US5085548A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nut and snap ring position locking device
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1991-04-30
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Granted: 1992-02-04
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Expires: 2011-04-30
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for preventing the rotation of a nut with respect to a threa shaft, one version suitable for use on a plain threaded shaft and another version suitable for use on a threaded shaft having an axial keyway of rectangular cross section. The apparatus consists of a slotted and grooved nut and a tanged snap ring. The nut has radial slots across a face, and a circumferential groove which intersects the bottom of the slots. The snap ring fits over the nut within the circumferential groove, the tang extending down through the nut and engaging with the threaded shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Mervyn W. Moyles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:29
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B39/00; F16B39/22; F16B39/28; F16B39/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/924; Y10S411/929; Y10S411/94; Y10S411/945; Y10S411/946
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
A position locking device for use with an externally-threaded round shaft having at least one axial keyway of rectangular cross-section, comprising: an internally-threaded nut disposed to engage with the externally-threaded shaft, said nut having a proximate end face and a circumferential groove oriented perpendicular to the nut internal thread axis, said groove having a cylindrical groove bottom surface concentric with the axis of said internal thread and a proximate groove wall surface and a distal groove wall surface each groove wall surface being substantially perpendicular to said groove bottom surface, said nut further having at least one parallel-walled flat-bottomed radial slot running across the proximate end face in a direction radially outward from the nut internal thread axis with the flat bottom parallel to the plane of said circumferential groove and of depth extending from said proximate end face to the distal wall of said groove; and a flat planar snap ring of generally semi-circular shape being symmetric about a central base region, having two symmetrically-opposed inwardly-curving arms extending outward from said base region and having a flat-tipped straight tang centered between said arms and extending from said base region in the direction toward the arm tips, said arms disposed to engage the nut circumferential groove with the arm tips gripping the groove bottom surface and said tang disposed to engage with and extend through a nut radial slot to engage with an axial keyway of a shaft engaged with said nut.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
A position locking device for use with an externally-threaded round shaft having at least one axial keyway of rectangular cross-section, comprising: an internally-threaded nut disposed to engage with the externally-threaded shaft, said nut having a proximate end face and a circumferential groove oriented perpendicular to the nut internal thread axis, said groove having a cylindrical groove bottom surface concentric with the axis of said internal thread and a proximate groove wall surface and a distal groove wall surface each groove wall surface being substantially perpendicular to said groove bottom surface, said nut further having at least one parallel-walled flat-bottomed radial slot running across the proximate end face in a direction radially outward from the nut internal thread axis with the flat bottom parallel to the plane of said circumferential groove and of depth extending from said proximate end face to the distal wall of said groove; and a flat planar snap ring of generally semi-circular shape being symmetric about a central base region, having two symmetrically-opposed inwardly-curving arms extending outward from said base region and having a flat-tipped straight tang centered between said arms and extending from said base region in the direction toward the arm tips, said arms disposed to engage the nut circumferential groove with the arm tips gripping the groove bottom surface and said tang disposed to engage with and extend through a nut radial slot to engage with an axial keyway of a shaft engaged with said nut.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 1 wherein a portion of each radial slot in said nut that is bounded by the proximate end face and the circumferential groove proximate wall is narrower than a portion of the radial slot lying between the proximate circumferential groove wall and the distal circumferential groove wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 1 wherein the tang width is abruptly stepped down from that of a tang base region adjacent to the snap ring central base region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 2 wherein the tang width is abruptly stepped down from that of a tang base region adjacent to the snap ring central base region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
236 words
A position locking device for use with an externally-threaded round shaft comprising: an internally-threaded nut disposed to engage with the externally-threaded shaft, said nut having a proximate end face and a circumferential groove oriented perpendicular to the nut internal thread axis, said groove having a cylindrical groove bottom surface concentric with the axis of said internal thread and a proximate groove wall surface and a distal groove wall surface each groove wall surface being substantially perpendicular to said groove bottom surface, said nut further having at least one parallel-walled flat-bottomed radial slot running across the proximate end face in a direction radially outward from the nut internal thread axis with the flat bottom parallel to the plane of said circumferential groove and of a depth extending from said proximate end face to the distal wall of said groove; and a flat planar snap ring of generally semi-circular shape being symmetric about a central base region, having two symmetrically-opposed inwardly-curving arms extending outward from said base region and having a straight tang centered between said arms and extending from said base region in the direction toward the arm tips, said arms disposed to engage the nut circumferential groove with the arm tips gripping the groove bottom surface and said tang disposed to engage with and extend through a nut radial slot with the tang tip bearing against the threaded surface of a shaft engaged with said nut.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
