Convex Stainless Screw-Locking Disc for Corrosion-Resistant Preload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screw-securing elements made from stainless steel face challenges in achieving sufficient spring effect to counteract loosening processes in screw connections, especially under high corrosion protection demands, as heat-treated stainless-steel alloys are expensive and have compromised corrosion properties, and strain-hardened materials exhibit limited spring effects.
Innovation Solution
A corrosion-resistant screw-securing disk with a stainless-steel disk body is developed, featuring a convex shape and material thickness of at least 1.5 mm, compacted by stamping, and optionally knurled surfaces, which provides a high spring effect to maintain preload force, utilizing commercially available stainless steel materials like 1.4301 or 1.4401, with angled ring-section surfaces for enhanced securing and adjustable spring properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If heat-treated stainless-steel alloys are used to increase spring effect, then spring effect is improved, but corrosion properties deteriorate and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the screw-securing element by increasing material thickness to at least 1.5 mm and implementing a convex shape with specific curvature radius (R1 ≥ 0.5 mm, R2 ≥ 1 mm). These parameter changes enable the element to achieve sufficient spring effect through elastic deformation of the thicker convex body without requiring heat treatment, thereby maintaining the excellent corrosion properties of the base stainless steel material.
2Strength
If strain hardening is applied to thin sheet metal to achieve spring effect, then spring effect is improved, but manufacturing flexibility deteriorates and the effect is insufficient for thicker materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts from strain hardening thin sheet metal to using thicker material (≥1.5 mm) with a convex geometry. The spring effect is achieved through the elastic deformation of the convex shape during compression, which allows the material to be compressed and then return to its original shape. This approach maintains full processing flexibility of the base material while achieving sufficient spring effect for screw connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a convex shape with specific curvature radii (R1 ≥ 0.5 mm for the first curvature, R2 ≥ 1 mm for the second curvature) on the screw-securing element. This curvature enables the element to deform elastically under compression, providing the necessary spring effect to compensate for loosening processes while maintaining manufacturing flexibility and avoiding strain hardening limitations.
3Strength
If material thickness is increased to achieve sufficient spring effect, then spring effect is improved, but material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a convex shape with optimized curvature radii (R1 ≥ 0.5 mm, R2 ≥ 1 mm) to maximize the spring effect per unit of material. The convex geometry allows the material to deform elastically and store energy, providing sufficient spring effect at the minimum required thickness of 1.5 mm. This geometric optimization ensures that material is used efficiently to achieve the necessary mechanical performance.
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 achieves a high spring effect and improved corrosion resistance, ensuring operational reliability of screw connections while being cost-effective, even in demanding environments like the food sector, with adjustable spring properties and enhanced securing performance.
Implementation Method 1
the surfaces of the disk upper side and the disk underside of the disk body are compacted by means of a stamping process
Implementation Method 2
screw-securing disks have a spring effect, the spring force of which is dimensioned in such a manner that it can balance out a loss in preload force
Data Source
AI summary
A corrosion-resistant screw-securing disc has an annular, stainless steel disc body for arrangement between a screw head and a flat support, with a disc upper side and a disc underside. The surfaces of the disc upper side and of the disc underside of the disc body are compacted by a stamping process, wherein the disc body has a material thickness of at least 1.5 mm and has a convex shape.