초록 ▼

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 c

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A locking fastener assembly, comprising: a) a fastener nut and a fastener washer rotatable relative to each other about a common axis; b) an annular washer bearing surface on said nut and an annular nut bearing surface on said washer, said annular bearing surfaces being axially opposed to ea

1. A locking fastener assembly, comprising: a) a fastener nut and a fastener washer rotatable relative to each other about a common axis; b) an annular washer bearing surface on said nut and an annular nut bearing surface on said washer, said annular bearing surfaces being axially opposed to each other; c) each of said annular bearing surfaces having a plurality of inclined bearing faces oriented circumferentially and forming portions of an undulating annular bearing surface; d) said inclined bearing faces being opposed to each other on respective nut and washer and being curved both radially and circumferentially of said assembly and complementary to each other; so that one is convex and the other concave, opposed faces having substantially the same shape whererby they are; e) a clamping surface on said washer. 2. The locking fastener assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that: a) said inclined bearing faces which are opposed to each other on respective nut and washer are spherically convex and concave, respectively, on substantially identical radii from substantially the same center. 3. A locking fastener assembly, comprising: a) an internally threaded fastener nut, including a fastener body having an annular skirt depending therefrom; b) a fastener washer including an annular washer body having a flange extending radially outwardly therefrom; c) said annular skirt extending loosely through said washer whereby said nut is freely rotatable relative to said washer before said fastener assembly is mounted; d) an annular washer bearing surface on said nut body and an annular nut bearing surface on said washer body; e) said washer bearing surface on said nut body being convex and including a series of shallow peaks and valleys extending around said nut body so as to create undulations including annularly inclined bearing faces; f) said nut bearing surface on said washer body being concave and including a series of shallow peaks and valleys extending around said washer body so as to create undulations including annularly inclined bearing faces; g) said flange having an annular clamping surface thereon and being capable of flexing slightly axially of said washer body; h) said inclined bearing faces on each of said nut and said washer body having segmentally spherical shapes which are substantially the same so that they are complementary to each other when seated in locking relationship against each other. 4. A locking fastener assembly, comprising: a) a fastener nut and a fastener washer connected to each other in such a manner that they can be rotated relative to each other about a common axis; b) an annular washer bearing surface on said nut and an annular nut bearing surface on said washer, said annular bearing surfaces being axially opposed to each other; c) each of said annular bearing surfaces including a plurality of inclined bearing faces oriented circumferentially and forming what approximates an undulating annular bearing surface; d) one of said annular bearing surfaces having plateaus between alternating pairs of adjacent inclined bearing faces; e) the other of said annular bearing surfaces having valley floors between alternating pairs of adjacent inclined bearing faces; f) said plateaus and floors being segmentally spherical about a common center when said assembly is in locking relationship. 5. A locking fastener assembly, comprising: a) a fastener nut and a fastener washer rotatable relative to each other about a common axis; b) an annular washer bearing surface on said nut and an annular nut bearing surface on said washer, said annular bearing surfaces being axially opposed to each other; c) each of said annular bearing surfaces having a plurality of inclined bearing faces oriented circumferentially and forming portions of an undulating annular bearing surface; d) a clamping surface on said washer; e) said washer including a washer body and a flange extending radially outwardly from said washer body; f) at least a portion of said clamping surface being formed on said washer flange; g) said washer flange comprising a series of flange segments extending annularly around said washer body; h) said flange segments being slightly flexible axially of said washer; i) said flange segments being separated by radial slots in said flanges. 6. The locking fastener assembly of claim 5 further characterized in that: a) said clamping surface has a generally vee-shaped depression formed therein substantially in radial alignment with each of said slots.