US831449A - Nut-lock. - Google Patents

Description

PATBNTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

W.'E. LOUDEN.

NUT LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 20, 1906,

co., WA sr-rmamu, D. c.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NUT-LOCK- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed. February 20, 1906.' Serial No. 302,024.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. LOUDEN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Lisbon, in the county of Columbiana and State cross-section.

of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Nut- Lock, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to means for locking against movement the nuts employed in railroad-rail joints and the like.

The principal object is to provide a simple, novel, and effective structure which may be employed in connection with the ordinary rails and splice-bars or fish-plates, will effectively hold the nuts against accidental turning or loosening, and yet will permit the same to be removed and replaced by workmen if it is found desirable or expedient.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the nuts in section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the same. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view, of one of the nuts.

Similar reference-numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated the rails, as usual, comprise a base-flange 6, a tread or head flange 7, and a connecting-web 8. The fish-plates or splice-bars are designated 9, the same fitting against the opposite sides of the web and resting on the base-flange 6, but preferably terminating short of the head 7. Through the fish-plates and web are passed the usual bolts 10 each having a head 11 at one end and a threaded shank 12 at the other. On the threaded shanks are screwed nuts comprising outer heads 13, an ular in crosssection, and inner necks 14, also angular in The necks are considerably smaller than the heads and are arranged to abut against the outer face of the adjacent fish-plate or splice-bar, as shown.

For the purpose of holdingthe above-described nuts against accidental rotation a locking-plate 15 is employed, having a series of longitudinally-disposed keyhole-openings therethrough. Each keyhole-opening comprises an enlarged portion 16 and a contracted portion 17. The larger portions of the keyholes permit the passageof theheads 13 of the nuts, while the smaller portions are too small to permit such passage,said smaller portions, however, snugly receiving the necks 14 of the nuts, and when said necks are located therein they, and consequently the nuts, are held against rotation. This, it is thought, will be apparent by reference to Fig. 2. The locking-plate terminates short of the lower portion of the fish-plate or splice-bar, but is provided at its ends with outwardly-extending lugs 18, having their outer portions projecting beyond the fish-plates and base flange, the projecting portions being provided with openings 19. Holding-spikes 20, driven through the openings, are engaged in the ties beneath the same, and thus positively hold the locking-plate against longitudinal movement.

It will be apparent that the rail-joint may be formed in the ordinary manner, the only care necessary being that the necks of the nuts have certain of their opposite flat faces disposed in horizontal relation. After the bolts have been properly tightened the locking-plate is applied, the heads of the nuts being received through the enlarged portions thereof, after which the locking-plate is moved longitudinally so that the necks 14 are received in the contracted portion 17 of the openings. After being so placed the holding-spikes 20 are driven. It will be apparent that this structure constitutes an effective and positive lock that prevents the accidental loosening of the nuts from thejar and vibration of the passing trains. At the same time by removing the spikes 20 and the locking-plate said nuts may be operated in the ordinary manner, and none of the parts having been injured or defaced in any way they may be employed again Without difficulty.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

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

1. In a nut-lock, the combination with a rail and fish-plate, of a plurality of bolts passing through the rail and fish-plate, nuts threaded on the bolts, said nuts comprising outer heads and inner angular necks of less cross-sectional area than the heads, a singlepiece locking-plate that fits against the fishplate and has a series of longitudinally-disposed keyhole-openings therein, the larger portions of the openings permitting the passage of the nut-heads, the smaller portions snugly receiving said necks to prevent the turning of the nuts and being of less area than the heads, and spaced outstanding lugs carried by the lower portions of the ends of the locking-plate, and each having a holding spike-receiving opening, the lower edge of the locking-plate between the lugs being disposed over the base-flange of the rail.

2. In a nut-lock, the combination with a rail comprising a head-flange, a base-flange, and a connecting-Web, of a fish-plate bearing against the Web and having an outstanding lower portion that rests on the base-flange, said fish-plate terminating short of the headflan'ge, bolts passing through the rail and fishplates, nuts threaded on the bolts, sa'id nuts comprising outer heads and inner angular necks of less cross-sectional area than the heads, a locking-plate that engages against the fish-plate and has its upper margin fitted over said fish-plate and against the rail-web between the upper edge of the fish-plate and the head-flange of the rail, said locking-plate furthermore having a series of longitudinallydisposed keyholeopenings therein, the large portions of the openings permitting the passage of the nut-heads, the smaller portions snugly receiving the nut-necks to prevent their turning and being of less area than the heads, said locking-plate having spaced outstanding lugs that extend over and project beyond the outstanding portion of the fishplate, and means passing through the projecting portions of the lugs for securing the plate against longitudinal movement With respect to the nuts.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM E. LOUDEN.

Witnesses:

LODGE, RIDDLE, E. J. PIKE.

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