Patent ID: 11959506
Assignee: DEXTER AXLE COMPANY LLC
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 6:
7. A spindle nut retainer for constraining a spindle nut on an axle shaft, said axle shaft having a threaded end, said threaded end having threads with an outside diameter to threadably receive said spindle nut, said threads having a notch portion interrupting said threads, said retainer comprising:
an annulus portion surrounding a central aperture, said annulus portion having an outer periphery and an oppositely located inner edge;
a plurality of hex retaining fingers extending from said outer periphery of said annulus portion, each said hex retaining fingers having a flat portion extending to a hook portion located at a terminal end, said hex retaining fingers grouped in three pairs equally spaced around said outer periphery, each said pairs having a first said retaining finger and a second said retaining finger, said flat portion of said first retaining finger angled with respect to said flat portion of said second retaining finger;
a plurality of tangs extending into said central aperture from said inner edge of said annulus portion, each said tangs having a catch wall portion, said catch wall portion angled with respect to said annulus portion, said catch wall portions of said tangs forming a spindle-retaining diameter, each said tangs movable between a resting position and a displaced position, said resting position defines said spindle-retaining diameter; and
when said retainer is installed on said spindle nut and said axle shaft, a portion of said tangs are moved from said resting position towards said displaced position.