Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
j CA 02362031 2001-11-15
C .
LOCKING NUT AND BOLT SYSTEM
Technical Field
The present invention relates to endoscopic surgical tools which incorporate
a laser.
Background An '
U.S. Patent No. 307,722 to Klemroth discloses a bolt A with longitudinal
channel D running through the crest of the threads. The nut has a tine
extending
above a flat end surface of the nut. The tine pops into and out of channel D.
U.S.
Patent No. 591,062 to Smith discloses a bolt with a longitudinal channel which
enables a chisel to be placed in a slot in a nut block and further to stop
rotation
of the bolt with respect to the block. U.S. Patent No. 1,088,892 to Foreman
discloses a screw with a longitudinal channel extending through the threads of
the
bolt. The tine is located outside of the nut threads.
U.S. Patent No. 1,136,310 to Burnett discloses small notches cut in the top
of the crest of the bolt threads. The notches define radially aligned
surfaces. A
flexible tine in the interior of the nut moves in and out of the small
notches. U.S.
Patent No. 1.211,194 to Lang discloses what appears to be a bolt with
longitudinal
channels on its threads. A sheet steel spring is wrapped around the nut and a
portion of the spring is inserted through the nut to lock into the bolt
channels.
U.S. Patent No. 1.226.143 to Stubblefield et al. discloses a bolt with
longitudinal
channels having a somewhat radial surface and an angularly disposed surface.
The
nut has an annular groove on one face thereof. A semi-circular member fits
within
the groove. One end of the semi-circular member defines a tine that pops into
and
out of the bolt channels.
U.S. Patent No. 1,245,362 to Lynch discloses a bolt with a single, offset
bolt thread crest which catches on a cut-out in the nut. U.S. Patent No.
1,278.028
to Savory et al. discloses a bolt with a longitudinal channel and tines in a
nut
which are mounted in an internally located groove. The internal groove has a
single radial dimension. U.S. Patent No. 1,465,148 to Rosenbert discloses a
bolt
with a longitudinal channel through the thread crest. No nut is shown. U.S.
Patent No. 1,703.947 to Nation discloses a bolt with several longitudinal
channels.
r r
~ CA 02362031 2001-11-15
r .
2
A single tine is located at an interior position in the nut. The tine in the
nut has
a terminal end that is radially moved inward based upon the position of a
locking
cam. The locking cam extends radially through the nut. U.S. Patent No.
2,232,336 to Meersteiner discloses a bolt with a longitudinal channel. No nut
is
shown.
U.S. Patent No. 2,301,181 to Ilsemann discloses non-load bearing or
carrying faces of most of the bolt threads which are deformed and which carry
locking projections. Locking projections on a plurality of bolt threads are
adapted
to engage nut threads and compensate for the clearances in the assembly to
align
and frictionally lock the nut and bolt together. The non-load carrying faces
of
each bolt thread include two annular series of spaced, rounded projections. '
The
surfaces of the projections are substantially rounded. Bolt projections force
the
load bearing surface of the bolt against the load bearing surfaces of the nut.
U.S.
Patent No. 2,484,645 to Baummler discloses a bolt with longitudinal channels.
No
nut is shown. U.S. Patent No. 2,521,257 to Sample discloses a bolt with
longitudinal channels. Springy tines are mounted at one end of the nut flip in
and
out of channels.
U.S. Patent No. 2,834,390 to Stevens discloses bolts which appear to have
longitudinal channels through the threads. A plurality of radially inward
pointed
teeth on the nut provide locking for the combination. U.S. Patent No.
3,176,746
to Walton discloses that each crest of each thread on the bolt has a gouged
out
portion. Thesc portions, when aligned, are similar to a longitudinal channel.
No
nut is disclosed. U.S. Patent No. 3,517,717 to Orlomoski discloses threads on
a
bolt which include two outwardly directed prongs. The prongs flex inward when
the bolt is screwed onto a nut. The sliced away wedge or prongs do not have a
narrow mouth and a deep throat. No nut is disclosed.
