Patent ID: 12253104

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the present disclosure. Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, the figures schematically depict a reaction washer10according to the present disclosure.

With reference to the figures, a reaction washer10is shown. Notably, as shown inFIG.5, the reaction washer10can be slid onto a free end12aof a threaded element12so as to engage a mating face14aof a flange14. Further, a nut16can threadably engage the threaded element12so as to capture the reaction washer10on the threaded element12between the nut16and the mating face14aof the flange14. Thus, the reaction washer10is disposed on the threaded element12so that the nut16is between the reaction washer10and the free end12aof the threaded element12so as to engage a tool (not shown). As will be described in more detail hereinafter, the features of the reaction washer10prevent rotation of the reaction washer10about the threaded element12by engaging the mating face14aof the flange14, thereby allowing the tool to solely rotate the nut16without the entirety of the tool rotating about the threaded element12.

More particularly, the tool can simultaneously and circumferentially engage the nut16and the reaction washer10by at least partially radially surround the nut16and the reaction washer10(as will be described in more detail hereinafter). Thus, the tool can be utilized to tighten or loosen the nut16. As will be appreciated, this means that the nut16would travel along the threaded element12away from the flange14(or toward the free end12a) when the nut16is being loosened so that the nut16could be removed from the threaded element12and the nut16would travel along the threaded element12away from the free end12a(or toward the mating face14aof the flange14) when the associated threaded element12is being tightened so that the nut16cannot be removed from the threaded element12.

With continued reference toFIG.5, and alsoFIGS.1-3, the reaction washer10can include a castellated portion18circumferentially disposed around a perimeter of the reaction washer10and a main body portion20defining an inner diameter22of the reaction washer10. Thus, the reaction washer10can have a generally circular shape with nominal thickness. However, it will be appreciated that other shapes and thicknesses are possible and contemplated without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

The castellated portion18can include a plurality of castellations18a,18b,18nthat cooperate to define an outer diameter of the reaction washer10and the inner diameter22of the main body portion20can slidingly receive the threaded element12therethrough so as to define an engagement axis24. Thus, the reaction washer10can slidingly and coaxially receive the threaded element12and the nut16can threadingly and coaxially receive the threaded element12, both along the engagement axis24. As illustrated, the reaction washer10includes 14 castellations. As illustrated, each of the castellations18a,18bhas a generally rectangular shape in plan and elevation views. However, it will be appreciated that the reaction washer10could include more or less castellations, and that these castellations could have different shapes, without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

As shown inFIG.4, the main body can include a first side26and a second side28. The first side26and the second side28face in opposite directions. As shown inFIG.1, the second side28can be generally smooth and planar. The second side28is configured to face toward the nut16when installed on the threaded element12. However, the second side28is not required to be smooth.

With reference toFIG.2, the first side26of the reaction washer10is shown in more detail. Notably, the reaction washer10can include an inner engagement ring32that extends from the first side26and is coaxially disposed between the inner diameter22and the castellated portion18. This extension of the inner engagement ring32from the first side26can be in a direction that is away from the second side28. The reaction washer10can also include an outer engagement ring34that extends from the first side26and is coaxially disposed between the inner engagement ring32and the castellated portion18.

Like the inner engagement ring32, the outer engagement ring34can extend from the first side26in a direction that is away from the second side28. Thus, high friction features provided by the elements on the first side26of the reaction washer10engage the flange14to help prevent rotation of the reaction washer10with respect to the threaded element12or the nut16. Finally, the outer engagement ring34may be radially spaced from the inner engagement ring32so as to define a ring gap36.

The inner engagement ring32can include a plurality of serrations38that each define a respective serration axis that do not intersect with the engagement axis24and the outer engagement ring34can include a plurality of teeth42that each define a respective tooth axis that do not intersect with the engagement axis24. Each of the plurality of serrations38each define a serration length and each of the plurality of teeth42can define a tooth length. Additionally, the serration length can be between eight and twelve times greater than the ring gap36mentioned hereinbefore. More particularly, the serration length can be ten times greater than the ring gap36.

