US2003650A - Combination lock with electrical switch control - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1935. G. T. HOSKING 2,003,650 I COMBINATION LOCK WITH ELECTRICAL SWITCH CONTROL Filed April 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 0 umlmmu June 4 1935. HOSKlNG 2,003,650

COMBIN ATION LOCK WITH ELECTRICAL SWITCH CONTROL FiledApril 18, 1933 2 Sheets-5mm, 2

Patented June 4, 1935 UNiTED STATES PATIENT OFFICE,

COMBINATION LOOK WITH ELECTRICAL S'WITCH CONTROL George T. Hosking, Somcrville, Mass., assignor of one-fourth to Thomas G. Phillips, Somerville, Mass, and one-fourth to Gomer R. Lewis, Waterbury, Conn.

Application April 18, 1933, Serial No. 666,752 Claims. (01. -53) This invention is a lock of the type in which the nections between the same and the movableelelocking functions of a latch or other movable ment of an electric switch. Figure '7 is a detail member are controlled by rotatable tumbler discs plan view illustrating the movable and fixed cone or similar elements, arranged to be adjusted to tacts of the switch. 7 L p 5 predetermined relative positions. Referring to the drawings, A designates a cas- 5 7 One of the objects of the invention is to provide ing which may be of any desired construction, but a simply constructed combination lock, including as illustrated in the drawings is shown of rectanaplurality of associated recessed discs cooperating gular form. Located within said casing are with a slide bar having members complemental three circular tumbler discs at, through each 10 to the recesses in the discs, and actuating means of which is loosely passed a vertical shaft [0 which 10 for the slide-bar, the whole so constructed and is arranged for axial and rotative movement in arranged that movement of the slide-bar is norsuitable hearings in the top and bottom, respecmally prevented until the recesses have been tively of the casing A, said shafts serving to removed to predetermined relative and cooperative tain the tumbler disks in place. Each tumbler positions. A'further object is to provide a lock of disc is provided with a single radially disposed lo the character described, in which the'predeterperipheral recess H, and is also provided with mined positions of the discs are controlled by disa circular series of perforations l2 arranged in connectible shafts,andsimplemeansforquicklyand a circle concentric with its respective shaft l0. effectively adjusting said shafts with respect to Each of sa d s afts is p vid d with a fix d flan their discs, so as to alter the combinations which l3 having depending, diametrically opposite pins 20 regulate the degree of rotation of each disc necesl4 positioned to enter the perforations I2 of its saryto bring the recesses in the discs, to the pretumbler disc. At the upper end of each shaft determined positions above referred to. A further I!) is a pointer l5, each fixedly secured to its shaft object is to provide a lock structure of the type and movable over a stationary scale, preferably above mentioned, provided with means for prein the form of a fixed circulardisc IT on the 25 venting the changing of the relations of the discover of easing A, each of saidrdiscs having a se-, connectible shafts and their discs while the slideries of numbers corresponding to the positions bar is in a predetermined or locked position. A and numbers of perforations l2 in the tumbler further object is to provide a combination lock of discs a, b, or c. Interposed between the flanges the character mentioned, so constructed and ar- 13 and the top of the casing A are springs I8, 30 ranged as to control one or more electric circuits, which normally react against the flanges to press such for instance as the operating circuits of the the shafts l0 downwardly, in an axial direction type commonly installed on standard motor veso as to yieldably hold the pins M in engagement hicles. A further object is to provide a circuit with the'perforations l2. 7 v

control lock, so constructed and arranged that The tumbler ,discs'a, b and c, and their shafts 35 short-circuiting of the standard type ignition 10 are enclosed within a rectangular slide-bar switch, so as to accomplish surreptitious and un- IQ of skeleton form, the ends of said bar being authorized operation of the vehicle will be unaslidably mounted beneath fixed keepers 20; a

vailing. spring 2| serving to normally force said-slide-bar 40 The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth to a predetermined forward or unlocked posi- 40 and particularly pointed out in the claims. tion, as viewed in the drawings. One of the sides In the accompanying drawings:-- of said slide-bar is provided with fingers 22, which.

