IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR METHOD OF SECURING OR LOCKING SCREW BOLTS AND NUTS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's
Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR METHOD OF SECURING OR LOCKING SCREW
BOLTS AND NUTS."-A communication from abroad by Robinson
Rutter, of Vallejo Solano County, California, Civil Engineer.
Sealed the 2nd May 1871, and dated the 9th November 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bristow Hunt at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th November 1870.
I, BRISTOW HUNT, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR METHOD OF SECURING
OR LOCKING SCREW BOLTS AND NUTS," (a communication to me from
abroad by Robinson Rutter, of Vallejo Solano County, California, Civil
Engineer), to be as follows:-
This Invention has been designed for the purpose of affording an
effectual means of securely locking or securing screw bolts and nuts (in
"

page_text: order to prevent the same from becoming or working loose) on fish
plates of rail joints, or on or in connection with any kind of machinery,
or elsewhere where bolts and nuts are employed and where oscillation or
vibration takes place.
The Invention is capable of several modifications, each being suitably
adapted to the requirements or principle involved in each particular
case.
The nut to be secured will rest upon a washer having on its side
nearest the nut a raised rim or beading, against which one or more sides
of the nut will bear, so that it will be prevented from turning or moving
except in conjunction with the washer.
After the nut has been firmly screwed up the washer beneath it is
secured from turning or moving by having parts of its outer surface or
rim indented into grooves or hollow places provided for the purpose in
the parts to which it is related. If, for instance, the bolt is to secure
the "fish plates" of a rail joint (such fish plates being fluted faced),
there will be a groove running longitudinally in the middle of the
outside of the "fish plate," into which groove the two opposite edges
of the washer will be indented.
If the groove has not been provided in the fish plate a "strap washer"
(extending from one nut to the other is provided having grooves or
channels in its outer surface, into which the edges of the outer washer
can be indented. Since this "strap washer" receives the two bolts it
cannot turn, and if the outer washer be indented into the grooves it
will be held secure, the raised rim or beading on the outer washer
preventing the nut from turning or moving. When the "strap washer"
is applied to the heads of the bolts, it will be only necessary to supply
a rim or beading on the strap on one or both sides of the heads of the
bolts to prevent them from turning or moving. The second washer as
used for the nut may be dispensed with. The head of the bolt may set
or rest in a cavity, the sides of which will prevent it from turning.or
moving, or a washer may be employed the lower edge of which will
extend to meet the projecting lower flange of the rail, against which it
will bear and be prevented from turning.
In cases where common washers only are to be had the nut. may be
secured by bending up the edge of the washer against it.
When the bolt is connected to wooden parts the following modified
arrangements will be adopted:-The outer washer may be similarly

page_text: applied as before, but it will be necessary to supply a second or inside
washer to rest against the woodwork; this will be prevented from
turning by little spike projections on its side, which will be squeezed
into the wood when the bolt is screwed up, or it may be fastened to the
woodwork by two or more wood screws. The face of this washer will
be provided with grooves or hollow places, into which will be indented
the edges of the outside washer, which secures the nut or head of the
bolt, as the case may be, from turning by the rim or beading.
Another way of securing the outer washer is to provide a square-
shaped boss for it to rest against, and bend the edges of the washer over
the boss.
In cases where it is desirable that the bolt should have a slight lateral
play without disturbing either of the washers above mentioned, the
washers may have slightly elongated holes, and the outer washer may
have an annular projection fitting into a corresponding recess in the
inside washer. The outside washer may form part of the nut; it may
also form part of the head of the bolt, or instead of a washer being
formed a lip or flange may extend from one side of the nut or head of
the bolt, which may be indented or tamped into a groove or hollow
place conveniently provided in the part to which it is connected, and
thus all circular motion would be prevented.
'
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
•
filed by the said Bristow Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th May 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BRISTOW
HUNT, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letter's Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Bristow Hunt, Her special licence that I,
the said Bristow Hunt, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Bristow Hunt, my executors, administrators,

page_text: and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR
METHOD OF SECURING OR LOCKING SCREW BOLTS AND NUTS," (a communication
to me from abroad by Robinson Rutter, of Vallejo, Solano County,
California, Civil Engineer), upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Bristow Hunt, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Bristow Hunt, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement in writing, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings, that is to say:―
This Invention has been designed for the purpose of affording an
effectual means of securely locking or securing screw bolts and nuts,
(in order to prevent the same from becoming or working loose) on
"fish
plates" of rail joints, or on or in connection with any kind of machinery,
or elsewhere where bolts and nuts are employed, and where oscillation
or vibration takes place.
The Invention (as applied to any of these purposes) is capable of
several modifications, each being suitably adapted to the requirements
or principle involved in each particular case; therefore as a suitable
illustration the Invention will herein-after be described as applied to
the "fish plates" of a rail joint, and this will be readily understood
on reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and
to the following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
According to one modification (illustrated in Figures 1), the nut to
be screwed rests upon a washer a, having on its side nearest to the nut
a raised rim or beading y, y, (see also 4, 4, Figures 2), against which
one or more sides of the nut (or bolt head) bear, so that it is prevented
from turning or moving except in conjunction with the washer.

