Locking fastener

A nut assembly for use with an externally threaded bolt presenting a bolt thread axis, said nut assembly comprising:

• a first member including a first cam surface and a first opening for receiving the bolt;
• and
• a second locking member including a second cam surface and an internally threaded second opening for threadably receiving the bolt, with the second opening presenting a locking member thread axis,
• said first and second cam surfaces being configured to shift the locking member, as the members move relative to one another, between an unlocked condition in which the locking member thread axis and the bolt thread axis are substantially aligned, and a locked condition in which the locking member thread axis is misaligned relative to the bolt thread axis so as to restrict rotation of the locking member relative to the bolt,
• said first member and said locking member interengaging one another along the first and second cam surfaces in such a manner that a gripping stress is generated by the members when the locking member is in the locked condition,
• said first member and said locking member interengaging one another along the first and second cam surfaces in such a manner that a jamming stress is generated by the members when the locking member is located between the locked and unlocked conditions,
• said jamming stress being greater than the gripping stress,
• at least one of said first and second cam surfaces being substantially elastically deformed by the other when the jamming stress is generated,
• said locking member rotating relative to the first member in one direction as it shifts from the unlocked condition to the locked condition and in a generally opposite direction as it shifts from the locked condition to the unlocked condition,
• said first member and said locking member including respective locking stops which cooperatively restrict rotation ofthe locking member in the one direction beyond the locked condition.

A nut assembly for use with an externally threaded bolt presenting a bolt thread axis, said nut assembly comprising:

• a first member including a first cam surface and a first opening for receiving the bolt;
• and
• a second locking member including a second cam surface and an internally threaded second opening for threadably receiving the bolt, with the second opening presenting a locking member thread axis,
• said first and second cam surfaces being configured to shift the locking member, as the members move relative to one another, between an unlocked condition in which the locking member thread axis and the bolt thread axis are substantially aligned, and a locked condition in which the locking member thread axis is misaligned relative to the bolt thread axis so as to restrict rotation of the locking member relative to the bolt,
• said locking member rotating relative to the first member in one direction as it shifts from the unlocked condition to the locked condition and in a generally opposite direction as it shifts from the locked condition to the unlocked condition,
• said first member and said locking member including respective locking stops which cooperatively restrict rotation of the locking member in the one direction beyond the locked condition.

A nut assembly for use with an externally threaded bolt presenting a bolt thread axis, said nut assembly comprising:

• a first member including a first cam surface and a first opening for receiving the bolt;
• and
• a second locking member including a second cam surface and an internally threaded second opening for threadably receiving the bolt, with the second opening presenting a locking member thread axis,
• said first and second cam surfaces being configured to shift the locking member, as the members move relative to one another, between an unlocked condition in which the locking member thread axis and the bolt thread axis are substantially aligned, and a locked condition in which the locking member thread axis is misaligned relative to the bolt thread axis so as to restrict rotation of the locking member relative to the bolt,
• one of said cam surfaces including a detent and the other of the cam surfaces including a recess for receiving the detent when the locking member is in the unlocked condition.

A fastener comprising:

• a bolt having an externally threaded, elongated shank that presents a bolt thread axis;
• a first member including a first cam surface and a first opening receiving the shank,
• a second locking member including a second cam surface and an internally threaded second opening threadably receiving the shank, with the second opening presenting a locking member thread axis,
• at least one of said first and second cam surfaces having a non-circular cross-sectional shape,
• said first and second cam surfaces being configured to shift the locking member, as the members move relative to one another, between an unlocked condition in which the locking member thread axis and the bolt thread axis are substantially aligned, and a locked condition in which the locking member thread axis is misaligned relative to the bolt thread axis so as to restrict rotation of the locking member relative to the bolt.

A fastener comprising:

• a bolt having an externally threaded, elongated shank that presents a bolt thread axis,
• a first member including a first cam surface and a first opening receiving the shank;
• a second locking member including a second cam surface and an internally threaded second opening threadably receiving the shank, with the second opening presenting a locking member thread axis,
• said first and second cam surfaces being configured to shift the locking member, as the members move relative to one another, between an unlocked condition in which the locking member thread axis and the bolt thread axis are substantially aligned, and a locked condition in which the locking member thread axis is misaligned relative to the bolt thread axis so as to restrict rotation of the locking member relative to the bolt,
• said first member and said locking member interengaging one another along the first and second cam surfaces in such a manner that a gripping stress is generated by the members when the locking member is in the locked condition,
• said first member and said locking member interengaging one another along the first and second cam surfaces in such a manner that a jamming stress is generated by the members when the locking member is located between the locked and unlocked conditions,
• said jamming stress being greater than the gripping stress,
• at least one of said first and second cam surfaces being substantially elastically deformed by the other when the jamming stress is generated,
• said locking member rotating relative to the first member in one direction as it shifts from the unlocked condition to the locked condition and in a generally opposite direction as it shifts from the locked condition to the unlocked condition,
• said first member and said locking member including respective locking stops which cooperatively restrict rotation of the locking member in the one direction beyond the locked condition.

A fastener comprising:

• a bolt having an externally threaded, elongated shank that presents a bolt thread axis;
• a first member including a first cam surface and a first opening receiving the shank;
• a second locking member including a second cam surface and an internally threaded second opening threadably receiving the shank, with the second opening presenting a locking member thread axis,
• said first and second cam surfaces being configured to shift the locking member, as the members move relative to one another, between an unlocked condition in which the locking member thread axis and the bolt thread axis are substantially aligned, and a locked condition in which the locking member thread axis is misaligned relative to the bolt thread axis so as to restrict rotation of the locking member relative to the bolt,
• said locking member rotating relative to the first member in one direction as it shifts from the unlocked condition to the locked condition and in a generally opposite direction as it shifts from the locked condition to the unlocked condition,
• said first member and said locking member including respective locking stops which cooperatively restrict rotation of the locking member in the one direction beyond the locked condition.