U.S. Patcnt No. 3,792,757 to Wright discloses a nut with a bore having a
triangular cross-sectional dimension. U.S. Patent No. 3,982,575 to Ollis et
al.
discloses a thread on each bolt with a plurality of ridges forming wedge
surfaces.
U.S. Patent No. 4,024,899 to Stewart discloses a top of each crest of the bolt
thread having a slice and a prong protruding therefrom. The prong fits within
a
CA 02362031 2001-11-15
3
cut-out depression in the root of the nut thread. The cut-outs at the root of
the
threads do not appear to be radially aligned. U.S. Patent No. 4,168,731 to
Taber
discloses a root of the nut with a cut-out and the bolt having a plurality of
wedges
which fit within the nut cut-out.
U.S. Patent No. 4,790,703 to Wing discloses a nut with a bore with an
imperfect, non-symmetrical cross-sectional aspect. U.S. Patent No. 4,790,208
to
Kaiser et al. discloses a bolt with a longitudinal channel through the
threads. U.S.
Patent No. 5,238,342 to Stencel discloses a bolt with a longitudinal channel
into
which snaps inwardly biased wings from a nut insert. The nut insert is an
elongated cylinder which fits within a cylindrical bore in the nut. The wings
protrude at an angle, tangentially inward towards the bolt's axial centerline.
U.S. Patent No. 5,460,468 to DiStacio discloses a bolt having one or more
longitudinal channels through the bolt threads. The nut has one or more tines
which cooperate with the channels to prevent counter-rotation of the bolt with
respect to the nut. The tine or tines define a narrow mouth leading to a wider
throat behind the tine such that the mouth and throat enable the tine to flex
therein
while the bolt threads radially move the tine back and forth during one-way
rotation of the bolt with respect to the nut.
Disclosure of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a one-way nut and bolt
combination.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a one-way nut and
bolt combination which locks the nut and bolt at predefined positions, thereby
eliminating the possibility that vibration may loosen the nut and bolt.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nut that readily
can be removed, by a user, from the bolt.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a one-way nut
and bolt combination that does not require the use of any special tools to
correctly
install the nut on the bolt.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a one-way nut and
bolt combination which automatically locks into place upon counter-rotational
CA 02362031 2001-11-15
4
movement of the nut without additional actions or mechanical adjustments to
secure the lock between the nut and the bolt.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a locking nut on a
U-shaped or a J-shaped clip.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a U-shaped or
J-shaped clip that slips onto sheet panels to thereby form a locking nut bore
sub-
assembly.
1t is another object of the present invention to provide an insert for a nut
wherein the insert carries one or more locking tines.
The bolt, in the one-way nut and bolt combination, includes a head, a stem,
and bolt threads on said stem. A longitudinal channel is defined on the bolt
stem
by a plurality of notches extending through the crests of the threads. In one
embodiment, each notch is defined by a radially aligned surface and an
angularly
displaced surface. The nut, in one embodiment, has a threaded bore that is
complimentary to the bolt thread and includes at least one longitudinal cut-
out.
The nut further includes a compressible tine extending into the cut-out. The
compressible tine has a body portion and a substantially radially aligned
distal end
portion. The distal end portion of the tine and the cut-out defines a narrow
mouth
leading to a wider throat deeper in the cut-out. The nut thread and the bolt
thread
cooperatively permit a user to translate the nut along the bolt threads by
means of
one-way rotation. The tine is alternately flexed inboard into the cut-out, by
the
bolt threads, and then released when the tine is disposed in the longitudinal
channel. The longitudinal channel and respective notches forming the channel
prevent counter-rotational movement of the nut on the bolt when the distal end
of
the tines abuts the. radially aligned surface of the notches. In another
embodiment,
the tine is located on an insert. The insert is mounted in the nut. In another
embodiment, the tine is formed at one terminal end of a U-shaped or a J-shaped
clip. The clip is slipped over a sheet panel to thereby fonm a locking nut
bore.
