Thread anti-loosening structure of heavy coupling

Abstract

The invention discloses a thread anti-loosening structure of a heavy coupling. The thread anti-loosening structure comprises a bolt, a nut, an anti-loosening fixing plate and an anti-rotating plug pin which are arranged on a coupling flange. The anti-loosening fixing plate is bent along the outer edge of the flange, one end is fixed with the head of the bolt through the bolt hole, and the other end is clamped with the nut through the anti-rotating bolt to prevent the nut from rotating and loosening. The anti-rotation bolt is made of spring steel, is in a T shape, is provided with an elastic bayonet and is clamped after penetrating through the bolt hole, and a pin hole is formed in the end of the elastic bayonet and can be additionally provided with an anti-falling pin. The nut is provided with a plurality of plug pin holes which are evenly distributed in the circumference, and the plug pin holes are rectangular or round. Every two bolts share one anti-loose fixing plate, the structure is simple, and cost is low. The nut is effectively prevented from loosening, it is ensured that the coupler operates reliably, mounting and dismounting are convenient, and the coupler meets the requirement for rapid overhaul and is suitable for high-load and high-vibration environments.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of mechanical connection, in particular to a thread anti-loosening structure for a heavy-duty coupling, which is particularly suitable for preventing a nut from loosening and falling off during high-inertia rotation. Background Art

[0002] Couplings, essential components connecting two shafts in mechanical transmission systems, are widely used in heavy machinery and equipment in fields such as metallurgy, mining, power generation, shipbuilding, and heavy industrial equipment. Heavy-duty couplings are often subjected to significant torque and inertial forces during operation. Bolts and nuts, the primary fasteners in the coupling flange connection, have a significant impact on the operational stability and safety of the equipment. However, in actual use, due to the long-term high-speed rotation and frequent starts and stops of couplings, the bolt and nut joints are prone to loosening or even falling out due to vibration, impact, or inertial forces. This loosening not only reduces the transmission efficiency of the coupling but can also cause equipment failure, downtime for maintenance, and even serious safety accidents.

[0003] In order to solve the problem of nut loosening, various anti-loosening methods are often used in the existing technology. For example, a double nut structure is used to increase friction by squeezing the two nuts against each other to prevent loosening; or spring washers, nylon locking nuts, etc. are used to achieve anti-loosening effects by increasing preload or material deformation. However, these methods have limited effect in the high-load and high-inertia environment of heavy-duty couplings. The double nut structure may still loosen under long-term vibration, and the disassembly and installation process is relatively cumbersome, which is not conducive to rapid maintenance; spring washers are prone to failure under high loads, and nylon locking nuts are difficult to adapt to the high strength requirements of heavy equipment due to material strength limitations. In addition, there is also a method of welding or bonding nuts to prevent loosening in the existing technology, but this method will make the nuts unable to be reused, increase maintenance costs, and is not suitable for the needs of rapid replacement of continuous production lines.

[0004] In response to the special working conditions of heavy-duty couplings, some mechanical anti-loosening structures have appeared on the market, such as limiting the rotation of the nut by adding locking plates or fixing pins. However, the existing locking plate structure is usually more complicated and difficult to process and install, and in a high-intensity vibration environment, the fixing effect of the locking plate may fail due to material fatigue or deformation. In addition, some anti-loosening structures require additional special tools for installation and disassembly, which increases the complexity of operation and is not conducive to rapid on-site maintenance. The anti-loosening pin design in the existing technology also has shortcomings. For example, the fixing method of the pin is single and it is easy to fall off due to vibration, or the pin material is not rigid enough to withstand long-term shear force.

[0005] In response to the above problems, there is an urgent need for an anti-loosening structure that is simple in structure, easy to install, highly reusable and can effectively prevent the nut from loosening, so as to meet the use requirements of heavy-duty couplings in high-load and continuous operation environments. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a thread anti-loosening structure for a heavy-duty coupling, which aims to solve the problem in the prior art that the nut loosens and falls off due to high inertia rotation, while ensuring a simple structure, easy disassembly, and strong reusability, and adapting to the rapid maintenance needs of continuous production lines.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0008] A threaded anti-loosening structure for a heavy-duty coupling includes a bolt and a nut connected to a coupling flange, and also includes an anti-loosening fixing plate and an anti-rotation pin. The anti-loosening fixing plate is bent along the outer edge of the flange, one end of the anti-loosening fixing plate is fixedly connected to the bolt head, and the other end is fixedly connected to the nut through the anti-rotation pin, thereby preventing the nut from rotating loose.

[0009] Furthermore, a bolt hole is provided at one end of the anti-loosening fixing plate, and the bolt passes through the bolt hole and the flange and then cooperates with the nut, and the bolt head presses and fixes the anti-loosening fixing plate on the flange.

[0010] Furthermore, both the nut and the anti-loosening fixing plate are provided with pin holes, and the anti-rotation pin passes through the pin hole to clamp the nut and the anti-loosening fixing plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the anti-rotation pin is T-shaped, and an elastic bayonet is provided at one end; when passing through the pin hole, the elastic bayonet elastically contracts, and after passing through, the elastic bayonet recovers to clamp the anti-loosening fixing plate.

[0012] Furthermore, the elastic bayonet end of the anti-rotation pin is also provided with a pin hole for installing an anti-drop pin to further prevent it from loosening.

[0013] Furthermore, the nut is provided with a plurality of pin holes evenly distributed around the circumference.

[0014] Furthermore, the pin hole is rectangular or circular.

[0015] Furthermore, there are multiple anti-loosening fixing plates, and every two bolts on the coupling flange share one anti-loosening fixing plate.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0017] The threaded anti-loosening structure of the heavy-duty coupling of the present invention significantly improves the connection reliability of the coupling in high-load and high-inertia environments through innovative mechanical design, providing an important guarantee for the safe operation of heavy machinery and equipment. Its main beneficial effects are as follows:

[0018] 1. Highly effective anti-loosening performance: Through the combined design of an anti-loosening plate and an anti-rotation pin, this invention effectively prevents the nut from loosening during high-inertia rotation. The anti-loosening plate connects adjacent bolts together, forming a rigid constraint structure that limits the nut's rotational freedom. The anti-rotation pin is made of spring steel and combines a T-shaped structure with an elastic bayonet design to ensure a tight engagement between the nut and the anti-loosening plate. It maintains a stable locking state even under strong vibration or impact, significantly improving the reliability of the coupling connection and the smooth operation of the equipment.

[0019] 2. Simple Structure and Low Cost: The anti-loosening fixing plate of this invention is made of high-strength steel, featuring a simple structure and mature manufacturing process, eliminating the need for complex processing equipment or high-cost materials. The T-shaped design and elastic bayonet structure of the anti-rotation pin further simplify the processing and assembly process, reducing production and maintenance costs. Furthermore, the design allows every two bolts to share a single anti-loosening fixing plate, optimizing material efficiency and further reducing manufacturing and installation costs.

[0020] 3. Easy Installation and Removal: The anti-loosening plate and anti-rotation pin require no special tools for installation, making them simple to operate and suitable for quick on-site maintenance. The anti-rotation pin's elastic bayonet design facilitates insertion and removal. The bayonet automatically snaps back into place after passing through the pin hole, eliminating the need for additional fastening steps. Furthermore, the multiple, evenly spaced pin holes on the nut provide flexibility in installation angles, adapting to varying operating conditions and significantly reducing maintenance time. This makes it particularly suitable for rapid replacement and maintenance requirements on continuous production lines.

[0021] 4. High Reusability: The anti-loosening structure of this invention utilizes a mechanical connection, eliminating the need for destructive disassembly. The bolts, nuts, anti-loosening plate, and anti-rotation pin are all reusable, extending component life and reducing long-term maintenance costs. The anti-rotation pin's pinhole design allows for the installation of an anti-drop pin, further enhancing the reliability and durability of the structure and reducing the risk of the pin falling off due to vibration.

[0022] 5. Wide Applicability: The anti-loosening structure of this invention is applicable to a variety of heavy-duty couplings and can adapt to flanges and bolts of different specifications, meeting the high-load and high-vibration environments required in industries such as metallurgy, mining, and power. Its modular design facilitates widespread application and has high market competitiveness.

[0023] Other advantages, objects, and features of the present invention will be described in part in the following description and, in part, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description or may be learned from practice of the present invention. The objects and other advantages of the present invention may be realized and obtained through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 、 2 It is a schematic diagram of the thread anti-loosening structure of the heavy-duty coupling in the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A partial enlarged schematic diagram of point C in the middle.

[0027] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A partial enlarged schematic diagram of point D in the middle.

[0028] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view of the thread anti-loosening structure of the heavy-duty coupling in the present invention.

