Nut comprising a ring configured to allow manual tightening with calibrated force
The nut design with a breakable ring and connectors allows controlled manual tightening, addressing excessive torque issues and eliminating the need for tools, ensuring secure assembly.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023000370
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-01-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-07
- Estimated Expiration
- 2033-01-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing nuts with hexagonal sections are prone to excessive tightening torque, leading to potential damage and requiring additional tools for proper tightening.
A nut design featuring a coaxial ring with connectors that break at a predetermined torque threshold, allowing manual tightening within a calibrated range, and a distinct external configuration to facilitate manual operation without tools.
Enables controlled manual tightening without damaging the nut and ensures secure assembly without the need for additional tools, enhancing usability and reliability.
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Nut comprising a ring configured to allow manual tightening with a calibrated force
[0001] The present application relates to a nut comprising a ring configured to allow manual tightening with a calibrated force.
[0002] According to an embodiment visible in [Fig.l], a nut 10 comprises a body 12 which extends between first and second transverse faces 12.1, 12.2 substantially parallel to each other. The body 12 comprises a tapped hole 14 passing through the body 12, which opens at the first and second transverse faces 12.1, 12.2 and has an axis A14 substantially perpendicular to the first and second faces 12.1, 12.2, as well as a lateral face 16 connecting the first and second transverse faces 12.1, 12.2.
[0003] In operation, the first transverse face 12.1 is intended to be pressed against a part of an assembly. The lateral face 16 is configured to allow the nut 10 to be screwed and unscrewed.
[0004] According to one configuration, the lateral face 16 comprises a first cylindrical section 18 coaxial with the axis A14, adjoining the first transverse face 12.1, as well as a second section 20 of hexagonal section which extends between the first section 18 and the second transverse face 12.2. The first section 18 has a larger section than the second section to increase the contact surface with the part of the assembly.
[0005] According to one embodiment, the second section 20 is configured to allow manual tightening with a calibrated force. According to this embodiment, the second section 20 comprises a first portion 20.1 of hexagonal section adjoining the first section 18, a second portion 20.2 of hexagonal section adjoining the second transverse face 12.2 as well as a peripheral groove 20.3 separating the first and second portions 20.1, 20.2. This peripheral groove 20.3 is dimensioned to allow the second portion 20.2 to detach from the first portion 20.1 when a tightening torque exerted on the second portion 20.2 exceeds a given threshold. Thus, when an operator screws the nut 10 manually by acting on the second portion 20.2 of the lateral face 16, he exerts a tightening torque. When the latter exceeds the given threshold, the nut 10 breaks at the peripheral groove 20.3 and divides into two parts, a first part of nut 10.1, between the first transverse face 12.1 and the peripheral groove 20.3, which is tightened with a tightening torque substantially equal to the given threshold and a second nut part 10.2, between the second transverse face 12.2 and the peripheral groove 20.3, which is . detached from the first part of nut 10.1.
[0006] In practice, the first and second parts 20.1, 20.2 having the same hexagonal sections, the operator tends to hold the nut, when screwing it, straddling the first and second parts 20.1, 20.2 for a better grip on the nut 10. In this case, the tightening torque is exerted at the level of the first and second parts 20.1, 20.2 so that a tightening torque greater than the given threshold can be exerted.
[0007] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art.
[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a nut comprising a body which extends between first and second transverse faces and comprises an at least partially tapped hole, having an axis and opening at the first and second transverse faces, as well as a lateral face connecting the first and second transverse faces and having a cross-section configured to allow screwing or unscrewing of the nut.
[0009] According to the invention, the nut comprises a ring coaxial with the axis of the hole as well as at least two connectors, in the form of a rod, connecting the ring and the second transverse face of the body, the connectors being configured to break when a torque around the axis between the body and the ring exceeds a given threshold.
[0010] This configuration allows an operator to use only the ring to screw the nut and thus manually apply a calibrated tightening torque not exceeding the given threshold.
[0011] According to other characteristics, the ring comprises an external edge: a. of cross-section different from that of the side wall of the body, b. cylindrical, c. having a section greater than the cross-section of the side face of the body of the nut, d. having a cross-section of diameter greater than or equal to 1.1 times the diameter of a circle in which the hexagonal cross-section of the side face of the body is inscribed.
