Improvements relating to Bolts and Means for Locking Nuts thereon.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Bolts and Means for Locking Nuts
thereon.
I, ANDREW GRAY, Gentleman, of Shortland Street, Auckland, in the Colony
of New Zealand, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS RELATING TO BOLTS AND MEANS FOR LOCKING NUTS THEREON and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists of certain improvements which are illustrated in the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show respectively plan view from above, side elevation, and
plan from below of a bolt and nut with spline preventing the nut from unscrewing.
Figures 4 and 5 show corresponding views to Figures 1 and 2 but with a
modification in the head of the spline.
Figures 6 and 7 show similar views to Figures 4 and 5 but with a modification in
the head of the bolt.
Figures 8 and 9 show corresponding views to Figures 1 and 2, but with a
modification of the groove or channel in which the spline is contained.
Figures 10 and 11 show the bolt and spline in transverse section showing also
shapes of groove.
Figures 12 and 13 are views of two forms of spline, one resembling a common
nail, the other a plain length of wire, metal or rod, one end of which may be bent
at right angles to the length before the spline is used.
Figure 14 shows a spline in modified form i.e. as a staple and
Figures 15 and 16 represent plan views of a bolt and nut from above and below
respectively, showing such a stapling spline locking the nut on the bolt.
Throughout these drawings A is the bolt, B its head, C a longitudinal groove in
the bolt passing from end to end through bolt head and worm, D an ordinary nut
in no way altered, and E a spline in common nail form of sufficient length to
extend from the head of the bolt along the channel and some distance beyond th
lower surface of the nut.
F is the head of the spline and G the point the mere bending up of which against
the nut locks the latter securely so that accidental unscrewing by reason of joltirg
or pressure is absolutely impossible.
1.
F Figures 4 and 5 shows a bent head to the spline which is a plain bar as in
Figure 13. In this form when the nut is locked both ends of the spline are bent
laterally. One bend,-either at the head of the bolt or at the nut end-must be
made after the nut is on but if desired both bends might then be made.
In Figures 6 and 7 the bolt head has also a transverse slot or groove B' to allow
the bent end of the spline to lie therein without projecting above the outer face of
the bolt head.
open channel
In Figures 8 and 9, the groove C in the bolt A does not retain the
form in the bolt head B, but continues in a straight line through such head as a
hole C. In this modification a headed spline as in Figure 12 is shown but a plain
one as in Figure 13 might be used.
In all the figures, it is immaterial whether the spline be inserted in its groove
before the nut is screwed home or afterwards.
When the spline in Figure 13 is put into place after the nut is on it is also
immaterial whether it is pushed through the groove from the end B or the end D.
When the staple spline E' is used, its head F2 sits on the bolt head B and its
point G are bent outwards pressing against the nut D. In this construction

page_text: there will be two longitudinal oppositely placed grooves C in the bolt both
extending as open channels to the top of the head B, or continued therethrough by
means of holes after the manner explained in reference to Figure 8.
The great value of this invention lies in its obvious simplicity, cheapness and
certainty, its applicability to all ordinary existing bolts and nuts, and the ease and
rapidity with which the nut can be unlocked and unscrewed when required,
and screwed on again and locked at will. These operations can be repeatedly
performed without doing the slightest injury to the threads and moreover, the lock
can be made to act at any position of the nut, so that any suitable degree of
tightness or looseness of nut may be had according to the use to which the nut and
bolt may be put. Instead of bending the part G or F1 straight as the case may
be to unlock the nut, the said part or the head F may be with ease cut off if
desired, and a new spline be used if the old one is then too short for re-use.
Devices called splines have been used before in nut locks, but not a plain rod
extending from the head of the bolt to the outer end of the nut, and lying in a
plain rectilineal channel which extends from end to end of the bolt and generally
as herein set forth. In this nut lock the elements which differentiate it from other
devices, are accompanied by obvious advantages.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In combination in a nut lock a bolt as A a longitudinal channel as C extending
from end to end thereof, a nut as D and a spline lying in said channel and locking
the nut substantially as set forth and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.
2. In combination in a nut lock a bolt as A a longitudinal channel as C a groove
in the bolt head as B' said groove meeting C, and a spline lying in said channel
said spline being bent at one end to lock a nut in the bolt, and having its other end
bent to lie in the said groove B' substantially as set forth and as illustrated by
means of Figures 6, 7 and 13.
3. In combination in a nut lock a bolt as A, a channel as C continued through
the head of the bolt in the form of a hole as shown in Figures 8 and 9 a nut as D
and a spline as E whereby the nut is locked on substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
4. In combination in a nut lock a bolt as A two oppositely placed longitudinal
channels therein, a nut as D and a staple spline as E for locking the nut
substantially as set forth and as illustrated in Figures 14 to 16.
Dated this 10th day of September 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.