Fastener/shaft locking and adjustment apparatus

A positive locking nut adapted to be axially received on and to be removably fixed along the length of an elongated element having a channel along the length thereof, comprising:

• a first generally cylindrical body member having an axially extending passage extending therethrough for receiving said element, said first body member having a key member extending into said passage which is engaged in the channel of the elongated element such that said first body member does not rotate with respect to said elongated element;
• a second generally cylindrical body member surrounding said first cylindrical body member and defining a space therebetween;
• a third cylindrical body member attached to said second body member so that said second and third body members are rotatable about said elongated element;
• and
• means for precisely positioning the locking nut along said elongated element by precisely defining the angular rotation of said second and third body members with respect to said elongated element.

A positive locking nut adapted to be axially received on and to be removably fixed along the length of an elongated element having a channel along the length thereof, comprising:

• a locking spline having an axially extending passage extending therethrough for receiving said element, said locking spline having a key member extending into said passage which is engaged in the channel of the elongated element such that said locking spline does not rotate with respect to said elongated element, said locking spline further including a first gear along an end flange thereof;
• an outer knurled cylinder surrounding said locking spline and defining a space therebetween;
• a rotatable spline attached to said outer knurled cylinder so that said outer knurled cylinder and said rotatable spline are rotatable about said elongated element, said rotatable spline having a second gear capable of meshing engagement with said first gear wherein said rotatable spline is movable between an engaged position, wherein said second gear is in meshing engagement with said first gear so that the locking nut is locked in its desired position along the elongated element, and a disengaged position, wherein said second gear is disengaged from said first gear so that said outer knurled cylinder and said rotatable spline can be rotated with respect to the elongated element and the position of the locking nut can be adjusted along the elongated element;
• and
• a return spring provided in said space surrounding said locking spline for normally biasing said outer knurled cylinder in a locked position so that said first and second gears are normally biased in said engaged position to lock the locking nut along the elongated element.

A fastener/shaft locking and adjustment apparatus comprising:

• a threaded elongated element having a channel along the length thereof;
• a positive locking nut adapted to be axially received on and removably fixed along the length of said elongated element, the positive locking nut comprising:
• a first generally cylindrical body member having an axially extending passage extending therethrough for receiving said element, said first body member having a key member extending into said passage which is engaged in the channel of the elongated element such that said first body member does not rotate with respect to said elongated element;
• said first body member further including a first gear along an end flange thereof;
• a second generally cylindrical body member surrounding said first cylindrical body member and defining a space therebetween wherein said second body member is in the form of a spring-loaded outer knurled cylinder;
• a third cylindrical body member attached to said second body member so that said second and third body members are rotatable about said elongated element, said third body member having a second gear capable of meshing engagement with said first gear wherein said third body member is movable between an engaged position, wherein said second gear is in meshing engagement with said first gear so that the locking nut is locked in its desired position along the elongated element, and a disengaged position, wherein said second gear is disengaged from said first gear so that the second and third body members can be rotated with respect to the elongated element and the position of the locking nut can be adjusted along the elongated element;
• and
• means for biasing provided in said space surrounding said first body member for normally biasing said second body member in a locked position wherein said first and second gears are in said engaged position.

A fastener/shaft locking adjustment apparatus comprising:

• a threaded elongated element having a channel formed along the length thereof;
• a positive locking nut adapted to be axially received on and removably fixed along the length of the elongated element, said positive locking nut comprising:
• a first generally cylindrical body member having an axially extending passage extending therethrough for receiving said element, said first body member having a key member extending into said passage which is engaged in the channel of the elongated element such that said first body member does not rotate with respect to said elongated element;
• a second generally cylindrical body member surrounding said first cylindrical body member and defining a space therebetween;
• a third cylindrical body member attached to said second body member so that said second and third body members are rotatable about said elongated element;
• and
• means for precisely positioning the locking nut along said elongated element by precisely defining the angular rotation of said second and third body members with respect to said elongated element.

