Improvements in Lock-nut Washers.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1892-Accepted, '29th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lock-nut Washers.
I, PERCY ALBERT CRAVEN, of 9 Kings Road, Wimbledon, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my present invention is to provide a washer capable of effectually
locking any shaped nut that may be used in combination therewith, without the
need of any special provisions being made either in connection with the nut or the
bolt upon which the same is to be screwed, and also capable of permitting the nut
to be unscrewed when force is used without damage occurring to the said washer
or nut, thus enabling the said washer to be used again and again in connection
with the same or other nut.
I attain this by constructing a washer of suitable metal, preferably fine steel,
upon which, before tempering, I cut or otherwise form four or more circumferential
slits, which may be either centrally with the width of the metal, or slightly
removed therefrom in the direction of either the inner or outer periphery of the
washer, but preferably the former. In each of said slits, and preferably at right
angles thereto, I cut or otherwise provide a tapered division extending from said
slits to the nearest periphery of the washer, and the free ends of each pair of
tongues thus formed I separate in opposite directions, that is to say, one is bent
upwards and the other downwards, so that both faces of the washer has a like
number of tongues standing up therefrom, care being taken that the bending of said
tongues is in such direction, that each points in the direction in which the nut
would rotate upon the bolt when being screwed thereon, and a like care taken in
the tapered division of each pair of tongues, that the sharp or knife edge on
each, formed by such division, is that edge farthest from the washer when bent as
described. The washer may then be suitably tempered in the usual way.
From the foregoing description it will be understood that either face of the
washer may be used next the nut, and this when being screwed home impinges upon
the upturned tongues which being, as before stated, in the direction of the rotation
of the nut, the screwing home is not in any way impeded thereby, and as this is
perfected the protruding tongues on both sides are gradually forced inwards
towards the washer, those upon the one side by the nut, and those upon the opposite
side by the substance or material being bolted together.
The nut when home is prevented from returning spontaneously by reason of the
tension of the spring tongues, the knife edges whereof upon the slightest backward
movement of the nut, would cut into the softer substance thereof, and the wood
or other material being bolted together, simultaneously, but when leverage from a
spanner or other force, greater than that of any possible vibration is brought to
bear upon the nut, the same can be unscrewed without damage to itself or the.
washer, thus enabling the same washer to be used again and again with the same
or other nut.
Dated this 24th 1... of Tue 1000
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lock-nut Washers.
1, PERCY ALBERT CRAVEN, of 9 Kings Road, Wimbledon, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, 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 :-
The object of my present invention is to provide a washer capable of effectually
locking any shaped nut that may be used in combination therewith, without the
need of any special provisions being made in connection with the nut or the bolt
upon which the same is to be screwed, and also capable of permitting the nut to
be unscrewed, when force is used, without damage occurring to the said washer or
nut, thus enabling the said washer to be used again and again in connection with
the same or other nut.
For the purpose of rendering my said invention more clear reference may be
made to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of one type of my improved washer, and
Fig. 2 is a section of same upon the line A B Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view showing an alternative method of arranging the slits and
tongues therein.
Ο
Fig. 4 is a view showing the manner of employing said washer, to render more
clearly the way in which it operates in locking the nut and preventing the
spontaneous unscrewing of same.
Fig. 5 shows the angle at which prefer to cut or divide the tongues of the
washers that each may present a cutting edge to the nut or the material being
bolted together.
of
In carrying my invention into effect I construct of any suitable metal, preferably
fine steel, a washer A, in which, before tempering, I cut or otherwise form four
or more or less, circumferential slits a, extending through the substance thereof
from one face to the other. The said slits may be either centrally with the width
of the metal or slightly removed therefrom in the direction of the inner or outer
peripheries of the washer, but preferably centrally as at Fig. 1. In cach of said
slits a, and at right angles thereto, I cut or otherwise provide a division b, tapered
as at Fig. 5, and extending from said slits towards or from the centre of the
washer, accordingly as the spring tongues may be required upon the inner or outer
periphery thereof. In Fig. 1 I have shown three such slits a, the divisions
which are towards the centre of the washer, which form six tongues upon the inner
periphery thereof, the free ends of each pair of which I separate in opposite
directions, that is to say, the tongues marked c are bent upwards, while those
marked d are bent downwards, so that both sides of A has a like number of tongues
standing up therefrom, care being taken that the bending of said tongues must
always be in such a manner that each points in the direction in which the nut would
rotate upon the bolt when being screwed thereon, and a like care taken in the
tapered division of each pair of tongues that the sharp or knife edge on each
formed by such division is that edge farthest from the washer, when the tongue is
bent as described. This will be understood by reference to Fig. 5.
In Fig. 3 I show an alternative method of forming the said washer A.
In this
method I make six such circumferential slits, three marked a near the outer
periphery of A, and three marked a¹ near the inner periphery thereof, parallel
with each other. Three pairs of slits are thus formed, each pair of which I connect
by a cross, tapered slit, b, which practically leaves three pairs of tongues as in the
previous method, these being centrally of the width of A instead of near the inner
or outer periphery, and these I bend in precisely the same manner as before
described.
The view Fig. 2, although a section of Fig. 1, illustrates the manner in which

page_text: the tongues are bent in the method shewn by Fig. 3 equally with that shown by
Fig. 1, and in both methods, when the tongues are so bent the washer may be
suitably tempered in the usual way.
By the foregoing description and by reference to Fig. 4, it will be understood
that either face of the washer may be used next the nut B, and this when.
being screwed home impinges upon the upturned tongues next thereto, the knife
edges of which being as before stated in the direction of the rotation thereof, the
screwing home of the said nut is in no way impeded by the tongues (although an
even upward and downward thrust is imparted thereby), and as this is perfected
the protruding spring tongues on both side of the washer are gradually forced
inwardly, those upon the one side by the nut B, and those upon the opposite side
by the substance or material being bolted together.
The nut when screwed home is prevented from returning spontaneously by
reason of the tension of the spring tongues, the knife edges whereof upon the
slightest backward movement of B would cut into the substance thereof and the
material being bolted together simultaneously, but when leverage from a spanner
or other force greater than that of any possible vibration is brought to bear upon
the nut B, the same may be unscrewed without damage to itself or the washer,
thus enabling the same washer to be used again and again with the same or
other nut.
The said washers are equally adaptable for use in the bolting together of metallic
substances, as wood or other softer material, and are highly adapted to be employed
as lock washers in connection with the fish plates of railway metals, the tempering
of which would be considerably lower than that of the washers, consequently the
very high tension of the spring tongues would cause the knife edges thereof to
impinge upon, and incise alike both the fishplate and the nut, upon the slightest
backward movement of the latter arising from vibration, and furthermore the
said washer according to my invention does not need the combination therewith
of any specially designed nut, but may be employed with equal facility with any of
the types of nuts in general use having a smooth under surface, irrespective of the
shape thereof.
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 clnim is.
1st. In combination with any type of nut having a smooth under surface, the
construction and use of a locking washer A, having therein, centrally or thereabouts,
circumferential slits a, the metal upon either side of which is divided by a tapered
slit. b, whereby tongues c and d are formed, each pair of which are bent or curved
in opposite directions, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth, and
described and shewn by Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the appended drawings.
2nd. In combination with any type of nut having a smooth under surface, the
construction and use of a locking washer A, having thereon two or more pairs of
circumferential slits a and a', each pair being connected by a tapered slit b, whereby
central tongues c and d are formed, each pair of which are bent or curved in
opposite directions, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and
described and shewn by Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of September 1892.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.