Adjustable locking device is used for taking up end play of shaft without displacing shaft radially. Coincidentally threaded collars fastened to one or both ends of shaft are threaded in and out of one another for adjustment of end play. Intrinsic feature is its ability to be locked in any translatory position without axial displacement of shaft

Fincannon, O. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

A ac men, 
pport Plate 
Adjustment 
Shaft 
Locking 
Shaft 
August 1972
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Marshall Space Flight Center
B72-10459 
[-N ]SA 
NASA Tech Briefs announce now technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Adjustable Locking Device
f.
oi,ar 
Conventional methods of taking up end play of a shaft 
along its longitudinal axis involve the use of a sliding collar 
with set screws provided for holding the collar in place 
in some preset position on the shaft. The adjustable 
locking device is a device for taking up the end play of a 
shaft without displacing the shaft radially. Coincidentally 
threaded collars fastened to one or both ends of the shaft 
are threaded in and out of one another for adjustment of 
end play. 
As shown in the illustration, when the locking shaft is

advanced or retracted within the adjustment shaft, a point

is reached at which the external threads on the shafts 
align and coincide. As long as the coincidental relationship 
is maintained, the shaft assemblies may be adjusted to any 
point along the internally threaded collar. However, any

differential movement of the locking shaft with respect

to the main load carrying adjustment shaft will

immediately threadlock the locking shaft at that position

Swithin the threaded collar. This locking capability stems
from the fact that threads "A" and "B" (see figure) due 
to differences in size and thread pitch, have different 
translatory characteristics with respect to each other for 
the same angular or rotational movement. The differ-
ential .
 threading causes all threads of both shafts to be 
brought into bearing and enhances the locking capability 
of the device. 
An intrinsic feature of the adjustable locking device is 
its ability to be locked in any translatory position without 
additional axial displacement of the shaft. Some possible 
uses of this feature would be the removal of end play from 
large rotating shafts without costly disassembly and shim-
ming operations, provision for quick and accurate align-
ment for conveyor systems, and provision for adjustment 
capability for leveling and installing machinery and other 
equipment. This feature would also permit precise but 
variable adjustment to tooling fixtures and similar devices 
for converting them from single purpose to multipurpose 
tools.
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States
	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19720000458 2020-03-17T03:39:21+00:00Z
Notes 
Information concerning this innovation may be of 
interest to the machine tooling industry. 
Requests for further information may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Code A&TS-TU 
Huntsville, Alabama 35812 
Reference: B72-10459
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: 0. J. Fincannon of

McDonnell-Douglas Corporation 
under contract to

Marshall Space Flight Center

(MFS-2 1650)
.S 
.f 
B72-10459	 Category 07


Adjustable locking device

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