Year: 1888

page_text: A communication from abroad by HENRY VAN HOEVENBERGH, of New York, United
States of America, Electrician.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 :-
The invention relates to what are known as pin-tumbler locks and is applicable to
all or any purposes, structures or places; and it has as a conspicuous or leading feature,
that it may be operated by any one of a number of differently constructed keys, while
it is so organized that it can then only be unlocked by the particular key which was
used to lock it. In other words, each different key when inserted, forms by the con-
joint action of itself and the tumblers, a special matrix or combination, which must be
exactly reproduced in order to release the bolt.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Figure 1 represents an exterior face view of a lock embodying the invention, with
the bolt drawn back.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same with the bolt and other parts in the same
position as in figure 1; and showing the key inserted, by full lines, when the bolt is
drawn back, and by dotted lines, the position of the key and that of the swinging or
oscillating tumbler carrier when the bolt is shot forward.
Figure 3 is a section upon the lines x-x in Figures 2 and 5, when the parts are in
position for drawing the bolt back or when the bolt is fully drawn back, but not
locked or held in such position, and with a key inserted.

page_text: Figure 4 is a similar view to figure 3, with a differently constructed key inserted
and with the parts in position when the bolt is drawn back or ready to be drawn back,
but not locked or held.
Figure 5 is a section upon the line y-y in Figure 3, with the working parts of the
lock in corresponding position, the key inserted, and the bolt drawn back but not
secured back.
Figure 6 is a section similar to Figures 3 and 4 after the key has been removed.
Figure 7 is a section upon the line z-z in Figure 8, with the parts in position
after the bolt has been shot and for locking the bolt in such position.
Figure 8 is a section upon the line ww in Figure 7, with the parts in corre-
sponding position and under similar conditions.
Figures 9 to 16 illustrate the invention as applied to a lock of different form.
Referring to Figures 1 to 8, A is the back plate and B the frame of the lock, both
of which may be of any suitable construction according to the purpose, place or
structure the lock is designed for.
C is a stationary tumbler receiver, made concave on its face b, from a center which
is the center of motion of the movable tumbler carrier D of the lock, said movable
tumbler carrier here being shown in the form of a sector shaped block hung to rock,
swing or oscillate on side centers or pins c, c, and made convex on its face d to form
a close fit or contact with the concave surface 6 of the fixed tumbler receiver C, but
this movable tumbler carrier may be other than sector-shaped if desired and the extent
of its circular motion be varied."
E is the bolt of the lock fitted to slide in and out through a front guide e and con-
nected, as by a rod or plate F having a slot f with a wrist pin g on a crank or arm G
secured to one side of the movable tumbler-carrier D, or any other suitable connections
may be made between the bolt E and the oscillating tumbler-carrier D for shooting
or drawing back the bolt by the motion of said carrier, as, for instance, first in the one
direction and then in the other between stops h h.
The movable carrier D is constructed with a row or series of radial ducts or
perforations k k which are in transverse relation with the axial center of motion of
said carrier, each formed with a shoulder i and extending from the shoulder out-
wards to or through the axial center of the carrier where said ducts terminate in
a front slot or key hole in said carrier. Each duct k, back of its shoulder i is
adapted to contain or has arranged within it a sectionally constructed pin tumbler,
each of which is composed of independent pins or tumblers m m arranged one in
front of the other, and of varied lengths. There may be three or more of these
independent tumblers for each duct k, four being shown in the drawing. The
greater the number, the more enlarged the permutation character of the lock, or
greater the number of combinations possible.
