An Improved Method of and Means for Locking Nuts used in connection with Fish-plate Joints of Permanent Ways and for. like purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1900-Accepted, 6th July, 1900.
L
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Locking Nuts used in
connection with Fish-plate Joints of Permanent Ways and for.
like purposes.
I, EBENEZER WILLIAM HUGHES, 94, Shenley. Road, Camberwell, London, S.E.,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of and means for, locking nuts in
connection with fish-plate joints of permanent ways and for like purposes with
the special object of rendering such improvements applicable for holding or
securing the nuts of the
ordinary and existing bolts used in the
present fish-plate joints of permanent ways and for analogous. pur-
розев.
This I accomplish in accordance with my invention by means
cf what I term a double or twin washer on each side of the rail
joint consisting of an angle iron shaped washer preferably made of spring
steel or tempered steel, the two bolts passing through each washer in the vertical
side, thus holding the washer in position. The horizontal outwardly projecting
portion of this specially constructed washer according to my invention is cut or
sawn for a-given distance from each end, leaving an uncut part or portion near
the middle and between the two bolts, thus forming a spring strip for each nut.
In placing the washer and nut in position the ends of the spring strip are
first pressed down so as to enable the nut to be put on by hand, and afterwards a
short spanner is used to screw up the bolt whereby the long spanner now in use
can be dispensed with thus avoiding elongation of bolt and thread stripping as at
present. The spring strip is then liberated; whereupon it flies up against the
side of nut and holds it fast. The nuts are preferably hexagonal so that in any
case one of the flats or sides is always retained horizontal when the spring strip
is in its effective position.
When occasional adjustment is necessary no need exists for removing the nut
or washer.
1
If preferred the horizontal spring strip before described can be curved in various
forms so as to press against and hold the nut in position.
An angle iron stiffener in the centre of washer can be used if so desired for
strengthening purposes.
Dated this 6th day of July 1899.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Locking Nuts used' in
connection with Fish-plate Joints of Permanent Ways and for
like purposes.
I, EBENEZER WILLIAM HUGHES, 94, Shenley Road, Camberwell, London, S.E.,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
[Price 8d 1

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement::-
My invention relates to an improved method of and means for locking nuts in
connection with fish-plate joints of permanent ways and for like purposes with
the special object of rendering such improvements applicable for holding or
securing the nuts of the ordinary and existing bolts used in the present fish-
plate joints of permanent ways and for analagous purposes. This I accomplish
in accordance with my invention by means of what I term a double or twin
washer forming or serving as a link to connect two or more bolts disposed on the
side of the rail joint and consisting of an angle iron shaped washer preferably
made of spring steel or tempered steel, the two bolts passing through each washer
in the vertical side, thus holding the washer in position. The horizontal out-
wardly projecting portion of this specially constructed washer according to my
invention is cut or sawn for a given distance from each end, leaving an uncut
part or portion near the midille and between the two bolts, thus forming a spring
strip for each nut.
In placing the washer and nut in position the ends of the spring strip are
first pressed down so as to enable the nut to be put on by hand, and afterwards
a short spanner is used to screw up the bolt whereby the long spanner now in
use can be dispensed with, thus avoiding elongation of bolt and thread stripping
as at present. The spring strip is then liberated, whereupon it flies up against
the side of nut and holds it fast. The nuts are preferably hexagonal so that in
any case one of the flats or sides is always retained horizontal when the spring
strip is in its effective position.
When occasional adjustment is necessary no need exists for removing the nut
or washer.
If preferred the horizontal spring strip before described can be curved in
various forms so as to press against and hold the nut in position.
An angle iron stiffener in the centre of washer can be used if so desired for
strengthening purposes.
As before stated and in my Provisional Specification, the object of my inven-
tion is for the purpose of holding in subjection the nuts in existing or ordinary
bolts used in fish-plate joints in permanent ways. or the like without any altera-
tion whatever by the use of double or twin washers so as to prevent rotation:
This washer is made preferably of angular spring steel. When in position the
two bolts pass through the vertical flange. The horizontal flange should be
slightly raised above the level line of the under side of the flat side of the nuts
to obviate rattle or noise. The horizontal flange is sawn or cut as previously
stated at the ends for a certain distance from each end, leaving a part uncut
near the centre so that the ends can act as springs pressing against one of the
flat sides of the nut so as to hold the nuts in the required position.