[0029] Figure 6 It is a structural diagram of the anti-rotation pin.

[0030] Marking instructions: 1-coupling flange; 2-bolt; 3-nut; 4-anti-loosening fixing plate; 5-anti-rotation pin. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following describes the embodiments of the present invention by means of specific examples, and those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the contents disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic illustrations of the basic concept of the present invention, and the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict.

[0032] Among them, the accompanying drawings are only for illustrative purposes and represent only schematic diagrams rather than actual pictures, and should not be understood as limiting the present invention. In order to better illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, some parts of the accompanying drawings may be omitted, enlarged or reduced, and do not represent the dimensions of actual products. For those skilled in the art, it is understandable that some well-known structures and their descriptions may be omitted in the accompanying drawings.

[0033] The same or similar numbers in the drawings of the embodiments of the present invention correspond to the same or similar parts; in the description of the present invention, it should be understood that if there are terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "back", etc. indicating directions or positional relationships, they are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operate in a specific direction. Therefore, the terms describing the positional relationship in the drawings are only used for illustrative purposes and cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0034] Example 1

[0035] See also Figures 1 to 6 This is a thread locking mechanism for heavy-duty couplings, designed to prevent nut loosening during high-inertia rotation. The structure comprises a coupling flange 1, bolts 2, nuts 3, a locking plate 4, and an anti-rotation pin 5. The coupling flange 1 connects the drive shaft, with bolts 2 and nuts 3 serving as the primary fasteners securing the two flanges 1. The locking plate 4 and anti-rotation pin 5 form the locking mechanism, ensuring that the nut 3 does not rotate loose under high loads and high vibration conditions.

[0036] The anti-loosening plate 4 is bent into an L-shape along the outer edge of the coupling flange 1. One end has a bolt hole. Bolts 2 pass through the bolt holes and into the coupling flange 1, where they engage with nuts 3. The heads of the bolts 2 press the anti-loosening plate 4 against the surface of the coupling flange 1. The other end of the anti-loosening plate 4 has a latch hole that aligns with the latch hole in the nut 3. This latch is secured by an anti-rotation latch 5, restricting the rotation of the nut 3. The heads of the bolts 2 compress the anti-loosening plate 4 securely to the flange 1. The latch holes of the anti-loosening plate 4 and nut 3 align, and are then connected by the anti-rotation latch 5.

[0037] The anti-loosening plate 4 is made of high-strength steel, and the bolt holes precisely match the diameter of the bolts 2, ensuring zero play during installation. The rectangular latch hole facilitates the insertion and engagement of the anti-rotation latch 5, enhancing connection stability. The L-shaped bend of the anti-loosening plate 4 allows it to fit snugly around the outer edge of the coupling flange 1, minimizing vibration-induced displacement.

[0038] After passing through the bolt holes of the coupling flange 1 and the anti-loosening fixing plate 4, the bolt 2 is threadedly connected to the nut 3. One end of the anti-loosening fixing plate 4 is pressed and fixed by the head of the bolt 2, and the other end is clamped to the nut 3 via the anti-rotation pin 5. The anti-rotation pin 5 passes through the pin holes of the anti-loosening fixing plate 4 and the nut 3, forming a reliable anti-loosening structure.

[0039] The anti-rotation pin 5 is made of spring steel and has a T-shaped structure. It has an elastic snap-in tab at one end. This snap-in tab elastically contracts when inserted into the pin hole and returns to its original shape after insertion, securing the anti-loosening plate 4 and nut 3 together and ensuring a tight connection. The end of the snap-in tab also features a pin hole for installing an anti-drop pin, further preventing the anti-rotation pin 5 from falling out due to vibration. The spring steel material of the anti-rotation pin 5 exhibits excellent elasticity and fatigue resistance, making it capable of withstanding long-term shear forces and vibration shocks.

[0040] Nut 3 is provided with multiple latch holes evenly distributed around the circumference. The latch holes can be rectangular or circular, and preferably there are 12 of them, evenly distributed around the outer edge of nut 3. This design increases the flexibility of adjusting the rotation angle of nut 3 and facilitates selecting the appropriate latch holes to align with anti-loosening fixing plate 4 during installation.

[0041] The installation steps of the thread anti-loosening structure of the heavy-duty coupling in this embodiment are as follows:

[0042] Pass the bolt 2 through the bolt holes of the coupling flange 1 and the anti-loosening fixing plate 4, tighten the nut 3 to the appropriate pre-tightening force, and ensure that the flange 1 is firmly connected.

