US2820360A - Lock shell and plug assembly - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21, 1958 H. E. SOREF ETA L LOCK SHELL AND PLUG ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 6, 1-954 FIG 5.

' W 619%? BY 7 r ATTQRNEYS United Stats Patent O LOCK SHELL AND PLUG ASSEMBLY Harry E. Soref and Daniel J. Foote, Milwaukee, Wis., as-

signors to Master Lock Company, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 6, 1954, Serial No. 448,248

1 Claim. (Cl. 70-367) This invention relates to improvements in the lock shell and plug assembly.

In certain types of locks, the lock body or casing contains a cylinder assembly into which a specially shaped or formed key is inserted to actuate certain tumbler pins or the like to operate and release the lock mechanism. In locks of this type the cylinder assembly includes a cylinder or shell having reciprocatably mounted'in transverse bores therein spring actuated driver pins, and a cylindrical plug is rotatably mounted within the shell or cylinder and is customarily held in assembled condition by a retaining washer at one end of the plug and shell assembly. Retention of the parts in the specified relationship is important because the plug is formed with transverse bores therein which must aline with similar bores in the shell to reciprocatably hold a series of different length tumbler pins which are alined with driver pins in the bores of the shell.

Heretofore, in the manufacture 'of locks and padlocks of the type under consideration it has been the practice to hold the shell and plug assembly together by slipping a washer over the outwardly projecting end portion of the plug after the plug and shell have been assembled, followed by an operation to squeeze the washer into a pre formed groove in the plug. When this conventional mode of assembling lock shells and plugs is utilized, there is always the possibility of obtaining a freeze as between the plug and shell because of warped or untrue washers, arichfurthermore, because of slight variations in sizes it is di tlicult to slip the washers over the ends of the plugs and the minute size of the washers renders them difficult to handle. Additionally the conventional method of assembly above described involves many steps and operations in the blanking, washing and preparation of the washers.

With the foregoing in mind it is a general object of the present invention to eliminate the difiiculties involved in connection with the assembly of lock plugs and shells using independent washers by forming one end of the shell with a ring integral with the shell and thereafter when the plug is properly inserted in the shell locally deforming spaced portions of the ring to engage in the plug groove for the purpose of holding the plug in assembled relation within the shell.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of assembling lock shells and plugs which eliminates the need for separate washers and the attendant difliculty of properly forming, preparing and assembling small parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of assembling lock shells and plugs wherein a malleable or deformable retaining ring is formed integral with an end portion of the shell and in accurate registration with the shell bore eliminating difiicult assembly of pre-formed independent washers which may have size and shape variations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method 2,820,360 Patented Jan. 21, 1958 'ice of assembling lock shells and plugs which is commercially practical and expeditious, eliminates the disadvantageous use of tight or binding washers, which is economical, and which is well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved art of lock shell and plug manufacture, and all of the parts, steps and combinations incident thereto.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a lock having the improved shell and plug assembly, parts being broken away and in section to show structural details;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the shell before the assembly therewith of the plug and before the clinching or deformation of the integral shell ring;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the shell with the integral ring before the plug has been assembled;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the assembled lock shell and plug showing one manner of deformation of diametrically opposed portions of the integral ring into the plug groove;

Fig. 5 is a view partly in vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a similar view partly in vertical section, taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a shell with an integral ring showing an alternative arrangement for the deformation or squeezing of the ring.

Inasmuch as padlocks utilize shell and plug assemblies, the present improvements will be described in connection with a padlock as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, although it is to be understood that the invention is more generally applicable and is not to be restricted to the particular type of lock illustrated.

The lock body or casing is indicated by the numeral 8 and the interior of the same has partitions and walls to define cavities for certain of the lock mechanisms. As is conventional in locks of the type under consideration there is mounted in the body and extending outwardly of the inner or upper end thereof, a shackle 9 having an extension arm portion extending into a cavity in the body 8 and arranged with mechanism to permit yielding reciprocatory movement of the shackle, when released, and swinging movement thereof. The releasable arm of the shackle is lockingly engaged by a spring urged lock lever 10 within a cavity in the body and the lever is set and released by means of the mutilated projecting inner end portion 11 of a slotted cylindrical plug 11 most clearly shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 and forming a part of a cylinder assembly, which assembly also includes a shell 12. The shell 12 is of less length than the plug 11 and encloses the plug in a manner so that the plug may turn in the shell, with the shell being anchored against turning movement by a lateral extension 12 on the shell, confined within a suitable recess therefor in the body, when the lock mechanism is completely assembled.

