Fastener Clip Assembly for Pre-Oriented Spring Washers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for assembling fasteners with washers are time-consuming, prone to errors, and can result in failures due to incorrect assembly. Additionally, conventional fasteners with push-on washers/clips do not allow for axial movement and may interfere with clamped parts, while adhesives used for coupling washers can increase debris and are not reusable.
Innovation Solution
A fastener assembly that includes a fastening element with a head and shank portion, and a retention system featuring a clip with oblique retention elements and a receiving space for conical spring washers. The method involves coupling conical spring washers and flat washers with the clip and then attaching the clip to the fastening element, ensuring correct orientation and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If washers are manually assembled with fasteners, then the assembly process is flexible and adaptable, but it is time-consuming and prone to errors in orientation and order
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple washers (conical spring washers and flat washers) into a single pre-assembled washer stack that is attached to the fastener as one unit. This merging eliminates the need to assemble individual washers separately, reducing assembly time while maintaining operational simplicity through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The washers are pre-assembled in the correct order and orientation on the fastener before installation. The conical spring washer and flat washer are positioned correctly on the fastener shaft in advance, eliminating the need for personnel to determine correct orientation during assembly, thus reducing errors and time consumption.
2Productivity
If multiple loose hardware components are assembled simultaneously, then all components can be installed at once, but the process becomes tedious and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple washer components are merged into a single pre-assembled stack unit. The conical spring washer and flat washer are combined on the fastener shaft before installation, allowing the entire washer stack to be installed as one unit rather than assembling multiple loose components separately, thereby improving both efficiency and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener shaft acts as an intermediary that holds the washer stack in a pre-assembled state. The washers are positioned on the shaft with correct orientation before final installation, serving as a mediator that ensures proper assembly without requiring complex simultaneous manipulation of multiple loose components.
3Ease of operation
If push-on washers/clips are used to couple with fastener threads, then assembly is simplified, but axial movement of the fastener is restricted and tabs may interfere with clamped parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the retention function from the washer itself and transfers it to the fastener head. Instead of using push-on washers that couple with threads (which restrict axial movement), the solution uses a retention element integrated into the fastener head that engages with the washer stack, allowing axial movement while maintaining simplicity of coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention functionality is copied from the push-on washer concept but implemented differently - instead of using tabs that extend below the clamping surface (which cause interference), the retention elements are positioned on the fastener head above the clamping surface, achieving the same retention purpose without the harmful interference effects.
4Strength
If adhesives are used to couple washers to the fastener, then the coupling is secure, but debris increases and reusability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding method (adhesives) with a mechanical retention system. The retention elements on the fastener head mechanically engage with the washer stack through geometric interlocking, providing secure coupling without adhesives, thereby eliminating debris generation and maintaining reusability while preserving coupling strength.
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 reduces assembly time and errors, ensures correct orientation of washers, and allows for axial movement of the fastening element, while avoiding the use of adhesives and maintaining reusability.
Implementation Method 1
conical spring washers... allow for axial movement of the fastener relative to a clamping surface
Data Source
AI summary
A fastener assembly includes a fastening element. The fastening element includes a head portion and a shank portion fixedly coupled to the head portion. The fastener assembly also includes a clip removably coupled to the fastening element. The clip includes an annular, base portion and a pair of first retention elements, at least a portion of the first retention elements is disposed oblique to diametrically opposing ends of the base portion. The clip defines a receiving space. The fastener assembly further includes at least one conical spring washer received within the receiving space of the clip. The at least one conical spring washer is disposed between the base portion of the clip and the head portion of the fastening element.