Nut and Washer Assembly with Integrated Projections
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of washers with nuts and fasteners is complicated by the need for precise alignment and handling, leading to frequent misplacement and increased time or waste due to dropped components during the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
A nut and washer assembly design featuring flanges with a channel and projections, where the washer's projections align with the nut's gap and channel, allowing for easy alignment and secure attachment without requiring direct handling, and a specially configured fastener with grooves to prevent washer rotation and ensure clamping force without twisting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a washer is used as a separate component, then it can spread the load and provide spacing, but it requires precise alignment and handling during assembly which increases complexity and leads to frequent misplacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the washer and nut into a single integrated assembly where the washer is permanently attached to the nut body. This merging eliminates the need for separate handling and alignment of the washer during assembly, resolving the contradiction between maintaining washer retention and reducing assembly complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The washer is pre-assembled and fixed to the nut body before use, creating a pre-configured assembly unit. This preliminary action ensures the washer is already in position and cannot be misplaced during the fastening operation, thereby improving reliability while simplifying the assembly process
2Reliability
If the washer is large enough to be effective, then it can properly spread the load, but it becomes easy to drop or misplace during use
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the washer with the nut body, the invention creates a single handling unit that combines the load-distributing function of the washer with the fastening function of the nut. This eliminates the need to handle the washer separately, making the operation easier while maintaining proper load distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated design makes the assembly self-sufficient - the washer is automatically positioned and secured to the nut, eliminating the need for user intervention to handle and align the washer separately. This improves ease of operation while maintaining the washer's load-distributing capability
3Ease of operation
If the washer and nut are assembled separately during installation, then each component can be individually positioned, but the process must be restarted if either component is dropped, increasing time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated nut-washer assembly allows both components to be positioned and installed in a single operation. If the assembly is dropped, it remains intact and can be reinstalled without restarting the positioning process, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining positioning flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The washer is pre-positioned and secured to the nut body, creating a pre-assembled unit that can be installed as one piece. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need to restart positioning if components are dropped, reducing assembly time while preserving the ability to position the complete assembly correctly
Data Source
AI summary
A nut and washer assembly, wherein the assembly includes a nut having a body configured with a pair of flanges defining a channel there between, wherein the first flange includes a gap there through, and a washer having an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, wherein the washer also includes a plurality of projections, wherein a first projection arises proximate the inner perimeter and is complementary to the gap in the first flange of the nut and a second projection arises proximate the outer perimeter and is complementary to the channel of the nut.