Composite Fastening Component With Breakaway Tip for Fiber-Safe Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for fastening composite material parts are complex, costly, and weaken the mechanical integrity of these parts due to the need for hole-making and fiber cutting, making it difficult to attach and detach components without compromising structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A fastening component with a body, insertion tip, axial stop, and frangible portion that allows for easy assembly and disassembly of composite material parts by diverting fibers without cutting them, using a cone-shaped insertion tip and a compaction portion to maintain mechanical strength and prevent deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional hole-making and bonding methods are used to fasten composite material parts, then fastening capability is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening component is divided into two functional parts: a reusable body with fastening member and a disposable insertion tip. The insertion tip performs the fiber-diverting insertion function and is discarded after use, while the body remains for future fastening operations. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating complex hole-making and bonding steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion tip is designed as a disposable, low-cost component that is inserted through the composite material, diverts fibers around the body, and is then discarded. This eliminates the need for expensive and time-consuming hole-making equipment and bonding processes, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If holes are made in composite material parts for fastening, then fastening capability is achieved, but mechanical strength is weakened due to fiber cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion tip acts as an intermediary that facilitates the insertion of the body through the composite material by diverting fibers around it. This intermediary component allows the body to pass through without cutting fibers, preserving the mechanical strength of the composite material while still enabling fastening capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable insertion tip absorbs the mechanical stress of fiber diversion during insertion. By using a sacrificial component, the composite material's fiber structure remains intact, maintaining its mechanical strength while achieving the necessary fastening capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If fastening components are integrated into composite matrix using multiple preparation steps, then fastening capability is achieved, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion tip is pre-formed with the exact geometry needed to divert fibers around the body. This preliminary preparation of the insertion tip eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site hole-making and fiber preparation steps, significantly reducing manufacturing time while maintaining fastening capability.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the insertion function (performed by the disposable tip) from the fastening function (performed by the reusable body), the manufacturing process is simplified to just insertion and discard operations, eliminating multiple preparation steps and reducing manufacturing time.
4Strength
If insertion tip is used to move away fibers without sectioning them, then mechanical strength is preserved, but access to fastening member is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening component is segmented into a body containing the fastening member and a separate insertion tip. After the insertion tip diverts fibers and inserts the body, it is discarded, automatically exposing the fastening member on the body for subsequent fastening operations. This segmentation resolves the conflict between fiber preservation and fastening access.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion tip is extracted (removed) from the system after performing its fiber-diverting function. This extraction clears access to the fastening member on the body, allowing fastening operations to proceed while the composite material's fiber structure remains intact and strengthened.
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment component which includes a body, the body having attachment means intended for allowing the attachment component to be assembled with a part including complementary attachment means, an insertion tip arranged at one end of the body so as to allow at least one portion of the body to be inserted through a part made of composite material, an axial abutment intended for halting the insertion of the body through the part made of composite material, and a breakable portion inserted between the insertion tip and said end of the body, the breakable portion being configured to break when a predetermined force is applied to the insertion tip with a view to detaching the insertion tip from the body.