The fixed tumbler receiver C is constructed with two independent rows or series
of radial ducts or perforations k¹ 2, both of which are arranged to register, that
is either one at a time, with the ducts of the movable carrier D, accordingly
as said carrier, in shooting or drawing back the bolt, is brought up against
either stop h. The one set or row of ducts serves, in the operation of the
lock, to receive from the ducts k of the movable carrier D, certain of the pin
tumblers or pin tumblers sections m m, against the action of springs o
o in
the backs of the ducts k', as shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 of the drawing, the
number of pin sections m thus entering the ducts being determined by the
key S or S¹ and the same, or those thereof on which the springs oo act being
what may be termed spring followers as well as tumblers." The other row or
series of ducts 2 have arranged within them a series of pin tumblers n n which
also act as followers and are acted upon by springs o¹ o' at their backs. These
combined tumblers and followers n n need not be of sectional construction, but
each be made of a single piece as shown.
While only two keys S S of different construction as regards the length of
their bits or pins ss, are here shown, there may be a large number of such
keys, each of different construction to the other as regards the length of their bits

page_text: or certain of them, and each key will operate the lock, but whichever of the keys
be used, the same key that is used at any one time to shoot the bolt is the only
one, or another key of precisely the same construction, that will unlock or draw
back the bolt.
Supposing the bolt E to be drawn back as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, then
the position of the movable carrier D relatively to the fixed tumbler receiver C
will be as represented in Figures 2 and 5, which brings the ducts & in said
carrier in line and register with the ducts in the fixed receiver C, as shown
in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6. The pin tumblers or tumbler sections m furthest
removed from the key-hole will then project from their ducts k in the carrier D
partly into the ducts of the fixed tumbler receiver C, and by crossing the
surfaces of junction d b of the tumbler carrier and tumbler receiver as shown in
Figure 6, the bolt E will be locked or held in its back position so that it cannot
be shot without the aid of a proper key.
The combined tumblers and followers n
in the fixed tumbler receiver C will then simply rest on or be forced by their
springs o against the convex face of the tumbler carrier D.
To shoot the bolt, the key S or S¹, or other suitable key is then inserted through
the key hole and pressed inward as far as it will go. This will cause the bits of
the key to force one or more of the back tumblers out of each duct in the movable
carrier D wholly into the ducts of the fixed tumbler receiver C, as shown in
Figures 3, 4 and 5, the number of tumblers or tumbler sections m thus displaced being
dependent upon their length, but more particularly upon the varied lengths of the
bits of the key, and the number of tumblers m used in each duct k will be
determined by the key. When the tumblers m however have been displaced by the
key as described, then, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, none of the tumblers m will
cross the junction between the faces band d of the fixed tumbler receiver C and the
movable tumbler carrier D, so that on laterally oscillating the key as a lever
throughout its whole length from the position shown by full lines in Figure 2 to the
position shown by dotted lines in the same Figure, in contradistinction to the whole
or partial rotation of the key upon its axis or center, the movable tumbler carrier
will be moved from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 8,
leaving certain of the tumblers m, within the ducts ¹ of the tumbler carrier C, as
shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 8, and the bolt E will be shot as shown in Figure 8,
and the duct of the movable carrier D will be brought into line or register with the
duct 2 of the fixed tumbler receiver C, as shown in Figure 8, when upon removing
the key, the combined tumblers and followers n in said tumbler receiver will be partly
forced by the springs o into the ducts of the movable tumbler carrier D, crossing
the movable tumbler carrier and fixed tumbler receiver, as shown in Figures 7 and 8,
and thus locking the bolt E in its closed position.
It will thus be seen that independent sets of tumblers are used to lock the bolt
in its open and closed positions.
To draw back the bolt E, the same key is again inserted, forcing the tumblers n
back to their normal unlocking position of the bolt, and is oscillated or swung
throughout its whole length in a reverse direction, that is, from the position shown by
dotted lines in Figure 2 to the position shown by full lines in the same figure, when
the tumblers m left in the ducts ¹ of the tumbler receiver C will be forced outward
by their springs o into their normal position shown in Figure 6, thus locking the
bolt again in its drawn back position.
