Connector Alignment Tool for Bolt Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Standard bolts require difficult alignment adjustments after insertion into slots, often necessitating costly replacement with cam bolts for easier adjustment, leading to increased repair costs.
Innovation Solution
A tool comprising two members with alignment features and tool heads, one member coupled at a pivot joint, allows for the adjustment of a connector's alignment within slots by reacting against component reaction features, facilitating easier alignment without the need for cam bolts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If regular bolts are used instead of cam bolts, then cost is reduced, but alignment adjustment difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an alignment tool as an intermediary device that enables easy alignment adjustment of regular bolts without requiring cam bolts. The tool includes alignment features that interact with reaction features on the components to guide and constrain the bolt into proper alignment, thereby maintaining the cost advantage of regular bolts while eliminating the operational difficulty of alignment adjustment.
2Ease of operation
If cam bolts are used for easy alignment adjustment, then alignment adjustment ease is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tool serves as a mediator that provides the alignment adjustment capability of cam bolts while working with inexpensive regular bolts. The tool's alignment features (such as cam surfaces or guide elements) interact with reaction features on the components to enable easy alignment, allowing the system to achieve cam bolt performance at regular bolt cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the alignment adjustment function from the bolt itself (as in cam bolts) and places it in a separate reusable tool. This separation allows the bolt to remain a simple, inexpensive regular bolt while the alignment capability resides in the dedicated alignment tool, which can be used repeatedly across multiple installations.
3Ease of operation
If regular bolts requiring adjustment are replaced with cam bolts, then alignment adjustment ease is improved, but repair complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is extracted from the bolt and placed in a separate alignment tool, allowing the bolt itself to remain a simple regular bolt that can be easily replaced if needed. The alignment tool is a reusable device that remains in the system, eliminating the need to replace expensive cam bolts for alignment adjustments and simplifying repair procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool for adjusting the alignment of a connector carried within slots in one or more components. The tool comprises a first member and a second member, wherein the first member and/or second member includes an alignment feature configured to react against reaction feature(s) of the one or more components to adjust the alignment of the connector within the slots. The first member includes a shaft and a tool head carried thereby. The tool head comprises a body configured to engage a first portion of the connector. The second member is configured to be coupled with the first member, and also includes a shaft and a tool head carried thereby. The tool head of the second member comprises a body configured to engage a second portion of the connector.