[0043] Adjust the position of the anti-loosening fixing plate 4 so that its pin hole is aligned with any pin hole on the nut 3.

[0044] The anti-rotation pin 5 is inserted into the aligned pin hole, and the elastic bayonet automatically recovers after passing through the pin hole and clamps the anti-loosening fixing plate 4 and the nut 3.

[0045] If reliability needs to be further improved, an anti-dropout pin may be inserted into the pin hole of the anti-rotation pin 5 to prevent the pin from falling off.

[0046] This embodiment's anti-loosening structure integrates adjacent bolts 2 via an anti-loosening plate 4, rigidly restricting the rotation of the nut 3. Combined with the elastic snap-fit ​​and anti-dropout design of the anti-rotation latch 5, this structure ensures effective anti-loosening. The structure is simple, requiring no specialized tools for installation and removal, and is easy to operate, making it suitable for rapid maintenance on continuous production lines.

[0047] Example 2

[0048] This embodiment differs from Example 1 in that the number of anti-loosening fixing plates 4 used is optimized to reduce costs. Every two bolts share one anti-loosening fixing plate 4. The anti-loosening fixing plate 4 is provided with two sets of bolt holes, each corresponding to two bolts 2. The bolts 2 pass through the bolt holes and are threadedly connected to the nuts 3. The other end of the anti-loosening fixing plate 4 engages one of the nuts 3 via an anti-rotation pin 5. By sharing the anti-loosening fixing plates 4, the number of anti-loosening fixing plates 4 is reduced, simplifying the processing and installation process and reducing material costs while maintaining the anti-loosening effect. The remaining structure, materials, and installation procedures are the same as those of Example 1.

[0049] The threaded anti-loosening structure of this embodiment effectively prevents the nut 3 from loosening during high-inertia rotation through the synergistic action of the anti-loosening plate 4 and the anti-rotation pin 5, ensuring smooth and reliable operation of the coupling. This structure is simple, low-cost, and easy to install and disassemble, making it suitable for rapid maintenance. The spring steel material and elastic bayonet design of the anti-rotation pin 5 enhance the durability of the anti-loosening structure, and the multiple pin holes on the nut 3 increase installation flexibility, making it suitable for high-load environments such as metallurgy, mining, and power generation.

[0050] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not limiting. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present invention can be modified or replaced by equivalents without departing from the purpose and scope of the technical solutions, which should all be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A threaded anti-loosening structure for a heavy-duty coupling, comprising a bolt and a nut connected to a coupling flange, characterized in that: It also includes an anti-loosening fixing plate and an anti-rotation pin. The anti-loosening fixing plate is bent along the outer edge of the flange. One end of the anti-loosening fixing plate is fixedly connected to the bolt head, and the other end is fixedly connected to the nut through the anti-rotation pin, thereby preventing the nut from rotating loose.

2. The thread anti-loosening structure of the heavy-duty coupling according to claim 1 is characterized in that: One end of the anti-loosening fixing plate is provided with a bolt hole, and the bolt passes through the bolt hole and the flange and cooperates with the nut, and the bolt head presses the anti-loosening fixing plate onto the flange.

3. The thread anti-loosening structure of the heavy-duty coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that: The nut and the anti-loosening fixing plate are both provided with pin holes, and the anti-rotation pin passes through the pin hole to clamp the nut and the anti-loosening fixing plate.

4. The thread anti-loosening structure of the heavy-duty coupling according to claim 3 is characterized in that: The anti-rotation pin is T-shaped, and one end is provided with an elastic bayonet; when passing through the pin hole, the elastic bayonet elastically contracts, and after passing through, the elastic bayonet recovers to clamp the anti-loosening fixing plate.

5. The thread anti-loosening structure of the heavy-duty coupling according to claim 4, characterized in that: The elastic bayonet end of the anti-rotation pin is further provided with a pin hole for installing an anti-drop pin to further prevent it from loosening.

6. The thread anti-loosening structure of the heavy-duty coupling according to claim 3, characterized in that: The nut is provided with a plurality of pin holes which are evenly distributed around the circumference.

7. The thread anti-loosening structure of the heavy-duty coupling according to claim 3, characterized in that: The pin hole is rectangular or circular.

8. The thread anti-loosening structure of the heavy-duty coupling according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are multiple anti-loosening fixing plates, and every two bolts on the coupling flange share one anti-loosening fixing plate.

Images