Bolt With Built-In IC Tag Mechanical Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bolts with built-in IC tags face issues in severe environments due to the deterioration of adhesives or resins used for fixation, which can compromise mechanical strength and lead to tag falling, especially in applications like railway vehicles where reliability is critical.
Innovation Solution
A bolt design featuring a fitting hole with a tag protection part made of thermoplastic resin, including a locking part and escape groove, which securely holds the IC inlet without adhesives, using a snap fit mechanism to prevent the tag from coming off and maintaining mechanical strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a recessed part is formed on the head of the bolt and IC tag is embedded using adhesive or resin, then the IC tag is fixed to the bolt, but the mechanical strength of the bolt is deteriorated and the adhesive or resin deteriorates in severe environments causing tag falling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding method (adhesive or resin) with a mechanical locking system. The IC inlet has a flange with ribs that engage with corresponding ribs in the recessed part, creating a mechanical interlock that eliminates the need for deteriorating adhesives while maintaining fixation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The IC inlet is segmented into a body and a flange portion, where the flange contains multiple ribs that can independently engage with the recessed part structure. This segmentation allows for a more reliable mechanical connection distributed across multiple contact points rather than relying on a single adhesive bond.
2Reliability
If a large recessed part or processed portion is provided in the head of the bolt to prevent IC tag falling, then the IC tag is securely fixed, but the mechanical strength of the bolt is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed part is designed with local quality variations - the depth and rib structures are concentrated only where needed for tag fixation, while the rest of the bolt head maintains its original strength properties. The mechanical locking features are localized to the IC inlet area rather than requiring a large processed portion throughout the bolt head.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution combines the metallic bolt material with a thermoplastic resin IC inlet that provides the locking mechanism. The resin inlet is molded to include ribs and engagement features that work together with the metal bolt structure, creating a composite fixation system that maintains the strength of both materials.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide: a tag to be attached to a bolt, said tag being capable of preventing an IC tag from dropping without using an adhesive, while eliminating deterioration of mechanical strength of the bolt by having the minimum recessed section; the bolt with the built-in IC tag; and the bolt to which the tag is to be attached. Disclosed is a tag 10 to be attached to a bolt, said tag being to be attached to a bolt 50 that is provided with a fitting hole 52. The tag is characterized by being provided with: an IC inlet 20 having an IC chip 22 and a coil antenna 23; and a tag protection section 30 covering the IC inlet 20. The tag is also characterized in that: a locking section 31, which protrudes further toward the outer diameter side than other portions of the tag protection section 30, is provided on the outer peripheral side of the tag protection section 30; and the locking section 31 is prevented from removing from the fitting hole 52 by being in contact with a removal stopping section 521 positioned at an opening end portion of the fitting hole 52.