Improvements in Locking Gear for Bolts and Nuts.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
Improvements in Locking Gear for Bolts and Nuts.
I, ARCHIBALD JOHN HOWARD Electrical Engineer of Euston Villa, Cheddon Road,
Taunton in the County of Somersetshire do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in so constructing spring washers and the nut or bolt
head as to make it practically impossible for the nut or bolt to become loosened by
vibration or otherwise..
This is effected by constructing a spring washer in either of the different forms
shown in (a) Figs. 1 and 2 (b) Figs. 3 and 4 (c) Fig. 5 in the drawings accom-
panying this specification and by constructing the nut or bolt head E with teeth for
the tip G of the spring washer to catch in, after the manner of a pawl on a ratchet
wheel, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 so that the nut or bolt head E cannot turn
back without turning the spring washer with it.
Now the spring washer is prevented from turning with the nut or bolt head by
constructing it in either of the following methods.
In the first method Figs. 1 and 2 the lug C of the spring washer slides into.a slot A
in the bolt.
In the second method Figs. 3 and 4 the object to be tightened F Fig. 3 has a hole
cut in it into which the lug B of the spring washer drops.
In the third method the spring washer has a flat D on its inside circumference to
fit a flat cut in the bolt Fig. 5.
It will be seen that although the nut or bolt could be easily tightened up it cannot
possibly run back on the thread and thus loosen itself.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1896.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locking Gear for Bolts and Nuts.
I, ARCHIBALD JOHN HOWARD, of Euston Villa, Cheddon Road, Taunton, in the
County of Somersetshire, Electrical Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in locking gear for bolts and nuts, which
consists of a bolt and nut, with a curved split spring washer keyed to a plate,
part of the said washer operating or engaging with a ratchet formed or cut in
the nut.
The object of my invention is to prevent a bolt and nut becoming loose by
vibration or otherwise.

page_text: And in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I now proceed to
describe the drawings thereof, of which one sheet was filed with the Provisional
Specification, reference being had to letters and figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1, is a view of the bolt, nut, plate and spring washer, with a slot cut in the
thread of the bolt.
Fig. 2, is a plan of the washer and nut.
Fig. 3, is a view of the bolt, nut and spring washer of an alternate shape.
Figs. 4, and 5, is a plan of the nut with the spring washer constructed in different
forms.
Fig. 6, is a view of the bolt, plate, washer and nut.
Fig. 7, is an enlarged detail of the hole and slit in the plate.
Fig. 8, is a side elevation of the split washer and key.
Fig. 9, is a front view of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10, is a back view of Fig. 8.
Fig. 11, is a view of the ratchet cut in the nut.
These improvements consist in so constructing spring washers and the nut or bolt
head as to make it practically impossible for the nut or bolt to become loosened by
vibration or otherwise.
This is effected by constructing a spring washer in either of the different forms
shown in firstly; Figs. 1, and 2, secondly; Figs. 3, and 4, thirdly; Fig. 5; and by
constructing the nut or bolt head E with teeth for the tip G of the spring washer to
cateh in, after the manner of the pawl on a ratchet wheel, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5, so that the nut or bolt head E cannot turn back without turning the spring
washer with it.
Now the spring washer is prevented from turning with the nut or bolt head by
constructing it in either of the following ways. In the first method Figs. 1, and 2,
the lug C of the spring washer slides into a slot A cut in the bolt.
In the second method Figs. 3, and 4, the object to be tightened F Fig. 3, has a
hole cut in it into which the lug B of the spring washer drops.
In the third method the spring washer has a flat D on its inside circumference to
fit a flat cut in the bolt Fig. 5.
It will be seen that although the nut or bolt could be easily tightened up it cannot
possibly run back on the thread and thus loosen itself.
In carrying my invention into practice I provide myself with a screwed bolt d
of any size and on the said bolt I place a plate a, the screwed end of the bolt
passing through the hole cut in a plate. At the back of the plate a I fit a split
spring washer e with a lug or key which engages with a slit c cut above the
hole in the aforesaid plate. On the inner face of the nut g I form or cut a
ratchet for the purpose of the end of the arm i of the split spring washer e
engaging with or between the teeth of the ratchet f as the nut is screwed home
on the bolt.
The split spring washer e is cut and stamped into shape, so as to form a projecting
lug or key on the end of the inner arm j, and between the inner arm and the
outer arm k I form a segmental division 1. The ends of each arm aforesaid
are slightly curved for the purpose of engaging with the plate and nut above
described.
The nut heing constructed with teeth permits the tip or end i of the outer arm of
the split spring washer e to catch in or lock between any two of the said teeth, after
the manner of the pawl on a ratchet-wheel. Above the ratchet face of the nut is a
circular seating m on which a part of the washer e rests when the bolt and nut is
tightened up.
This bolt may be used for fixing any apparatus together between the head n
and the plate a, also the plate a may be of any length with one or more holes band
slits c.
It will be seen that although the bolt and nut can be easily tightened up. the nut
cannot possibly run back on the thread and thus loosen itself.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In locking gear for bolts and nuts, the combination of the various parts
as described in the above specification and illustrated in Figs. 1, and 2, of the
drawings.
2. In locking gear for bolts and nuts, the combination of the various parts
as described in the above specification and illustrated in Figs. 3, and 4, of the
drawings.
3. In locking gear for bolts and nuts, the combination of the various parts as
described in the above specification and illustrated in Fig. 5, of the drawings.
4. In locking gear for bolts and nuts, the combination of the various parts as fully
described in the above specification for the purpose specified.
5. In locking gear for bolts and nuts, the combination of the split spring washer e
with the curved inner arm j having at its end a lug or key h, and the curved outer
arm k the end i of which locks in between the teeth of the nut, each arm being divided
by a segmental division 1, substantially as described.
6. In locking gear for bolts and nuts, the combination of the split spring washer
with its curved arms and the hole and slit in the plate, substantially as described for
the purpose specified.
7. In locking gear for bolts and nuts, a plate with any number of holes and slits,
substantially as illustrated in Fig. 7, of the above specification.
Dated this 15th day of May 1897.
J. P. BAYLY,
18 Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.