Improvements in Keys with Hollow Stems.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1892-Accepted, 11th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Keys with Hollow Stems.
I, DAVID LIONEL SALOMONS, Baronet, of Broomhill, Tunbridge Wells, in the
County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved device applicable to keys with hollow
barrels or pipe-stems, and is designed to protect the same hollow barrel or pipe
stem, from the accumulation of dust or flue, to which such keys are at present so
liable.
My device consists of a spindle or wire inserted into the hollow barrel or
pipe-stem of the key, and kept normally with its outer end flush with the end of
the pipe-stem or barrel, by means of a light spring inserted into the said stem.
This will prevent dust or flue from entering the said barrel or pipe-stem.
When the key is used a dished hollow made in the end of the internal spindle
will enable the key to be pressed accurately upon the lock pin, and the internal
spindle will be pressed inwards against the spring reaction, to admit the key into
the lock..
The spindle will be prevented from falling out by a small set-screw tapped
through the side of the barrel or pipe-stem engaging in a slot or flat on the
spindle, of suitable length to admit of the required travel of the spindle; or
equivalently by any similar and convenient means of effecting the stopping of the
spindle.
As a convenient way of carrying out my invention, I propose to use a combined
drill and reamer to drill out a hole of two distinct diameters, the smaller being
inner-most containing a spiral spring, with, if desired, a fine part of the spindle
passing through it.
The outer part of the internal spindle may be made of sufficiently large diameter
to practically fill the barrel or pipe-stem, and thus also afford a shoulder against
which the spring may react. Or the hole in the barrel may be of the same
diameter throughout and a shoulder only be made on the spindle.
The whole arrangement may thus be applied to any ordinary key with a hollow
barrel or pipe-stem, at small cost, and in a simple manner.
Dated this 8th day of January 1892.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Keys with Hollow Stems.
I, DAVID LIONEL SALOMONS, Baronet, of Broomhill, Tunbridge Wells in the
County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improved device applicable to keys with hollow
barrels or pipe stems and is designed to protect the same hollow barrel or pipe
stem from the accumulation of dust or flue to which such keys are at present so
liable.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I will now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed reference being bad
to the letters and figures marked thereon.

page_text: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a key with my invention embodied therewith.
Figure 2 shows a modification of the arrangement.
Figures 2 and 3 show further modifications.
Figure 4 shows a view of a drill for drilling the pipe stem.
My invention consists of a spindle or plunger A inserted into the hollow barrel
or pipe stem B of the key and kept normally with its outer end C flush or nearly
flush with the end of the pipe stem or barrel B by means of a light spiral spring D
situated in the said stem and reacting against the closed end of the stem B (as
shown in Figure 1, 2 and 2*) or against a shoulder within the said stem (as shown
in Figure 3) and a shoulder E arranged upon the plunger A so as to normally
tend to force the plunger A out of the barrel B.
This will prevent dust or flue from entering the said barrel or pipe stem.
A dished hollow a is provided in the enlarged end of the plunger A. so that
when the key is used, this hollow will enable the pipe stem to be pressed accurately
upon the pin of the lock and the internal plunger A will be pressed inwards
against the reaction of the spring D to admit the key into the lock.
The plunger A will be prevented from being forced or falling out by a small
set screw F tapped through the side of the barrel B and adapted to engage in a
slot or flat G on the plunger A.
In Figures 1 and 2 the slot or flat G is situated along the part of larger diameter
while in Figure 3 along that of smaller diameter.
The slot or flat G is made of suitable length to admit of the required travel
of the plunger A.
It is obvious that the stop may be arranged in other equivalent ways.
As a convenient way of carrying out my invention I propose to use a combined
drill and reamer H shown in Figure 4 having two distinct diameters, the smaller
hole being innermost is drilled by the end h and the outer hole is drilled by the
end h¹.
In any ordinary key to be fitted the reamer part h¹ may only act as a guide;
suitable grooves are provided along this part to permit the cuttings to be
liberated.
The whole arrangement may thus be applied to any ordinary key with a hollow
barrel or pipe stem, such as a lock key or watch key, at small cost, and in a simple
manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
1st. In a key the combination of the pipe stem or barrel with a spring pressed
plunger within the said stem adapted to normally close the orifice of the said pipe
stem or barrel.
2nd. In a key having a pipe stem or barrel the combination of a sliding plunger
within the said barrel with a spiral spring reacting upon the plunger and the
barrel, and a stop to prevent the total ejection of the plunger by the spring pressure
substantially as described.
3rd. The arrangement and construction of a key with pipe stem or barrel fitted
with dust excluding device substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2000
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.