieces of wood rendered in-
combustible by impregnation with mineral matter.
In built up strong rooms we sometimes dispense with the ordinary. angles for
connecting the side and end plates together, and instead thereof we bend the plates.
themselves so as to form the corners.
In locks with pivotted "levers" we arrange the levers to work in alternate
directions and we provide the key with two bits on opposite sides of the stem. The.
steps on the bit on one side operate the levers working in one direction and the steps,
on the bit on the opposite side operate the levers working in the other direction. As
alternate levers work in opposite directions we thus prevent the levers sticking
together and we also prevent any step of the key, touching any but its corresponding
lever thus obviating frequent defects in "lever" locks of the ordinary construction..
In combination with this or other key-lock we sometimes use a letter or numerical
lock constructed on the principle described in Patent No. 15962 in the year 1886 but
so arranged that its holt shall be connected with, the bolt of the key-lock so that the
right key will unlock the lock but only after the numerical or letter lock shall have
been set to prearranged combination of letters or numbers.
"
The changeable locks as described in our said Patent No. 15962 we make keys of
which the steps can be changed as follows:-
The key consists of a tubular stem open at the bow end instead of the bit
end having upon it the bolt step and the top lever step of the key. A slit is.
formed between these two steps which also passes through the back, of this tubular
step.
The changeable steps are placed in this slit in the desired order so that at
the back they are flush with the outside of the stem. The bow of the key
is attached to a round shaft fitting the inside of the tubular stem. A slit is formed
in the end of this shaft calculated to pass over and engage with the changeable
steps which are suitably notched to receive it.
The round shaft has upon it a lug or ear which passes into a slot in the side of the
tubular stem. The stem at this point has a groove in which is a split ring which the
ear is notched to receive. To change the steps the split ring is turned round until
the split is on the ear, the round shaft is then withdrawn. The changeable steps are

page_text: now loose and can be removed and replaced in.a new combination. The shaft is then
replaced the split ring turned and the key is ready for use. .
These locks are specially applicable to safes and strong rooms but are also applicable
to other purposes where great security is required.
Dated this 15th day of March 1890
Improvements in Safes and Strong Rooms, and in Apparatus for
Manufacturing the same, parts of which are also applicable, to
other purposes.
We, SAMUEL CHATWOOD, of. 76, Newgate Street, in the City of London,
Bankers' Engineer, SAMUEL RAWSTHRONE CHATWOOD, of the Lancashire Safe and
Lock Works, Bolton, Lancashire, Manager, and ARTHUR BRUNEL CHATWOOD, of
Prestwich, Lancashire, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object improvements in safes and strong rooms
and in apparatus for manufacturing same, parts of which are also applicable to
other purposes..
We make the sides of a safe of a ductile plate and along the front and back
edges of the plate or either of them we form Hanges to project inwardly from the
face of the plate.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings is a longitudinal vertical section of a safe or
strong room so constructed..
Figure 2 is a transverse section and Figure 3 is an horizontal section of the same.
Figures 4 and 5 shew details to a larger scale. As will be seen the four sides of the
structure consist of inwardly flanged bent plates, joined flange to flange without
separate angle pieces, tee pieces or butt strips.
The flanging of the plates may be accomplished either heated or cold by placing
the edges required to be flanged between a pair of blocks of suitable form one of the
blocks being then pressed upon the other preferably by one or more hydraulic rams
or, especially when flanges are to be formed on both edges of the plate by apparatus
such as is shown by Figures 6, 7, 7 and 8. Figure 6 is a side elevation, Figure 7 is
a transverse section, Figures 7 parts of the apparatus to a larger scale, and Figure 8
is a portion of a plan. The bed of the machine forms a slab on which the plate a to
be flanged is placed; a platten (of the full width and form of the inside of the
plate after the flanges shall have been formed) is then caused to descend (preferably
by hydraulic rams) and to hold the plate in this position. Rams working horizontally
at right angles with the bed are then caused to force wedge shaped bars b b of the
full length of the. plate between the bed and the plate to be flanged so as to turn up
the parts forming the flanges through an angle of say 45°. The horizontal rams are
then drawn back the wedge shaped pieces withdrawn or turned upwards on hinges
and the rams again brought forward forcing against the plate blocks whose faces are
at right angles with the plane of the bed. Thus forming the flange to a right angle
with the plate.
We then (if the safe is intended to be rectangular) bend the plate transversely to
form the 4 corners and to facilitate the berding we cut pieces from the flanges where
the bend is to be formed. The ends of the plate we join in any ordinary manner for

page_text: '
'example as is shown by Figures 9 or by welding, the weld may be in one of the
sides or at a corner, we also weld the flanges at the corner. Or sometimes as shown
by Figures 10 and 10 in place of welding we join the ends with a butt strip on the
inner side. We do not in this case bring the two ends of the plate close together
but we form the butt plate with a dove-tail rib which projects between the ends of
the plate and these ends are bevelled to fit accurately to the sides of the dove tail.
