A locking device for a threaded fastener comprises a pair of washers each
having a plurality of wedge cam sets that include a base-cam and a raised
tooth-cam. When the washers are mated together in use, the wedge cam sets
of each washer are placed into confronting engagement with those of the
other washer, with the raised tooth-cams of each washer engaging the
base-cams of the other washer. The base-cam surfaces are ramped so that,
as the tooth-cams slide along them during relative rotational movement,
the combined axial height of the two washers changes--decreasing during
tightening and increasing during loosening so that unintended partial
loosening of the fastener is offset by expansion of the washers to
thereby maintain bolt tension. Raised shoulders at each end of the
tooth-cams are used to inhibit the amount of relative rotational movement
of the two washers in both directions.