Torque loss indicator

• US 5,120,174 A
• Filed: 03/18/1991
• Issued: 06/09/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wheel Masters Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wheel Masters Inc.
• Inventors: Patti, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beres, John L.
• Application Number:
  US07/670,893
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 116/200, 116/306, 116/307, 116/309, 116/28 R, 411/13, 411/14, 411/429, 411/430, 411/431, 411/371, 411/372, 411/373, 411/374, 411/375, 411/376, 411/377, 411/910
• US Class Current: 411/431
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/95 with markings, colours, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 31/02 for indicating the attainment of a particular tensile load or limiting tensile load apparatus for, or method of, determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member similarly stressed G01L5/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/14 Cap nuts; Nut caps or bolt caps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/91 Antitamper means

Abstract

A warning device for indicating undesired rotation of a threaded nut on a non-rotatable threaded shaft includes a tight fitting shell for covering the nut and a manually rotatable highly visible indicator on the end of the shell to be adjusted to a predetermined initial alignment. Any torque change caused by nut rotation will therefore rotate the indicator from its predetermined alignment.

Claims

1. A warning device for indicating undesired rotation of a threaded nut on a threaded shaft, said warning device comprising:

a hollow shell configured for frictional attachment over the threaded nut, said shell having an end surface and a longitudinal axis substantially coaxial with the hole in said nut;

an indicating member rotatably coupled to said end surface of said hollow shell and rotatable around said longitudinal axis; and

apertured visual ndicium on said indicating member.

2. The threaded nut rotation warning device claimed in claim 1 wherein said threaded shaft is non-rotatable and said indicating member is initially rotated to position wherein said visual indicium is in a predetermined alignment.

3. A threaded nut rotation warning device for indicating rotation of a threaded nut on a non-rotatable threaded shaft, said warning device comprising:

a hollow shell configured for frictional attachment over the threaded nut, said shell having a top surface and a longitudinal axis substantially coaxial with said threaded shaft;

a circular insert member securely attached to and overlying the top surface of said hollow shell, said insert member lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said hollow shell;

an indicating member having a top surface with an indicium bar cut therethrough, said indicating member being frictionally and rotatably coupled to said circular insert member.

4. The warning device claimed in claim 3 wherein said circular insert member has a bottom surface to conform to the top surface of said hollow shell, and a depending key extending from said bottom surface to engage a mating hole in the top surface of said hollow shell.

5. The warning device claimed in claim 4 wherein said circular insert member is plastic.

6. The warning device claimed in claim 5 wherein said circular member is a colored plastic visible through said indicium bar.

7. The warning device claimed in claim 6 wherein said indicium bar is arrow shaped for indicating a predetermined initial alignment of said threaded nut and a change of rotation when said arrow varies from said initial alignment.