Because of this non-intersection of the serration axes and the tooth axes with the engagement axis24, the plurality of serrations38and the plurality of teeth42can be longer than the typical layout with other known reaction washers, thereby improving engagement between the reaction washer10and the flange14. The plurality of serrations38and the plurality of teeth42cooperate to resist rotation of the reaction washer10about the engagement axis24by engaging the flange14to create a force path in a non-orthogonal direction about the engagement axis24of the mating face14aof the flange14. Due to the aforementioned orientation of the serrations38, and optionally the orientation of the teeth42, engagement between the reaction washer10and the flange14is improved.

The plurality of serrations38can include a first serration38aand a second serration38bthat are adjacent one another and separated by a first serration trough44. When viewing the first side26of the reaction washer10in the plan view, the first serration38acan include a first serration primary face46, a first serration secondary face48, and a first serration peak52disposed therebetween. The first serration peak52can define a maximum distance that the first serration38ais spaced from the second side28in a direction along the engagement axis24.

Further, the first serration primary face46can ramp away from the second side28when traveling toward the second serration38bin a first rotational direction40(seeFIG.2for first rotational direction indication) about the engagement axis24and ramp toward the second side28when traveling away from the second serration38bin a second rotational direction50(seeFIG.2for second rotational direction indication) about the engagement axis24. For reference, the first rotational direction40and the second rotational direction50are opposite to one another. This arrangement of the plurality of serrations38allows for improved engagement between the reaction washer10and the flange14as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The first serration38acan also include a first serration inner face54and a first serration outer face56. The first serration inner face54faces toward the inner diameter22and defines a terminal end of the first serration38a. In contrast, the first serration outer face56faces toward the outer diameter. However, the first serration outer face56also defines a terminal end of the first serration38a. The first serration inner face54defines a first serration inner face plane that is not orthogonal to an imaginary line radially extending from the engagement axis24in an orthogonal manner

Additionally, the first serration outer face56defines a first serration outer face plane that is not orthogonal to the imaginary line radially extending from the engagement axis24in an orthogonal manner. Further, the first serration inner face plane is not parallel to the first serration outer face plane. It is noted that because of the orientation of the first serration inner face54and the first serration outer face56with respect to the engagement axis24, more force can be transmitted to the flange14from the reaction washer10, thereby helping to prevent rotation between the reaction washer10and the flange14.

The second serration38bcan include a second serration primary face58, a second serration secondary face62, and a second serration peak64disposed therebetween. The second serration peak64defines a maximum distance that the second serration38bis spaced from the second side28. Further, the first serration peak52is spaced from the second side28a distance that is equal to a distance that the second serration peak64is spaced from the second side28.

The second serration38bcan also include a second serration inner face66that faces toward the inner diameter22of the reaction washer10and a second serration outer face68that faces toward the outer diameter of the reaction washer10. The second serration inner face66can define a second serration inner face plane that is not orthogonal to the imaginary line radially extending from the engagement axis24in an orthogonal manner. Further, the second serration outer face68can define a second serration outer face plane that is not orthogonal to the imaginary line radially extending from the engagement axis24in an orthogonal manner. Finally, the respective serration axes38a′,38b′ of the first serration38aand the second serration38bextend between the respective inner faces54,66and the outer faces56,68are not parallel to one another.

With regard to the outer engagement ring34, the plurality of teeth42can include a first tooth42aand a second tooth42bthat are adjacent one another with a first tooth trough72disposed therebetween. The first tooth42acan define a first tooth axis42a′. The first tooth42acan include a first tooth inner face74that faces toward the inner engagement ring32and a first tooth outer face76that faces toward the outer diameter. Further, the first tooth inner face74and the first tooth outer face76can define terminal ends of the first tooth42aand are disposed on the first tooth axis42a′.

The first tooth42acan also include a first tooth primary face78, a first tooth secondary face82, and a first tooth peak84disposed therebetween, from a plan view. The first tooth peak84can define a maximum distance that the first tooth42ais spaced from the second side28and the first tooth peak84is spaced from the second side28a distance that is equal to a distance that the second serration peak64is spaced from the second side28. The first tooth primary face78can ramp toward the second side28when traveling toward the second tooth42bin the first rotational direction40about the engagement axis24and ramp away the second side28when traveling away from the second tooth42bin the second rotational direction50about the engagement axis24. As noted hereinbefore, the first rotational direction40and the second rotational direction50are opposite one another. The first tooth trough72defines a minimum distance that the first tooth42ais offset from the second side28.