The lateral extension portion 12' of the shell is provided with a series of bores 13 closed at their outer ends but opening at their inner ends through the inner wall of the main cylindrical portion of the shell 12. Each bore 13 has mounted therein, against a spring 14, a reciprocatable driver pin 15, said driver pins all being of the same length. The plug 11 is also provided in one wall portion with a series of transverse bores 16 open at both ends and which when the plug and shell are assembled, aline with the shell bores 13 and form continuations thereof. Adapted to be reciprocatably mounted within the plug bores 16 are tumbler pins 17 which, in a given assemblage, are of predetermined varying lengths. When the assemblage is locked the spring urged driver pins 15 may projectthe tumhlerrpinsrfl. laterally inwardly with the driver pins then extending partially into the bores 160i the plug to thereby prevent relative turning movement between the plug and shell. However, when a proper key; 18. .isinsertedinto theslot ,19, thereforin the; plug the tumbler pins 17 are forced outwardly-to. urge the :driver pins -15.rout,of .plug bores 16 so that .-the2abutting endsoi' the Series.0f:-pins15 and 17 he alongthe line of separation of theplug: 11 and shell 12 to .permit turning movement of. the plug-relative to 'the shell, whereby thexmutilated end ll' ofthe plug can operate theelever 10.

From the description thus far given whichapplies to conventional padlocksof the:;type villustrated, it isapparent that ,the plug '11, ;must be susceptible of rotation Within the shell 12 but it must be retained in propenassembled condition within {the shell :to maintain alinement of :the plugbores-lfiwith the tshellzbores 13. The, present invention is concernedzessentiallywith the construction-whichpermits easy,and.- accurate assembly of the shell andplug.

By reference to the drawing it will appear that the inner .or upper endof the :cylindrical shell -is initially provided with a collar120.-which isinwardly stepped from the outer periphery-ofthe adjacent endof the shell but whosez inner. periphery normally coincides with the bore of the shell. Figs..2 and 3l-showithe cylindrical shell with the collar .20. .-As; was-previouslyexplained the plug 11 is of greater length than the shell 12 and. -the first step of :the assembly isto. insert the plug into the bore of the shell in a manner so that the mutilatedprojecting portion 11'. of the plug projects beyond the. upper ortinner' end of the shell and-.an annulapexternalp,groove 2l qin the plug registers with the shell collar20. To. completethe assembly spaced apart-portions of the: collar-.20, which is slightly malleable .017 bendablemay be--squeezed;.-or dee formed :inwardlyras-atZZ tin Figs.-4.and Sato engage; in the plug groove 21. By this:simple, expedient the plug and shellare .held together in assembledconditionand are prevented from axial displacementLbut-relative rtation ofthe two members is permitted.

The .deformation :or bending: of; thev collar.20 into the groove 21,- .as at 22, may takeplaceat anypoints within thecircumferenee-of the collar. Asqdisclosed. in Figs. 4, 5-.and6, theinwardly deformed portions, 22 are diametrically opposed. -However,..it,iszpossible,.torsqueeze or deform portions ofthe collar into thegmoveatother pointsas, for instance, thetour-point deformation shown in Fig. 7 with the. spaced-apart. squeezed-ordeformed extents 22 or other similar arrangements.

"Due to' the fact thatthe collar 20 is formed integrally with the shell, manufacture and assembly ,is simplified. .It is unnecessary for the assembler to locate a separate washer to slip over the projecting end of the plug and engage the same in the groove, and the hazards of binding and warped washers is eliminated. By virtue of the present invention, after the, plug has been inserted into the bore of the cylinder, 21- quick squeezing operation to desired portions of the collar: will deform said portions of the collar into the pluggroove 21. The operation can be accomplished very quickly-with limited skill" and the hazards of improper assemblyor poorly fitted parts is eliminated.

The-improved lock shell and .-plug assembly and the method of forming the same are simple, inexpensive and well adapted for-the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

In a padlock assembly having a cylindrical shell with a cylindrical opening extending-axially therethrough and a cylindrical plug rotatably mounted within the shellwith its cylindrical. portion projecting beyond one end thereof, the projectingcylindrical end portion of the plug being formed .withagroove and having a stepped mutilated lockmechanism operating extension, .means for preventing axial .displacement of. the plug relative to the shell consistingofa collar integral with and forming an extension of the end of the, shell through which the plug projects,

the. bore of :the major portion'of. the collar coinciding with. and forming anextension of thebore of the shell but .theoutsidediameter of the collar being less than the outsidediameter of the shell, and spaced projections on the inner side ofv the collar entering the plug groove beyond the main body portion of the shell and permitting relative rotation of the plug andshell.

References Cited in the file of this patent .UNITEDVSTATES PATENTS 638,554 Burton ',Dec. 5, 1899 929,668 Hartman Aug. 3, 1909 1,686,665 Jacobi Oct. 9, 1928 1,775,055 Tarbox et al. Sept. 2, 1930 1,854,563 "Shaw Apr. 19, 1932 1,888,954 Keil NOV. 22, 1932 1,944,890 'Heidlofi Jan. 30, 1934 1,965,940 Jacobi July 10, 1934 2,034,090 Douglas Mar. 17, 1936 2,527,086 Swanson Oct. 24, 1950

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