Anti-back-out fastener for applications under vibration
View Patent ↗A fastener is disclosed for use in a high vibration application wherein the fastener is engaged to a blind hole. The fastener includes a lock washer including wedge locking action fastening features and a head of the fastener including mating wedge locking action fastening features. The wedge locking action fastening features include a greater inclination than a pitch angle of the fastener such that the fastener is prevented from backing out.
1. A fastener for use in a high vibration application wherein the fastener is configured to be engaged to a blind hole, the fastener comprising:
the fastener configured to be engaged to the blind hole;
a lock washer including wedge locking action fastening features; and
wherein the wedge locking action fastening features include a shoulder feature cam surface configured to prevent the fastener from turning relative to the lock washer in a tightening direction and comprising a shoulder feature slope angle of between forty degrees and fifty five degrees between the shoulder feature cam surface and a radial plane extending normal to the rotational axis of a shank of the fastener; and
wherein the wedge locking action fastening features further include a ramp feature cam surface comprising a ramp feature slope angle of between five degrees and fifteen degrees between the ramp feature cam surface and the radial plane extending normal to the rotational axis of a shank of the fastener, wherein the ramp feature slope angle includes a greater inclination than a pitch angle of the fastener such that the fastener is prevented from backing out.
2. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is engaged to the blind hole located upon an industrial crane.
3. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is engaged to the blind hole located upon a wind turbine securing a turbine blade to the turbine.
4. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the shoulder feature slope angle comprises forty five degrees.
5. The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the ramp feature slope angle comprises eight degrees.
6. A fastener for use in a high vibration application wherein the fastener is configured to be engaged to a blind hole, the fastener comprising:
a socket-head cap screw; and
a lock washer including wedge locking action fastening features; and
wherein the wedge locking action fastening features include a shoulder feature cam surface configured to prevent the fastener from turning relative to the lock washer in a tightening direction and comprising a shoulder feature slope angle of between forty degrees and fifty five degrees between the shoulder feature cam surface and a radial plane extending normal to the rotational axis of a shank of the fastener; and
wherein the wedge locking action fastening features further include a ramp feature cam surface comprising a ramp feature slope angle of between five degrees and fifteen degrees between the ramp feature cam surface and the radial plane extending normal to the rotational axis of a shank of the fastener, wherein the ramp feature slope angle includes a greater inclination than a pitch angle of the fastener such that the fastener is prevented from backing out.
7. The fastener of claim 6 , wherein the lock washer comprises a two piece washer including a first piece including the wedge locking action fastening features and a second piece including mating wedge locking action fastening features; and
wherein one of the pieces is welded to a head of the fastener to create a unitary head including the wedge locking action fastening features.
8. The fastener of claim 6 , wherein the fastener is engaged to the blind hole located upon a train.
9. The fastener of claim 6 , wherein the shoulder feature slope angle comprises forty five degrees.
10. The fastener of claim 6 , wherein the ramp feature slope angle comprises eight degrees.
11. A nut and bolt fastener configured to be engaged to a through hole, the fastener comprising:
a bolt head end of the fastener comprising a first lock washer including wedge locking action fastening features; and
a nut end of the fastener comprising a second lock washer including wedge locking action fastening features; and
wherein the wedge locking action fastening features include a shoulder feature cam surface configured to prevent the fastener from turning relative to the lock washer in a tightening direction and comprising a shoulder feature slope angle of between forty degrees and fifty five degrees between the shoulder feature cam surface and a radial plane extending normal to the rotational axis of a shank of the fastener; and
wherein the wedge locking action fastening features further include a ramp feature cam surface comprising a ramp feature slope angle of between five degrees and fifteen degrees between the ramp feature cam surface and the radial plane extending normal to the rotational axis of a shank of the fastener, wherein the ramp feature slope angle includes a greater inclination than a pitch angle of the fastener such that the fastener is prevented from backing out.
12. The nut and bolt fastener of claim 11 , wherein the nut comprises a standard nut.
13. The nut and bolt fastener of claim 11 , wherein the nut comprises a heavy hex nut.
14. The fastener of claim 11 , wherein the shoulder feature slope angle comprises forty five degrees.
15. The fastener of claim 11 , wherein the ramp feature slope angle comprises eight degrees.
16. A threaded fastener, the fastener comprising:
a pilot nut comprising:
a lock washer including wedge locking action fastening features; and
a head comprising a tubular pilot shoulder section extending in a longitudinal direction through and beyond the lock washer; and
wherein the wedge locking action fastening features include a shoulder feature cam surface configured to prevent the fastener from turning relative to the lock washer in a tightening direction and comprising a shoulder feature slope angle of between forty degrees and fifty five degrees between the shoulder feature cam surface and a radial plane extending normal to the rotational axis of a shank of the fastener; and
wherein the wedge locking action fastening features further include a ramp feature cam surface comprising a ramp feature slope angle of between five degrees and fifteen degrees between the ramp feature cam surface and the radial plane extending normal to the rotational axis of a shank of the fastener, wherein the ramp feature slope angle includes a greater inclination than a pitch angle of the fastener such that the fastener is prevented from backing out.
17. The fastener of claim 16 , wherein the shoulder feature slope angle comprises forty five degrees.
18. The fastener of claim 16 , wherein the shoulder feature slope angle comprises between forty degrees and forty five degrees.
19. The fastener of claim 16 , wherein the ramp feature slope angle comprises eight degrees.
20. The fastener of claim 16 , wherein the ramp feature slope angle comprises between eight degrees and fifteen degrees.