CA1250164A - Screw-action connectors security means - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A locking device for securing at least two screw-action connectors comprises a locking clip or element made from a good quality spring steel wire having a round or square section. The locking clip or element has a diagonal interconnecting part which extends tangentially between a pair of locking elements one at each end of the part.
The locking elements (for example, coils) are wrapped round or placed over a portion of a wheel nut.
The interference/friction fit between the wheel nut and the clip or element prevents axial movement of the clip relative to the nut. The part serves as restraining means positively linking tangentially adjacent wheel nuts and thereby prevents relative rotation thereof.

Description

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This patent relates to screw-action connec~ors security means and is particularly~ but not exclusively concerned with the security of road wheels on vehicles.
~here has been a problem over man~ years concerning the attachment and security of road wheels to ~ehicles, particularly commercial vehicles. ~he problem revolves arou~d the security/ef~iciency of the wheel nut locking system. Disc wheels which are the norm are held onto the axle/hub by a number of wheel nuts usually six, eight or ten in number, which themselves are fitted to axle wheel studs or bolts~
Most common types of wheel mounting ha~e a number of threaded studs equally spaced in a circle around the hub flange~ ~hese studs pass through holes in the wheel, which is secured by nuts screwed onto the studs.
Various wheel stud and ~ut systems exist~ In one particular s~stem~ the area æound each hole is pressed out to form a constant tapered seating which ` ` 20 allows the hub to ce~tre the wheel correctly~

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Each nut will then have a corresponding taper of, for example9 80c It is possible for the ~uts to ha~e both ends tapered or tapered onl~ at one end and M at-faced at the other.
A~other wheel stud and ~ut s~stem has each hole in the wheel formed with a var~ing taperq so as to present a spherical seating for a corresponding split locating cone or collar (or washer) arranged between the nut and the hole. In such a case, it is not necessary for the nut to have a tapered end adjacent the hole.
It can be seen that if all wheel nuts are removed the wheel may be detached from the wheel studs/
bolts and subsequently from the axle. It then follows that if the wheel nuts become loose whilst the vehicle is in motion, i~e. with the wheel rGtating, at the ver~ least the radial load on the t~re and hence the wheel can cause severe damage to the wheel, -the hub, the wheel studs/bolts and the wheel nuts. If u~checked the wheels can become detached from the axle/hub, either because the nuts have come off the wheel studs/bolts or because o~ complete failure of the studs/bolts owing to them being su~jected to e~cessive bending loads. Obviousl~ in this state the vehicle 6~

would be a danger to itsel~ and other road users. ~he wheels nuts ma~ become loose for one or more of the following reasons:
1) One or more of the nuts has not been tightened to 5, the correct torgue~

2) Excessive paint has been applied to the wheel which becomes pliable in service owing to hea~
being dissipa`ted during br~king applications;

3) Some form of debris has become trapped be-tween the two wheels or between the i~ner wheel and -the hub; and

4) An incorrect nut has been fitted ~or any particular attachment æ rangement.
In an~ particul æ circumstances other reasons ma~
lead to wheel nuts becoming loose. It ~ollows that if there was some way of preventing the nuts becoming loose a considerable amount o~ damage and danger would be eliminated.
Khown means for maintaining wheel nuts in a tightened/locked mode~ other than b~ -the natural locking effect caused by tightness, has been by using a traditional self locking nut system. ~he self locking nut relies on an interference fit between the thread on the wheel studs/bolts and a portion of the thread in the nut either by deformation of a portion o~ the 5U ~ ~L~

~ut thread or by the insertion of a n~lon insert in the nut in which -the bolt/stud cuts the thread~
The problem with the self locki~g nut is that it was intended to work at maximum locking efficiency for

5" one locking or tightening c~cle and, if used more than once, its locking capability is reduced dramaticall~
In addition whilst the locking mechanism is working, ~the nut cannot be tightened quickl~ by hand because the lock stiffens the rota~ion of the nut. ~his dictates that a spanner must be used at an earlier stage of the nut tigh~ening. Use of the spanner at an earlier stage of the wheel nut tightening means that the final clamping of the wheel to the hub takes considerably longer than would be normal.
~hus, the two main disadvantages o~ the self-locking nut system æ e that an unacceptable amount of time is required to bolt the wheel to the hub and that the self ' locking nut fails to function af-ter one or two l~cking or tightening cycles have taken pIace. ~his is unacceptable as a nut may have to be removed many times during the life of a vehicle. Replacement of worn-out or damaged nuts would become ver~ expensive.
It is possible to make a special nut incorporating a sep æ ate locking mechanism but the cost is prohibitive, ~25~

