Threaded Fastener Coupling Tool Retainer for Quick Tip Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tools used for installing and removing 'blind' fasteners, such as threaded studs, subject the retaining tool to high stresses, leading to wear and requiring significant disassembly for replacement, resulting in manufacturing downtime.
Innovation Solution
A rotary drive system with a tool retainer that allows for the rotational and translational anchoring of the tool, enabling its separation and replacement without disassembling the rotary drive, facilitating quick tool changes and reducing downtime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional retaining tool is used to prevent threaded stud rotation, then the threaded stud can be properly threaded, but the retaining tool is subjected to high stresses and wear requiring significant disassembly for replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining tool is segmented into a modular design where the retaining tip can be independently replaced. The retaining tip is separable from the main body of the nut-runner, allowing only the worn component to be replaced rather than disassembling the entire device. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through replaceable wear components while reducing device complexity for maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining tip is designed as a consumable component that can be discarded when worn and replaced with a new one. The main body of the nut-runner is recovered and retained for continued use. This approach addresses the contradiction by allowing easy replacement of the worn retaining tip without requiring complex disassembly of the entire nut-runner assembly.
2Loss of time
If the retaining tool is designed for easy replacement, then manufacturing downtime is reduced, but the structural complexity of the nut-runner increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining tool is divided into separable components with a simple interface. The retaining tip can be quickly removed and replaced by manipulating only the interface portion, without requiring disassembly of the entire nut-runner. This segmentation reduces tool replacement time while adding minimal structural complexity through the use of a simple modular interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining tip is extracted as a separate, independently replaceable component from the main nut-runner body. This extraction allows the tip to be replaced in isolation, significantly reducing replacement time while the structural complexity added is limited to the extraction interface mechanism.
3Strength
If the retaining tool is made robust to withstand high stresses, then it can prevent stud rotation effectively, but it becomes harder to replace and requires more disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining tool is segmented into a strong main body and a separable retaining tip. The main body can be made robust to withstand high stresses, while the tip is designed for easy replacement. This segmentation allows the strong components to remain fixed and the worn component to be easily swapped, resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining tip is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that can be discarded when worn, while the robust main body is recovered and kept. This approach allows the main body to be made as strong as needed without compromising replacement ease, since only the tip needs to be replaced.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A rotary-drive sub-assembly includes a tool (100, 110, 210, 410) and a tool retainer (130, 230, 430). The tool (100, 110, 210, 410) includes a fastener-engagement portion (211), a first threaded portion (113, 212T, 413), and a tool-change-engagement portion (211) between the fastener-engagement portion (211) and the first threaded portion (113, 212T, 413). The tool retainer (130, 230, 430) includes a symmetry axis (193, 293, 493) and a second threaded portion (133, 233T, 433). The second threaded portion (133, 233T, 433) is configured to be threadably fastened with the first threaded portion (113, 212T, 413) of the tool (100, 110, 210, 410) so that the tool (100, 110, 210, 410) is rotationally anchored relative to the tool retainer (130, 230, 430) about the symmetry axis (193, 293, 493) and is translationally anchored relative to the tool retainer (130, 230, 430) along the symmetry axis (193, 293, 493). The tool retainer (130, 230, 430) further includes a key (132, 232, 432), fixed relative to the second threaded portion (133, 233T, 433), and a retaining surface (130S, 230S, 461), fixed relative to the key (132, 232, 432).