A Keyless Lock,
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
A Keyless Lock,
I, EMIL BRESLAUER, of Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to a keyless lock, the opening of which depends upon
the correct position of one or more rotatable discs the turned up or flanged rims
of which serve as the device for preventing unlocking and only allow of the
passage through them of certain appliances for unlocking when they are brought
into a particular position.
In order to afford a compact construction, in particular with locks which admit
of a large number of combinations in consequence of the employment of several
locking rim discs, the rims of these discs are not employed directly but indirectly for
controlling the locking bolt, that is, there is introduced between the two an
intermediate device which does not require, like the locking bolt, to be slid
parallel to itself for unlocking but has a rotary motion imparted to it for this
purpose.
By this means that part of the lock which requires to be of some bulk for
affording the requisite strength, that is to say, the sliding locking bolt, is dis-
connected from the locking discs, so that any excessive increase in size in
particular in the thickness of the lock is avoided.
At the same time as the intermediate device controlled by the locking discs
can be rotated, the movement thereof can be effected with comparatively little
exertion. This also affords the possibility of arranging the rotatable device
so that it can be turned by the application of a very small force, thus preventing
the possibility of putting the locking dises out of order by rough usage when they
are of delicate construction.
A farther important feature, enabling the size of the lock to be reduced
consists in that, even with a number of locking discs, only a single setting
mechanism is sufficient for effecting the opening of the lock, as will be seen from
the following description.
On the accompanying drawing is shewn a lock constructed according to my said
invention with two locking rim discs; Fig. 1 shews a front view, with the cover
plate removed, Fig. 2 shews a cross section, Fig. 3 a detached end view of the
locking lever Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged front and side views of the
parts q, m, n, o.
The locking discs a¹ a² are arranged concentric to each other and are coupled
to a setting wheel c. This wheel is shewn, by way of example as a toothed wheel
and is in gear with a toothed pinion on a spindle K so that by the rotation of
the latter the wheel c and discs a¹ a² are more or less rotated for setting them.
For enabling the setting to be effected easily and reliably, the pinion is prefer-
ably provided with ten teeth and the setting wheel c with a multiple of that
number, so that at each complete rotation of the pinion the wheel c is turned

page_text: through 10 teeth; while a second pinion effects by its complete rotation the
turning of c through the distance of one tooth by means of an intermediate
wheel fixed to the spindle K and gearing with l.
The object of having two spindles actuated by hand for setting the locking
discs a¹ a² is to enable this to be effected expeditiously. If only a single spindle
were employed, it would be necessary to arrange the gearing thereof so that the
discs were only turned through a single tooth at each operation, thus requiring in
some cases a considerable number of rotations of K for bringing the discs into
position. This is avoided by arranging K to move the discs first through a distance
of ten teeth by one revolution, and then adjusting them to the required position
by a series of small movements produced by rotations of the pinion 7.
Thus in setting the lock only complete rotations of two spindles have to be
effected, this being done in the known manner by means of a sleeve with helical
groove mounted on and engaging with each of the said spindles and actuated
by simple pressure upon a head or button on the sleeve. Such an arrangement
is indicated at Fig. 2 with regard to the spindle K, on which a sleeve ¹ is
mounted, acted upon by a spring.
The locking discs a¹ a have in their locking rims notches A¹ A2, through which,
when they are brought into the correct position, the stud e² of the locking lever e
pivoted at el can pass. In the normal position the locking lever e prevents the
locking bolt d from being brought into the open position, either by causing
it to project directly into the path of the locking bolt, or by causing studs on
the bolt and the lever to come in contact with each other, when it is endeavoured
to push the bolt back. With this arrangement can be combined alarm devices
which give notice of any attempt at an unauthorised opening of the lock. In
the arrangement shewn by way of example, the locking bolt is provided with
two abutment studs 2 which can only pass the stud i of the locking lever and
the front end of the latter, when the locking lever has been raised to such an
extent that the stud e2 is situated within the rim of the inner locking disc.
For opening the lock therefore it is necessary, by means of the pinions kl, to
first turn the disc a¹ so that the notch A' shall be exactly above the stud e² and
then to turn lever e upward so that the stud 2 will be situated above the locking
rim of a', after which the same operation has to be effected with regard to the
second locking disc a².
The raising of the lever e is effected by means of a spring arm g fixed to a
disc f which is turned by an outside unlocking handle for this purpose. This
disc also carries a pin t for moving back the locking bolt d into the open position.
In the construction shewn this pin t engages with a spring arm u fixed to the
bolt d. By thus employing an elastic intermediate device between disc f,
levere and bolt the object is attained of preventing the delicate parts of the
lock, in particular the locking discs, from being injured by the rough application
of force. It is therefore possible, without detriment to the security of the lock
to make the locking discs and the entire setting mechanism of a very delicate
construction, similar to the mechanism of a clock, and thus to render the lock
both compact and of inexpensive manufacture.
