SPINDLE NUT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF INSTALLATION

• US 20150000106A1
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James L. Ebert
• Original Assignee: James L. Ebert
• Inventors: Ebert, James L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,527,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/525.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0078 characterised by the fixation of bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/06 adapted to be fixed on axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/113 Production or maintenance time
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 35/004 Mounting arrangements for axles
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/028 by means of an auxiliary bolt or threaded element whose action provokes the deformation of the main bolt or nut and thereby its blocking
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/063 Fixing them on the shaft with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49696 Mounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

An apparatus for and a method of securing hubs and bearings on truck spindles includes a first or inner nut, a locking ring or washer and a second or outer nut. The inner nut includes a plurality of axially oriented threaded openings. The locking ring or washer includes a radially inwardly directed key and fastener receiving features. The outer nut includes through aligned, axially oriented openings. A plurality of threaded fasteners extend through the openings in the outer nut, through the fastener receiving features in the locking ring and into the threaded openings in the inner nut. A method of installation is also presented.

Claims

1. A spindle nut assembly comprising, in combination,

a first nut having a first end face and a second end face, a center opening including female threads and extending between said first and face and said second end face and a plurality of threaded openings extending into said nut from said second end face,

a locking ring disposed adjacent said second end face, said locking ring defining a center through opening, a key extending radially inwardly into said center through opening and a plurality of projections defining fastener receiving spaces therebetween, and

a second nut having a face disposed adjacent said locking ring, a second center opening including female threads and a second plurality of openings aligned with said first plurality of threaded openings, and

a plurality of threaded fasteners disposed in said second plurality of openings and extending through said fastener receiving spaces of said locking ring and into said plurality of threaded openings in said first nut.

2. The spindle nut assembly of claim 1 further including a vehicle spindle having at least one bearing assembly and wherein said spindle nut assembly is disposed on said vehicle spindle adjacent said bearing.

3. The spindle nut assembly of claim 1 wherein said threaded fasteners are machine screws.

4. The spindle nut assembly of claim 1 further including a washer disposed adjacent said first end face of said first nut.

5. The spindle nut assembly of claim 4 wherein said washer is one of a flat washer, a Belleville spring, and a wave washer.

6. The spindle nut assembly of claim 1 wherein said projections are disposed about a periphery of said locking ring and said fastener receiving spaces are disposed about said periphery between said projections.

7. The spindle nut assembly of claim 1 wherein said projections are disposed about an inner edge of said locking ring and said fastener receiving spaces are disposed about said inner edge between said projections.

8. A spindle nut assembly comprising, in combination,

an inner nut having a first end face, a second end face, an axially oriented center opening having female threads extending between said end faces and a first plurality of axially oriented threaded openings in said second end face disposed about said center opening,

a locking washer disposed adjacent said second end face, said locking washer having a center opening, a key extending radially inwardly into said center opening and a plurality of projections defining fastener receiving spaces between adjacent projections,

an outer nut disposed adjacent said locking washer, a second center opening including female threads and a second plurality of openings complementary to said first plurality of threaded openings, and

a plurality of threaded fasteners disposed in said second plurality of openings and extending through said fastener receiving spaces of said locking washer and into said first plurality of threaded openings.

9. The spindle nut assembly of claim 8 wherein said inner nut includes one of wrench engageable features including a plurality of peripheral flats and a pair of unthreaded axial openings in said second face.

10. The spindle nut assembly of claim 8 further including a washer disposed adjacent said first end face of said inner nut and wherein said washer is one of a flat washer, a Belleville spring, a wave washer and a washer having an elastomeric insert.

11. The spindle nut assembly of claim 8 wherein said projections are disposed about a periphery of said locking washer and said fastener receiving spaces are disposed about said periphery between said projections.

12. The spindle nut assembly of claim 8 wherein said projections are disposed about an inner edge of said locking washer and said fastener receiving spaces are disposed adjacent said inner edge between said projections.

13. The spindle nut assembly of claim 8 further including a vehicle spindle having at least one bearing assembly and wherein said spindle nut assembly is disposed on said vehicle spindle adjacent said one bearing assembly.

14. A method of securing a hub on a spindle of a vehicle axle comprising the steps of:

providing an inner nut, a locking ring having a key and fastener receiving openings and an outer nut,

installing said inner nut on such spindle and rotating said inner nut into contact with an outer bearing assembly,

positioning said locking ring on such spindle with said key disposed in a keyway of such spindle,

installing said outer nut on such spindle and rotating said outer nut into a position adjacent said locking ring, and

installing a plurality of fasteners extending from said outer nut, through said fastener receiving openings in said locking ring and into said inner nut to inhibit rotation of said inner and said outer nuts.

15. The method of claim 14 further including the steps of positioning a spring washer between such outer bearing assembly and said inner nut and measuring the deformation of said spring washer with one of a dial indicator and a feeler gauge.

16. The method of claim 14 further including the steps of positioning a spring washer between such outer bearing assembly and said inner nut and measuring the deformation of said spring washer with one of a dial indicator and a feeler gauge to determine that said spring washer has reached a deflection of about 0.001 to about 0.0015 inches from flat.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said locking ring includes a key and said securing step includes the step of installing said locking ring on such spindle with said key in a keyway of such spindle and securing said locking ring to said inner nut with said plurality of fasteners.

18. The method of claim 14 further including the step of assembling an inner bearing assembly, a wheel hub and an outer bearing assembly on a spindle.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said washer includes a key and including the step of installing said washer on said spindle with said key in a keyway in said spindle and securing said locking ring to said nut by tightening said plurality of fasteners extending between said locking ring and said nut without rotating said nut.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said washer is one of a flat washer, a Belleville spring, a wave washer and a washer with an elastomeric insert.