Blind Rivet Nut Sealing Structure for Fluid and Heat Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fasteners with blind rivet nuts fail to effectively prevent fluid and heat flow between the sides of a component, especially in applications involving thin-walled materials and carbon fiber reinforced plastics.
Innovation Solution
A fastener system comprising a blind rivet nut with an internal thread and a deformation section, combined with a sealing element that surrounds the shaft and forms a locking head, effectively preventing fluid and heat flow by creating a sealed environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a blind rivet nut is used for fastening thin-walled materials, then fastening capability is improved, but fluid and heat flow between component sides is not prevented
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing element is introduced as an intermediary component between the blind rivet nut and the component. This sealing element has a jacket section that circumferentially encloses the shank and a cover section that closes the end, creating a sealed cavity that prevents fluid and heat flow while allowing the blind rivet nut to perform its fastening function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is divided into two functional segments: a jacket section that encloses the shank region and a cover section that seals the end opening. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific sealing function, creating a complete seal that prevents harmful fluid and heat flow while maintaining fastening capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a closed-end blind rivet element is used to prevent fluid flow, then sealing is improved, but surface coating quality deteriorates due to inaccessible lowest areas
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is separated from the blind rivet element by introducing a distinct sealing element. This allows the blind rivet element to remain open-ended for proper coating access, while the separate sealing element provides the fluid flow prevention through its jacket and cover sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element acts as an intermediary that provides the sealing function without requiring modification of the blind rivet element's structure. This maintains the blind rivet element's open design for coating purposes while achieving fluid flow prevention through the sealing element's enclosed structure.
3Strength
If the deformation section is deformed to form a closing head, then anchoring capability is improved, but the open end structure allows fluid penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element's jacket section circumferentially encloses the deformed closing head, and the cover section closes the end opening. This intermediary sealing structure prevents fluid penetration while allowing the closing head to form and provide anchoring capability through deformation of the deformation section.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8
Figure 9~12
AI summary
The present invention relates to a fastening element (1) comprising a blind rivet element (2) and a sealing element (3). The blind rivet element (2) has a head section (4) and a shank (5) adjoining the head section (4) in an axial direction (Z), wherein the shank (5) has an internal thread (6) or a connecting section for a threaded bolt and a deformation section (7) between the internal thread (6) or the connecting section for the threaded bolt and the head section (4), for forming a closing head (10) when the deformation section (7) is deformed.The sealing element (3) has a closed shell section (11) and a closed cover section (12) adjacent to the shell section (11) in the axial direction (Z), wherein the shell section (11) circumferentially encloses the shaft (7) of the blind rivet element (2) at least in the area of the deformation section (7) and the cover section (12) is formed at an end (13) of the shaft (5) of the blind rivet element (2) facing away from the head section (4).