AN IMPROVED LOCKING WASHER FOR SECURING SCREW BOLTS AND NUTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Churchill, of Wilson Street, Finsbury, in the
County of Middlesex, Merchant, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED LOCKING
WASHER FOR SECURING SCREW BOLTS AND NUTS." A communication from
abroad by Sanford Elton Gee, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America.
Sealed the 7th April 1876, and dated the 19th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Churchill at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1876.
CHARLES CHURCHILL, of Wilson Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex,
Merchant. "AN IMPROVED LOCKING WASHER FOR SECURING SCREW BOLTS AND
NUTS." A communication.
This Invention relates to an improved washer for screw bolts and nuts, and
which by its peculiar formation possesses such an amount of elasticity that when
placed under a bolt head or nut, and the same is screwed down tightly upon the
said washer, the latter will prevent the turning or slackening of the bolt or nut and
its consequent displacement through vibration or concussion, the expansion and
contraction of the bolts or other parts, or other disturbing causes which affect the
security of structures wherein bolts and nuts are employed as fastenings.
Many contrivances have been adopted or suggested for obviating the difficulty
attending the certain and permanent retention of screw nuts upon their bolts and
of screw bolts in their places, as the displacement of these fastenings in many
instances have occasioned very serious accidents. In railways the safety of the
trains passing over the rails greatly depends upon the condition of the fastenings
of the chairs and fish plates, and these fastenings require constant supervision, as
the continual vibration and concussion occasioned by the traffic is always acting
to displace them. In iron bridges and other structures whose parts are secured
by bolts and nuts great care is required to prevent their displacement, and in
all kinds of metal work where bolts and nuts are used it is very desirable to have
effectual, simple, and inexpensive means for securing or locking them.
My improved washer is constructed as follows:-I take a steel plate of the proper.
thickness and punch or cut therefrom washers of any required diameter. The
peculiarity of my washer consists in the means whereby I give it the required
elasticity and locking action, which I accomplish as follows:-In the periphery of

page_text: the washer I form notches or apertures extending inward, say, about half way
between the periphery and central pole of the washer. The edges of the plates
formed by these notches or apertures are then set or bent out of the plane of the
washer's surface, thereby presenting a series of sharp edges to any surface upon
which the washer may be placed. The washer thus formed is properly hardened
and tempered. The setting of the edges of the said apertures gives a slightly
spiral form to the portions of the plate between the said apertures, so that when
the washer is placed on any surface the washer bears only on the projecting edges,
and has considerable elasticity. Therefore when the nut is screwed tightly down
upon the said washer, and the latter is compressed and flattened, this elasticity has
to be overcome, but is not destroyed, so that the said sharp edges are always kept
forcibly pressed against the surface of the nut, and resist the turning back or
slackening of the latter.
I am aware that washers have been made by coiling flat bars upon a mandril in
such a manner as to produce a washer consisting of a spiral coil, or two or more
coils, whose termination forms sharp edges extending through one side of the
washer; but a washer with one side open or divided in this manner cannot have
any great strength or permanent elasticity unless made inconveniently thick and
heavy, and therefore would be impracticable under many circumstances. I am also
aware that locking washers are now made of steel plates with slots or apertureз
extending outward from their central hole partly through the plate, and with the
edges of the said apertures deflected from the plane of the plate's surface; but
these washers are necessarily made of comparatively great width or diameter,
and are therefore inconveniently large, unsightly, and heavier and more expensive
than my washiers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Churchill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th July
1876.
CHARLES CHURCHILL, of Wilson Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex,
Merchant. AN IMPROVED LOCKING WASHER FOR SECURING SCREW BOLTS AND
NUTS." A communication to me from abroad by Sanford Elton Gec, of the City
and State of New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to an improved washer for screw bolts and nuts. The said
washer by reason of its peculiar formation possesses such an amount of elasticity
that when placed under a bolt head or nut, and the same is screwed down tightly
upon the said washer the latter will prevent the turning back or slackening of the
bolt or nut, and its consequent displacement, through vibration or concussion, the
expansion and contraction of the bolts or other parts, or other disturbing causes
which affect the security of structures wherein bolts and nuts are employed as
fastenings.
Many contrivances have been adopted or suggested for obviating the difficulty
attending the certain and permanent retention of screw nuts upon their bolts and of
screw bolts in their places, as the displacement of these fastenings in many instances
has occasioned very serious accidents. In railways the safety of the trains passing
over the rails greatly depends upon the condition of the fastenings of the chairs
and fish plates, and these fastenings require constant supervision, as the continual
vibration and concussion occasioned by the traffic is always acting to displace them.
In iron bridges and other structures whose parts are secured by bolts and nuts,
great care is required to prevent their displacement; and in all kinds of metal
work where bolts and nuts are used it is very desirable to have effectual, simple,
and inexpensive means for securing or locking them.
My improved washer is constructed as shewn in the accompanying Drawing,
which I will now proceed to describe.

page_text: Figure 1 is a plan or top view of my improved locking washer; Figure 2 is an
edge view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 1; Figure 3 is an edge
view looking in the direction of the arrow 2.
Figure 4 shews my improved washers applied to a screw bolt and nut.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
In the manufacture of these washers I take a steel plate or sheet of the proper
thickness, and punch or cut therefrom washer plates or discs of any required
diameter, and with a central hole therein. The peculiarity of my washer consists
in the means whereby I give it the required elasticity and locking action, which I
accomplish as follows: In the periphery of the washer a I form notches or
apertures extending inward, say, about half way between the periphery and
central hole c of the washer. The edges of the washer plates formed by these
notches or apertures b are then set or bent out of the plane of the washer's surface,
as shewn in Figures 2 and 3, thereby presenting a series of sharp edges d to any
surface upon which the washer may be placed. The washer thus formed is properly
hardened and tempered. The setting of the edges of the said apertures gives a
slightly spiral or inclined form to the portions of the plate between the said
apertures, as seen in the last-named Figures, so that when the washer is placed on
any surface the said washer bears only on the said projecting edges d, and has con-
siderable elasticity. Therefore when the nut has to be screwed tightly down upon
the washer a the latter must be compressed and flattened, as shewn in Figure 4, and
its elasticity has to be overcome, but not destroyed, so that the said sharp edges d
are always kept forcibly pressed against the surface of the nut, and resist the
turning back or slackening of the latter.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood I am aware that washers have been made by coiling
flat bars upon a mandril in such a manner as to produce a washer consisting of a
spiral coil, or two or more coils, whose termination forms sharp edges extending
through one side of the washer; but a washer with one side open or divided in
this manner cannot have any great strength or permanent elasticity, unless made
inconveniently thick and heavy, and therefore would be impracticable under many
circumstances. I am also aware that locking washers are now made of steel plates
with slots or apertures extending outward from their central hole partly through
the plate, and with the edges of the said apertures deflected from the plane of the
plate's surface; but these washers are necessarily made of comparatively great
width or diameter, and are therefore inconveniently large and unsightly, and are
heavier and more expensive than my washers; and I claim a locking washer for
screw bolts and nuts, which is formed by punching or stamping the washer plate
from a steel plate or sheet, and which has notches or apertures extending from its
periphery or external edge inward, and has the portions between the said notches
set spirally or inclined, and rendered elastic as above specified.
C. CHURCHILL.
(L.S.)