U.S. patent application number 12/606042 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-28 for locking axle nut.
Invention is credited to Arnold Varden.
Application Number | 20110097174 12/606042 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43858558 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110097174 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Varden; Arnold |
April 28, 2011 |
LOCKING AXLE NUT
Abstract
A castellated nut has 8 castellation slots in the outer wall. A
circular locking insert has 25 long locking tabs radiating
outwardly from the perimeter, an axle-engaging tongue protruding
inwardly, and 9 smaller holding tabs which fit into an interior
circular nut groove. All 25 locking tabs are bent at 90 degrees up
from the circular locking insert and the axle slot-engaging tongue
is bent down at 90 degrees. The locking insert is pressed into the
nut and the small holding tabs are bent into the interior circular
groove in the nut. The axle-engaging tongue is aligned with the
axle shaft groove. The locking axle nut is threaded onto the axle
shaft and tightened with the axle slot-engaging tongue sliding in
the axle groove. One of the 25 locking tabs is bent into one of the
8 castellation slots.
Inventors: |
Varden; Arnold; (Barrie,
CA) |
Family ID: |
43858558 |
Appl. No.: |
12/606042 |
Filed: |
October 26, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
411/221 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B 39/108
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
411/221 |
International
Class: |
F16B 39/10 20060101
F16B039/10 |
Claims
1. A locking axle nut device comprising: a castellated nut
comprising an outer peripheral octagonal wall for gripping by a
tool to tighten and loosen the castellated nut and an interior
opening therethrough defined by a cylindrical interior wall having
interior threads on a portion of the interior wall to mate with
axle shaft threads on a vehicle, the castellated nut having an
interior annular groove in the interior wall of the castellated nut
adjacent to the interior threads; a series of spaced castellation
slots intruding into the castellated nut from a flat annular face
encircling a non-threaded end of the cylindrical opening extending
into the interior annular groove; a locking insert attached to the
castellated nut to form a locking axle nut device, the locking
insert comprising a flat annular ring having a bendable
axle-engaging tongue protruding inwardly from the annular ring
toward a center of the annular ring, the axle-engaging tongue bent
in over the interior threads so that the axle-engaging tongue rides
in a recessed axle groove along the length of a threaded outer
portion of the axle shaft while the locking axle nut is threaded
onto the axle shaft; a series of holding tabs evenly spaced around
an outer perimeter of the annular ring and radiating outwardly
therefrom, the holding tabs fitting into the interior annular
groove of the castellated nut so that the castellated nut rotates
on the holding tabs while the castellated nut is threaded onto the
axle shaft with the axle-engaging tongue in the axle groove
preventing rotation of the locking insert; and a series of bendable
spaced locking tabs longer than the holding tabs radiating
outwardly from the outer perimeter of the annular ring straddling
the holding tabs, the locking tabs bent orthogonally to the annular
ring while threading the locking axle nut onto the axle shaft and
one of the locking tabs bent into one of the castellation slots to
lock the locking axle nut device in place after tightening the axle
nut onto the axle shaft, the locking tabs sufficient in number and
spacing so that one of the locking tabs will automatically align
with one of the castellation slots when the locking nut is tightly
threaded onto the axle shaft.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the castellated nut comprises
eight evenly spaced castellation slots, each positioned at an
intersection between two adjacent outer faces of the peripheral
octagonal wall, each of the castellation slots having a width sized
to receive a locking tab precisely fit into the castellation slot
to prevent movement of the locking tab within the castellation
slot.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the annular ring of the locking
insert comprises twenty five locking tabs.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable.
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to locking spindle nuts and
particularly to a locking axle nut comprising a castellated nut
with 8 castellation slots in the outer wall and a circular locking
insert; the locking insert comprises 25 long locking tabs radiating
outwardly from the perimeter, an axle-engaging tongue protruding
inwardly, and 9 smaller holding tabs which fit into interior
circular groove located just above the interior threaded portion of
the nut; to install the locking insert, all 25 locking tabs are
bent at 90 degrees up from the circular locking insert and the axle
slot-engaging tongue is bent down at 90 degrees, the locking insert
is pressed into the nut and the small holding tabs are bent into
the interior circular groove in the nut, the axle-engaging tongue
is then aligned with the groove or slot running along the length of
the threaded axle shaft and the locking axle nut is then threaded
onto the threaded axle shaft with the axle slot-engaging tongue
sliding straight in the slot, once the locking axle nut is threaded
on tightly, one of the 25 locking tabs is bent into one of the 8
castellation slots in the outer circular wall of the nut to lock
the nut in place.
Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37
CFR 1.97 and 1.98
[0005] In mounting a wheel on an axle, a locking device typically
engages a keyway (slot) formed in the threaded portion of the axle
so that the locking device is non-rotatable relative to the axle.
One such device is a washer that is positioned between the bearings
and the nut. After the nut is tightened to establish a desired
pre-load on the bearings, the washer is deformed to engage a flat
on the nut. This type of lock requires deformation of the washer to
lock the nut.
[0006] Some spindle lock nuts use a tabbed washer which has a
protrusion that engages the keyway of the spindle and a means of
engaging the nut so that it is non-rotatable relative to the
spindle. The means for engaging the nut is often undulations or
score mark in the mating faces of the nut and the washer.
[0007] U.S. Patent Application #20060008340, published Jan. 12,
2006 by Cox, relates a wheel retention nut which includes a body
having a front face and a rear face. A central bore with internal
threads extends through the body. A first outer perimeter of a
first diameter is positioned adjacent to the front face. The first
outer perimeter defines a polygon adapted to receive a wrench. A
second outer perimeter of a second diameter, which is larger than
the first diameter, is positioned adjacent to the rear face. The
second outer perimeter is sized to retain an eccentrically rotating
wheel.
[0008] U.S. Patent Application #20070211973, published Sep. 13,
2007 by Rode, claims a method, apparatus, and nut for preloading a
bearing. These methods and apparatus include preload monitoring
devices whereby the mechanic can accurately monitor and regulate
the preload on a bearing or bearing assembly. Aspects of the
invention may also be used to adjust the endplay on a bearing or a
bearing assembly. In one aspect, the preload on the bearing is
transmitted through a housing having a fluid pressure that can be
detected and monitored. An apparatus for precisely rotating a nut
and a tool for precisely rotating a nut are also provided. A
bearing retaining nut arrangement that permits the loading or
evaluating of a bearing inner race is also provided. The bearing
retaining nut arrangement includes a first load-setting nut, a lock
washer, and a second jam nut that secures the arrangement to a
shaft.
[0009] U.S. Patent Application #20070189876, published Aug. 16,
2007 by Harris, describes a locking fastener assembly comprising a
nut and a washer. The nut and washer each have opposed load bearing
surfaces which include a series of annularly extending, slightly
inclined faces forming shallow undulations around each surface. The
load bearing surface on the nut is generally spherically convex and
the load bearing surface on the washer is generally spherically
concave. The nut rotates as it is installed while the washer is
prevented from rotating so that the undulating bearing surface on
the nut slides over the undulating bearing surface on the washer
against ever increasing resistance until the assembly is properly
seated and the nut is effectively prevented from counter-rotating
by interference between opposed, inclined faces. A concave clamping
surface is formed on the outer end of the washer on a radially
extending flange. The flange flexes when the assembly is installed
and resiliently urges the washer against the nut.
[0010] U.S. Patent Application #20070052287, published Mar. 8, 2007
by White, discloses an axle spindle nut assembly for heavy-duty
vehicles which secures a wheel end assembly on an axle spindle. The
wheel end assembly includes outboard and inboard outboard bearings
that are immovably mounted on the axle spindle, and a wheel hub
which is rotatably mounting on the bearings. The spindle nut
assembly includes a nut that threads onto an outboard end of the
axle spindle, and is tightened against the outboard bearing to a
selected torque level. The nut includes an outboard surface that is
formed with a plurality of features. A washer is formed with a tab
that engages a keyway of the axle spindle outboardly of the nut,
and with a plurality of mating features that mechanically engage
the features formed in the outboard surface of the nut to prevent
substantial rotation of the nut after the nut has been tightened to
the selected torque level.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,812,094, issued Mar. 14, 1989 to Grube, is
for a locking fastener assembly for a threaded joint, such as axle
bearings and the like, which is free spinning during tightening and
removal and is positively held against rotation after installation.
The assembly is engageable with an axially slotted male threaded
member and includes a nut with female threads and a flange end. A
retainer washer includes spaced fingers formed around the nut
flange for rotatably supporting the washer at the flanged end of
the nut. The washer includes a tab received in the slot of the male
threaded member permitting the nut to move axially but not to
rotate on the male threaded member. When the nut is engaged by a
wrench, the wrench releases a flexible and resilient locking clip
to permit the nut freely to rotate. After the assembly has been
threaded onto the male threaded member, removal of the wrench frees
the locking clip and a lock finger is received in a space between
fingers of the retainer washer positively to prevent further
rotation of the nut.
