An Improved Method of Locking Nuts.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1896
An Improved Method of Locking Nuts.
I, HERBERT HENRY PEARCE, of 65, Castle Street, Bristol, Wood Carver>
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 :—
This invention consists in an improved method of locking nuts.
According to this invention the under face of the nut is recessed, the recess
being an inclined plane provided to receive a conical pin preferably of steel.
The pin is inserted, with the larger end leading, in the deep end of the recess
when the nut is nearly screwed up. The deep end of the recess increases in depth
as it approaches the screw hole of the nut, and the pin as it lies in the deep end of
the recess is in contact also with the object through which the bolt on which the
nut is screwed is passed or fixed.
The pin is moved along as the nut is further screwed up and ultimately binds
tightly on both the nut face and the object below or behind the nut. If, after
having been screwed up, the nut be caused to turn in the direction for unscrewing,
the pin is rolled by the nut away from the deep end of the recess and is again
gripped and so prevents the nut from becoming further unscrewed.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings,
Fig. 1 represents, in side view, a nut a having, in accordance with this invention,
a recess a¹ in its under face.
Fig. 2 is a view of the under face of the nut a. The recess a¹ is an inclined
plane. It need not be at the particular place shown, but may be formed at any
desired position in the nut face. At Figs. 7 and 8 it is shown differently
situated.
Its deeper part increases in depth as it approaches the screw hole in the nut, as
seen at Fig. 3 which is a section on the line, Fig. 2. The deep end of the
recess is in no place greater in depth than the diameter of the pin bat such
place.
When the nut has been partly screwed up on a bolt or screw, and while sufficient
space is left, a conical pin b, of which a detached view is shown at Fig. 4, is
inserted, with the larger end leading, into the recess al and as the nut a is further
screwed up towards the object to which the screw or bolt is fixed or through which
it is passed, the pin is moved along by the shoulder formed by the deeper part of
the recess and binds upon the nut and the said object, on which the nut also binds.
At Fig. 5 is shown in plan, and at Fig. 6 in side view, a nut a screwed up against
a plate c.
If, by vibration, or through other cause, the nut a, after having been screwed up,
tends to become unscrewed the pin & tends to turn about its longitudinal axis and
is re-gripped between the nut a and the plate c. Thus the nut is prevented from
becoming further unscrewed.
b
The piu having, as aforesaid, its larger end innermost is not liable to be shaken
out by vibration.
Instead of a pin such as 6 for locking the nut, a cylindrical pin may be used, or a
ball of steel or other suitable metal.

page_text: 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. Locking nuts by means of a pin or ball inserted in an inclined recess formed
in the back or bottom face of the nut and terminating at one end in a ledge or
shoulder, the said pin or ball bearing, when the nut is screwed up, on the nut and
the object on which it is tightened in such manner that any tendency towards
unscrewing of the nut causes the pin or ball to turn or roll thus tightening it and
preventing further loosening of the nut, substantially as hereinabove described.
2. Locking nuts by means of a conical pin such as b, or the equivalent thereof,
inserted, with the larger end leading, in an inclined recess such as at formed on the
bottom or back face of the nut and terminating in a shoulder or ledge for the pin
to rest against in screwing up; the pin bearing on the nut and the object (such
as the plate c) so that any tendency towards unscrewing of the nut causes the pin b
to turn about its longitudinal axis away from the said shoulder or ledge and so
prevent further unscrewing of the nut, substantially as hereinabove described with
reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 12th day of December 1895.