US2081123A - Permutation lock - Google Patents

Description

N185r 18, 1937. E- B, STONE 2,081,123

' PERMUTATION LOCK Filed Sept. 18, 1935 Patented May 18, 1937 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,081,123 PERMUTATION Loox Application September 18, 1935, Serial No. 41,127

14 Claims.

My invention relates particularly to the type of permutation locks which are employed in connection with the doors of lockers and similar structures, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a lock of this type by means oi which a dial of maximum size may be used upon doors of minimum size; a further object of the invention is to provide a lock of this type by means of which the tumblers may be positioned with a minimum amount of movement o-f the dial; a further object of the invention is to provide a lock of this type which may be readily opened should the combination be disarranged; a further object of the invention is to Vprovide a lock oi this type in which the combination may be readily and conveniently changed; and a further object of the invention is to provide a lock of this kind that shall be simple in construction and particularly eicient in operation.

e0 One form of a lock embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as Well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a face view oi a portion of a set of lockers one of which is equipped with my improved lock.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is a view on enlarged scale of a portion of a locker door equipped with my improved lock and with parts broken away to show construction.

Figure 4. is a View in section on a plane'denoted by the dotted line 4 1', of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a View in section. on a plane denoted by the dotted line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a view in section on a p-lane denoted by the dotted line S--ii of Fig. 3, but on reduced scale and with parts broken away to show construction.

Figure 7 is an isometric perspective view of the tumbler members illustrating a way to adjust the tumblers if the combination be disarranged, the scale being enlarged.

Figure 8 is a detail View looking at the back of the lock case.

Figure 9 is a detail view on reduced scale showing the tumbler mechanism mounted on the inside cap that carries this mechanism.

Figure l0 is a View in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line III- I9 of Fig. 9.

The mechanism illustrated and described herein is the same in many instances as that forming the subject matter of my application S. No.V

55 721,179, led April 18, 1934, the presen-t applica- (Cl. 'l0-315) tion in fact being an improvement on the mechanism of said prior application. In the accompanying drawing the numeral 'I denotes the front plate of a set of lockers comprising openings with doors 8 closing such openings, one of `such doors being shown in Fig. l as equipped with my improved lock. A handle 9 is slidably mounted upon the door for the purpose of latchirig and unlatching the fastening therefor, such fastening being controlled by my improved lock.

In prior structures, owing to the small space available on the front of these doors, the use of a dial of small dimensions has been compelled, and as lockers are frequently located in dark places, the use of such a small dial is objectionable f owing to the difficulty in seeing the numbers upon it. However, these lockers and the doors are of standard construction and therefore the lock case and its mechanism is located in a deniteposition with respect to the handle 9, an-d this has compelled the use of the smaller dials hereinbefore referred to. By the use of my improved dial I am enabled, without changing the position of the lock case and its mechanism, to make use of a large dial, the only changerequired in the standard equipment being embodied in the dial structure, the lock case and its mechanism being undisturbed. These prior structures embody a bolt case I0 commonly 'constructed by bending metal at the edge of the door 8, as best shown in'Fig. 5, such case extending from thel top to the bottom of the door. A door bolt I I' of tubular form is slidably mounted within the case IIJ, the handle 9 being secured at its upper and lower ends to said bolt by means of projections I2 which extend through slots in the door for the purpose of permitting sliding movement of the handle.

A retainer I3 is attached to the door bolt Withing the opening therein, the outturned end of the retainer projecting through a slot I4 inthe wall of said bolt in position for its end to engage the edge of a slot l5 in the case I0, thereby holding the bolt in its unlocked position. A catch I6 secured inside of the front of the frame or front plate 1 projects in position'to enter the slots lau-I5, the upper edge of the slot I4 engaging within a notch in the catch to retain the door in its locked position, and as shown in Fig.. '6.7

The door bolt is held in its locked position by a lock bolt I8 pivotally mounted within a lock case I'I secured to the rear face of the door 8 as by means of threaded studs and nuts, the nose of said lock bolt I8 extending through a slot in the side of the lock case and a slot I9 in the door bolt I, engagement in said slot locking the sliding door bolt against movement.

