Captive Fastener Assembly for Removable Acousto-Optic Covers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing captive fasteners used in acousto-optic devices and electronic components on mobile platforms face issues with permanent deformation of panel cover passageways, misalignment, and damage during installation, making them difficult to remove and replace, especially when optical components require maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A fastener assembly with a base sleeve, retainer sleeve, and biasing member that allows for removability without permanent deformation, featuring a counterbored cover passageway and a floating design within the cover passageway, enabling easy installation and replacement with tolerance for dimensional variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional captive fasteners are pressed into panel cover openings, then the fastener becomes locked to the panel cover, but the panel cover passageway is permanently deformed and damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reusable receiver assembly as an intermediary component between the fastener and the panel cover. The receiver assembly includes a receiver body with an opening that receives the fastener, and a retainer mechanism that secures the fastener to the receiver body. This intermediary structure absorbs the mechanical stress and deformation that would otherwise damage the panel cover, allowing the fastener to be securely locked while preserving the integrity of the panel cover passageway.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system is segmented into distinct functional components: the fastener, the receiver assembly (including receiver body and retainer), and the panel cover. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally - the fastener provides the locking mechanism, the receiver assembly provides the secure mounting interface with reusable retention, and the panel cover maintains its structural integrity without permanent deformation.
2Ease of operation
If traditional captive fasteners are installed through sequential alignment, then the fastener couples the electronic components to the rack, but misalignment and installation damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The receiver assembly is pre-installed in the panel cover before the fastener is inserted. The receiver body is positioned with its opening aligned with the panel cover passageway, and the retainer mechanism is pre-configured. This preliminary action eliminates the need for precise sequential alignment during fastener installation, as the receiver assembly already provides the correct positioning and alignment references.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver assembly serves as a mediator that simplifies the installation process. Instead of directly aligning the fastener with the panel cover opening and rack opening in a complex sequential process, the fastener is simply inserted into the pre-positioned receiver assembly, which guides and secures it. This intermediary structure reduces installation complexity and improves alignment reliability.
3Strength
If traditional captive fasteners are used for securing covers, then the components are firmly attached, but removal and replacement become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer mechanism incorporates a dynamic release feature that transitions the fastening state from locked to released. The retainer can be moved between a first position where it engages and locks the fastener to the receiver body, and a second position where it releases the fastener. This dynamic capability allows the cover to be firmly attached during operation but easily removed when maintenance is needed, by simply actuating the release mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver assembly acts as an intermediary that facilitates easy removal and replacement. The fastener remains permanently attached to the receiver body through the retainer mechanism, while the receiver assembly itself can be easily removed from the panel cover. This allows maintenance personnel to remove the cover by removing the receiver assembly, without needing to extract or damage the fastener, enabling easy replacement of the fastener if needed.
4Reliability
If panel covers are replaced due to fastener damage, then damaged fasteners are removed, but costly panel cover replacements are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fastener from the panel cover structure and relocates it to the receiver assembly. The fastener is now attached to the receiver body through the retainer mechanism, rather than being directly pressed into the panel cover. This extraction protects the panel cover from fastener-related damage, as any fastener failure or removal now affects only the reusable receiver assembly, not the panel cover itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver assembly is designed as a reusable component that can be recovered and reused. When a fastener becomes damaged or needs replacement, the receiver assembly remains intact and can be reattached to a new panel cover. This recovers the value of the receiver assembly and avoids the need to discard the entire panel cover, reducing material loss and costs.
Data Source
AI summary
An acousto-optic device may include an acousto-optic component carried by a chassis, and a fastener assembly for removably securing a cover to the chassis. The fastener assembly may include a base sleeve having an enlarged head, and a tubular body and extending through a cover passageway. The fastener assembly may include a retainer sleeve having a threaded interior secured to the threaded exterior of the base sleeve to define an anchor member, the anchor member having a threaded interior. The fastener assembly may further include a fastener, a shaft having a threaded exterior opposite the enlarged head and to be threaded through the threaded interior of the anchor member to capture the fastener to the cover and movable through the chassis passageway for removably securing the cover to the chassis.