Self locking set screw
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorMichael A. Tucchio
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A threaded, locking set screw with standard outer dimensions having a thred body, an expansion plug, and a retaining wedge. The threaded body has a tapered cavity at its bottom end. The expansion plug and retaining wedge are inserted into the cavity in the body. The base of the plug extends from the cavity, and the plug is held in place by a force fit between the wedge and a retaining slot in the body. When the set screw is tightened against a part, the plug is forced into the cavity. Because of a locking taper between the plug and the cavity, the plug exerts an outward force on the inner surface of the cavity causing the set screw body to expand radially, thus, locking the set screw in place.
Claims6
A self locking set screw comprising:
- a cylindrical, externally threaded body with top and bottom ends having a cavity therein at said bottom end thereof, said cavity having a truncated cone shape taper with the wide end of said cavity being at said bottom end of said body, and said body having at least two expansion slots therein to allow radial expansion of said body at said bottom end thereof, said expansion slots being parallel to the axis of said body;
- and
- an expansion plug made from an elastomeric material inserted in said body cavity, said expansion plug having a truncated cone shape with a larger base portion and a smaller top portion, said plug being tapered less than said body cavity taper to have a forcing taper fit between said plug and said body cavity, said base portion of said plug extending beyond said body cavity to cause said body to expand radially when axial pressure is exerted on said base portion of said plug by tightening said threaded body, thereby forcing said plug into said body cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.