Self locking threaded connector

Abstract

A self-locking threaded connection including an externally threaded male part having a series of projections adjacent the trailing or last-to-be-threaded threads and an internally threaded female part having a series of detents adjacent the leading or first-to-be-threaded threads. As the parts are threaded together, the snap reception of the projections into the detents produce both audio and tactile responses indicating that the connection is made and near to a destructive over tightening.

1 . A threaded connector comprising: 
 a) a male part having external threads including an entry thread portion on a leading end of the male part and a trailing thread portion;    b) female part having internal threads extending along the female part including a leading thread portion and a trailing thread portion, the male and female parts being screwed together finger tight to effect a seal at the leading end of the male part;    c) the female part having an unthreaded lip in advance of the leading thread portion;    d) cooperating members on the lip and male part trailing thread portion, the cooperating members engaging one another upon a seal being effected at the male member leading end; and    e) the cooperating members comprising means for preventing the over tightening of the male and female parts and for preventing vibration induced loosening of the male and female parts.    
   
   
       2 . A threaded coupling as in  claim 1  wherein the engagement of the cooperating members provides an audio signal indicating the approach of thread damaging over tightening.  
   
   
       3 . A threaded coupling as in  claim 1  wherein the engagement of the cooperating members provides a tactile signal indicating the approach of thread damaging over tightening.  
   
   
       4 . A threaded coupling as in  claim 1  wherein the cooperating members include a projection adjacent the trailing thread portion of the male part and a detent in the lip of the female part.  
   
   
       5 . A threaded coupling as in  claim 4  wherein the lip has a constant outside diameter and a thickened section formed by a variation in the inside diameter of the lip, the detents being formed in the thicker section of the lip.  
   
   
       6 . A threaded coupling as in  claim 4  wherein the number of detents exceed the number of projections.  
   
   
       7 . A threaded coupling as in  claim 4  wherein a wall of the male part has at least one hole and the projection on the male part is a spherical element inserted into the hole, the diameter of the spherical element being greater than the diameter hole.  
   
   
       8 . A threaded coupling as in  claim 7  wherein the material of the spherical element is harder than the material of the female part.  
   
   
       9 . A threaded coupling as in  claim 1  wherein the cooperating members comprise: 
 a) at least one projection on the female part in advance of the leading thread portion of the female part; and    b) the male part has a thickened peripheral portion adjacent the trailing thread portion of the male part and at least one detent formed in the thickened peripheral portion for receiving the projections upon the male and female parts being threaded together.    
   
   
       10 . A self locking threaded connector comprising: 
 a) a male part having external threads and an end face;    b) a female part having a leading edge and internal threads extending along the female part from the leading edge, the screwing together of the male and female parts effecting a seal at the end face of the male member; and    c) cooperating lock members on the male and female parts, the external threads being intermediate the end face and the locking member on the male part and locking member on the female part being generally along the leading edge and the members being in locking engagement upon the threading of the male part into the female part to a sealing position.    
   
   
       11 . A self locking threaded connector as in  claim 10  wherein the cooperating lock members comprise at least one projection on the male part adjacent a trailing and last-to-be engaged external thread and a detent on the female part in advance of a leading and first-to-be engaged internal thread.  
   
   
       12 . A self locking threaded connector as in  claim 11  wherein the number of detents exceeds the number of projections by one.  
   
   
       13 . A self locking threaded connector as in  claim 10  wherein the cooperating lock members includes a plurality of projections on a lip of the female part in advance of a leading and first-to-be-engaged internal thread and at least one detent formed in a thickened section of the male part adjacent the trailing and last-to-be-engaged external thread.  
   
   
       14 . A self locking threaded connector as in  claim 13  wherein the number of detents is at least equal to the number of projections.  
   
   
       15 . A self locking threaded connector as in  claim 11  wherein a wall of the male part has at least one hole and the projection on the male part is a spherical element inserted into the hole, the diameter of the spherical element being greater than the diameter hole.  
   
   
       16 . A threaded coupling as in  claim 15  wherein the material of the spherical element is harder than the material of the female part.