Split nut

A split nut to enable complete separation of the longitudinal halves from a threaded shank so that they may be re-fitted to any other portion thereof, particularly long threaded shanks, without the necessity of turning the nut in threaded relationship to such selected position. It is particularly useful in the case of rusted threaded shanks involving great difficulty in screw-threading the nut on the rusted threads. A special feature of the present construction of the nut halves is that it enables the making of identical and interchangeable halves, which greatly reduces manufacturing and inventory costs.

This invention relates to a split nut for use on threads, particularly 
rusted threaded shanks, to eliminate the necessity of screw-threading the 
halves from one position to another longitudinal position of the threaded 
shank. 
An outstanding disadvantage of nuts that have been used in the past on 
rusted threaded studs is that no practical and inexpensive construction 
has been provided to enable easy change of position of the nut along a 
rusted threaded shank without the necessity of screwing the nut thereon 
which is sometimes very difficult or impossible, depending upon the extent 
of rust. 
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel split nut 
construction which overcomes the abovenamed disadvantages of presently 
used nuts and which enables easy and speedy repositioning of the nut 
longitudinally of a threaded stud or shank without the necessity of 
screwing the nut thereon. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a split nut of 
relatively simple construction, yet one that can be securely locked at any 
position along a threaded shank. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a split nut 
having halves which are of identical construction, allowing use of a 
single mold for making the identical halves.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, numeral 11 
denotes a longitudinally split nut half embodying the present invention 
and numeral 11a shows, in dotted outline, the complementary half or mating 
half to form a complete nut. The nut, while shown as a hexagonal nut, may, 
instead, have eight or four sides. 
The nut is split along parting vertical planes 14, extending between edge 
lines 12, 12 at the top and terminating along line 18 at the bottom. 
Another parting plane 13 extends from line 18 at any suitable angle for 
example, an angle of 30.degree. relative to the horizontal plane although 
the angle may be 45.degree. or over. The nut is screw threaded at 17. 
Preferably, the tops and bottoms of the nut halves 11 and 11a are 
chamfered at surfaces 15, 15. By locating line 22 centrally of the height 
of the entire nut, it is possible, with the parting surfaces just 
described, to make the half 11a of identical construction to 11. In other 
words, half 11a, is identical to half 11 but is inverted. 
The nut halves will stay assembled and resist lateral separation by virtue 
of the interlock provided by the inclined surfaces 13, 13. However, to 
securely lock the nut halves together, a locking ring 28 is provided of 
the construction such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A embodying a well portion 
30 in the form of a truncated cone which seats the lower chamfered surface 
15 of the nut. In some instances, it is desirable to split the locking 
ring such as in the manner shown in FIG. 4A, embodying ring halves 29 
having parting surfaces at 29a. 
FIGS. 2 and 2A show a modification of the split nut, embodying nut halves 
20 and 20a, the latter being shown in dotted outline. The nut half 20 has 
a vertical parting plane 23 disposed at an obtuse angle to vertical plane 
24 at mid-height of the nut, the nut halves 20 and 20a will be exactly 
identical and interchangeable, requiring a single mold to make both nut 
halves. 
It should be noted, however, that while it is greatly advantageous to 
provide interchangeable nut halves so that the nut can be made very 
cheaply, the present invention may include nut halves which are not 
identical, such as for example, those made as shown in FIGS. 1 or 2 
wherein the intersecting vertical and inclined planes are not at the 
mid-point of the height of the nut, or perhaps where other than a single 
flat surface is provided in the vertical plane. The chamfers 15 may be 
omitted from the top and bottom of the nut. 
FIG. 5 shows the slit nut illustrated in either FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 applied to 
the tire supporting rim of an automobile wheel, however eliminating the 
need for a locking ring. The wheel axle 31 has a hub 33 and wheel rim 34 
shown in fragmentary form, having an integral threaded stud 32 onto which 
is screwed the split nut 35 of the construction such as described in FIG. 
1 or FIG. 2 exclusive of the locking ring. A plurality of studs 32 and 
split nuts 35 are provided along a circular path for holding the rim 34 
against hub 33. The nuts are removed when changing tires in a well known 
manner. The wheel rim 34 is provided with a hole having a frusto-conical 
seat which closely fits the chamfer 35 of the nut, thus preventing 
separation of the nut halves. Therefore, if the threads of bolts 32 become 
so rusty as not to be capable of unscrewing from the stud, the nut halves 
may be pulled apart laterally after clearing the hole of the rim 34. 
It will be noted in FIGS. 1A and 2A that the vertical planes provide a top 
surface whose edges are about 90.degree. apart. 
FIG. 6 shows a unit 4a in a large form for pouring concrete embodying very 
long screw threaded rods 40. Instead of using the ordinary nut, which 
would require considerable time and effort to unscrew in either direction, 
there is provided a split nut 43, according to the present invention, 
seated in a locking ring 42 of the construction shown in either FIG. 3 or 
FIG. 4, which ring is securely fastened to a pair of channels 41 which may 
be supported on or attached to steel frame structures. It will be noted 
that as soon as nut 43 is unscrewed from seating engagement with ring 42, 
it may be readily pulled apart laterally and reclamped or reassembled on 
any other longitudinal portion of the screw threaded rod 40. 
It should be noted that FIGS. 5 and 6 are merely examples of numerous 
applications wherein it is desired to unscrew the nut from the threaded 
shank without the necessity of unscrewing it along the entire length of 
the threaded shank. 
FIG. 7 shows a modification involving a long threaded stud 46 provided with 
a split nut, as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, wherein the nut halves are 
securely locked together by a cotter pin 48 and wherein, if desired, a 
locking ring 50 may be used with a locking ring shown in FIG. 3, or one 
with a modified taper 50. 
Thus it will be seen that we have provided a nut which is split 
longitudinally in a very unique manner so as to interlock and resist 
lateral separation, as well as to make it possible to assemble the nut by 
using identical nut halves and thereby cut the cost in half of providing 
molds for the shaping thereof; also we have provided a split nut made of 
parts of simple and easy to make construction, involving very low cost of 
manufacture because of the simplicity of the parts, yet which are securely 
locked together on a threaded stud or shank. 
While we have illustrated and described several embodiments of our 
invention, it will be understood that these are by way of illustration 
only and that various changes and modifications may be contemplated in our 
invention and within the scope of the following claims.