Anti-Backlash Bolt Assembly with Spherical Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current satellite dish mounting brackets introduce backlash during fine adjustments, leading to inefficiency due to moments when threads are not in contact, resulting in incomplete adjustments.
Innovation Solution
An anti-backlash assembly comprising a housing with a bolt and nut system, where the bolt has a spherical end and is coupled via an interference fit with a socket, and a removal nut applies opposing force to ensure continuous thread contact, preventing backlash.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional bolt and nut system is used for fine adjustment, then the structure is simple, but backlash occurs when threads are not in contact, reducing adjustment precision
Solution Approach 1:
A spherical intermediate component is introduced between the bolt and the mounting bracket. The sphere fits within a corresponding spherical recess and maintains continuous contact with the threaded shaft, eliminating backlash by ensuring that the threads remain engaged during bidirectional adjustments. This intermediary element transforms the conventional bolt-nut connection into a mechanism that prevents thread disengagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket incorporates a spherical component that interfaces with the bolt's threaded shaft. The curved spherical geometry allows for continuous contact and eliminates the linear backlash typical of conventional threaded connections. The sphere rotates within its recess while maintaining engagement, ensuring precise adjustment without thread separation.
2Productivity
If a conventional threaded connection is used, then the device is easy to manufacture, but efficiency is reduced due to moments when threads are not in contact during adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical intermediary component ensures continuous thread engagement during adjustment operations. By maintaining constant contact between the threaded shaft and the spherical element, the mechanism eliminates wasted movements and inefficiencies associated with thread disengagement and re-engagement, thereby improving adjustment efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical component is pre-positioned within its recess to maintain continuous contact with the threaded shaft throughout the adjustment range. This preliminary positioning ensures that the threads remain engaged before, during, and after adjustment movements, preventing any moments of disengagement that would reduce efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If a standard bolt connection is used, then the structure is simple, but adjustment precision is lost due to backlash when changing direction
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical geometry of the intermediate component ensures continuous contact with the threaded shaft during bidirectional adjustments. The curved surface of the sphere allows for smooth rotation and maintains engagement throughout the adjustment range, eliminating the backlash that occurs in conventional linear threaded connections when changing direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical intermediary element acts as a mediator between the bolt and the mounting bracket, ensuring continuous thread engagement. This intermediary prevents the loss of precision that occurs when threads disengage during directional changes, maintaining alignment accuracy throughout the adjustment process.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to an anti-backlash component. In one embodiment, the anti-backlash component includes a housing, the housing comprising a first threaded opening and a second opening, a bolt coupled to the housing through the first threaded opening and the second opening, the bolt comprising a spherical end, a nut coupled to the bolt and an exterior side of the second opening of the housing and a socket coupled to the spherical end of the bolt.