Nut and washer assembly

Abstract

A nut and washer assembly includes a washer unit that is coupled to a nut. The washer unit includes a housing and a washer that is disposed within a sleeve on an inner surface of the housing such that the washer is inseparable from and axially rotatable with respect to the housing. The housing is attached to the nut such that the washer captured within the housing of the washer unit and the nut operate as a single unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 forming a washer unit comprising a housing that traps a washer within the housing, wherein the washer is inseparable from the housing and is axially rotatable with respect to the housing, the housing and the washer being substantially ring shaped; and   coupling the washer unit to a nut to form a single unit comprising the washer unit and the nut.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the washer unit further comprises:
 forming a sleeve and a lip that extends radially inward on an inner surface of the housing;   chamfering a top edge of the washer;   disposing the washer within the sleeve of the housing, wherein, upon disposition, the washer rests on the lip, the chamfered top edge of the washer faces the sleeve, and the housing axially overlaps the washer; and   mechanically forging the housing to trap the washer within the sleeve of the housing while allowing an axial rotation of the washer with respect to the sleeve.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of coupling the washer unit to the nut further comprises coupling the housing to an outer surface of the nut. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising installing the nut and the washer as a single unit, wherein the washer is a tang washer. 
     
     
         5 . A method comprising:
 forming a washer unit that comprises a housing and a washer that is coupled to the housing, wherein the washer is inseparable from the housing and is axially rotatable with respect to the housing; and   coupling the washer unit to a nut to form a single unit comprising the washer unit and the nut.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of forming the washer unit further comprises:
 forming a sleeve and a lip that extends radially inward on an inner surface of the housing;   chamfering a top edge of the washer; and   disposing the washer in the sleeve of the housing, wherein, upon disposition, the washer rests on the lip, the chamfered top edge of the washer faces the sleeve, and the housing axially overlaps the washer.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprises mechanically forging the housing to trap the washer in the sleeve of the housing while allowing an axial rotation of the washer with respect to the sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprises mechanically forging the washer to trap the washer in the sleeve of the housing while allowing an axial rotation of the washer with respect to the sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of coupling the washer unit to the nut further comprises coupling the housing to an outer surface of the nut. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising installing the nut and the washer as a single unit. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the washer is a tang washer. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 forming a washer that is substantially ring-shaped and comprising an outer side surface, an inner side surface that is concentric with the outer side surface, and a top outer annular edge that is chamfered; and   forming a housing that is substantially ring-shaped and defining a through cavity, wherein forming the housing comprises:
 configuring an inner surface of the housing such that a top portion of the housing defines a sleeve that is thinner than a bottom portion of the housing, the inner surface of the housing comprising a lip that extends radially inward into the through cavity and is positioned between a top inner edge and a bottom inner edge of the housing, 
   forming a washer unit by coupling the washer to the housing such that the washer is inseparable from the housing and allows an axial rotation of the washer with respect to the housing,
 wherein the washer is seated on the lip, disposed in the sleeve at the top portion of the housing, and the outer side surface of the washer engages a portion of the inner surface of the housing that is associated with the sleeve; and 
   coupling the washer unit to a nut, wherein, upon coupling, the top portion of the housing of the washer unit faces away from a bottom portion of the nut and the bottom portion of the housing of the washer unit faces the bottom portion of the nut.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of coupling the washer to the housing comprises mechanically forging the housing to trap the washer in the sleeve of the housing while allowing the axial rotation of the washer with respect to the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of coupling the washer to the housing comprises mechanically forging the washer to trap the washer in the sleeve of the housing while allowing the axial rotation of the washer with respect to the sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of coupling the washer unit to the nut further comprises coupling the housing to an outer surface of the nut. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of installing the nut and the washer as a single unit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the washer is a tang washer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom portion of the nut comprises securing features comprising castellation slots to lock the nut in place after torqueing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom portion of the nut comprises securing features comprising completed slots that are configured to receive cross bolts therethrough. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom portion of the nut comprises securing features comprising flanges that extend radially outward and substantially horizontally from an outer surface of the nut.