Figure 11 is an horizontal section of a safe or strong room put together with butt
strips in this manner.
Sometimes to afford additional stiffness we form flanges on the butt strips as is
shown by Figure 12; these flanges project from the exterior of the safe as is seen in
Figure 13.
For bending the plates so as to form the corners of the safe the apparatus shown
by Figures 14, 15 and 16 may be employed. Figure 14 is a side elevation.
Figures 15 and 16 are plans; in these latter figures the work is shown in section
or with one of the flanges removed. The apparatus consists of a ram preferably
hydraulio working preferably horizontally and carrying a female block of suitable
form. The male block round which the plate (marked a) is to be bent is firmly
connected at its bottom end with the cylinder of the hydraulic ram and at the top
is 'connected with it by a movable link. The plate to be bent is placed between
the two blocks the female block forced forward by the hydraulic ram and the corner
thus bent: The same-process is repeated with each of the corners and when all have
been bent the movable link connecting the top of the male block is removed and the
bent plate removed. A similar appliance may be used_for_bending the corners of
the door frame of the safe.
Figures 17, 17 and 18 show a bending press very similar to that shown by the
Figures 14, 15 and 16 and specially adapted for producing the end flanges on the
plates. Figures 17 and 17* are side views and Figure 18 is a plan.
Figure 19 is a section of a small safe produced from a plate shown by Figure 19
and shows the way in which the back plate is held.
The plate which forms the back of the safe rests against the inner face of the
_back flange and is secured to it by rivets. The same way of fixing the back is
shown by the Figures 1, 2 and 3 as applied to a larger structure. A flush outer
surface may be obtained if desired in the manner indicated by Figure 19. Where
as is shown by Figures 20 and 20° the side plates are flanged at front as well as at
back the door frame is formed from a bar which fundamentally is of L form in
section. The front face of the door frame abuts upon the inner side of the front
flange and the frame is fixed to the flange by rivets. Upon the inner face of the
door frame a rib is rolled and behind this rib the door bolt shoots. Sometimes as
is shown at Figure 21 we provide two parallel ribs upon the frame and then the
bolts enter between these ribs. In some cases the door frame is of such a form that
it does not fit closely to the side plates we then as is shown by Figure 22 fill the
space between the door and the frane with a hard refractory cement. Sometimes
within the outer safe we construct a hard steel inner safe. The inner safe may be
'a 'steel casting or it may be built up this we prefer to do in the manner shown by
Figure 23 which is a horizontal section. The back plate of the inner safe which is
fixed in the manner shown by Figure 23, we connect with the back plate of the
outer safe by cone headed screws of hardened compound steel. Long nuts upon the
screws occupy space between the two back plates and the inner ends of the screws
which are left soft we rivet over against the front face of the inner back plate.
'The outer and inner backs with the screw rivet and nut is shown to a larger scale
by Figure 24. The inner sides we sometimes connect to the inner back by angle
pieces rivetted to the rear face of the inner back and to the inner faces of the side
"plates which overlap the edges of the back plate.
"
Space between the inner and outer safes is filled with fire resisting material.
Also between the inner and outer safes we use blocking pieces of wood rendered
incombustible by impregnation with mineral matter.
In built up strong rooms we sometimes dispense with the ordinary angles for
a

page_text: connecting the side and end plates together and instead thereof we bend the plates
themselves so as to form the corners.
This method of construction is illustrated by Figures 1, 2 and 3 already
referred to.
In locks with pivotted "levers we arrange the levers to work in alternate
directions and we provide the key with two bits on-opposite sides of the stem. The
steps on the bit on one side operate the levers working in one direction' and the
steps on the bit on the opposite side operate the levers working in the other direction.
As alternate levers work in opposite directions, we thus prevent the levers sticking
together and we also prevent any step of the key touching any but its corresponding
lever thus 'obviating frequent defectslin lever locks of the ordinary construction.....
Figure 25 shows such a lock with part of the case removed. Figure 26 is
a transverse section of the same... Figure 27 is the key. Figure 28 is similar to
Figure 25, but with the parts in another position. Figure 28 is an end view..
The levers all turn about the same stud or axis. The key bits operate upon
them to raise the one and depress the next and so on throughout the series...There
is a stump upon the bolt, which enters the gating of the levers as is usual and the
-key when the levers are ranged operates to move the bolt in the ordinary way.
