An Improved Locking Device for Screws, Nuts, Bolts, Wedges, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16.h Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Locking Device for Screws, Nuts, Bolts, Wedges, and
the like.
I, FREDERICK THOMAS COOPER Mechanical Engineer of No. 37 Charles
Street Cardiff, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved locking device for screws, nuts, bolts,
wedges and the like.
In applying this invention to a screw bolt and nut I stamp, cut, or attain by
other means a longitudinal slot or keyway on the bolt A, extending from the
screwed end towards the head, and ending in a flat on side of bolt; the flat then
extending to head or only partially so.
The depth of slot and Hat to be somewhat below the bottom of the thread,
sufficient to pass a pin along same, between the nut C and bolt A.
When the bolt is in place a loose washer D having projection extending inwards
and corresponding with slot on bolt, is put on same and the nut screwed home, the
pin B is driven along slot between the nut and bolt and the end comes in contact
with projection on washer, thereby spreading the pin out on flat of bolt, and the
pin is finally bent over the top and side of nut, or the pin may be driven in until
the head of same comes over and in contact with the nut.
In some cases I may dispense with the washer, when I do this the pin being
driven in, comes in contact at the bottom of slot with projection from flat on bolt,
thereby spreading the pin out, the pin then being bent over the nut as previously
described.
There may be one or more grooves on the bolt, on the nut, or on either of them,
in which case when the nut is brought into position the one groove over the other
a channel will be formed between the nut and bolt into which the pin can be driven,
the pin then being bent over the nut as previously described.
The depth of groove or keyways in this case may be various.
In some cases a piece of wire may be substituted for the pin B.
In applying this invention to a wedge, take for example a wedge for attaching
the piston-rod of an engine to a crosshead, (Sheet 2).
The wedge A having the groove for receiving the pin formed upon the side,
extending from the small end along towards the large end, and ending in a flat on
side, forming a tee shape or other suitable groove.
The depth to be sufficient to pass the pin B along same between the wedge and
crosshead C.
After the wedge has been driven home, the pin B is driven along groove and the
end comes in contact at the bottom with wedge, thereby spreading the pin out along
the groove, the pin then being bent over, or, driven in until the head comes over
and in contact with the crosshead.
Dated this 15th day of December 1893.

page_text: An Improved Locking Device for Screws, Nuts, Bolts, Wedges, and
the like.
I FREDERICK THOMAS COOPER Mechanical Engineer of No. 37 Charles
Street Cardiff, 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 screws, nuts, bolts, wedges and the
like; and by its means a screw, nut, bolt, or wedge may be locked and unlocked
and used for a number of times without its efficiency being impaired.
The invention consists of, and is the formation, and use, of a groove or grooves
in the side of a bolt, wedge, or bar of metal, and the use in the said groove or
grooves of a split or solid pin (herein called the locking pin or driving pin) so
arranged that when driven home and along the groove, and inside the nut, the
pin shall bend out of a straight course, while still remaining in the groove, and
that in consequence of being 80 bent, and in consequence of the other end of the
locking pin being brought in contact with the outer face of the nut, the nut is held
in its position upon its bolt, or bar. To effect this, I also provide that, in some
cases a grooved nut, and in some cases a special washer shall be used, all of which
as hereinafter described and as shewn upon the drawings hereto annexed, I claim as
a part of this my invention.
In the description. of my present invention as applied to lock nuts and bolts,
reference is made to the drawings which are hereto annexed.
In these drawings I have shewn various kinds of bolts, various ways of forming
the grooves, and various shapes for the locking pin, also several manners of
terminating the groove or grooves in the bolt, or bar of metal, at which
termination of the groove the locking pin becomes bent out of a straight course
as herein described.
Throughout the drawings I have marked the bolt, or bar of metal A, the locking
pin B, the nut C, and where I have shewn a washer having a projection to
divert the pin out of a straight course as herein provided I have marked that
washer D.
Namely Sheets. No. 1, 2, 3 and
throughout.
have corresponding letters for similar parts
Upon Sheet No. 1, Figures 1, 2 and 3, I shew elevations and plan of a bolt A,
nut C, washer. D, and locking pin B complete... Figure 4 is a plan of the bolt and
washer only, and Figures 5 and 6 is a detail of the washer.
Upon this bolt I stamp, cut, or. attain by other means a longitudinal slot, groove,
or.keyway, extending. from the screwed end. towards the head, and ending, in a flat
on the side of the bolt, which flat may extend to the head or only partially. so.
The depth of the groove and flat should be sufficient to allow, of, the passage of
a pin. B, between the nut C, and the bolt A.. When the bolt is in place a loose
washer D Figures 5 and 6, having a projection extending inwards and corresponding
with the groove on the bolt, is put on the bolt, and the nut is screwed home, the
pin B is then driven along the groove between the nut and the bolt. When the
end of the pin comes in contact with the projection on the washer, the washer D
being on the flat of bolt and its projection being kept in direct line with the groove,
this projection will cause the pin B to diverge either to the right hand or to the
left hand if a solid pin be used, or to divide if a split pin be used, as the locking
medium, and to take up a position as shewn by Figure 2 Sheet 1.