CA 02362031 2001-11-15
Brief Description of Drawings
Fwther objects and advantages of the present invention can be found in the
detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction
with
the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the one-way nut and bolt;
FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom cross-sectional view of the bolt;
FIG. 3 illustrates a partial, cross-sectional view of the bolt from the
opposite view of FIG. 2 showing a detail view of the bolt channel;
FIG. 4 depicts a partial, cross-sectional view of the bolt and particularly
showing a notch on a bolt thread;
FIG. 5 depicts a top view of the nut;
FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the nut;
FIG. 6A illustrates a perspective view of the nut;
FIG. 7 depicts a bottom view of the present one-way nut and bolt
combination when the tines are compressed inboard; and
FIG. 8 shows the one-way nut and bolt combination when the tines are
extended or in a locked position.
FIG. 9 diagrammatically illustrates a U-shaped clip with a locking nut
configwation and a partial view of a bolt with an angular locking channel;
FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a partial detailed view of a bolt with
an angular or spiral channel;
FIG. 11 diagrammatically illustrates a U-shaped clip with the locking nut
system configwed as a snap insert;
FIG. 12 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the U-shaped
clip with additional leg;
insert;
FIG. I3 diagrammatically illustrates a J-shaped clip with a locking nut
FIG. 14 diagrammatically illustrates a detailed view of the locking nut
insert;
FIG. 1 S diagrammatically illustrates a tine-bearing insert and associated
nut:
' CA 02362031 2001-11-15
6
FIG. 16 illustrates an end view of a nut assembly carrying the tine-bearing
locking insert;
FIG. 17 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the nut
assembly carrying the tine-bearing locking insert; and
FIG. 18 diagrammatically illustrates concave dimples on xhe insert which
lock the insert to the nut by swaged locking nipples.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
The present invention relates to a nut and bolt combination that allows one-
way rotational movement.
FIG. 1 illustrates one-way nut and bolt 10 including bolt 20 and nut 40.
Bolt 20 includes head 22, stem 24, and bolt thread 26. FIG. 1 also shows
channel
28. .
Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, bolt 20 includes bolt head 22, stem 24, bolt
thread 26, longitudinal channel 28, radially aligned channel surface 28',
angularly
displaced channel surface 28", notch 30 (defined by surfaces 28' and 28"),
bolt
crest 32, bolt trough 34, and triangular locking surface 38.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, bolt 20 has a bolt thread 26
thereon. Thread 26 is defined by a bolt crest 32 and a bolt trough 34.
Longitudinal channel 28 extends through bolt thread 26 due to the longitudinal
alignment of the notices in each bolt thread. Referring particularly to FIG.
2,
radially aligned surface 28' and angularly displaced surface 28" converge to
form
a notch 30 at each thread crossing. FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of aligned
notches
30 which define longitudinal channel 28.
FIGS. 5, 6 and 6A illustrate nut 40 having bore 42, nut thread 43,
longitudinal cut-out 44, straight wall portion 46, arcuate wall portion 48,
mouth
opening 45, throat opening 47, and compressible tine 50 disposed in the cut-
out.
Compressible tine SO includes backside surface 49, straight body proximal
portion
52, arcuate distal portion 54 and distal end surface 56.
FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 8 illustrate bolt thread 26 and nut thread 43 cooperatively
permitting a user to rotate nut 40 one way one bolt thread 26, thereby
permitting
generally one way translational movement towards head 22 in FIG. 1. During the
' CA 02362031 2001-11-15
7
translation of nut 40 along bolt threads 26, tines 50 are alternately
compressed
inboard into cut-out 44 by contacting bolt threads 26. and then released to
expand
into the bolt channel when distal end 56, of tine 50, is disposed in
longitudinal
channel 28. Tine 50 and triangular locking surface 38, of longitudinal channel
28,
thereby cooperatively prevent rotation of nut 40 in direction L.
