Collet Sleeve Fastener for Shear Load Transfer and Clamping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastener systems are susceptible to shear stresses due to external structural loading, which can lead to increased shear stresses on flexible arms, compromising their removable engagement and stability.
Innovation Solution
A fastener system that decouples shear stresses from the collet body by transferring them to a stronger sleeve section, allowing for quick and efficient engagement and disengagement, and includes a stud with a free rotation feature to prevent damage during disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If flexible arms are used for removable engagement, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased shear stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a separate sleeve component as an intermediary structure that carries the shear loads, while the flexible arms (cantilever legs) focus on providing clamping force and removable engagement. This mediator transfers the harmful shear stresses from the flexible arms to the stronger sleeve, allowing the flexible arms to maintain their ease of operation while improving overall reliability.
2Reliability
If shear stresses are transferred to sleeve, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is segmented into distinct functional components: the collet body with flexible arms for clamping and engagement, and a separate sleeve for carrying shear loads. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving reliability while keeping the overall design manageable through clear functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the collet body and sleeve into a integrated fastener system where the sleeve fits over the collet body. This merging creates a composite structure that leverages the strengths of both components - the flexibility and engagement capability of the collet body with the shear strength of the sleeve - achieving improved reliability without excessive complexity.
3Force
If stud is threaded into collet body, then clamping force is improved, but risk of damage during disassembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unthreaded section of the stud acts as a mediator or buffer zone between the threaded engagement section and the collet body. During disassembly, this unthreaded section allows the stud to be pulled back without the threads engaging in a way that could cause damage, while still maintaining the clamping force when properly assembled.
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener system shifting shear stresses away from a collet body and provides clamping action to targeted structures. The fastener system includes feet in the collet body that mate with openings in a sleeve at least partially surrounding the collet body. The sleeve or the collet body includes interior threads that engage with a stud that is configured to extend through the collet body and bend the feet such that they project outward from the sleeve openings in an engaged configuration.