By thus turning the pin out of the direct line of the groove, or on to the flat of
the bolt, the pin becomes to some extent a book, and cannot be withdrawn without
sufficient force be used to straighten, or break it. The pin B being driven in as

page_text: described its outer end is then bent over the top and side of the nut, or the pin
may be formed with a suitable head as shewn by Figures 44 and 45, Sheet 3, in
which case when it is driven home along the groove in the bolt, the head of the
pin comes in contact with the nut and the nut then becomes so locked or secured
by the pin, as not to loosen or work itself from the bolt.
When a washer as herein described is not employed, I form a suitable groove in
the body of the bolt, bar of metal, or wedge, so shaped that its termination shall
have a similar effect upon the driven pin, as the projecting portion of the washer
aforesaid; reference here being made to the following drawings.
Sheet No. 1 Figures 7, 8 and 9 which shew elevations and plan of a bolt A,
nut C, and locking pin B. A split pin is shewn, but a solid pin or nail may be used
in a similar way. Figure 10 is a plan of the bolt only.
The end of the groove in the bolt shewn on Sheet No. 1 Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10,
appears upon the solid part of the bolt outside the threads, but the end of the
groove may be formed to lead off in one direction only as shewn on Sheet No. 2
Figures 14, 15, 16 aud 20, 21, 22 also 23, 24, 25; the groove may terminate among
the threads as shewn by Figures 20, 21, 22 Sheet No. 2, or may terminate outside
the threads as shewn by Figures 14, 15, 16 Sheet No. 2.
Figures 26, 27, 28 Sheet No. 3 shew a square shank bolt A, with the groove
terminating upon this square shank. A detail of the nut C is shewn by Figures 35
and 36 Sheet No. 3.
Figures 23, 24, and 25 Sheet No. 2 shew a bolt A, nut C, with the driving or
locking pin B, driven in along the groove and in contact at the end of the
groove with the bolt, the pin at that point of contact being bent, and diverging
either to the right hand, or to the left hand, (according to groove), and there
forming the hooked part of the locking pin as previously described.
The pin may be driven in until the head of the pin comes over and in
contact with the nut, as herein before mentioned, or the outer end of the pin may be
bent over the top and side of the nut.
The nut C in Figures 23, 24 and 25 Sheet No. 2 is shewn having grooves formed
upon its outer face.
This nut may be so adjusted by a slight turn as to bring one of its grooves into
position, or in line with the groove which is upon the bolt, so that the driving pin B
after being driven home may be bent and fit, or lie, in one of the grooves which are
upon the face of the nut.
Figures 20, 21; and 23, 24, 25 Sheet No. 2; Figures 29, 30, 32; and 33, 34,
also 37, 38, 39 Sheet No. 3; and Figure 56 Sheet No. 4 shew the application of
my invention to nuts having such grooves upon their outer face. So long as the
locking pin remains in this position upon the bolt and nut, an obstruction to the
unscrewing of the nut or the bolt will continue.
I would here however say that for the purposes of this application I make no
claim in regard to the grooving of the face of the nut.
Figures 17, 18 and 19 Sheet No. 2 shew a square shank bolt having the end of
the slot, or termination of the groove, formed upon one of the corners of the shank.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 Sheet No. 2 shew another form in which I would make
the groove in the bolt, screw, wedge, or bar of metal for use as aforesaid, and on
Sheet No. 3 Figures 29, 30, 31 and 32 I provide for a groove in the bolt, or bar of
metal, which groove is not straight throughout its length; the use of this form of
groove would be identical with the use of the other grooves herein described; the
locking pin being bent during its inward course, and forming the locking medium
as herein shewn and described.
I claim this groove as a part of this my invention and would make this and all
other grooves herein named of a square, V, semicircular or other section as necessity
might require.
On Sheet No. 4 Figures 49, 50, 51 and 52 I shew this my locking device applied
in such a manner that the strength of the bolt A is not impaired, as in this case
the depth of the groove upon the bolt need only be to the bottom of the threads,

page_text: the end of the groove being Jormed outside the threads upon one of the corners
of the square shank.
To attain this object I use with such a bolt, or bar of metal, a grooved or slotted
nut C, having one or more grooves running through its inside and across the
threads; Figures 53 and 54 Sheet No. 4 shew such a nut having four such slots or
grooves.
In this case the nut C would be adjusted by a slight turn so as to bring one of
its slots or grooves into position or in line with the groove upon the bolt, so that a
channel would be formed between the nut C and the bolt A, into which the locking
pin B could be driven.
I
Figures 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 Sheet No. 3 shew some of the
different types of solid or split, driving or locking pins which I would use.
would also use a piece of wire, or a nail in a like manner when occasion required.
