Improvements in Nut Locks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
Improvements in Nut Locks.
I, JAMES HAMILTON DRINKWATER, of Winchester, in the County of Dundas,
Province of Ontario, Canada, Road Master, 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 nut locks, and has for its object to provide a nut
lock which is adapted to lock a series of nuts with a fish-plate. A further object
is to provide a spring nut lock, which can be quickly and easily applied and
removed, which is reliable in operation, simple in construction, which will not
rattle or shake loose, and which can be manufactured at a moderate cost.
To these ends, the invention consists in a nut lock, constructed substantially
as hereinafter illustrated, described and defined in the appended claim.
Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate similar
parts,
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a rail joint, showing a plurality of nuts
locked by means of a nut lock constructed in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the improved nut lock detached.
In the drawings, A and A represent the meeting ends of two rails, upon which
is secured the fish-plate B, which may be of any ordinary or preferred con-
struction. Dare the bolts passing through the said rails and fish-plate, and
secured in place by means of the nuts D¹, whereby a firm strong joint is pro-
vided. The fish-plate is preferably provided with an inclined flange b, which
is provided with suitable openings through which are driven the spikes b'¹, by
means of which the fish-plate is firmly held in position. The inclined upper
surface of the fish-plate terminates slightly below the side faces of the nuts,
leaving a narrow space in which is inserted the body-portion of a spring lock
bar F.
The lock bar F is provided at its central portion with a loop f¹, and the
body-portion of the bar extends in opposite directions, on each side of said
loop, said extensions being straight and in the same horizontal plane as said
loop f, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.
The outer ends of the bar F are bent inwardly in the same plane as the
loop f', and the body portion of the lock bar F, and the extremities of the outer
ends of the body-portion are bent inwardly and slightly upwardly, forming the
engaging hook ends f. The loop f¹ extends a suitable distance from the body-
portion of the lock bar, and forms, not only the spring portion of the lock bar,
but also a handle, whereby the lock bar may be applied in its operative position.
In applying the lock bar, the nuts are turned until their lower faces lie in
the same horizontal plane, when the handle of the lock bar is grasped and one
of the hook ends is passed behind the fish-plate; the body-portion is then pressed
into the space between the nuts and the fish-plate and the other hook end is
snapped into position behind the other end of the fish-plate, and the loop or
handle is pressed firmly down upon the flange of the fish-plate. The upward
077

page_text: inclination of the hook ends of the lock, bar tends to retain the loop or handle
firmly in its position upon the flange of the fish-plate thus obviating all liability
of the lock-bar to rattle.
To release the lock bar it is only necessary to pry out one of the hook ends
from engagement with the fish-plate, in an obvious manner.
While I have herein shown a preferred form of carrying my invention into
effect, yet I do not desire to limit myself to such preferred details of construction,
but claim the right to use any and all modifications thereof which will serve to
carry into effects the objects to be attained by this invention in so far as such
modifications and changes may fall within the spirit and scope of my said in-
vention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
The combination with the abutting ends of two rails and a fish-plate secured
thereto by bolts and nuts, of a spring lock bar having a central loop forming
a spring and a handle, a body-portion adapted to rest beneath said nuts and
engage the lower faces thereof, and a hook formed upon each end of said body-
portion and adapted to engage the ends of said fish-plate, the loop, body-portion
and hook extending in the same plane and the extremities of said hooks being
inclined with respect to the said body-portion, substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.