Self locking connector

• US 5,186,501 A
• Filed: 03/25/1991
• Issued: 02/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Faber Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Faber Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Mano, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRETTEL, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/674,455
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 285/89, 285/92, 285/902, 403/320, 403/342, 411/132, 411/134, 411/143, 411/144, 411/147, 411/149, 411/150, 411/155, 411/156, 411/229, 411/261, 411/293, 411/312, 411/314, 411/326, 411/154, 411/240, 411/955, 411/956 , 411/963
• US Class Current: 285/89
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/73 Cam locks or thread locks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 19/005 comprising locking means for the threaded member locking of screws or nuts per se F16B39/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/902 Canted ring

Abstract

A self-locking connector comprising first and second tubular fittings, the first fitting having an annular intermediate shoulder and a threaded end, and the second fitting having an annular shoulder adjacent one of its ends. A nut is rotatably mounted on the second fitting and threaded to the threaded end of the first fitting, and the nut has a flanged end which is adapted to engage the shoulder on the second fitting to bring the two fittings into axially aligned mating and sealing relationships as the nut is tighten onto the threaded end of the first fitting. A frusto-conical shaped resilient lock washer is interposed between the shoulder on the first fitting and the nut. The adjacent edges of the nut and the washer have mating ramps formed thereon, with each ramp having an angle greater than the helical angle of the threads of the first fitting and of the nut. When the nut is tighten, the ramps on the washer and on the nut mate with one another, and effectively lock the nut against rotation with respect to the first fitting.

Claims

1. A self-locking connector comprising:

first and second tubular fittings, said first fitting having an annular intermediate shoulder and at least a first end of said first fitting having external threads, and said second fitting having an annular shoulder adjacent one end thereof;

a nut having internal threads and adapted to be threaded to the first end of said first fitting and having a flanged end adapted to engage the shoulder on said second fitting to bring the two fittings into axially aligned mating and sealing relationship as the nut is tighten on the first fitting;

a frusto-conical shaped resilient lock washer interposed between the shoulder on the first fitting and the nut, the adjacent edges of said nut and said washer having mating ramps formed thereon, each of said ramps having an angle greater than the helical angle of the threads of said first fitting and of said nut, said washer ramps projecting outwardly from the adjacent edge of said washer.

2. The self-locking connector defined in claim 1, in which said shoulder on said first fitting has a hexagonal configuration for receiving a wrench.

3. The self-locking connector defined in claim 1, in which the mating end of said first fitting has an annular seat formed thereon and the mating end of said second fitting has a sealing surface formed thereon to be received in said annular seat in sealing relationship therewith when said nut is tightened on the threaded end of said first fitting.

4. A self-locking connector comprising:

first and second tubular fittings, at least one end of said first fitting having external threads formed thereon;

a nut having internal threads adapted to be threaded to the threads of said first fitting to bring the two fittings into axially aligned mating and sealing relationship as the nut is tightened onto the threads at the threaded end of said first fitting; and

a frusto-conical resilient lock washer interposed between said nut and said first fitting, the adjacent edges of said nut and said washer having mating ramps formed thereon, each such ramp having an angle greater than the helical angle of the threads of said first fitting and of said nut, said washer ramps projecting outwardly from the adjacent edge of said washer.