The bolts, nuts, washer, and locking pin herein shewn and described, explain
and demonstrate some of the various. ways in which this my invention may be
applied.
Figures 55 and 56 Sheet No. 4, shew a fish bolt and nut in position, and the
application of this invention to railway fish joint purposes; on this drawing
Figure 56, I provide a bolt having the groove formed for use with a solid driving
pin as the locking medium.
I would make one or more slots, grooves, or channels upon the bolt, or bar of
metal of tee (T) or other suitable shape, to bend or turn the locking pin out of a
direct course, and the end of these said slots, grooves, or channels might terminate
in various positions upon the bolt, or bar of metal, either inside or outside the
nut, when the nut is screwed home into position upon its bolt.
To shew the application of this invention to a wedge, such for example as that
used for attaching the piston-rod of an engine to a crosshead, or the application
of it to wedges of other shapes used for other purposes, I here make reference
to Sheet No. 5, Figures 57 and 58 being an elevation and plan of a piston-rod,
and crosshead Ć attached; Figure 59 being a cross section, and Figures 60, 61,
and 62 being a detail of the wedge.
In such a case I form a tee shape, or other suitable groove in the side of the
wedge to receive the locking pin B, this groove extending from the small end along
towards the large end, then branching out to the left and right hand in a similar
manner to that provided for upon a screwed bolt as herein described.
The depth
of the groove being sufficient to allow of the passage of the pin B between the
wedge A, and the crosshead C.
After the wedge has been driven home, the solid or split driving pin B is driven
along the groove. The end of the driving pin comes in contact at the end of the
groove with the wedge, and becomes bent out of a straight course, or spreads to
the right hand and to the left hand. The pin being driven in until its head
comes in contact with the crosshead, or the outer end of the pin being bent over
and against the crosshead; the whole forms the locking medium herein before
described, and the pin B cannot be withdrawn without considerable force be used.
The wedge is in this case substituted for the bolt, as previously described, so
far as the application of this my invention is concerned.
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.
The production of a locking bolt and nut, for railway or other purposes, and
the locking in like manner, of a screwed nut upon the screwed portion of a bolt,
or bar of metal, in the same way by means of a solid or split pin, or small bar
of metal, or wire, which pin, or piece of metal, or wire, its head excepted, passing
under and inside the screwed nut, and fitting into and traversing a groove or
grooves formed in the bolt, or bar of metal for the purpose of receiving the said
pin, or wire, in such a manner that a solid pin, or wire, when forced or hammered

page_text: into and along the groove (or grooves) and still remaining in the groove, shall
become bent out of a straight course; or a split pin when so hammered or forced
along the groove and while still remaining in the groove, (or grooves), shall be
bent out of a straight course, or be divided and turn to the right hand and to the
left hand across the bolt, or bar of metal, in such a way that when the head of the
pin, or small bar of metal, or wire, shall come up to and against the outer face of
an ordinary screwed nut, the whole shall form a locking bolt and nut, so that the
nut or bolt shall not work loose by reason of ordinary vibration.
Or when the head of the said pin, or small bar of metal or wire shall come up to
and fit into one of certain grooves or recesses which may be formed upon the outer
face of the screwed nut, the whole shall form a locking bolt and nut, so that the
nut, or bolt, shall not work loose by reason of ordinary vibration.
Or when the said pin, small bar of metal, or wire, shall be hammered or driven
in along, and traverse a channel formed by grooves in the nut and in the bolt, until
this pin, small bar of metal, or wire shall be bent out of a straight course as
described and shewn by Figures 49, 50, 51 and 52, also Figures 53 and 54 on
Sheet No. 4, the whole shall form a locking bolt and nut, so that the nut, or bolt
shall not work loose by reason of ordinary vibration.
Or when the bending out of a straight course, of this locking pin, or small bar
of metal, or wire, being in its groove or grooves as herein provided, shall be
accomplished by a projection upon a loose washer, used upon the bolt or bar of
metal, in like manner as in the case of a bolt used without a washer as aforesaid,
the whole shall form a locking bolt and nut, so that the nut, or bolt shall not work
loose by reason of ordinary vibration.
In either case it shall not be possible to remove the nut, by unscrewing, from
its position upon the bolt, screw, or bar of metal; nor unscrew the bolt, screw, or
bar of metal from the nut, when so fixed, except by using sufficient force to
straighten, withdraw, or to break the pin, or small bar of metal, or wire, which as
herein described and provided, together with the groove or grooves in the bolt,
nut, screw, or bar of metal form the locking medium herein referred to.
I claim the application of this locking device (as herein described for nuts,
screws, and bolts) to be applied in like manner to wedges, substantially as described
by this my Complete Specification, and as shewn upon the drawings which are
hereto annexed, and which form a part of this application.
Dated this 13th day of September 1894.
FREDERICK THOMAS COOPER.