Slider locknut
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorRobert P. Bourdoulous
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locknut (12) has an L-shaped slider (18) formed of a washer-like piece (19) held above a nut (13) by a contiguous spring element (20) spot-welded to the nut. The spring causes the washer to press against a bolt (33) or stud with locking torque when the locknut is secured thereon, and to rest away from the nut when not adjacent a bolt or stud. While the locknut is being tightened or loosened, a wrench (29) forces the spring against the nut so the washer surrounds a bolt or stud without contacting it. A skirt (43), of straight or downwardly-curved cantilevers (46, 46a) may be disposed on an annulus secured to a surface of the nut opposite the washer, for additional locking torque.
Claims4
A locknut (12) comprising:
- a nut (13) having a first, upper surface and a second, lower surface opposite to the first surface with at least one flat side extending therebetween;
- characterized by:
- a generally L-shaped, spring slider assembly (18) including, a) as its base, a spring element (20) with a lower end thereof attached (22) to the nut on the at least one flat side adjacent the lower surface, the spring element having a rest position with the crotch of the L away from the at least one flat side, and b) a washer-like piece (19) extending from the crotch of the L over the first surface;
- and
- a skirt (43) fastened to the lower surface and having straight or downwardly-curved cantilevers which grip the surface of a piece against which the nut is tightened.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.