From this description it will be seen that only a slight movement of the key as a
lever throughout its whole length, from one side to the other, is necessary to shoot
or draw back the bolt, and that the bolt is locked when shot and when thrown back
by different pin tumblers, and that by the sectional construction of the tumblers m
of varying length, a very large variety of combinations may be made, thereby
making the lock of an extended permutation character. This is produced by the
sectional construction of the tumblers m and their varying lengths and their changed
position, as may be desired, in the ducts k of the movable tumbler carrier, and the
use of keys having their bits or certain of them of different lengths, that is, the one

page_text: key as compared with another, provides for this; it only being necessary that when
the key is inserted to shoot the bolt that its bits force certain of the tumblers m (the
same varying with the lengths of the key-bits), out of locking position between
the fixed tumbler receiver C and the movable tumbler carrier D. The same key
however, or one of precisely the same construction, which was used to shoot the bolt
will be necessary to draw it back. Hence it will be seen that several keys of different
construction may be used to work the same lock, which only renders a change of keys
necessary, instead of a change of lock, when a key has been lost or the control of the
lock is required to be changed.
In a lock constructed substantially as described, a matrix approximately the shape
of the step like construction of the bits of the key is formed by the united action of
said key and of the pins or tumblers moving in ducts, and suitable springs; while it
is so organized that the bolt cannot be withdrawn unless said matrix is reproduced
by the action of the same key or one with precisely similar steps or bits.
Referring now to the remaining figures, it will readily be seen how the invention
is applied to the species of lock in which the tumbler carrier or key cylinder revolves
within the fixed tumbler receiver.
Figure 9 is a sectional view, when the bolt is withdrawn. Figure 10 is a section
showing a key inserted, which brings a line of separation of the tumblers into the
line of junction of the tumbler carrier and receiver, so that the carrier may be
revolved and the bolt thrown. Figure 11 is also a section showing a key of a different
form inserted, and bringing a different line of separation of tumblers into the line
of junction of carrier and receiver. Figure 12 is a transverse section through the
line 44 of figure 11. Figure 13 shows a convenient device, as seen from the back,
for moving the bolt by the revolution of the carrier. Figure 14 is a front view of the
lock. Figure 15 is a section through 7-7 of figure 12. Figure 16 is a section
through 7-7 of figure 12 after the carrier has been revolved, the bolt thrown and the
key withdrawn.
Referring to the figures, A represents the stationary fixed support in which is placed
the movable carrier B. This is provided with a longitudinal slot C into which the
key is inserted in a manner well understood, and also the series of ducts bb. The
stationary part is provided with two series of pin tumbler receptacles D and E.
The series D corresponds to that which has heretofore been employed in a Yale lock
containing the springs d, d, which tend to force the locking tumblers f, f, forward into
the corresponding ducts 6 in the movable carrier B.
The second line or series of receptacles E consists of an equal number of ducts e, e,
which are directed toward the axis of the movable cylinder, and each duct is
provided with a spring e¹ which tends to force the corresponding pin tumblers e²
toward the movable carrier B. When the latter is in such position that its ducts are
in alignment or register with the series of ducts D, and the key is withdrawn, the
parts assume the position shown in figure 9. If the key is inserted more or less of
the pin tumblers are forced into the several ducts of the series D, as shown in figure 10,
and remain lodged there, while the carrier is turned into its second position.
In figures 9, 10 and 11, it will be observed that the tumblers are shown in three
different positions. In figure 9 the parts are in the positions that they occupy when
the bolt is in its back position and the key withdrawn.
In figure 10 a key of a certain shape is inserted, and its several steps have raised
the pin-tumblers into such a position that a line of junction of the tumblers is brought
exactly to the line which separates the surfaces of the fixed and movable holders.
