Non-Circular Nut Profile for Secure Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nut and bolt combinations lack secure mounting and risk of the nut coming off, with existing solutions not providing sufficient security against loosening and requiring complex disassembly for release.
Innovation Solution
A nut design with a non-circular opening contour that matches the bolt, allowing limited angular rotation and engagement of profiles for secure twisting, combined with a detent lock for positive-fit securing, ensuring the nut remains locked without further twisting or reverse twisting, and an automatic return to the untightened position upon loosening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the nut is designed with a simple circular opening contour, then the manufacturing is simple and easy, but the nut can co-rotate on the bolt and provides no indication of secure engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by changing the circular opening contour to a non-circular contour that matches a corresponding profile on the bolt. This asymmetric design prevents co-rotation of the nut on the bolt and provides a mechanical indication of secure engagement, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and reliability.
2Reliability
If the nut requires complex disassembly procedures, then security against loosening is enhanced, but the ease of operation for mounting and dismounting deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic detent lock mechanism that automatically engages during normal tightening operations and requires only simple reverse rotation for release. This dynamic design maintains high security during operation while preserving ease of assembly and disassembly, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of operation.
3Device complexity
If the second part is made freely rotatable relative to the first part, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to indicate secure engagement is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism through the non-circular opening contour and matching bolt profile. As the nut is tightened, the interaction between these asymmetric features provides mechanical feedback that indicates secure engagement, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and information feedback.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates in first instance to a nut having a first part (11) which has a first through opening (O1), and having a second part (12) which has a opening (O2) having an opening contour, the parts (11, 12) being connected so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis (A) which passes through the openings (O1, O2), and the openings (O1, O2) being aligned with one another, in addition, the first opening (O1) on its inner face having a profile which extends in the peripheral direction and which is interrupted in the peripheral direction. In order to provide a nut which is quickly mountable on a threaded bolt, and which has a simple design that allows greater security against the nut coming off the threaded bolt, it is proposed that the opening contour of the second opening is non-circular. The invention further relates to a combination of a bolt (4) having a cross-sectional area with a nut (10).