[0012] According to other characteristics, the connectors are: a. regularly distributed around the hole, b. positioned on a circle coaxial with the axis of the hole and located on the second transverse face, c. all identical, each of them having a constant section along its length.
[0013] According to another characteristic, the ring has at least one marking to differentiate it from the rest of the nut.
[0014] According to another characteristic, the body, the ring and the connectors are made in one piece, in the same material.
[0015] Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the description of the invention which follows, a description given by way of example only, with reference to the appended drawings, among which:
[0016] [Fig-1] is a half-side view and half-longitudinal section of a nut illustrating an embodiment of the prior art,
[0017] [Fig.2] is a side view of a nut illustrating an embodiment of the invention,
[0018] [Fig.3] is a top view of the nut visible in [Fig.2],
[0019] [Fig.4] is a section along line IV-IV of the nut visible in [Fig.2].
[0020] According to an embodiment visible in [Fig.2], a nut 22 comprises a body 24 which extends between first and second transverse faces 24.1, 24.2 substantially parallel to each other. The body 24 comprises an at least partially tapped hole 26 passing through the body 24, opening at the level of the first and second transverse faces 24.1, 24.2 and having an axis A26 substantially perpendicular to the first and second transverse faces 24.1, 24.2 as well as a lateral face 28 connecting the first and second transverse faces 24.1, 24.2.
[0021] This nut 22 is configured to cooperate with a threaded rod in order to hold an assembly of parts together.
[0022] According to one configuration, the lateral face 28 comprises a first cylindrical section 30 coaxial with the axis A26, adjoining the first transverse face 24.1, as well as a second section 32 of hexagonal section which extends between the first section 30 and the second transverse face 24.2. The first section 30 has a larger section than the second section 32 to increase the contact surface with one of the parts of the assembly.
[0023] Of course, the invention is not limited to this configuration for the lateral face 28. Whatever the configuration, the lateral face 28 has a cross-section (perpendicular to the axis A26) configured to allow screwing or unscrewing of the nut 22.
[0024] According to one characteristic, the nut 22 comprises a ring 34 coaxial with the axis A26 of the hole 26 of the body 24 as well as at least two connectors 36 connecting the ring 34 and the second transverse face 24.2 of the body 24, the connectors 36 being configured to break when a torque around the axis A26 between the body 24 and the ring 34 exceeds a given threshold.
[0025] When an operator screws the nut 22 manually by acting on the ring 34, he exerts a tightening torque. When the latter exceeds the given threshold, the connectors 36 break and the ring 34 detaches from the body 24 of the nut 22. Thus, the body 24 of the nut 22 is screwed with a tightening torque substantially equal to the given threshold. The ring 34 and the body 24 are sufficiently separated to allow an operator to use only the ring 34 to screw the nut 22 and thus to manually apply a calibrated tightening torque not exceeding the given threshold.
[0026] The ring 34 requires the nut 22 to be docked by screwing it manually, which limits tightening problems. Once the nut 22 is docked by hand, the ring 34 is broken by hand and tightening then continues using a dedicated tightening tool.
[0027] The brittle washer prevents a socket from being positioned and therefore requires the nut to be first approached by hand.
[0028] The ring 34 has a first face 34.1 oriented towards the body 24, a second face 34.2 parallel to the first face 34.1 as well as inner and outer edges 34.3, 34.4 connecting the first and second faces 34.1, 34.2. According to one arrangement, the first face 34.1 of the ring 34 is substantially parallel to the second transverse face 24.2 of the body 24 of the nut 22.
[0029] The ring 34 has a thickness (distance between the first and second faces 34.1, 34.2) greater than 3 mm. The thickness of the ring 34 is a function of the dimensions of the nut 22 and more particularly of the diameter of the hole 26. The inner edge 34.3 of the ring 34 has a diameter greater than or equal to that of the hole 26 of the body 24 of the nut 22 to allow the threaded screw which cooperates with the nut 22 to pass through.