The second tooth42bcan define a second tooth axis42b′. Like the first tooth42a, the second tooth42bcan include a second tooth inner face86that faces toward the inner engagement ring32so as to not be parallel to the first tooth inner face74and a second tooth outer face88that faces away from the inner engagement ring32so as to not be parallel to the first tooth outer face76. Further, the second tooth inner face86and the second tooth outer face88can define terminal ends of the second tooth42band are disposed on the second tooth axis42b′. Additionally, it is noted that the first tooth axis42a′ and the second tooth axis42b′ are not parallel to one another.

The second tooth42bcan also include a second tooth primary face92, a second tooth secondary face94, and a second tooth peak96disposed therebetween in plan view. The first tooth trough72separates the first tooth secondary face82from the second tooth primary face92. Further, the second tooth peak96defines a maximum distance that the second tooth42bis spaced from the second side28. The first tooth peak84is spaced from the second side28a distance that is equal to a distance that the second tooth peak96is spaced from the second side28. A second tooth trough98defines a minimum distance that the second tooth42bis offset from the second side28. Further, the first tooth peak84and the second tooth peak96are offset from the second side28an equal distance and the first tooth trough72and the second tooth trough98are offset from the second side28an equal distance.

The shape and layout of the plurality of serrations38, and optionally, the plurality of teeth42provide many advantages for the reaction washer10. As noted hereinbefore, there is improved engagement between the reaction washer10and the flange14. As an added bonus, this occurs while also not negatively impacting the mating surface14aof the flange14. As will be appreciated, this improved engagement provides for enhanced lock-up with the tool that drives the nut16and is attached to the reaction washer10.

In view of the above advantages,FIGS.7-8are considered particularly relevant.FIGS.7A and7Bare finite element analysis depictions of the reaction washer10under load. In particular,FIG.7Aillustrates the stress flow in the reaction washer10at an initial embedment bite (approximately 0.004″) with the flange14andFIG.7Billustrates the stress flow in the reaction washer10at full embedment bite with the flange14. Further,FIG.8Aillustrates the stress flow in the flange14after engaging a traditional reaction washer at initial embedment (approximately 0.004″) that does not include the unique features described hereinabove.

In contrast,FIG.8Billustrates the stress flow in the flange14after engaging the described reaction washer10at initial embedment (approximately 0.004″). As is considered apparent, comparison betweenFIGS.8A and8Billustrates that the improved reaction washer10, which is illustrated inFIG.8B, provides lower stress concentration in the flange14. This is because of a longer bite length and angled load path on the flange14, which is due to the layout of the plurality of serrations38, and optionally, the layout of the plurality of teeth42of the reaction washer10.

With reference toFIG.9, a thread attachment assembly100is shown. The thread attachment assembly100includes a nut102that defines a nut inner diameter and a nut outer diameter and the reaction washer10. The reaction washer10is rotatably connected to the nut. Further, the outer diameter of the reaction washer10is greater than the nut outer diameter of the nut102and the nut102is directly connected to the reaction washer so as to allow independent rotation between the reaction washer10and the nut102. LikeFIG.5, the reaction washer10inFIG.9can be slid onto the free end12aof the threaded element12so as to engage the mating face14aof the flange14. However, with the thread attachment assembly100, the reaction washer10is permanently attached to the nut102, while still providing rotational independence between the reaction washer10and the nut102. The reaction washer10can be attached to the nut102by a variety of methods. For example, the nut102can include a flared element that extends into the inner diameter of the reaction washer10to join the reaction washer10and the nut102together.

A reaction washer has been described above in particularity. Modifications and alternations will occur to those upon reading and understanding the preceding detail description. The invention, however, is not limited to only the embodiment described above. Instead, the invention is broadly defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereof.