Floating Captive Fastener for Thread Alignment During Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Captive fasteners, particularly threaded ones, face alignment issues due to the inability to adjust laterally, leading to misalignment problems when inserting into receivers, which slows down the assembly process and can result in binding threads if not properly aligned.
Innovation Solution
A captive fastener design with a bolt that can float laterally within a bushing, featuring a handle connected to the bolt via a set screw and a bushing with a snap ring and a sloped section, allowing the bolt to move laterally to align with the receiver, and a lock screw for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the fastener is tightly received within the bushing to prevent lateral movement, then the fastener stability is improved, but the alignment capability with the receiver deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by allowing the bolt to transition from a fixed lateral position to a movable one. The bushing is designed with a lateral movement mechanism that enables the bolt to shift horizontally to align with the receiver during insertion, while maintaining stability during the fastening operation. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between stability and alignment capability.
2Reliability
If the fastener is tightly received within the bushing, then the fastener retention is improved, but the assembly speed deteriorates due to realignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic lateral movement capability allows the bolt to self-align with the receiver during the assembly process, eliminating the need for manual realignment operations. This maintains secure retention through the bushing design while significantly improving assembly speed by enabling quick alignment adjustments.
3Ease of operation
If the fastener cannot move laterally with respect to the bushing, then the fastener control is improved, but the thread alignment with receiver deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing incorporates a controlled lateral movement mechanism that allows the bolt to shift horizontally to align threads with the receiver during insertion. This dynamic adjustment maintains manufacturing precision for thread alignment while preserving fastener control through the bushing's guiding structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A captive fastener including a bushing having a body portion and an internal bore extending through the body portion A snap ring is mounted within the internal bore. A fastener having an elongated shaft is mounted within the bore and is adapted to reciprocate within the bore between retracted and extended positions. The elongated shaft has a shank diameter and threads formed on one end of the fastener. The snap ring engages the bolt when the shaft is extended and retracted. The fastener has a shank diameter which is 0.020 inches to 0.060 inches shorter than the bore diameter so that the fastener can be moved laterally within the bore.