Improved Nut-lock.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application. 13th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1391-Accepted, 19th Sept., 189
Improved Nut-lock.
I, ERNST JOSEPH KOESTER of Harkorten, Westphalia, in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a washer for locking fish plate nuts for railway rails
which differs from any others as regards its durability and in respect of its capability
of being repeatedly employed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan, shewing at one end the nut-lock as
applied to a nut; and Figures 2 and 3 are sections through the two ends of the
nut-lock and fish plate.
The locking device consists of a pair of star-shaped washers connected together
by means of a strip preferably made in one therewith and provided with radial
tongues a corresponding in number with the sides of the nut. The latter are bent
as at a, in Figure 3, so that when the washer is laid against the fish plate it only
touches it at the bends (see Figure 3) so that in screwing up the nut the tongues
will be bent up, as shewn in Figure 2, in which position they will not impede the
rotation of the nut.
In order to lock the nut, the tongues a are bent by a few gentle blows of a
hammer into the position shewn in Figure 2 at a¹ whereby accidental unscrewing of
the nut is prevented. The employment of a special tool as shewn at e, Figure 2,
for turning up the tongues is therefore not necessary.
The broadened ends of the strip which serve as washers and carry the tongues a
may be in one with the connecting strip or be stamped out separately and rivetted
thereto. There may be any desired number of tongues, but it is unadvisable to
use more than five as owing to the bending of the tongues the washer is extremely
durable and may be repeatedly used and taken off again without affecting its
durability.
The special advantages of this improved nut lock are, therefore, its durability,
the case and rapidity with which it can be applied, and the security it offers against
the slacking of the nut. The troublesome turning up of the plate and liability of
damaging with the chisel as hitherto performed with this kind of nut-lock is
entirely obviated by means of the bends, and as already mentioned it is no longer
necessary to employ a mandrel over which to bend the tongues as they are simply
knocked up to their operative position by a few taps of the hammer. The bending
of the tongues at a sharp angle as hitherto, which is so detrimental to their
durability, is entirely obviated apart from the fact that the old form of washer
could seldom be used twice over.
Dated this 18th day of November 1890.
E. J. KOESTER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Nut-lock.
I, ERNST JOSEPH KOESTER of Harkorten, Westphalia, in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer, 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 a washer for locking fish plate nuts for railway rails
which differs from any others as regards its durability and in respect of its capability
of being repeatedly employed.
Reference is to be had to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification,
in which Figure 1 is a plan shewing at one end the nut lock as applied to a nut;
and Figures 2 and 3 are sections through the two ends of the nut lock and fish
plate.
The locking device consists of a pair of star-shaped washers connected together
by means of a strip preferably made in one therewith and provided with radial
The latter are bent
tongues a corresponding in number with the sides of the nut.
as at a in Figure 3, so that when the washer is laid against the fish plate d it only
touches it at the bends (see Figure 3) so that in screwing up the nut the tongues
will be bent up as shewn in Figure 2, in which position they will not impede the
rotation of the nut.
In order to lock the nut, the tongues a are bent, by a few gentle blows of a
hammer, into the position shewn in Figure 2 at a', whereby accidental unscrewing
of the nut is prevented. The employment of a special tool, as shewn at c Figure 2,
for turning up the tongues is therefore not necessary.
The broadened ends of the strip which serve as washers and carry the tongues a,
may be in one with the connecting strip or be stamped out separately and rivetted
thereto. There may be any desired number of tongues, but it is unadvisable to
use more than five as owing to the bending of the tongues the washer is extremely
durable and may be repeatedly used and taken off again without affecting its
durability.
The special advantages of this improved nut lock are, therefore, its durability,
the ease and rapidity with which it can be applied and the security it offers against
the slacking of the nut. The troublesome turning up of the plate and liability of
damaging with the chisel, as hitherto performed with this kind of nut-lock, is
entirely obviated by means of the bends and as already mentioned it is no longer
necessary to employ a mandrel over which to bend the tongues as they are simply
knocked up to their operative position by a few taps of the hammer. The bending
of the tongues at a sharp angle as hitherto, which is so detrimental to their
durability, is entirely obviated, apart from the fact that the old form of washer
could seldom be used twice over.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is;
The herein described improved nut-lock, consisting of washers with radial
tongues curved in the direction of their thickness so that when the nut-lock is
applied and the nut is screwed home the tongues are thereby caused to bend up
ready to be knocked up firmly against the sides of the nut whereby great security
and durability of the nut-lock is obtained.
Dated this 28th day of July 1091.
E. J. KOESTER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.