page_text: .
In order after the nut has been firmly screwed up to prevent the same,
(or the bolt head as herein-after described) from turning or again
becoming loose, the washer beneath it has parts of its outer surface or
rim indented into suitable grooves or hollow places (provided for the
purpose) in the parts to which it is related. If, for instance, the bolt
is to secure the "fish plates" of a rail joint, there is provided a groove b,
running longitudinally in the middle of the outside of the "fish plate,"
into which groove the opposite edges x, x, of the washer a are indented,
and by this means the nut (or bolt head) is effectually held.
A second modification is as follows:-If the groove has not been
provided in the fish plate, a "strap washer" c, Figures 2, is provided
which extends from one nut to the other, and this is provided with
suitable groove or channels c' on parts of its outer surface, into which
the edges of the outer washer a are indented. Since this "strap washer"
receives the two bolts it cannot turn, and when the outer washer a is
indented into the grooves c¹, as shown at 1, Figures 2, it will be held
secure, the raised rim or beading y, y, on the outer washer preventing
the nut from turning or moving. When the "strap washer " c is applied
to the head of a bolt, as shown at 2, Figures 2, it is only necessary to
supply a rim or beading z, z, on parts of the strap, on one or more sides
of the head of the bolt to prevent it from turning or moving, and the
second washer a, as used for securing the nut, is thereby dispensed with;
or instead of this the washer a. may be made as shown at 3, Figures 2,
and after the nut has been screwed up the projecting parts v, v, of the
washers are bent over the "fish plates as shewn at u, u, and by turning
secured, and by having a rim or
"
up the edge of one washer the nut is
beading on the other the bolt head is held; or they may both be secured
alike in either way: Or the head of the bolt may set or rest in a cavity s
in the fish plate (or other part to which it is related), see Figures 1, and
also 4, 4, Figures 3, the sides of which will prevent it from turning
or moving, or a washer d, Figures 5, may be employed, the lower edge d
of which will extend to meet the projecting lower flange of the rail,
against which it will bear, and so be prevented from turning.
In cases where common washers only are to be had, the nut or head
of the bolt may be secured by bending up the edge of the washer.
against it, as shewn at e, Figures 1, and also at 3, Figures 2.
When the bolt is connected to wooden parts, the following modified
arrangements are adopted, and which are illustrated in Figures 4. The
:

page_text: Couter washer a is similarly applied as before, but it becomes necessary
to supply a second or inside washer ƒ which rests against the woodwork,
and this is prevented from turning by little spike projections 9, 9, on
its under side, which are squeezed into the wood when the nut is
screwed up, or it may be previously fastened to the woodwork by two
or more wood screws h, h. The face of this washer fis provided with
grooves or hollow places i, into which the edges of the outside washer a
are indented, and which secures the nut or head of the bolt, as the case
may be, from turning by the rim or beading y, Y.
Another way of securing the outer washer is to provide a square
shaped boss, which is cast on the fish plate for it to rest against, and
when the nut is screwed up to bend the edges of the outer washer over
the boss. This boss is represented as applied to a "fish plate" at 1, 1,
Figures 3. At 2, 2, this projection is made circular, and provided with
grooves, and as before mentioned the edges of the outer washer a are
tamped therein. At 3, 3, it is shown as a rim y, y, on the "fish plate"
to hold the head of the bolt, and at 4, 4, as a cavity 8 (in the "fish
plate") in, which the bolt head rests.
In cases where it is desirable that the bolt should have a slight lateral
play without disturbing either of the washers above mentioned, the
washers and "fish plates" have slightly clongated holes, as shown
at k, k, l, k, l, Figures 3 and 5, and the outer washer may have an annular
projection fitting into a corresponding recess in the inner washer.
This is illustrated at 1, 1, Figures 4, and as applied to the "strap
washer" at m, m, Figures 5. o, o, here represent the outer washer for
securing the nut or bolt head. Or the outside washer may form part
of the nut as at n, n, Figures 4; it may also form part of the head of
the bolt; or instead of a washer being formed a lip or flange may extend
from one side of the nut or head of the bolt, which may be indented
or tamped into a groove or hollow place conveniently provided in the 3
part to which it is connected, and thus all circular motion or tendency
to become loose of the nut or bolt would be prevented.
"
All the materials relating to this Invention, that is, tlic "fish
plates," lock straps," and lipped washers are made according to the
malleableized" process, cast and annealed afterwards to such a state 3
of softness as will cause the fastenings to bend and endure indenting,
tamping, and hammering into the hollows or flutes of the "fish plates,"
"lock straps," and inside washers.

page_text: 66
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention for
'Improvements in the Means or Method of Securing or Locking Screw
Bolts and Nuts," together with the manner in which the same is to be
or may be performed or carried into practical effect, I would remark
in conclusion that I claim, as the Invention communicated to me from
abroad by Robinson Rutter, of Vallejo Solano County, California, Civil
Engineer, the various modes or means of securing or locking screw bolts
and nuts for the purposes previously mentioned, substantially as herein-
before described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, or any mere variation or modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hercunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.