Patent Application
20070292233
These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:
While the invention will be described in conjunction with the illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given identical reference numerals where appropriate. All dimensions described herein are intended solely to illustrate an embodiment. These dimensions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention that may depart from these dimensions.
The two nut portions 12 and 14 are threaded onto the screw by applying torque to a one of the two nut portions until a tightened condition is achieved and subsequently applying torque to another one of the two nut portions 12 and 14. By applying torque to one of the two nut portions 12 and 14 relative to another one of the two nut portions 12 and 14, the frangible bridging portion is sheared so that the opposing faces 24 and 26 of the two nut portions are brought into contact and the two nut portions 12 and 14 are locked in place.
The thread of the threaded aperture 20 of a first one of the two nut portions 12 has the same pitch as the thread of the threaded aperture 20 of a second one of the two nut portions 14. The respective pitches of threads of said threaded apertures are aligned along at least one helical path so that the two nut portions 12 and 14 can receive the screw (not shown) without deforming or breaking the frangible bridging portion 16 by applying torque to one of the two nut portions 12.
The space 22 is machined out of a single nut or out of a length of bar stock. This space 22 may be machined approximately halfway along the length of the single nut so that the two nut portions 12 and 14 are of approximately the same size. Of course, the two nut portions 12 and 14 can be of different sizes. Similarly, the frangible bridging portion 16 and the space 22 may be of any suitable size.
The two nut portions 12 and 14 may be made of a single piece of metal.
More than two nut portions 12 and 14 may be provided, separated by a corresponding number of frangible bridging portions 16.
The locking nut 10 or a plurality of these locking nuts 10 may be manufactured by first providing a nut having an outer gripping surface 18 and a centrally disposed threaded aperture 20 for receiving and engaging a screw. The space 22 may then be machined approximately halfway along a length of the nut to form the two nut portions 12 and 14 on either side of the integral frangible bridging portion 16. As explained previously, the frangible bridging portion 16 connects the nut portions 12 and 14 so that the threaded apertures 20 are axially aligned. The frangible bridging portion 16 is disposed to a side of the centrally disposed threaded aperture 20 adjacent to the outer gripping surface 18.
The step of machining is performed by directing a linear cut in from the outer gripping surface 18 perpendicular to the central axis of the threaded apertures 20. This linear cut may be made using commonly available machining tools. Once the cut has been made, the threads of the threaded apertures 20 of the nut portions 12 and 14 should be chased in order to remove any burrs and the like resulting from the linear cut. This can be done by loosely threading a thread chasing tap or the like through the threaded apertures 20 of the nut portions 12 and 14.
Of course, it should be understood that the locking nut 10 or a plurality of these locking nuts 10 may be manufactured from bar stock. The bar stock may be supported using a suitable chuck and the working end of the bar stock may extend beyond the end of the chuck by any suitable length.
The threaded aperture 20 is created by drilling and tapping the hexagonal bar stock to a depth just beyond the depth required for a single nut 10. The end of the bar stock may be machined to form a top face of the nut 10. Using a suitable tool, a linear cut may be made inwardly from the gripping surface 18 of the bar stock at the length of one nut portion (12,14) until the cut approaches the opposite side of the bar stock, thus forming the space 22. Finally, the bar stock may be cut at the length of a single nut 10 (or two nut portions (12, 14)).
The edges of end faces of the nut 10 may be chamfered before or after the nut 10 is cut from the bar stock.
External burrs, for example those produced by the linear cut, may be removed by tumbling the nut 10 or a plurality of nuts 10 in tumbling material (e.g. ball bearings).
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the invention a locking nut that fully satisfy the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2,550,553 | Jun 2006 | CA | national |