Figure l is atop plan view'illustrating a lock of project diametrically toward the opposite side, the character described, the top of the casing and are located in a plane to overlie the respecbeing broken away. Figure2 is atransverse'vertitive flanges 13 on the shafts III, while the slide- 45 cal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Figure 3 is bar is in the forward position under the tension a horizontal section with the operating shafts reof the spring 2|. The opposite side member of moved, and showing the lock applied to a standard the slide-bar is provided with lugs 23, which protype motor vehicle operating circuit. Figure 4 is a ject diametrically toward the first mentioned side,

similar view showing the lock adapted for locking and are complemental to the recesses H in the 50 the cover of a box or similar object. Figure 5 is a respective tumbler discs. It will be noted that the detail perspective view illustrating one of the op fingers 22 are parallel with each other in the same crating shafts for the discs. Figure 6 is a vertical plane and that the lugs 23 are also parallelwith sectional view illustrating the details of the 039- each other in a common plane, but that the group crating cam for the lock slide-bar and the conof fingers 22' and the group of fingers 23 are in different planes. Also, that in Figure 3 that por tion of the side member of the slide-bar which carries lugs 23 is offset, as indicated at 24, and provided with a slight recess 25 for a purpose to be later described. Thisoifset arrangement is desirable where the middle disc is set back in order to conserve space but the invention is not limited in this particular. In the form illustrated in Figure 4, a post 26 is secured to said side member for manual movement of the slide-bar against the tension of the spring 21; said post having a lug 21 positioned to fit within a slot or beneath 2. lug to prevent raising of the cover of the easing A.

In practice, the shafts ID are moved axially against the tension of their springs 18, and then rotated so as to bring the pins Hi on the flanges l3 into engagement with any pre-selected holes l2. This adjustment moves the pointers I5 to numbers on the scale l5 corresponding to the positions ofthe holes engaged by said pins. In order to bring the recesses H of the tumbler discs to positions to be engaged by the lugs 23, it is obviously necessary to bring the pointers to those pre-selected key numbers of the scales I1. As soon as thediscs have been so adjusted as to bring all of the recesses ll opposite the lugs 23, the slide-bar may be moved backwardly against the tension of the spring 2i, said recesses providing clearance for'this movement. While the slide bar is held rearwardly against the tension of said spring, it is possible to lift the shafts l0 and to change the rotative positions thereof with respect to the tumbler discs, if so desired, but it will be observed that it will be impossible to make any such adjustment while the slide-bar is moved to its forward position under the tension of spring 2 I, because the fingers 22 will overlie the flanges l3 and prevent such axial movement of the shafts as will effect disengagement of said flanges and said tumbler discs.

In the structure illustrated in Figure 4, rearward movement of the slide-bar with the post 26, disengages the lug 21 from its complemental member. Just as soon as any or all of the tumbler discs are rotated, while the slide-bar is in its forward position under the tension of spring 2|, rearward movement of the slide-bar is prevented by reason of the lugs 23 engaging the peripheries of the tumbler discs, and'the parts are understood that the working parts are normally hidden from view by a cover of opaque material, through which the shafts I0 extend. and on the top of which the scales l3 are placed in such a manner that the pointers l5 may move thereover.

The invention herein described is particularly adapted for use in looking electrical switches against tampering, and particularly for locking a master switch controlling the wiring systems of standard type automobiles. In this connection attention is invited to Figures 6 and 7, in which a master switch S is mounted in a casing 30 of suitable dielectric material, said casing being formed in two parts, which are normally held in abutted relation by suitable bolts in a manner well understood in the switch art. Extending from the top of the switch casing is a sleeve 3|, in which is rotatably mounted a cam shaft 32, provided at its upper end with an enlargement or. head 33 in which is secured an operating handle 34. To the'lower end of the shaft 32 is secured a radially disposed cam arm 35, the outer end of which extends through a slot in the casing, at a position to engage the offset portions 24 of the slide-bar IS. The end of said cam arm is provided with a point 36 so as to engage the recess 25, and a suitable spring washer 31 is provided to maintain a tension on the shaft.

In the lower part of the casing 30 is mounted a stud 38 in axial alignment with the cam shaft 32, the lower side of said stud being connected in suitable manner to 'one or more cables or con ductors 39 leading to the starting motor, ignition, etc. (not shown) which normally control the starting and operation of the motor vehicle engine. Pivotally mounted on the stud 38 is a movable switch arm 40, complemental to a fixed contact 4!, which leads from a suitable source of electrical energy, such as a storage battery (not shown). The fixed contact 4| is so positioned that it lies in the path of movement of the switch arm 30, said switch arm and said cam arm being connected by a coil spring 42. In operation with the parts in locked position, the outer end of the cam arm 35 rests against the face of the offset 24, so that it cannot be moved until the slide-bar is released. In moving the cam member manually to this position by means of handle 34, the pull upon spring 42 will move the switch arm 40 out of engagement with its fixed contact. While the parts are in such positions,

therefore, it is impossible to move the cam arm to a position to bring the switch contacts into engagement, because the locking lugs 23 are engaged with the peripheries of the tumbler discs.

