NEW OR IMPROVED MECHANISM FOR SECURING THE NUTS AS USED FOR FISH PLATES AS APPLIED TO RAILS ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Enoch Skinner, of Ranskill, in the Parish of Blyth, in
the County of Nottingham, Manufacturer of Tools, for the Invention of "NEW
OR IMPROVED MECHANISM FOR SECURING THE NUTS AS USED FOR FISH PLATES
AS APPLIED TO RAILS ON RAILWAYS."
Sealed the 6th November 1877, and dated the 11th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Enoch Skinner at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1877.
"6
ENOCH SKINNER, of Ranskill, in the Parish of Blyth, in the County,, of.
Nottingham, Manufacturer of Tools. NEW OR IMPROVED MECHANISM FOR
SECURING THE NUTS AS USED FOR FISH PLATES AS APPLIED TO RAILS ON
RAILWAYS."
The object of my Invention is to prevent nuts becoming loose when used on
railways for "fish, plates.". I propose to accomplish this object as follows:-
=
First. I make a long oblong link which is hinged on to a piece of (or sheet) flat
steel or iron, the opposite end of which, being turned up, answers for a catch for,
same. The plate has space made for the bolts to come through, and when it is
secured on with the nuts the long link or gate is shut and surrounds the nuts,.
thereby keeping them from working loose.
.
i
Second. With each outside nut I propose fastening on a plate, each with a square
hole through, so as to allow a small square bar to slide through them and by the
side of nuts, thereby securing them; the square bar has a little lift given to it, and
springs into a catch, which keeps it from getting out of place. .
Third. A small bar fits across the top of nuts; a spring or springs passing under-
neath of rail clasps it on fish plate.
Fourth. An eccentric bar is worked on side of nuts, which, on being turned, either
secures nuts or releases them.
Fifth. A plate to fit on with the nuts, at one end of which I centre on a bar,
which, when closed, passes on the side of nuts and fastens in spring catch of the
other end of plate.
Sixth. With a similar plate I get a centre for each nut on which a catch works,
and when placed at side of nut prevents it from turning.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Enoch Skinner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th November
1877.
ENOCH SKINNER, of Ranskill, in the Parish of Blyth, in the County of
Nottingham, Manufacturer of Tools. "NEW OR IMPROVED MECHANISM FOR
SECURING THE NUTS AS USED FOR FISH PLATES AS APPLIED TO RAILS ON
RAILWAYS."
1.2
The object of my Invention is to prevent nuts becoming loose when used on
railways for "fish plates." I propose to accomplish this object as follows:-
First. I make a long oblong link which is hinged on to a piece of (or sheet) flat
steel or iron, the opposite end of which being turned up answers as a catch for
same. The plate has space made for the bolts to come through, and when it is
secured on with the nuts the long link or gate is shut and surrounds the nuts,
thereby keeping them from working loose.
Second. With each outside nut I propose fastening on a plate, each with a square
hole through, so as to allow a small square bar to slide through them and by the
side of nuts, thereby securing them; the square bar has a little lift given to it, änd
springs into a catch, which keeps it from getting out of place.
Third. A small bar fits across the top of nuts; a spring or springs passing: under
neath of rail clasps it on fish plate.
Fourth. An eccentric bar is worked on side of nuts; which on being turned either
secures nuts or releases them.
Fifth. A plate to fit on with the nuts, at one end of which I centre on a bar, which,
when closed, passes on the side of nuts and fastens in spring catch of the other
plate.
Sixth. With a similar plate I get a centre for each nut on which a catch works;
and when placed at side of nut prevents it from turning.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 shows two views of one arrangement of mechanism for securing the
nuts of fish plates of railway rails, arranged in accordance with the first part of my
improvements; b is a long oblong link which is hinged on to a piece of sheet steel
or iron a at c. The opposite end of the part a is turned up at d and serves for a
cat h; thereby securing the long link in its position round the nuts.
The plate b
has holes formed through it for the bolts to pass through; when the link b is in
position the nuts cannot be turned round.
Figure 2 shows the second method of carrying out my improvements for securing
the nuts of fish plates; a, a, are plates which are placed on the outside bolts, so as
to act as washers; these plates are formed square on the under side of the nuts.
A square bar b slides through holes in the plates a, and by passing underneath the
nuts are secured by a catch or projection at c.
Figure 3 shows two views of the third method of carrying out my improvements
for securing the nuts of fish plates; b is a bar which passes along the tops of the
nuts, and a is a steel spring which is attached to the bar b, passing underneath the
rail, and clasping it on the opposite side. The spring a can be varied in shape to
suit any form of rail.
Figure 4 shows the fourth method of carrying out my improvements in securing
the nuts of fish plates; a, a, are plates fastened on the outside of bolts; the bar b
turns on joints or axes on the plates a, a, at c, c, and being excentric requires
turning to secure or release the nuts.
Figure 5 shows two views of the fifth method of carrying out my improvements;
a is a plate which fits into position with the four bolts; b is a bar centred at c on

page_text: the bar a. The opposite end of the plate a is turned up and serves for a catch for
the bar b, which has two turns to it at this end; the barb is strained sideways on
the joint c, and pressed on the spring catch f. The second turn at the end of the
bar b catches underneath the spring and prevents the bar b from rising, and it
cannot rise until pressed sideways again off the spring catch at f.
Figure 6 shows the sixth method of carrying out my improvements; a is a plate
secured in position with the four bolts, and b are flat pieces of metal moving on
centres at c, and when turned upwards the nuts will be free to turn.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I do not claim separately
any of the parts which are well known and in common use; but what I claim is.
the improved arrangements of mechanism for locking and securing the nuts of fish
plates as applied to rails on railways, substantially in the manner herein-before
described and represented by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Enoch Skinner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
ENOCH SKINNER. (L.S.)