If the stud e of the locking lever after passing through the notch of the first
disc, were to be allowed to rest and slide upon the inner surface of the disc's
rim until the second disc has been adjusted in position, the number of possible
combinations with two locking discs would only be double the number possible
with one disc, and with three discs, only three times that number; consequently
not very much would be gained by multiplying the number of locking discs.
To obviate this disadvantage provision has to be made whereby the correct
setting of the first will not in any way facilitate the farther setting on an un-
authorised attempt being made to open the lock by trial.
This object is attained by making the locking stud e pivoted to e as shewn at.
Figure 3 so that it will remain in the projecting position while e is moved upward
but will turn upward on its pivot when the lever bears with the stud against

page_text: the inner face of the rim of the locking disc, so that the locking lever would
always fall back into the normal position if it were not otherwise supported.
In order that such falling of the locking lever may only form an obstacle to
the opening of the lock by an unauthorised person, and not to any one legiti-
mately opening the lock, provision is made whereby the locking lever, after
passing through the first locking rin is afforded a support until all locking rims
have been passed through by the stud e².
The support must be so arranged as to be withdrawn if an unauthorised operator
endeavours by repeated trials to find out the correct position of the locking discs.
Such an arrangement is shewn at Fig. 1 and to an enlarged scale at Figs. 4
& 5 on the drawing. After the correct setting of the rim disc a' and subsequent
raising of the lever e to a corresponding extent, the latter finds a support in the
surface m on which it can rest with the stud e. This surface m is carried by a
lever g pivoted at 2, and which is engaged with its free end between two pins s s
on the disc f.
If the disc f after the setting of the one locking disc a¹ be turned to the right
so as to raise lever e, the lever q will also be turned to the right; then on turning
back disc f and consequently of lever q to the left, the surface m will pass under
pin which will assume successively the positions (1) and (2) Fig. 4, in pressing
upward the inclined spring platen carried by bracket fixed to g, the lever e will
thus be prevented from dropping.
For the above purpose the movements of the lever e by the arm are so
proportioned relatively to those of the lever q by the pins ss that when disc f
is turned to the right, lever is also moved to the right and at the same time
lever e is raised to such an extent that pin e is raised so as to come in contact
with the underside of the plate m of lever q, it being temporarily pressed against
this plate m by the spring action of arm. g. When disc f is further turned to
the right, and also takes with it the lever to the right, the pin e³ slides on the
underside of plate m and is pushed above this surface m at the moment when it
reaches its left edge.
e,
In turning back disc f and lever g, lever e with pine is held in a sufficiently
raised position by the spring arm g, so that surface m can pass under pin 6. In
further turning back disc f spring arm g comes out of contact with lever but
this still remains in a raised position on account of the pin e³ resting on plate m,
the pin now sliding between spring plate and plate m as was previously
explained. If, now for the purpose of completely opening the lock, the disc f
is again turned to the right, the pin e³ will slide up the inclined surface # and
will pass between n and a spring plate o, also attached to and will assume
the position 4; on the now following motion to the left of the disc f and lever
the pin will slide along the surface o and on arriving at the end thereof (position 5)
it will lose its support and the lever e will consequently fall down again.
From the above described arrangement of the device mno it will be seen that
if, on the second turning of the disc f the lock does not open, the setting of the
first locking rin disc will have to be repeated, so that any one who has by chance
correctly set the first disc will not have thereby facilitated the complete opening
of the lock.
Therefore, taking the possible combinations with one disc as a, then the number
of possible combinations with two discs will be very considerable, say and that
with three discs proportionately more so say a³.
If not only two, but several locking rim discs be used, the lever e must be supported
for a correspondingly greater number of oscillations of the disc f, which can be
effected in a simple manner by providing several pins e³ one above the other
which pass in succession on to the supporting surface m.
For conveniently varying the relative opening positions of the rim discs the
following device is employed. The locking rim discs are connected together
and with the setting devices only by means of a frictional coupling that can be
readily disengaged so that they can be turned into varying positions relatively.

page_text: to each other. In the arrangement shewn by way of example on the drawing,
the disc a² is carried on a spindle 62 and bears with its inner surface against
the disc a. By exerting end pressure on the spindle 62 this, together with the
disc a can be moved out of contact with the disc a', and by means of a pointer B2
it can be turned into any desired relative position to a¹. The disc a' is fixed on
a tubular spindle 6 through which 62 passes, and by an end pressure on 6¹ it can be
moved away from the toothed setting wheel c and be turned by means of a
pointer B fixed on b¹.
The setting wheel c is also fixed on a tubular spindle fitted over 61 and 62.
When not pressed forward as described, the discs a¹ a² are pressed together and
against the wheel c by means of a helical spring w.
The locking bolt d'is acted upon by a spring tending to bring it into the
locked position.
To the pinion that effects the turning of the locking discs a¹ a² and that is
always made to perform one complete revolution for this purpose as hereinbefore
described, is fixed a disc being in the same plane as f and having an arc
shaped notch which, when the disc arrives at the end of its rotation, is presented
towards disc f which has a similar notch that is presented towards for allowing
its rotation when f is not being turned for operating the lever e and bolt d.
