Fastening Clip With Variable Groove Width for Vibration Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening systems for components on component carriers face challenges in securely attaching components without causing damage, particularly in compensating for dimensional deviations and ensuring the attachment is removable without damage, while also preventing unintentional loosening due to vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A fastening clip with a radially elastic latching finger and a bolt receptacle that reduces axial groove width upon bolt insertion, utilizing a clamping force to create a frictional connection, allowing for component alignment and secure holding while accommodating assembly tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the axial groove width is kept large in the undeformed state, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the securing force against vibrations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening clip employs a dynamic groove width that changes during assembly and operation. The groove is wide during assembly to facilitate component insertion, then narrows when the bolt is tightened, creating a force-locking effect that secures the component against vibrations while maintaining easy assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The axial groove width parameter is designed to change based on the bolt tightening force. When the bolt is loose, the groove width is large for easy assembly. When the bolt is tightened, the groove width reduces to create securing force, thus adapting the geometric parameter to different operational states
2Reliability
If the fastening clip is tightly secured to prevent loosening, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system creates a dynamic locking mechanism where the groove width changes with bolt tension. During normal operation, the narrowed groove provides strong securing force. During removal, reversing the bolt tension restores the groove width, enabling easy component extraction without damage
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary alignment during assembly by allowing component movement within the wide groove, then automatically transitions to a locked state when the bolt is tightened, ensuring both ease of assembly and secure fixation
3Ease of operation
If the fastening system is designed for simple assembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening clip is designed with a variable groove width that compensates for manufacturing tolerances. The wide groove accommodates dimensional deviations in assembled components, while the narrowing action during tightening creates precise force-locking, thus maintaining simple assembly procedures despite varying manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system separates the alignment function (performed during assembly with the wide groove) from the securing function (performed during tightening with the narrowed groove), allowing each stage to optimize for its specific requirement without compromising the other
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, non-destructive attachment that compensates for assembly and component tolerances, reducing the risk of unintentional loosening and ensuring the component is held firmly in place, while allowing for easy removal.
Implementation Method 1
the locking finger has a locking feature which is designed to engage a locking contour of the bolt in order to fix the fastening clip to the component carrier, with at least one component receptacle in which at least one component section of a component to be fastened can be received, wherein the component receptacle has a radial groove which defines an axial groove width... the axial groove width is larger in an elastically undeformed state of the fastening clip than when a bolt is received in the bolt receptacle
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a clamping force to create a frictional connection, allowing for component alignment and secure holding
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Fastening clip (16) for a fastening system (10) for fastening a component (28) to a component carrier (12), wherein a bolt projects from a surface (18) of the component carrier (12), with a base body (30) forming a bolt receptacle (32) defining a longitudinal axis (26) and configured such that the fastening clip (16) can be slid onto the bolt (14), with at least one radially elastic locking finger (38) connected to the base body (30) and projecting into the bolt receptacle (32), wherein the locking finger (38) has a locking feature (40) configured to engage a locking contour (24) of the bolt (14) to secure the fastening clip (16) to the component carrier (12), and with at least one component receptacle (46) in which at least one component section (49) of a component (28) to be fastened can be received, wherein the component receptacle (46) has a radial groove (48) which defines an axial groove width (B).The fastening clip (16) is designed such that the axial groove width (B) in an elastically undeformed state of the fastening clip (16) is larger than when a bolt (14) is received in the bolt receptacle (32).