Temporary Fastener Drive Nut Axial Length Encoding for Torque Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temporary fastening systems in the aeronautical industry face challenges in accurately determining the appropriate tightening torque for staples of different diameters, leading to potential degradation or excessive play in assembled structures, and current solutions like color codes or multiple hardware sets are cumbersome and prone to human error.
Innovation Solution
A family of temporary fasteners with drive nuts of identical radial but varying axial dimensions, allowing an installation tool to automatically detect the nut length and adjust the tightening torque accordingly, combined with visual identifiers for operator recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual adjustment of tightening torque is used for staples of different diameters, then the device can be simple, but human error increases and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The staple itself serves as the identifier through its drive nut length. The system automatically determines the appropriate tightening torque by measuring the axial length of the drive nut, eliminating the need for manual identification and adjustment by the operator. This self-identifying mechanism resolves the contradiction by making the system self-servicing rather than relying on human judgment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated measurement and control system. A measurement device quantifies the drive nut length, and this information automatically controls the tightening torque application, substituting human-operated mechanical adjustment with an instrumented, automated system that eliminates human error.
2Ease of operation
If color codes or identification signs are used on staples, then diameter identification is possible, but the system becomes cumbersome and human error increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using external identification markers like color codes, the patent uses a fundamental parameter change - the axial length of the drive nut - as the identification feature. This geometric parameter directly correlates with staple diameter and is inherently tied to the fastener's function, making identification reliable and eliminating the need for separate marking systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the identification function from separate markers (color codes, signs) and integrates it directly into the fastener's structural component - the drive nut. By making the drive nut length itself the identifier, the system eliminates redundant identification elements and reduces complexity while improving reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple dedicated installation tools with different torque settings are used, then each staple type can be optimized, but hardware quantity and device complexity multiply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal installation device that can handle multiple staple types through a single tool. The device measures the drive nut length of any inserted staple and automatically adjusts the tightening torque accordingly, making one tool perform the function of multiple dedicated tools while maintaining precision for each staple type.
Solution Approach 2:
The installation device incorporates dynamic adaptability by measuring the drive nut length and automatically adjusting the tightening torque parameter based on the detected staple type. This dynamic adjustment capability allows a single device to optimize performance for different staple diameters without requiring multiple fixed-setting tools.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the same installation device is used for different diameter staples, then device quantity is reduced, but manual adjustment increases human error risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the measurement device quantifies the drive nut length, and this measurement information feeds back to automatically control the tightening torque application. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that the correct torque is applied for each staple type, eliminating manual adjustment errors while maintaining device versatility.
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 system ensures accurate and automatic adaptation of tightening torque based on the fastener diameter, reducing human error and ensuring consistent quality in temporary assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
a family of at least two temporary fasteners of different diameters and whose drive nuts have an identical radial outer dimension and a different axial outer dimension
Implementation Method 2
a mechanism movable relative to the body, the mechanism comprising a threaded rod arranged coaxially with the body, one end of the rod being extended by the clamp, the mechanism further comprising a control nut mounted on another end of the rod
Implementation Method 3
a body provided with a bearing surface capable of coming into contact with a front face of the structures to be assembled, at least one clamp intended to pass through the holes and provided with a hooking nose capable of being applied against a rear face of the structures to be assembled
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The family has a cylindrical body (101) comprising a bearing face (102) in contact with a front face of structures to be assembled. An extended half-clip (103) is passed through drilled holes and provided with a hooking spur (104). A mechanism is moved relative to the body, and includes a threaded rod (105) placed coaxially to the body. The rod has an end connected to the clip. The mechanism has control nuts (107) screwed onto the rod. Temporary fasteners (100) have different diameters, and the nuts have identical outer radial dimension and a different outer axial dimension i.e. length (116). An independent claim is also included for an assembly for installing temporary fasteners.