Coding device

Sept. 7, 1954

2,688,198

<img file="US2688198A_D0001.tif" />

FIG. Z

24a

10'

<img file="US2688198A_D0002.tif" />

S. L. NEFF

CODING DEVICE

Filed Jan. 9, 1951

15

17

<img file="US2688198A_D0003.tif" />

22a

12' 13’ 14’ 15' 16' 17'

12'

13'

14'

16·

17· Ta⁷

U V w Xi

IO II

14 15

17

4Q. 69

66 65

63 62

EG

71 72 73 Ή 75 76 77 z 5

B c. D '6f* 68’

69'

70'

71’ 72’ 73’ 74' ’43? '441 ’45k '46k '4Γ1 :&lt;] ' 45' ‘ ¹ 50“ ί

TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX___

SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN £

351

96'

97'

98’

99'

80'

IE

EACH

EVER EARLY FRONT ’gone HIGHWAY JOIN KEEP LONG

24a !9

22a

<img file="US2688198A_D0004.tif" />

<img file="US2688198A_D0005.tif" />

FIG. 6.

Snuentor

SIDNEY L. NEFF

<img file="US2688198A_D0006.tif" />

Gttorneus

Patented Sept. 7, 1954

2,688,198

UNITED STATES PATENT

2,688,198 CODING DEVICE Sidney L. Neff, Salt Lake City, Utah Application January 9, 1951, Serial No. 205,114 (CI. 35—3)

Claims.

OFFICE ¹

This invention relates to coding devices, by the use of which messages may be quickly and conveniently converted to code form, and thereafter, when desired, may be quickly and conveniently translated back to the original.

It is customary for governments, businesses, and other institutions, as well as for certain individuals, to transmit confidential messages to others in the form of secret code. This is particularly true in instances of messages transmitted or recorded in writing, especially during wartime.

Various devices have heretofore been developed for either placing a message in secret code as it is being written, or for aiding a person to write or transmit a message in secret code. The former are usually key-operated machines; the latter are most often devices which embody the alphabet, numbers, and other characters used in formulating a message, in suitable correlation with similar or other characters used for code purposes, to the end that a person may visually substitute a different character for that normally used in spelling out a message. The device of the invention is of this latter type.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the type concerned wherein there is no set or predetermined relationship between the normally used characters and the code characters or abracadabra, and wherein the relationship be- 30 tween the two may be easily altered and retained securely in the altered position, thereby affording an extremely wide range of different codes in which a message may be put by the use of a single compact and simple mechanism.

Another object is to provide, in the device, a plurality of possible code characters for each normal character, so that the user may select at random which he will use, and thereby produce a ________ ____ _____________ui ^c°dedmessage which conforms to no set pattern. ⁴⁰ differences within the individual codes,’ possible τ χ x x x’-- ...... from a particular device.

An optional feature of the invention is the provision, in combination with the above, of one or more movable elements which are not locked against movement when the other elements are locked, thereby supplying auxiliary coding possibilities for the device. This is made possible by a unique mounting arrangement correlated

A feature of the invention resides in the fact that the element which carries the normal characters is fixed against travel about the common axis or axes, as the case may be, while those which carry the code characters are mounted for individual travel about said axis or axes. Means, such as one or more knurled thumb nuts threaded on an axis shaft, are provided for temporarily clamping or otherwise locking the movable elements against the stationary element to preclude travel relative to one another and to the stationary element, thereby enabling the device to be set by the user for visually giving an axially extending series of code characters for each normal character.

Another feature is that the code characters of any given series are different from those of any other series.

In the use of the device, selection by the user of various ones of the possible code characters from that axially extending series which corresponds to a particular normal character, as the latter is repeated during the course of a message, makes possible the coding of such message without repeating—or at least without always using— the same code character for a particular normal character. Thus, in effect, each setting of the device gives a code having no pre-established formation. This makes breaking of the code virtually impossible.

Furthermore, rotation of one or more of the rotatable elements between the times of coding individual messages, and re-locking the device in the new setting, means that no two messages need be coded in the same code. The more rotatable cylindrical elements there are and the more side-by-side, circumferential series of code characters there are on these rotatable elements, the greater the number of different codes, and of

I prefer to construct the device of cylindrical elements, having approximately uniform diameter and carrying the characters concerned on their respective outside circumferential rims These elements are mounted in side-by-side relationship on a common longitudinal axis, so they may be easily compared visually. Other elements, presenting what are essentially endless ___________„ ___________ band circumferential surfaces carrying endless 50 structurally with the arrangement referred to above.

Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the particular preferred form illus55 trated in the accompanying drawing.

series of characters, may be employed, however, within the purview of the invention, for it is the manner in which such elements are associated and mounted relative to one another which make possible the new results of the invention.

2,688,198

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the particular preferred form of the device;

Fig. 2, an end elevation looking from the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a central vertical section taken primarily but not entirely on the line 3—3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a transverse vertical section taken on the line 4—4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a similar section taken on the line 5—5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6, a similar section taken on the line 6—6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing: the device illustrated comprises a plurality of cylindrical elements of approximately the same outside diameter mounted side-by-side on: a common longitudinal axis.

One of the cylindrical elements, here indicated * 10, is fixed by any suitable means, for example integrally, to an * axially extending - shaft^; 11, intermediate the* length-thereof in this instance, so-that shaft portions project at opposite sides for rotatably receiving other cylindrical elements.

Rotatably mounted' on the shaft portion- at one side of the stationary element 10, are, in this particular instance; two cylindrical-elements 12 and 13, the element 12-having several times the breadth of the element ! 3, -which-latter, element has the same breadth as the stationary.element IG, a breadth accommodating a single circumferential series of characters.

Rotatablymounted-orithe shaft portion which extends from -the opposite-side of the fixed, element ( 0 are other cylindrical elements (4,.15, IS and 17. In this instance, the.elements: |4 and 15 are mounted directly on the shaft 11, the element (4 being similar to the element: 13, but the element I5 being - of greater breadth. The elements (6and (7 are rotatably mounted on a sleeve (8, which extends·'from: a knurled-thumb nut (9, and* is ’concentric: with:and- closely, encircles one end of the shaft 11. Such shaft end -is threaded, and the thumb nut fits over and screws onto it, serving- to clamp the two rotatable elements 14 and *(5'against'the stationary, element 10,* in any given set position,, when .tightened, thereby: locking *such rotatable-elements in set position without affecting rotatability of the cylindrical elements IS and (7. In the illustrated instance; the elements-1 S’-and: 17 are rigidly joined together by 50 means of screws 20;

. A*knurled thumb nut 21; similar in nature to the thumb nut 19; but :without-a sleeve extension, screws onto'the threaded opposite* end of the shaft 11, and, by bearing against the outer face of the 55 cylindrical element 13, when tightened, locks such element (3 and its associated element 12,- in any given set position, against the stationary element 10. „ . X _ln.,

Thus, the stationary cylindrical element 10 ου serves as a reaction member against which the several normally rotatable cylindrical elements are clamped by the action of the thumb nuts (9

The entire assembly is rotatably mounted in 65 spaced uprights 22α of a cradle frame 22, this being conveniently accomplished by merely resting shaft portions 19α and 2(0 of the respective thumb nuts in receiving; recesses 23 of the uprights 22α. , . .

The several cylindrical elements have their outer circumferential surfaces marked with circumferential series of characters. In the illustrated instance, these are-stamped directly upon the surfaces concerned. The stationary element 75 is marked with the normally used characters to be transposed into code characters. Such normally used characters are generally the letters of the alphabet and essential punctuation marks, but they also may advantageously include the numerical digits. The element ί 0 is preferably slightly greater in diameter than the other cylindrical elements, as shown, so as to stand out prominently in the group of elements and be easily seen as a starting point in the visual transposition of characters.

The rotatable element 12 to the left of stationary element I·, whose breadth is several times the . breadth of the element 10, has its circumferential outer surface marked with several sideby-side circumferential series of mutually different code characters of any desired nature, for example those shown in Fig. 1. Thus, such code characters may be numbers, numbers primed or double primed, letters of the alphabet, and/or letters of the: alphabet with. ·. suitable auxiliary IX* ·

The rotatable element ! 3. also.to the left of the stationary element 10, carries :a similar circumferential series of different code characters: on its outer circumferential surface.

