An Improved Method of and Device for Locking Nuts on Bolts.
Year: 1898

page_text: An Improved Method of and Device for Locking Nuts on Bolts.
I, BENJAMIN FRANKLYN SPARR, of 19, Brixton Road, Brixton, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved means or method of and device for locking
nuts on their bolts and thus prevent them from working loose owing to vibration
or other causes and is particularly applicable for use in connection with the nuts
and bolts used with fish plates for rail joints.
The invention comprises broadly a means for filling or partially filling that
one of the threads of the bolt screw which is nearest the outer face of the nut by
means of a suitably shaped piece of wire or metal adapted to be anchored or fixed
to an adjacent bolt or the like.
One method of carrying my invention into practical effect whereby the nuts on
two adjacent bolts are securely locked is as follows:-After the nuts have been
screwed home a loop or link formed from sheet metal or wire of such a size or
length as to just pass over the threaded ends of the bolts is slipped on close up to
the faces of the nuts, the centre or middle portions of the loop or link lying
between the two bolts are then either drawn together or forced apart by any suit-
able form of tool so as to put a tension or strain on the loop or link causing the
ends thereof which encircle the bolts and which are so shaped or of such a cross
section as to be capable of freely entering and engaging the grooves or serew
threads of the said bolts to engage wholly or partially with one of the grooves or
threads thereon and so prevent any possibility of the nuts shaking loose or even
being turned. I prefer to keep the link or loop under this strain or tension by
uniting the two middle portions by means of a clip or the like, a convenient way
being to form the link or loop from a length of wire in such a way as to allow
of one or both the ends thereof being used as a clip to retain the loop or link in
its strained or tensioned position.
As a modification a wire or plate may be so shaped at its ends as to partially
embrace or engage one or more of the threads on the sides of the two bolts which
are nearest to one another and be kept in such position either by the natural elas-
ticity of the metal from which the clip is made or by the elasticity due to its shape
or form.
Instead of making the loop, link or clip embrace the threaded ends of the bolts
it may engage the sides of the nuts and so prevent them from becoming loose.
It will be understood that by slightly modifying the size or shape of the loop.
link or clip, three or more adjacent nuts on their respective bolts may be locked
and prevented from becoming loose.
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page_text: An Improved Method of and Device for Locking Nuts on Bolts.
I, BENJAMIN FRANKLYN SPARR, of 19, Brixton Road, Brixton, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what man-
ner the same is to be performed. to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
--
This invention relates to an improved means or method of and device for lock-
ing nuts on their bolts and thus prevent them from working loose owing to vibra-
tion or other causes and is particularly applicable for use in connection with the
nuts and bolts used with fish plates for rail joints.
The invention comprises broadly a means for filling or partially filling one or
more of the threads of the bolt screw which is or are nearest the outer face of the
nut by means of a suitably shaped piece of wire or metal adapted to be anchored
or fixed to an adjacent bolt or the like.
I will now particularly describe this invention making reference to the accom-
panying sheet of drawings in which
Figures 1 and 2 are views in front elevation of one form my nut locking device
may assume shown as applied to two bolts, in an open and locked position respec-
tively, and
Figure 3 is a view in plan.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
In carrying my invention into practical effect whereby the nuts on two adjacent
bolts are securely locked I proceed as follows:-After the nuts X have been
screwed home, a loop or link A formed of wire, preferably manufactured from a
hard bronze alloy, and with one or more complete coils or convolutions a on its
ends or bends of such a diameter and distance apart as to just pass over the
threaded ends of the bolts Y, is slipped on close up to the faces of the nuts X, the
centre or middle portions a¹, a¹, of the loop or link A lying between the two bolts
are then drawn together by any suitable form of tool so as to put a tension or
strain on the loop or link A causing the coils or convolutions a on the ends there-
of which encircle the bolts Y to contract or engage wholly or partially with one
or more of the grooves or threads thereon and so prevent any possibility of the
nuts X shaking loose or even being turned. The link or loop A is kept under this
strain or tension by so placing and bending the free ends of the wire forming the
link or loop that they can engage with each other and with the opposite side of the
link or loop at or near its centre as shown on the drawing.
Instead of putting a tension or strain on the loop or link by drawing its middle
portions a¹, a¹, together, they may be equally well forced apart, a suitable bridge
piece being interposed to keep them in such a position.
It will be understood that by slightly modifying the size or shape of the loop
or link three or more adjacent nuts may be equally well locked on their respective
bolts and in cases where it is only desired to lock one nut on its bolt the free ends
of the loop or link is anchored or held by a suitably placed stud or projection.
Although I have shown and described the link or loop as being formed of wire
and that of a circular cross section it will be apparent that it may be equally well
formed from sheet metal and have a square or other suitable cross section.
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\ An improved method of locking nuts on bolts consisting essentially of fill-

page_text: ing or partially filling one or more of the threads of the bolt screw which is or are
nearest the outer face of the nut by means of a suitably shaped piece of wire or
metal adapted to be anchored or fixed to an adjacent bolt or the like, as set forth.
(2) An improved device for locking nuts on bolts consisting essentially of a link
or loop adapted to engage one or more of the threads of two or more adjacent bolts
when under tension, as set forth.
(3) An improved device for locking a nut on a bolt consisting essentially of a
link or loop adapted to engage one or more of the threads on the bolt and a pro-
jection or stud adjacent thereto when under tension, as set forth.
(4) A device for locking nuts on bolts consisting of a length of wire bent into a
link or loop in such a manner that each of its ends or bends form one or more
complete coils or convolutions of such a diameter and distance apart as to just pass
over the threaded ends of two adjacent bolts and to engage with or partially fill
the threads thereon nearest the outer faces of the nuts when the coils are con-
tracted or reduced by tensioning or drawing together the middle portion of the link
or loop, such tension being maintained by so placing and bending the free ends
of the wire forming the link or loop that they engage with each other and with the
opposite side of the link or loop at or near its centre, as set forth.
(5) The improved method of and device for locking nuts on bolts substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown.
ted this day of May.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.