US756010A - Nut-lock. - Google Patents

Description

No. 756,010. PATENTBD MAR. 29, 1904. A. 0. FLETCHER.

NUT LOOK.

APPLICATION TILED OUT- 6, 1903..

N0 MODEL.

765W jweiaiwf W wag wi'ommeziez' g my Patented March 29, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

ADDISON G. FLETCHER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,010, dated March 29, 1904.

Application filed October 6,1903.

To all whom it Wmy concern:

Be it known that I, ADDISON C. FLETCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Nut-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to nut-locks; and the object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive article of this character which can be readily and easily applied and which in use effectually holds a nut from turning off its bolt. The last-mentioned term is employed in its generic sense to include equivalent devices, such as rods having threaded ends capable of receiving nuts. The nuts may be of any form, but in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, it is shown as being of the hexagonal kind.

The improved device includes a coiled body, which is adapted to tightly grip the threaded portion of a bolt at any convenient placesay at the outer end thereofthe coils of said body to secure it in place absolutely against endwise movement being fitted in the grooves of. the bolt. From the said bolt-gripping coiled body extends laterally one or more nutlocking projections, a novel form of which is hereinafter more particularly described. In the present instance there are two of these projections, which form continuations of the terminal helices or coils of said body and the working portions of which engage the nut at separated places, by reason of which each projection acts in opposition to the other to prevent unwinding or u'ncoiling of said body.

At the same time said projections preclude rotation of the nut.

The improved article in the present case presents an. integral structure and .being preferably made of wire can be readily manu factured in large quantities by machinery. Said device is of particular utility in connection with railways, in which use it is not necessary to change the structure of the rails, fishplates, bolts, or nuts.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a nut-lock involving my in- SerialNo. 175,990. (No model.)

its nut associated therewith. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Like characters refer to like par-ts in both figures.

The improved device includes in its makeup a coiled body, as 2, having one or more coils. In the adaptation of the device illustrated there are three coils. The diameter of the coiled body 2 is slightly less than that of the bolt to which it is to be applied,

the body being driven onto the threaded portion of the bolt, during which motion the same is slightly expanded, whereby when the said body has reached the limit of its inward movement its coils or helices will tightly grip the bolt and lie in the grooves between the threads thereof in order to prevent endwise movement of the said body.

The body 2 is made from spring-wire of a gage to suit the particular use to which the lock is put. f

The terminal coils or helices of the body 2 have lateral projections, designated, respectively, in a general way by 3 and l, the projection 3 being at the inner end of the body, while the projection 4 is at the outer end thereof. These projections are approximately of L form, and they are so shaped as to avoid the presence of sharp angles, which would materially weakenthe wire from which the lock is made. One branch of each projection extends in the direction of the length of the axis of the coiled body and is adapted to engage an outer face of a nut, as 5, applied to the bolt 6. It will be seen that the working portions or efiective branches of the projections, which are each denoted by 7 engage the nut at diametrically opposite sides thereof, so that upon the nut than would be the case were the said working portions of a single strand.

The inner branch of the outer projection 4 is of sinuous or serpentine form, thereby permitting a certain amount of universal flexibility of the same. are readily laterally flexible by reason of the several bends in the same, so that the working portions 7 thereof can be separated to receive a nut between them as the coiled body is driven home or toward the outer face of the nut 5. The nut 5 is applied to its bolt 6 in the usual manner, after which the coiled body 2 is applied to and is then driven along the bolt 6. When the working portions or branches 7 of the projections 3 and 4 strike the nut, the branches will yield outward, so as to permit the body to be advanced until it strikes the nut, at which time the said branches or working portions of the two projections will have straddled the nut, so as to firmly prevent turning of the same.

I prefer to make the hereinbefore-described nut-lock of spring-steel wire, thereby securing strength and at the same time a proper degree of lateral flexibility of the nut locking projections 3 and 4.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that my improved nut-lock includes a coiled bolt-gripping body, one or each terminal-coil of which is provided with a lateral substantially L-shaped projection, the outer branch of each projection, when two of the latter are employed, being arranged to engage the outer face of a nut. The inner branches of these projections are doubled or bent upon themselves to produce substantially U-shaped spring portions. By virtue of the spring portions of the inner branches of the projections the nut-lock as a whole can be readily applied, the working portions of the nut-locking projections as they engage the nut on the application of the lock being pressed slightly outward. When the lock is in its extreme inward or effective position, the working portions of the branches will be sprung inward instantly into tight gripping engagement with two faces of the nut by the automatic action of the U-shaped bends or spring portions of the L-shaped nut-locking branches. Therefore the two functions set forth can be obtained independently of the coiled bolt-gripping body and are important features. The outer branch of each projection 'is shaped to present a plurality of nut-engaging portions, which in the present case is secured by form- Both branches of course ing said outer branch into U shape, so as to obtain a wide bearing against an outer face of a nut.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A nut-lock including a coiled bolt-gripping body, a terminal coil of which has asubstantially L-shaped projection the outer branch of which is arranged to engage the outer face of a nut and the inner branch of which has a spring portion independent of the coiled bolt-gripping body, said spring portion serving to secure lateral resiliency of said projection.

2. A nut-lock including a coiled bolt-gripping body, a terminal coil of which has a substantially L-shaped nut-locking projection the outer branch of which is arranged to engage the outer face of a nut and the inner branch of which is doubled upon itself to present a spring portion.

3. A nut-lock including a coiled bolt-gripping body, the terminal coils of which have nut-locking projections of substantially L form, the outer branches of said projections being of approximately U shape and serving to engage the side faces of a nut, the inner branch of one of the projections being of sinuous or serpentine form.

4. A nut-lock including a coiled bolt-gripping body having lateral and substantially L- shaped nut-locking projections, the outer branch of each of which is arranged to engage the outer face of a nut and the inner branches of which have spring portions to secure lateral resiliency and a gripping action of the working portions of the branches against said nutfaces.

5. A nut-lock including a coiled bolt-gripping body, a terminal coil of which has a substantially L-shaped projection, the outer branch of which constitutes the working portion thereof and is shaped to present a plurality of nut-engaging portions, and the inner branch thereof having a spring portion independent of the coiled bolt-gripping body to secure lateral resiliency of the projection.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADDISON C. FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. REA, JAMES L. NORRIS.

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