Movement of the lock bolt is controlled by means of a key plug 26 of any ordinary type and adapted to receive a key in the key slot 2|, as a means to release the key plug for rotating movement. The lock bolt is also controlled in its movement by a set of tumblers rotatably mounted upon the key plug and heretofore operated in the usual marier by means of a dial mounted concentrically with said plug and through an opening in the center of which dial the key is inserted into said plug.

As heieinbefore explained the structure thus far described is of old and well-known form, the key within the key plug being made use of at any time to permit release of the nose on the locking bolt from engagement with the sliding door bolt. The dial and tumblers are separately operated for the same purpose independently of the key.

In efecting my purpose, and in order to enable the use of a large dial Without changing the position of the key plug and the tumblers within the lock, I pivotally mount my dial 22 upon a stud 23 projecting :from a back plate 2A secured to the face of the door 8 as by means of threaded studs and nuts, and as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. flange 25 is formed at the periphery of the back plate. A gear ring 26 comprising an operating member is formed on the back of the dial, preferably integral therewith, teeth 21 on the inner edge of the ring 2S meshing with teeth on a pinion 2S, constituting an operating member for the tumblers rotatably mounted upon the key plug 23. One of the tumblers 4| of a set of tumblers is rotated by the pinion 28, other tumblers of ordinary construction being provided with interengaging lugs and also with notches, the latter of which are caused to register to enable the locking bolt to be thrown. This ordinary arrangement will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. A hole 2S is formed through the dial 22, through which hole access may be had to the key slot in the key plug 2i). It will be understood that the locking bolt may be released for action by the use of a key at any time, whenever the dial is rotated to uncover the key plug, such lock feature being well understood by those skilled in the art, in the particular and novel arrangement shown herein this mechanism embodying a detent 40 movably mounted to enter the notches in the disk tumblers when said notches are aligned by operation of the dial 22,

1* the tumbler il being rigidly connected to the pinion 28 as by means of interengaging lugs and notches, the other connected tumblers being shown in Fig. '1 of the drawing. The detent i3 is pivotally mounted on the locking bolt I8 hereinbefore mentioned and when in its locking position, that is, disengaged from the notches in the tumblers, a dog l2 is presented in its path of movement, thereby preventing movement of the locking bolt i8 and disengagement of its nose from the door bolt Il. However, the dog d2 is secured toa slide which is connected for operation by the key plug 20 so that when said plug is turned by the use of a key the dog is moved, thereby permitting movement of the detent 4! and consequent disengagement of the nose of the locking bolt i8 from the door bolt.

The tumbler mechanism including the actuating pinion, the tumblers andthe spacers may be mounted on an inside cap 50 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, this cap being located inside of the case A retaining ring in the shape of a I1 and having lips 52 resting on the side of the case uunderneath the cover to close such case.

In the particular construction herein shown a positioning disk 33 of a more or less springy nature is located back of the dial 22 and in contact therewith, this disk being held against rotation in any suitable manner, as by lugs extending into notches in the back plate 24, and as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, said disk being in contact with the pinion 2B. This pinion has a collar 3| projecting from its back face which extends through the back plate and door into the lock case, the outermost tumbler of the set of tumblers hereinbefore referred to being provided with lugs 32 with notches between them, said lugs and notches being engaged by similar lugs and notches formed on the collar 3|, and as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawing.

It will be understood that the pinion 23 is so timed in its rotation with respect to the gear ring 26 that the proper number of rotations will be imparted to the tumblers in the movements of the dial to effect the iinal unlocking position of the tumblers as the dial is rotated to bring its graduation marks successively into registry with a pointer 33.

It will be noted that the gear ring 26 meshes with the pinion 28 and imparts a faster rate of rotation to said pinion and the tumblers connected therewith. These tumblers must be rotated one or more complete rotations, depending upon the number of tumblers employed and their position relatively to the tumbler operating member, as the pinion 28. In a permutation lock mechanism in common use three tumblers are employed and with these tumblers connected directly with the dial the latter must be rotated in opposite directions a number of times, three complete rotations in one direction being required, two complete rotations in the opposite direction, and one complete rotation in the same direction as the first movement. With my improved mechanism these pluralities of rotations of the tumblers in opposite directions may be obtained by a partial rotation only of the dial, the latter requiring a very limited movement to eiect a number of rotations of the pinion 28 and the tumblers connected therewith. This comprises an important feature of my invention in my hereinbefore mentioned application.

