IMPROVEMENTS IN MORTISE LOCKS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest de Pass, of the Office for British and Foreign
Patents, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MORTISE LOCKS." A communication from
abroad by Arvid Henry Elliott, of the City, County, and State of New York,
in the United States of America, Gentleman.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest de Pass at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th October 1881.
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for British & Foreign Patents, 68, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MORTISE LOCKS."
A communication from abroad by Arvid Henry Elliott, of the City, County, and
State of New-York, in the United States of America, Gentleman.
This Invention relates more particularly to mortise locks, or locks which are
seated in a recess in the object to which they are applied, and the Invention
consists in the novel construction and arrangement relatively to each other of
the parts and devices hereinafter described, whereby the results set forth are
secured.
The lock consists, first, of an outer cylindrical case provided with longitudinal
ribs, which are preferably formed by folding the longitudinal edges of one half
cylinder upon the similar edges of the other half cylinder; or the case may be
made polygonal in cross section, the object being to prevent the turning of the
case in the mortise or recess in which it is seated. The said case has a key-way
or opening in its side, and is preferably closed at its lower end by a cap. The lock
consists further of an inner sheath containing the working mechanism, and is by
preference in the form of an open-ended rectangular trough, the upper end of
which is closed by a face plate rivetted to it, a flange being formed on the sheath
for that purpose and the lower end being left open, while the open side is arranged
to be closed by a side plate. This side plate has a circular opening or key-way in
it, and also an opening to receive the end of a tumbler pin, and it is preferably
secured in place upon the sheath by means of projections on the longitudinal töp

page_text: edges of the sheath, which fold over and upon the edges of the side plate, said
edges of the side plate having shallow notches formed in them to receive said
projections. The side plate has also a flange at its upper end by which it is
rivetted to the face plate. The inner sheath containing the working mechanism
is, when closed as described, adapted to slide into the outer case, and its key way
to coincide with that of the outer case, the face plate closing down upon and
projecting like a flange about the upper end of said outer casing. The lock thus
cased may then be seated in its recess in the object to which it is to be applied.
The operating mechanism of this lock consists of a bolt, tumblers, and pinion.
The bolt is formed with a solid end and with a trough-like body, having a longi-
tudinal slot in its bottom plate in which the key and the tumbler pin work, when
the bolt is shut, and continuous longitudinal sides extending backward from the
solid end throughout the length of the bolt. When the bolt is seated in the sheath
these continuous sides serve as bearings for the entire length of the sides of the
bolt against the sides of said inner sheath, and together with the bottom plate of
the bolt prevent any lateral movement of the bolt in its said seat. By means of
this form and arrangement of the bolt a much larger bolt may be employed than
where the bearing furnished is only upon one edge of the bolt. Upon the edge
of one of the sides an inwardly turned rack is formed, and the top of the other
edge is somewhat cut away for the purpose hereinafter stated. The tumbler stop
is fixed at the rearward end of the bolt, and the tumblers, which may be two or
more in number, are provided with springs, stumps, and slots. The bolt being
seated in the inner sheath the tumblers are placed in the trough like recess of the
bolt by slipping them upon a pin and throwing their springs to a bearing against
the inside of one of the sides of the bolt. The tumblers thus rest upon the bottom
plate or rear side of the bolt, their springs holding them so that the ends of their
stumps engage the tumbler stop. On the upper side of these tumblers the pinion
is placed, the teeth of which rest in and engage in the teeth of the rack of the
bolt, and tho perimeter of this pinion on the side diametrically opposite its said
toothed portion rests upon and has a bearing on that edge of the side of the bolt
where said edge is cut away. By means of this arrangement a pinion of increased
diameter may be used, as it thus occupies the entire space from side to side of the
sheath. Upon the upper or outer side of the pinion around its keyslot a circular
projection or hub is formed, which when the parts are in place and the side plate
in position on the sheath, extends through and has a bearing in the opening in said
'side plate, being thus held in its proper place in the mechanism.
