Frangible Collar Fastener Socket for Debris Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frangible collar fasteners pose a challenge in aerospace applications as the separated nut portions often become difficult to recover from confined spaces, leading to potential harm and debris in mechanical and avionics systems.
Innovation Solution
A socket apparatus is designed to securely engage frangible collar fasteners and collect separated nut portions, featuring a resilient retention member and a nut ejection apparatus to store and retrieve multiple nuts efficiently, preventing debris introduction and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frangible collar fasteners are used to tighten bolts in confined spaces, then fastening reliability is improved, but recovery of separated nut portions becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fastening function and debris collection function into a single integrated socket apparatus. The socket not only tightens the frangible collar fastener to the bolt but also captures and retains the separated nut portions within its internal cavity, eliminating the need for separate recovery operations in confined spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The socket acts as an intermediary device between the fastening operation and the confined work area. It provides a controlled environment where nut portions are captured during the fastening process, preventing them from becoming loose debris while facilitating easier removal through the ejection apparatus
2Device complexity
If traditional fastening methods are used without debris collection, then device complexity is reduced, but harmful debris is introduced into the work area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fastening operation with debris containment by integrating a retention cavity and ejection mechanism into the socket. This combination eliminates loose nut portions from the work area while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure that can be attached to standard ratchet tools
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful debris (separated nut portions) from the work environment by capturing them within the socket's internal cavity. The ejection apparatus then removes these captured nut portions from the socket, preventing them from contaminating mechanical and avionics systems in confined spaces
3Device complexity
If multiple fasteners are tightened individually without collection, then device complexity is minimized, but productivity is reduced due to repeated discharge operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fastening operations into a single efficient process by enabling the socket to capture and retain multiple nut portions sequentially. This eliminates the need to stop and discharge debris after each fastener, allowing continuous operation and significantly improving productivity in aerospace manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous fastening operations by providing a socket that can accommodate multiple nut portions without requiring intermediate discharge. The ejection apparatus allows all collected nut portions to be removed in a single operation, maintaining continuous productive action throughout the fastening process
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 socket apparatus allows for reliable tightening of multiple fasteners while capturing and storing nut portions, improving safety and production rates by eliminating loose debris in aerospace structures.
Implementation Method 1
The retention member is resiliently displaceable to allow each nut portion to enter into the socket housing during fastening
Implementation Method 2
the second end to receive and engage a ratchet
Data Source
AI summary
A socket is disclosed for securing frangible collar fasteners to bolts, and collecting the separated nut portions of the fasteners to avoid introducing debris into the work area. The socket comprises the socket housing having a first end formed to receive and engage the frangible nut portions, and the second end to receive and engage a ratchet. At least one retention member is disposed within the socket housing, proximate the housing first end. The retention member is resiliently displaceable to allow each nut portion to enter into the socket housing during fastening, and to retain a plurality of nut portions within the socket housing after the nut portions have been separated from the frangible collar fasteners. Nut ejection apparatus is provided having a first portion disposed exterior to the socket housing and a second portion disposed interior to the socket housing. The nut ejection apparatus is translatable along at least a portion of the socket length, to store a plurality of separate nut portions within the housing. The nut ejection apparatus further being manually translatable to urge the stored nut portions past the retention member and out of the socket first end.