Self-locking threaded ring assembly

Claim 1

AN ASSEMBLY FOR LOCKING AN ELEMENT RIGIDLY TO A SHAFT COMPRISING AN EXTERIORLY THREADED SLEEVE ADAPTED TO FREELY ENCIRCLE THE SHAFT AND A NUT ADAPTED TO BE THREADED ON SAID SLEEVE AND TO ENGAGE AT ITS INNER END A SURFACE OF THE ELEMENT SUPPORTED ON THE STAFT, SAID SLEEVE HAVING AT LEAST ONE AXIALLY EXTENDING SLOT AT THE END OF THE SLEEVE REMOTE FROM SAID ENGAGING SURFACE OF THE NUT, SAID SHAFT HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIAL GROOVE WITH A FACE INCLINED WITH RELATION TO THE SHAFT AXIS, SAID SLEEVE HAVING AT ITS SLOTTED END AN ANNULAR INTERNAL SURFACE WHICH IS INCLINED TO THE SHAFT AXIS AND IS DISPOSED GENERALLY OPPOSITE TO AND SPACED FROM SAID INCLINED GROOVE FACE, THE ANGLE OF INCLINATION OF SAID GROOVE FACE WITH THE SHAFT AXIS BEING GREATER THAN THE ANGLE OF INCLINATION OF SAID ANNULAR SLEEVE SURFACE WITH THE SHAFT AXIS, AND A THRUST DIVERTER RING ACCOMODATED WITHIN THE SPACE BETWEEN AND IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ANNULAR SLEEVE SURFACE AND SAID GROOVE FACE, WHEREBY UPON INITIAL TIGHTENING OF SAID NUT AGAINST SAID ELEMENT SAID SLOTTED END OF SAID SLEEVE IS EXPANDED TO TAKE UP THE THREAD TOLERANCE BETWEEN THE SLEEVE AND THE NUT, AND SUBSEQUENT TIGHTENING OF SAID NUT, BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENCE IN ANGLE OF INCLINATION OF SAID SHAFT GROOVE FACE AND SAID ANNULAR SLEEVE SURFACE, REDIRECTS FORCES FROM A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE SHAFT AXIS TO A DIRECTION GENERALLY TRANSVERSE TO THE SHAFT AXIS TO LOCK SAID NUT AXIALLY UPON THE SHAFT.