US1418571A - Locking device - Google Patents

Description

A. HOUSTON AND H. P. STEPHENSON.

LOCKING DEVICE.

APRLICAUON FILED JULYZB, 1920.

Patented J ime 6, 1922.

III

AUBREY HOUSTON, or onersrcnuncn, iu naemwmiiam STEP-m son, *or Asnnun'ron, Newznani'ilvh.v y 1 LOCKING DEVICE.

Application filed July 28,

' lowing to be a full, clean-and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to locking devices of the keyless or combination type, and is adaptable for various purposes. I

The object of the invention is to provide a lock that can be readily operated by a person knowing the correct combination and that will be effective against operation by unauthorized persons, and in which the com: bination is automatically thrown out of reg-- ister by'either the looking or unlocking of the device. g According to our invention, discs or similar circular members are mounted upon a spindle and arranged oneabove the other thereon or upon separate spindles. disc is provided with a slot or groove into which slot or groove pins from a lever which is pivoted in a suitable positionare adapted to enter. The slots are .arcuate or approximately arcuate for the radial movement of the lever for a part of their distance and are then shapedso that the discs mayv wholly or partially revolve independentlyof any move ment of the lever. Upon one or both of the discs is fixed a pinion adapted to mesh with toothedsections upon the lever. The pinion or pinions has or have teeth at the required intervals with. which the. toothed sections mesh in such a manner that after thepins have entered the slots the discs will be caused; to revolve and upon the opposite movement of the lever after the pins have left the sl ots, the discs will be caused to rotatelby means of a toothed section or sections engaging in a toothed section of the pinion or pinions upon a disc or discs, the arrangement being such that the pins are thrown out of register with the slots and upon any further rotation of the discs the pins ride upon the periphery thereof.

The mechanism is suitably housed andthc spindles provided with dials,- the circumferences of which are divided into a number of divisions, preferably'as a clock face, and as each. dial is fixed by the medium of the spin;

j device in the veh cles.

Each

1920. se ia 110.3%,12

Specificationof L'ettersf'at'ent. Patll t'd'tlll he 6; v

dle or sleeve to a disc, it follows that each dialjmust be in a, pie-determined position before the slots register with the pins upon the lever. The dials, however, are adjustable to different positions upon their respec tive spindles or sleeves, thus permitting all Y the points of thedials being changed in relation to each other and to the point of registering of the slots and, pins and en+ abling a multiplicity. of combinations of the dials being made. The leveramay be operated by any suitable means, such asa knob or .button extending through the housing I and the lever may be provided with contacts for closing an electric c rcuit or maybe; ex-

tended to for mva locking bolt in any'convenient manneiu I 0n thedrawings g Figure 1, is an elevation. 5 i Figure 2, afsectional elevation oi the Figure 3, Figure2; v s i Figure 4, is a sectional elevation, showing the parts in a diflerent'position; w

Figure 5, and

Figure 6, areviews showing thel'discs in different operated positlons.

Figure 7, is an, elevationofa modified form of device. I v Figure 8, is a cross-section on line 8-.8, Figurei. i

Figure 9, is a view'of a detail. I

Referring to the drawings, and more par: ticularlv'to Figures 1 to 6inclusive,,discs 1 is a crossisection on line- 3%3,

form of a 'switchlbox for motor g and 2, (if which the disc 1 is fixedto a spindie ,3 and the disc 2 is fined to a sleeve 4:

freely mounted on the spindle 3, so that they rotate vindependently of each; other. The

disc-1 has a slot '5 and the disc? a slot 6, or the discs may be groovedas in Figure 9 so-as' not to unduly weaken them. Pins? and project from a lever .9 which is pivotedin the framing by a spindle 10 and are adapted to enter the, slots 5 and 6respectively; These slots have a'radius from the axial.pointof g the lever 9 for a part of their distance, and.

are then shaped as shown in order that "thediscs may rotatea limited extent independently of the movementof-the lever." Fixed to the spindle 3 is a. pinion 11 adaptedttorotate with thedisc 1, the teeth of which are cut-away at 12 and 13. The teeth of the pinion are adapted to mesh with and with teeth 1. upon a quadrant portion of the lever 9. An arm 18 projects from the lever 9 and is adapted to engage with pins t9 near the circumterential periphery of the disc 2. This arm 18 engages the pins l9 after the pin 8 has entered the slot 6 and rotates the disc 2, the slot being shaped as shown in Fig), ure 6 to admit of the rotation of the disc 2 during the inward movement of the arm. Another arm 20, also projecting from the lever 9, engages a pin 21 upon the disc 2 and. rotates the said disc when the lever is clear of the slots. The spindle 3 is pivoted in walls 22 and 223 spaced apart by and sup ported on pillars24 indicated in Figure 3. Pawls 25 and 26 pivoted on pins 27 to the walls 22 and 23 respectively, engage in the serrated peripheries oi. wheels 28 and 29 fixed respectively to the discs 1 and 2. The pawls are retained against the serrations by means of springs 30 and 31 secured upon one of the pillars 2 as shown in Figures 2 and '3. This gives the necessary braking action or tension upon the discs. I s A dial '32 is fixed upon the sleeve 4; by means of a set screw while another dial 234- is fixed upon the spindle 8" bya screw 35. The dial has an operating knob or pin 86 and the dial 3 1; an operating knob 37. The dial 32 has marked upon its outer circumferential edge a number of divisions-preferably corresponding to the divisions upon a clock face, with similar markings upon. the inner circumferential edge, as indicated in Figure 1, while the dial 34 has a pointer 38 fixed to or marked upon the dial.

