Improvements in and relating to Nut-locks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Nut-locks.
I, CHARLES ARTHUR THOMPSON, a Citizen of the United States of America,
residing at Irwin, in the County of Westmoreland, and State of Pennsylvania, one
of the United States of America, Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to nut-locks—that is, devices for locking nuts upon bolts-its
object being to provide an efficient form of nut-lock which will hold the nut upon
each quarter-turn thereof.
It consists, generally stated, in combining with the bolt having a longitudinal
groove therein a nut and a strap or case encircling the nut and having a series
of spring-lips extending therefrom over the face of the nut to engage with the bolt.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe
the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a side view illustrating one form of iny invention.
Fig. 2 is a face view.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section.
Fig. 4 is a side view showing a different form of strap, and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the strap or case removed from the nut.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each figure.
The bolt a may be of any suitable form, that shown in the drawings being the
ordinary railway-bolt having the threaded portion b, in which threaded portion is
formed the longitudinal groove c, one edge of the groove being abrupt, so that when
the spring-lips of the nut-locking device engage therewith the nut will be firmly
held upon the bolt. The nut d is of the ordinary construction, no work whatever
being required upon the nut to fit it for use. Encircling this nut d is the strap or
case e, forming the nut-lock, this strap or case being provided with a series of spring-
lips f, which extend forward across the face of nut in position to engage with the
groove c in the bolt. This strap or case corresponds in shape to the nut, fitting
around the same, as shown in the drawings, and being held thereon in any suitable
way.
It may either be made in the shape of a cup or box, the lower edge of which
fits over the back of the nut, as shown in Figs. and 3, or in the form of a strap
having fingers extending out therefrom and engaging with the back of the nut, as
shown in Figs. 4 and 5; or the strap encircling the nut may be secured thereon in
any desired way. The strap or case is formed of suitable spring metal, steel being
preferred for the purpose, and it may be formed in any suitable way, such as 'from a
sheet-steel tube square in cross section or corresponding to the shape of the nut, an
one edge of this tube being bent inwardly to form the base g of the case e; or the
tube may be cut to the shape shown in Fig. 5, so as to provide a strap with the
fingers h extending out therefrom, these fingers having generally the form shown
in dotted lines, and the nut being passed into the case from the rear, after which the
fingers are bent down, as at k, to hold the nut therein.

page_text: The spring lipsf extend over the face of the nut and above the threaded opening
thereof in position to engage with the end of the bolt. These lips are cut from the
body of the strap, and where the cup-shape case, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is
employed, the nut may be dropped into the case and the fingers cut from the strap
or case by suitable machinery fitting against the nut, the top edge of the nut acting
as the shear-edge for the shearing of the spring-lips, while by means of shearing-
knives advancing in the four directions, and suitable lips acting to support the
edges m of the case where the spring lips are sheared therefrom, the spring-lips can
be quickly sheared from the case and pressed over into proper position. In the form
of strap or case shown in Figs. 4 and 5 this work can however be done before the
nut is placed within the case. As the spring lips pass above the course of the bolt as
the bolt is screwed into the nut, I form the front end of the bolt tapered or rounded
as at n, so that when it is screwed through the nut its tapered end will pass out
through the spring-lips, forcing them onto the threaded portion of the bolt and in
position to engage with the groove e thereof.
The nuts and bolts can be shipped separately-that is, without securing the nut
upon the bolt and when they are used, as the nut is turned by the operator the
spring lips will be pressed out by the tapered or rounded face n of the bolt and will
pass onto the threaded portion of the bolt, and as the nut is screwed to place these
spring-lips will pass over and engage successively with the groove c of the bolt, and
as soon as the nut is screwed tight to place one of the spring lips will engage with
the groove and hold the nut in that position. As the strap or case corresponds in
shape to the nut, it is evident that it will not interfere in any way with the screwing
up of the nut, the wrench simply engaging with the case which encircles the nut.
If it is desired to lock the nut oftener that on each quarter-turn-for example, on
each eighth-turn-another groove, such as at c', Fig. 2, may be formed in the bolt,
and the spring lips will engage with that groove in the same manner. In order to
remove the nut, it will simply be necessary to employ a wrench provided with
suitable fingers for lifting the spring lips, so that the nut can be properly unscrewed.
The nut-locking device above described has been practically tried and found to be
efficient for the purpose and forms a positive lock, while it requires no change
whatever in the nut to which it is applied.
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 combination with a bolt having a longitudinal groove therein, a nut and a
strap or case encircling the nut and having a series of spring-lips extending there-
from over the face of the nut to engage with the bolt, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
2. In combination with a bolt having a longitudinal groove therein and having a
round or tapering point, as at m, a nut, and a strap or case encircling the nut and
having a series of spring lips extending therefrom over the face of the nut to engage
with the bolt substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In combination with a bolt having a longitudinal groove therein, a nut, and a
strap or case encircling the nut and having fingers extending back therefrom and
passing onto the back of the nut, and provided with a series of spring lips extending
over the face of the nut to engage with the bolt, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.