Anti-Rotation Retaining Pin With Integrated Void Flange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional retaining pins with anti-rotation features require machined recesses, increasing material thickness and production costs due to the need for a nut to fit within the recess, which complicates manufacturing and adds expense.
Innovation Solution
The retaining pin features a pin shaft and retaining flange with an anti-rotation void, allowing for a press fit or welding/brazing installation, eliminating the need for a machined recess by using additive manufacturing techniques to form complex contours and voids, thereby reducing material thickness and production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a machined recess is used to accommodate a nut for anti-rotation functionality, then the retaining pin can effectively prevent rotation, but the material thickness increases and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the nut from the system entirely and replaces it with a molded-in anti-rotation void that directly engages the shaft. This extraction of the nut eliminates the need for a machined recess, thereby reducing material thickness while maintaining anti-rotation functionality through the integrated void geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the anti-rotation feature directly into the retaining pin body by molding the void into the flange. This integration eliminates the separate nut component and the need for post-manufacturing machining operations, reducing both material thickness and production complexity while maintaining the anti-rotation function.
2Reliability
If a machined recess is used to accommodate a nut, then the retaining pin can effectively prevent rotation, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the anti-rotation feature directly into the retaining pin body by molding the void into the flange. This integration eliminates the separate nut component and the need for post-manufacturing machining operations, reducing both material thickness and production complexity while maintaining the anti-rotation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical nut-and-thread system with a molded void geometry that directly engages the shaft. This substitution eliminates the need for threading operations and nut assembly, simplifying manufacturing and reducing production costs while maintaining the anti-rotation functionality.
3Ease of manufacture
If a machined recess is used, then the nut can be fitted within the retaining tab, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the nut from the system entirely and replaces it with a molded-in anti-rotation void that directly engages the shaft. This extraction of the nut eliminates the need for a machined recess, thereby reducing material thickness while maintaining anti-rotation functionality through the integrated void geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the anti-rotation feature directly into the retaining pin body by molding the void into the flange. This integration eliminates the separate nut component and the need for post-manufacturing machining operations, reducing both material thickness and production complexity while maintaining the anti-rotation function.
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
This design provides effective anti-rotation functionality while reducing the weight and cost of retaining pins by eliminating the need for a machined recess, enabling efficient and cost-effective production through advanced manufacturing processes.
Implementation Method 1
the pin shaft may be coupled to the first end of the flange body via welding
Implementation Method 2
the pin shaft may be coupled to the first end of the flange body via brazing
Implementation Method 3
the pin shaft may be coupled to the first end of the flange body via an adhesive
Implementation Method 4
The pin shaft may be coupled to the first end of the flange body using a press fit installation process
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A retaining pin (100) having anti-rotation features is provided. The retaining pin (100) may comprise a pin shaft (110) coupled to a retaining flange (120). The pin shaft (110) may be inserted into a structural member proximate a shaft and a nut. The retaining flange (120) may comprise an anti-rotation void (127) defined by a first arm (130) and a second arm (140) and configured to engage the shaft. In response to the nut coupling the retaining flange (120) to the shaft, the retaining pin (100) may at least partially reduce movement and rotation of the shaft relative to the retaining pin (100).