Angled Nut Retainer for Closure Frames Using Standard Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closure devices for infrastructure access points, such as manholes and sewers, often require non-standard bolts and complex locking mechanisms, leading to increased costs, complicated installations, and difficulties in opening or closing the devices, as well as issues with standard nuts falling out of place.
Innovation Solution
A retainer system that uses standard fastening elements, with angled openings and integral nut retainers within the closure frame, eliminating the need for protrusions or detents and allowing easy insertion and removal of nuts without tools, and preventing accidental falling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-standard bolts and complex locking mechanisms are used, then security and locking reliability are improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed to work with standard nuts and bolts rather than requiring specialized fastening mechanisms. The retainer itself becomes the universal interface that provides both retention and locking functions, allowing standard hardware to be used while achieving secure fastening.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is extracted from the bolt/nut assembly and transferred to the retainer component. The retainer contains features like protrusions or detents that provide the locking mechanism, while the bolt and nut remain standard and simple.
2Reliability
If non-standard bolts and complex locking mechanisms are used, then locking reliability is improved, but installation complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is pre-installed on the frame with its retention features already in place. This preliminary action allows the nut to be simply placed onto the bolt and immediately retained, eliminating the need for complex assembly sequences or specialized tools during installation.
3Ease of operation
If standard nuts with side openings are used, then ease of installation is improved, but reliability deteriorates as nuts fall out
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer acts as an intermediary component between the nut and the frame. It provides a positive retention mechanism that holds the nut in place while still allowing for easy installation and removal when needed, solving the contradiction between retention reliability and ease of operation.
4Reliability
If protrusions are added to retain nuts, then nut retention reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed as an integrated component that combines the retention function with the mounting structure. Rather than adding separate protrusions to existing components, the retainer merges the retention features into a single molded or formed part that can be efficiently manufactured.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is retainer for a nut. The retainer is positioned within the frame that provides access to a closure. The closure, in turn, is secured by way of a removable cover. The cover is removably secured to the frame by way of a series of bolts and corresponding nuts. The nuts are secured by way of the retainer to allow the bolts to be secured. Each retainer includes upper and lower opening and an internal area. The upper opening is preferably angled such that the nut must be oriented at an angle in order to be inserted into the retainer. The internal area of each retainer includes a ledge with an angled step. The angled step function is rotating the nut to a horizontal orientation after it has been inserted into the retainer. Thereafter, a user can access the nut with a finger through the lower opening. This allows the nut to be rotated and removed via the upper opening. The various features of the present retainer, and the manner in which they interrelate, are described in greater detail hereinafter.