Self-Locking Nut

• US 20080063489A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stemco Products, Inc. (Enpro Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stemco LP (Enpro Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jimenez, Daniel Trejo
• Granted Patent: US 7,811,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/149
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/24 by means of washers, spring washers, or resilient plates that lock against the object locking to the screw-thread F16B39/14 , F16B39/34, F16B39/36
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/32 Locking by means of a pawl or pawl-like tongue

Abstract

A self-locking nut includes a nut; a washer having a locking feature, the locking feature having a plurality of ridges; and at least one locking tab for slidably coupling the nut to the washer and engaging with the locking feature to resist rotation of the nut with respect to the washer.

Claims

1. A self-locking nut, comprising:

a nut;

a washer comprising a locking feature, the locking feature comprising a plurality of ridges; and

at least one locking tab for slidably coupling the nut to the washer and engaging with the locking feature to resist rotation of the nut with respect to the washer.

2. The self-locking nut of claim 1, wherein the washer comprises at least one cavity for receiving the at least one locking tab.

3. The self-locking nut of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking tab comprises a nut-engaging feature, a washer-engaging tab, a notch, and a locking end.

4. The self-locking nut of claim 3, wherein the nut-engaging feature is configured to engage with a cavity defined within the nut.

5. The self-locking nut of claim 3, wherein the washer-engaging tab is slidably engageable with the washer to couple the nut to the washer.

6. The self-locking nut of claim 3, wherein the notch is engageable with the ridges of the locking feature.

7. The self-locking nut of claim 1, wherein the locking tab is disengageable from the locking feature by engagement of a tool with the self-locking nut.

8. The self-locking nut of claim 7, wherein the tool may be engaged with the nut using little or no force.

9. A self-locking nut, comprising:

a nut;

a washer comprising a locking feature, the locking feature comprising a plurality of ridges;

at least one pin engageable with the nut and the washer, and for slidably coupling the nut to the washer; and

a spring for maintaining contact between the pin and the locking feature.

10. The self-locking nut of claim 9, wherein the nut defines at least one nut feature, for receiving the at least one pin.

11. The self-locking nut of claim 9, wherein the at least one pin is engageable with the locking feature for resisting movement of the nut with respect to the washer.

12. The self-locking nut of claim 9, wherein the spring maintains contact between the at least one pin and the locking feature.

13. A self-locking nut, comprising:

a nut;

a washer comprising a locking feature, the locking feature having a plurality of ridges; and

a spring lock ring for slidably coupling the nut to the washer and engaging with the locking feature.

14. The self-locking nut of claim 13, wherein the nut comprises at least one nut feature for receiving the spring lock ring.

15. A self-locking nut, comprising:

a nut;

a washer comprising a groove and a locking feature, the locking feature having a plurality of ridges;

a pin configured to engage with the groove and to slidably couple the nut to the washer, and

a ball spring lock for engaging with the locking feature.