ULTRAHIGH-INTEGRITY INTERLOCKING NUT AND WASHER SYSTEM FOR TRAILER AXLES
First Claim
1. A retaining system for establishing and maintaining a desired degree of preload force relative to tapered roller bearings mounted on a threaded axle spindle having a predetermined pitch, comprising, in order closest to the bearings:
- an inner tabbed washer having a keyway tab and an outer face inscribed with radial reference lines to serve for incremental positioning of an inner adjustment nut;
the inner adjustment nut;
an intermediate interlock washer with a keyway tab, an external peripheral tab, and an outer face with one or more projections providing the first portion of a mechanical interlock with an outer retainer nut;
the outer retainer nut having an inner face providing the second portion of the mechanical interlock; and
wherein the second portion of the mechanical interlock includes a plurality of spaced-apart physical features related to the predetermined pitch of the spindle, such that tightening the outer retainer nut causes the second portion of the mechanical interlock to become trapped by the first portion of the mechanical interlock after sufficient axial inward movement of the outer retainer nut has introduced the needed amount of additional preload force to maintain engagement of the interlock portions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interlocking nut and washer system complies with new standards identified in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Recommended Practice J2535, Setting Preload in Heavy-Duty Wheel Bearings, and with maintenance recommendations issued by the Technology Maintenance Council (TMC) Recommended Practice RP618, Wheel Bearing Adjustment Procedure. The system includes an improved inner washer, adjustment nut, intermediate washer, and outer nut that interlocks with the intermediate washer following the introduction of an established level of preload force by the adjustment nut. The inner washer isolates the adjustment nut from the inner bearing race to eliminate frictional wear. An increase in outer diameter of the inner washer provides an interference capability that serves as a safety factor to prevent separation of the wheel hub from the axle spindle in event of bearing failure. The inner washer includes markers to establish the final adjusted preload or the endplay position of the adjustment nut.
1 Citation
17 Claims
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1. A retaining system for establishing and maintaining a desired degree of preload force relative to tapered roller bearings mounted on a threaded axle spindle having a predetermined pitch, comprising, in order closest to the bearings:
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an inner tabbed washer having a keyway tab and an outer face inscribed with radial reference lines to serve for incremental positioning of an inner adjustment nut; the inner adjustment nut; an intermediate interlock washer with a keyway tab, an external peripheral tab, and an outer face with one or more projections providing the first portion of a mechanical interlock with an outer retainer nut; the outer retainer nut having an inner face providing the second portion of the mechanical interlock; and wherein the second portion of the mechanical interlock includes a plurality of spaced-apart physical features related to the predetermined pitch of the spindle, such that tightening the outer retainer nut causes the second portion of the mechanical interlock to become trapped by the first portion of the mechanical interlock after sufficient axial inward movement of the outer retainer nut has introduced the needed amount of additional preload force to maintain engagement of the interlock portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of establishing and maintaining controlled preload or endplay relative to tapered roller bearings mounted on a threaded axle spindle having a predetermined pitch and a keyway, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a tabbed inner washer on the spindle with the tab engaged with the keyway; placing an inner adjustment nut on the spindle against the inner washer; tightening the adjustment nut with approximately 50 foot pounds of torque; backing off the adjustment nut with a predetermined degree of rotation; placing an intermediate washer having a peripheral tab onto the spindle against the adjustment nut with the tab engaged within the keyway; placing an interlock retainer nut having a plurality of outer flats onto the spindle against the intermediate interlock washer; wherein the intermediate interlock washer and interlock retainer nut have adjoining faces with coordinating spaced-apart projections and recesses; tightening the interlock retainer nut; and bending the peripheral tab on the intermediate interlock washer over a flat on the interlock retainer nut and applying back-off rotation of the inner adjustment nut to achieve a jammed condition between the inner adjustment nut and the interlock retainer nut. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification