IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR METHOD OF SECURING OR LOCKING SCREW BOLTS AND NUTS
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Bristow Hunt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th May
1870. A. communication from abroad by Robinson Rutter, of
Vallejo, Solano County, California, Civil Engineer.
I, BRISTOW HUNT, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR METHOD OF SECURING OR
LOCKING SCREW BOLTS AND NUTS," (a communication to me from abroad by
Robinson Rutter, of Vallejo, Solano County, California, Civil Engineer),
to be as follows :-
This Invention has been designed for the purpose of affording an
effectual means of securely locking or securing screw bolts and nuts
(in order to prevent the same from becoming or working loose) on fish
plates of rail joints or on or in connection with any kind of machinery
or elsewhere where bolts and nuts are employed and where oscillation or
vibration takes place.
The Invention is capable of several modifications, each being suitably.
adapted to the requirements or principle involved in each particular case -

page_text: The nut to be secured will rest upon a washer having on its side
nearest the nut a raised rim or beading, against which one or more sides
of the nut will bear, so that it will be prevented from turning or moving
except in conjunction with the washer. After the nut has been firmly
screwed up the washer beneath it is secured from turning or moving by
having parts of its outer surface or rim indented into grooves or hollow
places provided for the purpose in the parts to which it is related. If,
for instance, the bolt is to secure the "fish plates" of a rail joint there
will be a groove running longitudinally in the middle of the outside of
each "fish plate," into which groove the two opposite edges of the
washer will be indented. If the groove has not been provided in the
fish plates a "strap washer" (extending from one nut to the other)
is provided, having grooves or channels on its outer surface, into
which the edges of the outer washer can be indented. Since this " strap
washer "receives the two bolts it cannot turn, and if the outer washer
be indented into the grooves it will be held secure, the raised rim or
beading on the outer washer preventing the nut from turning or moving.
When the "strap washer" is applied to the heads of the bolts it will
only be necessary to supply a rim or beading on the strap on one or both
sides of the heads of the bolts to prevent them from turning or moving.
The second washer as used for the nut may be dispensed with. The
head of the bolt may set or rest in a cavity, the sides of which will
prevent it from turning or moving, or a washer may be employed, the
lower edge of which will extend to meet the projecting lower flange of
the rail, against which it will bear and be prevented from turning. In.
cases where common washers only are to be had the nut may be secured
by bending up the edge of the washer against it.
When the bolt is connected to wooden parts the following modified
arrangements will be adopted :-The outer washer may be similarly applied
as before, but it will be necessary to apply a second or inside washer
to rest against the woodwork; this will be prevented from turning by
little spike projections on its side which will be squeezed in the wood
when the bolt is screwed up or it may be fastened to the woodwork by
two or more wood screws. The face of this washer will be provided
with grooves or hollow places, into which will be indented the edges of
the outside washer which receives the nut or head of the bolt, as the case
may be, from turning by the rim or beading. Another way of securing
the outer washer is to provide a square-shaped boss for it to rest against

page_text: and bend the edges of the washer over the boss. In cases where it is
desirable that the bolt should have a slight lateral play without disturbing
either of the washers above mentioned the washers may have slightly
elongated holes, and the outer washer may have an annular projecting
fitting into a corresponding recess in the inside washer. The outside
washer may form part of the nut; it may also form part of the head of
the bolt. Or. instead of a washer being formed a lip or flange may
extend from one side of the nut or head of the bolt, which may be
indented or tamped into a groove or hollow place conveniently provided.
in the part to which it is connected, and thus all circular motion would
be prevented.