In figure 11 a key of an entirely different construction is shown as regards its
steps, and a different line of junction of the tumblers is brought into the line of
separation of the surfaces of the two holders. In other words, each of these keys
has forced a different combination of tumblers into the upper or fixed receptacle D.
the key in figure 11 is turned to the right, as indicated in figure 12, and the
movable cylinder is carried through nearly a whole revolution, it finally brings its
line of tumblers into agreement with the line of tumblers in the second series of
ducts E, or on the line 7-7 of figure 12. The tumblers in this second receptacle
If now,

page_text: may be all of the same length, as shown in figure 15; and if when the carrier has
been revolved to this point, as described, the key is withdrawn, the parts take the
position shown in figure 16. That is, as the key is withdrawn, the springs e¹ force
the tumblers across the line of separation of the fixed and movable carrier and lock
them in that position.
It will from this readily be seen, that a number of differently shaped keys may be
used to bring lines of junction of the tumblers into agreement with the line of meeting
of the surfaces of the two holders; and it will also be seen that when the parts are
brought into the positions shown in figure 16, it will be absolutely necessary to use a
key similar in shape to that which left the tumblers in the positions therein shown, in
order to again bring them into such a position that the fixed and movable holders can
be separated. And it will also be readily seen that by varying the relative lengths of
the tumblers in the several receptacles, the possible number of keys each of different
form, that can be used may be increased indefinitely.
In order to insure the coincidence of the lines of ducts in the fixed and movable
holders, the pin p is fixed in a suitable place upon the movable part B and the pins pl
and p² are fixed upon the support A. These prevent a complete revolution of the
carrier B, but form limiting stops, and fix the positions where the key may be inserted
and withdrawn:
In figure 13 there is shown a convenient device for throwing the bolt by the revo-
lution of the carrier B. A pin P projects from the rear of B, and moves in a slot s
in the extension H of the bolt J. The arrows indicate the relative movements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a pin-tumbler lock, an oscillating or swinging tumbler carrier provided with
a series of ducts or perforations arranged in transverse relation with the axial center
of motion of said tumbler carrier and cach containing three or more independent pins
or tumblers arranged one in advance of the other, the several pins or tumblers in each
duct being of different lengths, in combination with a stationary tumbler receiver in
working or in close contact with the oscillating tumbler carrier and having a corre-
sponding or registering series of ducts or perforations adapted to receive a portion of
said independent tumblers by the pushing action of a proper key, springs for operating
said tumblers, and a locking bolt, substantially as specified.
2. A lock having a movable pin-tumbler carrier organized to oscillate or rock and
provided with a key hole intersecting its axis of oscillation, in combination with a bolt
connected with said tumbler carrier, whereby said bolt is shot or withdrawn by the
oscillation or lever-like action of a key throughout its length, in contra-distinction to
the whole or partial rotation of the key upon or about its longitudinal axis or center,
substantially as specified.
3. A pin-tumbler lock in which a matrix approximately the shape of the steps of the
key as produced by its bits is formed by the united action of the key of the lock and
pins or tumblers moving in ducts, said pins or tumblers in each duct being of different
lengths, and suitable springs controlling said tumblers, the whole being organized so
that the bolt of the lock cannot be withdrawn excepting said matrix is reproduced by
the action of the same key, substantially as specified.
4. In a pin-tumbler lock, the combination with a revolving tumbler carrier, of a
stationary holder having two series of ducts in line with either of which the line of
tumblers in the carrier may be placed by the revolution of the carrier.
5. The combination of a tumbler case and a key cylinder revolving therein, the case
containing two series of tumbler recesses, and the cylinder having one series of
tumbler recesses, which latter may be made to coincide with either series of recesses
in the case by the revolution of the carrier, and tumblers of varying lengths in said
recesses.
6. The combination of a tumbler case having the series of tumbler recesses, a
tumbler carrier or key cylinder having one series of tumbler recesses, which may be

page_text: brought into line with either series in the tumbler case by the revolution of the
cylinder, limiting stops for arresting the cylinder in either position, and tumblers of
varying lengths in said recesses, whereby keys of different forms may be used to
operate the lock.
7. In combination with the tumbler case A and tumbler cylinder B, of the pin P,
and the holt J, having the slot s, whereby the revolution of the cylinder operates
the bolt.