Abstract: A locking device for a threaded fastener comprises a pair of washers each having a plurality of wedge cam sets that include a base-cam and a raised tooth-cam. When the washers are mated together in use, the wedge cam sets of each washer are placed into confronting engagement with those of the other washer, with the raised tooth-cams of each washer engaging the base-cams of the other washer. The base-cam surfaces are ramped so that, as the tooth-cams slide along them during relative rotational movement, the combined axial height of the two washers changes—decreasing during tightening and increasing during loosening so that unintended partial loosening of the fastener is offset by expansion of the washers to thereby maintain bolt tension. Raised shoulders at each end of the tooth-cams are used to inhibit the amount of relative rotational movement of the two washers in both directions.

Abstract: A locking device for a threaded fastener comprises a pair of washers each having a plurality of wedge cam sets that include a base-cam and a raised tooth-cam. When the washers are mated together in use, the wedge cam sets of each washer are placed into confronting engagement with those of the other washer, with the raised tooth-cams of each washer engaging the base-cams of the other washer. The base-cam surfaces are ramped so that, as the tooth-cams slide along them during relative rotational movement, the combined axial height of the two washers changes—decreasing during tightening and increasing during loosening so that unintended partial loosening of the fastener is offset by expansion of the washers to thereby maintain bolt tension. Raised shoulders at each end of the tooth-cams are used to inhibit the amount of relative rotational movement of the two washers in both directions.

Abstract: A locking fastener in which coacting ramp surfaces are provided on a nut and washer assembly to generate wedging forces in response to backing off movement of the nut which urge the nut into tighter engagement with the associated bolt and the workpiece and in which a spring member disposed radially from the ramp surfaces is biased by the final relative tightening movement of the nut and washer so as to bias the ramp surfaces for movement in the direction to augment the locking action of the fastener. A torque control fastener is disclosed in which the gap between the adjacent ramp shoulders on the nut and washer is indicative of the torque and the damping force exerted by the fastener.

Abstract: A locking fastener in which coacting ramp surfaces are provided on a nut and washer assembly to generate wedging forces in response to backing off movement of the nut which urge the nut into tighter engagement with the associated bolt and the workpiece and in which a spring member disposed radially from the ramp surfaces is biased by the final relative tightening movement of the nut and washer so as to bias the ramp surfaces for movement in the direction to augment the locking action of the fastener. A torque control fastener is disclosed in which the gap between the adjacent ramp shoulders on the nut and washer is indicative of the torque and the damping force exerted by the fastener.

Abstract: A locking fastener assembly in which coacting cam surfaces are employed to generate wedging forces in response to backing off movement of the associated nut or washer at the conclusion of the normal tightening operation, thereby urging the nut into tighter engagement with the associated bolt and at the same time removing and reversing the residual wind up in the bolt created in the normal tightening operation. Coacting locking means are provided on the confronting faces of the elements of the fastener which operate to lock up the elements following the backing off movement so as to lock in the additional tightening generated by the backing off movement.

Abstract: A lock washer, a locking fastener assembly, and a method of providing a secure, inexpensive fastener joint. The lock washer has a convexly conical upper surface including circumferentially spaced cam surfaces separated by radial shoulders and a concavely conical undersurface. The washer is hardened relative to the associated nut so that as the washer and a nut are tightened together the upper face of the washer acts as a die which presses into the underface of the nut to form a mirror mating image of the conical upper surface of the washer on the underface of the nut. The fully torqued nut and washer define coacting ramp surfaces on the underface of the nut and the upper face of the washer which act upon any tendency of the nut to move in a loosening direction to increase the overall height of the nut and the washer so as to further tighten the joint. The washer is hardened to ensure that the surface of the washer cuts as a die into the lower surface of the nut.

Abstract: A locking fastener in which coacting ramp surfaces are employed to generate wedging forces in response to backing-off movement of the associated nut which urges the nut into tighter engagement with the associated bolt and workpiece and in which spring means are provided which are compressed during the tightening operation and which bias the ramp surfaces for movement in a direction to augment the locking action of the fastener.

Abstract: A locking fastener in which coacting ramp surfaces are employed to generate wedging forces in response to backing-off movement of the associated nut which urges the nut into tighter engagement with the associated bolt and workpiece and in which spring means are provided which are compressed during the tightening operation and which bias the ramp surfaces for movement in a direction to augment the locking action of the fastener.