Anti-loosening device for screw or nut

• US 20050136750A1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Tournier, Gilles, Klepka, Stephanie
• Granted Patent: US 7,056,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/801
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/26 with spring washers fastened to the nut or bolt-head
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/282 Locking by means of special shape of work-engaging surfaces, e.g. notched or toothed nuts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/12 End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/302 having means for preventing loosening of screw or nut, e.g. vibration-proof connection

Abstract

An anti-loosening device for locking the head of a locking screw or nut, in particular for connection of an electrical terminal to a contact lug, wherein the device essentially comprises a plate having at least one catch element rotationally stationary in relation to the contact lug when the locking means are being fastened, and comprising a toothed element interlocking at the end of the screwing process with the catch element to resist unscrewing of the locking screw or nut.

Claims

1. An anti-loosening device for the secure connection of an electrical terminal to a contact lug with a rotatable securing member, comprising a catch element operably carried by the contact lug and engageable by the rotatable securing element, the catch element being rotationally stationary in relation to the contact lug, the rotatable securing element including a tooth member engageable with the catch element to inhibit counter rotation of the rotatable securing element.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the catch element is operably carried by a supporting member, said supporting member including a base for threadably receiving the rotatable securing element, the supporting member including a stop engageable with the contact lug for inhibiting rotation of the supporting member relative to the contact lug.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable securing element includes a collar, and the tooth member is carried by the collar.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stop comprises a lower lateral flange of the supporting member.

5. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support member includes an upper lateral flange, the catch element comprising a nib on the upper lateral flange.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the catch element is operably carried by a supporting member, the contact lug including a threaded shank, the rotatable securing member comprising a nut, the supporting member comprising a washer receivable by said shank.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the washer has anchoring arms, the nut including a collar, the collar including a shoulder, the anchoring arms being engageable with the shoulder.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the catch element comprises a least one spring tab cut out from the washer and engageable with a surface of the nut.

9. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the washer includes structure defining a central bore and a stop member extending into said central bore, the threaded shank including structure defining a groove for receiving said stop member.