[0012] Two U.S. Patents, U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,455 issued Oct. 2,
1973 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,323 issued Oct. 29, 1974 to Anderson,
Jr., provide a lock nut assembly in which a lock ring is adapted to
be disposed and secured within an undercut cavity formed in the
main body of the lock nut. The cavity is formed by a bottom
transverse wall, a peripheral side wall extending upwardly
therefrom, and an upper transverse wall. An annular set of teeth is
mounted about the periphery of the lower portion of the sidewall
adjacent the bottom wall. The space between the teeth and the upper
transverse wall forms an undercut groove. The lock ring comprises a
split ring having a central portion and a pair of leg portions
extending outwardly therefrom. The central portion includes an
inwardly extending key, an outwardly extending projection, and a
pair of sectors having a plurality of teeth formed on the periphery
thereof. The key is adapted to extend into a longitudinal keyway
formed on an axle, shaft or like element to lock the ring against
rotation with respect to the element. The projection is adapted to
extend into the undercut groove while the teeth of the sectors are
adapted to engage a portion of the teeth formed in the cavity to
lock the ring against rotation with the nut. The central portion of
the ring is secured in position by the legs of the lock ring
extending into the undercut groove. Besides being biased outwardly
to engage the sidewall of the undercut groove, the lock ring legs
are biased in the axial direction to cause the upper surface of the
legs to be biased against the upper wall and the central portion of
the ring to be biased against the bottom surface of the cavity,
thereby ensuring that the lock ring remains secure and in contact
with the teeth in the cavity without becoming dislodged.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,609, issued Jun. 1, 1971 to Greenwood,
shows a lock nut assembly including a nut having a threaded hole
therein adapted for use with a bolt having a groove running at
least part of the length of the thread thereon. The nut comprises a
central recess which includes a plurality of inwardly extending
serrations along a portion of the total depth of the recess. A lock
ring having a plurality of serrations extending outwardly from the
outer surface thereof is adapted to fit over the bolt and into the
recess in the nut where the serrations on the lock ring mate with
the serrations on the nut. The lock ring further includes an
inwardly extending tongue which is positioned in the groove in the
bolt so that the lock ring is axially moveable but not rotatable
relative to the bolt, the nut being locked in place when the
serrations thereon are in contact with the serrations on the lock
ring. A special wrench is provided for separating the lock ring and
nut so that the nut may be rotated relative to the bolt.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,367, issued Dec. 4, 2007 to Rode, claims
a lock nut system which includes a molded nut having a plurality of
teeth and a molded keeper having a plurality of keeper teeth
engageable with the plurality of teeth to inhibit movement of the
keeper relative to the nut when the plurality of teeth engages the
plurality of keeper teeth. The keeper has a radially inner side
configured to engage a shaft to inhibit rotational movement of the
nut relative to the shaft when the plurality of teeth engages the
plurality of keeper teeth.
[0015] Two U.S. Patents, U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,386 issued Jun. 15,
2004 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,259 issued Jun. 5, 2007 to Harris,
describe a locking fastener assembly comprising a nut and a washer.
The nut and washer each have opposed load bearing surfaces which
include a series of annularly extending, slightly inclined faces
forming shallow undulations around each surface. The load bearing
surface on the nut is generally spherically convex and the load
bearing surface on the washer is generally spherically concave. The
nut rotates as it is installed while the washer is prevented from
rotating so that the undulating bearing surface on the nut slides
over the undulating bearing surface on the washer against ever
increasing resistance until the assembly is properly seated and the
nut is effectively prevented from counter-rotating by interference
between opposed, inclined faces. A concave clamping surface is
formed on the outer end of the washer on a radially extending
flange. The flange flexes when the assembly is installed and
resiliently urges the washer against the nut.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,493, issued Sep. 28, 1965 to Holmes,
discloses a locknut and stud device which has a ring shaped nut
retainer built into the nut. The ring shaped nut retainer has a
plurality of projecting fingers which engage grooves in the
shaft.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,167, issued May 1, 2001 to Riley,
indicates a retaining assembly for an axle hub and bearing
assembly. A hub assembly is supported by the spindle and is adapted
to support the wheels. A bearing assembly is arranged adjacent to
the threaded end portion and is interposed between the spindle and
the hub assembly for permitting low friction rotation of the hub
assembly relative to the spindle about the axis. An end nut is
secured to the threaded end portion of the spindle for retaining
the bearing assembly and the hub assembly on the spindle. A washer
is interposed between said bearing assembly and the end nut wherein
the washer secures the end nut to the spindle for preventing
rotation of the end nut about the axis.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,816, issued Dec. 20, 2005 to Slesinski,
puts forth a connection between a spindle and a bearing assembly to
retain the bearing assembly on the spindle. A combination lock
washer and spindle bearing assembly is provided to include a
spindle, thrust washer, lock washer and nut in which the lock
washer simultaneously locks the inner thrust washer and an outer
spindle nut. According to the invention, the thrust washer, lock
washer and nut may be oriented at any angle relative to one another
allowing for infinite bearing adjustment positions.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,168, issued Jun. 22, 1993 to Kasai,
concerns a device for fixing an external part, such as a ball and
roller bearing, to a shaft by employing a washer and a nut. The
washer is provided with a plurality of projecting engageable pawls
on the outer periphery thereof and a projecting tongue piece on the
inner periphery thereof. This tongue piece is inserted into an
engageable groove formed in an externally threaded portion of the
shaft. The nut has engageable grooves for receiving the engageable
pawls of the washer, on the outer periphery thereof. This nut is
threadably coupled onto the externally threaded portion of the
shaft, thereby the ball and roller bearing is clamped interposing
the washer between the bearing and the nut. The tongue piece of the
washer is formed in such a manner that, out of the opposite ends in
the circumferential direction of the tongue piece, at least the
forward end in a direction of rotation of fastening the nut is
positioned on the center line or thereabout of the engageable pawl.
The shaft may be a hollow shaft.
[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,688, issued Mar. 1, 2005 to Bushell,
illustrates a lockable nut system for use with threaded steel bar
which includes a screw threaded nut for engagement with the
threaded steel bar and a locking member which is slidably
engageable with the bar. The locking member is adapted to resist
rotation about the bar and is also axially engageable with the nut
to prevent rotation of the nut. The locking member has one or more
fingers to engage the nut with an end of the finger being displaced
to engage the nut as a result of deformation of a finger actuating
tab or a dished body of the locking member. The locking member may
engage the bar by displacement of an end of at least one tongue as
a result of deformation of a tongue actuating tab during
compression between the nut and a second structure.
[0021] Two U.S. Patents, U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,143 issued Apr. 8,
1997 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,373 issued Jun. 30, 1998 to Cronin II,
are for a spindle nut and a locking device for securing the nut in
a rotative position on a spindle. An anti-rotation spring and a
back up plate are mounted on the spindle in a non-rotative manner
with the back up plate in abutment with the bearings that
rotatively mount the hub to the spindle. The back up plate has
multiple grooves aligned with and arranged to receive multiple
resilient tabs on the periphery of the anti-rotation spring. The
tabs of the anti-rotation spring are formed to project axially from
the spring. A flange of the nut has multiple slots around its
periphery that are sized to receive a tab of the anti-rotation
spring. A tool having extending ears that fit in the slots of the
nut is utilized to install the nut on the spindle. The extending
ears prevent the tabs of the spring from entering a slot of the nut
until the tool is removed. As the nut is rotated by the tool, the
nut abuts the anti-rotation spring. The extending ears and the face
of the flange in combination force the radial tabs of the spring
further into the grooves of the back up plate. When the nut is
torqued to the desired level, the tool is removed allowing a tab of
the spring to enter a slot of the nut due to its resiliency to lock
the nut in a rotative position. Should a tab of the spring not be
in alignment with a slot of the nut, the nut need only rotate a few
degrees to place one of the slots of the nut in alignment with a
tab of the spring.
[0022] U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,290, issued Jan. 4, 2000 to Slesinski,
provides a nut washer for a locking nut assembly. A single lock nut
washer is formed of steel or other material to simultaneously lock
an inner wheel bearing nut and an outer bearing nut secured to an
axle spindle. An annular member has a plurality of outwardly
extending tabs that bend over to engage the outer surface of the
outer bearing nut to prevent rotation. An inwardly extending lug
engages a groove in the axle spindle to prevent rotation of the
washer. A plurality of circumferentially arranged bores are each
adapted to receive a longitudinally extending pin of the inner
bearing nut to prevent relative rotation. The lug is offset from
the bores and is preferably oriented circumferentially intermediate
one of the bores and a midpoint to an adjacent bore.
[0023] U.S. Pat. No. 976,928, issued Nov. 29, 1910 to Salisbury,
shows a locking nut having grooves in the top thereof and a tabbed
annular washer, the washer having two internally projecting tabs
that engage slots in the shaft of a bolt and also having two
externally extending tabs which fit with the grooves in the top of
the nut.
