Recessed Lock Nut Structure for Low Weight and Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nuts face a challenge in reducing weight while maintaining optimal mechanical performance characteristics, as existing designs often require additional elements for clamping torque and stability, which can increase weight and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The nut design incorporates recesses extending from key face planes into the nut body, with a thread carrier casing that provides stability and absorbs forces, and an internal thread that can be plastically deformed to achieve optimal mechanical properties with minimal weight, using a bainitic or ferritic-pearlitic structure for enhanced strength and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional nut designs are used with additional elements for clamping torque and stability, then mechanical performance is maintained, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nut body is divided into functional zones: a first region with recesses extending into the nut body for weight reduction, and a second region with a thread carrier shell for maintaining mechanical strength. This segmentation allows different parts to serve different purposes - the recessed areas reduce weight while the threaded region maintains performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the nut are given different structural qualities. The first region has recesses created by removing material to reduce weight, while the second region maintains full material density with a thread carrier shell to ensure mechanical strength and stability. Each region's structure is optimized for its specific function.
2Weight of moving object
If material is removed from the nut body to reduce weight, then weight decreases, but mechanical properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The nut body is segmented into a first region where material is removed to create recesses for weight reduction, and a second region that maintains full structural integrity for reliability. This segmentation ensures that weight reduction does not compromise the functional regions that bear loads.
Solution Approach 2:
Material removal is applied locally only in the first region where it does not affect the structural integrity needed for mechanical properties. The second region retains full material density and structural completeness to ensure reliability under load.
3Strength
If the thread carrier shell thickness is increased to improve stability, then mechanical strength increases, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thread carrier shell is provided only in the second region where it is needed for stability and strength, while the first region has recesses that remove material for weight reduction. This local differentiation optimizes the balance between stability and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The nut is segmented into regions with different structural characteristics - the first region with weight-reducing recesses and the second region with a stabilizing thread carrier shell. This segmentation allows the stability function to be concentrated where needed without adding weight throughout the entire nut.
4Strength
If additional elements are added to the nut for clamping torque, then mechanical performance improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping torque function is merged into the nut body itself through the interaction between the recessed first region and the thread carrier shell in the second region. This eliminates the need for separate additional elements, reducing complexity while maintaining the clamping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The nut body is designed to perform multiple functions: the recessed first region provides weight reduction and contributes to clamping torque, while the second region with the thread carrier shell provides stability and strength. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components.
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
This design achieves reduced weight with maintained or improved mechanical properties by optimizing the nut's structure, allowing for efficient force absorption and clamping torque without additional elements, while utilizing a cost-effective material with enhanced strength.
Implementation Method 1
making the nut body from steel with a bainitic or ferritic-pearlitic microstructure
Implementation Method 2
making the nut body from steel with a bainitic or ferritic-pearlitic microstructure
Implementation Method 3
the internal thread for forming the nut as a locking nut is produced as an internal thread corresponding to a standard profile, but is formed differently from the standard profile by plastic deformation of the nut body
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to optimize a nut and a method for producing a nut, comprising a nut body provided or providable with an internal thread, said nut body having a polygonal section with a polygonal outer contour which has edge regions and also key faces located between the edge regions, said key faces extending in standard key face planes, in such a way that said nut has mechanical properties which are as optimal as possible while having a weight which is as low as possible, it is proposed that the nut body has a plurality of recesses that extend from the respective key face planes into the nut body in the direction of the bore.