Blind Fastener With Internal Clamping for Narrow Apertures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blind fasteners are bulky and cannot be conveniently miniaturized for use in very narrow apertures, typically of 2 mm to 4 mm in diameter, while maintaining performance, due to their threaded and legged designs.
Innovation Solution
A removable blind fastener comprising a hollow cylindrical shaft with a guide channel and an urge channel, a screw member with a threaded region, and a clamping member that moves along the guide channel upon rotation, allowing for clamping and release without external access, featuring a retaining member and anti-rotation tools for ease of use in narrow apertures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional threaded fasteners with expandable legs are used, then clamping force and reliability are improved, but the fastener size and thread bulk increase making them unsuitable for narrow apertures
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping member is nested within the hollow shaft of the body, allowing it to be stored compactly during insertion. When activated, the clamping member extends from the shaft to provide the necessary clamping function. This nesting approach enables the fastener to maintain a small external dimension suitable for narrow apertures while still providing adequate clamping force when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener is divided into distinct functional segments: a body for insertion, a screw member for activation, and a clamping member for force application. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the body remains compact for narrow apertures while the clamping member can extend to provide sufficient clamping force when needed.
2Ease of operation
If the fastener is designed for one-sided operation (blind fastener), then ease of operation is improved, but the mechanism complexity increases to achieve expansion from one side only
Solution Approach 1:
The screw member acts as an intermediary mechanism that converts rotational motion applied from one side into linear motion of the clamping member. By threading the screw member through the clamping member and into the body, the system enables one-sided activation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The screw thread itself serves as the mechanical intermediary that translates the activating force.
3Ease of operation
If the clamping member is kept internal during insertion, then ease of operation is improved and aperture requirements are reduced, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping member transitions from a static internal position during insertion to an active extended position during clamping. The guide channel provides a defined path for this dynamic movement, allowing the clamping member to be stored compactly within the shaft during insertion and then extend along the guide channel when activated. This dynamic configuration enables easy insertion through narrow apertures while providing adequate clamping capability when deployed.
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
Enables effective clamping and easy removal of components with very small apertures by keeping the clamping mechanism internal, maintaining small external dimensions and ensuring reliable operation in tight spaces.
Implementation Method 1
the screw member has a threaded region that fits within the shaft of the body and wherein the screw member has a head at a proximal end that fits within the hollow head of the body, and wherein the clamping member is arranged to fit in the guide channel and wherein the clamping member has a threaded aperture for engaging with the threaded region of the screw member, such that rotation of the screw member causes the clamping member to move along the guide channel
Data Source
AI summary
A removable blind fastener includes: a body; a screw member; and a clamping member. The body includes a hollow cylindrical shaft with a proximal end and a distal end and a head at the proximal end, the head being hollow with an internal end face. The shaft has an open guide channel along a portion of its length and an urge channel opposite the guide channel located at the distal end of the shaft. The screw member has a threaded region that fits within the shaft and the screw member has a head at a proximal end that fits within the hollow head. The clamping member fits in the guide channel and has a threaded aperture for engaging with the threaded region of the screw member, such that rotation of the screw member causes the clamping member to move along the guide channel of the body.