Nut Restrainer with Lateral Nut Float for One-Sided Steel Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nut restrainers in the construction industry face challenges such as compatibility with standard hardware and practices, inability to accommodate non-concentric bolt insertion, and reduced load-carrying capacity when access is limited to one side, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies in high-strength bolted connections.
Innovation Solution
A nut restrainer design that includes a cavity with deformable or removable centering elements, allowing for lateral movement to accommodate non-concentric bolt insertion while maintaining rotational restraint and preventing nut escape, and is affixed to a substrate plate to enable one-sided bolt installation without compromising load-carrying capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a nut restrainer is designed to accommodate non-concentric bolt insertion through lateral movement, then installation tolerances are improved, but rotational restraint and load-carrying capacity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The nut restrainer employs a mobile central portion that can dynamically adjust its position relative to the rigid outer portion, allowing the nut to accommodate non-concentric bolt insertion while maintaining rotational restraint through the flexible connector mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The nut restrainer is divided into distinct segments: a rigid outer portion for structural support and load-bearing, a mobile central portion for accommodating nut movement, and a flexible connector for transmitting forces between them, allowing each segment to perform its specific function optimally
2Adaptability or versatility
If standard hardware and practices are used, then compatibility with building codes is improved, but the ability to install from one side only is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The nut restrainer is designed to work with standard nuts and bolts conforming to ASTM specifications while simultaneously providing one-sided installation capability through its unique structure with a mobile central portion and flexible connectors
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible connector acts as an intermediary element between the rigid outer portion and mobile central portion, enabling force transmission while accommodating the specialized one-sided installation requirement without compromising standard hardware compatibility
3Ease of operation
If welding is used to attach the nut to the inaccessible side, then one-sided installation is enabled, but building code compliance is violated and installation tolerances are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the nut from the traditional welded configuration and places it within a restrainer structure that can be attached to the accessible side only, eliminating the need for welding on the inaccessible side and maintaining building code compliance
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective installation of high-strength bolted connections from one side, maintaining load-carrying capacity and installation tolerances, thus facilitating more efficient and cost-effective structure erection.
Implementation Method 1
one or more nut centering elements comprising one or more portions of removable or deformable material which extend into the cavity, and which are configured to hold the nut in a location from which the nut has freedom of movement in any lateral direction
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, nut restrainers and methods of use are presented, particularly as they apply to high-strength bolted connections for steel structures. Nut restrainers may define a cavity that accepts insertion of a nut, and may include deformable or removable centering elements that allow the nut to move laterally to accept a bolt that is inserted non-concentrically with the nut restrainer, and may comprise a mobile central portion and a rigid outer portion; A method of positioning a nut restrainer concentric with a bolt hole accurate to within the radial tolerance of the bolt hole.