Interlocking Threaded Fastener Geometry for Sealed Load-Bearing Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing threaded fasteners, particularly those with dovetail geometry, face challenges in providing superior holding properties and resistance to vertical loads, shear, and bending moments while maintaining a gas and liquid-tight seal, especially in thin-walled castings and applications requiring vertical loading.
Innovation Solution
A new thread design featuring interlocking 'double hook' contact surfaces with 'V' angles, which creates a radial clamping action and provides resistance to axial translation, vertical shear, and bending loads, and can be manufactured using conventional thread rolling processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If standard thread designs are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but sealing capability for gas and liquid-tight joints is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The thread profile parameters are changed from standard designs to include specific angle variations along the thread height. The root angle and crest angle are differently optimized to create enhanced contact surfaces that provide both sealing capability and manufacturability through conventional processes.
2Strength
If thread profiles with greater height are used, then resistance to axial translation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thread profile employs asymmetric angle design where the root angle differs from the crest angle. This asymmetric geometry provides enhanced resistance to axial translation through increased contact surface area and mechanical interlocking, while still being manufacturable by conventional thread rolling processes that can accommodate varied angle profiles.
Data Source
AI summary
An interlocking thread with a tooth-cross-section that is wider at its crest than at its root and with “V” angles located both along the crest and the root which tightens into a tapped hole that has a similar thread cross-section.