Title of Invention: Locking ring device
Abstract: Round spring wire (20) FIG. (1) formed into concave tri-elliptic wire (22) FIG. (2-A) and processed to include reversing wave crests (24) FIG. (3-A) having not opposed crest contact (28) FIG. (3-B) requires forming into ring or shape and heat treated as completed elastic form of locking ring device. Unique featured locking of joints and locking of standard fasteners is provided by continuous elastic internal beaming in combination with proportional penetration of joint surfaces by a multitude of relatively sharp reversing wave crests, which are always erect. Useful form is readily shaped and size configured in flat plane such as essentially round form of locking ring device (34) FIG. (4). The locking ring device is used for locking joint by curl formed flange (47b) FIG. (5-B), for plural use in locking of joint by single formed rivet (59) FIG. (6-B), for plural locking of joint by single screw thread fastener such as socket cap screw (78a) FIG. (7-A) and for either left hand or right hand threaded nut (85) FIG. (7-B), for combined sealing and locking with sealing locking (91) FIG. (8-A) surrounded by molding compound (92) FIG. (8-A), and for unitized locating and gripping plural fasteners by forming into a locking polyring (93) FIG. (9). A useful straight form of the locking ring device has use in between properly grooved members (96) FIG. (10) as straight locking key (99) FIG. (10), where restraining lateral and longitudinal movement or combinations offers improved replacement for a square or rectangular section machine key.
Detailed Description: Part PAC: REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
Part TBL: ______________________________________ 20 Round spring wire 61 Shoulder contacting member 22 Concave tri-elliptic wire 62 Bevel engagement 23 Longitudinal bulge 64 Shoulder engagement 24 Reversed twists crests 65 Groove engagement 25 Reversed twists wire 66 Shank engagement 26 Axial reversed twists pitch 68 Axial center line 28 Not opposed crest contact 73 Plate with beveled opening 30 Central axis 74 Opening counter bore 32 Abut end 77 Base with beveled opening 33 Fusion joined ends 78a Socket cap screw 34 Locking ring 78b Screw thread extending 44 Joint axial center line 79 Screw shank 46 Flanged hollow work member 80 Gripping cap screw shank 47a Upset sheet metal flange 81 Gripping screw threads 47b Curl formed flange 82 Cap screw shoulder 48 Locating surface 83 Opening and screw vertical center line 50 Hollow pocket insert 85 Threaded nut 51 Hollow pocket insert surface 86 Shank engagement 52 Insert engagement 87 Treads engagement 53 Flange engagement 88 Nut face engagement 54 Member with beveled opening 91 Sealing lockring 55 Opening 92 Molding compound 56 Bevel 93 Locking polyring 57a Rivet 94 Center line locations 57b Rivet shank 95 Gripping at crests 58 Gripping rivet shank 96 Grooved member 59 Coaxial groove 98 Proper straight groove 60 Formed rivet head 99 Straight locking key ______________________________________
Part PAC_2: DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Part PAL: Static Structure
Part PAR: Triangular wire made from round spring wire is processed to have a series of reversed twists about 120 degrees out of phase from previous twist appearing wave like, as three 60 degree sharp crests along wire length. A portion of such wire, formed such as washer like, is shape formed into essentially round ring and treated to obtain resilience desired. Structure described is a locking ring.
Part PAL_2: Operational Principle
Part PAR_2: A locking ring subjected to compression force makes contacts with surfaces thereagainst at sharp crest having space opposite. Contact force reaction components are primarily bending and include tension and torsion acting within wire material. Effect is shortened axial length as slightly reduced ring diameter. External effect is engagement of sharp crests into surfaces in proportion to limit of penetration and resiliency. Locking action occurs continuously by spring engaged contacting.
Part PAL_3: Description--Figures
Part PAR_3: Material views and elements include oblique views of a round spring wire 20 FIG. 1. Round wire made into a concave tri-elliptic wire 22 is shown in FIG. 2-A. Triangular variations include concave-elliptic wire with a longitudinal bulge 23 FIG. 2-b, and convex tri-elliptic wire in FIG. 2-C. Oblique view of processed triangular wire, as described in static structure, is shown in FIG. 3-A, as a reversed twists wire 25 having reverse twists crests 24. FIG. 3-B shows side view of a axial reversed twists pitch 26 and a not opposed crest contact 28 having opposite space at five locations and a central axis 30. FIG. 3-C shows end view of FIG. 3-B, where the crests show attitude as full circle. FIG. 4 is oblique view showing a formed ring shape made of a portion of the reversed twists wire with an abut end 32 or a fusion joined ends 33 of a locking ring 34. The locking ring will operate lockingly in compression caused by engagement of sharp crests.