Referring particularly now to FIG. 7, it can be seen that a user desiring to
translate nut 40 toward bolt head 22 may do so by rotating nut 40 in direction
T.
When tines 50 are compressed by bolt crest 32, due to contact between end 56
and
crest 32, the tine 50 is flexed outboard, with respect to longitudinal central
axis 60,
best seen in FIGS. 1 and 7. When tine 50 flexes outboard, backside 49, of tine
.
50, is more closely disposed toward straight wall portion 46 and arcuate wall
portion 48 of cut-out 44. As described above, tine 50 includes straight body
proximal portion 52, arcuate distal portion 54, distal end 56 and backside 49.
The
straight body 52 and large open throat 47 permit multiple flexible movements
of
the tine in the cut-out.
Referring now to FIG. 8, when nut 40 is rotated such that distal end 56 of
tine 50 is disposed in longitudinal channel 28, counter-rotational movement,
in
direction L, cannot occur. End 56 abuts radial surface 28' and triangular
locking
surface 38 in FIG. 3. When nut 40 is rotated such that distal end 56, of tine
50,
is received by notch 30, and correspondingly disposed in longitudinal channel
28,
tine 50 is released from compression. As described above, longitudinal channel
28 is defined by radially aligned surface 28' and angularly displaced surface
28".
In FIGS. 3 and 8, triangular locking surface 38 of radially aligned surface
28'
abuts distal end 56 and prevents further rotation of nut 40 in direction L
when tine
50 is disposed in longitudinal channel 28. A user desiring to continue to
rotate nut
40 in direction T may do so and tine 50 will again be compressed when distal
end
56 contacts bolt crest 32.
Referring now to FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, mouth 45 is defined by distal end 56
and arcuate wall portion 48. Throat 47 is defined by backside 49 of tine 50
and
the distal end segment of arcuate wall portion 48 of cut-out 44, In FIGS. 4. 7
and
8, mouth 45 is narrower than and leads to a wider throat 47, When. tine 50 is
' . CA 02362031 2001-11-15
g
compressed by bolt crest 32, both mouth 45 and throat 47 narrow. However,
mouth 45 continues to be somewhat narrower than throat 47.
The one-way nut and bolt combination is made from injected or molded
plastic. Specifically, FIG. 6A is preferably made from plastic. The tines and
the
cut-outs in the nut extend longitudinally on an inboard surface through the
threaded nut bore. In the preferred embodiment, each cut-out extends
longitudinally through the entire nut. Similarly, a single tine extends
throughout
the longitudinal cut-out. Alternatively, multiple tines could be disposed, in
an
aligned manner, in each cut-out. Also, the cut-outs may extend only partially
through the nut bore. The claims appended hereto are meant to cover this
concept.
To remove the locked nut from the bolt, a tool having a single prong for
each cut-out is inserted into the cut-out at a position radially inboard the
body of
the tine. This tool then compresses the tine (or tines if multiple,
circumferentially
spaced cut-out and tine configurations are utilized) and the compressed tine
is
radially moved outboard or away from the triangular locking surface at each
bolt
thread. The nut is moved or is translated away from the bolt head by
substantially
simultaneous counter-rotation of the nut, the outwardly disposed and
compressed
tine and the tool. In the illustrated embodiment, a three prong removal tool
is
utilized. The three prongs are joined together and circumferentially spaced
apart
the appropriate distance by a head plate or grid.
Another technique to remove the nut from the bolt involved the application
of a high degree of reverse torque which causes the tine or tines to
repeatedly
"pop-out" of the notch over the triangular locking surface. Experimentally,
the nut
has been removed up to 10 times without significant deterioration.
One-way nut and bolt 10 can be made of a variety of materials. In the
preferred embodiment, one-way nut and bolt 10 is cast from long glass fiber
nylon.
One-way nut and bolt 10 can be produced utilizing a number of casting methods.
