US 12,104,641 B2
Retention washers, propeller retention systems, and related methods
Chad Nichols Blundell, White Salmon, WA (US)
Assigned to Insitu, Inc., a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, Bingen, WA (US)
Filed by Insitu, Inc., Bingen, WA (US)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/909,027.
Prior Publication US 2021/0396269 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. F16B 39/24 (2006.01); F16B 43/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16B 43/003 (2013.01) [F16B 39/24 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A propeller assembly, comprising:
a plurality of studs;
a plurality of nuts, wherein each respective nut of the plurality of nuts is installed on a respective stud of the plurality of studs, wherein the plurality of nuts and the plurality of studs are configured to retain the propeller assembly on a shaft;
a plurality of retention washers, wherein each respective retention washer of the plurality of retention washers is positioned such that a hole of the respective retention washer circumscribes a respective nut of the plurality of nuts, such that the respective washer limits rotation of the respective nut with respect to a respective stud and retains the respective nut on the respective stud, wherein each retention washer comprises:
a washer body, comprising:
a first side; and
a second side opposite the first side, wherein the washer body has a perimeter having one or more lobes; and
the hole extending through the washer body from the first side to the second side, wherein the hole is a multi-point star-shaped hole, wherein each respective retention washer is configured to maintain an installation torque of the respective nut via engagement between the hole and the respective nut when the respective retention washer is positioned such that the hole circumscribes the respective nut; and
a hub assembly engaged with a propeller of the propeller assembly, wherein the hub assembly comprises a machined bore, wherein a portion of the perimeter of each retention washer of the plurality of retention washers is engaged with an internal surface of the machined bore such that the machined bore restricts rotation of each retention washer with respect to the hub assembly, and wherein the plurality of retention washers are configured to retain the hub assembly on a shaft of the propeller assembly.