In the figures the device is shown in the form of a switch box for motor vehicles and for locking the switch thereof in its cut off position, and for this purpose the lever 9 is provided with contacts 4-0 and 41 to make Contact with terminals and 43 respectively, the lever 9 being controlled by a button 44 which fits on to the spindle ill or to any other convenient portion of the lever 9. The terminals pass through an insulated piece 45 to which the wall 22 issecured.

A suitable 4:6 encloses the mecha nism and may be bolted or locked in position i on the car in order to prevent it being readily removedor interfered with.

The operation of. the device will now be described.

' The dials are previously adjusted to a pre determined combination by means of the set screws 33Vand 3 F or example, the dial 32 is set that the i2 is opposite the mark 418 on the casing l-6 and so that the slot 6 will be in a position as shown in Figures 2 and 6 for the pin 8 to enter. The dial 34 is then set, for example, so that the pointer 38 is opposite to the f3 on the dial 32, the slot 5 beingth'en in position for the pin 7 to ente'r. The operator then, for convenience, canremember the combination as twelve oclock and three ocloc'ln Any of the divisions between these numbers may be-selected, such as minutes or half minutes.

in Figure 2, the lever 9 is shown in position corresponding to the position in which the dials are set in Figure l, whereby the pins 7 and 8 may enter the slots 5 and Upon thelever being operated in the direction of the arrow the pin 7 will travel along the slot 5 and the pin 8 along the slot 5 until the teeth 17 engage the teeth of the pinion 11 when the pinion and-tho disc ii w llbe rotated until the lever assumes the position shown in Figure 4., and contact is made he twe n the contacts and terminals. if itftliis point a tooth upon the pinion l 1 will engage against the shoulder of the levci and prevent any further rotation. The disc 2 will at the same time have been rotated by the arm 18 engaging}; with the pins 19, thus both the discs are rotated thereby changing their positions and the position otthe dials in order that the required ,combinationwill not sh w when the switch is on. c

in the position of Figure 4., the contacts lll and 4:]. are in contact with the terminals 42 and l3 and when it is desired to switch oil the current the lever is moved in the di! rection of the arrow in Figures 4 and 5, the teeth 17 rotating; the disc '1. and/thenrm 18 rotating; the disc 2 in order to, permit the lever to return to the position shown in Figures 2 and 6. The discs are then free to rotate and by moving the lever to its 'full extent in the directionof the arrow shown in Figures 4iand 5, the teeth 17 of the quad-v rant will engage with the teeth of the pin ion ll. and rotate the disc 1. and when the position in Figure 5 is reached a tooth 51. adjacent to thetooth 16 will carry the teeth 17 clear oi the teeth of the pin on so that the inter 9 maybe returned to the positions in Figures and 6 without engaging the teeth of the pinion. The arm 20 will engage with the pin 21 on the disc 2 also rotatingthat disc until the position shown in Figure-.5 is reached. Thus the discs will have. been moved so as to prevent the pins land, '8 again entering the slots 5 and 6 until the discs are rotated to their correct positions, and also rotating the dials so that the correct combination does not, appearf By moving the lever 9 back until the pins 7' and. 8 rest upon the periphery of the discs and the button 441- indicates the locked position. the pins will ride upon the circumferential periphery of the discs while the discs then selves are tree to rotate andthe'lever can only be moved to the on position when the discs'ale brought to register-with the pins 7 and 8. e i In Figure 7, is shown a modified form of the device; In this case discs 54 and5 5 corresponding to the discs land 2'are pivoted upon pins 56, each disc being connected ,to a dial 5?; The discs 54 and 55 are-provided with teeth 58 into which teeth 59, correspondmg with the teeth 1?. are adapted to gear and rotate the discs. These teeth 59 the same function asthe lever 9 such lever 62 being pivoted on the pin 6]. which is fixed in an insulated base 66. The ends of the lever have pins 63 and 64L adaptedto enter the slots in the discs. The wheel also has teeth 65 which correspond and operate in the same way and for the same purpose as the teeth 17 and the arms 18 and 20. Tnstead of engaging with teeth they may simply onwith pins as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and in the same way. instead of, using pins as shown in .these figures, teeth may be used. The discs 54 and 55 may be of insulating material while the pins 56 are connected to electrical terminals connect-ion being made between the terminals by the lever 62 contacting with the pins. The lever may be operated in the same manner as the lever 9. The operation of this will be clear from the operation of the device shown in the previous figures.