[0024] U.S. Pat. No. 1,613,493, issued Jan. 4, 1927 to Turner,
claims a nut lock comprising a bolt having a longitudinal groove in
its threaded end, a nut for said bolt, a washer with a lug for
engaging the groove in the bolt and a plurality of radial tongues
which are received in castellated recesses in the top of the
nut.
[0025] U.S. Pat. No. 1,440,938, issued Jan. 2, 1923 to
Sieroslawski, describes a nut lock comprising a nut having T-shaped
projections protruding from its top which form a plurality of
slots. The device is provided with a locking split ring washer
having an inwardly protruding tab for engagement with a slot in the
shaft of a bolt and a plurality of radial tabs which are received
in the slots created by the T-shaped projections.
[0026] U.S. Pat. No. 1,491,163, issued Apr. 22, 1924 to Osenkowski,
discloses a nut lock with a locking washer having two inwardly
protruding tabs for engagement with slots in the shaft of a bolt
and two radial tabs which are received in castellated slots in the
nut.
[0027] U.S. Pat. No. 1,431,459, issued Oct. 10, 1922 to Hardie,
indicates a nut lock device which engages the slot on the shaft of
a bolt, the device having a nut with a depressed center and
castellations on its outer upper edge and a mating washer having
two inwardly protruding tabs for engagement with slots in the shaft
of a bolt and two radial tabs which are received in castellated
slots in the nut.
[0028] U.S. Pat. No. 1,197,429, issued Sep. 5, 1916 to Barnard,
shows a nut-lock comprising a bolt having a longitudinal groove in
the shaft thereof, a nut threaded on the bolt, an external annular
flange on said nut, an annular locking member inclosed by said
flange, an inwardly directed tooth carried by said locking member
engaged within said groove, a plurality of inwardly directed teeth
on said flange, a tooth on said locking member arranged in radial
line with the inwardly directed tooth and engaged between the
first-mentioned teeth, and a cap removably secured upon said nut
provided with an inwardly directed flange overlying and securing
the locking member in position in the flange.
[0029] U.S. Pat. No. 580,340, issued Apr. 6, 1897 to Buell,
provides a nut lock comprising a bolt having a pair of longitudinal
grooves in the shaft thereof, a nut having a countersink in the
outerface thereof adapted to receive and contain a washer in
interlocking relation to the bolt and having slots on the face for
the purpose of removing the washer, and an annular washer having
two inwardly directed teeth for engaging the longitudinal grooves
of the bolt and having a plurality of serrations around its outer
perimeter which are adapted to form a binding friction upon the
perimeter of said countersink to prevent rotation of the nut.
[0030] What is needed is a locking insert attached to a castellated
nut to form a locking axle nut which can be easily installed and
locked in place on an axle shaft.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0031] An object of the present invention is to provide a locking
insert attached to a castellated nut to form a locking axle nut
which can be easily installed and locked in place on an axle
shaft.
[0032] In brief, the locking axle nut of the present invention has
two parts, a nut and a locking insert which has 25 long locking
tabs sticking out around perimeter and nine smaller holding tabs
which fit into interior circular groove of the nut located just
above the threaded portion on the inside of the outer wall that
sticks out from the threaded portion around the perimeter of the
nut with 8 slots in the outer wall.
[0033] To install the locking insert, all 25 locking tabs are bent
at 90 degrees up from the circular locking insert and the tongue is
bent down at 90 degrees. The locking insert is pressed into the nut
and the small holding tabs are bent into the groove in the nut. The
tongue is then aligned with the groove running along the length of
the threaded axle shaft and the and the locking axle is then
threaded onto the threaded axle shaft with the tongue sliding
straight in the groove with the outer wall of the nut facing out.
The locking insert moves straight onto the axle shaft while the nut
is turned around it to thread the nut onto the threaded axle
shaft.
[0034] Once the locking axle nut is threaded on tightly, one of the
locking tabs is bent into one of the 8 slots in the outer circular
wall of the nut to lock the nut in place. No matter where the nut
has turned relative to the locking insert, one locking tab will
always line up with the one of the 8 slots. The nut can no longer
turn because the tongue of the locking insert is in the groove of
the axle and the locking tab is in the slot of the nut and the nut
cannot be turned to unthread.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] These and other details of my invention will be described in
connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only
by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and
in which drawings:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the two components of the
present invention aligned to install the locking insert onto the
castellated nut to form the locking axle nut;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled locking axle
nut of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the assembled locking axle nut
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0039] In FIGS. 1-3, a locking axle nut device 10 comprises a
castellated nut 20 and a locking insert 30 attached to the
castellated nut.
