Washer with a relief

• US 5,829,933 A
• Filed: 12/02/1997
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fan Disc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fan Disc Corporation
• Inventors: Kramer, Frederic P.
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, NEILL R
• Application Number:
  US08/979,918
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 411/149, 411/155, 411/156, 411/160, 411/161, 411/162, 411/533, 411/544, 411/368
• US Class Current: 411/156
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/24 by means of washers, spring washers, or resilient plates that lock against the object locking to the screw-thread F16B39/14 , F16B39/34, F16B39/36
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/00 Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts circlips F16B21/18; for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24

Abstract

A Belleville spring washer (15) having an annular relief (25) depending from in its top surface (24). The relief (25) is disposed adjacent the circumferential wall (27) forming a centrally disposed opening (18) for the washer (15), the circumferential wall (27) not physically engaging the shank (37) of a fastener (39) when mounted and torqued thereon. The washer (15) includes a series of radially-extending serrations (23), each beginning adjacent the relief (25) and extending outwardly through the span (21) of the annular body (17) forming washer (15). In its mounting to a fastener (39) to be applied to a bearing surface (45), the serrations (23) face the undersurface (40) of the fastener'"'"'s head (42), and the head (42) is torqued to a proper setting. The serrations (23) efficaciously bite into the head'"'"'s undersurface (40), providing a tight engagement of fastener (39) to the bearing surface (45), and one which eliminates looseness in the fastener (39) upon a thermal expansion of the metal of the elements.

Claims

1. An improvement in a Belleville-type washer having an annular body including

an upper portion having a top surface and a circumferential wall forming a centrally disposed opening for the washer, and serrations circumferentially mounted upon the top surface of the annular body,

the improvement comprising

a relief formed in the upper portion of the annular body adjacent its circumferential wall, the relief in its formation having a limited depth extending from the top surface and which does not cause the circumferential wall to frictionally engage the shank of a fastener to which the washer is to be torqued,

the relief including an angle in its formation.

2. In the improvement of claim 1, the washer being heat-treated.

3. In the improvement of claim 1,

the relief comprising

a first wall depending from the top surface into the annular body of the washer, and

a second wall extending from the first wall to the circumferential wall.

4. In the improvement of claim 3, the washer being heat-treated.