Adjustable Fastener Resolving Strength and Height Trade-offs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fasteners for attaching soft insulation decking to hard structures, such as concrete roof units, face challenges in providing reliable adhesion while allowing for flexibility and adjustable height due to manufacturing joggles and varying attachment conditions.
Innovation Solution
A fastener system comprising a sleeve, screw, and adjustable piece, where the screw has a threaded arm and the adjustable piece can rotate within the sleeve, allowing for separate attachment and adjustment without requiring the screw to be fully inserted, utilizing a socket part and screwdriver for installation, enabling reliable adhesion and adjustable height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the screw is fully inserted into the receiving structure to ensure reliable adhesion, then the attachment strength is improved, but the adjustability of the sleeve height is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into separate functional components: a screw for attachment to the receiving structure, a sleeve for compression of the insulation decking, and an adjustment piece that operates independently. This segmentation allows the screw to be fully inserted for maximum attachment strength while the adjustment piece separately controls sleeve height, resolving the contradiction between strength and adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment piece acts as an intermediary mechanism that transmits rotational motion into axial movement of the sleeve without requiring movement of the screw. This intermediary allows independent adjustment of the sleeve position after the screw is firmly attached, enabling both reliable adhesion and height adjustability.
2Reliability
If the screw is rotated to the bottom of the preparatory hole to achieve reliable adherence, then the attachment reliability is improved, but the flexibility for adjustment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the attachment function (screw) from the adjustment function (adjustment piece). The screw can be rotated to the bottom of the preparatory hole to ensure reliable adherence, while the adjustment piece independently controls the sleeve position, maintaining flexibility for adjustment without compromising attachment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment piece provides dynamic adjustability after the static screw attachment is completed. The sleeve can be adjusted to different heights by rotating the adjustment piece, which converts rotational motion into axial movement, allowing flexible adjustment while the screw remains firmly attached at the bottom of the hole.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a shape-locking mechanism is used between the sleeve and screw, then the rotational stability is improved, but the adjustability of the sleeve is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into independent components: the screw provides rotational stability through its threaded engagement with the receiving structure, while the adjustment piece provides sleeve adjustability through its own threaded engagement with the screw. This segmentation eliminates the need for shape-locking between sleeve and screw, allowing both rotational stability and adjustability to coexist.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment piece serves as an intermediary that provides the necessary rotational stability for sleeve adjustment without requiring shape-locking between the sleeve and screw. The adjustment piece's threaded engagement with the screw creates a stable rotational interface, while its interaction with the sleeve enables smooth adjustability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures reliable adhesive strength and free adjustability, allowing the fastener to securely attach to the structure without compromising flexibility, even on uneven surfaces, by allowing the screw to be attached separately and the sleeve adjusted independently.
Implementation Method 1
The screw (20) is screwed into the receiving structure (200)
Implementation Method 2
The adjustment piece (30) is rotated relative to the screw (20) to tighten the sleeve (10) in the insulation decking (300)
Implementation Method 3
The adjustment piece (30) can be slidingly fitted into the passage (13) of the sleeve (10)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A new type of fastener (100) is presented, which comprises a sleeve (10) and a screw (20) slidingly fitted in the passage in it, as well as an adjusting piece (30). The screw (20) comprises a shaft (21) extending between the point (22) and the head (23) and equipped with a thread. The adjusting piece (30) comprises a centre hole (33), which can be rotatably attached to the thread of the screw (20), and a non-rotationally symmetrical head (31). The adjusting piece (30) can be fitted in the passage (13) of the sleeve (10), both slidingly and rotatably. Also presented are an adjusting key (70) and a method for installing the new type of fastener (100).