Anti-Rotation Bolt Ring for Flexible Nut Locking Positions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bolts with anti-rotation devices are limited in their ability to securely immobilize nuts over a range of positions, requiring specific alignment and clearance for the pin insertion, which restricts their usability.
Innovation Solution
A bolt design featuring a threaded shaft with longitudinal grooves and a nut with inclined diagonal slots, utilizing a ring that surrounds the shaft and slots to provide rotational immobilization without the need for tools, allowing precise determination of tightening torque loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pin is inserted into a transverse hole and longitudinal slots to rotationally immobilize the nut, then the anti-rotation function is achieved, but the nut can only be immobilized over a limited range of positions and requires specific alignment and clearance
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rotation device is segmented into multiple independent toes (at least three toes distributed around the circumference) that can engage with corresponding features on the nut. This segmentation allows different toes to engage at different positions, providing rotational immobilization across a broader range of nut positions while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple toe features are combined into a single ring structure that surrounds the threaded shaft. This merging allows the anti-rotation device to function as a unified component that can accommodate various nut positions while providing consistent rotational constraint through the distributed toes.
2Device complexity
If a pin and transverse hole configuration is used for anti-rotation, then the device structure is simple, but the installation requires tool assistance and specific alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The ring with distributed toes is designed to be self-installing onto the threaded shaft without requiring external tools or complex alignment procedures. The toes naturally engage with corresponding features on the nut as it is screwed onto the shaft, allowing the anti-rotation function to be activated automatically during the normal tightening process.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring structure serves multiple functions: it provides rotational constraint through the toes, maintains structural simplicity, and enables tool-free installation. The distributed toe configuration allows the same device to accommodate various nut positions and orientations, enhancing its universal applicability.
3Reliability
If a pin is used to rotationally immobilize the nut, then the anti-rotation function is achieved, but the device cannot be easily removed and reused
Solution Approach 1:
The ring with distributed toes is designed as a dynamic, reversible constraint mechanism. The toes engage with the nut features during tightening to provide rotational immobilization, but can be easily disengaged when the nut is unscrewed. This allows the anti-rotation device to be removed and reused on different bolts or nuts, enhancing maintainability and reusability while maintaining reliable rotational constraint during operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A bolt comprising a threaded shaft having at least one helical thread and at least one longitudinal groove, a nut having a tapped hole configured to be screwed onto the threaded shaft, and at least one diagonal slot which includes a first opening end and a second non-opening end. The diagonal slot is inclined from the first end towards the second end in the same direction as the helical thread of the threaded shaft. An anti-rotation device is configured to rotationally immobilize the nut with respect to the threaded shaft and comprises a ring which surrounds at least the threaded shaft and which has at least one first toe configured to be housed in the longitudinal groove of the threaded shaft and in the diagonal slot of the nut, in operation.