Ratchet Tab Washer Bolt Assembly for Anti-Loosening and Controlled Disassembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current anti-loosening bolt components, such as Japanese hard lock nuts and Chinese Tang nuts, are expensive, difficult to manufacture, have complex structures, and are not easily compatible with other bolt components, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns due to their double-nut structure and reduced thread strength.
Innovation Solution
An anti-loosening bolt component comprising a nut, a bolt, and a tab washer with a radial annular flange, an annular groove, and a ratchet structure, along with an elastic pawl, which allows for presetting torque and controlled disassembly, featuring a simple structure, low manufacturing cost, and good compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hard lock nut or Tang nut is used to achieve anti-loosening function, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-loosening function is segmented into two independent parts: a ratchet structure on the nut/screw cap and an elastic pawl on the tab washer. This segmentation allows each component to be simple while achieving reliable anti-loosening through their interaction, avoiding the complex integrated designs of hard lock nuts or Tang nuts
Solution Approach 2:
The tab washer acts as an intermediary component that carries the elastic pawl, which interacts with the ratchet structure on the nut or screw cap. This intermediary approach enables the anti-loosening mechanism to be distributed across multiple simple components rather than concentrated in a single complex nut design
2Reliability
If double-nut structure is used to achieve anti-loosening function, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming installation
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-loosening mechanism merges the functions of the tab washer and the nut/screw cap into a coordinated single-operation system. The elastic pawl on the tab washer engages with the ratchet structure during the same tightening operation, eliminating the need for separate double-nut installation steps and doubling installation efficiency
3Reliability
If annular groove is added to the nut or screw cap to accommodate ratchet structure, then anti-loosening function is improved, but contact area between nut/screw cap and fastener is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ratchet structure is placed in the annular groove on the end face of the nut or screw cap, utilizing the face dimension rather than reducing the lateral contact area. The elastic pawl engages with the ratchet teeth from the tab washer, creating anti-loosening action in a different dimensional space that does not interfere with the bearing contact area
4Ease of operation
If prefabricated notch is added to horizontal protrusion or vertical protrusion to enable torque presetting and controlled disassembly, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The prefabricated notch is pre-formed on the horizontal or vertical protrusion during manufacturing, setting a predetermined torque limit before the product is put into use. This preliminary action enables torque control and controlled disassembly without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or additional operational steps
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion with prefabricated notch is designed as a disposable component that can be easily replaced. The simple notch structure allows for controlled disassembly by shearing the protrusion, and the low manufacturing cost makes replacement economically viable, enabling single-use anti-loosening applications
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 effectively prevents bolt loosening while allowing easy disassembly, reducing manufacturing costs and improving efficiency, ensuring high safety and compatibility with standard bolts and threaded holes, suitable for complex environments.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic pawl matched with the ratchet structure is arranged at the tab washer
Implementation Method 2
a ratchet structure is arranged at a bottom surface of the annular groove
Implementation Method 3
an axial groove is arranged at a screw rod of the bolt; and a horizontal protrusion matched with the axial groove is arranged at the tab washer
Implementation Method 4
a vertical protrusion that is folded toward the fastener is arranged at the tab washer
Implementation Method 5
the horizontal protrusion and the vertical protrusion are provided with a prefabricated notch
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an anti-loosing bolt component capable of presetting torque and controlling disassembly, including: a nut, a bolt and a tab washer that match each other. The nut is provided with a ratchet structure, the bolt is provided with an axial groove, and the tab washer is provided with a elastic pawl matched with the ratchet structure, and a horizontal protrusion provided with a prefabricated notch and matched with the axial groove. The ratchet structure adopts a matching mode that the difference between the number of ratchets and the number of the elastic pawls is 1, so that the nut can be engaged by a very small rotation angle. The preset torque of the prefabricated notch can be set according to a safety factor. The bolt component can be accurately prevented from loosening.