The pinion is provided with the key slot, which is so constructed with regard
to outline and form that the key may be turned in the lock to disengage the
tumblers before beginning to rotate the pinion. This may be and is preferably
accomplished by making the said slot in its outline in the form of an "hour-glass,"
that is to say, a circular slot having upon its inner edges two diametrically
opposite inwardly pointed angular projections. By means of this slot the bolt,
tumblers, and pinion can be assembled in the sheath in the manner described, the
pinion being upon the top or outerside of the tumblers, and by means of a suitably
stepped key the tumblers are lifted before the bolt begins to be moved in its
shooting inward or outward. The key on being introduced will pass through the
key slot in the pinion, and upon being turned will travel a quarter turn without
moving the pinion, while during this quarter turn the steps on the key will lift
and disengage the stumps of the tumblers, thus permitting the bolt to be shot;
upon the completion of the said quarter turn the key will then engage the pro-
jections in the key slot of the pinion, and thus during the further turning of the
key will rotate the pinion and consequently shoot the bolt outward; by the
operation of the rack on the bolt (which engaged the pinion) while the bolt is
moving, the tumbler stop enters the slot of the tumblers, and when it is shot the
tumblers are carried downwards by their springs so that the said stop engages the
inner edge of said slot. In shooting the bolt backward, a quarter turn of the key
is made without disturbing the pinion, and the tumblers are disengaged and then

page_text: the projections in said key slot are engaged by the key, and the pinion rotated to
carry the bolt backward.
It is evident that the pinion having its peculiar slot may be placed below or
back of the tumblers, the rack on the bolt being properly shifted also without
varying this feature of the Invention, as then the key would pass through the
tumblers and its suitably formed end would enter the slot in substantially the same
manner and when turned.
By means of this construction and arrangement the rack may be upon or may.
form part of the bolt itself, and at the same time to avoid any lost motion in
either the pinion or the rack, the movement of the bolt being simultaneously and
coincident with the movement of the pinion, the disengagement of the tumblers is
accomplished while the pinion and bolt are both at rest.
The form, construction, arrangement, and assembling of the various parts heroini
described enable an inexpensive yet thoroughly durable, effective, and satisfactory
lock to be manufactured.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Ernest de Pass in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th April
1882.
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for British and Foreign Patents, 68, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MORTISE LOCKS."
A communication from abroad by Arvid Henry Elliott, of the City, County, and
State of New York, in the United States of America, Gentleman.
This Invention relates more particularly to mortise locks, or locks which are
seated in a recess in the object to which they are applied, and the Invention
consists in the novel construction and arrangement, relatively to each other, of the
parts and devices herein after particularly specified, whereby the results set forth
are secured.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved lock
complete, on the side in which is the key-way.
Figure 2 is a similar view of the same turned one quarter round,
Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section of the same, showing the key seated
in the lock.
Figure 4 is a side view of the key which operates the lock shown in the
Drawings.
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a side and edge view of the inner sheath of the
lock withdrawn from the outer case,
-
;

page_text: Figure 8 is a similar view of the same, the pinion and tumblers being removed.
Figure 9 is a similar view of the empty inner sheath.
Figure 10 shows a side and longitudinal central section of the bolt.
Figure 11 is a detached view of the outer case.
Figure 12 is a top view of the sheath shown in Figuro 6, showing the face
plate.
Figure 13 is a cross-section of the outer case.
Figures 14 and 15 are side views respectively of the tumblers and the pinion.
Figure 16 is a central longitudinal section of the inner sheath and its attached
face plate.
Figure 17 is a side view of the cap, which closes the lower end of the outer case.
Figure 18 is an enlarged view of the tumblers and the pinion, showing their
arrangement in relation to the bolt and its rack.
Figure 19 is an enlarged side view of the pinion, and
Figure 20 is a bottom end view of the inner sheath.
