Improvements in Lock Washers.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lock Washers.
I MONROE PACKARD WILKINS of 46 Marion Street, New York, in the State
of New York, United States of America Machinist, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improvement in lock washers for use in connection
with a bolt or nut, for the purpose of preventing the unintentional loosening of
the nut.
The lock washer is well adapted for use in connection with a bolt for securing
the fish plates of a railway joint. Its use is not, however, limited to this particular
purpose, but it is well adapted to general use wherever it is required to lock a nut
upon a bolt.
The body of the washer is preferably formed as a split annular ring, and
substantially rectangular in cross section excepting at the end portions, where it is
split. For a short distance back from the ends, the said washer is spread laterally
beyond the plane of the face of the washer; preferably, but not necessarily, of
slightly tapered form in cross section, being narrow at its outer surface and wider
at its inner surface. The opposite sides of the said spread end portions are provided
with teeth, and preferably of the ratchet type, those upon one side of the washer
facing in one direction, and those on the opposite side of the washer facing in the
opposite direction. The number of teeth which I find it desirable to form is three
upon the opposite sides of each end, as this effectually prevents any liability of the
strain becoming sufficiently great upon any one of the teeth to break or turn it.
The number, of course, might be greater or less than three, as circumstances might
require.
The washer, when tempered, and free to assume its normal shape, has a winding
form, and when its spread portions are forced by the nut into engagement with the
plate, its tendency to resume its winding form will tend to hold the teeth upon the
opposite sides of the two ends in close contact with the face of the nut and the face
of the plate respectively. The opposite sides of the spread ends of the washer
will, when the nut is forced into contact therewith, embed themselves in the faces
of the nut and plate respectively. By this means, the nut becomes securely locked
to the plate, and any jar tending to loosen the nut, will have the effect, because of
the spring tension due to the wind in the washer, of embedding the teeth more
firmly in the faces of the nut and plate.
In manufacturing the washer, a strip of material of suitable length, rectangular
in cross section, having been formed, the ends may be shaped into the taper form
described, and the teeth formed thereon by compressing the metal at the ends within
suitable dies.
This structure admits of a material saving in the cost of manufacture, as [ am
enabled to use stock of ordinary form, and save the cost of special rolling.
While I have described the teeth as located at the end portions only, it is obvious
that other portions of the ring than the ends might be thrown out of the plane of
the side of the ring in toothed form.
Dated this 15th day of July 1891.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant..

page_text: Improvements in Lock Washers.
I MONROE PACKARD WILKINS of 46 Marion Street, New York in the State of
New York, United States of America, Machinist, 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:—
My invention relates to an improvement in lock washers for use in connection
with a bolt or nut, for the purpose of preventing the unintentional loosening of
the nut.
A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents the washer in position on a bolt, and engaged with the nut and
plate, as in use.
Fig. 2 is a view of the washer in side elevation.
Fig. 3 is a view of the same in edge elevation; and
Fig. 4 represents a vertical section of the washer, taken transversely thereof,
through the opening between the ends.
The lock washer is represented in the present instance in connection with a bolt
for securing the fish plates of a railway joint, a use to which it is well adapted.
Its use is not however limited to this particular purpose, but it is well adapted to
general use, wherever it is required to lock a nut upon a bolt.
A represents the web of a rail, and B represents the portions of the fish_plates
through which the retaining bolt C extends. The nut is represented by D, and
the screw-threaded end of the bolt with which the uut engages, is denoted by c.
E represents the body of the washer, preferably formed, as herein showii, as an
annular ring, split as at e, and substantially rectangular in cross section, excepting
at the end portions. For a short distance back from the ends, the said washer is
spread laterally beyond the plane of the face of the washer, preferably, but not
necessarily, of slightly tapered form in cross section, being narrow at its outer
surface e', and wider at its inner surface e³. The opposite sides of the said spread
end portions are provided with teeth e³ and e, preferably of the ratchet type, those
upon one side of the washer facing in one direction, and those on the opposite side
of the washer facing in the opposite direction. The number of teeth which I find
it desirable to form, is three upon the opposite sides of each end, as this effectually
prevents any liability of the strain becoming sufficiently great upon any one of the
teeth to break or turn it. The number, of course, might be greater or less than
three, as circumstances might require.
The washer, when tempered and free to assume its normal shape, has a winding
form, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and when its spread portions are forced by the
nut into engagement with the plate, its tendency to resume its winding form will
tend to hold the teeth upon the opposite sides of the two ends in close contact with
the face of the nut and the face of the plate respectively. The opposite sides of
the spread ends of the washer will, when the nut is forced into contact therewith,
embed themselves in the faces of the nut and plate respectively. By this means,
the nut becomes securely locked to the plate, and any jar tending to loosen the
nut, will have the effect, because of the spring tension due to the wind in the washer,
of embedding the teeth more firmly in the faces of the nut and plate.
In manufacturing the washer, a strip of material of suitable length, rectangular
in cross section, having been formed, the ends may be shaped into the taper form
described, and the teeth formed thereon, by compressing the metal at the ends
within suitable dies.
This method of manufacture admits of a material saving in the cost of manu-
facture, as I am enabled to use stock of ordinary form, and save the cost of special
rolling.

page_text: While I have shown the teeth located at the end portions only, it is obvious that
other portions of the ring than the ends might be thrown out of the plane of the
side of the ring in toothed form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The lock washer consisting of a split ring having a normally winding form,
and having its end portions spread laterally beyond the remaining body portion of
the ring, the said spread portions being extended a considerable distance from the
ends, and provided, on their opposite sides, with a series of ratchet teeth,
substantially as set forth.
2. The lock washer consisting of a split ring, the ends of the washer in proximity
to the point where the ring is split being spread laterally beyond the remaining
body portion of the ring, the said spread portions being extended a considerable
distance from the ends, and provided with sides oblique with respect to the faces of
the remaining body portion of the washer, said slanting sides being provided with
series of ratchet teeth, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 28th day of March 1892.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.