Pipe Hanger Lock Tab Washer for Nut Loosening Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe hangers with nuts and bolts often loosen due to vibrations, leading to instability and potential hazards, especially in hard-to-reach locations like ceilings, where regular maintenance is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A pipe hanger system incorporating a lock tab washer with bent tabs that prevent rotation between the washer, suspension member, and nut, ensuring secure attachment and vibration resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If nuts and bolts are used to secure the pipe hanger, then the attachment mechanism is simple and easy to install, but the connection loosens due to vibrations from seismic events, foot traffic, machine vibrations, or fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
A lock tab washer is introduced as an intermediary component between the nut and the suspension member. The washer includes a first tab that engages with the suspension member and a second tab that engages with the nut, preventing relative rotation and loosening while maintaining the simplicity of the nut-bolt attachment mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The lock tab washer is pre-formed with bent tabs during manufacturing. The first tab is pre-bent to engage the suspension member and the second tab is pre-bent to engage the nut, so that when assembled, the connection is immediately protected against vibration-induced loosening without requiring additional steps
2Reliability
If the pipe hanger is installed in high or hard-to-reach locations like ceilings, then the pipe suspension is secure, but regular maintenance and inspection become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The lock tab washer incorporates visual indicators through its tab configuration and positioning. The bent tabs create visible engagement points that allow maintenance personnel to quickly inspect whether the washer is properly engaged and whether the connection remains secure, even when the hanger is located in hard-to-reach ceiling areas
3Reliability
If a lock tab washer with bent tabs is added to prevent nut loosening, then the connection stability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock tab washer serves multiple functions within a single component: it prevents nut rotation, secures the suspension member, provides vibration resistance, and offers visual inspection capability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while significantly improving connection stability
Data Source
AI summary
A method of securing a pipe in a hanger includes supporting the pipe with a suspension member; inserting a threaded rod through the suspension member; placing a lock tab washer on the threaded rod; threading a nut on the threaded rod; preventing the lock tab washer from rotating with respect to the suspension member by folding a first tab of the lock tab washer over a side edge of the suspension member; and preventing the nut from rotating with respect to the lock tab washer by folding a second tab of the lock tab washer over a circumferential side of the nut.