Improvements in Nut Locks.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1892--Accepted, 16th Apr., 1892
COMI DEI SI MOITIATION.
Improvements in Nut Locks.
1, WILLIAM TIMMIS, of Wilkinsburg, in the County of Allegheny and State of
Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Mechanic, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner it is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :--
This invention relates to improvements in nut-locks.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved lock which is adapted to.
hold the nut and bolt against rotation; and it consists in the employment of a fish-
plate having a depression adjacent to the aperture through which the bolt passes,
said depression gradually increasing in depth from one end until it meets an
outwardly projecting portion adjacent to which is a recess as deep or deeper than
the deepest part of the depression; said fish-plate being adapted to be used with a
spring washer having oppositely projecting portions on its free ends, one end forming
a spring pawl which is adapted to engage with the ratchet teeth on the inner face
of the nut, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the:
claim.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved nut-lock constructed in accordance
with my invention, one of the nuts being shown locked in position ;
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the line - of Figure 1,
said view also showing the application of a tool employed for compressing the
spring washer so as to release the nut ;
Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the washer ;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the inner face of the nut; and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the construction of the base or fish-plate-
when applied to wooden surfaces.
A refers to the base or fish-plate, which is provided with an aperture a through
which the bolt is passed, said bolt being held against rotation by the head thereof.
lying in a recess in the fish-plate, or by providing the fish-plate with lugs and the
head with recesses to receive the same. The base plate A adjacent to the
aperture a is recessed or reamed out from a point indicated by 1, the said recess.
increasing in depth and width in the direction of the arrow until it reaches the lug
or outwardly projecting portion b, the side walls of which radiate from the-
aperture a. This recess, c, may be formed in the base plate when it is cast or
forged, and it will be noted that the projection has its face on the same plane as-
the face of the base plate. Between the commencement of the recess c and the
projection is formed a recess d, which is fully as deep or deeper than the deepest.
part of the recess c.
E designates a helical spring washer, the under-face e of which is inclined or
convex while the outer face is flat. The washer has a projection formed on one
end which extends inward and is adapted when the parts are organized to lie within.
the recess d. The opposite end of the washer has formed thereon a rigid pawl g
and beyond the same a straight portion ½, said straight portion being adapted to
project beyond the nut.
The nut F is provided with a ratchet face the inclined portion of each tooth.
terminating before it reaches the point thereof, so as to provide flat portions i which
will bear against the flat face of the spring washer.
In operation the bolt is passed through the objects it is desired to connect and
the headed end of the same held against rotation; the washer E, is then placed
over the bolt so that its ends will lie in the depression or recess d, and
it will be observed that as the end is of less width than the recess d said end will
have a slight play therein. The nut is now placed upon the bolt and screwed home,.

page_text: and the flat portions i thereof will bear upon the straight face of the washer while
the inclined face thereof will be forced into the depression c. When the nut has
been turned sufficiently the pawl will engage with the ratchet teeth and said nut
securely locked. When it is desired to remove the nut I employ a suitable tool,
preferably as shown in Fig. 2, the same consisting of a lever and hook, the end of
the lever being adapted to engage with the projecting portion of the washer and
compress the same to free the pawly adjacent thereto from the ratchet teeth of the
nut, and when this is done the nut can be turned.
One great advantage which accrues from providing a recess d of greater width
than the projecting portion is that the required degree of play is given to the
helical washer so that when it is compressed by the nut it can move so as to enter
the deep portion of the recess. It will also be noted that the shallow portion of the
depression will hold what may be termed the rigid end of the helical washer
securely and in a substantially fixed position, so that in some cases the projection f
and recess d may be dispensed with.
By providing the recess or depression c, which greatly increases in depth and
width adjacent to the aperture through which the bolt passes, and a helical washer
constructed as shown, one end of said washer will be held by the nut in positive.
engagement with the fish-plate while the other end is allowed a sufficient spring
movement to engage with the ratchet face of the nut, and when the parts are locked
together and it is desired to release the nut the spring end of the washer can be
depressed to spring the locking pawl out of engagement with the teeth of
the nut.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination in a nut-lock, of a base plate having an aperture through
which the bolt passes, a recess d, a projection adjacent thereto, an eccentric
depression commencing at one wall of the recess d and greatly increasing in depth
and width therefrom to the projection b of a spring washer having a flat outer
face and inclined inner faces, said washer being thickest at the portion adjacent to
the aperture therein, one end of the washer having a projection and a pawl on the
opposite end and face, a flat portion being formed on the face of the washer
adjacent to the pawl g, and a nut having a ratchet face, said nut being of less
diameter than the washer, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.
2. As an improved article of manufacture, a base plate for nut-locks having au
aperture a through which the bolt passes and an eccentric recess of greatly
increased depth surrounding the bolt aperture, said depression also increasing in
width from its commencement or narrowest point, for the purpose set forth.
3. In combination with a nut-lock, a spring washer constructed substantially as
shown, and provided with a flat outer face and projection or pawl g, and a beveled
or inclined inner face, a nut F having a ratchet face the teeth of which terminate
in flat portions, adapted for use with a base plate having a central aperture, a
recess and eccentric depression c, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination in a nut-lock, of a base plate A having an aperture through
which the bolt passes, a recess d, a projection 6 and a depression e the periphery of
which is eccentric with the aperture a, said depression increasing in depth from the
recess d to the projection, a helical spring washer E having a projecting portion f
and pawl g, and a nut having a ratchet face, the parts being organized substantially
as shown, and for the purpose set forth.
TX
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