ANTI-BACKLASH NUT ASSEMBLY

摘要

An anti-backlash mechanism is described in the form of a pair of nuts (14, 16) or nut halves with internal threads complementary to the threads on a lead screw (10). The mechanism is translated by rotation of the screw. One of the nuts (14) has an outer cantilevered wall (31A) with inner gear teeth (30A) which engage outer gear teeth (30B) on the other nut. Rotation of one nut with respect of the other nut tightens or loosens an abutting frictional rotation-opposing resistance of an elastomeric washer (52) compressed between the two nuts. The compressed washer exerts a bias force against the nuts opposing axial forces exerted by the lead screw against the flanks of the nut threads.