The arrangement of the spring 42 is such that as the cam arm is moved by manual rotation of the shaft 32, said spring moves to one side or the other of the dead center and exerts a pull on the movable contact 40 which results in a snap action. In order to close the switch it is first necessary to manipulate the tumbler discs a, b and c, to bring the recesses H in positions to receive the lugs 23, and thereby permit rearward movement of the slide-bar against the tension of its spring. This rearward movement is accomplished by manually rotating the cam shaft 32 in a direction to bring the end of the cam against the offset portion 24, the effect ofwhich engagement is to impart a forced rearward movement to the slide-bar, and as the free end of the cam arm moves the spring 42 across the dead center, the switch arm 40 is snapped into engagement with its fixed contact. While the switch is in circuit closed position the tumbler discs are not disturbed, and therefore the lugs 23 and. recesses II are always so positioned that free movement of the cam shaft is permitted. To break the circuit and lock the switch, it is only necessary to rotate the cam shaft so as to move the switch arm 39 out; of engagement with the fixed contact. Just as soon as the cam arm reaches a position which will accomplish this adjustment, the spring 2i will move the slidebar forwardly, after which the discs may be rotated by means of the shafts l0, thereby moving the recesses to positions which will bring the peripheries of the discs into engagement with the lugs on the slide-bar. are positively locked until the tumbler discs are again rotated to the predetermined positions for which they are set.

By placing the standard type ignition switch I of the motor vehicle between the fixed contact at and the circuits (not shown) normally controlled by said ignition switch, it is obvious that a mere In this manner the parts:

short circuiting of the ignition switch, which is a common method of surreptitiously starting a motor vehicle, will be unavailing, because the line will be dead betweenthe ignition switch and the fixed contact ll. For purposes of parking lights and dash lights, a line 43 may be taken from the fixed contact 4! to a parking light switch P and a dash light switch S, which will be available at all times. With the construction shown, it would be obviously impossible to short circuit the system while the main switch S is in open circuit position, because any one attempting to do this would be obliged to make a complete wiring back to the battery; otherwise the generator output would blow every light. The details of the electric system of a motor vehicle are not shown or described, because they are so-fully and well understood in the art that no difficulty should be experienced by one skilled in the art in connecting the master switch above described, to such a system.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance, it will be apparent that a very simple and eifective form of locking means is provided, which will normally prevent unlocking movement of the slide-bar by any person not familiar with the figures or combination to which the different tumbler discs are set, in order to bring their recesses in parallel predetermined position. A further and important advantage is that it is impossible in the structure shown, to change the combination while the parts are in locked position, because the slide-bar is provided with means for engaging the flanges on the disc shafts, in a manner to prevent any such movement until the slide-bar has been moved to unlocking position. Thus, it will be seen that the slide-bar not only looks the device which is intended to be held against operation, but also looks the device against any unauthorized change in adjustment. A further advantage is that a very simple and inexpensive master-switch-control is provided for electric circuits, and which possesses peculiar and especial advantage in connection with the operating circuits of a standard motor vehicle.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is:

l. A lock of the character described comprising a plurality of relatively spaced tumbler disks each having a peripheral opening therein, a plurality of axially and rotatably adjustable'shafts, one for each tumbler disk, each shaft being extended loosely through its tumbler disk in such manner as to retain the disk in position, a control disk fixed to each shaft at a position to overhang the tumbler disk of said shaft, the control disk and the adjacent tumbler disk of each shaft having complemental interlocking means so constructed and arranged that the disks may be engaged and disengaged by axial movements imparted to the shaft, a slide bar having lugs complemental to the peripheral recesses of said tumbler disks, a spring yieldably holding said slide bar in such position that said lugs and said disks are normally disengaged, and means constructed and arranged to impart slidable movement to said slide bar against the tension of said spring, said slide bar also having means constructed and arranged to overlie said control disks in such manner as to prevent axial movement of the shafts while said lugs are disengaged from said recesses.

