Improvements in Nut Locks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ALEXANDER ASBURY JOHNSON, of 742, Main
Street, Clarksville, Tennessee, U.S.A., Commercial Traveller.]
• Improvements in Nut Locks.
ALEXANDER MAXWELL of 63 South John Street Liverpool, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of nut locks,
and to provide a simple and inexpensive one, which will be positive and reliable in
its operation, and which will not weaken a bolt or nut.
The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrange-
ment of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings
and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.
In the drawings :-
Figure 1. is a perspective view of a nut lock constructed in accordance with this
invention.
Figure 2. is a longitudinal sectional view.
Figure 3. is a transverse sectional view.
Figure 4. is a detail perspective view of the locking spring.
Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
1 designates a bolt provided at the outer end of its threaded portion with a series
of longitudinally disposed grooves 2 shouldered at one side and bevelled at the
opposite side and forming a ratchet adapted to be engaged by a locking spring 3,
which is connected with and carried by a nut 4. The nut is provided adjacent to
one of its corners, in order not to weaken its construction, with a groove 5 having
a branch 6 extending outward at the inner face of the nut. The grooves 5 and 6
receive an L-shaped shank or stem 7 of the locking spring 3, which is thereby
rigidly secured to the nut without interfering with the threads thereof, or with
those of the bolt.
The locking spring is spiral and encircles the bolt at the outer face of the nut,
and has the L-shaped stem formed integral with its inner terminus, and its outer
end is provided with an integral handle 8, and a projection 9, which is arranged to
engage the grooves of the bolt, and which extends outward laterally from the
spring. The inner portion of the coiled spring closely hugs the bolt, and the outer
portion of the coiled spring is offset slightly from the bolt in order to obtain the
necessary resiliency to hold the projection in engagement with the grooves of the
bolt.
The construction of the locking spring is such that any tendency of the nut, due
to incessant jars and vibrations, to unscrew, pulls on the outer portion of the coiled
spring and causes the inner portion thereof, which closely hugs the bolt, to engage
and squeeze the same, and thereby greatly relieve the outer portion of the coiled
spring from strain and preventing any excessive strain from being communicated to
the projection. The locking spring is detachably secured to the nut, and may be
readily applied thereto previous to screwing the nut on the bolt; and by drawing
the handle portion of the coiled spring outward and disengaging the projections
from the grooves of the bolt, the nut may be readily unscrewed.
It will be seen that the nut lock is simple and comparatively inexpensive in
construction, that the bolt and the nut are not weakened, and that the locking
spring is positive and reliable in its operation. It will also be apparent that any

page_text: slack in the spring may be readily taken up after the nut has been screwed up by
moving the projection 9 forward by means of the handle 8. Changes in the form,
proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without
departing from the principle or sacrificing. any of the advantages of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a nut lock, the combination of a bolt provided at the outer end of its
curved portion with ratchet grooves, a nut, and a coiled locking spring carried by
the nut and encircling the bolt and having its inner portion closely hugging the
same and having its outer portion slightly offset from the bolt and engaging the
grooves thereof, substantially as described.
2. In a nut lock, the combination of a bolt provided at the outer end of its
threaded portion with ratchet grooves, a nut provided at its interior with a groove
and having a branch thereof at its inner face, a coiled spring encircling the bolt
and having its inner portion closely hugging the same and provided with a stem
arranged in the grooves of the nut and being substantially L-shaped, the outer
portion of the coiled spring being slightly offset from the bolt and provided with
an integral handle portion and a projection to engage the grooves of the bolt,
substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of January 1894.