Year: 1888

page_text: I FRANCIS SANDERS MORRIS of Chandos Chambers Adelphi in the County of
Middlesex Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
I
The object of my Invention is to provide a "Lock-Nut," for use more especially
in connection with permanent-way and of such a character as to ensure the nut
being secure when screwed home on its bolt, and at the same time of such a
construction as to accommodate itself to and "take up" the play occasioned by the
stretching and elongation of the bolt-moreover this play is increased by the fish
plates working under the bolt heads, and nuts; and also under the flange of the
Rails. Bolts provided with nuts constructed according to my Invention always
remain in contact with the fish plates, and consequently also keep the bolts up to
their work.
.This Invention therefore overcomes the difficulty commonly met with when
employing most "lock-nuts," which, although they may not slacken back, or turn on
the bolts, lack the necessary lateral elasticity or spring, so that, when, after a time,
in practice, the bolts are permanently stretched, or elongated from the constant strain
upon them, they become loose in position, as neither the heads of the bolts or
the nuts, remain in close contact with the fish plates or other equivalents.
Nuts constructed according to my Invention, are forged, stamped, or otherwise
made with the upper part solid, the lower portion being formed by bending backwards
and forwards (as many times as may be desirable) a flat strip of metal, forged, or
stamped, in one piece with, or otherwise attached to, the upper part of the nut; and
thus the lower portion of the nut is laminated.
The nuts can be punched by means of suitable machinery, either before or
after the laminae are formed, but in any case they must be tapped after the nut is
properly shaped and squared-up to guage.
The bottom portion of the nut, or the lamina next the fish plate or other equivalent,
has no thread, but is provided with a clearing hole, therefore it has free play over
the threads of the bolt, by reason of its elasticity or spring (which can be further

page_text: increased by making the lower lamina convex, or concave to the top of the nut)
therefore, the lamina opens pro rata with the stretching of the Bolt, thus always
keeping the latter tight in position.
The nut is further locked securely upon the bolt by a compression of the threads,
between the upper laminae, occasioned upon screwing up the nut.
Instead of forming the laminae as above, there may be a series of parallel saw
cuts, made in opposite sides of the nut, in such a manner as to effect the same elastic
construction, as previously described, but in this case, the nuts are preferably
punched before, and tapped after being laminated.
A modification of my improved lock nut consists in making the lower portion of
the nut helically laminated. two or three threads at the bottom being removed, to
provide a clearing hole and allow the same action to take place as hereinbefore
described the nut is locked securely upon its bolt by a compression of the threads
between the laminae as in the preceding device.
.
It will be clearly seen that these improved Lock Nuts overcome all the objections
referred to above and accomplish their object, without introducing any separate
washers or other auxiliaries sometimes now employed, to imperfectly, effect a
similar purpose.
The above described nuts are cheap in construction, and readily made from Steel
or any other suitable material possessing elastic qualities.
Dated this Twenty Sounth day of hu1000

page_text: The nut shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 is adapted not only to serve as a lock nut but
also to take up any play. This end is, accomplished by forming a spring tongue c
integral with the lower portion of the nut the said tongue having a hole d
with sufficient clearance to pass freely over the bolt so that it is free to spring.
In the nut shown in Figure 10 the lower lamina of the nut is somewhat opened
prior to tapping so that when the nut is applied to a bolt the natural tendency of the
said plate to return to its normal position locks the nut upon the bolt a double
locking being effected when the nut is screwed home.
Instead of forming a plate
sometimes form one at the top, as shown in Figure 11. In this case I insert a pin e
in the lower part of the nut the head of which is upset as at f to prevent it from
becoming displaced. This pin projects somewhat below the lower face of the nut,
in such a manner that when the nut is screwed down the pine will be forced against
the lamina band so displace the same relatively to the other parts of the nut, as
herein before described.
at the bottom of the nut as herein before described I
It is to be understood that instead of running the thread through all the lamina
of the nuts shown in Figures 1 to 6 the lower lamine may have clearance holes
so that they will serve the same purpose as the tongues c only to a lesser
extent.
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 lock nut having one or more grooves or slots arranged so that when the
nut is screwed down the partially separated portions of the nut will be drawn together
and so cause the distortion of the thread in the nut and the consequent compression of
the thread on the bolt, substantially as described.
(2) The combination with a nut of the kind hereinbefore described, of a spring
tongue arranged to take up play, substantially as set forth..
(3) The modification of my invention wherein one part of the nut is moved
relatively to the other by means of a pin, substantially as and for the purpose,
described.
(4) The manufacture and use of lock nuts, either with or without spring tongues,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 24th day of November 1888.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.