Retainer for bearing lock nut

摘要

A retainer for preventing relative rotation of a lock nut threaded on a shaft to preload an adjacent bearing assembly includes a serrated bore for engaging a splined shaft portion extending through a bore and axially-extending projections for engaging notches or the like formed in the lock nut. A device, such as a sprocket wheel, mounted outward of the retainer maintains the retainer in axial engagement with the lock nut. The retainer can be deformed during assembly to facilitate proper alignment of the lock nut on the shaft. The retainer is advantageously employed to maintain preloads on tapered roller bearings utilized to support the final drive shafts in heavy earthmoving equipment.