Flange Nut Non-Circular Apertures Torque Application
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The use of spanner wrenches for threading nuts on power tool spindles is inefficient, leading to potential hand injuries and limited torque application positions, and is relatively expensive compared to other wrenches.
Innovation Solution
A flange nut with non-circular apertures, such as hexagonal, allows for the use of a correspondingly shaped tool like an Allen wrench to apply torque, reducing hand injuries and increasing torque application positions, and potentially using multiple apertures for higher torque requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spanner wrench is used to thread the nut along the spindle, then the nut can be secured to the component, but the user is at risk of hand injury and has limited torque application positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing the flange nut with non-circular apertures (e.g., hexagonal, square, or rectangular cross-sections) instead of circular ones. This asymmetric aperture design allows insertion of corresponding shaped tools (like Allen wrenches) which provide multiple engagement positions and prevent hand injury by keeping the user's hand away from the rotation path, thus improving safety while enhancing ease of operation through multiple torque application positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional spanner wrench operation (single plane, limited positions) to a three-dimensional engagement by providing apertures at different orientations and positions on the flange nut body. This allows the tool to be inserted at multiple angles and positions, providing numerous torque application positions throughout the tightening or loosening process, thereby improving both safety and operational ease.
2Ease of manufacture
If a spanner wrench is used, then the nut can be threaded along the spindle, but the tool is relatively expensive compared to other wrenches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the flange nut with apertures that can accommodate multiple types of tools (e.g., hexagonal apertures for Allen wrenches, square or rectangular apertures for other shaped wrenches). This multi-functional aperture design allows the use of common, inexpensive wrenches already owned by users, reducing tool cost while maintaining or enhancing versatility through multiple torque application positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the use of simple, inexpensive Allen wrenches or similarly shaped tools instead of expensive specialized spanner wrenches. These common tools are already widely available and affordable, significantly reducing the cost burden on users while the non-circular aperture design ensures they provide sufficient torque application positions for the application.
3Ease of operation
If a spanner wrench with single pair of spaced pins is used, then the nut can be torqued, but only two wrench positions are available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the flange nut body into multiple aperture locations rather than using a single spanner wrench engagement point. By providing two or more non-circular apertures positioned at different locations and orientations on the nut body, the design creates multiple independent torque application positions, increasing the number of available wrench positions from two to four or more, thereby improving ease of operation without excessive complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A flange nut for use in mounting a power tool component onto a rotatable spindle of a power tool. The flange nut includes one or more non-circular apertures into which an end of a shaped tool such as an Allen wrench may be inserted. Torquing or otherwise applying a force to a portion of the shaped tool serves to thread the nut along the spindle either towards the power tool component to secure the power tool component on the spindle or away from the power tool component to allow for removal of the power tool component.