- 6 - 20228-275 and any such locking or tiyhtening operation is usually cumbersome. Damage can be done to other components and it is probable that the device can only be used with special wheel studs/bolts.
The present invention sets out to provide a locking device which substantially prevents the wheel nuts from turning or coming loose in a positive and economical manner~
Furthermore, the present invention can ~e used on all existing wheel nut configurations, for example including castellated nuts used for securing disc wheels to any vehicle hub/axle. The present invention further sets out to provide a secure but easily removable locking device. The present invention further sets out to provide a locking device which provides a positive locking action and which is economic to produce.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a locking device for securing at least two screw-action connectors comprising means for anti-rota~ionally engaging both of said connectors, and means for interconnecting the engaging means to resist relative rotation of said connectors, wherein the engaging means comprises two resiliently flexible locking elements each of which fits around a respective one of said connectors and is embraceable therewith, wherein the interconnecting means extends between and is tangentially connected to diametrically opposed portion~s, and each of the locking elements additionally comprise a limb which limbs are engageable releasably with one of the interconnecting means and one another whereby the ~s~

- 7 - 20228-275 locking elements are caused to engage grippingly said connectors when said limbs are so engaged.
The two locking elements may each be configured for cooperating engagement with a plurality of Elat edges or the like, or alternatively with a plurality of apexes or the like, of said connectors.
The interconnecting means may be substantially rectilinear member which extends between and is tangentially connected to diametrically opposed portions of each of the locking elements, the member being arranged to tighten one of said connectors in the event of the other of said connectors rotating or attempting to rotate.
The locking elements may each be configured as a regular hexagon, a twenty-four sided regular polygon, a circle or any suitable shape capable of gripping or engaging said connectors.
The locking elements and the interconnecting means may comprise a resilient or tensile member, preferably of clip form, and may be formed from, say spring steel.

The locking elements and the interconnecting means may be treated to resist corrosion or the like, for example phosphated or zinc-coated.
The locking device may be of clip form for interconnecting adjacent pairs of screw-action connectors.
The locking device is preferably used for securing a wheal to a vehicle hub or axle and is preferably suitable for securement to a wheel nut locking system.

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- 8 - 20228-275 According to a second a9pect of the inven-tion, there is provided a method of securlng at least two screw-action connectors comprising locating anti-rotational engaging means about both of said connectors, linking said anti-rotational engaging means by interconnecting means adapted to resist relative rotation of said connectors, and bringing limbs of said engaging means into cooperating releasable engagement with said interconnecting means or one another to cause said engaging means to embrace grippingly said connectors.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle wheel hub looking on the end of the axle, the wheel hub having a first embodiment of a locking device according ~ ~ S~ ~ 6 _ 9 _ to the invention;
~igure 2 is a side view taken in the direction of arrow "A" in ~igure 1;
~igures ~A and 3~ æ e enlarged schematic plan views of the first embodiment of ~igure 1 showing the embodiment in an open and closed position respec~ivel~;
~igure 4 is a section taken along the line E-~
in Figure ~B;
Figure 5 is a schematic view of a vehicle wheel hub looking o~ the end of the axle, the wheel hub having a second embodiment of a locking device according to the invention;
~igure 6 is a side view taken in the direction of arrow "B" in Figure 5;
~igures 7A and 7B are enlarged schematic plan views of the second embodime~t of ~igure 5 showing the embodiment in an open and closed position respectively;
~igure 8 is a side view taken in the direction of arrow "C" in ~igure 7A;
Figures 9A and 9B are enlarged schematic plan views of a third embodiment of a locking device according to the invention, showing the embodiment in an open and closed position respectively;
Figure 10 is an enl æ ged schematic plan view of a ~25~6 ~ourth embodiment of a locking device according to the invention;
~igure 1~ is a simplified side view taken in the direction of arrow ~'D~' in Figure 10;
5 " ~igures 12~ a~d 12B æe enlarged schematic plan views of a fifth embodiment of a locking device according to the invention, showing the embodiment in an open and closed position respectivel~;
~igure 1~ is a side view taken in the directio~
of arrow "~" in ~igure 12A; a~d ~ igure 14 i~ an end view taken in the direction o~ arrow "~" in Figure 12~.
~ igures 17 2, 3~, 3B a~d 4 show a locking device 20 comprising a locking element 21 shown as a clip.
~he clip or element 21 is wrapped round a portion of the wheel nut 22 and is clamped to the nut b~ virtue o~ the springiness/resilience of the material from which it is made. It would normally be made from a good qualit~ spring steel having a width of approximatel~ 16 mm and a thick~ess of approximatel~ 1~ mm. ~he inter~erence/
friction fit between the wheel nut 22 and the spring clip or eleme~t 21 prevents axial moveme~t of the clip relative to the nut i.e. the clip is prevented ~rom coming off the nut. ~he clip or element 21 has a ~5~)~6~