[0040] The castellated nut 20 comprises an outer peripheral
octagonal wall 23 for gripping by a tool to tighten and loosen the
castellated nut and an interior opening 25 therethrough defined by
a cylindrical interior wall 27 having interior threads 28 on a
portion of the interior wall to mate with axle shaft threads of the
axle shaft 40 on a vehicle. The castellated nut 20 has an interior
annular groove 22 in the interior wall of the castellated nut
adjacent to the interior threads 27. A series of spaced
castellation slots 21 intrude into the castellated nut from a flat
annular face 26 encircling a non-threaded end of the cylindrical
opening extending into the interior annular groove.
[0041] The locking insert 30 attaches to the castellated nut 20 to
form the locking axle nut device 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The
locking insert 30 comprises a flat annular ring 31 having a
bendable axle-engaging tongue 32 protruding inwardly from the
annular ring toward a center of the annular ring, as shown in FIG.
1. The axle-engaging tongue 32 is bent in over the interior threads
28, as shown in FIG. 2 so that the axle-engaging tongue 32 rides in
a recessed axle groove 42 along the length of a threaded outer
portion of the axle shaft 40 while the locking axle nut 10 is
threaded onto the axle shaft 40.
[0042] A series of holding tabs 34, preferably eight, are evenly
spaced around an outer perimeter of the annular ring and radiate
outwardly therefrom. The holding tabs 34 fitting into the interior
annular groove 22 of the castellated nut 20 so that the castellated
nut rotates on the holding tabs while the castellated nut is
threaded onto the axle shaft with the axle-engaging tongue in the
axle groove preventing rotation of the locking insert.
[0043] A series of bendable spaced locking tabs 33 longer than the
holding tabs radiate outwardly from the outer perimeter of the
annular ring straddling the holding tabs 34. The locking tabs 33
are bent orthogonally to the annular ring while threading the
locking axle nut onto the axle shaft 40, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
and one of the locking tabs 33 is bent into one of the castellation
slots 21 to lock the locking axle nut device 10 in place after
tightening the locking axle nut 10 onto the axle shaft 40. The
locking tabs 33 are sufficient in number and spacing so that one of
the locking tabs 33 will automatically align with one of the
castellation slots 21 when the locking nut 10 is tightly threaded
onto the axle shaft 40.
[0044] The castellated nut 20 preferably comprises eight evenly
spaced castellation slots 21, each positioned at an intersection
between two adjacent outer faces 24 of the peripheral octagonal
wall 23. Each of the castellation slots 21 has a width sized to
receive a locking tab 33 precisely fit into the castellation slot
21 to prevent movement of the locking tab 33 within the
castellation slot 21. The annular ring 31 of the locking insert 30
preferably comprises twenty five locking tabs 33.
[0045] In use in FIGS. 1-3, to install the locking insert 10, all
twenty-five locking tabs 33 are bent at 90 degrees up from the
circular locking insert 31 and the axle-engaging tongue 32 is bent
down at 90 degrees over the internal threads 28. The locking insert
20 is pressed into the nut and the small holding tabs 34 are bent
into the groove 22 in the nut. The axle-engaging tongue 32 is then
aligned with the axle groove 42 running along the length of the
threaded axle shaft 40, as shown in FIG. 3. The locking axle nut 10
is then threaded onto the threaded axle shaft 40 with the
axel-engaging tongue 32 sliding straight in the axle groove 42 with
the outer wall 26 of the locking axle nut 10 facing out. The
locking insert 30 moves straight onto the axle shaft 40 while the
castellated nut 20 is turned around it to thread the castellated
nut 20 onto the threaded axle shaft 40. Once the locking axle nut
10 is threaded on tightly, one of the locking tabs 33 is bent into
one of the eight castellated slots 21 in the outer circular wall 26
of the castellated nut 20 to lock the castellated nut in place. No
matter where the castellated nut 20 has turned relative to the
locking insert, one locking tab 33 will always line up with the one
of the eight castellated slots 21. The castellated nut 20 can no
longer turn because the axle-engaging tongue 32 of the locking
insert 30 is in the groove of the axle and the locking tab is in
the slot of the nut and the nut cannot be turned to unthread.
[0046] It is understood that the preceding description is given
merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the
invention and that various modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.
* * * * *