Patent ID: 7168902
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: F16B

Abstract:
1. A locking device for use with a threaded fastener, the fastener comprising first and second fastener elements having female and male threads, respectively, for mating engagement with each other, said locking device comprising: first and second washers, each having an annular main body portion with a plurality of wedge cam sets, said wedge cam sets each including a base-cam and a raised tooth-cam adjacent said base-cam, said base-cam and said tooth-cam of each wedge cam set being separated by a first axial shoulder of said tooth-cam, and said wedge cam sets each being separated from an adjacent wedge cam set by a second axial shoulder of said tooth-cam; wherein said base-cams each have a ramped cam surface and have a greater angular extent than said tooth-cams such that, when said washers are assembled together with said wedge cam sets of said washers being placed in confronting relationship, said tooth-cams of each washer contact a base-cam surface of the other washer, thereby permitting limited relative rotational and axial movement of said washers in which said tooth-cams slide along said ramped base-cams for a predetermined angular distance limited in one rotational direction by mutual engagement of said first shoulders and limited in the opposite rotational direction by mutual engagement of said second shoulders.