A New or Improved Locking Device for Bolts, Nuts, and the like, also applicable as a Wrench or Spanner.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application. 5th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Locking Device for Bolts, Nuts, and the like,
also applicable as a Wrench or Spanner.
I, WELLING CLARENCE SOULE of Savannah in the County of Wayne and
'State of New York in the United States of America, but at present of The
Manchester Hotel Aldersgate Street in the City of London, 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 a locking device for bolts nuts and the like and it is
also applicable as a wrench or spanner.
My invention consists in making a fastening consisting of a plate having a
square or other hole therein (as long as it be not simply a round hole) and
providing this plate with a shank which is flexible or of a spring-like nature.
This shank or spring is attached or pivotted to some part of the apparatus and
the hole at the other end aforesaid is designed to fit over and prevent the screw,
nut or the like from turning. When it is desired to unscrew or adjust the screw,
the plate is raised above the level of the end thereof the elasticity of the spring
shank allowing of sufficient motion therefor, the plate may then be swung round
on its point of attachment leaving the screw free to be operated upon by the
spanner, screw driver or the like. When the screw has been returned to its proper
position the spring fastening or locking device is again swung round and replaced
over the end of the screw to prevent it from turning.
If the locking device be made detachable, it may even be used as a spanner or
key and is convenient for use in turning nuts, bolts or the like in confined places
where an ordinary spanner with a rigid shank or handle is awkward or
impossible.
Figure 1 of the accompanying sheet of drawings represents in elevation my
locking device applied as an example to locking the bolt for joining the two
ends of a chain for the transmission of motion.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof partly in section.
Figure 3 represents in elevation a modified form of screw adapted to be used
with my locking device.
Figure 4 represents a piece of chain in elevation with a modified form of
detachable locking device in its normal position.
Figure 5 is a plan section on the line ef Figure 4 and
Figure 6 shows also in elevation the application of the locking device as a
spanner.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the locking device is here
constructed in the form of a plate b having a square hole therein at one end which
fits over the head of a screw a. The shank is made preferably slightly thinner
than the end having the square hole so as to bend easily and is provided at the
other end with a round hole and held by the rivet c. The part round the square
hole is made a little thicker than the rest and thus gives a good bearing to the
head of the screw so that it is not likely to slip under or off the latter except
a certain amount of force be applied in the proper manner. Further the shape
is such that there is practically no projecting part liable to catch in or on any
thing and thereby cause derangement. The position of the locking device shown
DO77

page_text: in dotted lines in Figure 1 represents that in which the screw a is free and capable
of being turned by a screw driver or spanner.
Instead of the locking device being applied to the head of the screw, it may
as shown in the detail view Figure 3 be applied to the other end which is formed
square at a¹.
It is evident that instead of making the locking device of flat sheet spring
metal it may be made in the form of a wire spring which takes into the slot
for the screw driver or it may be formed in any other convenient manner so long as
it has a proper amount of elasticity, offers no projecting ends to catch into or
on anything and securely prevents the displacement of the connecting part such as
the screw a.
Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, the locking device b is made in the form of a
spanner with an oval hole for attachment to the rivet c instead of a round one
as before described and the rivet c is also formed with an oval head which is
normally at right angles to the oval hole in the locking device but when it is
removed to the position shown in dotted lines Figure 4, the oval hole in the part b
comes fair with the oval head of the rivet c and the locking device may then be
removed and used as a spanner as shown in Figure 6.
Although I have only shown two modes of making the locking device removable
from its point of attachment it is evident that other methods of attaching it may
be employed without departing from my 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. A locking device for screws nuts and the like consisting of a spring
shank having means to hold in place the object to be secured aud capable of
being removed and swung on one side when the screw or the like is to be removed
or adjusted substantially as set forth.
2. A locking device for screws outs and the like consisting of a spring
shank pivotted at one end and provided at the other with a square hole or the
like which fits over the object to be held substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1, 2 and 3.
3. A removable locking device for screws nuts and the like consisting of a spring
shank pivotted at one end to a pin or rivet c and provided at the other end with a
slot or the like which fits over the object to be held substantially as described with
reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6.
4. A spanner provided with a spring or flexible shank substantially as
described.
Dated this Fifth day of March 1897
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.