In the preferred embodiment, a multi-cavity single injection mold, requiring
no
additional manufacturing steps, is used to produce one-way nut and bolt 10.
' CA 02362031 2001-11-15
9
FIG. 9 diagrammatically illustrates a U-shaped clip 70 with a locking nut
and bolt configuration and a bored panel 72. A partial view of bolt 74 shows
an
angular channel 76 formed on the bolt threads.
U-shaped clip 70 has two elongated, generally planar legs 78, 80. A nut
thread 82 is formed on leg 78. -Nut thread 82 may be one or more spirals
defining
the nut thread which is complementary to bolt threads 84 on bolt 74. Of
course,
rather than utilizing bolt 74 which has an angular or a spiral locking
channel, the
bolt shown in FIG. 1 may also be utilized. In one embodiment, nut thread 82 is
formed on nut insert 86. Otherwise, the thread is formed directly on leg 78.
Nut
insert 86 has a predetermined outer shape (in the illustrated embodiment, a
circular
shape), which is complementary to a cavity in leg 78. In this manner, nut
insert
86 can be inserted and captured by leg 78 and held in place.
Leg 80 of U-shaped member 70 includes a lockway 88. Lockway 88 is
defined by a lockway bore 90 and one or more radial cut-outs 92, 94. Lockway
88 includes or defines one or more compressible tines 96, 98. As discussed
earlier
in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6, tines 96, 98 include a body portion and a
distal
end portion. Distal end portion 110 for tine 96 is identified in FIG. 9. The
distal
end portion is substantially radially aligned such that the end of the tine
pops or
is disposed into locking channel 76 of bolt 74.
Bored panel 72 includes a through-bore 112. Panel 72 is disposed between
legs 78, 80 and lockway bore 90, panel bore 112 and nut bore 114 are coaxially
aligned. After coaxial alignment of bores 90, 112, 114, bolt 74 is inserted
into the
lockway and one-way rotation is permitted while bolt thread 84 passes through
lockway 88, panel bore 112 and nut bore 114. Bolt 74 is attached by its
threads
to nut thread 82. Counter-rotative movement of bolt 74 is prohibited due to
tines
96, 98 falling into locking channel 76. It should be noted that a single tine
and
a single radial cut-out could be utilized. However, in a preferred embodiment,
at
least two radial cut-outs and corresponding tines are currently recommended.
As
stated earlier. these tines define a narrow mouth leading to a wider throat in
the
cut-out. The mouth is open to lockway bore 90. This is discussed in greater
detail
' CA 02362031 2001-11-15
in connection with FIGS. 5, 6. 6A, 7 and 8 above. Panel bore 112 keeps bolt 74
in a coaxial position with respect to lockway 88 and nut bore 114.
In the illustrated embodiment in FIG. 9, lockway 88 is a stamped lockway
created by stamping leg 80. In other words, leg 80, preferably made of metal,
is
stamped or cut out to form lockway 88. Other procedures to create lockway 88
could be utilized.
FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates a small, detailed portion of bolt 116.
Bolt 116 includes bolt thread 120 with a thread crest 122 and a thread root
124.
A notch 126 is formed through part or all of crest 122. The notch has a
substantially radial triangular locking face 128 and an angularly disposed
rising or
slope face 130. Notch 126 forms a channel with notch 130 and 132. This channel
as illustrated in FiG. 10 is angularly displaced with respect to the axial
centerline
C-L for bolt 116. The channel may define a spiral configuration on the bolt
thread. Alternatively, notches 126, 130 and 132 could be randomly spaced about
the bolt thread. However, in a preferred embodiment, the notches generally
form
a channel which has some type of geometric relationship with bolt 116. This
geometric relationship may be a longitudinal channel (see FIG. 1 ), may be an
angular channel (see FIG. 9) or may be a spiral about bolt centerline C-L.
Further, multiple channels may be defined by a plurality of notches on the
bolt
thread. The plurality of notches is generally illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2
also
shows the substantially radially aligned locking face 128.
