One-piece self-locking nut

A self-locking nut comprising:

• a main-nut body having (i) a front surface, (ii) an opposing back surface, (iii) an outer surface configured to be engaged by a tool to rotate the self-locking nut about a threaded bolt shaft thereby causing the main-nut body to move axially in a first direction towards an object, (iv) an interior threaded bore forming a plurality of turns of an internal thread therein, and (v) a recess in the front surface extending into the main-nut body;
• and
• a deformable-nut body having (i) a front surface configured to engage the object thereby limiting axial movement of the deformable-nut body, (ii) an opposing back surface, (iii) an outer surface, (iv) an interior threaded bore forming at least a portion of a turn of an internal thread therein, and (v) an outer flange, the outer flange of the deformable-nut body having a first elastic modulus and the rest of the deformable-nut body having a second elastic modulus that is greater than the first elastic modulus;
• wherein the outer flange of the deformable-nut body is attached to the front surface of the main-nut body such that a relief space is formed between a portion of the opposing back surface of the deformable-nut body and the recess, the relief space providing an area for the deformable-nut body to deform into during installation of the self-locking nut on the threaded bolt shaft.

A method of making a self-locking nut, the method comprising:

• providing a main-nut body having a recess leading into an interior threaded bore forming more than three turns of an internal thread therein;
• providing a deformable-nut body having an outer flange and an interior threaded bore forming less than three turns of an internal thread therein, the outer flange of the deformable-nut body having a first elastic modulus and the rest of the deformable-nut body having a second elastic modulus that is greater than the first elastic modulus;
• and
• fixing the outer flange of the deformable-nut body to the main-nut body such that a relief space is formed between the deformable-nut body and the recess.

A method of making a self-locking nut, the method comprising:

• providing a deformable-nut body having an outer flange and an interior bore, the outer flange of the deformable-nut body having a first elastic modulus and the rest of the deformable-nut body having a second elastic modulus that is greater than the first elastic modulus;
• providing a main-nut body having a recess leading into an interior bore;
• fixing the outer flange of the deformable-nut body to the main-nut body such that a relief space is formed between the deformable-nut body and the recess;
• tapping the interior bore of the deformable-nut body such that less than three turns of an internal thread are formed therein;
• and
• tapping the interior bore of the main-nut body such that more than three turns of an internal thread are formed therein.

A method of permanently locking a self-locking nut on a threaded bolt shaft of a bolt, the self-locking nut having a deformable-nut body fixed to a main-nut body such that a relief space is formed therebetween, the deformable-nut body including an outer flange and an interior threaded bore forming less than three turns of an internal thread therein, the outer flange having a first elastic modulus and the rest of the deformable-nut body having a second elastic modulus that is greater than the first elastic modulus, the main nut-body having a recess leading into an interior threaded bore forming more than three turns of an internal thread therein, the method comprising:

• positioning the threaded bolt shaft through an opening in an object such that a portion of the threaded bolt shaft protrudes from the opening;
• threading the self-locking nut onto the portion of the threaded bolt shaft protruding from the opening by rotating the self-locking nut in a first rotational direction, thereby causing the self-locking nut to move axially in a first direction towards a surface of the object;
• continuing to thread the self-locking nut onto the portion of the threaded bolt shaft such that a front surface of the deformable-nut body abuts the surface of the object;
• and
• with the front surface of the deformable-nut body abutting the surface of the object, applying a rotational torque, in the first rotational direction, to the self-locking nut to cause:
• (i) the main-nut body to move axially in the first direction, and
• (ii) the deformable-nut body to deform, thereby entering into the relief space formed between the deformable-nut body and the main-nut body, thereby locking the self-locking nut onto the threaded bolt shaft of the bolt.

A self-locking nut comprising:

• a main-nut body having a recess leading into an interior threaded bore forming x turns of an internal thread therein;
• and
• a deformable-nut body having an outer flange and an interior threaded bore forming y turns of an internal thread therein, the outer flange having a first elastic modulus and the rest of the deformable-nut body having a second elastic modulus that is greater than the first elastic modulus,
• wherein the outer flange of the deformable-nut body is fixed to the main-nut body such that a relief space is formed between the deformable-nut body and the recess, and wherein x is greater than y.