.:
In combination with this, or other key-lock we sometimes use a letter or
numerical lock constructed on the principle described in Patent No. 15962 in
the year 1886 but so arranged that its bolt shall be connected with the bolt of
the key-lock so that the right.key will, unlock the lock but only after the numerical
or letter lock shall have been set to prearranged combination of letters or numbers.
Combined locks of this sort. are shown by the Figures 29 and 30.
In Figure 29 the lock has but one bolt common to the two parts; whilst in
Figure 30 there are two bolts coupled by a rocking lever.
A is the part of the lock in accordance with the former Patent, above referred to,
and B is the part in accordance with the Figures 25 to 29 above explained.
These locks are. specially applicable: to safes and strong rooms, but are also ap-
plicable to other purposes; where great security is required.
For changeable locks as described in our said Patent No. 15962 we make keys of
which the steps can be, changed as follows:-
The key consists of a tubular stem, open at the bow end instead of the bit end
having upon it the bolt step and the top lever step of the key. A slit is formed
between these two steps which also passes through the back of this tubular stein.
The changeable steps are. placed in this slit in, the desired order so that at the back
they are flush with the outside of the stem. The bow of the key is attached to a
round shaft fitting the inside of the tubular stem. .A slit is formed in the end of
this shaft calculated to pass over and engage with the changeable steps which are
suitably notched to receive it.
The round shaft has upon it a lug or ear which passes into a slot in the side of the
tubular stem. The stem at this point has a groove in which is a split ring which
the ear is notched to receive. To change the steps the split ring is turned round
until the split is on the ear, the round shaft is then withdrawn. The changeable
steps are now loose and can be removed and replaced in a new combination. The
shaft is then replaced the split ring turned and the key is ready for use.
Figure 31 is a side view of the key complete with the split ring a turned into
position to lock the parts together.
Figure 32 shows the reverse side.
Figure 33 is a similar view to that shown by Figure 31 but with the stem
removed.
Figure 34 is a section on the line 1-2 in Figure 31.
Figure 35 is a similar view to that shown by Figure 33 but partly in section to
show the method of locking in place the steps, which actuate the levers, by the split
stem.
Figures 36 and 37 are side and edge views of the bow and stem and show the stop
or proiection b for locking the stem to the tubular stem of the kev

page_text: f
.
Figure 38: is an end view of the split ring.
:
:
Having now, particularly, described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
.
1. A safe or strong room, the sides of which consist of inwardly flanged plates
made of a ductile plate first flanged, and afterwards.bent at transversely to form the
.corners and joined flange to flange substantially as described in respect to Figures 1 to 5
and as illustrated in those figures.
2. The machine for flanging plates by clamping the same between a bed and platten
and forcing inclined bars against the edges of the plate, substantially as described in
respect to Figures 6 to 8.
3. The method of connecting the plates of a safe or strong room, by means of butt
strips-with-dove tail ribs,-or-dove-tail-ribs and flanges-substantially-as-described-in
respect-to-Figures-10-to-13.
1.4. 3. A bending machine in which the male block, around which the plate is bent is
firmly connected at its end with a press, the ram of which carries the female block,
and in which the connecting link at one end of the male block is moveable, sub-
stantially as described with respect to Figures 14 to 16.
T
54. Hydraulic bending presses substantially as described in respect to Figures 14
to 16; also in respect to Figures 17, 17*, and 18.
I F
65. The In sufes the sides of which are made of a ductile plate first flanged and
afterwards bent transversely to form the corners the method of securing the back plate
of a safe or strong room by-inwardly flanging the side plates, and fixing the back
plate against the inner face of the flanges substantially as described in-respect to
Figures-land 19. and as illustrated in that figure.
76. The In safes the sides of which are made of a ductile plate first flanged and
afterwards bent transversely to form the corners the method of securing the door frame
of a safe or strong room by inwardly flanging the side plates and fixing the door
frame against the inner face of the flanges substantially as described in respect to
Figures 20, 21 and 22. and as illustrated in those figures.
8. 7. The In safes the sides of which are made of a ductile plate first flanged and
afterwards bent transversely to form the corners the method of connecting the back
plates of an outer and inner safe shewn by the Figures 23 and 24.
9. 8. A lock in which in the operation of unlocking the levers alternately are
raised and are lowered by the operation of a double bitted key, substantially as described
in respect to the Figures 26 to 28.
i
10. 9. A compound lock having one part in accordance with the preceding. claim,
and another a letter or numerical locking device, the whole as described in respect to
the Figures 29 and 30.
H. 10. In keys having removable steps securing the steps in place by means of a
forked stem fitting within the stem of the key.
12. 11. In keys of the class claimed in the preceding claim securing the forked
'stem by a split ring.
Dated this 13th day of December 1890.