:
By my invention new bolts or nuts are not required or any alterations
necessary, whilst the nuts cannot turn unless a spanner or equivalent is used and
there is no need, as before mentioned, to overstrain the bolts unduly thereby
causing elongation or thread stripping which is often done to ensure the necessary
grip as this causes abrasion between the rail and fish-plates owing to the deflection
of the rail ends and also from variable temperatures, resulting in undue freedom
to the nuts, so that the detrimental excessive screwing up by using long spanners
as at present is entirely avoided when the links according to my invention are
employed.
In order that my invention may be better understood I have annexed the
accompanying explanatory drawings in. which Figure 1 is an elevation and
Figure 2 a plan of the double or twin washer or connecting link before described
constructed in accordance with my invention. It will be understood that I do
not confine myself to the particular shape or construction of the link there
shewn so long as it will serve to connect the two or four bolts together and hold
the nuts. Figure 3 is an elevation and Figure 4 a plan of the hereinbefore

page_text: described spring strip employed in combination with the afore said double or
twin washer or connecting link, shewn separately, and constructed so as to
be detachable therefrom. Figure 5 is an elevation and Figure 6 a plan of the
twin washer or connecting link, Figures 1 and 2 and the spring strip Figures 3
and 4 attached together, the position of the spring strip relatively to the other
parts being variable at will according to circumstances, requirements and uses.
The left hand nut in these two views is shewn held in subjection and the right
hand spring when the nut as shewn is in the act of turning. Figure 7 is an
elevation and Figure 8 a plan of the form of twin washer or link and spring I
prefer and propose to adopt as being both simple and easy and cheap to manu-
facture. As more fully described previously it consists of a piece of metal,
angular in shape, the vertical flange forming the twin washer or connecting link
and the bottom flange forming the springs. a stiffener if need be for strengthening
purposes being used when required as shewn in dotted lines. Figure 9 is an
elevation and Figure 10 a plan of another form of washer and Figure 11 a plan
of another form of separate detachable spring strip for use therewith. Figure 12
being an elevation of this form of washer and spring when combined and in
position, the flexibility or strength of this arrangement being increased by
employing more than one of the said separate springa in laminated. form as
shewn, the left hand portion of the spring and its nut being shewn in repose and
the right hand portion when the nut is in the act of turning. Figures 13 and 13
are elevations and Figure 14 a transverse section of the rail, fish-plate, bolt and
nut to which my improved nut holder has been applied. The two nuts and
springs of the left hand portion of the joint, shewn in the upper part of the
drawing Figure 13, are in repose. The two springs of the right hand portion of
the joint, illustrated in the lower part of the drawing, being shown when their
nuts are in the act of turning. From these two views Figures 13 and 13* it
will be seen that the springs are not unduly strained in any way when the nuts are
in repose, Figure 13, but that the springs only come into play when the nuts
have a tendency to turn or are being turned, as in Figure 13, whereby the
lifetime of the springs is materially lengthened and their elasticity in no way
impaired or unnecessarily brought into use as invariably is the case with the
majority of existing means hitherto previously devised and intended for the
purpose to which my improvements are directed.
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 claini is:-
As a means for locking or holding the nuts of fish-plate bolts and the like a
double or twin washer serving as a link connecting two or more bolts and the
use in conjunction therewith of a spring or springs substantially as described
which may form part of or be attached to the said double or twin washier, al! as
and for the purposes hereinbefore more fully specified.
Dated this 7th day of Mov 1900
ted this 7th day of Nov 1900
BENJ. T. KING, A.Inst. Mech. E.,
Registered Patent Agent,
165, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for Applicant.
900
BENJ. T. KING, A.Inst.Mech.E.,
Registered Patent Agent,
165, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for Applicant.