Fastener lock
AssigneeAirbus Operations GmbH
InventorsAndrew CARTER, Tony MARKS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly is provided for preventing the relative rotation of a fastener and a nut by way of a nut plate that engages with a drive feature of the nut and a fastener plate that engages with a drive feature of the fastener. The nut plate and fastener plate are secured together to prevent their relative rotation. A base plate is secured to a workpiece in which the nut and fastener are located that is further secured to the nut plate and the fastener plate to prevent the relative rotation of the fastener and nut with respect to the workpiece. The plates have locking members that extend away from the fastener and can be secured together e.g. by drilling and fastening.
Claims15
An assembly for preventing the relative rotation of a fastener and a nut, the assembly comprising a nut plate and fastener plate;
- wherein:
- the fastener comprises a head, a threaded tail and a fastener drive feature in the tail for rotating the fastener;
- the nut comprises a threaded hole in which the threaded tail of the fastener is engaged, and a nut drive feature for rotating the nut;
- the nut plate comprises a nut plate locking member configured to engage the fastener plate, and a nut drive feature engagement member coupled to the nut drive feature such that the nut cannot rotate relative to the nut plate;
- the fastener plate comprises a fastener plate locking member for engaging with the nut plate, and a fastener drive feature engagement member that is coupled to the fastener drive feature such that the fastener cannot rotate relative to the fastener plate;
- and
- the nut plate and fastener plate are coupled together via the nut plate locking member and fastener plate locking member such that the fastener and nut cannot rotate relative to each other.
A kit of parts for fitting to a fastener and nut to prevent unwanted rotation of the fastener and/or the nut, wherein the fastener comprises a head, a threaded tail and a fastener drive feature in the tail for rotating the fastener, the nut comprises a threaded hole in which the threaded tail of the fastener is engaged, and a nut drive feature for rotating the nut;
- the kit of parts comprising:
- a nut plate, comprising a nut plate locking member and a nut drive feature engagement member for coupling to the nut drive feature such that the nut cannot rotate relative to the nut plate;
- a fastener plate, comprising a fastener plate locking member, an arm and a fastener drive feature engagement member for coupling to the fastener drive feature such that the fastener cannot rotate relative to the fastener plate;
- and
- when the nut plate and fastener plate are installed on the nut and fastener respectively, the nut plate locking member and fastener plate locking member are positioned adjacent to each other for securing them together for preventing relative rotation of the nut plate and fastener plate such that relative rotation of the fastener and the nut are prevented.
A method for installing a first fastener and first nut in a first hole in a workpiece;
- the fastener comprising a head, a threaded tail and a fastener drive feature in the tail for rotating the fastener, the nut comprising a threaded hole for engaging with the threaded tail of the fastener and a nut drive feature for rotating the nut;
- the method being for preventing unwanted relative rotation between the first nut and the first fastener, the method comprising:
- inserting the fastener into the hole in the workpiece;
- securing the nut on the threaded tail of the fastener on the other side of the hole to the fastener head;
- providing a nut plate comprising a nut drive feature engagement member for engaging with the nut drive feature and a nut plate locking member,
- coupling the nut plate with the nut drive feature by way of the nut drive feature engagement member;
- providing a fastener plate comprising a fastener drive feature engagement member for engaging with the fastener drive feature and a fastener plate locking member;
- coupling the fastener plate with the fastener drive feature by way of the fastener drive feature engagement member such that the fastener plate locking member and nut plate fastener plate locking member are positioned adjacent to each other;
- and
- securing the nut plate and fastener plate together by way of the nut plate locking member and fastener plate locking member such that the fastener and nut can no longer rotate relative to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.