Self-Locking Screw Connection

• US 20110305538A1
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neumayer Tekfor Engineering GmbH (Amtek Auto Limited)
• Original Assignee: Neumayer Tekfor Holding GmbH (Amtek Auto Limited)
• Inventors: Savoy, Juliano, Sigoli, Paulo Cesar, De Souza, Mauro Moraes
• Granted Patent: US 8,393,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/194
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/02 in which the locking takes place after screwing down F16B39/01 takes precedence; split-pins, circlips, or the like for preventing relative axial movement only F16B21/10; fastening nuts by welding or riveting F16B37/06

Abstract

A screw connection having a screw section and a nut threaded thereon. A self-locking effect of the nut on the screw section is achieved in a simple manner in that an intermediate disk is supported non-rotatably on the screw section and is received on the nut so as to be rotatable relative to the nut. The intermediate disk includes a grid distributed around the circumference of the intermediate disk, and the nut carries at least one resiliently elastic, radially displaceable catch formed by a sheet-metal part which, after installing the nut, positively engages the grid to lock the nut against rotation relative to the screw section and intermediate disk. Upon application of a wrench to the nut, the at least one resilient, radially displaceable catch is compressed and drawn out of engagement with the grid, so that the nut can be rotated relative to the screw section.

Claims

1. A screw connection comprising:

a threaded screw section,

a polygonal nut screwed on the screw section,

an intermediate washer, which is secured against rotation relative to the screw section and is rotatably mounted on the nut, said intermediate washer comprising a grid disposed on the circumference thereof, and

at least one catch made of a resilient sheet-metal component mounted on the nut such that when a wrench is applied to the nut, said at least one catch is compressed and drawn out of engagement with the grid so that the nut can be freely turned, and when the wrench is removed from the nut, the catch moves into engagement with the grid to lock the nut against rotation relative to the intermediate washer and the screw section.

2. The screw connection as recited in claim 1, comprising a plurality of catches each disposed on a respective lateral surface of the polygonal nut, and wherein said plurality of catches are integrally formed on a single component.

3. The screw connection as recited in claim 1, wherein the sheet-metal component is mounted by an annular collar connected to an end face of the nut on the opposite side of the nut from the intermediate washer.

4. The screw connection as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least one catch is at least substantially flush mounted in a recess in the respective lateral surface of the polygonal nut when the catch is compressed.

5. The screw connection as recited in claim 1, wherein radially outwardly oriented tongues are distributed around the outer circumference of the intermediate washer, and said grid is formed by bending back the tongues around a circular base of the nut.

6. The screw connection as recited in claim 1, wherein the grid defines a series of intermediate gaps into which said at least one catch may engage, and the number of intermediate gaps in the grid is not equal to the number of catches or a multiple of the number of catches.

7. The screw connection as recited in claim 6, wherein one catch less than the number of catches engages simultaneously in the intermediate gaps of the grid.

8. The screw connection as recited in claim 1, wherein the intermediate washer is secured against rotation relative to the screw section by a flat portion on the screw section against which a mating counter surface on the intermediate washer bears.

9. The screw connection as recited in claim 1, wherein the screw section comprises at least one longitudinal groove in which a projection on the intermediate washer engages to secure the intermediate washer against rotation relative to the screw section.

10. The screw connection as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one catch forms a positive lock with the grid when the catch is not compressed.

11. The screw connection as recited in claim 1, wherein application of a wrench to the nut compresses said at least one catch against a respective lateral surface of the polygonal nut.

12. A structural unit comprising a screw connection as recited in claim 1, wherein

said screw section comprises a bearing bolt disposed on an abutment,

a component to be mounted is slid on the bearing bolt so as to bear against said abutment, and

the nut is mounted on the bearing bolt on the opposite side of the component as a counter-bearing and locked in position axially on the bearing bolt a desired distance from the abutment by the engagement of the at least one catch with the grid.

13. The structural unit as recited in claim 12, wherein said component to be mounted is a rolling bearing.