Offset Shaft Attachment for Misaligned Hole Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional threaded fasteners require aligned holes for fixation, making it difficult to attach objects with misalignments, which often necessitate modifications or disassembly, leading to inefficiencies in construction and assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
The development of attachment devices featuring a flange with an upper and lower shaft, where the upper and lower longitudinal axes are not collinear, allowing for the attachment of objects with a lateral offset, utilizing externally threaded shafts and various fixation methods such as nuts, internally threaded holes, or through-holes to accommodate misalignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional threaded fasteners are used, then fixation is achieved, but aligned holes are required which increases manufacturing complexity and time when misalignment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is segmented into multiple components: a body portion with a first opening, a fastener with a second opening, and a connector element. This segmentation allows each component to independently accommodate misalignment, eliminating the need for perfectly aligned holes while maintaining reliable fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
A connector element acts as an intermediary between the body portion and the fastener, providing tolerance for misalignment. The connector element with its third opening allows the fastener to engage the body portion even when the first and second openings are not perfectly aligned, thus resolving the contradiction between fixation reliability and alignment requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If objects with misaligned holes are attached, then modification or disassembly is required, but this increases loss of time and productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device changes the geometric parameters of the fastening system by providing openings with different orientations and positions. The body portion, fastener, and connector element are designed with specific opening angles and offsets that accommodate misalignment, allowing assembly to proceed without modification or disassembly, thus maintaining high productivity while improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector element is pre-configured with a third opening at a specific angle and position relative to the first and second openings. This preliminary configuration of the geometric parameters allows the device to automatically accommodate misalignment during assembly, eliminating the need for on-site modifications or disassembly and thereby maintaining assembly efficiency.
3Device complexity
If aligned holes are required for fixation, then simple fasteners can be used, but this reduces adaptability when misalignment is present
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into three segments: a body portion, a fastener, and a connector element. Each segment has its own opening with specific geometric parameters. This segmentation allows the system to accommodate misalignment while keeping each individual component relatively simple in structure, balancing device complexity with adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the attachment device have different local geometric properties. The body portion, fastener, and connector element are designed with specific opening angles and positions tailored to their functions. This local differentiation of geometric quality allows the system to accommodate misalignment while maintaining simple overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An attachment device includes a flange, an upper shaft, and a lower shaft. The flange defines an upper surface and lower surface. The upper shaft projects from the upper surface and is centered about an upper longitudinal axis. The lower shaft projects from the lower surface and is centered about a lower longitudinal axis. The upper longitudinal axis is not collinear with the lower longitudinal axis. So configured, the attachment device allows two objects to be attached to each other with a lateral offset equal to the lateral offset between the upper shaft and the lower shaft.