A is the outer case of this improved lock; this may be in the form of a cylinder
as shown, and provided with longitudinal ribs a, which are preferably formed by
folding the longitudinal edges of one half cylinder upon the similar edges of the
other half cylinder, as shown in Figure 13; or the case may be made polygonal
in cross section, the object being to prevent the turning of the case in the mortise
or recess in which it is seated. The said case has a key way or opening a' in its
side, and is preferably closed at its lower end by the cap a². B is the inner sheath
of the lock containing the working mechanism, and is by preference in the form
of an open ended rectangular trough, the upper end of which is closed by the face
plate C which is rivetted to it, a flange b being formed on the sheath for that
purpose and the lower end being left open, while the open side is arranged to be
closed by a side plate D. This side plate D has a circular opening or koy way d
in it, and also an opening d to receive the end of the tumbler pin, and it is
preferably secured in place upon the sheath B by means of projections b' on the
longitudinal top edges of the sheath which fold over and upon the edges of the side
plate, said edges of the side plate having shallow notches d² formed in them to
receive said projections b', as seen in Figures 5, 6, 9, and 16. The side plate has
also a flange d³ at its upper end by which it is rivetted to the face plate C, as seen
in Figure 5. The inner sheath containing the working mechanism is, when closed
as described, adapted to slide into the outer casing A, and its key way to coincide
with that of the outer case, the face-plate C closing down upon and projecting
like a flange about the upper end of said outer casing A, as shewn in Figure 3.
The lock thus cased may then be seated in its recess in the object to which it is to
be applied.
The operating mechanism of this lock consists of a bolt, tumblers, and a pinion,
and I now proceed to describe those parts and their arrangement and operation
relatively to cach othor. E is the bolt which is formed with a solid end e and
with a trough-like body, having a longitudinal slot e' in its bottom plate e
in which the key and the tumbler pin work when the bolt is shut, and the
continuous longitudinal sides e³ and e3 extending backward from the solid end e
throughout the length of the bolt, as seen in Figure 10. When the bolt is seated
in the sheath B these continuous sides e* and e³ serve as bearings for the entire
length of the sides of the bolt against the sides of said inner sheath, as shown in
Figure 8, and together with the bottom plate of the bolt prevent any lateral
movement of the bolt in its said seat. By means of this form and arrangement of
the bolt, a much larger bolt may be employed than where the bearing furnished
is only upon one edge of the bolt. Upon the edge of one of the sides e an
inwardly turned rack is formed, hereinafter described, and the top of the other
edge is somewhat cut away at eo for the purpose hereinafter stated. The
tumbler stop is fixed at the rearward end of the bolt, as shown, and the

page_text: tumblers F, which may be two or more in number, as desired, are shown in outline
in Figure 12, and are provided with suitable springs f, stumps f¹, and slots f".
The bolt being seated in the inner sheath B, the tumblers are placed in the trough
like recess of the bolt by slipping them upon the pin f³ and causing their springs
to bear against the inside of the side e of the bolt. The tumblers thus rest upon
the bottom plate or rear side of the bolt, their springs f holding them, so that the
ends of their stumps engage the tumbler stop e. On the upper side of these
tumblers is placed the pinion G, the teeth of which rest in and engage in the teeth
of the rack e' of the bolt, and the perimeter of this pinion on the side diametrically
opposite its said toothed portion rests upon and has a bearing on the edge of the
side of the bolt, where said edge is cut away at e. By means of this arrange-
iment a pinion of increased diameter may be used, as it thus occupies the entire
space from side to side of the sheath B. Upon the upper or outer side of the
pinion G around its key slot g a circular projection or hub g' is formed, which,
when the parts are in place, as described, and the side plate D is in position on
the sheath, extends through and has a bearing in the opening din said side plate,
being thus held in its proper place in the mechanism.
The pinion G is provided with the key slot g, which is so constructed with
regard to outline and form that the key may be turned in the lock to disengage
the tumblers before beginning to rotate the pinion. This may be, and is preferably
accomplished by making the said slot g in its outline in the form of an "hour
glass," that is to say, a circular slot having upon its inner edges the two, diametrically
opposito, inwardly pointed, angular projections g², as shown in Figures 15 and 19.
