Lock Nut With Offset Thread And Variable Thickness Washer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lock nuts lack optimal adjustability and elasticity in their locking washer disks, which limits their clamping force adjustability and durability, especially under varying conditions and high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A lock nut design featuring a metal annular disk with varying thickness from outer to inner diameter, an axially offset internal thread, and optional recesses, allowing for increased elasticity and clamping force adjustment through the disk's thickness and curvature, ensuring consistent performance across different applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking washer disk is made from hard elastic material with segment-like peripheral recesses, then the elasticity and temperature resistance are improved, but the clamping force adjustability and elastic restoring force remain limited
Solution Approach 1:
The locking washer disk is designed with non-uniform thickness, being thinner at the outer periphery and thicker at the inner periphery. This local variation in thickness creates different elastic properties in different regions of the disk, allowing the outer thin region to provide flexibility and temperature resistance while the inner thick region provides clamping force adjustability through axial deformation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the locking washer disk is made thinner to increase elasticity, then the axial deflection capability is improved, but the structural strength and durability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The disk employs different thicknesses at different locations: the outer periphery is thinner to allow axial deflection and elastic deformation, while the inner periphery is thicker to maintain structural strength and resist bending stresses during tightening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly thinning the disk to increase elasticity, the invention varies the thickness in the radial dimension, creating a gradient from thin outer edge to thick inner edge. This dimensional variation allows simultaneous achievement of flexibility and strength.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the internal thread of the locking washer disk is offset axially relative to the nut thread, then the clamping force adjustability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the locking washer disk by introducing an axial offset between the internal thread of the disk and the nut thread. This offset parameter allows independent adjustment of clamping force while maintaining standard thread forms and pitch, simplifying the overall design despite the offset requirement.
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
This design enhances the lock nut's elasticity and clamping force adjustability, reducing fretting and maintaining performance across multiple operation cycles, suitable for applications from light engineering to automotive and railroad industries.
Implementation Method 1
The locking washer disk has a certain elasticity in the axial direction so that the clamping force of the lock nut can be adjusted via the offset of the internal thread of the locking washer disk and that the lock nut maintains said adjusted clamping force through many screwing cycles
Implementation Method 2
an adjoining neck extension which is deformed into the shape of an annular groove in which a locking washer disk is held in friction contact
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a lock nut with a nut body which has a threaded section with an internal thread and an adjoining inner annular groove. An annular lock washer made of metal is held in the annular groove. An internal thread corresponding to the nut thread is cut into the inner circumference of the annular washer, and the internal thread of the annular washer is offset axially in relation to the nut thread by a distance which is smaller than a thread pitch of the nut thread. According to the invention, the thickness of the annular washer at the inside diameter thereof is greater than the thickness of the annular washer at the outside diameter to thereof. As a result, the elasticity of the annular lock washer and the holding force of the lock nut can be adjusted.