Releasable Lock Nut Assembly with Deformable Skirt
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for alternative releasable lock nut assemblies that can securely fasten wheel bearings to vehicle spindle hubs while minimizing the size of the nut and associated locking features, as existing solutions are not adequately addressing the complexity of modern wheel hubs.
Innovation Solution
A releasable lock nut assembly comprising a thrust washer with a disk portion and axial peripheral skirt, a lock ring with teeth and tangs, and a biasing spring, where the lock ring is inserted into the thrust washer and the protuberance on the skirt is deformed to fit within the characteristic diameter, allowing the lock ring to be securely held and preventing rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a traditional locking mechanism is used to secure wheel bearing to spindle, then the wheel bearing is securely fastened, but the size of the nut and locking features increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock ring with tangs is nested within the thrust washer structure. The tangs of the lock ring fit into openings in the peripheral skirt of the thrust washer, creating a compact integrated locking mechanism that reduces overall size while maintaining securing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is segmented into distinct components: the thrust washer with openings, the lock ring with tangs, and the biasing spring. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, resulting in a more compact overall design
2Ease of manufacture
If the thrust washer peripheral skirt is deformed to create larger internal envelope, then the lock ring fits more easily and assembly is simplified, but the external diameter exceeds the characteristic diameter
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral skirt incorporates a deformable protuberance that can be elastically deformed during assembly to temporarily increase the internal envelope, allowing easy insertion of the lock ring. After assembly, the protuberance returns to its original position, maintaining the required external diameter constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing spring is pre-instained in the thrust washer before the lock ring is inserted. This preliminary action prepares the assembly path and guides the lock ring into position, simplifying the overall assembly process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a compact and effective locking mechanism that securely retains wheel bearings on vehicle hubs, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly by utilizing a deformable protuberance to create a larger internal envelope within the thrust washer, ensuring the lock ring is captive and preventing rotation, thus addressing the size and complexity challenges of modern wheel hubs.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing spring inserted into the thrust washer where the biasing spring forces the lock ring away from the disk portion of the thrust washer
Implementation Method 2
The protuberance may be deformed such that all of the peripheral skirt is within the characteristic diameter, and the protuberance may define an internal envelope of the thrust washer where the internal envelope is larger than the major diameter of the lock ring
Data Source
AI summary
A releasable lock nut assembly for securing a bearing on a threaded hub may include a thrust washer including a disk portion and a peripheral skirt extending axially away from the disk portion, the peripheral skirt having a plurality of openings and a characteristic diameter measured at an axial location of the openings, and a protuberance proximate to at least one of the openings. The assembly may also include a lock ring inserted into the thrust washer, where the lock ring includes a plurality of tangs that extend beyond a lock ring major diameter such that the tangs fit within the openings of the thrust washer. The protuberance may be deformed such that all of the peripheral skirt is within the characteristic diameter, and the protuberance may define an internal envelope of the thrust washer where the internal envelope is larger than the major diameter of the lock ring.