High-integrity interlocking nut and washer system
First Claim
1. A retaining system for establishing and maintaining a desired degree of preload force relative to roller bearings mounted on a threaded axle having a predetermined pitch, comprising, in order closest to the bearings:
- an inner adjustment nut;
an intermediate washer having an outer face providing the first portion of a mechanical interlock;
an outer retainer nut having an inner surface providing the second portion of the mechanical interlock; and
wherein the first portion of the mechanical interlock includes a plurality of spaced-apart physical features related to the predetermined pitch, such that tightening the outer retainer nut causes the second portion of the mechanical interlock to become progressively trapped by one of the features.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interlocking nut and washer system exhibits a very high degree of inherent mechanical stability. The preferred embodiment includes an inner washer, an adjustment nut, an intermediate washer, and an outer nut completing an interlock assembly. Although the inner washer is technically optional, use thereof does reduce wear on the inner nut. While the invention maybe applied in different ways, the system is particularly suited to the controlled adjustment of tapered roller wheel bearings. In this case the system is provided on the spindle ends of an axle, which mounts a wheel assembly that includes tapered roller bearings.
47 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A retaining system for establishing and maintaining a desired degree of preload force relative to roller bearings mounted on a threaded axle having a predetermined pitch, comprising, in order closest to the bearings:
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an inner adjustment nut;
an intermediate washer having an outer face providing the first portion of a mechanical interlock;
an outer retainer nut having an inner surface providing the second portion of the mechanical interlock; and
wherein the first portion of the mechanical interlock includes a plurality of spaced-apart physical features related to the predetermined pitch, such that tightening the outer retainer nut causes the second portion of the mechanical interlock to become progressively trapped by one of the features. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A retaining system for establishing and maintaining a desired degree of preload force relative to roller bearings mounted on an axle having threads of a predetermined pitch and a keyway, comprising in order closest to the bearings:
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an inner washer with a tab received by the keyway;
an inner adjustment nut;
a tabbed intermediate washer having an outer face with a plurality of spaced apart, radially directed grooves;
an outer retainer nut having an inner surface with at least one projection; and
wherein the spacing between the grooves is such a way that the projection interacts with two of the grooves when the outer retainer nut is tightened before finally interlocking with one of the grooves. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A retaining system for establishing and maintaining a desired degree of preload force, comprising:
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an axle protruding through a set of roller bearings terminating in an end having threads with a predetermined pitch and a keyway;
an inner tabbed washer on the axle closest to the bearings;
an inner adjustment nut on the threads abutting the inner tabbed washer;
a tabbed intermediate washer abutting the inner adjustment nut;
an outer retainer nut abutting the tabbed intermediate washer; and
wherein the tabbed intermediate washer includes a plurality of spaced apart, radially directed grooves and the outer retainer nut includes at least one projection; and
wherein the spacing between the grooves is related to the pitch in such a way that the projection interacts with two of the grooves when the outer retainer nut is tightened before finally interlocking with one of the grooves, resulting in a high integrity mechanical interlock when the nuts are tightened to achieve a desired degree of preload force on the bearings. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification