GB1730 (1790)

Rowntree's hand written notes relating to his drawings in typed form:

Fig. 1 is a padlock a, one or more wheels one under the other - b is a notch in each wheel in which a Stud projecting from the bottom of the end of the bolt, A, described by dots passes in the action of unlocking. c are one or more levers one under each other according to the number of Wheels with circular ends D, acting in openings of the Wheels. E a Slit Spring or Springs operating within a small distance of the ends of the levers. f is an opening in the end of the Bolt in which the Stud of letter k passes. g & k are Studs projecting upwards which serve to confine the Bolt. H is the Pin and Collar Ward. I the key.

Fig. 2 - a & b two wheels which catch into two notches in the Bow or Shackle of the Lock marked with *. c c are two levers with circular projecting pieces from their sides which are pressed down with the notches in the Key, against the Split Spring D which has a bearing underneath against each Lever and by that means the two Wheels are brought into a position to admit of the Bow or Shackle of the Lock to escape through two notches in the Wheels at the letter E. F a steady pin to keep the two levers from rising too high. G a circular end of the Levers acting in an opening in the Wheels. I, an Arm which has two slits in which the two Wheels move on an axis. K, the ends of the Levers through which a Pin or Screw passes.

Fig. 3 - a, a, a three slits in which three perpendicular Arms at the letters b,b,b act. c,c,c are three Levers at the end of which the Arms at b,b',b are loosely screwed or riveted. d,d,d are three notches in the Arms b,b,b, which correspond with the three openings marked 1, 2, and 3 in the Bolt, letter A, and also run up the notches at a,a,a. E is a long slit to admit of the projecting notches in the Bolt A (marked 1,2,3 to slide freely). f, Slit Spring pressing on the three levers at c,c,c. g, a Stud to support the ends of the Levers. H, the Tumbler with a Spring over it. I, a Stud projecting from the back which acts in an opening in the Bolt marked K. l is a Stud on which the Tumbler is placed corresponding with letter m. N pin for the Key. O, the Key.

Fig. 4 - a,a two fixed pieces between which two pieces slide marked B and C. B, being an upper piece. d,d, are two openings in which a Steady Pin (which is riveted into the Lock Plate) acts. e is a slit in which a projecting piece, letters f in C with a small notch at g slides freely, the two notches one is marked g in C, the other n in B, correspond with the notches in the Bolt marked 1 and 2, as in Lock, Fig 3. D, the Tumbler with the Spring over it and the Bolt and Key as in Lock, Fig. 3. 3, a Pin riveted in the plate acting through a mortice in the Bolt, the other opening in the Bolt for the Stud in the Tumbler as in Lock, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 - A, two wheels one under the other as in the Padlock. b, two levers as Ditto, C, Spring on the Bolt and Tumbler. d, Slit Spring on the two levers. E, the tumbler which in this Lock lies under the Bolt. f, a stud projecting upwards which corresponds with the notches in the Bolt 1 and 2 of letter F as in common Locks. g, a Stud on the bottom side corresponding with the notches marked, h, in the two wheels of letter A. I Collar Ward and Pin Key as before & Co. k, supporting the acting ends of the two levers, l, a Pin on which the Tumbler acts.

Fig. 6 - A, two wheels one under each other. B, two Levers Ditto. C, Slit Spring D, Pin for the Tumbler. E, The Tumbler, f, the Pin in the Tumbler corresponding with the notch in wheels and also the notches in the Bolt. G, Key Tumbler Bolt and Spring as before.

Fig. 7 - A. 1. 2 and 3 are three circular Wards with their Ends or Shanks each having a Spring under it or above as Fig:8. 4, a pin which goes through all three. 5, 6 & 7, are circular Rings which fit into each other. 8, is the Key Pin. g is a piece with three divisions to keep the Heads of the Ends or Shanks steady. B. 1. 2 & 3 are the three Circular Wards with their ends or shanks represented sideways, at No.1, there are two places filed out, a & b, in order to admit the straight parts of the Shanks of No.2 & 3 to lay even with each other. No.3, has two places filed out, at c & d, to admit of No.2 coming even with the rest. e,f & g are three notches which correspond with the Bolt C. D, the Tumbler with Springs & Co, h, the Pin to hold the end of the Tumbler. E the Key.

Fig. 8 - A.1. 2. 3 & 4 are four circular Wards or parts of Circles with their ends or Shanks with Springs under or above as in Fig 7. a, a Profile of one the Wards with its Shanks No.4. b, an opening for a piece which is attached top the Tumbler B to slide freely in. c,c,c,c, are four notches corresponding with the Ends of the Shanks as at b. D, is a piece having four Grooves in it, in which the ends of the Shanks act. e, the ends of the Shanks all connected with a Pin f, going through all as at Fig. 7. G, the Key. H, Bolt and Tumbler Spring. I, the little projecting Stud which falls into the notch of the Bolt.

Fig. 9 – A, a, two wheels as before described. b, a groove in a piece made fast at the bottom of the Lock. C, a piece movable over that piece in which there are two Grooves, the upper one moving up and down the axis of the Wheels, the other serving to admit a Screw D in order to confine the piece to its place. E, a small aperture in which a Pin, from the end of the Tumbler Fig. 1 on the backside raises the Slide C up and down. Q, is a Stud on the backside of the Slide which moves up and down in the Groove b – the Stud on the Tumbler which falls into the notches on the Bolt or against the Stud as in common locks. F, the Bolt and Tumbler Spring. G, the two Levers with a Slit Spring.

Notes relating to Rowntree's Lock Improvements

(Note: reference is made in the attached Specification, page 2 to “leaves” (lines 3 to 8), whereas in lines 10 to 17 it reads “levers”. Perhaps when this patent was printed and published in 1856, under the Patent's modernising law of 1852, it might have been thought that “levers” was the more appropriate word?).

(1) The first improvement was to locate one or more notched wheels on a pivot. On another pivot a like number of levers under spring pressure are placed so that each of their ends are inserted in one of the wheel notches. As the levers and wheels are in contact with each other whatever moves one, moves the other with it, and by the spring pressure on the levers the other notches on the wheels are put out of line, so that no two notches are opposite each other.

The bolt and tumbler (called a “common tumbler”) are then applied in usual form The key is then inserted and when turned raises the levers causing the notches in the wheels to be brought one over the over; so they appear as one notch. The common tumbler is then free to pass into the notches of all the wheels, enough to disengage the bolt and let it pass to open or close the lock.

(2) The second improvement consists of a lock with movable wards of whole or part circles. If whole each ward is to have two inclined planes, one each side of the keyhole. If part of a circle, the inclined planes commence each end of the segment. Each of these circular wards have a shank projecting from their opposite sides.

The wards are then placed around the drill pin. Then all the shanks that project from one of the sides of each ward are placed on one common joint, with a spring under or above each shank. On the end of each of the other shanks a notch opening is made. The bolt is then applied having as many notches as there are wards in the lock. One of the shanks of each of the wards are then inserted in each of the notches in the bolt edge. Then by spring pressure on the wards, the notches in the ends of the shanks are pressed sometimes up and sometimes down, so that the shanks of the different wards become firmly locked in the bolt edge.

The key is then inserted which comes into contact with the inclined planes, presses up and down the different wards and their shanks, until all the notches are brought into a straight line parallel with the bolt, which may then freely open/close the lock.

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