Key device for holding a nut retainer
The invention concerns a key device intended to hold a nut retainer in the radial position, when tightening the nut on an associated screw connection, characterized in that it comprises a handle ( 54 ) and a head ( 52 ) comprising a housing ( 56 ) into which a tab of the nut retainer is inserted, said tab being intended to be folded 90° on a body carrying the screw connection, after tightening of the nut, one face ( 58 ) of the head having geometry that matches a portion of the body carrying the screw connection that receives the nut, such that the end of the nut retainer, inserted into the head of the key, is held exactly perpendicular to the outer surface of said portion of the body when the nut is tightened.
1. A method for holding a nut retainer during tightening of an associated nut on a threaded rod or screwed connection, wherein said nut retainer comprises a washer adapted to be engaged on a threaded rod or screwed connection, at least one radial fin intended to be folded after tightening of the associated nut on said threaded rod or screwed connection against a blank of said nut and at least one radial tab intended to be folded 90° against a portion of a body bearing the threaded connection associated with the nut, and wherein said method uses a set of keys, each key comprising a handle as well as a head including a recess complementary to the tab so that said tab of the nut retainer may be inserted into the recess, a bearing face of the head being complementary to a portion of the body bearing the threaded connection which receives the nut, planar or concave cylinder of revolution, comprising the steps of:
selecting a key device comprising a recess of geometry and dimensions complementary to the tab of the nut retainer,
installing the nut retainer on a threaded connection,
orienting the at least one radial tab generally perpendicular to the outer face of the body,
engaging a free end of the at least one radial tab in the recess,
bringing the bearing face of the key into contact against the blank of the body bearing the threaded connection on which is engaged the associated nut retainer,
holding the key in contact with the outer surface of the body while carrying out the operation of tightening the nut so as to hold said nut retainer in a radial position during tightening of the nut on the associated screwed connection, with respect to the blank of the body, and folding the at least one radial tab squarely at 90 degrees to the plane of the washer, parallel to the axis of the nut, along the blank of the body.