Blind Side Fastener Collet and Free-Spin Screw Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blind side fasteners with hard stop bushings can cause undesired disassociation of components during removal operations and may lead to irreparable damage, as they do not effectively decouple the drive tool from the fastener.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a rotationally constrained but freely translatable collet body within a housing, combined with a captive threaded screw featuring a 'free-spin zone' that decouples the drive tool from the fastener, preventing unwanted disassociation and damage by allowing continuous tool operation without inducing rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a hard stop bushing is used to constrain the collet body, then the collet body is rotationally constrained, but the drive tool becomes physically coupled to the fastener causing undesired disassociation and component damage during removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a free-spin feature as an intermediary element between the drive tool interface and the collet body. This free-spin feature acts as a mediator that allows the drive tool to rotate independently without transmitting rotational force to the collet body, thereby preventing physical coupling and potential damage during removal operations while maintaining rotational constraint through the anti-rotation means
2Ease of operation
If the drive tool is physically coupled to the fastener, then rotational control is achieved, but continuous tool operation causes undesired disassociation of fastener components
Solution Approach 1:
The free-spin feature serves as a decoupling intermediary that separates the drive tool's rotational motion from the fastener components. During removal operations, the drive tool can rotate continuously against the free-spin feature without causing the collet body or other fastener components to rotate or disassociate, thereby maintaining component stability while ease of operation is preserved
3Length of moving object
If the collet body is rotationally constrained, then translational movement is enabled, but without decoupling the drive tool, continuous operation causes harm to components
Solution Approach 1:
The free-spin feature acts as a protective intermediary that absorbs the harmful effects of continuous drive tool operation. It allows the collet body to translate freely along the screw while preventing the transmission of harmful rotational forces that would otherwise cause component damage, thereby enabling translational movement without exposing components to harmful factors
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
This solution ensures secure assembly and disassembly of fasteners without causing component damage, as the free-spin zone allows for translational movement without rotational interference, maintaining the structural integrity of the fastener components.
Implementation Method 1
a captive threaded screw for rotationally engaging with the collet body to transform rotational movement into translational movement
Implementation Method 2
substantial arresting of collet body rotation by way of an anti-rotation means
Data Source
AI summary
Fastener embodiments of the invention comprise a freely translatable collet body, which at least partially translates within an auxiliary structure, and further comprise a captive threaded screw for rotationally engaging with the collet body to transform rotational movement into translational movement through substantial arresting of collet body rotation by way of an anti-rotation means. The screw comprises a free-spin feature that functionally, but not physically, decouples a drive tool from the collet body.