Floating Nut Plate Assembly for Fastener Misalignment Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nut plate assemblies in the aerospace industry face challenges with insufficient tolerance for fastener misalignment, difficulty in determining proper fastener tightness, and potential incorrect fastener usage, leading to insecure panel connections.
Innovation Solution
A nut plate assembly with a floating nut and bias member that allows for axial movement and tilting, featuring a quarter-turn locking mechanism to securely engage fasteners, accommodating misalignment and simplifying installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the opening in the component is sized to enable the nut and fastener to move laterally to accommodate movement between components, then the floating nut plate provides movement tolerance, but it may not provide sufficient tolerances or account for misalignment of the fastener and the floating nut plate
Solution Approach 1:
The nut is designed to float within the shell, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation. The nut can move laterally and tilt to accommodate misalignment between the fastener and the nut plate, providing both movement tolerance and alignment compensation through its floating mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement surface is positioned at an angle relative to the inner surface of the nut, creating a geometric parameter that enables the nut to tilt and adjust its orientation. This angular configuration allows the nut to adapt to misaligned fasteners while maintaining secure engagement
2Reliability
If the fastener needs to be screwed into the nut to provide a desired level of tightness, then the connection can be secured, but it may be difficult to rotate the fastener the required amount and/or determine if the fastener is sufficiently tightened
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement surface is pre-positioned at a specific angle within the nut to automatically engage with the fastener at the correct orientation. This preliminary geometric configuration ensures that when the fastener is inserted, it naturally aligns with the engagement surface, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment and making it easy to determine when proper engagement is achieved
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the traditional threaded fastening mechanism with a bearing-based engagement system. The fastener bears against the angled engagement surface, which provides mechanical engagement through contact pressure rather than threading, simplifying the installation process while maintaining connection reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fasteners with different lengths are used in panel assemblies, then the panel assembly can be configured for different applications, but when the panel assembly is removed, users may inadvertently use an incorrect length fastener for a particular panel fastener location
Solution Approach 1:
The nut plate assembly is designed with a universal engagement mechanism that can accommodate fasteners of varying lengths. The floating nut with its angled engagement surface can adapt to different fastener configurations, allowing the same nut plate assembly to serve multiple panel configurations while maintaining secure engagement regardless of fastener length variations
Data Source
AI summary
A nut plate assembly includes a plate comprising an aperture defined therethrough, and a shell attached to the plate and extending along a center axis. The nut plate also includes a nut disposed within the shell. The nut is tiltable relative to the center axis when the nut is retained within the shell. A fastener is received within the nut plate assembly and engages the nut when the fastener is in a locked orientation. The nut includes an engagement surface that engages the fastener when the fastener is in the locked orientation.