The individual code, characters* in the. several series comprehended by the. elements (0,(2: and * 13 are preferably separated from the immediately adjacent characters in the same series by; means of transverse lines, as illustrated, which lines-are similarly spaced about the circumferences of the several elements, to the end that the device-may be set with side-by-side characters and dividing;, lines in alignment transversely of the device to provide respective transversely: extending series of:code characters. ..

For ease: in reading these transversely aligned characters, a straight edge 24 ds advantageously? 40 supplied: as part' of. the· device. In the form shown; such straight edge 24 has. depending legs? 2 4ά at opposite ends thereof which are pivoted to; the-respective uprights 22α of* the frame22 by means of a shaft 25; Thus, the straight edge 24 may be pushed back out of the way if desired, or may be placed in a useful position overhanging the rotatable group of cylindrical elements, . as illustrated; For positioning-such straight edge in its -useful position immediately-above,* but out_;of * contact * with, the group -of -cylindrical elements;: thumb nuts I Shand-2 i are advantageously provided with · circumferential shoulders * 19b and 2lb providing: abutment stops for the respective legs 24α. . , . , x

The rotatable element 14 to the right of stationary element tC has its outer circumferential surface-marked similarly to that of the elementί 3,- but with different code characters,. while,thebroader rotatable element 15· carries a - similar, single: circumferential - series of different. code. characters and a therewith aligned circumferential series of words, which, in this instance, are the word designation of numbers. The joined elements 16 and ! 7 : are similarly marked, that is to say, the element 16 carries a single circumferential series of different code, characters, while the element (77 carries a therewith aligned circumferential series. of ..words, which, in this instance, are commonly used verbs, etc., and names of various things.

In the use of the device illustrated, the rotatable· cylindrical elements (0, 12, 13, (4:and 15 are-set in any desired position which aligns characters and character dividing; lines transversely of the device, whereupon the thumb'nuts 19 and

2,688,198 are tightened to lock the several elements in their set position. The straight edge 24 is advantageously employed to facilitate the aligning operation. As explained hereinbefore, tightening of the thumb nuts serves to clamp the nor- 5 mally rotatable elements tightly against the stationary element 10, thereby precluding rotation of such cylindrical elements, except as a group in the cradle support 22. It should be noted, however, that the joined cylindrical elements 16 10 and 17 remain freely rotatable on their sleevemounting 18.

A message is spelled out in code by selecting, for each letter, word space, or other component, a particular code character from the transverse 15 series of code characters aligned with a particular normally used character or other component. For example, with the device set as shown in Fig. 1, the words “a bad highway” may be coded in several different ways. Thus, it may become 20 “11 V 72 V &amp; T 98' ”, or it may become “X 99 Y 11' 65 40 98' ”, and so on through a wide variety of other combinations of code characters, the word “highway” being either indicated by the single code character 98' or by several code char- 25 acters corresponding to the several letters making up the word.

In any instance, the code message has associated therewith the designation of a key, indicating how the recipient must set his device in 30 order to properly decode the message. Such key consists of one character from each of the settable cylindrical elements, here the elements 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15, and from a single transverse series of characters. In the above examples, the 35 key could be 11' 11'' A 69' and 43, or any similar set of characters taken from other transverse series.

By merely loosening the thumb nuts 19 and 2i, rotating one or more of the rotatable cylin- 40 drical elements to any desired extent, and retightening the thumb nuts 19 and 21, a new and different code arrangement having a different key designation may be obtained. It can be easily seen that the number of possible combinations is tremendous even with a limited ⁴⁵number of code-carrying elements. When it is found desirable to change the relationship between the code characters of the element 16 and the words of element 17, these joined elements need merely be slipped off their sleeve-mounting ⁵⁰i 8, and re-set by removal and replacement of the screws 20.

Obviously, any convenient number of codecarrying elements may be incorporated in a single device. The particular combination illus- ⁵⁵trated merely exemplifies the possibilities of the invention. Furthermore, any single rotatable element might have a breadth of any desired multiple of the breadth utilized for a single circumferential series of code characters. Again, ⁶⁰any two or more of the rotatable elements may be joined together in the manner here shown for the elements 16 and 17, if found desirable.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with respect to a particular preferred ⁶⁵form thereof, it should be understood that various changes, apart from the mere substitution of equivalents, may be made therein and various other constructions may be adopted on the ₇₀basis of the teachings hereof, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the protective scope of those of the following claims which are generic to the broader inventive concepts disclosed. 75