To enable a change in the combination of the lock in a ready and accessible manner Without disturbing the mechanism at the back, I mount the dial 22 so that it may be moved outwardly on or off from the stud 23 sufciently to disengage the gear teeth 21 from the teeth of the pinion 28. To this end a key plug 34 is located in a socket in the knob 36 of the dial, this key plug being of any ordinary and well-known construction, pin tumblers being shown herein in Fig. 4 as a means for locking it against rotation. As shown an annular groove 35 is formed in the outer end of the stud 23 and a iiange 31 on the back end of the key plug 34 engages within said groove. This flange is cut away on one side as at 38, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, so that when the plug is turned to one position the flange Will be released andthe dial may be removed from the stud 23.

When it is desired to change the combination fof the lock a key to t the key plug 34 is employed to release the plug and enable it to be rotated, therebyv disengaging the flange 31 from the annular groove 35 and enabling the dial to be moved outwardly thereby permitting the teeth of the ring 26 to be disengaged from the teeth of the pinion 2B. 'I'he dial may now be replaced in a different position with respect to the pinion 28 and to such extent, denoted by the graduations on the dial, as may be desired, the teeth on the dial being reengaged with the teeth of the. pinion 28, and the key plug 34 being turned to its locked position the dial will be securely held in place.

If, in attempting to change the combination, it should be found that some mistake has been made and that the operation of the dial will not function to release the lock it will be obvious that if the old combination could be restored the` lock would be in condition to function and then a new attempt to change the lock could be made.

To effect this purpose I provide an indicator 39 in the shape of anotch in the gear 28 and another indicator 43 on the hub of the flange of the tumbler '4 l and a similar indicator 44 on the hub of the gear 23, and as shown in Fig. '7 of the drawing. All of the indicators when aligned and also when aligned with the pointer 33 will relatively locate the tumblers in their original positions the dial being then replaced with the zero mark registering with said pointer. It will now be obvious that the old combination may be employed to unlock the lock and a new attempt may be made to change the combination.

In order to automatically disturb the tumblers and throw them out of registry and thereby lock the mechanism without operation of the dial the detent 40 is provided -with a nger 45 located for Contact with a spring 46 when the locking bolt i8 is moved to unlocking position. When the tumblers are in unlocking position the notches 41 are in registry, as shown in Fig. 'l and the detent 4U will have dropped into said notches. When the bolt I8 is now moved, as by operation of the door bolt Il, the finger 45 will pass under the spring 46 placing the latter under tension tending to move the detent from said notches. The detent 46, having been lowered into the notches 4l as just described, will pass underneath and beyond the dog 42, carrying the notches to the locking position shown in Fig. 8. As soon as the detent isreleased from the dog the action of the spring 46 on the finger 45 will cause the detent to be raised and as the nose of the locking bolt I8 is moved to its locking position the detent 40 will pass over the dog and into the position shown in Fig. 8. It will thus be seen that in the unlockingv movement of the locking bolt I8 the notches in the tumblers will be disarranged and automatically placed in locking positions, but that said bolt is permitted to return to its locked position at any time thereafter and while the.

tumblers are left in unlocked positions.

In order to enable the graduations on the dial to be placed in exact registry with the pointer 33 notches 48 are formed in the periphery of the gear ring 26, and as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, there being a notch for each of thergraduations on the dial. 'I'his places a slight obstruction to rotation of the dial from each of the posi- .i tions where the graduations register with the pointer 33. A detent 49, preferably spring actuated, is located in a recess in the rib on the back plate 24, and as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the nose of said detent being adapted to engage the notches 48 for the purpose herein set forth.

t will be noted that by the use of this improved lock each tumbler is placed in its unlocking position by the use of a single designation. As an example, in prior permutation locks embodying a number of tumblers, a plurality of designations must be employed increasing with the number of tumblers except the first; The dial is given a number of complete rotations depending upon the tumbler to be positioned and there is therefore the designations on the dial and mental designations denoting the number of rotations of the dial. With the present device a single designation only is employed, this being that denoting the position of the dial. The first tumbler is positioned by using the single designation and the dial is then partially rotated to the next designation and then bya reverse movement to the next designation, and so on, a single designation being used in each instance. y

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown lis only illustrative and that the invention may be carried outA by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out. A

l. In aperinutation lock, an actuating member rotatably mounted to operate a set of tumblers, an operating member continuously operatively connected with said actuating member for each unlocking operation thereof, a dial operatively connected through said operating member with said actuating member, a mount upon which said dial is movably mounted to temporarily sever its said Vconnection and also for movement of the dial relatively to said actuating member to change the combination of the lock, and means other than said dial for determining the relative operativepositions of the dial and tumblers.

