Ferrule lock nuts method
OwnerChristopher C. Burtoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and Method of use for an improved lock nut type of fastener. On a threaded rod, a set of one or two cavity locknuts are used with a sleeve like ferrule to lock a nut in a set position on the rod. For example a nut that is clamping a workpiece can be held in place (resisting if not preventing loosening) by suitable application of the ferrule and cavity locknut. The cavity locknut has a tapered funnel-like cavity in a nut face around the nut's threaded hole. Locking is accomplished by immobilizing the ferrule on the rod and against the nut to be held, orienting the cavity side of the cavity locknut toward the ferrule, and forcefully torquing the cavity nut against and around the ferrule so that it is crimped against the threaded rod by the tapered cavity in the nut.
Claims18
A method of resisting movement of a nut away from a set position on a threaded rod, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a first nut and a second nut having threads mated to the threads of a threaded rod;
- obtaining a ferrule having an inside diameter defined by a lengthwise bore that permits the ferrule to be positioned on a threaded lengthwise portion of the threaded rod, the ferrule being a non-resilient ring having a profile with distal first and second ends tapered to distal thin edges;
- provided further that the first nut and the second nut each have a tapered cavity extending axially inward from a face of the nut, and tapering from a larger opening down to the diameter of a threaded portion of the nut;
- provided further that a maximum inside diameter of the tapered cavity of the first nut and the second nut is greater than an outside diameter of a corresponding first and second end of the ferrule;
- positioning the first nut at a set position on the threaded rod;
- positioning the ferrule on a threaded portion of the threaded rod such that the first end of the ferrule engages the tapered cavity of the first nut;
- positioning the second nut so that the tapered cavity of the second nut engages the second end of the ferrule;
- torquing the second nut towards the first nut by a specified predetermined force;
- and
- permanently crimping and deforming the ferrule into the threads of the threaded rod, thereby resisting movement of the nuts away from the set position.
A method of assembling a fastener kit for a threaded rod, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a fastener kit configured to provide a predetermined locknut holding force when the kit is assembled;
- providing in the fastener kit a threaded rod, a ferrule, a first nut and a second nut all being matched to provide the predetermined locknut holding force;
- providing the first nut and the second nut having threads mated to the threads of the threaded rod;
- providing the ferrule having an inside diameter defined by a lengthwise bore of a predetermined length that permits the ferrule to be positioned on a threaded lengthwise portion of the threaded rod, the ferrule being a ring having a profile with distal first and second tapered ends tapering down to distal thin edges;
- provided further that the first nut and the second nut having a tapered cavity of a predetermined depth extending axially inward from a face of the nuts, and tapering from a larger opening down to the diameter of a threaded portion of the nuts;
- provided further that a maximum inside diameter of the tapered cavity of the nut is greater than an outside diameter of a lengthwise end of the ferrule;
- positioning the first nut on the threaded rod;
- positioning the ferrule on a threaded lengthwise portion of the threaded rod until the tapered cavity of the first nut engages the first tapered end of the ferrule;
- positioning the second nut so that the tapered cavity of the second nut engages the second tapered end of the ferrule;
- torquing the second nut towards the first nut by a specified predetermined force;
- and permanently crimping and deforming the ferrule into the threads of the threaded rod, thereby resisting movement of the nuts away from a set position and providing the predetermined locknut holding force for the fastener kit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.