Plastic Nut Retaining Element for Socket Wrench Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nuts with hexagonal or other outer surfaces often fall out of socket wrenches during assembly or tightening due to inadequate retention mechanisms, requiring improvements for secure engagement and easy separation.
Innovation Solution
The nut features outwardly projecting retaining elements on its axially extending edges, which provide clamping when inserted into a socket wrench, allowing for secure holding without impairing force transmission and enabling easy separation, using wedge-shaped ribs or elevations that increase in height towards the collar, providing high frictional adhesion and holding forces with minimal push-on force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the nut is inserted into a socket wrench, then the nut should be securely held, but the nut may fall out during assembly or tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining element is designed to be deformable, allowing it to elastically deform during insertion to enable easy attachment, then maintain clamping force during operation, and allow release after tightening. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between secure holding and easy separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining element changes its geometric parameters (height, deformation state) based on the operational phase: compressed during insertion for easy attachment, extended during operation for secure holding, and releasable after tightening. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between retention and ease of separation.
2Reliability
If a retaining element is added to the nut, then the nut can be securely clamped in the socket wrench, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining element is merged with the longitudinal edge of the nut, forming an integrated structure rather than a separate component. This reduces device complexity while maintaining the clamping function, resolving the contradiction between security and simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining element serves multiple functions: it provides clamping force during tightening, maintains retention during assembly, and allows easy separation after operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
3Reliability
If the retaining element is made prominent, then high holding forces are achieved, but excessive deformation may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining element's height and cross-sectional area are optimized to provide sufficient holding force while maintaining elastic deformability. The parameters are chosen to balance holding force and resistance to excessive deformation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The nut is made of plastic material with appropriate mechanical properties that combine sufficient strength to resist excessive deformation with enough elasticity to allow the retaining element to deform and release. This material selection resolves the contradiction between holding force and deformation resistance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures the nut remains securely engaged with the socket wrench throughout assembly and tightening, allowing for easy separation, maintaining effective force transmission and preventing excessive deformation, thus ensuring reliable operation and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The holding element is formed by a wedge-shaped elevation of at least one side surface... provides good frictional adhesion
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The plastic nut (1) has a boring (10) for a bolt and an outer surface forming a region to be gripped by a spanner. Its outer surface is in the form of a uniform prism with flat side surfaces (5), or which adjacent pairs form a longitudinal edge (6). There is an outward-projecting holding element formed in the region of one side surface on the axially-extending edge of the side surface.