[0030] According to one configuration, the outer edge 34.4 of the ring 34 has a cross-section different from that of the side wall 28 of the body 24. Thus, the user can easily distinguish the ring 34 from the body 24 and use only the ring 34 to screw the nut 22.
[0031] According to one embodiment, the outer edge 34.4 of the ring 34 is cylindrical so that it is not possible to use a tool to screw the nut 22 by making it cooperate with the ring 34. Thus, the nut 22 can only be screwed manually, by acting on the ring 34.
[0032] According to one arrangement, the outer edge 34.4 of the ring 34 has a section greater than the cross-section of the lateral face 28 of the body 24 of the nut 22. This arrangement makes it possible to avoid the need to install a tool adapted to the cross-section of the body 24 of the nut 22 from the second cross-section 24.2 of the body 24. When the lateral face 28 of the body 24 of the nut 22 has a hexagonal cross-section inscribed in a circle of given diameter, the outer edge 34.4 of the ring 34 has a diameter greater than or equal to 1.1 times the diameter of the circle in which the hexagonal cross-section is inscribed.
[0033] According to one configuration, the ring 34 has at least one marking to differentiate it from the rest of the nut 22 and encourage the operator to screw the nut 22 using the ring 34. According to one embodiment, the ring 34 has a surface color different from that of the rest of the nut 22.
[0034] The connectors 36 are in the form of a rod. They are regularly distributed around the hole 26. They are positioned on a circle coaxial with the axis A26, located on the second transverse face 24.2, having a diameter between the diameter of the hole 26 and a circle inscribed in the transverse section of the lateral face 28. The connectors 36 are oriented parallel to the axis A26 of the hole 26.
[0035] The connectors 36 are all identical. They are oriented in a direction parallel to the axis A26 of the hole 26. The connectors 36 all have the same length (dimension taken in a direction parallel to the axis A26 of the hole 26). Each connector 36 has a constant cross-section along its length. This section may be circular, square, triangular or other. The number and cross-section of the connectors are determined according to the desired tightening torque.
[0036] According to one embodiment, the body 24, the ring 34 and the connectors 36 are made in one piece, from the same material. The nut 22 can be made by a machining process, by an additive manufacturing process or any other manufacturing process.
Claims
Claims
1. Nut comprising a body (24) which extends between first and second transverse faces (24.1, 24.2), said body (24) comprising an at least partially tapped hole (26) which has an axis (A26) and opens at the first and second transverse faces (24.1, 24.2) as well as a lateral face (28) connecting the first and second transverse faces (24.1, 24.2) and having a cross-section configured to allow screwing or unscrewing of the nut (22), characterized in that the nut (22) comprises a ring (34) coaxial with the axis (A26) of the hole (26) as well as at least two rod-shaped connectors (36) which connect the ring (34) and the second transverse face (24.2) of the body (24), the connectors (36) being configured to break when a torque around the axis (A26) between the body (24) and the ring (34) exceeds a given threshold.
2. Nut according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring (34) comprises an outer edge (34.4) having a cross section different from that of the side wall (28) of the body (24).
3. Nut according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the outer edge (34.4) of the ring (34) is cylindrical.
4. Nut according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the outer edge (34.4) of the ring (34) has a section greater than the cross section of the lateral face (28) of the body (24) of the nut (22).
5. Nut according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cross-section of the lateral face (28) is hexagonal and in that the cross-section of the outer edge (34.4) of the ring (34) has a diameter greater than or equal to 1.1 times the diameter of a circle in which the hexagonal cross-section of the lateral face (28) of the body (24) is inscribed.
6. Nut according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connectors (36) are regularly distributed around the hole (26).
7. Nut according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the connectors (36) are positioned on a circle coaxial with the axis (A26) of the hole (26), oriented parallel to the axis (A26) of the hole (26) and located on the second transverse face (24.2).
8. Nut according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connectors (36) are all identical, each of them having a constant section along its length.
9. Nut according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ring (34) has at least one marking to differentiate it from the rest of the nut (22).
10. Nut according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (24), the ring (34) and the connectors (36) are made in one piece, from the same material.