Detachable-Tip Fastener for Compact Multi-Material Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fastening components for multi-material assemblies, such as flow drill screws or nails, pose risks of injury, occupy unnecessary space, and add weight, which are drawbacks in applications like vehicle lightweighting.
Innovation Solution
A fastening component with a body and a detachable tip, where the tip has a non-revolving shape and is linked to the body via a divisible area, allowing efficient piercing and anchoring while ensuring safety and compactness by detaching after assembly, and featuring a surface treatment for thermal protection and reduced friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional fastening component with a protruding tip is used, then the assembly function is achieved, but safety is compromised due to injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening component is divided into two separate parts: a reusable body and a disposable tip. The tip is separated from the body through a divisible area that breaks after piercing, allowing the tip to be discarded and removed from the final assembly, eliminating the injury risk while maintaining the fastening function.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful protruding tip is extracted from the final assembly by designing it to detach automatically after serving its piercing purpose. The tip is taken out from the combined structure, leaving only the safe body in the final assembly, thus removing the source of injury risk.
2Reliability
If a conventional fastening component with a protruding tip is used, then the assembly function is achieved, but weight is increased unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the fastening component into a permanent body and a temporary tip, the invention allows removal of the tip after piercing. This eliminates the unnecessary weight of the tip material from the final assembly while preserving the essential fastening function provided by the body.
Solution Approach 2:
The tip is designed as a disposable element that is discarded after completing its piercing function. The body is recovered and remains in the final assembly, providing continuous fastening functionality. This discarding approach removes unnecessary weight from the final structure.
3Reliability
If a conventional fastening component with a protruding tip is used, then the assembly function is achieved, but space is occupied unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation of the fastening component allows the tip to be separated from the body after piercing. This eliminates the space occupied by the protruding tip in the final assembly, achieving a more compact structure while maintaining the fastening function through the body.
Solution Approach 2:
The protruding tip is extracted from the final assembly structure, removing the unnecessary space it would otherwise occupy. The body remains to provide the fastening function, achieving a compact design without the space-consuming protruding element.
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 provides a secure, lightweight, and compact fastening method that enhances safety by removing the protruding tip, reducing weight and space usage, while maintaining efficient assembly and anchoring performance.
Implementation Method 1
By the non-revolving tip thereof, a kneading and therefore a heating of the material of the first and second parts facilitating an efficient piercing
Implementation Method 2
at least the tip comprises an outer surface of a higher hardness, a higher thermal resistance and a lower coefficient of friction, than an inner material of the fastening component
Implementation Method 3
a lower coefficient of friction, than an inner material of the fastening component
Data Source
AI summary
This fastening component, which is intended to assemble a first part and a second part, includes a body extending longitudinally along an axis, a head configured to allow the fastening component to be rotated about the axis, and a tip connected to the body. The body has a side wall including fastening means configured to fasten the body to the first and second parts. The tip has a side wall having a shape different from that of a surface of revolution. The tip and the body are connected by a cleavable area configured to be broken in order to detach the tip from the body.