Wheel end assembly with locking fastener

• US 20040047708A1
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neapco Europe GmbH (UCI International Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Hui, Seidel, Richard L., Levitte, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,857,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/00 Hubs non-metallic B60B5/00; of high resiliency B60B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/10 by a plate, spring, wire or ring immovable with regard to the bolt or object and mainly perpendicular to the axis of the boltF16B39/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1384 to wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2065/1392 Connection elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/12 Discs; Drums for disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7033 including a lock or retainer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7035 Specific angle or shape of rib, key, groove, or shoulder

Abstract

A locking washer for axles on vehicles that prevents a nut from rotational movement relative to the axle. The locking washer includes a sleeve step having central passage with a non-cylindrical section that is rotationally coupled to the axle. The non-cylindrical section may include polygonal lobes or splines that engage a matching shaped portion on the axle. The washer is engaged directly on the shaped portion of the axle instead of the threaded portion of the axle and thereby reduces manufacturing costs and steps by eliminating machining of the threaded portion. The washer being engaged on the shaped portion prevents any relative movements between the axle and the washer from disturbances such as vibration, impact, and rotation.

Claims

1. A locking washer comprising:

a flange;

a sleeve extending axially from said flange, said sleeve including a shaped cavity having a non-cylindrical engagement surface for rotational coupling the washer to a shaft.

2. The locking washer of claim 1 wherein said non-cylindrical surface includes radially inwardly extending projections.

3. The locking washer of claim 2 wherein said radially inwardly extending projections include a polygonal lobe.

4. The locking washer of claim 2 wherein said radially inwardly extending projections include a spline.

5. The locking washer of claim 1 wherein said washer defines a central passage extending axially through said washer, said central passage including said shaped cavity and a central hole, said central hole being diametrically smaller than said shaped cavity.

6. The locking washer of claim 1 wherein said flange extends radially beyond said outer radial extent of said sleeve.

7. A wheel end assembly comprising:

an axle having a threaded portion and a shaped portion; and

a locking washer including a sleeve defining a non-cylindrical shaped cavity, said shaped cavity engaging said shaped portion to rotationally couple said locking washer to said axle.

8. The wheel end assembly of claim 7 wherein said locking washer defines a central passage extending axially through said washer, said central passage including said shaped cavity and a central hole, said central hole being diametrically smaller than said shaped cavity.

9. The locking washer of claim 7 wherein said flange extends radially beyond said outer radial extent of said sleeve.

10. The wheel end assembly of claim 7 wherein said sleeve step includes a radially inwardly extending projection.

11. The wheel end assembly of claim 10 wherein said radially inwardly extending projection includes a polygonal lobe.

12. The wheel end assembly of claim 11 wherein said shaped portion includes a polygonal lobe, said polygonal lobe on said shaped portion engaging said polygonal lobe on said washer.

13. The wheel end assembly of claim 7 wherein said shaped portion and said sleeve each include a spline, said sleeve spline engaging said spline on said shaped portion to rotationally couple said washer to said axle.

14. The wheel end assembly of claim 7 further comprising a disc engaged on said shaped portion, said disc having a sleeve groove, said locking washer sleeve disposed within said sleeve groove.

15. The wheel end assembly of claim 7 wherein said threaded section of said axle is axially outward of and diametrically smaller than said shaped portion, said threaded section disposed in said central hole of said washer.