Integrated Ratchet Locking for Threaded Joint Anti-Loosening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-rotation mechanisms for threaded components, such as those in gas turbine engines, require extra assembly steps and visual confirmation, and are prone to performance degradation at higher temperatures or have limited usage lifetimes, making them unsuitable for environments where visual access is not possible.
Innovation Solution
An anti-rotation device integrated with threaded components, featuring a pair of ratchet interfaces and a spring element that provides greater resistance to loosening than tightening, allowing for engagement without additional assembly steps and maintaining effectiveness across varying temperatures and usage cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cuplock washers are used as anti-rotation mechanism, then anti-rotation function is provided, but extra assembly step is required and visual confirmation is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rotation device is merged with the threaded components themselves. The first threaded component includes a first ratchet interface, and the second threaded component includes a second ratchet interface, eliminating the need for separate anti-rotation devices like cuplock washers and their associated assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded components provide their own anti-rotation function through integrated ratchet interfaces. The device serves itself by incorporating the locking mechanism directly into the fastening components, eliminating the need for external anti-rotation devices.
2Reliability
If elastomeric inserts are used for anti-rotation, then anti-rotation function is provided, but performance degradation occurs at higher temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the material parameter from elastomeric (temperature-sensitive) to metallic ratchet interfaces with tooth-based mechanical engagement. This parameter change eliminates temperature-related performance degradation while maintaining the anti-rotation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces temperature-sensitive elastomeric materials with durable metallic ratchet interfaces that maintain their mechanical properties across a wide temperature range, effectively creating a temperature-resistant solution.
3Reliability
If deformed threads are used for anti-rotation, then anti-rotation function is provided, but limited life cycles and usage limitations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-rotation function is segmented into distinct ratchet tooth interfaces rather than relying on deformed threads. The first and second ratchet interfaces provide dedicated anti-rotation engagement separate from the threaded fastening function, allowing both to operate at full capacity throughout the product life cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of deforming the threads to achieve anti-rotation, the invention inverts the approach by using properly formed ratchet teeth with asymmetric profiles that naturally provide anti-rotation through their geometry, preserving the full life cycle of the threaded components.
4Reliability
If anti-rotation mechanism requiring visual confirmation is used, then anti-rotation function is provided, but it cannot be properly configured without visual access
Solution Approach 1:
The ratchet interfaces automatically engage and provide anti-rotation function during the normal fastening process without requiring visual confirmation. The mechanism serves itself by providing tactile and functional feedback through the ratchet engagement itself, enabling configuration in non-visual environments.
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 anti-rotation device effectively prevents undesirable loosening of threaded components during system movement, such as vibration, without requiring visual confirmation or extra assembly, and maintains performance without temperature or usage limitations.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second ratchet interfaces are configured to provide greater resistance to relative rotation in a loosening direction than in a tightening direction
Implementation Method 2
a spring element disposed within the body of the first threaded component, the spring element configured to bias the first ratchet interface against the second ratchet interface
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-rotation device for a pair of threaded components includes a pair of ratchet interfaces and a spring element. A first ratchet interface and the spring element are movably disposed within a first threaded component, and a second ratchet interface is disposed at a mating end of a second threaded component. During relative rotation of the pair of threaded components, the ratchet interfaces engage, providing a resistance to the threaded components loosening that is greater than a resistance that the ratchet interfaces provide to the threaded components tightening. The anti-rotation device engages automatically upon relative rotation of the threaded components, and not as a separate step occurring after rotation. Additionally, the anti-rotation device may be especially useful in systems where various types of movement can cause the threaded components to loosen, and where visual access to the anti-rotation device is impeded.