Adjustable Nut Fastening Clip for Roof Rack Panel Tolerances
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the automobile industry, maintaining a consistent distance between panels due to manufacturing and welding tolerances is challenging, particularly when attaching roof racks to vehicle roofs, as existing fasteners cannot adjust to varying distances without altering the fixing operation.
Innovation Solution
A nut fastening clip with an adjustable length, comprising a substrate, sleeve, and bolt, where the sleeve is internally threaded and features anti-rotation planes to prevent rotation, allowing for adjustable length adaptation by threading the bolt into the sleeve, ensuring secure attachment and maintaining panel distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed-length fastener is used, then the fixing operation is simple, but the distance between panels cannot be maintained due to manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener incorporates an adjustable length mechanism that allows the effective length to be dynamically changed during installation. The sleeve can slide along the shaft to different positions, and the locking mechanism can engage at various locations, enabling the fastener to adapt to different panel distances caused by manufacturing tolerances while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If an adjustable-length fastener is used, then the distance between panels can be maintained, but the fixing operation becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener includes a self-locking mechanism where the locking component automatically engages with the sleeve at predetermined positions. As the sleeve slides along the shaft during installation, the locking mechanism autonomously secures the sleeve at the appropriate position without requiring additional manual operations or tools, thus maintaining ease of operation while providing adjustable length capability.
3Ease of operation
If the sleeve can rotate during installation, then the assembly process is easier, but the fastening reliability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener incorporates asymmetric anti-rotation features including protrusions on the sleeve that engage with corresponding recesses in the locking mechanism, or a keyed interface between the sleeve and shaft. This asymmetric design prevents rotational movement of the sleeve during installation and operation, ensuring fastening reliability while still allowing linear sliding motion for length adjustment. The anti-rotation function is integrated into the same structure that provides the adjustable length capability.
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 adjustable nut fastening clip effectively maintains a consistent distance between panels, preventing roof collapse and ensuring secure mounting of roof racks while accommodating manufacturing tolerances, with easy assembly and integration of a sealing mechanism to prevent water ingress.
Implementation Method 1
The sleeve is internally threaded. The bolt is configured to threadably engage with the sleeve.
Implementation Method 2
The sleeve has an outer side face and a first anti-rotation plane disposed on the outer side face, adjacent to the first lateral side, and connected to the substrate.
Data Source
AI summary
A nut fastening clip comprises a substrate, and a sleeve. The substrate has an upper surface, a lower surface, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side. The substrate defines an upper opening. The first lateral side is opposite the second lateral side. The sleeve extends from the substrate. The sleeve defines a lower opening in communication with the upper opening. The sleeve has an outer face and a first anti-rotation plane disposed on the outer side face, adjacent to the first lateral side, and connected to the substrate.