Secure locking hub system with fastener retaining device
OwnerAdam Priceinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking hub system for locking a wheel hub of a vehicle to an axle is provided. The system has a locking ring that may be moved between locked and unlocked configurations. When in the locked configuration, the hub is in a rotationally fixed position relative to the axle on which the hub is mounted. With the hub locked to the axle, the wheel will not rotate and the vehicle thus cannot be moved. When in the unlocked configuration, the hub can rotate freely about the axle, thereby allowing movement of the vehicle. The hub is fastened to the axle using a threaded nut. The threaded nut is retained on the axle by a nut retainer having inwardly facing tangs that are positioned within a groove around the axle.
Claims20
A locking hub system comprising:
- a hub coupled to an axle, wherein the axle has a splined section and has a threaded section having helical threads, wherein the splined section is disposed at a distal end of the axle, wherein the axle has a groove that extends around a circumference of the axle, wherein the groove is disposed in a position that is distal to the threaded section;
- a threaded nut having helical threads that are compatible with the threads on the axle;
- a locking ring configured to mate with the splined section of the axle in a locked configuration and to decouple from the splined section of the axle in an unlocked configuration, wherein the hub is rotationally fixed relative to the axle in the locked configuration and free to rotate about the axle in the unlocked configuration;
- and
- a nut retainer configured to limit rotation of the nut on the threaded section of the axle, wherein the nut retainer comprises an annular ring that defines a central opening, wherein the nut retainer further comprises a plurality of tangs extending inwardly from the annular ring into the central opening, and
- when the nut and the nut retainer are installed on the axle, an interior side of the annular ring is configured to contact the nut and a terminal end of each of the plurality of tangs is configured to be positioned within the groove.
A system comprising:
- an axle including a splined section and a threaded section having helical threads, wherein the splined section is disposed at a distal end of the axle, wherein the axle has a groove that extends around a circumference of the axle, wherein the groove is disposed in a position that is distal to the threaded section;
- a threaded nut having helical threads that are compatible with the threads on the axle;
- and
- a nut retainer configured to limit rotation of the nut on the threaded section of the axle, wherein the nut retainer comprises an annular ring that defines a central opening, wherein the nut retainer further comprises a plurality of tangs extending inwardly from the annular ring into the central opening, and
- when the nut and the nut retainer are installed on the axle, an interior side of the annular ring is configured to contact the nut and a terminal end of each of the plurality of tangs is configured to be positioned within the groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.