Nut Clip Reaction Wall Structure for Blind Bolt Tightening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nut clips face challenges in securely positioning nuts during bolt tightening, especially in confined spaces where tools cannot reach, leading to difficulties in proper orientation and simultaneous insertion of bolts and nuts.
Innovation Solution
A nut clip design featuring a clip with a main body, nut retention flange, and forward and aft reaction walls, which includes angled segments to selectively contact the nut, preventing its rotation and facilitating bolt insertion without the need for tools, allowing for blind tightening and loosening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional nut clips are used in confined spaces, then the basic fastening function is achieved, but the tools cannot reach the nut during tightening and the nut positioning and orientation become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The nut is nested within a cavity formed by the nut retention flange and reaction walls, creating a compact integrated structure that allows the nut to be positioned and tightened without external tool access from all sides
Solution Approach 2:
The reaction walls and nut retention flange act as intermediary structures that provide surfaces for the nut to contact and react against, enabling the nut to be securely positioned and tightened even when tools cannot reach the nut directly
2Ease of operation
If the nut is allowed to rotate freely, then the bolt can be inserted easily, but the nut cannot be securely positioned and may become misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The angled segments of the reaction walls are configured to automatically guide and orient the nut into the correct position as it is inserted into the cavity, before the bolt tightening process begins
Solution Approach 2:
Specific localized features (angled segments with specific angle ranges) are provided on the reaction walls at critical positions to contact and control the nut's orientation, while other areas remain open to facilitate bolt insertion
3Reliability
If the reaction walls are made steep to prevent nut rotation, then the nut positioning is improved, but the force distribution becomes concentrated and may cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The angle of the reaction wall segments is optimized within a specific range (10-45 degrees) to balance two competing requirements: steep enough to prevent nut rotation and provide positioning stability, but gentle enough to distribute forces across larger surface areas and avoid concentration that could cause damage
4Volume of moving object
If the nut retention flange is positioned close to the main body, then the clip size is reduced, but the nut containment channel becomes limited in space
Solution Approach 1:
The nut retention flange is positioned close to the main body in terms of longitudinal distance, but the nut containment channel is created by utilizing the lateral dimension through the angled segments of the reaction walls, which extend outward to provide adequate nut orientation space without increasing the overall clip length
Data Source
AI summary
A nut clip is disclosed. The nut clip may have a nut and a clip. The clip may have a forward reaction wall and an aft reaction wall structured to react tightening and loosening forces associated with the nut and to facilitate caging of the nut.