Today in Wheeling History: June 25--Harry C. Werner, inventor and Wheeling resident, awarded Patent No. 858,045 for his innovative nut-lock device (1907).
Harry C. Werner was a Wheeling, West Virginia inventor who received Patent No. 858,045 on June 25, 1907, for his innovative "nut-lock" device. Werner was identified as a citizen and resident of Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, when he filed his patent application on October 5, 1906. The patent represented a significant contribution to mechanical engineering during an era when Wheeling was emerging as a major industrial center in the upper Ohio Valley.
Werner's nut-lock invention was designed to prevent the retraction of nuts on their bolts through an ingenious system involving a bearing-nut with an inwardly-inclined recess containing a tapered key. The device featured innovative engineering that allowed nuts to be secured firmly while still permitting convenient removal when necessary. The key component had a longitudinally beveled inner edge that would cut into the bolt threads when pressure was applied, and a forwardly-beveled outer end that would engage with a jam-nut to create a secure locking mechanism.
According to newspaper reports from October 1906, Werner had also been granted a patent for an improved wire stretcher earlier that year, demonstrating his versatility as an inventor. The June 26, 1907 Wheeling Intelligencer also noted that Werner received a patent for "lock for set screws" in addition to his nut lock patent, indicating he was actively developing multiple mechanical innovations.
Werner's inventive work occurred during Wheeling's golden age of industry and innovation, when the city was known for its manufacturing prowess and attracted numerous inventors and entrepreneurs. His patents contributed to the broader technological advancement of the early 20th century, particularly in mechanical fastening systems that were crucial for industrial applications. The detailed technical specifications of his nut-lock patent reflect the high level of engineering sophistication that characterized Wheeling's industrial community during this period.
To learn more: Google Patents (https://tinyurl.com/yeynhh4e), Wheeling Daily Register (https://tinyurl.com/26bfpx8d), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/mv62wn43)
Photo credits: U.S. Patent Office
Harry C. Werner was a Wheeling, West Virginia inventor who received Patent No. 858,045 on June 25, 1907, for his innovative "nut-lock" device. Werner was identified as a citizen and resident of Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia, when he filed his patent application on October 5, 1906. The patent represented a significant contribution to mechanical engineering during an era when Wheeling was emerging as a major industrial center in the upper Ohio Valley.
Werner's nut-lock invention was designed to prevent the retraction of nuts on their bolts through an ingenious system involving a bearing-nut with an inwardly-inclined recess containing a tapered key. The device featured innovative engineering that allowed nuts to be secured firmly while still permitting convenient removal when necessary. The key component had a longitudinally beveled inner edge that would cut into the bolt threads when pressure was applied, and a forwardly-beveled outer end that would engage with a jam-nut to create a secure locking mechanism.
According to newspaper reports from October 1906, Werner had also been granted a patent for an improved wire stretcher earlier that year, demonstrating his versatility as an inventor. The June 26, 1907 Wheeling Intelligencer also noted that Werner received a patent for "lock for set screws" in addition to his nut lock patent, indicating he was actively developing multiple mechanical innovations.
Werner's inventive work occurred during Wheeling's golden age of industry and innovation, when the city was known for its manufacturing prowess and attracted numerous inventors and entrepreneurs. His patents contributed to the broader technological advancement of the early 20th century, particularly in mechanical fastening systems that were crucial for industrial applications. The detailed technical specifications of his nut-lock patent reflect the high level of engineering sophistication that characterized Wheeling's industrial community during this period.
To learn more: Google Patents (https://tinyurl.com/yeynhh4e), Wheeling Daily Register (https://tinyurl.com/26bfpx8d), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/mv62wn43)
Photo credits: U.S. Patent Office
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