Improvements in Nut Locks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1891-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Nut Locks.
I, DANIEL ORCUTT WARD, residing at No. 155 Fourth Ave., in the City of
Newark, County of Essex, and State of New Jersey, United States of America,
Salesman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide a nut-lock, which shall also supply the
place and perform the functions of a washer and he more effective and reliable in
its operation and results than those heretofore in use, and to secure other
advantages.
The invention consists in the improved nut-lock and in the arrangement and
combination of the several parts thereof, as herein set forth and finally pointed out
in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures where they occur.
Figure 1, represents in side-elevation, sections of two railway rails lying in
juxtaposition with each other, with an angle-bar or fish-plate united thereto and
showing my improved nut-lock in operative position therewith.
Figure 2, is a vertical transverse section taken through line a, of said Figure 1,
showing the nut-lock and nut, before the latter is screwed home.
Figure 3, represents a face or plan view of the nut-lock.
Figure 4a bottom end view and Figure 5 a vertical end view of the same.
Figures 6 & 7, represent, respectively, a face or plan view and a bottom end
view of the nut-lock modified somewhat in form.
In said drawing A indicates the track-rails, B the angle-bar or fish-plate, C the
bolts and D the nuts.
In carrying out my invention I take a bar of spring steel substantially square in
cross-section or nearly so and form the central portion thereof into a coil or loop a,
adapted to closely encircle the bolt, and spread the ends or extremities b, outward,
in opposite directions, at an angle from a perpendicular line drawn through the
centre of the loop, as indicated in Figure 4, or to an approximately horizontal
plane, as indicated in Figure 6. Said extremities or arms, when the device is in
position on a bolt, are adapted to rest upon the flange c, of the angle-bar or fish-
plate, or upon the flange of the rail, as the case may be, and thus effectually
prevent the nut-lock from turning or rotating on the bolt when the nut is being
screwed home, and thereby injuring or destroying the thread of said bolt; and
also preventing the ends of said arms from dropping into the oblong holes in the
angle-bars or fish-plate, which frequently occurs in using nut-locks which are not
provided with the arms b, thereby rendering them practically useless.
The said coil or loop, a, is twisted, in the ordinary manner, as indicated in the
drawing, to obtain the desired set and to impart a certain amount of resiliency or
spring action therein, and one or both of the laterally extending arms b, are also
curved inward, as indicated in Figures 4, 5 & 7, so as to engage the face of the
angle-bar, thereby increasing the resiliency or spring-action of the device and
adding largely to its efficiency as a nut-lock, as will be manifest.
Thus a powerful spring-pressure is brought to bear upon the plate and nut when
the latter is screwed home thereby effectually preventing said nut from turning
backward or working loose and also holding the loop in a permanently fixed
position thereby increasing its effectiveness.
Inasmuch as the distance between the bolts and the base of the fish-plates, or of
the rails, may vary somewhat upon different roads or systems, the length of the

page_text: extremities or arms 6, of the loops or the angles at which they are spread may be
varied accordingly, so as to meet the requirements in each case, as will be under-
stood, and, owing to the construction of the device, these changes or variations are
capable of being readily and quickly made, without adding materially to the
expense, by means of suitable tools or dies; for example, by simply increasing or
diminishing the angle of the extremities or arms, the latter are shortened or
lengthened as the case may be as will be manifest, or the same result' máy be
attained by decreasing or increasing the length of said arms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The herein described nut-lock, consisting of a loop. of tempered spring steel
closely fitting the bolt, twisted out of plane to give resiliency and provided with
foot-pieces or arms, extending in opposite directions, to rest upon the base of the
fish-plate or underlying structure, and prevent turning; substantially as set forth.
2. The herein described nut-lock, consisting of a loop of tempered spring steel,
closely fitting the bolt, twisted out of plane to give resiliency and provided with
foot-pieces or arms extending in opposite directions and curved inward, to engage
the face and base of the fish-plate or underlying structure to prevent turning and
aid in the resilient action between the fish-plate and nut, as set forth.
Dated this 15th day of August 1891:
DANIEL ORCUTT WARD.