A fastener/shaft locking and adjustment apparatus comprising:

• a threaded elongated element having a channel formed along the length thereof;
• a positive locking nut adapted to be axially received on and to be removably fixed along the length of the elongated element, said positive locking nut comprising:
• a locking spline having an axially extending passage extending therethrough for receiving said element, said locking spline having a key member extending into said passage which is engaged in the channel of the elongated element such that said locking spline does not rotate with respect to said elongated element, said locking spline further including a first gear along an end flange thereof;
• an outer knurled cylinder surrounding said locking spline and defining a space therebetween;
• a rotatable spline attached to said outer knurled cylinder so that said outer knurled cylinder and said rotatable spline are rotatable about said elongated element, said rotatable spline having a second gear capable of meshing engagement with said first gear wherein said rotatable spline is movable between an engaged position, wherein said second gear is in meshing engagement with said first gear so that the locking nut is locked in its desired position along the elongated element, and a disengaged position, wherein said second gear is disengaged from said first gear so that said outer knurled cylinder and said rotatable spline can be rotated with respect to the elongated element and the position of the locking nut can be adjusted along the elongated element;
• and
• a return spring provided in said space surrounding said locking spline for normally biasing said outer knurled cylinder in a locked position so that said first and second gears are normally biased in said engaged position to lock the locking nut along the elongated element.

A positive locking nut adapted to be axially received on and to be removably fixed along the length of an elongated element having a channel along the length thereof, comprising:

• a first generally cylindrical body member having an axially extending passage extending therethrough for receiving said element, said first body member having a key member extending into said passage which is engaged in the channel of the elongated element such that said first body member does not rotate with respect to said elongated element;
• said first body member further including a first gear along an end flange thereof;
• a second generally cylindrical body member surrounding said first cylindrical body member and defining a space therebetween;
• a third cylindrical body member attached to said second body member so that said second and third body members are rotatable about said elongated element, said third body member having a second gear capable of meshing engagement with said first gear wherein said third body member is movable between an engaged position, wherein said second gear is in meshing engagement with said first gear so that the locking nut is locked in its desired position along the elongated element, and a disengaged position, wherein said second gear is disengaged from said first gear so that the second and third body members can be rotated with respect to the elongated element and the position of the locking nut can be adjusted along the elongated element;
• and
• means for biasing provided in said space surrounding said first body member for normally biasing said second body member in a locked position wherein said first and second gears are in said engaged position, said biasing means including a return spring which is biased between said end flange of said first body member and an inwardly extending annular flange of said second and third body members.

A positive locking nut adapted to be axially received on and to be removably fixed along the length of an elongated element having a channel along the length thereof, comprising:

• a first generally cylindrical body member having an axially extending passage extending therethrough for receiving said element, said first body member having a key member extending into said passage which is engaged in the channel of the elongated element such that said first body member does not rotate with respect to said elongated element;
• said first body member further including a first gear along an end flange thereof;
• a second generally cylindrical body member surrounding said first cylindrical body member and defining a space therebetween;
• a third cylindrical body member attached to said second body member so that said second and third body members are rotatable about said elongated element, said third body member having a second gear capable of meshing engagement with said first gear wherein said third body member is movable between an engaged position, wherein said second gear is in meshing engagement with said first gear so that the locking nut is locked in its desired position along the elongated element, and a disengaged position, wherein said second gear is disengaged from said first gear so that the second and third body members can be rotated with respect to the elongated element and the position of the locking nut can be adjusted along the elongated element;
• means for biasing provided in said space surrounding said first body member for normally biasing said second body member in a locked position wherein said first and second gears are in said engaged position;
• and
• means for precisely positioning the locking nut along said elongated element.

A positive locking nut adapted to be axially received on and to be removably fixes along the length of an elongated element having a channel along the length thereof, comprising:

• a first generally cylindrical body member having an axially extending passage extending therethrough for receiving said element, said first body member having a key member extending into said passage which is engaged in the channel of the elongated element such that said first body member does not rotate with respect to said elongated element;
• said first body member further including a first gear along an end flange thereof;
• a second generally cylindrical body member surrounding said first cylindrical body member and defining a space therebetween;
• a third cylindrical body member attached to said second body member so that said second and third body members are rotatable about said elongated element, said third body member having a second gear capable of meshing engagement with said first gear wherein said third body member is movable between an engaged position, wherein said second gear is in meshing engagement with said first gear so that the locking nut is locked in its desired position along the elongated element, and a disengaged position, wherein said second gear is disengaged from said first gear so that the second and third body members can be rotated with respect to the elongated element and the position of the locking nut can be adjusted along the elongated element;
• and
• means for biasing provided in said space surrounding said first body member for normally biasing said second body member in a locked position wherein said first and second gears are in said engaged position, said first and second gears each having 60 to 4 teeth to thereby respectively provide 6 to 180 angular degrees of rotation for each tooth adjustment.