If employed as a lock the end of the lever or any convenient part of the levers 9 and 62 can simply be extended to form a locking bolt either as bolt itself or to operate a locking bolt of a lock.

It is obvious that more than two discs, operating mechanism and dials for each disc may be employed. thereby still further increasing the safety device.

To preventthe mechanism being strained by futile attempts to move the lever when in the position shown in Figures 2 and 6,

a locking device is preferably provided con sisting of a catch 68 fixed on a spring member 69 fixed to a convenient part of the framing. Figure Qshowing it fixed to the wall 22 and Figure 8 showing it fixed to the wall 70. A press button 71 is connected to one end of the-springmember for operating the catch. lVhen the lever 9 is in the position shown in Figure 2 or the lever 62 in the position shown in Figure 7. such levers will engage against the catch and prevent the movement of the lever and the pins entering the slots until such time as the press button 71 has been operated.

The dials may. if desired, be enclosed beneath glass and may be operatedby means of a milled knob adapted to operate the dials through the medium of suitable toothed wheels.

The dials may be made luminous :in order to be easily adjusted by night.

What we claim and desire to secure by.

Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a device of the kind described, a

frame, discs rotatably mounted on said forth.

and efliciency of the frame, slots or grooves in said discs, pins adapted to enter sa d slots or grooves, a

lever pivoted in saidframe from which lever.

said pins project, 'n'ieans whereby upon oper} ating said lever in either direction thedi'scs are caused to. rotate, meanswherebywhen" the lever is moved. clear of the discs said discs will b'e'rotated and the pins prevented from entering the slots, dials attached to each of saiddiscs, said dials having marks or divisions to coincide with corresponding.

positions of the slots, and a member against which said lever engages in order to pre-' vent said lever being operated and to pre I vent the said pins entering said slots. until said member has been operated to d sengage substantially as set said lever therefrom,

2. In a frame, discs rotatably mounted. on said frame, slotsor'grooves in. said discs, pins adapted to enter said slots or grooves, a lever pivoted in said frame from which lever said pins project, means whereby upon operating said lever in either direction the discs are caused to rotate, means whereby when the lever is moved clear of the discs said discs will be rotated and thepins prevented from entering the slots, dials attached to each of said discs, said dials having marks or divisions to coincide with corresponding positions ofthe slots, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device of the kind described, a frame, circular members rotatably mounted in said frame and having arcua-te slots or grooves therein, a pivoted member, pins on said pivoted member adapted to enter and travel along the slots, means whereby when said lever is operated in either direction the,

circular members are caused to rotate, the slots being shapedv to permit of such'rotatlon, meansupon said plvoted member to with a fixed or ore-determined point. theslots will registerwith said pins, and means for operating said dials, substantially as set forth.

-rotate said discs, means to prevent said pins L. In. a device of the kind described, a

frame, discs rotatably mounted in said frame and having arcuate slots or grooves therein,

a pivoted lever, pins projecting from said lever adapted to enter the slots or grooves,

pinions upon said discs, teeth upon "said lever adapted to gear with the teeth of said pinions, the teeth of the pinions and the teeth of the said lever being so arranged that when the lever is operated the pins enter the slotsjin said discs and the discs are caused to rotate and upon movement of the lever afterthe pins have left the slots the & 1,418,571

to the said discs and marked with divisions vherehy they may be adjusted to a pre-determined position to coincide With the position of the slots when they register With the pins, substantially as set forth.

In a device of the lIiIlCl CltiSCl'lbGd, an

arcuate slotted disc, a spindle upon which said disc is fixed, a second arcuate slotted disc mounted freely on said spindle, a toothed pinion fixed on said spindle, a pivoted lever, pins projecting from the ends of said lever adapted to enter the slots, sections of teeth in a quadrant portion of said lever, one section of said teeth being adapted to engage said pinion and rotate the pinion and the disc after said pinshave entered the slots, another section of teeth upon said lever adapted to rotate said pinion and disc after, sald pins have left the slots, means upon said lever to rotate said second disc after the pins have entered the slot and to rot-ate said disc after the said pin has left the slot, tension means for said discs, a dial fixed to said second disc, another dial fixed to the spindle, said dials having circumferential divisions, and means for adjusting the dials so that one set of divisions may be set to coincide With the position that the slots register With the pins, substantially as set forth. I

In testimony whereof We have signed our-

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