2. A permutation lock for a closure, said lock including .a set of tumblers adapted to be operatively connected, a dial mounted on the outer face of said closure, an actuating member operatively connected with said dial and with one of said tumblers, means accessible on saidv face of said door to effect disconnecting movement of said dial for changing the relative positions of said actuating member and tumblers and means other than said dial for determining the relative operative positions of the dial and tumblers.

3. A permutation lock for a closure, said lock including a set of tumblers adapted to be operatively connected, a dial mounted on the outer face of said closure, an actuating member operatively connected with said dial and with one of said tumblers, and interengaging members on said actuating member and tumblers for changing their relative positions, means accessible on the face of said door to affect movement of said dial to change said relative positions of the actuating member and tumblers, and means other than said dial for determining the relative opera.- tive positions of the dial and tumblers.

4. A permutation lock including a set of tumblers adapted to be operatively connected, an actuating member operatively connected with one of said tumblers and having indicia for unlock.- ing operation of said member, means for changing the relative positions of said actuating member and tumblers, and means independent of said indicia for determining the original position of Y said actuating member.

5. A permutation lock including a set of tumblers adapted to be operatively connected, an actuating member operatively connected with one of said tumblers, means for changing the relative positions of said actuating member and '7. A permutation lock including a tumbler, a

rotatably7 mounted dial, an operative connection between said dial and tumbler for operation of the latter, a headed stud projecting into a recess in the dial, a releasing member carried by the dial to engage said stud to retain the dial in place, and means for disengaging said retaining vmember from said head to permit change of position of the dial relatively to said tumbler.

8. kA permutation lock including a tumbler, a dial having `a knob, an operative connection between said dial andtumbler for operation of the latter, a headed stud projecting into a recess in said dial, a key plug rotatably mounted in said knob and including a retaining member to engage the head of said stud, and means whereby a partial rotation of said retaining member by a key in said plug will release the retaining member from the head of said stud to permit change of position of said dial reiatively to said tumbler.

9. A permutation lock including a tumbler, an actuating member operatively connected with said tumbler, a rotatably mounted dial operatively connected with said actuating member, means for rotatably changing the position of said dial relatively to said actuating member, and means for determining the original position of said actuating member relatively to said dial.

10. A permutation lock including a set of tumblers, an actuating member operatively connected with said tumblers, a dial operatively connected with said actuating member, means for rotatably changing the position of the dial relatively to said actuating member, and indicating marks on said actuating member and appurtenant to said dial to determine the original relative positions of said members.

1l. A permutation lock for a closure, said lock including a set of tumblers adapted to be operatively connected, an actuating member operatively connected with one of said tumblers and having indicia for unlocking operation ofsaid member, means for changing the relative positions of said actuating member and tumblers, and means accessible on the face of said closure for determining the original position of said actuating member independently of said indicia.

l2. A permutation lock for a closure, said lock including a set of tumblers adapted to be operatively connected, an actuating member operatively connected with one of said tumblers and having indicia for unlocking operation of said member, means for changing the relative positions or said actuating member and tumblers, and cooperating indicating marks on said tumblers and actuating member andaccessible from the front face of said closure for' determining their original relative positions.

13. A permutation lock for a closure, said lock including a tumbler, an actuating member operatively connected with said tumbler, a rotatably mounted dial operatively connected with said actuating member and having indicia thereon for unlocking operation of said tumbler, means for rotatably changing the position of said dial relatively to said actuating member, and means accessible from the front face of said closure for determining the original position of said actuating member relatively to said dial.

14. A permutation lock for a closure, said lock including a set of tumblers, an actuating member operatively connected with said tumblers, a dial operatively connected with said actuating member and having indicia thereon for unlocking operation of said tumblers, means independent of said indicia for rotatably changing the position of the dial relatively to said actuating member, and indicating marks on said actuating member and appurtenant to said dial and independent of said indicia to determine the original relative positions of the members.

ELMER B. STONE.

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