Clip Nut With Insulated Rivet for Corrosion Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clip nut connections for electrically conductive components are prone to corrosion, especially when paint coatings fail, leading to unreliable connections and component damage.
Innovation Solution
A clip nut design featuring a tubular rivet as the electrical contact element, combined with an insulating seal to prevent current flow and media penetration, and surface structures like teeth or tongues for improved electrical contact, along with a pivotable nut for alignment, minimizes corrosion and ensures secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective lacquer coating is applied to prevent corrosion, then corrosion protection is improved, but the protection is only of limited effectiveness and fails when paintwork is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating seal is introduced as an intermediary element between the electrically conductive components. This seal physically separates the conductive parts, preventing direct electrical contact and eliminating galvanic corrosion. The seal acts as a mediator that blocks both media penetration and current flow, providing reliable corrosion protection without relying on paint coatings.
2Manufacturing precision
If the nut is fixed in position, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability to different applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The nut is designed with rotational freedom, allowing it to pivot and orient itself during the screwing process. This dynamic capability enables the nut to adapt to different insertion angles and alignment requirements while maintaining precise threading. The nut can rotate to accommodate various application scenarios without requiring different fixed-position designs.
3Ease of manufacture
If the electrical contact element has a simple cylindrical shape, then ease of manufacture is improved, but electrical contact quality may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical contact element features localized surface structures such as teeth, protruding tongues, or ridges at specific contact zones. These local geometric modifications concentrate electrical contact pressure and improve current flow at critical interfaces, while the overall cylindrical shape remains simple to manufacture. The enhanced contact quality is achieved only where needed, without complicating the entire component geometry.
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
The solution effectively prevents contact corrosion and ensures a reliable, long-lasting connection by isolating electrical currents and media ingress, while the tubular rivet and seal materials provide durability and adaptability for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing element (30) is connected to the electrical contact element (20), which, in at least one turned state of the screw (24), seals the opening (22) into the nut (18)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a clip nut (10) with a clip (12) comprising a first holding device (14), a second holding device (16) and a connecting device that connects the first holding device to the second holding device, wherein the distance between the holding devices (14, 16) is variable, and a nut (18) that is arranged on the second holding device (16).According to the invention, an electrical contact element (20) is arranged on the first holding device (14), wherein the electrical contact element (20) has an opening (22) through which a screw (24) can be passed for screwing into the nut (18), that the electrical contact element (20) is suitable for establishing an electrical connection between a first component (26), which is arranged between the holding devices (14, 16) of the clip (12), and a second component (28), which can be attached to the clip (12) by means of the screw (24), and that a sealing element (30) is arranged on the electrical contact element (20), which seals the opening (22) at least when the screw (24) is screwed into the nut (18). Furthermore, the invention relates to a fastening arrangement and a method for manufacturing a clip nut according to the invention.