Body Isolator Bolt Retention Assembly with Floating Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing body isolator and bolt retention assemblies for body-on-frame vehicles face challenges in capturing and securing body coupling bolts, particularly in accommodating tolerance variations and allowing lateral float, while ensuring easy installation and removal without interference or damage.
Innovation Solution
A body isolator and bolt retention assembly featuring an outer and inner sleeve with a resilient material, internal and external bolt retention threads, and a washer, allowing the bolt to float laterally and be easily captured and removed, with a thread configuration enabling quick engagement and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a push on Tinnerman nut is used to capture the body coupling bolt, then the bolt can be secured, but simultaneous access to both sides is required which complicates installation and placement errors can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the bolt retention function from a separate nut component and integrates it directly into the body isolator housing through internal threads. This eliminates the need for separate Tinnerman nuts and simultaneous two-sided access, allowing single-sided bolt insertion and capture while maintaining secure retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The bolt retention threads are merged with the body isolator housing structure, combining the housing and retention mechanism into a single integrated component. This integration eliminates the need for separate retention components and simplifies the installation process to single-sided access.
2Reliability
If a spring loaded bolt retention mechanism is used, then the bolt can be captured, but the mechanism becomes larger and does not allow sufficient lateral float
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the spring-loaded mechanism entirely and replaces it with a simple internal thread structure integrated into the housing. This extraction of the complex retention mechanism reduces size and allows sufficient lateral float while maintaining bolt capture reliability through the internal-external thread engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the retention mechanism from an active spring-loaded system to a passive thread engagement system. This parameter change from active to passive retention simplifies the structure, reduces size, and allows lateral float while maintaining reliable bolt capture through proper thread geometry.
3Ease of operation
If foam ring or stay-put polymer is used between the bolt and aperture, then lateral float may be allowed, but these materials do not adequately secure or retain the bolt with friction alone
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the friction-based retention of foam rings and polymers with a positive mechanical thread engagement system. The internal and external threads provide deterministic mechanical retention that is superior to friction-based methods, while the thread geometry and housing structure allow sufficient lateral float.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite approach combining the housing structure with integrated internal threads, creating a unified retention system that provides both lateral float capability and secure mechanical retention, overcoming the limitations of single-material foam or polymer solutions.
4Reliability
If rigid or large foam ring is used to securely capture the bolt, then the bolt can be retained, but sufficient lateral float is not allowed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the retention mechanism from friction-based (foam) to positive mechanical engagement (threads), and optimizes the thread geometry and housing dimensions to provide both secure retention and adequate lateral float clearance, overcoming the trade-off between security and float capability.
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
The solution provides a simple, robust, and foolproof method for capturing and retaining body coupling bolts, allowing sufficient lateral float and easy assembly/disassembly, while preventing axial and lateral movement until final tightening, thus addressing the limitations of existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient material extending between and coupling the inner and outer sleeves together
Data Source
AI summary
Bolt retention threads are provided adjacent the proximal end of the body coupling aperture of a body isolator. A bolt has cooperating bolt retention threads and body coupling threads on the shaft. These body coupling threads have a diameter to permit the external body coupling threads to pass through the internal bolt retention threads without requiring threaded engagement therebetween. The cooperating bolt retention threads are axially positioned relative to each other to enable the entirety of the external bolt retention threads to be threaded completely through the internal bolt retention threads to capture the bolt within the body coupling aperture in a captured floating configuration. In the captured floating configuration, the external body coupling threads and the distal end of the shaft extend out of the distal end of the body coupling aperture and the bolt is allowed to float laterally within the body coupling aperture.