Parallelogram Floating Nut for Tight Battery Pack Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating nuts are inefficient in space-constrained environments due to their large rectangular design and are prone to thread staggering failures.
Innovation Solution
A floating nut design featuring a limit box with a cavity and a nut body with a radially extending flange of unequal parallelogram shape, allowing for compact installation and enhanced torque handling, including threaded inner walls and support portions for secure assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rectangular limit box is used for the floating nut, then the nut body can be easily manufactured and assembled, but the limit box occupies a large area and is difficult to use in space-constrained environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by changing the limit box shape from a conventional rectangle to a parallelogram with unequal diagonal lines. This asymmetric geometry allows the limit box to occupy less space while maintaining structural integrity and manufacturing feasibility. The parallelogram configuration optimizes space utilization in constrained environments without compromising the ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes dimensional optimization by reconfiguring the limit box from a rectangular to a parallelogram shape. This geometric transformation changes the spatial arrangement and orientation of the limit box, allowing it to fit more efficiently in limited spaces while maintaining the same functional volume and manufacturing simplicity
2Ease of manufacture
If a rectangular limit box is used for the floating nut, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the floating nut is prone to failure due to thread staggering
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric parallelogram configuration with unequal diagonal lines provides superior resistance against thread staggering compared to symmetric rectangular designs. The unequal diagonals create a more stable geometric structure that distributes loads more evenly, preventing thread misalignment and reducing failure risk while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using the conventional symmetric rectangular shape, the patent inverts the approach by employing a parallelogram with unequal diagonals. This inversion of the traditional design paradigm creates a structure that is inherently more resistant to thread staggering failures while remaining easy to manufacture
3Area of stationary object
If the flange size is reduced to fit within a smaller cavity, then the floating nut can be used in limited space, but the torque handling capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric parallelogram flange configuration optimizes the distribution of torque loads across the reduced cavity space. The unequal diagonal lines create a geometric structure that maximizes torque resistance despite the smaller overall size, maintaining force handling capability while reducing the area occupied by the limit box
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention provides a floating nut (100), a battery assembly and a vehicle. The floating nut comprises a limit box (110) defining a cavity (113) located therein and a nut body (120) which comprises an axially extending body (121) and a flange (122) radially extending from one end of the body (121), wherein the size of the flange (122) is configured to adapt to fit within the cavity (113); and an outer contour of the flange (122) is configured in the shape of a parallelogram, and the parallelogram is configured to have diagonal lines of unequal lengths. The floating nut (100), the battery assembly and the vehicle of the present invention have the advantages such as being simple in structure, easy to manufacture and convenient for installation, can be used in a limited space, and can reduce the risk of failure.