F1G. 11 diagrammatically illustrates a portion of a U-shaped clip having
legs 140 and 142. Nut insert 144 provides nut threads 146 on leg 142. Lockway
150 is established on a lockway insert 152. Lockway 150 includes compressible
tines located in radial cut-outs in lockway bore 154. Lockway insert 152 has a
predetermined outer shape which is complementary to a cavity in leg member 140
of the U-shaped clip. Lockway insert 152 is captwed by leg 140.
FIG. 12 diagrammatically illustrates a modified U-shaped clip with an
additional leg. Clip 160 includes leg 162, intermediate leg 164 and additional
leg
166. A panel 168 has a panel bore 170. Leg 162 of modified U-shaped clip 160
includes a lockway or locking thread LT. Intermediate leg 164 includes a nut
' CA 02362031 2001-11-15
thread TH. Additional leg 166 includes a hole or a bore H. A bolt is inserted
as
shown by arrow 172 through hole H, nut thread TH and locking thread LT.
Alternatively, panel bore 170 could be slightly smaller and a self threading
bolt
could be inserted through hole H in the direction shown by arrow 172. In this
sense, nut threads TH on leg 164 could be eliminated. However, locking threads
LT on leg 162 are required to lock the bolt inserted in direction 172 into
hole H,
the resulting hole replacing nut threads TH. Alternatively, panel 168 could be
disposed in U-shaped channel 174. Alternatively, a second panel could be
inserted
in U-shaped channel 174. Also, FIG. 12 diagrammatically illustrates that the
locking threads or lockway LT could be disposed on front leg 166, intermediate
leg 164 or rear leg 162. This should be apparent by comparing the lockway 88
in FIG. 9 which is in a forward position with respect to nut threads 82. In
FIG.
12, lockway LT is disposed in a rearward rather than a forward position with
respect to the insertion in the direction 172 of the bolt. As another
alternative,
panel 168 could be pre-threaded to form a threaded nut. This is an alternative
to
the bolt self threading panel bore 170.
FIG. 13 diagrammatically illustrates a J-shaped clip 210. J-clip 210
captures panel and U-shaped channel 212. In FIG. 13, insert 214 includes a
radial
cut-out 216, tine 218 and a plurality of nut threads 220. Nut threads 220 are
disposed behind radial cut-out 216 and tine 218. Of course, J-shaped clip 210
retains a bored panel (not shown) in U-channel 212. The bore through the panel
is coaxially aligned with insert bore 222.
FIG. 14 diagrammatically illustrates a one-way locking nut insert 230. This
insert has an end face 232, a radial cut-out 234, a compressible tine 236 and
a
plurality of nut threads 238. Compressible tine 236 operates in radial cut-out
234
in substantially the same manner as discussed above in connection with the
compressible tines in FIGS. 5, 6, 6A, 7 and 8. One-way locking nut insert 230
is
adapted to be disposed in and captured by leg 219 of J-shaped clip 210. See
FIG.
13.
FIG. 15 diagrammatically illustrates a one-way locking nut including a nut
310 and an insert 312. Preferably, insert 312 is made of spring steel but may
be
~
CA 02362031 2001-11-15
1 ''
made of high impact or high density plastic. Insert 312 defines an insert bore
314,
a radially extending key 316, a radial cut-out 318 and a compressible tine
320.
Tine 320 has a body portion 322 and a distal end portion 324. Insert 312 is
disposed in an insert cavity 340 defined by nut 310. Nut 310 has an end face
342
and a radial keyway 344. Keyway 344 is complementary shaped as compared with
key 316. Of course, key 316 may not be precisely radially oriented with
respect
to the axial centerline of insert 312. However, it is most important that key
316
be complementary shaped as compared with keyway 344. In one embodiment,
insert cavity 340 is about 0.04 inch deep. Insert 312 has a thickness 350
about
0.015 inches. The actual size of the cavity and the insert depend upon the use
of
the locking nut and bolt and the locking forces required by such usage. The
insert
nut in FIG. 15 is preferably made of metal.
