THRUST NUT FOR BEARING AGAINST AN AXLE

A thrust nut for bearing against an axle includes a nut body, a first race member and a row of rolling elements. The nut body has opposing first and second surfaces and defines a threaded hole therein. The first race member is arranged to face the first surface of the nut body. The nut body serves as a second race member and cooperates with the first race member to co-define an annular track therebetween. The row of rolling elements is disposed in the annular track between the first race member and the nut body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a nut and more particularly to a thrust nut for axially bearing against an axle.

2. Description of the Related Art

A thrust bearing is a particular type of rotary bearing. Like other bearings they permit rotation between parts, but they are designed to support a predominately axial load. As shown inFIG. 5, a conventional thrust bearing91is retained by a nut92to support an axial load generated by an axle94of a pedal9of a bicycle. Specifically, the thrust bearing91is disposed around a distal end of the axle94and the nut92is threaded onto the end of the axle94. The thrust bearing91includes a pair of race members95,96and a row of balls97sandwiched in between the race members95,96. One of the race members95abuts indirectly against a housing93of the pedal9via a spring98and a washer99. The other race member96abuts against the nut92.

As described above, an apparatus is generally made up of a number of mechanical parts. The quality of the apparatus consists of several components like precision and accuracy in respective mechanical parts. Thus, if the number of mechanical parts is increased, the apparatus gains not only more weight but also an increase in accumulated tolerance and therefore causes a loss in the quality. Whilst the conventional apparatus as shown inFIG. 5is satisfactory for most duties, there is always a desire to provide an apparatus with less weight and smaller accumulated tolerance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a thrust nut for bearing against an axle, which contributes less weight and smaller accumulated tolerance.

Specifically, the thrust nut includes a nut body, a first race member and a row of rolling elements. The nut body has opposing first and second surfaces and defines a threaded hole therein. The first race member is arranged to face the first surface of the nut body. The nut body serves as a second race member and cooperates with the first race member to co-define an annular track therebetween. The row of rolling elements is disposed in the annular track between the first race member and the nut body.

As described above, the thrust nut is merged from a conventional thrust bearing and a conventional nut in a manner that the weight of the thrust nut is less than a total weight of the thrust bearing and the nut, and the accumulated tolerance of the thrust nut is smaller than that of the thrust bearing and the nut.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, there is shown a thrust nut100for bearing against an axle according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the thrust nut100includes a nut body1, a first race member2, a row of rolling elements3and a retainer4.

As shown inFIG. 2, the nut body1of the thrust nut100has opposing first and second surfaces101,102and defines a threaded hole10therein. The first race member2faces the first surface101of the nut body1. Moreover, the nut body1serves as a second race member and cooperates with the first race member2to co-define an annular track12therebetween, as depicted inFIG. 3. The row of rolling elements3is disposed in the annular track12between the first race member2and the nut body1. In this example, the rolling elements3are spherical rotors; however, in other examples, the rolling elements3may be cylindrical rollers.

More specifically, as shown inFIG. 2, the nut body1defines an annular groove103in a periphery of the first surface101thereof. On the other hand, the first race member2defines an annular groove20axially opposing to that of the nut. body1such that the annular track12is formed between the nut body1and the first race member2. In addition, the retainer or cage4is ring-shaped and sandwiched in between the nut body1and the first race member2, as depicted inFIG. 3, so as to hold the rolling elements3from interacting one another.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the nut body1has at its second surface102an engaging portion13for engaging with a tightening tool (not shown). In this example, the engaging portion13of the nut body1is consisted of a pair of cutouts130at opposite sides of the nut body1for engaging with a fork spanner (not shown). However, in other examples, the engaging portion13of the nut body1may be a hexagonal recess for engaging with a hex key, a cross slot for engaging with a Phillips screwdriver, a straight slot for engaging with a flat-head screwdriver or an outside hexagon for engaging with a wrench.

With reference toFIG. 4, there is shown a thrust nut200for bearing against an axle according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the thrust nut100inFIGS. 1-3, the thrust nut200of the second embodiment includes a first race member2, a row of rolling elements3and a retainer4, except that the nut body1ais formed at its first surface101with a shank portion11around which the first race member2is disposed, and the threaded hole10aof the nut body la extends through the shank portion11.

As described above, the present invention provides a thrust nut that is merged from a conventional thrust bearing and a conventional nut and has characteristics of the two, but contributes less weight and smaller accumulated tolerance.

It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are illustrative in nature and the invention is not to be limited to any one or more embodiments except as set forth in the following claims.