diagonal part 23 between points X and ~ extending between two partial twent~-four sided pol~gons 23~o ~he diagonal part 23 ser~es as the actual restraining means, positivel~ linking tangentiall~ adjacent wheel ~uts 2~9 25 (shown shaded) and preventing rotation thereof~
It will be seen from Figures 3A and 3B that i~
either of a pair of wheel nuts 24, 25 tries to loosen i.e. tur~ anticlockwise rela~ive to the other, the diagonal part 23 between points ~ and Y will be in tension. ~rhis means that the nut, say 24, attempting to rotate in an anticlockwise direction, thus becoming loose, tends in fact to rotate the other nut, say 25, of the pair in a clockwise direction, thus tighten the other nut. In addition the nut iOe~ 24 attempting to turn anticlockwise must also deform the assembled locking device which is not possible. ~I'husg i~ one wheel nut is loosened i.e. turned a~ticlockwise, the clip or element 21 tends to tighten around the wheel nut.
I~, however, the wheel nut is tightened i~e. turned clockwise, the clip or element 21 tends to "open upr~, which permits the hexagonal-shaped head of the wheel ~ut to index or clic~ within the part 23A of the clip or element 21. rrhis is an advantage in that it permits the wheel nut to be tightened even with a locking device in place on the wheel nut~
With reference to ~igure 3~, the locki~g device 20 is shown in an open position. In this position the partial twen~-four sided pol~gon 23A is larger than the wheel nu~ and the clearance between the device and the nut allows it to be pushed axiall~ onto the ~uts.
Once in poqition (location o~ t~pical device is shown in ~igure 2),a locking llnk 26 is pushed towards the centre of the clip or element where it locates in an arcuate detent portio~ 27 in each of a pair of loc~ing limbs 280 ~y pu~hing the locking link 26 towards the detent portions 27 (against spring resilience i~ each limb) the locking limbs are moved towards the centre restraining diagonal part 23 (shown as ~-Y). In doing so, the partial twent~-four sided pol~gon 23~ is tightl~ wrapped around each wheel ~ut (as shown in Fi~ure 3B). By this action the locking device is secured to the nuts and at the same time prevents nut rotation.
It is possible during manufacture of this loc~ing device 20 that o~e or more sides of the regular pol~gon 23~ can be deformed to provide extra resistance to axial movement of the device relative to the wheel nut~
The loc~ing device hereina~ove described would ~s~
~ 13 normall~ be fitted to each pin stub hub after the wheel nuts have been tightened in the normal manner.
~he fitment and installation of a second embodiment will now be described with reference to ~igures 5, 6 9 7A, 7B and 8, which show a locking device 30 comprisi~g a locking clip 31 shown as a clip~
~he clip or element 31 is made from a good quality spring steel wire having a round or square section.
~he clip or alement 31 is wrapped round a portion o~
wheel nut 32 a~d is clamped to the ~ut b~ virtue of the springiness/resilience of the material ~rom which it is made. ~he i~terference/friction fit between the wheel nut 32 and the spring clip or element 31 prevents the axial movement of the clip relative to the nut i.e. the clip is prevented from coming off the wheel nutO ~he clip or element 31 has a diago~al part 33 between ~ a~d Y
which serves as the actual restraining means positively linking tangentiall~ adjacent wheel ~uts 34, 35 shown shaded and preventing rotation thereof.
The lock~ ng clip or element of the device 30 may -be shaped as a partial regular hexagon 36 (as sho-~n in ~igures 7A and 7B) or as a regular twe~ty-four sided polygon (not shown). ~he hexagonal-shaped locking portion 36 extends into a locking limb 37 which itself ~zs~

~- 14- -termina~es in a hook portion 38 situated at the end portion o~ the limb~ Figure 8 is an end view o~ the hook taken in the direction of arrow C.in Figure 7Ao ~he locking device 30 is used in the ~ollowing wa~O
S ~he wheel nuts æe tightened i~ the normal manner and the device in the position shown in Figure 7A is pushed over an adaacent pair of wheel ~uts, sa~ 34~ 350 ~he locking limbs 3? are in a ~ree position (as sho~m in Figure 7~) and in this position the hexagonal-shaped locking portion 36 i5 actually larger than the wheel nut 34 or 35 that it is to be pushed over. Once in position the hook on the left hand side, i.e. the top locking limb hook 38', is pushed downwards and hooked under a part of the bottom locking limb 37".
In turn the bottom locking lim~ 37" is pushed upwards so that the hook 38" ~n the end portiQn o~ it i~e~
the right hand hook 38 hooks over a portion of the top locking limb 37'0 ~he locked position described is shown in Figure 7B. It can be seen that the locking limb for the right haud locking clip or element has been hooked to the locki~g limb for the left hand locking clip or element and the locki~g limb o~ the left hand clip element has been hooked to the right hand limb ~or the right hand locking clip element. ~his ensures that - ~5 -both locking eleme~ts are pulled tightl~ rou~d the hexagonal heads of the wheel nut 34, 35. In this position it can be seen that diagonal part 33 (shown as ~-I) plus the locking clip element round each wheel nt~t preve~ts a~ wheel nut movementO ~his arrangement also permits adjustment i.e. tigh-tening of the wheel nu~s to be carried out even when the locking device is in place on the wheel nutO
~igures 9A and 9B show a third embodiment 40 which is similar to the one described above and shown in Figures 7~ and 7B. It is in fact a small variation on that design. ~he main di~ference lies in that each locking limb 41 has an extra coil 42 which helps to facilitate extra resilience or springiness in the locking limb~ ~he locking hook 43, also shown in the locked position in Figure 9B is attached to a diagonal par~ 44 serving as a restraini~g element (shown as ~-Y), instead of the opposite locki~g limb as previousl~
shown in Figures 7A and 7B. Eowever by extendL~g the locking hook 43 or by reshaping the locking limb, it would be quite possible for the two locking limbs to be hooked together in the locked position. ~his device 40 should be installed as described with reference to the device 30 shown in Figures 7A and 7B.

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~ 16 Figures 10 and 11 show a fourth embodiment of a locking device 50 which consists of two locking collars 51, 52, each of which having an internal shape of a regular hexagon or a twent~four sided regular polygon 5 , 53 (as shown in Figures 10- and11,)-~- ~he outer circum~erence of each loc~ing collar 51~ 52 has an anchorage point 54 for a ~ension spring 55 which is used as a connecting, element between the two loc~ing collars 51, 520 ~he shape of the tensio~ spring which can be easily seen i~ ~igure 10 is important for this application.
~he spring 55 is so shaped that in tension it is capable of restricting the amount of extension it will provideO
his is particul æ ly useful for this application as it is important to prevent the wheel nuts, sa~ 56, 57 from t,urning in a~ a~ticlockwise direction. I~ standard tension springs are to be used in place of the particular tension sprin~ 55, there would be a danger that the loosening or anticlockwise forces in each of the wheel 20 nuts would extend the spring to such an extent that the wheel nuts would still rotate despite the tension in the coil of the spring~ ~owever, the te~sion spring 55 exerts enough pressure on the two loc~iug collars 51, 52 to prevent them from moving aæiall~ relati~e to the ~uts 56~ 57 respectively i.e. from coming off the wheel nuts.

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~lso the spring 55 should prevent the wheel nuts becom;ng loose i.e. turning anticlockwise. ~owever~
if the forces are so large as to extend the coil of the spri~g, a locking or xestraining element comes 5 " into force which will be described with reference to ~igure 11.
~ he tension spring comprises a central coil 58 a~d two anchoring hooks 59, 60. ~he hook 59~ on the left hand end of the spring 55, passes through the anchorage point 54 of the locking collar 51 and turns through to terminate in an end portion formed as a loop 61 of rectangular shape, ~he long sides 62 of the rectangular loop 61 are alig~ed with the longitudinal centre line of the spring 55. ~he other hook 60 a~
the opposite end of the spring 55 passes through the anchorage point 54 of the locking collar 52 and turns through 180 a~d extends back parallel to and external the coil 58 towards the loop 61 on the left hand end of the spring 55. ~he hook 60 has an end portion 63 which is turned through 90 so that it passes through the rectangular loop 61 at the end of the oppcsite hook 59. ~ speed washer or some other suitable fitting is then pushed onto the end portion 63 after it has passed through the loop 61. ~his forms a sliding a~chor poi~t for the ~ ~ S~ ~ 6 right hand hook 60 to move withi~ the rectangular loop 61 formed on the end of the left hand hook 59O
It will now be seen that when tension is applied to each e~d o~ the spring the coil 58 will ex*end u~til S the right hand hook 60 comes into contact with the inside of the rectangular loop 61 on the end of the le~t hand hook 59 thereby limitl~g the amount by which the spring 55 can extend. By this means, the locking collar 519 52 on the wheel nuts 56, 57 respectively (show~ shaded) is prevented from rotating or moving too ~ar in an anticlockwise direction.
~ th embodiment will now be described with re~erence to Figures 12A~ 12B7 13 and 14, which show a locking device comprising a locking clip 64~ ~he clip or element 64 is made from a good quality spring steel wire having a rou~d or square section, though a square section is preferred for strengthD
~ he locking clip or element 64 has a diagonal interconnecting part 6~' (i.e. between ~ and Y in Figure 12A) which extends ta~gentiall~ betweeu a pair of locking elements 65, one at each end o~ the part 64'. ~he locking elements 65 comprise two coils (shown in end view in Figure 14) which are wrapped around or placed over a portion o~ a wheel nut 66 or 67 (shown in dotted/dashed .

~2S~ 4 lines in Figure 12B). ~he interference/friction fit between the wheel nut 66 or 67 a~d the spri ng clip or element 64 prevents æial movemen~ of the clip relative to the nut i.e. the clip is prevented from coming o~f 5 ~, the wheel nu~. ~urthermore) the part 64' ser~es as the actual restraining means positivel~ liiking tangentiall~ adjacent wheel nuts 66 and 67 and prevents relative rotation thereof~
~he locking elements 65 fit over the cor~ers of the wheel nutsO Once in position, a hook 68 at one end of a locking limb 69 is pushed over and downwards into hooking engagement with a locking loop 70 disposed in the opposed locking limb 69.
In order to place the clip or element 64 over a pair of wheel nuts, the locking limbs 69 are moved awa~
and apart from each other, which~ because of the material's springiness/resilience, causes the locking elements/coils 65 to be apened up, thereby increasing the internal diameter of the elements/coils 657 ~he clip or element 64 can then be placed over and engage the corners of the wheel nuts 66 and 67.
once in position, the limbs 69 are released and the hooks 68 are each ~itted into their respective locking loops 70. ~his puts additional tension into the locking elements/coils 65, thus ensuring maximum interference/~riction between the locking elements/coils 65 and the wheel nuts 66 ~ ~ 5 and 670 When locked in position, the device substantially prevents anticlockwise relative rotation of the wheel nuts, whilst allowi~g relative clockwise rotation of the wheel ~uts using a suitable spanner. ~he clockwise rotation of the wheel ~uts opens the locking element/
coils 65, whilst the anti-clockwise rotation of the wheel nuts tightens the locki~g elemen-t/coils 65 onto the wheel nut~ thereb~ increasing the locking effectO
~he dimension across the "flats" of those lock~ g devices refere~ced 20~ 30 and 4Q may be less than the exte~al diameter of the nuts, in order to ensure a tighter interference/friction fit of the device on the nuts. ~lternatively, the internal diameter o~ the ~15 circular locking element/coils 65 ma~ be smaller than the diametrically opposed corner diameter of the wheel nuts, thereb~ making a tighter interference/friction fit of the device on the nuts.
In order to prevent corrosion or the like, the locking devices are preferabl~ treated, for example phosphated or zinc-plated. Additional protective means ma~ be provided for the locking devices, such as sockets or covers. ~he protective means may be formed from s~nthetic pol~meric or elastomeric material or natural ~25~

rubber.
~ he above-described locking devices rely on an interference/friction fit on the nuts to provide the mutual nut security. Extra locatio~ means may be additionall~ provided in each ~ut, such as ~roovi~g or channelling machlned into cor~er/edge portions between adjacent flats on each ~uto ~uch grooving or channelling will assist in the location of the locking device 30. Furthermore, the hexagonal head of each nut may be chamfered to provide shallow and wide grooving or channelling, in order to accommodate, and thereby assist in location oP, the locking device 20.
~ll the previous descriptions have revolved around devices employing the use of some type of spring member/element. Eowever, it is possible in some cases to use other mechanical means for providing for example by nut and bolt or a cam mechanism. It may also be possible to use some other means for providing a spring element ~or example a rubber or neoprene or any synthetic polymeric or elastomeric material which is resilient to provide a spring effect. It may also be possible to use some types of,fipreglass o~ carbon fibre.
However the spring steel generall~ speakin`g is the most ~ ~5~6~ 1 economical a~d easil;y formed material.

Claims (15)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A locking device for securing at least two screw-action connectors comprising means for anti-rotationally engaging both of said connectors, and means for interconnecting the engaging means to resist relative rotation of said connectors, wherein the engaging means comprises two resiliently flexible locking elements each of which fits around a respective one of said connectors and is embraceable therewith, wherein the interconnecting means extends between and is tangentially connected to diametrically opposed portions, and each of the locking elements additionally comprise a limb which limbs are engageable releasably with one of the interconnecting means and one another whereby the locking elements are caused to engage grippingly said connectors when said limbs are so engaged.

2. A locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two locking elements are an interference or frictional fit with said connectors thereby serving as anti-rotational means for said connectors.

3. A locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two locking elements are each configured for cooperating engagement with a plurality of flat edges of said connectors.

4. A locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two locking elements are each configured for cooperating engagement with a plurality of apexes of said connectors.

5. A locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interconnecting means is a rectilinear member which is arranged to tighten one of said connectors in the event of the other of said connectors rotating or attempting to rotate.

6. A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking elements are each configured as one of a regular hexagon, a twenty-four sided regular polygon, a circle and any suitable shape capable of gripping or engaging said connectors.

7. A locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each limb has a respective hooked end for engagement releasably with one of the interconnecting means and the limb of the other limb of the locking elements.

8. A locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein additional locking means is provided to secure together each limb of the locking elements and the interconnecting means.

9. A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking element and the interconnecting means comprise a resilient or tensile member formed from spring steel.

10. A locking device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the locking elements and the interconnecting means are each treated to resist corrosion or the like.

11. A locking device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the locking elements and the interconnecting means are phosphated or zinc-coated, or coated with a synthetic polymeric or elastomeric material or natural rubber.

12. A locking device as claimed in claim 1 being of clip form for interconnecting adjacent pairs of screw-action connectors.

13. A locking device as claimed in claim 12 for securing a wheel to a vehicle hub or axle.

14. A locking device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the device is suitable for securement to a wheel nut locking system.

15. A method of securing at least two screw-action connectors comprising locating anti-rotational engaging means about both of said connectors, linking said anti-rotational engaging means by interconnecting means adapted to resist relative rotation of said connectors, and bringing limbs of said engaging means into cooperating releasable engagement with said interconnecting means or one another to cause said engaging means to embrace grippingly said connectors.