By means of this slot thus formed, the bolt, tumblers, and pinion can bo assembled
in the sheath B in the manner described, the pinion being upon the top or
outer side of the tumblers, and by means of a suitably stepped key, as shown, the
tumblers are lifted before the bolt begins to be moved in its shooting inward or
outward. It is evident that the key on being introduced, as shown, will pass
through the key slot in the pinion, and upon being turned will travel one quarter
of a turn without moving the pinion. During this quarter turn the steps on the
key will lift and disengage the stumps of the tumblers, thus permitting the bolt
to be shot. Upon the completion of the said quarter turn the key will then
engage the projections g in the key-slot of the pinion, and thus during the further
turning of the key will rotate the pinion, and consequently shoot the bolt outward
by the operation of the rack on the bolt (which engaged the pinion).
the bolt is moving the stop e enters the slot f' of the tumblers, and when
it is shot the tumblers are carried downward by their springs, so that the said
stop e engages the inner edge of said slot. In shooting the bolt backward a
quarter turn of the key is made without disturbing the pinion and the tumblers
are disengaged, and then the projections g³ in said key slot are engaged by the key
and the pinion rotated to carry the bolt backward.
While
The pinion G having its peculiar slot g may be placed below or at the back of
the tumblers, the rack on the bolt being properly shifted also without varying
this feature of the said Invention, as then the key would pass through the
tumblers and its suitably formed end would enter the slot g in substantially the
same manner and when turned.
By means of this construction and arrangement the rack may be upon or may
form part of the bolt itself, and at the same time to avoid any lost motion in
either the pinion or the rack, the movement of the bolt being simultaneous and
coincident with the movement of the pinion, the disengagement of the tumblers is
accomplished while the pinion and bolt are both at rest.
The form, construction, arrangement, and assembling of the various parts herein
described in the manner specified enable an inexpensive yet thoroughly durable,
effective, and satisfactory lock to be manufactured."
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
1. A mortise lock, composed of the inner sheath B containing the locking

page_text: mechanism, and carrying the face plate C, and adapted to be inserted in the outer
case A, which is thus closed at its top by said face plate, said sheath and case
having coincident keyways, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A mortise lock, composed of the inner sheath B containing the locking
mechanism, and carrying the face plate C and the outer cylindrical case A adapted
to receive and hold the said sheath, and having the longitudinal ribs a formed by
folding the edges of one half cylinder over the edges of the other half cylinder,
said sheath and case having coincident keyways, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
3. In a mortise lock, the sheath B containing the locking mechanism having the
flange b, and the side plate D having the flange ³, together with the face plate C
and its fastening rivets, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
"
4. In a mortise lock, the sheath B containing the locking mechanism (rectangular
in shape) having the flange b, the inwardly folding projections 61, and the side
plate D having the keyway d, the shallow notches d³, and the flange d³, together
with the face plato C and its fastening rivets, all constructed and arranged to
operate substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a mortise lock, the combination with the sheath B, as described, of the
bolt E, having the solid end e, the slotted bottom plate e, the continuous
longitudinal sides e³ and e³, and the rack e, together with suitable tumblers and
operating pinion, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. In a mortise lock, the combination with the sheath B, as described, of tlie
bolt E, the side a of which has the rack e', the other side e³ being cut away at e³,
together with the tumblers F seated on the bottom plate of said bolt, and the
pinion G seated on top of the tumblers and having the hub g¹ projecting through
an opening in the side plate of said sheatlı, all constructed and arranged to operate
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
7. In a mortise lock, the combination with the bolt and its rack and the
tumblers of the pinion G, having the key-slot g, constructed and arranged
substantially as described, whereby the key is permitted to make a quarter turn
in said key-slot and disengage the tumblers before rotating the pinion, as and for
the purpose specified.
8. In a mortise lock, the combination with the sheath B, bolt E, and tumblers F,
substantially as described, of the pinion G, having the key slot g with the two
diametrically opposite inwardly pointed projections g³, constructed and arranged
to operate as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest de Pass, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of April, in the year One thousand eight hundred
and eighty two.