US1849605A

US1849605A - Cotter pin

Info

Publication number: US1849605A
Application number: US512764A
Authority: US
Inventors: Le Grand G Whitlock
Original assignee: Sam Salmond & Son
Current assignee: Sam Salmond & Son
Priority date: 1931-02-02
Filing date: 1931-02-02
Publication date: 1932-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 1949-03-15

Description

March l5, 1932. LE GRAND G. wHlTLocK 1,849,605

COTTER PIN Filed Feb. 2. 1931 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES Persang OFFICE LE GRAND G. WEITLOCK, or BEIDGEPOET', CONNECTICUT, ASsiGNoE To SAM SALMOND a SON,v E HANOVER, MASSACHUSETTS, A PARTNERSHIP COTTER PIN Application med February 2, 1931.

shown. However, it will be understood that Y the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes such modiiications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: K

Fig.. 1 is a side elevational view showing the pin in normal or unapplied position;

Fig. 2 is a viewtaken at right angles to Fig. 1; v

Fig. 8 is an elevation of a bolt and castellated nut, partly broken away and in section and showing my improved cotter pin par- 25 tially inserted;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the pin in locking position;

Fig. 5 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. v1 but showing the lower end portion of the pin on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail tothe drawings, the pin, generally indicated at 10 is preferably formed from half ground wire bent upon itself intermediate its. ends to form an eye portion 11 and

arms

12 and 13 arranged with their iiat sides in opposed relation and further arranged in the plane of the eye. At its free end portion each of the arms. 12 and 13. is cut away or notched as at 14 whereby the same is provided with a locking shoulder 15 adjacent its end.

, In connection Ywith the notch 14 and shoulder 15 it is to be noted that the outer edges of the shoulders 15 are within the plane defined by the edges of the

respective arms

12 and 13, the arms, and as a. matter oit' fact the entire pin, being formed of a length of wire notched or cut away to provide the shoulserial No. 512,764'. l

ders 15. From this it will be understood that it is not necessary to use dies or swedging tools in the formation of the shoulders and that the pins including the shoulders may be easily and quickly manufactured in quantities.

As most clearlyshown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 the

arms

12 and 13 of the pin are bowed or oli-set in opposite directions as at 16 for substantially their entire length. Itis to be particularly noted that the bowed portions 16 of the arms, extend from the eye 11 to approxi mately the upper or inner ends of the notches 14, are otlset outof or at right angles to the plane of the eye 11. This is advantageous particularly when applying the pin to a castellated nut or the like as will later appear. l

Figs. 3 and 4 show a bolt 17 having an opening 18 therethrough and show a castellated nut 19 mounted on the bolt and hav-` ing radial slots or openings 20 as is usual. In

Fig. 3 my improved pin is shown in the ini 4 tial position occupied by it when inserted into one of the slots 2O of the nut 19 and the opening 18 through the bolt 17. From this and the other ligures it will be apparent that the lower or free end portions of the

arms

12 and 13 arenormally disposed in side by side or overlapping or registering relationship.

At their free ends the

arms

12 and 13 are somewhat reduced or rounded as at 21 and being in overlapping or side by side relationship a somewhat pointed cotter pin is provided. That is, the pin is somewhat pointed and the free ends of its arms are in registry when the pin is in normal or unapplied position. Therefore since the arms are not bowed at their lower end portions the pin may be readily inserted into its initial position as shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 4 the pin is shown in fully applied position. Owing to the bowing of the

arms

12 and 13 as at 16 it is necessary to force the pin 10 inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4. This is true since the outer edges ot the arms 12 and 13.I that is the outer edges of the bowed portions 16 of tie arms will engage against the sides of the hole 18 and slots 2O and the arms will be forced toward each other with the result that their ends will be spread apart as shown in Fig. 4.

Such action will dispose the shoulders 15 of the arm beyond the edges of the slots 2O occupied by the pin and thereby prevent casual displacement of the pin. Of course, the arms themselves frictionally engage the walls of the hole 18 and will, therefore, assist in maintaining the pin in place.