By this means f is prevented from being turned until has completed its
revolution.
.
The exact end positions of the discs f and are insured by stud 12 that comes
in contact with a spring stop plate y fixed to the disc f at f. The free end of this
spring gives way to the downward pressure of the stud 12 on the rotation of the
disc and allows it to pass from the upper to the under side against which it
is held by a spring pressure to be presently described. The disc f has a stud fi
on which the locking lever e rests when f is in the position shewn with the
locking bolt shot, in which position f is elastically held in one direction by the
spring arm bearing against lever e, and in the other direction by pin t bearing
against spring arm of bolt d.
For bringing the discs a¹ a² consecutively into the correct positions in which
the stud of lever e can pass through the notches A¹ and A2 for enabling the
bolt d to be shot back, it is of course necessary that for each unlocking operation
the discs shall be turned forward from a definite starting position, into which
they must be made to return after each opening of the lock. This is effected as
follows. On one of the spindles of the mechanism, such for instance as the
spindle K of the wheel, is mounted a spiral spring in such manner that, when
allowed free action, it will turn the spindle K, and consequently the wheel a,
discs a¹ a² pinion and disc ¹ backward, that is, in the contrary direction to that
in which they are turned for unlocking, until they arrive at the starting position,
which is determined by a pin on the wheel c coming in contact with a fixed stop.
Assuming now that in setting the discs a¹a² in the first instance relatively to
each other and to the wheel c, by means of the pointers B1 B2 as previously
explained the disc a' is so set that it will have to be moved through say 38
divisions in order to bring notch A¹ from the starting position to that opposite
stud while the disc a² is set so as to require to be moved through say 45
divisions from the starting position for bringing A2 opposite e², then for un-
locking the lock, the operator (being aware of the above conditions) will have first
to effect three rotations of spindle K and pinion by the depression of its spring
knob, and then eight rotations of pinion 1, so as to enable him to raise stud e
through notch A', after which he will have to effect seven further rotations of
pinion in order to enable stud e² to be raised through notch A². Lever c
having now been raised to its full height, the lock bolt d can be shot back as
above described for unlocking. In order now to bring a¹ a back to the starting
positions, disc f is turned slightly in the contrary direction to the arrow by
means of the lock handle, so as to cause the end of spring arm y to move down-
ward below pin 2; disc being now free to turn in the contrary direction to the

page_text: arrow (as the segmental notch of f is made sufficiently large to allow of this) the
spiral spring on spindle K will come into action and will cause pinion to turn
discs a¹ a backward until they arrive at the starting position again. Meanwhile,
bolt d having been thrown forward again by the spring v, disc f on its handle
being released will be brought back into the position shewn at Fig. 1 again by
the action of spring arm u on pin t.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A keyless lock wherein, for opening the lock, one or more rotatable rim
discs having notches in the rim require to be set in a particular position for
enabling a stud on a pivoted lever or equivalent device to pass through the
notch or notches, the lever being arranged in combination with a locking bolt
in such manner that when the lever is moved so that its stud passes through
the said rim notch, it allows the locking bolt to be slid back for opening the lock,
but when prevented by the rim disc or discs from being so moved, the lever
locks the sliding bolt in the closed position, substantially as described.
2. In a keyless lock such as is referred to in the first claim, the combination
with the locking lever of a device for actuating it, which is turned by hand, and
which also actuates the sliding locking bolt through the medium of a spring,
for the purpose of protecting the lock mechanism against rough usage, sub-
stantially as described.
3. A keyless lock of the kind referred to in the first claim, wherein two or
more notched rim discs are mounted on concentric spindles and are so coupled
together that they can be readily uncoupled so as to alter their relative positions,
by means of one and the same setting appliance, substantially as described.
4. In a keyless lock such as is referred to in the first claim, so constructing the
stud on the locking lever that when moved in the direction for passing through
the notches of the rim discs it is rigid, but when moved in the contrary direction
it can turn lose on a pivot, and thus does not prevent the lever from returning
to its normal position, although the notches of the discs may not be in proper
position for this purpose, substantially as described.
5. In a keyless lock with several locking rim discs such as is referred to in
the preceding claims, the combination with the locking lever of a supporting
device, so arranged as to prevent the lever from returning to the normal position
until a certain number of movements of the opening handle, have been effected,
such number being dependent on the number of locking rim discs employed,
substantially as described.
6. Constructing the supporting device referred to in the fifth claim of an
oscillating lever provided with a supporting surface, which after the locking lever
has been moved in the opening direction and the opening handle is turned back
again, is thereby brought under a projection on the locking lever, while on the
opening handle being again turned in the opening direction, the surface is
again moved from under the projection, substantially as described.
7. In a keyless lock with several rim discs such as is referred to in the preceding
claims, coupling several concentrically mounted rim discs together by a frie-
tional coupling, that can be released by means of an end pressure exercised upon
the concentric spindles carrying the said discs, substantially as described.
8. A keyless lock combined and operating as herein described with reference
to the accompanying drawing.
Natal th 0+1 day of Santambor 1908
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.