Blind-Side Fitting Assembly With Captive Nut and Seal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional part coupling techniques face inefficiencies due to the cumbersome handling and separate assembly of fittings, anchors, and sealing components, especially when direct access to a blind surface is impractical, leading to handling errors and complexity in attachment processes.

Innovation Solution

A fitting assembly comprising a body with a nut receptacle and a nut assembly, where the nut is translatable along a central axis, constrained by a converging portion and a non-translatably fixed seal, allowing for secure attachment of parts without accessing both sides, with a one-piece, seamless construction for simplified handling and transportation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If fittings, anchors, and sealing components are handled and assembled separately, then each component can be optimized independently, but the attachment process becomes cumbersome and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent optimizationVSAvoidattachment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the anchor, sealing components, and fitting into a single integrated assembly. The anchor is formed as one piece with the fitting body, and sealing elements are pre-installed within the fitting structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate handling and assembly of multiple components, directly resolving the contradiction by improving attachment efficiency while maintaining manufacturing optimization through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing components are pre-installed and pre-positioned within the fitting assembly during manufacturing, rather than being installed separately during the attachment process. This preliminary action ensures proper sealing configuration is achieved automatically when the integrated assembly is installed, reducing on-site assembly complexity and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If direct access to both sides of a part is required for fitting attachment, then secure attachment can be achieved, but attachment becomes impractical when blind surfaces are involved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidattachment accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring access to both sides of the part for traditional bolt-and-nut attachment, the patent inverts the approach by using a top-down installation method. The integrated fitting assembly with built-in anchor is inserted from the exposed surface, and the anchor expands or engages with the blind surface from within, eliminating the need for backside access while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The anchor is nested within the fitting body, and the resilient fingers are concealed within the fitting structure until deployment. This nested configuration allows the entire attachment mechanism to be installed through a single opening, with the anchor and sealing elements being revealed or activated only after insertion, thereby enabling attachment to blind surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple components are handled separately during assembly, then component flexibility is maintained, but handling errors and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent flexibilityVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the anchor, fitting body, and sealing components into a single integrated assembly, which reduces the number of discrete parts to be handled during installation. This merging maintains adaptability because the entire assembly can be designed in different configurations for various applications, while simultaneously reducing assembly complexity by eliminating multiple separate installation steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Facilitates efficient and secure attachment of parts with reduced complexity, preventing contaminants and ensuring proper seating of fasteners, while allowing for quick assembly and minimizing the risk of lost components by integrating the nut and body as a single modular unit.

Implementation Method 1

Translation of the nut along the central axis is constrained by the converging portion and the seal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical constraint:

Implementation Method 2

The nut comprises resilient fingers that are resiliently deformable away from the central axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResilient deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11359657B2Fitting for attachment to a part and associated assembly and method

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a fitting for attachment to a part. The fitting comprises a body and a nut assembly. The body comprises a nut portion. The nut portion comprises a nut receptacle having a converging portion and a central axis. The nut assembly comprises a seal and a nut. The seal is within the nut receptacle, non-translatably fixed relative to the nut receptacle, and spaced apart from the converging portion. The nut is within the nut receptacle, is translatable along the central axis of the nut receptacle, and comprises resilient fingers that are resiliently deformable away from the central axis. Translation of the nut along the central axis is constrained by the converging portion and the seal.