Improved Means and Appliances for Preventing Bolt Nuts Working Loose.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th Sept, 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Appliances for Preventing Bolt Nuts Working
Loose.
We, WILLIAM JAMES WELCH, of 25 Wellington Street, Strand, Artist and
Engraver, and FREDERICK MARTEN HALE, of The Sphincter Hose and
Engineering Company Limited 9 Moorfields, Manager, both in the County of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improved means and appliances for preventing bolt
nuts working loose.
For the purpose of this invention, a long slot is made lengthwise in the threaded
end of a bolt, and a cottar, or flat pin, with a head is placed in the slot after the nut
is screwed home. The slot is of greater length than the outer face of the nut
has to travel, so that a portion of it always appears under the body of the nut.
The cottar heads for the fastening it is preferred should have a lip at one side, or
from each side, the depth of the lip or lips to be preferably of the same depth as
the distance between the bolt and outer edge of the nut, and the cottar may have
a projecting tailpiece from one side only to be knocked over into contact with a flat
face of the nut, or a set pin or screw may be inserted into the tail of the cottar to
prevent it working out of the slot.
The cottars may be of different sizes, and one can easily be selected for fitting
the exposed part of the slot, and the heads of the cottars may be square topped, or
be rounded, as desired.
Dated thin and Inn of T 1902
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said William James Welch, and Frederick Marten Hale.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Appliances for Preventing Bolt Nuts Working
Loose.
We, WILLIAM JAMES WELCH, of 25, Wellington Street, Strand, Artist and
Engraver, and FREDERICK MARTEN HALE, of The Sphincter Hose and
Engineering Company Limited, 9 Moorfields, Manager, both in the County of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
This invention relates to the screwed bolts and nuts ordinarily used by engineers
and others, and it has for its object improved means and appliances by which the
puts when screwed upon such bolts and tightened up, are prevented from working
loose or coming off, but are securely and tightly held in position, until it is
required to release the nuts, which is done by unscrewing them in the usual way.
In order to put the invention in operation a slot of sufficient length is made
through the threaded end of the bolt in the direction of the length of the latter,
and a cotter or flat key is inserted into the slot and driven down after the nut is
screwed home. The slot is made of such length that when the nut has been
screwed up to the furthest position which can be required, a part of the slot still
remains covered by the outer face or edge of the nut.
The cotter is made preferably slightly taper in width, and provided with a
projection at its larger end preferably of the same depth as the distance between

page_text: the bolt and outer edge of the nut. The cotter also has a tailpiece projecting from
its narrower end, on the side adjoining the nut, such tailpiece being hammered or
bent over into contact with one of the flat sides of the nut, so that the cotter is
absolutely prevented from coming out, or the nut from becoming unscrewed.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention.
Figure 1 shews a bolt with its nut screwed up, and the cotter fixed in its
place.
Figure 2 shews the bolt end and slot, the nut being indicated by dotted
lines, and
Figure 3 shews cotters of different widths.
a is an ordinary bolt and a nut screwed upon its end in the ordinary way.
e (Figure 2) is a slot made diametrically through the bolt, and of such length that
when the nut b has been screwed up to the furthest position required, the inner
end of the slot is still covered by the outer face of the nut (as indicated in
Figure 2).
In use. when the nut has been sufficiently tightened up upon the bolt, the cotter
or key d is inserted into the slot c and is driven tightly in until its inner edge
presses firmly against the outer face of the nut b. The narrow projecting end e of
the cotter d is then bent or hammered over against the side of the nut, as shewn
in Figure 1, and the nut is then firmly held and it cannot become loose nor can
the cotter d come out. When it is required to remove the nut, the end e of the
cotter is bent up or broken off, and the cotter driven out, and the nut 6 can then
be unscrewed.
In order to suit different positions of the nut upon the bolt, cotters of different
widths are provided as shewn at Figure 3, heads or projections of suitable shape
and size being formed at their upper or wider ends.
When it is required to fix the nut, after it has been screwed up on the bolt, a
cotter of suitable width is selected and is driven into the slot c, the projecting end e
being then turned over, as already described.
Or the cotter may be held in its place by a transverse pin or screw.
By this invention great facility is afforded for fixing screwed nuts upon
their bolts, whilst the devices described are simple, and easily and cheaply made
and used.
The invention may be applied to bolts of all kinds and sizes, and we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details or form and proportions of the several
parts, which may be varied more or less as may be found desirable to suit different
circumstances, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The combination with a screwed bolt a, and nut b, of the slot c the inner end
of which is always covered by the nut and the cotter or key d, fitting into the
slot c and holding the nut b, substantially in the manner described and illustrated.
2. In combination with a screwed bolt a, nut b, slot e the inner end of which is
always covered by the nut b, and cotter or key d, the tail piece e, which when
bent over prevents the cotter d from coming out, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 7th day of September 1893
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Patentees.