Eccentric Bolt Guide Insert for Play-Free Lateral Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bolt guiding systems, such as those using centering discs with washers, suffer from inadequate lateral guidance and play, especially under high loads and non-ideal seating positions, leading to potential mechanical failure and fractures.

Innovation Solution

A guide insert comprising a guide sleeve and support disc with a non-centric arrangement, allowing the guide sleeve to be inserted into the support disc in various positions, providing a positive-locking connection and supporting the bolt from all sides, with features like collars, threading ramps, and angled guide sleeves for precise alignment and adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a centering disc with an elongated hole and a washer with grooves is used to guide the bolt, then the bolt can be positioned in various locations within the receiving opening, but lateral guidance becomes inadequate and play occurs under high loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebolt positioning flexibilityVSAvoidlateral guidance reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide insert consists of a guide sleeve nested within a support disc, creating a multi-layered guiding structure. The guide sleeve provides primary lateral guidance while the support disc provides secondary guidance and positional adjustment, together forming a more reliable system than either component alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The support disc features an eccentric recess that is offset from the center, allowing the guide sleeve to be positioned at various locations relative to the receiving opening. This asymmetric design enables bolt positioning flexibility while maintaining reliable lateral guidance through the combined structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If the receiving opening is made larger than the bolt to allow for positioning flexibility, then the bolt can be guided at angles or offset positions, but play and mechanical movement occur compromising connection strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebolt insertion flexibilityVSAvoidconnection strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The guide insert acts as an intermediary component between the oversized receiving opening and the bolt. It fills the gap created by the larger opening, providing positive guidance and preventing play while still allowing the bolt to be inserted at various positions and angles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide sleeve is nested within the support disc, creating a tiered guiding system. The guide sleeve provides tight lateral guidance close to the bolt while the support disc provides additional guidance and positional adjustment, together eliminating play while maintaining insertion flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Manufacturing precision

If a washer with grooves is used to fix the bolt position in the elongated hole, then some positional definition is achieved, but the washer cannot be pressed firmly enough into the grooves due to bolt play, making fixation unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebolt position definitionVSAvoidfixation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide sleeve is nested within the support disc, creating a multi-layered guiding structure where each component reinforces the other. This nested arrangement provides positive locking and reliable fixation without relying solely on friction between a washer and grooves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4671548A1Guiding insert for a bolt
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 ALPAKA GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4671548A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4671548A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4671548A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a guide insert (10) for a bolt, comprising a guide sleeve (12) with a guide opening (14) that can receive the bolt, and a support disc (16) which in turn comprises a support opening (26) that can receive the guide sleeve (12), wherein the guide sleeve (12) has an outer wall (24), and the support opening (26) has an inner wall (28), wherein the guide sleeve (12) has a center of gravity relative to the outer wall (24), characterized in that the center of the guide opening (14) is displaced relative to this center of gravity and the outer wall (24) of the guide sleeve (12) can be inserted into the support opening (26) in different positions. The invention also relates to a method for guiding a bolt.