Spindle nut

• US 8,292,373 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Consolidated Metco Incorporated (Amsted Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Consolidted Metco Incorporated
• Inventors: Rieger, Brian, Lofthus, Terry, Brasch, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kotter, Kip T
• Application Number:
  US12/802,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20110291468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 301/105.1, 301/111.03, 301/124.1, 301/126, 301/131, 384/544, 298/943.61, 411/119, 411/120
• US Class Current: 301/111.03
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/305 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2380/12 Ball bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2380/14 Roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0005 with ball bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/001 with roller-bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/0078 characterised by the fixation of bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/3312 during regular use
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/10 Road Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/10 by a plate, spring, wire or ring immovable with regard to the bolt or object and mainly perpendicular to the axis of the boltF16B39/08 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/364 with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/548 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/02 Wheel hubs or castors
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/06 Ball or roller bearings

Abstract

A novel spindle nut assembly is presented comprising the following three components: a washer, a locking snap ring, and a nut. Each of these three components function together, and in conjunction with the spindle of a vehicle axle, to affix a wheel hub assembly onto the spindle of an axle. The three components comprising the spindle nut assembly incorporate design features allowing the components to interlock and resist loss of preload compression on the hub assembly.

Claims

1. In combination with an axle having a spindle at a free end of the axle, the spindle having an external thread, a bearing assembly having an inboard bearing and an outboard bearing mounted on the spindle, the bearing assembly held in a hub, an improved spindle nut assembly comprising:

a washer having a plurality of openings, the washer abutting the outboard bearing;

a retaining nut abutting the washer, the retaining nut having an internal thread engaging the external thread of the spindle to affix the outboard bearing against axially outward displacement, the retaining nut further having an aperture; and

a locking ring attached to the retaining nut, the locking ring having a pin extending through the aperture of the retaining nut, the pin engaging at least one of the plurality of openings in the washer, wherein the retaining nut includes a flange extending radially outward from the retaining nut and further wherein the aperture extends through the flange, and wherein the flange includes at least one pad extending axially inward from the flange to capture the washer.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the aperture is aligned with at least one of the plurality of openings in the washer.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the openings in the washer extend through the washer.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the washer is rotationally affixed to the spindle.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the inboard bearing and the outboard bearing each have a cone mounted to the spindle and a cup mounted to the hub.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein a spacer is disposed between the cone of the inboard bearing and the cone of the outboard bearing.

7. The combination of claim 5, wherein the washer abuts the cone of the outboard bearing.

8. A hub assembly mounted to a spindle at the free end of an axle, the spindle having an external thread, the hub assembly comprising:

an inboard bearing;

an outboard bearing, the inboard bearing and the outboard bearing mounted to the spindle;

a hub for housing the inboard bearing and the outboard bearing; and

a spindle nut assembly comprising;

a washer having a plurality of openings, the washer abutting the outboard bearing;

a retaining nut abutting the washer, the retaining nut having an internal thread engaging the external thread of the spindle to affix the hub assembly against axially outward displacement, the retaining nut further having an aperture; and

a locking ring attached to the retaining nut, the locking ring having a pin extending through the aperture of the retaining nut and engaging at least one of the plurality of openings in the washer, wherein the retaining nut includes a flange extending radially outward from the retaining nut, and further wherein the aperture extends through the flange, and the flange includes at least one pad extending axially inward from the flange to capture the washer.

9. The hub assembly of claim 8, wherein the aperture is aligned with at least one of the plurality of openings in the washer.

10. The hub assembly of claim 8, wherein the washer is rotationally affixed to the spindle.

11. The hub assembly of claim 8, wherein the inboard bearing and the outboard bearing each have a cone mounted to the spindle and a cup mounted to the hub.

12. The hub assembly of claim 11, wherein a spacer is disposed between the cone of the inboard bearing and the cone of the outboard bearing.

13. The hub assembly of claim 11, wherein the washer abuts the cone of the outboard bearing.