Bolt Mount System with Tang and Retainer for Anti-Rotation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting systems for heavy components in vehicles, such as those using body-on-frame and unibody constructions, face challenges in securely attaching components without tools due to free rotation of bolts during nut tightening, which can lead to improper fastening and potential structural instability.
Innovation Solution
A bolt and retainer system where the bolt features a tang extending radially from its head, and a retainer with engagement slots that prevent positive, negative, and push-out rotations, ensuring secure attachment without the need for hold-and-drive tools, and includes a non-drivable head for tool-less operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional bolt and nut system is used for mounting heavy components, then the assembly process is simple, but the bolt rotates freely during nut tightening, leading to improper fastening and potential structural instability
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer acts as an intermediary device between the bolt and the mounting surface. It provides a stable base that prevents bolt rotation during nut tightening, ensuring proper fastening without requiring complex hold-and-drive tools. The retainer includes a base plate with mounting holes for attachment to the mounting surface, and reactive plates that extend to engage with the bolt tang.
Solution Approach 2:
The bolt head includes an integrated tang that extends radially outward, and the retainer includes an engagement slot that receives this tang. This self-contained design allows the bolt itself to provide the anti-rotation feature through its tang, which engages with the retainer's engagement slot, eliminating the need for separate anti-rotation devices or complex tooling.
2Reliability
If a tang and engagement slot system is added to prevent bolt rotation, then fastening reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer combines multiple functions into a single component: it provides the anti-rotation engagement slot for the bolt tang, serves as the mounting interface to the base plate, and includes reactive plates that engage with the bolt. This merging of functions reduces the need for multiple separate components and simplifies the overall mounting system.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is designed as a multi-functional component that can be used with standard bolts while providing anti-rotation capability, mounting attachment, and structural support. The base plate with mounting holes allows attachment to various mounting surfaces, making the system universally applicable to different mounting scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A mount apparatus for a frame member is provided. The mount apparatus includes a bolt and a retainer. The bolt includes a head, a shank extending from the head, and a tang extending radially from the head. The retainer includes a reactive plate fixing the retainer against rotation relative to the frame member and an engagement slot defined by the retainer having a first wall disposed to prevent positive rotation of the tang.