Another important feature of the present invention is that key 316 run the
longitudinal length shown by distance 350 along insert 312. Of course, kcyway
344 must have substantially the same length as key 316. Due to the size of the
keyway and the longitudinal extent of the keyway, compressive radial forces
and
torque forces acting on tine 320 are transferred throughout the length of
insert 312
and the length of keyway 344. This transference of force over a sizable
portion
of the insert reduces the possibility of excessive wear and breakage of
compressible tine 320. As discussed above in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8,
compressible tine 320 moves radially inward and outward dependent upon whether
the tine is riding on crest 122 (see partial bolt illustrated in FIG. 10) or
whether
the tine has fallen into one of the plurality of notches or indentations
defined in
the bolt threads. When counter-rotative force is applied to the bolt or the
nut,
compressive tine 320 locks against the triangular, radially aligned locking
faces on
the bolt thread. The axial length of key 136 and keyway 144 distributes this
counter-rotative torque or force throughout the length of insert l32 and,
dependent
upon the number or the length of threaded nut bore 362, throughout a
substantial
portion of nut 310.
As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 16. the one-way locking nut 410
has an insert 412 with a compressible tine 414 radially extending inward
slightly
CA 02362031 2001-11-15
13
beyond nut thread 416. Nut thread 416 is substantially similar to nut thread
362
shown in FIG. 15.
Insert 412 defines a radial cut-out 418 within which tine 414 flexes. When
tine 414 flexes radially outward due to the presence of a nut thread crest
acting on
the distal end of tine 414, the throat of cut-out 418 narrows. When tine 414
is
disposed in a locking channel, the throat of cut-out 418 is larger.
FIG. 17 diagrammatically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the one-way
locking nut 510. In this illustrated embodiment, insert 512 includes a
compressible
tine 514. Insert 512 is captured in an annular groove 516 formed near end face
518 of locking nut 510. A radially inwardly extending lip 520 captures end
face
522 of insert 512. Lip 520 is made by swaging the end face of the nut over the
insert. If insert 512 is made of metal, and particularly spring steel, insert
S 12 can
be slightly radially compressed due to the radial cut-out 318 shown in
connection
with insert 312 of FIG. 15. After slight radial compression, insert 512 can be
disposed in and captured by annular groove 516 of nut 510. It is important to
note
that these figures are not made to scale. The insert can be quite small, on
the
order of less than one-quarter inch thick. However, the thinner the insert,
the less
locking capability the one-way locking nut and bolt assembly provides to the
other
components. In a preferred embodiment, radial cut-out 318 spans an arc of less
than 30 degrees and more than 5 degrees of the total circumference of insert
312.
See FIG. 15.
If a spiral path is selected for the locking channel on the bolt, the axial
length 350 of tine 320 (see FIG. 15) must be commensurate with the number of
threads covered by the tine. In other words, there must be a correspondence
between the number of notches or indentations on the bolt thread such that the
tine
falls within one or more predetermined notches to adequately lock the bolt
with
respect to the nut. If compressible tine 320 has a large longitudinal span
3~0, it
may not be possible to utilize a spiral or an angled locking channel on the
bolt.
On the other hand, a very thin insert 312 could be utilized such that only one
or
two bolt crests are impacted by compressible tine 320.
' CA 02362031 2001-11-15
14
FIG. 18 diagrammatically illustrates insert 710 having one or more small.
concave cavities or dimples 712 which are filled with a swaged nipple 714 of
the
nut 716. When the nut end face 720 is swaged, nipple 714 is formed by filling
concave dimple 712. This locks the insert into the nut. This also eliminates
the
need for the key and keyway shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. By eliminating the key-
keyway system, the locking nut can be easily manufactured without requiring
alignment of the key in the keyway. The swaged nipples (preferably three) lock
the insert to the nut by filling the dimples.
The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes
within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
What is claimed is:
