AXLE NUT

• US 20080143173A1
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Temper AXLE Products Corporation, Temper Corporation
• Original Assignee: John E. Rode
• Inventors: RODE, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,961,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 301/124.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/06 Screw or nut setting or loosening machines
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/065 Arrangements for torque limiters or torque indicators in screw or nut setting machines for hand tools B25B23/14
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/062 using screws
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 31/043 Prestressed connections tensioned by means of liquid, grease, rubber, explosive charge, or the like hydraulic bolt tensioners B25B29/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/12 by means of locknuts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/14 made of thin sheet material or formed as spring-washers locknuts per se made of thin sheet metal F16B37/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/28 by special members on, or shape of, the nut or bolt F16B39/26 takes precedence; locknuts F16B39/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/32 Locking by means of a pawl or pawl-like tongue
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/364 with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/54 Systems consisting of a plurality of bearings with rolling friction spindle bearings F16C35/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/548 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2229/00 Setting preload
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors in general B60B
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/06 Ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/30 Parts of ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/04 Assembling rolling-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/497 Pre-usage process, e.g., preloading, aligning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53091 for work-holder for assembly or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53104 Roller or ball bearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5383 having fluid operator

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for preloading a bearing are provided. These methods and apparatus include preload monitoring devices whereby the mechanic can accurately monitor and regulate the preload on a bearing or bearing assembly. Aspects of the invention may also be used to adjust the endplay on a bearing or a bearing assembly. In one aspect, the preload on the bearing is transmitted through a housing having a fluid pressure that can be detected and monitored. An apparatus for precisely rotating a nut and a tool for precisely rotating a nut are also provided. A bearing retaining nut arrangement that permits the loading or evaluating of a bearing inner race is also provided. The bearing retaining nut arrangement includes a first load-setting nut, a lock washer, and a second jam nut that secures the arrangement to a shaft.

Claims

1. An axle nut comprising;

a cylindrical body having a first end, a second end having a face adapted to bear against a surface, a longitudinal axis, and an outer surface engagable by a tool;

a threaded through-hole directed substantially along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body; and

at least one recess in the face of the second end of the cylindrical body, the at least one recess adapted to expose at least a portion of the surface the face bears against.

2. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one recess comprises at least one arcuate recess.

3. The nut as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one arcuate recess comprises a plurality of arcuate recesses equally spaced about the perimeter of the face.

4. The nut as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one arcuate recess comprises a single annular recess extending around the perimeter of the face of the second end.

5. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body comprises one of a circular cylindrical body and a polygonal cylindrical body.

6. The nut as recited in claim 5, wherein the polygonal cylindrical body comprises a plurality of flats engagable by the tool.

7. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the cylindrical body comprises at least one recess engagable by the tool.

8. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the nut comprises a bearing retaining nut and the surface comprises a surface of a bearing.

9. The nut as recited in claim 8, wherein the at least one recess is adapted to expose at least a portion of the surface of the bearing whereby a compressive load can be applied to the surface of the bearing.

39. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the threaded through hole extends at least partially along the longitudinal axis of the body.

40. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body comprises at one of a triangular, a square, a pentagonal, a hexagonal, and an octagonal cross section.

41. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one recess in the face of the second end comprises at least one cavity in the face of the second end.

42. The nut as recited in claim 41, wherein the at least one cavity comprises a plurality of evenly distributed cavities.

43. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the first end of the nut is adapted to accommodate a nut locking mechanism.

44. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the first end of the body includes a counter bore.

45. The nut as recited in claim 44, wherein the counter bore includes an internal surface having a plurality of internal projections.

46. The nut as recited in claim 45, wherein the plurality of internal projections comprise one of gear teeth and spline teeth.

47. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer surface engagable by a tool comprises an outer surface engagable by one or more of a crescent wrench, a spanner wrench, and a socket.

48. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the nut is fabricated by powder metallurgy.

49. The nut as recited in claim 1, wherein the nut includes at least one surface that is surface hardened.

10-38. -38. (canceled)