It will be noted that since the arms are bowed over a considerable portion of their length, approximately fifty per cent of their length, the bow is gradual and it will not therefore be diiiicult to insert the pin. A steady pressure is applied as by means of a pair of pliers or the like. In this connection it is to be noted that the flat sides of the arms overlap throughout the length of the arms thereby there is no danger of the edge portion of one arm catching against the edge portion of the other to prevent successful operation or insertion of the pin.

Further, the eye 11 being at right angles to the bowed portions of the arms, or the arms being bowed out of the plane of the eye, the pin may be so applied as to dispose the eye within one of the slots 2O of a castellat-ed nut for example. That is, the eye need not be disposed entirely beyond the edge of the nut but may be so disposed that the pin projects only at its shouldered ends whereby to lock the nut to the bolt. Also, the pin might be arranged to project but ashort distance at each of its ends.

Additionally, since it is the engagement of the bowed portions of the arms with the side walls of a slot or opening or the like that brings about a spreading of the free ends of the pin, the pin may be described as selflocking. In this connection, it will be noted that there is no occasion for the operator spreading the ends of the pin into locking position as by means of a screw driver or the like. it being understood that the simple act of inserting the pin through the opening spreads the end of the pin whereby to dispose the same in locking position. It should also be noted that the spreading of the ends of the pin is not a spring action but owing to the fact that the arms are bowed in opposite directions the bowed portions are forced toward each other with the result that their ends move across one another in opposite directions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A self locking Cotter pin formed of a length of half round wire bent upon itself to form a head and a pair of arms having their fiat sides facing each other, said arms bowed for a considerable portion of their length in the plane of their flat sides and out of the plane of the head but with their fiat sides remaining in over-lapping relationship, said arms notched in their respective outer edges adjacent their free ends but within the line defining their outer edge, said arms having their free ends rounded and having their free end portions in overlapping and registering relationship, and said free end portions adapted to slide one on the other into spread relationship on engagement of the bowed portions of the arms with the inner walls of an opening on insertion of the pin into an opening of less diameter than the distance between the outer edges of the bowed portions of the arms.

2. A self locking cotter pin formed of a length of half round wire bent upon itself to provide a head and a pair of arms having their fiat sides disposed one against the other, said arms bowed for a considerable portion of their length in the plane of their flat sides and out of the plane of the head, said arms notched in their respective outer edges adjacent their free ends to provide shoulders, said arms having their free ends rounded and having their free end portions in overlapping and registering relationship, and said free end portions adapted to slide one on the other into spread relationship on engagement of the bowed portions of the arms with the inner walls of an opening on insertion of the pin into an opening of less diameter than the distance between the outer edges of the bowed portions of the arms.

3. A self locking Cotter pin formed from a length of half round wire bent upon itself intermediate its ends to form a head and a pair of arms arranged with their fiat sides in engagement, said arms notched on their respective outer edges adjacent their free ends to provide locking shoulders, said arms bowed in opposite directions for a considerable portion of their length intermediate the head and their free end portions and in directions out of the plane of the head, and the outer edges of the bowed portions adapted to engage the walls of an opening when the pin is inserted into an opening whereby to slide the end portions of the arms one upon the other to spread them apart and dispose the shoulders beyond the edges of the opening.

4. A self locking Cotter pin formed from a length of wire bent upon itself to provide a head and a pair of arms, said arms notched in their respective outer edges adjacent their free ends but within the line deiining their outer edges whereby to provide a shoulder within said line, said arms having their free end portions arranged in registering overlapping relationship and having their portions intermediate the head and said free end portions bowed in opposite directions, and said bowed portions of the arms adapted on insertion of the pin into an opening to engage the side walls of the opening and be forced toward each other whereby their free end portions will be slid one across the other to dispose the shoulders beyond the edges of the opening.

5. A self looking cotter pin formed from a length of Wire bent upon itself to provide a head and a pair of arms, shoulders on said arms adjacent their free ends, said arms having their free end portions in registering overlapping relationship Whereby the pin may be easily inserted into an opening, and means whereby on the insertion of the pin into an opening the arms Will slide one on the other and their free end portions spread apart to dispose the shoulders beyond the edges of the opening.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 31st day of January, A. D., 1931.

LE GRAND G. WHITLOCK.