Lay-in Lug Nut Plate Retainer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lay-in lugs face issues with securing nut plates during installation due to gravitational forces causing them to slide or fall, as existing methods rely on wire binding screws that must be disengaged for wire placement, leading to potential loss of the nut plate and wire binding screw.
Innovation Solution
A plate retainer with a flexible retaining base and snap protrusions is used to interlock with the lug walls, restricting the nut plate's movement along the X-axis and preventing it from sliding out, ensuring secure attachment and easy reattachment during wire installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wire binding screw is used to secure nut plate, then wire binding function is achieved, but nut plate may be lost during installation due to gravitational forces
Solution Approach 1:
The wire binding screw is separated from the nut plate, allowing the nut plate to be secured independently by the plate retainer while the wire binding screw remains attached to the wire. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling the nut plate to be retained during wire installation without requiring the wire binding screw to be engaged.
Solution Approach 2:
A plate retainer is introduced as an intermediary component between the nut plate and the lay-in lug. The plate retainer provides the retention function that was previously dependent on the wire binding screw, allowing the nut plate to be secured independently and preventing loss during wire installation.
2Ease of operation
If nut plate is made removable for wire access, then wire installation is simplified, but nut plate becomes easily lost under gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The retention function is segmented from the wire binding screw and assigned to a dedicated plate retainer component. This allows the nut plate to be easily removable for wire access while simultaneously being securely retained when installed, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate retainer is designed to automatically engage with the lay-in lug structure, securing the nut plate in place without requiring additional fastening operations. The nut plate itself serves as the retaining element through its interaction with the plate retainer, eliminating the need for separate retention mechanisms.
3Reliability
If wire binding screw engages base to secure nut plate, then retention is improved, but wire installation requires disengagement and reengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The wire binding screw is segmented from the retention function, which is assigned to the plate retainer. This allows wire installation to proceed without disengaging or reengaging the wire binding screw, eliminating the time loss while maintaining secure nut plate retention through the plate retainer's independent retention mechanism.
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 plate retainer effectively secures the nut plate in place, preventing loss and ensuring stable wire binding, even under gravitational forces, by snapping around the lug walls and providing a secure mechanism for nut plate retention during installation operations.
Implementation Method 1
The plate retainer has a flexible retaining base and a pair of retaining legs extending from the retaining base. Snap protrusions extend from each of the retaining legs.
Data Source
AI summary
A lay-in lug has two spaced apart and substantially parallel lug walls. A nut plate is supported between the first lug wall and the second lug wall. A plate retainer exerts force on a lug wall and restricts the plate from moving in a direction substantially parallel to the first and second lug walls. The plate retainer has a flexible retaining base and a pair of retaining legs extending from the retaining base. Snap protrusions extend from each of the retaining legs and are formed to interlock with a portion of the wall of the lay-in lug and restrict movement the nut plate. The plate retainer either snaps around the edge of the lug wall or along the wall's length. It may also clip around the nut plate and prevents its movement in a direction along the inner surfaces of the lug walls.