Grounding Fastening Bolt With Reversible One-Side Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for connecting a ground cable to a metallic structural part, such as a seat pan, require dismantling a pre-assembled nut to establish a ground contact, which is inconvenient and inefficient, especially when the ground bolt is not needed in all vehicle seats, and poses challenges during coating processes and assembly from a single side.
Innovation Solution
A fastening bolt with two spaced fastening elements, either wing-like segments or a ring-like counter-segment, that can be reversibly assembled to form a sandwich-like structure with the structural part, allowing for easy insertion and secure locking, with a cutting element to penetrate the coating and establish electrical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a nut is pre-assembled on the ground bolt before coating, then the ground bolt is protected during transport, but the nut must be dismantled during final assembly to establish ground contact
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening elements are pre-assembled on the fastening bolt before the coating process, performing the protective function in advance. This preliminary assembly allows the ground bolt to be protected during transport without requiring subsequent disassembly, as the fastening elements are designed to be permanently fixed or easily replaceable.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening device is divided into separate fastening elements that can be independently assembled on the fastening bolt. These segmented elements allow for selective assembly - they can be pre-installed for transport protection or omitted when ground contact is not needed, providing flexibility in the assembly process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a ground bolt is always present in the structural part, then ground contact can be established when needed, but damage risks increase during transport and coating processes
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening elements are pre-assembled on the fastening bolt before the coating process, performing the protective function in advance. This preliminary assembly allows the ground bolt to be protected during transport without requiring subsequent disassembly, as the fastening elements are designed to be permanently fixed or easily replaceable.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening elements can be discarded (left on the bolt) after serving their protective purpose during transport, or recovered (removed) if ground contact is not needed. This allows flexible adaptation - the protective elements remain on the bolt during transport but can be removed or left in place depending on whether ground contact is required in the final assembly.
3Ease of operation
If the fastening bolt is assembled from one side only, then assembly is simplified, but secure fastening becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening elements extend in multiple directions (radially outward and axially) from the fastening bolt, creating a three-dimensional fastening structure. This dimensional expansion allows the fastening elements to engage with the structural part from multiple orientations while being assembled from a single side, ensuring secure fastening without requiring access to both sides of the structural part.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening elements have asymmetric geometries with engagement surfaces designed to mate with corresponding features on the structural part. This asymmetric design allows the fastening elements to be inserted from one side and locked into position through rotational or linear movement, achieving secure fastening while maintaining assembly simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a fastening bolt (10, 10′) comprising a fastening bolt head and a fastening bolt shank (13).It is provided that the fastening bolt head and/or the fastening bolt shank (13) have/has two fastening elements (11; 12, 12′) arranged substantially in two planes (E1, E2) spaced apart from each other, between which a structural part plane (E3) is formed in which, in an assembled state, a structural part (100) is located to which the fastening bolt (10, 10′) is fastened.