Butterfly Cotter Pin Structure for Standard Castle Nut Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cotter pin configurations require a specially grooved castle nut, limiting the use of typical nuts and increasing manufacturing costs due to the need for an additional production step.
Innovation Solution
A unitary cotter pin with longitudinal portions, shoulders, and curvilinear arms resembling a modified 'S' or 'J' shape, which can securely engage with standard castle nuts without the need for a groove, utilizing spring steel for resilience and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cotter pin is configured to engage with a grooved castle nut, then secure retention is achieved, but the requirement for a specially grooved nut limits compatibility with standard nuts and increases manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The cotter pin is designed with a universal configuration that can engage with both grooved and non-grooved castle nuts. The curvilinear arms with inwardly directed projections can adapt to different nut types, making the pin compatible with standard nuts while maintaining secure retention capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying the nut to include a groove (as in prior art), the invention inverts the approach by designing the cotter pin itself with engagement features that can work with or without a groove. The inwardly directed projections on the curvilinear arms provide the engagement mechanism, eliminating the need for the nut to have a groove.
2Device complexity
If a cotter pin uses a bulbous base configuration, then simple construction is achieved, but it requires an additional manufacturing step for grooved nuts which increases production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the engagement function from the nut and places it in the cotter pin itself. The inwardly directed projections on the curvilinear arms provide the engagement mechanism, eliminating the need for the additional manufacturing step of creating a groove in the nut.
Solution Approach 2:
The cotter pin is designed to be self-sufficient by incorporating all necessary engagement features directly into its structure. The curvilinear arms with inwardly directed projections can engage with the nut without requiring any special modifications or additional components, making the pin self-contained and eliminating extra manufacturing steps.
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
Enables secure retention of vehicle suspension components using standard castle nuts, reducing manufacturing costs and expanding compatibility with existing nut configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a cotter pin that has a central portion that is comprised of longitudinal portions fit in the through hole. Shoulders connected to longitudinal portions abut the through hole and support curvilinear arms that resemble a truncated or modified 'S' or modified 'J' that terminates in an inwardly directed projection
Data Source
AI summary
A resilient cotter pin that has longitudinal central portions that fit in the through hole of a related part. Shoulders connected to longitudinal portions abut the through hole and support curvilinear arms that terminate in an inwardly directed projections that engage a related castellated nut.