A fastener/shaft locking and adjustment apparatus comprising:

• a threaded elongated element having a channel along the length thereof;
• a positive locking nut adapted to be axially received on and removably fixed along the length of said elongated element, the positive locking nut comprising:
• a first generally cylindrical body member having an axially extending passage extending therethrough for receiving said element, said first body member having a key member extending into said passage which is engaged in the channel of the elongated element such that said first body member does not rotate with respect to said elongated element;
• said first body member further including a first gear along an end flange thereof;
• a second generally cylindrical body member surrounding said first cylindrical body member and defining a space therebetween;
• a third cylindrical body member attached to said second body member so that said second and third body members are rotatable about said elongated element, said third body member having a second gear capable of meshing engagement with said first gear wherein said third body member is movable between an engaged position, wherein said second gear is in meshing engagement with said first gear so that the locking nut is locked in its desired position along the elongated element, and a disengaged position, wherein said second gear is disengaged from said first gear so that the second and third body members can be rotated with respect to the elongated element and the position of the locking nut can be adjusted along the elongated element;
• and
• means for biasing provided in said space surrounding said first body member for normally biasing said second body member in a locked position wherein said first and second gears are in said engaged position, said biasing means including a return spring which is biased between said end flange of said first body member and an inwardly extending annular flange of said second and third body members.

A fastener/shaft locking and adjustment apparatus comprising:

• a threaded elongated element having a channel along the length thereof;
• a positive locking nut adapted to be axially received on and removably fixed along the length of elongated element, the positive locking nut comprising:
• a first generally cylindrical body member having an axially extending passage extending therethrough for receiving said element, said first body member having a key member extending into said passage which is engaged in the channel of the elongated element such that said first body member does not rotate with respect to said elongated element;
• said first body member further including a first gear along an end flange thereof;
• a second generally cylindrical body member surrounding said first cylindrical body member and defining a space therebetween;
• a third cylindrical body member attached to said second body member so that said second and third body members are rotatable about said elongated element, said third body member having a second gear capable of meshing engagement with said first gear wherein said third body member is movable between an engaged position, wherein said second gear is in meshing engagement with said first gear so that the locking nut is locked in its desired position along the elongated element, and a disengaged position, wherein said second gear is disengaged from said first gear so that the second and third body members can be rotated with respect to the elongated element and the position of the locking nut can be adjusted along the elongated element;
• means for biasing provided in said space surrounding said first body member for normally biasing said second body member in a locked position wherein said first and second gears are in said engaged position;
• and
• means for precisely positioning the locking nut along said elongated element.

A fastener/shaft locking and adjustment apparatus comprising:

• a threaded elongated element having a channel along the length thereof;
• a positive locking nut adapted to be axially received on and removably fixed along the length of said elongated element, the positive locking nut comprising:
• a first generally cylindrical body member having an axially extending passage extending therethrough for receiving said element, said first body member having a key member extending into said passage which is engaged in the channel of the elongated element such that said first body member does not rotate with respect to said elongated element;
• said first body member further including a first gear along an end flange thereof;
• a second generally cylindrical body member surrounding said first cylindrical body member and defining a space therebetween;
• a third cylindrical body member attached to said second body member so that said second and third body members are rotatable about said elongated element, said third body member having a second gear capable of meshing engagement with said first gear wherein said third body member is movable between an engaged position, wherein said second gear is in meshing engagement with said first gear so that the locking nut is locked in its desired position along the elongated element, and a disengaged position, wherein said second gear is disengaged from said first gear so that the second and third body members can be rotated with respect to the elongated element and the position of the locking nut can be adjusted along the elongated element;
• means for biasing provided in said space surrounding said first body member for normally biasing said second body member in a locked position wherein said first and second gears are in said engaged position;
• and
• wherein said first and second gears each have 60 to 4 teeth to thereby respectively provide 6.degree. to 180.degree. angular degrees of rotation for each tooth adjustment.