Double-acting lockwasher

Abstract

A locking washer is to be inserted between a bearing element and a screwable element. The locking washer includes two washer crowns, each of which has an engagement face. The washer crowns which engage with one another and are maintained compressed under axial pressure between the screwable element and the bearing element are capable, when the screwable element is unscrewed, of rotatably engaging with the screwable element, and the bearing element, respectively, so as to rotate the washer crowns relative to one another, in order to rotatably lock the screwable element. According to the invention, the locking washer presents a shape of a truncated cone, and the locking washer is elastically deformable in order to be able to be flattened, forming a spring, such that the axial pressure is maintained substantially constant.

1 . A locking washer intended for being compressed axially between a bearing element and a screwable element, the screwable element being connected to the bearing element by a shank member suitable for traversing the locking washer, the locking washer comprising:
 two washer crowns each having an engagement face, the engagement face having a plurality of asymmetrical radial teeth, each of the radial asymmetrical teeth having a crest and a tooth bottom spaced angularly from the crest, and a sliding side inclined extending angularly between the crest and the tooth bottom,   wherein the engagement faces of the washer crowns are suitable for being applied against each other, whereas the sliding sides come into contact with each other, respectively, the washer crowns, which are applied against each other and maintained compressed under axial pressure between the screwable element and the bearing element, respectively, being suitable for being brought into rotation with the screwable element and the bearing element, respectively, when the screwable element loosens, with a view to bringing the washer crowns into rotation relative to each other, whereas the respective sliding sides are brought along slidingly against each other while forming a ramp to separate the washer crowns axially from each other to bring about the locking against rotation of the screwable element,   wherein the locking washer presents a shape of a truncated cone and is elastically deformable in order to be able to be flattened, forming a spring between the bearing element and the screwable element to maintain the axial pressure substantially constant, whereby the washer crowns are suitable for being brought along in rotation relative to one another when the bearing element and the screwable element are separated axially from each other,   wherein the locking washer crowns have a ribbed outer side, opposite engagement face, and   wherein the locking washer crowns have essentially the same outer diameter, both axially compressed and when flattened.   
     
     
         2 . The locking washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the asymmetrical radial teeth of the engagement faces of each of the washer crowns have an identical profile. 
     
     
         3 . The locking washer according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the asymmetrical radial teeth also has a stop side opposite the sliding face relative to the crests; and the stop sides of the asymmetrical radial teeth of the engagement faces come into contact with each other, respectively, when the engagement faces of the washer crowns are applied against each other. 
     
     
         4 . The locking washer according to  claim 3 , wherein the stop sides and the sliding sides join along an intersection line that extends radially. 
     
     
         5 . The locking washer according to  claim 3 , wherein the washer crowns having axial planes intersecting the asymmetrical radial teeth according to the crest, the stop sides are substantially inclined relative to the axial planes. 
     
     
         6 . The locking washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the washer crowns having axial plans intersecting the asymmetrical, radial teeth along the crest and perpendicular planes intersecting the axial planes perpendicularly according to the crest, the sliding sides are substantially inclined relative to the perpendicular planes. 
     
     
         7 . The locking washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement face of each of the washer crowns has between ten and twenty asymmetrical radial teeth. 
     
     
         8 . The locking washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the washer crowns have a convex engagement face, whereas the other one of the washer crowns has a concave engagement face. 
     
     
         9 . The locking washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the washer crowns are made from a spring steel. 
     
     
         10 . The locking washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement faces are treated to reduce the friction forces between the sliding faces. 
     
     
         11 . The locking washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the crests and tooth bottom extend all the way from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the washer crown. 
     
     
         12 . The locking washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the washer is a wedge locking washer. 
     
     
         13 . The locking washer according to  claim 1 , wherein each washer crown has the engagement face of one of the washer crowns on a concave side of the washer crown and the engagement face of the other washer crown is on a convex side of the washer crown.