Improvement in Nut-looks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Nut-looks.
We WILLIAM PALMER SWEETLAND of 401 Hayes Street, Physician and
Surgeon, and CHAUNCEY BENJAMIN HUTCHINS of 712 Post Street, Physician
and Surgeon, all in the City and County of San Francisco State of California,
United States of America, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved means for securing nuts upon screw-
threaded bolts to prevent them from loosening and turning off by jar or other
action.
It consists in the employment of a soft, fibrous washer into which the nut is
imbedded as it is screwed down upon the bolt, so that the material of the washer
extends up and clasps the sides of the nut, the soft washer being afterwards
rendered rigid by a hardening material in which it is soaked, or which is applied
to it.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a view showing the application of the invention to bolts and nuts
which are used to hold the fish-plates by which railroad rails are connected
together.
Figure 2 is a sectional view through the web of the rail and the plates which
clasp its opposite sides showing the bolt with the sectional nut, metallic washer,
and the soft locking washer.
Figure 3 shows the nut, the metallic washer and the soft washer separated from
each other.
A is a screw-threaded bolt having a head upon one end, and a nut B is adapted
to screw upon the opposite end so that any perforated parts through which
the bolt is passed may be held firmly together by screwing the nut upon
the bolt.
When bolts and nuts are used to secure the fish-plates by which railroad rails
are united, or to secure the parts of vehicles, or any machinery which is subjected
to continual jar, the nuts are liable to gradually loosen and turn off from the bolt,
thus leaving the parts insecure.
The object of the present invention is to securely lock the nut in place when it
has been put upon the bolt.
In order to do this, we employ a washer C which is made of any soft fibrous
material, preferably of a felt which is soft enough to allow the nut to be imbedded
in it.
These washers are shown in the present case made circular having a central hole
through which the bolt passes. A metallic washer D is then placed over the bolt,
resting upon the felt washer. This metallic washer, which is circular, has a
diameter equal to the shortest diameter of the square nut, leaving the corners of
the nut projecting beyond the washer. The washer C is saturated with any
material which will stiffen and harden after being allowed to remain a short time.
(Some forms of paint, red lead, or other suitable substance may be employed for
this purpose.) The nut is then turned down forcing the metallic washer into the
soft body of the felt washer, and the nut itself also enters it, until the edges of the
soft washer project up on each side of the nut against which they press, as shown
plainly in Figures 1 and 2.
The material with which the washer is saturated or impregnated will soon set and
become hard, and it then locks the nut firmly in place upon the bolt and prevents
its turning or becoming loosened.

page_text: It will be manifest that the washers may be saturated with the hardening com-
pound just before they are used or it may be applied to them after the nut has been
turned into place as may be found more suitable.
These washers are made,to fit all sizes of bolts and nuts, such as are used upon
carriages or vehicles of any description, for railway rail joints, or for any machinery
where it is desirable to fix the nut and prevent its becoming loosened.
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:
J
The improvement in nut-locks consisting of a washer through which the bolt
passes, and upon which the nut is screwed down, said washer being made of larger
diameter than the nut and of soft fibrous material, and saturated with a paint or
solution which will set or harden, whereby the nut may be imbedded in the washer
and held in place by the subsequent hardening of the surrounding portions of the
washer substantially as described:1
Dated thi. Kifsked.of Airit. 1000