Grooved Self-Drilling Bolt Assembly for One-Step Panel Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing bolt and nut assembly process for attaching rigid panels is time-consuming, requiring separate operations for drilling and tightening, which reduces efficiency and increases costs when dealing with large quantities, necessitating the use of two drivers.
Innovation Solution
A self-drilling bolt assembly with a grooved nut that allows drilling and tightening to be performed in a single operational session using a self-drilling bolt featuring a drill-bit section with cutting blades and a grooved nut with parallel grooves, enabling the bolt and nut to be operated with a single driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If separate drilling equipment and screwdriver are used for drilling and tightening operations, then the operations can be performed with standard tools, but the installation time increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the drilling function and tightening function into a single self-drilling bolt assembly. The bolt integrates a drill-bit section with cutting blades for drilling, a thread-less section for passage, and a screw-thread section for tightening, allowing both operations to be performed with one tool rather than requiring separate drilling equipment and screwdriver
Solution Approach 2:
The self-drilling bolt serves multiple functions: it acts as both a drilling tool (with cutting blades) and a fastening element (with screw threads). The grooved nut complements this by providing a receiving structure that guides the bolt through panels and engages with the threaded section, enabling the single assembly to complete both drilling and tightening operations
2Ease of operation
If multiple drivers are used for drilling and tightening operations, then specialized tools can be employed, but the operational complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple drivers into a single operational system. The self-drilling bolt assembly can be operated with one driver that performs both drilling (engaging with cutting blades) and tightening (engaging with screw threads), eliminating the need to switch between drilling equipment and screwdriver
Solution Approach 2:
The bolt is segmented into distinct functional sections (drill-bit section, thread-less section, screw-thread section) that sequentially engage with the grooved nut and panels during a single continuous operation, allowing one driver to handle each section in turn without requiring tool changes
Data Source
AI summary
A drilling bolt-and-nut assembly for attaching rigid panels, including a drilling bolt and a grooved nut. The drilling bolt includes a cylindrical screw-thread section, an external thread-diameter, and an internal thread-diameter; a drill-bit section; and a thread-less section interconnecting the screw-thread section, the drill-bit section. The grooved nut has a through cylindrical opening formed at the center of the nut, wherein the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical opening of the grooved nut is threaded with threads that are operatively compatible with the threads of the drilling bolt. The drill-bit section includes at least two cutting-blades, wherein the at least two cutting-blades are spaced apart. At least two grooves are formed in the wall of the through cylindrical opening, wherein the grooves are spaced apart similar to the peripheral distance between the cutting-blades of the drill bit-section.