Fastener restraint assembly to prevent rotational loosening of mechanical fasteners, fastener and method
OwnerBern Caseinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An engagement fitting attaches to a rotational fastener, and is anchored to a point stationary relative to the fastener. A rotational coupling attaches the engagement fitting to an anchor member, allowing uni-directional rotation of said engagement fitting on the rotational fastener, relative to the anchor member, about the fastener axis, in a loosening direction of said rotational fastener, to prevent self-loosening of the fastener.
Claims9
A fastener restraint assembly comprising:
- a. an engagement fitting for receiving the shaft of rotational fastener, said rotational fastener comprising a head for turning said rotational fastener, and a shaft having an unthreaded portion, and a threaded portion extending along a fastener axis, said engagement fitting comprising a unidirectional roller clutch, said unidirectional roller clutch, having a surface for frictionally engaging said unthreaded portion of said shaft of said rotational fastener, when received by said engagement fitting, said;
- wherein said rotational fastener is affixed to a substrate and said engagement fitting lies between said head of said rotational fastener and said substrate;
- b. an anchor member, attachable to a stationary point that is stationary relative to said fastener;
- wherein said engagement fitting is connected to said anchor member, to allow uni-directional rotation of said rotational fastener about said fastener axis, to allow rotational tightening of said rotational fastener by turning said head, and to prevent rotation of said rotational fastener in the loosening direction of said fastener as said anchor member is being aligned and attached to said stationary point.
A fastener restraint assembly for restraining a rotational fastener attachable to a substrate, said rotational fastener having a head to apply an external tightening torque, and a smooth shaft portion, said fastener restraint assembly comprising:
- a housing retaining a rotational coupling, said rotational coupling comprising an inner surface, wherein said inner surface of said rotational coupling frictionally engages said smooth shaft portion wherein said rotational fastener is affixed to a substrate and said engagement fitting lies between said head of said rotational fastener and said substrate;
- an anchor member, attachable to a point that is stationary relative to said rotational fastener and attachable to said housing, said anchor member preventing rotation of said housing relative to said anchor member once attached to said housing;
- said rotational coupling mounted within said housing to allow uni-directional rotation of said rotational coupling in said housing about said fastener axis, to allow rotational tightening of said rotational fastener, and to prevent rotational loosening of said rotational fastener as said anchor member is being attached to said housing.
A fastener restraint assembly comprising:
- a. a first roller clutch mounted in a first housing, said first roller clutch having a surface for receiving a smooth shaft portion of a first rotational fastener for frictionally engaging said smooth shaft portion of said first rotational fastener to allow uni-directional rotation of said first rotational fastener relative to said first housing;
- b. a second roller clutch mounted in a second housing, said second roller clutch having a surface for receiving a smooth shaft portion of a second rotational fastener for frictionally engaging said smooth shaft portion of said second rotational fastener to allow uni-directional rotation of said second rotational fastener relative to said second housing;
- c. a stiff rod;
- wherein said first and second housings may be rotated relative to said first and second fasteners, without loosening said first and second fasteners to allow of said first and second housings by way of said stiff rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.