Bearing locking means

Claim 2

A fastening device for limiting circumferential slippage comprises: a rotatable member, a mounting member wherein the rotatable member is disposed within a bore in the mounting member, and a circularly wound wire coil having an inner diameter of smaller dimension than the outer diameter of the rotatable member, and being diametrically expanded within the mounting bore to a diameter no greater than the diameter of the rotatable member, by installation of each end of the coil within respective openings in the surface of the boRe, accommodating insertion of the rotatable member within the coil so that rotation of the rotatable member within the bore results in a tight wrapping of the coil therearound, restraining further circumferential slippage between the rotatable and mounting members.

Claim 3

The fastening device of claim 1 wherein one end of the circularly wound wire includes a tab such that engagement of the tab within an opening substantially restrains further circumferential movement of the tab in either direction and the other end of the circularly wound wire is bent to engage one sidewall of another opening so as to only restrain diametral contraction of the coil.

Claim 4

The fastening device of claim 1 wherein: the bore includes an annular groove in the surface thereof for receiving the circularly wound coil, and the wire of the coil is of rectilinear cross-section with the radially extending sides of each convolution being axially flared in the direction of insertion of the rotatable member within the bore such that upon initial insertion of the rotatable member within the bore and subsequent engagement of the rotatable member with the coil, the flare of the sides of each convolution act to direct a portion of the axial force radially outward to further diametrically expand the coil into the annular groove permitting insertion of the rotatable body into the coil.

Claim 5

The fastening device of claim 3 wherein the rotatable body is the outer ring of a bearing assembly and the mounting body is a wall of a housing within which the bearing is journalled.

Claim 6

The fastening device of claim 3 wherein the side of the groove includes an axially extending circumferential abutment the edge of which slidably engages the end convolution of the circularly wound wire such that the axial force of inserting the rotatable member within the bore, when directed against the opposing end convolution of the coil, operates to slide each consecutive convolution over the adjacent convolution in an outward axial and radial direction with the flared side of the end convolution sliding over the edge of the abutment in like direction.

Claim 7

A fastening device for limiting circumferential slippage comprises: a rotatable member, a mounting member wherein the rotatable member is disposed within a bore in the mounting member, and a circularly wound wire coil having an inner diameter of smaller dimension than the outer diameter of the rotatable member, and an annular groove in the surface of the bore for receiving the circularly wound coil, wherein the wire of the coil is of rectilinear cross-section with the radially extending sides of each convolution axially flared in the direction of insertion of the rotatable member within the bore such that upon initial insertion of the rotatable member within the bore and subsequent engagement of the rotatable member with the coil, the flare of the sides of each convolution acts to direct a portion of the axial force radially outward to further diametrically expand the coil into the annular groove, permitting insertion of the rotatable body into the coil.

Claim 8

A fastening device for limiting circumferential slippage comprises: a rotatable member, a mounting member wherein the rotatable member is disposed within a bore in the mounting member, and a circularly wound wire coil having an inner diameter of smaller dimension than the outer diameter of the rotatable member, and an annular groove in the surface of the bore for receiving the circularly wound coil, wherein the wire of the coil is of rectilinear cross-section with the radially extending sides of each convolution axially flared in the direction of insertion of the rotatable member within the bore such that upon initial insertion of the rotatable member within the bore and subsequent engagement of the rotatable member with the coil, the flare of the sides of each convolution acts to direct a portion of the axial force radially outward to further diametrically expand the coil into the annular groove, permitting insertion of the rotatable body into the coil.

Claim 9

The fastening device of claim 6 wherein the side of the groove includes an axially extending circumferential abutment, the edge of which slidably engages the end convolution of the circularly wound wire such that the axial force of inserting the rotatable member within the bore, when directed against the opposing end convolution of the coil, operates to slide each consecutive convolution over the adjacent convolution in an outward axial and radial direction with the flared side of the end convolution sliding over the edge of the abutment in like direction.

Claim 10

A fastening device for limiting circumferential slippage comprises: a rotatable member, a mounting member wherein the rotatable member is disposed within a bore in the mounting member, and a circularly wound wire coil having an inner diameter of smaller dimension than the outer diameter of the rotatable member wherein each end of the circulArly wound wire includes a tab such that installation of the tabs within respective openings in the surface of the bore allows significant movement of both tabs within circumferentially spaced limits resulting in tight wrapping of the coil around the rotatable member for rotation thereof in either clockwise or counter-clockwise directions.

Claim 11

A fastening device for limiting circumferential slippage comprises: a rotatable member, a mounting member wherein the rotatable member is disposed within a bore in the mounting member, and a circularly wound wire coil having an inner diameter of smaller dimension than the outer diameter of the rotatable member wherein each end of the circulArly wound wire includes a tab such that installation of the tabs within respective openings in the surface of the bore allows significant movement of both tabs within circumferentially spaced limits resulting in tight wrapping of the coil around the rotatable member for rotation thereof in either clockwise or counter-clockwise directions.

Claim 12

The fastening device of claim 8 wherein the circularly wound wire coil has an inner diameter of smaller dimension than the outer diameter of the rotatable member with the coil being diametrically expanded within the mounting bore to a diameter no greater than the diameter of the rotatable member, by installation of the tab within the respective openings to accommodate insertion of the rotatable member within the coil.

Claim 13

The fastening device of claim 8 wherein the bore includes an annular groove in the surface thereof for receiving the circularly wound coil, and the wire of the coil is of rectilinear cross-section with the radially extending sides of each convolution axially flared in the direction of insertion of the rotatable member within the bore, such that upon initial insertion of the rotatable member within the bore and subsequent engagement of the rotatable member with the coil, the flare of the sides of each convolution acts to direct a portion of the axial force radially outward to further diametrically expand the coil into the annular groove permitting insertion of the rotatable body into the coil.

Claim 14

A fastening device for limiting circumferential slippage comprises: a rotatable member, a mounting member, wherein the rotatable member is disposed within a bore in the mounting member and the bore includes an annular groove in the surface thereof, and a circularly wound wire coil having an inner diameter of smaller dimension than the outer diameter of the rotatable member and being of rectilinear cross-section with the radially extending sides of each convolution axially flared in the direction of insertion of the rotatable member within the bore, such that upon insertion of the coil within the groove and upon initial insertion of the rotatable member within the bore and subsequent engagement of the rotatable member within the coil, the flare of the sides of each convolution acts to direct a portion of the axial force radially outward to further diametrically expand the coil into the annular groove, permitting insertion of the rotatable body into the coil.

Claim 15

A fastening device for limiting circumferential slippage comprises: a rotatable member, a mounting member, wherein the rotatable member is disposed within a bore in the mounting member and the bore includes an annular groove in the surface thereof, and a circularly wound wire coil having an inner diameter of smaller dimension than the outer diameter of the rotatable member and being of rectilinear cross-section with the radially extending sides of each convolution axially flared in the direction of insertion of the rotatable member within the bore, such that upon insertion of the coil within the groove and upon initial insertion of the rotatable member within the bore and subsequent engagement of the rotatable member within the coil, the flare of the sides of each convolution acts to direct a portion of the axial force radially outward to further diametrically expand the coil into the annular groove, permitting insertion of the rotatable body into the coil.