236 words
A position locking device for use with an externally-threaded round shaft comprising: an internally-threaded nut disposed to engage with the externally-threaded shaft, said nut having a proximate end face and a circumferential groove oriented perpendicular to the nut internal thread axis, said groove having a cylindrical groove bottom surface concentric with the axis of said internal thread and a proximate groove wall surface and a distal groove wall surface each groove wall surface being substantially perpendicular to said groove bottom surface, said nut further having at least one parallel-walled flat-bottomed radial slot running across the proximate end face in a direction radially outward from the nut internal thread axis with the flat bottom parallel to the plane of said circumferential groove and of a depth extending from said proximate end face to the distal wall of said groove; and a flat planar snap ring of generally semi-circular shape being symmetric about a central base region, having two symmetrically-opposed inwardly-curving arms extending outward from said base region and having a straight tang centered between said arms and extending from said base region in the direction toward the arm tips, said arms disposed to engage the nut circumferential groove with the arm tips gripping the groove bottom surface and said tang disposed to engage with and extend through a nut radial slot with the tang tip bearing against the threaded surface of a shaft engaged with said nut.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 5 wherein a portion of each radial slot in said nut that is bounded by the proximate end face and the circumferential groove proximate wall is narrower than a portion of the radial slot lying between the proximate circumferential groove wall and the distal circumferential groove wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 5 wherein the thickness of said flat planar snap ring is approximately one-half of the distance between points of adjacent nut threads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 6 wherein the thickness of said flat planar snap ring is approximately one-half of the distance between points of adjacent nut threads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 5 wherein the tang width is abruptly stepped down from that of a tang base region adjacent to the snap ring central base region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 6 wherein the tang width is abruptly stepped down from that of a tang base region adjacent to the snap ring central base region.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 7 wherein the tang width is abruptly stepped down from that of a tang base region adjacent to the snap ring central base region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 8 wherein the tang width is abruptly stepped down from that of a tang base region adjacent to the snap ring central base region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 5 wherein the tip of the tang has a sharp pointed edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 6 wherein the tip of the tang has a sharp pointed edge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 7 wherein the tip of the tang has a sharp pointed edge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 8 wherein the tip of the tang has a sharp pointed edge.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 9 wherein the tip of the tang has a sharp pointed edge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 10 wherein the tip of the tang has a sharp pointed edge.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 11 wherein the tip of the tang has a sharp pointed edge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A position locking device as recited in claim 12 wherein the tip of the tang has a sharp pointed edge.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
A flat planar snap ring of generally semi-circular shape being symmetric about a central base region, having two symmetrically-opposed inwardly-curving arms extending outward from said base region, and having a straight tang centered between said arms and extending from said base region in the direction toward the arm tips, wherein the tip of the tang has a sharp pointed edge.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
60 words
A flat planar snap ring of generally semi-circular shape being symmetric about a central base region, having two symmetrically-opposed inwardly-curving arms extending outward from said base region, and having a straight tang centered between said arms and extending from said base region in the direction toward the arm tips, wherein the tip of the tang has a sharp pointed edge.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
A snap ring as recited in claim 21 wherein the tang width is abruptly stepped down from that of a tang base region adjacent to the snap ring central base region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-03 | 1995-08-05 | 1996-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-03 | 1999-08-05 | 2000-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-03 | 2003-08-05 | 2004-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |