Modularized multifunctional anti-loosening connecting mechanism

Abstract

A modularized multifunctional anti-loosening connecting mechanism comprises an anti-loosening top cover, an anti-loosening screw head, a compression spring, a fastening screw and a shell. The stop screw head, the compression spring and the fastening screw jointly form a fastener assembly used for transmitting tightening torque. The fastening screw, the compression spring and the anti-loosening screw head are sequentially placed in the shell body in the sequence of the fastening screw, the compression spring and the anti-loosening screw head. Four annularly arranged convex teeth are arranged at the upper part of the fastening screw and are correspondingly matched with four grooves in the head of the anti-loosening screw to form a tooth-embedded coupling structure together, circumferential torque can be transmitted mutually, and certain axial relative displacement is allowed; the compression spring is clamped between the stop screw head and the fastening screw and applies pre-pressure to the stop screw head and the fastening screw when being compressed; the anti-disengaging top cover is screwed on the shell, the upper end face of the anti-disengaging screw head is stably pressed on the lower end face of the anti-disengaging top cover, and the contact face of the anti-disengaging top cover and the anti-disengaging top cover is of an end face ratchet wheel structure. The end face ratchet wheel structure and the jaw coupling structure are additionally arranged, so that looseness prevention is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a modular, multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism, belonging to the field of mechanical design. Background Technology

[0002] Anti-loosening connection mechanisms can also be considered as a type of screw that will not fall out after being loosened. This type of connection mechanism is widely used in the aerospace field. Its anti-loosening feature not only reduces the risk of screw loss during equipment maintenance, but more importantly, it prevents the generation of foreign objects during maintenance, eliminating potential hazards such as screws falling into equipment and causing short circuits.

[0003] Currently, the mature and widely used self-locking screws mainly consist of a housing and a screw body. The basic principle is that the screw body is restricted axially by the housing and will not come out. The housing is reliably fixed to the equipment by means of riveting, glue screwing, etc. When the screw is loosened to disassemble the equipment, the screw is constrained in the housing, thus achieving the effect of preventing it from coming out.

[0004] However, in harsh, complex, and variable application environments such as aviation and aerospace, threaded connections are affected by long-term static loads and dynamic loads such as impacts, low-frequency vibrations, and random vibrations. On the other hand, due to temperature changes, threaded connections are affected by thermal expansion and contraction, which can easily lead to reverse rotation of bolts or a reduction in the preload of the connected parts, posing a risk of loosening of the threaded connection and potentially causing serious consequences such as connection failure.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an improved solution that can enable the connection mechanism to have a reliable and stable anti-loosening function without introducing new foreign matter through methods such as thread dispensing, so as to adapt to harsh, complex and ever-changing application scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism. The anti-loosening mechanism is achieved by adding an end face ratchet structure and a toothed coupling structure to prevent the threaded connection from loosening under complex static and dynamic load conditions.

[0007] The technical solution of this invention is:

[0008] A modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism includes: an anti-loosening top cover, an anti-loosening screw head, a compression spring, a fastening screw, and a housing;

[0009] The housing is the fixed outer shell of the entire anti-loosening connection mechanism; the anti-loosening screw head, compression spring and fastening screw together constitute the fastener assembly, which is used to transmit tightening torque, form an effective threaded connection and generate sufficient positive pressure; the fastener assembly is placed into the housing in the order of fastening screw, compression spring and anti-loosening screw head.

[0010] The lower part of the fastening screw is a stud, and the upper part has four ring-shaped protrusions that correspond to the four grooves on the anti-loosening screw head, together forming a toothed coupling structure, which enables the two to transmit circumferential torque to each other and allows a certain axial relative displacement; the compression spring is stuck between the anti-loosening screw head and the fastening screw, and applies a reverse preload to the anti-loosening screw head and the fastening screw when compressed.

[0011] After the threads of the anti-loosening top cover are coated with glue, it is tightened counterclockwise onto the housing using an Allen wrench, compressing the fastener assembly inside the housing. This compresses the compression spring, creating effective pre-pressure. The upper end face of the anti-loosening screw head is firmly pressed against the lower end face of the anti-loosening top cover, and the contact surface between the two is an end face ratchet structure.

[0012] Furthermore, two bolt holes are provided at the bottom of the housing. Two screws are used to install the housing onto the lugs of the connected device. The screws need to be coated with glue and tested for force to ensure a reliable connection and fixation between the housing and the connected device.

[0013] Furthermore, the lower part of the anti-detachment top cover and the corresponding position on the upper part of the housing are all reverse threads to prevent the fastener assembly from reversing and causing the anti-detachment top cover to loosen.

[0014] Furthermore, the compression spring applies a reverse preload to the locking screw head and the fastening screw, and the preload is greater than the inertial force of the locking screw head caused by the maximum acceleration in each direction under the application conditions.

[0015] Furthermore, when using the anti-loosening connection mechanism, insert the corresponding size Allen wrench into the anti-loosening screw head, and at the same time apply slight pressure pointing inwards towards the mounting surface. After the external thread of the fastening screw is initially screwed into the mounting plate, tighten the external thread of the fastening screw clockwise onto the mounting plate to establish a reliable connection between the installed equipment and the mounting plate. When disassembling the equipment, insert the corresponding size Allen wrench into the anti-loosening screw head, and at the same time continuously apply pressure pointing inwards towards the mounting surface to keep the anti-detachment top cover and the anti-loosening screw head in a separated state. Loosen the fastening screw counterclockwise and remove the equipment from the mounting plate.

[0016] Furthermore, when the fastener assembly is tightened clockwise, it is not constrained by the ratchet structure and rotates normally. At this time, the anti-loosening screw head transmits the tightening torque applied by the user to the fastening screw below through the toothed coupling structure, reliably tightening the equipment. When the fastener assembly is loosened counterclockwise, the ratchet structure locks the anti-loosening screw head and the anti-detachment top cover, eliminating the possibility of the screw loosening by reversing.

[0017] Furthermore, it also includes bushings and washers. The washers are fitted onto the studs of the fastening screws and placed between the upper protrusions of the fastening screws and the bottom surface of the housing. The bushings are disposed between the fastening screws and the side walls of the housing.

[0018] Furthermore, by modularly customizing and replacing the housing, bushings, and gaskets, specific requirements for heat insulation, insulation, or vibration damping can be met.

[0019] Furthermore, the housing and anti-loosening top cover are made of aluminum alloy, while the anti-loosening screw head and fastening screw are made of TB3 titanium alloy with a strength ≥1100MPa. The anti-loosening screw head and fastening screw are pulse anodized to lubricate, prevent surface scratches, prevent corrosion, and resist wear. The anti-loosening screw head, fastening screw, and compression spring are all confined inside the housing.

[0020] Furthermore, when bushings and gaskets are made of polyimide or titanium alloy, insulation and heat insulation are achieved; when gaskets are made of metal rubber, vibration reduction and cushioning are achieved.

[0021] The advantages of this invention compared to the prior art are:

[0022] (1) This invention proposes an improved solution for the traditional loosening and loosening problem. It achieves anti-loosening by adding an end face ratchet structure and a toothed coupling structure to prevent the threaded connection from loosening under complex static and dynamic loads. It also eliminates the risk of excess material generated by applying glue. At the same time, through modular structural design, it can have a variety of customized functions such as insulation, heat insulation, vibration isolation, and buffering in different application scenarios.

[0023] (2) The housing and anti-detachment top cover in this invention are made of aluminum alloy. The housing and anti-detachment top cover together serve as the outer shell of the connecting mechanism. The reverse thread of the anti-detachment top cover is reliably fixed to the housing. The entire outer shell is reliably fixed to the connected equipment by applying adhesive with two M3 screws. The anti-loosening screw head and fastening screw are made of TB3 titanium alloy with a strength ≥1100MPa. The screw surface is pulse anodized to provide lubrication, prevent surface scratches, prevent corrosion, and provide wear resistance. The screw head and the spacecraft structure mounting interface are M5*0.8 threads. The anti-loosening screw head, fastening screw, and compression spring are all confined inside the housing, giving the fasteners the basic function of preventing detachment after loosening.

[0024] (3) The upper end face of the anti-loosening screw head of the present invention is firmly pressed against the lower end face of the anti-detachment top cover, and the contact surface between the two is an end face ratchet structure. When the fastener is tightened in the clockwise direction, it is not constrained by the ratchet structure and can rotate normally. At this time, the anti-loosening screw head transmits the tightening torque applied by the user to the fastening screw below through the toothed coupling structure, so as to reliably tighten the equipment. When the fastener is loosened in the counterclockwise direction, the ratchet structure locks the anti-loosening screw head and the anti-detachment top cover, eliminating the possibility of the screw itself reversing and loosening.

[0025] (4) Through modular structural design, this invention allows for customization of the housing, anti-loosening screw head, etc., achieving a multi-functional effect to meet the needs of different application scenarios. For example, the materials of the housing and bushing can be customized and replaced, such as titanium alloy, ceramic, polyimide, etc., which can meet specific requirements such as heat insulation and insulation for the connector itself; using housing and bushing made of specific materials, or adding shock-absorbing washers made of metal rubber, glass fiber, etc. between the fastening screw and the housing, can play a role in vibration isolation and buffering between the connected parts. In addition, the tightening position of the anti-loosening screw head can be customized to replace the interface of different tightening tools, or the top of the screw head can protrude from the top cover to provide a tool-free manual tightening function. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the internal structure of the anti-loosening connection mechanism;

[0027] Figure 2 Exploded view of the assembly relationship of the anti-loosening connection mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the present invention proposes a modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism, including: an anti-loosening top cover 1, an anti-loosening screw head 2, a compression spring 3, a fastening screw 4, and a housing 5;

[0030] The housing 5 is the outer shell that keeps the entire anti-loosening connection mechanism stationary. Two bolt holes are provided at the bottom of the housing 5. Two screws are used to install the housing 5 on the lugs of the connected device. The screws need to be coated with glue and tested for force to ensure that the housing 5 is reliably connected and fixed to the connected device.

[0031] The anti-loosening screw head 2, the compression spring 3, and the fastening screw 4 together constitute a fastener assembly, which is used to transmit tightening torque, form an effective threaded connection, and generate sufficient positive pressure; the fastener assembly is placed into the housing 5 in the order of fastening screw 4, compression spring 3, and anti-loosening screw head 2.

[0032] The lower part of the fastening screw 4 is a stud, and the upper part has four annularly arranged protruding teeth, which correspond to the four grooves of the anti-loosening screw head 2, together forming a toothed coupling structure, enabling the two to transmit circumferential torque to each other and allowing a certain amount of axial relative displacement; the stud at the lower part of the fastening screw 4 extends from the round hole at the bottom of the housing, and is used to screw into the corresponding position on the surface of the equipment. The compression spring 3 is locked between the anti-loosening screw head 2 and the fastening screw 4, and applies a reverse preload to the anti-loosening screw head 2 and the fastening screw 4 when compressed;

[0033] After the threads of the anti-loosening top cover 1 are coated with glue, it is tightened counterclockwise onto the housing 5 using an Allen wrench, which compresses the fastener assembly installed in the housing 5, thus pre-compressing the compression spring 3 and forming an effective pre-pressure. The upper end face of the anti-loosening screw head 2 is firmly pressed against the lower end face of the anti-loosening top cover 1, and the contact surface between the two is an end face ratchet structure.

[0034] Furthermore, the lower part of the anti-detachment top cover 1 and the corresponding position of the upper part of the housing 5 are both reverse threads to prevent the fastener assembly from reversing and causing the anti-detachment top cover 1 to loosen.

[0035] Furthermore, the compression spring 3 applies a reverse preload to the anti-loosening screw head 2 and the fastening screw 4. The preload is greater than the inertial force of the anti-loosening screw head under the maximum acceleration in each direction under the application conditions.

[0036] Furthermore, when using the anti-loosening connection mechanism, insert the corresponding size Allen wrench into the anti-loosening screw head 2, and at the same time apply slight pressure pointing inwards towards the mounting surface. After the external thread of the fastening screw 4 is initially screwed into the mounting plate, tighten the external thread of the fastening screw 4 clockwise onto the mounting plate to establish a reliable connection between the installed equipment and the mounting plate. When disassembling the equipment, insert the corresponding size Allen wrench into the anti-loosening screw head 2, and at the same time continuously apply pressure pointing inwards towards the mounting surface to keep the anti-detachment top cover 1 and the anti-loosening screw head 2 separated. Loosen the fastening screw 4 counterclockwise and remove the equipment from the mounting plate.

[0037] Furthermore, when the fastener assembly is tightened clockwise, it is not constrained by the ratchet structure and rotates normally. At this time, the anti-loosening screw head 2 transmits the tightening torque applied by the user to the fastening screw 4 below through the toothed coupling structure, so as to reliably tighten the equipment. When the fastener assembly is loosened counterclockwise, the ratchet structure locks the anti-loosening screw head and the anti-detachment top cover, eliminating the possibility of the screw itself turning back and loosening.

[0038] Furthermore, the present invention may also include a bushing 6 and a washer 7. The washer 7 is fitted onto the stud of the fastening screw 4 and is positioned between the upper protrusion of the fastening screw 4 and the bottom surface of the housing 5. The bushing 6 is disposed between the fastening screw 4 and the side wall of the housing 5. Specific requirements for heat insulation, insulation, or vibration damping can be achieved through modular customization and replacement of the housing, bushing, and washer. The housing and anti-loosening top cover are made of aluminum alloy, while the anti-loosening screw head and fastening screw are made of TB3 titanium alloy with a strength ≥1100MPa. The surfaces of the anti-loosening screw head and fastening screw undergo pulse anodizing treatment, which serves to lubricate, prevent surface scratches, prevent corrosion, and provide wear resistance. The anti-loosening screw head, fastening screw, and compression spring are all confined within the housing.

[0039] For special usage environments and requirements, bushings 6 and washers 7 can be added between screw 4 and housing 5. Bushings 6 and washers 7 are made of materials such as polyimide or titanium alloy to achieve insulation and heat insulation requirements; washers 7 are made of metal rubber material to achieve vibration reduction and buffer installation purposes.

[0040] Example:

[0041] This invention provides an anti-loosening connection mechanism that uses a threaded connection between the connected parts and achieves the effects of preventing loosening and detachment after loosening through an end-face ratchet structure and a toothed coupling structure. The device includes: a housing, an anti-detachment top cover, an anti-loosening screw head, a fastening screw, and a compression spring.

[0042] In this invention, the shell and anti-detachment top cover are made of aluminum alloy. The shell and anti-detachment top cover together serve as the outer casing of the connecting mechanism. The reverse thread of the anti-detachment top cover is reliably fixed to the shell. The entire outer casing is reliably fixed to the connected device via two M3 screws applied with adhesive. The anti-loosening screw head and fastening screw are made of TB3 titanium alloy with a strength ≥1100MPa. The screw surface undergoes pulse anodizing treatment, serving to lubricate, prevent surface scratches, prevent corrosion, and provide wear resistance. The screw head and spacecraft structure mounting interface are M5*0.8 threads. The anti-loosening screw head, fastening screw, and compression spring are all confined inside the outer casing, giving the fasteners the basic function of preventing detachment after loosening.

[0043] Compression springs apply opposing preload to both the locking screw head and the fastening screw. This preload should be greater than the inertial force exerted on the locking screw head by the maximum acceleration in each direction under operating conditions. The upper end face of the locking screw head is firmly pressed against the lower end face of the anti-loosening top cover, with the contact surface being an end-face ratchet structure. When the fastener is tightened clockwise, it is not constrained by the ratchet structure and can rotate normally. In this case, the locking screw head transmits the tightening torque applied by the user to the fastening screw below through a toothed coupling structure, reliably tightening the equipment. When the fastener is loosened counterclockwise, the ratchet structure locks the locking screw head against the anti-loosening top cover, preventing the screw from reversing and loosening.

[0044] Through modular structural design, the housing, lock screw heads, and other components can be customized to achieve multi-functionality and adapt to the needs of different application scenarios. For example, the materials of the housing and bushings can be customized and replaced, such as titanium alloy, ceramic, or polyimide, to meet specific requirements for the connectors themselves, such as heat insulation and electrical insulation. Using housings and bushings made of specific materials, or adding shock-absorbing washers made of materials such as metal rubber or fiberglass between the fastening screws and the housing, can play a role in vibration isolation and buffering between the connected components. In addition, the tightening position of the lock screw head can be customized to accommodate different tightening tool interfaces, or the top of the screw head can protrude from the top cover to provide tool-free manual tightening.

[0045] Therefore, by adopting the technical solution of the present invention, the connection mechanism can reliably tighten and prevent loosening under the combined action of alternating loads such as force and heat, effectively avoiding equipment loosening and damage caused by loose threaded connections; at the same time, after loosening the fasteners, the screws have an anti-loosening function, effectively avoiding the problem of excess material caused by fasteners coming off; in addition, the modular structure enables the connection mechanism to have multi-functional customizable capabilities to adapt to various application scenarios such as insulation, heat insulation, vibration reduction, and impact reduction.

[0046] The parts of this invention not described in detail are common knowledge to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A modular, multi-functional anti-loosening connection mechanism, characterized in that, include: Anti-detachment top cover (1), anti-loosening screw head (2), compression spring (3), fastening screw (4) and housing (5); The housing (5) is the fixed outer shell of the entire anti-loosening connection mechanism; the anti-loosening screw head (2), the compression spring (3) and the fastening screw (4) together constitute the fastener assembly, which is used to transmit tightening torque, form an effective threaded connection and generate sufficient positive pressure; The fastener assembly is placed into the housing (5) in the order of fastening screw (4), compression spring (3), and anti-loosening screw head (2); The lower part of the fastening screw (4) is a stud, and the upper part has four ring-shaped protrusions, which correspond to the four grooves of the anti-loosening screw head (2) to form a toothed coupling structure, so that the two can transmit circumferential torque to each other and allow a certain axial relative displacement; the compression spring (3) is stuck between the anti-loosening screw head (2) and the fastening screw (4), and applies a reverse preload to the anti-loosening screw head (2) and the fastening screw (4) when compressed; After the threads of the anti-loosening top cover (1) are coated with glue, it is tightened counterclockwise onto the housing (5) using an Allen wrench. This compresses the fastener assembly installed in the housing (5), thus pre-compressing the compression spring (3) and forming an effective pre-pressure. The upper end face of the anti-loosening screw head (2) is firmly pressed onto the lower end face of the anti-loosening top cover (1), and the contact surface between the two is an end face ratchet structure.

2. The modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two bolt holes are provided at the bottom of the housing (5). Two screws are used to install the housing (5) on the lug of the connected device. The screws need to be coated with glue and tested for force so that the housing (5) and the connected device can be reliably connected and fixed.

3. The modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower part of the anti-detachment top cover (1) and the upper part of the housing (5) are both reverse threads to prevent the fastener assembly from reversing and causing the anti-detachment top cover (1) to loosen.

4. The modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The compression spring (3) applies a reverse preload to the anti-loosening screw head (2) and the fastening screw (4). The preload is greater than the inertial force of the anti-loosening screw head under the maximum acceleration in each direction under the application conditions.

5. The modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: When using the anti-loosening connection mechanism, insert the corresponding size Allen wrench into the anti-loosening screw head (2) and apply slight pressure pointing inwards towards the mounting surface. After the external thread of the fastening screw (4) is initially screwed into the mounting plate, tighten the external thread of the fastening screw (4) clockwise onto the mounting plate to establish a reliable connection between the installed equipment and the mounting plate. When disassembling the equipment, insert the corresponding size Allen wrench into the anti-loosening screw head (2) and continuously apply pressure pointing inwards towards the mounting surface to keep the anti-detachment top cover (1) and the anti-loosening screw head (2) separated. Loosen the fastening screw (4) counterclockwise and remove the equipment from the mounting plate.

6. The modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that: When the fastener assembly is tightened clockwise, it is not constrained by the ratchet structure and rotates normally. At this time, the anti-loosening screw head (2) transmits the tightening torque applied by the user to the fastening screw (4) below through the toothed coupling structure, so as to reliably tighten the equipment. When the fastener assembly is loosened counterclockwise, the ratchet structure locks the anti-loosening screw head and the anti-detachment top cover, eliminating the possibility of the screw loosening in reverse.

7. A modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: It also includes a bushing (6) and a washer (7). The washer (7) is fitted on the stud of the fastening screw (4) and placed between the upper protrusion of the fastening screw (4) and the bottom surface of the housing (5). The bushing (6) is disposed between the fastening screw (4) and the side wall of the housing (5).

8. The modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: Specific requirements for thermal insulation, electrical insulation, or vibration damping can be met by modularly customizing and replacing housings, bushings, and gaskets.

9. The modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing and anti-loosening top cover are made of aluminum alloy, while the anti-loosening screw head and fastening screw are made of TB3 titanium alloy with a strength of ≥1100MPa. The anti-loosening screw head and fastening screw are pulse anodized to lubricate, prevent surface scratches, prevent corrosion, and resist wear. The anti-loosening screw head, fastening screw, and compression spring are all confined inside the housing.

10. A modular multifunctional anti-loosening connection mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that: When bushings and gaskets are made of polyimide or titanium alloy, they meet the requirements for insulation and heat insulation; when gaskets are made of metal rubber, they achieve the purpose of vibration reduction and cushioning.

Images