Part PAR_4: Joint by forming is shown in sectional views FIG. 5-A and 5-B. Shown is a point axial center line 44, with a flanged hollow work member 46. This is generally sheet metal and includes a upset sheet metal flange 47a having a locating surface 48. The flange extends through a hollow pocket insert 50, adjacent as located by the flange surface. A locking ring is located adjacent to the locating surface and adjacent to a hollow pocket insert surface 51 coaxially in loose assembly. The next and final assembly operation is press curl forming as shown in FIG. 5-B. This FIG. 5-B shows axial centering with the locking ring sandwiched between a curl formed flange 47b and the hollow insert surface. This joint operates by penetration of sharp crests as occur at a hollow insert engagement 52 and at a flange engagement 53 as axially centered, locked, and permanently closed.
Part PAR_5: Joint by riveting in sectional view FIG. 6-A has two of a member with beveled hole 54, having a opening 55, and a bevel 56. Also shown is a rivet 57a with a rivet shank 57b extending through the openings with two of the locking rings shown at a gripping rivet shank 58 and adjacent to the bevel. One other locking ring is adjacent sandwiched by a coaxial groove 59 correspondingly opposite. FIG. 6-A is loosely assembled. This assembly preparation is made before next operation shown in FIG. 6-B, having a formed rivet head 60 shown with a shoulder contacting member 61 in a tightly closed joint. This joint operates by penetration at a bevel engagement 62, a shoulder engagement 64, a shank engagement 66, and at a groove engagement 65 as locked and positioned on a axial center line 68 to be permanently closed.
Part PAR_6: Joint by screw and nut in sectional view FIG. 7-A has a plate with beveled opening 73, a opening counter bore 74, a coaxial groove 59, bevels 56, a base with beveled opening 77, and through which openings is a socket cap screw 78a. A screw threads extending 78b and a screw shank 79 are shown loose assembled with three of the locking rings. They are sandwiched by the coaxial grooves, adjacent to two of the bevels, gripping a cap screw shank 80, a gripping screw threads 81, and adjacent to a cap screw shoulder 82. The screw threads extending are on a openings and screw vertical center line 83. This preparation is made ready for next assembly operation FIG. 7-B showing a threaded nut 85 screwed onto screw threads of the socket cap screw to both close joint and lock joint together. FIG. 7-B also shows a locking ring sandwiched between the bevel and the cap screw, between the coaxial grooves, and between bevel, screw shank, and nut, as clamped assembly. This joint operates by penetration of reversed twists crests shown at bevel engagement 62, at shoulder engagement 64, at a shank engagement 86, at a threads engagement 87, at a nut engagement 88, and at the groove engagement 65.
Part PAR_7: FIG. 8-A is perspective view of a sealing locking 91 showing a molding compound 92 surrounding the locking ring, continuously along wire axial length. FIG. 8-B is an enlarged typical crests section, b--b. The inventor believes operation of sharp crests would penetrate through molding compound where contacting yet provide suitable sealing and locking in designed joint.
Part PAR_8: FIG. 9 shows a locking polyring 93 in plan view of wire with the reversed twists crests in flat plane as configured in a shape like a series of open loops. Loops have a gripping at crests 95 and positions for locating plural fasteners, fasteners not shown, as at a center line locations 94. Operation of gripping is by resilient spring caused friction.
Part PAR_9: FIG. 10 is an exploded view of two of a grooved member 96 with a proper straight groove 98, as prepared for engagement of the reversed twists crests. Opposed grooves sandwich a straight locking key 99, made from the reversed twists wire. The straight grooves are made vee shape or rounded shape and made open ended or close ended. Operation is by engagement of sharp crests with grooved members clamped closed, means for closing not shown.
Part PAR_10: From the description above, twenty five advantages and new features of my locking ring device become evident:
Part PA1: (1) More sharp crests than tooth type lock washers are available by choosing axial reverse twist pitch for processing tri-elliptical wire. PA1 (2) Contacting of multiple sharp crests are constant erect. PA1 (3) Locking rings with joined or abut ends are tangle free. PA1 (4) The expense of pre-assembled SEMS (R) type lock washer on special fasteners is reduced by using a locking ring with gripping built in for separate assembly onto standard fasteners. PA1 (5) A continuous spring action of a multitude of erect sharp crests effectively locks joint subjected to severe vibration. PA1 (6) Locking ring has smaller outside diameter than screw head, so it fits under shoulder of a socket cap screw in a counter bored opening, saving space and joint thickness. PA1 (7) Fastener length and joint thickness are reduced by use of locking ring in beveled opening. PA1 (8) Lighter weight locking ring is made possible by triangular shape wire. PA1 (9) More pleasing joint appearance is possible from locking ring assembled out of view. PA1 (10) Triangular sharp crests allow deep penetration. PA1 (11) Scrapless manufacture helps give lowest unit cost. PA1 (12) Plural fasteners are gripped and located by one locking assembly as multiple fastener unit. PA1 (13) Left or right hand thread fasteners are properly locked. PA1 (14) Size range is unlimited so with a larger diameter locking ring, more penetrating sharp crests are available. PA1 (15) Locking of both joint members and of fasteners stiffens joint, prevents axial joint rotation, and fastener wobble. PA1 (16) Leakage sealing and locking are combined in one unit. PA1 (17) Locking key can be made of a straight portion of reverse twist triangular wire for lateral and axial joint locking. PA1 (18) Manufacturing assembly is aided by locking ring device gripping bolt and holding bolt in place while awaiting nut assembly regardless of screw attitude. PA1 (19) Using plural locking rings can stabilize fastener by preventing fastener from wobbling in opening. PA1 (20) Locking two joint work members together to surround locking ring by forming, makes a joint that resists movement from torsional forces. PA1 (21) Use of locking ring in beveled hole axially centers bolt or screw. PA1 (22) Locking rings have extended uses capability. PA1 (23) Locking ring overcome spring back in forming. PA1 (24) Locking rings use spring material efficiently. PA1 (25) Use of locking ring having lowest unit cost and quick assembly features help to lower production assembly cost.
Part PAL_4: Summary, Ramifications, and Scope
Part PAR_11: Necessarily, FIGS. 5,6,7,8,9, and 10 are presented to shown before and after cross sections of curl formed, riveted, and screw thread, locking joints and configurations. My invention of locking ring has unique features used therein and further inventions of curl formed flange locking, coaxial groove locking, bevel joint shank locking, pinned joint locking, plural fastener unitized locking, sealed ring locking, straight key locking, and assemblies with fasteners. Featured use with standard commercial fasteners influence low cost and provide joining advantages such as axial centering combined with work piece opening alignment, zero added thickness within joint to minimize through fastener length, and combined locking shoulder and shank at bolt head. Additionally, gripping shank by locking ring pre-assembled thereto accomplish SEMS (R) like assembly for standard fasteners. Locking axially, laterally, and at all contact force attitudess make my invention purposeful.
Part PAR_12: The scope of usage of this invention is rewarding in the scrapless use of materials by continuous manufacturing processes. Triangular wire structure and further efficiency of configuration yield minimum weight and size of locking ring. Ring rather than washer configuration is advantageous in keeping locking device hidden from view. Locking rings for large size fastener size or special shapes are non restrictive and economical, especially compared to die stamped lock washers. Combined sealing and locking functions as integral sealing locking may interchange at any or all of the locking ring locations shown.
Part PAR_13: Although the descriptions above contain many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of this invention, but as providing of some of the illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. For example; a twisted crest configuration, a color coded compound for sealing locking ring size identification or sealing type identification, a locking ring used in sheet metal round hole to engage inside diameter surface and also engage shank of through passing object so as to eliminate extra cost of hole with key notch or flats, a same size use of plural locking rings assembled and gripping onto bolt with carriage type head to eliminate square shank on carriage bolt and also eliminate square receiving hole by a proper size for engagement of receiving round hole, a locking ring to be used with a flat washer having a prepared beveled hole, a locking ring formed in other than flat plane, a locking ring to lock flat head screws where a prepared grooved in countersink is provided, and a use in locking non-metal work members or fasteners.
Part PAR_14: Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.


{'bibliographic_information': "{'Patent Number': '060595019', 'Series Code': '8', 'Application Number': '949197&', 'Application Type': '1', 'Art unit': '367', 'Application Filing Date': '19971010', 'Title of Invention': 'Locking ring device', 'Issue Date': '20000509', 'Number of Claims': '40', 'Exemplary Claim Number(s)': '1', 'Primary Examiner': 'Wilson; Neill', 'Number of Drawing Sheets': '3', 'Number of figures': '18'}", 'source_file': './grant/2000/pftaps20000509_wk19.txt', 'source_data': 'USPTO-Grant'}