US Patent 7000995 High-integrity interlocking nut and washer system

An interlocking nut and washer system exhibits a very high degree of inherent mechanical stability. The preferred embodiment includes an inner washer, an adjustment nut, an intermediate washer, and an outer nut completing an interlock assembly. Although the inner washer is technically optional, use thereof does reduce wear on the inner nut. While the invention maybe applied in different ways, the system is particularly suited to the controlled adjustment of tapered roller wheel bearings. In this case the system is provided on the spindle ends of an axle, which mounts a wheel assembly that includes tapered roller bearings.