Self-locking nut

• US 7,811,038 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stemco Products, Inc. (Enpro Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stemco LP (Enpro Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jimenez, Daniel Trejo
• Primary Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, GARY WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US11/852,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20080063489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 411/120, 411/326, 411/149, 411/161, 411/163, 411/327, 411/328, 411/329, 411/204
• US Class Current: 411/328
• 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 39/32 Locking by means of a pawl or pawl-like tongue

Abstract

A self-locking nut includes a nut; a washer having a locking feature, the locking feature having a plurality of ridges; and at least one locking tab for slidably coupling the nut to the washer and engaging with the locking feature to resist rotation of the nut with respect to the washer.

Claims

1. A self-locking nut, comprising:

a nut comprising (i) a substantially cylindrical opening through the center thereof with threads that are adapted to engage with corresponding threads of a spindle, and (ii) at least one cavity;

a washer comprising (i) a substantially cylindrical opening through the center of the washer, and (ii) a locking feature located between an outer circumference of the washer and the cylindrical opening, the locking feature comprising a plurality of ridges located on an outer circumference of the locking feature; and

at least one locking tab located at least partially within said cavity and coupled to said nut with an interference fit, said locking tab slidably coupling the nut to the washer and engaging with the ridges on the outer circumference of the locking feature to resist rotation of the nut with respect to the washer.

2. The self-locking nut of claim 1, wherein the washer comprises at least one cavity for receiving the at least one locking tab.

3. The self-locking nut of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking tab comprises a nut-engaging feature, a washer-engaging tab, a notch, and a locking end.

4. The self-locking nut of claim 3, wherein the nut-engaging feature is configured to engage with said cavity.

5. The self-locking nut of claim 3, wherein the washer-engaging tab is slidably engageable with the washer to couple the nut to the washer.

6. The self-locking nut of claim 1, wherein the locking tab is disengageable from the locking feature by engagement of a tool with the self-locking nut.

7. A self-locking nut, comprising:

a nut having at least one cavity;

a washer comprising (i) a substantially cylindrical opening through the center of the washer, and (ii) a locking feature located between an outer circumference of the washer and the cylindrical opening, the locking feature comprising a plurality of ridges located on an outer circumference of the locking feature; and

at least one locking tab located at least partially within said cavity and coupled to said nut with an interference fit, said locking tab slidably coupling the nut to the washer and engaging with the ridges on the outer circumference of the locking feature to resist rotation of the nut with respect to the washer,

wherein the at least one locking tab comprises a nut-engaging feature, a washer-engaging tab, a notch, and a locking end, and

wherein the notch is engageable with the ridges of the locking feature.