Internal Retaining Ring Nut Locking for Compact Camera Mounts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nut locking systems for mechanical connections in electronic devices, such as surveillance cameras, are too space-consuming and fail to provide adequate safety, especially in compact designs where mechanical components need to be both robust and compact.
Innovation Solution
A nut locking system comprising a shaft with a hollow section and a retaining ring that includes a tongue mechanism to securely engage the nut, providing axial and rotational restraint without external protrusion, utilizing a resilient material for pretensioning and a recess for precise mounting, allowing for compact and secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional external retaining ring is used to lock the nut, then the safety of the connection is improved, but the device size increases and space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining ring is nested inside the hollow section of the shaft, with the tongue extending through the shaft wall to engage the nut. This internal mounting arrangement eliminates the need for external protruding components, maintaining compact device size while providing secure nut retention through the tongue's engagement with the nut's external side surface
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting the retaining ring externally on the shaft as in conventional solutions, the invention inverts the approach by mounting the retaining ring internally within the hollow section of the shaft. This inversion allows the retaining ring to provide locking function without increasing the external dimensions of the device
2Reliability
If the retaining ring is made resilient to provide pretensioning force, then the locking reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining ring is made from resilient material and designed with specific geometric parameters (cross-section shape, wall thickness distribution) to achieve the desired pretensioning force. The resilience parameter is optimized to provide sufficient locking force while maintaining manufacturability through standard resilient material properties and conventional forming processes
3Strength
If the tongue extends further to engage the nut more securely, then the connection strength is improved, but the device becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue extends in the longitudinal direction of the shaft (axial dimension) rather than radially outward, allowing secure engagement with the nut's external side surface without increasing the radial or lateral dimensions of the device. This dimensional approach maintains compactness while providing sufficient connection strength through the tongue's engagement geometry
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 system enhances safety by preventing unintentional detachment of camera components while maintaining a compact design, ensuring secure attachment without additional space requirements, thus reducing the risk of injury and improving the overall safety and efficiency of electronic device assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The body of the retaining ring may be made of a resilient material. The resilience of the retaining ring allows the retaining ring to, in a spring like fashion, return to its original form once mounted in the hollow section of the shaft. Further still, the resilience of the retaining ring may be used to provide a pretensioning force between the shaft and the retaining ring.
Data Source
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Figure 5a~6b
AI summary
A nut locking system (10) comprising a nut (100), a shaft (200) and a retaining ring (300), wherein the nut (100) is connected to the shaft (200) by means of a threaded joint (12), the shaft (200) comprising a hollow section (202) in which a body (302) of the retaining ring (300) is arranged, wherein the retaining ring (300) comprises a tongue (304), the tongue (304) being configured to engage the nut (100) in response to movement of the nut (100) relative the shaft (200) in an axial direction thereof such that movement of the nut (100) is restricted.