2. A look of the character described comprising a slide bar having relatively spaced side members, a plurality of relatively spaced tumbler disks located between said side members and each having a peripheral opening therein, a plurality of axially and rotatably adjustable shafts also located between the side members of the slide bar, therebeing one shaft for each tumbler disk, each shaft being extended loosely through its tumbler disk in such manner as to retain the disks in position, a control disk fixed to each shaft at a position to overhang the tumbler disk of said shaft, the control disk and the adjacent tumbler disk of each shaft having complemental interlocking means so constructed and arranged that the disks may be engaged and disengaged by axial move ments imparted to the shaft, lugs projecting from one of said side members in such manner as to engage the respective peripheral recesses of the tumbler disks, fingers projecting from the opposite side member in such manner as to overlie the controldisks and prevent'axial movement of the shafts while said lugs are disengaged from said disks, a spring normally acting to maintain the slide bar in such position as to disengage the lugs from said tumbler disks, and means for moving the slide bar against the tension of said spring.

3. A look of the character described comprising a rectangular slide bar of skeleton form having oppositely disposed side members connected by end members, means for slidably anchoring the end members of said slide bar, a plurality of relatively spaced tumbler disks enclosed by said slide bar, each of said disks having a peripheral opening therein, a plurality of axially and rotatably adjustable shafts located within the space surrounded by said slide bar, there being one shaft for each tumbler disk, each shaft being extended loosely through its tumbler disk in such manner as to retain the disk in position, a control disk fixed to each shaft at a position to overhang the tumbler disk of said shaft, the control disk and the adjacent tumbler disk of each shaft having complemental interlocking means so constructed and arranged that the disks may be engaged and disengaged by axial movements imparted to the shaft, lugs projecting from one of said side members in such manner as to engage the respective peripheral recesses of the tumbler disks, fingers projecting from the opposite side member in such manner as to overlie the control disks and prevent axial movement of the shafts while said lugs are disengaged from said disks, a spring normally acting to maintain the slide bar in such position as to disengage the lugs from said tumbler disks, and means for moving the slide bar against the tension .of said spring.

4. A look of the character described comprising a slide bar of skeleton formation having oppositely disposed side members, one of said side members being inwardly oifset, a plurality of relatively spaced tumbler disks located in the space between said side members, and each having a peripheral opening therein, a plurality of axially and rotatably adjustable shafts also located in the space between said side members, there being one shaft for each tumbler disk, each shaft being extended loosely through its tumbler disk in such manner as to retain the disk in position, a control disk fixed to each shaft at a position adjacent to the tumbler disks of said shaft, one of said disks having an interlocking member of sufficient length to span the space between the disks, the other disk having complemental portions engageable with said interlocking member in such manner that the disks on each shaft are directly engageable and disengageable by axial movements imparted to the shaft, lugs projecting from one of said side members in such manner as to engage the respective peripheral recesses of the tumbler disks, fingers projecting from the opposite side member in such manner as to overlie the control disks and prevent axial movement of the shafts while said lugs are disengaged from said disks, a spring normally acting to maintain the slidebar in such position as to disengage the lugs from said tumbler disks, and a rotatively mounted arm having an end portion engageable withthe offset portion of the slide bar in such manner that rotative movements of the arm will impart s1idable movement to said slide bar. V

5. A lock of the character described comprising a plurality of relatively spaced tumbler disks each having a peripheral opening therein, a plurality of axially and rotatably adjustable shafts, one for each tumbler disk, each shaft being extended loosely through the tumbler disk in such manner as to retain the disks in position, a control disk fixed to each shaft at a position adjacent to the tumbler disks of said shaft, one of said disks having an interlocking member of sufficient length to span the space between the disks, the other disks having complemental portions engageable with said interlocking member in such manner that the disks on each shaft are directly engageable and disengageable by axial movements imparted to the shaft, a slide bar having lugs complemental to the peripheral recesses of said tumbler disks, a spring yieldably holding said slide bar in such position that said lugs and said disks are normally disengaged, and means constructed and arranged to impart slidable movement to said slide bar against the tension of said spring, said slide bar also having means constructed and arranged to overlie said control disks in such manner as to prevent axial movement of the shafts while said lugs are disengaged from said recesses.

GEORGE T. I-IOSKING.

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